International Affairs

Miscommunications

Chapter 25: Miscommunications

Katelyn had a strange dream. She had a dream that she was sleeping in Derek's arms. In her dream, he spoke to her in such a gentle voice and held her tightly. She rubbed her eyes and looked around.

Wait, this wasn't her room...

Katelyn realized it wasn't a dream. She really was stuck in a closet with Derek Livingston, the guy who ruined her first Co Ops grade. Derek had his arms wrapped around her waist and had his head resting on her shoulder.

"Hmm..." Katelyn thought to herself as she gently pushed Derek's hair out his face. "I wonder what his sleeping face looks like..."

To her surprise, Derek's hair was surprisingly soft. Katelyn found herself subconsciously petting his hair.

Derek's arms tightened around her. "What are you doing...?" he mumbled into her shoulder.

"Nothing!" Katelyn replied, quickly retracting her hand.

"Mhmm..." Derek mumbled. Clearly, Derek wasn't a morning person. He was more asleep than awake at the moment.

"Hey Derek..." Katelyn said, slowly.

Derek wrapped his hands around her hands. "Yes?"

"How are we going to get out?"

Derek sighed. "Five minutes..." he pleaded, burying his face in Katelyn's hair.

"Derek!" Katelyn hissed, trying to shake him awake. "We're going to miss breakfast and then we'll be in big trouble if we're late for class."

"That's okay..."

"Derek!" Katelyn exclaimed, whacking him over the head.

"Alright. Alright," Derek said, dramatically yawning. "Your wish is my command."

He helped Katelyn stand up. Katelyn felt really stiff from spending the night sitting up. Derek's hand tightened against her arms, keeping Katelyn from wobbling.

After Katelyn got her footing, he let go. Katelyn felt herself inhale softly at the sudden loss of his warmth.

"You okay?" Derek asked, studying her.

Katelyn turned her face away. "Fine," she replied.

"Move to the side," Derek instructed.

"Um...alright," Katelyn said, shuffling to the wall so her back was pressed against it.

Derek turned and faced the door. Without a word, he swung his leg out and kicked the door down. The door hinges sprang loose and with a soft thud, the wooden door fell to the ground.

"Ah, there we go," Derek said, walking over the broken door as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

It took Katelyn a few minutes before she snapped out of it. She quickly trailed behind him, looking wide eyed at what just happened. Derek had turned the door into a doormat.

"Derek...?" she said, feeling her eye twitch. She wanted to keep her cool but she felt herself explode anyways. "WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THAT YESTERDAY?!" she exclaimed, ready to kill this guy.

"I forgot I could."

"How do you forget that you can kick down doors?"

"I was too busy looking at you that I couldn't remember anything."

Katelyn blushed. "What the heck kind of excuse is that?! You- You! Whatever...You're hopeless," she fumed.

Derek examined the clock, unaffected by her yelling. "We better go get ready. Breakfast is in half an hour."