Love Lost

eLeVeN

"Duncan, I can't calm her down," Owen says to the former delinquent. His dark green eyes are pleading with the other's teal eyes to handle the trembling redhead in a fetal position on the recliner.

"How the fuck would I know what to do with her?"

"Gwen left for a walk by herself." Courtney exasperates, interrupting the two.

"Seriously?" Duncan asks.  "Does she think this is another escaped psycho killer with a chainsaw and a hook situation?"

"Duncan, that's not funny. Trent hasn't heard from her in hours."

"I'm just saying," he shrugs.  "Girl's got a death wish."

Courtney rolls her eyes.  "No, she doesn't."  The woman walks over to Izzy, who's rocking back and forth in the recliner.  She places a hand on her leg.  "Do you need anything, Izzy?"

Izzy looks up at her briefly before reverting back to hugging herself.  All she manages to cry out is, "Noah!"

Owen shakes his head.  "She's not taking it very well.  He was her best friend."

"He was your best friend, too, Owen." Courtney walks away from Izzy and places a hand on his shoulder.  Unlike Duncan, she's actually trying to comfort people.

Owen looks down at the ground.  "Yeah.  It's hard."  His whole body starts to tremble; he's sobbing uncontrollably. 

"Great, now we're babysitting two emotionally unstable lunatics." Duncan says, throwing his hands up.  He joins Owen on the couch and turns the television on.  The last channel to be on was the news, and, before he can change it, the headline reads:

This just in.  Former Total Drama contestant, Gwen Stevensons, was found dead in an alleyway this evening.

Owen stands up so fast that the ground shakes. "What!" he exclaims.  Duncan stares at the television in disbelief.  Heather might be onto something.  His hands are shaking causing the remote to slip out onto the floor with a thud. 

Courtney glares at him, her onyx eyes welling up with tears.  Her voice cracks when she asks, "Do you think you're funny now, Duncan?"