Derek's P.O.V

Panting, I pulled himself up one last time, and dropped to the floor. Starting to do push-ups, I listened intently for signs of movement near Sik's house. I'd called to her last night, out side of her window. I'd never expected a reply, and didn't get one. I wonder how her school day is going. Stopping, I stood up and ran from the house to Sitka's, but only half way. When I stopped to catch my breath near a small clearing, I heard the instrumental of 'My Heart Will Go On (by Celine Dion)' and a loud sobbing noise. Creeping closer, but not too close as to expose myself, I looked past and saw Sitka curled up at the base of a tree, deep within it's roots, crying, blasting the same song that was playing from her iPod. With each sob, her body heaved with effort. I didn't know what she was crying about, but I wanted to.

I suddenly smiled as I remembered one of her old sayings. 'I'm not about that life.'

Well, I thought, you are now.

Walking out of the shadows of the trees, I ran to her and kneeled at her side. "What's wrong Sikky?"

Instead of getting an answer, she took one look at me and I threw her into a hug, unable to stand the pain in her eyes. I queezed into the hole and leaned against a root, setting Sikta in my lap while she cried into my shirt. I rocked her and rubbed her back, just listening to her cry. A little while later, I realized that her iPod started playing 'Love Story (by Taylor Swift)' and I heard her singing.

"But I got tired of waiting. And wondering if you were ever coming around. My faith in you was...fading. When I met you on the outskirts of town. And I said 'Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone. I keep waiting for you, but you never come. Is this in my head," Raena looked up at Derek, into his eyes, "I don't know what to think. He kneels to the ground and pulled out a ring and says -"

"Marry me Juliet, you never have to be alone. I love you and that's all I really know. I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress. It's a love story, baby just say..." I had picked up the song and sang the part of Romeo, while Skita beamed.

"YES." We both scream/sang the word and then started laughing, Skita's tears gone from sight and memory for a long while.

Music in the back ground, we began talking. "You know Love Story?"

"Well yea, not all men are hard asses," I said, sarcasm in my voice.

"When I first met you, I thought you were the cutest thing."

"When I first met you, I thought I'd be forced to kill you."

Sitka looked at me like"O_e" and huffed at me. "S'not funny, D."

I smriked and looked at our hands. Bringing my own closer to hers, I put his fingers around Sitka's and stared at them for what seemed like an eternity.

"How are...things?" Sitka asked awkwardly, breaking the silence.

It was only then did I realize what a creeper I was being and let go of her hand. "Oh, uhm, things are good. You know, concidering nearly all my family is dead."

Sitka let out a yelp and I looked up, only to see her staring at him with horror and sympathy.

"It wasn't that bad, me and Laura are handling it."

"Are? You mean, she's still alive?"

"Yea, why are you asking. Do you wish I was dead too?"

As a new voice spoke, both our heads snapped up to find Laura staring at us, eyes glowing with half rage.

"Derek, what are you doing here, you know it's not safe," she barked, grabbing my arm and dragging me out, Sitka landing from my lap with a bump.

"What? It's not like I was parading around town screaming 'WEREWOLF! HUNT ME! HUNT ME!' I'm not that dense Laura," I growled, Sik staring at us like she had no idea what was going on.

"I know your werewolves, but you don't have to hide. It's not like the world is filled with hunters," she grunted, dragging herself out of the roots.

"How do you know that? Derek, is she your girl friend," Laura huffed.

And to conclude the awkwardness, Sik's iPod had started playing the most untimley song. EVER. 'Paparazzi (by Lady Gaga)'

I winced and Sitka slammed her face into a tree. Literally.

"What? You were sitting on his lap and crying into his shirt, if that's not a relationship, I don't know what is."

"You obviously don't," I said, tossing Sitka her iPod and sending her on her way back home.

I don't have a crush on my young, 15 year old, long-lost child-hood friend/counter part. Do I?