Chapter Three

I climbed into his car, fastened my seatbelt and began to relax. After all, I had known Derek near enough my whole life. Well, actually my whole life living here. He was there when I lost my first tooth, he was there when I learnt to ride my bike and as gross as it seems, he was even there when I got my first period. So we pretty much know anything and everything about each other, so why did it feel so odd?

He pulled out of the school car park and head towards his, he turned and smiled at me before lifting one hand off the steering wheel and placing it on mine.

His touch made my body tingle, a pleasant tingle, like fireworks were going off inside me, just not as intense.

I smiled as he stroked the tips of his fingers against mine.

"You alright Soph? You seem pretty quiet." He said locking his fingers round mine, gently squeezing my hand.

I looked at his hand over mine then back up at him, I looked into his big blue eyes.

"I'm fine Derek, why wouldn't I be?" I said innocently as I stroked my thumb against his hand.

Even though we were just friends before today I'd held his hand before, but it felt so different. A good different though. I'd never felt the tingles before, the fireworks going off inside me or the pleasantness of him touching me.

That was all he said to me the whole ride to his. The rest of the ride was in silence, it wasn't awkward though. Not an awkward silence where you don't know whether to say something or not, it was nice. I was completely comfortable around him, definitely a benefit.

Before I knew it he'd stopped the car and we were parked outside his. He gave my hand a gentle squeezing before unbuckling his seatbelt and climbing out of the car. I unfastened my seatbelt and climbed out of the car as well. He came round taking hold of my hand again, it was like he didn't want to let go.

Like he couldn't stand my hand not being linked with his, the feeling was mutual.

He led me inside his and we sat in the living room. Usually side by side, lounging next to each other. Not this time. I cuddled up to him, his arm around me, my head resting on his chest, our bodies pressed together.

He stroked his hand through my hair gently as we watched television.

"I'm so glad you said yes Soph. I'd been meaning to ask you for a while, I just didn't know how to. What with you always being with Jamie Lyn and the girls nowadays."

As soon as the mention of me hanging round with Jamie Lyn a lot nowadays and not spending as much time with Derek made me feel guilty. It was horrid. I couldn't stand the fact that I had been leaving Derek out of my life to hang out with Jamie Lyn.

"I'm really sorry about that, you know you can always ring or text me whenever? I'll always reply, I've known you longer than Jamie Lyn, the last thing I want is to push you out of my life just to-" He gently put his finger to my lips and chuckled.

"Stop rambling Soph, it's fine. I understand, honest." He smiled down at me as I looked up at him my head still resting on his chest.

"Thank you." He gently stroked my back as we stayed there looking into each others eyes.

Derek had gorgeous eyes, big, blue eyes. That sparkled like stars when he smiled.

Oh but his smile, his smile was even better!

"Soph, you are comfortable with us dating right?" I snapped out of my daydream when he broke the silence. I wanted to cry out that of course I was, I've been waiting for him to ask me for not months but years. I didn't though.

"Derek, I am completely comfortable around you. I know you so well. Which makes me even more comfortable being your girlfriend." He smiled stroking my cheek gently.

"Thank you Soph," It was my turn to smile then.

His phone beeped loudly as it vibrated on the wooden table. I looked over at it as a name flashed on the screen. A girls name.