Bittersweet Reunions

36-year-old Trent McCord left his work for the day, taking another day in his work. He didn't expect work to be so much work, he had experience before, but at least he could live up to the expectations. He was now going to part two of his way home after leaving the building.

He had to go to the public elementary school now and pick someone up, then take the bus home and he could relax for a few hours. After Trent left work, he smiled to his co-workers and made his way to the school and waited where he wouldn't be 'trampled' by the various kids who were anxious and eager to get home after a long day at school.

The bell rang as Trent walked down the sidewalk to the school and sure enough, the kids were running and cheering about being out of school for the day. Trent smiled to them as they rushed off and he looked to see the girl he was looking for. The little girl with her father's raven hair and emerald eyes like her mother in contrast to her father's forest green eyes. He looked among the kids and smiled as he saw the girl and she looked eager to get home.

"Daddy!"

"Hey, sweetie!" Trent smiled as he picked up his daughter and hugged her. "Ready to go home?"

"Uh-huh..." the girl nodded as she was set back down on the ground and they linked hands to get them home.

Trent held his daughter's hand and walked down the street with her as she told him excitedly about her day like every day. He remembered those days when he was often excited to get to school. Trent was always a good student, but even he wanted a day-off once in a while. The two kept walking until they came to the bus bench, but surprisingly today, there was somebody else sitting inside of it.

Trent looked to see who it was before he sat down with his daughter. He couldn't believe his eyes. It had been almost 15 years since he saw that face, that woman, that ivory complexion with greenish-bluish gothic tint. "Gwen?"

The woman turned, revealing that it was her, only all grown up and wore more dark clothing, but this time she had pearl earrings. Other than that, it looked just like Gwen did when they first met on Total Drama Island. "Trent...?" she recognized him instantly just as well as he did to her.

This was a surprising moment. Gwen and Trent were becoming a thing back in the day, but soon Heather had betrayed their relationship and Gwen had moved on to someone else. She assumed maybe Trent did too since he saw her with a little girl. The little girl, of course, did not understand what was happening, but she didn't speak unless spoken to since Gwen was a stranger to her.

"Um... H-How have you been?" Trent asked, making conversation with the loner goth woman.

"Um... Great... Great..." Gwen felt just as awkward, if not more. "I wasn't aware you lived around here."

"Oh, I've lived here for about nine years now..." Trent gave a small chuckle, he had always been fascinated with the number nine.

"I see... I came to town for jury duty..."

"Yikes..."

"Tell me about it..." Gwen noticed the little girl and put on her best friendly face. "Uh... Hello there... What's your name?"

The girl looked up to Trent quietly, who then nodded to her. "Umm... Denise..."

"Denise, that's such a lovely name..." Gwen had a small smile to the little girl, then looked up to Trent. "I guess she's your... Uhh..."

"Daughter..." Trent said for her. "Yeah... She'll be six in about a week."

Denise smiled, excited for her birthday like many children in her age group. She then looked to the purple flower she had collected while walking with her dad and gave it to Gwen. "Here, Miss..."