A/N: Hey I'm back! =D As you may know from my other story It's One Hell of a Ride I have been insanely busy, and had a massive case of writers block, but I'm back. And I'm super mega sorry about not doing the update a day. Life was kinda hectic and got in the way, so sorry for anyone who was waiting for that. Thanks to all who've reviewed and I bring you the next chapter. A nice long one to make up for my delayed updating. R&R =D

Disclaimer: Same as previous.


She beamed and jumped up and down on the spot before skipping up the stairs, two at a time.


The next morning Courtney's eyes fluttered open just as the sun was rising. She smiled raising her face to the light. She had always been a morning person. She normally woke an hour before her parents rose, and often went for long walks in order to feel the wind and sun before being cooped up in a classroom all day.

After searching through her closet Courtney pulled out a bright yellow sundress that complemented nicely with her skin. After slipping on some white flats and putting a thick yellow headband in her hair, Courtney grabbed her mum's old guitar and strolled through the back door into the crisp early morning air. There was a slight fog clouding the sky and the air had a salty tang from the westerly breeze, blowing in from the sea.

She strolled down a winding path and made her way to the bottom of her garden. The garden was large compared to the size of the house, and there was a high chance that her parents would eventually expand the house to fill up more of the space. But for now the garden was full of life. There were vibrant flowers in the garden beds that surrounded the house, and tall trees shaded the garden. Their house was similar to the other ones on the street, with neighbors on both sides. However it was the only house that had a backyard that ran into the forest.

Courtney wandered slowly down to the creek that ran through the forest. When she arrived she sat down at the bank and, after removing her shoes, dipped her feet in the cool, fresh water. Courtney pulled out her guitar and balanced it on her knee, while beginning to strum a few chords. She began picking out a melody and before long she was smiling and humming along. Courtney enjoyed music. She'd found her mothers guitar three years ago, and after replacing the ancient strings, and retuning the guitar, it had been as good as new. Her mother taught her the basic chords and gave the guitar to Courtney to keep. The smile on her face that day still hadn't left the memory of her parents. Courtney still liked to think of the beloved heirloom as her mums. It made it seem more romantic.

A fat bug landed on her shoulder and began to make its way down her back. Courtney swatted it away, but touched something unusual. She stretched back, further this time and felt for it again. A small, round bump was exactly in between her shoulder blades. She arched her back, craning her neck trying to get a glimpse of the bump, but was unsuccessful. She felt the bump again, trying desperately to determine what it was. After another unsuccessful attempt, she scooped up her guitar, put her shoes back on, and stormed back to the house in search of a mirror.


After locking the heavy bathroom door, Courtney turned to the mirror. Deciding she was too short, she sat on the vanity, arching her back, and twisting and turning, trying to see the lump. She tentatively pulled down the back of her dress and saw the bump. It was tiny. A raised circle, which blended into her natural skin, it was barely noticeable, but definitely there. She poked it warily, resulting in a slight tingling sensation, but no pain. It sort of looked like a zit.

Well… that's comforting… In a completely non-comforting kind of way…

Courtney heard her mother's soft footsteps traveling down the hall. Courtney poked her head out of the door and decided to see her mum.

"Mum?"

She heard a yawn. "In the kitchen sweetheart."

Courtney rushed with dainty steps into the kitchen. "I have a bump on my back… Can you have a look at it?"

Bridgette yawned once again and gently pushed on the raised bump. "It's just a zit Court."

Courtney smiled, releasing the top of her dress. "That's what I thought."

Bridgette brushed away her bangs, looking at her daughter. "You don't really get zits… have you started… you know…" Her mum leant closer. "Aunt Flo come to visit?"

Courtney shook her head quickly. "Just a fluke. All part of puberty, like you always say mum." She gave a strained smile, which matched the enthusiasm in her voice, before fleeing up the stairs, avoiding further questioning from her mother.


In her room, Courtney once again felt the bump. It made her feel normal… getting her first zit. Like a warped rite of passage. Courtney's puberty had been different to the textbooks way of describing it. She never got zits, but she had developed her shape perfectly, with curves in all the right places. However at sixteen and a half she still didn't have her period. Her mum shrugged it off, saying that without knowing her birth mothers history, they had no idea if it was normal or not. But it was becoming increasingly obvious that she was becoming more and more worried.

Courtney decided that she should get changed. She pulled on a pair of jeans on found a yellow tank top, allowing her to keep in her headband. She was about to put her hair in a ponytail when she thought of the blemish on her back. She decided to keep it down, to provide coverage for the zit, especially if it was to turn into something horrid. Which would suck.

Especially at Trent's…

Courtney grabbed an apple, and after calling out to her mum, she went out the door and began making her way to Trent's. She was almost there when she saw Beth jogging the opposite way. Courtney waved and called her over.

"Hey!" Beth beamed.

"Hi." Courtney smiled sweetly. "I didn't know you were a runner."

Beth chuckled. "Yeah. I'm on the school team." She saw Courtney's amused face. "Funny I know. We practice after school most days, but the weekend we have to do on our own." She smirked. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"I'm on my way to Trent's. Study session."

Beth chuckled, emitting a small snort. "Welcome to the Trent Robertson fan club. I'm president, but we need a treasurer. You interested?"

Courtney bit her lip nervously. "It's not like that. We're just going to study. I have a bio test on Monday and I am going to fail without drastic intervention."

Beth nodded, a sly smile playing on her features. "He's just around the corner, on the next street." She gestured with her hand. "I'll walk you there."

They walked together onto the next street, before their ears were assaulted with the heavy whirring of a lawn mower. Trent was there mowing the front lawn. He hadn't noticed them arrive, allowing for undisturbed admiring. He was pushing the mower dressed only in his old tennis shoes and jeans. His chest and arms were toned and his lean muscles were visible. His skin was lightly tanned and was glistening with a sheen of sweat as he continued to push the mower.

Courtney couldn't help but stare.

Wow... I've seen guys shirtless before, but... wow

His muscles flexed as he forced the mower through a thick patch of grass. Courtney felt her breath catch and her chest tighten. He was incredible to look at.

"Wow... I've died and gone to heaven." Beth sighed, not bothering at all to hide her appreciation.

Trent suddenly looked up, as if sensing he was being watched. His eyes met Courtney's and she dropped her head, finding something remarkably interesting with her shoes.

When she did look up, Trent was pulling on his shirt. "Hey guys. You're both up early."

"Early?" Courtney looked at her watch noticing that it wasn't even nine yet. "Oh gosh." She murmured embarrassed. "I forgot about calling."

Trent chuckled and sent her a grin. "No worries. I'm up." He smirked nodding his head in the direction of the lawn mower.

Beth interrupted "Well I gotta run... literally." She turned so that Trent couldn't see her and sent Courtney a wink. She then sprinted down the street calling her goodbyes.

Trent chuckled as he watched her sprint away. He turned to Courtney, flamboyantly gesturing to the door. "Shall we? Biology waits for no one."


After the test on Monday Trent turned to Courtney. "So how horrible was it?"

Courtney grinned. "Not too bad. But only because of your help."

Trent grinned. "Yeah Saturday's three hour session, plus the hour chat last night probably had some impact."

The two beamed at each other before Trent continued.

"We could make it a regular event. You know... the study."

Courtney smiled. Secretly enjoying the idea of more private study sessions with him. "Yeah. And next time you could come to my house."

He beamed back. "Great."


It was drizzling steadily as the bell for lunch rang. The majority of the group sat inside because of the rain, but a small group braved the weather and headed for the small pavilion. Today it was just Trent, Courtney, Beth and Cody. The two guys sat across from each other, pelting scraps of bread at one another. Beth sat with Courtney, and made like a commentator, critiquing their aim, form, and inability to keep from hitting the spectators.

"Alright. That one was on purpose." Beth grumbled, throwing the offending food item back towards the duo.

Cody chuckled. "Nah Beth it was an accident. And anyway you are the one that said I couldn't hit anything I aimed for."

Beth growled. "Then maybe you should aim for me, so then I at least know that I won't be hit."

She sighed and turned towards Courtney. "I was so not meant to live here. Somewhere sunny like L.A... yeah. But not here." She sighed again, pushing a stubborn lock of hair behind her ear. My hair does fine in summer. But as soon as there is any rain... BAM!! It becomes this unmanageable mess."

Her thick, wavy brown hair faired well in the summer, but humidity turned it into a frizzy, knotty mess. Today she had it in a low plait, having just recently gotten over her side pony phase.

Courtney looked at her with a small smile. "I think it's pretty."

Beth rolled her eyes slightly. "I get that a lot... but it's only because it's not yours. I have to use tonnes of special products so I can get a brush through it every day." She turned and looked at Courtney's hair before gently running her fingers through a section. "Yours is nice... and really soft. What do you use?"

Courtney bit her lip uncomfortably. "Oh... you know... whatever."

"Hmm," Beth murmured feeling Courtney's hair once again. "Do you use a leave in? That's what works best for mine."

Courtney took a deep breath. "Actually I don't use anything." Beth stared gob smacked so she continued. "Conditioner makes my hair oily and any kind of shampoo makes my hair super dry."

"So you don't wash it?"

Courtney saw Beth's confused face, and decided to explain more thoroughly. "I rinse my hair really well. It's clean. I make sure."

"But... like no shampoo? At all?"

Courtney shook her head. She bit her lip waiting for a comeback and was surprised when Beth simply muttered, "Lucky." under her breath, before turning back to her previously forgotten sandwich.


That night Courtney examined her hair.

Do I need to wash it?

Her hair looked and felt the same as normal. And after ten minutes of debate she decided not to bother. She then turned and studied the bump on her back. Gently prodding and poking it. It had been tiny on Saturday and over just two days it had grown in size, and with it came an increased tingling.

"It's one hell of a first zit." She grumbled before turning in for the night.


Courtney woke the next morning to a dull tingling sensation between her shoulder blades. Realising that it might be the zit, Courtney rushed to the bathroom in order to examine it. As she sat on the vanity craning her neck and pulling down the hem of her nightgown she came to a horrid realisation...

The bump was bigger... and not just a little bit.

It was now the size of a quarter.

This is no zit...

She touched it gingerly. Worrying that the touch would further inflame the bump. The tingling lingered after the bump had been left alone, setting Courtney into a further panic. She jumped off the vanity and tore down the hall to her parents room. She was just about pound feverently on her parents door when she realised something. She was being foolish.

What I am thinking? I'm barely dressed and the last thing I need to do is worry mum and dad... They have enough on their plate. I'll work it out myself.

After recovering from her minor freak out, Courtney made her way back to the bathroom. She once again sat herself on the vanity and examined the bump. She twisted this way and that studying the bump from different angles, until she finally convinced herself that the bump was nowhere near as big or obtrusive as she thought it was.

Courtney was under the belief that all things healed themselves. She was raised with that belief, and it was evident in the way her parents behaved. They had never been to the doctors for anything, even antibiotics.

"It's just an abnormally large zit. It'll go away on it's own..." Courtney sighed heavily. "I hope..."

She dug through the drawers in the bathroom looking for her mum's salve. She found the tub and opened it, relishing in the delightful scent of rosemary, lavender and tea-tree oil. It made her feel safe. This salve had helped her family get over any scrape or blemish.

It couldn't hurt to try...

Courtney scooped up a small amount on her finger and gently applied it to the bump. The tea-tree oil burned and in conjunction with the tingling of the bump made Courtney feel as though her back was on fire. Once she was done she crept back to her room and began rummaging through her cupboard, trying to find something that would hide the bump. She ended up deciding on a loose fitting t-shirt, with a full back and jean shorts. She also chose to leave her hair down to further conceal the obtrusive bump.

It tingled whenever anything touched it. The t-shirt, her hair, her fingers as she tried to remind herself that it was real... She came to the conclusion that every nerve was connected to the bump.


When Thursday rolled around Courtney knew it wasn't a zit. The bump was now the size of a golf ball. She let out a shriek of panic when she first saw the size. She grabbed another baggy top, and put a loose fitting cardigan over the top, to further conceal the bump. She went downstairs to tell her parents but wimped out and ended up grabbing an apple before pelting out the front door to school. With all the loose shirts no one had noticed the bump, but if it kept growing at such a rushed pace it would soon be the size of a basketball, and there was no way she could hide something like that...

Courtney sat beside Beth at lunch, but was unable to focus on what her friend was saying. Her thoughts turning to the bump, and the lack of effect the salve had made.

Maybe it's a tumor... Oh my god... I'm going to die

"Courtney? Helloooo?? You there?"

When Beth got no reply she turned down the hall to her next class, just missing Trent as he ran up to Courtney.

"Hey!"

Courtney turned her head slightly, but kept on walking, and even began to quicken her pace.

"What's the rush Court?"

She stopped and turned to him. "I just really wanna get to class on time."

Trent just nodded. "Ok... Can I walk you to class?"

He followed her as she made her way down another corridor before stopping outside her class. He rubbed the back of his neck before asking her a question.

"You doing anything this Saturday? Cause a bunch of us are heading to the beach. It's too cold to swim, but there'll be a bonfire, and someone will probably get thrown in the water," he chuckled. "They normally do. What'd you say? You in?"

Courtney but her lip before replying to Trent. "I'd love to but... I can't."

"Why not?"

She sighed heavily and couldn't bear to lie to him. "I just can't..."

She then turned and made her way into the classroom, without uttering a goodbye.


On Friday the bump had more than doubled in size.

It looks like a softball... What do I do?

There was no top that was going to cover the bump. Courtney went into a panic and tore through her clothes to try and find something to wear. After much searching she found a floaty, fluffy blouse that would camouflage the atrocity. After disguising it as effectively as she could she tore out of the house, before her parents could question her.

The day dragged on, and Courtney couldn't get her mind off the bump. It tingled constantly and she could barely concentrate on her work. She hadn't talked to anyone all day and had got multiple questions wrong in all her classes. When the bell finally rang Courtney rushed out of class before her teacher had time to question her lack of focus. As she made her way to her locker, a single thought was running through her head.

It's cancer... It must be... What am I going to tell mum? Monday... I'll tell her if it's not gone by Monday.

After grabbing her bag and stowing her books, Courtney made her way across the football field. She climbed up the bleachers and sat there looking up at the graying sky.

She snapped her head down when she heard footsteps. She saw Trent slowly making his way towards her.

"Hey..." He murmured rubbing the back of his neck. "Can I sit with you?"

Courtney smiled slightly patting the spot next to her. Trent sat wearily, stilled nervous of her with her odd behaviour. They were silent for a while before he spoke up.

"Are you ok? I mean... You've been acting weird all week."

Courtney's lip trembled as she tried not to cry. "Sorry... I'll be alright."

Trent grabbed her hand causing her to look at him. "Did I do something?"

Courtney shook her head rapidly. "No, no. You're wonderful. I've just had a bad couple of days. Give me the weekend to get over it, and I'll be fine."

Trent nodded slightly. "Can I walk you home?"

"I'm going to stay here longer. I'll be alright."

Trent sighed. "Ok then..." He turned to look at her. "But if anything is wrong you'll call me... right?" He waited for Courtney's nod before making his way down the seats.

"Trent!"

He turned to see Courtney now standing.

"Have fun tomorrow..."

His smile dropped and he nodded, before slowly walking away.


That night Courtney applied more salve to her back before heading to her room. As she closed the door and hopped into bed, the tears finally began to pour down her face. She knew that the salve wouldn't have any effect, as it hadn't so far, but she didn't know what else to do. She slowly drifted to sleep praying that the new day would bring a change.

She didn't know just how big a change was to occur.