Okay…I've decided to add another part to A Taste of Life, thanks to a certain reader's request. Here it is…You guys knew it was coming…the disclaimer.

I do not own the Total Drama series or any of the characters from said series. I probably won't be doing another part after this. Consider yourself warned.

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It had been a month since Courtney and Duncan's last encounter, and Courtney was aching to see him again. The doctor finally released her from the crisp white prison, but her left arm and leg were to remain in casts for the following seven weeks. She took her first step outside the doors of the hospital in a month. At first, the frigid blast of autumn wind against her face felt odd, but she relaxed as a refreshing breeze took its place, blowing her mocha-colored hair behind her ear as her mother walked behind her, making sure Courtney didn't fall while using the crutches had been issued to her by the doctor. The trees were alive with vibrant, lush colors. Fresh shades of orange, red, brown, and yellow filled Courtney's vision. Her mother helped her into the car and Courtney pulled down the mirror on the passenger side to inspect the damage. There was a long, thin scar hovering directly above her plucked-to-perfection eyebrow where a shard of glass had found its way through her skin during the accident, and she self-consciously arranged her thick bangs to cover it as her mother climbed into the driver's seat beside her.

"Honey?"

"Yeah, Mom?"

"Do you need to stay with me and your father while you're still healing?"

"I'm good, Mom."

"Court-"

"Seriously, Mom. I can get dressed in the morning without you, okay? I can just call you if I need you to take me anywhere. Really."

Her mom sighed and reluctantly gave in as they pulled into the parking lot of Courtney's apartment building.

"Okay. I know, you're 21 now, Courtney, but… you were our only child. It's hard to see you grow up like this."

"It's okay, Mom. Thanks for coming and picking me up."

Her mother came and helped Courtney out of the passenger side of the 2007 Excursion and brought her up to her apartment on the second floor.

"I'm coming back to check on you at 6:00, alright?"

"Okay, 6 o'clock. I love you, Mom." Courtney let a dry, faint smile play on her lips as her mother started stepping back down the stairs towards the SUV.

"Love you too, honey. Be careful!"

"Got it."

Courtney watched as her mother's vehicle disappeared from the parking lot and out of her sight. She turned and staggered into her apartment, locking the door behind her. Her replacement phone, an iPhone 4G, vibrated suddenly. She picked it up with her right hand, ignoring the caller ID and pressing it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Courtney?" a deep, loving voice inquired.

"Duncan!" She fought hard to contain squeals of joy.

"So…you're out?" he ventured.

"Yep, and doing fine," she answered him, silently urging him to ask to come over.

"Hey…what would you think about me coming over and picking you up for dinner in a while?"

"Well…I mean, I guess. I'm not doing anything."

"Great. How 'bout I pick you up at 8:00, princess?"

"Sounds good, Duncan. See you then," she replied with a feigned calmness about her, holding in a sigh of relief that he couldn't see the million butterflies flipping circles in her stomach.

"Bye."
"Bye, Duncan." She heard a click on the other side of the line and then the monotonous beeping. She pressed the end button and then started to dial her mother's number to tell her about the upcoming rendezvous. She only waited a few seconds before she heard her mother's voice on the other end of the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Mom. I just wanted to let you know that Duncan's taking me out for dinner at 8:00, so you don't need to check up on me at 6:00. I'll be getting ready."

"Alright, honey. Call me when you get back to your apartment."

"'K. Bye."

"Love you, bye," her mother said. Courtney hung up the phone and headed to her closet. There was work to be done.

She strode into the enormous walk-in closet (quite unusual for an apartment) and surveyed her choices. Flirty white bubble dress…maybe. Skinny jeans and high heels…maybe. Long, elegant blue strapless number…definitely a maybe. Tight, skin-hugging turquoise mini…perfect. She slid into the flattering frock with difficulty, thanks to her broken arm and leg, and then moved on to her shoes. She decided to go with simple black flats, for fear of tripping and breaking another bone. Her makeup was simple: smoky, mysterious eyelids, but no eyeliner: quite a risk, and a light pink gloss for her lips. She took her hair from a messy bun it had been pulled into earlier and let it fall down her back; it looked fine as it was. She was ready.

She went into her small kitchen area and glanced at the clock on the microwave oven: 6:27 pm. She had time to sit down and relax in preparation before the date, and she was glad for it. She turned on her television to Judge Judy. Being the studious lawyer that she was, Courtney always had the desire to better herself through watching other's mistakes. By the time she had watched a few episodes, it was 7:56.

A few minutes later, a sharp knock interrupted a defendant's pathetic plea. She turned off the TV and opened the door.

Sure enough, there he was. His deep teal eyes were searching her gaze, glittering with mischief. She couldn't help but grin at the sight of him.

"Hey, Duncan."

Duncan took her into his arms, caressing her broken body and feeling the heat of her soft face pressed against his shoulder in the embrace. He pulled away reluctantly and looked into her irresistible, coffee-colored eyes. She could tell he was tearing up with the emotion of seeing her again.

"Are you ready to go, sweetheart?" he asked, taking her right hand in his left.

"If you are," she replied, taking in the deep scent of his tempting cologne.

He led her out to his truck and helped her into the passenger side.

"I missed you," he started comfortably.

"Where are we headed?" she asked him.

"I dunno, I thought I would leave it up to you," he answered as he put the vehicle into reverse and drove out of the parking lot.

"I'm okay with anything, as long as it's somewhat formal. You don't actually think I'd wear this type of thing to Taco Bell, do you?"

He laughed, his voice echoing off the enclosed space of the car like a wind chime.

"I guess you're right. Olive Garden?" he inquired, knowing that Courtney loved two things more than life itself: 1) doing her job right and 2) lasagna.

"If that's what you want," she told him, even venturing to place her head on his shoulder.

When they got to Olive Garden, the parking lot was surprisingly empty. Courtney and Duncan had no wait whatsoever, and they were seated at once. After a dinner of lasagna, fettuccini, and breadsticks, Duncan drove Courtney back home. The two sat parked in the truck for a while, laughing and talking about how much they'd missed each other.

"Duncan, thanks for tonight. I missed spending time with you."

"I love you, Courtney. I love you. Just so. Freaking. Much."

"I'm glad to hear that," she said, letting an excited little squeak escape her glossy lips.

Duncan chuckled and leaned over a little, eyeing her reaction. She welcomed the offer and placed her lips straight on his. Duncan didn't seem to mind this contact at all. They sat like this for quite some time, giving each other a variation of short pecks and heartfelt, passionate kisses, when finally Courtney pulled away to check the time on her phone. 10:19. She had to go.

"Bye, Duncan. I'll call you tomorrow."

"I'll be waiting."

There was one final kiss exchanged between the two.

"I love you."

"Love you, too, Duncan." She smiled. He helped her out of the car. As she limped back up to her apartment, she looked back at the childish, delinquent, juvenile love of her life in the beaten up old truck and bit her lip to keep from screaming in delight. He was gorgeous, (street) smart, (criminally) talented, and hers. All hers.