"What do you think we're gonna do on our date?" Claire asked Massie.
Massie looked up from her iTouch. She looked dazed and lost as she pulled out a blue earphone and asked, "Who, what, huh?"
Kristen chuckled. "Oh, Massie-Massie-Massie."
"It may rhyme with sassy but she's extremely classy," Derrick, from behind Kristen, finished in a singsong voice.
Massie laughed and rolled her eyes.
Derrick plopped down beside Massie and deliberately brushed his knee against hers before resting it there.
Massie didn't mind that he had done that. Besides, Derrick already had Claire. And Claire was going to satisfy Derrick. By the way Claire kept eyeing Derrick, Massie most definitely knew that Claire wouldn't let him out of her sight.
Right after Derrick sat, Josh and Cam made themselves comfortable, too. Kristen had grown used to seeing Josh and she even looked forward to it. Hearing that he and Antonette weren't that close relieved her of a tense feeling that made itself known in the back of her head.
"Hey, Josh," Kristen greeted.
He flashed her a smirk and said, "Hey-hey, KK."
Kristen laughed and felt her toes warm. She hadn't had that feeling in her life, not even with Derrick. But she dismissed that feeling, laughing it off. "So is that going to be a regular thing now?"
Josh stuffed his mouth with his BLT, chewed and swallowed and said, "Yeah-yeah, KK."
"Okay," she laughed. "As long as I can call you JJ."
"Sure, Kris. But only you can do that." He looked up at her and winked, making her feel tingly.
Cam sat down next to Claire and tossed a few Hershey's Kisses onto her blue tray.
Claire looked away from Derrick and Massie and up to Cam. She smiled sweetly and said, "Thanks, Cam. I needed these." She began unwrapping the silver foil and popped one in her mouth, reveling in the sweetness of it.
Cam chuckled. "I just thought that you'd like some."
"Well, you thought right." Claire popped another unwrapped chocolate into her mouth.
Cam stared at Claire in awe. She was beautiful, sweet and a cute girl that Derrick oversaw. What Cam would do to be Derrick…
"Derrick, Derrick!" a ketchup-red-haired girl squealed. She came right up to Derrick and hugged him. "It's been for-eh-ver!" she enunciated.
Derrick awkwardly hugged her back and nervously said, "Yeah, it's, uh, great to see you…" He let go of her and finished his sentence, "Ann?"
The ketchup-red-headed girl giggled and shook her head.
"Rachel?"
She shook her head again.
"Emma?"
"No…" Red-head's eyes widened.
"Oh!" Derrick snapped his fingers. "Camille!"
"No!" Red-head stamped her foot. "Don't you remember me?"
"Obviously, no," Massie muttered, receiving a snort from Josh.
Derrick stifled a smirk and said, "Then who are you?"
Red-head half-gasped and half-sighed before saying, "I'm Natalie, remember? Natalie Johnson?"
Derrick raised an eyebrow. "Aaaand?"
Natalie rolled her eyes. "Aaaand-I stole your scissors in the fourth grade, remember? Then I gave 'em back to you and you kissed my cheek." She smiled knowingly.
Derrick squinted his eyes as if to try and recall that. He shook his head, "No, sorry, don't remember."
Natalie's hazel-green eyes darkened and she left Derrick's probing brown eyes. Derrick turned back to his food and bit into the ham and cheese sandwich.
"Oh, Derrick," Massie sighed.
He looked up at her. "Yeah?" he replied, his mouth full.
Claire laughed at him like it was funny while Cam laughed out loud. "Man, seriously, life without you, dude, is like nothing at all."
"Ha," Massie snorted. "Disagreed."
"And why is that?" Derrick snapped.
"Oh, Derrick, sometimes your obliviousness makes me laugh."
Before Derrick could say anything, Connor came and greeted everyone at the table. "Why, hello, darling dearest Massie," he teased, pulling her up from her chair.
She easily stood up and climbed out, leaving tray untouched. "Hello." She kissed his cheek as she giggled.
Derrick rolled his eyes, hoping no one would see.
"Mind if I take Massie away for a moment or two?"
Derrick thought, Yeah, I mind, but heard the group say they didn't. He watched forlornly as the love of his life left with Connor.
"Derrick?" Claire interrupted his thoughts.
"Mm?"
"Uh," she uttered, wondering why she was going to ask in the first place.
"What, Claire?"
Might as well say it. "About tomorrow…" as she trailed off, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.
Derrick exasperatedly scratched the space between his eyebrows and grabbed his bag and tray. "We'll talk later, Claire. Bye guys." He nodded his head sharply and swiftly left the group.
Claire, zombie-like, gathered her belongings and before leaving, she thought she heard someone say, "I love you," but when she turned around, she was only greeted by rushing students heading to their next classes.
_xoxoDDLSG_
"Honestly, I have no idea what I'm going to do. Dude, I need your help." Derrick looked at Cam, waiting to hear what he had to say.
Cam turned his head to Josh who distanced himself and sat on Cam's black rolling chair, Facebooking.
"Well, it says here that Claire can't wait for your date."
Derrick sagged a bit and practically yelled, "What am I gonna do?"
"Relax, dude," Josh eased, "Here's what you do…"
Cam intended on listening to them talk about Claire and the date they were going to, but he couldn't quite focus.
I said I love you to her! She probably heard it. Ah! What had gotten into me to say that! No guy in their sane mind would say that! Me saying that I love Claire? It's just wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong-
"Cam? Cam?" Derrick shoved Cam's shoulder, jabbing him back to reality.
"Yo, Cameron!" Josh threw Cam a David Beckham bobblehead, which cam caught with ease.
"Dude!" he exclaimed, placing the bobblehead gently on the desk next to him. "Seriously? This is a collector's item! Don't just throw it at whoever. Do that again and you'll wake up with teal-colored eyebrows."
Josh's eyes widened, and then he laughed. "Dude, if you do that, I'll rip your balls off. Then again, you'll need 'em for when you tell Claire that you love her."
Cam narrowed his eyes. The first words that went through his head were, Shit, now I'm screwed. "What? What? Tch, no! I don't—" Cam futilely attempted to defend himself, but Derrick and Josh only chortled heartily.
"Cam," Josh panted, one hand cradling his stomach, the other gripping Cam's shoulder. "Dude, you're so in love with Claire. It's so obvious!"
Derrick nearly choked on his laughter, so he only nodded his agreement.
Cam rolled his eyes, the anger rising up his throat. He tasted it; it tasted harshly like the coppery taste of blood. "Yeah? Well, why are you laughing, Joshie boy? You're in the same situation as me! Kristen doesn't like you, so you can't exactly laugh at something that's going on with you, now can you?"
As soon as he said it, Josh and Derrick stopped laughing. Silence filled the room. Cam, the sensitive one, had just told Josh off.
"Wow," Derrick stressed. "This is…"
"Don't say awkward," Cam interjected.
"Wasn't going to, but I like that word, too."
"Dude," Josh serenely said, "don't go out with Kristen, okay?"
Cam bit his cheek while Derrick gave Josh an appraising look. "Now why—"
"Because she's in love with you."
Derrick's eyes widened. "Wait… What?"
Josh rolled his eyes. "Don't you see it, D? In. Love. With. You. Kristen is. Now can you promise me you won't go out with her?" His brown eyes were a little damp, Derrick noticed as he nodded.
Josh gave a relieved face. "Thanks, D."
Derrick's jaw was set as he thought about how beautiful Massie looked that day. In fact, she had always looked gorgeous to Derrick, especially when she got angry. Her cheeks would get flushed and the light freckles sprinkled across her nose would pop out, making her look like a more vulnerable person. He absentmindedly smiled and fell back on Cam's bed.
Cam and Josh shot each other knowing glances.
"D," Cam muttered, shoving his knee. "Dude. D!"
Josh laughed. "Derrick is in big time."
Cam nodded. "I always knew he was in love with Massie."
"I know, right? It was always so obvious. Derrick never knew how to hide his feelings. I don't know how many people came to me and asked me whether Derrick liked Massie or not."
Cam laughed and rolled his eyes. "You know, I never knew how to answer those questions man." He glanced at Derrick, a slight smirk on his face. "Derrick the Doofus; that's all I can say."
"You know Cam, I can still hear you." Derrick grabbed a nearby pillow and slammed it on Cam's head.
"Oh, Derrick, you know it's true," cam snickered.
"Cam, Josh, shut the hell up."
Josh chortled. "Derrick, you know we love Massie. You two look great together. That Connor ass isn't as cool as you. You guys honestly look good together. I should just beat the crap out of Connor." Josh's hands were balled into fists when his phone vibrated. Vbbb.
He grabbed his phone from his pocket and read the message. He made a face and looked p. "Dudes, I gotta go. Antonette's looking for me. She probably wants some lovin'." He cracked a grin and stood up, punching Cam and Derrick's knuckles with his own. "See ya." He nodded once and left the room.
As soon as Josh left, Derrick sat up and stared at Cam.
Cam awkwardly darted his eyes around until he started squirming. "Yes, Derrick?"
Derrick didn't waste a second and asked Cam, "Where should I take Claire?"
Cam flinched, feeling the sting of his best friend's question. "Uh, I don't know. It's your date, not mine."
Derrick rolled his eyes. "Come on, Cam, you talked to her before. Where does she wanna go?"
Cam really wished that they weren't at his house so he could just get up and leave.
"Cam, seriously, I need your help."
He rolled his eyes and hesitated before answering, "She was hoping you'd be cliché and take her to a movie and dinner."
Derrick's eyes widened slightly. "And that's all she wants from me?"
Cam nodded. In a monotonous tone, he added, "She would want you to hug her at the end of your date, too. She wants a kiss by the end of the third date. You're claimed official after the kiss." Cam clenched his teeth in disgust.
Derrick gulped. "Cam," he murmured, "You know that I'm not doing this to hurt you, right? You know that you're my best bud and I would never intend to hurt you."
Cam gritted his teeth together. "Dude… Don't ever say that again."
Derrick's face resembled confusion. "Why?"
"Because you sounded so gay."
A/N:
I know some of you may be really angry with me, but I've just been really busy at school. I really don't have much time to write anymore because of all the clubs I'm in, and whenever I'm not at them, or doing something for them, I need to chill. BUT it's almost summer, when I'll have a little time to write. But it's summer, I'm gonna need to enjoy it. (: PMs are welcome and recommended:) And yes, I understand that xoxoDDLSG is a mouthful, so please, welcome yourself to calling me Ericka, I won't mind:)
Review?
Pizzazz,
xoxoDDLSG/Ericka(: