DAD

Part 27

Talking to Derek was done for now though we didn't get any of the answers we wanted. We couldn't talk to brother as he was quite annoyed with me already and so we could talk to Loslin but he didn't seem quite responsive to the rest of the story and so we had to find Rachael; Rachael Cox.

"How do we get to this girl?" Alexa asked as this girl was just a piece of scrap of paper whirling in the wind and we didn't know which page this scrap belonged to.

"Maybe we could check some stuff familiar to her."

"Your words don't make sense; what things are familiar to her? How would we know?"

"Check Derek's room probably?"

"Excuse me?" Alexa asked as if this appeared a really bad idea to her, but it was really not one for me.

"Didn't you see how he bursted out in tears when I took her name? He must be very attached to her you know, or else he doesn't generally cry that way. Derek never behaves so weak for anyone; maybe he has some of her information with him still now as a memory?" I suggested and tried to explain.

"Well, your explanation is kinda satisfying."

"So what do you say?"

"How do we do this; do you think he's gon'na allow us?"

"No he's not. We'll do it in his absence."

***

The next day we had went to Derek's home, Meeting Mrs. Dakota and Mr. Donald Rigor and they weren't much supportive to allow us to search their son's room without his awareness about it. We weren't sure if they even knew about Rachael; so we didn't bring her name up.

"Derek is really helping you for what you do...and why are you guys trying to do this in his absence? Without his awareness? Ask him, he won't deny." Mrs. Dakota says rudely, as it really doesn't appear of a manner to barge into someone's house and ask for permission to search their son's room.

"Ma'am it's important, we won't mess up anything." Alexa answers her.

"That doesn't change anything, you're gon'na touch the things after all."

"Ma'am believe me, he won't mind, tell him after we do it."

"No, that's my son's room and no one goes there without his permission. And moreover, more than a formality, it's a rule of Derek. He doesn't allow anyone, not even me in his room without his permission. So what are you girls?"

We're quarreling for almost twenty minutes when Derek arrives home, and we were done; for good.

"Mom, I'm home." He shouts entering the house; we here his steps getting closer as he finally meets us in the living room. "Why are you guys here?" He asks, which was utterly kind of rude.

"It's that they wan'na check your room, in your absence." Mrs. Rigor answers.

He throws us a glance.

***

"Well, I helped you guys whenever you needed, I did what ever it required. Now, you're doing things behind my back? That too in my house, in my room? Is it that bad or you just wan'na take me as a side token or something?" He says facing the wall, we were sitting on the couch in his room. "Why are you guys digging up my past? I know your dad died, you loved him; I understand. But I had also loved someone, cared for a group of people, and they..." He winced a little, tears floating in his eye line, I could say though he wasn't facing us.

"Derek, I'm sorry...it's just I felt like this past of yours is deeply related to my dad."

"My past?! My past isn't any shit okay? Care for other people's memories!! Your dad is dead! Gone!! Admit it!!"

"Derek..." I felt quite 'tossed out' then.

"Please leave."

***

I had gone to my guidance advisor, Mrs. Peterson. I was fully stressed out and everything seemed like being scattered in the wind, the eastern wind taken all western feels away.

"Clementine?"

"Hello, Mrs. Peterson."

"Any problem?"

"Um, no. But yeah, I can't concentrate on anything. My deep interest for this weird thing I'm doing is increasing day by day and it's consuming me in."

"I know that, everyone does. Today you did."

"What should I do? Get me out of this please..." I covered my face with my hands and stroke my head lightly to the table.

"I think you should take a break. Go somewhere. Stay for a few days."

***

She was right. On one side my study was deteriorating really bad and on the other side I was becoming a maniac. I had to take a break. I was walking out of the guidance advisor chamber towards my classes when my phone flashes a call; from Derek.

"Hey." I deep slow voice, full of shame it sounded like.

"Hi Derek." I smiled.

"I'm sorry for yesterday. I was being rude; I shouldn't have been that way."

"It's okay... come on."

"Well, I owe you a treat okay?"

"Sure, but after my classes."

I cut the phone call and went for my classes. Had a lot of classes today, I had gone tired and now I had to see Derek. He said he's gon'na be giving treat, seemed okay even in this tired state.

"Heyya waddup?" He greets me with a hug. He was never in a gentleman getup; hoody, snickers and yeah jeans.

"Hi."

"So how's life?"

"I had gone to the guidance..."

"What she says?"

"She told me to go to some place outside city for a few days, and stay for a week or two."

"So", he seemed quite interested in this subject as his eyes brightened up, "You going alone?"

"No, gon'na take someone."

"Alexa?"

"She has classes and exams. My family doesn't even care."

"Me?"

"Well, Derek. I'm an alone girl and going with a guy like you..."

"I'm not a rapist." He rolls his eyes. I laughed to that.

We ordered some food and waited until we got it. We were again lost in convo and thinking about where to go.

"So where should we go?"

"What do you think?" Derek asks me, sweat beads appearing on his forehead. I didn't know what's so serious on this question that you have to sweat.

"I don't know anything outside Bradford and London."

"Let's go to L.A." He suggested.

"Don't you think it's quite far?"

"I'll bear the expenses come on please." He's face went firm.

"Um..."

"Clem stop this 'um' and 'um'. L.A. it is...Los Angelo's."