Oh my God! It's a Christmas miracle! XD Seriously, does anyone even read this anymore? It's been like a whole year since I last updated. And I honestly don't know what possessed me to write this chapter now. Well, whatever the reason it's done now and anyone who still remembers this story can enjoy another chapter. So, enjoy!

Duncan did not fall short on his promise. He protected her with all of his power and even broke a couple of noses in the process. It made him smile darkly, especially since he had Courtney's permission. The last time she had allowed something like this was forever ago.

Courtney hugged him each time he scared off her bullies, not thinking about the implications the action presented. She was just too happy to realize anything but her relief. She could not have been happier to have Duncan by her side at this point.

Duncan smiled down at her each time she acted. He was as happy as she was, only for different reasons. He had snapped back into game mode and with each hug he grew more and more confident about his chances. And by the end of the week he had decided that this was the day he would do it – he was going to ask about the dance. This game would be over soon.

"This is it!" Duncan cried in exuberance, throwing his arms into the air.

Zane peered at him from the corner of hi eye and raised a brow. "What? Is today the day you're finally going to become a model student?" Zane chuckled.

Duncan rolled his eyes. "Haha, you're hilarious." He hit Zane lightly. "No. It's the day I'm going to ask Courtney to the dance again."

Zane snorted. "You still haven't given up then?" He mused, crossing his arms over his chest. "Figures."

Duncan frowned deeply. "What do you mean?" He cocked his head to the side slightly. "You didn't really expect me to give up, did you?" He half laughed. "Honestly. How long have you known me?"

Zane shook his head, smiling despite himself. "Too long." He teased.

"Then you should know that this won't end until she says yes." He lifted his head up in the air superciliously. "Which should be today."

Zane chuckled. "If you say so."

Duncan scowled at him. "What does that mean?" He grumbled. "Did you do something again?" He pointed an accusing finger at him and looked at Zane with nothing less than suspicion.

Zane laughed out loud. "No! No!" He insisted, waving his hands in denial. "Of course not. This is your thing." He smiled crookedly then. "Besides, you need all the help you can get."

"What!?" Duncan started. "Are you saying I can't get her!?" He growled lightly under his breath. "Huh!?"

Zane grinned. "Maybe."

Duncan pushed him roughly but still playfully. "You watch." He wagged a finger at Zane. "You just watch and see. By the end of the day, she'll be mine." He clenched his fist in anticipation.

Zane's smile slipped slightly and he suddenly averted his eyes. While his thoughts had left him alone through the conversation, as it ended he found himself troubled. Traces of guilt filled him. What was he to do about this? He wasn't supposed to intervene. It was the rules of the game. Yet he didn't know if this was best. And he wondered what he would do when he saw Courtney later that day.

Duncan might have noticed his friend's sudden shift, but in that moment he was consumed with his own thoughts. He wondered how he would start the conversation with her, what the right words were, and how high her level of pleasure would reach. She would accept. She had no choice. After what they'd been through over these weeks, she would be insane not to. Nothing would stop him.

...

Courtney had been waiting at her window for a good hour or two. She was so anxious she just couldn't help it. Sure, she had homework to do. Still, she couldn't focus. After what she'd been told today, it wasn't humanly possible.

She sighed heavily. Of course this day of all days would be the one where he took his precious time getting there. He was amazing like that. "I'll beat him…" She grumbled, slumping over so that her head hung out the window and arm dangled well below the sill. "He's so dumb."

"Princess!" She finally heard his familiar voice call to her.

She perked, but only slightly. Her expression remained dull and thoroughly unimpressed. "Oh, hey." She grumbled, averting her gaze.

Duncan frowned deeply and raised a brow in question. What was with her? She may act angry and at times grow upset with him, but she never acted bored with his presence.

"You're late you know." She added absently, still refusing to meet his eyes. "I've been waiting forever."

Duncan stared intently at her. Was she not going to give him anything more than that? "So what?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "Is that it then? You're acting like this because I was a little late?"

Courtney grimaced, a hint of hurt showing in her eyes. "Maybe." She murmured distractedly, sighing softly. "I don't know…" She slumped further on the window.

"Maybe? What does that mean?" Duncan was getting frustrated by her vagueness. She was not one to beat around the bush with her feelings. "Just tell me!"

"Look, can you just go." She mumbled after a time.

Duncan growled lightly under his breath. That was it. He knew he promised after that night that he wouldn't go in her house again, but this was getting annoying. "No." He said sternly, walking toward the vines.

Courtney knew instantly what he meant to do. Her eyes widened in surprise and then quickly narrowed. "Hey!" She snapped, jerking up. "What are you doing!? You promised!" She pointed an accusing finger at him.

Duncan rolled his eyes. "Promises are for pansies anyway." He scoffed, gripping the vines.

Courtney fumed, showing her usual personality. "Stop!" She demanded, looking wildly around for something besides the truth to throw at him and knock him down. "Just stop! I don't want you up here!"

Duncan snorted. "You're a liar." He rolled his eyes. "I know you like me." A cocky smirk flashed across his lips. "Which brings me to my next question. Will you-"

"No!" Courtney snapped with immense harshness. "No! I won't! Never!"

Duncan was startled by her immense anger and nearly lost his grip on the vines. "No? No what?" He made a face. "You didn't even hear me out! How can you say no to something you haven't heard?" He half laughed, unease slipping into his demeanor. "So just listen, alright. I-"

"I said no!" She insisted, shaking her head violently. "Ok! Just…just leave!" Traces of tears welled in her emerald eyes as she was forced to push him away. "Please…" She begged pitifully, a soft sniffle following.

Duncan stopped in his climb. He stared in utter bewilderment at her. "I can't." He sighed with almost as much sadness as her. "Not until you either let me ask my question or tell me what the hell is wrong with you today."

Courtney wiped at her eyes in a vain attempt to hide her tears from him. "I can't." She moaned, shaking her head slowly. "I can't hurt you…"

Duncan frowned deeply. What? Her…hurt him? He couldn't believe it. How would anything she said be enough to hurt him? What did she think he was – a wimp? "I don't under-"

Finally she couldn't stand it. "Fine!" She would rather hurt him and have him gone than he be here and torturing her. "I'll never go to the dance with you!" She bellowed, the tears coming back. "Ok!? Because-Because…I'm going with Zane!"

Time froze.

Duncan couldn't breathe. The breath had been knocked out of him, leaving him suffocating in an ocean of horrible truth. Nor could he feel his body any more. He felt as if his heart had been destroyed and all his limbs were now useless because of it. It was over. This game…this thing they had…the whole world…his whole world. It ended in a second.

The sight of his shock made Courtney feel even worse. She clutched at her chest, her heart hurting her more than ever. But it didn't make sense. Why? Why did his pain hurt her so? She did not like him, he was just a punk. Zane was the only guy she cared about. So why…why did she want to break down and cry? "Duncan…" She whispered. She didn't really know what to say past that though. Her mouth stretched out into a large grimace.

Duncan didn't look at her for a minute. He stared intently at the ground as if it held the answer to his sudden unexpected blow. When he found nothing he lifted his gaze to her as she stood framed in the window. A cold, yet simultaneously hurt scowl played across his face. He didn't breathe a word through it all.

Courtney shrank beneath his heated gaze. She'd never seen such a look on his face, at least not directed at her. She was almost frightened. "Duncan…" She tried again, no more bold than before. "I'm sorry…" She was so quiet she wasn't sure he heard.

Duncan felt his hands trembling slightly. Sorry? She was sorry? That's it? She basically just stabbed him through the heart and she expected a simple sorry to be enough. A fire lit in his eyes and his scowl turned deadly. "Whatever." He tried to remain strong. "You can go fuck him for all I care. I never even cared about you at all. This was never more than a game."

Courtney bit her lip so hard in order to hold in her tears that she drew blood. Game? What did he even mean by that? Was he just trying to but a wall between them or justify his attention? Or was there a more literal meaning behind his harsh words? Did he mean…it was only ever about the dance…?

"Good riddance." He hissed a final farewell before he bolted. He turned sharply on his heel and ran like the wind. He swore as he retreated that he heard her call after him, but he didn't stop to find out. He didn't ever stop, not until he was home again. He couldn't bear to, even as his lungs cried out for him to stop, because it was the only way to drown out his heart's agony – with the sound of it beating loudly in his ears.

Courtney reached vainly after him as he ran. She also cried out, but it did no good. She knew it wouldn't. Still, it was all she could do. If he wouldn't respond, there was no point in following. Worst of all though, worse than his words or his departure, was the look on his face. That look was all she needed to know she'd cut him to the core.

With that ever present thought she finally broke down. She sank to her knees and buried her face in her hands. She sobbed heavily, knowing no one would be there to help or even hear. The only person who would do that was far away now. So she drowned, alone in her tears.

...

The next day was a train wreck waiting to happen. From the moment Courtney woke in the morning there was an awful sense of foreboding all around her. The air was thicker somehow, almost as suffocating as her sadness had been the night before. Her body also seemed to quake with a terrible knowing. Every movement she made was met with protest, especially as she went to leave. But worst of all, the ultimate sign of everything going awry, was the fact her mother was actually nice. The only counterbalance had to be absolute misery at school.

Duncan didn't sleep at all the night before. How could he? He was consumed with an agonizing pain that rattled him to his very core and very near brought him to tears. Not to mention his body ached with the sudden and wholly expected urge to just kill something. He had one thing in mind in particular too. He knew deep down he'd regret it by the next day or even hour, but nothing was going to stop him now. He had to get rid of these feelings, and this was the only way he knew how to.

Zane was worried as he woke up. He was so on edge even his dog barking at him playfully made him jump a mile. He knew that Duncan had to have gone to Courtney's last night. If so, then he was sure she'd told him what he'd done. Duncan would not be pleased. In fact, he was probably really hurt and even a bit betrayed by the revelation. He would definitely be walking on eggshells today. That was for sure. He just hoped Duncan didn't do anything too drastic.

School began as dully as it ever did. Nothing was really happening as the students scurried around to prepare for classes. There wasn't even any whispering of a fight or plans to bully others for once – at least not on the surface. As everyone else went innocently about, Duncan stood at the entrance of the school with a look of utter contempt on his face. There was a shadow of immense proportions hanging over him. He wasn't about to spare the school of a good show.

Zane walked carefully up the sidewalk to the school. His eyes searched nervously for any sign of his friend. Friend or not he was highly dangerous. When he lost control, it was all over. He was honestly surprised he hadn't heard any screams or seen blood splattered across the wall from his rampage yet. Then again, there was more than likely only one thing he was waiting for. And really, there was no way to avoid it, not even if he skipped school.

Zane sucked in a sharp breath. There was a sudden rough and unexpected force exerted on his throat and it was slamming him back against the wall with amazing force. On impact he let out a strangled cry and a muffled gasp. The softness was not from his strength, however, it was because the hand was squeezing mercilessly. His airways were quickly constricting and a panic overtook him.

Looking with wide, stunned, and scared eyes Zane saw what he feared most. Duncan stood before him, a crazed look in his eyes. His teeth were bared and his face contorted in unbridled rage. The devil himself could not have terrified Zane more in that moment. "D-Duncan…" He squeezed out. He grabbed at Duncan's wrists to try and pry him off. "Stop…"

Duncan's eyes danced with cruel amusement. "Like hell!" He laughed coldly. "You dirty little sneak!" He drew Zane forward and slammed him back again. "You made it seem like it was all me!" A deranged sort of happiness flashed in his eyes. "Oh, have fun with this game Duncie. It's all yours." He said in a girlie voice. "I won't interfere. Here! Even have her address." His voice grew harsh again and the anger returned to his features. "You liar!"

Zane gasped for air. Things were starting to blur a little around the edges. He could still see the insanity that Duncan possessed though and he knew that it was going to take a miracle to snap him out of it. He could also see the slowly gathering circle of people. As always, eager to see a fight, especially between friends.

Duncan followed his gaze and noticed the people too. Somehow this only fueled his fury. A growled ripped from his throat. "Don't look at them!" He snarled. "Look at me! And answer me! Why the hell did you do this!? Huh?" He shook him. "Why!?"

Zane noticed the edge of hurt in Duncan's tone and realized with sweet relief that this was his one and only chance. "I-I'm sorry." He struggled to speak with Duncan's every tightening grip. His head was swimming now. "P-Please…stop this. Courtney…she-she…she'll be upset if you hurt me."

Duncan growled deep in his throat. His hand trembled fiercely. "That's not an answer!" He screamed. More sadness seeped out in his voice and expression. "Answer me damn it!" He did however loosen his hold. He even moved his grip from the throat to the collar in a moment of mercy.

Zane breathed in deeply. His breathing was heavy and shaky and for a minute he could do nothing but relish in the simple gift of air. He knew his time was limited though and as quickly as possible responded to Duncan. "I like her." He said finally, sternly. "I'm sorry Duncan, but I've liked her almost as long as I've known her, far longer than you've even considered her as an equal." His eyes were surprisingly cold as he spoke.

Duncan seized him up by the collar of his shirt so their faces were inches apart. "So what!? This game was just some cruel trick then!? You were never going to let me win? You planned all along to steal her at the last moment?" His whole body trembled with his mess of emotions. "You-You-"

Hurt and shame flickered across Zane's features. He couldn't even bear to look Duncan in the eye as he said it, "No." He bit his lip. "I just never expected her to come so close to falling for you." His voice was soft, but he was sure Duncan heard. He could tell by the shocked silence.

Duncan was stunned into silence for a moment. He stared blankly at his so called friend. Then he cried out in a mingle of fury and betrayal. He threw Zane as hard as he could back at the wall, not caring how badly he hurt him in that moment. All he thought was that he was so stupid, so utterly stupid. He had let Zane trick him – and for what? Momentary happiness? He was just so stupid!

Zane's head snapped against the concrete wall and a loud smack was easily heard by everyone. It was especially obvious as a collective sound of sympathy and joy issued forth from the crowd. He stumbled forward and groaned softly as pain coursed through his skull. It was all he could do to keep his world from spinning.

Duncan's fist clenched and shook just like the rest of him. He stared in disgust at his disoriented 'friend'. He felt nothing for him. If anything there was only hate. In fact, he wanted to hit him, just one more time. He reared his fist back, his face twisting into a sickly satisfied expression, and prepared to punch him square in the jaw.

"NO!" Everyone heard from just outside the circle. They all turned slightly and unintentionally opened a thin walkway for whoever it was. Duncan, on the other hand, flinched noticeably. Shock replaced his wrath and he halted his blow. That voice…!

"STOP IT!" She barreled through the crowd and threw herself at Duncan. She latched onto his halted fist and held it with as much strength as she possessed. They both knew that if he wanted he could easily throw her off, just as much as they knew he never would. "Just stop!" Tears shined in her emerald eyes and her lip trembled noticeably. "Please…"

Duncan's breathing was heavy from his rage and his eyes were still wild, but he did not go against her. Her desperate hold on him even seemed to be soothing his savage soul. His trembling even lessened and slowly but surely he lowered his fist and it unfurled.

As Courtney looked desperately into his eyes she saw all the layers of hurt beneath the thick hate he exuded. Still, just like the hurt the hate was very much real. It was not merely a front to hide his sadness even though it did that too. This was perhaps the worst truth of all.

The longer Duncan stared into her beautifully broken face the more he sank back into the arms of sanity. The dark shadow became lighter until it finally disappeared, taking the animosity that was strong enough to manifest in actions along with it. And with that, the buried emotion surfaced on his face and shame shined clearly in his horror stricken face.

Zane was leaning heavily against the wall as Courtney took Duncan's attention from him. He felt really dizzy. Actually he was pretty sure his head was bleeding a little. He felt for it and sure enough as he pulled his hand back before his face he saw it – the crimson liquid. It made him feel even woozier. Mind over matter he supposed.

Courtney's grip loosened as she saw lucidity return to him, but she felt no better herself. She'd done this. By letting him get so close and then turning to Zane anyway she had ruined everything between all of them. "Duncan…" She whispered almost hoarsely. She let go and lifted her hands to his cheeks.

Duncan was in so much inner turmoil that he couldn't help but give in to her in that moment. He just wanted to feel ok, even just for an instant. So he let his eyes fall shut and he enjoyed the soft touch she offered him. It was one of the only times he'd ever experienced it, especially in such a high string state. And it was so soothing.

Courtney gently rubbed her thumbs across his skin. "I'm so, so sorry." When she'd first seen what he was doing to Zane honestly she had wanted nothing more than to punch him in the mouth. In fact after getting him to lower his fist she had planned to do just that. But now, seeing his pain, she just couldn't. "Really. I never meant for this to happen."

Duncan bowed his head slightly, a grimace stretching across his face. He swore he felt tears welling behind the closed lids of his eyes. But he opened his eyes anyway. He wanted to see if there was still truth to her words or if she was using this moment of blindness to cover her changed attitude. Unfortunately she appeared as devastated as ever. It only made him feel worse about the way he'd reacted last night and the things he'd done today.

"But please," Courtney let her hands slip down to his shoulders and then she clasped them around the back of his neck. She pulled herself close to him, not even caring that there was a crowd of people staring. She had to fix this. So she hugged him tight like he'd done for her before. "Don't hurt him. Please."

Duncan's eyes darted to Zane and already he regretted the way he attacked his friend. He couldn't bear looking for more than a moment either and buried his head in her shoulder. He also encircled her tiny body in a tight, desperate hug. "I didn't mean to." He choked out. His father's face flashed before his mind's eye, a devilish and proud smile plastered on his lips. Well done, son. Look at the harm you've caused – and to your own friend. We're the same now, you and me. Daddy's little monster. He felt his breath catch in his throat at the notion. "I'm not like him."

Him? Him who? It wasn't the right time to ask though and she knew it. "I know. Just…go to class." She pulled away a little, but not so much that they weren't still incredibly close. "Alright?" She looked pleadingly into his clouded eyes.

Duncan glanced at Zane one last time before deciding it was best. Even though he was sorry, Zane had to be mad. All him trying to apologize or help would do would be to make things worse between them. "Ok." He said weakly as he pulled away from her.

Courtney forced a small smile of thanks and patted him appreciatively on the shoulder before she turned away from him. The instant her gaze left his she shifted modes. She went from caring only for Duncan to caring only for Zane. She hurried to him and took both of his hands in hers. "Zane?" She whispered. "Can you hear me?"

Duncan watched a bit bitterly as she so quickly moved on, but he did as she wished nonetheless. He hurried through the crowd, of course not without due shoving and name calling to all those who dared think of using this moment of weakness against him, and made a beeline for first period. He wondered vaguely if he'd see her there, but quickly dismissed the thought in favor of complete ignorance. It was easier this way.

Zane groaned. His world still wasn't spinning quite right. "Yeah, yeah, fine. What about Duncan?" He looked blearily around for any sign of him. He must have lost his grip on reality for a moment because he didn't remember Duncan leaving, but now he was gone.

"Don't worry." She insisted. She gently touched his head to feel of the damage. Thankfully it seemed she'd caught them before Duncan could do too much harm. The worst was the back of his head. She'd need to take him to the nurse for that. "I calmed him down and he went to class."

Zane didn't look it because of his state of mind, but he was severely shocked. "You…you what?" He cocked his head to try and covey his emotions.

"I calmed him down." She repeated. Her eyes wandered down to his throat. She grimaced. It was already turning purple. Had Duncan really tried to chock him? The thought chilled her to the bone. She touched the bruise lightly.

Zane shied away from her touch, stumbling back into the wall. He looked in apology at her afterward. "You…you really did it?" He was still stuck on her words. "He…He let you touch him and everything?" He smiled painfully.

Courtney looked up, her eyes full of confusion. "Of course." She frowned deeply. "But…why do you say it that way? You act like he's some wild beast or something."

Zane laughed in faint amusement, coughing roughly immediately after. He grasped at his throat and pain passed over his face. "Yeah, well, he kinda is. I mean, when he gets worked up like that. Honestly, no one's ever been able to get him out of that state but me and his mom. So it…it's kinda amazing."

"Shhh," Courtney pressed a finger to his lips. Her mind however was not so much on Zane as his words. She didn't know how to take this. So he could have hurt her? As much as he cared, he could have turned on her just as easily as he turned on Zane. Then…why didn't he? Did he really care that much? "Don't talk."

Zane stood and let her do as she willed. He didn't resist in the least and he even let his eyes fall shut in his exhaustion. She touched his face and his throat with such care that the pain of the bruises was nothing compared to the ecstasy he felt from being handled by her.

Courtney sighed heavily after a minute. "I'm sorry for you too." She bit her lip. "I…I had no idea he'd react this way. I mean, sure, he was going to be upset, but this." She shook her head in disbelief. "I'm just so sorry."

Zane wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. "It's alright. I knew what I was doing when I asked you." He admitted it with an painfully amused smile. "I just should have warned you I guess."

Courtney hugged him back, but not too tightly. She wasn't sure if Duncan had hurt him in a covered place. "It's fine." She whispered back. "I'm just glad everything's alright." As alright as it could be anyway. Really there was no telling what else could go wrong.

All the while Duncan sat miserably in first period, alone. All the stares he was getting weren't helping either. They only served to stir the beast within. The only thing that kept him from going crazy on them was the knowledge that Courtney was just outside. She would be upset again if he attacked for no reason.

Duncan laid his head down on the table. He didn't care that he couldn't hear or see anything going on. All he cared about was one single thought – that it was over. Not just that though, it wasn't a matter of giving up or being bested by Courtney. He had been shoved to the side by her in favor of his best friend. He had utterly and completely lost. And it made him want to cry.

Well, how was it? Definitely not worth the wait of a year, that's for sure. Still, I hope you liked it. I enjoyed writing it. And again I say we're getting closer to the chapter that I wanted to do so badly at the start of this. It still gets me excited, but I don't know how long it'll be until I get to another chapter, let alone a chapter farther down the road.

Anyway, please review! Constructive criticism is much appreciated! :D