24Goofy
Courtney is the name of a normal girl. Hell, it's the name of a boring ass girl. The name belongs to a typical blonde cheerleader. She dates the quarterback of the football team all through high school until she graduates and finds a real man.
(I admit to briefly dating the quarterback, but really, only 1 out of 3 isn't that bad.)
Courtney isn't the name of the girl who goes and starts stalking the new guy working at Disneyland as the costumed-character Goofy just because he once tapped dance for her upon special request. (I admit, I didn't expect him to do it, but he gained cool points for trying. He even did it in that heavy costume. You have to give credit where it's due, right?)
My uncle was the one who'd hired my latest infatuation – Goofy. Uncle Trevor had been working at Disneyland since before I was born so my friends and I got all the perks that came along with it. The best benefit: coming as often as I wanted and getting in for free. At about $70 a pop, I sure as hell didn't have that kind of money to throw around on a whim. But back to my favorite uncle in the world…
I'd gotten all my information from him about my crush-worthy Goofy. It turns out, that wasn't his real name at all. Goofy's name in real life was actually Charlie Jenkins. That was when I knew we were meant to be together. Forever. For all eternity. Always and always. Him and me.
Courtney Jameson. Charlie Jenkins. CJ+CJ=LOVE. Courtney Jenkins. Courtney Jameson Jenkins. Oh my God. I was already in love with my soon-to-be new name.
Not too soon though. I was only 16. I wanted to date him first. But I guess I'd have to have a casual conversation with him before any of this could happen. I hadn't even seen his face yet. I'd asked my uncle what Goofy (Charlie) looked liked during my stalker interrogation.
"I only met him once during the interview, but I remember him being a good looking kid," he'd said.
That was when I'd prayed to God that Goofy (Charlie!) wasn't ugly. I'd seen the woman (if you could call that thing a woman) my uncle had married so I didn't trust his judgment on what normal people considered good looking…
Charlie had been hired at the beginning of November for the Christmas season at Disneyland. Uncle Trevor told me the only reason he hired him was because he was the only applicant who was tall enough to fill out the large costume. The towering oversized head made him loom at six and a half feet at best. I always was a sucker for lanky giants…
So I'd met Goofy (not knowing his true identity at the time) during his first week at Disneyland. I'd waited in line with my friends to take my picture with him (because all the other original Disney characters can suck it). He'd posed with the small kids for their pictures and acted the part with lively enthusiasm. I couldn't wait for my turn. His high energy level had rubbed off on me, and I found myself dancing/skipping away from him after my picture had been taken. He'd mimicked my old dance moves, but his movements made him flail around more wildly. My friends and I were laughing like hyenas.
Before the next kid could step up for his turn with Goofy, I'd asked him to tap dance. It wasn't authentic, but the similarities he displayed showed how eager he was to try. Everyone within a 20-foot radius readily snapped pictures of Goofy showing off his pseudo tap dancing skills. I was hunched over with laughter when he motioned for me to join him. I wasn't one for making an ass of myself in public, but he made it look so easy that I couldn't resist. We danced like fools side by side for maybe a minute at most.
Four months later and I found myself fully obsessed with this whack job. But who was I to pass judgment on what was "normal"? I was sort of in love with a cartoon character.
Melanie shook her head disapprovingly. "I cannot believe you're doing this."
"You're the one who talked me into it!" I rallied.
"I didn't think you had the nerve. I was hoping to talk sense into you, but now I see that's not an option when dealing with a psychopath."
"As of this moment you suck as a best friend. I think it's time to trade-up."
"Good luck finding someone as forgiving as me to put up with your insane crap."
Melanie really wasn't a bitch. But this wasn't one of her shining moments.
"You're sitting on my Oreos," I whined.
She groaned and tossed the wrinkled bag at my face. "Why'd you bring so much food with you?"
"Because this is a stakeout. I wanted to be prepared. I couldn't afford to be distracted by something as stupid as hunger."
The two of us were parked in a secluded corner of the parking lot outside the theme park where the employees parked their vehicles. It was after 10PM on a Wednesday night. I knew Charlie worked today (thanks to my inside information), but I wasn't sure when his shift ended. So I'd begged Melanie to come with me for emotional support when I finally talked to Goofy (but really I just needed a ride and a car to hide in as I scoped him out before I approached him).
Melanie crossed her arms over her chest as she sulked in the driver's seat of the car. "I'm surprised you didn't bring a bucket to piss in."
Anxiety set in. "Oh crap. I didn't even think of that!" I bit my lip nervously. "What if I have to pee before he gets here?"
I saw Melanie's eyes roll behind her thick glasses. "I don't care. Just don't have an accident in my car. Wait a minute."
"What?" I mumbled through my mouthful of Oreos.
"How are you even going to know it's him when he comes out here? You've never even seen his face before."
"All bases are covered my pessimistic friend. See that yellow scooter over there? It's his." I felt my wide triumphant grin stretch over my face. "My uncle told me."
"What self respecting man drives a scooter? No, scratch that. What kind of loser drives a yellow scooter?"
My finger was already in her face. "Take that back!"
She smiled for the first time all night. "No."
"Take it back."
"No!"
"Take it back. I'm not messing around."
She seemed to be getting a real kick out of this. "You're not messing around? What are you going to do about it?"
That was when a scuffle broke out. Because we both occupied the front of the car, we didn't have much room to fight properly. I tried (without success) to hit her, but her punches and hard slaps against my arms and shoulders really hurt so I eventually had to back off. I hated losing so I sulked silently for a few minutes until it happened.
Melanie's voice held a healthy dose of interest. "I think we finally have our winner, Courtney."
I stiffened in my seat and straightened when I saw him walk out the back exit. He was tall. At least that was verified. But other than that, I couldn't make out anything else. The lights in this section of the parking lot were off. Disneyland booths and restaurants that were still lit provided the only light.
"I can't see him!" I panicked. "What do I do now? I'm not going to talk to him if he's ugly."
Melanie burst with laughter. "You're as superficial as ever. And I'm supposed to be the bitch?" She continued laughing.
Our windows were rolled down so Charlie (Goofy) was able to hear her super loud laughter. His head turned in our direction. I froze like an animal about to be delivered the deathblow.
"Crap," I squeaked. "What do I do? How will I know if he's ugly?"
"Let there be light," said Melanie before she switched on the high beams of her car.
Goofy (Charlie!) held a hand in front of his face to block the blinding light.
"What the hell are you doing?" I screamed and slapped at Melanie's arm.
She was still smiling but she refused to turn off the lights.
He walked over to his scooter and turned on the front light to flash in our direction.
Melanie honked out the first five beats of a popular tune…
…and he finished it with the final two notes on the weaker horn of his scooter.
Melanie clapped her hands together and laughed while I sat back watching with a horrified expression. "This freak might be a loser, but at least he has a sense of humor." She shoved me roughly against my door. "Go on. Get out of my car. My job here is done."
"But Mel-"
"Shoo! Go, go." She stuck her head out the window and yelled. "She's all yours."
I'd just climbed out the car when she shouted and now my mouth hung open in mortified shock.
Melanie honked her horn and drove away leaving me alone with Charlie. That was when reality decided to set in (and let me tell you it came at the worst possible time). Here I was in an empty parking with a dude who was a total stranger. What if he was crazy? Or like some kind of nutjob who went around hacking at teenage girls with equally crazy crushes? Or maybe it was even worse. What if he was ugly? Oh no. I couldn't take that kind of disappointment.
"Hey."
At least he didn't have an ugly voice. My hope surged.
I stepped in his direction slowly. The light on his scooter shined on me like a spotlight. I could only see the outline of his form beside the yellow scooter.
"Are you planning to kill me?" he asked calmly.
I stopped mid-step. "Are you?"
"I don't make a habit out of killing pretty girls. Even the strange ones like you."
My blush came the same second I was finally able to clearly see his face. Uncle Trevor wasn't a lost cause after all. My crush was definitely cute. He didn't look much older than me. He was probably 17. His brown hair wasn't long enough to get in his delicious brown eyes, but the messy style was totally adorable. And his mouth looked good enough to k-…wait! Why was he frowning? He looked scared. I checked behind me to make sure no possessed clowns were nearby.
"Hey wait," his finger pointed at me. "I know you. I've seen you here before. A lot."
"Uh…" Great start, Court.
"You're that girl. That girl that's always here with her friends." A smile snapped into place on his handsome face. "You're that girl who made me tap dance on my first day."
"And you're Goofy."
Surprise and amusement splashed over his features. "One of the many names I've been called."
We stood there smiling at each for a few seconds until uncomfortable silence crept into our moment. He idly gripped one of the handles on his scooter. "Did you know already know who I was? I mean…that I was, uh…Goofy?"
"Um…yes?" I tried.
"How did you…" He stopped and shook his head. "Nevermind. Doesn't matter." He stepped to me hesitantly and held out his hand. "I'm Goofy. But my friends call me Charlie."
I put my hand into his and almost forgot my name. His hand was so warm and comforting. "I'm Courtney."
Charlie held onto my hand after we shook and raised a suspicious brow. "Courtney? Isn't that name a little too dull for a girl who follows around costumed Disneyland employees?"
I ducked my head and laughed. "Hate to say I agree."
A/N – Please (yes, this is me begging) review if you liked this enough to read through. And if you hate the Lakers, leave a message saying so. It'll make me realize I'm not alone in the world.