“Whoa,” Derek said stumbling forward. He turned around ready to fight, he looked pissed. I don’t think he was used to being pushed around, which was weird since he played football. “You have a problem, pal?” he asked, making me want to laugh. I’m sure I heard that exact line in a movie or something similar and then the other guy beat his ass. I got all happy at the idea of James beating Derek. I was a terrible friend. I should hate James. I do. I began to wonder if I ever really did. I mean James hurt me but if something happened to him, I’d still hurt and share his pain. That didn’t mean I hated him then, did it?
“I’m not your pal,” James said, sounding completely out of control. I’d only ever heard him like this twice and both times because someone had done something to me. James didn’t get mad often but when he did you had to watch out. I could see this ending badly in so many ways but most of them with James’s handsome face, not being so handsome and I couldn’t let that happen. I put my hand on Derek’s arm, even though I could feel it wanted to go to James. Derek looked at me then.
“Ignore him,” I told him firmly. There was going to be no fight over- well I didn’t really know what this was about but there was not going to be any fight. Derek was about to ignore me but, “Anything, this is what I want,” I reminded him. Derek sighed but listened, understanding the promise he’d made just before. This meant I’d have to bake him cookies. I didn’t hate James but I still didn’t like him, but I disliked people who would hurt him a lot more.
“Yeah, ignore me,” James taunted. I worried Derek would do something for sure but no he listened to me. I didn’t and couldn’t look at James all class. I was still too confused, especially with my revelation that I didn’t really hate him. Even though I could feel him looking at me, I didn’t look. I felt very weird when I went to the girl’s locker room.
“Hey, what’s up?” Tara asked.
“Nothing, you?” I asked, trying to shake off this strange feeling.
“I’m thinking of asking Lloyd out and to prom!” she blurted out.
“What! Lloyd? Lloyd! As in Lloyd in my group?” I asked more than shocked. She gave me a little nod and closed her eyes, “I didn’t even know you liked him,” I said truthfully.
“It’s so embarrassing!” she said looking like she felt, all red and smiley. “I just have a crush on him. I don’t even know why.”
“Your brain signalled mate and pointed arrows at Lloyd,” I joked. She gave me a sarcastic smile.
“Jokes you learn in science class are never funny,” she said truthfully. Ouch, I loved my science jokes.
“Well he’s nice, funny and… cute,” I said not finding him the last but she nodded vehemently. Wow, Lloyd. This was big news.
“Not only that though, there’s more to it,” she said, smiling drunkenly.
“Haha, so you’re going to ask him?” I asked, happy for her, that took guts. Prom was still months away, I hadn’t even started thinking about it.
“Yep, he might be the one and that’s worth the risk,” she said slowly, believing her words. The one? I thought in complete shock, she was joking right?
“The one, really?” I voiced, thinking she was being overdramatic.
“No, not really but you never know. And if you found the one wouldn’t you make sure you were with him, risk or not?” she asked. No, I thought, feeling like a coward, a feeling I hated. I shrugged at her words.
“But what if things got ugly between you two?” I asked her.
“Wouldn’t matter, we’d eventually work it out. He’s the one, hypothetically. But why would things get ugly?” she asked me, looking confused that I was ruining her happy bubble for a second. I just shrugged again. Stop being stupid, I demanded but I kept having daydreams.
Paix, Reggie, and Gert all teamed up against me when I got home.
“How was your day?” Reggie asked me, as they all gathered around me, something they never did.
“Fine,” I answered warily.
“Just fine?” Reggie grinned. “I thought it would be better.” Her voice held an evil echo in it.
“With you and Derek being a couple,” Gert sneered.
“What? We’re not dating,” I told them, annoyed.
“Oh, we’ll keep it a secret,” Reggie said, putting a finger to her lips and gesturing she’d be quiet. One thing she definitely was not.
“Here, be safe,” Reggie said, putting something in my hand.
“And sexy,” Gert added, putting a bright red thong in my hand as well. Paix merely giggled with them. I looked in my hand at the five assorted condoms and the shiny red, tacky polyester thong. Classy. Right then, Alyssa came through the front door and I dropped everything, my bag and all the dirty stuff in my hands. Crap!
“What’s that?” Paix asked, pointing at the condoms innocently lying on the ground.
“It’s what Mickey uses when she’s with Derek,” Reggie said loud enough for Alyssa to hear. Alyssa walked over to see.
“There… it’s…, none of it’s mine,” I said quickly as she picked them up. My evil stepsisters all smirked at me once Alyssa’s jaw dropped.
“Derek gave them to you, same thing,” Gert said, rolling her eyes. I was going to kill them.
“Go to your room. Now Mike,” Alyssa ordered, looking fierce.
“But,” I began.
“Now!” she shouted. I
