Warning: I have never been to Buffalo and just make up the landscapes as I go.
This happened after 13, Belonging, and Enthralled.
Double Digits! YES! (if you count the prologue)
Chapter 9 (Before the show)
I got woken up with the bed bouncing. I sat up groggily and see Tori bouncing on the bed with a huge grin on her face. I turned to look at the clock-9:18 am.
"C'mon Chloe! Get up! We have to go to the mall for clothes!" She says excitedly.
I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and asked, "Haven't you found clothes last night?"
"I found something decent, but not what I was looking for." She said while ruffling through my closet.
"W-what are you doing?" I asked.
"Just looking through your stuff for clothes that could fit me and screams classy for Jaime Vegas' show." She throws some of my clothes around out of my closet.
"Hey!" I exclaimed, grabbing the clothes on the floor that Tori throws out of my closet. "If you want to go to the mall, then why are you going through my closet?"
"I told you, looking for something decent and I need to do that before spending money."
I dropped my head and sighed, "Fine, fine. Just put my clothes back after you're done."
She waved her hand in a shooing motion and said, "Yeah, yeah, Chloe, I'll put the clothes back."
I grabbed a shirt and jean shorts, put them on and left my room right after telling Tori to just tell me if she needs to go buy clothes.
I went straight to the kitchen. I poured myself some 'Frosted Flakes' with milk and sat down. It was a quiet morning, and it feels weird. Okay, normally when I'm at home it is usually quiet, but since Derek and the gang came, that quietness was thrown out the door. So now, being as quiet as it is, it doesn't feel normal at all.
I heard the door of Derek's and Simon's room open and Derek came out, no Simon.
I smiled and greeted him, "Morning."
"Morning." he greeted, "I'm cooking eggs and bacon, want some?"
I looked at my now empty bowl of cereal and said, "Maybe a little."
He opened the fridge and brought out a whole carton of eggs and a whole pack of bacon. He started the stove, cracked some eggs and sizzled some bacon.
I heard the same door bang open and a cheery Simon came out, "I smell bacon!"
"Morning Simon." I said, he smiled.
"Everyone ready for the show later?" I asked them both. Derek grunted and Simon's smile grew wider.
"Actually, I - " Simon was interrupted by the door opening. Dad and Kit walked in with bags of groceries.
"Is everyone awake yet?" Dad asked putting down the groceries.
"Yeah," I started, "Tori's just rifling through the closet for clothes, and what's in the bags?"
Kit answered, "Oh, you know... just food." He said while grinning at Derek. I stifled a laugh.
The door to my room opened and Tori walked out. "I can't find anything, Chloe. We have to go to the mall."
"It's fine with me, but you should ask dad." I said.
Tori walked over to my dad, eagerness and pleading in her eyes, and asked, "Can we please, Mr. Saunders?"
Dad chuckled, "Sure Tori." He looked over the kitchen at Derek and Simon, "Will you boys come?"
"Sure Mr. S." Simon saluted, Derek didn't say anything and just glanced at Kit, an unvoiced conversation passed through the both of them and Kit nodded.
"Is there a mall where not a lot people go to? Somewhere by the outskirts maybe?" Kit asked.
Dad looked confused, and so was I.
"Why?" He and I asked at the same time.
Kit just smiled at us, then explained, "Derek doesn't like packed malls, and Tori shops for a long time if the mall is full of people, so we always go to malls that a lot of people doesn't go to."
"Well, there's a small mall at the outskirts of town that only takes 30 minutes in good traffic, though it is more of a plaza." Dad explained.
"It's fine."
"Bacon and eggs?" Derek asked us in his usual monotone.
"Very nice of you, Derek." Dad said.
Derek nodded and put the full plate of bacon and eggs at the middle of the table. Simon quickly got a plate, a fork, and ketchup.
"Isn't bacon bad for you?" I asked Simon.
His face grew serious, as if he was annoyed by the question, "Yeah, I know that, Chloe. I'm getting the eggs. Derek makes them the way I like it."
I flushed, "I-It's not t-that I'm imp-plying b-bu-"
He laughed, "I'm joking, I'm joking. No hard feelings Chloe, just messin' with ya."
Tears welled up in my eyes and Simon looked alarmed, Derek shot him a dirty look and wrapped his arms around me, dad looked unimpressed, by Derek or by Simon, I have no clue. I started to cry, hands covering my face. Simon apologized over and over again saying that it was just a harmless joke, and Derek snapping at him about making me cry.
I laughed, hands still covering my face, and laughed harder. I uncovered my face to reveal dry eyes and a very amused face.
"Wha-" Simon started, "You weren't really crying?!"
I grinned at him, "Gotcha." I said.
He grinned back, "Didn't think you had it in you Ms. Saunders, I'm impressed."
"Call it payback." I looked up at Derek, "Thanks for playing along Derek."
He shrugged, "No problem."
Simon was baffled, "You were playing along?"
"Yeah, so?"
"How'd you know she's not really crying?"
"Instincts." Derek said flatly.
Tori grabbed plates for the rest - and yes, Derek too - and I grabbed the forks. Everyone ate in silence and dad told us to get ready after eating.
We got ready and are in the car within seconds, Tori at the front seat, the rest at the back with Simon seating beside his dad, and Derek sitting beside me. All four of us cramped at the back.
"You should really buy a bigger car, dad." I said.
"Sorry, hun. Is it cramped back there?" He asked.
"Just a little bit." But I don't really mind being this close to Derek, not that I'll say that out loud.
"Well, it'll only be at least 30 minutes, then you can stretch your legs."
We drive off towards the mall/plaza. We got there after 45 minutes because we have to stop by two stoplights and construction was going on by the roads, which really surprised me that it didn't take us at least an hour to get there. The plaza has a fountain in the middle with the stores and restaurants surrounding it.
Everyone got out and Tori went straight towards Gap, I came along - more like dragged along - with her. Derek came too, and so did Simon. I have the clothes that I want to wear at home, but Derek, Tori and Simon all went shopping because, as Tori says, they need appropriate clothing to go to the show.
It's 1 o'clock when they all finished shopping - well, when Tori finished - and loaded the trunk with shopping bags, and yes, I also bought a few necessities for myself and I am not saying what they are. We split up after that. Derek and me, Simon and Tori - well, Tori and Simon are going to do their own thing - and dad and Kit. Dad gave me and Derek some money, same with Tori and Simon and split up after that.
Me and Derek headed for Mcdonalds to have a 'date'. We went in and have to wait by a line. For a place set by the outskirts, this place sure has a lot of patrons. When it was our turn, I made Derek go first, knowing that he'll order a lot, then I got mine. We sat at a table near the door and we started eating - at least, Derek's eating one of his many burgers, plus fries, plus a large soda. People are constantly looking at him with wide eyes, unable to believe that he'll eat that much food. I just ordered Caesar salad and sprite, a total opposite of what Derek got.
"So, Derek..." I started. He looked up at me while still eating his food.
"Yeah?" he answered.
I took a deep breath and asked, "Did you have, you know, another g-girlfriend before me?"
He stopped chewing, swallowed his food, and looked at me seriously, "No, why?"
I shook my head and gave him a smile. "Just wondering, that's all."
"You know, Chloe. Like what Elena said, about being mates...?"
"Yeah?" I prodded.
He stared at me and looks like he's thinking if he should tell me something or let the matter drop. He picked the latter, "Never mind."
"What is it?"
"Nothing important." He stood up, grabbed his bagged burgers, fries and soda. He offered me his hand.
"I haven't even started eating yet." I complained. He just stood there, looking expectant, hand still out. I sighed and handed him my salad and he put it in the bag. I took his hand and we left the restaurant. Once we got outside, Derek suddenly stopped dead on his tracks. "What's wrong?"
His nostrils flared and his eyes widened. He gripped my hand tighter, not too tight that it'll hurt, but tight enough that I can't pull away. His eyes scanned the area, nostrils still flaring, head cocked to the side as if listening to something. Something whipped past us that caught both our attentions. I heard Derek curse.
"What is it?! What's wrong?!" I asked, frantic. I'm really getting worried now.
"Carter." His voice sounded low, like a growl, when he said the name.
The boy who ran past us stopped and turned around, "Aww, didn't know you remember me, cousin." He said the last word with so much hatred that it surprised me. He did look familiar though.
"What are you doing here? Isn't your territory in Dallas?"
The boy, Carter, took a few steps forward. Derek growled deep in his throat.
"Yes, it is. But I have some business that I need to take care of."
"And what is that?"
He moved forward again.
"Gramps wants you back, cousin. And sent me to bring you back."
"Didn't you say that you want nothing to do with me? Why agree?"
"Can't really argue with the Alpha, can you? And believe me, if I have a choice I wouldn't be here." He lunged at Derek. Derek pushed me and I landed on my backside. "But he didn't say that I have to bring you back alive."
Carter tried a punch, but Derek ducked and did an uppercut. It hit Carter straight in the jaw. He recovered quickly though and punched Derek in the nose and it started bleeding. I'm really getting worried. I feel like one of those heroines in the movies where they just watch the guy get beat up protecting them and that feeling of hopelessness.
Carter punched Derek in the gut, which winded him, and caught him in a headlock. This scene looked eerily familiar and I don't like it. I looked from side to side hoping to find something...
I see Elena and Clay getting out of their van on the other side of where we are.
... or someone to help me. I ran to them, going around Carter and Derek. Derek got away from his hold and ran after me, but was intercepted by Carter and they started fighting again.
"Elena! Clay!" I shouted. They looked at me then the fighting werewolves behind me. Elena looked at Clay and he nodded. They both, then, ran towards Carter and Derek, I followed. Clay got ahold of Carter, while Elena grabbed Derek. When I got to him, Elena released him. I looked over at him and sure enough! His nose is bleeding. He kept on saying that he'a fine as I keep asking if he's okay.
I stopped when Elena spoke. "What's going on here?" She demanded.
"Ask him." Derek said, motioning to the struggling Carter.
"And I would be happy to answer your questions if y-" Carter was interrupted by Clay.
"You're the one I smelled. From the auditorium." He said, "I thought that you were the pup. Same pack?"
"No!" Derek said. "We may be blood related, but we're not family."
"That's not nice, cousin. Don't you appreciate family bonding?" Carter mocked. He wrenched away from Clay's grip and is headed towards Derek. Elena blocked him, but Carter sidestepped and is barreling towards me. He fisted his hand and was about to strike when Derek went in front of him and punched him in the face.
"It's fine when you target me, Carter. But target her and I don't care if you die."
"You sounds like Uncle Zack, Derek. And who the hell are you two?" Elena twitched by the name and hauled him to his feet by the collar of his shirt.
"Explain, mutt!" Elena demanded
"The hell are you doing?! Let go of me you bitch!" Carter yelled.
Clay then wrenched him out of Elena's grip and looked at him straight in the face, voice low and threatening, "You don't value your life, do you pup? You not only insulted my mate, but also the Alpha-elect of the Pack."
Carter's eyes widened struggled more to get out of Clay's grip. Just then, a man from McDonald's came out, fuming and also kind of scared at the same time. His name tag clearly states that he's the manager.
"What is going on here?" He asked.
Elena walked over to him, face apologetic, "Sorry for disturbing your establishment sir, we'll handle this. These two," she motioned to Derek and Carter, who's still being held by Clay, "always has a nose for trouble so they always end up fighting. We'll be going now."
"Good. Now go. And I better not see you folks here again." He said, still angry.
We left the front of McDonalds and headed towards Clay and Elena's van, Carter in tow.
When we got there, Elena got in Carter's face again and asked him again to explain about 'Uncle Zack.'
"Oh, didn't you know?" He glanced at Derek with a mischievous smile on his face, "Didn't he tell you? Since you all seem to be in good terms with each other."
Derek growled again, I put a hand in his arm and he relaxed only a tiniest bit.
"Tell them what?" I asked.
Carter rolled his eyes, "Don't play dumb with me blondie, you were there."
"Where?"
Carter opened his mouth to answer, but Derek beat him to it, "When the Cain's kidnapped me and brought me to their territory."
"And little old Derek found out who his grandfather is. And his supposed father." Carter piped in.
"Who are...?" Elena questioned.
Derek answered her, "Theo Cain,as they said, is supposedly my grandfather, and in more than one occasion, that some guy named Zachary Cain, is my father."
I looked at Derek, his face is clearly irritated and there's a hint of sadness there. Like, knowing that you have a grandfather, but can't be with him because of another family.
"Hey Chloe! Derek!" Someone called. I looked over to see Simon, Tori, dad, and Kit over by the car. Simon waving us over.
"Sorry for the trouble." I said, apologetically.
"No problem." Elena said, "In some way, this is also our problem. You know, with the whole trespassing thing?"
"So, why didn't you take my cousin?" Carter asked.
"Because he knows his place." Clay said.
"What's taking so long?" Simon asked from behind me, I shrieked. He laughed, "Still skittish as a kitten, eh Chloe?"
I blushed, "Shut up."
"Well, we'll see you at the show." Elena waved at us while going in through the drivers seat, Clay hauling Carter to the backseat and him getting in after, then they drove off.
We walked back to the car and was immediately greeted by my dad and questions, "Who were they?"
"Just friends, dad." I said.
He seemed to be satisfied with that, for now, and we got in the car with the same positions.
"Sorry about the food." Derek whispered to me, low enough that no one else can hear.
"It's okay, I'll eat something when we get home. I am a bit tired though." he motioned for me to lay my head on his shoulder so I looped my arm around his and rested.
So here's Chapter 9 R&R
BTW, since school started I've been uploading at least once a month so that's what I'm going to do from now on
at least, until school's done
AARRGGGHHH XC still have an essay to do...
Didn't have time to proof read so I apologize for any mistakes...