Ashlee's p.o.v

"Where are we going?" I ask Derek. He's driving the opposite way to his house.

"I'm taking you to see your brother-"

"Wait, wait, no" I say taking off my seatbelt. Derek slows down and pulls over. I try to get out but Derek catches my arm.

"Ashlee?" I sigh and lean back in the seat.

"Scott's really angry with me" I tell him. "He hates the fact that we hang out..he said I was stupid because.." Derek's waiting for me to continue. "He said I was stupid because I can't see that you're just using me" I sigh, looking into my lap.

"I'm not using you" Derek says. I nod. "Hey, look at me" I look up at him. "I'm not using you, you know that right?"

"I know" I say, smiling a little.

"Someone needs to tell your brother"

"He won't listen to me, he's been protective since Mum passed..I know it's from the heart but it's making us fight and I hate fighting with him" I say.

"I'm going to tell him" Derek says.

"Um..are you sure that's a good idea?" I ask.

"If it stops you guys fighting then yeah, it is a good idea" he gives me a small smile.

"You're crazy, you know that right?" I tease.

"Not as much as you are" he grins. I close the door and put my seatbelt back on. Derek pulls out smoothly, continuing back to my house.

..

Lydia and Scott are outside doing the rubbish when we pull up.

"Oh god" I say when they both turn towards the camaro.

"Hey, we're okay. Come on" Derek says, squeezing my hand. We both get out, i'm grabbing Derek's hand and crushing it in nervousness as soon as i'm close to him.

"What's this?" Scott asks, turning to us and crossing his arms over his chest.

"Scott" Lydia warns him, stepping so she's more in between us than at Scott's side.

"I'm not using your sister Scott" Derek speaks up, Scott's glare snapping to him. "I'd actually like to ask your permission to date her. We've been getting to know each other a little better and we still have awhile to go but that's where this is going" I look at Derek with wide eyes, he never told me he was going to ask Scott's permission.

"I'm sure you have been" Scott sneers.

"No, Scott, it's not like that" I say.

"You've been running off almost every night for about a week, don't tell me that's not what's going on here" Scott says.

"That's not what's going on here" I say. Scott doesn't say anything. "You really think that lowly of me?" I ask him. This makes him look at me with wide eyes. "You think i'm like that? That I sleep around?" I ask, getting angry myself.

"I don't know" Scott says. "You don't talk to me anymore so I wouldn't know"

"That's because everytime we talk, we just end up fighting" I say.

"Come inside" Lydia says to Derek, seeing this is starting to get personal. Derek nods and squeezes my hand before letting it go. We wait until the door closes behind them to start arguing again.

"You're not being fair Scott. I didn't say anything when Allison just randomly started coming up here with you"

"I'm not with her anymore" Scott says.

"So because you're not with her, I can't be with Derek?" I scoff in disbelief.

"No..you can't be with Derek because.."

"Because why? Give me one good reason why not and I won't be with him" I say.

"I..I don't want to lose you to him"

"I already told you that's not going to happen"

"What if he hurts you? Breaks your heart? I don't want you to be upset like you were with Mum.."

"Scott" I sigh. "You can't save me from everything" I tell him. "One day I will fall in love and probably get my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. And it will probably happen more than once"

"I don't want that to happen" he says.

"You can't stop it from happening Scott" I tell him. "If Derek and I don't work out then yes, i'll be hurt but it's part of growing up. It's human to fall for someone..weither it works or not, that's another story"

"You're saying you've fallen for Derek?" Scott asks me, a little disgust in his voice.

"I don't know" I tell him honestly. "But i'm going to find out. I'd like it if we could still be on speaking terms" I say. Scott stares at me for awhile. Then he sighs.

"I swear if he does anything to hurt you, i'm going to kill him" he says. I smile and pull him into a bone-crushing hug. God I love my brother. "Let's go give him the good news" Scott says with a sigh. I don't bother to tell him to cheer up, he's trying and that's all that matters. We walk into the house together. "Derek" Scott says, making him and Lydia turn around.

"Everything okay?" Lydia asks.

"Everything's fine. Ash and I talked and..yes, you have my permission" Scott says reluctantly but manages to put a smile on his face.

"To date Ash?" he asks, a little suprised. Scott bites his lip.

"Yeah..sure" he says.

"Scott, relax" I say. "We're not ready to date..it just seems to be heading that way" I assure him, Derek nodding in agreement. We know each other but we don't. I'd really like to get to know him some more before we got into a proper relationship.

"I want to know when you are, are we clear?" Scott says, looking between us.

"Of course" Derek says. I nod and smile at him. We have Scott's permission..let's see where this takes us. Smooth sailing? Bumpy road? All I know is i'm ready to take it with Derek. God..I can be such a sap.

..

..

Suckish chapter, I know :( And i've been slack as well :(( Thinking over wrapping this fic up in 3-4-5ish chapters. I was thinking of ending it like most of the Step-Up movies do, they form a crew and enter the championships, win and fall in love. Sappy and cliche, I know, but I think i'd be nice :) Let me know what you think? Favourite, follow and review!