I do not own any of Kelly Armstrong's characters or books. I have no rights to the Darkest Power Trilogy.
Ch 8
Honestly
Chloe fidgeted in her seat during class. Her head was filled with Derek. It was in most ways, weird. Although she knew where she stood with Derek, her mind kept glossing over scenario's where Derek would confess his undying love to her and how she would respond to such. Even though it was the most unlikely of event, it still managed to manifest in her creative mind.
She sighed loudly.
It was odd how annoying thinking about a guy was. Everywhere she looked, the thought of his smile or his voice that resonated with hers. God, how she wanted Derek to scoop her up and kiss her.
Kiss.
The thought of kissing him made her face heat up. She used the back of her hands to cool her face and tried to stay calm as she breathed in and out slowly.
During lunch, Tori and Chloe met up. Tori was agitated. Chloe hadn't said a word after speaking to Derek. Tori desperately wanted to ask but she knew it would only make Chloe mad. Damn, it was torture being a good friend and sister.
Tori swung her legs back and forth hitting the table's legs casually.
Eventually Chloe had grown frustrated with such an action and grabbed Tori's thigh.
"What?" she asked now seizing the shaking.
"That's kinda annoying." Chloe said. Tori seemed confused so Chloe indulged. "Hitting the table." she further explained.
Tori nodded her head and brought her legs back to a resting position.
She stared at Chloe.
God, she desperately wanted to know. She was literally begging her best friend to spill the beans.
Chloe saw how hard Tori was trying not to ask. It was written all over her face but at the very least, she tried.
As a result, Chloe dragged her best friend away into the halls. She sat with her and explained the contents of the conversations she shared with Derek.
Tori chewed at her lower lip. They were so incredibly close, if only Chloe would just tell Derek how she honestly felt.
It baffled her as to why they wouldn't just tell the truth.
"Just admit to him that you like him."
"I am not going to let him reject me Tori." She said rather seriously. Tori felt anger surging through her it was like watching your O.T.P. (One True Pairing) almost kiss merely inches away from one another only to have one person push away at the last second.
Tori stood up and said she would return later. She wanted to take a breather from the stupid mistakes that her best friend and brother were making.
...
Meanwhile Derek and Simon had ventured into the school's court yard. The large field that no one dared to enter if Derek were seen there.
Simon tugged his legs closer to his chest as he sat against the large rock that Derek used as a seat.
"What's wrong?" Derek asked.
Simon mumbled into his arms, " Chloe likes you."
"Me?"
"You! Who else?"
"You know, just because she didn't want to be with you doesn't mean her only possible option is me."
"Hey Derek?" Simon asked innocently as if he weren't listening to anything Derek had just been saying.
"I don't mind if you like her."
"Where is this coming from?"
"I was talking to Tori, we both think you and Chloe are mates."
"Being mates has nothing to do with this." Derek sighed.
"It does! You're clearly attracted to her and I'm pretty sure that Chloe doesn't just see you as just friends."
"It doesn't matter." Derek said sternly.
Derek didn't think that Chloe could even like him romantically when she was the one who instigated the idea of 'just friends'. Whether they were mates or not honestly didn't matter. But it was a terrible mid set of Derek; to hope. After hearing Tori preach about confessions and Simon's inquiry, there was a very chance that he misinterpreted Chloe's intentions.
...
Chloe seemed more depressed than usual. She sat by herself in the hall closing her eyes trying to clear her mind as Tori had left her. She tightened her eyes attempting to calm herself until she heard a screeching bird call. She followed the odd noise and found a bird at the corner of the school building mangled and crying out. She apologized and released its body. Chloe's emotions had been scattered recently and it had caused her to bring the dead back to life more frequently during serious concentration.
Chloe wandered over to the tree she and Derek had sat at only a week before. She found comfort in the memory as she sat on the warm grass filled with dead dry leaves.
Her regular and irritating ghost hovered in front of her questioning why she was outside during her lunch period.
"Enjoying momentary silence." she growled.
He laughed and tried to draw her attention back to him.
"Have you asked him whether you two were mates?"
Chloe no longer felt the previous anguish that word caused. She had come to terms with the impossibility of her being his one and only. She didn't want to build her hope up only to have it crushed so she forced herself into believing it wasn't going to happen.
"No, I haven't."
Liam tilted his head as he was now befuddled. She wasn't angered by his usual teasing.
"Are you okay?"
"I guess I am." she responded softly.
"You seem really gloomy. You really suit the whole 'necromancer' image right now."
"Gee thanks Liam." She answered sarcastically.
"So you don't care anymore?"
"I care, don't get me wrong. I just don't see the point in this any more. Sure I like him but it was my own lie that got me into this mess and even this stupid realization. It'll go away eventually."
"Where's that defensive girl I met before? You're just going to give up and let him have someone else?"
"What choice do I have?"
"To tell the truth or not to tell the truth; that is the question."
"Very funny Liam."
Liam grew bored of her sincerity to continue lying and so he left her saying he would see her again when she got more interesting.
The young necromancer sat in what she originally thought was bliss. Tori and Liam had a point.
One lie couldn't hurt?
Who was she kidding. It hurt a hell of a lot more than she ever thought. Maybe she got worked up for nothing. Whether she was Derek's mate or not, she should apologize for the way she acted. It wasn't his fault if he didn't reciprocate her feelings. She decided she would tell him immediately. She walked back into the school thinking of how she was going to tell him. She began making a checklist in her mind. Say sorry, tell him why, ask him about his mate.
She had to be a better person, overreacting wasn't going to progress her relationship in any way.
As she searched for Derek and the longer it took, the more regret she felt burning through her. The nervousness spread quicker than wild fire. She willed herself forward. As her eyes scanned the usual places Derek sat, the bell rung.
"Thank God." she whispered.
The confrontation would have to wait.
The moment the last bell rung for the day, Chloe had been determined to quickly speak to Derek. To just let her feelings out. To open her heart and finally say what she truly and honestly felt.
Chloe timidly approached Derek insisting she privately converse with him. Although Chloe was nearly sweating in fear, Derek on the other hand was overjoyed and also terrified. This would either be his salvation as everyone had predicted or his worst nightmare. Either way, he desperately wanted to hear what she would tell him.
"About this morning." she said as she stared down at her shoes. "I'm sorry."
'Oh' thought Derek. This was what she was going to say. He felt disappointed. "It's honestly okay."
"No it's not okay. I was being a bad friend. I was so focused on our relationship that I forgot to pay attention to how you felt. I'm sorry."
Derek racked his mind for words. He had never really been speechless. He chose not to speak but right now "Okay." was all he could say.
"Just okay?" she said slowly feeling blood rushing to her cheeks.
"Well, what are friends for? You were just jealous that I was with another girl right?"
Did Derek know how she felt. Chloe was sure she was turning all kinds of pink now.
He continued, "You were afraid someone was going to replace the best friend position. But don't worry Chloe, I promise you will be number one." He said with a faint smile.
"I was worried about that too but-"
"It's okay, I forgive you."
"I-"
Derek cut her off and explained "It doesn't even matter so there isn't a need to stress."
"Well-"
Again he spoke to interrupt her "And-"
"Shut up Derek. Let me speak!" she yelled. He stared at her apologetically. "I wasn't really concerned about us being friends."
"Oh." Suddenly Derek wasn't in the mood for talking. He didn't want hear what she was saying anymore. He slowly back up to try and avoid what came next.
"Where are you going Derek?"
He began to move backwards faster.
"I think Simon is calling me."
"Stop lying." she said with her hands placed on her hip.
"Well I have super hearing, he could have."
He took a few more steps back.
Chloe sighed. She had to be courageous and just say it.
"I like you." She murmured under her breath. Even if she whispered it, Derek would still be able to hear her.
"What?" he asked as he had an expectant smile plastered on his face.
"You heard me Mr. 'Super Hearing'."
A blush crept onto his cheeks and Chloe didn't see why he looked so embarrassed it was her who should be embarrassed. Despite sounding stupid, she still held her ground.
Derek re-approached her. "Say what?"
"I L. I. K. E. you. No, not in a friendly platonic way; I like you in a romantic kind of way. I tried so hard to get Aunt Lauren's approval but I didn't even realize it was because I just wanted her see how much I like you. I didn't really notice how much I liked you until the thought that you may one day get a mate occurred to me."
Derek burst out laughing.
"My mate?"
"Have you found her?" She asked timidly.
Chloe didn't feel so confident now. He was laughing at her? She made a mistake didn't she? She wanted to cry.
Derek quickly noticed her distress. He moved towards her and pressed his forehead to hers. Chloe froze; she held her breath and felt her heart beat quicken.
"I have found her."
"Who then?"
Derek stayed quiet.
"Derek!" She whined. Chloe was confused as to what Derek was doing.
He moved his hands to her chin and his thumb messaged her cheek. His lips moved in and suddenly she and Derek were kissing. It was like anything she hoped it could be. This was his answer she assumed.
He liked her too. She was his mate.
As she and Derek's lips parted he whispered into her ears, "Honesty is the best policy."
"Shut up." she groaned weakly as she lightly shoved his arm. "Honestly." she said as she stretched out the word in relief.
Thank you for reading everyone! If you think there should be more to this ending then by all means tell me and I will certainly try. If not, then thank you for reading until the end.
