To Want Something Better Is No Disgrace (On Hold)

To Want Something Better Is No Disgrace {9}

"The glow that the sun gets

Right around sunset

Helps me realize,

This is just a journey.

Drop your worries,

You are gonna turn out fine.

Oh, you turn out fine.

Fine, oh, you turn out fine."

- "Keep Your Head Up" by Andy Grammer

----------------------------------------------------------

    The following day, I couldn't focus on anything during my classes.

    The kiss that Derek and I shared yesterday kept on replaying over and over and over again in my mind. Which distracted me from focussing in all of my classes during school.

    Especially lunch.

    Speaking of lunch, as I headed towards the lunch line for hot lunch, I heard my name being called. I turned around and faced Kerri.

    "So, how are you and Derek?" she asks me.

    "Oh, um...Derek? Oh you know. Fine, great, cool." I replied nervously.

    She eyes me suspiciously, "Are you hiding something from me, Ari?"

    "No. Why would I?" I lied.

    "You're up to something. Or you're hiding something. I just know it." she said.

    I sighed, "I'll tell you after we get our lunch."

    "Ooh! So something did happen between you and Derek!" she said.

    "You could say that, I guess." I told her.

    After we got our lunch, we walked back to our table and sat down.

    Luckily, Cameron wasn't there.

    I can tell her.

    I leaned in and sighed, "Well, yesterday when Derek drove me home...we, uh...kissed."

    Kerri's eyes widened, "No."

    I nodded, "I'm a terrible girlfriend."

    "Oh my god. This is...this is such great news. Oh wow!" Kerri chirps with excited.

    "Just don't tell...you know..." I said, hinting her.

    "Oh right. Got it. Don't worry, Ari. My lips are sealed. I promise." she said.

    I smiled.

    I knew I could count on her.

    "So, what did you get on your History test?" she asks me as she took a bite out of her sandwich.

    "100." I replied, smiling proudly.

    "Of course." she said, grinning, "I got a 84."

    "That's not so bad." I said.

    "True but I was shooting for a higher grade." she told me.

    "Maybe you'll get a higher score for the next quiz or test." I said.

    She smiled, "You're a great friend, Ariana."

    I smiled back, "Thanks."

    As we continued eating our lunch, I spotted a couple of the school cheerleaders walk by, one of them being the most popular girl in my grade, Fiona Grangly.

    "Ew."

    Kerri turns to me, wide eyed, "Did you hear that?"

    "What? 'Ew'?" I asked her.

    "Yeah. Fiona looked at you and said 'ew'. That's terrible!" she said.

    I looked down at my lunch, sadly, "Well...screw her."

    "Wow, did Ariana Rhodes say 'screw her' to Fiona? That's a first!" she said.

    "You know you're thinking about the same thing." I said.

    "Definately." she said, "Hey, can I have your fries?"

    I smiled, "Go ahead."

    "You know, I really loved seeing you and Cameron together even since you two started going out. But now, I'm feeling some chemistry between you and Derek." she said with a mouthful of my fries.

    "Me and Derek?" I asked.

    "You know what I mean. You and Derek, together. It's absolutely adorable!" she says in excitement.

    I blushed bright pink as I took a sip of my water.

    "Oh god...I really need to go pee."

    I looked at Kerri, "Did you really need to announce that while I was drinking?"

    "Yup, sorta." she replied with a smile, "B-R-B."

    She stood up and headed to the girl's bathroom.

    I sat back, relaxing as I saw Kerri's boyfriend, Jesse, come up to my table.

    "Hey, um, have you seen Kerri?" he asked me.

    "Hey Jesse." I greeted, "Kerri just left to the bathroom."

    "Oh, okay. Do you mind if I hang around here until she comes back?" he asks.

    "Of course, I don't mind at all." I replied.

    "Cool. Thanks." he says, taking a seat across from me.

    When Kerri came back from the bathroom, she spots Jesse and grins.

    She speed walks towards him and gives him a giant bear hug.

    "Hey baby." she greeted as Jesse kissed her cheek.

    "You two are so cute, together." I commented with a smile.

    "Aw, thanks Ari." she thanked, softly.

    When lunch ended, I casually walked to my next class when I heard shouting in the hallways.

    There was a huge crowd, blocking the hallway.

    "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

    I have a bad feeling about this.

    I rushed over to the crowd and pushed through, trying to find out what's happening.

    When I reached the middle, what I saw in front of me was Cameron, throwing punches at Derek.