This takes place in TDI, when Gwen has already kissed Trent, and Duncan isn't with Courtney. I know they kissed before TxG, but it's a fan fic, mans.



(Duncan's P.O.V.)
This. Place. Sucks.
Nothing to do, stupid challenges, inedible food, disgusting cabins- Note to self: if you sign up for a reality show ever again, make sure the host is not Chris McClean.
I guess it's not all bad. There's this girl Courtney who is SO into me. But she keeps denying it, and she says I'm "nice". I'm NOT nice. I told Geoff, "She's so annoying, but she's so hot." He keeps just blathering on about that Bridgette chick. She's not all that hot.
There's this other girl, Gwen. I'm guessing all those "fans" of this show want us to hook up because of our "personalities", or our clothes, or something along those lines. I don't even like her that much. Sure, she's pretty cool when she talks about all those horror movies, and alien movies. I like how she knows so much. But I don't like Gwen like that. I hardly even know her.
Oh crap. I can hear Chris's footsteps outside for our wake up call. I plug my ears before the deafening bullhorn can pierce my eardrums. "WAKE UP, CAMPERS!!" He shouted. Everyone groaned. Another sucky day in this stupid summer camp.
I got on my dark teal pants, skull shirt, and red-and-yellow shoes, and headed outside. The girls were still getting on their makeup and shit like that. Heather, Lindsay, and Courtney came out of the communal bathroom, holding toaster-sized makeup bags. How can girls put on that much make up and not die of uncomfertableness?!
"Come on, campers, we don't have all day!" Chris said impatiently. "I'm pretty sure everyone WANTS to make sure you don't have all day, McClean." I told him. Chris gave me an irritated look.
Then the other girls filed out of the Killer Bass's girls' side of the cabin; Beth and Bridgette. Everyone on both teams got out of the cabins within a few minutes.
"OK, campers! Today, Chef will be manning you guys while I'm off hosting another show!" Chris announced. I looked at Courtney, nudged her, and said, "Sounds like a big load of s-h-i-" before I could finish, she stomped on my foot. "GAHG..." I managed. Bridgette and Lindsay giggled. I looked over at Gwen and she was basically trying not to loose it. That girl had some nerve.
"Chef! These guys are your problem now- I mean, 'You're in charge of these guys now!'" Chris shouted, then sprinted off towards the boat on the dock to get away from this hell-hole. Chef walked up to Trent and shouted, "HOW MANY PUSH UPS SHOULD A MALE TEEN DO EVERY DAY TO STAY HEALTHY?!" Trent stammered, "I-I-I, Uh, I, uh, um-"
"Please, Chef. 46." Courtney shouted. Chef snapped his head in our direction. He stormed over to our side. Courtney cringed when Chef got at least a foot away. "DID I ASK YOU, NAGGY?!" Chef shouted in her face. "No sir!" Courtney managed. He shot me a look, and walked back over to the Screaming Gopher's cabin. He walked up to Gwen next. He took out one of his spare knives. He raised it up. HOLY SHIT WHAT IS HE GONNA DO?! "DON'T!!" I screamed. When I realized what I said, I was immediately confused with myself. Why did I shout that? I hardly even know her! Everyone looked at me strangely. Especially Gwen and Trent. Chef apparently was just going to scratch his back, 'cause he was when I looked at him again. "Emo loving..." Chef grumbled. "Now, GETCHYA BUTTS DOWN TO THE MESS HALL! YOU MISS ROLE CALL, YOU DON'T EAT!!" Owen let out a fart of relief that he wouldn't miss breakfast. "Ah, sick!!" DJ and Geoff shouted covering their noses. I did the same. Courtney and all the other girls gagged and ran away to the mess hall.

- - - - - - - - - -

Someone tapped me on the shoulder while I was eating. I flinched and spun my head around. It was Gwen. Oh happy days, this will be fun. "Hey, Duncan." She said. "Hmm, so, 'Don't', eh? What do you think he was gonna do, murder me while the cameras were going? You big softie." and she poked me in the gut. "DON'T TOUCH ME, WOMAN!" I said as I slapped her hand away. "Ow." She said in mock pain. "You know, if you want to be friends-"
"I don't have friends, got it?" I told her coldly. She looked at me offended. "I thought you were cool." She said firmly, and she went back to her table. Great, I blew it! O.o Wait, blew what? Uhg, I'm acting all crazy.
After ten minutes or so of eating, Chef came in and lectured us about how he was in 12 army missions, or how he was in three different forms of army, and stories about how he went in with, like 50 men, and only 10 came out, or something. Then, he yelled, "EVERYONE, OUTSIDE, NOW!" We followed him outside obediently, not wanting to be whipped or whatever Chef will do if we don't listen to him.
"OK, campers..." Chef said the word like it something disgusting. "Today, I will make you do, and ONLY make you do, physical challenges." he began to give a toothy smile. All of us groaned. "Now, DROP AND GIVE ME ONE HUNDRED!" he hounded at us. I dropped down and started to do push ups. When I looked to my side, I nearly fell over. Gwen was there! "I thought you'd be next to Trent." I said rolling my eyes. "He's having a current obsession over the number nine. I'd rather do push ups near someone who won't be counting them from one to nine." She said rolling her eyes back.
About 10 push ups later, I said, "Why next to me?" Gwen was silent for a while. I guess she was trying to find an answer. "Because we're friends." She finally said, but quietly, and small, like she knows she'll regret it. Courtney gave me an awkward glance and went back to her push ups. "50 MORE YOU SLACKERS!!" Chef screamed at us.
"Just keep talking to me," Gwen said. "it'll make the time go faster." I tried to listen to her and ignore the pain in my arms, but it was getting to me.
"Look, Gwen, I don't have friends. I don't need friends." I said coldly. "Oh, yeah, and I don't need three meals a day." Gwen replied equally as cold. "You're not gonna give up, are you?" I asked suddenly. "You're just gonna keep nagging and nagging at me."
"Well, I won't be Courtney." I couldn't help but laugh after she said that.
"30 MORE!!" Chef yelled.
"Wow, you were right." I looked at her and smiled. "Looks like someone's got a smart cookie in her tortured noggin." I laughed, she laughed. Then she looked at my funny. I just realized I was staring at her. Staring! I only stare at Courtney! Besides, for the millionth time, I hardly know Gwen. I guess I like her hair. Midnight blue. I guess I like it. I like her boots. I like her skirt. I like how she doesn't care what other people think of her. But she seemed thoroughly offended when I said I didn't have friends, and didn't need any. "Quit staring at me, Duncan, you're starting to freak me out a bit." Gwen said, but I could see the slightest bit of pink rising to her cheeks. Pink? She's blushing? "What the hell..." I said under my breath. "Hmm?" Gwen asked. "Nothing." I said quickly.
"10 MORE YOU LAZY BUMS!!" Chef shouted.
3... 2... 1... "DONE!" I burst out, and let my arms collapse. Gwen did the same. I heard several other bodies drop to the ground with exhaustion. Harold was hyperventilating, Justin just sat there looking "pretty", not having to do one push up, I'm pretty sure Owen passed out, and all the rest, I don't know.
Chef announced, "NOT. GOOD. ENOUGH! GO RUN AROUND THE ISLAND, MAGGOTS!! MOVE MOVE MOVE!!"
"The things the army will do to you," Gwen snickered to me when we were away from the camp. "You said it." I replied. Trent suddenly appeared next to Gwen. "Hey," I said calmly to him. "Who are you again?" Trent asked. I don't blame him for forgetting my name. It's only been a few days since we arrived at camp. "Duncan. Nice to meet you, I think." and I shook hands with him. He gripped my hand hard, like he was angry. His face looked happy, but I could see in his face that he was furious. What, did he think I was gonna steal his girl or something? Gwen and I are just fri-... acquaintances. "I think I better catch up with Courtney. Laters, guys." I winked at Gwen when Trent wasn't looking, she winked back, and I sped up to catch Courtney by the arm. "AHH!" She shouted. Heather looked over at me. She examined my face. Probably looking at the piercings and stuff. She scoffed and kept running, her eyes straight forward.
I felt a twinge in my gut. That made me feel... weird... I don't know how to explain it, like, it hurts! In my gut. My gut hurts. :(
"Duncan, eyes on me! Pay attention!" Courtney said. My head snapped in her direction. "That's my Dunkey." She said smiling. Courtney kissed me and sped off. God, she's hot.

- - - - - - - - - -

About an hour later, I got back to the start. Harold passed out, Trent is crying, Heather is furious and shouting useless stuff at the sky about Chris, Courtney is rubbing her feet, DJ is petting his new pet bunny, er, Bunny, Geoff is trying to make a move on Bridgette who's trying to help Harold regain consciousness, and Gwen is just sitting on a rock, drawing. Chef announced there is going to be no elimination tonight because Chris wasn't here, and this really wasn't a challenge. It was a challenge to our strength and able-to-stay-alive-plucky-stick-to-itiveness, uh, gland, but not like a competition challenge.
Thank God, I thought.