Chapter 7! Here we go (: Hope you guys like!

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Massie was hiding. Well, not hiding, just waiting in a secret place until she could get away without Derrick knowing…. Oh forget it, yes, she was hiding. Massie growled under her breath. This is what she'd been reduced to; having to hide from Derrick. She cursed him under her breath. He always insisted on infringing upon her personal space, engaging her in conversation, and just basically consuming her every waking (and sleeping) thought.

"You Got it Bad" would have been appropriate right about then.

The PC and BB clans were currently in Minnesota. They had gone to the Mall of America that morning, and were going to check out the night scene. Massie was considering faking a stomach ache and staying at the hotel instead. But then again, it wouldn't have been all that fake. Her stomach would twist in knots every time she thought HIM, which was every other second.

"You need to get yourself together," Massie murmured to herself. She was in the bathroom of the large suite they were renting, only half dressed. Her dress was hanging on a towel rack, and she was only halfway finished applying her makeup. Only her hair was properly finished, which had been pulled up into an elegant messy bun.

"Massie? Are you okay in there?" Dylan knocked on the bathroom door. "Maybe she fell in the toilet," Derrick snickered. Sweat gathered on Massie's palms. "Very funny, Harrington," she shouted into the room. "You can come in, Dyl."

Dylan walked into the bathroom, closing the door softly behind her. "Mass! You're not even dressed!" Dylan exclaimed. "I don't think I should go out tonight," Massie said. "I don't feel all that well. Must be that shrimp I ate." "You sure it's the shrimp?" Dylan waggled her eyebrows playfully. "What else would it be?" Massie nearly screeched. "I was just playing, Mass," Dylan giggled.

She pressed a pale hand to her friend's forehead. "You sure are burning up. Maybe you're running a fever." Massie decided to just let Dylan believe that than explain to her the real reason why her face was hot. "I'll be better tomorrow," Massie promised. "But tonight, all I need is a quiet night to myself and George Clooney." Dylan laughed. "Sure Mass. I'll go tell the others." She strutted out the bathroom in her 4 inch Christian Louboutin heels, her fiery red hair streaming after her.

Massie slipped on the Victoria Secret pajamas she'd been previously dressed in and washed the makeup off her face. She slipped on a pair of fleece slippers and strode out the bathroom, her dress in hand. She was met with the sight of all of her friends, impeccably dressed and looking like they'd just stepped straight out of a magazine.

"You sure you're okay?" Alicia asked. "Maybe you're carsick or something. Must be all the driving." "I'm fine; just a little stomach ache," Massie promised. "We could stay if you like," Claire suggested. "No!" Massie all but shouted. She was met with a couple of eyebrow raises. "It wouldn't be fair to you guys to stay. Just go, I'll be fine." She snuck a glance at Derrick, who staring at her with that smoldering gaze of his that made her heart skip beats and palms sweat.
Massie inwardly groaned. She was acting like a ten year old with her first crush. "Okay," Alicia said reluctantly, breaking into Massie's thoughts. "We'll be back in a couple hours." "'Kay," Massie said. "Have fun." Her friends trooped out in a single file line. Massie inwardly smiled. They reminded her of a fashion show lineup finale.

A couple minutes after they left, Massie was sipping from a bottle of Pellegrino water and looking through her movie collection. She didn't notice the door open and someone step in until she heard a small, breathy, "Boo" in her right ear.

Massie jumped three feet in the air and let out a small scream. She whipped around and came face to face with the culprit, none other than Derrick Harrington. "Derrick!" she slapped him on his hard chest. "You scared the crap out of me." "That was kind of the point," Derrick smirked.

"What're you doing here?" Massie asked. "Didn't want you to be lonely tonight," he shrugged with a devilish grin. "Figured I'd keep you company." "I don't need company," Massie said derisively. "Well, I'm here, and you can't exactly kick me out."

"Just don't talk to me," Massie glared at him.

"What's it to you?" Derrick asked, glaring back. "Every time someone tries to be nice to you, you go and get all bitchy. No wonder no one ever wants to date you." That comment stung, but Massie didn't dare show it. "Look who's talking, Mr. I'm too good for everyone and hotter than George Clooney and Channing Tatum combined. Maybe if you'd stop playing with people's emotions, they'd be nicer!" she was shouting at the end of her sentence.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Derrick shouted back. "I've been nothing but nice to you this entire trip. You're the one that insist on shooting me down every time you get a chance." "It's karma, Derrick," Massie intoned. "You deserve it."

"Massie, I've apologized over and over to you. But you're too much of an ice queen too accept any of them." "Apologies aren't going to cut it, Derrick," Massie said. She rolled her eyes. "I don't even know what it is about you…," she trailed off. "Meaning?" Derrick asked, his eyes boring into hers. For a moment, Massie was lost in the brown depths.

"Nothing," she sighed. "This conversation is pointless."

"No, it's not," Derrick said. "I mean it, Massie. I don't want things to be like this between us. I miss… talking to you," he murmured. Massie was silent, and then shrugged her shoulders in what she hoped was in an indifferent manner. Suddenly, the room was much too hot, and Massie crossed over to the side of the room and pulled open the floor to wall double doors and stepped outside on the attached balcony. She was greeted cool Minnesotan night air. Goosebumps erupted on the bare skin that wasn't covered by her PJ's.

Without warning, long, strong arms wrapped around her slight frame. Derrick buried his face into her soft hair, inhaling deeply. "I mean what I said," he murmured. "I really do miss talking with you." Massie rubbed her knuckles softly over his. "I'm sorry if I've been… not very agreeable lately," she responded. Derrick chuckled at her choice of words. They both stared out into what they could see of the city silently.

Massie felt a shift in the demeanor between her and Derrick. It was like one of the many invisible barriers between she and Derrick had been removed. And she was comfortable with that. But there was no denying she wanted more. She wondered what would happen if she turned around and pressed her lips against his.

But things weren't that resolved between them. They still had a history, and not a really good one. And besides, Derrick said he wanted to be friends. He probably didn't even have any romantic feelings toward her. "You're thinking too hard," Derrick murmured. "Just relax."

Little did she know, he was also fighting a major internal battle. He wanted nothing more than to turn her in his arms and kiss her senseless. He wanted too, so freaking bad, but knew that that would eventually only make things more strained between them. So for now, he settled with pressing small kisses in her hair.

"Massie, there's so much I want to tell you," he breathed. "So much you need to know." He tightened his arms around her and felt her tense up underneath him. "I don't want to hear it," she murmured. "I like how this is. Talking will just make it worse." Derrick silently accepted her request and kept silent. He dropped a small kiss on her shoulder and silently stared out at the city skyline.

An hour later, Massie was in a deep sleep. She'd fallen asleep during the movie Derrick had popped in and was curled up on his side. Derrick was struck by how beautiful she was, with her brunette hair fanning across the pillows. She was perfect, and in that moment, Derrick realized he loved her. He wished he had the courage to say it to her when she was awoke. He was brave, but not that brave.

Sighing, he pulled off his socks and took off his polo. He decided against changing out of his shorts and pulled the cover over him and Massie. She snuggled closer to him in her sleep, the same way she had when they slept together in the bus. Derrick closed his eyes and snuggled in deeper.

He was out like a light in seconds.

…

I'm sorry, but I don't have time to write an A/N, so I'll either wait to next chappy or make a new chapter dedicated to an A/N. Thanks for sticking with me! :D