The next couple of weeks things were pretty awkward, Derek was just about in every one of my classes, along with Simon who was always cheery. Simon was a constant chatter box, always talking, he fit along just fine with everyone else, and everyone in school seemed to like him. Derek was the one who having more trouble adjusting. He tried to be polite to everyone, but everyone else though he was just plain right rude, which was partially true at times, but when everyone was giving you disgusting looks behind your back, I would be a little snappy too.
Derek was genius in math though, in no time he had won the heart of our math teacher Mr. Trejo. Derek always had this little smirk on his face whenever we were in math, Simon would often ask what he was smiling about, but he just shrugged. I guess it was because he enjoyed math, but I couldn't really tell you since he barely spoke a word to me at all. He barely spoke to anyone really. Whenever Madison, Jessie, or anyone else tried to talk to him, Simon always had to answer because Derek would just shrug.
For the most part I kept away from Derek, the only words I allowed myself to say was "Excuse me" and "Thank you" whenever he handed me a calculator in math, or whenever he was blocking the entrance to something. One day though I had broken my little "Don't talk and make yourself look like an idiot rule"
It was in our geometry Mr. Trejo was gone so there was a sub. The sub was a short stout man, with beady little eyes that glinted. He wore a permanent scowl and reeked of prune juice. I didn't get a very good vibe off the sub, but I quickly shook the feeling away and walked in to take my seat. As I'm walking by I notice the sub staring at me intensely. I glanced down at my outfit trying to find anything that was against school policy, but nothing was wrong. I was wearing my favorite long black skirt, with tights and my ankle length black boots, my shirt was a deep purple, and was low cut, but you couldn't see down my shirt unless I bended over, or unless you were really looking.
I shivered, knowing that I had just found out why the sub was looking at me funny. Panicked and turned around trying to escape his gaze, but instead I bumped into someone's hard chest.
"I'm sorry" I said, moving back but Derek caught my arm. I flinched at his touch, Derek noticed and lessened his grip, but he still kept it firm. I really had no idea what he was doing, but before I knew it Derek had turned me around to face the sub, putting his arm tentatively around my shoulders. Wordlessly he led me to my desk, almost like a gentleman escorting his date. I knew I was blushing furiously, so I ducked my head staring at my feet.
"Woo!" whispered Zuzim, "Go Karla"
I blushed even furiously, slouching into my seat, playing with my thumbs. Derek quietly walked to the desk behind me, which was unusual because he usually sat in the seat that was farthest away from me. I could feel his warm breath behind the nape of my neck, I fought the urge to smile and laugh at the fact that he had put his arm around, at the fact that for one moment he had given me a glimpse at what might never be. At least I had a glimpse.
The sub frowned and gave us our worksheets that Mr. Trejo had given us. Of course it was something I didn't understand; I sighed and reached over to my bag, looking for my notes.
"Are you looking for something" said a high squeaky voice. I look up and see that it's the sub, his eyes creeping down my neck and down my shirt. I quickly raise my hand to my neck, pretending to massage it, my arm secretly covering my exposed chest.
"Um…. I was just looking for my notes" I say, closing my bag and sitting up. The sub frowned, disappointed that I wasn't giving him a view. I glanced away and caught Derek looking at me, and for a moment I swear I saw a flicker of anger in them.
I swiveled away from Derek's gaze and the subs, focusing more on the work sheet, trying to escape their gazes, well at least the subs; I didn't really mind Derek staring at me.
"It seems like you need some help with that" said the sub, I closed my eyes, "Leave me alone" I whispered low so no one could hear. "May I help you" continued the sub. "Um… No!" I thought in my head. When I didn't answer the sub put his arm on the other side of my desk, and I gasped as I felt his body, Purposely pressing up against me.
"I'll help her" I heard a gruff voice snarl. The sub and I both turned to see that the response had come from Derek. "I don't mind" he said softer, but the anger was still in his eyes. He bent forward grabbing the leg of my chair pulling me backward and towards him.
The sub frowned bitterly and walked off. Derek meanwhile had already begun writing down the equations and answering the answers on my worksheet. I was confused. "Why had Derek done put his arm around me, why had he snarled." I kept telling myself that maybe he had just been polite, but I knew that there was something more to it.
"Are you paying attention?"
I blinked and saw Derek, staring at me like I was an idiot. "Oh yeah" I said rubbing the back of my neck, "Sorry I blanked out for a second." Derek just grunted and went along explaining everything to me, the sub stood in the back frowning. Ten minutes later Derek and I are done with the worksheet. I get up to turn in my paper but I feel Derek's strong hand push me down, back into my seat.
"I'll do it" he grumbles, hulking down the aisle to the sub, who is still frowning at him. Derek tosses the papers on the desks and hulks back to where I'm sitting. I stand up and try scooting my desk back, so that its facing the front of the room and not at Derek, but once again he moves me aside and does it himself.
"Thank you" I whisper. Derek mutters a welcome and sits back right behind me, ignoring me once more.
An hour later I'm sitting underneath the huge oak tree that's behind my school. Madison Jessie and Leah are all trying to climb the tree, meanwhile Haiti and I lay underneath it.
"So any luck with Derek?" Haiti asks, playing with my I-Pod. I shake my head "Not really"
"Oh BS" says Madison, "He was all protective of you in math, I'm surprised a van didn't bust open through the portable, and he didn't' jump in front of it to save you from it"
I roll my eyes, and roll over on my stomach, "He probably would have let it hit me, and besides I would have preferred him to save me from drowning." I wink at the girls flashing my Team Jacob keychain at them. Leah rolls her eyes, ever since freshman year she has been a Team Edward fan, even though she isn't all fan girl and everything she is still a Team Edward fan.
"Oh come on lee-lee" I say, "You know I don't have anything against Edward, I just prefer my boys to be werewolves" Leah laughs "You know you and I are living proof that the two teams can co-exist peacefully right?" We all laugh knowing that it's the truth.
"Dude he likes you" says Leah, "He wouldn't have put growled at him and put his arm around you if he didn't, I mean now that he did you know rumors are going to start up in school now" I thought about it for a while and then roll back on my stomach.
"No" I say, "he was just being nice."
"Speaking of werewolves" whispers Haiti so low that I can hear her, "here comes one"
I look up and see that she's right. Both Simon and Derek are walking toward us. "Oh look" says Jessie "redemption time Karla." I blush and roll back on my stomach fiddling with my I-pod pretending like I never saw them.
"Hey guys" says Simon, giving his million dollar smile. We all say our hellos and Simon sits down at the base of the tree, Derek stands at the other side looking away from us. I put on one of my head phones and let Gerard Butler's sexy voice singing The Music of the Night, fill my ears.
"Hey Derek maybe you should ask Karla if she can take you to the book store, she doesn't lool busy"
My head shoots up, and I see Simon smiling at me along with everyone else.
"Yeah" said Jessie, "show Derek the way to the bookstore." I glanced at Derek who was giving Simon the death glare. "What do you say Karla" said Simon.
I glanced between Simon and Derek; both were having a stare down, and at the top of the tree Leah, Madison, and Jessie were mouthing to me "say yes".
"Umm sure" I said, getting up from the ground, and walking towards the direction of the college, "It's this way I say."
Derek grunts and then begins to follow behind me keeping a distance from me. I open my mouth trying to make conversation but I close it, knowing that he wouldn't even answer me.
Ten minutes later I'm in line with Derek, paying for five bags of chips and three sodas. I scratch the back of my neck, "Hey" I say softly, "I wanted to say thank you about what happened in math class today."
Derek shrugged, "You need to need to wear something underneath your shirt, I can't save you from all the purvey subs out there"
My mouth drops and I'm standing there gawking at him. I recover quickly, feeling anger and hurt racing through my pulse. "I didn't a-"
"I know" he says, "but still, it's not smart, and next time I won't save your sorry a"
"Hey" I snap, "I didn't ask for your help, so stop bitching!"
Derek's mouth falls open slightly. I glare at him and turn my heels, stalking away from him.