Author's Note
I DON'T OWN TOTAL DRAMA
I wanted to write this story that was inspired by a recent family vacation of mine. We traveled to Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri and I thought of an interesting story to write. So please enjoy! :3
June 12th- The Start of Summer
Gwen's P.O.V.
The blackness swells up inside me. I feel cold; Goosebumps cover my arms. I can't break free from the dark, icy world around me. I want to scream and make someone hear me. But when I open my mouth… nothing comes out. I'm trapped in my own hell. No one can save me in the blackness. Then I see it come for me: the monster I've feared. It's walking straight toward me, covered in tattered clothing and its voice is chilling.
"Come to me. Save me. Save me from this world."
It reaches out to me and touches my arm. Its fingers are long, bony, and cold. I feel the creature seep into my skin and start to feel alone and dark. It's the worst feeling I've ever felt. I can't escape. I claw at my own skin, screaming into the darkness. But no one can hear. I'm doomed to a life in this hell with an utter feeling of darkness and loneliness. I'm doomed.
"GWEDOLYN BROOKS! I'm telling you for the last time, come and eat dinner with your family!"
My mother breaks my concentration. She's already told me four times that dinner was ready and apparently, it's an important dinner. Everyone in my family, well… everyone that matters, is gonna be there: My mother and her boyfriend and my brother and I.
I'd much rather be writing my thoughts and dreams down in my journal. Because of every Total Drama season, I need a lot of therapy. I went through a few therapists because the majority weren't helping. My mom and I finally found someone who truly helped me out. I've gotten better but I still have bad dreams like the one I just wrote down. Duncan and I had a terrible break up and I don't even want to think about Trent.
It hasn't been the best two years but they have been productive. Once Total Drama was done I really found myself. My mom, brother, and I moved to a new area so I'm not in the same school. Now, we live right outside of Toronto. I haven't cut my hair in the past year so it's pretty long. It's still the same dull black, dark grey hair with only one streak of midnight blue right in the front. My style has evolved from corsets and miniskirts to denim, tee shirts, and converse. And during my college tour, I got to travel to London to tour an art school. Later that year, I was accepted. My family is still proud of me and I'm heading there this August. I know who I am now and I'm excited.
I start walking down the stairs from my room to the dining room. I walk past the family dog Bruiser, a chocolate lab, and pet him on the head. He's a big baby. I walk in the dining room where I see my younger brother Adam, my workaholic mother, and her boyfriend Tom. They're all waiting patiently for me and my mother has a large smile on her face.
"Gwendolyn, please sit. Tom and I have something to say."
I pull out the chair and sit down on the comfy chair. Maybe she and Tom got engaged… but she doesn't have a ring on her finger. I like Tom and he's a good guy. He's humble and he's not completely loaded… which is the type my mother usually goes for. He's perfect for my mom and nothing like my dad.
"So what's up guys?"
"Tom and I are planning a vacation!"
"Oh awesome! You totally deserve it, mom!"
"Gwen's right, mom! You've been working really hard lately. So where are you and Tom going?"
"Well, um, it's not just Tom and I. Do you kids remember our old lake house we went to when you were younger?"
"The one fourteen hours away in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri? The one we stopped visiting six years ago when dad left? Yeah I remember. I don't want to go."
"Gwen… listen to your mother for a few seconds before you make up your mind."
"Thank you, Tom. I just thought since you're going to college IN LONDON next year and your brother is going into high school, this could be a really good summer for a two week trip."
"TWO WEEKS!? Mom I can't. I have to get everything ready for London in three months. I don't have time. And have fucked up memories at the lake!"
"Young lady, don't talk to me that way. And we're going in five days. I talked to our friends who rent the place and they're letting us use the cabin. And they said the neighbor has a son your age."
She winks at me and I'm disgusted. The last thing I want on top of this upcoming terrible vacation is a boy.
"No thanks." My mother glares at me from across the table. "Fine. Can I at least have some money for a new swim suit and some summer clothes? If I don't get a say on if I'm going I want a say in what I wear."
"Gwendolyn! Don't ask for money for shopping when I know you have plenty of summer clothes."
"Don't worry, Shelly, I'll give her some money. And she'll need some stuff for London."
"Thank you, Tom. If I have to go on this awful family vacation, I wanna look nice. So I'm gonna take my vegan dinner to my room to plan for this vacation. Thanks so much."
I grab my plate and walk past Tom. He's holding out five twenty dollar bills. Thanks so much, Tom. This is one reason why I really like him. And he's not like my dad in any way.
I get to my room and set my dinner on my desk next to my dream journal my therapist said I keep. I grab my laptop and sit on my bed next to my cat, Midnight. She's a two year old black Norwegian forest cat. I got her after Total Drama when she was ten weeks old. Now we're best friends and she likes to spend all her time in my room.
I open up my laptop and open up Skype while Midnight curls up in my lap. I start a call with my best friend Snow. We met in London when I was touring the school and we've become as close as two people can be through Skype. She answers on the second ring.
"Hey girly!"
Snow is my favorite type of person. She's an albino who is actually happy about who she is. She has white hair with a few purple streaks and bright white skin. Snow is confident and ambitious and British which makes her extra awesome.
"Snow, I shit you not. My mom and Tom dropped a bomb on my brother and me tonight. We're going on a family vacation."
"NO! God, you don't have to wear dorky shirts, do you? Cause my family and I went to the Caribbean once and we had to wear matching outfits. It was torture!"
"It's not anything tropical. We're going to the old lake house in Missouri; the lake house I told you about that we stopped going to after my dad left. Well we're going back because it's our 'last summer together as a family' or some shit like that."
"Well I can understand her reasoning. You are moving to London in three months."
"But we're spending two weeks there! Two weeks!"
"Perfect excuse to go summer shopping. Did you get money?"
"Yeah I told my mom I needed more summer clothes so Tom gave me a hundred dollars. I think I'm gonna head out tomorrow because we're leaving in five days. Oh, and the real kicker is her incentive."
"What? Is she paying you? Because I would do it for three weeks."
"No she's not paying me. She was telling us all about the place now and she said there's a boy my age that lives next door."
"Does she not understand how fucked up your life has become because of boys?"
"Apparently not!"
"Is she at least letting you bring Midnight?"
"Probably. She knows I'm gonna be miserable and I think Bruiser is coming. In that case, midnight is coming."
"Honestly, it doesn't sound that bad, Gwen. You get a shit ton of new clothes, no matching outfits, and you get to bring your two best friends."
"Maybe. But don't worry, I'll keep you updated."
"Great. Well I gotta get to bed. It's 12:30 a.m. here. Good luck baby girl. See you in a few days. Bye!"
I hold up midnight next to me and make him wave with me. "Bye!" And then the screen flashes the call has ended. Five more days of preparing for our "amazing" family trip.
"Gwendolyn, can I come in?" My mom is standing outside my door. "I want to talk to you about the trip."
I shut my laptop. "Sure, come in and tell me all about the next great Brooks adventure." She walks in and sits down next to me on my bed.
"You do realize Tom and I are doing this for everyone's benefit, right? I don't want this to seem like a punishment."
"I know you're trying to be good and everything, but does it have to be two weeks? I really need to get ready for London and I don't think I have time for two weeks away."
"If I give you an extra fifty dollars for shopping tomorrow, will you go for two weeks?"
I have to think about this. I'd need more than just fifty dollars to go for a full two weeks. "Throw in some money for my car when I get to London and let me bring Midnight and I'll go."
"Done! I just want you to have fun." She kisses the top of my head and walks towards the door. "Thanks, honey."
"You're the one who deserves the thanks, mom. You worked hard for this. I love you!"
"Love you, too. Now eat your dinner. You said so yourself, I work hard. And I make special vegan meals for you so eat up!" She smiles and walks out the door and down the hall. I pick up Midnight and put her in my lap and start petting her.
"Well, Midnight, looks like you and I are going to the lake with the family."
End of Chapter 1!
If you like the story, please review and look out for chapter 2!
If you have any suggestions for me, message me and I will respond!
I really want to continue with this story and I promise it will get more exciting if you give me a chance! Thanks! BYE! :3