Innocence Lost On the Gamble of Love

Innocence Lost On the Gamble of Love: Chapter 5

Derrick laughed a booming laugh, which caught the attention of a few bystanders. They looked over at the adolescents and went back to their business after noticing there was nothing too interesting to see. 

"What kind of question is that?" he sputtered out. "It's more personal than the 'embarrassing moments' one, don't you think?" 

I can think of more personal, Penelope peeved in her mind with a cock of her eyebrow.

She shrugged, and her auburn hair cascaded down from behind her scrawny shoulders.

"Why do you want to know?" he in a flustered tone.

"It's the only thing I can think of," she countered firmly, her voice perfectly innocent.

She knew the truth, this was just her way to see if he would lie to her.

Derrick let out a heavy sigh, almost as if he were embarrassed to speak out. "Fine, boxers."

Penelope smiled wickedly. She was once again in awe that he hadn't failed her. He spoke the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may have been.

"So what does that prove?" Derrick asked gruffly, running a hand through his messy, spiked black hair.

"That you're not getting laid," she mumbled darkly, humoring herself.

When Derrick's eyes darted to the ground, Penelope nearly slapped herself. She hadn't meant to say that out loud. 

"Oh, um." Penelope bit her lip. "I didn't mean that." 

"'s kay," he murmured, nearly under his breath. "You're right, you know."

That knowledge only made her feel slightly better. She assumed that Derrick and Ivy had close relations at least once. She had seen them on the last day before winter break. They had walked out of school grounds after fourth period. Ivy had seemed so persistent, and Derrick had been so willing to leave...

"Why haven't you gotten new shoes?" Penelope blurted out, drastically dropping the subject. 

Derrick looked up at the brunette with bewilderment in his eyes. "What?"

"It's been bugging me," she ranted madly, as if this minor issue had been disturbing her for all of this time. "I don't know how long you've had 'em for, but it seems like awhile." 

Derrick seemed to blush for a second. He had never known that Penelope could be so perceptive, especially about him. He had always figured that girls would just notice a guy's face, and that's it. Apparently, that wasn't the situation here.

"I've had my shoes since last year," he answered humbly. "But I kept wasting my allowance on food, so that's why." 

On food for my ex-girlfriends who could both eat like hippos, he commented rashly to himself.

"Oh." Penelope flushed pink. "Okay, sorry."

"Don't apologize."

"Alright, so, what's your favorite childhood memory?"

Derrick had to think about it. He rummaged his head, mentally scanning through his years growing up. 

"Well, there was the time when I was like, five, and I had wandered into my sister's room." Derrick narrated while Penelope listened; fully intent. "I found her guitar, it was an electronic one, and I tried to play it, but I couldn't since it wasn't plugged in or anything. My dad found me, and he decided to teach me the chords on his acoustic guitar. He was the one who taught me how to play. He was the best teacher, and he made me feel like I was actually good at something." Derrick smiled nervously. "He believed in me."