Disclaimer: I do not own DP

Chapter 2:

I finished packing my things, called to reserve a hotel room, and looked around my apartment. It was small; I didn't like having all of the extra room. It made me feel lonelier than I already was. It was furnished with all tans and browns. Not much color.

My eye was caught on a mirror. In some ways, I have changed so much since the Lyle House. My skin got paler than it already was. I didn't really eat that much anymore, so it was sunken in. My blue eyes were dull, and my blonde hair didn't have the sheen that it used to have. I looked like an adult, but I was often mistaken for someone much younger, since my shortage of height, curves, and boobs never really popped up (or out). I was pretty; I often got the look from the guys at the coffee shop. But I doubted anyone ever thought of me as beautiful.

I checked my e-mail just to waste time. I had a message from the girls. But the one person that I needed to hear from wasn't there. The first one read:

Dear Chloe,

Guess what deary? Do you remember the guy I mentioned who I worked with, and he was amazingly good looking? Well, apparently he thought I was cute as well, because we've been on a couple of dates now! We should really get together; we could double date! John (that's his name) really wants to meet you. I'm sure that you must've snagged a guy by now. At the Lyle House, you had all of the guys wrapped around your fingers. I think that we might be close to becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. I hope so, anyway...

Anyway, give me a call! We haven't talked in ages, and we should really get together. Love you, sister!

~Hot headed Rae

I shook my head. Rae was such a romantic. I'm sure that the whole deal with this guy wasn't going to last all that long, but I wasn't going to burst her bubble. And I surely wasn't going to go on a double date with her and John. There's only one wolf out there for me, and any other feels wrong. Plus I don't know if I'll be able to see her falling for a guy she's only known for a couple of months. It's hard enough walking down the street and seeing couples together.

The next message was from Tori:

Chloe,

How are you doing? God, the beach is so nice. I don't see how you can stand to live in New York still. It's filled with dirty snow and sewer rats. But whatever floats your boat, I guess.

What's got you down? I already told you that you should try to find Derek. I know, I know, you don't like him, blah blah blah. I saw you guys when you left. Don't be an idiot. The worst thing that he can tell you is that Simon is home so he can't do you right there and then. Trust me.

Anyways, Lucas proposed. Yup, I've got a huge rock on my finger. You should come to the wedding. You are the maid of honor, in case you didn't know. There's no way you are getting out of it either. I know that you pull shit on Rae, but I'm not buying it. Why don't you try to get everyone together? You know, the whole gang? It'd be nice...if you tell anyone I said that, I will put you in such a binding spell you won't be able to piss.

Hey. I miss you. I know for a fact that everyone else misses you. Stop hiding in the shadows and join the rest of the supernatural world. Come and visit sometime.

~The Queen Bitch Witch, Tori

I sighed. Even though I personally liked Rae more than Tori, Tori knew me better. She knew that I am in love with Derek. But what she doesn't know is that Derek doesn't love me back.

I've thought about it. I never got one e-mail from him in seven years. Not a call, not snail mail, not even a text message. Simon mentions him every once in a while, but it's not enough. I need direct contact with him.

But I know for a fact that Derek doesn't love me; Simon told me that Derek had got a girlfriend a couple years back. All hope I had was smashed. I'm still having a hard time accepting it. I don't know whether they got married and had puppies or broke up. Simon never mentioned it again. And I never asked him. Hearing that he had moved on broke me being.

I looked at the clock. It was close enough to bedtime. I shut off the computer and cried myself to sleep.

X-x-X-x-X-x-X

When I woke up, I couldn't help but groan. Today was the day. Seven years exactly, today. I got up, jumped into the shower, made myself some cereal, and sat down to eat. I finished, trying to procrastinate. I loaded my car up with luggage, grabbed my cell phone, and got ready for the ride down to Broadway.

As I pulled onto the highway, I turned on the radio, hoping that today wasn't the day that they would be playing the sappy love songs. I was lucky enough, anyways. Talking about the world ending wasn't half as bad as that.

I drove, for about a good hour, when the engine started smoking.

"Shit," I said, and pulled over. As I went out to put up the hood, I had to turn away. Coughing, I saw that the engine was completely shot. I groaned, and went into my car to grab my phone. I tried Simon, but I found that I had no bars. I was screwed. I went to the back of my car and sat on my trunk as I thought about what I should do. Hitchhiking was dangerous, but it might be my only way out. No cell phone, no way to fix the engine, nothing. I burrowed my face in my hands.

As I sat, I heard a car slow down. I looked up to see that someone had stopped. A young man stepped out of the car.

"Why, miss, do you have someone on the way?"

He gave me the creeps. "Yup. He lives a little ways away. Thanks, though."

He eyed me, and I wished that today wasn't the day that I decided to wear a skirt. My stomach felt all weird. I looked around to see if any other cars were coming; the roads were barren, and there was a forest on both sides of the highway. I was out of luck.

"Well, I don't feel right just leaving you all alone here," he said, leaning against the hood of his car. "Why don't I keep you company until your ride gets here?"

I took a deep breath, and tried to cover up as much skin as I could. I was out of luck. But I wasn't going to be one of those victims on the movies. He touched me, he was getting a good heel to the groin.

"So, where were you going?" he asked, an obvious look in his eye.

"Oh, um, just to my dad's house. Me and my fiance are going to tell him the good news in person." I smiled generously.

He smiled a smile of lust. "Oh really now? What's the lucky fellow's name?"

"Derek," I said as my heart burst at the thought of us ever getting married. "He's a really good guy. Policeman."

The man took a step forwards. "You ever get lonely while he's gone?"

"Nope." My words were harsh and cold. "He's all I'll ever want."

Another step. "Well, have you ever looked at anything but him?"

I slowly began to undo my heels. I knew that I could run without shoes on; I still practice those muscles that I built up. "Of course. His brother was my first boyfriend."

He laughed, and got too close. I began to inch of the trunk. "Maybe it's their genes or something, that makes them so irresistible. I know that you are quite mouth watering."

I took off, running past him. I tried running in the grass, but could see the shiny specs of broken glass. I swore, and took off on the tar. I could hear him running after me, his heavy feet clomping on the ground clumsily. I hoped and prayed that a car was coming soon. I may be able to run longer than, him, but he was faster. I kept going, my feet tearing from the black tar. If I kept going for much longer, my feet would begin to bleed. But what choice did I really have?

He was getting closer. I knew that. The sound of his feet slapping on the ground was growing louder. Not one car had passed. I was so scared; I wished that Derek was there. He could help. Hell, I wouldn't mind if Tori was here right now; at least she could fight back. I wasn't going to raise any corpses anytime soon. I did that enough when I was younger.

Like an idiot, I looked back. And screamed. He was almost an arms length away from me. A couple more strides and he would get me. And then I saw it.

A car. I screamed again, running towards the car, waving me hand. The man tackled me, and my head cracked against the pavement. I could feel hot, sticky blood run down my face. I began kicking the man, but he wouldn't give up.

He must be on drugs, I thought. I had kicked him in the groin multiple times already, and yet he wasn't giving up.

Just as he was getting on the upper hand, I heard the car stop. I thanked the universe, and tried avoiding being dragged into the woods. If he succeeded in getting me in there, I was dead.

"HEY!" the man driving the car jumped out and was chasing my assaulter. It wasn't hard for him to do. He was so big...

He tackled the assaulter, and they rolled around, punching and kicking. Then I got hit with de ja vu.

"Derek?" I asked, heart exploding. The man that was saving my life had long black hair, a black sweatshirt on, and baggy jeans. I knew it. It was indeed Derek.

He looked up, confused. Then it hit him. His entire face lit up. "Chloe?"

The man punched him, right in the jaw. I looked around, trying to find someway that I could help. But I saw it wasn't needed. Derek gave the guy a couple more punches, and then raced towards me. The assaulter laid where Derek had left him.

Derek's huge arms went around my waist, lifting me up in the air. My own arms went around his neck. My entire being was on fire. I finally found him.

His skin had cleared, and his hair was shiny. It was shorter than the last time I saw him... He had the same body; but his height was now reaching maybe six and a half feet. I felt shorter than I had in a while. And I was loving every minute of it.

When he set me down, he didn't let go of me. He just looked at me, and then I saw his nostrils flare. His eyes widened as his hand went to the side of my head. He touched gently, yet I still winced. He pulled his hand away, and I could see the blood.

"Get in," he said, and I nodded, getting into his sleek car. He got in as quickly as he could, and then punched the gas.

"How's your head? Do you feel dizzy at all? Light headed?"

I smiled. Nothing had changed. "Oh, Derek, I missed you."

He looked over, and I saw his lips curve upwards for a minute. "You have no idea how much I missed you, Chloe."

"Then Derek, why didn't you try to contact me at all?" I know how weird our conversation must've been as we kept saying each other's name. But I couldn't help it. I haven't seen him in almost ten year. Seven years exactly.

He shook his head. "I tried. But then, I don't know."

That was my answer. But before I could say anything, he asked the next question.

"What the hell happened?"

I shrugged. "I got a couple of tickets to go see Rent tonight, and my car broke down. The creeper stopped, and stayed even after I told him that I had someone coming."

"Did you?"

I shook my head. "Nope. No cell phone reception. So I was stuck, and then he came too close. I ran."

I barely heard his growl, but I basked in the sound of it. That just proved even more that he was here, with me. I was having a hard time accepting it.

The car began to spin. I must've been losing a lot of blood. I put my head back against the seat, trying to take deep breaths.

"Chloe? Are you alright?"

Then I slipped into unconsciousness.