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I shake my head looking at all the messages.

Amelia:Sorry, I was just thinking.

Derek:About me? *grinning*

Rolling my eyes at his cockiness I type back, ‘In your dreams.’

Derek:Sometimes I do.

Derek:Dream about you.

You see? That’s the problem.

Sometimes he is a real butthole, but then he says something that makes me stop in my tracks and look at him in a new light. Derek confuses me like no other person on this planet.

Derek:You still didn’t give me an answer.

Amelia:Answer to what?

Derek:Would your Mom and Lola be the only ones disappointed if I didn’t stay?

I look down, nibbling at my lip and thinking how should I respond when the second text comes.

Derek:And will you come to our next game? Not for that asshole Sanders, but for me.

Feeling the inside of my stomach becoming unsettled like there is something inside moving, I can’t decide if it’s a good or bad thing.

Amelia:It wasn’t bad having you there.

I type quickly and send before changing my mind.

Amelia:And for the game… if there’s nothing else on my schedule, I can come.

Derek:You know how to make a guy feel so special, little one.

Amelia:Like you need more pampering *eye roll*

Derek:One day you’ll say yes and it’ll be only for me.

I actually roll my eyes at his arrogance.

Amelia:Good night, Derek.

Derek:Sweet dreams, little one.

Derek

“You know,” I say nonchalantly, giving her a side gaze. “You should come.”

Amelia turns to me, her big eyes filled with confusion. “I should come where?”

She’s been discussing some book or movie or something with Brook. Their discussion was so heated that I didn’t even think about joining their conversation. Just sitting next to her, her leg pressing against mine, is enough.

Today their usual table is filled with people.

When I arrived, Amelia was already there with Brook and Max, the two of them talking while Brook’s nose was stuck in the book, ignoring them completely.

Soon after me came Jeanette and Andrew. I saw the quick, uncomfortable look they exchanged before each took a chair on the opposite side of the table. It was strange but passed so fast that I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Later on, a few other guys from the team joined us, so we were discussing hockey and our next opponent, St. Johan High, who we were playing this Friday until Andrew mentioned a party happening after we return from our away game.