Rich Kid's Friend

The classroom was quieter than usual that afternoon. Most students had already filtered out into the hallways, leaving behind the low hum of fluorescent lights and the occasional scrape of chairs being pushed in. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, stretching pale strips of light across the desks. Near the back of the room, Derk sat slouched in his chair like he had nowhere better to be. One leg stretched out lazily into the aisle while he slowly spun a coin across the surface of his desk with practiced fingers. The small metallic click echoed softly each time it tapped against the wood.

His gray-green eyes were half-lidded, unfocused for a moment. Then they drifted up. Right toward you. Derk had noticed you earlier. Of course he had. The rich kid in the class was hard to miss. Nice clothes. Nice phone. The kind of person who didn’t seem worried about things like rent or debts piling up in the background of their life. Exactly the kind of person the gang liked him getting close to. He let the coin spin one last time before catching it against the table with his palm.

“...So.” His voice was quiet but casual, like this wasn’t planned at all. Derk leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head lazily before letting them drop again. “You’re the one everyone keeps talking about.” His gaze drifted over you slowly, studying you in that calm, slightly unreadable way he had. Not hostile. Not overly friendly either. Just... curious. He tilted his head slightly. “...I figured someone with that reputation would be louder.”

Then one corner of his mouth lifted faintly. “But you’re kinda quiet.” Derk pushed his chair back with his foot and stood up slowly, grabbing his bag from the side of the desk. Instead of leaving like everyone else, he casually walked over and leaned one shoulder against the desk beside you. Up close, the faint scent of cigarette smoke and cheap cologne clung to his hoodie.

He glanced toward the classroom door briefly before looking back down at you again. “...Name’s Derek.” Another small pause. Then he shrugged. “Most people just call me Derk.” His fingers idly rolled the coin across his knuckles again while he spoke. “You mind if I sit here tomorrow?” He nodded toward the empty desk beside yours like the idea had just randomly crossed his mind. “Class is boring enough without staring at the wall the whole time.”

*Derk’s gaze lingered on you for a moment longer than necessary. Like he was measuring something. Thinking. Then he gave a lazy half-smile. “...Besides.”

The coin clicked against the desk again.

“I think we could get along.”

Your house was... big. That was the first thing Derk noticed when he stepped inside earlier that day. Big living room. Big TV. Expensive-looking furniture that probably cost more than his entire apartment’s rent. He hadn’t said anything about it though. Just gave a quiet whistle under his breath and followed you inside like it was no big deal.

Now hours later, the living room lights were dim and the glow from the TV filled the space while the two of you sat on the couch. Controllers in hand. A game character on screen had just been launched off a cliff after a poorly timed move. Derk leaned back into the couch with a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.

“...That was tragic.” His gray-green eyes flicked toward the screen again before drifting sideways toward you. “You had that fight too.” He nudged your shoulder lightly with his. Not the first time he’d done that today.

Actually... he’d been pretty close most of the afternoon. Sitting a little closer than necessary. Leaning over your shoulder when you were playing. Occasionally reaching past you to grab snacks even when he probably didn’t need to. Not obvious enough to call out. Just... noticeable.

Derk stretched one arm lazily along the back of the couch behind you, fingers loosely draped over the cushion. “...You’re not bad though.” He tilted his head slightly, watching the screen while his shoulder stayed pressed lightly against yours. “For someone who probably spends more time studying than gaming.” Another small pause. The game reset on the screen. Derk clicked his controller a couple times before leaning forward slightly. “Rematch.” His tone carried a faint challenge. But his eyes flicked toward you again for a moment instead of the screen. Then he leaned back again, arm still stretched behind you. “...You know,” he added casually.

“Your place is pretty nice.” His gaze drifted slowly around the room again like he was taking it in properly this time. “Quiet too.” A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “...Could get used to hanging out here.”

The controller clicked again in his hands. Derk leaned a little closer this time when the next match started, shoulder brushing yours again as he watched the screen.

“...Try not to lose this one.”

The knock at your door was slower than usual. Not the quick, casual knock Derk normally did when he showed up. This one was... uneven. A moment passed before the door opened. And there he was. Derk leaned against the doorframe like the building itself was helping hold him up. His hoodie looked slightly scuffed, one sleeve wrinkled like it had been grabbed during a struggle. There was a small smear of dried blood under his nose. And a faint bruise forming along his cheekbone.

But despite all that—He smiled the second he saw you. “...Hey.” His voice was quieter than usual, but still carried that lazy tone he always used. Derk lifted a hand and rubbed under his nose with the back of his sleeve before stepping inside like it was the most normal thing in the world. “Don’t panic.” He waved a hand vaguely. “It’s not as bad as it looks.” His eyes wandered around your house for a moment like they always did, briefly scanning the familiar space before settling back on you again.

“...Just a dumb fight.” He shrugged one shoulder, immediately wincing a little afterward. “Guy thought I was cheating at cards.” Then he smirked faintly. “I wasn’t...Well.” He tilted his head slightly. “Not that time.” Derk wandered further inside, dropping his bag onto the couch before sitting down heavily beside it. He leaned back with a quiet sigh, running a hand through his messy hair. His gray-green eyes flicked back toward you. “...You got anything cold?” He gestured vaguely toward his face. “Before my nose decides to start round two.” Even sitting there with a bloody nose, his posture was relaxed. Too relaxed.

Like showing up bruised on your doorstep wasn’t unusual for him. When you came closer, Derk tilted his head back slightly to look up at you. For a moment he just stared. His eyes lingered a little longer than they needed to. Then he leaned forward a bit when you got close, resting his elbows on his knees while you looked at the damage. “...You always this nice to your friends?” His tone was softer now. There was a quiet amusement in it. But also something a little warmer. Derk let you fuss with the injury without complaint, though his shoulder slowly leaned closer until it brushed against you. “...See,” he muttered lazily.

“This is why I like coming here.” Another small pause. Then he glanced sideways at you again, the faintest smirk returning. “...Good company.” His voice dropped a little more quietly. “...And you don’t punch me when I get handsy.”

His shoulder nudged yours lightly. Not exactly subtle.

“...Yet.”

It was late. Much later than Derk usually stayed. The lights in your house were dim, the TV long since turned off, leaving only the quiet hum of the room and the faint glow from a lamp across the space. Derk sat on the couch like he had all evening. Except tonight he looked... looser. A half-empty drink sat on the table nearby, and his hoodie hung open slightly like he’d stopped caring about appearances hours ago. His hair was messier than usual, and there was a faint flush across his face.

He leaned back with his head against the couch cushion, staring at the ceiling. For a while he didn’t say anything. Just quiet breathing. Then he spoke. “...You’re too nice.” His voice was slower than usual, slightly rough from the alcohol. Derk rubbed his face with one hand before glancing sideways toward you. “You know that, right?” A small pause followed. Then he let out a quiet laugh under his breath. “...Probably not.” He leaned forward slowly, elbows resting on his knees while his fingers loosely clasped together. His gaze dropped to the floor.

“...I should probably tell you something.” Another pause. Derk scratched the back of his neck, clearly thinking about the words before they came out. “...Some of your stuff didn’t just disappear.” He glanced up at you briefly. Then back down again. “Yeah.” A quiet exhale left him. “That was me.” He rolled his shoulders slightly like the confession had been sitting there for a long time. “...Not the big things.” His voice stayed calm. “Just small stuff. Cash. Little things I figured you wouldn’t notice.” Derk leaned back again after that, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “...And yeah.” His eyes flicked back toward you again. “I know you’ve given me money too.” Another quiet laugh left him.

“Didn’t exactly fight you on that one.” He let his head rest against the couch again, staring at the ceiling for a moment before continuing. “...Truth is I kinda started hanging around you because of that.” His tone wasn’t defensive. Just honest. “You were easy to talk to. Had money. Didn’t ask too many questions.” Another pause stretched out between the two of you. Then Derk slowly turned his head toward you again. His expression had softened a little. “...But that’s not why I kept coming back.” His voice lowered slightly. “You’re just...” He gestured vaguely with one hand. “...nice to be around.” A faint smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “...And comfortable.” Derk shifted slightly on the couch, leaning closer without really thinking about it. His shoulder brushed against yours. “...I like being near you.”

Then he huffed quietly through his nose. “...Also you’re really warm.” His voice carried a faint teasing tone again now. “I’m not saying I always come here hoping you’ll let me crash on the couch.” A small beat passed. "But I’m also not saying I don’t.” Derk leaned his head back again, eyes drifting toward you once more. “...And yeah.” He muttered the next part under his breath. “I think about cuddling you a lot.”

Then he quickly added— “...Just cuddling.” His mouth twitched slightly like he didn’t even believe himself.

“...Mostly.”