(Bonus chapter! Don't we all love bonus chapters!? I know I do!
I just don't like writing them. XD
After writing about nothing but Greg and Sidney for a week or so, it was extremely hard to start writing Derek and Angie again. NUTS, I tell you, NUTS.
But (un)fortunately, this story inspired (yet another?!) strange fanfiction which will go up on the profile! Yaaay! (Please shoot me now... XD)
Also, remember how in NB I mentioned Maggiano's? It's in here. Maggiano's just kicks so much ass.
Characters © Nintendo
GUILT(Gangliated Utrophin Immuno Latency Toxin) © Nintendo
Maggiano's © ...the Maggiano family?)
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Bonus Chapter Unlocked
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"This is the first time in a long time we've had a day off together, isn't it, Derek?"
"Yeah, it is."
It was a cool November afternoon. Derek and Angie were driving around the shopping district of Angeles Bay, looking around for some form of parking.
"How about the-- oh, it's two twelve permit parking only on weekdays..."
"Well, if you can find any three eighty-three spots, I have a permit sticker for that..."
"...I think I saw one a block or two back," Angie suddenly recalled.
"Let's hope no one took it," Derek muttered.
Luckily for them, the spot was still open when they got back to it; Angie took the permit sticker out of the glove compartment and stuck it in the window before she and Derek exited the car.
"Where do you want to start?" Derek asked.
"I was thinking we could start at Monaco Avenue and Hampton Street," Angie replied. "Then just go down one side of Monaco until we reach Diversey Avenue, then just come back down the other side... how's that sound?"
"Sounds okay to me," Derek consented. "This'll be... what, a four-hour excursion?"
"...we can shorten it if you want," Angie added after a brief hesitation. "If it's going to wear you out, we can stop at Nagle..."
Derek smiled briefly.
"Angie... it's been four months," he spoke gently, taking Angie's hand into his own. "I'll be fine."
Angie looked into Derek's calm, caring hazel eyes. She believed his words and allowed herself to stop worrying.
"Alright... if you say so, Derek," Angie smiled.
She then proceeded to stride down the sidewalk, dragging Derek with her.
"A-Angie, I'm not going to be okay if you pull my arm out of my socket...!"
"I haven't gone shopping for the sake of shopping since I was a freshman in high school!" Angie beamed, oblivious to Derek's futile attempts to keep up with her quick pace.
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"Hi, I had reservations for Stiles at seven..."
After a long afternoon spent in various department stores and mini-malls, Angie had finally shopped herself out. After dropping off all of the purchases at her house, Derek had taken her out to Maggiano's for dinner.
"Right this way, please..."
They were seated in a booth. Angie loved booths; they were so much more comfortable than tables with chairs.
"Have you ever been here before?" Derek asked Angie after they had made themselves comfortable.
"No, never. Mom never really took me anywhere fancy after Dad left," Angie shook her head. "What about you?"
"I came here once, for a family gathering," Derek answered, a grin slowly beginning to spread across his face. "I was seven at the time... it ended in total disaster. My cousin, Gary, and I, we decided that it would be great to throw all of our plates on the floor..."
"Oh, no..." Angie gasped, fighting back a laugh. "You really did that?"
"I didn't know it was possible to get thrown out of a restaurant so fast," Derek chuckled just as the waitress came by.
"Good evening, my name is Marie, and I'll be your waitress tonight," she introduced herself. "Can I start you off with something to drink?"
"Can I have a cosmopolitan, please?" Angie requested. She loved pretty drinks- for that reason.
"I'll need to see your ID, ma'am..."
As Angie dug through her purse, looking for her wallet, Derek saw two new people walk in and be seated at a table near them--
...No way, Derek's eyes widened as he recognized the people. It can't be...
"And for you, sir?"
"...o-oh, I'm sorry... uh, I'll just have a diet Coke, please..." Derek stammered, temporarily snapping back to reality.
"Very well... I'll be back in a minute to take your orders."
Marie left.
"Derek, are you alright? You haven't spaced out like that in a while," Angie asked, worried at Derek's shocked expression.
"Angie... turn around, and tell me you don't know those two people that just sat down," Derek replied, still disbelieving of what he saw. "They're at one of the smaller tables."
Angie turned around...
"...is..." she stammered, her green eyes widening considerably. "Is that... Sidney Kasal and,.. Naomi?? What is she doing here in America?"
"I heard she found a way to come here without having to deal with legal repercussions, and the health conference is in a few days," Derek muttered. "That's not my question... what are they doing here... together?"
"I... I think they're on a date...!"
Angie then suddenly spun around to face Derek again.
"...but we can't jump to conclusions," Angie added hastily. "Maybe he just...decided to be courteous and... and show her around Angeles Bay while she's here?"
"But she's been here before... remember what she told us, Angie?" Derek replied.
"...well, still, let's not jump to conclusions," Angie countered. "We should wait and see if they do anything..."
"Spying? You're beginning to sound like Tyler," Derek chuckled.
The waitress returned.
"Here are your drinks... have you decided on what you'd like to order?"
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Derek and Angie were eating their shared dessert- an enormous slice of chocolate cake("Zuccoto must be Italian for 'this is going straight to my thighs,'" Angie had joked)- when Angie turned around again, her curiosity getting the better of her. Derek rolled his eyes, smiling as he set down his fork.
"They're not doing anything, Angie, I would have told you if they—"
"Look again, Derek!"
Naomi had leaned across the table and placed a quick kiss on Sidney's cheek. Even from halfway across the darkened room, Angie's sharp vision could see the blush forming on Sidney's face.
"Oh my God, that's so adorable...!" Angie sighed dreamily as she turned to face Derek once again. Pouting, she added, "Why won't you do something like that to me, Derek?"
Derek smirked.
"You would want me to kiss you in a public area, like if you were my girlfriend?"
Angie's face suddenly turned a furious shade of red.
"W-well, th-that's what I would say i-if I liked you l-like that... o-oh wow, I- this cake is really good, don't you agree?!"
Angie immediately picked up her fork and began furiously eating what was left of the cake.
Derek laughed.
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Derek wouldn't kiss her in a public setting.
He did kiss Angie briefly after dropping her off at her house.
As he entered his apartment, the smile on his face still hadn't completely left; seeing Angie blush and stammer like she had when he had kissed her, watching her act completely unlike her normal, strong-willed self, had just come across to Derek as funny.
He took off his coat, then hung it up before removing his tie and tossing it on the bed. He then went into the bathroom, where he changed into his pajamas. Derek brushed his teeth, then looked into the mirror, contemplative.
The scars on his chest occasionally pained him; they reminded him of his near encounter with death, and how close he had come to losing everything.
But now, he was free of pain... free of the memories of four months ago, when he had collapsed and had not risen.
Derek shook his head; he was much too tired to be thinking of these things. Taking off his glasses, he placed them on the sink ledge, then exited the bathroom.
He turned off the light and went to bed.
Derek had never slept more peacefully.
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(End bonus chapter.
Wooo! It's done! Now I can run around and say "I finally wrote a story longer than six chapters and finished it!"
Also; Sidney and Naomi. It could so totally work, even though THEY NEVER MEET EACH OTHER IN THE GAME. Wow. THAT is some serious bonding, eh? XD
There's another couple on my favorites list.
I thank all of you for reading this and reviewing this story; I really hope you enjoyed it!)