Courtney munched on a peanut butter and pineapple sandwich—a new pregnancy craving—as she looked through Facebook. She hadn't been on in a while because she had gotten too caught up in political debates. Courtney was no coward. She'd rather argue in real life.

She was mostly pretty lonely. Her parents hadn't spoken to her since they found out about her pregnancy, and, of course, Duncan wasn't in the picture besides doctor's appointments. Courtney knew it was partially her fault—she told him she didn't want him around—but after the ultrasound appointment a few days ago, she changed her mind. Maybe they could meet once a week for breakfast or take a walk. And Duncan could protect her from any invasive paparazzi questions.

A red circle appeared at the top right corner of Courtney's notification center, cutting her fantasy short. She clicked on it, anticipating an arguer in the comments personally attacking her. Instead, Sierra's name and profile picture popped up.

Sierra: Hey, Courtney! I know it's been forever since we talked, but I want to pitch this idea to you!

So, I thought I'd interview all the original Total Drama contestants separately. It'll be like a "Where are they now?" Segment! How does that sound? I thought I'd ask you first (after Cody, of course) because I believe you have the best judgment out of all the contestants!😊

Courtney smiled pridefully after reading. "Of course I do," she flattered herself. She typed back: I'm not sure. I don't think any more popularity would benefit me right now.

Sierra: I totally understand!! But if you agree, there's money in it...

Courtney bit her lip. She needed money to pay off college debt. How much? She typed back.

Sierra: $5,000 :)

Courtney: Really?

Sierra: Yes, no joke. My blog is getting HUGE. I'm on my way to having my very own talk show!

This interview could help tremendously, Courtney thought. And all I have to do is answer a few questions. Ok, I'll do it! When do you want to meet up?

Sierra: About three weeks from now. Saturday, March 6th. 4:00 pm😉😘

Courtney: I will be there! Thank you so much, Sierra!

Sierra: Of course!😊

Courtney: See you then!!

Courtney took a deep breath. She hadn't been interviewed since she was eighteen after Total Drama World Tour. And that interview was a disaster. They'd asked her if she wanted to get revenge on Duncan for cheating on her. She refused to answer, so they kept bombarding her with questions about her past friendship with Gwen and if she felt like shaving off her head, setting her clothes on fire, etc.

Courtney had felt like doing all of those things before World Tour ended. She had changed her mind because she wanted to be the "bigger person." Plus, she had already embarrassed herself enough that season with her desperate attempts to infuriate Duncan by using Tyler and Alejandro.

This interview with Sierra would be her redemption. She'd make sure everyone knew she wasn't just a psycho A-type woman with a superiority complex. She was so much more now. She had learned so much since she grew up.

That night, Courtney fell asleep early after drinking a glass of ginger ale. That drink was one of the only remedies for her nausea. Anti-nausea medication had worked for the first few weeks but eventually stopped being effective.

A call from her parents woke her up precisely one minute after midnight. She groaned, considering putting them on mute and ignoring them for as long as she wanted. But she didn't want them to bombard her with calls for the next day or two, so she picked up. "Yes?"

"Courtney!" Angela snapped. "Care to explain what was in the news three—no, four days ago?!"

Courtney flinched. Fuck. Why hadn't she checked the news immediately after that doctor's appointment? It's not like she could do anything about it, but it would've at least prepared her for this outburst. "Mom, can we meet tomorrow and talk about this?" She asked.

"No!" Angela said. "I have been busy at work all day, and I've known this since the afternoon, so we'll talk right now. Out of all the men you could've had a child with... Courtney, what the hell were you thinking?!"

"It was a drunk mistake. I never wanted this to happen," Courtney rubbed her forehead.

A loud gasp escaped her mother's mouth. "Courtney LeeAnn Barlow! Who have you been hanging out with? It's that Heather girl, isn't it?! She dresses like a slut!"

"Mom, no!" Courtney retorted. "It's not Heather. Heather's been there for me through everything. She's not a bad influence." Ok, maybe not the best, but definitely not the worst, she thought.

"Well, I know it isn't like you to get drunk and let your criminal of an EX BOYFRIEND get you pregnant! And to think I was starting to warm up to the idea of you having a baby!"

"Why do you have to make a bigger deal out of this than the internet?!"

"Because you're my daughter! Something's changed, and I don't believe you when you say it isn't Heather. I've seen all of those photoshoots she does with those skimpy outfits on. She looks like a prostitute!"

"Mom, stop it!" Courtney demanded. "This isn't about Heather. No one influenced me to get pregnant by the guy I hate the most accidentally!"

"No, I'm talking about the drinking," said Angela. "You've never drunk alcohol like your peers in high school. You never even drank at all until you were twenty, and you were scared to do it in front of us! What happened to my innocent baby girl?"

Courtney's eyes watered. "Mom," She sniffled. "I'm already having a hard enough time as it is. Please don't make it worse."

"You did this to yourself by making a stupid decision to drink with your whore of a friend!"

"You won't even talk to me now!" Courtney yelled abruptly. "Just because I'm having a fucking baby! I'm not even going to be a mom! I've already told you: adoption!!" She slammed her fists on her mattress.

"And I don't care!" Angela replied. "Only sluts act like you did that night, Courtney."

"Oh, I'm a slut to you now, mom?" Tears streamed down Courtney's face.

"—You're acting like one, so yes."

"I make one huge mistake, and you... you act like I'm not worthy of being your daughter," she cried. "Y-you used to tell me that sex is written all over people's bodies, but you couldn't tell after I lost my virginity when I was seventeen!"

"Oh my god... you slept with that juvie reject back in high school?!" Angela said.

Courtney clenched her jaw. She felt powerful when she made her mother angry. "Yes, we did it so many times, and neither you nor dad even noticed!"

"Courtney—"

Courtney hung up on Angela, infuriated. She sobbed into her hands and kicked like a toddler throwing a tantrum. She half expected her mother to call back and yell at her even more, but nothing happened. Not even a text.

But that was somehow worse. Now Courtney knew Angela didn't care enough about their relationship to try and fix things. Maybe Angela was exhausted, but Courtney was more exhausted. She was tired of being talked down to whenever she made any mistake. And she was tired of the traits she inherited from her mom.

Another phone call took her out of her thoughts. Who the fuck is calling me this late? She uncovered her tear-stained face and looked at her screen.

Duncan.

Why in the world was Duncan calling? He had never called for the entire seven weeks of this pregnancy. It was always a text.

Courtney wiped her tears before she picked up. "What?" She croaked.

"Sorry, did I wake you up?" asked Duncan.

She sighed heavily. "No, you didn't."

"Ok, good. I was calling to ask if Sierra emailed you earlier?"

"Sierra?" Courtney was so caught up in the drama with her mom that she almost forgot. "Oh, yeah, Sierra. Yes, she emailed me earlier. Did she email you?"

"Yeah. Apparently, she wants to interview all the Total Drama contestants," Duncan said.

"Mhm. What did you say to her?"

"I said I'd do the interview because I wanna set things straight with the public after the article that came out the other day."

"Oh. You saw it too?" Replied Courtney. "My parents saw it. I never saw it because I stayed off the internet." "I wanna set things straight," Duncan's words echoed in her mind. She wondered what he meant by that. Was he going to trash-talk her during his segment and discuss why he'd never get back together with her? Would he lie and say that the baby isn't even his?

"And you?" Duncan asked, "Did you agree to it?"

"—Yes, I did. I really need that money for my future. It's a one-on-one interview, and I may have to answer some annoying questions, but at least I won't have to deal with everyone else since we'll all be separate."

"Yeah, that's a good thing."

"The only person I have to deal with is you, but it's only temporary," said Courtney.

Duncan laughed. "I could say the same to you, drama queen."

Courtney scoffed but cut her breath short. She didn't have the energy to argue with Duncan tonight. Angela had already drained the life out of her. "—Touché."

"What was that?" Duncan snickered. "I thought you never backed down."

"Well...first of all, it's late. Second, my mom called me and gave me a headache because she decided to yell at me tonight."

"What did she yell at you for?"

"What do you think, Duncan?!" Her voice quivered as she fought back more tears.

"—Ok, ok, I'm sorry," he said. Duncan remembered meeting Courtney's parents. They were more judgmental than Courtney herself, and that was saying something. He had never felt so uncomfortable in his life, but he had loved Courtney—or at least he thought he did. He definitely had stronger feelings for her than he did for Gwen.

Courtney made it hard. That was an understatement. It was almost impossible to be with her without at least one or two arguments a day. Duncan couldn't figure out why he put up with it because he refused to fully admit that he was madly, truly, and deeply in love with her.

For some time, Duncan had liked Courtney's uptight personality because it meant he could show her that life could be fun. And they had so much fun that year after Total Drama action. The matching tattoos, bungee jumping, adopting a raccoon, swimming, meeting each other's families, their first time... all of those moments had meant something to him. Courtney had even thrown away the list for a little while. Duncan really thought she was changing.

Courtney started uncontrollably crying over the phone. "I don't get why nothing I do is ever fucking good enough for her! I got into this stupid situation, I'm trying my best, and she still has the nerve to call me a slut!"

Duncan cringed. He knew exactly what it felt like to be insulted by his own parents. It was one of the worst feelings in the world, and it would never fully heal. "Courtney..." he began slowly, giving her a moment to settle her cries, "I don't think you're a slut. This was all just a dumb mistake, but we can still fix it."

"I know, but that's the point. Even when it's over, she'll still think of me the same."

"You know what my dad said to me over our only phone call while I was in juvie?"

"No," Courtney sloppily wiped her nose, reaching for tissues in the dark. "What did he say?"

Duncan took a deep breath. He had never repeated this out loud because just thinking of it made him feel worthless. But Courtney was someone who understood strict and mean parents. That fact made him feel safer. "He told me that—he told me I'd never amount to anything and that I shouldn't even try. But that didn't define me because I didn't let it. It wasn't the truth. And what your mom told you isn't the truth, either."

For a moment, Courtney was speechless. She knew his dad wasn't the best, but she had always thought he was just looking out for him. Your dad really said that to you?"

"Yeah, but it's been forever since I've talked to him. My parents divorced last year. It was actually a good thing," Duncan chuckled.

"I didn't know he was like that," Courtney whispered.

"Parents suck sometimes, but what can you do?"

"Not much," she frowned, laying back down. As she stared at the ceiling, she thought about what Duncan could've been going through while they were dating and never told her. It made her sick that she started mistreating him, too.

"But you can prove them wrong," he said. "You can make something out of yourself. And you're in law school, so I say that's a damn good start."

Courtney laughed. "I don't know. What if I fail? This pregnancy is making my life harder."

"I don't think you're going to fail," said Duncan. "You helped me pass Algebra one at the end of my junior year in high school, remember?"

"Ugh, yes," she half groaned, half giggled. "You were the most difficult student I ever had. You refused to listen."

"I think because I didn't want my know-it-all girlfriend telling me what to do," Duncan teased. "And I knew you were way smarter than me. I didn't want to admit it."

"Wow," Courtney giggled more. "I can't believe you're admitting that now. Finally."

"Hey, I'm not as stubborn as I used to be, princ—" Duncan stopped himself. His heart pounded in his throat. He swallowed it back down to his chest.

"So," Courtney began after the dead silence. "What should we do when we go to our next appointment in six to seven weeks?"

"I think it'll all die down by then," Duncan told her, still recovering from what he almost said.

"Yeah, but if someone sees us and takes a picture, the internet will explode again. Eventually, someone will find out the entire story, and our reputations will be ruined for good this time."

"Hey, we won't be ruined," said Duncan. "We just have to come up with some story. Something that won't attract as many bad rumors."

"Like what?" Courtney said. "How the hell are we going to make something acceptable out of our situation?!"

"I don't know. Maybe when the paparazzi show up, we can tell them we're—engaged or something?"

"Duncan, what makes you think they'll believe us? We don't have any rings! Plus, I don't wanna be engaged to you!"

"Believe me, I don't, either," Duncan said, although he felt slightly offended since they had a history. It was funny how two people could know so much about each other yet act like strangers one day. "But it'll just be when we're in public for appointments. It's not like we'll have to see each other all the time."

"True," agreed Courtney. "But I don't know if this will even work."

"We'll never know unless we try."

"I guess you're right. But if this doesn't work, I'm blaming you."

Duncan rolled his eyes. "Whatever. That's fine. You think it'll make your mom happier?"

"Maybe," Courtney shrugged. "But she'll know it's fake."

"But she'll be glad you have a good public reputation. Think how she thinks. The only reason she freaks out when you screw up is because it'll make her look bad. If it looks like we're in a stable relationship, she'll feel better at family gatherings because everyone will think her daughter's in a picture-perfect situation."

"Hmm," Courtney mumbled, "that's actually a pretty good point."

"Exactly," said Duncan. "And you and I can live peacefully for the rest of your pregnancy."

"Ok, fine. We can do it, but on one condition: when we pretend to break up, you won't answer any questions about me in future interviews."

"Of course. Not interested in doing that."

"I won't answer about you, either," Courtney said. "And our breakup cannot be dramatic. Nothing that would gather attention."

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Duncan!"

"I was kidding," Duncan chuckled. "After how our other three breakups went, the last thing I wanna do is make it dramatic."

"Three breakups? Jesus," Courtney laughed breathily. "Now I remember them. Dramatic. Every single one."

"We were something else as teenagers," Duncan laughed with her.

Courtney looked at her alarm clock. It was just past 12:30. "I've gotta get to sleep," she yawned. "I'll see you in seven weeks, I guess."

"Yep. Night, Court."

Courtney blinked after they hung up. The way he called her by her nickname so casually reminded her of being seventeen. Although Courtney didn't know it back then, compared to now, seventeen was one of the last times she should not have had to worry about adult responsibilities. She could've just let loose and had fun with Duncan like she wanted to deep down.

There were a few moments when Courtney let that repressed side of her show:
•stealing chef's food with Duncan at camp Wawanakwa
•sitting on her parents' rooftop with Duncan while she watched him drink illegally and NOT snitching on him
•riding with Duncan on his motorcycle against her parents' rules
•getting a tattoo with Duncan against her parents' rules
•letting Duncan go all the way with her—you guessed it, against her parents' rules

Courtney could've embraced these things while still entirely dependent on her parents. Instead of a euphoric feeling, she ended up feeling guilty and regretting everything because she lied to her parents. Duncan had tried to reassure her, but it only worked for so long before she'd have another breakdown.

Back then, none of Courtney's irrational fears—like getting pregnant in high school—came true. But the moment she relaxed on that fateful night at twenty-three, her life fell apart.

Her only hope now was that this "fake relationship" thing with Duncan would work.

*~*~*~*~*

Heather stepped into Flatter Allure Inc. in a red sequined cocktail dress and golden heels for the work party. Lately, she hadn't been wearing anything small or revealing because she didn't want anyone to see her body, but she felt comfortable wearing stuff like this in front of her coworkers since they seemed to love her body as she got smaller.

Amelia gasped when she saw her enter the main room. "Look at what our future boss is wearing!" The other women clapped and gathered around Heather.

"Girl, where did you get that dress?" Charlotte, the tallest model in the building, asked. Heather had always looked up to her—literally and figuratively. In Heather's eyes, Charlotte wore the best outfits and had the best body—no stretch marks or pimples.

"I got it when I went to Paris with Alejandro last year," Heather answered.

"Oh my god, you have the best boyfriend! And the fact that your dress is so small but still looks a little roomy on you makes me so jealous!" Charlotte beamed.

Heather looked down at her body. She could see it—all that weight loss. She knew she was incredibly skinny now, but she found more parts of her body that needed fixing. Heather couldn't stand the little amount of fat on her lower belly that she still had or her round cheeks. Those things drove her crazy every day. Sometimes, she wished she could cut the fat off with scissors.

"Where are the snacks?" Michelle groaned playfully. "I'm starving. I didn't eat dinner to save room for all this!"

"They'll be out in a minute," Charlotte told her. "I just talked with the catering group. I'll be right back." She walked into the tiny kitchen adjacent to the lobby, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Thank goodness! There better be good desserts!" Michelle plopped down on one of the cushy leather couches. "Heather! Come sit by me," she smiled.

Heather smiled back at Michelle and sat next to her. "Like my dress?" She asked her.

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. You look good in everything!"

"I know," said Amelia. "I just told her that the other week! It's so unfair!"

Heather rolled her eyes. "You guys all look fabulous. I'll make sure you have nothing but the best of the best when I start my new job here on Monday."

"This is so exciting!" Michelle squealed. "You have superior fashion sense, so I know we're in good hands."

Amelia placed her hands atop Heather's. "You were just meant to be in a leadership position."

"I know," Heather replied confidently. "I always knew. No one ever listened to me when I was a kid and a teenager, but here I am."

Charlotte came back out with a cocktail in her hand. The colors in the glass looked like the sunset—yellow, orange, and red with a purple hue. "I have the infamous Toronto cocktail for you. Since you're the main event tonight, you have the honor of taking the first drink."

Heather smiled, taking the glass from Charlotte. "I love these. They're so pretty."

"Me too. And before you drink, I put a little surprise in there," Charlotte smirked.

"What is it?" Heather raised an eyebrow, a lopsided grin on her face.

"If I told you, it would ruin the surprise!" Charlotte winked.

"Ok," Heather laughed, looking at the other models. Most of them were smiling cluelessly, so she figured it was just an extra kick of alcohol or another flavor.

As Heather drank, the catering group brought out more beverages, snacks, and desserts. Michelle was the first to fill her plate. Amelia dragged Heather to grab some food. Heather only took a couple of celery sticks and tomatoes. She sat away from her colleagues while they ate, but not far enough for them to notice. She finished quickly, thankful that no one questioned her.

"Ok, let's play never have I ever," Charlotte said. The other women giggled like high schoolers disobeying their parents for the first time.

"Oh my god, seriously?" Heather groaned.

"Come on, Heather," Michelle laughed, "I know you wanna play."

"Ok, ok, I'll do it. The questions better be good, though."

"I'll make sure they are," replied Charlotte. "I can start. Never have I ever slept with someone while drunk." The other women giggled.

Courtney would hate this game, Heather thought, cringing a little. "I have, but we were only a little tipsy." She blushed.

"Ooo, I didn't know you and Alejandro were that kind of couple," Amelia smirked.

Heather scoffed, becoming more flustered. "What do you mean by that kind of couple?"

"You know—the freaky kind."

"Oh my god, we are not getting into that." Heather's face was as red as a rose.

"I could get into my sex life," another model tittered.

"Ok, let's hear it, Lily," Charlotte said.

"So me and Austin..."

Everyone's voices started fading away for Heather. A wave of relaxation washed over her. She got up and poured herself a glass of wine. It had been a while since she felt this good. Her weeks were filled with stress about her job and her body. Heather downed another two glasses of wine.

"Do you want a shot?" Someone asked her.

Heather looked up and saw one of the catering women dressed in a dark blue skintight dress. She had her blonde hair tied up in a bun. "Depends," Heather laughed, "what's in the shot?"

"They're lemon vodka shots," she replied. "Requested by Charlotte."

Grinning widely, Heather took a drink. "I haven't had vodka in ages." She took a few more shots, chasing that euphoric feeling.

"Heather!" A pair of heels clanked against the floor.

Heather spun around, nearly falling. "Whoa, Amelia, hey! Are you here to drink with me?"

Amelia frowned. "No, I was just wondering where you were. We thought you got a drink or two and then went to the bathroom. Have you been up here the whole time?"

"Yeah," Heather answered nonchalantly. "I took a bunch of shots. I've never felt so amazing before!"

"—Ok. I just don't want you to drink too much." The dispassionate look on Heather's face concerned Amelia. She had never seen her like this before.

"Don't worry. I'm an expert at drinking. I know my limits." Heather snapped her head to her left when a loud ringing invaded her ears. "Ow, what is that?" She pointed in the direction it came from.

"What's what?" Amelia asked, though her voice was barely audible over the noise.

"You don't hear that ringing?"

"No, Heather." Amelia placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you ok?"

The ringing suddenly stopped, and Heather let out a breath. "...Yes, I'm fine. It stopped. That was weird," she laughed.

"Do you have tinnitus?"

"No, I don't think so." Heather clutched her chest when she felt a rapid pulse in her chest. "I-I need to sit down."

"What's wrong?" Amelia helped her walk back to her chair.

"I feel—I just feel weird."

"You feel weird how?"

"I don't know. I can't describe it," Heather said.

"Just sit down for a while, ok?" Amelia told her. "I'll get you a glass of water. You probably just drank too much." Heather slowly nodded because she didn't want to make the world spin faster than it already was for her.

"You ok, girl?" Asked Michelle. All of the other models looked at her.

Heather sunk back into her chair. "What are you guys staring at me for? Stop!"

"We're just worried about you. You look sick," Michelle said.

"I'm fine! Quit staring at me!" Heather snapped. A shuffling noise from behind her made her jump. When she looked over her shoulder, no one was there. "Are you guys pranking me or something? It's not funny!"

"Heather," Lily began, "We're not. We don't know what you're talking about."

"Seriously, stop!" Heather glared.

Amelia set a glass of water down on a coaster near Heather's spot. She gave a worried look to Michelle, who shrugged in response.

"I need more drinks," Heather hyperventilated.

Amelia stood up. "No, no, you're not allowed. You're already messed up enough. Just drink water."

"No!" Heather violently shook her head. "No, please, I don't feel good." She continued shaking her head, gluing her wide eyes to the floor. The floor looked stretched out, and Heather thought she'd fall into a deep, dark hole.

"Heath," Michelle began gently, "do you need to go home?"

Before Heather could respond, a tide of nausea hit her. Clutching her stomach, she sprinted towards the restroom. Heather nearly banged her head against the wall because she was so dizzy, and everything looked further away than it was. She hunched over the toilet and threw up nothing but bile. This was the first time she had puked on accident in months.

Heather retched until her body couldn't produce any more bile. Her head pounded from all around, and every beat made her wince. She tried to get up but fell to her knees and lay over the toilet as it flushed automatically.

"—Heather—" she heard someone's voice calling her between more rings in her ears. "Heather—!" The voice cried louder.

"Stop, stop, stop, stop!" She started hitting her ears.

"Heather!" The voice was now morphed with the high-pitched ringing, and it started laughing.

"Leave me alone!" Heather curled up in a ball and rocked back and forth. "Please leave me alone! Don't hurt me!" She begged.

Heather didn't know how much time passed before Michelle came in. "Heather? Hello?" She asked. Heather froze, not knowing if this voice was real. The strange noises had stopped a couple of minutes ago, but she was too afraid to come back out because of an impending sense of doom she couldn't describe.

"Heather?" Michelle called again. "I just wanna know if you're ok, hun. You've been in here for a long time."

"M-Michelle?" Heather croaked out.

Michelle paused. "Yes, it's me. I need to know if you're alright. Did you throw up?"

"Mhm," she responded, trembling.

"Are you feeling better now?"

"No, I feel dizzy, and I'm scared you're not real," Heather sniffled.

"—I am real," Michelle answered slowly, puzzled. "I'm going to help you. Can you open the stall?"

Heather carefully stood up as if she was learning to walk for the first time. She used the stall walls for support. The floor was still moving like a river, but she was able to get the door open.

Upon seeing Heather, Michelle's face fell. Heather looked as pale as a ghost. Sweat shimmered on her forehead, and her pupils were dilated.

"Oh my god, Heather...you look terrible." Michelle calmly stepped forward.

Heather jerked away. "No, just stay there. Your face looks weird, and you sound weird. You don't sound right!"

Michelle furrowed her eyebrows and backed away a little. "Heather, does everything else look weird?"

As Heather looked around the spinning room, more nausea hit her. She kneeled back down and continued throwing up bile. It burned her throat more than full-on vomit did.

A few other women came in and gathered around Michelle. "Is she ok?" Amelia asked timidly.

"What's going on?" Another questioned.

Michelle shut the bathroom door to give Heather some privacy. "I honestly don't know," she shook her head. "I'm really worried, and I-I think we should call 911." Tears gathered in her eyes. The other models gasped and whispered amongst themselves.

"Michelle, hey," Charlotte came forward, placing her hands on her shoulders. "Before we all panic, can you tell me her symptoms?"

"She's acting confused and scared. And her eyes don't look right," Michelle nervously explained.

"That happens to me when I drink too much sometimes," said Charlotte. "I don't think she needs an ambulance. It'll wear off pretty soon."

Michelle's jaw dropped. "What do you mean? She told me that she was scared I wasn't real! How does that happen after drinking too much alcohol? If it does, then it's really rare because I never heard of it!"

"Michi," Charlotte told her in a low voice, "trust me—it's happened to me. Mia can testify to that. Right, Mia?" She looked at one of her close friends.

"Yeah," Mia nodded. "It's happened to me a few times. I think our bodies just react differently."

Michelle looked down at her phone. She took a deep breath and put it back in her mini purse. "Ok, fine. I won't call. But if she doesn't get better in the next half hour, I'm calling."

"Sometimes it takes hours, though," Charlotte said. "She'll be fine as long as we keep an eye on her."

The women sat in the bathroom for the next few minutes until they didn't hear Heather gagging anymore. Michelle knocked on the stall. "Heather?"

"Fine," Heather mumbled, not having enough energy to form a complete sentence. "Just don't feel good." She sounded defeated.

"Do you need me to take you home?" Asked Michelle.

"Yeah," she said. "My mouth feels dry. I'm thirsty."

"We can grab a couple of water bottles on the way out."

"Ok." It took Heather a minute to open the door and walk out. "I'm dizzy, and I'm thirsty. I don't know what just happened."

Michelle stepped in front of her. "Heather, describe how I look."

Heather stared at her. "You look...you look distorted. But your voice sounds normal again."

"What do you mean my voice sounds normal again?"

"I don't know." Heather rubbed her temples. "I don't know; I can't describe it. Everyone was scaring me. They all sounded weird."

Michelle didn't know how to respond to that. She'd never had an experience like that with alcohol. She wondered if Heather had a psychotic break. If so, she figured that it was none of her business. She walked Heather out of the bathroom, grabbed some water bottles, and helped her put on her coat.

When they got into Michelle's car, she touched Heather's forehead. "You're burning up," she stated. "I think you've come down with something, too. I don't want to send you home alone, especially if you hear and see weird things."

"Can you take me to Alejandro's house?" Heather asked, weakly drinking out of her water bottle.

"Yeah, of course. I'll just need his address."

Heather nodded and sloppily clicked the address on her maps before showing it to Michelle. "Oh, perfect, it's only ten minutes away," Michelle smiled.

As Michelle drove, Heather stared at the white numbers on the car's digital clock. It was half past ten. She wondered how long she'd been in the bathroom suffering through all those awful sounds. At this point, Heather couldn't remember when she arrived at Flatter Allure Inc., so she had no way of knowing. In fact, she couldn't recall anything before the bathroom. It was like she was trapped in an eternal hell in there.

"Is this it?" Michelle asked, slowly driving toward a luxury condo.

"Yeah," Heather nodded.

Michelle parked the car. "What floor is he on?"

"Second floor," answered Heather. She had nearly finished two out of three water bottles.

"That water seems to be making you feel better."

"Yeah. But my throat still feels dry."

"I would drink some more water and then wait awhile," Michelle suggested. They unbuckled their seatbelts. "Before we get out," she said, "did you happen to take any medication before you came to the party tonight?"

"No," Heather said.

"Ok." Michelle jutted her lips out in thought before getting out and helping Heather out of the passenger side.

Heather walked faster now, more sure of herself. Michelle smiled. "I'm glad you're ok now, girl. But do me a favor, and stay away from alcohol for a while, got it?"

Alejandro had fallen asleep a little early that night in the middle of an assignment for school. He regretted pursuing a master's degree in political science—especially online. He was enrolled in one of the top graduate schools in Toronto. The only reason he chose to take an online course was because he secretly hoped he'd have more free time, but that wasn't the case at all.

So there he was, lying on his desk in the living room when three loud knocks interrupted his "beauty" sleep.

Groaning, Alejandro got up and fixed his hair and clothes as he trudged toward the door. He blinked wide awake when he saw Heather standing in the hall, shivering from the cold. He looked back and forth between her and Michelle. "Heather? What's wrong? Did you get into a car wreck?" His heart thumped intensely in his chest.

"No," Michelle shook her head. "She got a little too drunk tonight at our model party, and she said she wanted to come over here. She feels pretty sick."

"Oh Dios mío, Heather, come here." Alejandro opened his arms. Heather walked into his arms and let him embrace her.

Michelle stepped back to leave, but she knew she'd feel guilty if she didn't say anything. "Um—Heather was acting really strange tonight. I just thought you should know because I and the other girls were concerned. She also has a fever."

Alejandro knitted his eyebrows together. "Ok, thank you for bringing her here. I will make sure she's safe."

Michelle nodded. "Have a good night. I hope you feel better soon, Heath." She hesitatingly walked away.

Alejandro shut and locked the door. "Mi amor, can you tell me exactly what went on?" He kept her in his arms.

"I heard voices," Heather murmured into his shoulder.

"You heard voices? What do you mean you heard voices?"

"After I drank, I did. And everything looked so messed up."

"—Ok," Alejandro said. "Do you think you happened to come down with something at the same time you drank?"

"I don't know. It was just scary and weird," replied Heather.

"Scary and weird," Alejandro echoed. "Heather, did someone put something in your drink?" he asked cautiously.

"I don't know," she repeated, nuzzling her head into his chest. "I can't remember."

Alejandro took a deep breath. "Maybe you will remember in the morning. Are the voices gone?"

"Mhm," Heather replied.

"That's good. I'll bring you one of my big pajama shirts for you to wear tonight, ok, mi vida? Then, I need to take your temperature to make sure you'll be safe here tonight."

"Ok. I think I'm alright now. I just have a headache and want to sleep. I feel dizzy just standing up."

Alejandro let go of her and took her hand. "Come on; we'll both sleep in my room tonight."

"I don't wanna make you sick if I'm sick," Heather whined as they trekked up the stairs.

"I don't care. I need to watch you for the night," Alejandro said. She nodded, yawning.

Alejandro got out a white pajama shirt that reached Heather's knees. He let her get dressed and cleaned up in his bathroom.

Heather got into bed. After taking her temperature, Alejandro securely wrapped her in his arms. "Do you feel safe now?" He whispered, stroking her hair.

"Mhm," Heather mumbled.

"Good. I love you." He kissed the top of her head.

"I love you too."

Heather quickly dozed off, but Alejandro couldn't sleep. He thought about how long it had been since Heather slept over—it had probably been three weeks, give or take, and they usually had sleepovers at least twice a week. She hadn't even contacted him since the scrunchie incident a few days ago. Alejandro decided to let it slide for now. Tonight, Heather's well-being was more important.

Alejandro kept Heather close so he could hear her breathe, fearing that some force would take her from him. After tonight, he was more terrified than ever.

*~*~*~*~*

"How long is this trip again?" Gwen asked Geoff after twenty minutes of driving through towns and highways.

"Don't sweat, G. Oshawa Lodge is only fifty minutes away," he told her, taking a sip of coke.

Gwen smirked. "Do you see any sign of sweat on my face?"

"No," he reciprocated her smirk. "But you know it's just an expression, right?"

"Yes," she rolled her eyes, laughing. Gwen kept her eyes on Geoff, absentmindedly staring at him. If anyone told her two months ago that she would fall in love with Geoff's beautiful smile, she'd think they were crazy. Her chest ached when she thought of another girl getting to see that smile every day.

"Aw, man, this is just like old times," Geoff said, turning up the music on the radio.

Gwen blinked out of her trance. "What's like old times?" She said.

"Me and Brody used to lose our minds to this song," he replied, reminiscing. "We always made sure it was on our playlist for the trip up here."

Geoff was taking Gwen to Oshawa Lodge to meet Brody, and he was over the moon about it. Geoff hadn't seen Brody in eight months because of his move to California. Gwen was the first person he wanted to introduce him to.

"How many times have you guys gone here before he moved?" Gwen asked.

"Oh, a lot. I can't even count! It was, like, our go-to study place in college. Even though we just ended up wasting time more," answered Geoff.

"I figured," Gwen tittered.

"We also went camping around the lake area during the Summer a couple of times." Geoff frowned. "He left when it was just starting to feel like a tradition. Best bros night out ever."

"Do you know if he's coming back for the Summer?"

Geoff shrugged. "I honestly couldn't tell you, G. But I know he's just here for the next couple of weeks, so I gotta make the most of it."

Gwen nodded. "Hopefully, he'll come and visit. I know what it's like to have a long-distance friendship."

"Oh wow, who's your long-distance friend?" Geoff asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Well," Gwen cringed, "we're not friends anymore. We grew apart after she moved. But it's ok. Everything was cool between us."

"That's good. It sucks when friendships end. At least we make new connections."

"Yeah, of course," Gwen said. She thought of all the events that led her to Geoff. If she was being honest, she thought she'd never see most of her former costars again when the show finally ended—maybe on TV occasionally, but never like this—having intimate conversations in the car and going out to a restaurant to meet their friends.

"I also can't wait for you to meet Brody's girl, Kitty," said Geoff. "They got together when he came back from his trip. I was his wingman before he moved. I knew he had a thing for her since we were all on the Ridonculous Race together. She's super fun and sweet."

"I remember her a little. I saw a couple of episodes, but I needed to escape the memories," Gwen told him. She pulled her knees up to her chest.

"I totally understand. I didn't have a personal issue with the show back then. It was all fun and games for me until me and Bridge—Bridgette," he corrected himself, "broke up." It stung Geoff to refer to her by her nickname.

Gwen sighed. "I'm sorry." She touched his hand but quickly pulled away, afraid this wasn't the right time. But Geoff grabbed her hand back.

"Don't worry about doing that, Gwen," he smiled. "I like it." His cheeks were flushed.

"Are you sure?" She questioned. "I don't want you to think I'm trying to make you feel a certain way."

"I'm one hundred percent sure," said Geoff. "I was one hundred percent sure at the concert, too."

Gwen blushed. She looked at their hands intertwined on the center console. "Ok," she grinned. "As long as you can drive with only one hand on the wheel."

"I totally can. I'm a professional at risky driving," Geoff stated.

"That's not something to be proud of," she laughed.

"Maybe in your eyes," he teased. "I think it's a noble profession."

"Shut up," Gwen lightly shoved him in the arm with her other hand.

"Hey, don't go ruining the only arm I have to drive with!" Geoff chuckled, squeezing her hand. "Cause there's no way I'm letting go of your hand."

"You'd rather get us into a crash, then?"

"Mhm. Absolutely. I know we can't do this publicly, so I'm using this moment to my advantage."

Gwen frowned. "Geoff... I'm sorry for pulling away the other day. It has nothing to do with you. I just didn't want anyone spreading rumors about me."

"I know, and I wasn't mad at you," he said. "I'm making the most of this right now. We both have reasons why we can't take this too far. And I respect yours."

Gwen swallowed. She wished the paparazzi were her only reason. Then maybe she would let herself fall deeper. It felt like torture depriving herself of this relationship, but she knew it was for Geoff's own good. Plus, she knew he wasn't in the right place to be serious.

The rest of the drive went by in silence. Geoff kept their hands intertwined, occasionally rubbing Gwen's hand with his thumb.

Gwen listened to Geoff hum and sing small parts of songs he didn't know. As they approached their destination, a giant lake covered the area around the road.

Geoff made a few turns before the body of water disappeared behind a few mountains. "That's where me and Brody used to camp." He jerked his head toward a field of evergreens in front of the mountains.

Gwen sat up in her seat. "Whoa, that's such a beautiful area. It must've been fun."

"Oh yeah, we had a blast. We'd tell these super scary stories at night in our tent and end up not being able to fall asleep because we spooked ourselves," Geoff laughed.

"Oh my god," Gwen rolled her eyes. "I can only imagine."

A few minutes later, they arrived at Oshawa Lodge, a tall, wooden restaurant with a balcony overlooking the mountains. "Sadly, since it's the middle of February, we have to sit inside. But here in a couple of months, I can take you back for the supreme dining experience," Geoff said. "Only if you want, of course," he chuckled, flustered.

Gwen smiled at him. "I'd love that."

When they walked in, Gwen marveled at the chandeliers hanging from the cathedral ceiling. The place looked so fancy, yet no one dressed up. The smell of apple pie wafted through the air with the warm breeze. Gwen was thankful that the atmosphere wasn't too loud or crazy as she usually expected from Geoff's favorite places.

Gwen didn't realize they were still holding hands until Geoff made an "oh" sound and pulled away, and she felt cold again. He must've forgotten, too, she thought.

"Geoff!" Brody came sprinting toward them, flailing his arms around like a toddler.

"Brody!" Geoff matched his energy.

When Gwen looked between the two men as they hugged, she knew exactly why they were friends. They were practically carbon copies of each other at first glance.

"Dude!" cried Brody, "I missed you! Surfing last Summer was not the same without you!"

"I feel the same way, man!" Geoff replied. 

"Aw, and when I heard about your breakup, I felt so bad that I couldn't see you!"

"Nah, dude, it's ok," Geoff forced a smile. "You supported me from far away, and I had Gwen here." He casually wrapped his arm around her. "She's so awesome."

Gwen's face was hot. She loved the feel of her body against his. It almost annoyed her how a simple gesture drove her crazy.

"Gwen!" Brody smiled ear to ear, holding out his hand. Gwen awkwardly smiled and shook his hand. "It's so nice to meet you, dudette! Geoff's told me so much about you. You were totally awesome on Total Drama!"

"Oh, uh, thanks," Gwen replied, not looking him in the eyes. She silently cursed herself for her rusty people skills. Clearing her throat, she redeemed herself. "So, Geoff talks about me, huh?"

"I—ha," Geoff grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, I mean... we've spent so much time together over the past few months. We're super close now."

So close, but not close enough, Gwen thought. She immediately shook that thought out of her head.

"So, you guys work together?" Brody asked as he led them to the booth he and Kitty reserved earlier.

"Yeah," answered Geoff. "She's so good at making cocktails like you wouldn't believe."

"That's not true," Gwen laughed, nudging his arm. "Geoff likes exaggerating everybody's skills because he loves making people feel better about their sad, miserable lives."

"Whoa, that's hardcore," Brody chuckled.

"Gwen likes putting a damper on things," Geoff teased her back.

"You have to be realistic sometimes," she argued, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Being positive is me being realistic!" Geoff beamed. "And because of that, my reality is nothing but positivity and awesomeness." He gave Brody a high five.

"That's the best life to live," said Brody. "No one can bring you down if you're always positive!"

Gwen shook her head with a slight smirk. She saw Kitty sitting at a booth in the corner. Kitty wore a long-sleeved sky-blue blouse. She smiled sweetly at them. "Hi, Geoff! It's nice to finally see you again!"

"What's up, Kitty? Is my brother from another mother treating you right?" Geoff asked.

"Yes, absolutely," Kitty giggled. "Brody is so sweet." She interlocked her arm in Brody's as he sat next to her.

Geoff let Gwen into the booth first. "And Gwen!" chimed Kitty. "You were one of my favorites on Total Drama Island! My sister told me to keep it together when I meet you, but I can't help it!" She squealed.

Gwen blinked. Her mouth hung slightly agape. She had no idea what to say next, but thankfully, Kitty started talking again. "Sorry, I don't wanna sound like one of those annoying fangirls! I hope I didn't overwhelm you."

"—No, not at all," Gwen lied to spare her feelings. "It's just... it's been a while since anyone's been this excited to see me. I haven't been the most liked on the news lately," she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I know. That must suck," Kitty frowned. "By the way, I don't believe anything on the internet unless the person themselves confirms it. One time, it was rumored that Noah was cheating on my sister, Emma, with me. There's no way I'd date Noah. Don't get me wrong—he's super sweet, but he's not my type, and I could never do that to my sister."

"Wait," Gwen said, "Noah's dating your sister? Noah?" She held in laughter.

"Yeah! Have you not seen The Ridonculous Race? They got together on that show!"

"Um...I've seen a little bit, but I had no idea what happened. Huh, Noah has a girlfriend," she smirked at Geoff, who chuckled in return.

"Yeah, he and Emma are like two peas in a pod," he said.

"I'm so happy for Emma. They've been together for almost four years now! It was so awful seeing her upset about her ex. Now, he's the last thing on her mind!" Kitty smiled.

Hearing Kitty talk about Emma made Gwen wish she had a sister. Then maybe all her self-esteem and relationship issues wouldn't be so unbearable. Her brother, Colton, was alright, but he was more interested in girls and his friends than in supporting his big sister. And Gwen didn't have a problem with that because the last thing she wanted was help from a nineteen-year-old who had never had a real relationship.

"—Anyway," Kitty spoke, interrupting Gwen's thoughts, "Emma used to be a total jerk of a sister until Noah softened her up. I think she did the same for him. So, Geoff and Gwen, are you two going out?"

Between the "uhs" and "well...."s, the entire atmosphere became awkward. "—We're just friends," Gwen finally spat out, although she knew her crimson face told a different story.

"Oh, alright," Kitty smirked. "Sorry for the misunderstanding. You just look so good together!"

"I agree, babe," said Brody, smirking with her.

"This could almost be like a double date," Kitty added.

Geoff laughed nervously. "Sorry, dudes, we're just really good friends."

Gwen felt relieved but sad hearing those words from Geoff's mouth. She figured that if they kept saying they were "just friends," it would eventually feel more true, and they'd naturally grow apart. Then, no one's heart would get broken. "Yep," she said. "Just friends."

"Oh, well, that's too bad," Brody said. Even he knew Geoff was lying. Every time they'd talk over FaceTime, Geoff brought up Gwen at any opportunity. Brody had never seen his buddy so passionate about a girl besides when he and Bridgette were going on some trip.

Geoff shrugged. "It's fine. We're both cool with the relationship we have." His face twisted with uncertainty after he said it. Of course, he'd rather have Gwen in his life as a friend than not at all, but something was missing. He didn't know if he could hold back anymore, even if the fear of ending up in the same situation he did with Bridgette mocked and threatened him.

The rest of the afternoon went by smoothly. All four talked about their lives and laughed at stories about Geoff and Brody doing something stupid in college.

By the time they left, the staff started looking annoyed with them. "It was so nice to meet you, Gwen. Geoff's so lucky," Kitty winked at her.

"It was nice meeting you too!" Gwen smiled tightly, trying to keep from blushing for the one-millionth time. I've already made enough of a fool of myself today. Geoff probably saw me blushing the entire time like an idiot. And he ended up liking me. So no, Kitty, he's not lucky, she thought.

On the way back to Geoff's car, Gwen didn't know what to say to Geoff. She could tell by the look on his face and his body language that he was also thinking about Kitty's relationship status question.

As they got in their seats, Gwen opened her mouth, trying to find the words. The thing was, she didn't know whether to ask Geoff how he felt about the question or if he was lying when he said they were just friends. To Gwen, they didn't feel like friends. They were stuck in that painful, aggravating spot in the middle.

The drive back was normal. Gwen was fascinated by Geoff's ability to turn off the "awkward" switch just like that. He continued talking about more of his and Brody's "frat boy" adventures in college, which distracted her from her raging heartbeat for the time being. Geoff blabbed nonstop, but Gwen secretly enjoyed it because she found his life way more interesting than hers.

When Geoff pulled into Gwen's apartment complex, he turned toward her and smiled. "So, what'd you think of Brody?"

"I thought you two could be brothers," answered Gwen, snickering.

"Yeah, we met all the way back in pre-k. Drove our teachers crazy together. Good times."

Gwen laughed. "Kitty was sweet but a little too much."

"Oh, yeah, sorry for not warning ya," Geoff cringed. "I'm just used to that kind of energy."

"No, it's ok," she smiled. "She wasn't that bad."

"That's good." Geoff smiled back until Gwen was blushing.

"Well—I've gotta go. It was fun. I'll see you tomorrow at work." Gwen opened the passenger side door.

"Can I walk you to your door?" Asked Geoff.

"Sure," she laughed. "If you're afraid someone will snatch me on the way."

"Haha, no," he scratched his head. "I just wanted to talk to you for a few more seconds."

Gwen swallowed as she got out of the car. Her heart fluttered, and her stomach felt queasy. Oh god, I'm gonna be sick, she thought. It's all Geoff's fault. If he weren't so amazing, I'd be perfectly fine.

"I'm happy we're both opening tomorrow morning," Geoff said, walking up the stairs behind Gwen. "You're honestly my favorite person to work with there."

"Really?" Gwen smiled. "You're just saying that." She gripped onto the handrail for dear life. She swore she was about to fall. She had never felt so lightheaded before. Fortunately, she made it to the second floor.

"No, no, I'm not," Geoff told her. "I wouldn't want any other coworker."

Gwen pushed her key through the door handle before facing him. "I'm sure there was another coworker you liked working with before me."

"Oh, yeah, totally," he said. "I love all my coworkers. But since you're my friend outside of work, you're extra special, G."

"Well..." she bit her lip, smiling a little. "...I'm glad I'm extra special in your book, then."

Geoff nodded, staring at her with a longing look in his eyes. "Yeah, you have no idea."

Gwen forced herself to turn back around. If she didn't, she'd kiss him. She bit the inside of her cheek hard. "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks for walking me up here, Geoff." She turned the key.

Geoff anxiously tapped his foot on the concrete. "—Gwen, wait!" He blurted.

Gwen paused. "—Yeah?" Her voice came out breathy. She faced him once again.

"Tell me I'm not crazy," he said, approaching her.

"Geoff, what do you mean?"

"I mean—I-I want more, Gwen. Am I crazy for that? Since I just got out of a seven-year relationship two months ago?" Geoff sighed, looking down.

"No," Gwen replied softly. "You're not crazy. You can't help your feelings."

"I know. I'm just... Gwen, I told you I didn't want to jump into anything, but ever since that night on the roof, I can't go back."

Gwen's eyes widened. She was so busy worrying about him falling for her, but she didn't realize it was too late. That kiss they shared—it had already ruined their friendship to the point of no return.

"I really like you," he continued walking towards her. "And—I wanna be with you as more than friends. It just doesn't feel like enough anymore."

Gwen's mind shouted at her to back up, but she stayed right where she was. She wanted—no—needed him to be close to her. Her heart ached for it. "Geoff," she started, "You're so much better than any other guy I've dated. I'll be the one to fuck things up, and I really don't want to hurt you. I know we'll end up crashing and burning and—"

Geoff pressed his lips onto hers. "We're not gonna be like that," he whispered after slowly pulling away, cupping her face. "That's not us. We can take things nice and slow, ok?"

Gwen stared up at him, breathless. "Could you not shut me up like that? We're not in some cheesy romance movie," she laughed.

"So, is that a yes?" Geoff asked hopefully.

Gwen took a deep breath. "—Yes." A wide smile slowly appeared on her face. "Yeah, I think this could work as long as we don't go too far."

"We'll only go as far as we want." He wrapped his arms around her waist. "And I don't want you to worry about hurting me because you're worth the risk, Gwen."

"Geoff, I..." She was drawn to his lips as they inched closer. She found herself kissing him again, completely lost in the moment. Nothing ever felt so right.

Geoff pulled her against himself as if he couldn't get enough of her. Gwen tangled her hands up in his hair.

A moment later, Gwen's phone interrupted their make-out session. She pulled away, blushing. She struggled to grab her phone from her back pocket, nearly dropping it. "It's Sierra," Gwen sighed. "I have no idea what she wants."

"You should answer it before she calls one-hundred more times," Geoff laughed, his face and neck flushed.

"Yeah, I know," she playfully rolled her eyes and picked up. "Yes, Sierra?"

"Gwen! Hi! I'm calling to ask if you'd like to participate in this special interview I'm doing in a few weeks?"

Gwen narrowed her eyes. "What interview? You're going to have to be more specific."

"I'm gonna interview all the total drama contestants from seasons one through three, and it's gonna go on my blog!"

"Is this a joke? Sorry, but not a chance," said Gwen.

"Gwen, please? This segment could be huge for me!" Sierra begged. "You'll even get money!"

She sighed. "How much?"

"Oh, five-thousand dollars, give or take."

"—Wait, seriously?"

Geoff raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" He whispered. Gwen put Sierra on speakerphone.

"Yes!" Sierra chirped. "Girl, if you do this, I will be forever grateful! And all the interviews will be separate because I could never handle a group interview," she laughed.

"Hey... Sierra, just so you know, Geoff's with me, so you don't have to worry about asking him later," said Gwen. "You're just gonna have to repeat the first part you told me."

"Oh! Hi, Geoff!" Sierra exclaimed. "Ok, so, I'm going to do separate interview segments with the OG Total Drama contestants on March 6th at 4:00. It'll be like a "where are they now?" interview if you know what I mean. I know you'll probably want to come anyway, but money is involved, too. Gwenny, I'm sorry I didn't give you the where and when at first. I just didn't know if you'd say yes."

"Whatever, it's fine," Gwen said.

"Sure, that sounds like a lot of fun!" Geoff said. "I love talking about my life!"

Gwen groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Fine, I'll do it too. Maybe I can set things right with all the online drama."

"That's the spirit!" Sierra said. "I'm so ready for this! I've got to start asking more people. I'll see you guys on the 6th at 4:00, ok?"

"Yep, alright," Gwen rolled her eyes. "See you." She hung up, giving Geoff a look.

"What?" He said. "It's just a fun interview!"

"How are you ok with putting yourself out there like that? You know how crazy it gets," said Gwen.

"Yeah, I know, but as long as I keep it real and positive, I think I'll be alright."

"If Sierra asks any relationship questions, we can't answer them honestly. It's too soon after your breakup, so if we tell them we're together, you know what they'll think. Especially after that one article after you took me home from The Night Owl."

"Hey, I get it, G." Geoff kissed her cheek. "I don't wanna tell them about us, anyway. We can be happy without anyone else's input."

Gwen smiled. "Yeah, you're right."

He took both of her hands. "What we have now, it's only ours. I can't share it with the world like I did with Bridgette. It made things complicated, you know?"

"Oh, believe me, I know what that's like."

Geoff gazed into her eyes with endearment. "I wanna do things right this time. You deserve it. I know you'll say you don't, but you do, Gwen. None of those guys ever did things right with you."

Gwen hugged him. She couldn't believe someone as good as Geoff was willing to give her this much. She had no idea what she did to deserve him, but she knew that she didn't want to lose this, to lose him.