Chapter 3: Red Flags and Birthday Promises

Aubrey got seated right in front of Derek. During break, she spun around. “Derek, can you stop drinking iced water?”

Derek scowled. “What’s my drink got to do with you?”

Aubrey pouted. “Every time you drink cold stuff, my stomach hurts. We have empathy, duh. Haven’t you noticed?”

Derek shot her a side-eye. “You sound crazy.”

But the word ‘empathy’ stuck in my head. I felt my mood tank.

Derek must’ve noticed. He slipped his hand under the desk, squeezing mine. His thumb drew slow circles on my palm. I held tight, clinging to that warmth like a life raft. Behind us, someone swapped Hot Cheetos, and I caught a whiff of chili powder and teenage sweat.

Aubrey kept at it: “And spicy food! Seriously, can you eat less of that? My stomach can’t take it.”

Derek rolled his eyes. “Can you stop talking to me? Melissa doesn’t want me getting friendly with other girls.”

Aubrey glared daggers and spun away.

The comment section started whining:

[He really snapped at our girl! Boy needs a redemption arc, stat.]

[Can we get some main couple action? He’s still obsessed with the side girl.]

[Chill, the empathy plot will get him. No one beats the fated pair.]

[Childhood friend needs to exit, she’s blocking the spicy scenes!]

I clenched my jaw. Derek squeezed my hand again and whispered, “Melissa, don’t let her get to you. She’s just a dream girl.”

His eyes were soft and loyal, begging for forgiveness. I bit my lip, then asked, “Derek, you’ll always stay with me, right?”

He nodded, earnest as ever. “Always. Childhood friends are forever.”

He added, “Even if I can’t get into your dream college, I’ll buy a house nearby. If I’ve got nothing to do, I’ll start a food truck at the school gates—three bucks for everyone, but you? Five bucks for two.”

I snorted. “You’d be the only guy in town selling $5 hot dogs and still losing money because you’d give me all the free toppings.”

He grinned, and for a second, everything felt possible.

"Derek, this weekend is my eighteenth birthday."

He perked up. "Of course I remember. I already got your present."

I leaned in, voice low. "I mean, I’m an adult now. Maybe we can do some… adult stuff."

Derek blushed tomato-red, ducking his head and rubbing his neck. The bell rang, and the moment snapped, but the heat between us lingered like the scent of cheap cologne after homecoming.