Author's note: This chapter is really long. Lol I hope you guys like it! :D

XXXX signifies passing of time

ENJOY!

"He's just some jackass I know from work." Derek said between bites of his chicken fried steak.

Aurora eyed him suspiciously. She could tell there was way more to the story than Derek's lame explanation.

"It seems like there is some bad blood between you two. Like throat ripping, I hate your guts bad blood." Aurora said.

"Yeah…You could say that." Derek agreed. "How's your food?"

"Your subject changing skills are top-notch. You should give lessons." Aurora teased. "It's amazing. The mashed potatoes are my favorite."

Derek smiled. "I'm glad you like it. I come here a lot for lunch when I'm working."

"Next time we are going to my favorite restaurant." Aurora told him.

"Oh, there's going to be a next time? Are you going to make it a habit of eating dinner with me too?" Derek joked.

"Unless you have an objection to that?" Aurora pouted.

"No, no objection." Derek said. "I like having dinner with you princess." He said putting his hand on the table in front of Aurora, laying it flat with his palm facing up. Aurora placed her hand on Derek's, rubbing circles on his palm with her thumb. After a couple of seconds of silence, Derek opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by his phone ringing.

"Sorry." He said taking his hand away from Aurora's. He fished his cell phone out of his left jacket pocket and answered it. "Hey man, what's going on?"

There was a pause, while Derek listened to the person on the other end and then Derek said, "Maybe. I'm out to dinner right now, but if we finish in the next couple of minutes we might be able to make it."

There was another pause on Derek's end followed by him making a sour face.

"Yes, we. Now, I am going to get back to my date. I'll text you if we can make it." Derek said, his tone switching for relaxed to authoritative.

When he hung up the phone Aurora gave him a cheeky grin.

"Your date, huh?" she asked.

"What? Am I wrong?" Derek smirked.

"Are you this cocky and confidant with all the girls?" Aurora asked jokingly.

"I don't have other girls. I just have one. And she likes it when I'm cocky and confidant." Derek said smoothly.

Aurora's heart pounded furiously.

"What I'm I getting myself into?" Aurora asked smiling. "You are gonna be trouble. I can tell."

"Well considering you seem to have a knack for trouble, I should be just fine. Right?" Derek asked flashing a pearly white smile.

"Who was that on the phone?" Aurora asked deliberately avoiding Derek's question in hopes of making him squirm.

However, Aurora's omission of answering Derek's question didn't seem to faze him or make him lose that goofy grin.

"It was one of my roommates, Isaac. He and a couple of my other friends invited me to a movie. It starts at 6, if you are interested? That is of course, if you don't have other plans." Derek said.

"Wait. Your roommate? I thought you said you lived with your sister?" Aurora asked slightly confused.

"I do. Along with Isaac and the others. When I said estate, I meant mansion." Derek said lightly.

"Look at you Mr. Money Bags Forest Lover. You didn't tell me you were loaded." Aurora joked.

"I'm not. Laura and I inherited the property. Our grandfather built it for our grandmother. They left it for my parents and my parents left it for Laura and me. It's pretty much a family heirloom." Derek explained.

"Ah, I see. So, by "roommates" do you mean the rest of your creepy backwoods living exercise loving cult?" Aurora teased. "Oh no. You aren't trying to recruit me are you? Cause I am so not drinking the cool-aid buddy."

"You and your conspiracy theories never cease to amaze me." Derek said shaking his head. "Do you want to go to the movie or not? If so, we need to get going."

"Sure, I'm in." Aurora said with a smile. "I want to meet your friends."

"Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret this?" Derek said getting up to pay the tab.

Aurora sent a quick text to her mom about going out with a friend and that she hoped her parents had a good flight. Her mom responded a couple of minutes later with a brief text about being extremely busy and her to have fun.

"Ready to go?" Derek asked holding out his hand for Aurora to take.

"Absolutely!" she replied with a smile lacing her fingers with Derek's.

XXXX

"Hey Derek! Over here!" called a tall boy with light brown hair and baby face as Derek and Aurora walked into the lobby of the movie theater.

The boy and several other people where crowded around a bench waiting for them to arrive.

"Aurora, this is Isaac." Derek said as the boy walked up to them.

"Nice to meet you!" Aurora said holding out her hand politely.

"Likewise. Wow, Derek didn't mention that his date was so incredibly beautiful." Isaac complimented shaking Aurora's hand.

Aurora's cheeks went pink.

"Aw, thank you. You're too sweet." Aurora said.

"All right. That's enough of that Romeo." Derek joked ruffling Isaac's hair.

Aurora had to smile at that. Seeing Derek in a playful mood made her stomach fill with butterflies.

'Oh man. Lizzie was right. I've got it so bad.' Aurora thought.

"I'm glad to see Der has made a new friend." Isaac told Aurora with a half smirk. "He's a bit of a grouch."

Aurora giggled as Derek grabbed Isaac and put him in a headlock.

She made a mental note to ask Derek later if he and Isaac were related. She got a distinct brotherly vibe from Derek when it came to Isaac, like he would do anything to protect him. It was amazing really. Aurora couldn't put her finger on it, but she was convinced they were family.

Derek gave Isaac one last playful ruffle of his hair before letting him go. Within a couple of seconds the rest of the group had found their way over to Aurora.

"Hey. I'm Jackson." said a tall good-looking guy with short hair. He looked like your quintessential jock, muscular with nice clothes and a wicked smile.

"Hi, Jackson. I'm Aurora." She said smiling back.

"Oh my gosh. Aurora, that's a lovely name." chimed in a beautiful girl with strawberry blonde hair.

"Thank you!" Aurora beamed.

"This is my girlfriend, Lydia." Jackson told her.

"Very nice to meet you." Aurora said.

"Well isn't she just the most polite thing you've ever seen." Mocked a slim girl with dark brown hair who had walked up to stand next to Isaac.

"Hailey. Don't be rude." Derek warned putting a protective arm around Aurora.

"Bless your heart for saying that." Aurora shot back at Hailey. If you want to tell someone to fuck off without coming right out and saying 'bless you heart' is the best way to go about doing so in the south.

Hailey rolled her eyes.

Aurora took a double take. Looking more closely, she realized there was something odd about Hailey.

Her eyes.

Aurora couldn't quite place where she had seen them before but they were painfully familiar.

They were golden brown.

"Where are Boyd and Erica?" Derek asked Isaac, snapping Aurora out of her trance.

"They went to see another movie." Isaac chuckled as they all began to make their way to theater number twenty.

"Yeah, Erica cracked the whip and made Boyd go see some chick flick." Jackson laughed over his shoulder. He and Lydia were holding hands walking slightly in front of Derek, Aurora, Isaac, and Hailey.

Lydia shot Jackson a dirty look that made Aurora want to run away and hide.

"The only reason we aren't with them is because I've already seen Breaking Dawn Pt. 2." Lydia challenged.

Jackson looked as if he wanted to argue, but he decided better of it.

"Well, now I know who wears the pants in that relationship." Aurora whispered to Derek who had to choke back a laugh.

When they got into the theater Hailey went immediately to the first row of the second tier of seats.

"Let's sit in this row so I can put our feet up on the bar." She said sitting down.

"Anything for you, Hailey." Jackson mocked under his breath.

Isaac followed her lead, then Lydia and Jackson. Derek then made himself comfortable next to Jackson, Aurora sitting on his other side.

"I'm so excited for this movie!" Aurora said happily.

"I would not have pegged you for a Bourne fan." Derek teased grabbing ahold of Aurora's hand.

"I'm not. I haven't seen the ones with Matt Damon." Aurora confessed. "I just really love Jeremy Renner's face…and his arms."

Derek made a 'what the fuck face.'

"Don't hate on my arm kink." Aurora said running her free hand over Derek's arm. "You have some pretty decent ones yourself."

"Just decant?" Derek challenged.

"Compared to Renner?" Aurora joked. "It's okay Derek. Just accept defeat."

"Never." Derek said giving Aurora's hand a light squeeze.

"Aurora, would you like to come with me to get something to drink?" Lydia asked scooting past Jackson and Derek.

"I can get you something babe." Jackson offered.

Lydia smiled at him fondly.

"It's okay Jacks, I can manage. So how bout it Aurora? Thirsty?" Lydia asked.

"Yeah, sure. I could use something to drink." Aurora said getting up. "Would you like anything?" she asked looking at Derek.

"Nah. I'll just share with you." He beamed.

"Who said you could share my drink? I don't want your forest cooties!" Aurora joked.

"Oh dear. Flirt later you two. I'd like to see the beginning of this movie." Lydia signed grabbing Aurora's hand to lead her away.

"You want anything Jacks?" Lydia called back.

"I'll share with you." Jackson said elbowing Derek like he just executed an inside joke perfectly.

Derek laughed as Lydia rolled her large hazel eyes.

When Aurora and Lydia got to the concession stand there were four people in front of them.

"Finally. Now. Spill." Lydia commanded turning to face Aurora.

"Wait. Spill what?" Aurora asked totally caught off guard.

"You and Derek! How long as he been hiding you? You two are an adorable couple. It's about time Derek found someone." Lydia gossiped.

"Whoa! We aren't dating! I only just met him a week ago!" Aurora said holding up her hands.

Lydia eyed her closely. "But you like him." It was a statement, not a question.

"He's tolerable." Aurora replied being facetious.

Lydia pondered for a moment then suddenly her eyes went wide.

"Oh. I see." She said nonchalantly.

"What?" Aurora narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing." Lydia said sweetly. "It's our turn." She said pushing Aurora up to the counter.

They ordered and Lydia was careful not to met Aurora's gaze.

"We better hurry! Don't want to miss the beginning of the movie!" Lydia said cheerfully after they paid for their sodas.

Aurora had to speed walk to keep up with Lydia who was seated and snuggled up to Jackson before Aurora could even sit down next to Derek.

"What kind of soda did you get?" Derek asked taking Aurora's hand again.

"Dr. Pepper." Aurora told him trying to make sense of what just happened.

"Look at that. We actually like the same kind of soda." Derek whispered as the lights went down.

"Oh no. It's a sign of the apocalypse." Aurora joked deciding to push Lydia's reaction out of her mind.

Derek chuckled taking a sip of the soda.

A little bit later, when the movie started, Derek leaned over to whisper in Aurora's ear, "My arms are totally bigger."

Aurora had to stifle a laugh.

XXXX

"That movie was so good!" Isaac said to Aurora as they shuffled out of the quickly emptying movie theater.

"Yeah it was! Jeremy Renner is such a bad ass." Aurora said.

"And damn good-looking on top of it." Lydia added getting a glare from Jackson.

"Oh my gosh, isn't he though." Aurora gushed.

The guys in the group collectively pretended to gag.

"He's not that great." Jackson said holding the exit door open for Lydia.

"Yeah, I could kick his ass." Derek agreed, doing the same for Aurora.

Once outside, Aurora linked her arm with Derek's nuzzling against his side.

"You're so jealous." Aurora taunted.

"I'm not jealous!" Derek protested.

"You so are. Don't worry though, regardless of his bigger arms, I still like you best Mountain Man." Aurora said.

"Mountain Man?" Isaac asked with a laugh.

"Don't not get her started." Derek warned.

"Erica just texted me. She said to meet her and Boyd at the Panda Express across the street. Their movie ended twenty minutes ago." Lydia said promptly.

"Alright, I see you all back at the house. I need to take Aurora back to her car." Derek told the gang.

After saying her goodbyes to everyone, and with another death glare from Hailey, Derek and Aurora headed back to the Camaro.

"That Hailey is quite the charmer." Aurora said sarcastically.

"She's not much of a people person." Derek said starting the car.

"I couldn't tell." Aurora joked. "I had a great time tonight, by the way."

"I'm glad." Derek said with a smile.

"Your friends seem really great. You know, apart from Hailey." Aurora teased.

'And Lydia's weird interrogation.' Aurora thought.

"They really like you. I can tell." Derek said.

"Oh yeah, that reminds me. Are you related to any of them?" Aurora asked.

"No." Derek laughed. "Why would you think that?"

"Dunno. You just seem really close with them. Especially Isaac. I just assumed you guys were family." Aurora said.

"We are family." Derek said.

"You're too cute." Aurora replied smiling over at Derek.

"Not that I'm not grateful for the compliment, but why does that make me cute?" Derek inquired.

"You are like the protective big brother. It's adorable." Aurora said.

Derek just shook his head and laughed.

"There is something bothering me though." Aurora told Derek.

"And what's that princess?" Derek mocked.

"Hailey. I feel like I know her from somewhere. I just can't place it." Aurora said.

"What makes you think that?" Derek asked.

"Well, this is gonna sound crazy, but her eyes. I feel like I've seen them before." Aurora said thoughtfully.

For a moment Derek was silent.

"We never finished our game of 21 questions." He finally said after what seemed like a lifetime.

"Is that your polite way of saying I'm weird?" Aurora laughed.

"Do you have any siblings?" Derek asked as they crossed back into Maricopa County.

Aurora decided not to spoil what had turned out to be an amazing night by questioning Derek's aversion to Aurora's strange claim.

"You know I'm so bringing this up later, right?" Aurora warned Derek who gave her a 'that doesn't surprise me look'.

"I have a little brother. He is thirteen." She said answering Derek's question.

"I always wanted a little brother." Derek said with a chuckle.

"You want mine? I would love to be an only child." Aurora said, completely kidding.

"Because you don't already get everything you want, right princess?" Derek mocked pulling into the camp site.

"You are never gonna let that go, are you?" Aurora sighed.

"Oh no. I have to have something to hold my own with. Considering you bust my chops every chance you get." Derek joked.

"Thanks for tonight Paul Bunyan." Aurora teased unbuckling her seatbelt. "I had a lot of fun."

"No problem. I did too." Derek said. "I'll walk you to your car."

Aurora wanted to make a smart ass comment about how her car was only two feet away but decided not to. Derek was trying to be sweet.

When they reached Aurora's car, she turned to face Derek, leaning against the driver's side door.

"Maybe we could hang out again sometime soon?" Aurora asked, taking Derek by surprise when she took a page out of his book and grabbed him by the hips.

"What did you have in mind?" Derek asked raising an eyebrow, tangling his fingers into Aurora's long brown hair.

"How do you feel about bowling?" Aurora asked sheepishly.

"Bowling?" Derek repeated flatly.

"My best friend Elizabeth and I are going bowling with our friend Ethan tomorrow night, and I was wondering if you aren't busy, if you'd like to join us?" Aurora asked hopefully.

"Ethan?" Derek said suspiciously.

"I'm going to ignore the fact that Elizabeth's existence doesn't seem to matter to you, and that you are coming off as an extremely possessive creep right now." Aurora said half-joking half-annoyed. "Is that a yes, King of the Wild Frontier?"

"Sure." Derek said.

Aurora could tell he was agitated that she didn't elaborate on Ethan.

'Too bad Sasquatch.' Aurora thought. 'You are not pulling the alpha male card with me right now.'

"Great! I'll pick you up here at five." Aurora said.

Derek looked like he wanted to protest.

"What?" Aurora asked irritably.

"I can just meet you at the bowling alley." Derek offered.

"If we are gonna be friends, there is something you need to know about me. I do things my way and rarely take a back seat to anyone." Aurora began. "So listen here Mr. I Need To Be In Control At All Times, I let you drive tonight, so I'm driving tomorrow. I promise I won't kill you. I passed my driver's test with flying colors." She continued to mock. "I trusted you without any question when I probably shouldn't have, could you at least do the same for me?"

Derek signed heavily.

"Okay, okay. You win. You can put those baby blue puppy dog eyes away now." Derek said in defeat.

"Yay!" She said throwing her arms around Derek's neck.

"I just want to warn you, I'm extremely competitive." He said.

"Why does that not even surprise me in the slightest?" Aurora laughed letting go of Derek. "Well, I'll let you in on a little secret Tarzan, so am I." Aurora confessed.

"Tarzan is king of the jungle, not the forest princess." Derek teased pulled her into another embrace.

"Whatever." Aurora said as Derek nuzzled his face into her neck.

"That's another thing you and Silky have in common." Aurora said massaging the back of Derek's head with her fingertips.

"You and that damn wolf." Derek complained as the words came out muffled against Aurora's neck.

"Watch your tongue Mr. or I'll tell Silky you were talking shit." Aurora joked as Derek pulled away from her.

"Hhhmf." Was Derek's only response.

"Well I better get going. It's getting late." Aurora said checking her phone. It was already 9 p.m.

"See you tomorrow Aurora." Derek said with a smile looking down at her.

Lifting up on her tiptoes, Aurora leaned forward and gave Derek a light kiss on the lips. He kissed her back sweetly. It wasn't rushed or heated, just a simple little kiss.

'A perfect first kiss.' Aurora thought.

When she pulled away Derek was all smiles.

"Night Derek." She said turning to get into her car.

"Sweet dreams, princess." Derek said.

As she drove away, Aurora had a sudden urge to look in her rear view mirror. When she did, she saw Derek standing by his car, watching her drive away.

Talk about Déjà vu.