The Night We Met by Ruero

Chapter 4 : An Unexpected Walk

I spent the entire Sunday rotting in my bed, feeling like I'd been hit by a truck and then dragged through the mud for good measure. Finding out that Angelica was dating Derek felt like getting punched in the gut by a heavyweight boxer. I barely had the energy to get up, let alone face the world. I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, wallowing in my misery and replaying every stupid thing I'd said to her in my mind.

The next day, I dragged myself to college before Angelica could catch me. The thought of seeing her made my stomach churn. I slinked into class, trying to be as invisible as possible. Our teacher walked in with an announcement that some students were selected for a week-long college trip. I figured, with my luck, I'd never get picked. I mean, why would I? I'm the guy who can't even get a date without it blowing up in my face.

But then, to my surprise, my name was called. I nearly fell out of my chair. "Holy shit," I muttered under my breath. Maybe this trip was exactly what I needed to get away from everything and clear my head. Plus, I rarely went anywhere, so it might be a good experience.

For the next few days, I avoided Angelica like she was the plague. I barely spoke to her, and when I did, I kept it short and awkward. My heart ached every time I saw her, and it was torture knowing she was with Derek. At night, I could hear Derek visiting her apartment, their muffled voices filtering through the thin walls. I tried to block it out with pillows, but it only made me feel more pathetic and alone.

I thought Angelica moving in next door was going to be a good thing, but it turned out to be a nightmare. I couldn't focus on my studies, and I felt more like a loser than ever. 

A week passed like this, and I couldn't take it anymore. I decided I needed to talk to Angelica, even if it meant risking everything. Early one morning, I got up and went to her door, my heart pounding and sweat dripping down my face despite the cold. I knocked, planning to ask her to go for a walk with me. 

The door opened slowly, and to my horror, there stood Derek, shirtless, his chiseled body making me feel like a bag of potatoes in comparison. My soul practically left my body. 

"What the hell are you doing here?" Derek asked, his eyes narrowing.

I tried to speak, but my brain had completely shut down. After a minute of awkward silence, I blurted out, "Uh, I wanted to borrow some music sheets from Angelica."

Derek looked at me, clearly seeing through my lie. "Music sheets? This early in the morning?"

"Uh, yeah, I was, uh, planning to work on a project," I stammered.

Derek stepped closer, his eyes boring into mine. "You were going for a walk, weren't you?"

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. "Yeah, I think I was going for a walk."

"Great," Derek said, pulling on a tight sleeveless shirt that made his muscles look even more intimidating. "I'll join you."

I wanted to say no, but the words wouldn't come out. Instead, I nodded weakly. We stepped outside into the crisp morning air. The college campus was quiet, the trees casting long shadows on the ground. Birds chirped overhead, and the smell of fresh grass filled the air.

"So, Ethan," Derek said, breaking the silence. "What's this project you're working on?"

"Uh, it's just a, um, music project," I mumbled, my mind racing for something coherent to say.

"Music, huh? That's cool. Angelica mentioned you play guitar," Derek said, his tone surprisingly friendly.

"Yeah, I do. It's kind of my passion," I replied, trying to relax a little. We walked in silence for a bit, the awkward tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I glanced at Derek, wondering what his deal was. Why was he being nice now? Was this some kind of test?