Written to the prompt - Derek and candy (259 words)
Derek followed Sarah into the principal's office, alien to him now, but oh, so familiar to him when he'd been John's age. He shook his head at that thought, still sometimes struggling to reconcile John Connor at fifteen with John Connor at thirty-five.
Before he could enter the inner sanctum, Sarah turned to him and said, "Stay out here." It was nothing short of a command and Derek took it in stride. Sarah could handle whatever the principal had to say. It was better that he stay in the outer office, keep watch. He nodded and backed up, turned on one heel and took up a post just inside the outer door.
The woman at the desk watched him, gave him a tentative smile that he didn't return. Her open, friendly expression faltered, but she tried again. "Have a piece of candy?" She gestured toward a dish at the edge of her desk, filled with individually wrapped sweets. A sight he hadn't seen in way too many years. He shook his head no, but his eyes stayed on that dish.
Fifteen minutes later, the inner office door opened and Sarah walked out. The principal called to his assistant and she hurried in, almost knocking over her chair in her haste. Derek grinned after her.
"What was that about?" Sarah asked, staring after the spooked assistant.
"I think I make her nervous."
She gave him a long look, a raised brow, and headed for the door. Derek followed, pausing just long enough to scoop that candy into his jacket pocket.
