God Knows You're on My Mind.

Piper finally decided she’d go to Derek’s church dance. Which meant she had to dress up in more.. Suitable church clothes. Which lead Piper to grab her white, flowy, knee-height, spaghetti-strapped dress and a pair of silver-banded flip flops. She left her hair wavy, putting a white headband across her head. Piper decided to not do any make-up, figuring as though Derek’s church didn’t like it when teens wore make-up. Rolling her eyes, she put back on her leaf necklace and headed out of her bathroom. Spaghetti strap dresses wouldn’t do for a church dance- which meant Piper had to put on a sweater. The red head rummaged through her closet, trying not to wrinkle her dress while doing so, but had no luck finding her white sweater.

“Mom!” She yelled, standing in front of her closet with her hands on her hips.

“What, Piper!?” Her mom yelled back, trudging up the stairs lightly. Her mom appeared in the door way, instantly getting a lit-up smile on her face.

“Where’s my white sweater?” She asked. She couldn’t help but smile.

“You scared me half to death,” her mom laughed, disappearing from Piper’s doorway for a few seconds. “I hung it in the hallway closet, dear.” Her mom said, holding up the sweater. “You look so pretty, why don’t you dress up like this more often?” Her mom commented, walking over to put it on Piper.

“Well, mother dearest, its only because I hardly go to special events like the dance.” Piper replied, putting on the sweater with the aide of her mom. Barbra, her mom, was a sweet woman- but could be a bitch like every mom.

“Oh..” Was all Barbra said. Leaving, she kissed Piper’s cheek lightly and headed out of her bedroom. Piper sighed, wiping off her cheek.

~~*~~

The dance was starting when Piper showed up. Derek, being the gentleman that he was, was wearing a pair of slacks and a white button-up shirt. His mom must have made him put it on. Piper smiled, walking over to him.

“You’re looking rather spiffy, Derek.” She spoke, causing him to turn around.

“And you’re looking rather grown up, Piper Rose.” Derek returned with a nice comment, his smile reflecting that of her own.

“Oh, you’re too kind.” She laughed, rolling her eyes as she hugged him. “You smell like Fabreeze, Derek.” Piper said, muffled by his shirt as she was smelling it.

“Yeah, my mom went all ape-crazy with this spray stuff on my shirt. She said it smelt like mothballs and dust.” Derek laughed, holding out his arm to escort Piper.

“Sherly, Sherly, Sherly.” Piper said, shaking her head with a smile as she interlocked her arm with his. The two walked into the area where you had to wait. And there was Quiet Johnny, wearing a maroon colored shirt, black tuxedo pants and a tie. Piper bit her bottom lip, not wanting him to see her. But, of course, he saw her and Derek.

“Derek, Pip.” Johnny walked over to them, nodding. His cheeks went rosy as he looked at Piper. “This dance is totally boring, Derek.” He mumbled, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“It seems boring.” Piper said, looking at Pastor Dean, up and down. The three of them couldn’t help but crack up.

“Yeah, my mom thinks I’m going to stay here. But I’m not, I was goin’a go down to the lot and just... Sit there.” Derek smiled, his arm still with Piper’s.

“I’d come with you.” Piper spoke up, smiling at him. The lot, so many memories. They played baseball there, a lot., and still did in the summer. “Yeah, we could totally find that baseball bat we hid and that baseball.” She nodded, liking her idea.

“Dude, I’m there.” Quiet Johnny nodded, grabbing out a sucker to pop into his mouth.

“Lets leave this place, then.” Derek smirked, pulling Johnny by the sleeve and Piper along with him. To the lot they went.

~~*~~
When they arrived, the lot was empty. It was five o’clock, but the sun was still high in the blue sky. Johnny moved an old microwave oven out from in front of a secret compartment, holding an old and dirty baseball. Derek went away from Piper, looking for the baseball bat. Piper, being the only girl there, sat upon an old, rusty something-or-other car. She pulled her headband off, wrapping it around her wrist, and shook her head. Her hair fell all around her face, causing her to sneeze once. Watching as Johnny came back with the baseball, she smiled and held out her hands.

“I’ll be taking that, thank you.” They were going to do it, going to play baseball in their fancy clothes. What they didn’t know, is that Marcus Walker and his ‘gang’ were on their way down to the lot to smoke some cigarettes- girlfriends included.