My Boyfriend's Best Friend

by Pixie Perkins

  “What?” My eyes widen. “No—no, we don’t argue.”

  She gives me a disbelieving look and then turns to Derek. “Do you guys argue?”

  Derek sighs. “Mads—”

  “No!” I exclaim (probably a little too defensively). “We don’t argue!”

  Not really anyway—we haven’t even had time to fight.

  Madison and Derek both look at me like I’m crazy and I sigh. “I didn’t mean to—”

  “It’s fine,” Madison interrupts, offering a sympathetic nod, “sometimes people get defensive when they’re nervous or lying.”

  “I’m not lying, and I’m not—” I stop because maybe I am a little nervous.

  Derek could’ve warned me that his little sister is a miniature psychologist or something…

  “Don’t be nervous.” She gives me an intent look. “Okay?”

  How can I not be nervous when she’s staring at me like that?

  “Maddles, why don’t you see if Mom needs help in the dining room?” Derek suggests as he pats her shoulders. “Like now.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Fine.”

  I can’t help feeling somewhat relieved when she leaves the kitchen.

  “Sorry about Mads,” Derek apologizes, scratching the back of his neck. “Like I said…she’s just going through some weird phase.”

  “It’s fine.” I wave him off. “I had this phase where I—”

  What the crap?

  I can’t believe I almost told him about Sheila.

  What am I, crazy?

  He looks at me expectantly. “Well?”

  I shrug, trying to seem nonchalant. “Nothing.”

  “You were going to say something.”

  Cue fake surprise. “Was I?”

  “Yes,” he drawls with an eye-roll, “so dish.”

  I vigorously shake my head.

  No way am I going to tell him.

  “Oh come on, Witty-Britty,” he urges in a teasing tone, “you know you want to tell me.”

  Heck to the no.

  “I am not—”

  “So, Brittany, is there—” Faith stops and looks between the both of us. “Am I interrupting something?”

  “No, Faith,” Derek replies in a smooth tone, “you’re fine…what’s up?”

  “I was just going to ask if there’s any other food that makes Brittany sick.” She smiles some. “Mom wants to know.”

  “Guacamole,” I mutter, feeling even more embarrassed, “that’s it.”

  But it’s technically Mexican anyway, so…yeah.

  “Guacamole,” she repeats, as if trying to remember it, “I’ll go tell her.”

  Derek raises an eyebrow after Faith leaves. “Guacamole too?”

  “Yes…” I trail off, “don’t ask why.”

  “Okay.” He pauses before grinning. “Why?”

  “I don’t know.” I roll my eyes. “It just does.”

  “Weird…” he trails off, “ready to go?”

  My eyebrows crease as I stand up. “Shouldn’t we help finish cleaning up or something?”

  “Nah, don’t worry about it.” He waves the idea off, walking toward me. “If anything, they’ll make me help later.”

  “Are you sure?” I tilt my head. “I don’t mind—”

  “Sure I’m sure.” He drapes an arm over my shoulders. “Let’s go.”

  “What about my sandwich?” I whine/pout. “I’m not done eating it.”

  “Fine,” he huffs, rolling his eyes, “you can bring the rest of it.”

  I smile in triumph as I wrap the half of my sandwich in a paper towel. “There. All good.”

  “Not quite…” His arm goes around my shoulders again. “Perfect.”

  Perfect?

  No, this is far from perfect…this is horrible.

  We walk out of the kitchen and into the dining room where Derek’s family is clearing the table.

  “Mom, Dad…we’re going now,” he tells his parents, “‘kay?”

  “Oh.” His mom frowns. “But I wanted to show Brittany your—”

  “Sorry, Mom,” Derek cuts in (not sounding very sorry at all), “we gotta go…time frame.”

  Well, that’s news to me, who knew we were on a time frame?

  His mom pouts and then turns to me. “Brittany, you’ll have to come again…soon.”

  I barely get to nod, because Derek’s basically dragging me out of the house.

  What the—

  “Time frame?” I pull my hand away from his once we’re outside. “We don’t have a time frame.”

  “I have a time frame,” he informs me in a matter-of-fact way, “and besides…someone can only put up with my family for so long.”

  “I like them,” I reply in all honesty, “they’re sweet…and super nice, and—”

  “Partially crazy,” he interjects as we walk toward his truck.

  I shake my head. “That’s your arena.”

  “Ha-ha, very funny.”

  He goes around the front of the truck and once he unlocks the car, I get in and then shut my door.

  “So where to next?” Derek asks, closing his door.

  “What do you mean?” I look up from buckling my seatbelt. “Aren’t you taking me home?”

  He puts his seatbelt on. “Do you want to go home?”

  “What happened to your ‘time frame’?” I ask, using air quotations.

  He shrugs before starting the car. “We’re fine until two thirty.”

  Two thirty?

  What the heck is happening at two thirty?

  Forget it, Britt.

  It’s none of your business.

  “Oh,” I reply as if it’s no big deal, “okay.”

  So. Annoying.

  He pulls out of the driveway and I drum my fingers on the truck’s windowsill as he starts driving. “So, has the girl you liked shown any interest yet?”

  “Hard to tell,” he says with his eyes on the road. “Why do you ask?”

  I turn my attention toward my window. “No reason.”

  So, Blake doesn’t want me back yet and Derek’s “mystery girl” is playing hard to get—typical.

  I want Blake back before the Spring Fling dance!

  Before Prom…before Graduation!

  I should be with the guy I like, the guy I love.

  Because yes, I love Blake…obviously, why else would I be doing all of this?

  And if Liv’s definition of being in love is accurate, then I am totally in love.

  I think about Blake when I’m trying to sleep—heck, I think about him almost all the time!

  Why is everything so complicated?

  “Here we are.”

  We stopped?

  I turn to him after checking our surroundings. “A park?”

  He unbuckles his seatbelt. “Yep.”

  “But—” He gets out of the car then closes his door and I sigh as I unbuckle my seatbelt. “A park? Why a park?”

  Of course, he doesn’t answer though.

  “Derek,” I say, getting out of the car, “why a—”

  “Come on,” he urges, grabbing my hand…and I barely get the chance to close my door. “Let’s go!”

  I let him lead me through the park entrance and it’s surprisingly not very crowded for a Saturday.

  “Derek.” I let go of his hand. “Why are we here?”

  “What do people do when they come to a park?”

  “I don’t know,” I reply, not really understanding why he’s asking. “Talk, walk—”

  “Okay,” he cuts in, “what do kids do?”

  “Chase each other around? Go on the swings—seesaw.” I look at him in confusion. “Why do you ask?”

  “Because that’s what we’re going to do.” He grins and lightly taps the tip of my nose. “We’re going to act like kids.”

  He definitely is the one who’s crazy.

  “Me and you?” I motion between us. “Act like kids? What? Why?”

  “Oh come on, Britt.” He sighs. “It’ll be
fun…I promise.”

  I cross my arms. “And what if I refuse to?”

  “Then I’ll kiss you in front of everybody,” he says, looking completely serious.

  My eyes widen as I let my arms drop. “You wouldn’t.”

  He shrugs as if it’s no big deal.

  “Would you?” I squeak out.

  I can’t let that happen…I won’t.

  Yuck.

  I can’t even—in front of everybody?

  It suddenly feels like there are hundreds of people at this park.

  “All right, all right.” I sigh in defeat. “I’ll act like a kid with you.”

  How stupid does that sound?

  I mean, really.

  “Yes!” His blue eyes light up. “Come on!”

  He grabs my hand again, and I’m forced to run…otherwise he’d be dragging me through the grass as he runs.

  He lets go of my hand and motions to one of the four swings. “Sit.”

  I awkwardly turn around and sit on the seat then hold on to the swing’s chains.

  As soon as I feel his hands on my upper back, I squeeze my eyes shut. “Not too high.”

  His hands move and I crack open an eye to see him standing next to me. “You’re scared of heights?”

  He sounds totally surprised, like being scared of heights is unheard of.

  “No.” I open both of my eyes. “It’s just different…with swings. That’s all.”

  He laughs a little. “You’re something else, Britt.”

  Yeah.

  “I could say the same about you, ‘Mr. Let’s-Act-Like-Kids’.” I use air quotations before holding on to the swing’s chains again. “Go ahead and push me.”

  He clicks his tongue before going behind me. “Bossy…”

  I roll my eyes and the next thing I know, I’m moving back and forth.

  Thankfully, Derek respects my wishes and doesn’t push me too high, and thankfully I don’t feel sick.

  I did just eat after all. I love this though.

  I close my eyes and embrace the wind blowing on my face and in my hair, the rush of excitement—the feeling of feeling free.

  It’s almost enough to make me let go and throw my arms in the air…almost.

  Okay, maybe not really.

  “Hey!” Derek exclaims. “Jump off!”

  I shake my head. “No way!”

  I’m actually enjoying myself, why the heck would I jump off?

  I could break something.

  Feeling somewhat brave, I pump my legs so I’ll go a little bit faster and higher.

  This is—

  A loud groan causes my eyes to shoot open and I quickly glance behind me to see Derek lying on his back, on the ground.

  “Oh my—” I carefully slow the swing to a stop, then quickly go over to where Derek is and drop to my knees. “Derek, I’m so sorry…I didn’t mean to kick you!”

  He groans again. “Man, did that hurt.”

  “Derek, I’m sorry.” I wince. “Really I am.”

  “It’s all right.” He laughs some (even though it sounds strained). “It’s not like you did it on purpose.” He pauses. “Did you?”

  “Of course not!” I exclaim with a scoff. “I would never—”

  “Britt.” He smiles a bit. “Relax. I was joking.”

  I cross my arms. “I’m not laughing.”

  He sighs. “Help me up, please?”

  I stand to my feet then grab his hands, and thankfully with his help I’m able to get him up.

  “I’m sorry, Derek,” I apologize again as he dusts himself off.

  “I know you are.” He nods. “You’ve said that you are like three times already.”

  “Sorry,” I can’t help but mumble.

  “Hey, let’s do something else.” He motions past me. “Like seesaw.”

  I stare at him in disbelief.

  I just kicked the guy and he wants to play on the seesaw.

  That’s Derek for you.

  “Okay…” I trail off, “sure.”

  Like I’m going to tell him no right after what I did to him.

  He grins. “Race ya!”

  And he runs toward the seesaws.

  Was he really just on the ground, groaning in pain?

  I sigh and then trudge over to him, where he’s yelling with his hands cupped around his mouth. “Derek Connors in first place and Brittany Grayson in second!”

  He’s so weird.

  Derek sits on one of the seesaw’s seats and I sit on the opposite one, and then we go up and down…and then down and up.

  “This isn’t boring for you?’ I ask as we continue to seesaw. “At all?”

  He shrugs. “Is it boring for you?”

  “A little,” I admit in all honesty, “sorry.”

  He slows his pace, then stops and gets off.

  I get off too, and dust myself off.

  “So, are we—” I stop when I look up and realize he’s not here. “Derek?”

  “Over here!”

  I turn to see him on one of the jungle gyms, smiling like an idiot while getting ready to slide.

  I prop my hands on my hips. “What are you doing?”

  He points to the slide. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  “I know that.” I let my arms drop. “I mean, why?”

  “Because I want to,” he replies in a “duh” voice. “Come on up!”

  Still feeling bad for kicking him, I climb up the steps. “Okay…I’m here.”

  “Good.” He sits down on the top of the slide. “Give me a push…wouldja?”

  I sigh as I get on my knees and then push him by his shoulders.

  He slides down the slide, letting out a very exaggerated scream as if he’s on some kind of roller coaster.

  Unbelievable.

  He stands up and looks at me. “Your turn.”

  I sit on the top of the slide, then push off and in less than thirty seconds I’m standing in front of him. “There.”

  “That was boring.” He gives me an unimpressed look. “Watch this.”

  I watch as he climbs up the slide and lies flat on his back, headfirst, ready to slide down backward. “Derek…no, don’t—”

  “Relax, it’s fine,” he assures me, “I did this all the time when I was a kid.”

  “You are a kid,” I mutter as he slides down backward.

  Though it’s obvious that he’s not going to hurt himself, I still can’t help but feel uneasy.

  So once he gets up and stands to his feet, I hit his arm. “Don’t do that again.”

  “Why not?” He laughs. “I’m fine.”

  I cross my arms. “You’ve could’ve hurt yourself.”

  “But I didn’t.”

  I sigh. “Forget it.”

  He smiles. “It’s sweet that you care about me though.”

  “I would be worried about anyone who tried to do something that could be dangerous.” I ignore the blush creeping up to my cheeks. “That’s all.”

  His facial expression suddenly changes and I can’t tell if he’s mad or upset…maybe disappointed?

  He licks his lips. “We better get you home.”

  But he doesn’t grab my hand and lead me to his truck, he doesn’t drape an arm around my shoulders—he doesn’t even walk next to me, he just goes past me in silence.

  What just happened?

  ——————

  We drive in complete silence.

  No words. No laughs. No smiles. No nothing.

  I’m dying to know why we’re playing the silent game, but I don’t have the guts to ask.

  Derek hasn’t even looked at me.

  He just keeps his eyes on the road as if that’s all that matters.

  Why is he upset? I don’t get it.

  Should I even care? Should I even be worried?

  I mean, this is all fake.

  We’re not really dating so it shouldn’t really matter.

  But it does, and I can’t figure out why it’s bugging me so much.r />
  Maybe I’m overthinking all of this.

  Maybe it’s just a miscommunication.

  Then again—maybe not…

  I lean my head back against the seat’s headrest.

  Ugh, I have to say something.

  The awkward silence is killing me.

  I’m ready to blurt out the first random thought that comes to mind when he’s suddenly pulling into my driveway.

  Wow, that happened.

  When he doesn’t stop the car or unbuckle his seatbelt, I take that as a sign to just get out.

  So I take my seatbelt off and open the car door.

  “Britt?”

  My head snaps in his direction. “Yes?”

  Now he talks…

  “Thanks for today.”

  His face is still hard to read, but one thing’s for sure…I’m totally confused.

  “Uh…” I trail off, “you’re welcome?”

  He smiles some. “See ya on Monday.”

  “Okay.” I get out of the car. “Monday.”

  He nods and I do the same before shutting the door.

  I start going up the walkway then glance over my shoulder to realize he hasn’t left yet, weird…

  “I’m home!” I exclaim after going inside the house and closing the front door.

  “Hey, Britt-Brat,” Zach greets me, coming out of the kitchen, “had fun?”

  I shrug. “I guess.”

  “Hmm.” He nods. “Your boyfriend seems…nice.”

  I raise a curious eyebrow. “So you approve?”

  “Well,” he drawls, “if you like him and he treats you right—who am I to object?”

  I blink. “Who are you and what did you do with my brother?”

  “I’m serious, Britt.” He laughs a little. “If you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

  He ruffles my hair, then goes down to the basement, leaving me somewhat dumbfounded.

  Well, what if I’m not happy?

  Chapter 17: Silly Emotions

  ——————————————————

  “Zach is so gorg, Britt,” Delanie gushes as she rubs sunscreen on her arms. “He’s even hotter than the last time I saw him.”

  “Ew, Del.” I wrinkle my nose. “He’s my brother…that’s so gross.”

  She grins at that. “Better your brother and not mine.”

  “Del!” I huff in annoyance. “Stop it.”

  “It’s completely harmless, Britt.” She rolls her blue eyes. “I mean, he has a girlfriend.”

  “Actually…” I lean back into my pool lounge chair. “They broke up.”