"Oh god, I can already feel Jake cursing me," Derek grinned as he drove the car through the clean streets of his town.

It was a small but clean town. Greywall had really low population and a more or less pleasant weather. I saw bright, colorful shops of all kinds packed with customers and there was just one big shopping mall in the town as Derek said. Everybody did their fashionable shopping from there. The houses looked so homely and small. Some had lawns in them while some had porches. I also spotted apartments which weren't more than four storeyed. It felt very cute, I didn't know why.

It was a new experience for me because I was from the heart of the city- Manhattan. I was born and raised in the city by all the maids and butlers because my parents forgot to give a shit about me since the time I was born.

Meh, I didn't think much about it. My parents had a regular habit like this and I was already so used to it that I didn't even bother with getting angry on them.

I got emotional few days back but I was again back to normal when Derek asked me to spend it with him. The fact that he cared enough to ask me this was really nice of him. Plus, to be very honest, I didn't want to spend the vacations alone.

"Its nice," I commented, "Small, but nice and pretty."

"I know, right!" He said excitedly, grinning widely as he took a left turn, entering a narrow road.

I could see the excitement growing in him as he drove expertly through the lanes, "You know Nora, I thought I would forget the roads and lanes, but I still remember it thoroughly. Its like I never left. This is so cool. I used to come to this shop with Jake to buy our latest games," He pointed to a shop.

"Mr. Urdell is still there. I will visit him soon but I don't think he is going to recognise me, you know. Its been so long afterall. Two years is not few days. You see..." He continued rambling, pointing to shops and stores.

We even passed by his school and he promised he will show it soon. His face had brightened up with joy as he spoke animatedly, telling me about how he and Jake used to buy candies and games, visit places and hang out regularly.

"Ma called me and said she is preparing my favorite meals. I don't know if you will like them or not. She can cook really good spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread. She can make a good roast too but- Wait. I am boring you, am'nt I?" He suddenly said, looking at me before glancing at the road again.

I smiled and kept my clasped fist under my chin, shaking my head. I was loving him speaking his heart out as he was growing nostalgic with every passing second.

"Nope. Keep on speaking. I am here listening," I said.

"No, you can tell me if you don't wanna hear it. You are from Manhattan. I am sure there are far more interesting stories in your bag," He said, shaking his head.

"Yeah sure. Got raised by maids, attended a thousand parties, got hooked up with hundreds of boys by my parents, attended another thousand charities. Then, I escaped to Yale. Isn't it fascinating?" I gave a fake smile.

He gave a wry smile, "Your parents weren't there much when you grew up, huh?"

"They were there sometimes. But, it was a strict household with rules and regulations to follow and I was a rebel. I hated it," I stated.

"Its true. You can't hold down someone who doesn't wanna get tied down," He shrugged.

"And thats why after I came to Yale, the first thing I did when I arrived here was cut my hair short, highlighted my hair, got a tattoo and piercing because I knew it would piss them off. It was more of a way to spite them off rather than a desire to get inked and pierced," I wondered.

"It suits you. It does," He said, "You showed me your previous pictures. I prefer this look of yours."

"Oh, so you don't like the old me?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Oh no, thats not what I meant-"

"Kidding, Dora. Learn to take a joke," I sighed, "Why are we slowing down? You can buy candies later," I looked outside, "Its too late to have candies now."

"No, but because we have reached," He smiled warmly.

"Oh," I looked outside to see his house.

It was a moderately big house, with the traditional small garden and fence. It had a red painted roof and one mahogany tree in the backyard as Derek finally stopped the car near the gate. I realised that even though Derek's family might not be the richest, his mother's job and her position in the town committee had gave them a comfortable life. I didn't bother asking if Derek got Yale due to scholarships or through entire funding, but I assumed it was scholarship.

He got down and quickly walked to the back before unloading his bags and looking at his house with a warm, gooey romantic look. Like the one I had when I saw the huge tub of KFC.

He almost ran to the porch with his bags and rang the bell, "This is it. Oh shit, finally."

Taking a deep breath, I took my backpack and suitcase and stood behind him, maintaining a bit of distance and feeling a bit nervous.

Hurried footsteps were heard in seconds and the door swung open. Derek's mom looked exactly like she did in the pictures as she came out and beamed at her son.

"Derek!" The mother son duo hugged each other and she pressed a kiss to his forehead after some muffled sounds of nostalgia and stuff.

"How was the drive back? I told you to take a train. Oh my god, you look skinny. You haven't been eating at all, have you? And look at those dark circles under the eyes! I will have to scrub and give you a face mask! You wait, young man-"

"Ma, I am fine. It's just university stress-"

"I will see that you eat and rest and why have you started growing this stupid beard? Why don't you shave? You know it prickles people," She scolded him.

She called that a beard? I called it clean shaven with a strand of hair here and there. Clearly, Mrs. Callingham didn't ever see my friend, Ortis back at Manhattan. He was the Amazon jungle.

Derek looked like a guy still going through his puberty but his voice was deep enough. So, it felt like a thirty years old inside a fifteen years old's body.

"Ma, I want you to meet Nora," He stepped aside as his mother saw me for the first time.

"Nora, Ma," He said and I could hear the hesitation in his voice as he introduced us.

When his mom had attended him last summer at Yale, I had gone to Sydney with my two school friends for the vacations and the year before last one I had gone home where I spent my vacations with my butlers. So, I never got to meet her.

"Ma, remember I told you Nora would be staying-"

"Oh my god, you are so beautiful," She walked past Derek and came forward and hugged me.

I froze at the contact. She didn't even know me. So, why was she hugging me so tightly? Knowing Derek, he might not even have shown my picture to her.

I thought she would disapprove of all the tattoos and piercings but this lady had clearly an eye defect.

"Um... hello," I said politely as she pulled back and appraised me from head to toe, "You are so skinny too. Don't they feed you well enough back there? Your face looks less haggard but both of you look like you need a break."

She wasn't wrong. Vacations were the best part of the year. If I could, I would never study and just do my own thing. But hell, everything required a degree nowadays and I had zero business sense.

"No, Ma. Nothing's like that," Derek said, "We study more than making merry, I guess."

"I will make sure you both are well fed and get some meat on these bones. I have prepared the room for you. Derek sweetheart, my god," Her eyes were again getting glassy as she hugged her son again, "Was the journey tough?"

"It was alright. Saves the train money," He shrugged.

"Come on in. Freshen up. You must be tired. I have prepared lunch and then you both can go take a nap," She said as we went in.

There was a small living room and a big kitchen relatively with a staircase leading up probably to Derek's bedroom and the guestroom. The walls were a light lemon yellow color with some wall stickers and everything looked so homely.
There was another room downstairs and I figured it was his mother's.

Ms. Callingham contined saying something but I was too tired to hear. I just wanted to crash. I was sweaty and smelling like an old fart. I had to call my father's manager and tell him I had reached safely.

But first of all, I needed a shower.

"Come on, I will show your room," Derek said.

"I am setting the table. You both hurry up and come down. Its already late," His mom said, hurrying into the kitchen.

My house was normally peaceful and quiet. Nobody made any unnecessary sounds except me and everyone followed the rules to a T. Derek's house seemed like it would burst with energy now.

Only three people were there and the house was bustling with noise and people. I liked it. It didn't seem I would face a set of rules here. I hated rules like anything.

We nodded and walked upstairs, dragging the bags noisily.

"That's my room," He pointed to the right, "And that's your room," He motioned to the left.

I walked in and was delighted to see a big bed with a balcony. I loved balconies and it had a view of the street. Derek probably had a view of the backyard and the alleyway behind his house.

"Your house is really pretty. I am impressed," I nodded, dumping my bags at a corner, "Can I just take a shower and go to sleep? I am dead tired, Dora."

He chuckled loudly, "No, Ma has prepared a lot of food and she will make you eat it. Beware of her, she is going to make you eat a lot. Thats one of the many reasons why my mom and Jake's mom are good friends."

"I am not hungry. I am sleepy," I stifled a yawn at the thought.

"Just put something in your stomach and sleep. You need the energy for tonight. We are all meeting today," He said, opening the window.

"Even that Reina chick?" I asked.

"I don't know. But we are meeting Jake and Olivia. Its in their new apartment. Its closer to his house, though. We can walk. Now, you settle down. I am going, if you need anything call me or Ma, okay?" He nodded seriously.

"Hey, Dora?" I called.

"What?" He paused at the door, looking back.

I went and hugged him tightly, wrapping my arms around his backside. He stumbled back with all the luggages and bags but nevertheless hugged me back after few seconds, "What's this for?" He laughed softly, his voice sounding affectionate.

"Thank you for making my life a bit more bearable and inviting me over," I said, closing my eyes.

I didn't mind staying here for hours. Derek was like my childhood teddy bear. Only very, very tall.

I could feel him smiling as he patted my head, "Hey, what are friends for afterall? I would do anything for you, Nora. You know that."

Besides the one thing I wanted him to do in my consious.

Geez, my lust was getting too much to handle now.

I pulled back, "You go and become nostalgic now, after you enter your room."

He laughed again as he walked out and closed the door behind him. I fished out my phone and instead of calling, texted the stupid manager of my father that I had reached safely.

Then, I opened my bags, pulled out some pajamas of mine and walked straight into the bathroom.

~¤~

"So, Nora dear. How long do you know each other?" Derek's mom asked as we started eating.

"Two years... yeah... around two years," I looked at Derek once for confirmation.

"Really? How come I am getting to know about this just now?" His mom glared at him.

"Its because the topic never came up," Derek said quietly, looking very interested in his food.

It pricked again. Why did he have to hide our friendship so much if he wasn't embarassed by me? He was avoiding the topic.

"The food is delicious, Ms. Callingham," I said.

"Oh, thank you, honey. Have some more," She passed me the bowl, "Tell me more about you. What are you studying?" She asked.

"Drama," I replied, because that's what I did best.

I expected her to chastise me for such a risky study option but instead she grinned, "That's wonderful and so different. I have never met someone who studied this. Is it interesting?"

"Very," I said, surprised at her reaction.

I think I was gonna love this lady a lot. Momma Derek and Nora Wright were gonna have fun! Cool parents were hard to come by in our circle. So, when they did, I accepted them wholeheartedly. I knew we would get along well.

"And when have you both started dating?"

Or maybe not.

Derek choked on his noodles as he started coughing. I shot him a nervous glance as he chugged down water, patting his chest, "We are not dating, Ma. She is my friend, that's all."

If he felt so, I thought.

"Oh, that's too bad. Anyway, Derek. Are you going to go to Jake's place today? He has already called me thrice," She said, dumping more noodles on his plate and pushing the plate of bread towards me.

"Yes, I am taking Nora. Tomorrow, I will show her around the town," He nodded, all right again.

I politely started eating my food again, eating silently as they spoke about what had changed since Derek left and how some of his uncles and aunts paid his mom a visit while he was gone.

I started reciting the capitals of countries in my head to pass the time. I was almost down to India when Derek spoke, "You will be coming to see the town with me tomorrow, right?"

I nodded. Sightseeing with pretty boy. Who am I to say no? Plus, I needed to have a past time, otherwise I would get bored too soon. I had nothing to do here except roam and watch tv perhaps.

"That's settled, then. We can leave at six. We will return by ten," Derek declared.

"I don't get why you have to have dinner at his place tonight. Its your first night here after two years. You should have it with your mother," She said in a disapproving tone.

Derek smiled gently before kissing his mother on the cheek, "We are having lunch now with you, Ma. You will have plenty of days to stuff us with dinner later. If we don't eat at Olivia's today, they both will come here and throw me off my window."

***

Author's note:-

Axel's story might be written. 🙃

:-)