Yea Derek has some issues but he took some Major ones for the team in Hell Week depending on if you shared Jade video, paid wedgie, and the Feminist. He got bonus points there especially without the Jade video. Despite his issues though he's always had the MC's back even when he was mad about the Maya stuff. To me that's a good friend and let's not forget the reason the MC gave him at the halloween party, he hasn't just up and left him yet like someone else lol. Sage got a big boost with movie night at the HOTs by making the MC forget about the 2 on the couch next to them with drinking, games and the bonus jealous part under the blanket while sitting next to them. That's one of the 2 reasons I like her character the other being the "walk". Her attitude and the way she left the guys speechless and apologetic hit me in just the right way.
Zoey was an awesome "friend" but the way she pretty much shattered his world is not something anyone would soon forget. All that came rushing back when she showed up out of the blue. I figure anyone that got hurt that bad is going to keep that person at arms length for a while. Don't think she has shared her side of things as to why she ghosted him yet but when she does we will probably be made to just forgive her for the storyline. I figure she might even be an option on the others path a bit later, however Lily and Rio are my gotos on that route with one save set up for Quinn.
Zoey doesn't ghost him when he gets emotional, she runs off and makes him deal with it alone, like when she had him read Lynette's diary to her. She saw it made him emotional and was gotta go see ya later. That will probably change especially if she's supposed to become a LI.