Growing Pains

Chapter Two

Gwen

I sat down at the table with a thud, getting the attention of my bantering friends. "Guess what, you guys?" They looked at me, each wearing their version of curiosity on their faces, "Mrs. Pike is letting me be her TA next semester."

I had been begging my art teacher, Mrs. Pike, to let me assist in her in Art 4. It was her most advanced art class and juniors weren't allowed to take it, but I wanted to take it a semester early so I could learn even more.

Bridgette gasped, "Awe, Gwenners! I'm so proud of you!"

"Yeah, Gwenners," Duncan added in a dry voice, emphasizing my annoying nickname only Bridgette and my mother called me.

Courtney smacked his arm, and turned to me with a dazzling smile, "When did she tell you?"

"She pulled me aside after third." Third period was right before lunch, which was the only reason why I waited to tell them now. If I had found out any sooner, I would have texted them in a heartbeat.

Trent kissed me on the cheek, making me smile, "You deserve it."

I smiled at him, giving him a quick peck on the lips. "Thanks," I whispered. He pressed his forehead to mine with a bright smile, making his green eyes look all the more intense.

Was it possible to die for happiness? At this moment I believed so.

"Get a room," Duncan whined as he mockingly gagged. I looked away from Trent to glare at the annoying boy.

"Duncan," Courtney chided, "You still haven't even congratulated her."

He rolled his eyes at her, but smirked at me with genuine warmth in his eyes, "Congrats, pasty." I shook my head at him with a laugh. In small moments like that I remember why I liked him.

I thought he was probably one of the best-looking guys at school when I was a freshman. He seemed cool and edgy, and I wanted a guy who was an adventure from the beginning to the end. But he didn't really like me. He liked the idea of me, but not me. And I honestly felt the same.

When Trent danced with me at homecoming last year, that's when I figured out the difference between what was real and imaginary. Trent was a real love that would always be there for me, and Duncan was well... Duncan.

"Hey, babe," a guy said as he sat down at our table. I had no idea who this guy even was, and I was fairly sure no one here was his babe.

I mouthed to Courtney, "Who is he?" She jerked her head subtly to her right, cuing he belonged to the blonde sitting next to her.

So, this was Bridgette's thing of the week. We never judged her for her ever-changing love interests, but we did wonder about it every so often. I just wanted to make sure she was being safe and smart, with her heart and her body. She reassured me that she was fine, but somehow, I wasn't so sure.

Bridgette was a child of recent divorce, and not just any divorce, but a nasty one. Her mother cheated on her dad with one of his golf friends, and all hell broke loose. Her parents fought viciously over every single thing they owned, including Bridgette and her brother, Brody.

At some point in time, she started dating. At first, I think it was just some fun, a nice distraction. But now, it became like an addiction. She was constantly trying out new boyfriends like trying on clothes, always ending their relationship for some minuscule reason.