Second Chances, Kimberly Berryhill [best short novels of all time .TXT] 📗

squeak open and closed. A few more seconds later she came around the corner to face him. “Whoa.” his thoughts escaped out of his mouth.
* * * *
Cassie blushed a deep scarlet. She was taken aback with his sudden compliment in front of Nicole and Nicki. She saw them exchange glances and Nicole covered her giggles with a cough.
"Why did we put blush on her again?" Nicki turned to Nicole for her answer.
"Hmm, I'm not sure anymore. It looks like Derek brings that out in her just fine." Nicole replied.
"It seems she brings some color to his cheeks too." Nicki pointed out. Cassie realized she just so happened to be walking in between them and toward Derek when her elbows decided to take a blow to each of the girl's ribcages. A chorus of "Ouch" and "Hey" followed afterward.
"Come on, let's get out of here or risk further torment." Cassie teased and threw daggers through her eyes at her roommates when they laughed louder.
"Oh, get a grip, Cass!" Nicole snickered out.
"Yeah we're just joking around with you and your boy toy here." Nicki added with a grin. Derek cleared his throat giving him a reason to hide his face. Cassie took this as an opportunity to punch both of the girls in their shoulders and give them each a warning look; yet, she could not help the smile that spread across her face.
"Alright you kids get on outa here!" Nicole shooed them toward the door with Nicki right beside her. Cassie and Derek step outside the doorway right when Nicki turned toward him with a semi-stern look on her face.
"Have her back by breakfast mister!" she said with a quick wink and shut the door. Cassie didn't know what to say. She was embarrassed, nervous, and angry all at once. She didn't dare look up to see what expression was on Derek's face. She did not want to be the first to say anything after that comment. She was going to kill them when she got home tonight.
"So shall we go?" he spared her from more embarrassing moments of silence. She hadn't found her voice yet so she replied with a small nod still looking at the floor as they made their way to the lobby. Cassie realized, with immense relief, most of the girls were already up in their rooms. She didn't think she could take the whispers and giggles.


Chapter 7

Derek, grateful the lobby seemed to clear while he was gone, leads Cassie outside. He guides her towards the parking lot. He wanted to go to the old theater in which their classmates were more than likely not at. He could tell Cassie did not expect this. She hesitated and fell a few steps behind him.
"Nervous?" he teased her. She shot him a playful look, but remained rooted in place. "What did you expect? Did you really think I would be so dim as to take you to a theater full of our classmates or do you just like the attention that much?" he chuckled lightly at the expression on her face.
"Not at all. I just wasn't exactly sure about it." she immediately started walking again. She probably meant for her steps to be confident and graceful, but she falters a few steps away. Derek reaches out towards her and catches her elbow. He steadies her, but, instead of removing his hand, simply trails it down her arm and takes hold of her hand. Cassie's hand his warm in his and it feels right. She is taken aback, but recovers her composure quickly and twines her fingers through his.
* * * *
"Are you kidding me?" Cassie exclaims as Derek leads her towards what looks like his motorcycle. She consciously looks back down at her outfit. It is definitely not the appropriate motorcycle attire. She looks back up to see him grinning at her. "What?"
"This," he waves his hand in the direction of the bike, "is not my only way of traveling, you know." He walks over to the black truck right beside his motorcycle. Suddenly, Cassie felt very silly. Of course he has another vehicle. Why didn't she think of that? "Besides," he continues as he holds the front door of the truck open for her, "I wouldn't be that cruel. Well, not on the first date at least." he smiles mischievously at her and she knows he is just kidding around. Maybe. She can never know for sure with him. This was still so new to her.
She shook her head slowly and looked at the truck seat. Uh-oh. She looked back down at her shoes and skirt. This was not the best scenario either, she thought. She felt Derek wrap his arm around her waist and he lifted her up and onto the seat. She felt her heart skip a beat and quicken as she tried to keep the blush from appearing in her face. Derek cleared his throat.
"Sorry, I guess i didn't think of everything." He gave her an apologetic look and stepped back and closed the door. He went around the front of his truck and easily sat down beside her in the driver's side. Cassie couldn't help but to glower at him a little. "What?" he grinned slightly, watching the way she studied his movements.
"Oh nooothing." she carried out the word, glancing out the window as they reversed out of the parking space. Derek raised his eyebrows at her. She smiled slyly at him. "What?" she mimicked his earlier words.
"You’re really going to do that to me?" he asked as he stopped on the way out of the parking lot. She nodded, smile still in place. "You’re going to tell me." He stated matter of factly. Cassie shook her head in doubt.
"I don't think I will." she teased. Derek put the gear in park and looked at her straight on.
"Well, I can always get you to tell me." He leaned slightly closer to her as he talked.
"Nope. I really doubt it." she said, holding his gaze steadily. Suddenly, he slid across the seat toward her and leaned down so their eyes were level. Cassie was very aware of his face inches away from hers. She tried to control her breathing as his eyes took in every detail of her face, lingering on her lips. Headed in and she could feel his sweet breath on her face.
"Please." he spoke softly, his lips coming close to the corner of her mouth. She was frozen in the lock of his gaze. If she wanted to say something she wouldn't even be able to mumble a word. Her heartbeat was pumping almost twice as quick as before when he had slid his arm around her waist. She closed her eyes and was about to lean in when she felt him pull back. She cracked her eyes open to see his amused face. She shook her head clear and realized that it didn’t take much for him to make her light-headed and confused.
“That wasn’t fair.” She said, trying to gain control back over her racing pulse. He grinned and leaned back in his seat.
“No, but it was fun.” He teased, changing the gear back into Drive. He eased the truck out of the parking lot and into the light flow of traffic. Cassie opened her mouth for a snappy comeback, but closed it again realizing it was pointless.
“So where are we headed anyway?” she asked, changing the subject. He chuckled lightly at her poor attempt but answered anyway.
“An older movie theater just outside of town.” He admitted, looking at her from the corner of his eye to see her reaction. She seemed shocked. “I mean we can always go to the one in town. I just thought it would be different and less crowded.” He rushed out, keeping his eyes trained on the road ahead.
“No, it sounds great. I just didn’t expect it is all.” She reassured him. He didn’t realize he had been holding his breath until he exhaled a big gust when she finished.
“The old theater it is then.” He said, his smile returning to his face. “Why were you surprised?”
“Well, you are new in town. I didn’t think you would even notice the older one.” She looked over to study his face while he answered.
“I don’t know. I kind of like older places. It shows they have a lot of history behind them.” He said, catching her watching him. She looked back down, embarrassed that she was caught.
“I guess we have more in common than we thought. I get it from my dad I think. He always has liked the more run-down places.” She realized she hasn’t talked much about her parents to anyone let alone to a guy she barely knows.
“I know I definitely did not get it from either of my parents. They’re always going to places that are new and exciting.” He emphasized the last couple of words with fake enthusiasm. Cassie surprised him by giggling.
“Then what are they doing here in Nestlé Seed?” she asked when she stopped laughing. “It’s tiny and there aren’t many places that people call ‘exciting’ here.”
“Well, they actually are moving up and down the coast. They stuck me here so they wouldn’t have to worry about homeschooling me for now.” He said. By now they were pulling into the theater parking lot.

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Text: google images
Publication Date: 10-01-2011

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