"Mind Games.."

Chapter 2: "Discoveries Can Amaze.."

Letter from Derek to Keri, /06/17/2011.

"Hi Keri, I asked Jenna Velasquez to have someone else take her to the dance...

Keri, I wanna take you with me to the dance, if it's okay with you. Besides, she didn't like me too much... I think she likes Joey, so don't feel bad about me telling her I was taking you. She really didn't mind. Anyway, will you?"

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As the days pass, Derek seems to look more and more sullen than the day before. Yesterday, the silence broke though. He texted me saying that he needed to talk to me.

"What about?" I responded. And even though he didn't continue, I knew it was important.

So today, I'm gonna meet him at the park.

As I was walking through, I caught a glimpse of the Derek I used to know.

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"Hey Keri."

"Hey. What's wrong? Why'd you wanna meet?"

"Well, I, uh, I needed someone to talk to.."

"About..?"

I knew he wanted to tell me, more than anything, but he didn't know how..

This must really be serious..

"Come on. What is it?"

I saw him reach into his pocket for something.

"Remember this, Keri?"

I did remember. That's the box his grandfather gave him before he died. Derek always kept it hidden, since it was the last, precious thing he has left from his grandfather. And if someone found it, they'd give it back to him without opening it...

Derek opened the box and showed me it's contents... and I stood up..

"Derek?! What's that?!"

"You have to promise me not to say a word! You can't tell anyone what I've been doing!"

"No Derek! We need to tell someone so you can get help!"

"Please Keri.. You're the only person I trust.. Please.?"

"I'm not letting you do drugs! It could kill you!"

He winced at my words, most preferably, 'kill'.

"You can't tell anyone! Promise me Keri! Promise me!"

"Only if you promise me that you'll try to stop!"

"...Fine! I'll try.. but it won't be easy.."

I sighed in relief..

"Okay.. I promise not to tell your secret, then.."

We stayed quiet for a while until I thought of a new question.

"So, uh, when did you start, uh, you know.. doing drugs..?

"Umm, oh! Hold on, it's in my phone.."

I thought a bit of humor was needed for the tensity..

"Gee, I didn't know stoners kept their first times on a calendar.."

He chuckled.

"Hey! I am not a stoner.."

We kinda smiled, but then it got awkward again..

"Umm, August 17th."

"Oh..."

We went quiet again, until he broke the silence, once again.

"Nothing left to say?"

I bit my lip, and thought twice before I spoke.

"Derek, be completely honest with me, okay? Please?

"Keri, don't do this.. I can't.."

"Tell me, Derek!"

I saw his eyes start to look glassy, but he held back the tears.

"I don't know.."

"Yes you do! Please, don't lie to me, Derek..!"

"No! No, Keri! I don't!"

"Then how'd it end up in the box?!"

He fell silent.. and I didn't know how to break it.. So we sat there, on the bench, thinking of our memories..together.

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Letter from Keri, to her diary. /04/26/2008.

Hi Diary, My best friend, Derek, is mad at me. He hasn't talked to me all day! We always talk at recess, but he was with Jorge and Edgar today... So I went with Evelyn and her friend Alison. Alison was nice and Evelyn says she's new in her class today. Anyway, I'm going to try to find out what's bothering Derek and getting him mad at me.. Or is it a who..?

Until next time, Diary... ~Keri.

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