I do not own any of Kelly Armstrong's characters or books. I have no rights to the Darkest Power Trilogy.
Ch 2
The Second Lie
So Chloe lied. Big deal! It was one lie. It couldn't hurt. Plus, it was for a greater purpose.
"Chloe?" Lauren asked from behind the door.
"Yes?" Chloe asked back.
"Can I come in?"
"Yeah."
Lauren awkwardly slipped in. Her head was down and she looked absolutely terrible. She definitely didn't sleep last night.
"About Derek, I still can't accept him. I can't sweety."
"Your going to have to try Aunt Lauren. He's my b-boyfriend. Your just going to have to cope with it."
"Chloe, I'll make you see how wrong you are. You'll see that he was the monster all along. You'll want to break up with him immediately."
Chloe gritted her teeth. It made perfect sense for her to be mad about this. Derek is important and if he wouldn't stand up for himself, then she would.
"Anyways, what time will you be home for dinner." Lauren asked. She was anxiously hoping Chloe would have her attention diverted from Derek.
"Oh, um about that."
"What?"
"Well," Chloe thought the sentence through trying to make sure she would say it coherently. "Now that you know Derek and I are d-dating, he and I were planning to go out today."
"No."
"No? I have every reason to spend time with Derek. No secrets now that you know."
"No way! Cancel on him."
"But Aunt Lauren, that would be rude. You raised me to be better than that."
"Better? Better would be not even breathing the same air. If the Lord could grant me powers, I would have seperated you two the moment he lay eyes on you."
"That's a total exaggeration! Whether you tried to separate us or not, we would have found a way. Thus, I'll be out today."
"No."
"Aunt Lauren!"
"I mean, you can have him come over for dinner as your date."
Chloe was considering the possibility. It could work. Maybe she could show off Derek in a good way and Aunt Lauren would accept him. As she attempted to refuse, Aunt Lauren protested and began nagging. Chloe pulled out her phone and texted. Seeing as the date was a lie, this would be a good cover.
'Can you come over after school for dinner tonight?'
A few minutes went by and a ping sounded from Chloe's phone.
'Fine. Tori and Simon coming too?'
'Nope, just you and your lovely self.' she text back.
'k.'
At school, several student started to speak to Chloe about Derek. They told her they would support her and if she needed help when he was forcing her to do something, they would step in. She giggled and ensured them that she appreciated the sentiment but there would be no need. She assumed the news of their apparent relationship spread quickly from the few students that lingered after school previously. Others actually attempted to talk to Derek too. They thought he couldn't be too bad if he was dating the cute Chloe Saunder of Samuel Lyle High School.
The change was odd, but felt nice.
It was suppose to be one little lie. Now everyone in school must have heard about it. Chloe reassured herself, 'One lie couldn't hurt.'
During lunch, Tori shooed the 'unnecessary people' around Chloe, as she calls them, so that she could have alone time with her best friend.
"You and Derek! Wow Chloe, I never knew that you had the hots for him." she laughed.
"Didn't they tell -"
"I'm joking. Chill, they told me about your lie. Maybe even your first epic lie!"
Chloe shushed her and tried to keep her from yelling out the truth.
"Tori, I panicked and it just came out."
Tori laughed, she hit the table and moved her finger to her eyes to wipe away the tears.
"I totally ship it! But if you guys fake break up whose gunna do it?"
"Well if I break up with him , my Aunt will never accept him, if he breaks up with me then my Aunt will hate him more for breaking my non existent love for him."
"So you two are stuck together forever? Hey, I call maid of honor."
"Tori!"Chloe yelled as she lightly tapped Tori on her arm indicating focus was required.
"So what will you do?"
"I don't know, maybe tell her the truth once she finally lets her hate go."
"Good luck. Try not to drown in the number of lies your going to have to make."
"Gee, thanks. But it was just one lie."
"Have you told your Aunt any other lies yet?"
Chloe thought. Damn, she did. The date was a total lie. But, this was a tiny, teeny, itsy bitsy lie. In fact, it was barely a lie. Dating is like hanging out, so technically, it wasn't a lie. It was simply bending the truth.
After school Chloe rushed over to Derek. His smile was like everyday's usual smile. Both of them were relieved of how normal the other was acting.
"So, today you're staying for dinner, don't let anything bother you. Don't show weakness. I have to prove to her that you have every right to be with me."
"As your friend." he said to her but more to add reason for himself.
"As a friend or more than a friend. You have every right. It's not fair how she treats you."
"I was okay with it."
"You were not. I can tell."
"I could have lived with it. Don't you think she'll hate me more now that she thinks we're together?"
"At first. Friends are chosen but a relationship plays on something different. It' E. Who can deny the love between a couple, it's something you can't help."
Derek nodded in agreement. He wanted to argue but decided against it. Once she had her mind set, she would be stubborn and he had no energy to fight with her.
After a half an hour of walking, Chloe and Derek reached home. As they entered, the smell of Lauren's cooking filled the air.
"Sweety, you're home!" she said completely disregarding Derek's existence.
"We will be in my room doing homework. If you need anything we will help."
Chloe pulled Derek along to her room. It had been a while since he had been in it. Once they got there she pulled out her text books. As did Derek.
When Chloe finished her English and Psychology she came face to face with Psychics. She had been starting at the questions for several minutes and sighing every so often.
"Do you need help?" Derek asked.
"No way." she said.
She continued to chew at her lower lip and tapped the tip of her pencil on the desk.
"I think you need help." Chloe sighed.
"I do." she mumbled.
He moved beside Chloe and began explaining the MeV calculations. She whined and repeated the constants out loud.
His closeness made her feel more at ease and she rested her leg against his. She stopped working and jumped onto her bed. Chloe patted the area beside her and Derek sat where she directed him to.
"Derek." Chloe said in a whisper.
"Mhmm."
"You're my best friend. I really want her to understand how great you are."
Derek wanted to scooped Chloe into his arms and dig his face in her hair but, she would get the wrong idea.
"Thanks." he whispered.
Lauren barged in to witness her niece and the boy she despised most side by side on a bed. She made a motion as if to gag.
Chloe groaned. "Really?"
"What are you two doing. Getting that close! It's practically s-"
Chloe interrupted, "Don't be so dramatic. We aren't doing anything."
Lauren left the room frustrated but Chloe seemed over joyed. Chloe knew she was on the verge of winning. She just had to shove this relationship in Lauren's face and show her how happy, even as a couple, they were.
The dinner will be in the next. Thanks for reading! I hope I can write something interesting for their conversation in the next chapter.
