Final Chapter ... weird isn't it? I hope you like this last little bit! (Hey! I'm a poet, and I didn't even know it!) *Criticism is welcomed.
Noah, Tyler, and Lindsey spent most of lunch discussing prom, laughing every time they reminisced about the incident with Alejandro.
"I heard he was in the doctors office all weekend!" hooted Noah.
"Where his parents pissed?" asked a concern Tyler.
"Actually, they called to thank me," said Lindsey honestly. "They said it was good for me to teach him a lesson," she shrugged.
Noah smiled. "I was wrong about you, Lindsey. Tyler, you picked a good one," he winked.
"What was that supposed to mean?" asked Lindsey curiously.
"Forget about it," said Tyler wrapping his arm around her. Lindsey nuzzled against his shoulder and nodded.
Suddenly, a loud bang came from the other end of the cafeteria. The three looked over to see Duncan stomp into the lunchroom, knocking over the pile of lunch trays. Duncan then proceeded to bump into Harold's shoulder, and growl at anyone who looked his way.
"What's his problem?" asked Noah.
"Probably back to his old self now that it's all over," shrugged Tyler.
"Poor guy," sighed Lindsey.
Noah looked at her with a puzzled face. "What do you mean 'poor guy'?" he asked.
"Isn't it obvious? He's still upset about Gwen," Lindsey pointed out.
"But he acted this way before the deal," said Tyler.
"Look at him!" urged Lindsey "He was pissed off with everyone before. Now he's angry with his actions towards one person. You can see it in his eyes,"
"That's very deep," said Noah sarcastically.
"Thanks!" smiled Lindsey.
"How is Gwen?" asked Tyler.
Lindsey sighed. "She's okay. That or she's hiding it from me. She's just been a little different, like she just doesn't care anymore,"
"But she didn't care before," said Tyler.
"She cared about not caring. Now, she doesn't care about anything," said Lindsey.
Tyler sighed and looked over to Duncan. "I'm sure things will work out," he reassured his girlfriend. Lindsey nodded, but she still looked worried. She really did hope things will work out, but knowing Gwen, it was a long shot.
Sixth-period was almost over and Gwen couldn't recall a single thing from the lesson. The most she remembered was the teacher laughing at Alejandro's injuries and saying the phrase: "I know it would happen sooner or later!"
Gwen's mind was on something else. Something that kept her in her room all weekend, staring at the ceiling. It was Monday, so she had to leave for school. But otherwise, all she wanted was to be alone with her thoughts.
Duncan had broken her heart, and there was no one there to pick up the pieces. Lindsey was busy with Tyler, and their father would have only said: "I told you so," over and over again. Gwen let her head fall onto her desk. Her hair, sprawling out creating a protective cocoon.
The bell rang, yet she didn't move. She reminded seated at her desk with her head down. She didn't want to leave the classroom out of fear that she might see him again. She was able to avoid him all day, but Gwen knew she would have to confront him sooner or later.
Eventually, Gwen lost all knowledge of place or time. So it greatly startled her when she heard a pair of loud heels enter the classroom. "As principle of this school, I am legally required to ask you if you're alright,"
Gwen looked up and saw Miss. Blaineley. She was looking back a Gwen with a confused face. Gwen quickly jumped up and started packing her things. "Oh yeah – I'm – I'm fine," she said.
"Listen, honey, I may have only been here for a couple of years, but my experience with teenage girls tells me something is bothering you. Keep in mind that I really don't give a damn, but if you're suffering from depression, I might get sewed. So I would strongly advise you to tell me your problems," said Miss. Blaineley bluntly.
Gwen sighed. "Have you ever had this guy-"
"Yes."
Gwen looked at her strangely. "I haven't even told you the story,"
"Honey, I've had every 'guy problem' in the book,"
"Really?" asked Gwen.
"Try me,"
Gwen took a deep breath and retold the tale of her time with Duncan. Miss. Blaineley listened closely and nodded with understanding. Every so often, she would throw in a: "Tell me about it," or a "Been there, done that,". At the end of Gwen's rant, Miss Blaineley checked her watch. "What class do you have?" she asked.
"Free period," shrugged Gwen.
"That leaves time for a little girl talk," joked Miss. Blaineley. Gwen chuckled. "Look, I'm going to tell you something that might help. Ever since I've started working here, Duncan has always had to visit my office at least once a day. At the beginning of the year, I could tell that he was a huge jerk, but can I tell you a secret?" Gwen nodded. "He's a big softy. He wears his heart on his sleeve. But he knows that it doesn't get you anywhere in high school, so he puts on an act. Now lately he hasn't been getting in trouble, and when I see him, he's not as terrible as he used to be. I think it's because of you,"
Gwen took a moment to think about those words. "How do you know?" asked Gwen curiously.
"I have my hand on the pulse all the time. I know everything that goes on with you kids. I heard about Geoff's party and Duncan's little performance for you in the stands,"
"He just wanted to get paid,"
"Perhaps," said Miss. Blaineley. "But think about it this way. I heard him threatening three different boys for talking about what you did at Geoff's. I heard him insulting Heather for calling you a slut. Hell, I even saw him give the money back to Alejandro the second you left prom,"
Gwen looked at her with wide eyes. "He – He did all that?" asked Gwen.
"And much more. I don't know much about this deal, but I do know it probably didn't involve him having to stand up for you. And to give all that money back? Call me crazy, but I think he wasn't lying when he said he cared for you," Gwen couldn't help but smile to herself. Could Duncan have really done all of those things? Why would he be so nice to her? Gwen leaned in to give Miss. Blaineley a hug of thanks, but Miss. Blaineley pulled back. "This shirt is dry-clean only honey. Thick make-up is tough to get out," Gwen laughed and nodded while Miss. Blaineley stood and started to leave the class.
"Thank you," said Gwen quietly.
Miss Blaineley paused at that door. "You're welcome. Promise me, though, that you'll think about what I've said. Having Duncan out of my office these past few weeks has been a dream come true!"
Everybody has a sanctuary, and Gwen's was the art room. Even when she didn't have class, she tended to drift in and work on a sketch. However, her sanctum was ruined every time that Heather would actually show up for art class. She would either suck up to the teacher or have nothing to do with the class at all. Today was one of those days that Heather seemed to be all over the place. She was especially loud, rude, and obnoxious today, and all Gwen wanted to do was stab her pencil into her eye. Instead, Gwen raised her hand, and used an excuse that always got her out of class. "Could I work outside today? I have a great idea for another piece of work, but I need the right atmosphere," said Gwen as the teacher walked by.
The teacher looked at her and smiled. "I'd rather die then see myself prevent an artist from expressing themselves properly. Please do, just promise me to be back by the end of class," said the teacher approvingly. Gwen smiled back and began to pack her things.
"Could I work outside the class as well?" asked Heather with her annoying voice.
The teacher's eyes narrowed. "No. Get back to your - … would you call it a sculpture? Maybe a … mold of some sort?"
The only place Gwen could think of for solitude was the football field. This was the only time of day it wasn't being used by any class or any team. She pulled out her utensils and got set up. However, when she was ready to go, the ideas didn't flow from her head to her hand like they usually did. Her mind actually remained on her discussion with Miss. Blaineley.
Before their first formal meeting, Gwen more or less didn't know who Duncan was. Just some punk kid who skipped all of his classes and was consistently getting in trouble. But every since their 'date' Gwen could only see more and more good inside him.
However, along with all of these pro's came the cons. Could everything he had done just been an act? Gwen didn't know the full details of this arraignment, but Duncan was getting money either way. Who knows? Maybe Alejandro asked for the money back for lack of desired results.
Or maybe Duncan was just a nice guy.
Or maybe …
Gwen growled with frustration. This was one of the few occasions of her life were she couldn't control her own thoughts. She eventually let her mind relax, but let her thoughts shoot to the moment when she and Duncan shared their first kiss. Everything about that kiss felt so right, so real. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that he kissed her with actual feelings.
She let herself sigh and look to her sketchbook. She began to draw a blue bird flying over a small, yet majestic body of water. Gwen then drew a small green fish jumping out of the water to meet the bird. "A bird can love a fish-" thought Gwen. "But where would they live? I could love Duncan, but how could I forgive him?" Gwen stared at the flawless picture. Love is complicated.
"Nice picture,"
Gwen felt herself seize up at the sound of his voice. Her words suddenly escaped her mouth and her mind went blank. All of the thoughts and ideas that were once in her head were now replaced with the memory of betrayal. She looked at him angrily. "What do you want?" she snapped.
"Can you give me a moment?" he begged.
"Why should I?" asked Gwen crossing her arms.
"Because when you care for someone as much as I care for you, you would be willing to do anything from them," he replied with the same anger burning in his eyes.
"Since when do I care for you?"
"Don't lie to yourself, pasty. You always have," he said with a smirk.
"Real mature," growled Gwen as she began to pack her things.
"Listen, Gwen. Do you want to hear the truth?" he asked. Gwen paused, then turned to him slowly and nodded. "Yes. I did get into this for the money. When Alejandro and Justin first gave me this opportunity to make a few bucks, I took it. But from our first conversation I liked you,"
Gwen felt the air from her lungs being sucked out of her with every word that came from his mouth. "I like you!" he repeated a little louder. "So I made a few mistakes along the way, but that was only because I didn't want to let myself believe it. And now, all I want is for you to like me back. Now you can either be yourself and brush me off, or you can give us a chance because deep down, I know you feel the same way,"
His eyebrows were still furrowed in the middle as he awaited for her answer. Gwen's hands went numb and her body began to shake. This was Duncan. The man she never knew, now, all she wanted was to be with him. Duncan; the guy who could be a huge jerk, but the sweetest guy she could ever know at that same time.
And in a moment of true happiness and forgiveness, she threw her arms around him and trapped his lips into a passionate kiss. He held her tight and kissed her back. His prayers had been answered.
When they broke, they took a moment to look into each other's eyes. Her onyx ones reflected in his teal ones. "Why can't everyone know how sweet you are?" she asked him.
He smirked. "Cause if the guys around here knew, they might try and take my girl away,"
Gwen pushed him back playfully. "Your girl? Since when am I someone's property, and – "
She couldn't finish her feminist rant as Duncan silenced her with another kiss. While Gwen was a little angry with this, she decided to let this one go. After all, if some fish could fly and some birds could swim, she could let herself go (but only a few times).
And there you go. I hope you all liked this chapter as well as the rest of my story.
Thanks to all for your kind words, and a big thanks to those who offered suggestions of improvement. This being my first story, I was a little nervous. So, once again, thanks to all!
