I stared at myself in my bathroom mirror, while brushing my shoulder length brown hair. I kept thinking about what was about to happen. Was this whole thing a huge mistake? How badly was I going to regret it?

Oh God, what if he wanted my help getting back together with Gwen!?

I shook my head, Duncan wasn't stupid enough to ask me to do such a thing. I sighed and turned away from my mirror. Not wanting to look at myself anymore. I checked the time, it was 8:45. Almost time. I blew out a long breath and walked out of my bathroom and slowly went downstairs

"Hey Aunt Cassie, is there any chance I could barrow your car?" I asked. She looked up at me confused

"Well yes. But may I ask what for?" she asked handing me the keys. 

"Bridgette needs me, her and Geoff got into a fight." I lied. She nodded

"Is she alright?" she asked, I nodded and walked towards the door

"Yes, she's just upset. Thanks for the keys! I'll be home later!" I called as I walked out. I unlocked the car's doors and got in slowly. I stuck the key into the ignition and started the car. I slowly backed out of her driveway and took off down the road.

St. John's was a rather large park, you couldn't really miss it. It was only about 6 miles from Aunt Cassie's place. As I pulled into the large parking lot I shut the car off. And slowly looked at myself in the mirror. I tried fixing my stupid bangs when I slowly stopped. 

Why am I trying to look pretty for Duncan? 

I huffed and opened the door and slowly got out. I closed the door and locked the car, as I looked around. No one was really around, why would they be at this late anyways? 

I slowly began walking towards the main gate and hugged myself tightly. I looked around again as I slowly sat on a cold bench. I shivered a little as the cold metal touched my back. 

A few minutes passed with no sign of Duncan. Where was he? Had he driven half way here only to think this was completely stupid and turn around? Had he chickened out?

I snorted at the last thought, Duncan was a lot of things. But a chicken was not one of them. 

Just as I was about to stand to leave I heard footsteps approaching. I looked around, wishing I had brought some sort of weapon. I swallowed hard, but relaxed slowly when I saw the familiar red converses.

"Wow, you actually came." Duncan said as he walked towards me. I shrugged

"I had nothing better to do," I said smoothly. He smirked and looked at the open spot next to me

"You mind if I sit there?" he asked. I shrugged again and he slowly sat down next to me. We were silent for a long while, the only sounds we could hear were of us breathing. 

"So-" we both started at once, we looked at each other and smiled

"Sorry." we said again at the same time, we laughed at this. But after the laughing died down he sighed

"Never really thought I'd be here, with you. Again." he said. I looked at the ground

"Me either. I kinda thought we'd never have to see each other again. After you know, the whole cheating thing." I grumbled. He bit his lip

"Yeah well. That's history," he said. I looked at him

"I heard about you and Gwen breaking up. I would say I'm sorry to hear it, but that would be a lie." I said. He looked at me

"It didn't really surprise me. I knew she still had feelings for Trent. And me? Well, I still liked someone else too. So we called it off." he shrugged. I nodded and scratched at my tattoo on my wrist. 

"Do you still have your tattoo?" I asked suddenly. He looked surprised, but slowly his face softened

"Yeah," Duncan said "I do," I nodded a little

"Me too," I said.

"I thought about getting rid of it, but for some reason I just couldn't." he said.

"I got into Oxford," I said. He looked at me.

"Whoa, congrats Courtney! That's awesome." He smiled, Duncan knew how much getting into that school meant to me. I talked about it all the time. There were so many things I wanted to tell him. But I felt like I just... Couldn't. 

"Why?" I whispered quietly. Duncan looked at me confused. And I slowly met his eyes

"Why was it so easy for you? So easy for you to just let us go?" I asked, my voice cracking. Duncan stiffened and looked away slowly

"I ask myself that question every single day. And I still haven't come up with any other answer other than I don't know." he said. 

"There were so many... Awful, horrible things I wanted to say to you whenever this moment came. Us talking. But now, that I'm actually here, I can't think of anything to say." I said. Feeling the back of my throat start to get hot, I knew I was on the verge of tears. 

"I kept asking myself what I did wrong. What I did to... To make you hate me so much. When just a few years ago you'd tell me you loved me every chance you'd get. I guess you can call me naive, to think our relationship would last. To think we'd live happily ever after like those stupid romance movies I used to make you watch all the time. People hated me for the way I was on that damn show. They'd say horrible things to me, write horrible hate mail that I'd have to go through every damn day." I said, my voice hitching in my throat. I blinked away tears. 

"But, none of it, was as bad as the hate I was putting on myself. I hated myself for the way I acted, I was always taught that I didn't need anyone. That love was just a waste of time, time that could be spent getting to the top. But, Duncan... With you I didn't care. You were everything I was taught to stay away from. And I loved you for that, because with you I felt free. So I guess when you kissed her, I wasn't surprised. I knew it was coming, I just didn't want to believe it." I said. My tears falling freely now. I angrily wiped them away, hating myself for being so weak. 

Duncan was just looking at me, as I spoke. It made me uncomfortable. So I began fidgeting with my sweater

"And I hate myself for missing you. Missing everything about you. Because I shouldn't. I should hate you, for what you did to me. But I can't. Every time  I'd get a text or call, I'd wish it was your name on my screen. Like it used to be. I wish you were the one I'd still wake up to. Smiling at me, like you used to. I wish you were still calling me Princess. I miss you so much it hurts." I said, finally finishing. Duncan slowly reached forward and gently took my hands in his

"I miss the stupid smirks you'd give me when you knew I was wrong and you were right. I miss the way you'd tease me. I miss the way you'd chase me. Like I was some drug you were addicted to. I miss being able to call you mine, and I miss being your Princess." I said. I looked into his eyes slowly 

"And now you're here. You're actually here. And I'm a crying mess, while you just look at me with those teal eyes of your's. And I realize that, no matter what you did to me. Or what you'll do to me in the future. I will always, completely, utterly, hopelessly, be in love with you." 

"Courtney," He finally said. Gently touching my cheek, I slowly looked into his eyes

"Just shut up already." He said and kissed me hard. I stiffened in shock, not believing this is actually happening. But slowly, ever so slowly, I melted into him. And kissed him back. I kissed him back with everything I had. Not knowing if this was the last kiss we'd ever share or not. Duncan held me close, and I wrapped my arms around his neck

"I missed you too Princess," He whispered once we pulled away. 

"I want you to listen to me, alright? I am so sorry for ever hurting you. It was the worst mistake I have ever made, and I regret it every single day of my life. I didn't realize how much I missed you until I saw you that one day at Bridgette's. You were so beautiful, just like before. And I want you to know I will go to the ends of this Earth to make you believe me, that I'm sorry for what I did." he said. I swallowed hard and held his hand

"I don't really know what's going to happen after this. Where we will go, what will come out of this. But I want you to know that I believe you, and I will try, a little every day, to forgive you." I said. 

Suddenly a stick snapped behind us, and I looked around, and stiffened when I saw a paparazzi van pulling up. I quickly stood up

"We gotta go! Before they catch us together!" I yelled, and grabbed his hand and we took off towards the exit. I shouted a string of curse words when another van pulled up around the front

"This way!" Duncan said and began climbing the fence. I swallowed hard and followed quickly behind.  We jumped down and quickly ran and he pulled me towards an alley way squished between two buildings. We hid up against the wall, catching our breath as the vans eventually pulled away. Once we were in the clear I began to giggle, Duncan looked at me,and raised a brow.

"I can't believe I just climbed a fence in flip flops!" I said, while giggling. He chuckled

"I can't believe they nearly caught us," he said. I slowly stopped giggling and gave him a serious look

"Look, I don't want the press knowing about us until I can explain all of this to my brother. He kinda thinks I hate your guts." I confessed.

"Jax still hates me?" He asked, looking bummed. I nodded

"He loves his big sister, what do you expect?" I asked. He slowly nodded

"Alright, understood. Now, come here." he said and pulled me tightly against him

"Now that we don't have to worry about the press sniping pictures.." he trailed off as we kissed. I slowly melted into him and sighed in delight against his lips.

I didn't know where this was going. Or if this was the smart decision, but I knew one thing for certain.

We were going to be okay.