"So, have you asked your parents if you could come and visit me this weekend? They've got a free showing of 'Up' at the student center, and I think they even give out free popcorn! They do this every Friday for free. After the show, we could go see-"

"Derek." she interrupted. "I need to talk to you."

Derek's hear sank. Oh no. Not now.

"...yeah?" he weakly breathed.

"I think we need to break-up... I like not having you around."

Thirty minutes later, after crying and begging, Derek reentered the building, cleared the cards off of his bed, turned-out the light, and went to bed.


A month had gone by, and Derek was still hurt. He had returned home for the town fair, reluctantly, and found that in a small town, it is nearly impossible to avoid someone - especially if you want to see them. Kelly approached Derek, after watching him completely leave the theater tent when she walked in. Just as she used to greet him, she kicked him in the butt. They were an odd couple.

"Hey! How ya' doin'?" she said half-happily and cautiously.

"How do you think...?" Derek responded darkly.

They remained there, Kelly asking friendly questions, and Derek shortly answering until the mellodrama began. The performance, Derek noticed, was very similar to the way which Kelly spoke to him - forced. She was just trying to