New Ways

TWENTY-THREE

Amery

Derek, Gwen, Jean-Pierre and I had gone to the movies after school one day when we had only half a day of class. We stopped by Bloomingdale's at Midtown Manhattan after the movie ended because Jean-Pierre wanted to find an outfit for the opening day of his mother's new salon on the weekends.

"Does this look good on me?" Gwen held up a simple floral fit and flare Vera Wang dress against her petite figure.

"Perfect. Go try it on, sis," Derek gestured towards the fitting room. He walked over and tapped my shoulder as I stood at the entrance of the fitting room, waiting for Jean-Pierre. "Bored already?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "Can we take a walk around?"

"Sure!" He answered cheerily.

We strolled away from the fitting room and Derek slowly slid his hand into mine. We had been hanging out, separately from Gwen and Jean-Pierre for a few times now. When teased about it, both of us would just brush it off by saying that everything was casual between us. Derek was a decent and lovely guy. I really enjoyed his company because he was funny and he also respected me a lot unlike the other guys in school whose only intentions were to get into my pants and then probably forget about me after because they have achieved their goals of sleeping with the most popular girl in school.

The most intimate thing Derek and I had done besides holding hands was hug each other when we meet and when we say our goodbyes at the end of the day. The two of us had known each other for the longest time since I became best friends with Gwen and because of that he's the only guy apart from my dad and Jean-Pierre that I was most comfortable with. Maybe that was why I really liked him.

Though incredible sparks flew everywhere every time I was around Derek, I still felt as though something was missing.

"Hey isn't that... Sigrid?" Derek pointed to the brunette holding up a dress against a girl with silver-coloured hair.

"And her girlfriend," I said in a low voice that almost sounded irritated.

Derek ignored my remark and called out to Sigrid. She turned and her eyes lit up when she saw him. She waved back at us while pulling her girlfriend's hand and making her way over.

"God, will I ever get rid of you guys!" She shook her head as she stopped in front of Derek and hugged him. She hugged me as well and lightly pinched my cheek when she let go. I didn't know why but I smiled at the playful contact.

"This, uh, this is my girlfriend, Kate," Sigrid patted Kate's head. "Kate, these are my friends, Derek Pinnacle and Amery Tatcher."

"The Amery Tatcher huh," Kate smiled and held out her hand to me. "I've heard a lot about you. It's great to finally meet you."

"Likewise," I said, taking the opportunity to examine the silver haired beauty in front of me. Kate was slightly taller than Sigrid and she was wearing a white long-sleeved boho romper, her silver hair falling from her shoulders perfectly. She was wearing a pair of brown chelsea boots that completed her look.

Great taste, I mentally complimented Sigrid while also feeling a tinge of jealousy starting to swell up in my heart.

Sigrid stared at me as if knowing something was wrong and she quickly reached out for her girlfriend's hand. "Derek said Gwen and Jean-Pierre are in the fitting room. Let's go see them."