As always thank you for being so kind! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. :)


Penelope would have been lying if she said she wasn't at least a little surprised when Derek asked her to tutor him. She was very confident but she was also very familiar with the classic chubby nerd girl and jock stereotypes. She didn't fully believe in stereotypes but she had also spent most of her high school life being bullied and/or completely ignored by the football jocks. Even though she knew people were all different it still stuck in the back of her mind. Later that day, after Derek had come over, her brother got home from football practice.

"Who are these from, P? Your booooyffrriieennnd?" Bruno teased her from the kitchen.

"No," she said walking in from the den "They're from Derek. He asked me to tutor him in English."

"Is that so?" he asked her with a little smirk.

"Yeah. He's an alright guy right? Like he's not one of those jocks who is ninety percent beef and ten percent brain, is he?" She was suddenly a bit apprehensive about this whole thing.

Bruno chuckling at the idea set her back at ease. "No, don't get me wrong he's a bit of a ladies man but he's a good guy. He is here on a football scholarship from Chicago but he is also into the academics."

"oh, okay. Good." She said with a small smile.

"Just make sure you two stick to studying."

"Just make sure who sticks to studying?" Lucas asked as he walked in and put his gym bag down.

"Derek and Pen. She agreed to tutor him." Bruno said as he gave his brother a look.

Lucas practically whipped around to face his sister. "Really?! Well Penny," he said as he became a bit less dramatic " Bruno is right. If you break his heart he'll be no use to the football team and they have some pretty big games coming up."

She just rolled her eyes and went to her room. "You're both ridiculous." She called over her shoulder.

Now she was sitting in the library waiting for him and she was unusually nervous. There was no reason to be, she was just helping him out with his english work. She decided to read while she waited, she checked her bag but she couldn't find her book. She always carried bags that were just a tad too big. By the time she located the book she had covered over half of the table with her things. Not worried about it she started to read. About five minutes later Derek showed up. They talked about why he was taking this particular English class. She mentioned that she had taken it last year and how even though numbers were her thing Shakespeare seemed to click for her.

"Oh, so you can just give me the answers then, right?" he joked with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

"Absolutely not Mr. Morgan, you're gonna have to work for those answers." She didn't mean for it to come out and sound like an innuendo but it did and before she could correct herself he leaned in just a tad closer and replied

"Oh yeah, what kind of work am I gonna have to do Ms. Garcia?" his expression had changed as he finished his sentence. It wasn't as soft or innocent as it was a few seconds ago.

Just as she was about to answer her phone started ringing very loudly from next to her on the table. She looked it then stood up to take it in the outside. He was slightly disappointed they didn't get finish their little conversation but as he went to sigh she turned around.

"We'll just have to see about that won't we?" She said with a wink and an innocent smile as she answered her phone. "Hey, mom! Hold on just a second."

She waited until she was outside of the library to talk to her mom. Mrs. Garcia was calling about the family dinner they had planned for that Sunday, every Sunday actually. This week was Penelope's turn to help out with dinner. After a brief conversation with her mom she went back into the library. As she walked toward the back of the library, where Derek was sitting, she felt a little flustered. What was it about him that made her want to be a bit less innocent than she normally was?

"Sorry about that." She said sitting back down across from him.

"No problem. It was a good reminder to call my own mom." He said with a chuckle.

"Are you close?" she asked, she was genuinely interested in him and his backstory.

Derek was a little surprised. Not many people got to know him very well since he moved here. Partly because he was generally a bit closed off but the other part was that not many people were interested. He hadn't had any serious relationships, aside from a few friendships, since he had arrived. Ninety nine percent of the girls he hooked up with were just that, a hook up. "Yeah, it's just been me, my mom, and sisters since we were all pretty young."

"Bruno mentioned that you're from Chicago, it must be tough being so far away for so long." The look in her eyes was one of compassion and curiosity. Like she wasn't just asking him but it was her problem as well. It made him feel as if he could tell her anything and she would accept him completely. He hadn't felt that before, not with someone outside his immediate family at least.

"It is. I've never been away for this long so I worry sometimes. I can't wait for winter break." He smiled as best he could, he didn't want to be a complete downer. "I can't wait to get back for some of that deep dish pizza." He said to lighten up the conversation.

"Oh! There is an amazing pizza place about two blocks from here." She said excitedly. "They have the best pineapple and olive pizza around!" He scrunched up his face a bit. "I know, I know. Gross. But it's actually really good."

"I guess you'll have to show me some time." He said with that small smirk of his.

"How about Friday night after the game?" she said before she could even register what she was saying.

"Works for me."

"Speaking of work we have to get cracking on this English, mon cher." She reached over and took his textbook.

"Or you can just keep speaking French to me." he teased as he leaned forward a bit. She just smirked at him and then looked back down at the textbook. She wasn't the blushing type but when he gave her that look she wanted to melt.

About an hour later they finished up. Derek shoved the few things he had into his backpack while Penelope started to put her things back into her purse. "So I guess we can just meet up here after the game on Friday and walk over?" She said as he stood up and stretched a little.

"It's a date. Thanks again, Penelope." He said with a smile as he turned around and headed to the exit.

"You're welcome." she replied but it was unlikely he heard her as she practically whispered it. Did he say date? Was it just an expression or was it a date? Was she going on a date with him? A date?!