Highland Tangle

DERRICK #2

During lunch, Carter and I were hangout. We were just talking, "Who would win in a battle, Red Ranger of the S.P.D Rangers or Red Ranger of the Mighty Morphin' ?" Carter asks me and I take a bit to think. "Red as in Jason and then we talkin Jack from B-Squad?" I ask Carter for clarification and he nods, "Jack is skilled but I'm gonna have to go with Jason." Carter looks at me in disbelief, "Dude no way, Jack is kinda scrappy I think he has the edge." I shake my hand, "What are you smoking? Jack over Jason! No freakin way, dawg! You trippin hard!"

As I'm talking I start realizing that Carter's attention and focus are not on our conversation. I look at where his gaze is at and it's at Faith. Of course it is, I wouldn't say Carter has a crush on her but like most guys at this school he has a desire or intrigue to her. I see it but I also don't get it, like she's just a girl. Some would call her a goddess but she ain't no Aphrodite. "What do you think they're talking about?" Carter says in a trance like wonder and I throw a tater tot and hit him in the face to snap him back into reality.

"Ow! That hell was that for?" He snaps back immediately. "Good, you're back! Now if you wanna try something different go talk to her, maybe she'd wanna be friends." Carter looks down shyly at the thought. "I can't, plus a girl like that she'd never wanna be my friend." I get up and pull Carter out up out of his seat. "Come on, try. The worst she could do it freeze you out from giving you the cold shoulder."

Carter take a deep breathe and walk over to her and I think it's going good til she stands up and gets in his face and Carter goes from like a timid posture to defeated. Man come on, Carter! You need a backbone. I watch as Carter comes back to me and he sits down and puts his head down and I sit down with him. "I'm guessing, it didn't go well." Carter doesn't move he just sits and sulks there. Carter can get like this sometimes, he will kinda shut down for a bit then come back to me and joke around.

"She's the devil in Wedged heeled sneakers." Carter says Kinda muffled but I could hear him. "Maybe she's not having a good day, you should try again just when she's approachable. Also you need confidence and a backbone! Man, when you walked up you were all timid and girls can smell that cowardice." Carter popped his head head up. "I know and you're right, but she's so mean! It's hard when someone is mean to you." I reach over and pat his shoulder. "I know man, but that's what makes people brave. Bravery comes in all forms."

He eats his lunch and so do I. This is why I worry about Carter, He's a nice guy and means well but he needs confidence and courage if he's gonna make it in this world. Being a Christian, The Bible speaks many times about courage and being courageous. I know my courage comes from the Lord. Carter on the other hand since he's really isn't one, He doesn't have that same source of courage, he'll be more building up worldly courage which for him it's what he needs. I hope he'll come around to God but for now he needs to work on him.

The lunch bell rings and we get up. Carter and I  start walking to my biology class. "So we gonna hangout after school?" Carter asks and I slightly shrug. "Maybe but I don't know, I'll have to ask my dad." Carter rolls his eyes, "Your dad hates me, he's not gonna let you." I chuckle audibly. "Hate isn't in my dad's heart and not just because he's a pastor. He just thinks you can be a bad influence on me but also I can be a good one on you." I smile and we get into the biology class and Carter and I do our handshake we made in the first grade.

I see Faith with an empty seat and ask, "May I sit next to you?" She think for a few seconds then say to me, "Sure, just promise not to be weird." I laugh and then sit down.

"I'm Derrick. Derrick Bern. You are?" I say and she replies back, "Faith. Faith Martínez." I start looking at her curiously cause of her last name, "Your last name and the way say it sounds, sounds Mexican or Latin but you don't look that much to me. I couldn't even tell." she laughs at my comment so I don't think I offended her which is good. Then she says "Looks can be deceiving, can't they? My mom is white and my dad is Mexican. So I look white like my mom but also have the ability to speak Spanish." She explains to me and I can't help but be in awe of that.

"That's a really cool background, I didn't mean any rudeness or insensitive talk when bringing up your looks. I apologize for if you took it that way." I say just to make sure she didn't talk it the wrong way. "Not at all! I get it all the time, I'm used to it. So who's your friend that you walked in with?" She asks me and I believe she wants to know more about Carter.

"That's Carter. He's my best friend and he have been best friends since babies." I tell her and she has now has a curious look on her. "Gotcha, well maybe you should tell your friend that he shouldn't try to talk to people he don't know too well." Ah ok, Now I understand why Carter got backed down he doesn't like confrontation like that, but I say, "How are people suppose to get to know others if they don't talk to them. Carter was trying to introduce himself that's all. He did want anything from you just your kindness and maybe your friendship."

She looks down, and I believe she feels bad, "I was harsh with him, wasn't I?" She asks but I think she knows the answer to that. "I think you know the answer to that one. If you were guarding yourself I get it, but to make up for it try talking to Carter. Just like your talking to me." I'm honest with her, she needs a bit of being called out and so does Carter so I'm used to being the voice of reason. "Alright, I'll give him a chance but if this goes wrong I blame you." she laughs and I tell her, "I'll keep Carter in check if he gets out of line."

The rest of class goes by as Faith and I talk about small class things and when it end the rest of the school day is pretty uneventful. I meet up with Carter after school. "Did you ask you dad?" He ask and I look at him with a grim, "Yes and he said you can come over see I told you he liked you." Carter shoves me playfully for being right and I shove him back then we laugh. Today is a good day so far and I hope it continues to be.

THIS IS THE END OF DERRICK'S SECOND SECTION!!

Are Derrick and Faith becoming friends? What will happen when Carter and Derrick hangout? Will Carter ever gain confidence and a backbone?

FIND OUT IN THE CHAPTERS TO COME OF HIGHLAND TANGLE!!