Chapter 6: The Sucky Outcomes

Courtney POV

This officially sucks.

Even when I was a CIT at a crappy campsite it was way better than this.

We lost Katie and Sadie, our tent burned down, and then it started to rain on us! All of this would've been fine if it hadn't been for Duncan constantly making me his main target for humiliation. First he chose to be sexist towards me by calling me "woman" and demanding I cook for him, then he had to scare the living hell out of all of us with his stupid story, and then he tells me to calm down after we lose our tent and get stuck in the rain.

I have every reason to be pissed off right now and he has no right to tell me to calm down, let alone act like it's no big deal. Right now everyone is soaking wet from the rain and trying to get a few precious moments of sleep while it's still dark. Bridgette is snuggled up with Geoff, Harold is lying like a plank on the hard ground, and DJ is leaning his back against Tyler's. Meanwhile that jerk Duncan is snoozing away peacefully with his arms behind his head, sometimes I just hate him.

Well ok… yesterday he wasn't so bad. He did after all take me to the medic when I had hit my head. What I don't understand is why he beat up Harold later; all I did was hug him for winning the talent contest. Bridgette hugged him too but it's not like Geoff went and beat anyone up. Honestly, what is it that makes guys think beating up people is attractive?

I've never been the kind of girl to go for bad boys and I don't want to start. It's bad enough that I'm attracted to Duncan (yes I admit it!), but yesterday I slipped and actually started flirting with him, I actually made it sound like I'd give him a kiss if he did more favors for me. Since when am I the type of person to reward someone with kisses!

I sigh and look over at Duncan. It's his fault I'm unable to sleep, his scary stories spooked me and now all I keep thinking about is that goddamn stupid hook man. I'll never let him know what effect he had on me though, the moment anyone finds a weakness on you they use it against you. I'm not about to let myself be played by some boy just because I find him attractive.

"You still awake?"

I gasp and nearly jump out of my skin when Duncan suddenly speaks up and looks at me through one open eye. He smiles innocently at me as I try to compose myself.

"Yes I'm still awake. I'm soaking wet and don't feel like lying down on the wet dirt with no tent." Duncan rolls his eyes at me.

"Are you still complaining about that? The tent burned down, get over it." OK now I want to slap him, forget that sexy face of his, I want to slap it clean off.

"Don't tell me what to do," I hiss angrily at him. "I'm cold, I'm tired, and I'm mad at you." I bring my knees up to my chest and rest my chin on top of them pouting. I know I'm acting like a child right now but I can't help it. A hundred thousand dollars or not, I want to go home.

"Oh jeez," complains Duncan sitting up. "Are you still pissed I scared you earlier."

I glare at him evilly, making sure he doesn't think me weak or frail. "You did not scare me, it's your constant obnoxiousness I have a problem with."

Duncan looks at me as if I'm insane and asks "What the hell did I do that was so obnoxious?"

"You degraded me by calling me 'woman,' you made fun of me after your stupid story, and then you tell me to calm down after all the hard work I put into that tent burned down!" I have to grit my teeth in order to keep from yelling, but damn this guy makes me want to scream and holler.

Again Duncan rolls his eyes. "Ok then… from now on I'll call you a man, since calling you a woman clearly annoys you. I won't make fun of you when you scream like a baby after a simple story, and I'm so sorry your hours of blood and sweat in putting up that tent were ruined."

It goes quiet for a long time with the both of us just staring each other down. His sarcastic remark keeps ringing in my ears until I….until I….

I get up and start walking away. I am not putting up with this, a few insults in one day is enough. But for him to throw my frustrations right back in my face have really gotten on my last nerve. Forget about hating Duncan sometimes, I hate him now and forever.

Just when I think I'm rid of him he comes running after me. Why does God hate me?

"Oh c'mon Courtney, don't be so damn sensitive, I was joking!"

I stop walking, but it's not because he's sort of apologizing it's because….. "You said my name."

Duncan gulps once and shrugs his shoulders as if it's no big deal. It really isn't, I just never thought it was possible for him to use my actual name as opposed to some nickname.

"Look, I understand where you're coming from," says Duncan in a non-insulting voice. "We're all tired and a bit frustrated, but this is just one other challenge. We'll survive, just like we always do, and tomorrow you can complain about it as much as you want."

Duncan reaches for my hand, I think about pulling away but he's surprisingly warm.

"But for now can we just go to bed?" he pleads with me obviously tired himself.

Even though he's holding my hand I still don't budge. I don't fully trust myself around Duncan, not to mention I'm still mad at him all the crap he pulled with me earlier. I'm the type of girl who can hold a grudge for a long time.

"Please princess."

Fortunately for Duncan I'm also the kind of girl who's agreeable when I really want to be. I nod in approval and let Duncan lead me back to where the others are sleeping. He immediately finds a comfy area to lie down in while I look around dumbly for anywhere I might be comfortable. It's still cold and I'm still really spooked by the woods, so all I do is fidget around nervously while Duncan watches me clearly annoyed.

I yelp when a hand snatches my wrist and drags me down on a really warm and secure place. "Would you relax already, I'm trying to sleep here."

I realize I'm lying on Duncan's chest and my cheeks immediately heat up, I'm not use to this level of closeness or contact with another boy I find attractive. Duncan seems to sense my tenseness and scoffs. "I'm not going to do anything, and if this really embarrasses you so much then you can insult me in the morning and deny it."

I want to tell him it doesn't embarrass me, I really like lying this way with Duncan. It's appearing weak that scares me. Instead of saying anything I merely wrap my arms around Duncan and soak up his warmth. I decide I will just yell at him in the morning, I'm too relaxed against his body to worry about anything else. Just as I'm about to fall asleep something pops up in my mind.

"Duncan?"

"Hmm?" Duncan asks groggily.

"Why did you beat up Harold yesterday? He did help us win the challenge, you didn't even audition, you said the only thing you could do was carve a skull."

I feel his chest rise heavily then fall again. He takes a minute to answer my question. "Because he's a show off," he muttered angrily. I was about to tell him that wasn't a good excuse to beat someone up until he spoke again. "And because you didn't get to see my real talent. Trust me, if you knew what my real talent was you would've been all over me and not Harold."

"What is your real talent?" I ask curiously.

Duncan looks at me mischievously and grins wildly. I suddenly realize what he's talking about and slap him hard on the chest. "Ewe! Duncan that's gross!"

He chuckles and only continues to look at me devilishly. "Oh c'mon don't act like you don't want a performance," he says puckering his lips.

I roll my eyes and place my head back on his chest. "Pass."

Duncan makes another sound but I can't tell what it is. He sounds disappointed or frustrated, but that can't be it. I'm sure I'm not his type. I'm just one of those girls who's available to tease and maybe make out with a bit, but never actually get into a serious relationship with. For some reason it stings me that I'm just another girl to him, but it's not like I can do anything about it, and it's not like I'm going to do that to myself either.

"Good night Courtney." Again it's weird hearing him use my name.

"Good night Duncan." I feel so good in his arms and it sucks. It sucks that nothing real will ever come out of this. The outcome sucks more than this entire competition.

"Remember if have any urges during the night I'm right here sweetheart."

"Good night Duncan."

"Just wake me up and I'll take you somewhere nice and quiet, and we'll get down and dirty, and then-''

"GOOD NIGHT DUNCAN!"

A/N: I think another reason Courtney might be so brash against Duncan is because she doesn't think his feelings toward her are serious and he just sees her as a joke. But Duncan's approach is just his way of courting, which Courtney isn't use to, therefore she resists it. None the less Duncan really does have feelings for her, but it's hard for him to express them when he has an image to protect.

Anyway, let me know what you think. I promise the next chapter will be much better.