Chapter 6

Courtney walked down the stairs, Bridgette was telling her about something funny Geoff said or did. Courtney wasn't too sure on that part. Her mind still remained in her bedroom with Duncan. He was just messing with her, she knew that. He seemed so quick to put his shirt back on and pretend as if nothing had happened.

Which was fine, Courtney didn't care. He would probably point at her face and laugh, ridiculing her for falling for such an obvious prank.

"So what do you think?" Bridgette asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Hm? What?" Courtney couldn't pretend she was listening anymore.

Bridgette pulled her aside and away from the kitchen. Everyone had gathered in the large kitchen to make their plates and get something to drink.

"Hey, you okay?"

Courtney wanted to respond, but the sight of Duncan walking into the kitchen from the living room entrance caused her words to get lost. She watched as he walked over to Geoff. Geoff raised his hand to give him a high-five but stopped when he noticed his hair.

"Dude, why's your hair wet?" He asked.

Duncan's response was to punch him in the arm. It was hard enough to make Geoff rub at the skin. A bruise forming most likely.

"Play nice." Trent chastised, his tone tired.

Duncan quietly made his plate. Chips and a sandwich. He sat down at the table. He was probably thinking. Courtney for a moment hoped it was about her.

"Courtney." Bridgette walked into view, blocking Duncan from her.

"I'm okay. Don't worry." She gave her friend a smile and walked to the kitchen.

Bridgette stood there. Her hands in her blue hoodie. She knew that Courtney was saying she was going to be okay. She knew not to push, but Courtney was her friend and she really wanted to make sure everything was okay. DJ did mention that Ted stopped by earlier. Did he say something to her?

Bridgette watched Courtney fix her lunch. She wouldn't answer her question the first time and she doubted that Courtney would answer even if she asked a second time. She let out a sigh, might as well leave her be for now.


It had been fifteen minutes after Gwen and Trent brought lunch. They sat around Courtney's kitchen table. It was small but big enough for everyone to sit. Courtney, Bridgette, and Gwen were able to squeeze themselves on the pale blue bench that rested against the wall. The boys were lucky and were able to sit in the chairs.

Courtney watched as Duncan tried to convince Trent to bring his camcorder with him on their second trip into the forest. Trent seemed a little hesitant for some reason. The two seemed to have a hidden meaning behind their conversation, Courtney just wished she knew what it was.

Duncan did say that Trent was at his house last night. He could have known about Duncan's little theory, right? Trent was more level-headed than Duncan so maybe he didn't fully buy into this story? It would explain why he was so hesitant, fearing that it would fuel Duncan's murder idea.

"Trent, just bring the camcorder! We all know Duncan won't shut up until you agree." Gwen sighed, annoyed that her conversation with Bridgette was getting interrupted by Duncan's voice becoming more agitated.

Trent was silent. He looked back to Duncan. "Fine."

"Whipped." Duncan mused as he took a bite of his sandwich.

"Douche."

Gwen rolled her eyes at the both of them before she looked back to Bridgette.

Courtney wished to be part of their conversation. She felt more self-conscious the more she thought about Duncan. Was it obvious that she was being quiet? She needed to force herself to talk. She needed to talk to Gwen, be part of whatever she and Bridgette were talking about!

"Courtney?" Gwen spoke.

Perfect! Courtney's heart rejoiced at the opening.

"You okay? You haven't really talked that much. Something happen?" Gwen asked as she placed her drink back down on the table.

"Something happen?" Courtney echoed. "No! Nothing happened, why?"

Her face was burning and she didn't mean to sound that nervous! Great, now it was going to be obvious!

Courtney's eyes darted to Duncan. He was smirking. His eyes didn't look up from his drink, but Courtney knew what he was thinking. A little secret that only they knew about. The truth about what was really going on with her. He probably felt proud of himself. Here she was embarrassed and sounding like an idiot, and he had the nerve to smirk at the situation?

"Might be because of why Duncan's hair's wet. He got super angry when I asked him about it." Geoff said as he stuffed his face with fries.

His comment was so casual that Courtney almost choked on her sandwich. Duncan, the same as her. His smirk left him as he turned, fist ready to hit Geoff on the arm again.

"See? That's the face I'm talkin' 'bout!" He pointed out, his greasy index finger almost touching Duncan's knitted brows.

"Duncan's hair is wet because he so rudely used my shower without my permission," Courtney told him.

Geoff pulled his hand back, a look of disgust on his face. "Dude, boundaries."

"I don't wanna hear that crap coming from you." Duncan shot back as he brought his drink to his lips.

"What did I do? 'S not like I took a shower at Bridgette's without her knowing."

"Yeah, but you took a massive dump and clogged her toilet."

Geoff's once casual expression turned to horror as he looked over at Bridgette. She was the one giving him a look of disgust.

"That was you?"

He turned back to Duncan and let out an offended, "Dude!"

Courtney rolled her eyes. She knew that this was going to last a moment longer than needed. But she also knew that if she intervened then Duncan would get upset, which then would get her upset, and then lunch would be ruined. So, she turned her body to look at Bridgette who went back to eating her salad.

"Hey, were you able to see Duke anywhere on your way back?"

"Duke? Oh, crap did he get out again?" Bridgette let out a loud sigh of annoyance. "That dog could dig through cement if he felt like it!"

"Actually him escaping again is my fault. I brought him to my backyard but he got out. I should have remembered that my gate's been acting up, I'm sorry." Courtney apologized.

She was quick to reassure her friend. "Don't worry about it! He should be back at my house laying in the driveway as we speak. I'll let him in before I go to The Boardwalk, have to get changed anyways."

The rest of lunch was spent with the girls talking while Geoff and Duncan delved into an arm-wrestling match. Trent was the mediator, he slapped his hand on the table two times. Before the third Geoff was able to make a comeback as his arm's muscle's twitched and he was able to pull up an inch from the table. DJ let out a gasp and reached up to massage the blonde shoulders, encouraging him that he had this in the bag!

Bang!

Geoff's hand hit the table.

"One! Two! Three!" Trent shouted before he reached over and picked up Duncan's wrist and lifted it up in the air. "We have a winner! Duncan Murphy, everybody!"

"Boo!" Gwen mocked as she tossed a french fry and him.

Duncan opened his mouth and caught it.

"Victory fry. Cool." He laughed before swallowing.

Bridgette began to pick up after everyone. Moving used napkins onto her plate she asked. "So what's the plan for you guys?"

"Go to the woods for more investigation," Trent answered her, lifting his camera to take a short video of what was happening.

"Where will you find time to investigate Grant's death if you keep focusing on this one?" She asked.

Silence swept through the room. Bridgette looked up and felt uneasy.

"Crap. Was that supposed to be a secret?" She looked to Geoff who had a hand over his face.

Duncan turned and glared at Geoff. "You blabbed to Bridgette?"

"Like I wasn't going to tell Bridgette." Geoff shot back, his hand now away from his face.

"I knew something was going on!" DJ sighed, his index and middle finger pointed accusingly at Duncan. "You guys tell me nothing!"

"Hey! It's not like I wanted them to find out." Duncan explained, his annoyed tone caused the volume in Courtney's kitchen to delude into multiple voices raised in anger as they tried to defend themselves.

Courtney felt annoyed as she watched the scene unfold. That was until a chill went up her spine and a paranoid thought came to her mind. What if the killer could hear them arguing? What if they got too loud and he was just waiting outside. He wanted to see if they knew the connection between Grant's death and the murder in the woods and now he did because of how loud they were!

She willed her head to look out the kitchen windows that showed her backyard. Dark clouds caused an eerie atmosphere outside. It was not helped by the large gust of wind that shook the trees and bushes outside. The freshly manicured grass swayed harshly. It reminded her of her nightmare from the night before.

Courtney tried to blink away the memory. When her eyes opened again she could have sworn she saw a shadow move from one of the bushes near the window.

"Enough!" Bridgette's voice carried over the shouts that caused Courtney to jump in her seat.

Heart in her throat Courtney turned to see the blonde's face contorted in anger.

"We are friends, so we aren't going to fight over this! Got it?" She slammed her hands against the table as she barked the orders. "Duncan will explain everything. DJ, you can't blame him for not saying anything. It sounds crazy. I mean the first time I heard it I thought he was being paranoid but after it sat with me the more it made sense. So let him just say his thoughts. To everyone."

Her pointed glare went to Duncan. "We're all in this together now, so get over it!"

There was a second wave of silence caused by Bridgette before Geoff spoke up.

"That was hot."

The look Bridgette gave him caused him to quickly cover his mouth. "Shit! I said that out loud didn't I."

"Smooth." Gwen gave him a thumbs-up as Brigette sat back down beside her.

Duncan put his hand on Geoff's shoulder. "No. He has a point that was really hot Bridge. But you're right. I'll explain everything to DJ."

Bridgette let out a sigh. She never got that worked up and it always drained her when she did. Her blue eyes went to the clock in the kitchen and saw that it was fifteen minutes until 5. Duncan began to explain everything as she packed up the trash to throw away. Geoff, who had already listened to his theory about the double murders got up to help her.

"If you want you can call in sick." He suggested to her as she closed the lid to the garbage tin.

"No. I miss the fish." She joked as she looked up at him. "Am I really that obvious?"

"Well, you don't get angry that often. It's like your chill vibes think that negative emotion is like a virus and it wants you to chill out before doing anything. Y'know?" He told her.

"I guess what you say makes sense." She agreed before adding. "In your own weird way, of course."

"You guys can stop flirting now, DJ's ready to leave." Courtney interrupted, her hand reached between them to grab a napkin.

Bridgette playfully rolled her eyes. "We weren't flirting."

"Yeah, I know. Just wanted to bother you." Courtney teased as she gave Bridgette's shoulder a light tap.

"Speaking of flirting, have you and Duncan.. Y'know." Geoff asked.

He moved his hands in such an awkward motion that it made Courtney raise a brow. She knew it meant something about the tension between her and Duncan. If she wasn't so confused she would be embarrassed by the question. It was the thought of what happened earlier that caused her cheeks to heat up. His body. His lips. Him.

"Holy- no way!" He nearly shouted but was stopped by Bridgette who placed her hand over his mouth.

He quickly recovered and leaned down to whisper to the group. Bridgette's hand went away from his lips as he talked again.

"Really? What happened? Did you two shower together? That's the real reason why his hair's wet isn't it?" Geoff's line of questions caused Bridgette to have a face of bewildered annoyance.

"What the hell Geoff? You can't ask someone that." She scolded but quickly looked back to Courtney. "Seriously, though, what happened?"

"Well," Courtney began. She tried to bring herself to say it but her words got caught in her throat. "He did use my shower without me knowing and when I opened the door I saw-."

Courtney was cut off by DJ who walked up behind them. "Ready to go?"

He paused. Brow raised at the sight of Geoff bent down close to Bridgette and Courtney. He leaned in close, too. His voice a whisper. "What are we talking about?"

"It's nothing, don't worry about it." She told him, her eyes went to Bridgette and Geoff. "Seriously nothing happened."

"But what did you see?" Bridgette asked. "Did you see his-,"

"Oh my God Bridgette! Gross!" Courtney swatted her friend who couldn't help but giggle.

"Why are we huddled near the trashcan?" Duncan asked, his breath hitting Courtney's ear.

She jerked herself away from him. Heart pounding in her chest. Did he hear them? She looked up at him. The face he was making said no. He looked down at her. Observing her on why she jumped back. That was until he smirked at her. He must have known that her reaction was because of him and that thought made her annoyed.

Why was he always so smirk-y?

"Well, we're more huddled near the sink and paper towels." Geoff corrected before he gave DJ a pat on his shoulder. "Let's go."

Duncan looked at the group before he said. "Secrets don't keep friends."

He looked at DJ. He could usually get him to crack. However, the look on DJ's face said otherwise.

"Don't even try. I don't even know what's going on."

"We'll explain in the car," Bridgette told him before she gave Courtney a wave and walked out of the kitchen.

Geoff and DJ gave the two a wave before they, too, left the kitchen. The front door slammed shut and Duncan finally spoke, smirk still on his face.

"It was about me, wasn't it?"

"You are so full of yourself." Courtney sighed.

She turned away from him. She feared he would notice her blush and tease her more. Or worse he would actually find out that the conversation was about him! Why did she have to open her mouth? She could have just said nothing happened! Now DJ knew and he could barely hold a secret. It would eventually get back to him and he would — what would he do?

From the way he was acting it seemed as if he did want to kiss her. So shouldn't she be direct with him? He did say he liked it when she was straight with him.

"Who's car are we taking?" Trent asked Courtney.

Her body almost slammed against his own. Too deep in thought that she was not paying attention to her surroundings.

"Can't take mine. My mom would notice the dirt on the tires and she might think I snuck out to get drunk or something."

Trent gave her a look of sympathy as she crossed her arms over her chest, eye roll at the ready. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll take mine."

"Can you even fit four people in there?" Gwen was beside him now.

Duncan walked beside Courtney and subtly knocked Trent's hand off her shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Princess can sit in my lap."

"Dog." Trent chuckled before he reached for the keys in his pocket. "Let's go then."


Courtney didn't protest, which was so unlike her. She could still feel the heat on her cheeks. She wished it would go away. Hoped the butterflies in her stomach would just calm down and fly away! That didn't seem to be the case for the foreseeable future.

There she was sitting on his lap in Trent's truck. Gwen and Trent buckled up whereas Duncan did not. His right arm rested against the window's edge, his left around her waist. Gwen and Trent were talking, which was good. She didn't want them to know how nervous she was feeling.

"I'm not too heavy am I?" She asked, her arms were tight against her sides.

"You're cool."

His response was so calm that Courtney wished that was her. To not care about the situation.

He leaned close to her. His breath tickled her cheek and ear. His whisper made her stomach flip.

"Chill out, I'm not going to do anything… Unless you want me to?"

She could see his smirk from the side mirror.

"S-shut up!" She snapped which caused the male behind her to snicker.

Duncan didn't say anything for the rest of the ride there. Nor did Courtney. The only ones who talked were Gwen and Trent. It was mainly about Gwen's job. Courtney wasn't too sure, she was trying to pretend that Duncan's arm that was held protectively around her waist did not bother her.

His touch was like fire. Warm, comforting, yet suffocating all at the same time. She was much too warm compared to the chill in the car. Everything he did to her was alighting something inside her.

"So what do you say?" Trent spoke.

It was directed at Courtney.

Her mind quickly caught up with the conversation.

"Please! I promise to work to your standards oh Great One!" Gwen smiled, her hands clasped together.

"Of course Gwen! We have been short-staffed for a while now. Just a month ago Grant and I were talking about a new hire, and your name was the first suggestion that came out of my mouth!" Courtney told her. "The Arcade is right across from the Cursed Castle though. So if you're okay with working so close to Duncan you're more than welcomed there!"

Duncan gave her stomach a light pinch before he grinned. "I'll have you know I'm damn delightful."

"So you've said." Trent chuckled before he took the turn to get off-road.

The group of four walked the woods for about 15 minutes until they found the area with the boarded-up well. Trent had been recording since they left the car. He was able to get Courtney almost falling on her face. Gwen pointed to more than 5 skulls that were drawn by Duncan throughout their journey. He also got Duncan's gaze going to Courtney every other minute.

Trent would have teased him but decided against it. He would ask him about it when the two were alone. Those looks he was giving her were that of someone crushing. Hard.

"So," Gwen spoke, her foot kicked a small rock into the deep well. "What do we do now?"

"Just gonna take a little peak," Duncan told her as he brought out his flashlight.

Trent took a step closer. He pointed his camera down the well. He zoomed in, readying the camera for when the flashlight filled the dark well with light. Gwen beside him, her arms tightening around her chest. Under such a calm expression was anxiety about the actual possibility of seeing a dead body.

They watched Duncan bend down. His fingertip grazed over the power button. He took a deep breath, ready to press it but was stopped by Courtney.

"Hold on." Her hand was over his. Her thumb rested beside his own. "Are you sure? What.. What if the dead body is down there? I don't want you to- to have nightmares from it. You won't get it out of your mind, you understand?

"Here, let me look." She tried to get the flashlight from him but his hold was tight.

His grip might have been tight but his eyes were different. They held something soft behind that gaze.

"I saw Grant, remember? What's one more dead body to add to the nightmares?" His statement made Courtney want to cry.

Couldn't he see that, that was exactly what she was trying to prevent?

She sighed. His mind was already made up and so was hers. "Together then?"

Their moment was cut short by Gwen's teasing comment.

"Aw! Look at that, they're finally sharing."

Trent laughed. "Shared trauma, but it's a start."

Duncan ignored them. Those teal eyes that were once soft were now focused. They pierced down the dark hole.

He breathed, "1, 2, 3.."

He turned on the flashlight. Courtney held her breath and hoped that nothing was down there. But now, however, all she could see was the dead body being eaten away by the insects that dwelled within the forest. The sound of phantom flies filled her ears. Those flies that swarmed around Grant's wound. It was going to be the same to this body too, wasn't it?

The light shined down into the darkness.

Nothing.

Trent was the first to let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God."

Courtney gave Duncan a nervous smile. "See! I told you, it was only rotted wood!"

Duncan was silent. He ignored his friend's talk about how silly it was to think a dead body was down there. He leaned his body over the edge more. He swore he saw something down there. He moved his flashlight slightly back and forth, trying to catch something that he thought he noticed.

"What is it?" Gwen asked, her hands now on her knees as she leaned to get a better look.

He shined the light back to where he saw it. Something down there flickered white. Whatever was down there was being reflected back at them.

"You see that?" He mumbled, his mind going to many different possibilities.

Gwen raised a brow, her eyes noticing the same reflection. "Yeah, but what shines in a dark well?"

"Water. It's clearly water!" Courtney told the two wanna-be-sleuths.

"Just look at it. The light reflects off the water like this." Duncan moved the light to point at the murky untouched water.

It didn't hold the same shine.

He continued. "Whatever is reflecting the light is different. See how it shines at different angles?"

Duncan was right it did shine differently. Almost like it was twinkling up at them saying, 'Come get me!'

"Plus, it's stuck against one of the bricks. We might be able to get it. It looks to be halfway down." Gwen observed.

"It's only, what 15 feet? It's doable right?" Duncan looked up to Trent who gave him a thumbs up.

"Totally doable!" He agreed. "I have some stuff in the back of my truck we could use."

"You guys aren't seriously thinking about picking a random object from an old well, are you? It could have been there for a decade. You know how many parasites could be on it? Germs anyone?" Courtney asked them, her hands now on her hips as she looked at the group with a judgmental gaze. "It could be glass for all we know!"

"Or," Trent countered, his left hand went up to cover an eye. "It could be One-Eyed Willy's treasure."

"You are such a child." She rolled her eyes.

Duncan ignored Courtney and smirked up at Trent. "Come on, Mikey, let's go."

"Right behind ya, Mouth." Trent laughed. "We'll be right back."

Gwen gave the two a wave before she went over and sat down on a log. "Don't take too long."

"I expected this from Duncan and Gwen but you Trent? I thought you were more level-headed than this." Courtney scolded from her spot on the ground.

"Careful there, Princess, you're starting to get awfully close to the unpleasant scale of Stef," Duncan told her as the two walked off.

Courtney turned to look at Gwen who gave her a weak smile.

"Stef wasn't that bad." She told her.

Courtney replied with a huff before she stood up. Gwen watched as the brunette sat beside her. Gwen released a deep sigh before she placed her chin in the palm of her hand.

"So did, like, you two make out or something?"

Courtney turned to her, mouth wide open. "How'd you know?"

It was Gwen's turn to be shocked. "I was totally kidding. Holy shit, really?"

"Well not exactly but-," Courtney paused before she adjusted herself. She was now facing Gwen more. Her fingers fidgeted with one another as she tried to come up with the right words to say. "Okay, so I walked in on him taking a shower, right?"

Gwen eagerly nodded.

"So he came out wearing a towel and, God I can't believe I'm saying this, but I checked him out." Courtney's confessed.

"Then what?"

"We had a moment. He leaned in close and.." She squeezed her eyes shut, even talking about it was embarrassing. "He almost kissed me."

"No freaking way! So why didn't he kiss you?" Gwen's face was filled with interest but twisted into slight annoyance. "Was he just messing with you because—"

Courtney was quick to cut her off. Eagerly ready to reassure her. "That's what I thought too, but the more I thought about it the more I really do think he wanted to kiss me. The way he looked at me? His hand on my cheek? There was something about it that I just know wasn't a joke to him."

"So you need to talk to him, got it. I can convince Trent to go look around the woods with me." She gave her friend a wink. "That way you can Duncan can 'talk.'"

"Why'd you say talk like that?" Courtney laughed as she gave Gwen's shoulder a light shove.

"You're right, I should totally be more open. You two are going to play tonsil hockey like no one's business." Gwen returned the same light-hearted nudge as she laughed along with Courtney.


Trent and Duncan got back to his truck. His video camera now off, Trent watched the teen from the corner of his eyes. Duncan looked off into the woods as Trent searched for the supplies.

"So you and Courtney, huh?" His amused smirk caused Duncan to turn and look at him, brow raised.

"What about me and Courtney?"

"Dude, she sat in your lap." Trent laughed before he turned to fully look at Duncan. "Come on, did you two finally make out or what?"

Duncan let out a snort before he leaned against the truck. "We almost kissed."

"Almost?"

"Yeah man, I was this close!" Duncan let out an annoyed sigh as pushed himself off the truck. "She was so into it too! Then here comes dumbass Geoff with his dumbass lunch."

"You could, I don't know, talk to her?"

Duncan scoffed as he smirked at his friend. "Don't wanna hear that shit from the guy who hasn't said anything to Gwen."

"Touché." Trent agreed before he pulled out the rope from his truck's bed. He tossed it to Duncan who easily caught it. "Maybe I should go kiss Gwen, confess my love to her, and then rub it in your face that I got my girl."

"I can get Courtney, okay? Who was the one that almost kissed her?" Duncan stated as the two walked out of the clearing.

Trent feigned a thought before he snapped his fingers. "Jimmy Rickets?"

"That bug-eating dweeb almost kissed Courtney?" Duncan glared, the news left him agitated.

"Almost? He did kiss her!" Trent laughed.

"What? When? Why?" Duncan turned to glare at Trent, his voice more aggressive as if Trent was the person in question to kiss Courtney.

Trent wasn't bothered by it as he messed with his camcorder to see how much battery life he had left. "Second semester of 10th grade, behind one of the bookshelves in the back of the library."

"Bullshit."

"You don't have to believe me." He shrugged.

"How come I didn't hear about it then? The whole school even? Are you seriously telling me that you were the only one who knew and didn't tell the group?"

Trent rolled his eyes. "Because Courtney was embarrassed and I swore I wouldn't say anything. Who'd want to be called the one who got macked on by a bug eater?"

Duncan was silent for a minute before he peered over at Trent. "So do you and Courtney have other secrets I should know about?"

"Besides our hot make out session in the Cursed Castle? I don't think so." Trent chuckled, he did like giving Duncan a taste of his own medicine.

"That didn't happen." He snorted, not believing any of it.

"Got to second base. Her boobs felt-,"

Trent busted into uncontrollable laughter as Duncan snapped at him. "Dude, I'll punch you, I'm serious."


They walked back to the girls. Trent filmed their random conversations and dumbassery as they got closer to their destination. Gwen and Courtney sat on a fallen tree talking about The Boardwalk and what Gwen would be doing in the Arcade and what to expect from those who walked inside. Trent zoomed in on them as they finally noticed them.

"Rope?" Courtney scrunched up her nose before realization hit her. "No way, are you seriously going to drop someone in there?"

"That's our future valedictorian! So smart." Duncan cooed as he reached over and ruffled her hair.

"Shut it!" She snapped at him before she swatted his hand away.

"Alright, Gwen stand up," Duncan ordered, ignoring Courtney's glare.

"What? Me?"

"Yeah, you're the lightest one here."

"Excuse me?" Courtney frowned.

"Don't get mad! Your curves are in the right places but-."

Courtney interrupted him. Her tone was annoyed, and the scowl on her face showed her displeasure. "I'm not as skinny as Gwen, I get it. Just tie the rope on her and let's get this over with."

Duncan watched Courtney as she went over to the well and inspected it. She might have been pissed at him, but she still wanted to make sure her friend would be safe going down there. Duncan felt something lightly tap his upper arm.

He looked to see Trent. His fist was against his shoulder and gave it another light bump before he mumbled. "Smooth."

"Shut up."

Gwen had fastened the rope around her waist and carefully descended into the dark well. Duncan's flashlight in hand as she slowly made her way down.

Courtney was the first in their three-man line to hold the rope. Duncan second, Trent third. Courtney gave words of encouragement to Gwen while Duncan kept asking her if she saw it yet. They were both told to shut it until Gwen called out if she needed help. The silence was awkward but was soon broken by Duncan.

"So you and Jimmy Rickets made out last year?"

"You little snitch! You promised!" Courtney's grip on the rope loosed as she looked back to Trent.

Gwen let out a yelp as she was dropped a few inches. Trent and Duncan stumbled forward at the added weight brought on by their third lineman letting go of the rope. Duncan's body slammed against Courtney, almost making her fall into the well.

Courtney thought for a moment that her small outburst would be the end of her. She could see herself falling into the dead water. A strong arm wrapped around her. Duncan pulled her back against him. She looked up at him, his face contorted in pain as he used all his strength in his left arm to hold Gwen up. She scrambled to grab the rope again.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" She apologized to the group. "Gwen are you okay?"

There was a pause before Gwen called out. "I'm good!"

"Thank goodness!" Courtney didn't know if she wanted to cry or laugh at her own stupidity.

"Have you got it yet?" Duncan's response caused Courtney to roll her eyes.

"I said I'd let you know!" Gwen yelled up at him.

Duncan moved his arm from Courtney's waist to hold the rope with two hands again. The group got quiet again as they kept feeding the rope into the well. Finally, for what felt like hours, but was a matter of a minute or two, Gwen called out.

"I got it!"

Courtney was shocked that she was the first to ask. "What is it?"

"A ring?" Gwen sounded confused, which matched her friends on the ground.

Trent was quick to snap at them out of it. "Pull her up! Come on."

Courtney reached her hand out and helped Gwen walk out of the well. Gwen dusted her black skirt off before she lifted the ring up for the group to see.

It was caked in years' worth of mud and dirt. Still, even with the brown covering most of it, the diamond still shined. Trent reached out and carefully took it from Gwen's hands.

"We're lucky. That thing was sitting on a brick that was edged out." Gwen told them as she looked up to Trent. His face was focused, it confused her. "What is it?"

"I might be able to determine just when this was made."

In unison, the three asked. "What?"

"Remember that one summer my parents sent me to my Uncle's place in Ontario? Well, he worked as an appraiser and we inspected rings all the time at his work. I picked up a thing or two about identification. That's why I said I might —might— be able to know when it was created." He told them, already cleaning the ring off with his fingers.

"This is the first time I've ever found you attractive." Courtney praised.

They all gave her a look.

"What? Duncan can make crude comments about Gwen and I, but I can't call Trent hot?" She crossed her arms over her chest in a huff.

"Thanks, Courtney, you're cute too." Trent laughed as he tried to ease the awkward tension. "Gwen, come with me. I think I might have some water in the car we could use to clean this."

"Sure of course!" She practically jumped at the opportunity. Her head turned to Courtenay and Duncan. "You guys wait here, maybe there's something else around the area."

Duncan let out a tired sigh as he waved her off. "Whatever."

His back was to her again and Gwen gave Courtney a thumbs up. That silent signal showed that she was giving Courtney that opening she wanted. But now Courtney didn't know if she wanted that opening anymore. After what he said about Gwen, she, dare she even think it? Felt insecure.

Of course, he would find Gwen attractive! Who wouldn't? She had that alternative look going on, and she was just a time a dozen average pretty girls. No spark at all compared to someone like Gwen. Plus she was skinner than her. Maybe her mother was right, she should stick to the diet.

She was pulled out of her downward spiral of self-doubt by Duncan.

He had his hands in his pockets as he asked. "So, you think Trent's hot?"

"So? You think Gwen's hot." She shot back.

"Is this about the weight comment? Christ." His annoyed tone was accompanied by his left hand being pulled out from his pocket and slam against his face.

He wiped the hand down his face as he let out a groan. He didn't know he could feel so annoyed by someone. "Just because Gwen's lighter than you doesn't mean you aren't hot. Shit. Listen, I'd rather have my face buried in your thighs than hers, okay?"

Courtney's face burned at the comment. Duncan was always crude, but this was forward, even for him. Now, all she could think about was the act he was talking about. She never had it done to her before but the thought of Duncan and her… She felt as if she was going to faint.

Duncan himself realized what had just come out of his mouth. He rubbed at his lower jaw, avoiding Courtney's eyes.

Courtney's brain had short-circuited and all she could respond with was, "Oh."

"Oh?" His eyes snapped to her. "No remark about sexual harassment?"

"W-well you were so forward… And no one's ever said something like that to me." Her left hand was awkwardly gripping her right arm. She was looking at the ground.

"Good. Because I'd need to have some choice words with the guy who did." His smirk was tamed this time, not like the ones he had before. He reached his hand out and touched her cheek.

She didn't flinch or pull away. She looked up at him. Her mouth was parted slightly, ready to ask him a question.

"Do you like me?" He found himself asking.

His eyes were serious and his smirk was gone.

Courtney shocked herself, her voice came out, and it was breathless. Her truth took her breath with it as she confessed. "Yes."

His smirk appeared again before he leaned forward. His lips were close to hers but was stopped by a tanned hand. She gave him an innocent smile.

"We should probably put this on hold until after the.. Investigation." She batted those long lashes at him. "Okay?"

He stared at her a moment before he moved his hand from her cheek and reached up to take her hand. He gave her palm a kiss before he pulled it away.

"Okay." He smiled down at her.


Trent wasn't able to clean most of the dirt off. He told them that he had to let it soak in warm water before he could do anything. The teens got back into his truck. Courtney again sat in Duncan's lap. Her head rested against the nape of his neck. She breathed him in, cigarettes and bad decisions. It was a scent only made by Duncan, and she found herself loving it. He gave her head a kiss in return.

Courtney felt those butterflies that she dreaded so much early, going wild within her stomach. It left her a giggling mess as she walked with Duncan to her front door. Trent took Gwen home, saying he needed to clean off the ring ASAP. But Duncan knew better. Trent was giving them space, and for that Duncan was grateful.

They walked inside her house. He looked down at her as she made sure Ted was nowhere lurking in the foyer. She turned around, ready to ask him a question but was interrupted by the sound of her phone ringing.

"I'll go get that." She smiled up at him.

Duncan placed his hands on her shoulders. He messaged them as he followed her through her living room as she made her way to the entrance to her kitchen.

"What are you doing?" She laughed.

"Wooing you." He chuckled as he walked behind her as she made her way to the living room. "I'm great boyfriend material, aren't I?"

She giggled at him before she picked up the phone. She calmed her laughter long enough to ask, "Flores residence, Courtney speaking."

The volume was still loud. It was some woman, she was speaking in a rush. Panic very evident in her voice. Duncan felt his heart stop at Courtney's words.

"Mrs. Murphy? Slow down! Duncan, yeah he's-,"

Duncan took snatched the phone from her hand. His voice showed his concern. "Ma? What is it? Are you okay?"

Courtney turned her body to get a better look at Duncan's face. Her concern over the unknown event evident on her face. To her shock, Duncan let the phone slip from his grasp as he stared forward. She quickly caught the phone.

"What is it?"

"My old man." His voice showed his shock. It was low as he processed the information. "He was in a car accident. They.. don't know if he'll make it."


Authors note: Just in time for Mother's Day, I present to you chapter 6! I hope everyone has a great week, and thank you to everyone who enjoys my story! :)