Authors Note- An early update, because you guys deserve it. I LOVED writing this chapter; it came out like word- type- vomit, which makes me extremely happy and motivated to keep going. Chapter 13 is a huge mess right now, I'm trying my best to clean it up then I can get it out here as soon as that happens!

Thank you followers and reviewers, you guys are the reason for this update!

To answer a couple questions; this story is rated M for language, possible citrus, and young-ish adult content I do not want to reveal yet. But at the same time, I don't want to tease. There will be no Chlerek lemon. I may possibly attempt one in the future as part of the RtbT One-shot series, but it will not be in here. I apologize if I got anyone's hopes up, I honestly can't stand Chlerek lemons at this point in their lives. But I will try for one in their future- no promises.

-If it is necessary to change the rating in the future, I will. For now, I will keep it as is.

Second- Derek is not necessarily joining the football team. ) You will see!

Enjoy!


Emotions can be logically deduced... Hormones bring about emotions that can't.

Chapter 12- A Shift in Tide

"Your necklace is new," Derek stated quietly, desperately trying to relieve a bit of the awkward silence that Chloe and himself had lapsed into while she lead him to the gym. It was a factual observation. He had never seen her wearing the red, oval pendant before. It was small, hooked by a long gold chain, bouncing tenderly against her chest.

Chloe started abruptly at the sound of his voice, apparently being interrupted from a deep thought. She subconsciously touched the amulet, gingerly running her fingers across it with a faraway look in her eyes.

"Not really. I-I usually keep it in my pocket. I'm afraid of losing or breaking it."

"Family heirloom?" Derek didn't mean to pry- or look too obvious doing so- but he had been absurdly curious about Chloe's personal life since learning about her mother's death. What kind of a family did Chloe have? A supporting father? A step mom, maybe? A brother or a sister?

His question triggered something, Chloe's eyes and frown melting into a sad smile. She swallowed.

"My mom gave it to me."

Derek opened his mouth to respond once she trailed off, but paused, words he never really expressed before ready to slip his lips. He was sorry. In fact, he felt undying sympathy for Chloe. But, if his sympathy was something that she wanted, she would have told him sooner, if at all. In addition, how many times had she been dealt that line, 'I'm so sorry, that must be awful?' It wasn't enough, because Chloe deserved more than that. It wasn't enough, because it didn't show that he really cared, or personally understood.

"I bet she's proud of you," was all he managed to blurt out, feeling rather stupid in the process. To his surprise, she hummed a gentle laugh, still keeping her gaze from his.

"That's what my dad says-" A pause as a thoughtful look flashes through her baby blues'. "He doesn't talk about mom that much. But, whenever he catches me wearing her necklace, he says that I look just like her and that she would be very proud of me," she finishes with a disbelieving laugh, a wry and wary smile.

"You don't think so," Derek asked, watching her thoughtfully, possibly witnessing Chloe's most deep, vulnerable state while he acquainted himself with Chloe's personal side, just a little bit more. She finally looked up at him then, a small smile masking the pain he could read through her eyes like an open book.

"She was really beautiful, from what I remember."

And you're not, Derek wondered to himself.

"Dad, he doesn't keep pictures of my mom around the house. It's like, when he's home, it's bad enough that there is a replica of her living around him. I'll try to catch him early in the morning, before he goes on a business trip, and it always surprises him, like he's seeing her ghost. Then he says that, and he's gone for another four weeks." Chloe choked up on her words at the end. The sound was something akin to a sob. She let her blonde locks fall like curtains over her face while she attempted to inconspicuously wipe at her eyes.

Derek stopped walking, cautiously taking a gently hold of her arm- he decided better against it, and held firmly to her sleeve instead- making her turn to face him. Her body cooperated, but she kept her head inclined to the side, hiding her features and threatening tears.

"Chloe," Derek whispered softly, willing her to look at him. When she still didn't Derek resorted to resting his finger beneath her chin, now forcing her to face him. He was greeted with exactly what he was afraid to see, Chloe's glassy eyes and heated cheeks.

What kind of family did Chloe have? A broken one. A missing matriarch and a father whose coping skills were to distance himself from the one thing that reminded him of what he's lost. Even if it was his own daughter. And it was evident that Chloe felt guilty. Ungrateful towards her mother- having disliked something her mother wanted her to participate in- just before her misfortunate and terrible passing, and guilty- horribly guilty- for torturing her father with something that was clearly his own problem.

Knowing this- Derek hated it. He hated that Chloe felt so burdened, at fault, and alone, hardly backed up by someone she could barely call her friend, topping off with a sick bastard being particularly infatuated with her hot temper, yet contradicting innocent nature.

"Chloe, it has nothing to do with you. It's not your fault, okay?"

Her lips twitched in a fake smile, a lame attempt of reassurance or change of subject. She averted her eyes, looking for something, anything.

"I-I know, I'm being silly-"

"No, Chloe. What happened to your mother; it wasn't your fault. And what your dad is going through has nothing to do with you either."

"I know, I just- sometimes I-"

"Don't. There is no reason you should ever doubt yourself for something that has happened in the past. Right now, your dad is lucky to have you, and your mom should be proud. It's okay."

Derek was a very factual and logical individual, never really putting emotions into observations. He never had advice for his brother, who may have been going through a horrible break up, where all Derek could tell him was that girls were all the same. He could never comfort Tori- even if he wanted to- who may be having a particularly vulnerable moment of resentment towards her mother, where Derek could only nod his head and listen to her complaints about the bitch. That did not happen often, the occasion was rare, and Tori didn't even dare show her weakness in front of Simon. Derek couldn't even muster up the balls to confide in his father as to his reoccurring guilt of losing him his job. He never once asked for forgiveness from any of them since the accident. How could he, when he was still unable to forgive himself?

But with Chloe, the norm was hardly existent and everything was so different, so new. There was a level of understanding that Derek held towards Chloe without her even aware of it. He had advice to give to her, because he knew what it felt like. The guilt, the pain. Not with his accident, but his past, something he could hardly remember. And, actually considering his screw up back in Albany, a voice inside Derek's head told him he should be following his own advice, that the past was the past. Unfortunately, that was a different story.

Chloe could see right through him, this was evident by the hint of defiance in her watery eyes. But, surprisingly, as if resolving something in her head in a manner that pushed current situations away for later, her eyes melted and she nodded, taking fully to Derek's words, because she could see how sincere he was.

For a second, they looked at each other, Derek's green eyes holding hers, both confirming that she felt better. Chloe knew it wasn't her fault. Derek could see that. She was mature enough- possibly a tad more mature for her age, being so open-minded and free spoken- to understand and accept where her father was coming from. Her moment, it was a small break in everything she seemed to build and understand over the past ten years, and it must have been surfaced by Derek's shifting moods that particularly hovered over her.

He truly felt bad, for having brought up old conflict that she must have worked so hard to overcome. All he could hope for was that Chloe could see that in him. For a brief moment, something registered through Chloe's eyes, acknowledging that she could see how sorry he was. For pushing the reality onto her, and for her loss as well.

And suddenly, as close as they were standing, silently speaking with gazes, it wasn't close enough. Derek hesitantly stepped closer, the movement miniscule, fingers dropping from her chin, slightly glazing across her neck and collar bone in the process, causing Chloe to swallow roughly before his hand fell to his side. He released her sleeve, fingertips barely touching the slightly ashy skin of her elbow, a reaction of Goosebumps being raised under the pads of his own skin.

Chloe's lips parted, brows twitching slightly in concentration, blue- God, so blue- eyes locked onto his with contemplation and curiosity. Derek's mind began to haze, logic and reason- his two most trustful facets- escaped him. Feeling mesmerized by the heat Chloe's body gave off and her clouding expression, Derek stepped even closer, brushing his fingers down the length of her arm, causing Chloe's eyes to fog even more and-

She blinked. Once, twice, three times before exhaling sharply and focusing on him. Her cheeks- already pink from being upset a moment ago- darkened several shades, and she stumbled back a few steps, taking her warmth with her. The release of trance left Derek frozen in place, slowly coming back to reality where he realized what he had almost done. What he had wanted to do.

"U-um," Chloe stammered, quickly looking away from him, eyes flashing down the hall. "T-the gym, i-it's um-" Chloe swallowed again, pulling a strand of her hair behind her ear nervously as she blushed deeper. She gathered her bearings. "It's at t-the end of the hall," Chloe explained, seeming to forget that Derek was perfectly aware as to where it was, having been stuck there through the school's heinous pep rally. "We should get you in there t-to talk to Coach Carson b-before class starts."

Derek hesitated, watching her, taking in what had just happened- almost happened- finding it incomprehensible. His geniusness- as Chloe would put it- was not pulling through for him, and he felt himself becoming flustered by confusion and- and slight rejection.

Chloe had been the one to pull away.

"D-Derek?"

The sound of his name snapped him out of his cluttered head. He focused on her, seeing a flash of guilt in her eyes where confusion also lingered. She looked as conflicted as he felt.

Why did Chloe have to be so damn complicated?

Derek took a deep breath, desperately- failing miserably- trying to clear his head.

"Yeah, lead the way."


Derek knocked on the door beneath a plaque that read, Coach Carson. He was too particularly caught up with his near- near something with Chloe, who stood a few feet behind him in the large, blue and white themed gym, to contemplate on why the name felt so familiar. The coach's office was an add-on in the gym next to the guys' locker room. The gym was deserted, the complete opposite of Derek's first experience in the hollow hall, giving each and every one of Chloe's shifts and movements extra attention, echoing off the walls, driving Derek insane.

He rather endure another devil's parade.

The knob of the door clicked and it swung open, greeting Derek with his second unexpected surprise of that morning.

"Andrew?"

Sturdy, broad shouldered, cropped brown hair and dark eyed, Andrew Carson stood before Derek, slamming him with memories of campfires and old jokes as his eyes widened with recognition.

Andrew blinked a couple times, second guessing himself as he took Derek in. And there was a lot to take in.

"Derek? Is that you?"

"Yeah," Derek breathed out in disbelief. The man looked a bit older than Derek remembered, forehead wrinkling a little as his brows inched up in surprise.

"Wow, you've really- well you've grown up quite a bit haven't you? God, I mean, I remember you being pretty big when you were, what, twelve? It's been about five years, right?"

"Yeah," Derek said again, not exactly sure what to say at the moment.

"You guys already know each other," Chloe asked, closer than Derek remembered, finding that he liked how her arm brushed against his as she approached. She didn't back away and Derek took notice that her blush was touching her cheek again.

"Hello, Chloe," Andrew greeted her with a smile that Chloe returned. He continued, giving Derek an old smile that fit the man so well, yet, lingering deep in his eyes, something was off. Something Derek could barely recognize from their history.

"Yeah, well, Derek's dad and I were pretty close friends for a while. I lived just outside of Syracuse at the time, and Kit would always bring Derek and Simon over for a good, old fashioned camp out. Then Kit's job required him to move and Tori was also added to the picture. So it's been a really long time."

"When did you move here," Derek asked curiously.

"Well, the book I was working on didn't go too well through publishing. The school had an opening a few years back, around the time I became your creative writing teacher, right, Chloe?" Chloe nodded in agreement.

"Guess becoming the football coach was a perk huh?" Sure, Andrew had tossed the ball around with him, Simon and their dad a few years back, but he never really figured it was in his forte. Andrew merely shrugged.

"The administration was desperate. And between you and me, I get a lot of help from the assistant coaches. So, what brings you here?"

"Well, uh, we just moved here over a month ago-"

"No, no," Andrew chuckled. "I'm sure I can get a hold of your dad and we can catch up. I mean, what brings you two to my office before class."

Chloe looked up at Derek expectantly, also seemingly curious as to their business there as Derek hadn't told her yet. Derek cleared his throat. Even though he felt like knowing Andrew should give him an advantage towards his goal, he still couldn't help but doubt whether he would comply or not.

"I need some community service hours. I was wondering if there was something I could do for the team."

Andrew's smile faded, that look surfacing a little more. It was almost wary, cautious. It had always been like that, even when Derek was younger.

"You're into football," Andrew tested with a slight lift of his brow.

"Nah, dad just thinks I should do something that gets me out of the house a little more." Not a total lie. Derek wasn't willing to actually becoming a player on the team, but he wasn't about to spill his true intentions for such a favor. The hours were nearly nonexistent. Derek was on warning, not probation, considering the circumstances of the accident and the fact that his dad was a kick ass lawyer.

Andrew crossed his arms over his chest, truly debating Derek's request. Derek tried his best for a smile, even a small one, one that might bring back some sort of sentimental value in Andrew's memories. He hadn't been a bad kid, but Andrew always had this careful aura around him.

"Tell you what," Andrew finally spoke, rubbing his hand against his scruffy jaw. "The guys have been pestering me to update their rosters; personal goals, records and such, and I haven't been able to get to it on top of grading essays for my class. The other coaches aren't helping too much, and they really need to get done. All you have to do is attend the games, record achievements for the players, and I'll fill your hours at the end of the season."

Derek shrugged, quietly relishing in a relieving victory. His plan worked, a little too easy, but he would take it.

"Sounds like a deal," Derek said.

"Right," Andrew nodded slowly, still eyeing him, then firmly. "Right, well I want to talk to your father first, he can give me the okay instead of going through all the paper work, and you should be good to go by the game against Syracuse on Thursday."

"I'll be sure to have him give you a call. I'd be willing to bet he'd be pretty happy to hear from you."

"Hmm?" Andrew bunched his brows for a second, as if he lost his focus for a moment. "Oh, sure, sure, we'll definitely have to catch up. Send Simon by sometime, I'd like to see how big that chatter box has gotten too."

Chloe giggled at the comment. The sound in itself- for Derek hadn't heard it before- caused an eruption of flutters through Derek's chest. But, having it be related to Simon, the flutters mangled themselves and fell to the pit of his stomach. All that boiling hostility, Derek literally felt like he was about to combust and turn a hideous shade of green.

He was jealous. He's been jealous.

The bell sounded, surprising Derek, and if Chloe had been paying close attention, she would have teased him for jumping. He flexed his fingers, stiff from forming tight fists after letting that ugly emotion wash through him.

Derek and Chloe gave brief good bye's, where Derek's included a quick 'thank you,' and Chloe's a 'see you fifth hour.' Once they were out of the gym, entering the abruptly crowded hall, Chloe turned on him, giving him a wry smile.

"You really are impossible." Derek snorted, not completely over the slight jealousy, but content to have everything okay between them. For the most part.

"I hope you know, you're sleeping on the couch," Chloe added in a teasing manner, catching Derek off guard. Her smile was mocking. "I guess it's a good thing I picked out such a great couch, right?"

Finally, realization clicked and Derek chuckled lightly. The couch they got for the apartment they shared in third hour. So she was keeping him as a partner? Definitely a good sign.

"I guess I deserve that."

"You deserve the ugliest couch in the history of ugly couches, but I'm feeling merciful. I'll see you third hour."

Well? Do you guys know how hard it was to even attempt topping last chapter? Apparently- according to my amazing reviewers- last chapter was the best one yet! Now I'm determined to make each one better than the last. So how did I do? Comments and critic are appreciated of course. :) You guys know that.