chapter 7

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I almost kissed her.

Derek wondered in his mind as the realization began to kick in, he had almost kissed Janet. They were so close, their lips almost touching, if anyone of them had just leaned in, he couldn't guarantee that it'd have be just a peck.

He had thought that when he leaned in, she'd have slapped him and stormed off; but she just stared at him with those brown eyes of hers, parting her lips which looked rather inviting at that moment. Thank goodness Jagun had interrupted them, like he had said before, he didn't know what he'd do if they kissed.

Janet and the others had left him to his thoughts about an hour ago, he still recalled what Janet did before leaving his home. When she and his friends were walking out the gate, she turned towards him with that innocent look on her face. He watched how she smiled so much that her apples on her cheeks beamed. When he was still focused on her smile, she got on her tip toes and pecked his cheeks.

He didn't even know how to react back then, he was stunned. Derek admired how bold she was, but wondered why she had done that. It wasn't like she liked him or anything, maybe she was just being friendly was the best explanation he could come up with.

When he had locked the gate, he felt heat rise to his face; damn, what was this girl doing to him? He couldn't stop cheesing like a fool. Maybe Janet liked him? He really doubted that.

"Idiot." Derek laughed at himself as he ran his hands through his face. He was an even bigger idiot for checking her out when they were alone in his room.

Derek was embarrassed to admit it, but he ogled at her, he hated to admit it but his sweatpants tightened at the the sight. She had such a figure, from her slim waist that would fit effortlessly into his hands, down to her surprisingly big round ass. 

Not to sound like a pervert, but she was quite endowed. Now there he was thinking of it again! Derek groaned in annoyance, he didn't know why but these days, she happened to cross his mind once or twice. He even got mad when she ignored him, saying that he blabbed about something.

Thing was, she practically ignored him all through until this term. He wondered to himself what had changed, the first time she spoke to him when he resumed; he was quite shocked, but just kept a straight face.

That was also the time you saw a glimpse of her breasts. Derek's conscience snickered at him, this caused him to roll his eyes and get up on his feet. Come to think of it, she had been a bit flirty towards him; he didn't want to think too much of it, or get his hopes up. So, he just let it slide.

Derek strolled sluggishly towards his mirror, observing his bruised up face. His lips curled up as he spotted the small bandage that Janet had put against the cut, he suddenly recalled how close she was when she did.

To be honest, her touch was the most suiting thing that he'd experienced since the day had started. He didn't know why she was so keen on helping him with his bruises, that was pretty sweet of her.

Pretty sweet? Really? Derek mocked himself in his mind, chuckling because he sounded like such a sap.

His face looked better than before, he had tried to clean it up himself but just got angry at the fact that Pedro got a few punches at him.

He'd sworn he had heard that the bastard wouldn't be around for quite a while, then he shows up at out thin air and picks a fight with Derek. "I should have just stabbed him." Derek seethed through his teeth, pissed off at the fact that he had a chance to pierce him with the pen knife, but didn't.

"Damn it!" Derek yelled angrily, hitting the vanity table in exasperation. His blood boiled at the thought of Pedro, thankfully, he left after the second day.

He kicked down the first aid box, walking over to the bathroom with slow strides. When he opened the faucet, he just put his head under it, letting the cold water comb through his hair.

She was cute.

Janet, he meant. She had this kind of personality that just made him chuckle. Even if she let some things get to her, like what people said about her; he still admired her. Admired? Where did that come from? Derek scoffed, shaking his head, thinking the thought of her would go away.

But of course, it just increased.

The thought of the conversation that he and Jagun had was still ringing in his head. Derek didn't know why, but he got mad when Jagun badmouthed her.

"I-I should go." Janet said once the voice had cut them off, Derek almost sighed in relief, his head still hung low. He knew that it was Jagun; just from his voice.

When Janet had nervously scrambled away, Derek titled his head as he looked at a smirking Jagun. He closed the door shut before crossing his hands with a smug look on his face.

"Did I c*ckblock you?" 

Jagun teased with a loud laugh, sitting on his bed as he used one of his hands to push Derek's guitar to the other side. Derek just rolled his eyes at the comment, finally sitting up on the bed, his face feeling quite hot. Well, truthfully, not only his face felt hot, other parts did too.

"There's nothing to be blocking." Derek uttered, relief evident in his face. He watched as Jagun crossed his legs, giving him a certain look.

"So you guys are a thing or what? Since when sef?" Jagun voiced out, the last sentence coming out a bit bitterly. Derek just groaned, resting his head on the wall. He wondered the same thing.

"Me I don't know oh, we aren't a thing. What you saw just happened, heat of the moment..." Derek almost gagged as he said such words, heat of the moment? Well, it was partly true.

"Do you like her?"

Derek paused at his question. Why did Jagun care anyways? He'd never asked himself that before, well, she was really beautiful, smart too. Even fun to talk too, he didn't know if he liked her...oh who was he kidding.

"Which kind question be that sef." Derek diverted, scratching his hair as he looked anywhere but at him. What was he supposed to say? 'I don't know, but she's been flooding my mind lately'? That sounded even much more than a yes.

"Besides, you know Dotun likes you."

What the heck did he care about that?

Derek scoffed once he heard what Jagun said, Dotun liked him? Like he didn't know that already. Sure he liked her way back, but after SS1, the feeling just stopped. "Ehen, so?" Derek asked in confusion.

"Is she not better?"

What was he getting at? Derek thought in his mind as his brows arched up, expecting him to continue what he was saying.

"No now, guy you too reason am. You no see how hot that babe be? She's been throwing herself at you, since! Guy you're dulling o."

Jagun explained with his arms flung in the air, Derek pursed his lips still in thought. Dotun was hot, that was a fact; but after SS1, he didn't seem to be interested in her again.

"You go and date her na." Derek sneered. Even if he let Dotun hug him or jump on him with that flirty smile of hers, that didn't mean he liked her.

"You have the upper hand. You two already kissed." He mocked back with a grin. He just had to bring that up didn't he? That happened some days before the summer break. Derek really didn't think much of it, he told her that she shouldn't as well. But she probably did.

"Abeg, Abeg." Derek seethed, not wanting to be reminded. Here he was getting all jittery that he and Janet had almost kissed while he and Dotun practically had a make out session and he just walked away after.

"She's cool, unlike Janet."

Okay,noe he was pushing it. Derek's lips titled into a frown as he found himself glaring at the boy, why was Janet suddenly the topic of the day? 

"As in how?" Derek asked, wanting to hear what he'd come up with.

"She's desperate. I mean haven't you been noticing her making passes at you? Maybe she just wants to bang you and leave."

Jagun snickered, but Derek didn't find it funny. Desperate? Janet was far from desperate! Sure, she had been making passes at him, but that didn't mean she was desperate for attention. Derek scoffed, he could feel that he was getting more pissed off the longer he stayed to badmouth her.

If he really had the balls, he would say it to her face. Derek sighed in annoyance, shaking the thoughts away from his head and directing his attention to his friend.

"Abeg, it don do. You turn gossiper over night?" Derek hummed, getting up from his bed and making his way down stairs.

The last thing Jagun said was a 'don't say I didn't tell you' before finally keeping quiet. 

Derek took a deep breath, resting his back on the wall and murmuring to himself. "Fashi all this wahala." The last thing Derek needed in his life was drama, he already had enough on his plate.

Bzzt.

His phone vibrated on the bed, Derek felt his body tense up at the thought of it being Janet. Did she wasn't apologize? Did she want to tell him to clean his wounds or something? Derek could already feel the smile etching to his lips.

When he opened it, his lips titled back down.

Dotun: Hey! Can I come over? Haven't seen you in a while.

It was just Dotun, and what was this talking about coming over? The last time she came over, it didn't end so well.

Derek: Nah, I'm busy.

Derek sent back, before he could even drop his phone, she sent him another message. Ugh, he thought out loud, rolling his eyes. 

Dotun: Aw, sucks. We could have had a lot of fun ;)

He know what she was going at, but like he said, he really wasn't in the mood for games. Exiting his chat with Dotun, Derek scrolled down his list of friends, which surprisingly were more than a handful. But they all were from other schools, not his stuck up one.

When he reached Janet's contact, his hands seemed to stop scrolling, he just stared at her picture. Derek noticed that he hadn't replied to her message, so he used that as a opportunity to text her.

After sending a hey, he laid on his bed and took in a deep breath. He wasn't worried about the door being locked overnight, it wasn't like his mom would show up today, she never did; if you asked him, he lived alone.

That was how he felt like anyways.

Ding!

Thinking it was Dotun that messaged him again, he huffed in annoyance, picking up his cell and raising it in the air as he unlocked it. "Crap!" He murdered as the cell fell right on his face, well, he let the cell go when he realized that it was Janet that texted him.

"Ow." Derek seethed to himself, turning over his phone and holding his already aching nose. Like the punch he got to the nose wasn't enough.

Janet: Hope your wounds are healing nicely :)

Argh.

She was just too freaking caring. Even though he felt tired, he decided to continue the conversation. Partly because he was bored, or the fact that he actually wanted to talk to her.

Derek: Yeah, thanks for the help. Hope you got him okay.

Hope you got home okay? What do you care? Derek's conscience cackled, mocking him with a snicker. Why was his thinking so much about how he sounded anyways. She was just his friend. Period.

Janet: I did! She almost smelt the beer on me tho, haha no worries :,)

His brows knitted in concern, the last thing he wanted was to be a bad influence on a pastor's daughter. It'd be best if he stayed away...wouldn't it?

He had probably cause her to do a lot of things she wouldn't usually do, like smoking and now taking alcohol? Talk about a shitty influence.

Derek: I probably shouldn't have given that to you.

Janet: Why? Because I'm an omo pastor?

Janet replied almost immediately, Derek chuckled because he could almost hear the texts in her snappy tone.

Derek: And a good girl.

It wasn't like that was a bad thing, he wasn't just used to...inexperienced friends? Girls? He usually hung around friends that introduced him to new things, not the other way around.

Janet: Is that so bad?

Derek sighed in defeat.

Derek: No, I think it's pretty cute.

Once he sent that, he turned off his phone, his eyes feeling droopy. Within a minute, he was off.

The next day came fast, Derek didn't still want to go to school, bit he decided against it. After taking a bath, he put on his uniform and brushed his teeth. His face had healed a bit more, the bruised around his eye had even lightened up. He preferred it that way, so no one would ask any questions.

When he got to school, he dropped his bicycle at the end of the gate, using his fingers to comb through his hair, he could already feel the stares.

Some people looked at him in fear, probably wondering why his face was bruised, while some just steered clear of him.

"Aye! Damilayo is back!" Obinna grinned was he spotted Derek, Ope and Jagun right on his tail, Derek grinned as he hugged them. These were the only people that didn't judge him, his ride or die.

"Yeah now." Derek laughed along with them as they made their way up the stairs, the boys chatting about something that had happened yesterday.

Just then, a small figure came running down the stair and practically jumped on him. From the squeal, he could tell that it was Dotun, Derek just gave a thin lipped smile before putting her down. Not really the person he was hoping to see.

From the corner of his eyes, he could see Jagun giving him a knowing smirk.

"Give him space jare." Ope snarled, reading Derek's mind. "Shut up jorh." Dotun snapped back, her hands still hung around his.

"Are you better now?" Dotun asked, pressing her breasts against his arm when she spoke, a smile on her glossy lips. Didn't she wear a bra? Why could he feel her freaking nipples...? Derek wondered as he tried to peel his hands from her grip.

"Janet, did you see this..." When he heard someone call her name, his head shot up, as if on cue; she and Ada came strutting out from hallway and down to where Derek and his boys stood along with Dotun.

When she saw him, she stopped in her tracks, a smile creeping unto her face.

There she stood, looking all cute and preppy; he had to hold himself from chuckling. She looked nice today, a pink gloss making the lips which he almost kissed yesterday shine.

"You look better." 

She let out a small smile and he could have sworn he felt his heart skip a beat.

What the heck? Don't tell me I'm catching feelings for this girl.

Derek thought, feeling the heat rise to his face.