Chapter One?

"There has always been a brick between us, since high school and I think it will always be there," Telima said, folding her napkin and placing it on the table where families and friends dined at. Friends and families had been trying to get her and her childhood boyfriend together. It's been futile.

"No. I don't think there has ever been a between us talk more of a brick" Derrick said so calmly. Telima locked eyes with this twenty-five-year-old, handsome featured young man who despite just saying 'between us' so calmly, she could have guessed that he intentioned for an 'us' to exist between them.

But the guess could be wrong.

Oh yes -- the guy hadn't been her boyfriend since high school, except that since high school the connection and the prospect had been solidly high and strong but nothing was ever done.

Her guess wasn't wrong- Derrick continued in his thought as he also locked eyes with this twenty-four-year-old young woman who was his while they were younger, his first girlfriend, his forever love, the sweetest girl- now lady he'd ever set his eyes on, his--

Oh dear, she wasn't his ---why is the possessive pronoun crawling all over his thoughts?

They were never a couple, not even once! Yet the electricity was so lovely between them that it was almost as if he encouraged the distance for fear that when they come together against the bridge, there won't be any more lovely spark between them.

Telima looked away. She wasn't angry she had placed the napkin on the table almost delicately.

"You two are the most stubborn matchmaking client I have ever known in my entire life," Ben said almost comically. Family and friends of the small town of Ricliché dined in the anciently decorated dining room owned by the McLeod's family.

"We didn't ask you to match-make us. " Derrick had placed his right elbow on the long glass table gesturing his hand as he spoke.

Telima felt uneasy, she was hungry before the meal but now her appetite had been dulled with uneasy feelings, "Yes, Ben and Suze and..."

Her mum and dad too, she should add, her friends' parents as well some friends, aunts, and uncles, but her voice had trailed off. "You weren't asked to do the job of matchmaking--- but thank you." She smiled and made to leave the table.

Telima stood up allowing Derrick to drink in the sight of her; her ball gown was black allowing her white bright skin to sparkle like she was the first person to have had bright white skin. Her hairs were brunette, packed up but still dangling on her shoulders.

"Ah! Comm'n Telima..." Ben began but she was already out of earshot. She walked elegantly on her heels, out of the room and probably out of the house.

Derrick sighed.

The McLeod, Winterbuttons, Stuffins, McRoy, and the Amak's family were all gathered together to celebrate. The McLeod's are very passionate about family. It's their idea to gather and spend some time as one in their inn. The McLeod's does things elegantly, they seem to have a royal trace, they set up the inn for this occasion like it was some European royal occasion.

Although the McLeod's isn't his direct family nor that of Telima's but they seem to be selling and distributing the idea of renewed determination to make him a couple with Telima.

Ben and Suze were the Amak's, along with him and Telima and a few more who were sitting on the table with them now, had all gone to the same high school.

Ben and Suze were the only pair to have gotten married.

Lily, another childhood friend of theirs with eyeballs so bright, glared those eye balls one could see contemplation in them since Telima had left the table.

Since Telima had left, the last ten minutes of the table were more silent and Derrick just had to snort at Lily's wondering eyes.

"What's funny?" Lily asked and it was almost rhetorical but confirmed that it was when she said- "I had better follow her"

Derrick gestured; 'if you think so' in reply to her. She stood up and left the room too.

"We just wanted to help" Hank, another childhood friend commented after Lily left.

"And how is that working out?" Derrick asked.

"Derrick!" Amanda McLeod, one of the folks almost yelled, obviously in shock.

"Ma?" Derrick answered her calmly with one of those expressions that shows that he clearly saw no reason why she'd allow herself to be in shock.

"Don't blame us, blame you two stubborn tough heads." Hank defended himself. Derrick sighed.

He had to go visit a childhood friend --and that's Telima. Most of his friendly visit to her ends awkwardly he just hopes this one doesn't. Derrick stood up and -oh dear- he was tall, his white shirt hugging those tight muscle arms of his. Who wouldn't? Melissa thought as she watched Derrick excused himself and walked off. He was slim in stature, straight lean muscles, and quiet slim shape of head with blond hairs . None of Telima's admirers would she ever vouch for if it wasn't Derrick.

** ?. **

Derrick got to the wooden door, exquisitely designed and colored gold to impress like it was made of gold itself. He made to knock on the door, but he heard voices, Telima, and a male. "Alright, alright, I'd buy your art for fifty thousand." The guy said.

"Oh, Jason! Get out! Out! Out! Out of my room!" She seemed to tell him playfully. Derrick smiled. Telima had told him about the funny guy Jason who impresses her with money. He had once promised to buy Recliché town just to give it to her...

Isn't that romantic? Weird guys, always down rooting for her and they aren't always all that weird, at least they make promises he couldn't make to her.

Telima opened the door, she was still in her black lace ball gown. "Oh," she said surprised to see Derrick, he smiled.

"Jason!" She called. "Out!" then ordered.

"Just allow me buy it."

"I'm not even done with it."

"I would buy something you still have the intention of painting," Jason said and Derrick laughed.

He could sense Telima was serious, and although maybe comically, she was going to push him out. Telima held out the door for him. Jason stepped out with pride that is willing to obey.

"Please tell her..." Jason, landing with a sigh, said quietly to Derrick.

"Hmm," Derrick replied still smiling. He left and Derrick welcomed himself into the room. While Telima closed the door, Derrick nodded at Lily who sat in front of the mirror.

"What's up?" he greeted.

"What's up? What is up is that I am on a project on why you two aren't together yet and find out how you can be!" Lily said.

"Oh, knock it off!" Derrick waved her talk and sat at the edge of Telima's bed. "The most important thing is that Telima's got other suitors promising her Reclichè and glamour!" Derrick smiled.

"Oh yeah, they do" Telima replied walking a little forward to sit on the soft blue couch that will make her face them making them a trio. "But Reclichè is very boring. I mean they don't woo at the different other places I have toured and been to before they spark things up with spices."

"I don't even promise you anything! Why don't you go ahead for one of them---" Derrick replied instead-

"I am trying to change the topic here.. " Telima said.

"I'd prefer we change it to about getting you two officially together" Lily intercepted.

"You know you are seriously a pest right now?" Derrick said to Lily.

"Yes, I know, but so is everyone else and I see their point," Lily replied.

"I'm gonna focus on getting Telima happy and I believe in Jason as to that--- what do you think of Jason?" Derrick asked, ignoring Telima herself.

Telima gave a short laugh, "if you two are going to keep ignoring me then you will no longer be welcomed in my room, I didn't even invite you here in the first place so if you're going to be talking nonsense then I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Telima said quietly, maybe playfully but she was definitely sending them out if they kept on talking nonsense.

*** ?. *** ****