I haven't updated in a while. I apologise. Your reviews have convinced me to do so. 70? For six chapters? Thank you all so much! I hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: Darkest Powers is not mine.

CPOV

I spent most of the day in my room. After about an hour, I had cried all the tears that my body was prepared to produce. Then I simply lay there, looking at the ceiling dejectedly. How had I judged things so badly? How had I been so wrong? No, how had I been so stupid? I shook my head. I hadn't been stupid. I had assumed he had feelings for me, yes, but it wasn't completely out of the blue. I hadn't simply decided to hope for something that had no chance of happening, therefore ensuring my heart would be broken.

However, lately he had been acting differently. Especially since his full Change. He had been much less adverse to contact with another human being, namely me. He had been spending more time with me. He had even begun to smile. For Derek, this was an achievement. Perhaps it was a push, but I felt that it wasn't completely unreasonable for me to entertain the thought that Derek might feel something for me. His actions would imply such. Maybe he discovered how I felt, somehow, and decided to use it against me. To use it as an opportunity to enjoy himself at the expense of another. This thought began to push the despair from my mind. Pure, unadulterated fury took its place. I had thought that we were at the very least friends. How dare he! What an absolutely disgusting thing to do to another person. My rage began to take control and objects started flying around the room. I would find him and I would confront him. He was probably listening to me crying earlier and laughing. I would make him pay. He would be sorry.

I stormed to the door, nostrils flaring, when it opened of its own accord. This threw me for a moment. Had my fury uncovered some before unknown Necromancer power? My silent question was answered a moment later by the tentative entry of over six feet of hard muscle. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. The sight of him confused me. What was he doing here? Had he come to gloat? The theory reignited the fire of fury inside me, stronger than ever. However, he didn't look like a person who had come to gloat. Quite the opposite, actually. He looked impossibly nervous and seemed unable to keep his hands still. The sight made my heart soften. My anger began to melt away. I began to doubt the probability of my theory. Beneath his cold demeanour, Derek was kind and caring. That was the real Derek. You just had to dig a little to find him.

He still hadn't spoken; he just stood there staring at me with an indecipherable expression on his face. Finally, he began. ''You've been crying.'' He said. It was a statement, not a question. ''Why?'' He continued. This, on the other hand, was a question. And a question that he would not allow me to dodge. He wanted an answer, and he would not rest until he got it. I momentarily considered telling him the truth, then dismissed the idea completely. He would probably phase into his wolf form just to get away from me. I don't think that I could take that.

''I just miss my dad, that's all.' I lied. I avoided his gaze as I did so and was almost certain that he didn't believe me. Great, now he would wonder what the real reason was, and why I would try to hide it from him. ''Well,'' he said cautiously, ''Dinner's ready. I was told to come get you.'' Oh. I felt like a deflated balloon. That was why he was here. Dinner was ready. Without my permission, my brain had entertained fantasies of him apologising for how strange he was acting earlier, confessing that he loved me and had, indeed, been about to kiss me. That he couldn't live without me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Wow, I really was an idiot.

''Uh, Chloe?'' Derek called. I guess I had zoned out. My cheeks heated and I lowered my gaze. I was such a moron. Derek shrugged and began to lead the way downstairs. He seemed to be thinking deeply about something and I was quite happy to leave him to his thoughts. If it meant that I didn't have to pretend that I wasn't madly in love with him and make small talk without stumbling over each and every word, I was all for it.

We arrived in the dining room last. Andrew and Tori looked at us quizzically for a moment, then returned their attention to their plates. Simon simply smiled at Derek in a knowing manner. This seemed to fluster Derek somewhat. I was at a complete loss as to what it could mean. I sat in my seat and was happy to note that someone had already filled my plate. Derek sat beside me and began to inhale his food, as per usual. All through dinner, Derek ignored me. I sighed internally. I guessed that this would become the norm. He had guessed my feelings and would no longer acknowledge my presence. Well, I would be crying myself to sleep tonight and probably for the foreseeable future.

After dinner, I made my way straight for my room. I sighed aloud. Hold the tears, I told myself. The pain in my heart was unbearable. Suddenly, I was grabbed. I was dragged into a closet. The light was off and I could only make out shapes. I tried to scream, but the person planted a hand on my mouth. ''Chloe.'' A voice breathed. Derek? What was he doing? He moved closer and pressed his body flush with my own. I began to feel hot.

I could see his face; it was so close to my own. Jut a breath and our lips would touch. A moment later, that was exactly what happened. Our lips connected and fireworks erupted in my body. I pressed myself as close to him as possible. I threw my arms around his kiss deepened. I attempted to express all my love in the kiss. We were impossibly close to one another. It was pure bliss. Suddenly, he pulled away. He disentangled himself from me and said, ''I'm sorry, Chloe. This was a mistake.'' Then he left.

I watched him go, confused. What had happened? What did I do wrong? Then I realised the truth, he didn't feel the same way. He had been experimenting, to see if he did. And he didn't. I felt my being crumble. He had broken my heart. I collapsed to the floor and curled into a ball. The pain in my chest was unbearable. I began to sob uncontrollably. The agony enveloped me and the darkness descended.

Ooh, Cliffie? Maybe. Will Derek redeem himself? Who knows! Heehee! Please review! They save puppies!

Thanks for reading,

Kate.