Chapter 3…after an entire summer with no updates…

I do NOT own Total Drama Island or any of the characters in it. Don is an OC of mine. Enjoy!

Chapter 3- Can we really face our fears?

The shades in Duncan's room hadn't gone up since noon yesterday. In fact, nothing in his room had changed at all. All his belongings and possessions were in their previous places, even he had barely moved in that twenty-four hour period. He didn't know why he had remained in his spot on his twin-extra long bed for almost a day now. It was a swirl in his head of fear, depression, and apathy that kept him starring at the ceiling. He looked at the clock to see how long the world had been without him, it was 3:31pm. Yes, it had been a full day. He was surprised no one had coming looking…

*knock knock*

…surprise gone….

"Duncan, are you in there? We haven't seen you all day! You weren't in class!" Don, Courtney, and Bridgette stood outside door hoping to hear from their missing friend. There was no response for a good minute. "Duncan, I know you're in there and I know that you know that I have your spare key so…" and with the door opened into a pit of darkness.

The three stepped into what Duncan called a room. They never usually hung out here, as Courtney refused to be in such a messy place. Don sat on the chair by Duncan's desk while Courtney and Bridgette took spots on the futon. Courtney looked underneath her feet to find a dirty pair of underwear, the sight of which made her yelp jump into Bridgette's lap.

The silence that followed seemed to last hours. Duncan had gone back to laying on his bed which left the other three staring at one another. They gave each other looks meaning "You say something!" All were too afraid to break the silence which Duncan was seemingly enjoying. Don cleared his throat and opened his mouth ready to discuss what they had come here about but was swiftly interrupted.

"I don't want to talk about it" Duncan said coldly, not even making eye contact. Don's mouth closed and he sat back into his chair, afraid to do anything else.

"But you haven't been acting like yourself! You've been cooped up in here all day. Something's wrong and we want to help." Courtney said as she found her way off of Bridgette's lap and back onto the futon. At least someone could say something, the other two thought

"I said I don't want to talk about it, is that fine with you princess?" Usually Duncan's nickname for Courtney was teasing, but this time it was just mean. He sat up out of bed, walked past the other three and out of the room. Don, Bridgette, and Courtney sat looking at each other until Courtney sighed, got up, and followed Duncan out of the room.

"What is wrong Duncan!?!" The brunette said as she grabbed the boy's shoulders and spun him around. "You haven't been yourself, and it's worrying me!"

"What do you care?" the boy replied coldly. Courtney was shocked he said this. How could she not care about him? They had been friends since pre-school and had been dating for over a year now?!?! How could she not care?!

"How could you say that? Of course I care! Why wouldn't I care?" At first Duncan has no response, he just there in the same helpless position. The main reason, he didn't have an answer for her. He didn't even know why he had said that.

"Just leave me alone alright!" The black haired boy sat with his back to the wall burying his face in his hands. Stunned by his behavior Courtney stood there for a few seconds, unsure of what to do, how to help this boy she loved. She decided to do what she felt would help; she sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulders.

In a soft voice, almost a whisper; "Please…just tell me what's wrong. I want to help…" With that, the boy she loved began to cry; only a bit at first but eventually full-blown crying. This was all too familiar of the time she had found out her cat had died. She had acted to same way and Duncan had been there. She had cried just like he was crying now. "I love you, and that means I want to help you…"

Duncan lifted his face out of his hands and looked at the girl who was beside him. She was beautiful, and he never understood why a girl like her went for guy like him.

"You're beautiful. You know that?" He said, managing what he could of a smile.

"Normally I would say the same, but crying isn't really your look" the both laughed and Courtney attempt at comedic relief. Duncan put his arm around her and she leaned into his arms. They just sat in each other's embrace for a long time, not caring about everything else in the world; it was just them…no one else.

As Duncan sat there, he began to think to himself; maybe it was time for him to tell someone. Maybe she could help, or at least she would know. Duncan had kept this part of his life secret all 18 years he had been alive and it finally felt like the time to change that. He mustered the words that he though could finally push him past this.

"I never told you about when I was a kid…did I?" he said and he wiped the tears off with his thumb. As Courtney thought about it, he never had mentioned anything beyond what she already knew.

"Well I knew you when we were kids. What don't I know?" She was confused at what he was talking about What part of his life didn't she know about?

Duncan sighed and decided for the first time to tell someone about what had happened when he was a kid, why he was crying next to this girl; he finally decided to show someone his scars…

I hope it was worth the wait…about a three month wait. Please review and tell me what you think! Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up soon…but we've all seen a procrastinate…