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So far I have shown Derek to be irredeemably angry and just an overall foul mouthed jerk. He doesn't get along with anyone (except Marcus) and is very messed up in the head. But, down deep, he isn't all that bad, just immature and well, we'll let Travis call it as it is in these excerpts. This is the start of Derek's redemption arc in the story.
To set up the events here: Travis has told the boys he wants to go to California with them to get a job in the motocross industry. Marcus has connections and is considering it. Derek, on the other hand, is very selfish and dead set against it. Travis dropped the bomb at lunch that day with his mom Linda present and the three boys 'boarded all day afterwards. Travis asked to get a ride home with Derek and Marcus, and Derek finally blew up at them, hurting Travis' feelings and getting Marcus royally pissed off. This follows after Travis was dropped off at home:
Rated PG-13 for language.
All material and excerpts (c) 2003, 2025 Tony Bandiera Jr. All rights reserved.
TRAVIS’ HOUSE
Travis enters and sets his gear down by the door.
“How was it out there today? Did you have fun?”
Travis shakes his head.
“What happened? Did you get hurt?”
“No mom, I didn’t get hurt.”
“Are you upset about not going to California?”
“No.”
“Well, what then?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Honey, tell me, it’s ok. Did Derek get mad at you?”
Travis looked away, trying not to show her he’s about to cry. He nodded.
“Come sit down and tell me what happened.”
He crossed to the couch and plopped down. He still couldn’t bring himself to look at his mother. His voice was bitter with betrayal.
“Marcus and I were joking around and Derek yelled at us....that we were giving him a fucking headache.”
“I’m sure he didn’t intend to be mean though.”
“No mom, he was. I’ve seen him really pissed off before and it was just like that.” He starts choking up: “He hates me.”
Linda noticed that Travis was shaking, and this was serious.
“I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be. But if he really hated you, would he have driven you home? Or spent the entire day with you after we had lunch?”
Travis looked up. I never thought of that,but why was he being such an ass?
“I guess not.”
“You told me they’re more than just friends, maybe Derek is feeling jealous.”
He look at his mom, surprised.
“Why would he be jealous of me?”
“Well if they just met, and are trying to start a relationship, they need private time together to do that. The same will be true when you get your first girlfriend. You won’t want your buddies hanging out with you and her on dates, right?”
“Mom, ewww.”
Laughs: “It’s the reality of being a teen and growing up son. I did some research on Derek, and he’s always been a bit of a rebel and socially awkward. It doesn’t make him a bad person, but it’s obvious he’s not comfortable with people being close to him.”
“So he’s kind of a social retard?”
“In a way yes, but that’s not a nice way to put it. I see some of your father in him. He had the same anger issues Derek has.”
Travis’ expression darkened at the mention of his father. She noticed and went on:
“Honey, I do not, and never have, hated your father. We just found out that we weren’t meant to be together.”
“So I was a mistake?”
“NO! Of course not! We made the mistake of getting married too soon, and tried to force things to work. And they didn’t. I know you don’t believe me when I tell you that we’re better off separated, but we are. And you’ve grown up to be a strong, caring young man. You have no idea how proud I am of you.”
Travis was stunned. He had no idea about what had happened between his mom and dad, but took some comfort in hearing that they didn’t hate each other.
“I guess I understand. But it still hurts. I’m glad you and dad don’t hate each other.”
“Travis, our love for you is the most important thing. I want you to always know that, even if we didn’t agree on how our marriage went, we never had any regrets about you being our son.”
Travis could no longer hold back. He broke down, hugging his mom. Linda cried also, but they were tears of joy. My son is becoming a man, and a good one.
DEREK’S CABIN
The drive to the cabin was filled with awkward silence. This could be a huge turning point in our relationship, Marcus fumed. I can’t take any more of his selfish behavior and mood swings.
Derek had calmed down on the drive back, but he could sense the anger radiating off of Marcus. I don’t know what my problem is, why do I constantly get pissed off at someone (the only one, his mind taunted) who cares about me?
As they pulled up to the cabin, Derek sighed and turned off the ignition. Marcus noticed that Derek had calmed down, and he was hoping they could have a rational, drama free conversation.
“You ok man?"
Derek nodded: “Yeah, let’s get inside.”
They went in. Derek grabbed two beers and some snacks from the fridge and sat down on the couch. Marcus sat down but at a distance.
He’s still pissed at me, Derek realized. “Can we talk?”
“Are you gonna blow up again?”
“No.”
He seems sincere, Marcus noted. “Ok, you want to start?”
“Not really, but I think you want me to.”
“It would make for a nice change.”
“I guess. Look, I’m sorry I snapped at you guys. It wasn’t right, but....”
“What?”
“I just don’t think it’s right for us to bring a teenager into our lives right now.”
Us? Our lives? “What do you mean, ‛our lives’?”
"So we aren’t starting a relationship?”
Marcus raises his eyebrow: “You want us to have a relationship? You sure as hell don’t act like you do.”
Ouch. “I do, Marcus. You’re the only one who puts up with me, and kicks my ass when I need it. Everyone else is either a kiss ass or trying to take me down.”
Marcus was still unsure of his sincerity, but the hurt in Derek’s eyes said otherwise.
“I want to be in a relationship with you too, but you have to start getting a grip on your temper bud.”
“I know. It runs in the family.”
“Time to break that cycle before it’s too late.”
Derek nodded. Marcus moved next to him.
“Derek, I know it’s difficult for you. But I see the good in you, where you don’t. That’s why I’m attracted to you.”
“So it’s not that I have money?”
Marcus shook his head, annoyed.
“Fuck the money, dude. I don’t care about money, yours, your dad’s, or anyone else’s. I only care about you.”
Derek was stunned. He really does care about me... “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything, just be you, rough edges and all. I want to help you get better about dealing with people... and your anger.”
Derek realized that the only person to be mad at was himself. Marcus is right, I need to “Grow the fuck up” and start being more in control of my emotions. He was suddenly hit with a wave of regret and began to tear up.
“What’s wrong?”
“I really fucked up tonight. Travis thinks I hate him.”
“Do you?”
“Of course not!! He’s a great kid!!” Anguished: “Why did I do that to him?” Derek was finally beginning to realize that his bad attitude had consequences.
“I have an idea, but you won’t like hearing it.”
“Tell me.”
“I think you feel Travis is a threat to our relationship.”
“Bullshit.”
“No, really. Think about it, we’re just starting to get to know each other, and considering being together. I haven’t had a real boyfriend before, and neither have you. It’s natural to be jealous of, or threatened by, anyone who might interfere with that.”
Derek mulled over this reality check, and realized that as usual, Marcus was right. It always amazes me that Marcus knows me better than I know myself.
“So what do I do?”
“When you see Travis tomorrow, talk to him like a man and apologize. He may be a kid, but show him respect as a young adult. He’s a lot smarter and more mature than we give him credit for.”
“I will.” He sighs. “Can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Will you come upstairs and sleep with me tonight?”
Marcus was stunned by this.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?"
Derek fixed him with a gaze that left no doubts. “Yes....I want to be close to you.”
Marcus was pleasantly surprised, and smiled at him. “I love you, wanker.”
Derek pulled him in and kissed him. They got up and went upstairs, arms around each other.
To set up the events here: Travis has told the boys he wants to go to California with them to get a job in the motocross industry. Marcus has connections and is considering it. Derek, on the other hand, is very selfish and dead set against it. Travis dropped the bomb at lunch that day with his mom Linda present and the three boys 'boarded all day afterwards. Travis asked to get a ride home with Derek and Marcus, and Derek finally blew up at them, hurting Travis' feelings and getting Marcus royally pissed off. This follows after Travis was dropped off at home:
Rated PG-13 for language.
All material and excerpts (c) 2003, 2025 Tony Bandiera Jr. All rights reserved.
TRAVIS’ HOUSE
Travis enters and sets his gear down by the door.
“How was it out there today? Did you have fun?”
Travis shakes his head.
“What happened? Did you get hurt?”
“No mom, I didn’t get hurt.”
“Are you upset about not going to California?”
“No.”
“Well, what then?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Honey, tell me, it’s ok. Did Derek get mad at you?”
Travis looked away, trying not to show her he’s about to cry. He nodded.
“Come sit down and tell me what happened.”
He crossed to the couch and plopped down. He still couldn’t bring himself to look at his mother. His voice was bitter with betrayal.
“Marcus and I were joking around and Derek yelled at us....that we were giving him a fucking headache.”
“I’m sure he didn’t intend to be mean though.”
“No mom, he was. I’ve seen him really pissed off before and it was just like that.” He starts choking up: “He hates me.”
Linda noticed that Travis was shaking, and this was serious.
“I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be. But if he really hated you, would he have driven you home? Or spent the entire day with you after we had lunch?”
Travis looked up. I never thought of that,but why was he being such an ass?
“I guess not.”
“You told me they’re more than just friends, maybe Derek is feeling jealous.”
He look at his mom, surprised.
“Why would he be jealous of me?”
“Well if they just met, and are trying to start a relationship, they need private time together to do that. The same will be true when you get your first girlfriend. You won’t want your buddies hanging out with you and her on dates, right?”
“Mom, ewww.”
Laughs: “It’s the reality of being a teen and growing up son. I did some research on Derek, and he’s always been a bit of a rebel and socially awkward. It doesn’t make him a bad person, but it’s obvious he’s not comfortable with people being close to him.”
“So he’s kind of a social retard?”
“In a way yes, but that’s not a nice way to put it. I see some of your father in him. He had the same anger issues Derek has.”
Travis’ expression darkened at the mention of his father. She noticed and went on:
“Honey, I do not, and never have, hated your father. We just found out that we weren’t meant to be together.”
“So I was a mistake?”
“NO! Of course not! We made the mistake of getting married too soon, and tried to force things to work. And they didn’t. I know you don’t believe me when I tell you that we’re better off separated, but we are. And you’ve grown up to be a strong, caring young man. You have no idea how proud I am of you.”
Travis was stunned. He had no idea about what had happened between his mom and dad, but took some comfort in hearing that they didn’t hate each other.
“I guess I understand. But it still hurts. I’m glad you and dad don’t hate each other.”
“Travis, our love for you is the most important thing. I want you to always know that, even if we didn’t agree on how our marriage went, we never had any regrets about you being our son.”
Travis could no longer hold back. He broke down, hugging his mom. Linda cried also, but they were tears of joy. My son is becoming a man, and a good one.
DEREK’S CABIN
The drive to the cabin was filled with awkward silence. This could be a huge turning point in our relationship, Marcus fumed. I can’t take any more of his selfish behavior and mood swings.
Derek had calmed down on the drive back, but he could sense the anger radiating off of Marcus. I don’t know what my problem is, why do I constantly get pissed off at someone (the only one, his mind taunted) who cares about me?
As they pulled up to the cabin, Derek sighed and turned off the ignition. Marcus noticed that Derek had calmed down, and he was hoping they could have a rational, drama free conversation.
“You ok man?"
Derek nodded: “Yeah, let’s get inside.”
They went in. Derek grabbed two beers and some snacks from the fridge and sat down on the couch. Marcus sat down but at a distance.
He’s still pissed at me, Derek realized. “Can we talk?”
“Are you gonna blow up again?”
“No.”
He seems sincere, Marcus noted. “Ok, you want to start?”
“Not really, but I think you want me to.”
“It would make for a nice change.”
“I guess. Look, I’m sorry I snapped at you guys. It wasn’t right, but....”
“What?”
“I just don’t think it’s right for us to bring a teenager into our lives right now.”
Us? Our lives? “What do you mean, ‛our lives’?”
"So we aren’t starting a relationship?”
Marcus raises his eyebrow: “You want us to have a relationship? You sure as hell don’t act like you do.”
Ouch. “I do, Marcus. You’re the only one who puts up with me, and kicks my ass when I need it. Everyone else is either a kiss ass or trying to take me down.”
Marcus was still unsure of his sincerity, but the hurt in Derek’s eyes said otherwise.
“I want to be in a relationship with you too, but you have to start getting a grip on your temper bud.”
“I know. It runs in the family.”
“Time to break that cycle before it’s too late.”
Derek nodded. Marcus moved next to him.
“Derek, I know it’s difficult for you. But I see the good in you, where you don’t. That’s why I’m attracted to you.”
“So it’s not that I have money?”
Marcus shook his head, annoyed.
“Fuck the money, dude. I don’t care about money, yours, your dad’s, or anyone else’s. I only care about you.”
Derek was stunned. He really does care about me... “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything, just be you, rough edges and all. I want to help you get better about dealing with people... and your anger.”
Derek realized that the only person to be mad at was himself. Marcus is right, I need to “Grow the fuck up” and start being more in control of my emotions. He was suddenly hit with a wave of regret and began to tear up.
“What’s wrong?”
“I really fucked up tonight. Travis thinks I hate him.”
“Do you?”
“Of course not!! He’s a great kid!!” Anguished: “Why did I do that to him?” Derek was finally beginning to realize that his bad attitude had consequences.
“I have an idea, but you won’t like hearing it.”
“Tell me.”
“I think you feel Travis is a threat to our relationship.”
“Bullshit.”
“No, really. Think about it, we’re just starting to get to know each other, and considering being together. I haven’t had a real boyfriend before, and neither have you. It’s natural to be jealous of, or threatened by, anyone who might interfere with that.”
Derek mulled over this reality check, and realized that as usual, Marcus was right. It always amazes me that Marcus knows me better than I know myself.
“So what do I do?”
“When you see Travis tomorrow, talk to him like a man and apologize. He may be a kid, but show him respect as a young adult. He’s a lot smarter and more mature than we give him credit for.”
“I will.” He sighs. “Can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Will you come upstairs and sleep with me tonight?”
Marcus was stunned by this.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?"
Derek fixed him with a gaze that left no doubts. “Yes....I want to be close to you.”
Marcus was pleasantly surprised, and smiled at him. “I love you, wanker.”
Derek pulled him in and kissed him. They got up and went upstairs, arms around each other.
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