Author's notes: Damn, I missed writing this story! I REALLY hope everyone is still enjoying it. :D Sorry for any mistakes. Thanks for reading!

XXXX signifies time passing

A week had passed since Elizabeth and Aurora had made up. And it was definitely safe to say that Aurora's life was back to "normal." Every assignment she turned in at school was A+ work, she hung out with Elizabeth every day and ate dinner with her family every night. Life was good. Or at least that's what Aurora kept telling herself.

Derek had been M.I.A since the day she had fallen asleep in his arms. She hadn't even gotten one of his creepy text messages checking up on her. She shouldn't have missed those texts as much as she did. Aurora was trying to move on but she was failing miserably. Even though, as Elizabeth put it, she sounded like the most dramatic, sappiest chick flick ever made, Aurora felt lost without Derek.

"Just call him!" Elizabeth demanded from the passenger's seat of Aurora's car. It was Friday and Aurora was driving her best friend home from school.

"What? I haven't even been talking about him!" Aurora protested wondering where Elizabeth's sudden outburst came from.

"Ugh. I know! What you are doing is worse than talking about him constantly. The sad puppy dog eyes, the dramatic staring off into the distance. I can't!" Elizabeth exclaimed shaking her head.

"Shut up! I don't have sad puppy dog eyes!" Aurora defended as she pulled up in front of Elizabeth's house.

"Yeah, sure you don't." She retorted sarcastically. "Well, you are coming to the movies with Paul, Ian and me so be ready by 7. I'll pick you up." Elizabeth added opening the car door.

"Lizzie!" Aurora whined, "I have homework and I don't feel like seeing a movie."

"I don't give a shit, Aurora. You haven't done anything but come to my house and do homework since you and Derek broke up. You are rejoining civilization tonight even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming." Elizabeth informed her best friend.

Letting out a dramatically long sigh Aurora asked, "What movie?" in the most depressed tone she could manage.

"Frozen! Don't even tell me you don't want to see that!" Elizabeth said beaming at Aurora.

"Whatever. I'll be ready by 7." Aurora deadpanned.

"See ya then, bestie." Elizabeth taunted before getting out of the car.

XXXX

"Oh my God. That movie was the cutest!" Elizabeth said as Paul, Ian, Aurora and she exited the movie theater. She was holding Paul's hand who smiled at her happily nodding his approve.

"Yeah, the cutest." Aurora agreed sarcastically.

It was not that the movie wasn't cute because it was. And that was Aurora's problem. Why couldn't they have gone to see an action movie? Something with bullets and cursing not singing and love.

"Damn it, Aurora Rose. If you don't call stranger danger I will." Elizabeth threatened as they all headed to the front plaza of the theater.

It was freezing outside; the wind blowing hard enough to ruffle the trees in the parking lot.

"Don't you dare, Elizabeth Dawn." Aurora warned although she didn't sound very intimidating as a full body shiver made her convulse. She had worn a long sleeve shirt but she hadn't anticipated the temperature drop so she didn't grab a jacket on her way out of the house.

Ian, noticing that Aurora was nearly frozen solid, immediately put his arm around her chuckling at the best friends quarrelling.

"Maybe you should call him?" Ian offered. "You seem really sad without him." He added rubbing circles over Aurora's spine to create heat.

"Trust me, Ian. If he wanted to talk to me we would have spoken by now." Aurora sighed burying her face in his shoulder.

Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth was just about to suggest that they head to her car before they turned into popsicles when someone shouted Aurora's name.

Jerking her head away from Ian's shoulder, Aurora had just enough time to brace herself before Isaac pulled her into a bear hug.

"I've missed you!" He said squeezing her tightly.

"Isaac!" Aurora nearly cried. "I've missed you too."

When they finally separated, Aurora noticed that the whole pack was rushing over from the ticket stand to greet her. Just as Lydia, Laura, Erica and even Hailey embraced her in a group hug she spotted Derek walking up behind them, slowly.

He looked amazing as usual and he was dressed in his patented blue jeans, t-shirt and leather jacket. Nothing about him looked different except the fact that he looked exhausted.

"We've missed you so much." Laura stated once the girls let Aurora go.

"I've missed you all too. More than you know." Aurora admitted trying to look anywhere but at Derek.

"Hey darling." Jackson said coming up for his turn at a hug.

Aurora hugged him then Boyd.

"Oh, hey. Everybody this is my best friend Elizabeth, her boyfriend Paul and my friend Ian." Aurora said politely. "Guys this is Laura, Lydia, Erica, Hailey, Jackson, Isaac, and Boyd." She added pointing to each member of the pack as she said their name. When she was done she let out a playful sigh like she was out of breath.

Both groups exchanged pleasantries while Derek remained in the background arms folded across his chest.

"So, what are you hear to see?" Aurora said trying to make conversation.

"Wolf of Wallstreet." Jackson replied happily and Aurora could have sworn she saw Lydia roll her eyes.

"You?" Isaac inquired smiling at Aurora.

"We just saw Frozen." Elizabeth piped in.

"Aw! I want to see that!" Lydia whined looking up at Jackson with hopeful eyes.

"I'll take you to see it tomorrow." He told her not even putting up a fight.

She beamed at him cheerfully planting a kiss on his cheek.

Before Aurora could make a comment about how much of a pushover Jackson was she felt a strong hand resting between her shoulder blades.

Turning her head slightly to the left she saw Derek holding out his jacket to her.

"Here." He said his voice low and soft. "I could see the goosebumps on your skin from back there."

She wanted to protest but she felt as though her blood was about to freeze in her veins. Taking his jacket, Aurora pulled in on with ease wrapping it around her securely. Immediately, the warmth of the jacket surrounded her, thawing her ice cold skin. The smell of Derek's cologne filled her nose and it was all she could do not to cry.

"Thank you." She said weakly unable to meet his gaze.

"It's nice to see you again, Derek." Ian said politely, purposely drawing the attention away from Aurora.

Man, that kid was amazing.

"Yeah, you too. Ivan was it?" Derek asked deliberately messing up Ian's name.

"It's Ian actually." Ian replied in a friendly tone.

"Whatever." Derek huffed with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Derek!" Aurora scolded finally looking him in the face.

Boy, did she regret that decision.

He looked at her shyly a playful smirk threatening to spread across his lips. Damn him, Aurora thought. Damn him and his gorgeous face.

"Well, we should probably get going." Laura suggested after clearing her throat.

"Yeah," Aurora agreed peeling her eyes away from Derek, "I hope you all enjoy the movie."

They all hugged Aurora once more, Lydia insisting they have lunch together as soon as possible, before disappearing into the theater leaving only Derek outside.

"Here," Aurora said making a move to take off his jacket.

"No, keep it Aurora. I don't want you catching a cold." Derek said firmly. "Why didn't you dress warmer anyway?" He added unable to help himself.

"Just an FYI Mountain Man, I've got two parents at home. I don't need a third." She teased consequently making Derek smile. Aurora felt her heart beat quicken at the sight.

"Well, I don't know about anyone else but if I don't get somewhere with heat soon I'm going to die." Elizabeth said pulling Paul toward the parking lot, Ian right behind them.

"We'll meet you at the car Aurora." Elizabeth yelled over shoulder as the three of them left her alone with Derek.

"I should go." Aurora stammered after only a moment of silence.

"Aurora, wait." Derek said reaching out for her, his hands finding her hips like magnets.

She threw her arms around his neck not the least bit in the mood to pretend she didn't miss him. In response, he pulled her close nuzzling his face into her neck.

"You smell like him." Derek said after a moment but he didn't sound angry.

"You've got some nerve." Aurora sighed nudging her head against his before kissing his jaw.

They stayed like that for a while ignoring the passersby who were staring at them.

"You should probably get going. You need to go get warm." Derek said finally as he reluctantly pulled away from Aurora.

"Derek…" Aurora said looking up at him. He was definitely tired. She could see the dark circles under his eyes that mirrored her own. "Can we talk, please?" She asked bravely.

Derek sighed, looking away from her pleading gaze.

"I don't think that's a good idea." He said softly.

"Derek. Please." Aurora asked again moving both of her hands to rest on his cheeks as she forced him look at her.

"Okay, okay. You win. Just don't look at me like that." Derek agreed looking utterly defeated.

"Tomorrow? I'll even meet you at the camp site so you can drive me back to your house." She asked smiling at him. Derek returned her smile acknowledging that Aurora was trying to accommodate him.

"Noon?" He offered.

"Perfect." She agreed pulling him into kiss before she could stop herself.

The kiss, while it lasted, was soft and sweet but above all heartbreaking.

"Aurora." Derek warned like he was exercising all of his will power to pull away from her.

"I'm sorry, I'm going." Aurora apologized hugging him quickly before making a mad dash to Elizabeth's car.

When she reached her destination, Aurora opened the door to the backseat and got in. Leaning her head back against the seat she closed her eyes and took a deep, steadying breath.

"Verdict?" Elizabeth questioned putting the car in reverse to back out of the parking space. Aurora kept her eyes closed, feeling the heat from the vents spreading over her body.

"He agreed to talk." She said sounding far happier than she meant to.

"Thank God. I don't think I can take much more of your emo period." Elizabeth teased.

"Shut up!" Aurora groaned leaning over to rest her head on Ian's shoulder.

"She's got a point, Aurora." Ian joked. "You are pretty depressing."

Aurora just sighed unable to argue.