Sk8er Boi: A Duncney Drama

The Middle From The Beginning

Fast forward a couple years...

Coming back to school after three months of summer always felt weird, but Courtney was determined to make the most of the first day of eighth grade.  She had woken up two hours earlier than she usually did just to make sure that she had enough time to get ready and check off her Back-To-School list.  The final step was to make sure she had everything she needed in her backpack ready to go. Her parents had given her their credit card to go shopping for school supplies with Bridgette and her mom.  Even at 13, they knew she was responsible enough to handle it, and they trusted Bridgette's mom to oversee the purchases since they couldn't spare the time themselves. Courtney and Bridgette had become best friends in sixth grade when they bonded over hating all of the other girls at school. It also helped that she was friends with Geoff, who was best friends with Duncan, even though Courtney liked to pretend Duncan wasn't her best and only friend at the time.

When she knew everything was how it needed to be, (she liked to double check all of her boxes), she slung her hefty backpack over her shoulder and walked out the door.

As she was getting herself situated in the desk at the front left corner of the room since she always preferred to sit up front and center, something unexpected happened.  A new student walked in.  A new girl student.  She was dressed head to toe in black and navy blue, her hair chopped short and died so black it shone blue when it picked up the light just right.  She had bangs that hung into her dark eyeliner rimmed eyes.  She looked disturbing.  No, she looked disturbingly familiar.  Wait...that can't be-

Courtney's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when the voice beside her asked incredulously, "Gwen?!"

The girl laughed nervously as she sat by Courtney's best friend.  "Hey, Bridgette." It wasn't a new student at all; it was Gwen, and she was completely different.

Heather scoffed at the gesture and leaned over to the boy in the seat beside her, Justin Reid, and said, "See, this is what I was talking about. Over the summer, she went fucking crazy. Lindsay and I have avoided her ever since." Justin shook his head in disbelief. Gwen scowled. Heather continued. "I hope she likes her new life...as a loser freak."

Duncan leaned forward from his seat behind Courtney, but his attention was on Gwen. "Hey, I think it's an improvement. Welcome to the club of 'loser freaks.'"

Gwen laughed, much less nervously this time. "Thanks, Duncan, I appreciate it." The two high-fived and started talking about horror movies.

Courtney shifted uncomfortably in her seat and poked Bridgette on the shoulder. "You're not at all put off by this?"

Bridgette shrugged. "Eh, I mean, it's not so different from how Heather treated us way back when."

"I guess," Courtney twiddled her thumbs. "It's just a lot, ya know?"

"I think it's kinda cool," giggled Bridgette. Courtney let out a sigh. Well, this school year is off to an interesting start...

~

The month was February. Courtney had survived the school year thus far. Gwen entered their friend group, much to her chagrin, but Courtney was trying. She didn't understand why Gwen changed everything about herself, but she could understand why she wanted nothing to do with Heather anymore. With February, though, came the Valentine Dance, which would be everyone's first ever school dance. They were eighth graders. They were all grown up.

Courtney and Gwen were sitting in awkward silence on Bridgette's bed.

"Guys," Bridgette said, finally back from the kitchen. She set down the plate of nachos. Homemade guacamole and salsa were in bowls on the serving tray. Bridgette's family made everything from scratch. Well, except the chips. She popped one into her mouth. "Guess what," she said with her mouth full.