Don't fall

Chpt 7 : Study Date (;

A few days pass since the little scene between Loran and I. Things aren't awkward, in fact it almost feels like we have a connection. But I'm definitely pissed at him. He shows up, and then leaves. Cocky little prick. Who does he think he is?

My bruise is healing, it's not tender anymore. I ice it when I can, and Henry got that medicine for me, and it's really doing wonders. Dad never brought it up, I don't think he noticed. Mom's been on my ass, but I've finally completed the entire house chores. All it took was hard work all day until nearly 4am every night.

P.E. just finished, we were playing Tennis today because there was a sub, which was nice. Brianne ran off saying she had something important to do, so I head over to the library alone. It's about as satisfying as a school library can be, but it has a separate room that's not really monitored. There's a couch in there along with a large window that lets in the warm sun. Plus there's huge beanbags, what could be better.

I pick out a simple book about the Earth's Astronomy that I need to study for a History Paper. I head to a beanbag, sprawling out and get to the boring process of reading it. It's not that I don't like reading, I do, it's just the fact that it's one, for a SCHOOL project (which makes it less exciting), and it's Scientific. I'm not a huge fan of Science. Like, why are we even learning about the Stars for History? Why does that make sense?

I turn page after page, writing down important points and details in my notebook. My eyes droop constantly, the sun is too warm and the book is too boring to me.. I might fall asleep. Which, would be bad, so I do the one thing I can do to make sure that doesn't happen. I sit on the couch, hanging upside down. That'll keep me awake and aware, and if I fall asleep, then I'll fall.

I bite my lip, getting annoyed with the vastness of stars and planets. "What are you doing?" a quiet voice asks, walking into the no-longer-silent room. I look down (still upside down) at the intruder, glaring. All the blood has rushed into my head, making my face bright red. At the entrance stands Derek. His eyes shine curiously, their ice-blue color seeming to tear through my very being.. "Oh- hey" I say awkwardly, "I'm trying to stay awake".

I know how stupid it sounds, I do, but what am I supposed to do? Derek doesn't answer, instead he moves to the couch, sitting down. "Sit up" he says simply, causing me to almost fall. I listen, sitting up and my head spins for a few seconds, making me feel nauseas. Derek pats his lap and I blush hard, shaking my head -if he expects me to sit on his lap.....

"I'll keep you awake" he says, pulling me onto his lap. I'm facing him, my book pressed against his hard chest. His arms are around me, holding my back so I don't fall backwards and off the couch.

I can't focus. I can feel his hipbones. That's not natural! I notice he has a book and he rests it on my shoulder, the other arm staying around me so I don't fall. I can't focus. It's so embarrassing! My ass is practically squishing him! I'm suddenly super self conscious about my weight. Am I too boney? What if I accidently sneeze or something? I'm basically straddling him. Oh my god, I can't FOCUS.

"Hey, calm down, just study.." he says softly, pressing his hand up to my cheek, his dark skin making my skin look white. I lick my lips and glance down to my book. I mean, considering all things, I am pretty comfortable. I continue to study, getting a lot of work done.

***

An hour or so passes and we still sit there, reading. Derek is quiet, he just reads, but I catch him staring at me quite a few times. At my last school I would NEVER do something like this. I would never even think about it.. I guess half of that is because I acted like the small pathetic kid at that school, everyone payed me no attention except Jarod.

"Hey June! Sorry I'm late I had to- OH MY GOD" Brianne walks in, immediately screaming. I fall backwards as she scares the complete shit out of me. Derek tries to catch me, but I'm already gone. My back smacks on the ground and I grunt. I think I might've accidently heeled Derek in the balls.. But he shows no emotion. I sit up, rubbing my head. "Dammit Bri, why are you so loud" I groan, glaring at her.

She still stands there shocked, her eyes going from Derek to me, then back to him. "Oh my god, are you two-" "NO!" we both say at the same time, Derek surprises me by being a little loud. She wipes fake sweat off of her forehead, "Oh, thank god" she says with a small smile. What's that supposed to mean? She helps me up, brushing fake dust off my shoulder. "We're just studying together, I kept falling asleep, so he was keeping an eye on me so I wouldn't" I say, realizing just how insane that truly sounds. Ugh, I'll never live this down..

"Um, yeah... sure..." she says with a smirk, but she drops the subject like bad milk. "I told the gang to come here and play cards! Everyone should be coming except Nathan, he said he had chores or something like that" Brianne says, taking me by surprise again. Cards? Luckily, I don't have many chores today, as long as I'm home by 8pm I should be fine.

"Sounds fun!" I say as enthusiastically as I can. My heart hasn't full settled down yet. "Brianne.. Princess" Xander says, walking in. I jump again, smacking my elbow on the couch. "OWW" I growl at Xander. He laughs, putting his hands up innocently, "sorry, I've been known to make ladies bounce" he says with a smirk. I roll my eyes, flipping him off. "Hey- why am I Brianne and she's princess?" Bri asks annoyed. I glance to Xander to await his amazing answer but he just smiles sheepishly.

"What is going on in here?" Henry asks, walking in. He glances at Xanders blushing face, Brianne's confused eye brow, Derek's blank expression and then my obliviousness and he smirks. "My lady~" he says kissing me on the hand. My cheeks blush slightly, it's an interesting feeling.. Henry sits down right besides me, his hand awfully close to mine. Quinn walks in, his eyes locked on me immediately. I clear my throat, "do I have something on my face?" I ask, and he just smirks and winks at me. The hell?

"Sorry I'm late, I stopped for a soda!" Loran says, walking in and sitting right next to Henry. Brianne sits across from me and Derek slides onto the floor to my right. "Cool, looks like everyone's here now!" Brianne says with a smile, she pulls out a deck of cards and begins to deal it out. I can't help the loud laugh that explodes from my mouth. It's UNO.

"Got a problem with UNO?" Brianne asks with a mock-glare. I shake my head, smirking. "No, no, no. I'm just really good at UNO. It's like my secret weapon" I say with a laugh. Everyone smiles, even Derek.

"I'm gonna win!"

"Fuck off Xander, you can't even count to UNO"

"Woah woah woah, no need to get personal!"

"As long as I beat June, I'll feel accomplished."

I smirk, this is gonna be fun.

Besides me, Derek leans against me, I feel like this kid has no sense of personal space.. But I don't move him. He can't see my cards and I'm not uncomfortable. But, I can see everyone glancing at where we touch, Brianne looks like she's about to explode. Good, a distraction.. That'll work.

"Let's Begin!"