He hesitated. “You looked mad when we left the game”,
“And?”
“You should be happy. You won”
“And?” I said again. “You came over here to tell me something I already know”
“I just---I couldn't go to bed thinking you were upset with me”
“Why would I be upset with you?” I asked confused.
“You not mad at me”, he asked. I shook my head. “Huh, well than goodnight”, he started walking back towards my window when I pulled him back.
“Hold on a minute. Why would I be mad at you Joe? What did you do?”
“I uh, I forgot to buy the tickets for the game and its Saturday”
“You thought I would be mad at you over some game. Really Joe, do you not know me at all”
“You---I just wanted to make sure you know. You my favorite person and I were just making sure”, he took off his hat rubbed his head then put it back on.
“Okay, well yeah, I'm straight. Don't worry about me”
“That's all I do.”, he said. He then pulled me into a hug kissed my cheek and left. He is so sweet. I seriously love that boy. Love? God, where is this coming from? I jumped back into my bed and fell straight to sleep.
Friday was a crazy day! As soon as I got to school my friend Daisha, came and told me that I of all people should run for prom Queen. I told her I didn't want to and that she should run, but she said I'm more likely to get nominated because I'm more known so she said she would post up posters. I could care less! Then Derek came and hugged me. That almost never happens. He's usually in a bad mood in the morning, and evening. Just pretty much all the time!
He hugged from behind and planted a big kiss on my cheek. We continued walking down the halls with him still holding me. “Hey”, he whispered in my ear.
“Hey”, I laughed when he gave me a slobber kiss on the other cheek. I wiped it off and pushed him away. “That's nasty”
“Whatever. You kiss me on a daily bases so don't even try that.” I rolled my eyes and kept walking towards my class. He put his hand on my hip to halt me and I turned around to face him. “Skip with me”, he half whispered as he came closer to me for a kiss.
“What---Derek---no, I can't skip.” he pulled on my arm.
“Come on”, he started pulling me towards his car.
“Where we goin”, I asked him.
“My pops”, he said.
“He's okay now right?” I asked.
“Yea sort of, I mean, he has lung cancer but other than that he's okay”, he sped out of the parking lot and onto the road.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I ain't wanna bother you with all that.”
“Derek, I'm yo girlfriend. If you not gone tell me yo problems then who you gone tell? Don't keep it all in like that”, as I was saying this he was taking out a cigarette and lighting it up. “You need to stop smoking”,
“Who you? My momma”, he asks with a smirk.
“Why we can't have a regular conversation like adults? Or like regular couples for that matter. Regular couples talk about feelings. Regular couples spend time together. Regular couples show up to their mate’s events. Regular couples talk about college without getting all---”
“Dang baby, chill out”, he opened the window slightly breathe deeply then let out a puff of smoke. I shuddered in disgust. “First off, why you gotta ask so many questions? I told you before, I ain't normal and I don't do normal. I'm with you so apparently you ain't normal either.” I scuffed at his comment and folded my arms over my chest to show my aggravation. “We can't have normal conversations because you ask too many dog’on questions. Second, we can't talk about feelings because I ain't a sissy, and I don't have little girlie sessions where we talk about feelings. Third, we don't spend time together because you always with yo sideline man Joe. I can't stand that fool by the way. Fourth, what event?” he stopped to take a breather then he looked at me crazily and annoyed. “And fifth, we ain't gone have another college conversation. If you wanna leave and go where ever, go. I ain't stopping you so don't pretend that I'm standing in the way of yo decision. Yo mind made up, and I know you well enough to know that when yo mind made up, ain't no changing it”, that was the most I have ever heard Derek speak. See what I mean by crazy day!!
I sat there quietly, thinking about all that he said, and realized my mind was set and that we weren’t going to change my mind. Joe and I had a dream college ever since we were in 5th grade. Derek knew that, and I know it probably bugged him, but he wasn't going to let me know that it did. “I had a basketball game yesterday”
“I ain't know I’m not a psychic”
“They announced on the morning show”, I forgot who I was talking to.
“When do I ever go to first period? And when I do go, I'm sleep so you shouldn't assume I know every time you got something.”
We sat in silence for awhile, and it was getting uncomfortable so I said the first thing that came to my head. “Why are you so happy today?”
“I'm not”, he said as he threw the cigarette out the window.
“More than usual”
“I don't think I'm actin’ different.”
“So, what has happened within the last couple of hours?”
“Nothing really”
“Come on, gotta be something? What---“
“Man here we go again with all the questions”
We approached an old looking one story white house with a baby blue trim on it.
“Your dad won't mind me coming and interrupting ya'll father, son moment”
“Naw, I asked him already anyways, Jerry open up!!!” he yelled in through the locked screen door.
“Sup, boy. Long time no see”, a man I assume is Jerry said as him and Derek went in for a manly hug.
“I know man”, Derek said as we walked in.
“Pops back there sleeping”, the man said.
“I told him I was comin. He shoulda went to sleep earlier”, Derek said harshly.
“Hush boy”, a older looking man said as he descended from the darkness of the hallway.
“Sup Pop's. This my girl CC”, Derek introduced us.
“You ain't gone introduce me? I know you see me standing here”, Jerry said.
“CC, this is nobody. You don't need to know him. And after talking to him for awhile, you probably ain't gone wanna know him and you gone be running away screaming”, he said with a laugh. I have never seen Derek like this before.
Jerry shoved him. It was perfect distance to the couch so he just sat down pulling me down on his lap. “Naw, but for real this my cousin Jerry, but he’s like my older brother.” Derek's dad sat down on the chair opposite us and turned the TV to some fishing channel.
“Derek, get me something to drink”, Derek's dad said.
“Yes sir”, I now see that they have high respect for this man. Wow, Derek actually respects somebody. I thought I would never see the day.
“Jerry pass me my pills from over there on the table”, Pop’s said to Jerry when Derek brought back the drink.
“What's up Pops?” Derek asked as he clapped his hands together happily.
Derek's