Ugh, is the semester over yet?

I feel so bad, cuz there are a couple stories that I haven't added to in forever, but I simply don't have anything typed for them. There's so much going on right now that, when I have free time, I just want to watch a little TV and take a nap. :/

Fortunatly for the readers of this story, I do have a few chapters already typed up. :)

Road trip!

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Just a second," called Spencer, dropping the shirt he was holding into the open suitcase on his bed. He hurried out to the living room, pulling open the door to his apartment.

"Hey," greeted Derek, leaning against the doorframe with a big smile.

Spencer smiled back. "Hi. I'm, um, almost done packing. Come in." He stepped back, holding open the door.

Derek slowly walked in, glancing around. "Wow, that's a lot of books," he chuckled.

Spencer looked at the piles of his books littering the living room. "Uh, yeah. Those are mine. Ethan claims he doesn't mind, but I think it really bothers him. I keep meaning to organize them, but-"

"Do you need help to finish packing?" cut in Derek.

Spencer blushed slightly. "No, that's okay. I'll just, uh…" He dashed back to his bedroom, leaning into the bathroom to grab his toothbrush, paste, and floss quickly. He tossed them into the suitcase and then flung in his pajamas, and zipped it up.

"I'm ready," he called, lugging the suitcase out to the living room, trying not to trip over it.

"Here, let me get that," said Derek hurriedly, stepping forward to take it.

"It's okay, I got it," he argues.

"Spencer, please, that suitcase looks like it weighs more than you."

Spencer huffed. "It does not." But he handed it over anyways.

"Jeez, kid, what's in here?"

"Clothes, toiletries, a few books," answered Spencer, grabbing his shoes and sitting on the couch to put them on.

"A few books?" asked Derek.

Spencer gave him a sheepish look. "I read a lot."

Derek chuckled. "Alright," he shrugged. "I'll bring this down to the car. Come down when you're ready?"

Spencer nodded, tying his laces. "I just need to get my coat on and lock up."

"Sounds good," said Derek, adjusting his grip on the suitcase and walking out of the apartment.

Spencer leapt off the couch, snatching his jacket from its hook by the door. He quickly pulled it on as he locked the door, only at the last second remembering to grab his keys from the table beside the door.

Buttoning his coat with one hand, Spencer yanked the door shut with the other, testing to make sure it had latched. Stuffing his keys into his pocket and finishing the last button, he hurried down the hall to the stairs, taking them two at a time.

Rushing out the front door, Spencer paused as he saw Derek leaning against his car, smiling and holding the passenger door open.

He slowly walked forward, a sheepish grin on his face. "I can open my own door," he said.

Derek's smile widened. "I know. But I wanted to."

Spencer blushed, ducking his head and climbing into the car. "Thank you."

"No problem, pretty boy," replied Derek. He gently shut the door and walked around to the driver's side, yanking the door open and hopping in. "All set?"

Spencer nodded, bucking his seatbelt. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Derek glanced over at him, reaching out and squeezing his hand reassuringly. "This is gonna be great, Spencer," he said.

Spencer turned to smile at him. "I know. I'm just a little nervous."

"No need to be. You're with me," replied Derek with a smug smile.

Spencer laughed, reaching over with his free hand and smacking him. "Just drive."

Derek chuckled, squeezing Spencer's hand one last time before pulling back and putting the car into Drive. "Here we go."

….

"So, what's a seventeen year old doing in college?"

"I'm working on my Ph.D. I graduated high school at age twelve," said Spencer, staring out the window, watching the scenery go by.

"Twelve?" cried Derek. "What are you, some kind of super genius?"

"I don't believe intelligence can be accurately quantified, but I do have an IQ of 187, an eidetic memory, and can read 20,000 words per minute."

Derek's jaw dropped and he glanced over at Spencer, eyes wide.

Spencer stared back at him. "Yes, I'm a genius."

Derek chuckled, turning back to the road. "Well, I hope our baby is as bright as you," he said.

"I don't," muttered Spencer, staring out the window again. He began to worrying his bottom lip between his teeth.

"Hey, what is it?" asked Derek softly.

Spencer sighed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind his ear. "It's just… it's not easy to grow up being… well, like me," he said with a sad laugh.

"I'm sorry." Derek reached over and grabbed his hand.

Spencer smiled. "What was it like growing up in Chicago?" he asked. He frowned when he saw a brief flicker of an indescribable emotion cross Derek's face. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "It's none of my business."

Derek squeezed his hand tighter as Spencer went to turn away again. "I…" Derek paused, his jaw locking as he switched lanes. "It's just… not easy for me to talk about," he said.

Spencer wrapped his other hand around Derek's, rubbing it gently. "I understand," he said quietly. "You don't have to tell me, but just know… if you ever want to talk about it, I'll listen."

"Thanks, pretty boy." Derek smiled over at him.

Spencer stared down their hands, trailing a finger across the knuckles on the back of Derek's.

"What do you say we stop for lunch?" asked Derek, breaking the silence in the car.

Spencer nodded. "Sounds good to me."

I just couldn't resist using the "intelligence" quote. XD

Anyway, yeah. Someone mentioned about Derek being honorable and sticking around for Spencer and the baby. Having known a few people who have gotten pregnant young, I have seen both types of father: the good young man who takes responsibility and takes care of the mother and child. And the total asshole who just blows it all off. I can't picture Derek being the second type though.

Also, no one has called me out on this yet, but I just want to clarify in case anyone thinks it's wierd: I don't know if it looks like Derek and Spencer are becoming really close too fast. But I do know it is possible. I have friends who it feels like I've known them for a lifetime when in reality it was for like 5 minutes. I've never been in a relationship, but I am sure it happens that way in them too sometimes. You just meet that one person, and everything just clicks together instantly. If you've never had a friend like that, I honestly hope that you meet one someday, it's one of the greatest things ever. :)