Hello peeps! :D What's new? SO, I hope you like this next chapter. It's definitely longer than the other one. And more exciting. Review! :D

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN DARKEST POWERS! :(

Me: Hey! Where's my book? CHLOE!

Chloe: Yes...?

Me: Where's my book?

Chloe: (Acts innocent) How rude! You lose your book and you automatically think I stole it! I mean, that's just low...

Me: Give it back, Chloe. (Glares.)

Chloe: Can't.

Me: Why not?

Chloe: (Whispers in my ear) My earlobe is in a sack. (Skips away happily).

Me: (Stands there, confused). WHAT?

Chloe's POV:

"Chloe! Wake up, for God's sake!" Tori yells in my ear. I jump and flip over, landing on the floor with a loud THUD! I scramble up and glare at her.

"Um, finally! I've been trying to wake you up forever! Andrew wants us all down for breakfast," she says, brushing her hair one last time, throwing the brush onto her bed and walking out.

I do all the usual: shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, comb my hair.

As I leave me and Tori's room (which is right across from the guys' room), I smack right into a bare chest. I rub my nose and look up to see Derek scowling at me. "Morning," I say brightly. He grunts and continues to stare at me.

"What?" I ask a little too harshly.

He glowers and walks away, half-pushing me to the side with his shoulder, though I'm sure he didn't mean to. Derek would never intentionally hurt me. I follow his lead and continue downstairs.

"What's for breakfast?" Simon pops into the kitchen, the mouth-watering smell of bacon and eggs answering his question. He sits down at the table and I take the seat across from him. Tori sets the bacon and eggs down right in front of us. Derek sits down beside me and Tori beside Simon. We all take as much as we want, filling our plate with delicious food we would never have if we were still on the run from the Edison Group. I mean, we are, but we're not living on the streets anymore, which is good enough for now.

Derek sits down beside me and Tori beside Simon. We eat in silence until finally Simon says, "Chloe? Can we talk?"

"Um, sure, but let me finish. I'll only be a sec," I reply, motioning toward my almost-finished food. He nods. "I'll meet you outside," he says, walking out of the kitchen.

I continue to eat until I feel two sets of eyes on me. I look up to see Derek and Tori staring at me. "What?" I ask.

"Um, isn't it obvious? He's going to ask you out ghost girl!" Tori replies, shaking her head.

"N-no. H-how would you know?" I stutter.

Tori just rolls her eyes and grumbles something about it being completely obvious and how I was such an idiot. I look at Derek for confirmation. Only he didn't say anything. He just stared at me until I finally snapped, "What?"

A look of hurt stamped across his face as he angrily yanked my plate away and placed it on top of his plate, dumping them both in the sink. I knew I'd hurt him, and I felt bad, but that didn't stop me from shouting after him, "I wasn't done!"

He ignored me, walking out without a word.

I shook my head and got up to wash my hands when I heard Tori burst out laughing behind me. I turn around. "What?" I ask.

"That was hilarious. Wolf boy totally got put down," she replies, shaking her head and laughing again.

"W-what do you mean?" I say. Seriously. What could she possibly mean?

"Oh, don't tell me you don't see it," she says, grabbing her plate and dumping it in the sink. I grabbed a towel and dried my hands as she washed hers.

"Don't see what?"

"Seriously?" she stares at me. "Come on, Chloe. Everyone sees it. Even Simon."

"Sees what?"

"Wolf boy crushing on you," she replies, laughing slightly.

"D-Derek? N-no. Of c-course not. Derek doesn't like me," I say, completely shocked by the idea that Derek likes me.

"Oh, yeah, you're right. He's in love with you. Head over heels." Tori dries her hands and leans against the counter.

"Derek doesn't like anyone," I say coldly. My cheeks heated. "I-I didn't mean that. I just...I mean, of course he doesn't like me. Or love me, as you so kindly pointed out."

"Please. Don't give me that crap. He so does love you. I can't even believe you don't see it. I think even Andrew knows." She shakes her head. "And I know you love him back. Tell me how Simon handles the reject." Tori walks out.

I gape after her. The truth is, I was going to reject Simon. But not because of Derek. Because I just don't like Simon that way. Unless, of course, I do like Derek...

Of course you do.

No. How could I like Derek? He'd never like me back anyway.

How would you know? He seems to like you that way. Plus, if Tori, Simon and Andrew see it, how come you don't?

I shook my head. I-

Oh, don't even try. I know you like him.

So what if I did?

Ha. Chloe Saunders is in love with Derek Souza.

I'm not in love-

Derek enters the kitchen. Instantly my heart starts pounding and my palms get sweaty.

Told you that you were in love.

I bite my bottom lip. Okay. So maybe I kind of, sort of, am in love with Derek Souza.

He glances over at me. "Hi," I say stupidly. He nods. "Simon's waiting for you," he says, filling his glass with cold water from the sink. I swallow hard. "R-right..." I reply, feeling odd. Suddenly Derek walks over to me. He reached over and grabbed some cookies from behind me. And this may sound weird, but the second he leaned over, the second his arm was next to me, his face inches from mine, I felt warm and happy. Instead of grabbing the cookies and walking away, he stayed there, arm extended beside me, face so close to mine. I met his gaze and we stayed there, staring at each other. His gaze filled with love and tenderness, and I thought for sure he was going to kiss me, when-

"Chloe?"

I looked over to see Simon standing there, a look of anger and hurt splayed across his face.

"Can we talk now?" he asked bitterly, narrowing his eyes at Derek. I looked up and Derek was across the room, going upstairs.

I swallow and follow Simon outside.

Simon's POV:

I can't believe I caught her like that, all lovey-dovey with Derek. I wanted to throw up. Maybe, though, I just misunderstood. Derek's hand was on a cookie, so he was probably just leaning over to get it. Yeah. I stifled a laugh. Derek and Chloe? Come on. What was I thinking? I motioned for Chloe to sit down near a tree. She did, and I sat beside her.

"What'd you want to talk about?" she asks, her voice oddly nervous. Did she know what I was going to ask her? I hoped not.

"So, Chloe..." I begin, and I meet her gaze. "I was wondering...if you wanted to go out sometime?"

Chloe didn't say anything. She just swallowed nervously. Oh, no. I shouldn't have asked. She doesn't like me that way. I braced myself.

"S-Simon, I..." she trailed off. "I-I like you, but I j-just..."

"Don't like me like that?"

She nodded and bit her lower lip. Averting her gaze, she whispered, "I'm sorry." Before leaving to go back inside the house.

My whole world crumbled beneath me. She said no. Chloe Saunders, the girl I'm in love with, doesn't like me like that. She said no. I swallowed back tears. I thought we had something. I really had. But apparently, I meant nothing to her.

No, scratch that.

I meant everything to her. As a friend.

I wiped my eyes and trembled. Deciding since no one was here, I can just burst into tears, and I was about to, when I heard Derek shout, "Simon? Come quick! Chloe's hurt!"

Hehe. :) So that's Chapter Two. Cliff hanger, eh? :D The next one will be filled with action and Chlerek moments, so be sure to read it! Review, please! :D