if there's anyone there, I'm really sorry for not updating!
disclaimer: I do not own the clique
Derrick finally got enough nerve to knock on Massie and Claire's door.
"Hi," Claire greeted, with a mischeivious smile on her face. Something to do with Cam, Derrick thought offhandedly as he stepped in and spotted Massie.
"Oh, hey," she said, not taking her eyes off her computer screen.
"So, um…" he trailed off. Claire, knowing where this was going, nudged him towards her.
"I thought maybe you'd like to go on the Ferris wheel tonight," he said, anxiously waiting inside as she looked up.
"Derrick…"
"As friends, Mass," Claire piped up behind Derrick. Derrick smiled while Massie resisted glaring.
"Exactly," Derrick agreed. "What do you say? I know you want to go."
Massie pondered it. She really did want to go. She could go with the girls but they might bring their boyfriends and Massie would be a third wheel. Besides, no harm could come from one night, right? Maybe through this they could get past this awkward state and become best friends again.
"If we're only going as friends…" she replied dubiously. Derrick squashed his urge to do a victory dance and smiled instead.
"Just friends," he promised. Massie still looked doubtful when he left, but she still agreed.
Massie met Derrick on the first floor. She instantly hated Claire for making her dress up when she saw Derrick walk in with a t- shirt and jeans.
"Claire," she explained before he could comment on her dress.
"It looks good," he smiled, opening the door for her. Claire and Cam watched them and Claire sighed.
"They belong together."
"I know, babe, I know," Cam agreed.
When Massie stepped onto the Ferris wheel cart, she was surprised at how slowly it moved.
"How long does it take to get around?" she asked Derrick when the man closed the door, leaving them alone in the little compartment.
"I think about half an hour," he replied, glancing at his watch. They passed the time easily, admiring the view and talking about everything except what Derrick wanted to talk about most.
When they walked back Massie thanked Derrick.
"You're welcome," he smiled, pausing when they reached the door. He leaned in slowly, and Massie knew she had to get away, fast. But she stood frozen as he leaned further and further until he made contact.
Before she could stop herself, she deepened the kiss. What was she doing? She pulled away hastily.
"Derrick, we're just friends!" she cried before running in and leaving him heartbroken.
As he silently walked in, head hung, he felt moisture in his eyes. Derrick Harrington wouldn't cry over Massie Block, he thought to himself as he blinked it away. So much for his grand plan, he sighed as he trudged up the stairs.
The next few days Massie avoided Derrick like he was a plague. With only two days to go, Derrick gave up and left her alone. This concerned everyone, but they knew there was nothing to be done or said.
Finally, Derrick and Massie found themselves alone.
"Look Massie," Derrick finally said, breaking the silence with words like a knife. "I'm sorry I tried to take our friendship farther."
"Derrick-" she tried to start, tears stinging her eyes.
"Let me finish. I shouldn't have done that and I hope we'll still be friends." With that, he left, leaving Massie to figure out what had just happened.
The night before they left they all went out to dinner.
"Okay, okay!" Kristen called, standing as everyone quieted. She smiled at Chris beside her before speaking.
"Let's make a pact. Next year we'll be going our separate ways in college, and I say we come back here next year. We've all made friends, new and old, and I don't want to let you guys go," she said. She smiled at all the girls while Alicia and Massie shared a tentative glance.
They were both going to the University of Chicago next year, they had found out, and so was Claire. Massie had finally lessened her wrath on Alicia and they were on the rocky road to acquaintances.
Dylan banged her glass of Coke (none of them drank) on the table and smiled.
"Ah- greed." As everyone raised their glasses, Massie glanced at Derrick.
He was staring at her with a hollow and almost pained expression. When everyone drank, he nodded at her and downed his whole cup before pushing back his chair and walking out. Everyone watched him before turning their gaze to Massie.
"Well?" Chris asked. Massie looked at him, then everyone else. She sighed, running after Derrick as everyone else shared knowing glances.
"Derrick?" she called, running out onto the shore.
"What?" He was shoving his suitcases into a taxi.
"Where are you going?" she asked, confused. He slammed the trunk shut and climbed into the passenger seat.
"The airport," he replied. "I changed my flight to tonight."
"And you didn't mention it to me?"
"What's the point?" he asked, shaking his head, and she knew he wasn't talking about the flight.
"Derrick-"
"I'll see you next year, Massie." As he nodded at the driver, Massie took a step back, nodding weakly.
He had left her watching him walk away, just she had done to him so many years ago.