Fulltimereviewer:Thanks. I was panicking hard for that chapter but I'm glad it wasn't too bad after all.
.discography: Yeah, I knew that moment wouldn't be liked. But! What's coming next might help….
TrueJackVP408: Nah, I wouldn't put any important info into that, I knew half of the people wouldn't read it… And yeah, yeah, Trentney is just A-DO-RA-BLE!
Alexex: Thank you! Don't worry, I'll try to update at each two-week period. Ok... I'm late this time of five weeks but I'll catch up, promise!
Princess Absahail: *blushes* actually, the others will ABSOLUTELY be better than this. Wow, I wouldn't expect such encouraging feedback. :)
Dorothyrox101 : Yep, drama. And there will a lot in the future.
Bella-Sk8er: Wow, you're quick. But you've got 6/10. I'm not that predictable, don't worry. Glad you like though.
Honey-boo-skii:Tension is my favorite. And there will be tons of it. I can't wait either
Krazyvamp18: Thanks again, I guess I freaked out for nothing… Bah, typical from me. And I like both, they're just so cool. We'll see how the story is moving on, Ivy and I didn't even plan out the end :3.
Thanks again everyone who's reviewing, that's the best gift you could ever give us. We work hard on that story, correspond with each other, get ideas. That's a huge team work amongst Ivy and me. Thanks for supporting us, truly.
I remind you that if you have any ideas, suggestions, tips or good critics to give, I will be happy to hear them and even give you feedback and credits for it. Also, flames will be accepted for sure but if I see it's repeated abusively and even has become annoying and assaulting, that option will be suspended for a while. Thanks for you understanding.
I don't own anything.
By the way, next chapter, I will start writing in P.O.V.'s. I find it less complicated since everyone has a different point of view on Courtney's wedding.
If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you had of this life to hang on,
Well, everybody hurts sometimes.
~R.E.M., 'Everybody Hurts'
~~~~~I Don't Have To Believe You~~~~~
Days Are Long, Nights Are Way Worse
Her third midnight blue suitcase packed carefully but hurriedly, the streaked haired young lady sat on the living room black leather couch, her long pale legs crossed and waiting for her not so clever boyfriend to join her. For the hundredth time, she sighed and started to get impatient, waiting for the departure that was planned more than an hour ago. She could have wondered why her boyfriend was taking so much time getting ready to leave for a few weeks, even if it was so many times, but knowing Duncan, it was better she didn't know.
Gwen stayed there, drumming her fingers against the arm of the chair and wondering why she was doing all of this. Trent was her friend, maybe the only real true friend she ever had beside LeShawna but attending to his wedding's preparation and the wedding itself was kind of making her feel uncomfortable. She was happy for him, even if she hated the girl his heart had chosen, but that was weird to even imagine that a few years ago, at Courtney's place was her. Her. And today it as well could have been her sleeping next to him at night…
The goth chased away those stormy thoughts when Duncan finally decided to show up.
"It's about time!" She exclaimed, still wondering what she had been waiting for.
"Sorry, I just had to fix some last minutes details, but now we can go."The punk confirmed, taking a few of her suitcases to take them to the car.
She frowned, a question popping in her mind. He was too busy trying to pull her heavy luggage throughout the apartment to even notice the concerned stare appearing on her purposely pale face.
"Why are we doing this?"
"Doing what?"He let out a grunt, obviously giving efforts.
"This. Going to that wedding, living at their places temporarily, giving a damn about that stupid thing… Usually, you wouldn't even bother trying to get to something involving 'forever and always' words."
"Because… Trent and Courtney are our friends."
"Courtney isn't mine," She said stubbornly, grabbing one of her suitcases and by the same occasion helping her useful boyfriend.
"So isn't Trent to me. But he is your friend, as Courtney is mine, and as far as I can remember you always said we have to be here for our friends."
She sighed, defeated. "Yeah, you're right. I just don't think we will have enough intimacy, you know."Gwen blinked, trying to make him figure out what she meant.
Unthankfully, the usually really quick and sly guy he always had been didn't get it, which truly surprised her. That wasn't a valid reason to start panicking, though it was a disappointment to her.
They headed to the car parked outside the building, not adding anything else and secretly stressing for that upcoming meeting. That encounter, more especially that reunion, disturbed them to the bones but they knew they would never say anything to anyone about it. What they knew for sure was that day would be long, extremely uselessly long.
-/-/-/-/-/-
Holding an opened wedding gown catalogue into her hands, Courtney plopped down onto a sofa, flipping through the pages. She sighed; it was so incredible for her to believe that she was going to get married in a few months. She, the girl who used not to believe and love and its following cheesiness, was going to pronounce the 'I do' words in not so long on the possible best day of her life. Courtney so often tended to get insecure with men in the past that she didn't even think possible to give a guy like Trent her heart so officially, and was it normal she found it not so scary after all? What was sure; Trent was nuts about her, and he would never give her up for another skank. He was faithful, not as some delinquent.
As her train of thoughts went on, a pair of hands covered her eyes by behind her, catching her off guard. She smiled, knowing who it was. Trent bent over, whispering softly in her ear, "So, how's my fiancée going?"
"Nicer and nicer with time now you're here."The Courtney she had been a few years ago would have sighed deeply at the clichéd answer the new one just gave. The guitar player grinned anyway.
"So… Duncan and Gwen are coming today, are they?" He verified, managing to keep his content expression on though his teeth were gritted of the upcoming awkwardness.
"Yes, they are. I really missed them,"
"Me too."
Courtney turned her attention back to the wedding book she had in hands, by the same occasion getting Trent's glare on it, which was a not really subtle way to change subject.
"What's this?" He inquired again, which was stupid since it was clearly a catalogue.
"For the wedding. I'm looking for the perfect dress,"
"You'll be perfect whatever you wear."
Her cheeks went red to those sweet words. Stubborn as she was, that wasn't enough to make her back down on her quest.
"Don't be silly. I have to be blissful, flawlessly blissful. Or else I'll put you to shame in front of the whole national television," The prep sighed, thinking of the herd of paparazzi that would be present at the event.
"I wouldn't be ashamed even if you wear a clown wig."He countered.
"Wanna bet on it?"
A sudden flash went to the musician's head. An idea, more precisely. Courtney never had self-esteem issues as far as he could remember, and he knew she maybe was the best thing that happened to him in the past five years, possibly in his whole 21 year old life existence, and his future wouldn't be worth anything if it wasn't passed with her by his side. At least, that's what he thought. Despite his little hesitation, Trent knew exactly what it took to make the mocha skinned woman feel beautiful.
His lips moved to the crook of her neck, putting a small fairytale-ish kiss on it. Courtney's head leaned back, giving him the signal to continue his treatment. Trent trailed kisses from her collarbone to her jawline, gaining pleased moans from his fiancée. He moved closer to her but finally decided to jump over the edge of the sofa and sit on it next to her.
She didn't wait. The prep pulled him towards her, crushing her lips hard against his. Trent, hypnotized by the boldness of his girlfriend, wrapped his arms around her hips and let her drop her body on his, laying in his strong arms.
Courtney's tongue went out her mouth and started licking Trent's lips for entrance, which was gratefully accepted. The way the former C.I.T. was controlling his gestures and driving him crazy was truly surprising the raven haired boy. He knew, sometimes in TDI and TDA, he had witnessed she and Duncan making out crazily and, although he liked Gwen, he often happened to wonder how Courtney kissed since the punk was always asking for more even when they were breaking up again and again. Now knowing what he had missed for so many years before, Trent couldn't get his lips off hers when they were making out. It was hard to figure out later that that girl had been class president…
His hands ran on her shirt and were near the hem but were unluckily interrupted by a few coughs. Those weren't done by Courtney since her lips were stick on his, so those could only be…
Courtney quickly got off her boyfriend, her eyes wide and her face red of embarrassment. Staring ahead, she saw along with Trent two silhouettes standing in front of them, one of them gaping.
Courtney smoothed her messy hair, trying to avoid Gwen and Duncan's surprised glares and readying herself to speak though she clearly didn't know what to say in that situation.
"H-Hey guys," Gwen started, breaking the ice and giving the brown haired female the time to get off that sensual position she was forming with the musician.
"Hey. How was the ride?"Courtney continued, walking to her longtime frienemy and catching her in a fake and awkward embrace.
"The door was open. Sorry if we interrupted your activities," Duncan mumbled, which was heard as by his girlfriend than by his ex-girlfriend. One flushed ashamedly as the other elbowed him shamelessly. If they weren't in a little group, the goth would have certainly targeted lower.
Courtney managed to smile falsely, feeling guilty about their interrupted makeout session.
"Hm, Trent honey," She started, unconsciously making Duncan jealous by calling Trent 'honey'. "Would you help Duncan unpack their car while I show Gwen their room?"
The hazel eyed man nodded before getting off the couch, glancing at Gwen for a second who returned a smile sheepishly and walking out the house. Courtney, being the nice girl she usually was, waited for the guys to be completely out before gesturing the goth to go up the stairs. She followed her, her stilettos clacking against the wooden floor.
On her way behind, Gwen looked at the details of the couple's two story house. She could see every part of Courtney and Trent reflecting on their propriety's walls as she walked further. From Courtney's classiness to Trent's love for music, everything was there to please both of them. Art pieces representing music, a piano in the living room, walls painted neutral and homey colors and a violin painted on a canvas were the things perfectly showing what they had in common, and what proved those two belonged together. Perhaps even more than Gwen and Trent did.
The blue haired young woman wouldn't admit it but she kind of felt jealous of Courtney. She lived love with a capital L with her ex-boyfriend and what she was sharing with Duncan was far from a fairytale love story. Trent was her best friend, and she was happy he had found love even if it was in Courtney, but it was hard to her to believe he wouldn't be single officially when he would give Courtney the ring. And Duncan was her Romeo according to the story. She loved Duncan of her all heart but, what if that foreseen ending wasn't actually the one she expected?
"Here we are," Courtney's slightly huffy voice broke in, causing Gwen to figure out she was on already in front the guest's room. Gwen took a look at the room, which was large and giving a breath taking magnificent view on the city since the house was situated on a hill. Gwen smiled, charmed by the landscape.
"Wow, Courtney, that's… That's wonderful."
"Well, don't get used to it."
At those words, Gwen tilted her head to the back, meeting the prep's narrowed eyes. Courtney stepped a few times further, trying and not hiding it to intimidate Duncan's girlfriend.
"Listen, I know you and Duncan are now a solid item and I ought to say I don't care," She started, her onyx glare steady on Gwen. "But what I do care about is your relationship with Trent. He's now my fiancé and, as you surely know, I don't like you."
"I wouldn't dare differing." Gwen slightly joked, making the prep's glare harder and huffier on her.
"You don't want me to marry Trent, I can see it in your glare. Unfortunately for you, I will. So honey, let's make a deal," Courtney put her hands on her hips, forcing her fake friend to sit on the bed and look up at her. "If you try to ruin the wedding because of your shallow selfishness, I'll tell Duncan about your little secret."
Gwen's eyes widened. She clearly knew that if Duncan came to know what Courtney was threatening her to tell, her whole relationship with him would be screwed. And he would probably not want to see her again for the rest of his life. She spoke up, trying to save herself from it.
"Ah come on Court, you're being paranoid. I don't have any more feelings for Trent,"
"Stop lying you freaking slut!" Courtney snapped, pissed of her opponent's answer. "We both know the deal. I love Trent dearly, and we both know that's not the same thing for you and Duncan. But I don't think Duncan wants to know it…"
"Okay fine," Gwen gave up, feeling helpless about her situation and shameful about how weak she seemed in front of Courtney's blackmail. "What do you want from me?"
The brown haired woman smirked but didn't say anything. She just walked out the room and toward the stairwell, leaving a speechless Gwen.
The goth couldn't fight back this time. She was trapped.
The weeks left before the wedding would be long. As days as nights.
A/n: What is Gwen's dirty secret?
How does Courtney know?
Why shouldn't Duncan know?
Will I get more than six reviews?
All this answered next time.
Review?