"But the you who you are tonight is the same you I was in love with yesterday, the you I'll be in love with tomorrow." - If I stay

Derek's pov

I smiled looking at the picture. She was there, smiling. So unaware of how captivating her beauty truly was. Maybe that's what made her even more beautiful, the fact that she didn't know.

It was starting to become annoying now; the fact that I couldn't get her out of my mind. It was as if I had some sort of parasite inside my brain that was forcing me to think of her.

When she stopped talking to me sophomore year, I thought it was something I had done wrong. Maybe I hadn't been the friend she needed me to be. Maybe I should've made a move on her instead of letting her make a move on me.

It's just so hard when you have something so special, because you don't want to mess it up. And me trying to not mess it up somehow messed it up even more.

Then I had to see her in the hallways. The way her head would snap down and her eyes would be directed at her feet as she walked amongst people's stares.

That wasn't the old Angelina. The old Angelina was always confident. She said hi to everyone as she passed them by, she always had her head raised and her shoulders up. The old Angelina was always smiling.

It was a dramatic change from that Angelina to the girl she is now.

Perhaps everyone else couldn't see her nervousness, but I did. The way she pulled at her sleeves and nibbled on the inside of her cheek. I'd catch it all, and maybe that's what made me fall even harder.

I thought I could just push her out of my mind once and for all but I couldn't. I tried, God, did I try. But then I'd see her hair flying behind her and her peering brown eyes that she always thought were nothing special.

I'd see her wearing those old vintage T-shirts that she still managed to look so cute in. I'd see her, even though it was so clear she didn't want me to. She suddenly didn't want to be seen by anyone anymore.

She was like the sun, and I was helplessly caught in her magnetic orbit. She had me wrapped around her fingers from day one, and she didn't even know it.

Or maybe she did.

Taking all the developed pictures, I slid them carefully in the box I used for protection, making sure not to leave a single crease mark.

Maybe I could win her affections for just one day with what I was going to do for the project, or maybe I could just make her see that smile.

That smile.

It could produce miracles. Even when she ghosted us and I tried to hate her, I'd see her smile while reading a book and instantly my mood would be lifted.

She was driving me crazy, but maybe I liked that.

"Thanks Donovan," I smile at the man who always used to let me use his photo shop in times of need. He simply waved me off, smiling himself.

I walked with a smile on my face, which was unusual since I usually sported a growl. I just needed to stop by some sort of store to pick up the rest of the supplies needed. I'm not a very crafty guy, but I guess I was going to have to learn today.

Derek😈👻- hey man, can you meet me up at Marlow's and help me pick out the rest of the stuff?

I sent the message to Haden quickly and before I could even slide the phone back into my pocket, it buzzed again.

Haden🔥🎃-sorry man, Autumn's dragging me to the mall to go shoe shopping with her. May have to lock her ass in the dressing room 😂. I'll help you with the other shit though.

I text him back okay and head to my car. Haden was whipped as much as he refused to admit it. It was evident to everyone that he loved Autumn and that he wasn't going anywhere.

Stupid kid fell right into her trap, but maybe I don't really have room to talk anymore.

The mood I am has me feeling like skipping and admiring birds and all that sappy shit they do in the movies but I don't. I hold it together like the fucking man I am.

Shit, I'm pathetic.

Shaking my head, I start to drive the short distance to the little store. One perk of living in a small ass town was how close everything was to each other. Gas wasn't cheap and a man had to get by.

A car turns out right in front of me and I slam on the breaks, halting just in time.

"For fucks sake, you fucking dumb ass!" I yell, furrowing my eyebrows and punching the steering wheel.

The fucking idiot was texting on his phone instead of paying attention. Dumbasses everywhere. I truly hated being on this planet and surrounded by so many annoying assholes.

The only tolerable asshole was Angel, and on the occasion, Haden and Autumn, too.

Glancing at the clock, I see 5:00 pm flashing in bright green and nod to myself. About time I'm ahead of schedule, normally I procrastinate and end up winging shit to the the best of my ability.

The stupid car in front of me goes up on the curb and I feel my blood pressure rise again. The heat from my anger rises to my face and I can feel my skin becoming red.

Part of me felt like ramming into the fucking bastard myself, but my car was too beautiful for that and I wasn't that much of an idiot.

When I finally pull into Marlow's, I thank God for the fact that I didn't get into an accident or a fight with that douchebag. I was known for how out of control my road rage got sometimes.

I walked into the big store and scanned my eyes for the supplies I listed. It was moments like this where I hated my hand writing. You know it's bad when you can't even read the shit you wrote yourself.

My eyes finally lock on one of the things I had on my list and I smirk to myself.

Look at me, actually being a productive citizen for once.

The small flash of brown hair in the corner of my eye had my heart plummeting momentarily.

Thrusting my cart behind me to hide any evidence of what I'm purchasing, I let my eyes trail back up to the girl I've been in love with all these years.

Angelina stands there in all her glory at the pharmacy side of the store. Her dress flaps around her body and I almost call her name out until I notice something else.

Haden walks up beside her, wrapping his arms around her and embracing her in a hug.

My heart stops when she wraps her arms around him too, letting him see one of those graceful smiles of hers while she buried her head in his neck.

...so,uh, nice weather we're having.