Despite his low GPA, Derek felt like a king at school. Maybe it was the leather jacket, or the looks he got from girls. He walked down the hallways and students parted like he was Moses and they were the Red Sea. He'd give a nod to guys from the hockey team, a half smile at any girl he thought was pretty, and would avert his eyes as much as possible when he saw his Spanish teacher. For the most part, he knew everyone and everyone knew him.
Except for her.
A newbie. She stuck out like a sore thumb. She carried all of her textbooks in her arms and balanced her notebook precariously on top. When she got to her locker, she gingerly put them all on the ground in front of her. Pulling out a folded paper from her jeans pocket, she started fiddling with her locker.
Derek noticed her immediately. She was more poised than the other girls at school. Despite her gawky nature, there was a grace about her that made him panic. She carried herself too well to be fooled by him.
But he could still try.
"Let me help you with that," he said, swooping in with a smile. He grabbed the paper from her hands and with a few spins the metal door came open.
"Thanks," she said with a laugh. "I'm kind of new to the whole locker thing."
"Homeschooled?" he asked.
"Private school," she said. "All girls, tiny classes. Super competitive."
"Well, I certainly wouldn't mind going to an all girls school," he said. "I'm Derek, by the way."
"I'm Casey," she said. She extended a small, manicured hand toward him and shook with strength and comfort.
Derek had never shaken hands with a girl when they first met. He wasn't sure how to take the interaction. Before he could crack a joke about it, the bell rang.
"Well, is better get going. Wouldn't want to be late for my first class. It was nice to meet you," Casey said, propping the first of her books on her hip and shutting her locker.
"Yeah, I'll see you around," said Derek.
He watched her walk back down the hallway. Being late was the standard for Derek. Any less than five minutes late was too early to be in class.
Sam put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey D, who's the new girl?"
Sam was Derek's best friend. They were practically inseparable. Whatever girl Derek couldn't pick up, Sam usually could. If neither of them wanted her, they'd hand her off to Raph.
"Her names Casey," Derek replied. "I rescued her from the evils of a stuck locker." He leaned against the lockers and out his hands on his hips, imitating Superman.
"Wow. Well, let me know when I should, you know, take her out," said Sam.
"What do you mean?" asked Derek.
"Come on man, she's not really your type. She's obviously a goody-goody. A nerd. More up my alley," said Sam.
"Oh Sam, you underestimate my charm," said Derek, mockingly. "I could get a nerd, no problem."
"Okay," said Sam. "If you're so sure in your abilities, let's put a little wager on it then. Twenty bucks if you can score her number by the end of the semester."
"I can do it by the end of the month." said Derek, heading down the hallway. "And Sam, make it a hundred bucks!"
"You got a deal!" Sam yelled down the hallway.
As Derek took his seat in the back of geometry, he thought about what he would do with the money he would easily win in this bet. Maybe some concert tickets? Maybe put it towards a new stereo for his room?
His thought process was soon interrupted when a familiar face appeared in the front of the class.
"Sorry I'm late," she said to Mr. Moriarty. "I'm Casey, I'm new."
"Miss McDonald?" Mr. Moriarty asked. "Take a seat wherever you can find one."
"Thanks," said Casey, but before she could find her seat she tripped over the projectors extension cord and managed to bring it down with her as she sailed into the carpet.
Oh yeah, Derek thought. Easy money.