Derek knew exactly what park she loved going to for her photographs. They’d spent many good times there long ago. He showed up with burritos for two and a couple of sodas. They sat at a picnic table eating and chatting until she noticed he became distracted by a group of teens over at next table behind her.

“Damn troublemakers. I know they’re up to no good.”

Veronica turned attempting to be discreet. She didn’t even recognize him at first and it wasn’t until their eyes locked that she realized Hector was among the troublemakers. She smiled at him even though she felt the air sucked out of her. The corners of his lips lifted slightly but she saw the way he eyed Derek curiously.

Realizing their school dean was sitting just a table over must’ve deterred them from hanging out much longer and they slowly started walking away and out of the park.

“Something wrong?”

Veronica knew her face was probably white. She’d felt the blood drain the moment she saw Hector. It made no sense for her to feel like she’d been doing something behind Noah’s back all week. But in a way she knew she had.

Not once had she mentioned anything to him about the new ‘her time.’ Not even when she’d gone for sushi with Sylvia. She didn’t want it to elicit any questions about what else she’d done and with who because even though she told herself she had every right to do whatever and hangout with whomever she wanted to, she didn’t want him to know about Derek.

It was just one of those subjects she knew would be incredibly uncomfortable, especially now that their goodnight kisses had begun to feel so much more intimate. She didn’t plan on keeping it from him forever but she figured it would somehow get worked into the conversation eventually. She’d also used his fight as an excuse. It might throw his concentration or something. He had mentioned earlier in the week that Abel and Gio both thought he needed to stay completely focused and not get distracted with anything else that week. She knew this would be a definite distraction. Though initially her plan hadn’t been to hang out with Derek three days out of the week!

“No, nothing’s wrong,” she said taking another bite of her burrito.

Derek gave her that famous I-know-when-you’re-lying-so-why-do-you-even-bother, stare of his. Being a dean, interrogation and knowing exactly when something was amiss in someone’s story were his things. He picked up on the smallest telltale signs. She hated that. Not that lying to him had ever been common practice but even small white lies like telling him she hadn’t bought his birthday gift yet he could see right through.

“Some of those kids are boxers, too. Noah know them by chance?”

His perceptiveness could get annoying. Like now for instance. She knew what he was getting at. “Actually one of them was.”

Derek smiled. “I thought that might be the case. So what spooked you?”

“Nothing.”

He was right. Why did she even try? Then it hit her. Because it was none of his business that’s why. She sat up a little straighter.

“Roni?”

“What?” Her snippy tone came across loud and clear.

“Is there something going on with you and Noah?”

“No!”

She was too damn quick to answer. He had her and he knew it but she’d be damned if she’d admit anything to him.

“Good, because like I said before he’s trouble. If he’s still hanging with the likes of those punks then I’d say he hasn’t changed at all. Once a loser always a loser.”

That did it. “Can you please stop saying that about him. Not only is he my roommate, he’s my good friend now and I happen to know for a fact that he’s not a loser. And like I said before, he’s a great guy.” She wrapped up what was left of her burrito and put it in the bag Derek had brought it in. “Thanks for the food,” she said as she stood. “I gotta go.”

Derek stood immediately. “I apologize. You’re right. You probably know him better than I do now. It’s just that if you knew what I know about Noah, it might change your mind about him.”

Veronica rolled her eyes as she flung the camera strap over her shoulder and gathered her purse and jacket from the bench.

“He got a girl pregnant then dropped out of school and disappeared on her.”

Veronica froze for a second before bringing her eyes up to stare at Derek.

“I take it he’s never mentioned this to you.”

Veronica shook her head slowly trying to make sense of it. Why would Noah, who knew first hand what it was like to be parentless, turn his back on his own child? It made no sense. “Did she have it?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t directly involved but it was called to my attention when the girl’s mother came in requesting information of Noah’s whereabouts. She was told she’d need a court order for the school to provide her with the information and she never came back. Soon after that the girl transferred out and Noah never came back either.”

Veronica searched Derek’s face for any signs that he was lying but there was nothing more than concern and she’d never known him to be a liar.

“The point is, Roni, you seem so convinced that he’s a great guy and I know better. I’m not trying to put your friends down, okay? I’m just trying to give you a little insight on who you’ve opened up your home to and asking you to please be careful.” He gestured out into the direction where Hector and his friends had headed. “Those guys are nothing but trouble. I deal with their shit almost daily. And you know what they say. Birds of a feather…”