Class the Next Day

Derek sat in class, flipping his pen, his mind still on Mark and Addison, specifically Addison. The one girl he's liked in years and of course Mark got her first. No love lost I guess.

"This seat taken?" Derek was startled by the soft voice coming from behind him.

"Addison? Hi!" Derek reacted startled, knocking his pen off his desk.

"Let me get that." Bending down first, Addison's hair fell across Derek's face, the scent of flowers evident, and overwhelming. "Here you go."

"Thank you. And no, this seat isn't taken."

"Great. Derek, you seem nervous." She told him, smiling.

"No, its nothing. Just nervous about this test I guess." And you.

"We will figure it out…together. I was thinking we could get dinner after tonight, if you're free."

"Don't you have plans with Mark?" Derek asked, slightly jealous.

"Well why would I be asking?" Addison replied.

"Sounds great then." Before their conversation could continue, the professor began his lecture. That, however, didn't stop Addison from passing her neighbor notes. Mostly funny comments about his lecture style, each arising a laugh from Derek. Waiting for the perfect thing to say to impress her, Derek finally returned her notes with one of his own. Slightly dirty, it made Addison laugh so loud that their professor noticed.

"Problem, Miss Montgomery?"

"No sir, I apologize."

"Okay then. Getting back to protocol…." Derek snickered at Addison's bright red face, getting an elbow for his trouble.

"Ow!"

"Jerk."

"You don't mean that."

"No, I don't. But you're still a pain." Addison and Derek remained quiet the rest of class, both occasionally passing lingering glances at the other when they thought they could.

Two Days Pre-Exam (Addison's Room)

"Derek, I can't study anymore!" Addison said, slamming her book emphatically.

"Yes you can. Addi we have one more day before the test and we are both going to be ready. Why don't we take, like a power nap, and then start again? Agreed?"

"Fine, but only because you asked nicely."

"Where's your roommate?"

"Sleeping at her boyfriend's. Place is all ours." Addison shouted behind her, moving some other books off her bed. Derek followed slowly, unsure of what to do. Addison saw his uncertainty, and back traced her steps to take his hand.

"Lie down. I'm just going to disconnect the phone. If this is purely a power nap, I don't want any interruptions. She jogged to the living room, and Derek carefully lay down on her bed. Putting his head on her pillow, he was overtaken by the smell of her radiating from it. He closed his eyes, and before Addison could even return, he was out cold.

"What time should I set my…" Before she could finish, she found Derek asleep rather soundly. She paused in the doorway, in awe of how peaceful he was. Quietly moving over to join him, she carefully laid down with her back to his stomach. She moved his left arm to drape over her waist, and fell asleep.

Derek awoke first, with a full head of red hair in his face. He was disoriented, but quickly noticed where he was. There bodies had become intertwined during their nap, and Addison looked beautiful asleep. Peaking at the clock, it was nearly 11 and they had to wake up. He couldn't put into words how upset that made him.

Results Day

"Derek, I failed. I know it."

"Addison, you have to chill. Stop pacing. You're making me nervous."

"You should be nervous. This is our last major grade before applying to internships: get nervous!"

"Addi, Addi, breathe!" He took her by the shoulders and forced eye contact on her. He was staring deep into her eyes' greenness, and it was mesmerizing. "Thank you. Now, what should we do to celebrate?"

"Derek…" Before she could finish her thought, the professor walked out with the scores. "Oh man, I think I'm going to be sick."

"Would you like me to look first?"

"Yes please." Derek waited for the crowd to die down, and evaluated the list. He scanned for his name, and hers. He found them both, and spun around to report.

"And?" Addison questioned nervously.

"Well I did fabulous. You, on the other hand…" Seeing the color in her beautiful face drop, he decided the joke was over. "Did better. I got 92, you a 94."

"What? Oh my god!" She ran over to him and literally jumped into his arms. "I can't believe it." Finally processing the good news, she stepped back and smacked Derek very hard. "That was an awful trick."

"Ow! God for a girl you really know how to hit. I'm sorry. Forgive me?" He flashed her his signature puppy dog face and she couldn't help but surrender.

"Fine, but dinner's on you."

"Dinner?"

"We have to celebrate. Unless you have plans?"

"No, nothing. Where should we go?"

"Don't know. You pick." Addison got her stuff together and swung her arm through his as they walked out the doors of the building. Although she was technically Mark's girlfriend, Derek couldn't help but love her. Every moment they spent together, she inadvertently charmed her more. All he wanted to do was kiss her, deeply and passionately. He couldn't, and he knew that. For now, just friends was going to have to do.