Author's Note

I DON'T OWN TOTAL DRAMA OR ANY OTHER FRANCHISE I NAMED

I got some really positive feedback from chapter 1 so I wanted to write chapter 2. I'm going to try to write at least a chapter every weekend and publish it. But if it doesn't happen, it's because I have stuff to do and I work and homework and stuff.

So yeah here's chapter 2

June 17th- The Long Ride

Gwen's P.O.V.

No. It's happening again. The darkness. Only it's worse. I can't handle the cold; I'm freezing. And the monster comes even faster for me this time. No please! NO!

"Gwendolyn Brooks! Time to wake up and leave." Her knocking on my door wakes me from my horrible dreams. Thank goodness for parents.

"Gwen? I'm coming in!" I open my eyes to see her barge in and pull the covers off of my bed. "Gwendolyn, we leave in thirty minutes. Make sure you have everything packed and be ready. Have fun!" She walks out of my room shuts the door behind her.

I sit up in my bed and look over across my room and look in my mirror above my dresser. My hair is everywhere… eh, I'm a mess. I stand up and walk over to the window seat in my room where I put my suitcase and look outside. The sun still hasn't risen and my mom and Tom are loading different bags and snack packs into our rental car. Of course they rented a minivan… at least it has DVD players in it.

I look through my suitcase to make sure I have everything before I zip everything up. I have enough tee-shirts, tank tops, and jean shorts to last the hot two weeks we're going to be there. I have camisoles and flannel pajama pants to wear to bed. I went shopping with my mom's and Tom's money to Victoria's Secret for new bras, underwear, and a new pair of yoga crops. I even had money left for a new pair of TOMS and a new swim suit.

All of my clothes are packed right and my extra items are all here. I zip up my suitcase and grab my iPhone and my computer and put them in a separate bag I use for traveling in the car.

I walk down the steps and outside to the minivan. I shove my suitcase into the trunk and set my other bag in my seat. I walk back into inside and see my mom in the kitchen.

"Gwendolyn, you're not even dressed! Hurry, we're leaving in ten minutes."

"Okay, I know. Where's Midnight's carrier?"

"I put it in your room. Now hurry!"

I run up the stairs and into my room. I walk in and see Midnight already curled up in her carrier like the low-maintenance cat she is. I take off my black camisole and my flannel pajama pants and put on a magenta V-neck and a pair of yoga pants, close Midnight's carrier, grab her, slip on my flip flops, and walk out to the car.

"Good, you're here. Is everything here, Tom?"

"Yeah, we got all the snacks and luggage. ROLL CALL! Shelly?"

"Here!"

"Adam?"

"Here!"

"Gwen?"

"Here… unfortunately." My mom gives me a hard glare. "Sorry."

"Gwen, do you have Midnight?"

"Yes."

"Okay, now… BRUISER, here boy!" Tom yells towards the house and our dog comes charging out of the house and jumps into the very back seats of the van. "Okay, kiddos, we have everything. Let's pile in!"

My mom hops in the driver seat behind the wheel and Tom sits in the passenger seat. I sit behind Tom and Adam sits behind my mom. I put Midnight between my brother and my seats. She's crying because she hates car rides. Then of course Bruiser has to start barking at Midnight. This is gonna be a fun ride.

I put my earphones in and turn on my iPhone to start listening to music. The clock says 4:03 a.m. Now only 15 more hours to go. I lean back in my seat, play my music, and almost instantly fall asleep.

XxXxXxX

I smell something, something delicious that I live off of everyday. The sweet aroma of coffee is filling the car. I open my eyes wide enough to see a cup of Starbucks coffee sitting in the cup holder in front of me with the name Gwen on it. I grab my iPhone and check the time: 10:12 a.m.

"Finally awake, eh?" Adam looks at me. He's standing outside of the car stretching. "We needed to stop for gas so Tom bought you some coffee and a donut. Nice, huh?"

I pull out my ear buds and grab my coffee. At this point, I'm desperate for it. You could even call me addicted to coffee, but I don't care. It's delicious and it wakes me up.

I unbuckle my seat belt and open the door. I get out and stretch while sipping my coffee. Midnight has finally calmed down and is sound asleep and so is Bruiser. Mom and Tom come out of the rest stop plaza.

"Look who decided to wake up!"

"Shut up, Tom. You're used to waking up early. But thanks for the coffee."

"Yeah I know how you are. Shelly, do you want me to drive now?"

"Please. I need to sleep."

"Alright, everyone, only nine more hours to go!" We all groan. Nine hours is just too much. We pile back in and start driving.

"Gwen, how was sleeping? Was everything alright?"

"Yeah mom, it's been fine lately." Of course I'm lying. She thinks I'm making massive improvements in my mental health when really I'm completely unstable. But she can't know that.

"Well that's great! Adam, you should really get some sleep."

"But mom! I'm about to beat this level and I—"

"No! Sleep! You have plenty of time."

"Fine."

XxXxXxX

"Okay everyone, we're here!" My mother's perkiness is astounding even through everything we've done today. We're driving along a dirt road when we come across our home away from home. The car pulls into the gravel driveway. "Let's hop out and take our things in!"

We all get out of the car and help unload. I grab my travel bag, the house key, and Midnight and walk up the curved path to our lake house. It looks the same as I remember it; tall, ominous, and white with stone details. I walk up three steps to the front porch and take out the key. I open up the front door and go inside.

To the right is a set of steps going down to the living area, eat-in kitchen, and the master suite where my mom and Tom will stay. On the left is a set of stairs going up to the other bedrooms in the house. I walk up the steps with my bag and Midnight. At the top of the steps I turn left into a small hallway.

To the left is the main bathroom that Adam and I decorated together; it's filled with fish themed items. And I'm surprised the renters kept it that way. Across the hall from that is my room. It's painted purple and has dark hardwood floors. There is a big window looking over the lake on the far wall. It has simple things like a dresser, a mirror, and a bed in it. Typical things a spare bedroom would contain. I set my travel bag down on the bed and let Midnight out in the room. "Stay here." Yes she's a cat, but she knows some things. I shut the door and move on.

Next door is my brother's room and another room I don't remember. My dad always had the door closed and told me never to go in it. I open the door and find an art studio inside. It's a small room but it has beautiful paintings from wall to wall. It's magical and perfect. One painting in peculiar peaks my interest. It's a little girl that looks like me when I was younger. She's in what I assume to be her father's arms and she's smiling. I look at the artist's signature and it's my dad's signature. I never knew he had this kind of talent. But then again, where do I get it from?

"I knew you would like that one." My mother appears in the doorway of the room. "Yes, your father was talented and he knew how to use a paint brush. All of these are his. The renters loved them so they kept them up."

"Why didn't dad take them after the divorce?"

"Too many memories, he said. You could put some of yours in here, you know. There's a spot somewhere, I'm sure." She smiles at me and I notice a few tears starting to form in her eyes. "Come help us with the bags, would you?"

"Yeah, sure mom." I walk up to her and hug her. She may not understand me completely, but we love each other and we have a bond.

We walk back down to the car and unload the rest of the bags. Bruiser hops out and runs straight inside to check the place out. Everyone walks in with an array of snacks. We walk down the steps and through our blue living space with vaulted ceilings and into the kitchen, which has been renovated since we were here last.

The snacks are set on the island in the kitchen and my mom walks Tom to the master suite. Adam and I walk out to the back yard.

"I forgot about the old fire pit! Remember how we roasted hot dogs and s'mores out here, Gwen?"

"Yeah those were some good times, little brother. The renters really took good care of the house."

"Really good care." He looks down at his watch. "Wait I thought it was gonna take us fifteen hours? It only took fourteen!"

"Missouri is an hour behind Toronto. Didn't they teach you time zones, yet?"

"Oops. Its summer and I'm off the clock for school."

"True, true. Let's go sit on the dock." We walk past the fire pit and sitting area onto the walkway to the dock. It's about twenty feet long before the actual docking part. Once we get on the dock, we check out how everything was kept.

"Gwen, look! They still have our boat!"

"Seriously? That thing is old." We got our boat when I was a kid. So this thing really brings back memories. "Wow, that's awesome."

We walk around some more, check out the seating, and head back to the house.

"How's everything out there looking, kids?"

"Mom, they still have our boat!"

"Really? Oh, Tom, let's go look!" My mom and Tom head out to the dock while my brother and I head back inside.

"Gwen?"

"What?"

"Are you gonna have fun on this trip?"

"I'm gonna try to."

"Good. Mom really wants you to."

"Yeah I know. Hey, I'll race you to your room."

"I'll take you up on that challenge. Start by the couch."

"Alright. Ready? Set… GO!"

XxXxXxX

"I've got the hot dogs!"

"I got the graham crackers."

"I'll get the chocolate."

"Let me get the marshmallows."

Just like six years ago, my family is having a big bonfire night. We're roasting hot dogs, vegan of course, and s'mores and having lots of fun. We pull out the lawn chairs and grab some kabob sticks. It's gotten dark out so we can't really see too much without any light. I grab a marshmallow and stick it in the fire and watch it cook.

"Mom, I think Bruiser wants some of your hot dog." Adam points out Bruiser's head resting near mom's plate. We all chuckle and mom gives in and hands him a piece of hot dog. For the next hour, we go on chatting about whatever pops into our head. We're all actually having a genuinely good time.

"Oh, Gwen, honey! Look at how beautiful the moon looks over the water! You should draw it."

"Oh my gosh, yes! Hang on… let me grab my sketch book." I hop out of my chair and run inside. I get to my room, give Midnight a few treats and grab my sketch book.

"Okay, guys, I'm gonna go sit on the dock and sketch."

"Don't be too long, Gwen. Tom invited the neighbors to come over and they'll be here any second."

"The neighbor that has a son my own age?"

"Yep!"

"Tell them I'm busy and you can just send him out." I run out to the dock and sit on the edge by the ladder. I stick my feet in and it's freezing. I set my sketch pad on my legs and start drawing. It's the perfect scene. The moon is full and bright. The water is flat and deep black on the surface. The reflection of the moon is dazzling.

I can just barely hear my mom talking to the neighbors. "You can just go out there and talk to her." Great, she's sending him out here.

I hear his footsteps coming closer. All I do is keep sketching because I'm not going to miss this. His footsteps stop just behind me.

"Hey, you must be Shelly's daughter. My dad and I live right next door to you."

Wait… I recognize that voice. It's deep and soothing and wonderfully terrible. No… not here. It can't be him. It's not possible.

I stand up and turn around. Fuck. No. Are you kidding me? I know him. I'll never forget his beautiful green eyes and gorgeous jet black hair. The moon aluminates his face, making him even more beautiful than I remember him.

"Trent?" I ask cautiously.

"Gwen?"

End of Chapter 2!

OOOHHH! What's gonna happen?

So if you like my story, make sure to review. If you have suggestions, please message me!

Thanks to everyone who read it and already favorited the story after only one chapter!

Thanks! Bye!