You Only Hold Me Up Like This

Chapter Eleven

I Don't Want To Miss A Thing

---------

Derek's recovery was swift and quick, and when he left the hospital, he was more healthy than he was when he had come in. And Laine, alone with Derek's improved health had also gained some strength.

But she was so distant. More distant than Derek had ever thought possible. He had never felt more alone than he did when he was with her. But Derek knew Laine better than he knew himself. He knew exactly what she was trying to do, and he would never let it happen. She was trying to get him to fall out of love with her.

Derek was angry at her for this, but not a thousand fights could make him hate her. She was invincible to him. She was just trying to look out for him, which just made it harder for him to be mad at her. She was trying to make it easier for him when she was gone. She had an insane notion that she was going to die, but Derek could never believe that. Despite what the doctors said, he could feel his body getting stronger, healthier. And he knew that just as his body had healed itself, hers would too.

He was tired of being alone.

He was tired of feeling alone.

Because he knew in his heart that he was born to tell Laine that he loved her. He wanted her to touch his hand ever so softly, just like she used to. That was when he felt closest to her. That was when he felt almost alive.

-------

Three days.

That was how long it had been since he had seen her. It was like Laine had disappeared off the face of the Earth. He had called, E-mailed, text messaged, and spent hours knocking on her front door.

And he had had enough.

Pushing him away hadn't worked. It wasn't going to work. When Laine disappeared like this, it scared him. It terrified him and sent a chilling feeling down his spine.

He grabbed a crowbar from the passengers seat as he walked up the driveway to Laine's house. He was not suprised when he saw no car parked in the driveway. Of coarse her parents weren't home.

Derek was suprised that Laine had actually turned out a good as she had, what with her completely absent parents. He had never seen anything quite like this, and it made him appreciate his family life, with all their imperfections all the much more. He was suprised to find that the door was unlocked, and he pushed it open, and didn't think twice before he walked up the stairs, and into Laine's room.

She looked so graceful when she was sleeping, like an angel. She never snored, or made any noise. She just laid peacefully in that bed. The bed where they had spent hours talking, and making love in. Derek loved that bed. He walked over to her, sitting down next to get and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Her eyes snapped shot immediately. "Derek?" She questioned.

Derek gave a weak smile. "The one and only-"

"What are you doing in my house?" She said as she sat up on the bed, squinting her eyes painfully. This must of been a bad day for her.

"The door was open-" He said.

"No, I mean why are you in my house?"

"I missed you."

"So?"

"I had to see you-"

"I've been busy"

"Yeah, no kidding-"

"What's that soposed to mean?" Laine said defensively.

"For all intensive purposed, you've disappeared-"

"So what? Aren't I allowed to have some alone time-"

Derek stopped talking to her, and looked into her baby blue eyes. They were so stunning. God, it was so hard to be mad at her. "Laine, just cut the shit, alright. You're not doing anyone any favors by locking yourself up in this room for a week. I'm not leaving, and I'm not just going to forget about you."

Laine's face started to turn red in anger. She always looked so cute when she was mad. "Get the hell-" He kissed her. She hated how she melted in that kiss. She hated how that was all he had to do, and she turned into silly putty.

He took her face in his hands, kissing her forehead. "I don't care what type of crazy stunt your trying to pull, but it isn't going to work. I could never stay away from you for that long, and you know that."

Laine couldn't protest. Normally she would put up a fight, but she was too tired and too deprived of him to do any real damage. She just melted into his arms, and let him hold her. He seemed better, healthier to her. He held himself differently.

For so long she had been the strong one, and not Derek was going to have to hold her up.

"Laine-" Derek said.

"Yeah-" she jumped. She had fallen asleep in his arms, but only for a second.

"Will you go to prom with me?" He asked.

"When?"

"Tomorrow night-"

She just gave his hand a squeeze.

She hoped she could make it that long.

-------

Yeah, I know it's taken awhile. Sorry...but I finally got it up. I am thinking two more chapters, and I already know the ending.

You wont guess so don't try.

I put up a fanfic website for myself. It's pretty cool. I have video promos for all my stories(including this one) and you see what the char actors look like, chat, and rate. The address is freewebs (dot)com(slash)aainsley. The address is also on my fanfic. net profile so check it out.

I am gonna try and have these last chapters up by Friday.

Aiden.