This chapter is a tad short... is it slightly sad that I say its short, and its still over 1000 words? shrugs

If anyone is curious as to why I'm updating so quickly, its mostly because we've had a really slow week at work, and that I'm sick... so its not like I'm sleeping at all or anything :(

Gack. I loved writing the love scene from last chapter. Thanks to anyone who's keeping up with reviews - they all make me smile, and i appreciate it!

We are back from flashback-land now! Derek has just realized that Tyler is talking to Leslie out in the hallway. Oh no! Will he get there before Tyler opens his big mouth?

No. He won't... I won't lie. Otherwise, this chapter would be boring and gorey, because with MoonCat's suggestion, Tyler would have very large amounts of scapel stab wounds. Ouch. Instead of that, I'll just let hilarity ensue. Sound good? LET'S ROCK! (thank you to everyone that says this now, it is my new life catch phrase)

Tyler Chase was never very good at keeping secrets… but for some reason, people still told them to him all the time. He figured he would tell people that he's a bad confidant one of these days, but the information was always way too interesting for Tyler to not want to know. So instead, he kept his mouth shut at the time, and told Leslie later on. This time, unfortunately for his four-eyed friend, was no exception.

"He WHAT?! OhmygodohmygodOHMYGOD!!!"

Tyler jerked the phone away from his ear, wincing in pain.

"Les, honey – you gotta take it down a notch… I'm deaf." He placed the call on speakerphone, so that he could safely keep her shrill voice away from his ears. "And listen… you can't tell her. Not a word… promise babe?"

"Oh I promise! I would NEVER ruin something like that! And, I'm so sorry about being so loud!" she giggled, "but this is such a HUGE DEAL! He must have like, ESP or something…"

"What are you talking about?"

Leslie calmed herself down. "Last month when my apartment was being renovated, I stayed at Angie's for a couple nights, and we got to talking. And, well… she was telling me about how much she wanted to marry him, but that she was too afraid to bring up the conversation again.

Tyler's mouth dropped open for a second, quickly fading into a huge grin. "No way!"

"Yeah…" she said, her voice suddenly hushed. "She was really upset that day.. she thought after dating for three years, that he would've asked her if he really wanted to get married."

"Well, Les, seriously – he really does… you should see him though, he's so nervous right now. He actually asked me to do it for him, because he thinks he's going to screw it up!." a mild chuckle escaped his lips.

"…I also thought that you were going to keep your STUPID MOUTH SHUT!"

Tyler whirled around, coming face to face with a very furious Derek. His eyes widened with panic, as he searched for words to explain himself.

"I-I… uhm, Der- I just…. Shit."

Derek crossed his arms over his chest and stared down his so called "friend", silently demanding an answer as to why he was a moron.

Just then, a phenomenon occurred. For once in his life, Tyler Chase was absolutely speechless. He stood in complete shock that he had been discovered, although it was bound to happen – he DID happen to be standing ten feet from Derek's office… probably not the greatest idea he's ever had, but it was too late to fix. Speechless was not working in Tyler's favor at the moment. Not only was Derek ready to start a very unnecessary surgery on him with a steak knife, but his lack of speech had left Leslie wide open to start talking again - over the speaker.

"Awwwwww… that's so adorable! I'm so excited for them – I mean, they're going to get married! Awwwww!!!!" were the words that blasted over the speakerphone.

Tyler was always brought up to mind his manners, especially around the women in his life... but if he could've told Leslie to shut her big mouth before she had a chance to say that, he would've. Derek's eyes narrowed into little slits, giving off such an evil glare, Tyler was surprised that lasers didn't shoot out of them and catch his lying ass on fire. They silently stared at one another, one in shock, the other completely pissed off, until they heard another familiar voice resound through the telephone.

"Who's getting married?!"

Derek's eyes widened in disbelief, as Tyler smacked himself in the forehead with his free hand.

"Oh— uh, Angie! I was just on my way back to our room, I didn't expect to see you here!"

"Fuck." Derek mouthed silently, bowing his head and shaking it back and forth. This was getting worse by the second, and there was nothing he could do to stop the spiral. Tyler let out a small "No way…" watching Derek shoot him a dirty look in his peripheral vision. He silently prayed to God that somehow, Leslie would be able to find a way to get out of it without Angie knowing that she was lying… after all, although he loved her very much, it wasn't hard for Tyler to admit that Derek's girlfriend was much smarter than his.

"Oh, haha" Leslie started nervously. Tyler and Derek both froze, holding their breath. Suddenly, Leslie's voice turned back to its usual bubbly tone. "Its nobody you would know! Tyler just told me that his aunt is finally getting remarried with the guy Tyler and I set her up with!"

Tyler pumped his fist in the air as Derek breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Although she didn't seem like it, Leslie was really quick on her feet.

"Wow! Tell them I said congratulations!" was the reply heard faintly over the speaker. "Are you coming though? We probably should head back…"

"Yeah, I know.. O-ok, Ty? We're heading back now… I'll call you before I go to bed!"

"Sounds good. Talk to you then"

Tyler slowly cocked his head up to the side, afraid to face Derek now that he couldn't hide behind conversation. His friend just shook his head disapprovingly, and turned around in disgust... walking back into his office. He paced after him quickly, trying to explain.

"Dude! I'm sorry, its just…"

"That you're an idiot?" He snapped, cutting Tyler off. "You promised, dude.. what the hell!?"

Derek plopped down at his desk He propped his elbow up on it, cradling his chin in his hand. He removed his glasses and rubbed slowly across his face before putting them back on, turning towards his traitor of a friend once more.

"Its ruined. She's going to find out…"

"No she won't!" Tyler planted both of his hands very firmly onto Derek's desk, making him jump back in surprise.

"Leslie said specifically that she would never ruin something like that" He stated matter-of-factly, knowing that it mostly likely meant nothing to Derek. "I just figured that since you were so nervous, that you could use girl advice – ESPECIALLY a friend of Angie's."

It was a total lie. Tyler wanted to dig himself out of a hole, not admit that he was as big of a gossip queen as his girlfriend.

Derek relaxed himself a little. He had never thought of it that way.

"Okay. BUT – nobody else knows, got it?"

"Got it"

"And, lets wait on talking to Leslie for a time that we know the two of them won't be together."

"You got it dude, anything…"

"…you're still pissed, aren't you?"

"Oh yeah" Derek said, an evil grin sweeping across his face. "Make no mistake – your ass is mine, Chase"

Tyler gulped. He couldn't afford to be super glued to anything else – the skin was just growing back from the last time...

"Don't worry dude – I'll take care of rounds for the rest of the night… just relax, and get some thinking done" he said, a nervous smile on his face. He hoped that the offer would tide Derek over for the time being… and it did.

Derek smiled. He reached into his pocket, removing his cell phone. New text message. Recipient: Leslie Sears. Message: "You are my hero. Don't say a word though please!"

He flipped it shut, smiling for a brief moment before he realized that yelling at Tyler was wasting time that he really didn't have. As soon as Angie was his fiance, he would make Tyler cry like a little bitch. But not now - the big day was closing in, and he had work to do.

"Here's to another sleepless night…"

Woo!

I know its kind of a pointless chapter, but i needed something to interject before i started to finish it off -- i'm in writers block mode right now :( i know how its going to go, i just can't get it there. Sighs oh well, i still like this chapter :) Tyler.. what a little bitch!

See you all next time - and thanks for all the nice stuff, again!