Mixtape for the End of the World Page 8

  “You would?”

  “Of course,” Derrick said.

  Her worried, furrowed brow gave way to a smile. She nodded toward Derrick’s Walkman. “What are you listening to?”

  “Just a mixtape that I made,” he said.

  “I still have the one you made for the pool party. It was perfect. I listen to it all the time,” Haley said.

  “You do?” He thought she would try to get rid of every memory of that pool party, since that was the day her boyfriend was caught making out with another of their classmates.

  “Yeah. You put the perfect songs on it. I listen to it when I want to remember summer,” she said.

  When she said it, though, Derrick felt a hint of sadness in her voice. “I would understand if you threw it out, though. That party was…” he trailed off, not knowing where to take his thoughts.

  “I would never throw it away,” she interjected. “It’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. No one has ever made me a mixtape. And, yeah, even though that party ended badly, I still want to remember the nice things. I still want to remember how sweet you are.”

  Derrick blushed. He looked down, and he wanted to take her hand in his, wanted to tell her how he felt. But he couldn’t do it. He worried that she’d pull away, not ready for another relationship. He didn’t want to ruin this moment, here on the roof under the backlit canopy of the night sky, holes punched in it to allow tiny twinkling beams of light through.

  “Your band sounds really good,” she said, changing the subject.

  “It’s really AJ’s band. He’s the front man. The main songwriter,” Derrick said.

  “Well, I think your guitar playing is the best part of it all. You’re, like, really good,” she said.

  He blushed again. “Thanks. I just practice a lot.”

  “Makenna has a crush on AJ,” she said. “She said that she never really looked at him before, but when she saw him at the football game at the beginning of the season with you, she thought he was really cute. And now that he has this band with you, she’s just head over heels for him.”

  “He’s going to be stoked about that. He doesn’t think girls even look at him.”

  “Well, she definitely is,” Haley said.

  “What about you?” Derrick asked, knowing that the question was loaded.

  “Me? Have a crush on AJ?”

  “Well, anyone really,” he said.

  Haley looked at him through the grin on her lips. “Well, definitely not AJ. He’s not my type. But I don’t know. I don’t know that I want to get involved with anyone else after what Ty did.”

  “He’s a jackass,” Derrick blurted.

  She laughed. “He used to be sweet. I don’t know what happened. Actually, I do. But…” She trailed off this time. Derrick wanted to ask what it was, but the last thing he wanted was to keep talking about Ty Anderson. He couldn’t imagine that meathead being anything that resembled sweet.

  Lost in his thoughts, she pulled him back to the moment with a gasp. “Look!” she pointed at the sky and he saw the shooting star just as it cascaded down and burned out.

  “Make a wish,” Haley said.

  Derrick looked right at her, in her emerald eyes ringed by freckles.

  And he made his wish.

  12

  ♪ Matchbox Twenty – Argue ♪

  DERRICK STOOD AT Doug’s right and watched as his mom walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D." She looked resplendent, somehow a dozen years younger than what she actually was in the white dress that flowed behind her. Her blonde hair, which she usually kept tied back in a ponytail, was styled in beautiful ringlets around her face.

  Cassandra, in a coral dress that fell to her feet, was crying already, trembling as she held her bouquet of lilies and carnations to her chest. And, Derrick couldn’t be certain, but he was pretty sure he saw a tear well up in Doug’s eye as well. He wore his police chief formal uniform with its ornate medals and decorations. Usually when he left the house, he wore a standard police uniform. This looked more regal, more ceremonial. Derrick’s suit was light gray with a tie that matched the color of Cassandra’s dress. The fabric of his shirt itched behind his collar.

  In the chairs before them were family members he hadn’t seen since he was in elementary school, several officers from the police department, and other friends. Some of the guys that Doug had served with in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm made it. Two of them had spent the last two days at the house, helping prepare everything for the wedding. One, named Evan, had tattoos all down his forearms and a large, bushy beard that covered his face. He was the opposite of Doug, cool and built like a linebacker. He was also a musician and showed Derrick a blues riff on the guitar as well as a technique called “chicken pickin’”.

  A couple of times in the last two days, Derrick had sat and listened to the army guys reminisce on their days in the Middle East, fighting against Saddam Hussein’s forces. He could tell that Evan and Doug had been friends for a long time. He wondered if he and AJ would be friends like that, too.

  Toward one of the back rows, AJ sat by himself in a pair of khakis and a white button-up shirt and a tie that he’d swiped from his dad’s closet. He gave Derrick a peace sign and Derrick shook his head with a grin.

  The weather could not have cooperated more. An outdoor wedding was risky, especially in the transition from summer to autumn, but the sun shone high above them with white puffy clouds passing by occasionally. There was just enough wind to allow some movement in the air, without threatening to blow away any of the decorations at the altar.

  Escorted by Derrick’s grandfather, who walked with the bow-legged gait of an old farmer who’d spent decades on the back of a tractor, Dee strode onto the makeshift altar, which was a concrete gazebo in Paramount Park. The tennis court where Haley had taught Derrick how to play was on the far side of the park, nearly three blocks away from the gazebo and the wedding party. Before taking her place next to Doug, Dee gave both of her children a long, tight hug.

  “Thank you for being such a sweet young man,” she whispered to Derrick. He felt his chin tremble, but was able to keep from breaking down completely. Doug turned to him and gave him a wink.

  The ceremony was sweet, and the four of them lit a candle together to signify their unity as a family. After the preacher, Pastor Tommy Maddox from Calvary Baptist Church, gave the newly-wedded husband permission to “kiss the bride,” to the raucous applause of the people in attendance, the entire wedding party drove to the Mount Vernon Event Center for the reception.

  ♪ ♪ ♪

  Several officers from the department had pitched in and got the county event center reserved for the big party. Derrick lost count of how many times throughout the day that he heard someone say that they couldn’t believe the chief had finally tied the knot.

  “Don’t let him fool you,” Evan told Derrick as they rode to the event center on the far edge of town. “Doug used to be a wild ass, back when we served in the army together. Ask him about Djibouti sometime.” Derrick and AJ sat in the backseat of Evan’s Blazer as they rode to the event center.

  “What’s Djibouti?” Derrick asked.

  “Just ask Doug about it,” Evan said smugly.

  Once at the event center, Derrick and AJ found a table with the rest of the teenage guests. Mostly the cousins on his mom’s side of the family, the girls were infatuated with AJ, and Derrick did all he could to keep them from hovering over his friend the entire time.

  Dinner was catered barbeque—brisket and ribs with all the trimmings—followed by the rituals of the first dance, the throwing of the bouquet and the garter toss.

  All the single men, including Derrick and AJ, stood huddled together for the tossing of garter. Doug pulled it down through Dee’s dress and chucked it behind his back high in the air. As it fell toward them, Derrick moved out of the way, not wanting to catch it, and the thing fell directly in AJ’s hand. He lifted it with pride and cheered. Derrick laughed and t
hey ran off with it.

  After the wedding fun, the DJ had the dance floor cleared and began playing dance music. Several adults congregated around two kegs in the corner. The party had officially begun. Derrick had lost AJ somewhere on the dance floor, but he wanted to find his mom and Doug before it got too late in the evening. He’d found them talking with some of the other adults. As he approached, Doug took him in a big hug.

  “This is the best day of my life,” Doug said.

  Derrick looked up at him, and he could tell it was genuine. He’d never seen Doug smile so much or so wide in the entire time that he’d known the man.

  Derrick felt the emotion welling up in him, and he’d been thinking about this moment and this question for months now. It came out easier than he thought it would. “Hey, Doug. Can I...do you mind if…” he started. Gathering his thoughts, he paused. “Can I call you dad now?”

  Dee looked at him with wide eyes that gave way to a flood of new, joyful tears, and Doug rested his hand on Derrick’s shoulder, giving it a paternal squeeze.

  “Whatever you’re comfortable with,” Doug said. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re my son and there’s nothing that could ever change that.”

  Derrick embraced him and his mom joined them. “I’m so happy for you guys,” Derrick said.

  “Do me a favor,” Dee said. “Go find your sister. I want to talk with both of you before Doug and I leave for the hotel tonight.”

  Derrick nodded and went to find Cassandra.

  Some of his cousins were sitting at one of the tables on the periphery of the dancefloor, not daring to be seen out there with the adults.

  “Have you guys seen Cassandra?” he asked.

  They all shook their heads no, so Derrick scanned the room, not finding her. Thinking she may have gone to the bathroom, Derrick weaved his way through the crowd and found the short hallway that led to the bathrooms and the event center’s kitchen area. He knocked on the door to the women’s room, but there was no answer.

  Cracking the door, he looked in. “Cass?” he called out. “You in here?”

  Deciding that she wasn’t in the women’s restroom, Derrick checked the men’s room, just to be certain, not seeing her there either.

  Finally, he checked the kitchen, where all the food, drinks and alcohol were stored. He opened it, and didn’t see her. Turning to leave, he heard a giggle and recognized it as his sister’s high-pitched voice. It was the kind of giggle she did when she was doing something that she didn’t want to get caught doing. Derrick’s first thought was that she and one of her friends, or one of their cousins, was sneaking alcohol. There were several bottles of wine and champagne brought for the celebration, and he could just see Cassandra breaking into them.

  He opened the door to the kitchen and looked around, not seeing his sister—at least not at first. When he turned, he saw the door to the pantry, which was propped open, and Cassandra was in there, her arms around someone, her face and lips smashed against another person’s.

  Derrick’s stomach dropped.

  His sister was making out with AJ.

  ♪ ♪ ♪

  “Dude!” Derrick said, exasperated and disgusted. “That’s so gross! She’s my sister!” He and AJ had come outside, out the back door of the event center. The cool night air was a welcome reprieve from the heat inside.

  Plus, Derrick needed to get some air before he vomited from what he’d seen.

  AJ’s face was red with embarrassment. “I know, I’m sorry. She took me by the hand. I thought she was taking me to the dance floor. Next thing I knew, she had her arms and lips on me.”

  “Please tell me nothing like that has ever happened before,” Derrick said.

  AJ looked at him. “I swear, dude. I didn’t even know what was happening.”

  Derrick was furious. “You know damn well what was happening.”

  “Bro, please don’t be mad,” AJ pleaded.

  “I am mad!” Derrick said, louder than he’d intended. “She’s my sister. There are so many other girls that are into you. Haley told me Makenna has a huge crush on you. You could ask her out. But, no. You have to make out with Cassandra. That’s so gross.”

  “Look, I’m sorry,” AJ started.

  “I don’t care. Whatever. Go do whatever you want. You’ll take attention from whoever will give it to you.”

  “That’s not fair, Derrick,” AJ said.

  He held his head down in shame, and Derrick wanted to let up, to chock it up to getting caught up in a moment. The entire day, the wedding, what he’d just shared with his mom and Doug, it felt ruined.

  AJ looked at the watch on his wrist. “I should probably call my mom to come get me anyway,” he sighed.

  “Yeah,” Derrick said. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, not as a sign of indifference—though he liked the attitude it projected—but because the night air had grown cold with a north wind whipping through the town.

  They both walked back inside the reception hall, into the kitchen. Cassandra was in there. “Derrick,” she pleaded. “Derrick, I’m sorry. We just got caught up in a moment. Please don’t be mad.”

  He didn’t answer, but stormed past her, despite her protests. Finally, Derrick turned to her. “Mom and Doug are waiting for you,” he said, coldly.

  AJ’s mom picked him up a few minutes later, and Derrick watched as her taillights disappeared over the hill back toward their neighborhood. Derrick spent the rest of the evening feigning a smile for his family, but he couldn’t help but feel a deep disappointment every time he looked at Cassandra. Though he wouldn’t admit it to her or to anyone else, he knew he was being ridiculous.

  13

  ♪ Creed – Illusion ♪

  SUNDAY MORNING, DOUG and Dee had their bags packed and were throwing everything into the back of Doug’s Tacoma. Derrick sat at the kitchen counter, stabbing at a bowl of cereal with the spoon, swirling the Froot Loops around, creating rainbow whirlpools in the milk. He was still exhausted from the night before, and he had a hard time sleeping, tossing and turning, wide awake thinking about Cassandra and AJ. He was upset, but also sad. Sad that his one real friend in Mount Vernon was probably not his friend anymore.

  Lost in his thoughts, he only heard the last thing that Doug said, “...and remember, nobody at the house except you and Cassandra. Not even AJ.”

  “Yes sir,” Derrick said, snapping out of his funk.

  “Oh, and one other thing.” Doug reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He withdrew forty dollars. “This should get you two a couple of pizzas. I want you to come home after tennis practice. No going anywhere.”

  “We’ll be fine, I promise,” Derrick said.

  “You’re the man of the house for the next four days,” Doug said.

  Derrick stared into the man’s eyes, and Doug extended his hand. Derrick shook it.

  “Yes sir,” Derrick repeated.

  “Alright. Go find your mom and give her a hug before we leave.”

  Derrick went back in the house, out of the early morning frost and found his mom in the kitchen with Cassandra. Derrick didn’t even look at his sister, he was still angry with her.

  “If you need anything, I’ve left the phone number to the resort on the fridge, along with numbers to some of the officers Doug works with. They will be coming by periodically to check on you guys,” she said. Then, looking right at Cassandra, she said, “No parties. Nobody over here for any reason.”

  Cassandra just sighed and rolled her eyes. “Yes, mother,” she said sardonically. “You have said that seven times now.”

  “Well, I mean it.”

  Doug came in from the garage. “Alright, you ready babe?” he asked Dee.

  She gave her kids one more hug each before the newlyweds left for their honeymoon trip to Santa Fe. After they were out the door, in the truck and out of the driveway, Derrick started back for his bedroom.

  Cassandra, rubbing her temples, stopped Derrick. “Hey,” she said. “Will you p
lease talk to me?”

  Derrick turned on his heels in the hallway. “Why? There’s nothing to say.”

  “Look, I get why you’re mad. If I found you making out with one of my friends, I’d be pretty upset too. But, don’t be mad at your friend. Be mad at me. It’s my fault.”

  “It takes two, you know,” Derrick said, standing in the hallway.

  “Look, the truth is, Stephanie, Ashley and I snuck a bottle of champagne, and they dared me to kiss him. They thought he was cute, and they didn’t think I had the guts to do it,” she said. Embarrassment fell over her face.

  Derrick continued his abrasive deflection, his arms crossed. He didn’t say a word, just stood there, seething.

  Cassandra continued, “I was drunk, and I just did it.”

  “He could have stopped you,” Derrick said curtly.

  “Well, he didn’t. And really. If it were one of my friends. If it was Sarah or Jennifer—or that girl next door—would you have stopped yourself?”

  Derrick didn’t have an answer for her, because he knew what the answer was. He looked away from her knowing stare.

  “That’s different, though,” he finally said.

  “Why?”

  “Because I actually like that girl next door. You don’t care about other people’s feelings or how your actions affect them,” Derrick said.

  “I think you’re overreacting, Derrick. But, nonetheless, if you want to be mad at someone, be mad at me,” she said. “Now, I feel like crap. Do you want some actual breakfast or are you just going to play with your cereal all morning?”

  Derrick thought for a moment and relented. “You’re probably hungover,” he said. He went to the refrigerator and pulled out a package of bacon and a carton of eggs.

  Cassandra sat at the bar and cradled her head in her hands, massaging her temples.