Ok, Chlerek fluff was requested, so Chlerek fluff shall be delivered (at least no one can accuse me of not listening to my reviewers…lol.) Sorry it's kind of a short and plot-less chapter, it's really just an interlude until I figure out where I want the story to head next…
I woke up nestled against Derek's side, my head rising and falling with his chest, his heartbeat throbbing against my ear. Gingerly I sat up, careful not to wake him. He needed sleep more than the rest of us after all his nights of guard duty that he insisted on performing. And who knows when he'd agree to sleep again…
I leaned my head back against the worn vinyl seat back of the bus we were on. It had been a long night. First the surgery, then the dramatic appearance of Aliena; it had been an immense relief to curl up against Derek and let my eyelids drift shut.
In the seat in front of us Aliena was resting her head against the window, brown hair falling like a curtain between us. It was impossible to tell if she was awake or asleep.
I risked a glance behind me and saw Simon and Tori both snoring softly; Tori's head resting on his shoulder and his head on top of hers. They looked really cute together (though I doubted they fell asleep like that) and I couldn't help but think back to what Tori had said about not liking Simon. Their personalities were polar opposites (bubbly meets bitchy) but you know what they say about opposites attracting…
Around me other people on the bus were gradually stirring, stretching and blinking out at the peach-colored dawn. Derek was one of them. He yawned, reaching his arms up to the ceiling and flexing his fingers. "Good morning," he mumbled upon noticing I was awake, clearly still bleary with sleep.
"Hi," I whispered back.
"How're you feeling?" Running a hand through his sleep-tousled hair, he looked pointedly at my stomach. It had been hurting for so long by now that I was able to avoid thinking of the pain.
"Fine. What about you?"
"Hungry." he rummaged in his backpack for a minute before coming up with a box of raisons. He sighed, "What I wouldn't give for some pancakes right now…" I groaned in agreement, closing my eyes and imagining the buttery smell and the ultra sweet syrup oozing down my throat. "Here," I looked to see Derek proffering the red box. "Want some?" I graciously accepted a small fistful. For several contented minutes we munched in silence, neither of us saying a word. After a little while Derek turned to check on the rest of his flock.
A bemused expression flitted across his face as he saw the position Simon and Tori were in. Simon's mouth had opened slightly and a thin trickle of drool dribbled down his chin. Tori was going to kill him. "Huh," Derek smiled at me. "Didn't see that one coming."
"Me neither," I agreed, giggling under my breath. "Think it'll last?"
"Did they even go to sleep like that on purpose?"
"It's doubtful. But they do seem happy…"
"Uh huh. Simon especially." This was a joke, as Simon was looking very unattractive at the moment. It was hard to look happy while you were drooling with such reckless abandon.
We waited for our giggles to die down. It was nice, being alone with Derek like this on the mostly asleep bus. Private, cozy. All that was missing for the fantasy in my head to be complete was a cottage by the sea and a roaring fire. Yes, it is cheesy. But it would be perfect.
Several moments later Derek turned his inquisitive green eyes on me, dragging me out of my daydream. "Are you happy?"
"What?" Was my intelligent reply. His blurted question had caught me off guard.
"Are you happy?" he repeated, studying me intensely. I turned away from him to stare out the window, choosing my words carefully.
"I wish we weren't living off the streets and running for our lives…but other than that, yeah. I am happy."
"Other than that small detail," he echoed, voice dripping sarcasm before suddenly turning serious again. "But you are happy…with me?"
I wrenched my gaze back to him, startled. "Of course-"
"I mean, you wouldn't rather be Tori right now?" He glanced behind him. "You know, with Simon?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" I snapped, unnerved by this jealous Derek. Since when did he get jealous?
"I just mean-"
"Look," I softened my voice though still kept it firm. "Derek, I chose you. Remember?"
"What were you thinking?" I was pleased to see some of the intensity leave his eyes and a teasing glint replace it.
"I was thinking that I loved you." I responded, just as saucily. Then I sealed the deal with a kiss.
"Ew. Just Ew." Tori shook her head with disgust. I whirled to see the two disentangling themselves as if nothing was out of the ordinary, yawning and blinking.
"Great way to wake up," Simon agreed with just as mocking a tone of voice. Still, his eyes were glowing with warmth and when he thought I wasn't looking I saw him shoot a thumbs up at Derek.
"Where are we?" someone muttered from ahead of us. Aliena was awake, turned around to face us.
"Just out of Rochester." Derek responded automatically.
"Ok." she turned back to face the front, which was fine with the rest of us. We had yet to fully trust her.
Tori and Simon turned to their packs to hunt down some breakfast so I took the opportunity to intertwine my fingers with Derek's and lean forward to whisper in his ear, "Are you happy with me?"
He answered me with a kiss of his own.
Behind us Tori gave a little screech. "Why is my hair wet!"
Derek and I laughed until we couldn't breathe anymore.
Yes, it was pointless. Sorry. I swear I'll get back to the action in my next chapter…so don't give up reading!