Do I have to keep saying that I don't own Darkest Powers? I'm not Kelly Armstrong so I'm pretty sure it's obvious.
Derek. I was so in shock that he was here, that I couldn't think of anything to say. "D-D-Derek, ummmm hi. Wh-wh-what are you doing here?" The initial shock was gone and now it was pure anger, at him leaving me, not making any contact with me for a year, and now him just showing up on my doorstep.
"Can I come in, I know you probably don't want to talk to me, but just listen. Please?" He asked, pleading with his eyes that I would comply and let him in.
"Why should I? You left me Derek, all because my stupid aunt told you to." It was taking every ounce of self control I had not to slam the door in his face and leave it at that.
"You're right, I did leave. But you need to know why. Please just let me in. Let me say what I need to say, and then you can kick me out or decide what to do with what I'm about to tell you." He asked. God I loved him. I missed him so much; I can't believe that he is here.
We sat there on my porch for a minute while I considered this. After a few minutes I stepped aside to let him in. "Thank you." He said, complete sincerity in his eyes. I ignored this, scared if I looked in his emerald green eyes I knew so well, that I would break down and crumble in his arms forgetting everything he has done to me in the past year.
"Can you just get this over with? You're not exactly at the top of the list of people I wanted to see today." I said, as I walked and sat down in the living room with my coffee in hand. He sat down in the chair across from the sofa that I was sitting on.
He stared into my eyes for a while until he said something. "I can't even express how sorry I am for leaving. It was the hardest thing I had ever had to do. And seeing you at that coffee shop today, I just snapped and had to see you-"
"Wait" I said interrupting him," that was you at the coffee shop?" I knew it; I just couldn't admit it to myself.
"Yes, I'm sorry I didn't come up and say anything there, I thought you might not want to do this in public." He said still holding my gaze. I tried so hard to look away, but I just couldn't.
"Who was that you were with?" I didn't mean to sound jealous, but I just did.
"Just some girl I met at the store the other day, it's nothing. Can we just leave it at that? It's not what I wanted to talk about anyway." He said, I still wanted to know more about this girl, I'll just bring it up later.
"Then talk, I have stuff I need to do today. And no offence this is the last thing I want to be doing." I said getting up and walking to the kitchen to do dishes, and mostly to break away from his gaze.
"Please just listen to me? " He said following me, and putting a hand on my arm. I felt the familiar warmth that always came with his touch. And all of a sudden more memories came flooding in. I felt tears come to my eyes and I couldn't help but let them fall. I was remembering almost every kiss, every look,….every I love you.
"Chloe? Are you ok?" He asked, pulling me back to reality. His eyes were on my face, worry and confusion filled his eyes. I pushed all memories away and focused on what was going on right now, right in front of me.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I said turning around, yanking my arm out of his grasp. "Just get to point."
"Ok, I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for leaving, I know I put you through hell." He said, he looked like he was going to tear up himself. There was something different about him, it felt like I didn't even know him anymore.
"Yeah, you did put me through hell. But do you want to know what? It's ok. I'm better off, just like you said I'd be. I have a life here, and I haven't been chased by anyone in a year. So it all worked out." I said, I wasn't trying to hurt him, but trying to convince myself that what I was saying was true.
His face was washed over with pain and sorrow. He didn't speak so I said something else. "It's ok, it really is." I said turning back around to the sink. Tears were back in my eyes, thinking back to how much it hurt reading that letter, him telling me he was leaving. Finding out that he didn't love me as much as he claimed, if he even did at all. "Why did you stop loving me?" I whispered. I didn't want to say it, but it just came out.
I felt his hand take my arm and turn me around to face him. "Is that what you think? Why would you think that? Didn't you get my letter?" He asked, I turned my face away so I didn't have to look at him, but he cupped my face with his hand and forced me to look at his face.
I nodded, letting him know that I did get the letter but I was afraid if I spoke I would start crying and wouldn't be able to stop. "If you got my letter you should know how much I love you, and that I didn't want to leave. But when Lauren threatened you, I had no choice."
"Threatened me? Derek what are you talking about?" I was so confused.
"She didn't tell you about our conversation did she?" he asked.
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