Purple

chapter 10

"I believe you started it actually." Derek said, smirking at me.

"Oh whatever." I turned away, getting up to retrieve my bra.

"So what now? You gonna regret this and tell me how horrible I am. How much of a mistake I am?"
I looked over at him, reading the anger from previous memories on his face.

I stood still. My face squishing tightly together. I cringed remembering the words i'd spoken before.

Hesitantly, I let my guard down to apologize. To give Derek an explanation, that hopefully he'll understand.

"Derek...I'm sorry. I..." Derek cut me off.

"Alice i'm not really interested in excuses or lame apologies. So far it just feels like you use me then let regret consume you. I don't enjoy being played."

"Seriously Derek, please just listen. I'm not trying to give you an excuse or some half-assed apology."

He stopped to listen giving me his full attention.

"My mom and I are from a small town. We have only ever been around blues. I was told my whole life that reds were horrible, and I should avoid them like a sickness," I watched Derek roll his eyes to this. "Derek I know, but seriously I knew nothing else but red was bad, and blue was good."

"But then I came here, to Color Academia....The city. Everyone here just hangs out with whoever they want. Stereotypes barely exist here, if at all. And you, well..... you are hot and I didn't know I could feel like that about a red."

Derek smiled, and I felt embarrassment admitting these things.

"Listen I said those horrible things to you because my Moms face came to mind that night. I don't know why, but I could feel her disappointment. It was too much to handle, but just then, when you mentioned how i'm a pussy...," I frowned at him lowering my eyelids in annoyance.

"I said what I saw, you can't blame me."

"Anyways...It just made me realize I can't let stupid childhood stereotypes, and my mom rule over me everywhere I go. It's time to change. Derek id really appreciate it if you could be the one to help me be better."

"I don't know, you've been pretty horrible these past few weeks..."

"Derek! i'm being serious, I regret all of it. Also you were mean too."

"Okay, okay. Just joking. If you seriously want to try together i'll be here for you, but if you ever do to me what you did that night again, I wouldn't be able to forgive you."

"I know. I'm seriously sorry about that." His hurt face from that night came back to my mind. My heart ached. I can't believe I had the capacity to say something like that, and to deny myself of my feelings.

I couldn't blame my mom for everything either, after all she'd grown up around the same stereotypes, being fed the same lies. It was time to drop a truth bomb on my old hometown.

—

Derek lay back down to the floor. He limbs spread out like a star fish. I sat myself in a criss cross position next to him. His bright eyes looked up at me, his hand reaching up to fiddle with the ends of my dark blue hair.

"We hated each other earlier today." I said.

"I didn't actually hate you. Ever. I was just angry." Derek responded. His hand standing still for a moment while he spoke. His face contorted to represent the anger he felt, the going back to his soft expression.

I turned and smiled down at him. His response reminding me how I hadn't hated him either.

"Yeah. I think I just had myself convinced I hated you. I didn't want to let myself feel the way I actually felt."

His hand reached up, caressing my cheek.

"It was easy to tell anyway." He smirked at me.

"What!" I turned to him furrowing my brows.

"You weren't very convincing. Every time I came close you got all flustered. OH! And when I would bring girls," He laughed. " You would look sooo angry."

"I was really that horrible of an actress? Dang."

"Sorry baby. It's the truth" He returned to his starfish position, as I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. A nervous tick.

"Well I had me convinced. Mostly."

"Sure you did. Real convinced when you came and grabbed me like you did."

I blushed, remembering the events from moments ago. Derek laughed as he looked at my facial expression.

"It was really hot though.." He said in a low voice. His arm began tracing up my arm under my sweater.

"Derek! You already got me hot and bothered for the day!" I pouted and hit him gently with a throw pillow.

He laughed at me.

"You sure?" Derek said, looking up at me.

I bit my lip, contemplating his offer.

"Don't tempt me..." I said slowly, moving my body to his.