Full summary: Tori really needs to have everyone's trust. But how can she do that? Deciding that giving girl advice is her area of expertise, she goes to help Derek with Chloe. How is that going to play out? But that little involvement gets her caught up in the weirdest and messiest love web when the new kids also get involved. My version of the Awakening, includes the defeat of the Edison Group, Chloe's mom and Aunt, and possibly Derek's past.

Starting from the ending of the Awakening. Bolded= from Mrs. Kelley's new chapters.

Discalimer: ME? The owner of these books? Pshhh, if I was, there would have already been a lemon between Derek and Chloe by the fourth exclusive chapter!

I'm alone, on my own, and that's all I know
I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh but life goes on
I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in
This world
~ Taylor Swift

[]Chloe Saunders[]

As we entered the enormous building, the thought of a warm bed, food and safety must have overwhelmed me because after a long sigh, my legs suddenly gave out and I didn't even care if I was going to hurt myself falling. But instead of the instant pain, I felt someone behind me roughly grab me by my shoulders. Deciding I was too tired to even find out who it was, I shut my eyes (even though the arms were not comfortable) and let the darkness embrace me….

[]Victoria Enright[]

I was the second to last to enter the house. Or does the term "mansion" fit better? Looking around me, I decided it was definitely a yes. Of course, my eyes only got to wander beyond the living room (which is on the left), when out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Chloe practically faint. Thankfully Simon was able to catch her. But before that, I got to see Derek's expression, how he knew she was going to fall, and how he twitched, as if wanting to catch her, but held back so Simon could. Instead of Chloe waking up, she just fell right asleep, expecting us to look after her.

Don't get me wrong, I feel sorry for the girl. She's been through hell these past weeks. One second, she was a rich quiet girl, trying to make it through high school. The next, she's waking up the dead and trying to make it through life itself.

But was the next scene really necessary?

"Poor Chloe, rough night huh?" Andrew said as he eyed the sleeping girl in Simon's arms as if she was the only one tired. We all murmured a "yeah"

"Should you wake her up?" Andrew asked.

"No, I'll carry her to her room." Simon lifted Chloe noisily up in a "bridal style." I was surprised Chloe didn't wake up from all the moving Simon had to do in order to get her there. So not romantic in anyway. On the left of me, I heard a light growl.

"Simon, careful." Derek ordered, as if he was instructing some movers with his furniture.

"Bro, chill. I know what I'm doing" was all Simon replied. "Andrew, can you show us our rooms?"

"Are you sure you can carry her Simon? I think maybe Der-"

"I got this guys, really." But Simon was already heading towards the stairs. Sighing we all followed.

Even though I may not have seemed it, I was dead beat! Looking at the long stairs that curved, I felt like I was getting ready to go rock climbing. Every move of my legs ached, while I had to watch Chloe being carried up like a princess to her room. Simon was at the top, closely followed by Derek, then me and Andrew.

"Simon! You almost dropped her!"

"No I didn't Derek! Gosh, you're so paranoid.""Well sorry, but my paranoid side had saved us countless of times. You're gonna bump her head."

"Chill bro. Do you expect me to fly to her room without her feeling thing?" Simon replied.

Sighing, Derek fought back. "No, I expect you to make sure she doesn't wake up with a concussion and a broken leg because of your clumsiness!" Simon only stopped moving, but still didn't look at Derek. "Simon, just hand her over to me."

"NO! Dude, just trust me. She won't get hurt!" Derek's idea got Simon to turn around abruptly to face Derek, which made Chloe's legs hit the staircase.

"Well that isn't going so well now is it?" They continued their bickering on who gets the honoring of bring the princessto her tower while she slept peacefully (miraculously). This is what I meant about Chloe. Sure, we're all tired, but here we are, two boys fighting for Chloe. Of course, she's getting all the attention. What about me? I just want to find a bed, throw myself on it and go to freaking sleep! But noo, I get to be stuck here in the middle of the stairs, the taunting open room of a bed looking right at me.

".God! If you two don't shut up, I'm going to throw a knock-back spell on all of you, so you all fall down the stairs!" I demanded with clenched teeth. They all looked down at me, silence following suit. I guess I really did look mad. Simon took the opportunity and continued up. "Well?" I motioned with my hand for them to move. Derek rolled his eyes at me, but continued up.

Finally, we were all off the stairs, and I looked around me. You could go left or right, with doors filling up the halls. Andrew said that the rooms on the right were mostly for the "children" who really do live here. I don't know what he meant by "live" here, but he continued on. On the right side, most of the adults sleep there, none of them actually live there though. They come and go. And there were also some offices there, and the library was also located there. At the end of each hall, there was a set of stairs heading towards the attic. We shouldn't go up there. There where about ten or less doors on the right hall, while there were seven on the left (because the library took up a lot of space).

"Andrew, where are we sleeping?" I asked as nicely as I could, even though I really could care less about the architect of this mansion at the moment. Andrew looked embarrassed.

"Oh, right, you guys probably just want to go straight to sleep. And…relax." the last part was for Simon, who was fidgeting with Chloe. Okay, either Chloe has gained a lot of weight over the past few weeks, or Simon is really weak. Derek on the other hand, was glaring, arms crossed. He must have still been upset with the whole 'Simon gets to carry Chloe instead of me' thing. "Tori and Chloe can go in that room for now." He continued, motioning to a door almost third to last on the hall. On the right hallway, either side had some doors.

Not wasting anytime, I almost ran to it, ignoring my protesting legs, and opened the door. Two beds facing each other and two doors, probably closets. Smiling, I picked the bed that looked slightly bigger, farthest away from the large window. Simon noticed that I picked the best bed, and glared at me.

"Good night to you too." I replied with a grin. Don't I at least get to choose the bed, since Chloe had been carried here? That's fair, right?

Simon put Chloe down and pulled the covers over her. I noticed Derek wasn't here, probably already in his room. Before leaving, Simon kissed the top of Chloe's head and left, not saying anything to me. Not that I cared or anything…

I sighed, and decided it was too late to take a shower…

I wasn't sure if Chloe was just mumbling in her sleep or not, but I ignored it, being selfish and having my sleep. And maybe it was just part of my dream, when I heard my door open and close…

This time, I heard a door across from my room open real slowly. It must have Derek's room. Rubbing my eyes, I looked around and found Chloe's bed empty. Oh dear god, I can't believe she decided to go exploring, by herself, in an ancient Victorian house that could be filled with dead creatures. Sighing, I got out of bed, getting ready to look for her. Knowing her, she would already be in trouble. See, I'm a caring person.

Walking to the door, I heard the door from earlier closing, then walking down further the hall. Waiting a few seconds, I then opened my door, and briefly saw Derek's form retreating to the right, where the door to the attic was hidden. He's probably already going after Chloe. I thought to myself. And knowing that, I still decided to follow…

Even though you had to turn left to see the door, if you turned left, there was a little space that had a gap. For hide-in-seek? Probably, but not the one most ten-year olds know how to play.

Ignoring it, I opened the door to see the narrow stairs. I climbed them, when I stopped to saw two doors on the landing. Oh-uh. Then I heard Chloe's concerned voice.

"Are you okay?" she doesn't sound like she's in immediate trouble and like she's talking to someone.

"Yeah, just . . Tired. Feeling off. Really off. Too much . . ." I heard Derek's deep voice as he struggled for a word. "Being here. Being safe. I'm still adjusting." Okay, so he found her. She's safe. I was turning back, getting ready to get out (no need for them to know I was worried about Chloe)when I heard Derek's next line.

"It's Tori. I don't like her story about how she got away." My heart missed a beat and I turned around swiftly, looking at the door that the voices were coming from. So they don't trust me, do they? Leaning my ear closer to the door, I listened for Chloe's reply.

"You think they let her get away?" I snorted, I couldn't help it.

"I'm not saying . . . It's just . . . I don't have any proof." Damn straight he doesn't!

"If you're thinking she's been a plant from the start, she hasn't. Don't tell her I told you this, okay? When she helped me escape, she only wanted to get away from the Edison Group and run back to her dad. So she called him. Instead he sent her mom—the woman we'd just escaped. Tori was hurt, really hurt. In shock even. She couldn't have faked that." I can't believe Chloe told Derek that! I still have the tough attitude that Derek and Simon can believe. Now Derek's not going to buy it. I should have stopped her, barged in and shut her up. I had a right, right? That was a secret between us and she just told Derek. And yet I didn't, probably because of the reason why she told him.

"I didn't figure she was in on it from that far back." Derek stated

"Just that she cut a deal last night?"

"Yeah."

"Would Tori turn us in for the promise of getting her old life back?" Bullshit! Why would I want to go back to my mother? That fake life? I didn't even realize I was making tight fists by my side. Nor that I was biting my tongue. I had enough of this. I didn't want to hear anymore. So I walked down the stairs as quietly as I could when I heard some steps from below.

Shit!

Thinking fast, I casted a blur spell, one that I saw my mother use, and stood still. The door opened slowly, and I saw the make out of Simon's body. Crap. He didn't close the door, but swung it so there was barely any light. Then, to my horror, he walked up.

This was a narrow stairway. Even though he couldn't see me, if he came too close, he could still touch me. Holding my breath, I crushed myself against a wall and….

He went right past me! As he turned the door knob, I walked down stairs quietly, still holding my breath.

"Don't tell Simon what?" Simon asked. But I never got to listen to what they replied, because I was out the door and heading for my room. No need to interrupt the three musketeers. Because I obviously am not included.

Finally inside my room, I sat on my bed, not able to sleep. Funny, I was so reluctant to get out of bed, now I'm just sitting here, with my arms around my knees. I guess I could say I just wasn't tired, but I can't lie to myself. Derek and Chloe's earlier conversation was what kept me up. Here I was, nonchalantly with this group thinking, 'hey, maybe they don't think so badly of me' Who was I kidding? I wasn't part of the "Wonderful Trio". They won't keep me updated on anything, and they will probably be following my every move, waiting for me to call Dr. Davidoff anytime soon. Gosh, I feel so… alone.

Damn, realization hurts! Did I really have to follow Derek and hear those words? But then again, I rather know I have to change then to be ignorant and have them talking behind my back…

None of them want me here, they think I'm going to start spying on them and betraying them. Except for Chloe…

True that. But still, I feel like I owe too much to Chloe already, and I don't need her to talk for me. I especially don't want her to get in an argument with the boys over me. Not like she would go that far….

What about after we first found Derek and Simon, and Derek asked you to leave? Chloe got mad, ignored him, and left with you… my inside voice tried to reason.

Okay, okay. But I don't need Chloe to just keep on fighting for me. I appreciate it and all, but if I want acceptance, I'll have to do it my way. But how?

Everyone coming into the kitchen and find me wearing a frilly apron baking cookies?

No, strike that. What are you trying to do, scare them to death?

Well, if I was Simon's girlfriend…

Um, No! I'm over him and that'll just get him mad if I start flirting with him. 'Sides, he's into Chloe now.

I can make a whole list for Andrew on reasons why he shouldn't be afraid of Derek. Yeah, I might be wrong, but I was getting a weird vibe off him when Derek decided to sit next to him during the car ride. He was a bit uncomfortable, I could tell. I actually like this idea. Hmmm. Number one: deep inside, Derek is an animal lover. Yup, I remember that in the Lyle House, there was this birdie that fell of its nest. Me and Peter didn't really care, but Liz and Simon were afraid it couldn't fly. Derek also ignored. So Liz brought it inside (not letting the nurses know) and hid it in her room. Then, three days later, it disappeared. But what they didn't know was that I saw Derek secretly taking it out and somehow it flew. Then he whispered softly, "Sorry kiddo, I know you really didn't like it in there, but I couldn't just let you out so quickly. I'm sorry. But now you're free." That was the first time A) I heard Derek full out say "I'm sorry" and B) Derek talking in a soft, sweet and caring voice.

Or maybe we could just blackmail Derek with that moment and all will be fine.

Yeah, because saying 'If you don't trust me, then I'll tell everyone about that time." is soo going to put more faith in me.

Okay, so back to the list.

Well actually, giving a list to Andrew would be considered really rude and… insulting. Mostly because its pretty obvious that Derek wouldn't hurt anyone that needs to be hurt. Only if they are about to hurt the people he cares about…which still doesn't include me.

Ugh! I pulled a pillow on top of my face, resulting in throwing my back on the bed.

This is going to be harder then I thought….

A/N: Okay, I really, really want to know what you guys think. Was this an intriguing enough first chapter? Did Tori sound out of character? Will you review? I kind of want to know if taking some time out of my already busy schedule is worth it.