It was dinner time. Courtney sat at a table by herself playing with her food. She sighed every few minutes, just a few tables away were her 2 least favorite people in the world. She couldn't stop staring, Duncan looked so...happy. Duncan was happy, without her. Duncan was happy not with her, but with her so called "new best-friend". Courtney remembered all the times she shared with both of them. She silently laughed in her head when she remembered the day Duncan and herself stole food during that torture challenge. She secretly smiled, but only for a moment, when she remembered her and Duncan's first kiss. Back then, it seemed absolutely perfect. She found herself missing Gwen when she realized how close of a connection they had in such a short amount of time. But the feeling quickly went away when she remembered the most hurtful part.

Duncan and Gwen.

Gwen and Duncan.

In reality, it sucked alot more then T.V made it look. It wasn't pretend, it wasn't scripted, it wasn't fake. It was real. And it hurt. It hurts being back stabbed by the 2 people you care most about. Deep down Courtney knew behind all the hate, their was sadness, and behind the sadness was loneliness. Courtney sighed again and looked back down at her food. Bridgette and Geoff came and sat by Courtney.

"Hey Court," Bridgette said with a smile.

Courtney just kept looking down playing with her food.

"Hey"

Bridgette and Geoff looked at each other. They both noticed how moody she's been lately. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why she was acting like this, Bridgette knew exactly what was going on. But as much as Bridgette wanted to help, there wasn't much she could do. Every time she saw or was with Courtney, Courtney was either in a bad mood or not really up for talking. It's been awhile since Bridgette had an actual fun conversation with Courtney. She loved Courtney almost like a sister in season 1, but ever since they were slowly drifting. Bridgette could easily see, but she wasn't sure if Courtney could. Bridgette just hoped for the best, she hated seeing Courtney like this. She hated seeing her down and so negative. She hated seeing everyone scared of her. She hated seeing everyone wishing she was somewhere else. She hated the drifting relationship with one of her best friends. Bridgette just forced a smile and hopefully she could get through to her this time.

"Court...you don't need them. If Duncan was such an ass to cheat on you, then that proves that he wasn't the right guy in the first place,"

Courtney looked up and smiled a bit.

"Thanks Bridge..."

Courtney looked back down at her food. Bridgette sighed, there was nothing she could do.

A few minutes of silence passed until Courtney got up holding her plate.

"Well, I got to go."

Bridgette looked at her, "Why? Me and Geoff just got here." She noticed Courtney look at her watch.

"I have to go do something." Bridgette was puzzled, but she wasn't that surprised. Courtney really didn't tell her anything now a days. She just always kept to herself.

"Um, okay then. Catch ya later Court."

And with that Courtney walked away.

Courtney lied, she didn't really have to go do anything. She still had 20 minutes until she had to go see Trent. Courtney went back to her room, turned on the lights and went to the bathroom.

She stood there. Looking at herself through the mirror. She carefully examined every part of herself. Her face, her hair, and especially her body. Why did Duncan leave her? She gave him everything he wanted. Sure they fought alot, but they always made up.

Flashback (before TWDT)

"God Duncan! You're such an idiot!"

"Geez Princess, that's not what you said last night. But whatever, at least I'm not a control freak!"

Courtney and Duncan were standing in her room, thank god her parents weren't home or else they would have heard the fight.

"I wouldn't be such a control freak if you learned to behave yourself! I'm tired of catching you look at other girls! And I'm tired of you acting so wreckless and immature!"

Duncan blew up.

"COURTNEY ! SHUT THE HELL UP! I'VE NEVER MET A STICK-UP THE ASS GIRL THEN YOU! THAT'S RIGHT, YOU! YOU'RE A BITCH!"

Courtney could feel the tears coming. She did her best to hold them back. Courtney does NOT cry. Duncan continued to scream.

"Ugh, sometimes I even wonder why I'm with you! All you do is bitch, complain, and judge! I mean, what happened to the fun Courtney? The one I fell in love with during season 1?"

Now Courtney couldn't help it, tears were streaming down her face. She broke, Duncan broke her. In love? Was she ready for that?

"Duncan...did you say you were in love with me?"

Duncan was taken back. He really did care for Courtney, but sometimes she was too much and couldn't hold his emotions in. He stepped closer to her. He saw her tears. He took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her.

"Court...I'm sorry. We'll figure this out..."

He kissed her forehead and tried to get her to stop crying.

END FLASHBACK

Courtney sighed. That memory probably meant the most to her. She remembered the way he held her tight. The gentle way he kissed her forehead. Duncan has always been a secret sweetheart, and only Courtney was special enough to see that side of him. She was hurt, because now another girl has the special connection with him.

Courtney was lost in thought, filling herself in emotions and memories. She couldn't take it. She was so stupid. Courtney actually believed that Duncan loved her. She sat down on the bathroom floor and just let it all out. She cried as if her life depended on it, there was no holding back. Life officially sucked.

But unbeknownst to her, her cries could be heard by the person next door.

At exactly 8:00 Courtney knocked on Trent's room door holding her violin and bow in hand. Deep down she didn't want to be here. She was out of it, but she made a promise to Trent.

"Woah, you're here early," Trent said as he opened the door.

Courtney walked in, "No, you said 8:00"

Trent closed the door when Courtney walked in "Yeah but, usually when people say that they don't show up exactly at eight. They usually show up like, ten minutes after."

"Well, punctuality counts. And I always arrive on time."

Trent shrugged, "Okay then. So, we gonna start?"

Courtney nodded. "Kay Trent, playing the violin takes a lot more work then people think. It takes a lot of practice and hard work. Now, to start I want you to sit on the bed with your back straight."

Trent did as she said.

An hour passed by and all that could be heard in the room was an unpleasant squeaky noise. Courtney made a face and when Trent saw he stopped playing.

"Well...um, maybe that's it for today." Courtney said.

Trent sighed, "Yeah, but I'm doing pretty good!

"Yeah, sure." Courtney said as she packed up her violin.

As she was packing Trent looked at her.

"Hey Courtney...are you ok? I heard you earlier. Did something happen?"

Courtney froze, should she lie? She thought about it for a moment and realized that she couldn't lie out of this.

"Courtney, I know how you feel..." Trent was cut off. Courtney was steamed.

"No you don't Trent. You don't know how I feel! You don't know what it feels like to look completely STUPID on national television! You don't have to deal with seeing the guy you pretty much gave everything to with his new girlfriend every single friecking day!"

Trent stared her down. "Oh yeah, well I DO know what it's like to be dumped on national television. I DO know what it feels like to be humiliated. And last time I checked that guy that YOU were talking about is dating MY ex-girlfriend."

Courtney started back at him. She realized he was right. Courtney's face fell and she sat down on his bed.

"Ugh, I'm sorry Trent. I'm just really out of it."

Trent sat down next to her and rubbed her back, "Trust me, I know the feeling."

They sat in silence.

"Courtney, I know we're not that much of friends but Duncan's stupid. You can do better. I've been in your position and I know it sucks not being able to open up about it. And even though it may seem the whole world is against you, I'm on your side."

Courtney looked up at him, those words meant so much. I'm on your side. People have said a lot of things to her, but no one had ever said that. People have tried to make her feel better, but finally there was someone who understood her. Someone whose been in her position.

Courtney smiled. "Thanks Trent."

Trent smiled back. "No problem."

Courtney got up and grabbed her violin case, "So, you wanna try this violin thing again tomorrow?"

Trent chuckled, "Definitely."

He opened the door for her, "I'm doing pretty good at this violin thing though right?"

Courtney laughed as she walked out, "You're doing perfect Trent."

For the first time in awhile, she felt actually happy. Maybe she would like to hang out with Trent more often. Courtney was about to open her room door when she saw Sierra coming down the hallway. Except, she didn't seem the same. Courtney could see the tears on her face. Normally she would have ignored this, but she remembered what she wrote in her diary earlier. Controlling actions. And then she remembered what happened with Trent. I know how you feel. Sierra was hurt, and Courtney knew the right thing to do was help. She walked over to Sierra.

"Hey Sierra, you ok?"

All Sierra did was shake her head, and then she cried.

"CODY HATES ME!"

Courtney frowned. Poor Sierra she thought. Courtney grabbed her.

"Umm, how about we go to the coffee shop in the lobby and talk about it?"

Sierra looked up, "Um, ok. I guess that sounds good."

Courtney smiled, and headed to the lobby with Sierra.