First of all, credit for this chapter's idea goes to my friend edwardandbella4evah. Second, I DO NOT own TDA, any TDA plots or characters! Just MY OWN plots and characters...if I make any up.
This chapter was really fun to do, and I totally LOVE edwardandbella4evah for it! So...THANK YOU!!
Enjoy guys!! PEACE
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Weave Got Problems
This stupid fire wasn't warming me up. It's almost like it was making me even colder. I sat on my butt, my arms rested on my knees and my chin rested on my arms. It was about six now, and the sun was starting to set behind the far-off mountains. The tar sat in the pit, burbling and smelling like that damned cigarette smoke. Everyone had gone back to their trailers, but I stayed put. Truth is, my nards haven't stopped hurting yet, and Courtney'd squashed them over three hours ago.
A long shadow was cast next to me, and I annoyedly glanced over.
"Hey," Heather said lamely. She'd changed into her normal clothes but still wore that God-awful wig.
I gritted my teeth and stared at a couple of ants slowly passing my foot. "Go away," I grumbled.
"You're just gonna sit out here all night?"
I glared up at her. "I said to leave me alone."
She frowned and crossed her arms. "I heard what you said. I'm not deaf, criminal."
"I didn't say you were deaf, I–" I ran a palm over my face roughly and sighed. "Look, could you just leave me the hell alone?"
"Hey, if this newly found depression is about Courtney, forget about it. Forget about her." Heather plopped down on the ground next to me, crossing her legs. "Besides, I think I got enough revenge for both of us." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of chocolate brown fuzz.
I stared at it in bewilderment, confused. Then I jumped up in pure rage when it registered; that silkiness; that shine; that color. "Is that Courtney's hair?!" I boomed.
Heather ran her fingers over the smooth clump of hair and snickered. "Yea."
"Gimme that!" I bent and snatched most of it out of her hand. "What the hell, Heather?!"
"I'm just collecting it." She shrugged one shoulder lightly like it was no big deal. "Once I have enough, I won't be bald anymore. Why do you care?"
I ignored that last part – really, why did I care? "Are you crazy?!" I really wanted to beat the crap out of her right now. Also, I was feeling sorry for Court. Yea, I know, I know, I should still be ticked at her, for acting all sweet and cute then pummeling my kiwis. But I'd be super pissed off if anyone cut up my Mohawk crookedly.
"HEY!"
My head snapped over to the left, and out stomped Courtney. Even in the almost-dark I could tell she had a chunk of hair missing from her right side.
She had her blazing eyes fixed on Heather, so I turned and threw the ball of hair I'd taken back to her. Court planted her feet next to me, hands on her hips, jaw set. "What is that?" she snapped, pointing to the hair spread in Heather's lap.
Heather OCDly brushed it all into a little pile on the dirt. "These? Oh, my wig was shedding."
"Really?" Courtney said sarcastically, tilting her head. "Did it shed brown hair all over your bed, too? And, oh, on this pair of scissors?" She held up a pair of silver scissors, and believe it or not, there were about fours hair stuck to them.
"Aw, you're in deep shit, now," I mumbled to Heather, glancing away nonchalantly when Courtney shot me an evil look.
"Yeah, well, maybe it is your hair." Heather stood confidently and stuck her chin out, most likely thinking that Court couldn't do anything about it. But I wasn't about to stop a catfight from happening.
They scowled at each other for a few long moments, me feeling awkward and out of place. As they had their glowering contest, my eyes probed all over Courtney's mostly-exposed bod. I hadn't noticed she'd changed into her teeny-tiny jammies until now. Hey, I can't help it if she's hot when she's vicious.
You're still mad at her… inner voice chided.
Shut up, I barked bitterly.
Heather smirked and started trotting away. She walked around Courtney and said, "You deserved it, you cow."
Court hung her head – not in like, embarrassment or shame (hell, no! This is Courtney, you morons), but in…fury. I'd actually never seen her this mad. She balled her hands into fists, her mocha face turning an unusual shade of red. She spun around and lunged for Heather, pouncing on her back. She pulled Heather's wig off and started beating on her with her small fists. "You stupid–!" Court grabbed Heather's forehead and yanked her head back, Heather twisting around and bending Court's arm backwards.
I gawked in amazement. I'd never actually had the pleasure of witnessing a catfight before. And I've gotta say…it's amazing.
Court held Heather's leg in her hands and bit her calf, screaming profanities and thrashing around.
Heather lurched back and kicked Courtney in the face with her three-inch heel wedge.
"Ow!" Court's hands went to her face and she collapsed onto her knees.
Heather jumped up and half-ran half-limped away. "Sucker!"
"You're gonna let her do that to you?" I demanded incredulously, motioning toward the fleeting Heather. "Though, I must say, you were putting up a pretty wicked fight. I would've helped you out, but, y'know…I don't hit chicks."
"Oh, no," Courtney said sinisterly, wiping the edge of her lip. She brushed her finger on her shirt as she stood up, leaving a small blood stain on the pink fabric. "I'm not done with her yet."
"Then what're you waiting for?" I signaled for her to run after Heather. "Go get 'er!"
"Aw, it's so sweet that you care," Courtney simpered, grasping my chin tightly. "But I can take care of myself." She jerked her hand away and strolled off toward the communal bathrooms.
Aw, it's so sweet that you care, the inner voice mocked in a girly tone. Plech. She makes me – well, us – sick.
I sighed. I know, but isn't that what we love about her?
He didn't reply.
Well, she either likes me or she doesn't. I rubbed my chin where she'd touched it, a little lost. Girls are too complicated.
"AAAAHHH!!" Heather screamed, running back through the lot in the opposite direction. Her arms flailed around and she frantically reached around at her back.
I laughed when I realized there were multiple pairs of underwear glued to her, and a naked Harold was following her. "Give back my shorts!" he demanded, pointing at her all high-and-mighty-like as he trailed behind.
I kept on with my guffaws, shaking my head. So that's what Courtney had meant. After I was done laughing, I realized I had to pee. So I stuffed my hands in my small pockets (I hadn't changed out of my costume yet) and started walking toward the bathrooms. I also wondered what the heck I was still doing dressed like this. No wonder I was so damn cold.
I watched my feet as I stamped along, kicking rocks to the side and cussing when I stepped on some. I walked around the entrance to the bathrooms when I heard a loud sniff. I paused and glanced around cautiously. No one at the sinks, all the shower curtains were pushed aside, empty…
"Hello?" Court called icily, putting on her whole I'm-a-tough-confident-woman act. Her feet came down in one of the stalls, and she pushed the door open, checking for anyone. "Who's there?"
I ducked to the side, hiding behind the outside wall. Slowly inching over, I peeked in through the small window a couple feet from the doorway.
Court sighed and rested her hands on the counter, leaning in to look at herself in the mirror closely. She tilted her head to one side and touched her bruised cheek, a disgusted sound coming out of her mouth. "Jesus," she muttered. Then she fingered her hair, whining when she took in the full extent of what Heather'd hacked off.
I felt bad. Really bad actually.
God, what is wrong with you?
Die, die, die! I imagined myself shooting the inner voice, him falling to the floor of my brain with a big thud. Now that that's out of the way…I can talk to Court without feeling guilty.
I casually stepped up to the doorway, leaning against the left side. I was surprised she didn't notice me until I said something. "I can fix that, for you."
She jumped and spun around. When she saw it was me, she sneered and stood up straighter. "Oh. It's just you." She turned back to her reflection and ran a brush through her hair. "What do you want?"
"I can fix your hair for you."
She raised an eyebrow at me in the mirror. "Here you go again with obsessing over my hair. Why don't you just do everyone a favor and stop being a freak."
I frowned with a shrug. "Your loss."
"Wait," she said tentatively when I started back toward the trailers. "Um…how would you fix it?"
I held up my arms defensively. "I'm not at liberty to say unless you accept my services."
Don't, inner voice groaned.
I thought you were dead.
Court folded her arms and glared at me. "Fine," she huffed almost inaudibly, looking pained to be agreeing.
"What was that?" I teased, a hand at my ear. "I didn't hear you."
"Fine, you can fix my hair, you creepy pervert."
"That's better." I walked in and looked around. "You still have that scissors?"
She reached in the under-the-sink cabinet and handed it to me. "And why am I trusting you with this, again?"
"'Cause you secretly love me." I winked flirtatiously, hoping she actually did.
She scoffed and gave me a dirty look. "So, um…" She eyed me warily in the mirror as I walked around the back of her. "You know how to cut hair?"
I squinted at a lock of hair of hers in my hand and cut it to the new length Heather had started. If any of the guys (or anyone here, for that matter) came in and saw me playing Beauty Shop with my ex-girlfriend…I'd kinda be screwed badass, rebel and punk-wise.
I watched an inch of hair I'd chopped fall to the floor. "Money was tight when I was a kid, so my parents liked to save wherever they could." I shrugged, making sure I was cutting Court's hair evenly. "So my whole family started giving each other haircuts to save fifteen bucks here and there. My mom couldn't cut her own hair, so she taught me how to do it." I grinned. "My mom always used to say, 'Four home-haircuts can buy us dinner at Kentucky Fried Chicken for a week!'"
Courtney giggled quietly, meeting my gaze in the mirror.
"Thanks for listening to a small segment of Duncan's Messed-Up Life."
"No, no. I thought it was cute." The lovable, adorable, innocent, sweet Courtney started to show. The one I'd fallen for on the island. The Courtney nowadays (the vicious, blood-thirsty, lawyer-finding, easily-overreacting, deliciously hot bitch) melted away and she was herself again. She smiled warmly, looking appreciative.
I almost chopped sideways up her hair, she looked so dazzling. Huh…I don't think I've ever even thought of saying that word before.
My inner voice wrote it in a tiny dictionary. Your vocabulary of words that mean "beautiful" is now at four.
I ignored him, continuing to stare at Courtney in the mirror, and she stared back. Even with her bruised face and arms…she was flawless.
Five.
Shut up!
I broke my eyes away from hers and tried to concentrate enough to cut her hair straight.
"Listen…" She fiddled with the hem of her shirt. "…thanks for doing this for me. I know I haven't, well…been the nicest girl in the world."
"No worries," I replied coolly, hoping I seemed sexy. She sure did.
"Why are you still in your costume?"
I glanced down, remembering I wasn't wearing any underwear. Way to go, doofus. "I was just hanging out by the fire after you…" I trailed off, grimacing.
"Oh." She watched my hands hold her hair delicately. "I'm sorry."
"S'cool."
She bit her lip, looking like she wanted to say more, but didn't. So I decided to blurt out what'd been eating at me ever since she showed up. "I didn't cheat on you, okay?" I set the scissors down on the counter and leaned against it, staring at her. "I would never, ever do that. And the thought that you would actually think that just…it just kills me, Courtney. I'm sorry."
Her eyes got watery as I went on. "You're so, so pretty. I mean, even the thought of me being with another girl is just…confusing." I was making wild hand gestures, a little too animatedly. "Yea, Gwen is a great bud. We have stuff in common, big whoop." I folded my arms to keep from looking like a moron, if I wasn't already. "You've just gotta know that I'd never, never ever cheat on you."
Courtney wrung her hands together, giving me a small, sincere smile. "I know."
"You do?"
"I'll, um…I'll think about it, okay?"
"Wait." I put two fingers up. "Did I just hear you agree to consider being with me again?"
She nodded excitedly. "Yeah." She held out her arms, offering a small hug.
My heart leapt. I carefully put my arms around her waist, sighing when I rested my head on her shoulder. Yea, it's really happening.
She pulled away and motioned to the left side of her head. "Now if you could…"
"Oh, yeah." I sliced through the remainder of hair that needed to be cut, went around and made sure I hadn't missed anything, then tossed the scissors under the sink. "There you go. I'm done."
"Wow." She finger-combed her hair, smiling at me. "It looks great. Thank you."
"No problem." I backed up a couple steps toward the doorway. "So…see you tomorrow."
She waved lightly. "Bye."
I pumped the air as soon as I was outside in the dark. Yes!
"Oh, Duncan, wait," she called.
I turned around quickly, and she was all over me. I closed my eyes as her lips crushed against mine fiercely, my outfit balled up in her fists. We leaned in to each other, my hands at her waist. Though…her kiss felt different than it had earlier. Maybe it was just because she was so into it? Maybe she was wearing different lip gloss? Come to think of it…her body felt a little different, too. She felt…scrawnier…less curvy. And she smelled like…coconut.
I put my hands on her shoulders, struggling to push her back as she fought to keep her face pressed against mine. I shoved her back gently, shocked to see that she was standing a few feet away, her mouth hanging open, horrified, in the bathroom doorway. I glanced frantically to the girl in front of me, and there stood Heather in the shadows.
"Mmm, you kiss so good." She curled her fingers and winked at me, sprinting away to leave me alone with Courtney.
I slowly turned to look at her, petrified.
Her nostrils flared, her hands clenched tight. "Well," she said tightly. "I'm glad to know that you'd never, ever hurt me."
I pressed my hands to my face. "Court, I can explain. I thought she was–"
"Gwen?"
"No I–"
"I can't believe I actually considered trusting you again." Before she snapped back into her new self, I saw her bottom lip wobble the tiniest bit. She folded her arms icily, scowling at me. "Big mistake. Goodbye, ogre."
I watched her run back to her trailer, an arm outstretched like I could grab her and pull her back over to me. "I hate this place!" I shouted. "Damn it!" I pulled my leg back and kicked the side of the stone building. "OW!" Next time I should remember to wear shoes.
YEE-OUCH. So we know now that Heather FOR CERTAIN likes Duncan, or else she wouldn't've grabbed him (him thinking she was Courtney) and made out with him. PLUS, we had a little romance when Duncan was helping Courtney with her hair (d'aaw, what a softie!). But then when Courtney came out and saw Heather and Duncan all over each other...! [sniff, sniff] Is that disaster I smell?
