Aaannndd number 38. Damn this story got a lot of chapters. Well I hope you like this one. I have no idea to call this chapter so ideas are welcome just send a PM;) Enjoy! =D
After a hot shower for me and Leah to gain our temperature back it was time to bring her home. 'Can Derek come two?' Leah asked. 'Well go ask him' I said. She ran through the house calling out Derek's name. She came gamboling back followed by Derek. 'He is coming too' she said with a big smile. 'Well let's go than' I said grabbing my car keys. After Leah said goodbye to everyone we left.
'That is your car?' Derek said staring with big eyes at it. 'Yes' I said proud. 'How can you afford a car like this?' he said. 'Because she is awesome' Leah said with a big smile. I looked down at her and smiled. I looked at Derek again. 'Well you heard it, because I'm awesome' I said smiling. Derek rolled his eyes. We stepped into the car and drove away.
'Riley? Where do you and you're parents live?' Leah asked. I felt a lump in my throat. I felt Derek looking at me. I swallowed one time. 'I don't have any parents anymore' I said. 'Why?' she said. 'Because my parents are in heaven' I said trying to focus on the road. 'Oh, for how long?' she asked. 'A long time' I said. I turned my head a little to Leah with a small smile. I couldn't blame her for asking these questions, she was six years old. 'But then you are alone for a very long time' she said. 'Yes but I have other people who took care of me' I said. 'Who were that? Do I know someone?' she asked. 'I lived with Chloe' I said. 'The girl with those beautiful blue eyes?' she said. 'Yes, I lived with her and her father in the same home' I said.
We were silent for a while when Leah asked. 'How old were you when you lost your parents?' 'Five' I said. 'Really? And after that you lived with Chloe?' she said. 'No first I lived two years in a house with kids who also had no parents and when I went to school I met Chloe' I said. When I thought back of those two years of hell I grabbed the steering wheel a bit tighter. 'Was it fun in that house?' she asked. 'Leah, I think Riley want to talk about something else' Derek said. 'Tell me how are things at school' he asked. Leah started to talk about all little thing that happened at school and didn't stop after we were at her house. I didn't heard everything, in my thoughts I was at the orphan house. In the corner of my eyes I saw Derek looking at me rapidly, looking if I was alright.
Leah lived in a small village nothing special just like every other village you see. Leah ran at her house and knocked on it a couple of times. Derek and I followed her. 'Thank you' I said to him before we reached Leah. 'No problem' he said.
'Leah! How was your day' he father said lifting her up. 'I made a snowman and first it was a normal snowman but then Riley made it look like Derek and' she told her father in a rush. 'Wow, wow slow down sweetheart. I understand you had fun' he said. 'I hope she wasn't any trouble' Leah's father said looking at us. 'No not at all sir' I said smiling. 'I got something for you two. Here' he said. He gave us two rectangle objects wrapped in Christmas paper. 'You can open it tomorrow on the first day of Christmas' he said. 'Thank you sir' Derek said. Leah was standing on her own two feet. She walked to me and hugged me. I lifted her up. 'Till next time' I said. 'Will you visit soon?' she asked. 'I'll try' I said. She warped her arms around my neck. I put her down on her feet. She walked to Derek. She stood in front of him making circles with her feet while her face turned a little red. 'Oh come on' Derek said and lifted her up. 'She is the one who bites not me' he said pointing to me. Leah was now bright red staring at Derek, she warped her arms around his neck. When Derek was putting her down she kissed him on his cheek and ran immediately inside. I started to laugh together with Leah's father. Derek was still a bit shocked about what happened.
'Come on Casanova, let's go back' I said grabbing Derek's arm. I waved Leah's father goodbye and dragged a frozen Derek with me. 'Ahw how cute that was your first kiss right?' I said teasing. 'Oh shut up' he said. 'Well if you wait a couple of years you both can be a couple' I said joyful. 'You can stop now' he said with a warning. 'Come on, you knew she liked you right?' I said. Derek didn't answer. I laughed 'You didn't' I said. 'Just get in the car' he said a little irritated.
'How were you able to buy this car' Derek said after a couple minutes of silence. 'The inheritance my parents left me' I said. 'You spent all of it on a car?' he said. 'No my father had his own company. He was a car dealer. Audi of course. He left me a note to at least buy a car of the money. My mother was model so she also earned a lot of money. This car was a cheap one if you know how much money I got left. I just don't like to show off I'm sort of rich. Except for the car of course' I said. 'Really?' he said. 'Yes' I said. the rest of the way we were silent. Not a uncomfortable silent just nothing to talk about.
'Well look who went away together' Ian said when we stepped out of the car. Derek rolled his eyes. 'Don't do that' Ian shout at his brother. 'What? Acting like you are an idiot, jealous an ass?' Derek said. 'How did you call me?' Ian said walking to his brother.
They were standing right in front of each other just two centimeter apart. Their eyes were both spitting fire. This wasn't just a fight in words this could become physical. 'You heard me' Derek said. 'Well my little brother is getting a big mouth when his girlfriend is around' Ian said. 'Oh shut up' Derek said rolling his eyes. 'You can walk away if you want to. Hold your pride while you still can' Ian said. 'The only one who is going to lose his pride is you' Derek said. I can't really describe the tension what was hanging in the air but it was no good unless someone was stopping them, than someone happened to be me. 'You watch your mouth I'm still your older brother' Ian said pointing his finger to Derek. 'So what' Derek said.
'Guys enough!' I shout trying to push them away from each other. 'Yeah go ahead help him' Ian said. 'I'm not, you both are acting like idiots so turn around both of you and walk away' I said. 'Riley stay out of this' Derek said pushing me away. 'You should have listen to her. Now I'm going to finish what we started this morning' Ian said. His eyes were dark. Anger and joy. The same I saw in Derek's eyes. 'You were lucky dad jumped between us this morning. Now I'm kicking your ass' Ian said. Derek only smiled. That made Ian snap and he jumped on his brother. They both tumbled over the floor throwing punches at each other. I had no idea what to do. It was impossible for me to jump between them.
I quickly ran inside searching for help. When I entered the living room I saw everyone sitting by the fire place. 'Riley' Naomi said with a smile, that disappeared quick when she saw the look on my face. 'What is it?' Trevor said. 'Ian and Derek. They are fighting outside' I said. 'Not again' Dan complained. Jack, Trevor and Dan walked outside immediately. Followed by me , Naomi, Tori and Chloe. When I walked outside I saw Jack and Trevor dragging Derek away from Ian who was dragged away by Dan.
When they calmed down a bit. They let go of them. 'This is the second time today!' Trevor said with a low voice. 'And the sixed time this since we got here, what the hell is wrong with you two' he continued. Derek and Ian were both heavily breathing. Ian was looking really bad. His nose and mouth was bleeding. The bruises on his face were already showing. And I bet not only his face was beaten up. Derek had a cut above his eye and blood was flowing over his eye. Also bruises on his face were showing up. They were both still looking at each other furious and focused. 'Well?' Trevor shout. 'You know why' Derek said glaring at his dad. Trevor was clearly shocked by his sons reaction. 'Don't talk with that tone to me' Trevor commanded. 'Go to hell' Derek said. 'Derek!' Trevor shout. Jack, Dan, Ian and Naomi cower a bit by the tune on Trevor's voice. Even Chloe and Tori were a bit shocked. The only one who didn't react was Derek… and me.
Derek glared at his dad before he turned around and walked away into the forest. 'Derek come back!' Trevor yelled. But Derek didn't react. He disappeared into the forest.
Everyone went inside except for Naomi and me. 'This is so not like him' Naomi said staring to the spot where Derek disappeared. 'Maybe it's my fault. I shouldn't interrupt them I should have call you direct' I said. 'It's not your fault sweetheart. This is going on for a while but normally it stays by words and Trevor always have the last word. But since we got here it's different. Besides it is always Jack and Ian getting into a fight or Ian and Dan even Jack and Dan but never Derek. He is always on himself not bothering the fight between his brothers' she said. 'And you have no idea why?' I said.
'Maybe I do, but I found it hard to believe. Can you do something for me?' she said. 'Sure what is it?' I said. 'Right now he isn't going to listen to almost anyone not even me. But maybe he listens to you' she said. 'To me?' I said a little surprised. 'Yes, I heard about what happened with that Liam and Ramon happened in the forest. He told me after I asked him a couple of times what was wrong. You calmed him down, and I think you can do that again' she said. 'I don't know' I said looking at the ground. 'Riley he cares about you, he will listen, I know he would. Please at least try. I want to have a happy Christmas' she said. The tone of her voice was sad, desperate. 'I'll see what I can do' I said. 'Thank you' she said.
I walked into the forest to the place I found Derek earlier this day. There he was again almost in the same position. 'Well that was really tough of you' I said sarcastic walking my way to him. 'Go away' he said. I ignored him. I walked to the other side of the tree and sat down leaning with my back against it. 'Why are you here' he said. 'Why do you think' I replied. 'That would be a waste of time' he said. 'Would it?' I asked. 'Yes' he said. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the silence. No birds were singing, most animals were sleeping. The only sound I heard was a small river a few meter away. We sat there for maybe fifteen minutes. I stood up and walked to the river I heard. Derek followed me until I disappeared into the forest, but he didn't say anything. I grabbed a couple of paper napkins and put them in the river so they would be wet. I returned to Derek and kneeled next to him.
I reached my hand to his face but he grabbed it. 'Don't' he said. 'You look terrible. So stop whining and let me clean the blood of your face' I said. He let go of my hand and let me clean his face. He had a nasty cut above his eye. The right side of his face was covered in dried blood. 'Why?' I asked while cleaning his cheek. 'You wouldn't understand' he said. 'Yeah maybe I don't but I'm asking so answer' I said. Derek didn't say anything.
'I always thought you were the smart one. Why didn't you walk away. Ian is always big talk you can just let him be with his ego' I said. 'You have no idea how it is, how it is to be the youngest, always the last, always the one that gets the blame, always the one who is easy to bully' he said angry. 'No I don't know how that is, at least I was too young to really remember. But what I do know is, is that Ian is afraid of you. He is teasing you, searching for a way to be better than you. A way to lure you out. You might not see it, but I do. And I bet your mother and father too.
Don't let him nag you like that, your better than him' I said. 'Yeah right' he said rolling his eyes. 'You're not longer his little brother anymore' I said. Derek turned his head to me but didn't expect me to be this close. My heart skipped a beat. Heat was spreading over my cheeks. 'Second chance' the voice said in my head. 'Come on your so close, it's save you can do it' it spoke to me. I quickly stood up. 'Let's go back. Your mother is waiting for us' I said.
'Come one girl' the voice spoke to me. 'Go back! I don't need you' I said back in my head. 'I'll think you do, I know something you want to know. Let me come back and I'll share it' the voice said. 'Go away' I said back.
Derek was looking at me. 'You're alright?' he said looking a bit worried. 'Yeah I'm fine. Let's go back' I said smiling.