::: TWO :::

He wrapped his muscular arms around my smaller frame and I followed the instinct within me, wrapping my own arms around his waist like he was my life line- Right now, it was Derek and I. The haze was broken when Derek suddenly pulled back and Tori entered the kitchen, her eyes flickering between the two of us. "Ahhh...what are you guys doing?" The expression that came across the blondes face made my stomach start up all over again.

"N-nothing, I tripped and Derek was helping me." My eyes flickered to Derek, his face had transformed back to his stony blank and I wasn't sure if those had been the correct words to use.

"That would be right, Little Miss Princess falling over. Nothing ever changes." I looked up at Tori, she was smiling - was she telling a joke? It seemed surreal after her attitude back at the Edison house but than again everything had changed in such a fast fast pace.

With grabbing a piece of fruit from the table, Tori left again with a smile on her lips. I turned my attention to Derek, he had a frown between his eyebrows and I had the sudden want to smooth the wiggles out of his skin and for his stern mouth to be replaced with a smile. Shaking the thought from my mind, I quickly sat down to finish my eggs and not make another situation between us. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Derek walk over to the bench and grab an apple before heading for the library. With his back facing me, I couldn't help but have a quick look a his ass as he disappeared around the corner. Rolling my eyes at my behavior,I finished the last bite of my breakfast and headed for the bathroom- so much for not thinking about the one topic I wanted to avoid.

The hot water running down my body was heaven; I don't know how I've survived so long without it and I'm never going to take it for granted. I glanced down at my feet watching the black hair dye swirled around them as it run towards the drain. I tried to get the awful dye from out of hair, washing it five times before I felt somewhat normal. I could feel all my muscles in my back relaxing and the weight of everything following the trial of the black hair dye- it took about twnety mintunes before I finally made the decision to get out.

In the mirror my hair was looking grayer than black, its complexion didn't make me look too pale as before. The colour still didn't suit me- hopefully I can talk Tori into some shopping and get something new to dye it, and I was more than positive that I wont have to ask twice for Tori to say 'yes'. Walking out in new clothes, I felt more fresh and alive than I had in days as I made my way down the hallwasy. I decided finding Tori would be the best plan, hopefully not bumping into Simon because i didn't have the strength to listen or be asked questions I didn't want to answer.

Tori was in her bedroom listening to music and looking through a teen magazine- it was the typical picture of a teenager and it amazed me how easy Tori could adapted. "Hey Tori, what you doing?" I took a seat on the edge of her bed.

"What does it look like, I'm reading."

"I was thinking we should go shopping. We could get new clothes, food and anything else, like maybe hair dye for me." Tori looked up at my hair and groaned, the feeling of embarrassment swept over me.

"I would love to go shopping, staying in this house and running away is driving me crazy. And We need to do something with your hair. I don't know why Derek picked black, stupid mutt."

"Tori, don't call Derek a mutt. He was just trying to help."

"I don't even think trying is the right word." It frustrated me the way Tori spoke of him- he was simply trying to help me, keep me safe.

"Tori." I stood with my hands on my hips- I wasn't going to listen to anymore of it.

"Ok, ok. We should go find Andrew and ask." We left together to find Andrew in his office surrounded by paper work. Tori wasn't hesitant walking up to the front of the desk with that look on her face- the one I'd seen her use a million times back at the Edison house to get her way.

"Hey Andrew, Chloe and I would love to go shopping, you know to buy new clothes."Andrew looked between us both trying to figure out if we were up to something - I simply smiled the best I could.

"We just got here, I don't think going shopping is the best idea now. People are looking for all of you and Chloe is wanted." Tori didn't look to happy with that answer- when she wanted something, she got it, one way or another.

"Come on Andrew, we need new clothes. Chloe needs to get her hair dyed, so people won't recognise her and The Edison Group don't even know where we are. Please." Andrew drew a big breath in and out, looking between us- I think Tori might be a god at this.

"Fine, I'll get you both credit cards and a phone. Call me to pick you up and I will drop you off sometime tomorrow, but don't go talking to anyone and don't draw attention to yourselves." He looked at us both, looking for answers.

"Oh I love you Andrew. Thank you, thank you, thank you." Tori skipped out the room, leaving me behind.

"Thank you Andrew, I promise you can trust us." Walking out, I give a big smile and a hand wave before making my own escape so he couldn't change his mine. Walking pass Simon's room, the brothers were talking so I knocked on the door. "Hey, what you guys doing?"

"Chloe, I'm showing Derek my comic book. What about you? I saw Tori before and she was actually happy." Simon patted the space on the bed next to him- glancing at Derek, he wouldn't met my eyes so I took the next opinion, the floor.

"Tori and I are going shopping later. Andrews going to give us credit cards, a phone and drive us there." I smiled- It will be great to get the black hair dye out and new clothes. Simon and Derek looked at me like I was crazy. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Derek exploded at me, his voice scowling me like I was a child. "You know The Edison Group are looking for you and not to mention you have a bounty on your head. You could get caught or worse you could get hurt!" He stood up, his frame leaning over my smaller one. "You are not going shopping, I don't know what Andrew was thinking. I don't know what you were thinking. You're not going!" I got defensive and responded straight back- I wasn't going to let him push me around.

"I can do what I want Derek Souza! Don't think you can stop me from doing anything, you have no hold on me." That was a lie but he didn't need to know that. "I'm going whether you like it or not." I stood so close to him I could feel the heat coming off his skin, his presence so close made the anger slowly drain from me.

His tone shifted from commanding to soft, one I could barely hear. "Chloe, you can't go. Please." He was...begging me not too and I had to close my eyes for a short second to collect myself.

"Derek, why can't I go?" I waited for a response - a flicker of emotion passed across his voice before it vanished leaving it blank.

"Fine, you can go. But I'm coming with you." I didn't really have a problem with that, Derek coming was fine by me - Don't know about Tori but she'll live one way or another. Looked up at his green eyes trying to find the thoughts, emotions from before to feel his breath fan over my face- in that instant I realised how close he truly was. My heart was pounding in my ears and I'm sure Derek could hear it but I couldn't care less at this time - this close to him made my body feel light and airy with an intense want...If i could just lean in a little closer.

I heard someone clear their throat- Simon was in the same room and it instantly made me snap back to reality as I reluctantly moved back, feeling a blush coming up my neck and cheeks. The sudden realisation of what was about to happen made the blush creep up my neck- I was so close to kissing his brother and he was in the same room. Taking a quick glance at Simon, the excepted frown was a smiling one which made me feel overwhelmed.

"Well...I think I'll leave you two to it." Simon slapped his brother on the back saying 'good on ya' as he left the room.

I didn't know where to cast my eyes as we stood in the room looking everywhere except at each other."So Derek, you're going to come shopping with Tori and I. I don't know if you'll survive that, you may be able to save us from The Edison Group but going shopping might be too much." I was being cheeky but I wanted to break the silence that had fallen over us. Derek actually smiled, not a small or fake smile but a real one- It took my breath away.

"Oh I think I could handle shopping if it means been with you." That made me smile and his grew bigger.

The next words came from my mouth before I could stop them but i didn't regret it after huis answer."Do you want to watch a movie? I really want to see A Knights Tale."

"Yeah, sounds good, I've never watched it before." I hesitantly grabbed Derek's hand- it was big and warm compared my own, smiling I led him to the lounge room. Derek sat on the couch and I went to find the DVD. Putting it in, I thought about sitting next to Derek but I didn't want to seem like one of those girls who are super glued to their guy. Wait is he even my guy? The question circled around my head making my body shake with nerves as headed for the other side of the couch. I looked over at Derek and met his green eyes, my own body went into overdrive with a tingling sensation through it. Derek patted the spot next to him and I was over there in a blink of an eye- I was snuggling against Derek when the starting credits were playing. A peaceful notion worked through me as his arm wrapped around me and his thumb moving loving slow circles on my thigh. It should have made me nerves to the bone like Simon made me feel- I took a breath in and Derek's scent with fresh grass and pine needles cocooned around me, my body instantly relaxing. I felt Derek's lips on my top head as he continued rubbing smoothing circles on my hand. I was positive that we didn't get half way into the movie before my eyes started to get heavy and fell asleep consumed me.

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PUBLISHED: 06/10/2010

REVISED: 13/05/2013