Charming
Chapter Four

For a moment, there was an awkward silence in the room. They hadn’t seen or heard from one another in years, and aside from their brief meeting in the school, they hadn’t talked at all.

Derrick, tired of standing in the awkward silence, kicked off his shoes and began walking away from Andria, not saying a word as he headed for the stairs.

“Where you going?” Andria questioned walking behind him.

“I’m going to my room, where you think?” He replied, smiling as he continued up the stairs, Andria close behind him.

Reaching the hallway at the top of the stairs, Derrick made a right and called out “First door on the left?”

“Yup, nothing's changed.” She said laughing as she followed him to his room.

Upon entering the bedroom, they were met with the soft light of the sunset shining from a window on the opposite side of the room directly across from the entrance. Emerald curtains draped down from the window and onto a three-drawer dresser, reaching down to fluffy white carpet on the floor.

To the left of the entrance, there was a waist high bookcase that extended from the doorframe to the left wall where it connected to another bookcase that extended a short ways until it reached another door slightly ajar; the closet. A few feet to the right of the closet, a full-size bed with a rounded end rested diagonally, gaining a view of the rest of the room; a navy blue comforter spread across it tucked neatly into the bottom of the bed.

Derrick stood in the doorway viewing the room, shaking his head as he unintentionally blocked the entrance for Andria.

“What?” Andria questioned, pushing past him going into her room, looking around for something unknown to her, something that had obviously grasped Derrick’s attention; she just couldn’t tell what. “What is it?” she asked again noticing his lack of movement and lack of a response as well.

“Nothing changed my ass,” he mumbled walking past her, pushing her playfully as he did.

“You had me thinking something was wrong!” Andria shouted hitting him back as she sat on the end of her bed, watching as he continued to look around the room. He went to the bookcase and knelt down to admire the various books and occasional stack of shirts on its two shelves. A bag, possibly a purse, change, paper, pens, and seemingly anything else that didn’t have a place, rested on the top of the bookcase. There was also flower vase filled with a few wilting daffodils at the intersection of the two cases, connecting the two together; fallen petals surrounding the small thin vase.

Derrick turned around to view the other side of the room; another door could be seen which if he remembered right, was the bathroom. To the left of the bathroom, a five-shelf glass bookcase decorated with a few magazines, small books, and a picture in a small glass frame resting on the second shelf stood the same height as the door.

Eyeing the bookcase, Derrick stopped and stared at the small frame. Carefully, he picked up the picture and looked at it, taking in its every detail then walked over to the bed, taking a seat next to Andria.

“I want a copy of this.” he said as he took his seat.

“What?” she questioned, noticing the somewhat sad look on his face, though he continued to smile.

As a response, he handed her the frame, wiping his eye as though something were in it, a tear.

Frame now in hand, Andria looked at the picture, a weak smile resting on her face. “Oh.” She stated, still smiling at the picture. “That was a long time ago.”

“Too long.” He replied leaning over so that he could continue to view the picture.

It was a close-up of them in middle school, about a week before they found out about the move. They were having fun as he gave her a piggyback ride, both smiling and enjoying themselves, neither aware of the camera.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to get started on my promise to your dad.” He said, laying back on the bed, hands behind his head, and feet still on the floor.

“What promise.” She demanded, turning quickly to face him as he lay smiling on the bed.

“To make up for all the time I was gone.” He said watching a smile stretch across her face.

“Yeah, I think you should.” She replied watching him, his body taking up half on the bed with his legs still draped over the end. “It looks like he missed you too.” She added, laying down herself, her head resting on his stomach while she stared at the ceiling.

“Oh yeah, he was so happy to see me downstairs,” He stated smiling mischievously. “I have no idea why he doesn’t like me.” He continued, his grin growing wider.

“Oh yeah, it’s all so random,” she started sarcastically, rolling her eyes yet smiling at his comment.

“Stop playing, you know he hates me.”

“Yeah, I know, but that little show you put on down there didn’t help either.”

Derrick coughed to cover his laughter then continued, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” he said as innocently as possible, which to anybody else would’ve sounded very convincing.

“Sure you don’t. Well, it’s both of us against him, two to one, so it’ll work out.”

“Whoa!” he started sitting up abruptly causing Andria to reposition herself to his lap. “Both of us? You're saying spoiled lil daddy’s girl hates him? Just how long have I been gone?”

“Stop, and don’t call me that!” She hissed as she moved further up the bed to lay her head on a pillow.

“I bet he got you all this stuff for your room too.”

“Yeah, and?” she questioned, her eyes staring daggers at him.

They were quiet for a while. Trying to start real conversations with each other a three-year period of nothing put a strain on their relationship.

“So,” Derrick started, turning around to face Andria who was still stretched across her bed, “What was up with you earlier?”

“Hmm?”

“In the hall earlier, you were crying.”

“Oh, I was just happy to see you; I am happy to see you.” She said smiling as she continued staring into space.

“Come on Dria,” he started, “I know you better than that. What’s been going on.”

“Nothing.”

“Okay.” he said deciding not to push the subject but still knowing that something was wrong. “There years and nothing is new with you? Damn, your life is boring. It's a good thing I'm back to liven things up.”

Andria began laughing at his statement then responded, “Okay , so what's been up with you in the past three years?” “Nothing...” He responded, a broad smile stretched across his face.

“Oh yes, but I’m the boring one.” she said grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him.

“Yes, you are.” he said laughing as he picked up the pillow and sat it behind him. “So,” he started again stretching his arms the cracking his knuckles.

“Yes?”

“What's his name?”

“Whose?”

“The guy I'm gonna have to fight.”

“What the hell?” she thought instantly, sure that she had heard wrong, “Who and why will you be fighting?” Andria asked somewhat distressed, he'd just gotten back and already he was searching for drama.

“I don't know, depends on who you you're going with and how he's treating you.”

Andria rolled her eyes smiling and sighing in relief as she threw the pillow at him once again.

“Real talk, I don't find anything funny.” he said seriously, taking the pillow and tossing it across the room, the other three pillows on the bed apparently not crossing his mind.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.” he said as he pushed himself off of the bed. “Get up.”

“You're crazy.”

“I know, and you do too. Now get up.” he said now tugging at her arm.

“Alright, alright! I'm up, what now?”

Derrick sighed satisfied that he'd gotten his way then flopped back down on the bed.

“You're kidding." Andria stated, staring at him in disbelief, "Why the hell did I have to get up if you were just going to sit back down.”

“To demonstrate, but if it makes you feel better, I'll stand too.”

“What do you mean demonstrate?” she asked watching as he popped up off of the bed and began circling around her, slowly beginning to turn herself in attempt to see what he was looking at.

“Stand still.” he instructed continuing his circles.

Following his instructions, Andria stood still with her arms folded across her chest until Derrick finally stopped in front of her.

“Okay, so what was that point of all of that?”

“Well since you wanna play dumb about who I'm imma talk to, I decided to prove my point.”

“What point?” she asked becoming more frustrated, “Dammit Derrick, you're not making sense.”

“Alright, let me help you out then. When I left, those weren't there.” he said nodding his head towards her chest, “And that sure as hell wasn't there.” he said moving behind her.

Andria stared at him, her mouth hanging open in shock, then, before she realized what she was doing, she'd made her way to the pillow on the floor and threw it at Derrick.

Apparently he had anticipated her actions because he easily dodged the pillow, laughing his way back onto the bed.

This one attack wasn't enough for Andria, especially since she'd missed. So, after the first failure, she quickly made her way to the bed and picked up another pillow. Instead of throwing the pillow and risking missing her target yet again, she moved to where he lay laughing and began swinging at him repeatedly.

Because of his laughter, Andria's actions came unnoticed and so the pillow in his face shocked him. Derrick quickly recovered and moved to the head of the bed, Andria still swinging at him the whole way until he reached a pillow of his own.

All movement ceased as they stared at each other; Derrick stared at Andria innocently, a smirk tugging at his smile.

“Derrick,” Andria started hesitantly, taking a step back, “Don't do anything stupid.” she urged continuing her steps back and he proceeded to slowly move towards her.

“Why whatever do you man?” he asked innocently. “What, you mean this?” he questioned holding up the pillow.

“Yes that.”

“What? You think that just because you beat me up I'm going to get payback or something?”

“Yeah...something.” she said shakily, “I'm serious Derrick, don't do it.”

“Fine, I promise I won't hit you with this pillow.” he said tossing the object aside.

Andria sighed in relief, tossing away her own pillow.

“Thanks-” she started but was stopped with the sudden action of being thrown over Derrick's shoulder. Before she had time to do anything about his actions, she had been thrown onto the bed and bombarded with multiple pillows.

“Liar!” she cried out, trying to cover her head and block the attacks, failing miserably.

Hearing this, Derrick stopped his actions and looked at Andria who was peeping through her fingers to see if he'd stopped swinging for good.

“I didn't lie.” he said wiping his eyes, crying from so much laughter..

“You did too! You said-.”

“I said that I wasn't going to hit you with that pillow right there.” he said pointing to the pillow lying on the floor across the room. “And I didn't.”

Andria rolled her eyes then moved to lie against her bed frame, Derrick doing the same.

“I haven't laughed like that in a long time.” Andria said quietly as she leaned against him.

“Me either.” he said wrapping his arm around her.

While they'd been playing, it had grown to be considerably dark in the room. When they'd first entered the room the sun was just setting allowing a decent amount of light into the room so neither had thought about turning on a light. Despite this, a lack of light was the last thing on either's mind.

“Circle.” Derrick said softly, still holding her in his arms.

“Hmm?” Dria responded, looking up at him with a confused face.

“Marques Houston, Circle. If you love something let it go, if it comes back then this time you know.”

Andria smiled then responded, “Aaliyah, I Miss You.”“I should've used that one.” Derrick replied then held her a little tighter.

“I haven’t used songspeak since our last letter.” Andria thought aloud as she reminisced on their language of songspeak, using their favorite songs and lyrics to let the other know how they were feeling.

After a few moments of silence, Derrick shifted his position on the bed and grabbed an object from behind him that had apparently been poking him in the back. .

“What's this?” he asked curiously, placing a small object into Andria's hands.

“Oh, my diary.” she replied.

“Diary? What are you doing with one of these?” he asked taking back the book and attempting to open it.

“When you left, I didn't have anybody to talk to,” she answered quietly, taking back the object and moving it out of his reach. “So I talked to this.”

“I'm back now.” he said pulling her closer to him.

“Yeah,” she mumbled leaning into him as he held her.

Sadness had filled the air; only a few moments ago they'd been laughing, playing and running around happily...all of that went away.

“Can I read it?”

“No...”

“Why not?” he asked somewhat shocked by her response.

“I've written some things that...well...just no, okay?”

“Alright.” he replied then they entered yet another moment of silence. “The things in there Dria, would you have told me if I hadn't moved?”

“Not everything.” she answered truthfully, a few tears welling in her eyes as she began reflecting on what she'd written in the book.

“Is it because you don't trust me, or-?”

“You know I do! It's just,” she started her voice dropping yet again; “Some things you just want to keep to yourself, y'know?”

“Yeah, I guess...” he sighed then felt something wet drop onto his arm. “You mean like this morning?” he asked quietly, wiping the tears from her face.

She didn't answer. Up until now she'd become an expert at hiding her emotions, she had to. Only now, being around Derrick she found herself unable to keep up her so carefully maintained front.

“Dria, are you okay, I mean-.” Derrick started only to be interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. “Hold on,” he said lifting Dria in order to gain access to his phone.

Andria leaned over and turned on a lamp while Derrick answered his call.

“Hello...yea... Andria's house...No, she went to work...him too...Now? ...Oh...Yeah, okay...See you soon.” Derrick spoke into the phone then closed it and turned his attention back to Andria.

Andria stared at him now in the light.

“I've got to get ready and go, ma says hi and a bunch of other junk.”

“Now?”

“That's what I said, but it's already 8:00. I guess time flies when...” Derrick stated, trailing off as he looked at the expression on Andria's face

“Oh, okay,” she replied quietly in a strained voice, her tears slowly returning. This was a time she really didn't want to be alone; she'd been crying and outside of school, this was the most talking she'd done in a long time. “Tell her I said welcome back,” she added, plastering on a fake smile.

“Dria , are you going to be okay? If you need me to stay I will, I know ma'll understand.” He asked, genuine concern showing on his face.

“No, really, I'm fine.” she said keeping on her weak smile.

“Okay,” he said standing up.

“Is she coming to get you or what?” Andria asked standing up as well.

“Na, I drove. Got my pop's old car.”

“Nice.” she replied following him out of the room and down the stairs.

“Yeah.” he said putting his shoes back on, “Something smells good.”

“Shit!” Andria mumbled then hurried into the kitchen where she removed her mother's pot roast from the oven.

Derrick entered the kitchen, keys in hand, laughing,. “Look at'cha, forgot about your own food.”

“Yeah,” she replied, not quite up to laughing yet.

“Did it burn?”

“No, but any longer and it would've.”

“Oh,” he said, an awkward silence forming as they quietly walked to the front door.

“I guess I'll see you tomorrow.” Andria said leaning on the wall next to the door.

“Yeah, here.” he said handing her his cell phone. “Put in your number.”

“Alright.” she said as she took the phone and quickly typed in her information then handed it back to him.

As she handed the phone back to him, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her.

“Dria, I don't know what's going on with you-.”

“There's nothing-.” she broke in, still trying to convince him that she was okay.

“Don't tell me there's nothing wrong!” He started frustrated, holding her tightly in his embrace, “I've known you all my life and I know that there's something going on with you, even if I don't know what it is.” he said his voice growing softer. “I know I've been gone for a while, but I'm back now, and I'm here for you Dria.” he said still holding on to her.

Andria held him back, as she buried her face into his chest, not able to hold back her tears anymore.

“Things have been real bad, haven't they?” he asked openly not actually expecting an answer, tears in his eyes now as well from seeing his best friend in such obvious pain.

Andria nodded her head still in his chest and for a while they just stood there in each other's embrace.

Several minutes passed and finally Derrick let her go then stepped back to look at her.

“I've missed you.” she said, wiping her eyes, her crying now stopped.

“You don't have to anymore.” he said leaning in and kissing her on her forehead. “I'll see you tomorrow. He said as he opened the door, good-.”

“You said you wouldn't say that anymore,” she cried out distressed.

“I won't, good night Dria.” he said standing in the doorway, smiling at her.

“Good night Derrick.” she said smiling back at him, then watched as he walked to his car and drove off.