Derrick and the Dominos

I still own no rights to Twilight!

BPOV

When Ian and I came back inside we noticed the entertainment center had been overturned. The cause was a mystery as we were the only ones home and hadn't been in the room when it occurred. Ian believed perhaps who ever assembled the piece most likely took shortcuts and it had just collapsed under all the weight. After cleaning up the mess, we shared an awkward silence and then Ian headed up to his room to begin packing for his trip.

His kiss kept playing back in my mind keeping me from concentrating on anything for more than a few moments. Roxanne wasn't home and I really needed someone to discuss my feelings with, I was pacing in the common room like a rat in a maze. After a while I sat stiffly in the chair next to the fireplace inhaling and exhaling to get my emotions back on track. It was useless...this wasn't helping. I decided to head up to my room and get one of my books; perhaps if I got lost in the book for a while it would ease some of the tension.

As I was leaving the room, Derrick was entering. "Hey Bella, where you going?" he asked excitedly.

"Nowhere, I just want to get a book. I'm waiting for Roxanne to return with my British Lit assignment." I said as I walked towards the stairs.

"Oh, are you coming back down? Do you want something to drink or anything?" he called after me as I climbed the stairs.

"No thanks, I'm great." I yelled over my shoulder. Ever since my accident Derrick had adjusted his attentiveness to a more subtle annoyance. He really wasn't so bad, if pushed I'd put him in the same category as Mike Newton – slightly annoying but generally not a bad person.

Entering my room I became anxious once again replaying the kiss and my reaction to it. I ran to the bathroom to check my face, I was sure it showed everything that had transpired this afternoon. The image looking back at me didn't look any different than it did this morning; it was still the same pale too full-lipped face it had always been. Jeez Bella, what's going on with you…you should have gone through puberty ages ago? Your emotions and hormones are raging…ugh! Turning out the bathroom light I went back into the bedroom again.

Where the heck was Roxanne, she was never this late. Of course today she had to be delayed, the day I really needed her. I was pacing again; this wasn't good I needed a distraction. That's right, I was going to read; I came up here to get something to divert me from these silly thoughts. I grabbed a book from the shelf over my desk and headed back to the common room. Reading downstairs would be better, this way I'd hear Rox as soon as she came in.

As I settled into the chair by the fireplace opening my book, I glanced up and looked around the room. The only two people in the room were Derrick and I; he smiled at me and looked back at his own book. I began reading but found I had to read the same paragraph over and over; my attention wasn't what it should have been. Sighing deeply, I closed the book leaving it on my lap and stared into the unlit fireplace.

Derrick came over and sat in the chair across from me and said, "Something wrong Bella?" He seemed so nervous and I suddenly felt bad for him. He really was just a boy that had a crush on me and my actions hadn't helped him to put them in perspective. Lately he had gone out of his way to avoid me and when we were together he was only respectful and kind.

I smiled at him in return and said, "No, its nothing. I just had a strange day and wanted to distract myself by reading." I giggled then and said, "It's not working though."

"Did you want to talk about it, I'm a pretty good listener." He said anxiously.

Raising my good hand up and waving it I said, "No, no – that's not necessary. Thanks though." I looked back at him and realized I knew nothing about him; perhaps talking would help take my mind off my day. "Derrick, where are you from?"

He looked shocked momentarily taken by surprise from my question, "A small town in New Jersey near the shore called Jackson. There's not much that goes on there," he smiled shyly. "It was a happy day when I got accepted here, giving me a chance to get away – my mom and I have lived there my whole life. She's not too happy I decided to attend an out of state school but I'm glad. I didn't have too many friends in school and this…well it's like starting over again."

"Oh, I understand." And I did, more than he could possibly know. It was amazing by asking one simple question I just found out he and I had more in common than most others who shared the house with us.

I studied his face now as if seeing him for the first time, his expression was a bit sad even though he was smiling. It was like the smile never really reached his eyes, his expression was one that seemed to question whether or not he was saying the right thing. "So have you adjusted since moving here, are you finding it easier to make friends?" I asked truly curious. I don't know why I wanted to know but for some reason his answer was important to me. Part of me wanted reassurance that my treatment of him didn't make him feel insecure about his new home.

He looked down at the book he was holding and shrugged, "It's not any easier, but at least everyone doesn't have preconceived ideas of who I am based on my adolescent years. My mom was pretty protective of me and sometimes embarrassed me. I am the only son and my Dad left many years ago, so she's kind of overbearing." He looked up at me through his lashes with his head still downcast watching for any sign of criticism from me.

Nodding my head, I showed him I understood…Rene sometimes got carried away as well. My modest agreement was all it took to get him to smile more confidently. "So what are you reading?" Nodding my head towards the book in his hand I asked trying to keep the conversation light.

He looked down again and smiled back at me, "Thr3e by Ted Dekker, its pretty good, it's a suspense novel. I like to read these types of books, keeps me on my toes. How about you, what are you reading?"

Slightly embarrassed I responded, "Wuthering Heights…I'm a tragic romance junkie. I love the classics, but especially the classics that deal with romance and the complications of love." I shrugged, embarrassed or not it was the truth.

"That's cool Bella, everyone has their own interests." He replied happily. "So what about you? Do you like college life?" His interest was genuine and I found myself surprisingly enjoying our conversation.

"Yes immensely. I enjoy the assignments and classes much more than I did in high school and the fact that I'm treated like an adult responsible for my assignments without adult supervision makes it that much more appealing to me." I giggled. "I guess I no longer feel like a kid." At that point my stomach let out a loud growl. "Oh excuse me, I skipped lunch today. I should go see what there is to eat in the kitchen." I stood preparing to leave.

"Hey would you like to go get a slice of pizza? I'm hungry too and we could talk some more," Derrick asked.

Thinking about his offer for a couple of seconds, I agreed. The walk would be good considering I hadn't left the house all day and most likely there wasn't much to eat in the kitchen. Since Roxanne hadn't come home yet she was probably going to get something on campus anyway.

We headed towards the door and I grabbed my poncho to put it on, that's when I remembered about the jacket and hesitated thinking perhaps I should run upstairs and ask Ian about it. Standing there considering this choice, I decided to wait until I actually saw him wearing the jacket – otherwise I'd just sound like a nut.

As we walked to the pizza place I asked Derrick more about his life growing up and what his interests were. He actually was a nice guy, shy and socially awkward but not all that bad. While we were eating we compared horror stories on whose mother committed the worst embarrassing moments and were laughing, sometimes a little too loud for the other diners.

It was getting late and I really wanted to talk to Rox before she settled in for the evening so I said, "We should head back. Roxanne stopped by my professor's office to pick up my assignment so I need to get back to review what needs to accomplished before the next class."

Standing up I went to put on my poncho, but he remained sitting and just smiling at me. "I really had fun tonight Bella. We should do this again."

"Sure, no problem. Now come on," I urged him. I was anxious to talk to Roxanne about what happened this afternoon with Ian.

He suggested that we take a different way home saying that it was a bit shorter than the way we came. It was quiet as we walked home both of us lost in our own thoughts. We were walking past a park when he stopped suddenly and pulled on my arm. "Bella tonight was nice wasn't it? It was like we were on a date, right?"

I was shocked. Here I thought we had gotten past all of that and he was asking me outright if I thought this was a date. Knowing what I knew of him after this evening, letting him down easy was the only choice. "Well Derrick, no it wasn't a date. I did have fun though." I said smiling easily at him hoping he would understand.

His mood changed swiftly, "What? I'm not good enough for you? You can only go out with the popular guys. You know I thought you were different, especially after tonight. But you're not – you're just like all the other girls…" he stated walking towards the entrance to the park.

"Wait, Derrick where are you going? Don't be like that; I really did have a good time. I'm sorry I'm just not interested in dating right now." I pleaded following him.

He whipped around and grabbed me by the shoulders shaking me, "Don't lie to me! You've been dating the guy in the house for several weeks now. So why when I ask you out do you lie and say you don't want to date!"

He was shouting now and his facial expression really frightened me. His grip on my shoulders tightened to the point where I knew I would have a bruise later. Not knowing what to say I just stood there staring at him waiting for him to release me.

Calmly I said, "Derrick, can you let go of me…you're hurting me."

"Well that's just too bad Bella. You've been hurting me for weeks now. Every time I'd see you with that guy…sitting on the couch, holding hands, laughing at your little secrets. Now you know how it feels to hurt." His eyes were wide and deranged looking, I needed to calm him down but it seemed like no matter what I'd say he would take it out of context.

Thinking quickly I blurted out, "Look if you want to go on a date, we can. But tonight wasn't a date okay!"

His facial expression hardened and he began pulling on me taking me further into the park. "Tonight was our date, and dates hold hands and walk through parks. You and I are going to finish our date and you will kiss me. This was a very special date and you are going to tell me how much you enjoyed it." He was ranting now; not making any sense. He had built up some dream world and unfortunately I was the main attraction.

The further into the park he pulled me the more frightened I became, what if he really lost it. We were getting further away from the street and no one would be able to hear me. My mind was racing how did this get so far out of control and how was I going to get away from him.

Just then it hit me, I could use my cast as a weapon…I just needed to get the right leverage in order to inflict any kind of damage. I saw my opportunity and swung as hard as I could, but just as I did he shifted position and my arm only glanced on air. I almost fell down from the force I had been putting towards striking him, but his hold on me was too tight.

He became even angrier and started screaming at me. He was so mad that his grip on me slipped and I took the chance and began running as fast as I could. I knew I was running in the wrong direction but I just wanted to get away from him. The tears were streaming down my face and I couldn't see, before I knew it I was on the ground. Within moments he was on top of me pinning me to the ground and screaming in my face. All I could do was struggle to get free and plead with him that he wasn't thinking straight.

The next thing I knew, he was pushed off me and I heard punches being thrown. Jumping up I saw someone on top of Derrick wildly throwing punches to his face. As I stood looking at what was taking place before me it quickly registered that it was Ian beating Derrick. Derrick was moaning and crying, I yelled to Ian to stop but it wasn't registering with him. It was as if he was a possessed man. Running over and grabbing his shoulders I screamed at him again.

He finally turned and his face was furious for a moment and then he looked at me and back at Derrick on the ground. Jumping up he grabbed me and held me to him while I sobbed. I could feel his whole body shaking as I clung to him.

I was never so happy to see someone as I was at that moment. I looked up into his face and realized he had probably just saved me from a situation that would have gotten much worse. Touching his cheek lightly I said, "Thank you."

"Are you okay, did he hurt you?" he asked as he stroked my shoulders and arms. His eyes were taking in every inch of my face as if to ensure that nothing was out of place. I nodded my head letting him know I was okay and he pulled me into his arms and held me tightly. That's when I heard my name being called from the direction Derrick had brought me.

I turned towards the path and there – no more than 5 feet away, stood Edward. My body froze; it couldn't be; this had to be my imagination playing with me again. This couldn't be happening and then my head started spinning, my ears started ringing and the world went black.