Lisa's TWW Fan Fic Archive Home
Post Ep | Romance | General | Drama
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Adjustments ~ 21
"Lay down. Let me tell you a story." Toby told Derek. As Derek laid down, CJ covered him up.
"What's the story?" Derek sniffled.
"When I was a kid, we moved around a lot because my dad kept changed jobs. Well, every year, I had to go to a different school. It was hard because I had to make friends all over again. And I was made fun of a lot."
"Why?"
"Because of my religion. The kids beat me up and called me names everyday. But everyday after they beat me up, I would stand back up and walk back to class. I never let them win. And I made friends that way."
"Really?"
"Yep. See Derek. You never want to fight back, or call them names back. That's just letting them win. If you just walk away. Then you're a bigger man then they will ever be."
"So I should just keep to myself?"
"No, make friends. You know how I made a lot of my friends?"
"How?"
"I made them laugh." Toby smiled, but glared after CJ started laughing.
"Don't listen to you're mom. Believe it or not, I was a funny kid. When I graduated, they named me class clown."
"Yeah right." Derek laughed.
"It's true, I'll go fine my yearbook."
"So you made friend by making people laugh?"
"Yep. I told really stupid jokes. But they were so stupid, you had to laugh. Then, other kids started hanging around me and got to know the real me."
"I think I know how to make other kids laugh." Derek smiled.
"How?" CJ asked.
"Tell them about you two. They wouldn't believe all the things you guys have gone through just to be together." Derek laughed, but was hushed by glares.
"Or maybe not." He smiled shyly.
"Just remember what I said." Toby smiled.
"I will." Derek said.
He yawned, and soon after that, fell asleep. CJ and Toby left the room after kissing his head.
"That was really sweet," CJ said.
"It's also true."
"I don't doubt it."
He and CJ went to their room and sat on the bed.
"So, I have a favor to ask," he said quietly.
"What's that?"
"For the next couple of days, will you drive the car?"
"Of course I will. You think I'd let you drive with the condition you're in?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He laid down, bringing her down with him. "Have I told you how much I love you," he asked as he gently kissed her.
"Yes, but I wouldn't mind hearing it again."
"I love you, Claudia Jean. You are the light of my life." He kissed her again.
She kissed him back. "I love you too," she said as the kiss ended.
"I know you do. Why else would you come bail me out of prison?"
"Because it would be bad press if I didn't." She joked.
He hit her arm.
"Ouch. Hey, you don't get to do the hitting here."
She laughed a little. "Whatever. I'm just eternally grateful that you came in the first place."
"Me too."
The next morning, Toby's alarm went off. But this time, CJ was the one who turned it off.
"Good morning." She smiled.
"I can't move." Toby whined.
"I think we should say a silent prayer." CJ smiled.
"For what?" Toby asked.
"That nothing happens today." CJ said sarcastically.
"Trust me CJ, I already have." Toby said. "Help me up." CJ helped pull him off the bed.
"How are you feeling?" CJ smirked.
"Like a semi just ran over me." Toby got up and limped to the bathroom. CJ laughed and then walked out to wake Derek up. When she went into his room, he wasn't there.
"Derek?" CJ yelled.
"Down here." Derek said from downstairs.
"What are you doing?"
"I just got ready to go. I think we should leave extra early today."
"Very funny!"
They acually got to the school on time today. It was a first.
"Ok, remember what I said." Toby said.
"Doing nothing makes you a bigger man."
"That's right."
"I love you guys." Derek said as he got out.
"We love you too."
"Oh, are you picking me up or is Donna doing it again?" Derek asked
sarcastically.
"Go to school." CJ said.
"Bye." Derek walked of laughing. CJ drove off just when a group of boys walked up to Derek.
"Hey shorty." One of the boys pushed Derek.
"I'm not in the mood to play games."
"Oh, little boy talks back."
"I have to go to class."
"That's right, nerds like to do that."
"That enough." A boy walked over to them. "Leave him alone."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"I'm a proud tattletail, now get out of here." The boy snapped.
"Yeah, we'll see you later nerd boy." The group walked off.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine." Derek said. "Thanks."
"I'm Jack."
"I'm Derek."
"Nice to meet you." Jack smiled. "Are you new?"
"Yeah."
"You want to hang out?"
"Sure."
The two hung out for a while and then went to class. Derek was glad to have finally made a friend, and happy that Toby was right. He was the bigger kid if he just walked away. At 3:00 sharp, CJ and Toby came to pick him up.
"You made it!" Derek said as he jumped into the car.
"Of course we did," CJ said. "We said we would, didn't we?"
"Yeah. Hey guess what?"
"What?" Toby asked.
"I made a friend!"
"You did," Toby said, smiling.
"Yeah, his name is Jack. Is it okay if he comes over tomorrow after
school?"
"It's okay with me," Toby said. He looked at CJ.
"Yeah, that sounds great." She was glad that Derek made a friend and that Toby was okay. Now all that needed to be planned was the wedding. She started the car and drove home.
TBC...