Disclaimer: This wouldn't be a fanfic if I owned Darkest Powers would it?

I stayed with Chloe and Derek as the change continued. By the time the change started to reverse, I had no clue how Chloe did it. I could barely stand to watch as my brother morphed into a dog, but she sat there and watched and comforted him, rubbing his shoulder the whole time.

When Derek was almost finished Chloe stood up and headed toward the tree line. She caught my questioning glance and pointed to a pile of clothes under the cover of a bush.

Well at least I know she hasn't seen him naked. I thought fighting a laugh.

Derek was definitely human again. I walked over to the pile of cloth and tossed the clothes to him. He laid there panting, covered in sweat, until he found the energy to grab his clothes and pull them on.

"Chloe," He called hoarsely.

I heard the crunch of leaves as she approached and saw the look of relief on Derek's face as he watched her come closer. My brother had fallen head over heels.

"How're you doing?" She murmured taking his hand in her two smaller ones.

"I'm fine," He told her giving her the biggest smile he could muster. Wow, not many people could make Derek smile like that. Scowl, that was easy. Sneer, piece of cake. Smile, now that took an expert.

"Good." She said returning the smile more enthusiastically before leaning down and kissing his sweat plastered forehead and whispering something in his ear.

He nodded giving her a meaningful look before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

Chloe stood releasing her hand from his and nodded in the direction of the wood-line gesturing for me to follow.

"Takes a lot out of him huh?" I asked once we were hidden by the forest.

"Yeah, he normally will sleep for a few hours after a partial change." She informed me, looking slightly uncomfortable.

We stood there awkwardly for a moment, both of us looking away.

"I'm sorry," We both said in unison. "Me first," I said looking back up at her. "I shouldn't have gotten mad at either of you," I told her. "It was your decision, and I guess I was just caught by surprise."

"I shouldn't have led you on like that though," She told me looking way passed depressed. "I never meant for it to be like that, it all happened so fast though. I wanted to tell you the right way, I guess I just didn't count on it happening that way."

"Hey," I said pulling up on her chin before dropping my hand quickly. "I'm glad he's got someone. Just take care of him, 'kay?" She nodded weakly before looking away.

"So, you and Lindsay?" She asked with a smile.

I nodded with a sheepish grin. "Another good thing that came out of this,"

"She really likes you," She told me.

"You can tell?"I asked feeling a bit of an ego boost. Was it really obvious?
Chloe nodded and smiled. "We might have talked," She said wincing at my look of utmost shock at the statement. What did they talk about? I wondered. "Nothing bad," She told me quickly as if she could read my mind. "Just… girl talk."

I nodded absentmindedly, we were walking back to the clearing now. "You really love him," I stated, there wasn't a question to it, I watched the way they acted toward each other and it was simple to see. The way they moved together, and the way at catching a glance from the other they both broke out in smiles.

Chloe nodded but then stopped walking. She looked a bit troubled. "Simon, can I talk to you about something?" She asked me sitting on a fallen log and gesturing for me to sit beside her.

"Sure," I said moving over to the log beside her.

"I told Derek that I loved him," She told me. "And he just ran off." I saw the hurt in her eyes and the set of her mouth told me how unhappy she was. I just hoped she didn't start crying.

"That's Derek for you," I muttered under my breath not meant for her to hear.

"Huh?" Oops guess she heard me.

"That's Derek," I repeated. "I don't think it's that he doesn't feel the same way," I told her. "In fact I'm sure he does. I've known Derek since we were both really young and he's never acted this way before. And I think that's why this is hard for him; he doesn't know how to act. It's like in grade school when the boy pushes the girl down because he likes her." This seemed to make sense to her but she still didn't look much happier. I watched her plaster on a fake smile and head back toward the clearing.

Derek was lying there in a sleeping heap. He was breathing deeply and most of his sweat was gone.

You should go back to Lindsay," Chloe said to me. "I'm here with him and nothing exciting will happen unless you call this," She gestured to Derek sleeping in a ball, "Exciting."

I thought it over and eventually nodded. I felt bad for leaving Lindsay like that, no matter how gracefully she had taken it. "Are you going to need anything else to wear?" I asked noticing that she was wearing only a light t-shirt.

"No, I have my own living, breathing radiator over here," She said smiling before grabbing my shoulders and spinning me around to give me a push in the direction of the house. "Tell Andrew where we are if we miss dinner," She called to me walking back to my brother.

I watched from inside the trees as she curled up next to him, lifted his arm, and placed it overtop of herself. They were perfect for each other.

Better try and find my way home before dark or I might never get out of here. I thought to myself heading out into the quickly darkening woods.