Here's the next part! I hope you enjoy! :D

It was a few days later before Gwen had a real conversation with Courtney again. Sure she sat beside her at lunch and the few classes they shared, but it didn't count. To top it all off Courtney only gave Gwen short answers to anything she said. Courtney never did contribute to the conversation. So this was Gwen's chance to see how she was really doing.

She had Duncan drop her off there right after school like he usually did for her at her own house. They exchanged a hurried goodbye and a hug or two before she went off toward her strange friend's house. Upon reaching it she didn't bother knocking like everyone else would have, she was always welcome.

The house was just the same as it ever was, the only difference being the foreboding chill in the air. It felt akin to death itself. Still Gwen was bent on ignoring this alteration in order to find and check up on Courtney.

"Oh!" Gwen heard from her left. "Gwen!"

Gwen jumped slightly; turning about to see the face of Courtney's all too familiar mother. She wore a bright smile on her face, her eyes glimmering with what might have appeared to be happiness to most, but what was really a thin layer of tears. "Hey Mrs. Martin." Gwen waved.

"It's so good to see you dear." She sighed. "It's been…different lately." She muttered sadly, perking instantly after. "But it's all right!" she insisted.

Gwen frowned. "I'm here to see Courtney." She muttered lamely, rubbing her neck nervously. "I wanted to see how she was doing, you know…look for improvement or something."

Her mother flinched at Gwen's words, unable to hide how much these words stung. "Of course." She said with a furtive nod. "She's right upstairs." She informed, nodding in the general direction.

"Thanks." Gwen muttered in appreciation, scurrying off up the stairs to meet Courtney.

"Gwen!" her mother called after her.

Gwen perked, turning enough to see Courtney's mother again.

"When you come back down…I need to talk to you about something." She said softly, head lowered some in sadness.

Gwen stared at her a moment in confusion before she simply nodded slightly and went to leave to find Courtney once more.

Gwen found her just where she knew she'd be. Courtney was sprawled out on her bed, looking uninterestedly up at the patterned ceiling. She was still as stone, her eyes dull and void of any real life, more so than usual.

"Courtney?" Gwen whispered tentatively, slowly pushing the door open all the way.

Courtney didn't move a muscle. The only change in her was that her eyes flickered over to Gwen for a moment, taking in her friend's sullen appearance akin to her own.

Gwen remained where she was for another minute, hoping that Courtney might open her mouth and invite her in. Of course this never happened and Gwen eventually let herself in, strolling over to the bed to sit down next to her friend. "How are you?" she asked casually.

Courtney didn't respond. She kept her eyes glued to the ceiling.

Gwen smiled nervously. "It's a nice day, huh?"

Courtney shrugged.

Gwen sighed heavily. "Not a cloud in the sky today. It's the perfect day to be outside." Gwen looked over to Courtney to see what she thought about this from her expression, only able to find slight irritation and a boatload of misery.

"Not really." Courtney grumbled. "It's the same as any other day on earth."

Gwen cringed slightly; not liking the meaning that Courtney was hinting at behind what would have been every day words to most. "Don't you want to enjoy it though?"

Courtney snorted, rolling away from Gwen. "I don't know about me, but you sure seem to want to."

Gwen growled lightly. At least she was talking she supposed. "How about we play a little game then?" she said perkily, jumping up off the bed in a hurry. "Hm?"

Courtney looked out of the corner of her eye at who she couldn't believe was the same Gwen she'd seen come in to her room.

Gwen forced a smile. "Come on." She paused. "Just for a little bit." She watched Courtney expectantly, hoping beyond reason that she would agree.

Courtney looked back a Gwen with severe uncertainty. She didn't want to play. She didn't want to do anything really. She wanted to simply be left to her thoughts. Not that those were very inviting. Still, it was better than risking an encounter. "Ok..." she grumbled.

Gwen strained to hear her. "What?"

Courtney shook her head, saying louder this time, "One condition." she sighed irritably, rolling over so that she was sitting and her feet dangled over the edge of the bed, swaying gently. "We don't leave this room."

Gwen sighed, deflated. "I suppose that'll work." She shrugged, trying her best not to show her disappointment. "But what do you want to do?"

A slight smile twitched at the edge of Courtney's mouth. "Something my little cousin loved to do when she came."

Gwen raised a brow. "Yeah?"

"Just some arts and crafts." She shrugged, pushing herself up off the bed onto her feet to walk slowly, almost mechanically, to her closet. She pulled the doors open, going on tiptoes in order to reach the top shelf. After a minute of searching she pulled down a decent sized box full of all sorts of things.

Gwen did not move to aid her friend, merely watched as she did as she pleased.

"Here." Courtney said softly, setting the box down on the bed. "It has tons of stuff in it: colored pencils, markers, glitter, glue, old drawings, and other things."

Gwen nodded; reseating herself on the bed as she figured Courtney wanted her to.

"So do whatever." Courtney muttered, opening the box and withdrawing some of its contents before settling down opposite of Gwen. She then began to sketch a picture.

Gwen followed suite, grabbing some paper of her own. However she didn't intend on doing much with it. She was far more interested in watching what she would create.

Courtney quickly drew a perfect image of herself in a dark room. It was incredibly well done and eerie. Besides herself there was nothing but a pair of sinister eyes behind her.

Gwen cringed as the picture came closer to being finished and in the end she could not bear to keep watching. She decided she'd put something on her paper no matter how crappy it looked so that when Courtney was done she would have something from Gwen.

By the time Courtney put on the finishing touches she was shuddering ever so slightly, a fear trapped in her eyes as she stared at her creation. "So…" she started, swallowing hard. "What do you have?" she finished as she crumpled up the piece of paper.

Gwen's eyes widened as she watched Courtney destroy her picture. "W-What are you doing?"

"Destroying a piece of crap." She said simply.

Gwen was perplexed by this. "Crap? That?" she laughed. "Courtney, that was…beautiful." She found no other way to say it, at least not one that wouldn't upset Courtney. To say the picture was haunting would have been perfect, but this descriptive word stung even Gwen.

Courtney snorted, rolling her eyes. "No." she tossed the crumpled paper into the wastebasket. "It's crap."

Gwen opened her mouth to protest, catching Courtney's now depressed look and stopping herself. "Here." Gwen said sheepishly, handing over her work.

Courtney took it, struggling not to burst out laughing as she scanned it. "It's…" she started, snorting loudly before regaining her composure. "It's good."

Gwen chuckled, snatching her picture back. "Liar." She growled playfully, hitting Courtney gently.

Courtney shrugged, smiling brightly. "Maybe. Maybe not." She teased. "I guess you'll never know."

Gwen shook her head. "Yeah, I think I do know."

Courtney went to say something, the incessant sound of her phone interrupting.

Courtney froze instantly. She knew instinctively who it would be before she even looked. It was only made concrete when she reluctantly pulled her phone from her pocket and checked the caller i.d. Despite the lack of surprise it still managed to rattle her to the very core.

Gwen perked, looking up in to Courtney suddenly drained face with concern. "Courtney, you ok?"

Courtney didn't respond, staring blankly forward as if Gwen were invisible. She knew what the text said, it was always the same, and as such she did as she was expected. She rose up off the bed, eyes dull as a butter knife.

Gwen furrowed her brow, frowning deeply. "Courtney?"

Courtney turned her head toward Gwen, staring straight through her like before. Only this time she spoke. "I have to go." She paused. "And so should you."

"What?" Gwen said blankly, confused as to Courtney's sudden change in demeanor. She had been happy mere moments before. "Courtney, what's wrong?" she asked tentatively, figuring that it must be her wretched boyfriend.

"Nothing." Courtney said faintly as she took her eyes away from Gwen and headed for her bedroom door.

Gwen stared after her a moment in confusion before snapping out of it and jumping to her feet after Courtney. "Courtney!" she cried, positioning herself between Courtney and the door. "Come on. At least give me a hint as to what is up." Gwen knew whatever it was was the same thing it had been before the suicide. It was not new. This look in her eyes, Gwen had seen it so many times before.

Courtney wasn't bothered by Gwen blocking her path, she was too zoned out. All that she was capable of registering was Gwen's words, which she shook her head in response to.

Gwen sighed heavily, slumping over. "Courtney...you're not alone..." she whispered. "Whatever you have to face, we can do it together. At least...it's an option." with that Gwen reluctantly stepped aside, ready to follow Courtney from her house and head back to her own.

Courtney didn't respond to her words, walking mechanically from her room, down the stairs, and out the door without the slightest bit of attention paid to her mother. And there she waited, out on the curb, until her boyfriend came to get her.

Gwen watched the floor intently for so long she couldn't recall how long she hadn't moved. But eventually she found feeling in her muscles again and wandered down the stairs to find Courtney's mother.

Gwen found her standing just as motionlessly as she herself had been before, staring blankly toward the door.

"Mrs. Martin?" Gwen said tentatively, stepping into her view.

Courtney's mother was quick to perk. "Oh! Oh...Gwen." She smiled faintly. "I almost forgot you were here."

Gwen grimaced. "Yeah..." she trailed off, rubbing the back of her neck. "...I was just going." A pause. "But wasn't there something you wanted to ask me?" Gwen remembered, intrigued.

"Oh, yes. Of course." She nodded. "Well, you see." she sighed with immense discomfort. "Courtney...she's a mess, and even though she's always been so independent...I just can't help but want to keep a constant eye on her."

Gwen lowered her gaze to the ground. "I know what you mean." She admitted.

"And I thought about for a long while...and I figured, who better to entrust my precious daughter to than her best friend."

What this entailed sunk in for Gwen in a moments time. Her eyes shot open and mouth fell agape. "Wait-what?" she spluttered. "Me?"

Courtney's mother forced a grim smile, nodding. "Yes, you." A pause. "You've been around a lot in the past few months and I've grown to trust you." She admitted to both Gwen and herself. Much like her daughter, she trusted few anymore. "If anyone is going to make sure she stays safe that isn't me then I'd want it to be you."

Gwen didn't quite know what to say it this. Naturally she wouldn't refuse. How could she? But still, she didn't know what this woman saw in her. For how was she to take care of another when she could scarcely take care of herself? She did not know. "I...I don't know what to say..."

Her face fell. "I mean, you don't have to. That is-I don't expect you to take on such a large task unexpectedly." In all honesty she really had. She couldn't say that though.

Gwen sighed. "Don't worry." she smiled. "I'll do it." She said with confidence, eyes shining. "I care about Courtney just as much as you and want to see her safe just as badly. i wouldn't have it any other way." She nodded firmly. She would be Courtney's personal guardian angel. It was a fact.

Courtney's mother made a soft sound of pleasure, wiping at her eyes. "Thank you." she whispered near inaudibly.

Gwen nodded faintly, looking away quickly to avoid seeing the woman's tears. She hated when people cried, especially those who she valued. "It's nothing." she muttered after a moment, turning to go. "And...please don't worry." she half begged.

She snorted. "That's asking the impossible. I'm her mother." she sighed, shrugging. "It's what I do."

Gwen sensed that it was a joke of the sorts, a tortured one, but one nonetheless, and as such smiled faintly. "I know." and then she left, letting the door fall shut with a loud bang that made the both of them cringe.

Walking down the driveway she automatically reached for the cell in her pocket, hitting the redial button as if it were instinct before lifting the phone to her ear and waiting patiently for his cool voice.

It rang a couple of times in his pocket before he bothered searching for it. Upon seeing the caller i.d. he scrambled to answer before it went to voice mail. "Gwen! Gwen, are you there?"

Gwen chuckled lightly. "Yes, Duncan. Despite your efforts to try and not answer for as long as possible, I am still here."

Duncan rolled his eyes, snorting. "I didn't know it was you." he tried to explain. "You usually don't call at this time."

Gwen shook her head. "I know it's sort of early, but I need you to come and get me."

Duncan frowned. "Already?" he smiled. "I figured this was gonna be another one of your calls telling me to remember something." he laughed at his small joke, stopping quickly when he realized she didn't see the humor in it. "So what happened?" he was concerned now.

Gwen sighed. "Nothing. We sat around and drew some stuff like a bunch of five year olds, but that's it." she hesitated in going on, not sure if Courtney wanted to have so much told. "And then-"

"Than why-" he stopped, realizing he'd unintentionally cut her off. "Oh! Sorry. What were you gonna say?" he inquired.

Gwen grew silent again for a time, only opening her mouth when Duncan tried to pry into her own life. She too had secrets to hide, just like Courtney. "Her phone rang and she had to leave. I didn't feel right staying without her so I left and called you."

Duncan knew there was something more to this tale, but he didn't want to prod. She was intentioonally trying to hide whatever it was from him anyway. So why make her uncomfortable? "Ok, babe. I get it." Even though he didn't really. "I'll be there in a minute." And he flipped his phine shut.

Gwen did the same, slipping it back into her pocket before seating herself at the edge of the driveway to wait as Courtney had.

Duncan was quick to leave his house and hop into his car, eager to see Gwen as well as a mite bit worried for her. The way she sounded so uneasy had made him sense that something was wrong.

The air was chilling as Gwen waited, her having to wrap her arms around herself for warmth. She wished Duncan would hurry up. He was generally a speed devil. So why was he being so slow now? And the longer he took the more she was forced to think about Courtney and where she might have gone to.

Duncan arrived a little later then he intended. There had been a small wreck on the road he'd chosen to travel and it cost him precious time. But he made it nonetheless, pulling up by Courtney's driveway with a smirk plastered on his face. "Sup babe?"

Gwen jumped to her feet instantly, previous woes forgotten at the sight of him. A bright smile even spread across her face as she jumped in the passenger seat. "Hey!"

"Where to ma'am?" he teased, acting as if he didn't know.

Gwen playfully smacked him. "Shut up! Like you don't know." She said with an eye roll.

Duncan's grin widened. "Ok. To the moon it is then." he chuckled, watching eagerly for her reaction.

"You're ridiculous." she scoffed, failing to conceal her amusement that he always caused her to feel.

He was quickly pulled away from the curb then, heading a different way than which he'd come so as to avoid the traffic jam he'd encountered previously.

"What are you doing?" Gwen inquired in confusion, not used to coming this way.

Duncan took a hand from the wheel to make a gesture backwards. "There was a wreck the normal way. It's why I was slow getting to you and why I refuse to go back."

Gwen giggled. She sensed that he was severely irritated which was rare for him. "Whatever. It's nothing to get mad over." she nudged him in the side. "Right?"

"I'm not mad!" he denied, waving both his hands about.

"Ok." she shrugged, ending the topic.

The rest of the way they told jokes that only they would get and talked in great detail of some of the past happenings in their lives. Unfortunately when they reached Gwen's house the humor and laid back nature of the conversation died fast.

Gwen froze mid-sentence as she turned her gaze toward the window on her side. "Shit." She hissed. In her driveway set another car, one which she'd grown to know well.

Duncan didn't notice Gwen's sudden slip in demeanor and continued to smile. "Here we are m'lady." he teased, poking her in the side.

Gwen jumped at the contact, quickly putting on her mask of cheer to cover her shock. "Yeah." she sighed.

Duncan raised a brow. "Something wrong?" He pondered, looking around her to see the car in the driveway. "Oh! is someone else here?"

Gwen lowered her gaze. "Yes. It's my boyfriend." She sounded distracted as she looked back out the window to see if he was standing outside anywhere.

"Oh. You mean Trent? That's his car?" he was pretty impressed. "Cool."

Gwen frowned deeply. "Yep. Pretty cool."

Duncan tore his attention away from the awesome car which he now coveted to look back to Gwen. She didn't look half as pleased as he did. In fact, it was almost like the life had been sucked right out of her eyes and face in general. "What's the matter?"

Gwen perked, shaking her head furtively. "Nothing!"

Duncan frowned deeply, crossing his arms over his chest to further his look of disbelief.

"Really!" she swore up and down. "I'm just a little upset that I forgot I promised him I'd be here right after school." she sighed. "I'm sure I upset him."

Duncan snorted. "Don't be silly. Trent is a laid back dude, he won't care." Duncan flashed a smile in hopes that it would be infectious.

Gwen forced a half smile. "I suppose." Although she knew this wasn't true. Something had changed about Trent not long ago and he wasn't what everyone else perceived him to be anymore.

"Now gimme a hug." he ordered playfully, opening his arms to her.

Gwen was hesitant to do so right here in this moment. Still, she found herself unable to deny her best friend. If she did he'd become curious and no doubt demand to know the problem. So she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his neck in a warm embrace, and nearly forgot where she was.

Duncan was quick to reciprocate her affections, wrapping his arms around her middle back gently. "And you better call me." he whispered in her ear. "I hate not talking to you."

Gwen snorted. "When do I not?" she teased, pulling away.

Duncan grinned from ear to ear. "Never."

"Exactly." She reached out and ruffled his mohawk, laughing lightly. "See ya later." she added, stepping out of the car and heading up her driveway with a slight shiver running down her spine.

"Bye, babe!" he called after her, waving as she tilted her head back toward him slightly.

She chuckled, waving back before opening the door to her house and stepping onto the threshold. The door shutting, despite the obviousness of it, made her jump. She sighed heavily as she realized it was nothing more.

The sound of footsteps soon followed and out from around the corner stepped Trent, a scowl set on his face, frown gracing his lips, and arms crossed firmly over his chest.

"Hi, Trent!" Gwen tried to sound happy to see him again, but it was hard considering the circumstances.

Trent ignored her greeting, sensing the falseness lying within it. "Where have you been?" He growled, staring her down with intensity.

Gwen swallowed hard, already wishing she'd stayed at Courtney's house even though she was gone. "Look, I'm sorry I forgot, but-"

Trent emitted a low growl. "I asked you a question!" he snapped. "Where have you been?" he repeated.

Gwen stood straight as was possible, acting tough. "Courtney's." She said simply, not seeing the error in this.

Trent's eyes shot open. "What?" he cried in alarm, taking quick step forward towards her.

Gwen took a step away from him just as quickly as he had went forward. "I went to Courtney's." Gwen repeated with just as much, if not more, conviction. "You know that she's my best friend, Trent. Just because she's unstable doesn't mean I will drop her like a hat and move on!"

Trent snorted. "That's exactly what it means." he hissed. "If you hang around her you'll turn out just the same!" A pause. "And I don't want that." he said gently, smiling as he closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her much like Duncan had.

Gwen fell into his embrace, limp as a rag doll in his hold. She still relished moments like this. It was all that remained of Trent's good nature.

"So what do you say?" he whispered, tickling her ear. "Will you get near her like that again?" there was an edge to his voice that most would have missed, but it mattered little. There was no one there to hear either way.

"I..." she breathed, almost hypnotized. She wanted so badly to do as he said. The only thing stopping her was the facial expression that flashed before her eyes in that instant. It was Courtney when her phone buzzed earlier. It was awful. "...I can't." she sighed, knowing she had crossed a thine line.

"What?" he hissed, pulling back from her, expression hard like before.

"She needs me Trent." she whined. "Don't you understand?" there were tears in her eyes. "And besides..." she looked away from him as his eyes grew colder. "It's not as if instability is contagious!" she said harshly, scowling similar to him.

Trent raised a brow. "Really now?" A pause. "So you're telling me months of exposure to her suicidal tendencies won't change you at all?" malice hid in his tone.

Gwen ignored it. "No!" she snapped. "No! Because she'll get better! It'll take a while, but she'll get better!" the more she said it the less she believed it.

Trent snorted. "Right." he rolled his eyes, pacing back and forth in front of her. He stopped and faced her to speak a minute later. "You better be right." he warned. "Or else."

Gwen swallowed hard, cowering slightly.

Trent turned to go to the couch, stopping when something came to him. He frowned deeply, turning back to her. "Wait a minute..." he said to himself. "How did you get here?" his voice was dripping with anger through his clenched teeth.

Gwen knew this was coming from the start and it was what she dreaded. She shrugged, shuddering slightly. "I walked."

"HA!" he cried. "Don't bullshit me." he warned, getting closer to Gwen again. "I'm no fool. You didn't have near enough time to visit Courtney and get over here on foot."

Gwen cringed. He was getting to close for comfort. Still, she had a sudden urge to push her luck. "And I'm no liar!" she barked back, daring him to counter her. "Unlike you."

Trent's eyes caught fire, teeth bared threateningly. "You little-!" He bellowed, instantly lashing out and gripping her arms tight. "Don't push me." he hissed, breathing heavy.

Gwen's heart beat fast in her chest, fear climbing at an unimaginable rate. "Let go." she growled, trying her hardest not to show that he was hurting her.

"NO!" he screamed in her face, yanking her forward so that their noses were inches apart. "Not until I get the truth." he squeezed harder.

"Stop!" she half begged, pulling as hard as she could to get away.

He scrutinized her miserable expression with haste, seeing what he hated most in the depths of her eyes. "No..." he breathed in disbelief. "No, way."

Gwen swallowed hard.

"You didn't." he voice shook slightly, a strange thing for him. "You didn't!" he burst out. "You got that dog Duncan to take you home?" he spat, tightening his grip tenfold so that he knew there was no way it didn't hurt.

Gwen let out a sharp yelp. "So what!" she screamed back, tears in her eyes. "So what if I did?" her voice trembled.

Trent's mouth twitched uncontrollably. "Idiot!" he screeched, releasing her so that he could swiftly slap her across the face with everything in him. "I told you not to take rides from him!"

Gwen's eyes were open wide, mouth agape as she lifted a trembling hand to her reddening cheek. She had lost the ability to speak.

"And that's what you get." Trent scoffed.

Gwen couldn't believe what he'd done. He'd struck her. He'd never done it before. He'd always bashed her verbally and gripped her harder than he should. But not this. There had been so much force behind his action that it still stung. And worst of all she could feel the resentment in the slap as well. It was tremendous.

"You don't know what that vermin could do!" he growled with a sense of worry that didn't quite fit. "He'll hurt you."

Gwen shook her head slowly.

"Gwen!" he started, harsh, but quickly fell back into an even tone. "You don't know that. You don't know what he does to girls who blindly follow him, and they all do." he sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "He doesn't care about them, no matter what he says. He only seeks to please himself and his dark desires. I've seen it."

Gwen wanted to kill Trent for saying such slanderous things about her best friend, but didn't. She stopped herself because she knew it was the way to make him happy, going along with his notions, and she aimed to please. At least, it was one of the only ways to make him say he loved her.

"Got it?" his words held an edge, a silent threat.

She nodded tentatively.

"Good." He transformed into the person he used to be, wrapping his arms gently about her and rested his head on her shoulder as he nuzzled her softly.

Gwen closed her eyes, imagining a different lead up to this moment then the one which had transpired as well as focused enough to enjoy the moment.

He raised back up, looking sweetly down into her eyes with his own green ones. "I love you." he whispered, pressing his lips to hers for a kiss where he tasted the blueberry that was her trademark lipstick.

Gwen quickly reciprocated his affections, delighted that her choice in action, or inaction rather, had led to this result. She even brought her arms around his middle back, holding fast to him like a leech. She was only disappointed that the moment was short lived.

Trent was quick to break the kiss, breathing in her sweet scent a moment after. "You smell beautiful." He complimented, completely missing Duncan's smell which usually lingered on her after a ride in his car.

Gwen smiled. "Thanks."

Trent placed another kiss on her forehead this time before releasing her. "Are we gonna watch a movie then?" He pondered, flashing a smile.

Gwen nodded, reaching her hand which didn't cover her face up for his.

Trent took it as he knew she wanted, gripping onto it with a gentleness unlike before when they'd fought. And then he lead her swiftly to the couch, setting her down where he wanted before he went to choose a movie. "What do you want to watch, honey?"

Gwen shrugged. She didn't much care. However, more so she didn't trust herself in opening her mouth. She had barely been able to give a simple thanks and God knows what she'd do if she had to say more.

Trent shrugged right back, snatching a movie of his own liking out from a stack. "Titanic?" He looked back over his shoulder to gage her reaction.

Gwen simply nodded, refusing to break her rule of silence.

"Ok." He put the movie in the VCR, all Gwen had, before taking his place next to her. "It's a good choice." He stretched his arm out around her, settling into place.

Gwen watched only him for the first few minutes before finally deciding that he was intent upon staying the whole time and then turned her attention to the movie too. He was right, it was a good movie. A tragedy. It was just like Courtney's life and perhaps her own. She had simply ignored the latter in hopes that it would go away.

Only now she wasn't so sure anymore. Maybe it wouldn't. In fact, what if it simply got worse?

The song this time is Pain by Three Days Grace. I've neglected to mention the singer with the past few chapters, and if you care then sorry. If not, then that's fine too. And I know Gwen can draw in the show, but whatever. Please review!