fire & ice

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mb;

I'm not going to lie—I almost didn't show up. I spent a good fifteen minutes in the parking lot trying to convince myself of all the reasons why I should walk into that restaurant and listen to Derrick Harrington's excuses for ignoring me completely. But here's the thing, it's Derrick Harrington I'm speaking about. He's not just some boy… he's my friend and I don't want to leave this world with grudges.

So that leads to present day, where I'm awkwardly sitting across the table, in a booth, from Derrick. We both seem to have the same idea as to avoiding awkward-eye-contact.

"I'm sorry," he finally blurted, at last looking up and trying to meet eyes. I gaze up, by accidently looking into his anxious eyes. Our gazes match.

He leans a little closer his, his face becoming very, very serious. "I don't really know how to explain this," he said, struggling for some words. "But I really care about you and I can't stomach the idea of you dying. You're too young to die."

He paused again, his next words barely coming out in a whisper, "And I really, really don't want you to die."

My face must've melted at this point because he begins to shift uncomfortably. I contemplate my next words, ignoring the shuffling strangers surrounding us.

"I tried not to grow close to anyone when I first came," I admitted quietly.

"Because you didn't want to hurt anyone," he nodded, clearly understanding my point of view.

"—but the thing is," I interrupted. "People like you, Skye, Josh—you all make it so difficult to not grow close."

He seemed to wince at the names listed; Josh.

"What are you guys?" He asked after another silent pause.

"What do you mean?" I played dumb.

He rolled those chocolaty eyes and I resisted the urge to ogle. "What are you two?"

I felt my cheeks burn, "Friends."

"With benefits," Derrick coughed.

We grinned at each other now, our smiles reaching our eyes. The rest of our talk became lighter and clearer.

"Jealous," I retorted.

"Admitting," he snidely replied with laughter in his eyes.

"Jealous,"

"Admitting,"

"Jealous!

"Admitting!"

-:-

dh;

"Josh," I pulled him aside in the hallway, hoping that I wouldn't regret my next words. "I think we need to talk."

Josh smirked at me. "Giving up so easily already, D?"

His words were biting and obviously reeking sarcasm and victory.

"No," I blurted, irritation burning in my face. He's infuriating.

"Then what's there to talk about? I have a lunch date with her now," he retorted, his cocky grin never fading. I shoved him over closer to the lockers.

"Play fair."

And as quickly as I came, I side-stepped him and speed-walked to the cafeteria hoping to escape.

-:-

Lunch was infuriating as well. The entire time, Josh and Massie were talking and she'd occasionally (often) would glance in my direction, catch my stare and abruptly turn away without another word. She'd laugh and smile half-heartedly at Josh as he would gesticulate enthusiastically.

It was clear she wasn't into it.

Skye and Danny were whispering to each other and every time I looked in their direction, I felt the sudden need to look away because I felt intrusive. Kemp and Plovert were rating girls that strutted by with mouths full of food and lust burning in their greedy eyes.

Cam was the only one who wasn't really there. He physically sat next to me, to my right, but he didn't really seem to actually be there. He was too busy gawking at Claire Lyons.

I had no idea what he saw in her; she was blonde. She's cute, I guess, but not worth ogling over. It was a turn-off that she followed Dylan Marvil like a puppy-dog.

Then there was Dylan Marvil. She didn't take no for an answer.

-:-

"Der," she practically purred, leaning a little too close for comfort. Dylan Marvil= annoying.

"I'm not interested," I half-mindedly said. We sat in English class, her invading my personal space, Massie a few rows in front of us, and Dylan every-so-often would shoot girl-daggers at the back of Massie's head.

"You don't need to be so mean either," I added irritably.

Dylan scoffed, rolling her cat-like eyes and tossing her red hair behind her shoulder, valley-girl style. "Not my fault Mah-ssie Buh-lock is an LBR,"

"An LB—what?"

"LBR," Dylan snorted, ignoring the teacher's warning-glare.

I shook my head.

-:-

"Dudes," Josh boasted. "There's a dance coming up,"

"Yes!" Kemp cheered, punching his fist into the air. "Now I can finally get some action; I'm tired of watching you and Massie hookup." He pouted as I winced.

Why did I even care? Oh that's right, I have a bet to win…

"Is it formal?" Cam asked hopefully, glancing at the girl's table a few tables over.

"Yep," Danny plopped into the booth. Slice of Heaven was known for its delicious pizza. Kemp stuffed his face with two more pieces.

"What about dates?" I found myself asking, trying to ignore Josh's heavy set eyes.

"I heard there was this new computer system thing," Cam offered.

"What do you mean, Fisher?" Josh demanded, his eyes wavering over towards Massie and Skye's table.

"They have this new system where you fill in your personal interests and stuff and you get matched up through the computer for dates," Cam said, his multi-colored eyes once again glancing towards Dylan's group.

Cam really had the hots for this girl, huh?

"Yeah, right," Josh dismissed it easily, waving a hand and using the other to pick up a slice of meatball pizza.

"It's true," Plovert confirmed.

"Shit," Josh mumbled. He looked up and met my challenging stare.

Game on.

-:-

mb;

"What kind of school does that?" I asked, rubbing my temples once again. Skye bit her cheese pizza and chewed. I sipped my water in the meantime.

"—our school apparently,"

"Is it new?" I said.

"Yeah," she nodded and sipped her coke, glancing towards the boy's table. I followed her blue cornflower eyes. She caught Danny's eye and the boys waved us over.

I dejectedly followed at her heels with no choice.

"Hey Massie, hear about the dance?" Josh asked the minute I got there. I found myself watching Derrick's next moves. He just sat and suddenly his piece of half-eaten pizza became very fascinating.

"Yeah," I shortly said, my magnetic gaze still watchfully observing Derrick's lack of enthusiasm. He finally glanced up and gaped at me with those brown eyes.

We seemed to know exactly what we were both thinking; Josh is being annoyingly persistent. He offered a smile and I matched his without effort.

"I was thinking we should go together," Josh smugly said, his eyes looking intently in Derrick's direction. Derrick stood up abruptly and nodded at me briefly and turned for the exit.

"Be right back," I blurted, chasing towards Derrick's frame.

We stood outside for a moment, the parking lot busy and jam-packed. I recognized a few students from my classes making their way into the popular restaurant.

"So," I said with a small smile.

"Are you going to go with him?" Derrick wasted no time.

I shook my head. "I don't date, which includes dates—even for dances; no exceptions."

He nodded again. "Not even I can be an exception?" He locked eyes and his eyes glinted with mischief, half-serious, half-joking.

"Not even you," I playfully agreed.

He pouted and looked at his feet with a wounded expression washing over his handsome face.

Then he glanced up at me again and he smiled deviously. "We'll see,"

Now that's the Derrick I know and…uh, like.

"Game on, Block,"

I folded my arms across my chest, arching an eyebrow. My head was feeling better today and being around Derrick made my forget all about my stupid head.

"Don't hold your breath," I muttered, turning back for the door.

He stood, not turning around. "Wait,"

I froze again, feeling that this situation was oddly familiar. Déjà vu?

"Yeah?"

I turned around to find him looking very uncomfortable. Something glittered in his eyes but it quickly disappeared.

"Never mind," he flashed me a winning smile and stepped closer to me. He was really, really close. I could feel his warm breath on my face; he smelled like mint and Old Spice cologne.

"Move," he breathed, our eyes locked, our lips inches apart. I briefly thought for a moment contemplating the idea of moving my face just another two inches closer. But he didn't give me a chance because he slipped in faster than I could probably blink.

I was shell-shocked for another ten seconds until recognition sunk in. I stuck my tongue at his retreating figure and stood outside the building for a moment trying to calculate the pace of my beating-heart. Why was it beating so rapidly?

"Derrick Harrington—you suck." I mumbled to myself.

Glancing at the sky and swiftly thinking of dad (and my bad-luck), I pulled open the glass door to Slice of Heaven and sauntered in.

Two could play at this game.

(it takes two to tango)

-:-

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-another moment gone-