A.N: Hey guys, it's Don. Many of you probably know me from my other (and only) fic, "Fighting the Shame." It's been a long time, but I have finally gotten back into my writing spirit and decided why not give it another shot? Considering it's been so long, I reread my fanfic to get a feel for what I was doing at the time. However, once I actually saw what I wrote previously…I honestly kind of hated it. I've grown so much as a writer, and feel like I can tell a more concrete story. So, what better thing to do than revamp it?!

I really hope you guys like this version of it. And I plan on working on a few more fics in the future, since writing is basically my heart and soul. Let me know what you guys think about certain changes in a review.

Anyway, enjoy!

Between Friends

Chapter 1

Sitting on the rickety and worn out steps of the practically empty boys cabin, Duncan watches as Leshawna is dragged down the 'Dock of Shame' and thrown into the 'Boat of Losers.' Chris' announcement of her elimination during dinner had been so sudden that the poor girl didn't even have time to process it. Finding out that the eliminated cast members were living it up on their own personal island resort was a shock, the remaining campers taking the news not so lightly. But hearing that they had accidentally -stupidly, as Duncan would put it- voted her off the island was priceless. Shaking his head, Duncan catches sight of Gwen's mad dash towards the end of the dock. She makes a grab for Leshawna but is caught and held back by the arms of the massive figure of Chef Hatchet. Glaring intensely at each other, Gwen eventually backs down and turns away towards the retreating ship.

Duncan chuckles softly to himself. The thought that the girl who single handedly took on a psychotic madman with a hook for a hand would still waver under the eyes of Chef seeming hilarious to him. Sighing, he leans back and tilts his head to gaze at the stars twinkling in the clear night sky above. Though he would never admit it out loud, Duncan's thoughts had been plagued with images of Courtney. It seems that outside of their many disagreements and constant bickering, he did sorta kinda like and miss her a bit. Especially after the kiss that they shared; the sparks and sexual tension between them had been crazy. The things they would probably get into once this was all over…

Clearing his head of such inappropriate thoughts, Duncan turns his attention back to the crumpled figure of Gwen, who sits with her legs dangling over the edge of the dock. Taking a quick inhale and exhale, he stands and makes his way over to her. Might as well attempt to cheer up the closest thing he had to a friend on this island. Upon getting closer, Duncan catches her sighing to herself in what can only be acknowledged as defeat.

"You look like you could use someone to talk to," he says, taking a seat beside her.

Gwen turns to him, her dark brown eyes connecting with his teal ones, only to stare back out at sea.

"It's just that, with Leshawna gone, I'm pretty much down to you and Owen as the only support system keeping me from going completely insane on this island. And, no offense to either of you, that's not really comforting to know," she says.

"Hey, I hear you, Sweetheart. I mean, I'm not the best at this whole comforting thing, and I'm damn sure not the sanest one either," Duncan says, emphasizing his point by swirling his finger near his skull in a psychotic gesture.

Gwen giggles, covering her mouth with her hand.

"See, there's a smile!" Duncan exclaims, a small grin on his face.

She playfully shoves him, her laughter dying down back into a semiserious expression. Pulling her legs up and hugging her knees against her chest, Gwen sighs.

"I just really miss home, you know. My friends, my family, Angus and Vampyra…"

"Angus and Vampyra?" Duncan inquires, his eyebrow raised.

"My twin iguanas," she clarifies. "But mostly, I'm tired of all these moronic and unethical challenges. I mean, I can count on both hands how many times we've put ourselves in harm's way and almost died. And that's a problem."

"Well, I can tell you this," Duncan starts, resting his hand on her back and causing her to turn her head in his direction. "Things are a lot better here than they were for me in juvie."

"Really?" Gwen questions with a slight tilt of her head. It reminds Duncan of something a puppy would do, which he found kinda cute and strangely fitting for her.

"Hell yeah! I mean, fighting to keep my rep intact on a weekly basis, eating food even more disgusting than the crap Chef digs up for us," Duncan explains, with a shake of his head. "Trust me, this island ain't got nothing on that."

Gwen seems to consider this for a minute, a yawn suddenly escaping her lips.

"Aw, is the princess tired?" Duncan teases.

Rolling her eyes with a smile, Gwen stands and heads towards the cabins. Duncan instantly follows suit.

"Yeah, I had a pretty long day of doing absolutely nothing," she jokes, before letting out another sigh. "Though I'm not sure how I feel about spending a night alone with Heather."

"You're always welcome to spend the night in the guy's cabin…" Duncan replies, before pausing and regarding her with a serious expression. "You don't snore, do you?"

"Shut up!" Gwen says with a laugh, shoving him for the second time that night.

"Just covering my bases," he says, with a laugh of his own. "But seriously, we have plenty of room. Unless you want to cuddle, in which case I'm totally available."

"Mhm, I bet you are," she responds, rolling her eyes with a smirk of amusement. "Does that line work for you often?"

"I mean, I haven't gotten any complaints so far," Duncan retorts, crossing his arms and propping himself up against the wooden pillar next to him. "Did it work on you?"

Before Gwen could even respond, a loud horn like sound interrupts them, followed very closely by a foul-smelling odor. With sounds of disgust, the two immediately turn their attention to the guy's cabin as Owen opens a window, giving them a sheepish grin.

"Duncan, my man!" he exclaims with a nervous chuckle. "So, I may have overdone it on the beans and weenies we had for dinner. Not a problem, right?"

Duncan stares at him with a deadpan expression, as Gwen erupts in a fit of giggles.

"Think I'll pass on that offer tonight," she says, walking up the stairs to the girl's cabin instead.

Opening the door, she turns back to him and smiles.

"Good night, Duncan. And thanks for the chat," Gwen says, before finally heading inside.

"…Good night, Gwen." Duncan mumbles to himself, before letting out a sigh. The sound of yet another fart causes him to glare at the guy's cabin over his shoulder.

"Come on, man!"

~ BF ~

The morning sun creeps through the cheap and poorly assembled blinds of the girl's cabin, casting a golden glow over Gwen's face and instantly disrupting her sleep. With a yawn, she stretches her arms out and sits upright. Blinking a few times to let her eyes adjust to the light around her, she smiles peacefully to herself. After her talk with the resident bad boy the previous night, Gwen found herself in a strange state of tranquility. For the first time since she stepped foot on this godforsaken island, she had gotten a full night's sleep and felt completely at ease. Well, as "at ease" as one could be knowing that they have another set of possibly – definitely - life-threatening challenges coming up.

Tossing her covers to the side, Gwen stands and makes her way over to one of the few dressers in the room. Passing by Heather, who sleeps completely unsuspecting with both a sleeping mask and ear plugs blocking her from the sights and sounds of the outside world, Gwen stops. A mischievous smirk dawns on her face as she mentally decides not to pass up a perfect opportunity for some well-deserved payback. Grabbing her toiletries and clothing for the day, she proceeds to shut the curtains and lay out a few "obstacles" for Heather to find when she awakens, before leaving and heading to the communal bathroom.

Opening the door, she is immediately hit by a gust of warm air and the scent of Irish Spring body wash. That, mixed with the black t-shirt and green shorts she sees hanging off the side of the stall, alerts Gwen that Duncan had also woken up early. Remembering last night, she smiles as she steps into her own stall and starts the shower.

"Owen, is that you?" Duncan questions, hearing the sudden addition of running water.

"Guess again, buddy boy," she responds, smirking to herself.

"Oh, well good morning, Sunshine!" Duncan exclaims, a smile evident in his voice. "You know, there's enough room in this shower for two. I know how you tree huggers are about wastefulness and whatnot."

"Mhm, I don't think your 'girlfriend' would like that very much," Gwen says, running her hair under the water.

"Who? Princess?" Duncan inquires, with a scoff. "I'd hardly call her my girlfriend."

"If you say so," Gwen teases, in a sing song voice. "With the way you two go at it, you'd think you guys were a married couple."

"Oh, like you and Trent aren't in the running for most cliché couple in all of summer camp history?" Duncan retorts.

"Most cliché?" Gwen questions, an eyebrow raised though it went unseen. "I hardly think Trent and I classify under that category. Lindsay and Tyler on the other hand…"

Duncan laughs. "A laid back, motorcycle loving, pretty boy guitarist falling for the reserved yet hot, angsty punk rock goth chick," he teases back. "You guys are a quick step away from being the main protagonists in a John Green novel."

"This coming from the punk rock bad boy with the heart of gold," Gwen fires back.

After receiving no immediate response, Gwen smiles in self-satisfaction.

"Game, set, match."

"Alright, Sweetheart, you win this round," Duncan responds, with a small chuckle. "I see that someone is in a better mood than before."

"Way better, actually," she answers. "I just might be able to get through these last few days of torture after all."

"Glad to hear you're so eager to lose, because I'm definitely taking home that hundred thousand," Duncan boasts, turning off the shower and wrapping the towel around his waist.

"And I'm glad to know that you're still underestimating me," she responds, turning off her own shower in the process. "It'll make my victory that much more satisfying."

"Whatever you say, Sweethe—" Duncan begins, as both step out of their stalls simultaneously. His words trailing off at the sight before him.

Duncan stands speechless, his eyes subconsciously scanning up and down the towel covered figure of the girl in front of him. Though it's not like he hadn't seen Gwen in the bare minimum before, the amount of water-based challenges mixed with the number of guys versus girls prank wars leading to many interesting encounters, something about this situation felt different. Maybe it was the steaminess of the room, or the way the towel hugged her frame, showcasing her curves. Or maybe it was the fact that they were alone in such an intimate setting. All Duncan knows is that he is suddenly very much aware of just how attractive Gwen actually is.

"Uh, hello...earth to Duncan," Gwen says, crossing her arms over her chest. "You okay there?"

"Huh, what? Oh…um, yeah…" Duncan stammers, shaking his head. He rubs at the back of his neck, a sheepish expression dawning his face. "Yeah, I'm good. I just…uh… got a little…distracted."

Gwen's eyebrow raises in curiosity, her eyes follow his line of vision and trail southwards before widening in realization. She glances back over at him, immediately noticing how he fidgets as if he were trying to…oh my god, was he!? Her cheeks turn bright red at the thought of Duncan checking her out in their current predicament.

"O-oh, um…" she says, finding herself at a loss for words as well.

The two of them stare at each other for a few more seconds, before grabbing their clothing and rushing back into their respective stalls to change.

Duncan finishes dressing first, and exits his stall just as quickly as he went in. "So…I'll see you at the mess hall," he says, swinging open the door. "Cool?"

"Yeah…sure," Gwen calls out, waiting until she heard the door close to exit her own stall.

She stares at herself in the mirror, taking in a deep breath and exhaling to calm herself down. Stepping out of the bathroom, she hears a loud commotion come from the girl's cabin, followed closely by a shriek of utter terror.

"Gwen!"

Smiling in satisfaction, Gwen laughs as she makes her way to the dining hall.

~ BF ~