DPOV

Mental note: don't eat apples around Chloe. The cause for this note was because as soon as Chloe saw me at the table her expression transformed into a scowl so heated I thought I could see the flames in her dark blue eyes. Very slowly, as if I was trying to avoid getting eaten myself, I brought my hand to rest on the chair next to my left knee, hiding the apple from her view. This seemed to calm her down a bit and burn out some of the flames in her eyes. I wonder if they would come back when I told her that I heard her talking to Simon. Well, until she said the part that she loved both of us just in different ways. After that every noise I heard was just a background buzz. I had been filled with such hope that I actually started smiling like retard to the apple I was currently hiding like all the sudden a cartoon face would pop up and say, 'See! I told you so!'. That's when I knew I had lost it. I was imaging cartoon apple faces…

"You were listening weren't you?" the question was so unexpected that I actually jumped a little in my own skin, "What makes you think that?" my voice came out a little too harsh and my usual scowl graced my face…I have issues.

"I know how good your hearing is, Derek. Not to mention you looked like you were thinking to hard to not have heard something that set your mind off." Chloe looked completely calm. Almost nonchalant…it made me a little confused as to why she was so nervous. Her heart was beating faster every minute, but her expression betrayed nothing. She wasn't…afraid of me was she? "I don't think you would like to hear what I was thinking about." The cold words left my mouth before I could even think about them. Damn myself.

Chloe started to walk towards a chair opposite of me and sat down. And just stared at me. It was a little unsettling. The look in her eyes made it look like she could see right into my very soul. I felt my scowl deepen, "What are you starring at?" I spit the words at her as if she were some stranger. It didn't seem to faze her at all. Besides the small blush that started to stain her cheeks, "How are you feeling?" her tone was quiet and gentle and made me feel guilty as hell.

"I'm fine. By the way, were you the one who…" I trailed off not knowing if I wanted the answer for a second.

"Cleaned you up? Yes, that was me. Does that bother you?" my eyes widened slightly. Why would that bother me?

"No, why would it?" her head tilted a little to the side, "I didn't know if you would be comfortable with it or not." Well that was a stupid reply, even for her.

"Chloe you've seen me nearly transform into a wolf and you're worried that I wouldn't want you to clean the blood off me after I have a panic attack? What is that?" sarcasm was curling around my words like a freakin vine. Why was I such an asshole?

"What caused your panic attack, Derek?" I froze. Her voice had grown small and quiet, but she was still meeting my gaze with her unusually calm eyes. I didn't know if I wanted to tell her that. I mean it's not like I have to lie to her. Just don't tell her the whole thing. If I did she'd probably start running and screaming from me…or she could pick up on that I'm not telling her the whole truth and end up questioning me and in the end still be mad at me because I wasn't going to tell her that she was my mate. I needed her. And if just being her protector or being someone she could scream at was what she needed then I would be right there, "It's not something you want to know about." My words were cold, final. I couldn't stand to see the look of disgust in her eyes if she found out. I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing I had driven her away.

"It was the most frightening moment in my life you know." She turned her head to the side staring out the window so that I couldn't see her expression and frankly I was glad she wasn't looking at mine either, "What?" was my genius response.

"I always saw you as indestructible and strong. When I saw you in the hallway all bloodied and so…defeated it scared me. I thought that maybe something was seriously wrong and that you wouldn't get up again. I didn't know what to do. I was actually kind of proud that I hadn't broken down in a panic attack myself because I couldn't live if…" she trailed off leaving the sentence hanging. Her eyes cast downward, but she still didn't turn to face me.

My heart was beating like crazy and this funny feeling was starting to heat up a spot in my stomach. I felt like I could start yelling…or start running from the room, "If what, Chloe? You couldn't live, if what?" my words were slow and a little shaky.

Finally she turned to look at me with a dead look in her eyes and an attempted half smile that had my heart aching, "Never mind, it's nothing you would want to be bothered with."

;) Luv u guys!