Southern Hospitality

04

Acceptance

To be completely honest, Derek hadn't the slightest idea what he'd say to Chloe when she opened the door. He'd shoved down his natural instinct to not care and had gone after her but now what? Should he apologize? He felt trapped and panicky; sweat slicking his under arms and the back of his neck, as he knocked softly with the side of his fist.

The door creaked open slowly and a hand curled around the edge of the door.

"I-I'm fine," she said in a weak voice, peering up at him with bloodshot eyes. Her nose was red and her cheeks streaked with tear trails.

"I don't care," he blurted out despite himself, leaning against the door-frame, towering above her like a mountain of flesh and bone. He had to crane his neck and angle his head down to meet her sad eyes. "I don't care if you're crazy," he said quickly, "it doesn't matter to us. Crazy isn't necessarily bad."

How would you know? Zachary snickered softly.

Derek glanced behind his shoulder just in case the man was behind him, lurking in the shadows, behind the sunlight.

"E-everyone will know…again…" Chloe sniffled, wiping her nose on her sleeve.

He managed something that may have been a smile because she smiled up at him. "Listen, Chloe, none of us care if you have mental problems or not. We won't treat any differently, as long as you don't threaten any of us."

Easing open the door a bit more, she stepped out, biting her lip. She looked a bit livelier.

"How about we go brush down the horses? We have some carrots to feed them," Derek suggested with a shrug.

She nodded and scrabbled into her sneakers as they made their way down the steps. Rae was nowhere in sight and neither was Royce, thank god. Derek wasn't sure if he'd be able to keep himself from punching either of them.

"This is Sugar," Derek said, watching Chloe timidly hold out the carrot to the small foal, which chewed off the tip and sighed against the girl's shaking fingertips.

Excited blue eyes swiveled to the country boy, who was busy brushing down Sugar's mother, Rocky, and her face was lit up, a grin spreading across her face like a child's.

"He ate it," she giggled, stroking down the foal's nose and between his eyes.

Sugar whined and butted his head when Chloe turned to look at Derek.

He realized he'd been staring for a very long time and quickly looked away, his cheeks burning. She was so innocent, so beautiful, and so carefree, that she took his breath away. Clearing his throat, he pointedly fixed his attention on Rocky, brushing her curly mane. Chloe always took his breath away.

"Isn't that—" she began but a voice cut her off.

Striding towards them in a sharp pace was a blonde man in a flannel jacket and Royce.

Derek immediately reacted. He tugged Chloe behind him, away from Royce and Liam and led the horses to the stables.

"Hold on a minute," said Liam, reaching them in a few quick, jittery strides, casually slapping a hand on the horse's flank.

Rocky hissed and threw her head back to whinny, kicking out her hooves dangerously.

Somewhere along the way, something hit Derek hard and he lost his grip on Chloe's arm.

"We're gonna have lots of fun," Liam sneered as he held Chloe against his chest while she went red-faced.

"Chloe," Derek murmured as he stroked Rocky's neck, feeling her relax slowly, "you don't want to be around them, do you?"

His breath froze in his lungs when she didn't answer, only peeled herself out Liam's grip and turned to Derek. Her head swung from side to side, eyes begging him.

He reached a hand out and she grabbed it, letting him pull her against his chest; she trembled like a frightened rabbit, her heartbeat frantic against her chest, heavy enough for him to feel it.

Royce, who'd been quiet until now, spoke up, clapping. "The prince on his white horse to save the princess?" he asked, glancing down at the rings on his fingers.

Derek tensed.

"Ironic, you being the heroic redneck considering your daddy issues," Royce continued conversationally.

A bucket of ice tipped down Derek's back and horror filled his chest. "Let's go, Chloe," he whispered in her ear and took her by the arm, pulling her along with him.

Royce kept on going. "Remember when we first met, Derry?"

The nickname sent a shard of ice through his chest and he forgot how to use his lungs.

Chloe looked panicky.

"You were so..emo," the mobster's son laughed, a noise like glass shattering. "Even after all these years, you pretend to be someone you aren't, and never can be."

Liam grinned, showing off tobacco-stained teeth, and the effect made Chloe squeak in fear. If anything, his wolfy grin got wider and he bared his teeth.

"A monster like you can't pretend to be a prince. At least I know I'm a monster. I'm not pretending." Royce paused and gave Derek a look that could've been pity and sympathy had it not been for the smile on his lips. A feral light slid into his gaze.

"We're both monsters here, Derek, but who's worse? The one who pretends to be the hero, on the white horse? Or the one who does nothing to hide his nature?"

"Shut up!"

Derek started, as did the other boys and Chloe, who jumped a foot in the air, as Tori came stalking around the corner of the corner, fury lighting up her beautiful face.

Chloe shrank and molded herself into Derek's side, fear written across her face.

"All you do is go on and on and I'm sick of it," Tori yelled, hands on her hips. She looked dark and untouchable, her hair floating around her, and her loud voice carrying across the field.

Derek wished God didn't hate him so much.