A/N: This is my first story in...years it seems. So I'm sorry if I'm wee bit rusty. lol I stayed up till 3AM writing this and the rest of it which will come in later chapters. Alone it's about 34 pages and finished so expect updates at least once a week. :)! Most of the chapters probably won't be this long. I'm trying to do it day by day so it's possible they'll be this long, but I'm not making any promises. lol Also, I'm fairly new to TDI, but I fell in love with the show and this just came to me so here we go! I hope you all enjoy~

One Time Thing

It had been about a month or two since Gwen had broken up with Trent and here she was trying to ignore the fact that even though he had some creepy obsession with her and the number nine—she liked him. Maybe it was her "creepy goth self" as the kids in her class had told her. Not about that situation of course. She sighed as she sketched a butterfly. It was math class and she was trying her hardest to ignore x+2-4y=? Or whatever the teacher was saying while she scratched the chalk along the board. Trent was in the class next to hers—in American History. Oh how sad was she? She still knew his schedule. She glanced over at LeShawna who was half asleep in her math book. Gwen poked her. If Mrs. Robinson caught her sleeping she'd send her to the office.
"Wake up." Gwen whispered.
LeShawna jerked up and suddenly shouted out;
"6y!"
The class went silent and Mrs. Robinson turned around.
"That's—that's correct LeShawna!"
"Mhm. 'Cause that's how I roll." She said nodding. Gwen giggled. LeShawna turned toward her. "I'm glad that was right." She whispered to her friend.
"You should be, if you would have gotten it wrong—oh boy…"
"Yeah, ten extra questions for homework." She made a face at the thought.

The bell sounded and Gwen picked up her sketch book and other books, along with her bag.
"See you at lunch." LeShawna said on her way out. Gwen sighed some. She had English with Trent; the teacher never did move their seats so she was forced to sit next to him. Most of the time she ignored it, but there were some days where it'd become so uncomfortable she had small breakdowns that only she knew about.

The halls were loud and she could hear Harold being shoved into a locker. She glanced down one of the side halls and Duncan was laughing, as the locker vibrated from him slamming it on the other boy. She shook her head some with a smirk as Courtney came up behind him and clocked him a good one in the back of his head.
"Do you want to get suspended again!?" It echoed, and Gwen didn't get to hear a response as she had passed into her English class.

Heather walked into the class and stuck her nose in the air as she saw Gwen sitting there. Gwen on the other hand rolled her eyes. Gwen tried her hardest not to stare at the open door, but she did anyway. She knew deep down the reason why she was doing it was because she did want to see Trent badly and when he came through the door with Geoff, she immediately looked down at her closed English text book.

She heard a book-bag hit the floor and a soft thump as Trent flopped into his chair. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at him and he was flipping open his book, not noticing her or so she thought.
"Alright class, today I want you to read the exert of Dante's Inferno that is in the book on page 542 through 572. I already have your partners written on the board. After you're done reading that, I want you two to discuss it and write a paper together on your thoughts. The paper is due by Wednesday."

Gwen pulled out her planner and scribbled down in Wednesday's section; Dante's Inferno paper due.

She had two days since this was Monday. She shut her planner and looked back at the board and her heart stopped. Did all the teachers still think they were dating!? Why in gods name would they partner her with him?! Why? She groaned some and saw a quick flash of green as he sat down in the seat in front of her; backwards of course, so he could face her.
"Looks like we're working together, again." He said smiling.
"Um, yeah." At least it was reading. They wouldn't have to talk for that long, especially if she read REALLY, REALLY slow.

This was abnormally hard for her; she read a lot and was good at reading, so it frustrated her to have to read so slowly. Soon though the material didn't click in her head, she was busy thinking about Trent and how she needed to find herself a new boyfriend to get her mind off of him. Duncan had crossed her mind, but Courtney would kill her—literally. But ever since her and Trent and broken up—they had gotten even closer and she felt like she could confide in him like she could LeShawna. Maybe she'd talk to him about it? No, she couldn't do that. He loved Courtney. She ran her fingers through her hair.
"Gwen? Gwen?" Trent repeated.
"Huh?"
"You're only on the second page?"
"Oh, yeah, I was thinking about something…" She said with a small nod.
"…about what?" Trent's eyes seemed to sparkle. It seemed in hopes that he wanted it to be about him. It sort of was too—but not in a good way that he was expecting.
"Nothing much." She said softly. His face seemed to fall some. Why wouldn't class end now? She wanted to run away to lunch.

But no, class dragged on for another twenty minutes and then the bell sounded and Gwen was out of the class faster than anyone. She walked down the hall, turned the corner went to her locker, kicked it and it popped open. She tossed her things in it and kicked it shut. She went down two lockers where she heard;
"Help! Get me out of here!"

Gwen sighed, kicked that locker and it popped open as well.
"Thanks Gwen." Harold said.
"No problem." She said as she retreated toward the cafeteria.

Accompanied by her Mystery Meat lunch, Gwen sat down at her usual table with LeShawna.
"Hey girl." She said.
"Hey."
"So how did English class go?"
"Ms. Tiller must think it's so damn funny to pair me with Trent over and over again." She said with a loud sigh as she poked at her food.
"You should just tell that lady that you and him aren't hooked up anymore and that she needs to stop pairing you two together." She said pointing her fork at Gwen.
"I know, but I don't feel comfortable telling her about my love life." She made a face.
LeShawna nodded, understanding.

"Hey ladies." Duncan interrupted sitting down next to Gwen.
"Hey." They echoed.
"Courtney doing over time in her government class?"
"As always." He said rolling his eyes as he leaned on his hand.
Gwen chuckled some to his answer.
"You need to tell that girl you want to spend some damn time with her." LeShawna said as she finished off her last chicken nugget. Duncan shrugged some.
"Ah, she wants to make sure she graduates with perfect grades, perfect this, and perfect that and gets into the perfect college. So I try to deal best I can."

Gwen lost out in the conversation about at that point. She was looking about three tables away from hers, where Trent was sitting with Geoff, DJ, and Owen. She sighed. She remembered when he would be sitting where Duncan was and have his arm around her. Oh well. She needed a new boyfriend. Badly.
"Duncan, do you have any friends?" She suddenly asked.
"…well..duh." He said. "I'm sitting with them."
"I mean other than us." Gwen said rolling her eyes.
"Um…yeah…I guess." He said shrugging. "Why?"
"…Any that are single?"
LeShawna spit her milk out.
"OH NO GIRL. You are NOT dating one of those juvie escapee's!"
"Hey! We're all not that bad!" Duncan retorted.
"Well, I am not letting Gwen go off and date one of your criminal friends." She said firmly, crossing her arms and nodding. Duncan huffed some and turned back toward Gwen.
"Why, you in the market for someone?" He asked.
"Sort of." Gwen answered.
"I can hook you up. What are you looking for?" He asked.
"I haven't the faintest idea." She said leaning her face into her hand.
"Three or four convictions? More or less?"
"…less." Gwen said.
"That's kind of a small pool to pull from." He said.
"Okay, who do you recommend?"
"NO ONE." LeShawna said. "You can find someone around here."
"My friends are not that bad." Duncan said eyeing LeShawna.
"Yeah, I wonder if you'll still say that if they get Gwen arrested."
"They wouldn't do that." He shot back.
"I wonder."

Duncan huffed again and turned toward Gwen.
"I know a few that I think you'd get along with. They're drop outs, but they're good guys."
"Oh, like you?" Gwen teased. Duncan raised an eyebrow and then looked around.
"Yeah, like me." He said in a whisper. "But, I can ask some of them to stop by the school tomorrow morning, if you want?"
"Yeah, if you could do that, it'd be great." She smiled at him.
"No problem." He smiled back at her.

Lunch ended. She waved bye to LeShawna as she went off to her American History class and she and Duncan walked off to their government class. They saw Courtney come out.
"Hey, Princess." Duncan teased with a smirk. She tried to glare at him, but she smiled instead and gave him a small kiss.
"See you in Economics next period." She said as she hurried off.

Gwen tried not to sigh, tried not to roll her eyes, and most of all tried not to storm violently into the classroom and sit in the corner and brood.

She sat next to Duncan in the back, in the corner—well next to the corner, Duncan claimed the corner seat.
"Gwen—are you feeling okay?" He asked as the teacher started to talk.
"Yeah, course I am."
"…no, you're not and if I can see it everyone else can. Now what's up?" He asked.
"It's…it's Trent." She admitted.
"What'd he do to you?" He asked.
"Nothing. I just…I don't know. It's no big deal." She shook her head.
"Why don't you come over after school? We can talk." He said.
"I have a lot of homework…"
"Gwen, stop making excuses. You obviously have been driving yourself nuts with this stuff."
"Is it that apparent?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I'll come over." She said nodding.

Gwen left to her art class after scribbling down her homework for government in her planner. Finally her favorite class, where no one would bother her and she could sit at the back table, listen to her iPod, and draw.

And that was just what she did. She was adding color to her butterfly sketch, as she bobbed her head to her music. She was at peace in here. She happened to glance up at the door and saw Trent pass by with the rest of his class. She blinked some, unsure of where his math class would be heading in the middle of the class. Gwen saw him turn and peer into the room though and their eyes locked for a quick second and they both looked away.

…suddenly Gwen didn't feel like working on her butterfly anymore. She was more in the mood to draw a corpse or something. She sighed heavily. Next class wouldn't be fun. Her table for her Anatomy class was her, Trent and Duncan. It had stayed that way even after she broke up with Trent and him and Duncan ceased to get along. It was now a silent table, except well when Duncan would purposely get extra close to her just to piss Trent off. She never looked forward to anatomy for that reason.

She was right not looking forward to this class. Trent and Duncan were already in an argument.
"Please, guys not today." Gwen said as she walked by and sat down. Both of them became silent and took their seats. Trent was looking away in some sort of rage, and Duncan was chattering to her and trying to make her smile, which worked…a little.
"So how long do you think you're going to stay over today then?" Duncan asked loud enough for Trent to hear.
"I'm not sure. I might just crash there, if that's okay?" Gwen asked.
"Totally." He said.
"Good."
"Oh, you spend the night with him?" Trent asked his eyes narrowing some. Gwen blinked.
"Um. Yeah. I crash at his house at least four times a month."

Trent didn't say anything back. Gwen rubbed her head. Wrong thing to say. Duncan couldn't help but laugh to himself. Sometimes this was just too amusing.

Duncan's house wasn't anything special. It had a yapping dog, and was completely void of parents. Which while Gwen had a parent and family she loved and loved her, it was nice to get away from authority figures, and Duncan's house was the best place to do that.

Up the stairs they went and Gwen crashed right on his bed, after dumping her book-bag. Duncan flopped down next to her.
"Okay, lets hear it then." He said rolling over onto his back.
"Hear what?" She asked.
"…Gwen, seriously stop dancing around this."
"I know…well…I still like Trent."
"Duh." He said.
"Thanks for the support."
Duncan laughed. "It's not that you don't have my support, you do. By all means you do. I mean—it's just that everyone knows you do. Trent still likes you do." He said as if it was the most apparent thing in the world.
"No, he doesn't."
"Gwen, yeah he does."
"How do you know? You two don't even get along anymore."
"I hear things." He said, tucking his arms behind his head.

Gwen rolled over to face him. She was lying on her side and her hand was propping her head up.
"Like what?" She asked.
"Like that he still has a picture of you in his locker."
"Really?"
"Yeah." He said. "What? You want me to investigate the leads for you?" He asked laughing. Gwen laughed and shook her head some.
"You're awesome." She said smiling at him.
"I know." Duncan said nodding. Gwen reached out and shoved him some. He smiled at her. "You two could try again if you really wanted to. But…well he is weird."

"I know." Gwen said with a slightly annoyed sigh.

The night wore on and soon Gwen was full of pizza and soda and was lying on Duncan's bed groaning and rubbing her stomach.
"I ate too much." She said in a whiney voice.
"You and me both." Duncan said yawning. Gwen forced herself to roll over on her side and looked at him. Yeah, maybe she did like him. But she couldn't. He liked Courtney. If he didn't—it'd solve all of her problems. She could start dating Duncan, and it'd help her forget about Trent, but no, life couldn't and wouldn't be that easy for her. Gwen yawned and stretched.
"Tired?"
"Mhm." She said scooting a little closer.
"You want to change?" He asked as he slid off the bed and opened one of his drawers and pulling out an old T-Shirt and PJ pants.
"Yeah, might as well." She dragged herself up and took the offered clothes and went into the bathroom and changed.

She came back in and stretched again. Man, that pizza made her tired quick.
"So how many times has Courtney spent the night?"
"Zero." He said rolling his eyes.
"Why?" She asked trying not to laugh. Trent had spent the night at her house countless times—of course her Mom didn't know, but she wasn't about to bring that up, Duncan would tease her about it till dawn and then some.
"And I quote; "It's not proper. I'm not spending the night at your house until we're at least engaged." Duncan said with air quotes. Gwen started to laugh as she made her way back to the bed.
"Must be tough for you."
"It is. She only stays till about ten because her parents want her home at ten thirty and they hate me." He rolled his eyes.

Gwen laid down next to him and looked up at him. Duncan glanced down at her. He knew Gwen looked mighty beautiful in his T-shirt and pants, and he couldn't even place why she did. All he knew was that he felt this way every time she slept over at his house. Something about her being out of her dark clothes and looking vulnerable. He quickly shook the thought from his mind. Why was he even entertaining that idea?! Courtney was his girlfriend and he loved her. Gwen was just a…a best friend and that was it.
"Duncan."
"What?"
"Come here." She motioned him down to where she was laying.
"What?" He asked again leaning down.
"I want to tell you something. It's a secret." She said.
"This had better be good." He leaned his ear down by her lips and she drew in a breath and then burped in his ear. Duncan jerked back and Gwen busted out laughing. That's what the soda had done to her. Duncan couldn't help it, he started laughing to.
"I can't believe you did that!" He said.
"It was so worth it, I couldn't pass it up." She said. Duncan leaned down so that they were almost nose to nose. "Don't you dare burp in my face." She said looking him dead in his eyes.
"I would never." He said with a short nod. But neither of them moved. When had this situation gotten so—so…serious? His lips were slightly parted and all Gwen could stare at was his lips.
"Duncan…"
"Gwen…"
"…I should go home." She said.
"Y-yeah." He said.

No one moved though. Gwen stared up at him and he stared down at her. Gwen was trying to fight how she was feeling and it wasn't doing much since the only reason she had holding her back was that Courtney would be pissed. But—it was just going to be one kiss. There's no harm in that, right? One simple, small kiss and no one but them would know it ever happened. Gwen needed it. The last lips on hers had been Trent's and she swore every time she licked her lips she could taste him still, she needed his taste to be wiped away for good. She leaned up slightly and kissed Duncan. And all seemed at peace as she kissed him. A warm feeling came over her and she found herself not wanting to part from him.

Duncan knew damn well he needed to get away from her and send her ass home. Courtney would be furious and kick his sorry ass to the curb if she ever found out. But for this moment it felt right. Maybe somewhere deep down he'd wanted to kiss her. His hand came up into her hair and he pulled softly at her hair. She made a soft noise as the kiss continued. Gwen put her arms around his neck as the kiss deepened.

Gwen's eyes widened as she felt his tongue push into her mouth. She didn't pull away or push him away. Her eyes slowly closed again as she enjoyed the kiss. She soon returned the French kiss, as her fingers slipped up the back of his neck. It was getting more and more needy with each passing moment.

Ten minutes or so later, Gwen found herself lying on his bare chest, half lolled to sleep as he stroked the back of her head. She ran her fingernails gently down his chest to purposely give him goose bumps and make him shiver. Gwen scooted herself up on him a little more and kissed his neck slowly.
"Gwen…"
She knew the sound in his voice. She pulled back.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"No…it's not your fault. Don't worry." He said. "It's both of our faults. It should have never happened."

Gwen nodded. "You're right. Why don't we get some sleep?"
"Sounds good." He said pulling the sheets over the both of them. Gwen settled her head back onto his chest and when she realized what she did she went to move, but he rested his hand on her head, as if a silent way of telling her "it's okay, for tonight."