Chapter 3

Monday at school I'm sitting with Emily and Sam at lunch, as I have been doing since we officially started going out. Derek has yet to show up, as he's convincing someone to buy him lunch. The guy's so incredibly cheap it's amazing. It's not like he doesn't have the money.

"So if you don't want to go to the mall, why are you?" Emily asks Sam.

"I don't know. It's tradition. We always plan each other's birthdays and celebrate together. We've done it since kindergarten. I don't care about Derek planning everything, I just hate shopping."

"Yeah I get that," I respond. "So what would you rather be doing?"

"Honestly, I just want low-key. I'd really like to just hang out with you, probably play video games, and eat a ton of cake while watching movies. Or not exactly watching them, whatever." He adds after a moment's consideration. As much as I would love to consider what we could be doing instead of watching a movie I decide to concentrate on the real point.

"Why don't you ask Derek if you can hang out at our house together. Inevitably, some girl will call him and he'll have to leave the room to take the call. Then you and I can be together."

"I just don't want to hurt him. This night clearly means a lot to him and it won't kill me to withstand the mall. I mean, it can't be worse than the time I planned for us to go to an amusement park for Derek's birthday and he ended up making out with some girl who operated one of the rides for half an hour while I wandered around the park by myself."

"He did that to you?" Emily asks.

"Yeah. This birthday can't be worse, or more awkward than that one."

Sam sounds pretty convincing, but I can't help but wonder if that's the whole truth. I mean, why is he so intent on not hurting Derek's feelings when Derek had quite clearly crushed his at the amusement park. There's another reason why Sam is going along with the whole mall plan, and if he doesn't want to tell me that's fine. I just hope he has a good time shopping, when I know that there is very little that he enjoys less than spending time at a mall.