Guilty As Charged

Chapter 8

~Derek's Point of View~

I rolled out of bed and rubbed my eyes, What a night. I thought as I got up and took my shower, I wonder if Tabitha has emailed me yet. Wait, I was doing homework yesterday. She must not be interested. To my surprise, she actually did email me. My face glowed with red as I read it. I couldn't wait to see her.

I then replied and sighed as I continued getting ready. I looked around my room for my box of cigarettes, Damnit, where can you be? Then I found them in my backpack and grabbed a cigarette. I opened the window in my room because I didn't want my mom to find out I'm smoking. I lit it up and took a deep breathe as I took in the cigarette.

I should really quit but it helps me to relax. I don't want Tabitha thinking I'm a bad influence on her or Beatrix. I sighed then finished my cigarette. I ate some breakfast and looked at my watch: 5:45 am. I have plenty of time before I have to leave to go and meet up with Alex, Beatrix, and Tabitha. I was so proud of Tabitha for handling Andrea yesterday. Pretty hot if you ask me, I chuckled to myself.

"Morning hon," I hear as I looked up from my breakfast as my Mom stood at the door frame, "How are you doing? You're up early." She asks as she made herself a cup of coffee. "I'm doing great mom," I say as I looked at her, "I do go to high school you know." She smiled, "Even with college classes? How can you manage the time son?" She asks and stirred her coffee.

"I'm pretty flexible with my time. Besides, I do most of my college courses online. Remember?" I say as I know she's been through a lot this summer before school started. She got into a bad car accident and can barely remember most stuff. I try to make our talk as meaningful as possible. She looked at me and nodded, "That's right." I sighed in relief, "Well, I better get going. I have to meet up with Alex." I say as I walk over to her and hug her.

I walked out of my house, feeling my mom's eyes on me. I waved goodbye and walked my way to Alex's. Alex is one of my good friends. He doesn't judge me for being a dork. He accepts me for who I am. We have been friends since last year when I was a freshman and him a sophomore.

I stopped outside the door before I can hear Alex and his father argue. It was a typical routine that I have grown to get used to. It's always about money, Alex's behavior in school, and how Alex needs to get a job because his father is unemployed while his mom is busting her ass off as a nurse at a hospital downtown. Not to mention, his father was a drunk and liked to pick up fights with Alex.

I couldn't take the fighting so I knocked on the front door really loud to indicate Alex that it was me. "Who the hell is that?" I hear Alex's father slur as he was referring to me. I swallowed hard as I see Alex grab his backpack and say to his dad, "My friend. Now, I'm going to school." I watched as Alex walks out and sees me, "Let's go, Derek. Let's go to school." He says and puts an arm around my neck as we walked.

"Everything okay?" I asked as I didn't want to be nosey, "Your dad sounds like a jerk this morning." I say softly. Alex looked over at me, "I'm fine, just can't wait for the old man to give me a car so I can drive away and never come back here." He mutters. I felt so bad for him because he lives with that kind of environment, he didn't deserve it. It only explains why his behavior is so irrational but Alex is a shy year away from graduating.

We continued to walk as we met up with Beatrix and Tabitha outside of Tabitha's house, waiting for us, "Morning fellas." Beatrix chirped. Alex beamed as he looks at Beatrix. I looked over at Tabitha as she smiled at me and gave me a hug, "Morning Wayne." She says. I gave her a hug back.

Why exactly is she hugging me for? Did I smell good or something? I can't complain because she smelt good too and her hug was well needed.