Catching You (20 page)

“Well, let’s get your bag and get
out of here. I can tell that you want to get some sleep. I think your dark
circles have circles.” He said, holding me closer. I snuggled into his
shoulder, enjoying his scent. It was a mixture of Tommy cologne, sweat, and
soap.

“I’ve got it.” He said hefting my
duffel off the conveyer belt. He handed me the roses so that he could grab it
without dropping anything else I had my coffee in one hand and roses in the
other.

“So, how was your fist semester at
University of San Diego?” I asked, as we walked along the parking garage in
search of Derrick’s car.

“I’ve dropped out,” he said
calmly.

I turned to him. “You did what?”

“I said I dropped out,” he
repeated himself.

“Why did you do that?” I asked,
trying to catch my breath from his latest announcement.

“I didn’t feel like I fit in
there, so I came home. I’m taking next semester off while I figure out what I
want to do. Maybe I’ll transfer to USC with you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this in
any of our conversations over the last few months?” I asked.

“I didn’t want to worry you.
You’ve had enough to deal with after we got home from the cabin.” We were both
silent for a few minutes, remembering the summer.

“Have you gone and visited Nick
since you’ve been home?” I asked him quietly. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted
to know the answer, but knew that I had to at least ask about him.

“Yes and he’s been asking about
you.” I sighed.

Derrick glanced over at me. “Do
you want to go visit him?” he asked carefully. I didn’t know how to answer that
question. On the one hand, I wanted to see him because he was my friend,
despite what he did to me and plus I wanted to make sure that he was all right,
but on the other hand, I was scared to go see him.

“I don’t want to go alone.” I
turned to him. “Will you go with me?”

He nodded. “Of course. There was
no way that I was going to let you go by yourself, anyway. I’d be afraid that
he’d say something sweet and charming and you’d leave me and go back to him.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You
have to be crazy to think I would do that. Certainly not after everything he
put me through last summer.”

“Don’t remind me. He’s lucky I
don’t kill him myself for what he did to you.” We had finally made it to the
car and I opened the door and slipped in. He went around the other side, opened
the back door, threw the bags in and slammed the door shut. He slipped in the front
seat. I put my seat belt on and reclined the seat back so that I could lie
down. I was suddenly very tired.

“You can close your eyes and take
a nap. Don’t think you have to stay awake just to keep me company. I’ll be
fine.” I smiled weakly and I closed my eyes. A few moments later, I was sound
asleep.

“Lauren, baby, it’s time to wake
up.” I felt Derrick’s breath against my skin and stirred. I opened my eyes,
rubbing them trying to wake up.

“Good morning, sunshine.” He
grinned, fixing a stray hair behind my ear. I yawned, stretching.

“Are we here already?” I asked,
glancing at the clock, noticing that it was now almost twelve thirty in the
afternoon.

“We’re at your house. You fell
asleep before I even pulled out of the airport parking lot.” He tousled my hair
and I blushed,

“Sorry. You must think I’m
horrible company.”

“Don’t apologize. I told you that
you could take a nap. I knew that you were tired,” he said leaning over and
grabbing the flowers from my lap.

“Start walking towards the house
and I’ll be right behind you with your bag.” I opened the door, my computer bag
on my shoulder, trying not to yawn. A few minutes later, the front door burst
open and my little brothers ran out.

“Lauren! You’re home.” Spenser ran
full force towards me, while Noah stood back and watched my brother. Derrick
just stood there watching. I glanced up and saw my mother in the doorway.

“I’m glad you made it home safe.
Derrick, why don’t you come in?” She waved him inside, a smile on her face.

“Thanks.”

 I watched as he followed my
mother into the house. I grabbed onto Spenser’s hand and led him inside. “Let’s
follow everyone inside.” I smiled down at my little brother, his brown eyes
wide with innocence.

I was still amazed at how
resilient little kids could be at times. When I told him and Noah that Ryan had
died they were the ones telling me everything would be okay. He hung onto my
hand tighter. “Lauren,” he whispered as we got to the porch. “I need to tell
you a secret.”

I leaned down to his level so that
I could hear him. “What is it buddy?” I asked running my fingers through his
hair.

“I like Derrick much more than
Ryan. I just hope that Ryan doesn’t get mad at me for saying that aloud.”

I shook my head. “No, Ryan won’t
get mad at you. You know what else?” I asked taking his face into my hands. I
like Derrick much more also, but that will be out little secret. You can’t tell
anyone.”

“I promise I won’t, tell Lauren.
I’m good at keeping secrets, unlike Noah,” he whispered quietly. I grinned.

“Let’s go inside now.” I swatted
at him and he ran inside. I could hear giggles from behind the door as I walked
inside. I stood there for a moment just looking at everyone. Derrick was
helping my little brother Noah get a bowl of cereal while my mom poured
everyone glasses of juice; He looked like he was supposed to be there. He
glanced up.

“Hey, are you coming inside or
what?” he asked, laughing at Noah as he snorted milk out of his nose.

“Noah! What was that for?” He
laughed, running to grab a towel to clean him up.

“Yeah I’m coming in. I was just
thinking about something for a minute,” I said quietly.

“What were you thinking about?” he
asked, glancing over at me while still cleaning up the spill.

“How cute you look with a dishrag
in your hands.”I grinned

“I love you,” he replied.

I stopped.
Had I heard him
right?
Did Derrick just tell me that he loved me?

“What did you say?” I asked,
pretending to cough to cover over my surprise.

“I said I love you. Don’t worry
I’m not expecting you to say it back to me just yet. I just want you to know
how I feel. I don’t want you to ever doubt my feelings for you.” He leaned over
the kitchen table and kissed my cheek.

“Derrick, I know that this isn’t
the best time to bring this up, but do you think that we’d be able to go visit
Nick after this? I filled out a visitor questionnaire a few months ago and just
got the approval from the prison before I left school. There is something I
need to do,” I asked, biting my lip nervously.

“That’d be fine with me.”

I suddenly didn’t have much of an
appetite, but waited patiently for Derrick to finish eating.

“Do you want to take a shower
first or do you just want to go as you are?” he asked as he finished his last
bite.

“I want to go now. I want to get
this visit over with as soon as possible.”

“All right, let’s go.”He cleaned
up his spot at the table and said goodbye to my mom. I told her we’d be back in
a little bit.

The drive over to the prison was
quiet. I stared out the window, twirling my hair through my fingers. I was
nervous about seeing Nick, but knew that it was something I needed to do. As he
pulled into the parking lot, he turned to me,

“Are you sure about this?” He
asked, setting his hand on my leg.

I nodded. “Yes I’m sure.” I got
out of the car and started walking towards the prison with my stomach in knots.
I hadn’t seen Nick since he got arrested and wondered if he still blamed me for
everything. Derrick came up behind me, his hand on my back pushing me forward.

“You just go up to the front desk
and tell them that you’re here to see Nicholas Majors. Someone will get him for
you. Do you want me to come with you?” He asked. I shook my head. I needed to
do this alone.

I walked up to the front desk, my
knees feeling like they were going to give out on me.

“Excuse me; I’m here to see
Nicholas Majors,” I said sounding much calmer than I actually felt.

“Name?”the lady behind the desk
said loudly.

“Lauren Bailey.” I watched as she
opened a filing cabinet and began going through the files. “Here it is.” She
pulled out a manila folder and set it on the desk, “ It says here you are here
to see Nicholas Majors. Are you family?” she questioned.

“No. I’m just a friend.” I
responded brushing my sweaty hands on my shorts. “Okay. Let me explain a few
things to you first. It indicates in his file that Nicholas is in reception,
which means that you’ll have a glass partition between you two when you see
him. He will be escorted in handcuffs and only left off when he’s on his side
of the partition. Do you understand?”

I nodded trying to take in
everything that I’d just learned. Okay. Just take a seat and someone will come
and get you shortly.” She pressed a button and a few minutes later a guard came
to the door. They whispered for a few minutes and then she gestured to me. I
got up and followed, feeling as if I was the one in trouble. He showed me into
a room with a small cubby that reminded me of being at the library. I sat down
in the chair and waited for Nick to come in.

A few minutes later, I heard the
door open and I glanced up. There was Nick, with his head shaved, dressed in an
orange jumpsuit. He sat down on his side of the partition and held his hands
out for the cuffs to come off. He then faces me and picks up the phone. I do
the same.

“Hello Nick,” I say into the
receiver.