Sparks Fly

Chapter Three: School Time D.R.A.M.A.

School on Monday was a nightmare. It all started when people began showing up at my stop. They were all in their little groups, laughing and talking. I stood alone, waiting for Derek to show up, but he didn't. Some kids were brave enough to come up to me. When they did, all I got were stupid things like "where's Derek?" and "how come Derek isn't here?" and "Derek dump you?" I was about to slap this one tiny girl who came up, but she said to me, "Do you have a pencil?"

I stopped short and stuttered, "S-sure. Um, here," and handed her a pink sparkly pencil that I'd pulled from my silver clutch.

"Thanks," she said and then walked away. I was completely stunned. Shocked into silence and momentarily paralyzed.

The bus pulled up then and I walked on, first out of everyone, and made my way to the back single seat. Derek wasn't here and I didn't plan on him showing, so it surprised me when he did.

There were random shouts of "woah!" and "sweet ride!" and "later, lovebirds!" as Derek pulled up in a sleek black Scorpion and honked. I stumbled down the aisle and people moved out of my way, still possessing the seats and gawking at the sexiest car I'd ever seen. The tiny girl who had asked for a pencil earlier tried to stop me and I did. She gave me back my pencil and I continued down the aisle.

I finally made it to the steps leading off the big yellow train-wreck on wheels and started walking down them. I was at the door and stepping off into the arms of fate when my feet decided to speed things up by totally making me fall all over him by accident-one minute, I was standing there, staring at him lovingly, and the next, I was in his arms with my legs out behind me like you do when you trip like that.

"Babe, are you okay!?" he cried. "Val? Hon, come on!"

"Um, Yeah," I slurred. "I'm totally fine, babe. Let's go before they start pointing and laughing." I started for the car but Derek ran in front of me and opened the door. Before I got in, he bent me over; movie-style, and kissed me right there.

I was vaguely aware of cheering and whooping in the background but it was lost as I was lost in the kiss. Also, the bus had pulled away.

When Derek finally let up, I crawled inside the Scorpion and waited for him to get in on the other side. I buckled myself in and Derek did, too, then we drove away.

"Guess what today is," Derek asked on the way there. "It's super important."

"Umm," I mused aloud. Since there was no special holiday that I knew of, I figured it had to be "Your parent's anniversary!! Congratulations, how many years?" Derek looked at me like he was afraid I was on crack so I replied, "Just kidding. Your birthday, right?"

"Yeah, babe. I started freaking out a little and wondered if I should take you to the nurse but I guess not -" and all was silent as we kissed in the school parking lot.

"Happy birthday, babe. I knew it was your birthday, anyway," I said, pulling away. "Come on, park and we can go inside." He parked and we walked inside, hand-in-hand.

The scene waiting for us was like nothing I'd ever witnessed. There were people bunched in corners, apparently waiting for us because as soon as we crossed the threshold between decency and Hell-on-Earth, cameras flashed and people screamed. I tried walking to my locker with Derek's arm around my waist, but the mob was too much; he got stolen away and I had to turn back for him.

"EVERYONE, OUT! Come on now! Get to class or you've all got detention for a MONTH! Get outta here!" The crowd scattered and Principal Shaw walked slowly toward where Derek and I stood. "I understand you two have made quite an impression on these kids with your new status as IT couple of the school."