graffiti (completed)

Six.

Derek Wentworth looked at the time, and started walking more swiftly. He was hoping to make it home before his father got there. He knew if he got home early enough there would just be Carrie. Derek hated Carrie, but not as much as he hated his dad.

"Derek, how was school?" Carrie asked as he put his backpack down and went into the kitchen, "I made Totino's Pizza Rolls."

"Great," he said, going in the kitchen where she was and looking in the fridge. She smiled, hoping to receive a hug or a kiss, but the boy just walked right by her. He felt her put her hand on his shoulder. "I heard about what happened at school today."

Derek jerked his arm away, closing the fridge and glaring. "What happened at school today?"

"The incident with the locker, and the girl."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he spat, grabbing the Pizza Rolls and putting them on a plate.

"Your uncle Erik called today. Told me what happened. I told your father. If you want, I could--"

"Mind your own damn business, maybe?" he said angrily, eyes wide with both anger and fear. She didn't know what his dad would do. Her and his dad weren't even married yet.

Her eyes went as wide as Derek's, mouth open in shock and disbelief. As though she was thinking, 'He did not just say that to me. No kid would say that to me.' But that's how Derek was. Far from the usual kid.

"Derek Henry Wentworth--"

"Don't say my full name like you gave it to me," he snapped, grabbing his backpack along with the plate and going upstairs.

He slammed the door in his room, going into the corner and getting a drink from his mini-fridge. He was only allowed to hold drinks in it, 'legal' drinks, of course--though occasionally he would sneak something from his father's mini-fridge when friends came over.

He'd finished his homework in study hall, so he threw his backpack across the room, and opening the doors to the balcony.

Derek looked out at the view, wondering if his friends would invite him over to smoke today, or tomorrow. He liked to, every once in a while. They would laugh, and it wouldn't matter what they said, or talked about, because everything was funny. He felt no pain when he received kicks and punches, and when getting yelled at, couldn't hear a word. It was nice.

He was torn from his thoughts by the sound of the balcony door opening behind him. He froze, but turned around to just see Carrie again, and looked back at the beautiful view.

"I'm going to get some food with the girls. Your father will be here in a few."

"Oh." he said, tightening his lips in a bit of aggravation, "Have fun." He hoped that the tone of her voice would make her want to stay. She hesitated.

"Do you...want to come with me?" He opened his mouth, but the sound of his dad's car disturbed them.

"See you later," she said, giving him a peck on the cheek, which he attempted to slap away. Derek quickly left the balcony, closing the door, grabbing his backpack, plate, and drink, and finding a place, any place, to hide. He scrambled into his walk-in closet, opening a storage door and crawling inside, bringing food and backpack with him.

"Derek!" he heard his father yell, voice muffled through the wall. There was a flashlight in the storage room, along with a pillow and blanket, which he put in case a friend ever needed to crash for the night. He never thought he'd have to hide himself.

"Its just me, son," his father said, Derek able to hear him going up the steps, "I wanted to talk to you. About today." Derek tried his best to lie down and slow his breathing as his fathers footsteps led into his closet. His hands were shaking as he ate another Pizza Roll. 'Please, don't let him hear me. Please, don't let him hear me,' he prayed.