Ch 2

Chloe walked through her front door with Derek.

"Derek!" Simon yelled. He rushed to hug his big brother. "I've called you like a million times!"

"Sorry." he said gruffly. He awkwardly shifted away from Simon.

Chloe tugged him into the room further. "Make yourself at home." Her smile nearly forced him to smile back.

Her home had an open space concept where the living room and kitchen weren't separated by any wall.

He sat on her tiny sofa and she giggled.

"What?" he asked as he struggled to get comfortable.

"I was planning to buy a new one soon so don't worry." She turned behind her and looked up, "Liz, could you help me find my apron. I need to start cooking and I lost it when Tori went on her trip."

Liz nodded.

Tori spoke up, "Oh, sorry. I took it with me. I'll go get it."

Chloe playfully sighed and another smile crept onto her lips. The blonde pulled out the pre-cut vegetables and marinated meat onto the counter. She began cutting extra vegetables.

"Is there anything you two will refuse to eat?" she asked.

The two young men glanced at one another then back at Chloe.

"Derek eats everything." Simon told her as if it were obvious.

"Simon will eat everything but he's diabetic so it's mainly sweets that he avoids."

Simon flushed as if being diabetic was a secret of some sorts.

"That's good to know. Tori refuses to eat a ton of things." she giggled to herself.

Chloe pulled out a pan and sat on the carpeted floor of the living room where Simon and Derek sat.

Simon stood up immediately insisting she sit on the chair but she refused so he sat beside her on the floor. Derek felt obligated to move as well and sat across from the two.

Simon gazed at her in awe. "You know, you smile a lot." Chloe perked up and was taken aback. She fluttered her lashes awkwardly thinking of a reply.

"Thanks." she murmured shyly.

Tori waltzed back into the room with the apron in hand. She sputtered a laugh, "I guess my stupid brother is pulling the chivalry card. Don't believe a word he says."

Simon furrowed his brows and whispered, "She's way better at playing people. I swear I'm genuine. A First Class gentleman."

Tori glared at him as small sparks sizzled at her fingertips, "Say it again, I dare you." she said teasingly before putting out the sparks.

Chloe stood and began preparing dinner. Simon moved in beside her and offered to help her. Tori laughed again, "He burns water, if anyone is gonna help then the superhuman can do it."

"Actually, Simon you can help if you want but not with the cooking." suggested Chloe.

"Sure, name what you need?"

"If you would settle into upstairs first. I'd like your luggages out of the front doorway."

"Sorry." he said bashfully. He then had Tori guide him upstairs to put his things away.

...

"I'll be sleeping in Tori's room so you and Simon can sleep separately." she stated matter of factly to Derek after they walked away.

"You didn't have to. I can stay in his room." he murmured.

"We only have three beds and you definitely won't fit with Simon. Tori warned me in advance of your superhuman size and strength. You can have the king sized bed. Me and Tori have the queen and Simon gets the single."

"Thanks. Am I using up your room?"

"Yeah. It might smell like me too. But at least it doesn't smell like death."

He frowned, "A necromancer who doesn't smell like death?" he chuckled, "Thank goodness."

She smiled again. He continued, "On that note, did she tell you which race I was?"

Chloe shook her head. "I told her not to. She seemed pretty nervous about the topic and I wasn't going to listen to a secret without consent."

Chloe moved her gaze back to the food and pulled her hair behind her ear.

Derek crept up beside her.

She jumped and dropped the spatula.

She cursed.

"Don't sneak up on me." he opened his mouth then shut it. She continued, "It's fine." she balanced herself on her tippytoes and ruffled his hair. She smiled at him and this time, for a brief moment, he mirrored her expression. Chloe's hand jumped to her mouth in shock. Her cheeks grew red.

Chloe began her own repeated fantasy taking place in a world where Derek actually smiled.

After a few minutes, Chloe wanted to move the food into the oven so she began taking the remaining metal pans out of it. As she struggled Derek took them from her and the rest of the pans with his free hand.

"She wasn't kidding about your strength."

"This is nothing. It's just heavy for you because you're tiny."
"I'm not tiny." she protested. She shoved the meat into the oven and began washing then cooking rice. Eventually, she fried the vegetables and she needed a large bowl to put them in. A large container that she and Tori never really needed to use but still had on the top shelf.

She climbed onto the counter and opened up the cupboards. She stretched her arms out and shook. With the glass in her hand she put out one leg to try and find the floor. She struggled until she felt large hands placed onto her hips and then felt herself being lowered onto the ground.

"Thanks Derek." she whispered.

"Next time ask me to get it." he told her slightly upset.

"Ok. Sorry, I'm not use having a man around."

"I'm sure your boyfriend-" She placed her hands on his which happen to be resting on her hips.

She abruptly cut him off, "I don't have one nor have I ever."

"Then your-"

"Father? Nope, I lived with my Aunt since Dad was busy all the time. No guys. Ever. So if you don't like something let me know because I honestly won't know unless you say so."

He gave a small nod.

Simon came down with a flushed face.

Chloe questioned it.

"I moved Derek's stuff into his new room and it was hella heav-" he stopped and noticed where their hands sat.

"You were using your magic right?" Chloe asked.

Simon continued to stare.

"Oh." Chloe said and reluctantly pried her hands away from his and Derek dropped his arms to his side.

"Yeah but all in one go was hard for me." he said slowly as he attempted to figure out what he had just seen.

"Can't Tori just-"

"He's weaker than me by a billion Chlo. Don't get caught up on the details." she said as she was walking down the steps.

"I'm not weak!"

"Prove it."

The two began to argue and Chloe looked up at Derek who was leaning against the closest surface where Chloe stood. She whispered to herself, "Do they always fight?"

"Yeah." He responded quickly.

Chloe gave herself a mental note, he had strength and hearing sensitivity too.

Tori and Simon slowed their arguing to briefly gaze at Derek and Chloe's odd relationship. Until Simon muttered under his breath another insult which sent them back into a whirlwind of more arguing.