CPOV

I was furious and hurt at the same time. Somehow while Derek and I were fighting, as usual, he had managed to insult me and my mother in the same sentence. With that my temper was set off and I threw every insult my mind could come up with at the moment.

But with everything I said it looked like nothing had even fazed him. He was just looking out the window with a bored expression. He wasn't even paying attention to me.

Completely exasperated, I had turned and ran for my room. Once there, I slammed the door and threw myself on the bed. I didn't want to but I started balling my eyes out. This time Derek had crossed the line in giving a come-back. The hateful wretch! I can't believe he had said that. I mean..."Andrew HELP!!!!!" I shot up off my pillow at the sound of Simon's voice screaming in terror. What he screamed next almost made me throw up, "Derek come on answer me?!!" what happened to Derek. I ran out of my room and down the stairs so fast I didn't have time to register where I was going. The only thought in my head was Derek, Derek, and Derek!!!!!

I rounded the corner to the hallway I had left him and fell to my knees because of a dizzy head. In front of me was a collapsed Derek. He was covered in blood and was coughing it out. I whimpered his name. But I think it came out more of a yell. "DEREK!!!" this time it was a shriek. But the only thing it did was make his head fall to the side facing me and his eyes close as he blacked out. "No...." I whispered. "Derek?"

Simon's voice reminded me that he was still here. I slowly crawled over to Derek's side. I let out a yelp as I took him in. His face and hair were soaked in blood like his chest. He was all cramped and looked crippled because of the position he was in. his face was peaceful yet sorrowful at the same time. I started to push his hair out of his face. I let out a sob as I looked him up and down.

Derek was supposed to be the undefeatable one. He was the invincible one that couldn't be brought down. But here...he looked so weak, so vulnerable. I just wanted to pull him into my arms and never let him go. To hide him in some place that not even his dad could find.

I took my other hand and just started to smooth his ink black hair out of his face. His hair was staying back because of the blood but I just kept running my hands over his hair. I watched his face as I did it and he somehow looked like he was relaxing and a slight smile grew on his lips. I smiled too, through my sniffling. He was so sweet sometimes that I just wanted to hug him as hard as I could. Which to him wouldn't be that hard but I wouldn't care about that. As long as he was okay I guess that would help me get through whatever he threw at me. Even though after that I normally wanted to see something crush his head on the spot. I would always be there for him no matter how proud or stupid he is.

"Chloe?" I looked up into Simon's mocha eyes, "Uh...." but he didn't say anything else because Andrew and Tori came to a screeching halt behind him.

"Eeww!!" cried Tori in disgust. I frowned at her but she didn't notice. "What on earth happened!!" yelled Andrew. I looked to Simon because I noticed that I didn't know what had happened.

"Well, I heard Derek start yelling so I went to find him. It was only until I heard Chloe that I knew they were fighting again. I was going to see if maybe I could cool him down or something, but I end up finding him pressed against the wall hyperventilating. He slid down the wall and lay down for a minute and then started coughing up blood. Then he blacked out, when Chloe came down." he looked distant as he finished his story.

"Hmm." Andrew had a thoughtful look on his face, "Sounds like a werewolf's version of a panic attack. But not a normal one obviously because I haven't heard of them coughing up blood. It must have been a very severe incident to make him react like that. I couldn't imagine what would have caused it." we were all silent for a moment. Tori, being her, broke it first, "Well, we can't just leave him in the hall! That's disgusting!!" we all grimaced at her and she gave us an expression that said, what?

"She is right, though." said Andrew, "We can't leave him here or carry him to his room so we'll just have to get him to the guest room down here." Simon nodded and I moved next to Tori so I would be out of the way. Andrew heaved his shoulders up while Simon took hold of Derek's legs. Carefully, they carried him down to the guest room.

Tori groaned and stomped off in the other direction leaving me alone in the hall. I decided to take Simon and Andrew's place in cleaning up Derek. Simon wouldn't know what to do and Andrew is probably very uncomfortable.

When I got to the guest room I stood in the doorway. Andrew was preparing bandages even though Derek didn't need any and Simon was looking around blankly. I chuckled and they looked up, "You guys go clean up the hallway, I'll take care of Derek." Simon nodded, "But..." started Andrew, "Andrew you are getting bandages out when Derek doesn't even need any. Relax and go do something else." I said in a more stern tone. He looked taken aback at my words and expression but I ignored it. The two walked out and I went over to Derek. He looked more peaceful and I smiled a bit. His chest was moving up and down only slightly as he was perfectly at rest.

I walked into the adjoining bathroom and got a few towels. I walked back to Derek and looked him up and down trying to decide where to start.

I put his arms above his head and lifted his shirt off of him. When the blood ruined shirt was off of him I smirked. He had a broad chest and rock hard abs. I swear if any girl knew what was under the baggy clothes and depressed act he would be a more popular target than his brother.

I scowled at this thought. WAIT WHY!!!!? It wasn't like he or I was interested. We fought all the time and he never gave it a second thought. He has protected me from anything that was thrown at me and I helped him with changes but that's what friends are for. They help you when they need it most. Plus, I'm pretty sure Derek wouldn't ever like me and I don't think I would ever like him more than I do now with his insufferable attitude….

I shook my head to clear it. Derek needed my help right now. With that I took a rag and soaked it in the bathroom. I took the rag and started wiping the blood off from his chest and throat. I turned the rag on its other side to wipe off his face. As the blood disappeared from his face I noticed something was different.

His acne was completely gone. His blood had made it disappear. I was so not telling him that. I didn't want him to start making himself bleed just to get rid of it. Though he probably wouldn't do that anyway I still wasn't taking any chances. I couldn't bear it if he tried to hurt himself.

I continued to clean his face off until it was completely clear. Then I soaked another rag and ground shampoo into it. I rubbed his head with it for a long while to make sure that I had gotten all of the blood out of his hair.

About half an hour I had started Derek was finally clean. I sighed and put all the dirty rags into the sink along with his shirt. I walked out of the room and closed the door leaving Derek to sleep. I walked down to the kitchen to find Andrew with a cup off coffee. He looked up and was about to say something but I cut him off, "Do you have any books that are from this century Andrew?" I said in a rather sarcastic tone. He looked wary t how I spoke but answered none the less, "Go check the garage Chloe. There should be some boxes you can reach full of books out there." I nodded and headed out the back door. I didn't want to deal with his worries right now. I needed to think.

The garage was a separate building from the house. I walked over to the side entrance and went inside.

There wasn't a lot to see here. It was dark and filled to ceiling with boxes. I walked over to one on the floor. It was open and had books inside that looked Farley new. I had been looking through them for about five minutes when someone came in. it was Simon, "Oh, there you are Chloe. I've been looking for you." I smiled a tiny bit and nodded. his expression fell slightly but then he perked up again, "Do you want to hang out and watch a movie or maybe go get dinner together or something?" he looked confident and expectant.

If he had asked me three weeks ago I would have said yes right away. But it wasn't three weeks ago and he wasn't the boy I wanted to spend my time with, "Simon...I'm not really in the mood for hanging out right now. I just want to be left alone." I looked down as I said this. I hope he wasn't too disappointed. "Oh," the sadness in his voice made me look up. He was looking down too and had a sorrowful expression on his face, "Well, maybe later today or tomorrow we could go somewhere together." he looked up hopeful again. I paused. I really didn't want to crush his hope but I didn't want him to think I liked him like that. He was like the brother I never had. This was going to be difficult. I sighed, "Simon, I don't know how to say this, but I just want to be friends. I can't see you being anything more than that to be honest." I looked at him and he looked crushed for a second but then gave the weakest smile I had ever seen, "Oh, that's cool, hum...yeah okay, I'll...just...leave you to your books now." and with that he nearly ran out of the garage. I groaned. I didn't want to drop that bomb on him, but he wasn't making this any easier.

I tried to focus on the books and for a while it worked. Then I forgot the Simon incident all together.

I had gone into five boxes in an hour to try and find a book that really captured my attention but none were like that. I had a few stored in my head if I ever changed my mind. I was going to get another box but I was a little high. It probably wasn't the best idea, but I stood on top of a box to try and reach it. I had almost got it when I was startled by someone's voice, "Need help?" I gasped and whirled. Standing in the doorway was Derek, all 6ft 4 of him. He was smirking like the arrogant fool he had been acting like a few hours ago.

The past event made me a little resentful, "I'm fine thank you very much." I was completely irked all of the sudden, "I think I've done enough reading for today." Even though I hadn't read any books yet. I passed him swiftly and out of the corner of my eye I saw his expression showed a bit of hurt, but he would have to be guilty for a while.

I stomped angrily into the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the fridge. I sat down at the extremely large table and started eating it. Unfortunately though, the quiet allowed my mind to wonder.

I started to stare intently at the apple. It seemed strange for me to be eating it for some reason. I couldn't quite put my finger on it until I became so furious again that my clenched fist was nearly vibrating.

Every time I caught Derek in the kitchen he was eating an apple. WHY DID EVERYTHING I DO HAVE TO REMIND ME OF HIM!!!!! Seriously, an answer from some higher power would be really helpful right about now!

For just a few minutes I would like to do something that wasn't caused by Derek or something that reminded me of him. And so I chucked the bitten apple in a random direction. Next thing I knew I heard a cry of pain and I looked up. Andrew was in the doorway holding his nose in his fingers. "That's quite an arm you got there Chloe." I groaned and walked away not even bothering to apologize.

I walked into the nearly always vacant den and lay on the couch. The darkness and depressing colors of the room were very calming at the moment. Soon enough my eye lids were heavy and I was drifting to sleep.

Right before I fell asleep though I could've sworn I heard Derek quietly say, "Goodnight Chloe." Then nothing.