Wow...this was fast! I suppose it's cause I loved doing this particular part so much! I only hope you like it just as much! :D Enjoy!
Courtney didn't see Duncan or Zane for the rest of that day and found herself slightly worried for the both of them. She, of course, figured Duncan would be perfectly able of taking care of his own hide, it was just Zane she wasn't so sure of. He seemed capable of doing just as well as Duncan could since they were both in that same kind of class where one knew how to handle any situation. Only she couldn't help but wonder if she was the exception for him. He'd appeared so very hurt by her harsh words that she didn't know what to believe. For all she knew he could be off plotting his own demise or even hers. Her only solace was that, at the end of the day, she swore she saw he over at the place she first met him. She reasoned with herself that no matter what was going on with him his presence at his regular spot signaled that all was well in his mind. Perhaps he was tortured to a degree, but it was not enough to alter his pattern of behavior and this pleased her. As such she was able to go home without worry.
By Monday she expected things to revert back to the way they'd been before the incident on Thursday, Zane talking to her with exuberance, Duncan battering her with harsh words, and worst of all the whole student body mocking her. But it was not so. Zane still refused to speak to her of his own accord, Duncan didn't cease his strange behavior of protecting her against whoever dared screw with her, and those who witnessed Duncan's displays of dominance didn't think twice about crossing him. And as such it was one of the best days she'd had since she arrived at this hellhole albeit the tiny itch at the back of her mind that made her hate herself for turning her back on Zane. He'd stood by her long before anyone else was willing to, he had been her one lifeline, and he ultimately became her savior. The only positive aspect was that he was at least back in school. And so she went with it.
This is how it went for the rest of the week, her woes decreasing in magnitude each and every day as Duncan's acts of aggression grew. At times Courtney wished to stop him and spoke her mind a couple of times, but ultimately she held her tongue on the matter. For although she'd grown quite fond of him and his uncanny ability to keep her from harm she could never be sure of how he'd react toward her. For all she knew he hated her as much as ever, doing what he did to satisfy some secret obsession he held within him. Only when fourth period came around that Friday did she make the decision that she no longer needed his assistance. She'd spent all week witnessing his asinine acts and she could barely stand it. "Duncan." she growled in an exasperated sigh, blowing a strand of her hair up out of her face as she flung him a look of annoyance.
Duncan lifted his head into the air, cackling as he stuck his leg out in a boy's path to obstruct his way and cause him to trip. "Priceless!" he cried, leaning his head down into the palm of his hand with a satisfied smirk.
"Duncan." she growled again, pursing her lips.
His smile slipped ever so slightly, turning his gaze over to the irritated prep. "What?" he chuckled, attempting to retain some of the joy of his offense.
She snorted. "What?" she mimicked in a voice similar to his. "You know what." a pause. "You're picking at every person that comes with a five foot radius of me without any plausible reason."
He blinked a couple of times, eyeing her carefully. "And?"
She growled lightly, resting her head in her hand much like Duncan was. "Do you really think they deserve that, even after the things they've said and done?"
He shrugged, chuckling as a boy across the room shook with fury after being flipped off by him. "I don't know." his grin widened. "Nor do I really care."
She shook her head. "It's not like each and every one of them is bent on hurting me! Not anymore anyway." she finished with a hopeless sigh.
"What are you talking about?" he asked dryly, looking at her as if she were an idiotic fool. "I'm not doing this for you!" he cried with a snort like laugh. "What ever made you think of such a convoluted idea?" he rolled his eyes.
"Ah!" she moaned, scowling. "How can you say that!" she barked. "If you're not doing this for me then why the hell are you chasing off every living soul who utters a word or, at this point, gets to close to me?" she pressed, a brow raised, arms crossed over her chest, and a fire glowing in her emerald eyes.
He lifted his head up, shaking his head in disbelief. "Oh, I don't know." he feigned innocent. "Maybe, just maybe, it's because I want to!" he paused, looking over at a girl who was whispering something to her friend next to her and made a face at the guy. Duncan snickered snidely as the both of them started mouthing explicates at him before he went back to ignoring them completely and added on to his sentence. "In case you didn't notice I hate you! I hate the way you always have to be perfect, how you insist on being a good two shoes who can do wrong, your uncanny ability to charm the pants off of any person you cross paths with as long as the circumstances are right for it, and worst of all I hate your looks. The way that one strand of hair always falls on your forehead, those freckles spray out across your cheeks, your eyes pierce any living soul, and the color of your skin reminds me of my favorite foods, it all just makes me sick to my stomach each and every time I'm forced to think about it." he spat with disgust, jerking his head away from her as he was immediately hit hard with a feeling of loathing towards himself rather then her. He could barely believe the words he'd thought of saying every day upon seeing her had honestly passed his lips. He knew that she would take it all the wrong way too. She'd think that his intense evaluation of her meant that deep down he didn't really mean what he said. And…she'd almost be right.
Courtney was baffled by Duncan's spurt of a list of her supposed flaws and lack of beauty. At least that's what she told herself it was, because for the life of her she just couldn't bring herself to believe that went he ranted about her appearance that he was really telling her all of the things he loved about her. It was a plausible assumption in most cases, but with him it couldn't be so. So after a minute of thought toward the subject her blank expression transformed into that of pure malice. Her eyes narrowed into a dark scowl, mouth turned sharply down into a deep frown, and her fists clenched in her lap. "What the fuck ever!" she snapped. "Say whatever you like, but that doesn't mean it's any more true then a lie." she hissed, staring him dead in the eye for the first time since they'd met. Previously she'd been to afraid, but at this point, no matter how formidable he managed to be, she found it impossible to be truly afraid. Despite the fact he plainly said he was without a doubt not doing this for her sake she refused to believe it. As such she knew he would never lay a hand on her with an intent to hurt.
Duncan emitted a low growl from his throat, mouth twitching from annoyance at her, and yet he knew very well he would do no more then this and some nasty language. He could never touch even the most coldhearted and bitchy girls, and that included the girl before him. "Too bad I'm not lying." he returned with the same sentiments.
She rolled her eyes, glancing over at the clock on the wall. Only fifteen more minutes remained. She wanted to believe that she was well enough to make it through these last minutes, but somehow she had a nagging feeling that told her she was being foolish and would never make it without starting something with the delinquent next to her who was as of now still delving deep into her eyes with his stone cold stare. She glanced lazily back to him, sighing. "Just shut up and pay attention! If you don't I'll tell the teacher that you are disrupting class and get you sent to detention again." she informed him with a smug smirk.
He snorted. "Is that supposed to intimidate me or something?"
Her pleasure at trapping him evaporated. "…Maybe…" I murmured slowly.
He shook his head, an inexplicitly amused expression playing across his rough features. "Have you learned nothing from the past week?" he chuckled. "Being in detention is less of a punishment then being stuck in this shit hole, especially when you're here." he raised his brows, daring me to find a way to turn his words around on him so that she was able to prove her strategy wasn't a load of useless crap.
Unfortunately Courtney was at a loss. She knew he was impossibly right. Someone like him wouldn't give a damn about being in class or in trouble. She hadn't been thinking about this when she opened her big fat mouth and severely regretted the fact. She did a mental face palm, wishing there was a way for her to take back her foolish threat. But there was none. So she simply remained silent, jerking her eyes away from his smug expression so that she could at least pretend he hadn't won. The only problem was that she could feel his intense gaze on her all the while, up until the last ten minutes till the bell.
When there was only about eight minutes left a girl asked the teacher to get up and go to the bathroom, something that was against the rules, but because she was the teachers pet she persuaded the teacher into letting her go. Only her need to go to the bathroom wasn't existent. The reason she wanted permission was so that she could get into close proximity with Courtney. And now was the perfect time. Since it was so close to the end of the period the teacher had given up on teaching and turned her back on the class. So the girl, Brittany, from Courtney's second period class, had an all access pass. She stood tall over her, dark black eyes holding intent to hurt in the best way she knew how, mouth curved into a devilish grin as her red hair swayed gently behind her to give her the appearance of a person on fire, the perfect image of a devil. "If it isn't the school slut." she hissed between clenched teeth. "Scouting out your next victim are we?"
Courtney jumped slightly at the sound of her voice, not recognizing it as her until she turned to lay eyes upon her sinister face. Courtney swallowed hard, pressing her lips tightly together. From what Duncan had told her about some of the bigger problems, one being her, she was someone Courtney was to try her hardest to avoid. He'd forced this point across harder then the others, saying that no matter what he did she was more then likely to never give up on torturing her, especially after he had stood up for her. She had asked him before why he couldn't just beat the crap out of her like he did every other guy and he cringed. His face drained of color, eyes holding a far off look of what she presumed to be fear, and his mouth drew into a thin line. He didn't answer her, but she got the hint that it was something awful and kept her mouth shut about the matter after that. She just imagined that what he would have told her was, 'I can't, because I can't', and took it as it was. Although she couldn't help but wonder…why had he looked so sad…?
Duncan looked up at her with anger, holding his tongue with much effort.
Brittany pursed her lips. "Humph!" she snorted, tossing her hair back. "Not answering huh?" she shook her head. "Fine. It's not like it's any of my business who you fuck at night while the rest of us are sleeping blissfully unaware." she sneered, her bright teeth showing.
Courtney cringed at the accusation. If word ever got out of the school circle of rumors back to her mother of these scandalous indecencies she'd never hear the end of it. In fact, her mother was highly inclined to slap her senseless, that or beat her down ruthlessly with her worst weapon, her words. She knew how much she sought approval from her, so she wouldn't hesitate a fraction of a second in using this to her advantage. Still she said as little as possible, heeding Duncan's warning. "Then you have what you want." I grumbled shakily. "So go."
Brittany burst out laughing, miraculously not drawing an ounce of attention to them. "Yeah, right!" she choked out. "I'm not letting you go until I see you squirm as much as humanly possible. It's what you get. You brought it upon yourself."
You brought it upon yourself. Duncan's eyes flashed dangerously as the words echoed around in his mind. He wished Brittany would go die in a hole, rotting forever where no one else would find or care about her. Though much like Courtney he refrained from opening his mouth. It was made extremely obvious by how his body shook, his way of allowing his anger to escape without him having to lose control.
Brittany noticed before Courtney that Duncan was inches from losing his head and decided she'd play with him. A devilish smirk played across her face, eyes full of life. "Oh, Dunkie." she cooed. "Whatever is the matter?" she giggled lightly to herself, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth. "You look cold."
Courtney perked, dragging her attention from the catty girl to the convulsing boy. She was perturbed to find that he looked so very upset. Why was this when before she hadn't even spoken to him? Was it something she said? Or was it simply just his instinct to help her kicking in? "Duncan…?" she whispered.
Duncan jerked his gaze over to her, eyes ablaze. Don't talk, don't talk, don't say a another word. He replayed this over and over in his head as if this would transfer his thoughts over to the brunette so that she would get the message and not breathe another word to him.
Courtney jumped a bit as he turned his fiery eyes on her. She'd not seen him this way before. What the hell…?
Brittany was to dense to see that she was skating on thing ice and pushed farther then she should have. She even laughed at his ever growing fury. "Ooooh, are you getting mad?" she poked. "Got a short fuss when it comes to her do you now?" she snickered. "So tell me…" she trailed off, grabbing Courtney by her hair and yanking it hard up towards herself. "What are you gonna do when I make her cry?"
Courtney let out a tiny yelp at the sudden unexpected pull on her hair. It was one of the more delicate parts of her body, so having it messed with so roughly was not something she enjoyed to well. "Stop it!" she cried out to Brittany, scowling slightly up into her coal black eyes. But as much as she wanted to get Duncan to wring her tiny neck out for her and as close as she came to asking, she did nothing of the like. Instead she bit hard down on her own lip, remembering well how he wouldn't touch a girl with harmful intentions.
Duncan's eyes shot open wide, trembling with fear. In that moment he was no longer seeing what everyone else surely was. His mind's eye had transformed the typical scene of girl on girl fighting into a sinister setting. He was no longer at school, he was in his house and Courtney was not herself, she was now the one person who he couldn't bear to see in jeopardy. She was his mother. She was huddled in the corner of the room, shaking with impossible force, tears trailing down her beautiful pale face with no sign of stopping. Her arms were wrapped tightly about herself and she appeared to be turning purple in spots. And Duncan had a front row seat to her sorrow. He stood blankly at the entrance to the room, unable to comprehend his mother in such shambles, for he was only five. "O-Oh…honey." she blubbered, wiping at her eyes. "Y-You're…h-home." she smiled painfully. Duncan continued to stand their with a blank expression. "Sw-sweetheart…" she murmured. "Go…go to your room." she sobbed. "Please." he had stood there after for a long time, not because he wished to defy her, simply because he found no will to lift any one of his limbs. He was glued to this place, a specter to his mother's emotional torment. To young to do anything, and sadly, to old to forget it. "Mommy…" he said with uncertainty, finally finding his power of mobility enough to reach her. "Baby…" she said back, opening her arms up to him and hugging him close to her heart. "I'm sorry…so sorry…" she breathed. He whimpered softly, rubbing his head on her chest to offer comfort the only way he knew how, his eyes slowly filling with warm tears which started to trickle down his face a moment or so later. But he wasn't crying for his own pain, he was crying for her. It was the first time too. And he hoped never to cry again.
"What you gonna do?" she continued to taunt. "You can't do shit. You won't touch me. You're a coward."
Duncan snapped out of his dazed state of confusion into to full freak out mode. If what she'd said previously wasn't bad enough this definitely took the cake. He shot up into a standing position, towering over her by a good length as his eyes blazed with an unimaginable fury, mouth curved into a menacing snarl, and hands gripped so tight her drew his own blood from the palms of his hands. "Wanna bet bitch!" he snarled. "Cause I'll kick your motherfucking ass from here to next Sunday, beat your bullshitting mouth so hard there won't be a single tooth left, and stab your guts beyond repair! And I won't hesitate!" he reached to grab onto the collar of her shirt like he went to punch others, yanking her up off the ground in the blink of an eye. "I'll kill you." Coward. His mouth twitched, teeth grinding together to make an awful sound. "I will." he hissed.
Brittany's eyes were bulging up out of her head as the usually gentle delinquent, toward girls at least, jerked her towards him so fast she lost her breath and released Courtney in the process. "H-Help…" she choked out, barely able to breathe the way he was holding her collar.
He cocked his head to the side slightly, chuckling darkly. "I'm sorry, what was that?" he sneered, mocking her for something he remembered her saying a day or two ago. "Did I hear you ask for…for help?" he spit out a fake laugh. "I-I must be going deaf or something. Last time I checked you didn't need help." his eyes glinted cruelly as he soaked in his maliciousness for one of his few weaker moments. He was so lost in his hellish emotions that he barely registered that he was in a school setting instead of off alone with this witch. He wasn't thinking.
Zane had been keeping his head down all of the period, not paying mind to any of the words swirling about him as he remained tucked back in the corner on the opposite side of the room of Duncan and Courtney. That is, until he heard Brittany speak to Duncan. He knew immediately that she was putting herself in a perfect position to have her blood splattered across the room. But he hadn't warned her, he merely kept on watching to see how far she was willing to go an how much Duncan was capable of taking before he broke. And if he were to break then it would all go to hell. Much like the day he'd been called to Duncan after 'betraying' him for Courtney, only ten million times worse. He had seen it before, and time and time again, hoping to never witness it another time after it happened. He never got his wish. And he never expected to.
Only now, as Duncan screamed bloody murder, did Zane see that he could no longer sit idly by like he was. When Duncan got this way, worked up by his horrible past and even present life, he didn't stop for anything. His haunting life, and subsequently anything he thought to connect back to it in any way, was his one and only weakness. No one in this room or school would be able to quail the beast within him, fighting ferociously to destroy any traces of those who awakened his restless spirit. Only his mother could pull off this feat, her and, depending on the circumstances, himself. Zane had known him longer then anyone else and as such had a eighty percent chance of catching hold of the fire within him and successfully extinguishing it. Still, this high chance did not do any good in quieting his own fears of Duncan. He feared him as much as anyone else for he was strong, focused, and unimaginably headstrong. Once on a specific path, even one of self-destruction and heartache, he rarely let up of his own accord until he accomplished his goal. In this case he could only imagine that the goal was to flat out torture her. So he was sure to jump up and cry out to his friend, "Duncan!"
Duncan snapped his head about toward the direction of the sound, face red with rage, teeth bared, a vicious part of himself controlling him.
Zane was struck with a pang of fright as daggers were sent his way from Duncan's eyes. Still he couldn't let himself be a coward. Duncan hated cowards. "Stop it!" he yelled. "Let her go!"
Everyone's eyes were drawn to Duncan at this point, this sudden and thoroughly unexpected spur of rage an interest. Duncan held Zane in his eyes all the while, trembling. "No!" he screamed across the room. "She needs to pay!"
Zane shook his head hurriedly, taking as many steps across the room as he was willing to risk so that he was standing within two of his arms length of Duncan. "No." he said sternly. "She doesn't." he sighed softly. "She hasn't done anything to deserve it. She doesn't know you." he said this in the best way he knew how without having to let the truth of Duncan slip out for anyone who was able to hear it.
"SHUT UP!" he bellowed, pulling her collar around her neck tighter. "You don't know what you're talking about!"
"Shut up yourself!" Zane ordered him. "I know more about you then your own parents!" he pointed an index finger at him. "So don't you dare go and say I don't know what I'm talking about."
Duncan dropped Brittany then, instead turning his attention fully onto Zane. "I'll kill you too!"
Zane swallowed hard, but outwardly snorted to hide the fact he was scared. "Like hell!" he retorted. "The day you kill me is the day you lay a finger on your mother!" Zane immediately regretted the comparison, but it was necessary, and would probably be enough to bring him down.
Duncan's face grew grim, all traces of anger disintegrating before everyone's eyes. He no longer felt the will to move either, hands unclenching and starting to shake slightly as he lifted them closer to his face to stare at. "No…" he murmured pitifully. "No…"
"Yes." Zane said in a hushed voice, closing what was left of the gap between them.
"I don't care about hurting you!" he screamed, tears brimming in his teal eyes as he shook his head violently from side to side.
"I never said that." Zane said with certainty. "You just won't kill me." he hesitated in what he planned to do for a moment, not sure that now was the right time to make contact. So instead he chose to say more. "Unless you have changed your mind about your mother. Do you want to hurt her?" Zane hissed cruelly, hating himself all the while. He even felt as if he might cry for Duncan as penance for his heartless words.
"NO!" he screamed, gripping his head and digging his nails into the skin. But it did no harm to himself despite the fact he almost wanted it too. His heart was aching so badly now that he could barely keep himself together. His heart pounded in his ears, head throbbing, body shaking uncontrollably, and knees about ready to buckle from weakness. "I can't do this!" he moaned as Zane reached out a hand for him and bolted an instant before he was touched, leaving everyone in the room to mull over the freakish display that had occurred. No one was able to explain it either, no one but Zane.
Courtney was just now rising to her feet after having been dropped, mind incapable of wrapping itself around the reasoning behind Duncan's spazz attack. It was especially difficult because to her he was an unbreakable force who dominated over all else. As far as she had known he had no weakness, nothing for which others could use against him, it was an impossibility. So now, after seeing him near the brink of cracking, she was at a loss. If only she knew what it was exactly that had sent him spiraling down like that. Then maybe she would be able to understand him more.
Zane was aware of all the intense gazes set on him, but he didn't care. All her cared about was going after Duncan and making sure he wasn't about to kill someone else or himself even. He certainly had the capacity to do so. So with a fleeting glance around the room and a nod from the teacher he raced out the door after the shattered boy that was his friend. He had to catch him. He couldn't let him slip away like he always liked to do after having a fit. Because God only knows what he was about to do. "Duncan!" he cried out, looking about himself furtively, eyes wide with fear.
Duncan had only made it around the corner of the first hall leading away from the straight stretch that led out the door before he'd crumpled down on the ground, arms wrapped about himself in a vain attempt to quiet his annoying convulsions. He was also sobbing lightly, trying his hardest to hold the tears clouding his vision back. All the while all he could think of was one word. Coward.
Zane nearly passed the place where Duncan sat up in his hurry, but Duncan's stifled whines and whimpers were enough to catch his attention before he made the mistake. He jerked his head about in the direction of the noise, saddening as he laid eyes on his friend. He'd seen him this way many times before, but somehow this was different. In most cases he crumpled when no one was there to witness it, but now everyone he knew was a minute away from bursting forth and seeing him in his pathetic state. Zane knew that this too was a great fear he had. It did not possess the power to reduce him to the state he was in now, but it did hold a powerful place in his heart for if he were to lose his place as the toughest guy in the school he would have lost it all. This was the only thing he had to be proud of anymore. Without it he would without a doubt hurt a magnitude of people, mostly those who thought it fit to mock him. "Duncan…" he murmured sadly, walking slowly over to him as he bit at his lip as a way to keep himself from crying as well.
Duncan barely showed that he was aware another person, Zane, was present. Sure he cared about his image as much as if not more then the next guy, but knowing it was Zane made it less significant. He knew very well that Zane would never denounce his moments of weakness to a living soul. He was the only person he trusted with the matter too.
Zane sighed softly, crouching down next to Duncan as he whispered, "Are you ok?" It was a lame question, he knew, but it was the way he always went about soothing him.
Duncan swallowed hard, burying his head in his knees. "Stupid question." he muttered.
"What?" he asked softly, daring to reach over and touch Duncan's shoulder.
Duncan didn't take to kindly to the action. He lashed his arm out at him, throwing his hand from his shoulder and hitting him in the side in the process. "You heard me just fine!" he screamed, lifting his head up for a moment to reveal a tear stained face and puffy red eyes which betrayed him by showing his sadness.
Zane was taken aback by the sight of tears on Duncan's face, even when he worked himself up like this he rarely ever showed tears, even to Zane. Only one other time had Zane witnessed him cry as he was now. It was when he was eight, before he promised himself never to cry again, when he broke his arm after falling from the monkey bars. After that Duncan had never shed tears again, not in his presence at least. "Duncan." he said softly. "I'm just trying to help."
Duncan's lip never ceased quivering. "W-Why…"
Zane blinked a couple of times. "What…? What do you mean?"
Duncan looked away from him in shame. "Why-Why…do you try so hard…?"
Zane didn't know what to say to this. He'd never really thought hard on why he always stuck by Duncan's side through thick and thin. All he really knew was that he did it. No matter what was done to him by Duncan he refused to abandon him. At times he wondered if there was a reason at all.
Duncan loathed his silence. "I d-don't deserve it. I-I'm not worthy of your attention." he stuttered, trying his hardest to swallow his tears back and hide the sobs that he hated with all his being.
Zane shook his head slightly. "That's not true." he tried to assure him, placing his hand back on his shoulder with tentativeness.
Duncan's eyes flared. "But it is!" he spat, not bothering to throw his hand off this time for he no longer had the will to. Besides, he needed the comfort his touch offered him. Without it he would surely fall further into the abyss of his memories. "I-I hurt you all the time! Sometimes for no reason!" saying this aloud made it hurt all the more.
Zane flinched as the truth was verbalized. He'd never said this to Duncan, knowing full well that even if he had realized this he would fall into himself with hurt. "Duncan." he said sternly, eyes set hard despite the way his heart ached for Duncan. "Look at me." he growled.
Duncan slowly turned his gaze back to him, expression as tortured as ever.
Zane caught his breath at the sight of his face for the second time. "I don't care what you think. I'm telling you that all this shit you do makes no difference to me. I mean, honestly, do you think I'd be hanging around now if it bothered me?" Zane offered a half smile of the sorts. "I'd do anything for you." his voice lost some of it's hardest, reverting to that gentle voice that he had heard Duncan's mother use on him at time or two before. Of course it lacked the charm only a mother's voice could hold, but it was the best he could do. "You're my friend, Duncan."
Duncan stared deep into his friend's red eyes, finding no traces of a lie. As such he let out a heavy breath, wiping at his eyes to remove the tears. "Mmm…" he murmured, not a real word, but something he knew Zane would understand.
Zane smiled a bit more, standing and offering a hand to Duncan as an aid for him to stand.
Duncan took it after a moment of uncertainty, standing up to look at Zane through eyes void of tears. He wanted to say so much to him then, but his tongue was disobedient. So instead he murmured a single word, "Thanks."
Zane nodded, draping his arm about his shoulder before leading him on back to the classroom. It was a risky move, taking him into the lions den like this, but it was what needed to be done.
As they reentered Duncan instantly stiffened, knowing that every last person present was staring dead at him, Courtney included. He swallowed hard, knees shaking ever so slightly. He was sure they would buckle on him as they'd done in the halls. He was so scared of what they'd all say. Fortunately he was saved as the bell rang around them, sending everyone into a frenzy to get out the door and to their next class.
Zane removed his arm from Duncan, patting him on the back gently before turning away from him and leaving Duncan alone with Courtney.
Courtney looked at Duncan as if he were a monster who was capable of eating her alive in an instant, at least that's what Duncan saw. He didn't see how she couldn't be thinking this.
Courtney walked slowly up to him. "Hey." she muttered tentatively.
He didn't say a word, just stared intensely down into her emerald green eyes.
Courtney swallowed hard. "Um…" she pulled at her sleeve nervously. "You ok?"
Duncan cringed as the words Zane had said to him spilled from behind her lips, but he made sure not to react poorly as he had previously. "Fine." he growled through clenched teeth.
Courtney frowned, not believing it from the way his eyes were red from crying and how his face was stained with the remnants of the said tears. "That's…good…"
"Come on." he ordered her, turning away before she could say something that would make him have to continue to face her.
"Oh!" she cried. "Wait!" she grabbed onto his wrist, freezing as she felt how cold he was.
Duncan's cold eyes turned toward her, piercing her soul. "What?" he hissed.
"I-I…I don't need you to keep escorting me around anymore." she swallowed hard. "I'll be fine now."
His eyes grew wide, shining with indescribable horror. "Why?"
She shrugged. "I think everyone has learned their lesson. They know better then to screw with me now."
His mouth twitched. "You're afraid of me, aren't you?" he said stiffly, brows raised to further his image of disdain.
She knew he would say this, especially considering that this came so soon after his breakdown, yet she'd gone through with her plan anyway. "No!" she cried defensively, waving her hands about. "No! That's not it at all!" she shook her head.
He scowled. "Sure it isn't." he grumbled, turning his gaze back ahead of him and started to walk into the crowded halls.
"Duncan!" she half screamed, stomping her foot. "Stop it!" she breathed in and out heavily. "This has nothing to do with you and your freak out!" he stiffened, hands clenched into fists. "I just can't take your aggressive behavior toward everyone!" she sighed irritably. "Got it? So don't you dare think for even a second I care about what just happened! I don't care. I means nothing."
He turned back to face her, tears lacing his eyes once more. "No different then anyone else." he shook his head slowly. "No one ever cares." And with that he turned away from her and disappeared into the halls.
Courtney stared after him for a moment, wanting to have said something to him before allowing him to disappear before her eyes, but unable to come up with anything fast enough. She sighed softly at her inability to be quick witted, heading off into the halls as he had to her fifth period class. She needed to get this off her chest. So she was sure to talk to Alexia.
Thankfully Alexia was in her spot, bouncing about in her seat and waiting for Courtney to approach and regale her with past happenings. "Hey Courtney!" she called out, waving.
Courtney forced a peppy smile. "Hey." she waved back., taking her spot next to the blonde girl.
"What's up?" she chirped, smile big and bright enough to contain the whole sun in it.
Courtney refrained from sighing. It was bad for her. "Nothing much." she shrugged, looking anywhere but at her.
Alexia frowned slightly. "Liar!" she exclaimed, giggling. "Something is definitely wrong." she nodded with certainty, leaning her head in close to Courtney's so they were but inches apart, her hands on her hips. "Yep. Without a doubt."
Courtney chuckled softly. "A little something." she admitted sadly.
Alexia leaned back out of her face, pleased that she was an inch from spilling her secrets to her. For if there was one thing Alexia liked more then anything else it would have to be secrets. Well?" she pried, eyes wide with anticipation.
Courtney swallowed hard, unsure that she was supposed to tell anyone else this. Duncan had seemed so miserable before he fled and after he returned. Maybe there were some things that were better left unsaid. "Well…I don't know if I should say." Courtney admitted.
Alexia made a pouty face. "Aww…come on Courtney." she whined. "I won't tell anyone! I swear it!" she insisted. And she meant it. As much as she liked spreading things around she knew when she should keep her mouth shut tight.
Courtney thought hard about the likelihood of her being truthful or not, afraid considering she hadn't known her long enough to judge her character. "Well…" she trailed off.
"Pleeeease!" Alexia begged, clasping her hands together at her chest.
Courtney laughed lightly. "It's…it's about Duncan." Courtney finally admitted.
This instantly sent Alexia into a frenzy. "What!" she exclaimed. "That bastard! I thought you said he was protecting you now!" she shook with fury, fists clenched now. "Where is he! I beat the living crap out of him!" she sprang up out of her seat, not joking in the least.
"Alexia!" Courtney moaned, grabbing her by the wrist. "Just listen to me." she begged quietly.
Alexia wanted badly to beat Duncan up, especially from all she'd learned of him. He was an asshole ninety percent of the time and as such deserved what was coming to him. Never-the-less she did as Courtney said and seated herself, smoothing her clothes back out. "Ok."
Courtney smiled wanly. "He didn't hurt me." she was sure to say right off. "He didn't do anything to me." Alexia was visibly surprised by this, but refrained from interrupting with much effort. "It's just that…he had an episode."
Alexia cocked her head to the side. "An episode?" she scrunched up her noise. "Well now what the heck does that mean?" she laughed at herself, quieting as she caught Courtney's eye.
"Before I didn't think he could even think of hurting a girl." she sighed. "I mean…he basically told me a while back that he couldn't beat up the bitchiest of girls. Some sort of moral code or something." Courtney shrugged lightly. "But…today…something changed. He didn't physically touch her, just her shirt, but…it was crazy." she shook her head. "He just snapped."
Alexia was captivated by this tale, nodding imperceptibly all the while. "What do you think did it then?" she saw fit to add to the conversation at this point.
Courtney simultaneously shrugged and shook her head. "That's just it. I don't have a clue."
Alexia frowned. "So weird." she sighed, resting her head in the palm of her hand. "Maybe he has some deep dark secret that he's never told anyone." Alexia's eyes brightened, an almost evil smirk passing her lips at the very thought. "Wouldn't that be something?"
Courtney took her question as rhetorical and ignored it, instead answering her previous statement. "He must."
Alexia snorted. "Either way that's one screwed up kid."
...
At some point between the beginning of fifth and the end of it Zane had slipped from his spot at the front of the class out somewhere else. Courtney wanted to know where the hell he'd gone off to, knowing all the while that she would never find out, especially if they continued to not talk to each other. But she had a feeling it was something to with Duncan, something about today.
As Courtney never ceased to think about his where abouts Zane walked along the sidewalk of the school, Duncan's state of mind heavy on his own mind. He'd come just for that too. He only thanked God it was Friday. Friday was one of their allotted days of skipping school and hanging out together. It wasn't something that always happened, usually they had to plan the meeting beforehand, but today was different. He was willing to miss an hour or two of school, even if Duncan ended up not being there, to try and check on his friend. But if he knew Duncan as he thought he did he would surely be there. After what happened…
Duncan was sitting up against the brick wall of the school, hands laying his lap as he tried his hardest to keep himself calm. It wasn't too easy considering the circumstances though, especially since he was awfully afraid that Zane would not come seeing as there had been no plan to meet. He bit his lip and cringed. All Duncan could do was hope and pray that Zane knew him well enough to see that he desperately needed him now more then ever.
Zane strolled around the corner, smiling painfully as his eyes rested on Duncan sitting motionless on the grass. Yet he didn't say a word, he merely waited patiently for Duncan to see that he'd come.
It took but a moment for Duncan to sense the presence of another and slowly lift his gaze up to meet Zane's. Duncan was happy for the first time in the last hour, and not that fake happy that a lot of people pretended to be for the sake of another's sanity. He really was pleased that Zane had come. As such he pushed himself up off the ground with caution, standing even with him.
For a long while this was how they remained, each staring deep into the other's eyes for something neither were sure of. Not a muscle was moved as the time slipped by, sun moving as it always did no matter what else changed. it was one of those constants in this life, much like the boy's devotion to each other. Despite the fights they got into all the time they could never really hate the other for they knew that the other would be at their side in an instant when it came down to it. This was what it meant to love another unconditionally without being in love.
After nearly an hour had passed, the end of school nearing, Duncan allowed a pained half smile to pass his chapped lips.
Zane smiled a bit more then he had been, some of the pain in his expression evaporating at seeing his friend even a little bit happy.
Duncan moved then, wrapping his large arms around Zane's neck and squeezing hard as well as rested his head on his shoulder. He was shaking slightly with tears in his eyes, but it did not mean he was upset. He was simply happy beyond comprehension to know someone who held him in such high regard.
Zane hesitated a fraction of a second before moving an arm around Duncan's upper back. And with this they were able to say all they needed without saying a word at all. Zane forgave him for punching him, Duncan forgave Zane for skipping out on him to go with Courtney, and they also thanked each other for everything else they'd done for the other, especially this day. It was something man and woman were never able to accomplish. It's why bros came before girls. And ultimately it was why Zane and Duncan would always be friends.
Duncan went crazy. O.o It was so much fun though. Hope he wasn't way out of character though. And you know, it's really funny how you can plan a chapter out in your head and it turn out so different from the way you thought it would go! XD I'm serious. You don't know how different this was going to be. It was originally all about Courtney getting Duncan to leave her alone and now...it's just NOT! That took up a very small portion of the chapter. lol On top of that because that changed I'm going to add another chapter between this and my originally planned chapter. So there's some food for thought. Please review! :D