A/N: I cannot apologize enough. I'm so sorry I haven't updated. I'll update more soon. Thank you so much for the amazing reviews. and my chapters will be like normal chapters now. I was just getting used to the system in the beginning. 3 xx
Chapter Nine: Take A Good Snapshot
I decided I would leave with the ensemble instead of with Derek. We got back in New York and everyone parted ways. As I got to my apartment, I remembered the lease was under Dev's name. All of my stuff was already in boxes – poorly packed boxes – and by the front door. Where would I go now? I had my friend Ana, but she got easily jealous of me and I couldn't be around that right now.
There was always Derek… We just fought, though. He probably didn't even think of me and found a girl at the bar last night. He probably found a busty blonde, like Ivy, bought her a few drinks, tempted her with the lure of his accent and then she was hooked. Stop, Karen. You're being ridiculous. I thought and took a deep breath. Derek had texted me seven times this morning, making sure I was safe or if I was mad. Of course I was mad. He got mad at me for having friends! Ugh. I hailed a taxi and somehow ended up at Derek's apartment anyways. He wasn't home yet so I sat in front of the door like a lost puppy that needed to be cared for. He came home an hour later and my phone was dead from playing Temple Run.
"Karen? Darling?" He asked, kneeling next to me. "I know, I know. I look desperate and sad, but I have nowhere to go…" I started saying and then I ended up crying. He didn't know how to handle it, so he carried my stuff into the apartment and made me coffee with Bailey's. When in doubt, have coffee and alcohol. I gave him a warm smile and noticed in a mirror behind him that my lipstick had faded and my mascara was smeared down my cheeks.
"I'm sorry, I'm a hot mess." I apologized multiple times, half the time for the most irrelevant things, like how I messed up a few weeks ago on Let's Be Bad. He just chuckled and started unpacking my stuff. "Karen, you're hot, love, but not a mess." He kissed my head and took off his jacket. "I'm not going to let you sleep on the streets. You can live here until you can find an apartment somewhere. I'll pay for some of it, if you need."
Derek wasn't being, well, Derek. I observed him as he turned on the fireplace and closed the curtains. "Stop, Derek. You're acting like our fight never even happened. I don't understand." I looked down at my blue, chipped nails as I heard him sigh. His voice was soft. "Love, that wasn't a fight. It was a tiny argument; we just have to let the ship sail. Now you should get some rest. I'll unpack your stuff and you can sleep in my bedroom, darling." He kissed me as if it would be our last kiss ever and I went upstairs.
This was the Dark Lord's bedroom. It wasn't a cave or a torture chamber. Actually, for a director, his room was neat. He had very minimalistic style. There were shelves, filled and filled with books. His bed was made with big fluffy gray silk pillows and a matching duvet. He had one dresser with the Bombshell book on it and legal papers stacked neatly next to it. His bathroom was huge and his closet was the same size. Quickly, I took my shoes off and got into his bed. It smelt like Eternity by Calvin Klein, Derek's scent. I smiled and snuggled into the pillows. Maybe I could get used to this.
I woke up the next day with Derek next to me, wide awake and emailing on his phone. "Good morning, love." He kissed my hand, still looking at his phone. "Good morning. I'll start apartment hunting right now." I said as I tried to get up. Derek somehow ended up getting his arm wrapped around my waist and he brought me on top of him. "Don't leave just yet, darling." He smirked and kissed me. This was going to be an absolutely good day.