Our Year As Sophomores

“Well, are you going tonight or not?” asked Lauren annoyed. “Fine, I’ll go.” I gave in, I guess the party would be fun. Even though I heard Derek tell Lee that he would not be going.
“Great. Okay, well do you want to drop me off after, or am I staying the night?” she asked, but I didn’t hear her. We were sitting outside under a tree that was planted behind the school. Our school had what I guess you could describe as sort of being a park. It had trees, benches, and even that little concrete path all around it. It was built so students could sit out here on pretty days during their off periods, and sometimes we come out and eat lunch. But mostly, it is where everyone goes for the ten minutes we have between classes, just to relax. It was kind of a cloudy day though today, and I was staring up at them. Trying to make out all the different shapes I could find. I found one that looked like a dog playing with a bone, and another that resembled a star.
“Tara!?” I snapped out of my zone. “What, why are you screaming?” she laughed. “Because. You were not listening to me. So do you want to take me home after the party tonight or what?” she asked once again.
“You’re staying the night. Come with me after school and we can stop by your house and get your things.” I lifted my head to look back up at the clouds.
“Alright. And I’ll do your hair, make up, and pick out your clothes. You have to look amazing for Derek tonight.” I pulled my eyes away from the sky and looked at Lauren with that are you an idiot look. “What?” she asked.
“He isn’t going tonight. I heard him tell Lee.” Lauren nodded her head, “Well Tara you still have to look amazing, so all the guys will tell Derek what he missed.” We both just laughed.
“I have to go to class. Meet me in the parking lot after school. Bye.” I grabbed my bag and began to stand up.
“Hey Tara!” It was Derek. “oh hey.” I replied as he started walking over to where me and Lauren were. “So, the party tonight, I heard it’s supposed to be really awesome. I was supposed to go out of town with my dad but I told him I was feeling sick so he let me stay home. So are yall going?” He is going, oh my god! I have a great idea. Think quick.
“Well actually,” I said cutting Lauren off before she had a chance to ruin my plan, “I was just telling Lauren that I can’t. My mom is taking my truck tonight, so I wont have a way to get there.” He frowned then his eyes suddenly lit up. “I’ll take you, I mean, if you still want to go.” I love how I knew that he would offer.
I smiled, “Yeah, hey do you think you I can just go home with you after school, I was trying to find a ride.”
“Yeah, great. We can go hangout or something until tonight.” This was all way to easy. Why hadn’t I thought of any of this before? “Okay, thanks. I have to get to class though, so I’ll see you later.” Derek nodded and waved bye to Lauren who was still sitting under the tree and then walked away while I just grabbed my purse I had still left laying on the ground.
“Sorry Lauren, but that was just to perfect for me to let it pass by. Ask John to take you tonight or something.” She smiled “Oh, that’s fine. Great idea by the way, how did you think of all that so quick? Oh, and what about you truck? It’s parked outside, and you can’t let Derek see it.”
“Oh, right, thanks. Um… you can take it.” I threw the keys over to her. “There. Now just drive it to my house, and have John or whoever pick you up there. Now I really have to go. Bye.”


“Hey! Ready to go?” Derek asked as he walked up to his car. I was leaning up against it, and had been for about five minutes now. I wanted to make sure that I beat him out here so he would see me as he walked up. You know, hoping he would realize that he liked the feeling of knowing that I’m here waiting for him.
“Yeah, so what are we going to do until tonight? Any ideas yet? Because we have a few hours.” Maybe we would go out to eat or something, just us.
“Well, I have two things in mind. You can choose. Okay?” He smiled like it was some sort of trick.
“Okay, what are my options here?” I said with a hint of sarcasm in my voice.
“I’m not going to tell you! Not exactly anyways, because that would ruin the surprise. But one will be very surprising, could possibly make us late to the party, and will have us spending a lot of the time in the car. The other is not as unexpected, kind of normal-ish, but still very fun. So what will it be?”
Okay, now seriously, is that even a question? “I think I have to go with the first one.” He laughed, “Great, I was hoping you would choose that one. Alright let’s go.” He walked over to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for me. “Well, thank you.” I said, “Yeah, just get in before I change my mind and close it on you.” He smiled and started laughing. I just looked at him and tilted my head to the side, “What? I was just kidding.” I laughed, “Yeah, I know.”
“Well, then what is it?” he asked. “Nothing.” I got in the car, and he shut the door and walked over to the drivers side and got in. He turned the car on and we slowly made our way out of the parking lot. I was still thinking about what made me tilt my head at him. Why was all of a sudden he acting more like a boyfriend, being polite and trying to surprise his girlfriend, then acting like a friend? Did he know?