Derrick Breckenridge
Hufflepuff
Third Year
Watch Me Spin Circles As I Disappear.[on:Violently drifting][of:Drifting softly]
Posts: 154
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Post by Derrick Breckenridge on Dec 1, 2008 5:15:39 GMT -5
Derrick sat in the empty classroom frustrated. He had come to practice spells and when he usually did this it was enjoyable with the exception of two occasions. One of which was whenever he attempted to practice Expecto Patronum which he still hadn't mastered despite trying since the beginning of last year. The second was a simple spell and that was why it annoyed him. He had been practicing Oculus Reparo which was just a simple spell to repair his glasses. It was something he struggled with despite the simplicity of the whole thing and it was driving him mad. He had managed to find random students afterwords to quickly perform the spell and fix his reading glass. It was terrible though he knew that he would repeatedly destroy his possession that aided him in reading. At least that's what Derrick thought but he also valued books, along with the knowledge he gained from them, more then most thing in the world. Also breaking the reading glasses wasn't exactly the easiest thing either. The spell was meant mostly for splinters and cracks in the lens not for an all out shattered lenses. It was embarrassing having to walk up to other students to repair his glasses. It was something Derrick took personal pride in. He was good at being able to figure out and perform spells quickly but he didn't know why he could not master such a simple one. Derrick inspected the glasses and tried the spell once more. But his wand and words did nothing in this matter as the glass in the lens continued to crack along the already small lines on the lens. At least he could understand not being able to perform a Patronus that was at least difficult magic but this, this was so bloody simple. Derrick felt like shouting because for whatever reason he felt as if that would make things better. That just a good scream would resolve him of all his problems at the moment. So of course that is what he did and with one large gasp of breath Derrick screamed. Sighing he felt better but knew that he needed to practice the spell. For one he needed to fix his glasses and secondly Derrick just wanted to be able to perform the spell. He quickly realized though that his moment of escaped rage had drawn some attention because Derrick heard the door to the classroom open. Twirling his wand between his fingers as he usually did when he was nervous Derrick waited to see what the person at the door would have to say or want to know about his short outburst. Open to whomever [/center]
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Post by Jeremy Taylor on Dec 2, 2008 20:45:26 GMT -5
It had been another miserable day and it wasn't even over. His professors picked on him all day, his best friend was making googie eyes at some girl, and he didn't have any lessons with the second years. Life was unfair.
He had tried to hide out in the dungeons, hoping to see if Professor Tapia was doing anything interesting. It was unfortunate that he ran into Peeves first, who decided Jeremy would make a perfect target for a mudball. The small Ravenclaw chucked the only thing he could get his hands on at the pesky poltergeist and was now cranky, muddy, and shoeless. Deciding the day was a total loss, he grumbled to himself as he made his way back up to his room where he planned to hide under his bed until the weekend.
By the time he had reached the fifth floor hallway, he had managed to wipe most of the mud out of his hair and off of his face. Of course, climbing the stairs without one shoe was hurting his foot and as he turned the corner, he started grumbling again, a favorite past time that was interrupted by a scream coming from the room just ahead of him. Jeremy jumped and forgot his own misery, his racing heart taking precedence over any other emotion.
Dare he check it out? He wasn't that brave. On the other hand, the noise had stopped and the hallway was the only way he knew that led back to his common room. Carefully making his way to the classroom, he decided he could just take a peek to see if whatever had made that noise was still there. Slowly, carefully opening the door, he took a quick look to find it empty except for that Huffle boy who was in his class.
Jeremy opened the door a little wider, still not sure that it was entirely safe to enter the room. He just couldn't believe it had been that Huffle boy who had made that noise. He glared a little at that boy before finally speaking. "Was... that you?" he asked, still not sure he wanted to know.
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Derrick Breckenridge
Hufflepuff
Third Year
Watch Me Spin Circles As I Disappear.[on:Violently drifting][of:Drifting softly]
Posts: 154
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Post by Derrick Breckenridge on Dec 3, 2008 20:16:41 GMT -5
Derrick refused to turn around for a brief moment. Maybe if he didn't say anything or look at the person they would go away but inside he knew that wasn't the solution in this case. With a heavy sigh Derrick turned to face the door to see who it was exactly was looking in on him. It was Jeremy the boy from Ravenclaw who was in a majority of his classes. Derrick though did not know what to say at this moment about what he had done. It was extremely uncharacteristic of himself and for that reason the reaction alarmed him more and more by the second. Right now though he knew that he must focus on the task at hand and that was trying to explain his actions to Jeremy. Derrick was sure the boy had just peeked in to see if he was doing alright and to make sure nothing was wrong. After all how loud had Derrick screamed? He himself wasn't too sure and did not hold the boy at the door at fault for being curious as to what was occurring inside the room. Looking a bit ashamed though Derrick directed his attention to Jeremy.
"Yeah it was me, I just got a bit frustrated I guess, I mean I've been trying to perform this spell properly for ages, and no matter what I can't get the hang of it. It was stupid really just a moment of frustration that I let my mouth slip."
Derrick didn't mention what spell it was that he was attempting. He was sure the boy could manage to perform it himself and really wasn't looking for pointers or anything of the like. Derrick just preferred after some minimal direction to figure most things out on his own. Was that so wrong? Maybe it was but it was all he had known his whole life. His parents had helped in but in most situations they recognized their son's "I can do it myself" attitude. If he hadn't been like that he could have shared more moments with them before they died...... He felt like shouting at himself to stop it, the reminiscing, and things of that nature. In this situation there were no second chances or do overs it was his life and what he had missed out on before was gone now. Derrick shook the remaining thoughts like this from his head and looked up at his fellow third year. Maybe this would be a nice change of pace for him at the moment to make some simple conversation. At least he hoped that it would go well.
"So what are you doing up in these parts?"
It was a terrible question he knew but it was the best that Derrick could come up with at the moment. It wasn't meant to sound good just to convey his message across. Did the boy even want to stay and talk with him? Derrick wasn't exactly a people magnet he had never been and there really wasn't anything to special or out of the ordinary about him. He was just plain old Derrick nothing more and nothing less. Derrick at the moment wondered how this encounter would go after all this was the first time he had really had an interaction with the boy outside of class. Like Derrick, Jeremy seemed to be relatively low key in most of his mannerisms and didn't wish to draw too much attention to himself. Turning for a brief moment Derrick looked at his desk and his reading glasses with the cracked lens and just hoped that if he approached the boy would not ask what they were for.
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Post by Jeremy Taylor on Dec 7, 2008 19:26:28 GMT -5
Jeremy smirked and rolled his eyes, mostly to hide his own frustration over casting spells. He had no doubt that the other boy had mastered all of the basics and was probably working on something way complicated like a Patronus or Dragon taming charms. If it came down to it, Jeremy would lie and make fun of the boy for not being able to do it.
But fortunately, it didn't come to that. The Huffle boy got nosy and asked what Jeremy was doing. The smaller boy wasn't about to share that Peeves had gotten the best of him and would come up with something if the Huffle noticed the mud. "I was going up to my dorm when I heard the yelling," he answered, deciding to leave out the part about being afraid of the monster he had thought the noise to be.
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Derrick Breckenridge
Hufflepuff
Third Year
Watch Me Spin Circles As I Disappear.[on:Violently drifting][of:Drifting softly]
Posts: 154
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Post by Derrick Breckenridge on Dec 8, 2008 15:41:43 GMT -5
Derrick straightened up and waited watching each of Jeremy's facial expressions. All Derrick could draw from this if anything was that the boy seemed extremely confused about what to think. Was this what insecurity looked like on someones face or was it possibly indecision? Derrick wasn't sure and to be honest wasn't all that intent on prying into his fellow classmate's mind to know. All in all he was just happy that Jeremy didn't ask anymore questions and just let what he was working on slide. He wasn't usually a prideful person but this spell touched a soft spot as in most cases Derrick could ably perform any spell that was as simple as this one. He shook it off though as hopefully the subject wouldn't come up again and quickly tucked his glasses into his bag.
Jeremy he hoped at that moment had been too busy explaining why he had come up him to notice. Derrick turned what his classmate said in his head though. Had he sound that bad, that terrifying, or in that much distress that it was reason for someone to react? He took a moment to realize that this was how much this spell was bothering him. That the spell itself was in its own odd way haunting his mind. Maybe that was why he couldn't perform it because of some mental block or just he didn't have enough confidence in himself to do so. None the less he had to conquer it before its grip worsened on him. Turning though to Jeremy he addressed him in a casual and loose tone that he would usually use in such situations at home. When he was attempting to be friendly or even was just having a conversation with someone who worked at his home. He had put down his guard to the best of his extent now he hoped that Jeremy would do the same.
"Did I really sound the frightful mate? I mean to make you come check on me I must have sounded like I hurt myself or something?"
It was a question not because he wanted to try and make fun of Jeremy or anything but because he really wanted to know how he had sounded in the moments that had lead up to his entrance. Had he sounded in pain or as if he was some sort of beast? Derrick had asked himself earlier but now it was eating away in his head that he had to know. Derrick decided he'd try to end this subject nicely and hoped that he could be on somewhat good terms with the boy. After all a year ago he wouldn't have even acknowledged him but now.....
"Well regardless thanks for looking in on me and making sure I was alright. I wasn't doing anything dangerous but if I had you probably would have been my saviour in the situation."
Derrick didn't know where he was going with this our how for that manner anyone could be his saviour but he figured it was good wording. He hoped so anyway. Sighing Derrick continued to play with his wand lightly as he usual did when he wasn't using it and it was in his hand. After all he never did know when he would need it or what he would need it for but at Hogwarts Derrick was sure that at all times it was best to have it at the ready.
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Post by Jeremy Taylor on Dec 15, 2008 1:46:20 GMT -5
Jeremy wasn't exactly sure how to respond, a little thrown off by the other boy's wording. Mate? Did that mean they were friends now? With Hannah gone, he was down to one, and even that was kind of touch and go. Savior? Jeremy felt that might be a little much, considering the small Ravenclaw really wasn't in the saving business, but he really started to wonder if Derrick owed him now. And while he hadn't really been checking to see if anyone was alright, Jeremy decided not to share that bit of information. If Derrick was going to owe him, then he thought he would go with that.
"I just heard the noise," he said with a small shrug, not about to admit that the noise had actually scared him. "What were you doing anyway?"
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Derrick Breckenridge
Hufflepuff
Third Year
Watch Me Spin Circles As I Disappear.[on:Violently drifting][of:Drifting softly]
Posts: 154
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Post by Derrick Breckenridge on Dec 15, 2008 20:36:30 GMT -5
Derrick felt like wincing at the boy's question but resisted the urge with quite a good deal of self restraint. Pausing his thoughts he wondered why he refereed to Jeremy as the boy as if he was older then him. Derrick shrugged it off though and returned to his train of though. Why hadn't Jeremy just taken what he said earlier and let it slide? Shaking his head Derrick tried to put the thoughts together in his head hoping that he would not make himself sound like a total loser. It was just that damn simple spell and now this boy who he had attempted to be nice to was now trying to pry about it. Derrick felt like letting his temper slip but swallowing his anger he remained somewhat calm and pleasant or at least that's how he hoped he sounded.
"Just got frustrated because this spell I'm trying to learn is getting the best of me as usual. Thought I'd have a good shout about it"
Derrick quickly decided that if Jeremy asked he would lie. He'd lie through his teeth about what spell he was trying to learn if it cost him his life. It wasn't something he would usual do but in this case he couldn't help it. Maybe he was a bit prideful about his ability to learn spells or maybe he was just that afraid of the shame he'd feel if he had to admit he couldn't learn a spell meant for first years. Derrick was final in his decision though that he would tell Jeremy he was trying to learn something else. He would say he was trying to perform a Patronus and couldn't succeed after all that was believable wasn't it?
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Post by Jeremy Taylor on Dec 16, 2008 20:52:24 GMT -5
Jeremy snorted at Derrick's answer as if he believed the Huffle to be a complete and total dork if he couldn't do a simple spell... whatever the spell was. Jeremy convinced himself that the other boy was trying to do something really easy like a Wingardium Leviosa.
In the end, it actually didn't matter what spell Derrick was trying. Jeremy wouldn't be able to do it anyway. The Ravenboy just hoped that Derrick didn't do something really stupid like ask for help. If that happened, Jeremy would be forced to ridicule the other boy, and while he had no problem doing that, it was easier if he actually could do the silly spell.
Of course, Jeremy could actually understand the frustration that led to the shouting. When he got upset, he usually found a good place to hide. "Did the shouting help any?" he asked, honestly curious even though it probably sounded snotty and sarcastic coming out.
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Derrick Breckenridge
Hufflepuff
Third Year
Watch Me Spin Circles As I Disappear.[on:Violently drifting][of:Drifting softly]
Posts: 154
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Post by Derrick Breckenridge on Dec 16, 2008 21:58:59 GMT -5
Derrick watched Jeremy as his classmate took in what he had said. The look in his eyes and mostly the snorting noise that he had made gave him the impression that he didn't believe him about something. What it was Derrick couldn't put his finger on, seeing as unlike most of the people here, he couldn't read what the general gist of Jeremy's thoughts were by his movements and what his eyes told him. Derrick shook off the daunting feeling that danced around his head at the moment and placed his wand on the desk. Slipping his hands into his pockets Derrick turned to face Jeremy again and laughed a little at his question. It was a bit of a guilty pleasure one that he had exercised heavily after his parent’s death. Taking his left hand out of his pocket Derrick examined it remembering those nights. He would play until his fingers bleed, cry until there was no fluid in his body, and then go to the roof screaming until it felt as if he was shredding his lungs to pieces. It was the only way he could smile the next day for whatever reason and it lasted the whole day for him or until he was alone again. Derrick wanted to chuckle to himself at the thoughts because he hadn’t cried since.
Shouldn’t that make it easier for him to conjure a patronus then? Because really besides this he only really had happy memories and without much sorrow in his life what bad thoughts could he think of? Derrick placed his hand on his wand but then hesitated and turned to Jeremy. He didn’t want to appear to be showing off in front of the boy should he actually succeed and should Derrick fail…well so what if he failed he would just say this was the spell he was trying to perform. Derrick though restrained himself letting his wand drop back on to the table and placed his hands back in his pockets. Turning back to Jeremy, Derrick looked into his fellow classmate’s eyes and nodded at the question that he had been asked.
“It defiantly does help. Much better in an open air environment though like the towers that way you at least can act as if you’re shouting at some higher power and not a bunch of desks.”
Turning back to his wand Derrick swallowed deeply as now he was intrigued to try the spell even further. Picking it up he began to twirl it in his fingers once more and sat on the desk facing Jeremy. The subject of his moment of weakness was a bit frustrating to relive and Derrick decided to change the subject. It was something he was well versed on but he wasn’t to sure about Jeremy who for the most part seemed to stay to himself and in class seemed very hesitant to do anything.
“Jeremy have you ever wanted to do something not caring what other people thought about it or have you done such a thing?”
Derrick felt that maybe he could get the boy in front of him to be a bit more forward or at least a bit more out going with this question. The phrase dance like no one is watching came to mind when he thought about this but to be honest Jeremy did not strike him as much of a dancer even in the metaphorical sense; which was why Derrick would try to teach him a step or two even if it was only the basics.
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Post by Jeremy Taylor on Dec 21, 2008 19:00:09 GMT -5
Jeremy listened to the Huffle boy's answer with some interest. Perhaps he would try yelling instead of hiding more often. It probably did more to get the frustrations out than cowering under a bed or behind a book did. He pondered this a bit more until Derrick asked his own question.
"No..." Jeremy snorted back almost immediately before realizing that might not be the right response. He really didn't want to sound like a total dork by answering the wrong thing, but the problem was, he wasn't exactly sure what the question was. There was one school of thought that insisted that it was better to march to your own drummer, but on the other hand, it was the oddball that always got the hardest time. So which was better? "I mean... yeah... or... wait... huh?"
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Derrick Breckenridge
Hufflepuff
Third Year
Watch Me Spin Circles As I Disappear.[on:Violently drifting][of:Drifting softly]
Posts: 154
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Post by Derrick Breckenridge on Dec 26, 2008 20:54:56 GMT -5
Derrick shook his head somewhat hopelessly at the boy. Jeremy looked lost and confused by the question and what it may mean. He wasn't about to judge his classmate but how the boy was reacting was making it hard for Derrick not to. Was Jeremy really that worried about what Derrick thought or was he that nervous and scared of what Derrick might do depending on the answer. Either way he answered Derrick wouldn't care, he just wanted to know where Jeremy stood on the matter and depending on what side he stood on hopefully to bring him over to the right one. It was a complex question but not a hard one to answer although the more Derrick thought about it Jeremy's actions defiantly were leaning him toward the side of the spectrum that Derrick was hoping to get him away from. Sighing Derrick shook his head at Jeremy's attempt to please him with the answer he wanted to hear.
"Jeremy there is no right or wrong answer here only the one you think that fits you best. I've noticed that about you whenever I ask you a question you answer it saying what you think I want to hear. I never feel like you're saying what you really mean except on rare occasions."
It was the truth and while it may have seemed harsh Derrick was compelled to say it. That was the downside of talking to him and he knew it. When Derrick thought something and actually had the courage to say it he let it all out and held nothing back. It may have seemed rude or insulting but for the most part he was just being truthful about the way he felt. Picking up his wand he twirled it in his fingers and decided to go for it. It would answer more then one question for him and if he could perform it Derrick would only be one spell away from completing the checklist of spells he felt he should know or be able to perform during or by the end of his third year. He set standards for himself and was that really so bad?
"Jeremy I've been wrong before but you seem to me like your smart and way to capable to be hiding from confrontations and telling people what you really think. I gave up trying to please anyone but myself a long time ago and trust me it works out much better. It makes you feel light and gives you a feeling of...well freedom."
Derrick now felt stronger for just thinking about it. He didn't care what the boy thought. First he silently waved his wand muttering the words that haunted him and checked his page quickly. The glasses were much to his elation fixed. Now all that needed to be mastered was the patronus and he would try that next. Looking at the boy he couldn't help but hope Jeremy wouldn't feel that Derrick was showing off should he succeed. It wasn't that but for some reason he was moved to perform the spell and if he performed it properly he wouldn't know what to do. It would answer so many questions though which made it so worth the risk.
"You know Jeremy despite how good I am with wandwork and spells for my age outside of class I've never performed them in front of people. I've never attempted to unless it was absolutely necessary it isn't a matter of self confidence but I've always worried about people thinking I would be showing off or trying to out do them. I'm not worried about that anymore."
Smiling Derrick looked down and closed his eyes. He thought of the events that had occurred up to this point. His time with his birth parents, when he was finally adopted, how Maddyson had spoke to him on the train, that night with Claire in the tower, and how he had found Josh who seemed as if he was Derrick's brother. All of it felt as if it was flowing to his wand and with that Derrick Breckenridge looked up and shouted the two words hoping it would answer the questions he wanted it to.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM"
Derrick's wand erupted and forth from it a silvery tiger shot forth, crouched, and pounced at well nothing. Derrick was happy and it just made him wonder if the theory he had heard was true and would really reflect on his project like he thought it would. For now he wouldn't inspect further but just be happy with the magic he had done. At this point he remembered Jeremy was in the room. Turning Derrick smiled awkwardly and shrugged.
"Sorry about that I've been meaning to try it and the time felt right."
How else could he explain this to the boy. Derrick wasn't to sure how to put such other things to words.
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Post by Jeremy Taylor on Dec 27, 2008 0:28:18 GMT -5
Well, at least Jeremy knew the right answer now. Of course, it was his experience that EVERYONE said that individuality was a good thing, but by having EVERYONE saying it, how individual was it? To boot, EVERYONE still ended up doing the same thing as EVERYONE else. He really didn't care what EVERYONE said. He just didn't want EVERYONE beating him up for being different, which is what EVERYONE would inevitably do if he showed he wasn't like EVERYONE else.
"Whatever," Jeremy answered to the lecture, rolling his eyes and realizing it was a mistake to check up on the mysterious sound. That Huffle was obviously one of those look-at-me-show-off-with-my-probably-already-shaving-self-and-being-better-than-you-and-doing-hard-spells-that-you'll-always-be-too-stupid-to-do types.
It was time to leave before That Huffle started becoming one of those I'm-going-to-pound-you-because-you're-a-total-dork types.
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Derrick Breckenridge
Hufflepuff
Third Year
Watch Me Spin Circles As I Disappear.[on:Violently drifting][of:Drifting softly]
Posts: 154
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Post by Derrick Breckenridge on Dec 28, 2008 22:06:19 GMT -5
Derrick was too happy to notice Jeremy's discomfort immediately but after a few moments of reliving the joy that had been his first Patronus Derrick turned and faced Jeremy. The look on his face was one of uneasiness that made Derrick himself uneasy. The boy was too peculiar for even Derrick to figure out and it bothered him. Setting his wand down he sighed and took a seat leaning back and propping his feet up on the desk trying to figure out what was Jeremy's reason for discomfort. Sighing he shook his head and shrugged in an act of surrender. Changing his position now and leaning forward on the chair with his arms resting on his legs he turned.
"If you want to you can go. It's obvious you are uncomfortable and to be honest why is beyond me. You're a complex person Jeremy the only one in this place I can't read by actions or facial expressions unless it's one of discomfort or hesitation. It's like those are the only parts of you, you want people to know. I could care less but I'm just saying."
Shrugging it off Derrick stood now and walked to the window staring outside onto the grounds. He wanted to go out and explore to be carefree and be able to escape without a second thought. This had not been possible moments earlier with the thoughts of spells he was unable to do on his mind but now he was free the weight lifted from his shoulders. Sighing he sat on the windowsill staring outside wondering whether Jeremy would stay or go. Either way it made no difference to Derrick. He had tried to help the boy break away from the way he hide from everything but maybe that was him and if it was Derrick supposed he had to respect that.
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Post by Jeremy Taylor on Dec 28, 2008 22:36:11 GMT -5
Jeremy was getting pretty sick of this guy and whatever psychobabble he was trying out... enough so that he snapped a little. If it got him a beating out of it? Well, it wasn't like Jeremy had never had one of those before.
"Go to hell," he snarled at the Huffle. That whole line about not caring was all dragon dung because if the guy didn't care, he'd just let it go. The big questions was, why in Merlin's name did he care. Jeremy sure didn't care about him any. "Don't pretend like you know me, when all it really means is you think you're better than me. So again I say, go to hell. You and that friggin' pompous attitude of yours."
Without another word, Jeremy left the room. And if That Huffle decided to come after him? Well, Jeremy wouldn't go down without a fight.
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Derrick Breckenridge
Hufflepuff
Third Year
Watch Me Spin Circles As I Disappear.[on:Violently drifting][of:Drifting softly]
Posts: 154
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Post by Derrick Breckenridge on Dec 28, 2008 22:52:38 GMT -5
Derrick was a bit taken aback but he liked it. The boy had finally shown some sort of reaction, some sort of courage, and some sort of spark to that he cared about something. He wanted to laugh but before he could Jeremy was out of the room. Gathering his things calmly Derrick didn't really intend to part on a confrontation or a bad note so steadily he walked out into the hall. He stood watching the boy walk away and spoke in his usual soft tone and even voice.
"I don't know you and that was the whole point of what I just said Jeremy. I was saying you're a lot more complex then you let on and I must say it intrigues me to no end. I research it's what I do."
He turned on his heel and began to walk in the other direction. Something he had said though was still nagging at the back of his head and slowly Derrick paused and spoke one more time.
"I don't think I'm better then anyone and if anything that's why I work so hard at what I want to do. Everything I've ever done with some small exceptions have ended in disaster which includes a social life mind you. I'd delve further into this but I doubt you want to hear me talk anymore so I'll leave you be."
Derrick started walking again wondering even more where that spark had come from but decided for today it was best to leave it alone. He didn't want to aggravate the boy too much.
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