a tired thought

It was snowing again. Maybe it was nuisance snow. Nothing big. Still there was more snow on the ground that kept everything so cold, and Derrick felt more blue than ever.

If he thought of Fish, he remembered how happy he was behind the wheel. Derrick felt a little happy thinking about his animated face. It was great to think of Fish's laugh. Derrick liked being with Fish, yet he knew it wouldn't be enough. And when he thought of Fish, he found his innocence genuine. Fish definitely didn't need to be around him.

Naturally, Derrick dragged himself down at the thought of Daisy. What sort of monster was he? He wanted to be left alone. He needed to be left alone.

His phone buzzed as he sat in the driveway alone. It was Sunny. He didn't even want to read her text. Soon enough his achy body made his way in. He'd gotten off his shift from the grocery store. He should be studying, but instead Jai and Rosie grabbed him as if he were there to play with them. They piled up on him on the couch.

"Seriously? You guys are gonna make me sick." He couldn't even get his parka off.

They giggled and teased him more. The more he thought of it, it was probably the opposite of what he said.

"Look, I might be sick." He said after while as their little mauling of fun played out. He got up with the notion he'd crawl into bed with his clothes on and go right to sleep.

He'd had an idea to get in a fight with Hansen, but if he did, he knew Daisy would kick his butt for real. Maybe if he just let it alone, everything would go back to normal.

The house phone rang. Rox called for him. He shook his head, no, motioning that he might throw up. She got off the phone soon enough.

"That was Sunny." She checked his forehead as if he wasn't much older than the kids. "Maybe, you do have a fever."

"Really?" He smiled as if that were good news.

She felt the sides of his face and under his ears. He closed his eyes. It was nice that somebody thought to take care of him.

"I was going to take a shower, and then go to bed." He sighed.

"I'll get something from the medicine cabinet for the fever. Does your throat hurt?" She looked him in the eye.

"Maybe." He shrugged as he went off down the hall to shower.

The hot water was soothing and for a good twenty minutes, he felt better than he had, all day. Afterwards, a tap came to the bathroom door.

"I got these out of the dryer." Rox handed over some flannel pants and gray tank, after his shower when he had a towel around his waist. He breathed in the laundry warmth. "I really like ..having ..you..for a mom." He said before he could stop himself.

"You're such a baby." Rox messed with his damp hair and rolled her eyes with a smile.

Derrick started to think of all those break-up songs of Zac's while he was getting dressed. He felt he should know who Zac was singing about. How come he hadn't asked Fish about that?

Maybe he'd have a reason to call Fish.