A/N: Thank you my lovely darlings for all of your kind words! From now on I shall be randomly selecting one commenter for a chapter dedication! Be sure to leave a comment so that you have a chance to be picked!!
This chapter is dedicated to: JLiz32
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Duncan POV
I held her close, the pressure of her small frame fitting comfortably against me as she tucked her face into the crook of my neck, chuckling happily. I couldn't believe it..Gwen. She was here! I wouldn't believe it if it weren't for the tickle of her breath against my skin followed by the obnoxious choppy sound of her laugh that left no room for doubt that yes this was real. Gwen was here, no longer just a ghost from memories so foggy they could easily be mistaken for dreams. This was Gwen, live and in the flesh. I could practically hear my heart racing in my chest.
I laughed along with her, feeling a kind of dull loss when we stepped away from each other, the small twinge quickly washed away as I took the chance to really look at her. She'd really grown up in the ten years (fuck has it really been that long?) since I'd last seen her.
I took a second, looking her over, taking in all the changes, big and small as far as the eye I could see. She was pale, the one thing about her it seemed, that had managed to stay the same. Her hair was still thick as ever but now parts of it were dyed blue and tied back in a lazy ponytail, her lips were painted with black, along with her eyes. I nodded approvingly, she had a killer body, curves in all the right places...
I cleared my throat, bringing a hand up to scratch at the back of my neck before stuffing the other one in my pocket, desperately abandoning that train of thought before it led me somewhere dangerous.
"So you're like..wow.." I said lamely, but really what the hell else was I supposed to say? What exactly do you say to your childhood best friend that you haven't seen since you were both just rugrats, and said friend just so happened to grow up and get hot?!
Luckily for me, she just laughed, tucking her hair behind her left ear, the nervous act causing me to slip a warm smile.
That, I remembered.
"You're not too horrible yourself." she jabbed, looking up at me in a way that had my heart racing all over again. I opened my mouth to talk, taking a step forward when I felt an arm wrap around my waist.
"Duncan where have you been didn't you get my messages-?" Courtney said, stopping as she noticed Gwen, a look of curiosity on her face.
"Who are you?" she asked, stepping in front of me, obviously irked that she had no idea who this 'stranger' was. As class president and self proclaimed future valedictorian, she prided herself in knowing at least the first names of everyone in the entire school.
Gwen smiled anxiously at her and I mentally added her shyness to the list of things that obviously hadn't changed. When we were kids, Gwen could never meet someone new without tugging on whatever article of clothing she was wearing, tremblingly nervous until she could determine whether or not the person liked her. Usually they did, but I had always been there to make sure of that; compared to me, Gwen was a dream.
I shifted on my feet, my fingers fidgeting in my pocket as I watched the admittedly awkward encounter unfold. It was weird. I knew Courtney, and I knew that even if she didn't like Gwen, she would still pretend to. If only in order to maintain her 'kind and compassionate' reputation. But, still, even knowing that, I was feeling a bit antsy just leaving Gwen to handle her anxiety on her own. But that was crazy. Gwen was at least seventeen by now, I'm sure she's probably worked out some sort of system to deal with it on her own.
"My name's Gwen." she smiled, the small curl of her lips looking forced and uncomfortable as Courtney's hands raised to her hips, her gaze calculating as she continued to scrutinize her.
"You didn't used to go here did you?" Courtney asked nosily, a dust of pink showing up on Gwen's cheeks at the question.
"Uh-well, no." Gwen answered, her hands tugging and pulling on each other as she squirmed and well old habits die hard I guess because I couldn't take this anymore.
"Courtney," I said, swooping around my nosy girlfriend to stand in front of Gwen before she could really start in on her questions.
"This is Gwen." I said, wrapping a protective arm around her, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly, "Gwen, this is Courtney," I said, "And yes, she is always this annoyingly abrasive." I tacked on, smirking at the small smile that began to twitch at the corner of her lips.
"Hey!" Courtney shrieked indignantly, getting ready to start in on one of her infamous lectures before taking notice of my arm.
"Uhm okay am I missing something here?" she asked, eyeing the two of us distrustfully, "How exactly do you two know each other?"
I smiled at that, "Gwen's an old friend," I answered, the explanation feeling strangely lacking. Gwen wasn't just an old friend. But I didn't know any other description that would give it much more meaning.
Gwen nodded in confirmation, "Yeah, our moms were bestfriends since like, kindergarten." she elaborated, coming out of her shell a little bit.
Courtney's eyes widened a bit, her face going lax, "You-you knew Duncan's mom?" she asked and I tensed. For the entirety of our three year relationship Courtney has still, never stopped bugging me about my mom. Constantly trying to get me to open up and cry on her shoulder, as if one good long whining session could be the key to transforming me into her perfect boyfriend. Like that'll ever happen!
Gwen frowned, looking at Courtney quizzically, "Uh, yeah sure, of course." she replied, smiling fondly "She was like a second mom to me."
I interrupted them then, not wanting to risk the possibility of Courtney finding anything out or else I'd never live it down.
"Yeah me and Gwen go way back." I said, shooting Courtney a look that clearly spelled trouble if she were to even think about hounding Gwen about my mom. I nodded my head, satisfied when she literally bit her lip to restrain herself.
I turned to Gwen, taking a piece of paper I hadn't noticed her take out of her bag, "What's this?" I asked rhetorically, "Your class schedule?"
She nodded.
I took a minute to scan it over, a part of me hoping to have a majority or at least a single one of our classes together..
P1 - French 4 /Madame Delphine
P2- world literature /Mr. Strickland
P3- calculus / Mrs. Howard
P4-art 2 / Ms. Dana
P5-AP chemistry /Mr. Edwards
P6- Tech /Mrs. Lainee
P7-geography /Prof. WilsonI frowned slightly, we only had one class together, art. Ah well, at least it was a class where we'd be able to talk and hang out; and then lunch was right after! I was about to return the paper when it was snatched from my fingers by Courtney, a bright smile blossoming on her face that made my stomach uneasy.
"You have the same first and fifth periods as I do!" she exclaimed to Gwen, my face paling, the bell ringing as if on cue. Courtney looped her arm through Gwen's, taking off. Gwen turned around, shooting me a look of terrified confusion as Courtney ran, throwing a half assed, 'See ya Duncan!' over her shoulder as she dragged poor Gwen along behind her.
I groaned, annoyed at the crowd of people that were now making their way to the double doors of the school, cursing when I remembered my abandoned backpack.I shook my head as I felt a droplet hit the bridge of my nose, looking around nauseated and scandalized as I tried to locate whoever the hell just spit on me when another one hit the top of my head. I looked up, another few droplets landing on my cheeks, just enough warning for me to run and duck under the awning of the school as it started to pour.
I sighed, well this was just great!
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A/N: Well my darlings, I hope you enjoyed! Much love! xxx
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Accidentally in Love (A Gwuncan love story)
Fanfiction"Just because it was an accident, doesn't mean it wasn't meant to be." Gwen and Duncan were childhood friends, their moms were close growing up but life got in the way and the two haven't seen each other in years. First day senior year makes for a...