Chapter Two
Derek leans against the brick wall, his hands behind his head and his legs stretched out, crossed at the ankles.
I'm tuning my guitar.
-"Play me a song Pretty Boy" Derek says, popping a slab of peppermint him into his mouth.
I toss the pick in the air and catch it while thinking of a song to play then find the right one.
My finders automatically find the chords on the guitar.
I start playing Hey Soul Sister.
-"Should I sing too?" I ask.
-"By all means, do" He replies with a gum filled smile.
I sing the song while playing it on the guitar.
When the song ends I set my guitar down beside my backpack.
By this point Derek has spit out his gum, onto the wrapper then thrown into the nearby trash can.
-"Do you have any other songs memorized?" He questions, his breath smelling strongly of peppermint
-"No just the one" I reply "Can I have some gum?".
-"Sure" He says.
He takes the package of gum out of his pocket and takes out a piece of gum which he unwraps.
He puts half the slab of gum in his mouth and tears the other half with his teeth and hands it to me.
I put the gum in my mouth and chew it with the back of my teeth.
-"You could've given me the whole piece of gum you know" I say jokingly.
I watch the rain pour from the roof and onto the concrete stairs.
Derek immerges from the door, wearing a black Northface jacket with khaki pants and Doc Martens.
He's holding a black umbrella.
When he sees me, he walks over to stand next to me. He always stands only inches away from my shoulders.
He's close enough that I can smell his cologne, it smells of pine.
-"You need a ride home Pretty Boy?" He asks, swinging the umbrella in between his fingers.
-"I'm okay" I respond "I missed my bus so I'll walk home".
-"Are you sure?" He asks, looking at the rain.
-"I'm sure" I reply.
-"I can walk you" He suggests.
-"You'll miss swim practice if you do" I argue.
-"At least take my umbrella" He says.
-"I'll be okay" I respond "it's only 15 minutes away".
He takes me by the wrist and pulls my hand out of my pocket.
His hand is soft and cold.
He places his umbrella in my hand and closes my fingers around the handle, his name is carved into it.
I feel fire in my stomach from his hand touching mine.
-"Take the umbrella" He says calmly.
A grey minivan pulls into the parking lot.
He runs to it and gets in then he waves at me from the front seat, I wave back.
I walk down the stairs and open the umbrella.
I walk home without letting go of it.
When I get home I close the umbrella and set it on my desk.
I have to remember to bring it to school tomorrow.
I run my hand over the handle of the umbrella where Derek's name is carved.
Maybe I can give him a different one.