A||N: I figured since not that many people are reading it, I'd take a little longer to update in order to make it better. As always, R&R if you want. Peace. :)

|Duncan.|

Courtney gave me a big hug, wrapping her arms around my neck. I returned the embrace, hugging tightly around her waist before planting a big kiss on her chapstick laden lips. I wiped some of the chapstick residue off with my finger and smelled it.

"Awesome, now my lips smell like Orange Mango." I exclaimed sarcastically with a smirk.

"Duncan, you know how easily my lips get chapped in this chilly weather." replied Courtney.

She gave me that usual 'You Asshole' look that she always gives me whenever I'm even mildly sarcastic. That look was very annoying sometimes, it's like she couldn't look past the fact that I have a 'sarcastic asshole' sense of humor. I don't know, maybe the way I felt was irrational but, it still bothered me.

"Babe, do you always have to give me that look? You know I was kidding." I replied, obviously frustrated.

"What did I say about the pet names, Dunky?" she replied selfishly.

I was so close to losing my temper but, when I thought about it, I didn't want to be girlfriend-less. So, I sucked it up and calmed down.

"Right, sorry ba-Courtney." I replied, catching my error, hoping that she didn't notice. Turned out she didn't notice, I really wasn't looking for an argument or a fight.

"So, what are you doing tonight?" Courtney asked.

Funny thing about that question, was the fact that it really wasn't a question in Courtney's world. We've been together for eight months now, and I knew for a fact that she expected me to be with her 24/7. I could tell by the smug look on her face, that she expected me to say something along the lines of "Whatever you're doing tonight." or some other bullshit answer. I needed to get out of hanging with Courtney tonight. Maybe if I had some time away, I'd want to spend more time with her.

If it could actually happen, a blinding lightbulb would've appeared above my head. I'd use the thing Courtney cared about most against her... Her grades.

"Well, I figured with that Global History final coming up, you'd be swamped with studying. I also have a project that I have to work on with Jonesy for Ms. Burgos..." I replied.

I tried my best to sound as concerned as possible about schoolwork, believe me it was hard. I rubbed the back of my head, hoping she'd buy it and almost immediately she remembered that she had the Final to study for.

"Oh my god! Thanks for reminding me, Dunky! I'm going to go home and get a jump on my studying. Good luck with your project and I'll talk to you tonight, if not, I'll see you tomorrow." she exclaimed as she began to hurry off to the nearest exit.

Once Courtney was out of sight, I breathed a sigh of relief. As much as I liked that girl, she could really bring my piss to a boil. I was about to head home, when I heard what sounded like somebody riding a skateboard down the hallway. I turned around to be greeted by none other than Jude Lizowski.

"Duuuuuuuuuuude! Are you still up for some skating? Or did Princess make up your mind for you?" teased Jude as he gave me a punch in the arm.

I returned the punch to his arm, but, mine was harder and he had to rub his arm in an effort to relieve the pain.

"Yes, I am still up for some 'boarding, and where is your girlfriend? You know, Star? Oh wait...she dumped you." I replied rather coldly but, I was rather annoyed at the moment. However, once I saw his facial expression change, I instantly felt bad.

"That was low, man." he replied in a defeated tone.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I'm just kinda pissed at the moment... You know what? I'll make it up to you! I'll buy a thirty-piece off of you today, after we tear up the Mall." I said with a big, devious grin.

Jude instantly brightened up. "You want to smoke it together?"

"Of course, man. It's no fun alone." I said.

"Do you want to head to the Mall now? I was about to head there when I saw you here." Jude replied.

"Nah, I can't. I have to go home and get my 'board. Also, I want to stop home and get something to eat." I responded.

"Sure thing, man. I'll see you there!" he exclaimed. As soon as he finished what he had to say, he was already speeding down the smooth tiled floor of the hallway towards the exit.

I watched him go and then I grabbed my bag, and headed the same way he did. As I pushed open the front doors to the school and began to head home, I grabbed my iPod from my pocket and put my earphones in.

"I'm giving in to you. Take me under, I'm giving in to you. I'm dying tonight. I'm giving in to you...Watch me crumble." I repeated the lyrics as I pushed my house key into the keyhole and opened the door to my humble abode, if you will.

Nobody was home as usual. My brother, Zane was off at college and would be home later that night. He didn't dorm due to the fact that it was too expensive and cheaper to live at home. Needless to say, Zane was the good brother. The one that Mom and Dad favored. My oldest brother, Nick, was usually never home. He had a job and chose not to go to college, he couldn't stand school. Nick is just like me, except a hundred times worse. Sometimes, I think he's the evil incarnate. He and I don't always get along due to the fact that we are so much alike but, at the end of the day, I have his back and he has mine. Mom and Dad were cops, so they were almost rarely here during the week. They had been on the force for a long time so, they were given weekends off. At that moment, I recieved a text message from my mom, saying that she and my dad had to work over time, which meant I had the house to myself. That was never anything too big with me, due to the fact I was barely home.

I proceeded to run upstairs, head into my room, and grab my skateboard from under my bed. My skateboard was literally the only thing that I knew exactly where it was in my room. I ran down the stairs, skipping a step each time and headed back out the door. Whenever I went skateboarding, I felt...good. The wind in my face and all the fact that all people that I rode by were watching me were the biggest contributors to my good feeling. As I sped down the smoothly paved streets, I saw the Galleria Mall come into view so, I added to my speed with a few push offs. I hopped off my board once I reached the seemingly forever packed parking lot.

I weaved in between the parked cars, mainly because it was like a shortcut. I pulled out my cellphone and scrolled down to the name entitled 'JEWde'. I only had this nickname for Jude due to the fact he was jewish and he didn't mind, it actually makes him chuckle everytime he sees it. I clicked on his name and waited for him to answer. After waiting for about five rings, Jude answered the phone and told me that he was at the 'Concrete Stairs' around the back. Once I got there, we greeted each other with our usual handshake. Almost immediately after we finished the very brief handshake, I was overwhelmed by the smell of weed.

"Damn man, I can smell that from hear!" I laughed, followed by me taking a nice, big whiff.

"Is it that smelly? I'm congested so, I can't smell a thing." Jude replied.

I watched as Jude transfered it from his pocket to his bag so, the smell wouldn't be as pungent. Once the paraphernalia was safely put away, we hopped on our boards and began to skate and simply have fun before we had to return to our respective 'lives'.

|Gwen.|

With my binder and other assorted books hugged tightly against my chest, I made my way down the dimly lit stairwell towards the first floor. As I came upon the large double doors that served as the entrance and exit, I gave LeShawna and Bridgette a hug goodbye before heading off in the direction of my home. Once I stepped outside, the brisk November air greeted me, it's chilly breeze made me smile. October and November were my absolute favorite months. Despite popular belief, rainy days were not all a Goth's favorite. I liked it cloudly but, I hate being wet. Today was the perfect mix of chilly weather and cloudy skies.

As I reached the front door to my home, I pulled out my keys and flipped through them until I reached the right one and opened the door. Once I was inside, I quickly shut the door. The temperature itself was nice but, the sudden wind that accompanied it, was not. My cheeks and nose were rosey from the cold, but the cozy heat that was flowing throughout my house eased the numbness in my face. I was about to head upstairs and take a nap but, I remembered that I had to do a sketch for art, and it was woth ten percent of my grade. I groaned knowing I had to go back out in the wind, the weather itself wasn't a problem but, this cursed wind was almost too much. Luckily, I remembered before I took undressed, all I had to do was wrap the scarf around my neck and head back out the door with my beloved sketchbook in hand.

The Galleria Mall was too far from my house to walk, so I had to take the bus. After about thirty minutes and almost falling asleep on the bus, I arrived at the Mall. The sketch I was assigned to do had to be of a certain part of the Mall that we chose. Why Ms. Gagliardi chose the Mall for us to draw is beyond me. I definitely didn't want to go in the Mall, I was bound to run into some irritating situation and I certainly wanted to avoid that at all costs. After a few moments of careful thought, I decided to go around back, this way I'd be able to avoid the bumbling morons in the Mall and nobody else would think to do the back so, mine would be unique.

As I reached the back of the Mall, I began to hear the familiar sounds of wheels rolling against pavement, as well as wood sliding against metal. Somebody was skateboarding, and right then and there, I knew what I was going to draw. I was lucky enough to find a vent that was billowing heat so, I sat in front of it and let the warmth flow through my body. I bent my knees and allowed the sketchbook and pencil to rest against my knees for a bit, but a voice soon caught my attention.

"Hey, Gwen! What brings you around these parts." asked Jude in his usual drawn out, stoner voice.

I liked Jude. He was nice and could always take a hint. Sometimes he could be a little 'dim' so to speak as well as very forgetful but, that's what smoking weed since you were thirteen will do to you.

I held up my sketchbook so he could see it and spoke. "Art class. I'm going to draw you and Duncan skating." I smiled. That's when I first noticed Duncan there, I thought Jude was alone but, it seemed Duncan had gone to take a leak or something.

"Okay, cool!" exclaimed Jude. "Be sure to get my good side."

Duncan had finally seemed to notice that I was there, or even the fact that Jude was talking to someone. He seemed lost in thought. However, he did look up at me and began to speak.

"Do you want us to do tricks or something?" he asked with a smirk.

"No, just do what you would normally do. Pretend I'm not even here." I replied, smiling back.

For some reason the smirk that he gave me, warmed me up much more then the heat blasting on my back ever could. After about an hour or two, I finished my drawing and began to head home. For some reason, I couldn't get Duncan's smirk out of my head. I barely even knew him and I just couldn't get him out of my head!

"This is crazy." I said to myself as I neared the block that I lived on.

"This is someone else's boyfriend I'm thinking about here." I continued, very conflicted with my feelings at the moment. "Well, it's okay to just be friends, right? I guess I'll just cross that bridge when I come to it."

I was too busy lost in thought to hear the familiar sound of a skateboard nearing the same corner I was...