Together, the Brit and the girl from Ohio walked back to the quiet apartment. Beth wasn't home, she was at Shelby's sister's house for the night. So as they approached the bulding, Shelby turned to Derek.
"Do you want to come in?" Shelby asked almost shyly. Derek smiled and nodded at her. Shelby sighed. Thank God he knows when I need a pick me up because I'm insecure, she thought. She led the way to apartment 14G and grinned as Derek examined the small plaque on the door.
"So, you hide a key behind here, as well as a photograph of you and Beth, the photo we took for the wedding and just a picture of me?" Derek asked, slightly amused. Shelby blushed and muttered something.
"What?" Derek asked, his grin widening. Shelby muttered "Nothing," and Derek left her alone. He knew she needed her privacy.
"Want a drink, Derek?" She called from the kitchen. He followed her voice into the room. Se was holding a bottle of Moscato wine and two glasses. She couldn't see him, but he could see her clearly.
"Shelby?" He walked into the room where she could see him.
"Yeah?" Shelby asked and handed him his glass. He took a sip, made a face and glared at his ex.
"Really. Exactly the one I hate." Derek said. Shelby smiled, but Derek could see a bit of sadness in her eyes.
"What's wrong, Shel?" He asked quietly, walking up to her and pulling her into a hug.
"I'll answer if you ask the question you had before." Shelby said, pulling away from Derek. Derek could sense there was a shift in Shelby's mood, but he couldn't figure it out.
"I was going to say that we haven't sang together in almost ten years. I want to sing a duet with you sometime." Derek said. "Now answer the other question." Shelby looked a tthe floor then sat down on the couch. Derek took the chair almost right next to the couch.
"I miss us." Shelby said simply. Derek was speechless for a moment.
"As in our relationship. Us. Derelby or Shelrek or whatever the hell they called us." Shelby gave a small grin before taking another drink of wine and frowning. "But I've seen the way you look at Karen and I know I'll never be able to compete with that look. It's just so hard knowing you've moved on when I haven't yet." Derek was speechless. e'd heard that speech a million times, from his exes, his conquests, even Ivy, for God's sake. But not once would it have affected him the way this one did.
"Shelby, I- um, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked for your help with this, I-" Derek stumbled over his words. Shelby smiled sadly again.
"You never asked, Derek. I took it upon myself. I just was stupid and didn't realzie how hard it would be to see you happy for once." Derek swallowed the tears that were somehow building up in the back of his throat. Shebly had changed, and godammit, he had too. They were both sweeter, nicer, calmer. Nothing they had ever thoguht would happen.
"Wanna play the old game?" Shelby asked with a small grin, growing back into her usual perky self. Derek smiled.
"Alright. Guess what I was just thinking. Ten bucks says you won't be able to." He challenged. She smiled.
"You were just thinking about how we've both changed, became calmer and kinder, and how it wasn't anything that we'd ever expected, or anything that woud've happened if we were still together." Shelby said. Derek mad ea face and handed her the ten dollar bill he'd had in his hand since he'd first challenged her. She'd always won.
"You know, I've still never figured out how you've been able to do that. And don't respond magic." Derek said. Shelby gave him a sheepish smile.
"Great minds think alike, Derek. G'night."