Heyy guys! I'm really sorry I haven't updated in such a long time!! I was having a MAJOR writer's block. But one day last week, an idea went like WHAM! and hit me square in the forehead! So here it is, read and enjoy! (and don't forget to REVIEW, cuz it'll prevent future writer's blocks, so I'll update more often!)

PS I got the title from an amazing song called "When Your Heart Stops Beating" by +44. So it's not mine.

When Your Heart Stops Beating

"So are you sure you fixed whatever the problem was with you and Derek?" Casey asked.

"Yeah," Charlie said on the other line. "I guess so. Why do you ask?"

"It's just…" Casey said. "He's been acting kind of strange lately. He's not being loud and obnoxious and disgusting."

"And that's a bad thing?" Charlie said, laughing.

"No," Casey replied. "It's just very un-Derek-like."

"Well I don't know what's wrong," Charlie lied. "Maybe he's just changing."

"I doubt that," Casey said. "Well, I got to go. See you tomorrow."

"Bye," Charlie said, and hung up. She fell back onto her bed. It had been nearly 6 days since she had spoken to Derek; the conversation that seemed to have ended their friendship. He was a pompous jerk, right? He didn't believe in having one girlfriend at a time and he certainly didn't care about anything more than looks. He was everything that irritated Charlie, yet somehow pushing him away was one the hardest things she had ever done. She could feel the tears forming in her eyes. Why couldn't she just go back? Back to the time where she had never came here, when she still had a family. She missed them. Everyday. Always. She loved being with her uncle, but this was one of those moments she really needed her mom. Tears trickled down her face, and she didn't even try to hold them back. Charlie just lied there, in the dark, staring at the ceiling, wondering what she was going to do next.

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"Hey," Derek said to Charlie as he approached her locker the following day after school. "I was just wondering how you were doing with the editing."

"Good," Charlie said, avoiding eye contact. "I'm done, I've just got to add some music."

"Oh, okay then," he said, looking at his feet, and walked away.

"Wait!" Charlie yelled after him. "Please don't go."

Derek turned around. "What's wrong with us?" Charlie asked.

"I don't know," Derek said, looking her in the eyes. "I like you, you clearly don't like me. Except for the you kissing me thing. So I have no idea why I would assume that you do."

"Look," Charlie said. "Everything has gotten really complicated the last couple of months. I'm not really sure of anything anymore. But we have to stay friends, okay? Friends are really all I have left."

"Okay," Derek said softly. "Sorry." And he walked away.

Charlie turned around and walked down the deserted hall, towards the library. "Charlie!" a male voice yelled from behind her. She turned around to see Jake Cloves running to catch up with her. "Wait up!"

Great, Charlie thought. What does this jerk want now? "What do you want?" Charlie said angrily, folding her arms across her chest.

"I need to talk to you," he said.

"What about?" Charlie asked.

"About what happened at the dance," Jake replied. "I'm really sorry about what I did. I don't know what came over me. I was the world's biggest jerk."

"Can't argue with you there," Charlie snapped.

"Look," he said. "I really like you. Can I have another chance? How about Friday?"

"How about two weeks from…you-made-out-with-another-girl-while-we-were-on-a-date-you-asshole!" Charlie yelled.

"Listen!" Jake yelled, furious. "I've apologized already! What else do you want from me?"

"I want you to leave me alone!" Charlie replied angrily. She turned around, but before she could walk away, Jake grabbed her the arm and slammed her against a locker.

"Don't act like you don't want me," he said, with an evil smile.

"Get off me!" Charlie screamed, and tried to break free, but his hold on her was too strong.

"I see you with Derek Venturi all the time," Jake said, still smiling. "And we all know what kind of girls hang off of him. Why do you think I asked you to the dance? I was just looking for a quick hook up with some easy chick."

"I guess you got that with Tiffany Collins," Charlie spat, still trying to wriggle free of his grip.

"Yup," Jake said. "And now I'm going to get that with you." He pressed arm against her throat and his lips against hers. Gasping for air, Charlie bit down hard on his lower lip.

"OW!" he yelled. "You stupid slut!" He raised his hand to strike her across the face, but was pulled off Charlie by something. Charlie slid to the floor, coughing. She looked up to see Derek sitting on top of Jake Cloves, delivering blow after blow to his face. Jake managed to Derek off of him, got up and ran down the hall.

Derek went over to where Charlie was sitting, breathing heavily. "Are you okay?" he asked, sitting down beside her.

"Yeah," she said, her voice shaky.

"He's never going to come near you again," Derek said, taking her hand in his. "I promise."

"Th-thank you," Charlie said, squeezing the hand of her saviour.