One of my best friends in the world, Julianne, has invited me to a small family gathering since both of our schedules are clear at the same time in such a long time. We haven't seen one another since a few years before she started on Dancing With The Stars. We grew up in a town just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. We would have crazy sleepovers and talk about EVERYTHING.
My plane finally lands in Salt Lake, and as I am looking for my friend, I notice someone else instead.
"Oh my gosh! Derek?!" I call surprised.
"Kourtney? Little Kourtney Evans?" His eyes look like they were about to pop out of his head.
"Well, I ain't so little anymore, Derek. Where's Julianne?"
"She sent me. She wanted to make sure the house was spotless for you."
"You're kidding?"
"Sadly, no."
"Oh. Well, atleast she sent sent someone possibly reliable." I joke.
"Possibly? If I was only possibly, I probably wouldn't be here. I mean, you are HER friend." I sensed some anger.
"Okay, sorry. I guess we should just go." I say not wanting to start my little vacation on a sour note.
"Sorry, it's just been a rough few days."
"Don't worry about it." I start heading out of the airport. "Lead the way." I follow him to his car.
"Would you like to pick the radio station?" He asks.
"Nah, it's cool." Why I still had a snippy tone in my voice, I am not sure. But, right now, I feel that it is justified.
"Okay. What have you been doing now?"
"Back and forth living in Tampa and New York."
"How about for a living?"
"I choreograph music videos, award shows, concerts, the works."
"You do a lot of traveling?"
"Eh. I guess so."
"Do you still practice ball-"
"Hello?" I answer my phone. "Hey Jules, yeah we are on our way." We talk for a little while longer before hanging up.
"That my sister?" Derek finally speaks up.
"Yeah."
"Checking to see if I got you?"
"Yep."
"Kourtney, I am sorry. Like I said it's been a rough couple of days. I am sure if you and your boyfriend were fighting non-stop you would be a little snappy too. And I apologize because you did nothing wrong." I look over to see the sadness and anger on his face.
"What happened?"
"You know how relationships are."
"Actually, I'm not seeing anyone. In fact, the last boyfriend was my junior year of high school." I laugh.
"Why is that?"
"I don't want anything serious right now. I am a young, adventurous woman. I am not ready to be tied down."
"That's how I need to be I guess."
"Okay, talk to me."
"Another time maybe. We are here." He motions to the residence ahead of us. When the car comes to a stop, I climb out and quickly tackled by my dear friend.
"HAHA! Jules!" I laugh.
"I am so glad you are here. We have so much to talk about and things to do! Let's go eat and catch a movie tonight."
"Okay."
"Then maybe a few drinks."
"Drinks?"
"I said a few."
"Hey, I am game for whatever."
"Okay, go freshen up and change if you want to change. Although, I love that outfit you have on."
"I thought you might." We both grab my bags and carry them inside. We walk to her old room and she looks through all of her clothes she brought while I head to the bathroom to fix my makeup and hair. As I walk out of the bathroom, I slam into Derek's chest.
"I am so sorry."
"It's my fault. I should have checked to see in anyone was in there."
"Well, you have perfect timing. It's all yours." I say as we trade spots, our eyes locked.
"Kourt, please don't hate me." Julianne says walking up behind us.
"Why would I hate you?"
"Ryan just flew in and we have to have a talk. And he only has so much time because of Idol."
"It's fine."
"But I hate that I made plans with y-"
"We can hang." Derek jumps in. Julianne and I both look at him like he lost his damn mind.
"You want to hang out with her?"
"Sure. Why not? I mean, we never really got to know one another and we have known each other for like twenty years."
"Kourt, what do you think? I could always drop you off at your mother's." I look up at Derek.
"No, thanks. Derek is right. We do need to hang out...at least once." Still not believing he just volunteered like that.
"Well, okay. Thanks, Der. Bye, Kourt. I'm still sorry." She says before running off.
"So..." Derek says breaking the long awkward silence that has occurred.
"Still gotta pee, Hough?" I smile.
"Oh, yeah." I walk back to Julianne's room. Within thirty minutes, there was a knock on the bedroom door. "Well, well, well. Look at you." Derek was wearing a white button up shirt with the top few buttons undone and light-colored blue jeans that seemed to fit him like a glove. Not to tight, not to baggy. Wait, am I really checking him out right now?
"You changed."
"Oh, yeah. I thought maybe I shouldn't be so fancy looking." I changed from a gorgeous black cocktail dress with hot pink lace trim along the hemline to a neon green t-shirt that is actually very low-cut and blue jeans.
"You still look ama-um.." he clears his throat.
"Amazing?"
"Yeah. Are you ready?"
"Sure. Where are we going?"
"I thought we would go eat some Mexican food." Oh, if I had only knew...