Over the Hills and Far Away

Chapter 1: Unlikely Acquaintances

Author's Note: Hey, everyone! This is a story inspired by You and Me Forever and Ever, which was a Duncan and Courtney fic by i'mSOhighIcanHEARheaven. Sadly, it has only two short chapters and was last updated in 2011, so I decided to complete it and put my own spin on things. The title is inspired by the song of the same name by Led Zeppelin. I feel like it's great for a wholesome love story like this one. Rated T as a safety rating, as the two will probably grow up and get into more adult things. I hope you like it! :)

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At a park in Spring Valley, eight year old Duncan was sitting on a blue bench, secluding himself in his thoughts and eyeing his surroundings. Children his age enjoying themselves at play, older men sitting at a picnic table playing cards and reminiscing about their eventful lives, and his house just across the street.

The boy took notice of a little girl on the swings, sitting by herself. She attempted to propel herself forward, but couldn't muster the strength to do so, her feet kicking the floor in a hopeless struggle of determination.

For a reason he couldn't explain, Duncan found himself studying the brown haired girl and her lousy attempts to push the swing forward. It was amusing in a certain manner, but he couldn't help but notice the expression glazing the girl's face. It was one of slight sadness, of a little girl going through the struggles of her youthful life.

The two looked to be about the same age, yet he didn't recognize her in the heat of the moment. She had short brown hair, extending downwards until about the height of her shoulders, with freckles underneath her big brown eyes. He had a tuft of black hair on top of his head, and his face was highlighted with piercing blue eyes.

She continued kicking slowly, seeking to elevate the yellow swing from the ground of the park, yet she still couldn't seem to achieve her miniscule goal. Duncan kept observing the little girl, and soon enough, thoughts clouded his head. He began to ponder over whether he should help her or not. He had been sitting on the park bench, witnessing the girl trying her absolute hardest to commence her swinging. Normally, he wouldn't give the current situation a second thought. After all, what good would it be to him if he had helped a pathetic kid like him swing at the park? However, there was something about this girl. She looked worried.

As she abruptly stopped trying to swing, she began staring at the ground, leaving Duncan guessing as to what possible thoughts were invading her mind. He seriously debated aiding her. He would never usually help someone in an event as uneventful as this, but the girl wore an expression that Duncan couldn't help but notice. She looked sad, and it seemed as if she had given up on her attempts at swinging. He stared at the girl from afar as she gripped the chains on either side of the swing and heaved a heavy sigh. She wiped her face with her arm and kicked the ground softly.

Without even realizing the action he had just taken, Duncan had stood up from the bench and walked towards the swingsets, unpopulated with the exception of the little girl.

As he approached her, she looked up from her indefinite gaze on the ground and noticed a boy around her age getting closer. She tilted her head up to face the boy while he smiled at her.

"Hello," she greeted him somewhat shyly. She wiped her eyes once more, awaiting the boy's response.

"I haven't seen you around here. Are you new?" Duncan asked.

"Yes," she responded, her head tipping up more as she grew more comfortable with the boy. "My parents and I just moved," she said through a sniff.

She tried to sound as if she was fine, but she couldn't help herself. Her words were slurred, and her voice slightly congested. Her eyes were red and fairly bloodshot, drawing further evidence to the fact that she was crying.

"Is something wrong?" the boy asked.

"No," the girl on the swings responded. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I saw you sitting by yourself, and I… Well, I felt bad."

She finally tipped her head up completely and exchanged a look with the boy in front of her. "Really?"

"Yeah," he answered. "Can I sit next to you?"

The girl nodded in response to his question, and he took the green swing next to her yellow counterpart.

"Do you go to school here?" she asked.

"Yeah, I go to Lincoln Elementary," he told her.

"I'm gonna go there when school starts next week," she explained. "I'm in 3rd grade."

"Me, too," Duncan added. "Maybe we'll see each other."

"That would be fun."

"Do you have any friends here?" Duncan asked the girl.

She shook her head and looked down, once again starting to stare at the ground.

"Hey," the boy started, placing his hand on the girl's shoulder to get her attention. She looked up at him as he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I don't want to talk about it."

"Are you sure?"

The girl crossed her arms and shut her eyes while releasing an audible scoff. "Yes. I'll be fine."

"Okay, then," the boy said as he took notice of a tear rolling down the girl's cheek. He couldn't help but feel sorry for her. What was wrong?

She soon continued trying to swing, but it seemed she was too lightweight. Duncan gave a slight chuckle after about a minute of useless kicking, standing up from his swing. He walked the short distance needed to position himself behind her swing, and he asked, "Mind if I help?"

She turned her pretty little face around and smiled with a nod. Duncan began lightly pushing her, and a smile lit up her face. She had been driven out of her thoughts and into the moment, swinging at the park with her new friend behind her. They laughed and swung for a little while, now comfortable with each other.

After Courtney had managed to maintain a steady rhythm, Duncan walked over to his swing and started to swing himself. The two continued swinging for a while, enjoying it every step of the way.

After about ten minutes, a voice called out from behind them. "Courtney!"

The little girl turned around and noticed her mother standing on the porch. She jumped off the swing almost immediately, and Duncan did the same. The girl's mother went back inside after realizing she had grasped Courtney's attention.

"Sorry, but I have to go," the girl explained.

"That's alright. Is that your mom?"

"Yes," the girl started. "Do you want to come here again tomorrow? I live right across the street."

"Yeah, sure," Duncan told her as she smiled and turned around, starting to walk towards her home. "Wait!" he called after her.

She turned and retraced her steps to come face to face with Duncan. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Courtney," she responded. "What's yours?"

"Duncan. I live right next to you, actually."

"Cool. I'll see you tomorrow, Duncan."

"Bye, Courtney," Duncan said as he bode farewell. "Oh, and one more thing. I can be your friend if you want."

Courtney beamed with a blinding smile, clearly eager to make a new friend. "Really?"

"Yeah, sure," Duncan replied. "Now you don't have to be sad anymore because you have a friend."

Courtney walked a bit closer and wrapped her arms around him, soon pulling back. "Thanks, Duncan. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Courtney," Duncan said as the onyx eyed girl turned and stopped at the crosswalk, checking both ways to spot any potential motor vehicles coming her way.

She entered her house, which was a large one, complete with two wide stories and a large walkway leading into it. Decorating the edges were beautiful hedges the size of her. It was a fairly rich neighborhood.

Before she opened her door, she turned around to see Duncan watching her enter, still standing in the same spot in which they exchanged farewells. She took notice and flashed him a genuine smile and an enthusiastic wave. He waved back as she entered the house.

The little girl was exceedingly proud of herself, as an illustrious girl in a fresh environment. She had contrived a new friend before school had even started, and he seemed nice. He had taken her abroad, away from the harsh struggles of her home life and had carried a fresh bundle of joy on his back just for her. She couldn't wait until the morrow, where she would expectantly get to see her newfound friend once more.