There they were again. Back in Derek’s room with two cups of coffee in front of them. They were silently sitting opposite each other, neither of them knowing how to start a conversation. Whenever Derek glanced at Pete he looked away and as soon as Pete lifted his gaze Derek took a sip from his coffee. “I read your letter.” Pete finally said after his coffee had almost gone cold. Derek tensed at the mention of his letter. “I wasn’t sure you’d read it. I’ve been trying to talk to you ever since that day. You never opened the door.” “I was staying with a friend. I’m sorry for leaving, I was too embarrassed to face you again.” Silence again. Pete gulped and played with his fingers. “Derek what did you mean when you wrote you regretted not saying goodbye?” “I meant just that. You were gone so quickly. I regretted not telling you goodbye and taking you home.” “Did you regret not kissing me?” “No.” Ouch. Pete scratched the back of his head and got up. “I think-” “Sit down. We’re not done yet.” “I think,” Pete starts again. “We are.” “For the love of-” Derek bit down on his lip and then calmed down. “I didn’t want to kiss you and I had my reasons, so please sit down and listen to me.”

Pete hesitated. He glanced at the door and figured if he bolted now he’d make it before Derek could catch him. But he didn’t want to run away from this conversation. Even though it might hurt him. Pete quietly sat down. “I misunderstood you because you didn’t express yourself well enough for me to understand. The fact that this happened was no one's fault.” Derek hesitated and continued slowly. “If I had known it was a date,” Pete stared at the table and sighed. “You wouldn’t have said yes?” “Peter.” Derek’s voice was louder than usual. “Let me finish.” Pete gulped and nodded. “Sorry.” Derek’s expression softened and he took another deep breath. “I would have said yes but I would have done a lot of things differently. I don’t mind going on a date with you, Peter but I don’t understand why you’d want that when-” “there’s a lot of people my age I could date?” This time Derek didn’t get angry at Pete for interrupting him. Instead he nodded. “I’m almost ten years older than you. Most of the students don’t even want to be my friend due to the age difference. I want you to be sure that my age doesn’t bother you when we continue this.”

Pete’s head jerked upwards. His eyes widened a little when he looked at Derek. “Continue this?” “Did you listen to the part where I talked about our age difference?” “Age is just a number.” Pete replied and then leaned forward. “You want to continue this? Does that mean… we get to have a second date together?” Derek sighed heavily. “I’m beginning to regret this.” “Don’t say that, please, Derek be honest cause I-” He got up and stemmed his hands onto the table. “I think I’m falling for you and I would love to go on a second date. I’m sorry for not being clear about my intentions so I will say it now. I would like to date you Derek Dillisburgh and I hope you can give me a chance to prove myself worthy of being your boyfriend.”