When Chloe came down the stairs she could hear Derek growling deeply and the sound of someone chocking on water.
"Derek?!" Simon yelled.
"Simon! Shut up!" Tori spoke sternly. Chloe walked in and grabbed a muffin from the tray on the table for her very late dinner. Everyone got quiet.
"What's going on?" she ask, sitting in the empty chair beside Derek. He gave her a genuine smile, sliding his hand in hers.
"NYC Drama King is upset." Tori rolled her eyes. Simon growled and left the room, Tori followed.
"Well then." Chloe said, looking totally confused. Derek smiled and laid his forehead on hers. She smiled up at him, her blue ocean deep eyes catching him in there grip.
"Derek, what were you guys talking about?" Chloe asked, putting her gaze away to stare at the floor. Derek pulled away and stood up, going to wash his plate. Hands slid around his waist and he looked over his broad shoulder to see the tiny Chloe standing behind him pouting.
"What?" He ask turning to face her.
"You didn't answer my question." she replied.
"Because you really don't want to hear the answer." Derek murmured, taking his seat at the table. Chloe jumped on to the counter next to the sink.
"Try me." Derek hesitated, but with a huff and in a quick low roar he spoke.
"I'm leaving. Tomorrow morning I catch a bus to NYC and from there I go to Seattle. And I'm not coming back."
"Why?" she whispered. Derek huffed and nervously rubbed his face.
"I need to get away from Albany. See new places and new people." Tears threatened to fall, but she wiped them away with a quick brush of her hand.
"So, what about me?" She ask staring at the floor.
"You've got Simon." The calm, 'I don't care!' look staying on his face.
"Yea, I do!" Chloe bit back tears and made her words venomous and light. Derek's facade fell and anger filled his eyes. Chloe hopped from the counter and walked past him.
Two hours later, Derek found Chloe sitting at the base of the tree, her knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped around her self. He sat beside her.
"I'm sorry, Chloe." he whispered, propping his head on the tree.
"Whatever, Derek." she said turning her head away from him.
"They have rules, Chloe." he said, "Important ones. You're not suppose to know. I have to go talk to them." After a dozen minutes of silence, he spoke again.
"Chloe, say something."
"Just shut up, Derek." she whispered.
"Chloe, talk to me."
"Shut up, Derek, shut up!" she yelled. He grimaced at the anger in her words.
"Chloe, I want you to listen to me. Do you trust me? Would you believe anything I told you, if I was serious about it?" he said sliding closer to her. Chloe nodded.
"Do you believe I love you and would never try to hurt you?" he ask, his voice light. Chloe stared at him wide eyed.
"Your serious?" Derek laughed, haughtily.
"Yea, I'm serious, Chloe. I love you. That's why I'm leaving. You need to be safe and I need to be around others like me."
"But if you love me, then why can't I come with you? I mean who can better protect me than you and a whole pack of werewolves." Chloe pleaded. Derek huffed, and rubbed his face with his hands.
"Because\, Chloe, you just can't." Chloe stood up and began to walk off, slowly.
"Bye, Derek." she murmured, so low even he had to strain to hear.
"Bye, Chloe." He sighed.