Chapter Seventeen – Valuable Life Lessons
The next morning at breakfast everyone seems to yawning a lot more than usual and they're all rather quiet, making Blaineley quite suspicious. She walks over to Courtney, the obvious choice for getting information as Courtney is a goody two shoes and will do anything to please the teacher.
"Courtney," Blaineley whispers.
"Yes, Ms. O'Halloran?" Courtney responds.
"Why is everyone so tired and quiet? Did something happen last night?" Blaineley accuses.
"I don't know Ms. O'Halloran, I was asleep," Courtney smiles primly and goes back to her breakfast. Blaineley narrows her eyes. This camp has done strange things to these kids, she thinks. They're doing things like lying to teachers and getting along with each other. It isn't right. She walks away from Courtney shaking her head. At least this is the last day on this wretched island.
"Did you just lie to a teacher?" Duncan mocks from where he sits next to Courtney. They decided most likely no one would even notice if they sat in different spots to normal and so far no one had commented.
"I couldn't very well tell her the truth could I?" Courtney rolls her eyes.
"I'd love to see the look on her face if you did tell her," Duncan laughs. He puts on his best Courtney voice, "Ms. O'Halloran, I had the best night of my life, Duncan fucked me on that table. It was incredible!" Courtney hits him in the arm and he grabs her wrist and leans in close, about to kiss her.
"Duncan!" Courtney hisses, glancing over at Heather who isn't even paying the slightest bit of attention. Duncan sighs and lets her go.
"Would you just tell her already so I can kiss you?" Duncan groans.
"If she hasn't figured it out by now she's clearly a total idiot," Bridgette butts in. "You guys are being so obvious."
"What do you mean?" Courtney questions in response to Bridgette's comment about them being too obvious.
"For starters, Duncan and Sierra have swapped spots, and you keep looking at each other and smiling and touching each other unnecessarily," Bridgette lists. Courtney and Duncan look a little sheepish.
"She's right. It's totally obvious." Eva comments. "Plus the fact that Duncan just said you guys had sex on that table and everyone on this table heard him." The rest of the table nods in agreement. Courtney groans and Duncan chuckles.
"Well at least no one on the other table knows yet. They can't tell Heather if they don't know!" Courtney reassures herself.
"Actually…" Duncan starts.
"What?" Courtney snaps.
"Well… Leshawna knows and I think Alejandro has a pretty good idea…" Duncan admits. Courtney just purses her lips and rolls her eyes.
"Okay everyone, listen up!" Chris calls out as he enters the dining hall. "This is your last meal before you head back to school, so I hope you enjoy it! I hope you've all learned something from this experience such as some valuable life lessons. Recommend this camp to your friends! Thanks for coming!" he finishes his speech and goes to walk back outside. "Oh wait, I almost forgot!" he stops and turns around. "Beth found this in the fish cabin," he pulls out a black bra, "does it belong to anyone?" he chuckles to himself. Courtney groans and puts her head on the table in embarrassment. The rest of the teenagers erupt in laughter and catcalls.
"Want me to get that for you, Court?" Duncan sniggers.
"Drop dead." She's about to get up and claim it but Bridgette beats her to it.
"Uh, thanks Chris. That's mine. I was wondering where it got to," she laughs nervously, snatching the bra and sitting back down. "You owe me," she whispers to Courtney.
"Thanks," Courtney whispers back.
Unfortunately, Bridgette fools no one with her act of bravery, as Courtney soon finds out. Heather grabs her arm as they step onto the ferry that will take them back to the mainland.
"What the hell, Courtney? You had sex with Duncan?" Heather accuses.
"What would make you say that?" Courtney asks, feigning ignorance.
"Oh come on! I'm not stupid. You spend a night in the fish cabin with him and two days later your bra gets found in there? Why else would you take it off?" Heather spits.
"Ugh fine. I was going to tell you anyway. But honestly, it's not like it's any of your business," Courtney points out.
"None of my business? Courtney, I'm your best friend! I'm trying to protect your reputation here! Now everyone knows you had sex with a total loser!" Heather rants.
"Oh calm down. You don't really care about me or else we wouldn't even be having this argument," Courtney snaps. The ferry has left the dock now and everyone is crowded around Heather and Courtney to witness the fight.
"How can you say that? I only want what's best for you! You are nothing but a traitorous bitch!" Heather claims.
"Hey, lay off her!" Duncan says, stepping in.
"Leave it, Duncan!" Courtney puts her hand up to stop him. She glares at Heather and Heather glares back, before taking a deep breath.
"You know what? It's fine. You can come back from this. It was just meaningless sex, right? Now you have a little experience you can get with some older, cooler guys who have never heard of Duncan." Heather reasons.
"It wasn't though," Courtney says.
"Wasn't what?" Heather says shortly.
"It wasn't just meaningless sex," Courtney replies, folding her arms.
"You can't mean to say you actually like this imbecile? I thought you had taste!" Heather scoffs.
"I do like him," Courtney tells her. She glances around at everyone, hating to admit what she's about to in front of everyone, but she hopes it will make Heather back off. She must have a heart somewhere in there. "I love him." she says. The crowd around them aww and whistle at the confession. Duncan puts his arm around Courtney and both of them stare at Heather in defiance.
"That's impossible. I forbid you to date him. It's against the rules!" Heather says childishly.
"What rules?" Ezekiel interrupts. Heather shoots daggers at him.
"The rules that say popular girls can only date popular boys or jocks!" Heather stamps her foot.
"Oh those rules…"
"Shut up, Ezekiel!" Heather snaps.
"I think Duncan is popular," Harold interjects.
"What would you know about it, nerd?" Heather sneers.
"We should have a vote. Who votes that Duncan is popular?" Harold calls. Everyone puts their hand up except Heather. She gives a cry of frustration and storms away from the group to sit down.
"Now can I kiss you?" Duncan asks Courtney.
"I'm surprised you even have to ask," Courtney grins. Duncan pulls her in close and kisses her sweetly.
"I can do that whenever I want, right?" Duncan asks.
"Right," Courtney laughs.
Alejandro wanders over to where Heather is sitting.
"Heather…" he starts.
"Leave me alone, traitor!" Heather says venomously.
"How am I a traitor?" Alejandro wonders.
"You voted that Duncan was popular! I thought I could at least count on you!" Heather cries.
"Why? You don't even like me, remember?" Alejandro reminds her.
"I thought we had some kind of… understanding," Heather says.
"Heather, you should forget them. They're happy, what does it matter if he's not popular?" Alejandro asks.
"Okay, I know I overreacted! But I just feel like I've lost control of everything! My friends have all left me." Heather says sadly.
"You still have me," Alejandro smiles.
"Fat lot of good you are," Heather snarls. Alejandro sighs. Lindsay walks up to Heather with Beth trailing behind her.
"Aww, it's so cute you two are finally a couple! First it was Gwen and Trent, and then…"
"We are NOT a couple!" Heather cuts her off angrily.
"Oh, but we thought…" Lindsay gestures to herself and Beth.
"You thought wrong. Alejandro and I will NEVER be together, got it?" Heather says threateningly. Lindsay and Beth nod nervously and scamper away as Heather stares them down. She turns back to Alejandro only to find he isn't there anymore. She looks around and sees him flirting with Katie and Sadie and she sighs, wondering why there feels like there's an empty void in her stomach.
The group makes it back to the mainland where the bus is waiting for them. Everyone boards the bus, Heather being the last one. She is about to head up the back but stops dead in her tracks at what she sees. No one is sitting up the back. Courtney is sitting next to Bridgette with their boyfriends in the seat behind them. DJ and Harold sit across the aisle and Sierra and Cody sit in front of them. Beth and Lindsay sit in front of Sierra and Cody, and Lindsay's hand is joined across the aisle to Tyler's, who is sitting next to Ezekiel of all people. Gwen and Trent are sitting in the seat in front of the back seat with Leshawna in front of them, and Gwen and Leshawna are chatting while Trent strums his guitar. Justin is kneeling on his seat, facing Katie and Sadie in the seat behind him and behind them are Eva and Noah, followed by Owen and Izzy.
Heather has a moment of hesitation, wondering where she should sit. She wanders down the back of the bus, stepping over Tyler and Lindsay's joined hands and glancing at everyone as she goes. No one really seems to notice her though.
So this is what it feels like to be unpopular, she thinks. She gets to the back seat and notices that Alejandro is sitting in the corner. He shrugs at her and she rolls her eyes and sits down with a sigh.
"What happened?" she wonders out loud, as Blaineley finishes counting everyone and the bus takes off.
"I'm not sure. It's strange," Alejandro replies.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so," Heather says, though she doesn't sound glad at all.
"I think it's good though," Alejandro nods.
"Why?" Heather whines.
"Things needed to change," Alejandro says simply.
"Why?"
"Reasons," Alejandro says mysteriously. They sit in silence for a moment before Heather speaks again.
"I'm sorry about before," she says.
"Are my ears deceiving me? Did I just hear the great and powerful Heather apologise?" Alejandro mocks.
"Shut up. Looks like you're the only person who'll be my friend. If you'll still have me, that is," Heather sighs.
"No," Alejandro refuses.
"Wow. Thanks. I guess I'll just be going then," she goes to stand up and find somewhere else to sit but Alejandro grabs her and pulls her back down onto the seat.
"Heather. I don't want to be your friend. We have been playing this game long enough. I know you say you don't date high school boys but we both know I am no ordinary high school boy. I am a high school man." Alejandro says seriously. Heather scoffs but Alejandro grabs her and pulls her to him, crushing her chest against his, taking the breath out of her.
"Heather. I know you like me."
"That's not good enough," Heather says breathlessly, trying to keep her composure while noticing that her lips are only a centimetre away from Alejandro's.
"Why?" Alejandro asks.
"Tell me how you feel. You can't just command me to date you." Heather says. Alejandro glares at her. He puts his hand on the back of her head and draws her mouth to his biting on her bottom lip then pushing his tongue into her mouth. Heather moans quietly, kissing him back until he finally pulls away.
"I love you, okay?" Alejandro admits begrudgingly. The bus cheers at them, having been watching the make out session. Heather turns red, but refuses to be intimidated.
"Good." She says shortly.
"Does this mean you'll be my girlfriend?" Alejandro asks with a grin.
"Fine," Heather sighs. Alejandro wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her in close so her head is resting on his chest. Heather smirks to herself as they both fall asleep.
Back at school everyone piles off the bus and waits for their suitcases to be unloaded. Heather approaches Courtney somewhat apprehensively.
"Courtney?" Heather starts.
"Yeah?" Courtney responds.
"I just want to say… I'm sorry I guess. I can't tell you who to date. But can we please be friends again? It's kinda sad if my only friend is my boyfriend. Wow, that feels weird to say." Heather says, shaking her head.
"Thanks Heather. Of course we can be friends. Maybe we can double date!" Courtney suggests. Heather grimaces. "I'm only kidding," Courtney laughs. Everyone starts waving goodbye to each other and hugging, even though they'll see each other again on Monday.
"Seriously, how did this happen? Why does everyone suddenly like each other?" Heather wonders. Courtney shrugs.
"I guess we were hating Wawanakwa for nothing. It actually worked!" she says with a laugh.
"Maybe campfires really are magic," Heather smiles. "My parents are here. I'll see you Monday?"
"Sure. Bye!" Courtney waves Heather off and Duncan comes over and grabs her around the waist, planting a kiss on her lips.
"I gotta go, Court, I'll call you tomorrow," he says with a grin. He kisses her again before running off to where his mother his waiting. Duncan's mom stares at Courtney in disbelief so Courtney gives her a wave. His mom waves back and Duncan says something to her which causes her to beam from ear to ear. She looks about to walk over to Courtney but Duncan hurries her into the car. Courtney shakes her head and chuckles, turning around to see her own mother waiting for her.
"Who was that?" he mother demands, clearly disapproving.
"My boyfriend, Duncan," Courtney replies. "It's so lucky you didn't come and get me from camp or we never would have gotten together!" Courtney says. She strides over to the car, leaving her mother to follow her with a look of utter disbelief on her face.
Note - Aww this was the last chapter! I know some people probably want me to continue and I probably could, but I really believe in ending stories before they get boring haha. I don't want to just keep going until y'all get sick of it and I'm just talking about mundane events in their lives. I'd rather end it here and start a new one. I don't want it to be like the movie "Australia" where you think it's over but then it goes for another hour and you're left wondering why you bothered and resenting the entire thing.
Answer to a question from Hola: I really wish I could reply to you privately as I'd really like to thank you for reading and leaving such long and lovely reviews! Anyway about your question, I didn't actually specify if Courtney was a virgin or not but in my mind she was, since she said the only kiss she's had was one time with Scott haha.
My next story: Is called Ransom and Rescue, I'll probably post the first chapter soon, maybe tomorrow! I probably won't be able to update that as often as I did this one as I have a lot of assignments for uni coming up :(
In the meantime you should check out my other stories or stories by my sister, The Queen of Cold, she writes similarly to me. Her newest story is called The Highwayman and it's set in the Old West where Duncan is a highwayman and Courtney is a barmaid.
Wow, sorry for the long note! Hope you enjoyed this story! xxx