Anna's Notes-
NEW STORY! Can I get a Whoop Whoop?!
*Crickets chirping* Wow, thanks guys-.-
I just kid. I'm sooo excited to write this story! Omg! Can't even explain it!
Okay, how many of you have watched the movie My Best Friend's Wedding?
*Crickets chirping again* what? None? Not even one? It has Julia Roberts in it for god sake!
If you HAVE watched it...then welcome to the Total Drama version my friends ;)
if you HAVEN'T watched it...don't you dare go online and watch it now! .
I hope you enjoy this, guys. Seriously
Special thank you to my amazing little sister Mona for being my beta for this story! Even though she's an annoying ass, she knows her grammar, spellings and vocabulary. If you like Vampire Diaries, check out her story. Her ID is Bitch-Please159. You rock. You're amazing. I love you.
Disclaimer: Total Drama Series? Yeah, I don't own that. The characters? Nope, don't own that either. Storyline? Not completely mine but it has my changes to it. So...yeah. Don't sue.
Chapter 1: Promise This
Promises mean everything. But after they're broken, sorry means nothing. –Unknown Genius
Prologue
Date: 22th July 2006
Time: 2:30pm
POV: Gwendolyn Hastings
Place: High School Graduation Hall
"Congratulations to the graduating class of 2006!"
And with that, every student stood up and threw their hats in the air. The sounds of cheers filled the giant hall as the students, parents and even the teachers clapped with joy.
Hah, I bet the only reason the teachers are so happy is because they never have to see us again.
I don't blame them. I always was the trouble maker; along with Duncan of course.
Duncan Carter was my best friend; my buddy; my partner in crime. We've been best friends ever since I was 6. We were, and still are, neighbours; so that's why our parents were so close. But the day we first met was utter coincident; or as I like to call it, fate.
It was in school on our first day in the playground. I remember I was the only black haired, pale, shy little girl who wasn't wearing pink and sat in the sand pit by herself. Then the little guy in the scary fohawk came up to me and squashed my sandcastle under his feet and laughed hysterically. My eyes started to tear up just before I burst into loud tears. I remember the frantic look in his eyes. He tried to soothe me and calm me down but I just cried harder. Then the boy cried along with me. There we were, sitting in the sand pit in the middle of the playground, crying out eyes out. After a while, when we stopped crying, we introduced ourselves and instantly became friends.
It's been like that ever since. Duncan would do something crazy, I would go along with it. He would make me more confident and more like him. Soon enough, I was a Goth and he was a punk. Our parents didn't seem to appreciate that so much. But it was who we were, and we weren't gonna change that.
I started wearing more black clothes along with fishnets. I wore loads of charcoal mascara and eye liner. I even dyed my hair teal and cut it short. The Goth thing really went with my pale skin. Teal and black became my signature colours. I didn't have many girl associates so I hung out with Duncan and his friends. I didn't mind it. I was just another one of them; more of a tomboy than an actual girl. That's why I never wore skirts or especially dresses.
As for Duncan, he changed alot too; not only his behaviour but his looks as well. He got violent and aggressive. Every time someone like Heather or Lindsay would tease me, he'd take care of it. His look went all out. He got a neon green mowhawk, which at the time seemed like a crazy fucking idea. But overtime, I've grown to like it. He wore his signature red converses, dark jeans and a band t-shirt. He also got piercings all over his face along with small tattoos on his bicep.
We've been through alot together. The birth of his sister Bridgette and the death of my mother. My mother died when I was 16, leaving just me and my dad. From then on, Duncan's mother has been my mother. And Bridgette has been my little sister too.
Duncan and I have been best friends for 12 years. 12 years of pure friendship; until the summer of 2005. We had a summer fling. Strangely enough, he was the one to take my virginity. Odd, huh? Well that didn't work out so well. We stayed together for a year. But we had different plans after high school. I wanted to be an artist and Duncan...well...he followed his father's long lost dream by becoming an architect.
We decided to stay best friends though! Nothing can tear us apart. We were meant to be like this. Love wasn't an option for us, no matter how hard I cried after we broke up.
Sudden scrambling and cheering shot me out of my memorabilia. Everyone was hurrying outside to take pictures and photos. I stood there in a haze.
"C'mon, Gwen! Let's go take pictures!" my friend LeShawna yelped, dragging me outside to the quad.
LeShawna and I have been friends for a while too. She and Duncan don't get along much (or at all, to be honest). In fact, they practically hate each other; but she was the only girl friend I had and I really appreciated her.
I rushed outside to mind my dad waiting for me. I ran up to him and hugged him. He squeezed me tight.
"Ahh, I never thought I'd see the day my little Gwenners graduated high school," He said as we pulled apart with teary eyes.
"Aw, Dad," I smiled, feeling my eyes tearing up too.
"I can't believe you're leaving your old man here in Ohio and moving to Los Angeles!" he sobbed.
I let out a teary giggle. "Dad, you know that California has an amazing arts internship. I have no choice but to move to LA." I smiled apologetically.
"I know, baby. But it's hard seeing you all grown up." He pulled me in and hugged me again as I cried.
"I'll miss you dad," I wept.
"I'll miss you too, hun. If your mum was here, she would've been so proud." He squeezed me in a firm grip.
We had a very depressing moment where I thought about my mum. She was amazing. People say I look just like her. Apparently, I have her eyes. She died of breast cancer. We barely got the chance to say goodbye before she left us on our own.
"Alright, that's enough you too!" I heard Duncan's mother's voice coming up to us.
I let go off dad and hugged her instead.
"Grace!" I sobbed in an oddly cheery voice.
"Aw, honey. I'm so proud of you!" she hugged me back.
See? Just like my mother.
"Ahh yes, I'm so happy you got into Cali's art school. Which one was it again?" Duncan's father, Michael, asked as I pulled away from Grace.
"The Arts Institute of California-Los Angeles." I said, wiping my tears away.
"Isn't it amazing, Stefan? Your baby girl has all grown up," Grace said to my dad with enthusiasm.
"Yeah, well, let's hope she'll drop the whole delinquent act after being all grown up," dad sarcastically joked.
"Oh dad, it's Goth, not delinquent." I grinned as I slapped his arm, causing all of us to laugh.
"Speaking of delinquents, has anyone seen my son?" Grace asked, searching around.
"He was speaking to his friends a minute ago. But then he suddenly disappeared," dad said.
"I'll go and find him," I said before running off.
I knew exactly where Duncan would be. We had a little hideout of our own since we began high school. Every time we needed escape from the world, we would go there. It's this little meadow behind our school building full of flowers. No one really went behind there because of the rumours Duncan spread out about roaches and spiders. But honestly, it was a beautiful place.
The only reason we went there was to either get away or to relax; or sometimes just to get a cigarette.
I ran around the building and walked a few steps into the trees before I found Duncan, sitting in between the flowers, fiddling with a box in his hand.
"Hey," I said softly as I approached him from behind.
His head jerked to mine and he smiled when he saw it was me.
"Sup Hastings," he said back with his signature smirk.
I sat down next to him, took the blue graduation cap off of my teal hair and placed it beside me as he vaguely stuffed the box he was holding in his pocket.
"So, what are you doing here?" I asked as I lay down on the grass and looked up at the hazy sky.
"Just...thought I'd visit this place one last time before I headed to New York," he sighed as he lay down next to me.
I turned my head to face him.
"When are you leaving anyways?" I asked.
"Tomorrow morning," he frowned.
"Me too," I replied. "I have to catch the morning flight to LA," I frowned back.
"I'm surprised I even graduated! And I can't believe we're separating our ways after 12 years," he sighed again.
"I know. Seems surreal." I felt this strange feeling in my stomach. I didn't like it. I could still feel his eyes on me and it made me damn nervous for some reason.
"I'm gonna miss you, Gee," he whispered. I turned my head and looked at him again. The pain and sorrow in his teal eyes made my heart clench.
I think that might be the most sentimental thing Duncan has ever said to me in these entire 12 years. Well, except that summer. He said some pretty heartfelt stuff then.
"I'm gonna miss you more, D," I let a couple of salty tears run down my pale cheek.
"Why'd you have to go so far away, dammit?! Why can't you just stay here in Ohio? Or come to NY with me?!" he growled, frustrated, running a hand through his green mowhawk.
"I can't," I sobbed again; "You know I can't."
"I know, I know. I fucking know! I just...I can't..." he hesitated as he turned to the sky and closed his eyes. I can hear him taking deep breaths as I saw his chest rise and fall rapidly.
I scooted closer to him and propped myself up on one elbow, turning my body to face him. I stroked his chest to calm him down.
"Hey, don't get gushy with me now, Dunkie," I warned. He opened his eyes, still filled with tenderness. I melted a bit. "We'd stay in touch. We'll email, and Skype, and text and call."
"It won't be the same." He groaned.
I sighed, "I know it won't. But at least we'll try. We have no other option."
"You're right," he exhaled. "I need to stop moping."
"Hey, I think it's very sexy," I winked and teased him.
"Ha-ha, so funny, Hastings." He rolled his eyes and glared at me.
"Yeah, you're right, it is." I said before bursting into laughter. He continued glaring at me for a while before his expression softened and he watched me laugh in awe. Soon enough, he joined in.
"Okay okay," he said while our laughter died down. He sat up. "I got you a present."
"You did?" I questioned, also sitting up.
"Mmhhmm." He said, pulling out the box from inside his pocket that he was playing with earlier.
"Why?" I questioned again.
"It's a graduation gift." He said and my heart almost liquefied.
"Duncan...I...I didn't get you anything..." I bit my lip, guilty that he was so thoughtful and I wasn't.
He smirks at the look on my face. He knew. He just wanted to make me feel bad. What a fucker.
"I know. I thought I'd get you something anyways," his smirk widened.
"What is it?" I asked, eyeing the box in his hand.
"Turn around."
I did as I was told, shifting my body around so my back was to him. He stood up on his knees and swept my short hair over to one side of my neck. I shivered at the contact.
"Duncan, what is it?" I asked.
"You'll see." He said simply as I heard the box click open. I shivered when something cold went around my neck. It was a necklace. He secured it and let my hair into place.
I looked down at the pendant.
It was a silver piece of a puzzle. It had the words BE and F engraved on it.
I turned back and sat in front Duncan with a confused expression on my face.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
"Duncan...it's beautiful but...I don't get it. Why BE and F?" I asked.
He chuckled for a second, making me even more confused.
He pulled out his own necklace from under his graduation cape and scooted close to me. I saw the letters ST and RIENDS engraved on his necklace. He joined our necklaces together. The puzzle was complete. And the letters finally made sense.
BEST FRIENDS
I smiled and looked up at Duncan.
"Now do you like it?" he asked as he raised his pierced eyebrow.
I didn't answer. I leapt on to him and attacked him with a hug. He stumbled backwards until he was lying on the grass and I was on top of him. Despite our awkward position, I didn't stop hugging him. Surprisingly, he hugged me back. Tight.
"I love it," I murmured against his neck.
"I'm glad. I wanted to remember you by something. And I wanted you to always remember me. So I went to Tiffany's and bought this." He said.
My head shot up as I looked down at him.
"You got this from Tiffany's?" I asked. He nodded. "How much?" I asked again.
"Just about $49.99 wasn't much." He shrugged. I slapped him hard on the chest. "OW!" he yelped.
"You spend 50 fucking bucks on this?! Oh wow!" I gasped.
"Relax, Gee. It's only money." He rolled his eyes.
"Money doesn't grow on tree, you know." I eyed him suspiciously. "Did you steal it?"
"God no! Is that how low you think of me?!" he mocked hurt and placed a hand on his heart.
"Fine, fine. Why on earth did you get something so expensive? You could've just got me something from Claire's," I suggested.
"I know. Is it so wrong to get my best friend an expensive present that she deserves?" he asked.
I sighed.
"No Duncan. It's actually really sweet of you," I smiled down at him.
"Don't." He glared.
"Don't what?"
"Don't call me sweet." He said through grit teeth.
"But it's just sooo sweet! I can't believe you can be this mushy! With a mowhawk!" I teased. He growled before flipping us over so we were wrestling. After a while, he ended up on top of me.
I took a close look at him, remembering that I probably won't see this face again for years. I touched his jaw, knowing that I probably won't get to feel him for years. He was staring at me intently. I stroked his jaw, feeling a light bruise underneath my palm.
"What's that?" I questioned as I took a closer look at it.
"What?"
"That bruise. How did you get it?" I asked.
"Oh that," he rolled his eyes. "Heather slapped me." He clenched his jaw.
"When?" my voice suddenly became concerned.
"When I was talking to Geoff and DJ. She came up to me with her group and told me some shit then slapped me."
"Why?"
"What is with you and questioning?" he asked, obviously changing the topic.
Nuh uh, not gonna happen.
"Duncan, why did she slap you?" I asked again, more sternly.
He hesitated and got off of me. I sat up too.
"Because apparently, I cheated on her with you." He mumbled; quiet enough for me to barely hear it.
When I did hear it, I burst out laughing.
"Ahahah seriously?! She thought you two were together that summer?!" I asked in between laughs.
"Mmhhmm." He said, joining my laugh.
"What a delusional bitch." I said as the laughing died down again.
"You got that right. I don't think I'll ever find the right girl in time." He sighed.
"Uh, yeah you will. Have you looked at yourself? You're hot." I blurted out.
He smirked. "Huh, thanks Hastings. That stroked my ego." He winked.
"Oh shut up. Point is, you'll get a girl in time. Me on the other hand...I'll probably stay single forever." I exhaled deeply.
"Why'd you say that?" he tilted his head to one side and asked.
I looked up at him. "Are you kidding? I'm practically a guy myself. I've never had any of those 'girlfriends' except LeShawna and I hate pink. I'm a Goth for God sake."
"It doesn't mean you're not attractive. I'm 100% sure you'll get your perfect guy." He smiled as I smiled back.
We stayed silent for a minute. Thinking. It was a deep and comfortable silence.
Will I ever get a guy? I'm only 18 but...I don't know. Maybe there'll be someone in LA. Or maybe...there's someone here in Ohio. Will I ever even find a guy? I've had less experience with boys than anyone I've known. Maybe I won't find 'the one'.
"Let's make a pact." Duncan suggested, breaking the silence.
"A pact? What pact?" I asked with a perplexed look.
"If, by the time we're 25, we're both single, then we get married to each other." He smiled.
"Ahahah! Good one!" I laughed but then stopped mid laugh when I saw the significance in his eyes. "What, you're not joking?"
"Nope, I'm dead serious."
"Us? Getting married?" I raised an eyebrow at him.
He shrugged.
"Sure, why not. You like me, I like you. We've been best friends since we were 6 and we make each other happy. Plus, it's better than ending up alone." He winked.
I thought for a moment.
Me and Duncan? Married? Mrs Duncan Carter. Mrs Gwen Carter. Mrs Gwen Carter Hasting. I smiled at the thought.
"Okay, you've got yourself a deal." I smiled wider at him.
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die."
Yes, I know, it's a bit cliché. But it was meant to be like that to make things work. Next chapter will come depending on how much love I get. The picture of the meadow and the best friendship necklace will be up on my website. The link to my website will be up on my profile/bio. Click on the link, go to my website, click on the page named 'Cross My Heart & Hope To Die', then it should appear in the gallery.
See the next time?
Reviews are better than friendship necklaces from Duncan.