Derek and Red-Headed Mitch

With school returning in full force, Theo's classes kept him busy. I didn't get to see him under the powerlines at night and listen to his fables. I went back to mindlessly forgetting everything with Derek.

With no surprise, it wasn't nearly as soothing. With the boys not going to the porridge that night Derek and red-headed Mitch were chattering at me. That night I didn't particularly feel like talking. I excused myself from most of the conversation and zoned out.

"So Dana, when are you and Theo going to come down to the porridge with us?" Mitch asked.

"Summer," I said.

"Come on Dana," Derek whined.

"Yeah, you don't get hurt. We've done it, like, I don't know, ten times at least," Mitch said.

"Take Jackie."

"She's already been. You've never come with us Dana," Derek said.

"Thanks boys, but I don't need a dip in half-frozen water to remind me I'm alive," I said. "It's not my kind of thrill."

"What is then? Huh?" Derek asked taking a hit off his dwindling joint. "Theo? Going out with the new kid? Learning about somebody elses' problems? 'Forgetting the world'?"

Mitch fell to hysterics. With tears in his eyes he said, "Forgetting the world? That's rich!"

Derek smirked, you could almost see the boost to his ego Mitch's laughter gave him. "That's what you said isn't it?" he asked me.

"F**k you," I spat back.

"Just come to the f*****g lake," Derek demanded.

"I'm not going. Idiot." I stood up and walked to the edge of the boulder.

"Love you too Dana." Derek waved.

"Bye Dana," Mitch called, "go on and forget the world! But don't forget about us!"

"Suck a dick, the both of you!"

"Only if it's Theo's!" Derek shouted. I could picture the smirk on his dumb face, proud he thought up a comeback so quick.

I threw them the bird before walking off towards the road and back to my house.

The problem with Derek and red-headed Mitch was that they were Derek and red-headed Mitch. That, and the fact they knew me all too well. Eight years with the two of them were sufficient to drive me insane.