Part two of @shapeofduncney 's request! (Warning: A little bit of swearing is present in this chapter.)

"Gwen and Zoey, and lastly, Duncan and Courtney. Find your partner and get to work!" Ms. Rosa, the Language Arts teacher announced.

It was crazy that this very class was the one Duncan and Courtney had met in. This was where it all started. Now being partners was their worst nightmare. It had been two months since their breakup, and they were still both very bitter about it.

Courtney rushed to Ms. Rosa's desk. "Ms. Rosa, may I please have another partner?" Her words asked politely but her tone begged.

"Sorry Courtney, all the other partners seem to like each other," Ms. Rosa said, looking around the room at the happy pairs. "I have no one to switch you with."

Courtney's shoulders slumped. "Dang it," she muttered, disappointment all over her face.

"Whatever happened to you and Duncan? I thought you two were dating." Ms. Rosa twirled her pen in her hand.

"We were. Not anymore, though."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I hope this project works out for you." Ms. Rosa gave an empathetic look. Courtney gave a curt nod and smile then approached the empty seat next to Duncan, who gave her a hard stare.

"What?" Courtney snapped.

"Nothing. Just sucks that we're partners. Too bad I'm not with Zoey or Gwen or one of my random girls off the street," Duncan spit sarcastically. Courtney rolled her eyes and plopped down next to him.

In the forty minutes the assignment took them to complete, their arms didn't touch once.

A few days later, Courtney was drinking at the water fountain.

"Move." Duncan demanded rudely. Courtney turned around, disgust written all over her face.

"No! I'm drinking. You can wait."

"Get out of my way, brat!" Duncan took an aggressive step towards Courtney.

He had to prove to himself that he had no shame for the way he treated her during the weeks leading up to their breakup. He wouldn't accept his guilt, because guilt was a form of fear, and both Duncan and Courtney were horrified of being afraid. Of being weak. Barlow's aren't weak. Nelson's aren't weak.

"Fuck off, asshole!" Courtney shouted, then stormed off. Duncan faked a mean laugh and drank his water.

It tasted like regret.

Two weeks later, school had just gotten out. Duncan and Courtney had completed their junior year, so they had one more year before they graduated.

It was a hot summer day, and the punk and prep's friends Geoff and Bridgette had invited them to the movies. When Courtney arrived, the other three were already there.

"Geoff, Bridgette, great to see you two!" Courtney beamed, hugging them both, something she never did. It was clearly just to be mean to Duncan. Duncan crossed his arms and cleared his throat, giving Courtney a harsh glare.

"Oh right, you're here," Courtney hissed.

Bridgette gave an exaggerated frown. "You two really need to stop fighting! It makes me so sad!"

Courtney scowled.

"I hate him."

Her words hung in the air like a popped balloon hanging from a telephone wire.

Duncan looked directly at the brunette.

"I hate you too."

Needless to say, the movies weren't so fun.

Senior year. Duncan and Courtney hadn't seen each other since the movies. Duncan even pretended he was busy on Bridgette's birthday just to avoid seeing Courtney.

Which was funny because she was the only person he wanted to see.

As Duncan pulled up to the high school in his new car, his heart dropped a trillion feet.

Courtney was already on the lawn of the school, and she was indulged in a deep kiss with Scott, an awkward, rude farmboy who was a junior.

Nuh uh. That was not happening.

Duncan nearly leaped out of his car. He began quickly approaching Scott and Court, but stopped himself. What would he even say? It's not like he still liked her anyway.

But he did.

That night, Duncan typed in Courtney's phone number. He had it memorized by heart. His breath stopped as he pressed call.

It rang and rang.

She wasn't going to pick up.

"Hello?"

Duncan nearly jumped. She had actually answered! It was time for him to say his piece.

"Courtney... I saw you kiss Scott today and it made me realize something. I don't think I've ever said this before but I love you. I have since the second our arms touched sophomore year in Language Arts class. I love the way you laugh and I love playing video games with you and I love cuddling you at night," Duncan gushed. He had never gotten this soft and emotional before.

"Awwwe! Dunkie!" Courtney squealed from the other end. Duncan's face brightened at the sound of her being happy.

"I love you too," Courtney warmly said.

"So does this mean you'll drop Scott?" Duncan smirked.

"Yeah," Courtney said.

Duncan could feel her smile through the phone.

The next day, Duncan and Courtney pulled up to the school together. They listening to "Everlasting Love" by Fifth Harmony on full blast.

"And I'm never, ever giving up

'Til you're laying next to me

I'm lookin' for that ever- everlasting love

Forever ever kind of touch

And I'll never ever get enough"

The two shamelessly sang the last line at the top of their lungs,

"Baby we were meant to be!"