"You know, I thought it would be awesome to hang out with Chris McLean. I'm pretty much regretting that now," I say, turning my head to see Chris McLean waving at random people as they scream in excitement.
"Yeah. I always thought it would be awesome if you dated Duncan," Gwen replies. I'm rather shocked by her answer – does that mean she doesn't like me and Duncan? But…we have something. I know that.
"What do you mean by that?" I say defensively.
"I just, like, always thought you'd be a great pair. You and him. But when you went, it kind of told all of us – except from Duncan – that you weren't supposed to be together."
"But we are," I insist, "I know. I and Duncan will work."
"How can you be so sure? You're getting into more trouble than you planned! See if you get caught out once more, you know what will happen. Duncan's not good for you."
I can feel tears welling up in my eyes. She's right. No, she isn't. We're gonna go far. I know. But then why do I doubt myself? I love Duncan. I know it, because I feel it. But maybe love's just a fake emotion we're all trying to convince ourselves we're in. Maybe real love doesn't actually exist. But that's not true. Just look at Romeo and Juliet. Geoff and Bridgette.
"Court, I don't mean any offense," Gwen begins.
"And you and Music Man were going to work!? Not everything works out in the end! I can't believe – no, I won't believe – that you don't think me and Duncan will work out! Because we will," I say, getting quitter by the moment.
"You got kidnapped, Court, because of him!" Gwen shouts.
"I. Don't. Care," I say to her, "Bye, Gwen," I say, quietly as I walk away from her, the tears falling from my eyes. We will get somewhere. And I don't care what they think, or what they're going to say, because at the end of the day, I do love Duncan. I walk down a different street, not even realising where I was bringing myself to. Of course, it was Zoey. How, I thought, has Zoey got a multiple personality boyfriend and she hasn't got any abuse? It amazes me how she does it. But she's Zoey.
I knock on the door, to see Zoey open it. "Are you the only person who actually owns this house or what?" I ask, smiling, but she can see I've been crying.
"Not really. I'm just supposed to get the door every time," she replies. "Are you okay, 'cause you look pretty bad, Court. Want to come in?" I nod and step in, and she leads me to her room. "No one's home yet, so uh, feel free to cry?"
"Thanks," I say as we enter her room, and she closes the door behind us.
"So, what's wrong?" she says, calmly.
"People say me and Duncan shouldn't…be together," I start.
"And?" she replies.
"Well, that's it, really," I say, confused.
"Look, I'm dating him," she says pointing to a girl – or I think it's a girl – doing gymnastics in the bedroom. I didn't notice her – or him or whatever. Probably because everything was blurry after crying, I guess. "SVETLANA, CAN YOU TRY NOT TO BREAK EVERYTHING?!"
"He – uh, looks female," I mutter, looking at 'Svetlana'.
"Multiple personality. She's female. Called Svetlana. She's one of the best, I guess. Vito isn't really my favourite," she says, looking in the distant. "Anyway, all I'm saying, Court, is that a lot of people will probably tell you that, because he's a criminal. You probably shouldn't believe them. Like – look at him – her. That's as crazy as you can possibly get. But I don't mind that much. I love Mike, and I guess I love him so much I'm prepared to put up with his personalities. It's the same with you. You love Duncan so much that you're prepared to be fine with all his stealing and criminal stuff."
"You really think I'm fine with all the criminal stuff?"
"Not – completely. Partly fine." I sigh. Maybe Zoey's right. It kind of nearly annoys me about how she's right all the time. A few months ago, I was asking her advice on me and Duncan. And it worked.
And that's the problem.
I've been so sure all my life that everything I plan will work. And it doesn't. I could plan for years and years and never get me and Duncan's relationship right. So, how can me and Duncan never get are relationship right, but other people can? And if other people can get our relationship right, then maybe Gwen can. And maybe Zoey can. I can choose to believe Zoey, but I could also choose to believe World War One didn't happen. I could choose to believe Gwen, but what's the point? It'll only hurt me more.
The thing about Duncan is that he's one of those unpredictable people. Sometimes he's decent, and other times he isn't, and you can never plan those exact times.
"Well," I say, sniffing, "I gotta go. Homework."
"On what?" she says, trying to act interested. We didn't really have homework and I wasn't sure what to say. I'm a naturally terrible liar.
"Uh – the study of – uh how trees affect the uh – Chris McLean TV programme – of uh – radiation," I reply, searching for words.
"The study of how trees affect the Chris McLean TV programme of radiation? Haven't heard of that one yet."
"It's new. They're just trying it out on us, you see."
"Sounds interesting. SVETLANA, PLEASE DON'T DO A SOMERSAULT OVER THE DESK, THERE'S A VASE ON IT -" she says, and then I see the female gymnast crash onto the desk, as I see pieces of glass fly about the room.
"At least your boyfriend's a criminal, and not a female gymnast," she looks at me dully. I laugh at the very thought.
A/N – Sorry that I haven't published in a while. Writer's block. I added one of Mike's personalities in here for fun, Svetlana (the female Russian gymnast). Please review!