Author's notes: People. Get ready for the angst. LOL Just a fair warning. Don't worry though there is a fluffy ending. :) I really hope everyone is still enjoying the story and thank you all for reading! You are all amazing!

XXXX signifies time passing :)

ENJOY!

"You better tell me everything. Right now." Elizabeth said once she and Aurora were finally in her room and ready for bed.

Her tone was a mixture of anger and concern.

"Elizabeth…" Aurora began. She was so tired and 100% not in the mood to talk about Derek.

"The truth, Aurora. Now." Elizabeth said relentlessly.

Aurora sighed dramatically but Elizabeth would not budge.

"Fine." Aurora agreed miserably taking a seat on Elizabeth's bed.

Once her best friend was sitting across from her, Aurora started to explain. Obviously she left out everything about Alex, werewolves and death and just stuck to heartache.

"So, you told Nathaniel you were coming over here but you were really going to see Derek?" Elizabeth asked sounding disappointed.

"Yes." Aurora lied. "I'm sorry. I should have asked if I could use you as a cover story."

"Yeah, you should have." Elizabeth said angrily but left it at that. "Why would he break up with you?"

Aurora felt a tear roll down her cheek as she tried to figure out what to tell her best friend.

"He said he wants me to have a normal life." Aurora blurted out before she could stop herself.

"What the hell is that supposed to me?" Elizabeth asked raising an eyebrow.

Aurora shrugged.

"He said I should be hanging out with my friends and worrying about school rather than being with him." She said and the words came out more bitter than she meant them to.

For a moment, Elizabeth said nothing.

"What?" Aurora asked noticing her best friend was keeping what she wanted to say in.

"Well, he has a point." She said calmly even though she looked nervous.

"Excuse me?" Aurora questioned feeling all of the anger she had pent up inside bubbling to the surface.

"He's an adult if you want to get technical, Aurora. You're only sixteen." Elizabeth said slowly like she was waiting for Aurora to lose it.

"Thank you, Elizabeth. For a minute there I had forgotten how old I was." Aurora spat trying so hard not to say anything she would regret.

"Aurora, you know what I mean. You can't even tell me he hasn't been distracting you from everything else. You got a B on your last history paper. I've never, in the entire time I've known you, seen you get a B on a history paper. It's your favorite subject." Elizabeth told her.

"So, I got a B. It's not like I'm failing any of my classes!" Aurora shouted getting up from the bed. "Heaven forbid I focus on my boyfriend half as much as I focus on school."

"That's not all and you know it!" Elizabeth yelled losing her temper at Aurora's sarcasm. "Ever since you met him you've started lying! And it doesn't really seem like you give a shit that you've implicated me in some of those lies! And don't even get me started on how possessive he is. The word 'unhealthy' doesn't even come close to describing it."

Aurora shot Elizabeth the dirtiest look she could manage feeling her heart pounding furiously against her chest.

"I asked you to cover for me like what? Once? Seriously Elizabeth? And you don't know anything about Derek! He's not possessive, he's protective." Aurora seethed.

She knew the last part was a lie. Derek was possessive but she didn't care. All she knew was that she felt as though she was being attacked and she was not about to take it lying down.

"You should have never asked me to cover for you, Aurora. Do you know what it feels like to lie for your best friend when you know what they are doing is wrong? I never agreed with your decision to date Derek but I covered for you anyway. And please, try to sell that bullshit to someone who hasn't seen you two interact. He might as well have possessive written on his forehead." Elizabeth shot back.

"Whatever, Elizabeth." Aurora said too infuriated to think of anything else.

"You shouldn't be in a relationship where I have to cover for you and you know it." Elizabeth continued. It was obvious that she had wanted to get her opinions about Derek off her chest for a while now and she was not going to miss her opportunity. "Maybe Derek dumped you because he didn't want to be your dirty little secret anymore." She added coldly.

"Go to hell." Aurora replied just as icy.

"Why? Because I'm right? Do you blame him? Why would he want to be in a relationship were you couldn't even bring yourself to tell your mom and dad about him?" Elizabeth asked cruelly knowing she had gone too far.

"You know why I can't tell them, Elizabeth. And you will never know how much I want to. Do you really think I enjoyed not being able to tell everyone about the guy I had fallen for? I was so happy that at least I had you, my best friend, to share it with. Well, that was stupid of me, wasn't it? I'm done with this conversation." Aurora said refusing to cry in front of Elizabeth. "I'm sleeping on the couch."

And with that Aurora left the room hearing the sound of Elizabeth slamming the down behind her as she made her way down stairs.

XXXX

The next morning Aurora woke up at an ungodly hour. However, she didn't want to be around when Elizabeth came down stairs so she decided to leave shooting her brother a text telling him to call her when he woke up.

Quietly, Aurora made her way out of the house to her car. Once she was behind the steering wheel she took a deep breath, her body aching.

A buzz from her cell phone at that moment nearly gave Aurora a heart attack. 'I should see about getting medication for that. I'm way too fucking jumpy.' She thought opening the text message she had just received.

To: Princess

From: Mountain Man

Where are you? Why haven't you been answering me texts?

Aurora resisted the urge to throw her cell phone out the widow and run it over. Instead she went through her inbox seeing the five missed texts she had missed.

To: Mountain Man

From: Princess

I didn't hear my phone. And it's no concern of yours where I am. I'll be damned if I'm going to put up with your possessive bullshit after what you said last night.

Aurora's finger hovered over the send button for a moment before pressing it with purpose. She knew she shouldn't have sent it but she didn't give any fucks. She felt miserable and she was determined to let him know.

Sitting her cell on the passenger's seat, Aurora drove back to her house in silence. The house was cold and empty when she opened the front door making her feel even more alone. It didn't take long for Aurora to decide to take a shower hoping that the warm water would make her feel better. She didn't dare check her phone, although there was a nagging curiosity at the back of her mind about why Derek was texting her at 5 a.m. Bitterly, she hoped it was because he was having just as hard of a time with their break up as she was.

Sitting her phone on the side table in her room, Aurora went to get in the shower. She didn't mean to stay in there as long as she did but the water felt amazing and she just wanted to escape from reality for a while.

An hour later, Aurora turned off the water and wrapped a towel around her body before walking back to her room.

When she opened the door to her room she barely had time to register the fact that someone was sitting on the edge of her bed. Letting out a startled scream Aurora tried to run but before she could even move her feet she felt a hand wrap around her wrist.

"Don't touch me!" Aurora screamed balling up her fist and swinging it blindly. Just by chance, her blow connected with the intruder's jaw.

"Fuck! Aurora, it's me!"

Recognizing the voice immediately Aurora stopped struggling and looked incredulously at the man in standing in front of her.

"Derek?!" She yelled twisted out of his grip. "What the hell?! You nearly scared me to death!" She added adjusting her towel.

"You punched me in the face. We're even." Derek deadpanned.

"Oh, we are nowhere near even." Aurora said pushing passed Derek to grab some clothes. "Why are you here?" She asked as rudely as possible even though, God help her, she was happy to see him.

"You stopped answering my texts and you wouldn't tell me where you were so I came to check on you." Derek answered in an aggravated huff.

"Why do you care?" Aurora asked grabbing a pair of underwear from her drawer and her favorite pajamas. Once Derek was gone she planned on going to bed and not getting up until someone decided to stage an intervention.

"Stop acting like a brat." Derek said his nostrils flaring with anger.

At that, Aurora whipped around seeing red.

"WHAT?! How dare you?!" She yelled throwing the closest thing she could find at Derek's head. Much to Aurora's disappointment he was able to dodge it but she took the opportunity to rush passed him running to the bathroom and locking herself in.

After taking a few minutes to calm down Aurora shook her head at how ridiculous she just acted. 'I really am acting like a brat.' She thought putting on her clothes. Once she was done getting dressed she brushed her hair and prepared to leave the bathroom. Slowly, she unlocked the door and pocked her head out. It didn't take long for her eyes to settle on Derek who was leaning against the wall across from the bathroom his arms folded in front of him.

"Seriously?" Aurora asked hoping that she didn't look as relieved as she felt to see him standing there.

"You threw a hair clip at me." He stated flatly.

"Be glad it wasn't a brick." She shot back stepping out of the bathroom. She tried with no success to avoid his touch as he reached for her. He pressed her back against the wall, hands firmly on her hips.

"Derek, stop." She protested half-heartedly lifting her hands absentmindedly to run her fingers through his hair.

Before she knew what was happening, Derek was kissing her, openmouthed and frankly it was downright filthy.

For a moment, Aurora forgot everything, kissing him back with equal passion but that didn't last long.

"Wait, wait." She said pushing him back.

He allowed her to move him, creating space between their bodies but he refused to let go of her hips.

"You had me worried sick." He scolded. "What did I tell you about not talking to me?"

She laughed but it was without humor.

"I can't do this, Derek. I can't act like everything is fine between us after what happened last night. I feel utterly miserable. Don't you feel the slightest bit hurt?"

With her last question Derek become somber.

"I'm beyond hurt, Aurora. You have no idea." He said.

"Ha! I think I have a pretty good guess." She retorted pulling away from him and heading to her room. Quickly, she got into bed pulling the covers over her body. It wasn't long before she felt the mattress dip down under Derek's weight as he joined her under the blanket wrapping his arm around her tightly.

"I don't have the energy to fight with you right now and I'm not going to lie and tell you I don't want you to stay because I know you can tell when I'm lying but Derek, we are not making this a habit. I'm not going to do that to myself. If we aren't together we can't be intimate. On any level. I don't know if I can even be your friend anytime soon." Aurora said not making an attempt to hide the fact that she was crying.

"I understand." Was all Derek said causing Aurora to cry harder.

Gently, he pressed his body to her's nuzzling into her back. Leaning into his touch, Aurora focused on calming herself down. Pressing a small kiss to her shoulder Derek whispered softly in her ear that everything was going to be alright. Why was she stupid enough to believe him? It frustrated Aurora to no end that being close to Derek was all she needed to relax. Ignoring the feeling of shame that redden her cheeks she closed her eyes and surprisingly, found sleep almost instantly.

XXXX

At 11 a.m. Aurora woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing on the side table. She rolled over, her heart sinking when she realized Derek was gone.

"Hello?" She said groggily answering her phone.

"Dude, where are you?" Nathaniel asked relief flooding his voice.

"I'm at home. I'm sorry, did you text me?" She groaned throwing an arm over her eyes.

"Only to let you know that I'm at Ben's house. His mom came to get me." Her little brother informed her.

"Are you staying the night?" She asked quietly.

"Yeah, unless you need me to come home?" Nathaniel asked.

It was clear he knew something was up with Aurora.

"Nah, have fun kiddo. I'll see you tomorrow." She said trying her best to sound normal.

"Thanks sis. Hey?" He asked his voice turning serious.

"Yeah?" Aurora answered.

"I don't know who he is or what he did but he's not worth your time. If he doesn't know how amazing you are that's his loss." Nathaniel said causing Aurora's jaw to drop.

"How did you…" She began.

"I heard you and Liz arguing last night. Sis, he's not worth ruining your longest and best friendship." He said softly.

"When did you become so wise?" Aurora asked trying not to cry. She was so done with all the crying.

"I've always been wise." Nathaniel joked.

"Thanks little brother. Seriously. I needed that." She said fondly.

"Anytime big sis. And by the way, I will so kick that guy's ass if you want me to. No one hurts my big sister and gets away with it." Nathaniel told her.

"I love you, little brother." Aurora replied a smile spreading across her lips.

"I love you too, Aurora.

XXXX

A couple of hours later, Aurora finally worked up the nerve to text Elizabeth asking her to come over so they could talk.

Thankfully, it didn't take long for Elizabeth to reply informing Aurora she would be over in five.

Heading down stairs, she had just enough time to grab a couple bottles of water and make it to the living room when the doorbell rang.

"Hey, come in." Aurora said opening the door for Elizabeth who walked passed her taking a seat on the couch.

"Look, Lizzie." Aurora began when she shut the door. She was too nervous to sit down so instead she stood across from Elizabeth pacing anxiously. "I'm so sorry. I should have never asked you to lie for me and I know that since I meet Derek I've been neglecting you and that was wrong of me. I just…I'm so in love with him it's embarrassing honestly." She confessed miserably.

"You are pretty pitiful." Elizabeth joked causing Aurora to smile.

"Please forgive?" Aurora asked hopefully.

"You know I do." Elizabeth said motioning for Aurora to join her on the couch.

Aurora wasted little time going over to her best friend allowing herself to be pulled into Elizabeth's arms.

"I was a bitch. I'm so sorry." Aurora said hugging Elizabeth tightly.

"Sshh. We were both bitches. And I'm definitely not winning any Miss Congeniality contests for the way I acted either. I'm sorry Aurora, I was just so mad. I shouldn't have been so mean." Elizabeth confessed with a sigh.

"It's okay. I just hate that you disapprove of Derek and me. Even if we are over. I just wanted you two to get along." Aurora told Elizabeth in a sad tone.

"It's not that I disapprove of you two together. It's obvious he makes you happy. I just hated the lying. And maybe I was a tiny bit jealous that he was getting all your time and attention." Elizabeth said with a sigh.

"Lizzie! You're my best friend. You know that I will always be there for you. Derek could never come between us." Aurora said hugging her best friend once more.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. You know I don't hate stranger danger, right? Well. Maybe I do now because he hurt you." Elizabeth said in a protective tone.

"I love you, bestie." Aurora said sincerely.

"I love you too, A." Elizabeth replied. "And just so you know, stranger danger is a fool for letting you go." She added.

"I don't deserve you." Aurora said continuing to hug Elizabeth.

"It's true." Elizabeth joked earning an elbow to her ribs.