This is um my fourth story I think. This is somewhat based off of The Grinch. Total Drama Island never happened and in this story college doesn't exist so that's why Courtney is not there. I don't own the characters or anything like that.

He was there but didn't show up. He was my age but entirely different. First of all obviously our names, mine is Courtney Willis while his was Duncan Grunch. I have more holiday spirit then anyone I know. Duncan has none. I'm good and he's bad.

"There I go again." Around this time of year my mind always travels back to Mister Grunch. I really don't think his name was a coincidence. He has a very likeness to the Grinch. I remember when we where in school. Well, when I was in school and he would skip. Ever since I can remember out of the whole year he would show up twice. Only once was one of those days near my favorite holiday, Christmas. It was in second grade and I'll probably remember it for quite some time.

Flashback

I was kneading some cookie dough that the teacher had us make as a holiday assignment. He walked in the door. Everybody gasped around me.

"What?" I looked up to see what the commotion was about. My eyes met his and I gasped as well. Duncan had showed up to class! And it was December!

"What are you all staring at me for? Is there a problem?" He said the simple phrase with more venom then any other second grader I had heard. He took his seat next to me before anyone answered.

"Why Duncan you're here today. Would you like to make some cookie dough?" Miss Penelope was the greatest she was always as kind as she could be.

"Do I look like I want to make something that stupid?"

"Do you not like cookie dough?" He mumbled something but took some anyway.

"Hi Duncan." I wanted a violin from Santa so I would need to be extra good. He looked at me then went back to his cookie dough. Strange. All the other kids that said hi to him got punched in the face even girls.

"Hi." It had sounded unemotional and cold. I got a little bored since I was just finishing my cookies. Everyone was talking about what they would do with their cookies.

"I'm going to give mine to my grandma."

"I'm going to give mine to my Dad."

"I'm going to leave mine for Santa." Apparently a lot of people liked my idea and began to change their minds. Duncan got this look in his eye and his nostrils flared.

"Santa? Santa! There is no such thing as Santa its all some stupid myth made up by some stupid people." People started to yell at him.

"Then how would you explain the presents?" I began to tear up. I didn't like to argue and he was talking about Santa being fiction!

"Easy, your parents." I started to whimper.

"Yep you've been lied to your whole life." I started to cry.

"Aww is Princess crying? Do you need your blankie?" I looked at him. I could see myself in his eyes. A broken hearted face was worn complete with teary eyes, a red complexion, and a quivering lip. He looked at me and for a second seemed as though he was almost guilty and sympathetic but it quickly changed.

"Forget this crud I'm leaving." He got up and left. That day I promised myself that if he ever said something I disagreed with then I would argue till I won. Never showing weakness again.

I had kept up with my promise still today. However, during December I relaxed as much as I could. Since he never showed up in December it was easy. Especially since I was now nineteen. Out of school and he should be out of mind. But he's not.

"I better call Gwen and Bridgette maybe they'll help me keep my mind away from him." I picked up my cell phone and dialed Bridgette's number.

"Hello." I smiled at my friend's voice. It was always calm and collected.

"Hey Bridgette, it's Courtney I was wondering if you would like to come over for some of my famous Courtney Christmas cookies and… Hello? Bridgette?" I hung up. Strange.

"I wonder." The doorbell rang.

"Now who could that be?" I opened the door and there stood Bridgette and Gwen with their hands up in begging formation.

"I heard you were making Courtney Christmas cookies and I had to drop by see if there were any, I don't know, extras? Oh and I invited Gwen." Her face never left me but her eyes just darted over to the side motioning to Gwen standing next to her.

"Well don't just stand there come on in it's freezing outside today." Gwen stepped inside.

"It's not that bad out."

"Do you want an excuse come inside or not?" They rushed through the door, smelled the air and took off towards the kitchen like wild animals. I like to bake so being as competitive as I am I tried to bake the best. I think I'm pretty good.

"Yeah I just made a batch. Help yourself. Want some hot chocolate with it?" I walked into the kitchen to see them almost drooling over the sweets.

"Here you go." We all sat down at the table.

"I don't understand why you're so cheery this time of year yet so uptight the rest of the time." I rolled my eyes. Usually I argue and say I'm not uptight but Gwen was new to the town and did not know of my "strange ways" as many call it.

"When I was little, after I found out about Santa Claus my parents gave up on Christmas so since the day I moved out I like to celebrate the season more than ever." She nodded while shoving a cookie in her already stuffed mouth.

"So Courtney what did you need? You sounded a little upset on the phone."

"Oh you know Christmas is coming and I've started to have the same thoughts as every year. The sad thing is I don't know why I think about him. And don't you dare say what I think you're about to say." Gwen looked at me.

"I am so confused." Bridgette stepped in.

"Every year Courtney starts thinking about Duncan Grunch."

"Grunch?"

"That's his name. He's the exact opposite of Courtney and likes to go around pranking everybody in December. No Christmas spirit. Courtney says she feels sorry for him but I think she likes him." I gave her a stern look.

"Bridgette." I said it as warningly as I could. She held up her hands in defense.

"Hey I'm just saying."

"So she knows him personally?" Bridgette shook her head.

"He teased her twenty-four out of the twenty-four days he actually went to school but never a normal conversation." I took a sip of my hot chocolate.

"I don't like him but I can't stand to see all those pranks being played on the town. Leshawna told me he's planning to prank every house! My house can't get pranked, or it won't be the perfect Christmas!" Bridgette rolled her eyes and turned to Gwen.

"She's also got this competition with herself to make the perfect Christmas."

"I thought there was no such thing as a perfect anything?"

"In Courtney's books there is." I shook my head trying to get their attention.

"Excuse me can I cut into the conversation? I think…" They got quiet while I tried to make up my mind.

"I think I'm going to go to his house." I heard two gasps, then two rounds of coughs.

"Didn't I tell you both not to gasp while eating cookies? They go down the wrong pipe."

Review if you want. If you want to flame go ahead just remember it wastes time. Thanks for your help to make this a better story.