A/N : Thank you for being here! ♥️ Please leave votes & comments if you like the chapter!

PLAYLIST : Gorgeous - Taylor Swift

     We played the game for a while and then it was time for me to go home. The party was still going on. Derek offered to drop me.

     When we were in the car, I got to know that he was going back to the party after getting me home. "You didn't have to come just for me. I thought you were leaving too. I would've taken the bus," I said.

     "I can't let you go alone this late in the night. And besides, I brought you here. So it's only fair I get you back home."

     "When will you go home? No curfew for you?"

     Derek tapped his fingers on the steering wheel for a while before answering. "Um . . . I'm staying at Nathan's."

     The way he said it didn't sound like an honest answer. But who was I to question. I didn't think we were close enough that I'd prod him further. "Ok, cool. Thanks for helping with Gina."

     "No problem."

     "And I'm sorry for what she said. She talks bullshit sometimes."

     "Don't worry about that. We never got along. That's how we talk to each other," he chuckled.

     "I'd love to hear that story someday. You and Gina, I just can't digest that. I'm sure it'll amuse me."

     The car stopped in front of my house. I didn't want the night to end just yet. "Sure," he bowed his head.

     "So," I said, "this is where I get down."

     He leaned his head on his seat, staring at me. "You're a great kisser," he said suddenly.

     I batted my eyelids. "Yeah, well. I have a lot of practice. Like a lot. Like totally a lot."

     He let out a laugh and I laughed with him. And then we were both silent. I wanted to say something before I left. Something which showed him that I enjoyed being with him tonight.

     Think of something to fill the silence, Vivian! My brain rehashed the events of the long day and finally grappled back to when Derek was about to kiss me during the game. When he said that it was easy.

     "Do you think I'm easy?" I asked aloud.

     Seriously! Of all the things to say?!

     He was shocked. "What?"

     "No, I didn't mean it that way. It didn't come out right. Back at Nate's home, when you said that kissing me was easy, I just-"

     "No!" he cut me off. "No, Vivian. That's not true. I thought I'd have to do something I didn't want to do. I mean, I never thought about it that way. I'm so, so sorry." He looked at me solemnly, his eyes roaming around my face.

     Now would be a great time for me to vanish off the face of the earth! My stupid mouth! Stupid bitch! Change the topic. Now! I started babbling. "You know, this time I'm going in through the door, not the window. I have keys." I jingled the keys in front of him.

     He laughed, easing the tension. "That's awesome." I hugged him goodnight and got down. He drove off while I walked to my house.

     No one was awake. I had come back in an hour. I tiptoed to my room, took off my dress and wore my pj's. After brushing my teeth, I slumped on my bed snuggling under my comforter.

     As soon as I closed my eyes, Derek's image popped into my head. His dark eyes stared back at me. I couldn't shake off the memory of the kiss from my mind. It took me a long time to stop blushing and go to sleep. Who would even imagine that I'd end up having fun with Derek!

     I had mixed feelings for him. I liked his company. I couldn't help liking him. Tonight, I knew, I was going to have some really nice dreams.

~~~

     The weekend after prom was uneventful mostly, except for Gina waking up from her hangover like a zombie. She had no recollection of the night of the prom after getting high.

     Turns out, she and her friends smuggled in some pot and were smoking behind the school in a deserted alleyway where no one came. She got high and ended up in the parking lot to drive home. When she realized she didn't bring her car, she called me. And there goes the rest of the story.

     I hoped I'd run into Derek in school on Monday. Well, we had Calculus together, so there was a good chance of that.

     I was sitting in the classroom working on an assignment when I saw him stroll in. "Hi," I said when he walked by my row.

     He paused and gave me a smile. "Hey, Vivian."

     "Hey." Yes I know, that was the lamest response ever!

     "How's Gina?" he asked.

     "Good. Totally recovered." I gave a thumbs up. "Though she doesn't remember a thing and thinks I'm making stuff up."

     He laughed. "That's Gina for you."

     "Looks like you know her pretty well," I noted.

     "Now don't be jealous, freckles." He winked and gave a pat on my arm and went to his seat.

     Mr. Hunt gave us a study period and we were supposed to discuss and solve the questions in groups. Olive likes to sit alone when she's studying, so I sat with Derek. He was good at Calculus, a lot better than me. I even joked that he could tutor me.

     But we weren't getting much work done because he talked a lot. On every topic possible.

     Even Suzy couldn't spoil my mood in biology that day with her stupid remarks and mean jokes. The photos she posted online were long forgotten.

     Yep, I was badly crushing on Derek and couldn't stop gushing when talking about him. I didn't know where it would go. For one, he wasn't my type of guy. But wait, what was really my type? I felt like Derek should've been my type all along.

     He wasn't into serious relationships, I knew that. Everyone knew that. And I, on the other hand, tended to get too attached.

     There bursts my bubble. Derek's not my type after all.

     Maybe Derek's not even interested in me. I mean, he's the kind of guy who'd make a move by now if he was. Was the kiss a move? But it was a dare. And he'd kiss any other girl too. But the intensity of the kiss. It had to mean something . . . Or maybe not.

     It's okay to like someone right, even if it wouldn't come to anything? He'll be my secret crush for now. Maybe it'll pass like other crushes, or turn into something more. Only time will tell. And I was in no hurry. I was happy with the way things were, being friends with him.

A/N : I'm sorry this chapter is short :(

School's keeping me busy, so I can't update as often as I want to. It was a long time since I updated, so I quickly wanted to write a chapter. I have no idea how it turned out; I wrote it real quick. Please tell me it's not horrible!

I think I'm gonna be busy for another week, but after that I'll have decent updates. Please don't mind, pretty please? 😻

This chapter is dedicated to  dilshisha123 for the amazing support on this book! Thank you sooo much!