Autor's Note: So! I'm back! I'm sorry I haven't updated before now but someone *cough* Liz *cough, cough* forced me to read like 5 books. I do admit that they were great books, but if I ever refuse to read one she threatens to tie me to a chair and gag me then read the book to me. Abusive relationship much?

Anyway, just to let you guys know I do have a J.J. moment for ya, but I haven't seen him at all in the past two weeks *tear*. So... don't know if I'll have any for the next chap. I'll have to talk to cuzzie. But, I became interested in this new guy a couple weeks back and practically blew it by accidently (I swear it was an accident!) calling him stupid. He simply responded "Okay" and walked away all sad-like... I'm depressed...

So! On the subject of the chapter! We have one of J.J.'s 'great ideas' (this one is actually plausible), some humor, Derek thinking about Chloe, Chloe thinking about Derek...and something (or someone...) else...(you'll see), Tori being herself again... !!! :D

Dedication: Cuzzie still sucks! She's not gonna be at my awesome birthday, she doesn't have perfect attendance for SATs so she can't go the the ball game, AND she is thinking about NOT GOING TO 6 FLAGS WITH HER LOVING COUSIN, but instead going with her not best friend band mates. But, she did give me an awesome necklace... So dedication for cuzzie!

Disclaimer: Do I ever own it?

*****Warning! Watch for Point of View change*****

Chapter 37

Derek POV

I stared around our large circle in the middle of the room. This was all we had. Fifteen people trapped in a cement box, and all of us wanted the same thing. Freedom. That's it. Our only dream. The only thing that would satisfy us. Sitting in this hole is torture enough, they might as well go ahead and kill us.

"Any ideas?" Chloe whispered.

After what she'd just told me, I hope someone has an idea…a good one. So, she had a weird dream about a half-demon, woke up only to find that the demon was really there. It offered her a proposition, but before Chloe could hear it she sneezed, J.J. yelled 'demons be gone', and the demon disappeared… It was completely obvious that she was lying…

"I have one!" J.J. grinned.

I scoffed under my breath and Chloe glared at me.

"Any idea is helpful right now," she said.

Yeah, if that any idea wasn't from J.J. because we all know what happens when we listen to J.J. now don't we?

"J.J. is the one who got us in this shit hole!" Tori yelled. Her first time in days.

"I've got three words for you. Anger. Manage…ment!" he broke the word into two syllables. I rolled my eyes. Dana giggled and tried to cover it with a cough.

"Okay, ready to listen to my awesome idea?"

There was coughs and weird sounds from the group.

"Okay! Here's my idea!!!" he reached in his pocket and pulled out……..Hayden…….

"Oh, yeah we're saved now," Tori snarled with fake enthusiasm.

"What you failed to take into consideration," J.J. started, "is that Hayden, here, can fit under that tiny crack under the door." He pointed to the crack under the door.

"J.J.! That's genius!" Chloe cried.

"Thank you! Thank you! I do have my moments."

"Then what?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean, what happens after Hayden escapes?"

"Well…he…uh…"

"Yeah…" I trailed off sarcastically. "Any other ideas?"

"Well-" Simon started.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Nobody cares about your damn opinion!" Tori bursting out at Simon. The stress was finally getting to us all.

"What did I ever do to you?!" Simon stood up and pointed his finger at Tori.

"He goes gets the keys and then unlocks the door!" J.J. always the one oblivious to the tension that had settled on our group. He sounded like he just had an 'Ah-hah' moment.

"J.J.!" Dana exhaled.

"What? Don't hit me! I'm sorry if it was a bad ide-" Dana cut him off.

"It could work!" She exclaimed grabbing his hand.

"I could?…" Then with more confidence, "Could." He scoffed, "It's practically bulletproo-"

"Hayden is not bulletproof." Charlton reminded him.

"Well maybe not but-"

"He doesn't have laser-eye vision either…"

"How did you know I was going to say that!" J.J. said throwing his hands up.

"I know you," Charlton responded.

"So are we gonna do this?" Colby asked.

"We're in!" Trent and Travis said at the same time.

There were mumbled "Fine", "Okay", "Why not?"s and one "Heck yeah!" from the group.

Then everyone's eyes focused on me. Like I knew if this would work.

"Derek?" Chloe whispered.

I just stared at everyone's hopeful faces and couldn't help but feel sorry for them. I mean. There was one simple fact that I didn't want to say aloud, didn't even want to admit to myself, but the thought couldn't help but surface now. We weren't all going to make it out.

I very much wanted to believe that it wasn't true. I wanted to think that we'd all make it and then we'd all live happily ever after. But I knew it wasn't true.

Chloe squeezed my hand that she was holding. I'd almost forgotten that she was there. Almost.

"Derek," she repeated, "I think I speak for all of us when I say, your opinion matters most."

My heart broke. And I knew what I had to do. I had to make sure they all got out and only then would I worry about myself.

For a moment I actually wondered if it was possible to die from a broken heart. Because it sure as hell felt like it.

I nodded.

This is it.

Chloe POV

J.J. gave a very encouraging pep talk (probably used to it from football). Derek pulled me toward him and just hugged me. I had a feeling that he wasn't about to let go anytime soon.

Hayden shrank down to mini size and disappeared under the door.

Now we play the waiting game.

Simon, Halie, Kaylee, and Tori found a corner and retreated to it. J.J. and Parker stayed pressed against the door, listening, while Dana and the rest of the pack talked about the new Xbox game.

Dana and J.J. were so perfect together. Their relationship was so easy and gentle. They didn't have to be together all the time, but were happy when they were. They could talk for hours about anything. Perfect for each other. They both had the looks and the personality. Just a normal, extremely in love, couple.

I wondered what me and Derek looked like. To the outside world anyway. To our friends we're just a normal, well powerful, werewolf and necromancer that are dating. Total opposites and the last two people in the world that you'd picture together. But what about the other people. The other non-supernatural people. Like my dad.

Do we look like weird-o's or just like a tiny girl and a guy who'd been on a workout bench since he was five? What would my dad think? Would he kick Derek out of the house? Would he put up with him just for me?… Would he even care?

Then I looked up at Derek and realized that I don't care. I don't care what the world thinks of me as long as I'm with Derek.

A slow smile spread across my face. If this worked we'd be out. Free. Still on the run, but free from here.

And maybe soon free for good. I couldn't help but picture my life after, if I survived this. If we survived it.

~*~

An hour had passed. Still no Hayden.

"He's been captured. I just know it!" Tori said for the twentieth time.

By now even J.J. had given up hope. He hadn't spoken in ten minutes.

You're the only one who can save them now.

I jumped at the sound of her voice.

Go away! I thought.

You are considering it. Yes?

Never! I answered.

But, I couldn't help but think. The dreaded 'what if?'. What if it is our only way out. What if my 'morals' are the only thing standing between us and freedom. What if Haden doesn't make it back? Will we die? Is this evil demon our only way out?

The demon kept her mouth shut, very reserved, thoughtful.

I looked at all my friends around me. I knew what I had to do.

"Okay."

"What did you say, Chloe?" Derek asked.

I looked up at him.

You better pull through. I thought toward the demon.

I will when the time is right, child. The demon said.

When the time is right! I thought you were going to get us out now!

When the time is right… Her voice faded away.

"We're getting out of here." I spat at Derek, my anger showing.

He looked taken aback. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything… the door busted into flames.

"What the hell!!" J.J. yelled.

"I guess the time is right…" I whispered and stood up.

Setting: At break. 8th grade English Club is selling Valentine's Day cupcakes. (Me and Cuzzie are in English Club). While decorating cupcakes some people put X's and O's on their's for hugs and kisses,

Girls: We're gonna try to sell these to the teachers.

Us: Kay.

*2 minutes later*

*J.J. walks out to break*

Me: Well, dang! They sold them to J.J.. The plate and everything!

Liz: haha

J.J.'s friend: Dude, you got two cupcakes.

J.J.: Yeah, man, I know.

J.J,'s friend: That one is chocolate.

J.J.: Yeah, man.

J.J's friend: And this one even has a X and O on it…

J.J.: …..Oh…. I thought it said ox…. I don't want it anymore!

*Puts cupcake back.*

Me: :O!

*Grabs different cupcake quickly but while trying to put it on his plate he drops it upside down in the box.*

Me: J.J.!

J.J.: Uh oh…

*grabs different cupcake and runs away.*