AN: I can't tell you how many times I re-wrote this chapter. It's up in the double digits, alright.
Duncan's POV
I'd considered doing a lot of things, within the ten minutes I sat, peeking over my menu at the couple. However, even in my mind, none of them ended well. Biting anxiously on my lip, I continued to observe. The guy was speaking too quietly for me to catch what he was saying, but Courtney actually looked like she was enjoying herself.
Alright, that was my cue to step in.
Slapping my menu down onto the table, I climbed out of my seat and marched over to the couple, swiftly sliding in beside Courtney and wrapping my arm around her shoulder as if I did it all the time. "Hey, Princess! Fancy seeing you here!"
The girl looked at me in a state of shock, for about three seconds, before she shoved my arm away from her and sent me the dirtiest look she could muster. However, her tone was polite, if not a little strained. "What are you doing here?" I see... She didn't wanna scare off this jerk by shouting at me like I was positive she wanted to. Ignoring her question for the moment, I stole a look at her date, and made no move to hide the grimace that over-took my expression. Of course; he was some kind of model. Some kind of rich-ass, brainiac, drop-dead gorgeous, model. The exact type of kids I hated. More then dweebs and bitchy girls put together.
I focused back on Courtney, who continued to scowl at me, awaiting an answer to her question. So, grinning playfully now, I nudged her lightly in the side. "Oh you know, I saw you here, and I just had to come say hello! I didn't mean to interrupt your date..." The word came out bitter and annoyed, and I saw the dude shift uncomfortably in his seat. I undoubtedly intimidated him. Good.
The dumb ass spoke before Princess got the chance. "Courtney, do you know this guy?"
"Well-"
As I cut her off, and she gave me a heavy kick to my leg. I held back a wince, and kept my smile in place. "Yeah, actually. We're real close."
Another kick to the leg, -harder, this time- another mental wince. I briefly wondered if this chick was in a soccer. If she wasn't, she sure should of been.
"Actually," Court all but hissed. "I have no idea who he is." She turned to glare daggers at me. "And I'd appreciate if you'd leave us alone before I ask someone to throw you out."
"Aw, don't be like that, Babe!" I exclaimed gleefully, giving her a playful tap on the nose, and she finally snapped.
"Duncan, get the hell out of here!" She shrieked at me, and I just smirked in my response, eying her frightened looking date. Pussy. He hadn't signed up to go on a date with the real Courtney. He wanted the polite, fake one, that probably acted like a perfect little angel around school. Ha! Yeah, angel my ass.
"W-Why don't we just go?" The rich boy piped up, leaving money on the table for their food, and Courtney nodded once, sliding out of the booth as rapidly as she could.
I made no move to stop them, as my job was done. That guy was probably afraid of Princess, now. Which meant he wouldn't even try to make a move on her. Which also meant I could now go back to Gwen, and-
"Oh, shit. Gwen!"
Rushing out of the now unoccupied booth, I dashed around the corner of the busy restaurant, then frowned at what I saw. Or, more what I didn't see.
"Aw, man..." I mumbled to myself, staring at the empty table, and sighing. I'd totally forgotten about her. How terrible of a friend was I? I'd promised to spend the day with her, catching up, and here I was, ditching her to ruin Princess' date. Damn.
I flipped open my cellphone and left Gwen a quick text, saying how sorry I was, and that I'd make it up to her, doing whatever she wanted. Closing it once again, I ran my fingers through my hair and couldn't help but smile. Crappy friend or not, I felt proud of myself.
The model was going to think twice about trying to steal Princess away from me.
Courtney's POV
"I'm sorry, Nathan." I apologized, as we began driving. I couldn't believe Duncan would do something like this! Oh, who was I trying to kid, of course it's something he'd do. He was just that childish.
"You know what? Don't worry about it. How about we go see a movie? I hear there are a couple romantic comedies playing." He sent me a gentle smile, and I felt relieved. I'd assumed he'd never want to speak with me again after losing my temper back there. It just proved how much of a great guy he really was. And how much more mature he was than that stupid Punk.
I returned his cute, dimpled, grin. "I'd love that."
The rest of the drive had thankfully been disturbance free, while Nathan and I found out we were both into classical music. It was like he was the Prince I'd dreamed about as a little girl, straight out of my head. And Duncan was like the dragon that captured me, then was slaughtered by said-Prince. I smirked. How fitting.
"So, what would you like to see? My treat." He asked me, reaching over carefully to capture my hand in his, and I swear my heart fluttered in my chest.
"O-Oh, um, I'm up for anything." I whispered out weakly, face flushing as he squeezed my hand once.
Despite the minor disturbance, I could tell this date would be a one I'd always remember.
Duncan's POV
The next morning, I woke up, feeling a bit off. Like I'd ate something funky the night before, or realized I'd forgotten to do something important.
However, neither things applied. I mean, I hadn't even gotten to order at the restaurant last night, and I came home early, and even helped Ma around the house.
As I let everything sink in, it dawned on me. Courtney's date. That's what had me feeling so blah.
I had been confident I'd ruined it, but... something inside me told me I was wrong.
Rolling over so I was laying on my stomach, I noticed my phone's screen flashing on my nightstand. Grabbing the electronic and pulling it open, the bright screen informed me I had one new text message, from Geoff.
I chuckled to myself, wondering if he and Malibu had really hit it off, and he wanted to brag about it. Although, within scanning the first two words, I knew that was not the case.
Trouble, Dude.
I blew out a breath, bracing myself for whatever the trouble might be.
You'll never guess who I saw at the movie theater last night. Sent you a pic.
There, on the tiny screen, was Courtney and that pretty-boy, sitting in the movie theater, kissing.
Out of pure, blind, rage, I threw my phone onto the bed before hopping out of it and punching the first thing I came in contact with. Which, happened to be my bedroom wall.
Staring, wide-eyed, once my actions caught up with me, I became aware of the hole I'd been successful in making in the drywall. Crap...
Eyes flickering around the room, I ran over to closet and flung it open. Digging through it for a moment, I pulled out a poster of some rock band.
Slapping it onto the wall, I taped it up, and smirked to myself. There, problem solved.
Plopping myself back down onto the bed, I snarled at the offending picture. No, the problem was not solved. The problem was still here, in black and white.
I'd failed. They'd kissed. The thought made my stomach churn. What if that had been her first kiss? Even if it hadn't, weren't there some kind of diseases or whatever you could get from kissing? Argh!
My bedroom door flung open a second later, and my frantic Mother looked around. "Duncan, I heard a loud band, what happened?" She eyed the new poster on my wall, before giving me a deadpan expression. "Please tell me you didn't-"
"I didn't." I lied instantly, though my sheepishly smile was a dead give-away.
She groaned, tugging her fingers through her knotted blond hair. "Just, promise me you'll fix it before your Father finds out. And no, hiding the hole doesn't count as fixing it." She added, when I gestured to the poster.
"Alright, Ma. Yeah, I'll fix it. Go back to bed." I mumbled, shooing her, and she left without giving me more then a stern glare. I had a tendency to bust stuff when pushed over the edge. My brothers say I got it from her, which is why she was so reasonable when it came to these kinds of things.
I lifted my phone to my face again and gave the picture a blank stare, before lazily tossing it back onto the nightstand. Maybe this was some kind of sign from the universe, telling me to let her go.
I considered this, while covering my head with a pillow, and debating whether or not Courtney was truly worth it. I mean, I'm sure me and Gwen could have another go at- no, that was a bad idea. Plus, I heard some dude from my Spanish class kind of had a thing for her, already. Bro had no chance at winning her over, but hey, I could at least be nice enough to give him a shot. I really doubted Gwen would want anything to do with the guitar player, but hey, weirder things have happened.
Weirder things, like a bad-ass punk boy, chasing after a preppy little rich girl like a love-sick puppy.
Pulling the pillow from my face, I smiled to myself, suddenly feeling determined.
I was not going to give up like some loser. I was going to fight for her until the very end. Either I'd end up with her, or not, but I was gonna try my damnedest to make it the first option.
And no model was going to stop me.
Courtney's POV
Waking up this morning, I stretched. Never before had I felt so well rested, or just plain blissful in years.
Everything about last night, -excluding the whole Duncan fiasco, of course- had been perfect. Nate had been perfect.
Half-way through the movie, he'd lightly taken my face in his hands and kissed my lips once, softly, sweetly.
It ended up being the best kiss I'd ever had.
"I think he might be the one..." I murmured to myself, no matter how cliché and disgustingly cheesy it sounded.
Yes, maybe it was naivé of me to think that way. My Mom always said I'd date more guys then I could count, before finally finding the one. However, she'd never met Nate. Had she, she would understand that he might actually be the most perfect boyfriend in the entire world.
And perfect was what I wanted.
AN: Or what she thinks she wants. ;)