Rollercoaster [Motough Fanfic]

chapter 8

Bethany was waiting for Mark to show up for their final rehearsal of the week when Janel walked into her practice room. It was relieving to know that Derek wasn’t the only one who showed up late. 

“Well you look happier today.” Janel stated as she walked over to where her friend was sitting with her phone, “Either you had way too much coffee or someone finally confessed their feelings.” 

“And that was either a lucky guess,” Bethany started as Janel sat down by her friend, “or Sadie told you the news.” 

“Yeah, she let it slip in a group chat last night. Don’t worry, Val, Mark, and Witney should be here any minute to say ‘congrats’”. Janel said sarcastically. 

The girls laughed. “Honestly though, I’m kind of nervous for whatever future this means for us. I mean, he asked to see me tonight.” Bethany admitted, before her expression changed to one of more shock and horror, “does he mean, like uh, date?” 

Janel shrugged. “Depends. Where are you going?” 

Bethany said, “I have no idea.” 

Janel asked, “Did you set up time?”

Bethany shook her head. 

“Any details?” Janel  sighed, waiting for her friend to respond with something, but when she didn’t she spoke up again. “Well, then it probably isn’t a date, but I’d still wear something super cute…you know, just in case.” 

Bethany opened her mouth to say something when Mark entered the room. “Hey girls,” Mark nodded to the two friends sitting on the ground, but narrowing his eyes at Bethany, “is it too soon to start referring to you as Bethany Hough?” 

Bethany rolled her eyes at Mark’s teasing, “Yes.” She got up from her place on the ground, “let’s start dancing.” 

“Well I guess that’s my cue.” Janel got up from the ground, “Val is probably going to be here any minute now. Beth, call me later and tell me about tonight.” 

Janel waved goodbye to Bethany and Mark before heading out the door. 

“Tonight?” Mark asked suggestively while wiggling his eyebrows a little. 

Bethany widened her eyes while blushing. “Will you stop, please?” 

They both laughed, and worked on the final touches of their hip hop routine.

. . . 

It was already seven that night when Bethany was considering the fact that Derek was flaking on their maybe-maybe not date. Just when she was about to give up on him, her phone lit up with his name on the screen. 

Bethany smiled before picking up, “Hey, good thing you called…I was just about to go bed very disappointed.” 

Derek sighed, “I know, I’m sorry I didn’t get a hold of you earlier. Our plane had a bit of a delay in Dallas and the wifi connection on the aircraft sucks.” 

Bethany laughed, “so do you want to cancel on tonight? I can completely understand if you’re tired and—“ 

“Don’t be silly,” Derek interrupted, “unless you would be completely opposed to coffee at this hour.” 

“I could go decaf.” Bethany said smiling, “I can meet you at Coffee Bean in five minutes?” 

“Don’t bother, I’m turning onto your road now.” Derek said coolly. 

“What?” Bethany said while peeking out her window towards the road. Sure enough, there was Derek pulling into the driveway of her temporary home while on Dancing with the Stars. Bethany leaned her back against her window. “What would you have done if I said I was going to stay in tonight?” 

“Well, then I would have had a very sad car ride home, now wouldn’t I?” Derek smiled. 

Bethany smiled to herself, too, “Give me two minutes and I’ll be right down.” 

“Okay.” Derek said, hanging up the phone. 

Bethany quickly rushed to take off the yoga pants she’d been wearing all day and replaced them with her favorite skinny jeans and laced up her white Converse. Since she didn’t want to keep Derek waiting for too long, she decided to leave on her cropped tank top, ran a brush through her hair quickly, grabbed her wristlet, and headed down the stairs to meet him. 

When she opened the front door, Derek had been standing on the porch for her. “You could have waited in the car.” Bethany said when she first saw him. 

Derek shrugged his shoulders, “I know, but the view is much better here.” Derek smiled and Bethany blushed. He motioned the way in front of him, “shall we?” 

Bethany smiled, moving to his side, “we shall.” 

The night between the two was filled with talking, about nothing in particular, sharing stories about their weeks apart, and making jokes. 

“Well, thank you for tonight.” Bethany said, unbuckling herself from the seat, and opening the passenger door when they pulled back into her driveway. 

Derek climbed out of the car as well, meeting Bethany in front of his car. “Yeah, thanks for agreeing to come out with me tonight.” Derek smiled at her, looking deep into her eyes. He didn’t know when the last time he felt this happy was, and he really didn’t want to mess it up by rushing into anything. “I really like hanging out with you.” 

“Yeah, me too.” Bethany said, smiling back at him, but the only thing on her mind was wondering if tonight they would share their first kiss.

Derek coughed, which relieved some of the tension that built up. “So I’ll see you tomorrow?” 

Bethany nodded. Derek took her hand in his, and stepped closer to kiss the top of her head. “Goodnight, Bethany.” 

Bethany smiled, “Goodnight, Derek.”