"Are you suppose to keep it elevated?" Derek asked.
"I don't know..." I shrugged.
"Maybe you should." He suggested.
"Worth a shot," I lifted my leg onto the table, and put the icebag back on it.
"Does it feel better?" Derek looked over at my red ankle.
"I just moved it. Give me some time." I huffed.
"I don't know how your body works," he defended himself.
I rolled my eyes at him and didn't respond.
He sat to my right, looking over my shoulder to my swollen ankle. Our shoulders were touching, and I would bet he did that intentionally. We sat there not talking, but it wasn't awkward.
"How about now?" He asked five minutes later.
"You're so annoying!" I complained.
"Sorry for caring about you," he chuckled.
"Yes, I think it feels better." I sighed.
"Told you it would," he smirked.
"I'm going back to gym," I announced.
I slid off the table and almost toppled over. I reached out and grabbed the sturdy metal to catch myself.
I heard Derek's soft laugh as he hopped off too.
I put the back of ice into the sink, and hobbled towards the door.
"Here," Derek said and ran forward to open the door. Once we were both through, he shut it and came over to support my weight.
Slowly but surely, we made our way towards the gym.
"This would be quicker if you would let me carry you," he sighed.
"Maybe," I shrugged.
"So can I?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Nope," I said.
"Why?" He complained.
"Slow and steady wins the race," I countered.
"Please?" He asked again.
"No Derek, I'm fine with walking thank-you very much!" I said.
"I was only asking to be polite..." And with that, he swept me off my feet and into his arms.
"Derek!" I groaned.
"Yeah Babe?" He said innocently.
"I don't enjoy this. And don't call me that!" I frowned.
He chuckled in response, but didn't put me down.
"I feel like a little kid," I whined again.
"You can call me Daddy," he winked.
"Derek! You're gross!" I hit his shoulder, which only made him laugh harder.
***
When we reached the gym, Derek finally put me down. His arm was still around me, but at least I was on my own two feet.
"Derek?" Mr. Walkins said as we walked in together.
"Sir," Derek nodded respectfully. He didn't stop walking, and led me to the indoor bleachers.
"Thank-you for bringing her back, but you can leave now." The teacher said.
"Sorry Sir, but I can't," Derek shook his head lightly.
"And why is that?" He folded his arms across his chest.
"Because Sir, I am under direct order from our nurse, Mrs. Kelly, to stay will Paige as long as necessary. I am to help with her injured leg." He lied smoothly.
"Is that true Ms. Harvey?" The teacher raised his eyebrows at me.
"Yes," I felt my heart beat a little faster- I hated lying.
He eyed me for a moment. "Ok then. You two can stay here."
We waited for Mr. Walkins to be out of ear-shot before talking.
"Direct order?" I smiled.
"No one goes against the nurse!" He grinned and pulled my legs onto his lap.
"It needs to be elevated!" He winked when I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Sure," I rolled my eyes.
He pulled me closer to him, so that I was basically sitting on his lap.
"Elevated huh?" I questioned.
"Any excuse to be closer to you," he chuckled.
I giggled and leaned into him. I rested my head onto a nice spot on his shoulder and relaxed a little.
***
After gym, I had history, a class in which Derek wasn't in.
"Maybe I could switch into all your classes..." He said.
"That'd be way too creepy!" I smiled.
"Yeah, but we only have one class together." He laughed.
I paused for a moment to think about what I was about to say.
"Derek," I sighed. "Don't get me wrong, I like you and all, but you act like we're a couple who've been in love for years!"
I watched his smile turn into a pout as the words came out of my mouth.
"I just met you Derek," I didn't want to be mean, but he had to understand that he was being a bit clingy.
"Sorry," he said, pulling away a little. I felt his hand move up my back a bit higher, and stay there.
"It's fine, just I'd like to take things a little slower with this..." I waved my hand inbetween us.
"I understand," he sighed. "It's just, I've never felt like this with anyone else."
"Like what?" I asked. "We met less than a week ago..."
"Like..." He frowned, as if he didn't know how to say what he was thinking.
"Like what?" I repeated.
He thought for a moment then let out a long breathe. "Nevermind..."
"Just tell me," I prodded.
"You wouldn't understand," he said.
"Why do people keep saying that? Do I look stupid?" I let out an irritated groan.
I saw him trying to hold in a smile.
"Just tell me. Please?" I begged.
"Just let it go." He said, and his smile faded.
"No, Derek-" I began.
"I said let it go!" He growled loudly.
We both stopped dead in our tracks. I looked over at him and pulled away from his grip. His eyes were dark, black even.
"Paige I-" He said with an apologetic look.
"Forget it!" I said an stomped off.
"Paige!" He called, but I didn't turn around.
Luckily my ankle was a bit better, so I didn't fall and look stupid running away.
I heard a loud bang, and I guessed it was a locker. I felt bad enough I almost turned around. Almost.
***
"What's wrong?" Rhiana asked when I sat down.
"Nothing..." I said without looking at her.
She frowned and raised an eyebrow, but didn't question my further- and I was glad.
"We know you're lying," Steven said, clearly not understanding I didn't want to talk about it.
"Leave her alone," Rhiana said for me. "It's her business, not ours."
"If it involves Derek, it involves us," he frowned.
"Stop." She said sternly and elbowed him in the chest.
"I'm just sayin'..." He shrugged and faced forward.
"Sorry," she apologized for him. "We're just like a family, and probably care for each other too much."
"It's fine," I put on a smile and didn't talk the rest of class.
***
The next class I had was Spanish. Which unfortunately had Erika in it.
"How weird is that?" Angie said as soon as I sat down next to her.
"How weird is what?" I asked confused.
"That I was switched out of our gym class!" She said. "Well, your gym class now..."
"Yeah, do you know why you were switched?" I wonder if anyone told her.
"Not really." She said. "I was just told some students were having some problems in class so one of them was removed."
If that was what she was told, that was probably all they wanted her to know, so I left my mouth shut.
"Why do you know anything?" Her eyebrows furrowed.
"No..." I lied as Senorita Garcia walked into the room.
"Hola clase..." She said when she sat down.
"Hola," the class said together.