Author's Note: Hey lovelies, I'm SO sorry it took me so friggin' long to update. I've been crazy busy. BUT here's a new chapter for you. :D I feel accomplished. I wanted to get this up before today was over. A birthday to present to myself, lol.

I DO NOT OWN LIFE WITH DEREK OR THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter Nine:

I opened my eyes slowly; they feel puffy and dry. My head feels like it's exploding, and my entire being aches. I took a shaky breath and felt Clay move beside me.

Honestly, I'm not sure why I called him last night. I needed someone, and he's the first person that came to mind. He didn't ask questions, he just came. He's… I sure as hell don't deserve him. I don't know why he wants me.

I started to feel the familiar burning sensation in my eyes, but I blinked it away. I tried to sit up but Clay held me to him. He pushed me back on the bed, and pressed himself on top of me. I gasped and looked up at him.

What is he doing? He looked down at me, intently.

"Clay," I said in a hoarse whisper. His expression softened.

"I know that I told you that you didn't have to tell me about it… but I can't let you suffer like this without trying to fix whatever it is." He whispered, with sincere eyes. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. I just shook my head.

"It doesn't matter." I told him. His eyes told me that he didn't believe a word that I said, for a second. But, why can't he understand? Why can't he let it go? I just… I can't tell him.

"Anything that upsets you, matters." He said, sincerely, looking directly into my eyes. Why does he have to be like this? I don't deserve it. I sighed.

"I don't deserve you." I told him, shaking my head. I pushed him off of me enough, to get myself into a sitting position. "I told you; I'm a mess. I can't explain it, right now." I told him. He looked at me evenly.

"Try," he told me in a soft demanding voice. I just looked at him.

"About what?" I asked him, instead of answering his question.

"How your nightmares first started." Clay answered. I nodded.

"My parents used to fight about everything before they got a divorce…." I began to tell him.

Clay's POV

I sat there, transfixed, trying to be ready for whatever she was about to tell me. She looks so haunted by it all. Maybe I shouldn't have asked her to relive this. I can't keep watching her hurt like this… and not know why. I need to know… something.

I watched Elle suck in a shaky breath.

"The fights never really go violent. But, when my dad would get angry, he would throw anything that could cause damage that was in sight. He…" She broke off, calming herself down. "What he said my mom…" She said, shaking her head. "I don't know how she did it. She was always so calm. It… was horrible." She lowered her head and closed her eyes.

"I'm not sure what exactly triggered the nightmares or made them start… But, ever since, I've always gotten them." She stopped talking and laid back down, not facing me.

Why do I get the feeling that she isn't telling me everything? But, she did tell me something… At least I know something now. I laid down next to her and wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her neck, softly. Her shaking stopped.

"Is that what bothered you, Elle? Is that… everything?" I asked her, quietly. I felt her tremble next to me.

"They hated each other. Not just 'I can't stand the sight of you,' or 'I don't want to see you, until you admit I'm right'… They hated each other. I don't know if Casey ever saw it. Or what it was like whenever Casey was a little girl but, I seemed to remind them both about each other. Mom never let it show if she saw me differently… I've always looked more like my father than I look like her. But, he couldn't stand the fact that I looked like her, even a little bit. Casey always sided with my mom. She will forever be a mommy's girl, through and through. But I tried not to pick sides, so, my dad saw me as his ally in the house. And whenever I didn't agree with him… things got bad." She broke off.

She started shaking, worse than before. What did she go through? I scooted closer to her, my chest pressed against her back. I nuzzled my face into the crook of her neck. It's all starting to make sense now… She never lets anyone in. She's afraid she's not good enough. What did her father do to her?

Derek's POV

I heard the murmur of their voices, and I couldn't resist. I got up and sat against Z's bedroom door. Maybe this way, even if she won't talk to me, I'll be able to understand her. Not that I blame her for shutting me out, considering my track record.

Why does she have to confide in him? I can't stand that she's with him… that she lets him touch her… kiss her…. I shook my head and focused on what was being said behind the closed door.

Lizzie's POV

I sucked in a deep breath. I'm not sure why I'm telling him this…. This is something I've never talked about with anybody. But, now that I've started, I just can't seem to stop.

"After he finished screaming at my mother, he'd come into my room and start on me. It was always the same broken record. 'I wasn't good enough.' Or, 'I should have agreed with him, because if I had, they wouldn't have been fighting in the first place.' 'It was always my fault.' 'I should have been a good daughter, like Casey was. She never caused problems.' 'He didn't know how he could love a worthless disappointment. No one would ever love me.'" My voice cracked.

I wasn't supposed to tell anyone. Rehashing it makes it hurt worse.

"It didn't stop until they got divorced." I whispered. My throat aches.

"Did he… Did he ever hit you?" Clay asked in a quiet voice. I shook my head.

"No. He used to shake me, but he never hit me. That's how the nightmares started. I don't want to talk about anything else, tonight. Please." I whispered.

I felt thick, hot tears run down my face. I clamped my mouth shut, and cried silently.

"Of course, baby. I'm so sorry you went through that. I'm glad you told me. You don't have to be brave for me. You don't have to put on a front." He whispered. I felt him turn me over so I was facing him. I looked away and started mopping my face with my hands. I looked back at him, slowly.

He moved a hand to my back and slipped it underneath the hem of my shirt. His hand traveled up my back and stopped. He moved closer to me. My breath hitched. He kissed my neck and started sucking, lightly. My eyes fluttered closed. He moved his lips to my collarbone. I let out a small gasp.

Derek's POV

Z's father did what? What kind of sick fuck would blame a kid for something that she had absolutely no control over? My mind was reeling. He better hope that I never meet him.

First thing tomorrow, after Clay leaves, I've got to talk to Z. It doesn't matter if she gets pissed because I was eavesdropping…. I need to know that I'm here for her and she doesn't have to go through this alone. I just…. I can't believe she never told me.

I turned my head and pressed my ear to Z's bedroom door, not sure what I was hearing. This time I know what I heard. I heard a soft moan. There's no mistaking Z's sounds. I clenched my fists but couldn't seem to make myself move away from my spot; I was rooted.

Lizzie's POV

I let out a shaky breath. Oh my God, I feel like I can't breathe when he's touching me, but I don't want him to stop. I'm on fire, when I'm with him. His hand raked my side and moved higher on my back.

"Don't stop Clay. I don't want to think about anything for awhile. I want this. I want you." I gasped in a low voice. He pulled me closer to him and moved backward so I was on his lap, straddling him. I can't hear anything over our heavy breathing.

Clay slid my shirt off and tossed it aside. I shuddered as the cold air met my skin. He bit his lip as he took in my body. I closed my eyes and looked away. I can't tell what he's thinking.

"You're so beautiful, Elle." He whispered. I opened my eyes and looked back at him. I only see sincerity in his eyes. I shook my head with a small smile.

"You're turn." I told him in a hoarse voice. He smirked and ripped his shirt off. I started at his chest, mesmerized. I traced his abdomen with my fingertips, using feather-light strokes. He groaned. I leaned forward and nipped at his mouth.

He buried a hand in my hair and pulled my face close to his and dominated my mouth. I moaned into him. I locked my arms around him waist and moved my waist until I was comfortable. Clay detached his mouth from mine and groaned.

"Fuck Elle, don't stop." He told me, quietly. He put a hand on each hip and kept my rocking going. I kept gyrating my hips until he was hitting the right spot. I moaned, quietly. I leaned my head on his shoulder and started kissing his skin. I started with his chest and worked my way up. I love the way his breath hitches.

Derek's POV

The fuck? There is no way in hell I'm going to sit here and listen to Clay get a piece of ass… especially when it's a piece of Z's ass that he's getting.

I moved from her door and grabbed my phone. Let's see what Destiny is up to.

Lizzie's POV

Before it even registered, I was on back and Clay was on top of me. His lips slammed against mine. I leaned into the kiss, fighting for control. He wedged my mouth open and slipped his tongue inside. I love the taste of him. Our mouths kept clashing, the kiss relentless. His hand traveled down my side, and rested on my thigh. He brought my leg up, slowly, and hooked it around his waist, so we were closer together.

We started grinding against each other. I struggled to keep my eyes open. I felt his hands on me, again. They found their way back to my back. His fingers slipped underneath my bra clasp and he started to slide my bra off.

We locked eyes. I almost melted under the intensity of his stare. No one has looked at me like this before.

"We can stop." He whispered. He stilled, so I knew he was serious. I shook my head.

"Not yet." I told him. He nodded and let my bra fall away, completely. I leaned forward and kissed his jaw line. He grunted and I pressed myself completely against him, chest to chest. We explored the top halves of each other's bodies.

He moved his mouth back to my neck. I make incoherent noises and ground my hips against his, with a new profound need. His gentle sucking was too much. I moaned his name.

"We… We need to stop." I breathed. If we don't stop now… I'm not going to want to stop later... and I'm not ready to go all of the way with him. He nodded and lay next to me, panting like I was. "God, that was…" I tried to say.

"Awesome." He finished for me. I nodded. "If you ever need a distraction like that again, feel free to ask me anytime." He said, smirking. I giggled.

"Sure thing," I agreed. I moved to pull a blanket over my chest, but he moved to stop me.

"Don't cover up just yet. You shouldn't hide such a beautiful body." He whispered as he turned onto his side to kiss me.

"Mm… I can't stay like this. I've gotta wear something." I told him. His eyes raked over my body and he bit his lip.

"I can fix that." He said, with a slight smile. I looked at him, questioningly as I covered up with a blanket. He got off of my bed and picked up one of my sports bras off of the floor and his shirt. "Can I dress you?" He asked. I nodded. I sat up and he put my sports bra on me, followed by his band tee. I giggled.

"Can I keep the basketball shorts on?" I asked him. He shook his head. I laid back down. "I guess you better take them off, then." I told him, with a smirk. He grinned. "You can always wear them… instead of your jeans… if you want to stay the night." I told him, with a smile.

"I'd love to." He told me. He leaned over me, slightly, and pulled my shorts off. He smiled down at me. I winked at him and he chuckled. He got of the bed, gingerly and looked over at me until he was sure that he had my attention. He unbuttoned his jeans, slowly, and continued to strip out of them even slower. Once they were off he bit his lip and put on the shorts that I had been wearing.

"Get your ass over here, so I can go to sleep." I told him, tiredly. He chuckled and obeyed. He crawled into bed with me and got comfortable. I turned onto my stomach and laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes.

"Do you think we should wake them?" I heard someone whisper. I was too groggy to place the voice. I snuggled closer to my pillow. I felt arms tighten around me as I scooted closer to the warmth around me. I opened my eyes. My eyes met a smiling Clay. I gave him a small smile back. I shifted and looked around to find the voice. I froze.

"Morning Lizard," Mom said oddly happily. I didn't even consider the fact that I could get into some serious trouble if Clay stayed over…. Crap.

"Morning," I mumbled, still trying to wake up. "Are you mad?" I asked quietly. Mom and George chuckled.

"I admit I was surprised. I didn't expect to find Clay in bed with you, but I trust you. I'm glad he makes you happy." Mom said. Am I still dreaming? I blinked my eyes, furiously. Yep, definitely awake… Mom and George left the room and shut the door behind them. I detangled myself from Clay and sat up. I looked at him and ran a hand through my hair.

"I can't believe that just happened." I told him, quietly.

"Would you change it if you could?" Clay asked, moving closer to me. I shook my head.

"No. It was… Overwhelming… Good…. I didn't have nightmares last night. I like being with you." I meant what I said. I do like being with him. I'm just not sure if that's enough. He leaned forward to kiss me, but I shook my head. "I need to brush my teeth first." I told him. He cracked a smile before pulling me to him.

"I'll risk it." He told me, planting his lips firmly on mine. I smiled into the kiss.

We walked downstairs, holding hands. We sat down next to Marti at the table. Mom made breakfast. Clay put an arm around me as everyone chatted animatedly. I felt Derek's eyes on me, but I avoided his gaze.

Casey started talking and I looked up. My eyes locked with Derek's.

"We need to talk." He mouthed.

"No." I mouthed back.

"It's important." He mouthed back. I nodded.

"Later," I mouthed. He nodded. I sighed. What could he want, now?

Author's Note: As always, feel free to review. :D

Xo Xo,
Anneryn