Ginger lay back in her bed and took a drink from her bottle of water. She'd just finished all of her homework and was trying to relax, so much work and it was only the first day of school. She closed her eyes, debating about going to bed now, she was tired from being woken up so early. Just as she started to relax, her phone rang.
Ginger sighed as she sat up and answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey Ginge." Came Darren's voice from the other end. "You busy?"
Ginger sat back again. "Nope, now what's up?"
Darren got silent again.
Ginger sighed in frustration. "Darren, are you ever going to tell me what it is you want to tell me?"
"Well...umm... there's actually nothing to tell."
"What do you mean?"
"I just miss my neighbor. And we're supposed to be friends and we never talk...I just miss our friendship."
Ginger paused for a moment. She was completely confused. "Ok...I thought we were friends?"
"Not like we use to be, I miss you Ginger."
Ginger smiled. "Aww...you're sweet."
Darren was quiet. "I just...wanna talk like old times...ok?"
Ginger and Darren talked on the phone every night for the next month. They never spoke at school or walked home together. Every night around 9 Darren would call Ginger and they would talk. They talked about football games, teachers, students, anything and everything they could think of. Although Ginger had his number, Darren was always the one calling. If Simone appeared while they were talking, he'd call Ginger Angel to make Simone think he was talking to a cousin he claimed he had. He kept the whole thing so secret. It confused Ginger. They were just friends, although Simone wouldn't be too happy if they started talking again, it was like her and Darren were seeing each other.
Ginger was sitting in her living room late one Saturday night. Her mom and step dad were working late and her brother Carl was out doing who knows what. Ginger was just enjoying sitting by the fire she had going in the fireplace and reading her book. She had started to drift to sleep when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in..." Ginger said half awake, assuming it was Dodie or Macie coming to keep her company. When she opened her eyes though, she saw Darren standing behind her couch, looking down at her. "Hey Darren..." She said sitting up. "What are you doing here?"
"Just bored and went for a walk..." He was looking around the living room. "This place looks really nice."
"Umm...thanks..." Ginger said as she stood up. "My house isn't really next door anymore, I'm surprised you walked out here."
"It's not like I planned this!" Darren sounded alarm. "I just started walking and ended up here."
Ginger was confused, again. "Ok..." She thought a moment. "You want something to eat?" Ginger led the way into the kitchen and looked in the fridge. "Hmm...not a lot to choose from..."
"Want to order a pizza?" Darren asked.
Once the pizza got there, they sat on the couch and watched a movie. To someone unknowing, it looked like Ginger and Darren were on a date. Ginger knew better though, they were just friends. And Darren was probably lonely with Simone going to college and having such a different schedule then Darren's, he just needed a friend.
Halfway through the movie, Ginger had curled up next to Darren and fallen asleep. Darren pushed her slightly when the movie was over.
"Ginger?" He said softly. "Wake up..."
Ginger yawned as she opened her eyes, still lying down. "Mmm...Sorry...how much did I miss?"
Darren was leaning over top of her. "The whole thing..."
Ginger laughed. "Opps...sorry I've just been tired lately." Darren was looking at Ginger with a funny look on his face. She'd seen it before, but couldn't think of where. As Ginger was trying to figure it out, Darren leaned in and kissed her.
Ginger knew she should pull away, but there was no denying that she still loved Darren, she'd never stopped. Ginger leaned right into the kiss, enjoying every minute of it. As they pulled away, she remembered where she'd seen that look, right before he kissed her in middle school at the train station.
Darren opened his eyes and was quiet for a minute. "I'm sorry!" He yelled as he jumped up. "I better go! I'm sorry Ginger."
"Darren?" Ginger said as she sat up. "Darren, it was an accident..."
But Darren ran out the door before Ginger could say anything else.