Sorry for the wait! Spent the long weekend in Washington DC, checking out two grad schools and I just got back tonight. I swear I had this written already but the papers appear to have gone missing. I searched and searched but I couldn't find it so I just started from scratch. Anyway, here's chapter six. Hope you like it. Don't forget to let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Six

"So, have you always played soccer or just in high school? Derek asked as the waitress placed their food in front of them.

"Oh, high school I didn't start 'til I was a sophomore. I realized it was the only way I was going to get out of North Versailles was on a sports scholarship." JJ replied, eyeing her plate of cheese ravioli hungrily. "What about you?"

"I started playing basketball when I was in 4th grade but football is more of a recent development; last year of Junior High actually." He told her.

"But you're here for football instead of basketball?"

"I love basketball but I figured it would lose some of its excitement if I had to do it."

"Understandable."

Derek nodded before continuing. "What about your family? Were the supportive of you going to college?"

"Oh, yeah. Both of my parents were thrilled. I think they had their doubts about me when I was in high school, so getting a full scholarship – they were thrilled." JJ told him.

"Doubts?" He smirked. "Were you a rebellious teen?"

JJ laughed. "No, not at all. I just… I was just your average high school jock really. I mean, I didn't love soccer as much as some people but I was definitely in it to win it; I was the captain, you know. Not to mention, everyone knew me so I was constantly out late, partying, you know."

"Ah, so it wasn't all Emily's bad influence."

JJ smiled. "No, not completely, I guess. Em was definitely the wild child. I don't think my parents actually knew what was going on in our lives. They thought Em was a great person. I guess we were good at hiding our partying ways." She tried to explain. "I think I'm rambling."

Derek shook his head. "Nothing I'm not used to. So you and Emily were the typical high school jocks. Her more so than you, but you still got into your fair share of trouble."

"Um, yeah. Pretty much." JJ nodded, taking another bite of her ravioli. "This is really good food. Seriously, like the best ravioli I've ever had." She admitted. "Oh well, except for that place in Boston."

"In the Quincy Market?" Derek asked.

JJ nodded. "Yeah. We spent a weekend there during our senior year."

"Your family?"

"No, a bunch of the athletes. There was a small group of us that were really close." She explained. "We spent the time partying and -."

"JJ!" A voice interrupted her explanation.

JJ closed her eyes, recognizing the voice instantly, before turning around to face none other than Doug. Again. "Doug." She plastered a fake smile on her face, hoping he was here with someone else that would pull him away. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm, uh, I'm meeting a few friends here from one of my classes." He shrugged. "Hey, listen. Can, can we talk? About, you know, the other night? I didn't, uh, mean to -."

"No. Doug, no. Just go, go wait for your friends." She interrupted his apology. Or rather, fake apology. It was just something that he did.

"JJ." He said sternly. "What are you; too busy whoring around to spend five minutes with a friend?"

"Hey, man. C'mon. She said no." Derek piped up, slowly climbing to his feet.

Frowning, Doug stepped back. He remembered Derek from the party and was not willing to risk another black eye tonight when he planned on getting laid. "Whatever, man. Have fun with her while you can. Girls like her don't stick around." He said to Derek, while staring at JJ. "You know how it is."

"Doug! Just leave me alone!" JJ cried, grabbing Derek's clenched hand to stop him from taking the swing that he so desperately wanted to.

Without a response, Doug stalked off in the opposite direction, leaving JJ and Derek to themselves.

"Are you alright?" Derek looked down at JJ, whose head was hung, staring at her hands in her lap. "Hey, JJ. Talk to me." He squatted down so he was eye level with her and attempted to make some sort of eye contact.

"I'm sorry, Derek." She sniffled, looking up and meeting his gaze. "Can, can we get out of here?"

"Of course, yeah. Let me grab the check. Stay here." He climbed back to his feet and signaled the waitress. "Thank you." He smiled at her before reaching down to JJ. "C'mon, let's go for a walk."

They walked in silence down the street, back towards the campus, for a few minutes before JJ suddenly spoke up. "Tell me about yourself. I was a jock; what were you like?"

"Well, in high school, I… was a player. There's really no point in trying to deny that. My mama, she wasn't really happy about it."

"Was it just the two of you?"

"No, I have two younger sisters, too." He replied. "She wasn't very happy but since I got the grades and it didn't interfere with my home life, there wasn't much she could do. She'd tried to talk to me, but it was just the way of life in my high school."

JJ nodded slowly, internally cringing. "Maybe this was a bad idea…"

"I know what you're thinking, JJ. It does sound bad, but I never purposely disrespected a girl. My mama did teach me how to treat a girl. It just happened that there were a lot of girls that were on the receiving end of that treatment. But don't worry; I left those days behind when I graduated."

"When, when I was a sophomore… I was pretty popular. I mean, I had been popular since well, forever, I guess but once I joined the soccer team, the popularity level definitely increased." JJ started, struggling to explain what was going on. "Anyway, you know how it is. Guys started to notice me, even more so than before. Doug, he… he was on the football team. The quarterback, actually." She shook her head. "I was dating another sophomore at the time but when Doug took an interest… I stayed with Mason for another few months, 'til about halfway through the summer before he moved away. Emily convinced me to finish the summer single, which was a good idea. Doug had girls all over him all the time."

Derek took her hand in his, squeezing gently. "You don't have to tell me, JJ."

"You deserve to know, Derek. I don't doubt this is the last time we'll see him. I really like you, Derek, and I want this to work but, but it's only fair if you know what you're getting yourself into." She stopped walking, tugging on his hand to get him to face her. "Doug did something horrible but I'm dealing with it; me and Emily. She's the only one who knows. And, and if you aren't in this with me, I… I can't tell you."

"Okay, okay." Derek nodded. "Shh… listen. I'm in this, too, JJ. I want this to work. But let's slow down a minute, okay?"

JJ nodded, pulling her bottom lip in between her teeth.

"What happened in your past is your past. You tell me when you're ready. Not tonight, not after that." He glanced back to the restaurant quickly before turning back to her. "I want you to be sure, because if not, if you don't want me to know – then it isn't my business."

"I'm damaged goods." She whispered, blinking her eyes rapidly to keep the tears at bay.

"Not to me." He took a step closer to her, not breaking their eye contact. "You're perfect to me." He leaned down, pausing briefly to give her the chance to change her mind. When she didn't, he closed the cap and captured her lips with his.

Yes, I know the ending line was cheesy but it's getting late and after a 8 hour drive back from DC, my mind is going a little crazy. Also, sorry if you were expecting more but I like to think JJ is a more conservative person and isn't a sex on the first date kind of girl.