Because of You (Because of You 1)

I said hi to him in the hallway and he walked right past me as if I didn't exist. In class later, he didn't exactly speak to me, other than to lean down and inform me, "You've been skipping your payments for long enough, Harmon."

I glanced up at him curiously.

"Tonight," he stated, before walking back to his desk.

I watched him, allowing myself a shallow moment to admire the muscles in his back as he merely took his seat, thinking with surprisingly little remorse that I was a terrible girlfriend.

Since the night at the party with Derek, I had barely spent any time at all with Andy. Sitting there in class, I thought about the fact that Derek wanted me to come have meaningless sex with him that night, and I was pretty much okay with it. I mean, I wasn't jumping for joy or anything, but from what I remembered, I knew he would probably have me eager within a few minutes.

There was something about his hair, I decided. That night at the party, it was as soon as I let his hair down that I knew I was pretty much a goner. It was just so sexy when it was down, and since he was pretty sexy in general, the whole picture was pretty appealing.

And sure, technically there was the issue of Kayla, but he obviously didn't care about her, I didn't really care for her, and she couldn't be desperately in love with him anyway. If she did find out, it would give her a reason to eat a half gallon of ice cream guilt-free, and move on to the next guy.

And besides, I wasn't even doing it because I wanted to. I was totally being blackmailed. If I happened to enjoy myself while I was at it, that was hardly my fault.

I was about to walk home from school, after politely declining Andy's offer to give me a ride home, when Derek pulled up beside me and slowed down.

"Want a ride?"

I glanced around, surprised that he would stop where people could see. "Right now?" I asked.

He smirked. "Not that kind of ride, Nikki, although if you really want to..."

I rolled my eyes and opened his door, sliding into the passenger seat. "I really shouldn't be riding with you," I said as I shut the door.

"Why not? Afraid I'll drive you off a cliff or something?"

"Maybe," I said with a nod, not really meaning it, as I felt like we had established some sort of peace.

He turned out of the school parking lot and casually remarked, "I noticed your boyfriend was riding home alone, how come he didn't offer you a ride?"

"Why are you paying attention?" I replied, not actually answering.

He shrugged, raising an eyebrow. "I wasn't, really. Just happened to see him; he was parked a couple cars down."

"Just because he's my boyfriend doesn't mean I'm going to be glued to his hip," I stated.

"Fine, don't get all defensive, I was just asking. Jeeze," he said.

"How come Kayla didn't jump on the back of your car as you were pulling out?" I returned casually.

He smirked. "She might break a nail."

I glanced down at my own nails, thinking of better uses for them—like dragging them down Derek's back.

Bad girl, I chastised myself.

"So... are we going to meet up again tonight?" I asked him.

"Yeah," he said. "I get off work at eight, so I'll come get you by nine."

"You have a job?" I asked, realizing I didn't know that.

"Of course," he said.

"Do you work at Burger King?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Not hardly. I get enough of my father at home; I don't want him to be my boss, too."