Chapter Sixteen – Perfectly Alone
Courtney traces her fingers over Duncan's tattoo. They'd gotten half dressed but been distracted by touching and kissing each other and were back to lying on the table.
"Do you really trust no one?" Courtney asks, referring to his tattoo. Duncan sighs.
"I didn't. Before this dumb camp, you know," he shakes his head in disbelief. "This whole thing seemed like a joke. A way to get us out of the school for a week. Chris and Chef have no idea what they're doing, and yet somehow I find myself actually liking and trusting DJ and Harold, and even Geoff." He laughs at the ridiculousness of it all.
"What about me?" Courtney wonders.
"Yeah, and you," he smiles, stroking her hair.
"It is kind of weird how this camp made me friends with people I thought I hated and made me realise I don't really like those people I thought were my friends. Do you think it will go back to normal once we get back to school?" Courtney asks.
"Only if you want it to," Duncan whispers. Courtney knows he isn't talking about her friendship with Bridgette and Sierra or his own friendships.
"I don't want it to," she assures him. "But let me tell Heather in my own time. She may not be the greatest friend, but she's still my friend and I want to tell her myself." Duncan nods. "We should go back to our cabins before we get caught," Courtney suggests. Duncan rolls his eyes but concedes and they finish dressing and Courtney grabs Duncan's hand as they walk back to her cabin. Duncan smiles to himself satisfactorily, wondering how he could be so lucky to have the girl of his dreams clinging onto him like she really thinks he's worth something. They reach her door and she turns to face him.
"I love you," she reminds him giving him a kiss. He grins and kisses her back.
"I love you too," he says. He never thought he'd be saying those words even three hours ago, but it seems a lot can change in a few hours. "Goodnight, Court." Courtney beams and kisses him again before heading into her cabin. Duncan laughs at himself and shakes his head as he turns to leave. As he looks up he sees Alejandro staring at him. Shit. How much did he see? Duncan wonders. It doesn't matter, you're standing on Courtney's doorstep, it's pretty obvious why you're there, he reminds himself. He tries to think up some excuse but before he can say anything, Alejandro speaks.
"If you don't tell anyone you saw me, I won't tell anyone I saw you," Alejandro says. Duncan eyes him warily, wondering what mischief Alejandro is about to get up to. Could he be heading to Heather's cabin?
"Deal," Duncan agrees. Alejandro nods and both of them go back to their business. Duncan walks back to his cabin, wondering why there is a light inside. He opens the door to find Harold sitting on his bed holding a torch, and Leshawna sitting next to him. DJ has a pillow over his face.
"Isn't anyone in their own cabin?" Duncan rolls his eyes.
"Where have you been?" Harold asks. Duncan raises his eyebrows meaningfully and flops down on his bed but Harold doesn't get the message. "Were you with Courtney?" he asks.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Duncan says threateningly.
"I already told Leshawna," Harold informs him.
"Aw, man. I told you that was a secret!" Duncan scolds.
"I had to tell Leshawna. She said if I hope to be in a relationship with her then I need to be completely honest with her," Harold explains.
"So what happened tonight?" Leshawna asks eagerly. DJ lifts the pillow off his face to listen.
"None of your business," Duncan snaps.
"Aw don't be such a spoil sport!" Leshawna pouts. Duncan sighs.
"Don't tell her I told you." Duncan warns. Leshawna, Harold and DJ all nod and Duncan begins to tell them what happened after Courtney found him by the campfire.
"Bridgette!" Courtney says in a loud whisper, jumping on the blonde's bed as soon as she enters her cabin. Bridgette groans and sits up.
"What is it?" she whispers back. Sierra climbs down from the top bunk to join in the gossip session.
"I was just with Duncan," Courtney reveals.
"Eeeeeeee!" Sierra squeals until the other two hush her. "What happened?" Sierra asks.
"He said he loves me," Courtney admits with a blush.
"I knew it!" Bridgette grins.
"You did?" Courtney asks. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was going to, but now I'm glad I didn't," Bridgette laughs. "So, did you bang him?"
"Yeah, did you?" Sierra presses.
"Kinda," Courtney replies.
"Kinda?" Bridgette asks sceptically.
"Okay, yes I did! In the dining hall on the other groups table," Courtney giggles.
"Guys, this is so great! Now we all have boyfriends!" Sierra gushes.
"Is Cody your boyfriend?" Courtney wonders.
"Pretty much," Sierra responds.
"Pretty much? What does that even mean?" Courtney asks.
"Well, we kissed… and I gave him my underwear. Then he told me he likes me but he likes Gwen more. And I said, that's okay, because Gwen doesn't like him at all. Then he sighed. Then I claimed him as my own!" Sierra laughs. Bridgette and Courtney give each other concerned looks before bursting into laughter themselves.
Alejandro breathes a sigh of relief as Duncan walks back to his cabin. Alejandro heads towards Heather's door, hoping she's alone. He knows Gwen is with Trent as he could hear them laughing from Trent's cabin, so hopefully Leshawna is out also.
Alejandro opens the door as quietly as possibly and sticks his head inside. He glances around the room to see two empty beds and Heather sleeping in the bottom bunk. He sneaks into the room, closing the door behind him and sits on the end of Heather's bed. He looks at her nervously, hoping he won't be killed for waking her up. He shakes her gently and whispers her name.
"Heather, wake up," he says a little louder when the whispering doesn't work. She still doesn't wake up so he yells in her ear. She jerks awake and hits him in the face in the process.
"Alejandro?" she asks suspiciously.
"Yes, it is I, Alejandro," Alejandro responds. Heather rolls her eyes.
"No need to be so dramatic. What are you doing here? Where's Leshawna?" she glances over at Leshawna's bed to see it empty.
"In some other person's cabin. As is Gwen. We are perfectly alone," Alejandro informs her satisfactorily.
"That doesn't answer my question as to why you're here," Heather reminds him.
"I need to talk to you," Alejandro tells her. Heather says nothing but looks at him expectantly. He hesitates.
"Oh for god's sake Alejandro, it's the middle of the night. Spit it out so I can go back to sleep!" Heather snaps.
"Okay!" Alejandro says defensively. "It's about what happened at the talent show," Alejandro reveals.
"The fact that we won?" Heather guesses.
"It wasn't a competition…" Alejandro points out.
"But if it had been, we would have won," Heather asserts.
"Yes of course, but no, it's not about that. It's about the kiss," Alejandro finally gets to the point.
"Oh that. Don't worry about it. I'm over it," Heather shrugs.
"You're… over it?" Alejandro questions, a little taken aback.
"Yeah, I get it. It was the heat of the moment type thing. You didn't mean it. Whatever. Can I go back to sleep now?" Heather demands.
"No… I mean yes. I mean… forget it!" Alejandro curses in Spanish as he leaves Heather's cabin, slamming the door behind him. Heather is so cold! How could you even for a second think you liked her? Alejandro scolds himself. That had been close. He must never reveal to Heather that he has any feelings.
Meanwhile, Heather lies back down, her heart pounding. I absolutely can not let Alejandro think I actually liked kissing him. Why had she kissed him back? She groans, thinking how close they had come to making total fools of themselves. High school relationships are pointless and stupid. Remember Heather, you only date college boys! She closes her eyes and tries to fall asleep, but all she can think about is Alejandro.
Note - This is the second last chapter! Just want to let you guys know I read all your reviews and I appreciate all of them, and I'm sorry I don't reply to everyone but all I can think to say is thank you! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! xx