Again, thanks to all the reviewers and the readers; you guys keep me smiling and motivated :) *To clear up any confusion, it is, in fact, Derek at the end of last chapter.
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The relief I felt quickly dissipated as be bore down on me, green eyes flashing. Aside from being slightly intimidated, I was also thoroughly confused. Why would be me mad at me? Just as I was opening my mouth to voice my puzzlement, he cut me off with a hard glare and continued.
"Were you aware that you were being followed?" he demanded.
"Yes," I replied calmly. His eyes widened in disbelief and I rushed on. "But-" Regaining his composure and apparently remembering that he wanted this to be a one-sided conversation, he silenced me again.
"You were aware that you were being followed and you didn't try to find help?" His tone was a mix of incredulousness and anger, each word of the latter part of his question punctuated distinctly. I opened my mouth-
"Do you want to be a victim?" he demanded. "Why don't you wear a sign that says 'Easy Target' or 'Defenseless and Stupid'?"
Whether it was because I was blonde and people were always inclined to think so, or, like every other person, I didn't appreciate when my intelligence was insulted, I was mad now. He had crossed a line and he wasn't getting away with it.
"I'm sorry that you don't approve of how I acted. What do you suggest I could have done? You saw them, all four of them. Was I supposed to turn around and walk back towards the field? Because, if their intentions were what I assume they were, that wouldn't have happened. I don't live far, Derek. I was hoping to make it home." I said with a hard edge.
"That's naïve," he snapped. "As soon as you saw them, you should have turned right around and gone back to school. You wouldn't have stood a chance against them. And they would have hurt you, Chloe. Believe me, they would have hurt you."
I wasn't ignorant to that. I wasn't. But his words really hit home. The implications of what could have happened had he not shown up and the seriousness of the situation suddenly hit me, and I tried to keep the shivers from running down my spine. Him chastising me was the last thing I needed right now.
"So far you've called me stupid and naïve. Would you like to throw any more insults at me? Because if not, I'd really just like to go home."
He remained silent, eyes still hard. I returned his gaze and spun around, intent on leaving him in the parking lot. He grabbed my elbow and pulled me back. I crossed my arms and glared at him as best as I could, wanting him to know how unhappy I was about this turn of events. He kept his hand in place, but sighed in frustration.
"I just want to make sure that you understand that you need to be more careful," he said with a look in his eyes that begged me to understand, to cooperate.
"Why do you even care?" I snapped, exasperated by his sudden change in mood. He looked truly perplexed for a moment and hastily dropped his hand, cold immediately penetrating the spot on my arm it had occupied. Finally, he said quietly, almost to himself, "I don't know."
We stood there for a few minutes, me looking at the ground simultaneously trying not to imagine what would have happened if he hadn't, in lack of better terms, saved me, and trying to figure out where this sudden turn in conversation was heading.
"Are you okay?" he asked carefully, quietly.
I looked up, intending to say fine, but my eyes must have given me away. His eyes softened and there was something else there that I couldn't place. Regret? But why?
He took a step closer and stopped. I thought for a second-a fleeting second-that he was going to hug me, but that didn't seem like Derek. However, with our feet touching and sharing the same breathing space, it seemed almost as intimate. There was no physical contact, but the reassurance was still there. He was there. Solidly, intently there.
Our relationship had been so simple before this, almost impersonal for we didn't spend any time together and when we did, we talked about math. But things, after tonight, felt has if they had changed, and, if they already hadn't, that they would have to.
"C'mon, I'm walking you home." I looked up, surprised, but his jaw was set, eyes determined.
"Derek, you don't have to. I appreciate the effort, but honestly, I'm fine. Everything's fine now."
He ignored me and began walking, and I had no choice but to follow him.
After a few minutes of silence and me leading the way, he asked, "Shouldn't you be at a party or something?"
"Shouldn't you?" I countered, peering up at him. He wasn't a social butterfly and it hadn't been hard to figure it out. The look of barely-there tolerance whenever he was with his friends gave that away.
It came and went so fast that I may have imagined it, but I could have sworn his lips quirked. I tired to swallow down my own smile, and half succeeded. Getting Derek to do something other than frown felt like a small, mentionable accomplishment.
We continued on in amiable silence and I realized how thankful I was for his presence. Not just for saving me from the boys, but for walking me home. For unconsciously making me feel safe. Stopping in front of my house, I took a step to stand in front of him.
"This is me." He regarded my darkened house with a faraway look in his eyes and when he finally looked at me, it was with a curiousness I had never seen before.
"Home alone?" he asked off-handedly.
"My dad's always away on business and my aunt's working late tonight, which is why I'm home and not at her house." I explained.
Nodding, he was about to leave, but I placed a hand on his arm to stop him.
"Thank you. For everything." I said seriously.
"I wasn't about to let something happen."
"Still. I really appreciate it."
We regarded each other for a few moments. He seemed indecisive, as if he didn't know what to do.
"Ok, so I guess I'll see you Monday then." He remained looking conflicted, as if he wasn't sure if he should leave me in what he now knew was an empty house.
"I'm okay." I said reassuringly.
His eyes snapped to mine and he slowly nodded. "You're okay," he repeated softly.
With a final look, I turned and walked into my house, Derek's figure remaining unmoving until I was safely inside.
R&R :)
