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When Gwen first broke up with Trent, she won't lie and say that it didn't push a weight off her chest. Admittedly, it was one of the best things she could've done for herself and especially him.
Was she still sad though? Absolutely.
Trent was like a love interest in a stereotypical high school romance movie. He knew how to play guitar, he was welcoming towards everyone, and he wasn't extraordinary but not boring. Trent was the love interest that every girl wanted. The type where you had the option to choose him or the asshole jock and Trent would win because he was the 'better' option. Trent was the guy you'd date in high school and then marry as soon you turned eighteen and become known as 'high-school sweethearts' and then die being known as the wife of Trent.
Trent was a good guy. Gwen knew that, he knew that, the fan-girls he got after the first season knew that, and all the people she suffered through on the damn island knew that.
When she first met him, it was practically love at first sight. He had a guitar, he had a laid back demeanor, and he liked the color midnight blue just as much as she did! When they first started dating Gwen thought she could die of happiness. Getting with a guy who liked her for she was and he was cool as shit was meant to be.
It wasn't.
Gwen knew as soon as Heather pulled the shit show she did to 'sabotage' their relationship, (which who fucking does that?) that they weren't going to last as long as she thought they would.
Or at least, things wouldn't be the same as before.
Because, how could they let someone immediately damage something new? And Gwen had to go fuck it up even more by not even confronting him and went and cried to Leshawna like a middle schooler who went off and told Duncan, and Duncan being Duncan went and spread that shit like wildfire. He's a good friend, don't get Gwen wrong. But he was a chatterbox who was known by all and despised by majority. And weirdly loved by Courtney? Courtney's too cute to be with an ass like him.
Sure, they fixed it (at least they thought they did). But it shifted their relationship since. It was evident when they properly started dating. Which was after Gwen won season 1. Gwen wanted to date Trent when the show was over and done to get to know Trent outside of cameras. Have more intimate moments without it being televised.
Their first kiss was on television, which was annoying since it was supposed to be a them moment.
But of course, nothing went Gwen's way.
It was like a train wreck that just kept wrecking.
Like when Gwen first dared to ever come to Trent's house, his parents didn't wanna let her in. At all. They knew who she was, she knew that they knew. So it fucking confused her why they stopped her at the door and spent the next five minutes staring at her like she was some freak show until Trent came and they moved along.
They did this every fucking time she visited. They made it clear they didn't like Gwen in numerous ways, which resulted in Trent usually coming over. Which brought another issue.
Her brother fucking hated Trent. Her mother was normal about Trent, being polite and being on her way. But her brother? Fuck no.
Whenever Trent would stay for dinner he'd make snide comments that Gwen would have to kick him in the shins for. And God fucking forbid if she left Trent alone for five minutes.
Her brother would come and fuck with Trent as soon as she left. Weather it be pantsing him or telling him that he wouldn't last long and end up like her other nonexistent boyfriends.
She beat her brother's ass so many times for Trent she couldn't even keep count after a certain time.
So their families didn't like each other much. The first train wreck in the relationship.
Then, Trent was constantly paranoid about the state of their relationship.
Ok, Trent wasn't the only person paranoid, Gwen was paranoid as hell too. I mean, Heather kissed him and he kissed back. She had every right to be paranoid. Then the fan girls he gained after the show because he was such 'boyfriend' material made Gwen feel even more on edge.
Trent was notably worse in that regard though.
Whenever she'd text someone he'd have to know who she was texting. If she was walking into a establishment and there was a door for entrance he just had to hold it in case some guy tried to get there first. He'd also randomly ask her if his look mattered to her since she was a goth and goths don't usually date guys like him.
That last one makes Gwen feel bad thinking about honestly, it also probably what made him start being paranoid about Duncan since Gwen was still cool with him after the show. In Gwen's defense she was cool with all her friends and Duncan was not the only guy in her phone!
Ok, that sounds bad but not in that way.
Like Gwen said though, it was just a train wreck that kept on wrecking.
Then the second season of total drama was calling for the previous contestants back. Gwen was excited that she could see her friends again and she could potentially win money again. It was definitely less likely nowadays, but that was the fun and thrill of it!
Yeah, everything went to fucking shit.
Trent started acting like a fucking obsessive weirdo and fighting for Gwen (HER) to win instead of his damn self. Then Trent constantly being worried about Duncan. Which was insane.
This is Duncan. The Duncan whose so in love with Courtney that he has a photo of her underneath his bed. The same Duncan whose annoyed Gwen by making them randomly meet up when everyone was sleeping to talk about Courtney.
It was definitely because he was punk wasn't it? Damn it. Aesthetics didn't matter Trent! It doesn't!
Despite Trent randomly going downhill in the relationship and revealing new information Gwen should've been knew about (like, the nine thing. Shouldn't she know as his girlfriend what that meant instead of Duncan joking about what it could be?). Gwen herself also had her faults.
She wasn't much of a communicative person. Gwen could admit, she was confrontational. She was quick to check Heather and defend herself. But, actual communication? She lacked in.
She lacked in a lot of things. Like, trust, a willing to understand, and so on.
Trent was a good guy, he was a weird guy, but a good guy nonetheless.
A guy Gwen couldn't handle. If she didn't break up with him now, she would've done it later or sooner.
So yeah, after everything there was relief in her chest. Which of course, was immediately taken away due to Justin and his team being on her ass for what Trent fucking did. He threw challenges for Gwen when she didn't ask him to and that was biting her in the ass.
Thanks Trent.
Justin was also trying to get her to throw challenges and she sort of tried but she also didn't because she had high hopes for her team and didn't wanna ruin it. And, she'd prefer if she didn't get voted out.
Even though she knew that was going to happen eventually. She didn't know if she wanted it to happen immediately.
So yeah, that brings her to now. Why she was crying alone somewhere secluded from the trailers. Crying in her pajamas and her hair was a mess. At least this area thankfully had no camera because how weird and sort of far away it seemed.
She just wanted to be a fun teenager on a dumb TV show with her dumb teenage friends, but life decides to kick her ass every time.
This was embarrassing to cry over a guy. Is Trent worth crying over? Probably. Fucking probably.
As Gwen wiped her tears she had a low voice come from behind her. "Gwen?"
Gwen recognized that voice.
She hurriedly wiped her eyes to stop any tears from falling. Along with wiping her cheeks at the previous ones. She desperately hoped her face didn't look puffy and red. Gwen was a horribly puffy crier. It made her look ugly.
She turned her head to look at DJ who was looking at her with a concerned look on his face along with a frown.
She really didn't wanna him to see her like this. If it anyone else she'd be embarrassed of course, but DJ? She always presented herself in a certain way in front of DJ. Confident and sure of herself but friendly and always ready for his bomb ass food.
So her crying in front of him? Embarrassing as shit.
"Are you ok?" He asked at the same time she asked "Why are you here?"
They looked at each other for a few seconds. Blinking dumbly at each other.
"You can go-"
"I wasn't gonna-"
"No seriously-"
"Gwen it's-"
They just stopped talking completely as they both realized talking over each other and interrupting each other wasn't going to work.
Gwen felt embarrassment heating through her veins as seconds dragged on. Especially since DJ was looking at her in such a understanding way. Whenever she slightly averted her gaze and looked back he look at her as if she didn't look crazy as hell right now.
God, she probably looked like shit and she couldn't even cover it with makeup. She wasn't even wearing it. Because, who wears makeup to sleep? Other than maybe Lindsey.
"Gwen." DJ said which broke Gwen from her thoughts and back onto DJ. He spoke so softly, it was similar to how someone would talk to like a toddler or something.
Gwen shuffled awkwardly. Her legs were crossed before DJ got here, but now they were folded up close together near her chest. Her arms folding over them as if she was trying to protect herself. If she subtly shuffled closer inside herself than that was her business.
"Yeah?" She replied with the most casual voice she could muster. While also trying not to directly look at DJ and look behind him. If she could she'd look through him.
"What's wrong? You don't look… Great?" He asked, his second statement meant to come off as an observation, but it formed into a question. It was probably because he noticed how shitty she looked.
At least DJ was trying to be nice about it.
It still made her snort though. "I mean yeah, I was expecting to.. not look great." Gwen felt awkward as shit. It was why she turned her gaze to look forward instead of at DJ. She got a good view of the trailers and the fake ass setups.
DJ shuffled a bit closer to her, which couldn't have been comfortable for his legs on the grass. Gwen couldn't tell if the grass was fake or not. Maybe the grass was a bit of both? It was the 'Action' season as Chris liked to say so it wouldn't be out the question.
DJ got close enough to Gwen that they were shoulder to shoulder. Well, sort of. Gwen's shoulder still met at DJ's arm because the guy was admittedly huge. But, they were close enough that DJ could easily shift closer and they'd be touching.
"You know what I meant." DJ replied easily. "What's wrong? Something must be horribly wrong if you look like a kicked puppy."
Gwen finally looked from the scenery in front of her to peek up at DJ, who was looking down at her with a smile so welcoming, it was weird it was being directed at her.
Did she even deserve something like that from him?
"I mean, it's stupid." Gwen muffled into her legs, averting her gaze but keeping her face in his direction.
"Not stupid if you're crying like this." DJ shot back.
Damn, he got her there.
She sighed in defeat. True, Gwen wasn't an easy crier.
She fully moved her head back to where her legs were. "I'm crying over Trent." She mumbled so lowly she knew damn well he couldn't hear it.
"What?" Yeah, she was expecting that.
"I'm crying over Trent." She mumbled a bit louder.
DJ was quite for a moment.
"I still have no idea what you're saying."
Great.
Gwen pushed her head from her legs and turned to DJ.
"I'M CRYING OVER FUCKING TRENT!" She yelled so loud, that it probably woke up the others even with how far she presumably was from them.
Gwen set her hands down, that she didn't even notice that she put up and looked at DJ who seemed to be processing her words.
It seemed to click for him after a few seconds.
"Oh, well. That makes sense. How come you're crying though?" DJ offered her a comforting, but semi confused smile. "You broke up with him."
Gwen frowned. "I mean yeah, but there was a REASON!"
DJ thought about this, "Is the reason why you're crying?"
She blinked at him a few times. "Well, yeah."
"Then start there. I want to understand, Gwen. I can't understand with no context."
Oh, well. DJ got her there.
She straight up didn't wanna tell him anything. It was still embarrassing that Gwen told him why she was crying. Why make even more of a fool of herself?
But, she was already here. And, so was he.
"No judgment" She asked as she stuck out her pinkie.
"No judgment." He agreed and wrapped his pinkie around hers.
His pinkie was nice and warm.
Gwen sighed, albeit a bit dramatically as she crossed her legs again. "There were meaning things building up to our breakup. But, what broke the camel's back was him throwing challenges for me so our team could win."
She could see DJ's face process her words. His face shifted into a multitude of things, but settled on puzzlement. Which was valid since he wasn't aware of this, just the breakup, but he urged her to go on.
"Along with the whole fucking nine thing. I sorta knew about it beforehand because we were dating obviously. It was always just like a lucky number or like he'd get nine cubes of sugar in his coffee you know?"
DJ nodded.
"Then on the show all of sudden he's fucking obsessed with the number! And, whenever we got some solid alone time I'd ask 'hey what does that mean?' and he'd be like 'nothing much important' when it clearly was when he was going insane over it."
Ok, rethinking that conversation is making her feel pissed off. If it wasn't that serious then why was it so hard for him to tell her? Did he think she'd judge him or something? He's seen Gwen get puked on during her time on this fucking show. Why was he assuming shit like that?
Or did he think she wouldn't understand?
Gwen couldn't tell which was worse.
Gwen was steadily getting angrier as she thought about it, and that feeling must've shown on her face as she felt a hand rub her back in a comforting manner.
She blinked at DJ and he blinked at her.
He sputtered immediately. "Is that… Is that ok? Sorry, I was just trying to make you feel better and- ugh."
He almost removed his hand but she shook her head which made him still. "It's fine, it's… nice."
It wasn't a lie. His hand was nice against her back. It was pretty warm too. Gwen always had cold skin so this was especially nice.
"Oh, ok." DJ's face was sort of red in the face, and it was making her red in the face.
Yeah this was embarrassing, so she kept talking.
"So yeah, and like before that our relationship was always sort of weird you know? He was always paranoid about the state of our relationship. His parents didn't like me and so on." She paused for a few seconds before continuing. "I wasn't much of a good girlfriend either. I tried, I know I did. It was sort of in vein anyway because I can't fix who I am you know?"
"Gwen…"
Gwen ignored him. She didn't need his pity right now, she wanted his ears if he was going to listen.
"I should've done more to communicate with him and to just be.. I don't know patient? And, there were times I felt like I couldn't trust him just like how he couldn't trust me. When we first started dating it was a little while after he kissed Heather and in a way that kinda shifted how I felt about him. I liked him, but did he really even like me?" She felt something wet drip on her cheek. God, she was crying again. This was embarrassing.
Gwen felt DJ's hands rub into a circular motions. She didn't have to look at him to know he was listening, he let out a encouraging hum.
"That thought was just always on my mind and it didn't make it better as soon as I got home I watched the show. He believed all that shit Heather said about me and barely questioned it. Not even once." Gwen rubbed at her eyes. She wasn't boohoo crying like she was before DJ got here luckily. But, she knew she was horribly close to doing it again the more she spoke. Gwen wasn't an easy crier. But, whenever she cried she used up all her energy for it.
"Then as we got onto this show it was like a test for us I guess. I just wanted to have fun with my friends and everything got so weird so quickly. I couldn't even interact with Duncan with him feeling a way. Which was probably my fault, but I just-" Gwen started stammering over her words as her voice broke. She was full on crying on and couldn't even speak anymore. She couldn't even bring herself to be embarrassed anymore.
She just felt sad, so fucking sad.
She almost forgot DJ was there, until she felt huge ass arms around her, warm ones at that. It made her stop crying, well the tears still fell but her heart wasn't in it as she was confused. Hella confused, till she realized DJ was hugging her. She stilled for a few seconds before she hugged him back. She needed it honestly.
It also made her notice DJ's little sniffles. She peered up at him. She could see how wet his own eyes were, and it made her realize they were kinda close. She was willing to ignore that in favor of other things.
"DJ? You ok?" Gwen questioned, her voice a bit wonky from her previous voice crack. He nodded at her. "I just hate to see my friends cry you know?" Yeah, she did know.
They didn't say anything for a good while. Gwen had to move her hands to wipe away her tears that kept falling while DJ was sniffling quietly. Trying to fight the tears threatening to fall. His arms were never removed from around her. And she liked that.
It took them maybe an hour before they were calm again. Gwen was now nuzzled against his chest, which should've been weird. But DJ was an affectionate friend, and Gwen was recently realizing she was an affectionate friend too. She liked whenever she hugged Duncan or slept in Leshawna's bed because she felt cold. This wasn't different.
"You cool now?" DJ asked, Gwen snorted. "Are you?" That earned her DJ ruffling her already fucked up hair. By the time he was done her hair felt like the time in middle the nurses were checking through her hair for lice since some kid got it and was spreading it. She had no lice, but the nurses sent her back to class with her hair looking like a bird's nest.
"But, seriously. Maybe it was for the best that you and Trent didn't work out." He offered with a small smile. "It was a lesson to be learned; you guys are both growing and you just happened to not be a good match."
Well, he wasn't wrong but damn. "Yeah, you're probably right." He was right, DJ's like, the most emotionally intelligent person she's ever met. Probably the only one actually.
His smile grew. "Plus, who knows? You guys could probably end up reconciling and decide friendship is the best direction for you two." Wow, whenever DJ wasn't a nervous wreck, he sure seemed to be an optimistic guy. It made Gwen smile.
"Hopefully. He's still an asshole for leaving me to clean up his mess." She muttered bitterly. Because, what the hell Trent?
DJ let out a confused noise. "What do you mean?"
"You know how I said he threw challenges for me?"
DJ winced. "Yeah, that's very embarrassing on his part."
"Right!" She exclaimed as she threw up her hands. "But Justin overheard our breakup and I mentioned that to that Trent. And now Justin and his team want me to throw challenges to make up for what Trent did."
DJ was quiet for a moment before muttering a low; "Shit that's bad."
Gwen groaned. She knew. She didn't even ask Trent to do it either. He just did it because he probably thought that was a good boyfriend thing to do. It probably was to some other girl watching the show. Not for Gwen.
"I might surrender next time our team loses." She admitted.
DJ jumped, and since her head was laying on his chest she also jumped against her consent. "Sorry." He gave her an apologetic smile before patting her head as if she was cat disturbed out of their place. She gave him an empathic smile in return.
"You shouldn't have to do that though."
"I'd prefer if Justin didn't torture me and threaten me."
DJ frowned. "We can tell the others, so in case he tries to say something the others would already know." It made Gwen hum in consideration as she thought over it. It wouldn't be bad to try, but that would also mean Gwen was a liability in a way.
"Justin his team assumed I was trying to take Trent to the finals with me, even though I wasn't. What if that's what he tells the others?"
"Gwen," DJ says, weirdly serious that it makes Gwen sit up straight, no longer engulfed in his warmth. "It'll be worse if we don't tell them you know? Just try."
Gwen thought about this. So many things could happen, but at least she'd be trying like DJ said. And, if the team decides to vote her off that'd be fair. She deserved it and she's offering herself up.
She wasn't going to tell DJ that though. Gwen refused to have DJ stress about her. Knowing him, he'd probably try to get himself voted off with the favor of helping her. She didn't want that. DJ deserved more than that.
"Yeah. Yeah, ok." Those seemed to be the right words as DJ smiled at her like she was some heroine in a movie. Which was kind of ironic.
DJ gave her a tight hug that she easily reciprocated. She can't remember the last time her and DJ hugged. They were close, but she was usually occupied with her other friends as was DJ. This was nice, really nice.
"Want me to sneak you some food from Chef's trailer?"
"God, I'd be honored."
As they started to walk there, Gwen realized she had no socks on. How she had not realized sooner was beyond her.
But, because DJ was a sweet guy, he gave her his socks.
Aftermath
"So, Trent." Geoff said smugly, too smugly for anyone's liking. Especially for Trent's. Geoff seemed to be determined to pick with him for the rest of the time he's on this aftermath show. It was probably because of the argument with Bridgette who was in the wrong of the situation that happened with him and Gwen.
Trent forgot that their breakup was broadcast-ed on live television was, frankly, creepy. He understood it a tv show but seriously. Not even intimate moments could be spared? Then again, this was the same show who showed multiple people getting flashed and make out scenes no one asked for. Breakups were just scratching the surface of everything now that he thought about it.
Still, it was weird for Geoff to show their breakup back at Trent like he wasn't there himself. It also still stung.
"Yes, Geoff?" Trent replied easily, despite this Trent wasn't going to let all this break him. He's been through the worst of it (he thought so) so what else was there to it?
"Soooo, you claimed that Gwen and Duncan were too close comfort. Yes?" The easy grin on Geoff's face quickly made Trent skeptical.
"Just them? You didn't think there were any other guy was trying rock her boat?" Geoff pushed, with his eyebrow raising and Trent swears his cheeky grin grew.
Trent looked over at Bridgette who looked just as confused as Trent felt. Where was he going with this?
"No?" Trent answered. His face and tone must've been something to laugh at as Izzy giggled beside him like she knew something he didn't either.
What was going on?
"Well Trent," Geoff started, pushing on that remote that controlled the tv above them. "There's something you may wanna to see."
Everything and everyone were eerily quiet at Geoff brought up a video. Geoff didn't play it right at that second, skipping through a few parts before deciding on one. One where you could clearly see Gwen and DJ. Gwen who was laying on DJ's chest and halfway in his lap.
"Whoa," Cody commented dumbly.
"Whoa indeed my dude, whoa indeed." Geoff said before he played the video.
"But, seriously. Maybe it was for the best that you and Trent didn't work out. It was a lesson to be learned; you guys are both growing and you just happened to not be a good match."
Gwen looked like she was thinking over this in the recording before nodding. "Yeah, you're probably right."
Geoff fast forwarded the video from there. "They talk about pretty boring stuff after that; I think this would be more interesting to show."
The video started up again with Gwen and DJ walking back to the trailers, eating some sandwiches.
"You're such a great cook DJ, if you ever open a restaurant, I'd be the first one ordering." Gwen said before inhaling two of the sandwiches.
DJ's cheeks flushed. "They're just sandwiches Gwen."
"Exactly! What person is able to make sandwiches taste like soul."
Both of them made it back to the trailers, sandwiches all gone and eaten.
Gwen looked at the trailers before looking back at DJ who met her gaze. Gwen shifted awkwardly as she put her hands behind her back.
"Uhm, thanks for being there for me DJ. It was very sweet of you." She said with a smile.
DJ scratched the back of his head with a smile of his own. "Of course, no need to thank me."
Gwen's posture became more relaxed, her smile growing bigger as a subtle blush plastered on her cheeks.
"Well, uh, goodnight."
"Goodnight Gwen."
Gwen walked back inside her trailer; DJ didn't walk back into his until he was sure she was gone.
Geoff stops the video there. He looks from the video and back to Trent. Looking smug as ever.
The audience burst into loud gasps, of both confusion and surprise. Subtle 'awws' could be heard which snapped Trent out of his head space.
Looking straight at Geoff. Who was staring at him with the smuggest fucking look ever.
"Looks like you were jealous of the wrong guy Trent?" Izzy added unhelpfully as she patted his back, Trent would've assumed she was trying to be comforting if she wasn't laughing as if it wasn't the funniest thing ever.
"Well," Bridgette looked over at Courtney. "At least you know Gwen's not after Duncan."
Gwen wasn't after Duncan. She was after DJ.
Fucking DJ.
And in Trent's eyes, that had to be far fucking worse than Duncan.