Little Whale

Chapter 5: We're Neighbors?

It was three in the morning and after waiting an hour in the woods until Derek and I felt safe enough to make a break for it, we slowly found ourselves back to my car. The only thing visible was my hand, and that was only if it was five inches from my face. The crickets were chirping so loudly I wanted to find them all and squash the living hell out of them. It was starting to get chilly and I hadn't even brought a jacket, so I had to deal with wrapping my arms around myself to keep in some body heat. I looked over to see Derek but all I could hear was his footsteps right beside me, doesn't help he was wearing black all over.

"Hey so since that's your car, and I don't have a ride, can you give me a lift?" Derek asked I puffed my breath.

"Get in." I answered. He did a little squeal of happiness, I couldn't help but laugh at how feminine it sounded. I hopped into my car and plunged my key into the ignition starting my baby to life.

"I live on Elm Tree Drive." Derek told me. I turned to look at him with confusion. That was my street.

"We're neighbors?" I asked. Derek shrugged as if he already had known that.

"Yeah" He replied simply.

"So that's how you knew who I was?"

"No I've been stalking you since fifth grade, you're the love of my life, my childhood crush, I follow you home and snap a couple pictures, then I hang them up in my bedroom on my shrine of you in my closet." Derek smirked.

"Ew stop, that isn't even funny!" I slapped him arm playfully and he gave a laugh while putting on his seatbelt. I followed his action and slowly started to pull off the road to get back home.

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"This is my stop." Derek told me. I pulled into his driveway unlocking his car door, but Derek wasn't making any effort to get out.

"What do you need me to walk you to the door?" I teased. Derek glanced over at me with a slight grin on his face.

"No because I'll do that next weekend when I take you out." He claimed.

"Is that so? Because I think I have better things to do." I continued. Derek rolled him eyes and unbuckled his seatbelt.

"Goodnight Tori, or good morning, whatever floats your boat." He laughed. I gave him a warm smile and Derek hopped out of the car with a wink and a slow walk to him backyard, probably to sneak into his house without being caught. I couldn't help but smile. How had I not noticed him before? He was cute, sweet, sassy, maybe a bit of a dick at time but he seemed really nice. I gave a huff and started up my car before driving a couple more houses down to mine.

After finally reaching my house I parked in the street and was at my front door unlocking the door as quietly as I could. When I set my keys into the dish on the buffet a lamp switched on and there sat my mom in her robe and slipped sitting on the recliner.

"Shit! Mom you scared the crap out of me." I yelled.

"You're three hours past curfew." My mom growled.

"Look I can explain, I got caught up and had to give my friend Derek a ride-"

"Derek? Who the hell is Derek? Where did your friend go?" She questioned standing up and walking over to me closing the front door.

"Yeah Derek, he's our neighbor we met at the party and he didn't have a ride so I offered him one, and Ash met up with a friend and she got a ride from her." I lied about the last part.

"Victoria you don't offer people you barely know rides home, and what is that awful smell?" She grabbed my shirt and took a whiff, her face scrunched up in disgust.