Innocence Lost On the Gamble of Love

Innocence Lost On the Gamble of Love: Chapter 17

Two weeks flew by. Derrick and Penelope were as content as ever, but one day on the calendar would test and define their relationship: Valentine's Day.

They had agreed to not buy each other anything, but Derrick still felt obligated to surprise Penelope with a gift, just for the hell of it. She deserved it after all, she had been so compliant with him, never arguing with him, always offering him options, giving him space, never questioning his every move. He felt lucky and grateful, which is why he wanted to show her how much he appreciated her.

He couldn't buy her anything cheap. No chocolate because that was so ordinary, and it would melt by lunch time. No flowers, because for one, they cost a ton, and second, they would end up dying, and Derrick didn't want Penelope to think anything symbolic from it since she was a writer and all.

Stupid commercialism holiday, Derrick growled to himself.

He walked over to his sister's room and knocked lightly on the door.

"Who is it?" Teresa called out from the other side.

"Does it matter?" Derrick retorted with a roll of his eyes (he had started doing that a lot lately, he blamed Penelope for influencing her little quirks onto him).

"Uh, yeah, I have clothes on the floor and Dad hates seeing my 'undergarments' as you call them. Enter at your own risk, little brother."

Derrick opened the door and carefully made his way to his sister's bed, avoiding the disarray of clothes. He was aready used to his sister's untidiness so he didn't think much of it. It's not like his room was any cleaner.

"Can you help me with something?" he counseled in a small voice.

"Depends on what it is," she said, blowing on her freshly painted bubblegum pink nails.

"Well, what should I get my girlfriend for Valentine's Day?"

Teresa was still fascinated by the fact that Derrick had a decent girlfriend, and that he cared so much about her in the little amount of time they had been together. It was cute how hard he was trying to be the perfect boyfriend. He had never made this much of an effort with those other girls.

"What does she like?"

"I don't know. Aren't all girls the same?"

Teresa scoffed and kicked Derrick roughly on the shoulder. "You have a ways to go, kid."

"You're not helping," Derrick scowled, gingerly rubbing the potential bruise on his upper arm.

"Alright, alright." Teresa wavered. "Make her a CD."

Derrick shook his head, but scarcely remembered something about dedicating a song to Penelope. He snapped his fingers at the revelation, startling his sister with the sudden sound.

"What? Did the light bulb finally go off in your head?" she questioned darkly.

Derrick ignored Teresa's jibe and said, "Hey, what if I played her a song on my guitar?"

"Now you're talking!" she gushed excitedly. "That's romantic right there. Just don't screw it up."

Derrick frowned and glared at his older sibling. Did she really think so low of him?

"What?" she asked innocently, her eyes widening. "I'm surprised that you even came up with this. So what song were you thinking of?"

Shit, there's so many... he pondered to himself.

"I have no idea."

"Do you know her favorite song?"

"...No." He admitted shamefully. He should've known that by now among other things.