Growing Pains

Chapter Forty

Trent

Once we got back to the cabin, we didn't stay up talking for long. The group seemed tired and with the lingering stares Duncan and Courtney kept sharing it started to get a little uncomfortable.

It was strange seeing them together. She was so good and he was, well, a delinquent. So seeing them hold hands and shoot each other heated glances, it was odd. But, also it seemed right. She brought out the best in him and he mellowed her out.

"Well, I'm gonna head upstairs," Bridgette said with a big yawn attached to the end of her statement. She had always been the first to go to sleep, and it seemed that tonight was no different.

"Boo, you're no fun," Gwen teased her as she poked her with her foot. We were all chilling in the living room, some on the couch or the floor. I was happy I reserved the big brown leather recliner that gave me a perfect spot near the now dying fireplace.

Bridgette swatted her foot away with a roll of her eyes as she got off the couch, "Sorry, not all of us stay up til five am." Gwen stuck her tongue out in retaliation but did not move from her leisurely pose.

Courtney stood up from her spot on the floor, "I think I'll head up too." I watched as she gave Duncan as small smile, which he returned, before heading up. DJ started laughing, earning a pointed glare and the middle finger from the green-haired delinquent.

Soon the rest of the gang started to head to their rooms, leaving me all alone. Well, not entirely alone. I was actually just left alone with Gwen.

She gave me a meek smile. "Hey," she said with that small smile. It relaxed some of the tension that was already starting to build, which I was very thankful for.

"Hey," I responded, not sure of what else to say.

"So... now what?" She asked as she adjusted her sitting arrangement so that she was propped up on her elbows.

"Well," I took a deep breath, "I owe you an explanation." She nodded her head in silence as if she was waiting for me to talk. So I did. I told her everything, not sparing a single detail.

She sat there and listened to it all, not interrupting once, but I did note the smile she gave me when I told her about the album—it made me happy for a stupid selfish moment. She didn't even interrupt when I told her about how Heather blackmailed me. Although, I watched her face grow calm with quiet rage—a positive in a strange way.

After I told her the whole story, she sat there in silence for a long breath—one that made me fidget in anticipation. She finally said, "Wow." Silence fell again and I wasn't sure if I should've been pleased or worried by her reaction, so I said nothing.

She turned and looked at me, silver lining her eyes, as she whispered, "Congratulations, Trent. You deserve it."

"Thank you," I said in response, knowing no other words would truly get across my gratitude. I swallowed before adding on, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. It was stupid of me."

She silenced me with a wave of her hand, "It's fine. I understand why you did what you did." She paused, chuckling, before tacking on, "Heather's such a bitch." I laughed at that, the first real laugh I had felt in a while.

Silence fell once more. There was a question I so desperately wanted to ask, but fear was keeping me mute. I finally took a deep breath and asked, "So where does that leave us?"

"Well," she said, rising from the couch. "I'm not sure," she muttered as she walked over to me. She tentatively sat down in my lap, her warmth and smell of vanilla kissing my face. She twisted her arms around my neck as she looked up at me with such peace and joy. "But, I think its a good place."

She leaned in and kissed me. It was soft and quiet. It was a kiss filled with thousands of apologies from both of our sides. It was felt like finally coming home. It was beautiful and breathtaking and even when she pulled back for a moment I found myself closing the gap to draw her back in.

I finally pulled away to see her lips were slightly swollen and her eyes were bright with foggy lust.

I lifted my hand, brushing a lock of her hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear. "I am so completely in love with you, Gwen," I breathed her name like it was a prayer. Her eyes lined with those silvery tears once more as she leaned in and kissed me.

There was more passion behind this kiss. She kneaded her hands into my hair, making me groan. I licked her bottom lip before feeling her mouth widen. She tasted of grape soda and mint gum—a strangely pleasant mixture.

Suddenly, her hands were tugging at the bottom of my shirt and my own hands were under her's, fiddling with the clasp of her bra. She moaned as I dragged my cold fingers down the bridge of her spine, and I smiled against her lips as I felt her shiver.

I couldn't get enough of her. I felt this hunger building in my chest, and at this moment, I wanted to pick her up and carry upstairs, to a much more private location.

And I probably would've, if Duncan didn't let out a low whistle before saying, "Looks like someone's getting laid." Gwen leaped off of me as if she had been burned, leaving my arms feeling empty and cold.

She shot a glare at Duncan as she snarled, "Funny." He lifted his hands in surrender as he walked down the staircase.

"Don't get snappy at me, pasty. I was just coming downstairs for a midnight beer. I didn't plan on seeing you two sucking face," He teased with his classic smirk. Gwen smoothed out her hair, muttering something too low for me to hear, but I was certain it wasn't nice.

"Might as well get a two beers," I threw out to get under Duncan's skin.

He crossed his arms, stopping behind the leather couch, with a raised brow. "And why's that?"

"Well, I'm assuming Courtney's gonna be your drinking buddy for the night, yeah?" I said with that same teasing tone he threw at Gwen, making sure he heard the innuendo loud and clear.

He rolled his eyes, but even under the dim light I could see his face turn red. "Whatever," he muttered before continuing his path to the kitchen. Gwen shot me a look over her shoulder that said, really? But she couldn't hide the slight amusement that danced her eyes.

Gwen fidgeted as she fixed her wrinkled shirt and mussed hair—I did the same—as she waited for Duncan to disappear back upstairs. He returned from the kitchen with one beer in hand, which he waved while giving me a pointed look—I merely chuckled at that—and quickly headed up the stairs. We watched as he darted into his room, and then silence fell.

Gwen gave me a small smile. "I think I'm gonna go to bed, but I'm really glad we talked."

"Me too."

She headed for the stairs, but then she paused, just before the first step. She turned around, "And Trent?" I locked eyes with her in answer. "I love you too."

The words rang in my ears for the rest of the night.