BreeTico – Lol, it made enough sense to me. And it's about time, too! (:
supernatural94 – If you're talking about Derek and Emily, I love them, too. If you're talking about the chapters, thanks! Lol (:
The Significance Series belongs to Shelly Crane.
10: Kiss The Girl
Derek let my feet touch the cement floor of the garage, but he didn't let go of me. He pressed his forehead to mine. The touch gave me warmth and comfort like it always did, but this time there was something extra to it that was different than what I was used to. Derek pushed through my barriers, delving into my mind instead of just skimming the surface of it. I was about to step back from him when I heard him. At least, I assumed it was him. He was supposed to be the only one that could talk to me mentally.
Can you hear me, Emily? I gasped at his words. I didn't know if it would be like he was literally speaking to me or if it was going to be more like I just got the feeling of what he was talking about, like when we sent images of things to each other. But it was like he was talking to me, and I could hear him. His voice was exactly like I would have imagined for him. Fitting in with his rock star persona, it was deep with a sexy, gravelly undertone to it. It was warm and full of comfort and concern. The sound if it alone sent shivers down my spine, not only because I loved it but also because it was the very first thing that I'd heard in eight years. It had only been my own eleven-year-old voice going through my head. It was something truly magically to hear something again that I was at a loss for words. And I was starting to think that even if I wasn't going to ever hear anything else again, at least I could hear him.
I can hear you. I thought long and hard on it.
You don't have to try so hard. It's sort of like just talking to each other. I just have to focus on your for a second and think. He replied back. I stood there, completely mesmerized by his voice in my head. This sure is easier than sign language, isn't it?
"We'll have to keep up the façade, though, when you're around my mom or Xavier. My mom thinks that we met at a deaf support group because you have a deaf grandfather." I told him out loud. He just laughed, and I was pretty sure that there was the hint of it running over my mind, low and warm. He drew me in more than ever, now.
Let's go inside. Derek said. He took my overnight bag from me and slung it over his shoulder, his fingers reaching for mine. I followed dutifully as we stepped around the SUV and to the garage door. Derek opened it and stepped aside so I could go in first. I stepped over the threshold and peered into the living room. It looked like they were all watching a movie. Victoria, Robert, and Max sat on one of the couches. Carissa and Jack were sitting on a different couch, and Madison was sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table. They all looked up as we walked in. They still made me nervous, but it wasn't as bad as before.
Robert held up a hand in hello, saying something to the two of us. Carissa glanced over with a small smile and returned to the TV screen. Madison's eyes burned as she looked over the two of us. She seemed relieved. She must have been worried that Derek would tell me what he was protecting me from and I'd demand that he take me home or something. As I looked over them, I realized that Zach was missing. As my eyes scanned the room, I caught sight of him sitting at the kitchen table, still bent over a textbook. The kid had a sense of determination that I'd never seen before.
Derek pulled me into the living room, my bag still over his shoulder. His dad was saying something to him. Jack, obviously annoyed with his dad for disrupting, paused the movie and looked up at me. He shot his father a joking glare, but when he looked up at me he gave me flirty wink. I gave a soft snort, loud enough that Derek tightened his hold on me momentarily, and rolled my eyes at him. I liked Jack. I really did, even though he was immature and sort of annoying at times. But he knew how to have fun and to lighten the mood, even if it went all the way to teasing me and his brother. I could feel the rumble of Derek's voice in his chest when Madison caught my eye, signing to me.
"Are you okay? Derek didn't want you to freak out or anything." She glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was looking at her. The entire family seemed to know that Derek was paranoid about his family's rivals, which had remained anonymous to me. I wasn't bothered in finding out their name unless it became of sudden importance. I didn't plan to be anywhere near them.
I pulled my hand lightly away from Derek's. He continued to talk as I signed back to Madison, trying to keep it quick and virtually unnoticeable to the others. Now that they could all understand sign language, I was a little bit at odds. Derek was the only one who I could have a private conversation with in front of the others, now. I wasn't really bothered by it, though. "I'm fine. Like I told Derek, I can handle rivalries. I don't need to be babied." I tried to look as gentle as I could. I didn't want her to think that I was scolding her for not telling me or something. That was the only problem with sign language. There wasn't any real inflection like there was when you spoke.
Jack noticed and, with a characteristic smirk, signed out, "He told you, huh?" I rolled my eyes at him, but I couldn't help but smile. I just gave a nod. Jack looked dead serious when he sighed, "So, you must be pretty persuasive." He added an eyebrow raise to his words and, in the middle of Derek and Robert's conversation, I burst out into laughter. I immediately went to cover my mouth with my hands, glancing up at Derek as I did so. He was looking down at me from the corner of his eye, and there was a smile touching his lips. Jack leaned back on the couch, laughing. Madison was smiling, and she rolled her eyes when I glanced at her. The only ones that didn't look like they thought something funny was going on were Carissa and Zach. Zach hadn't even turned around to see what we were doing, and Carissa was focusing on her cell phone.
"Sorry," I said, referring to the fact that I'd interrupted Derek and his dad. Derek just shook his head, slipping an arm around my waist. He looked up and said something to his family before turning and leading me down the hallway. I just want to talk to you alone for a while, he said in my head. It was amazing how fast I got used to his voice in my mind. At first, it was something so completely out of this world that I was blown away. It only took a few minutes for it to feel like it was normal, something that had been like that forever.
Derek led me to his bedroom. It looked like he'd attempted to clean it up a little bit since I'd been in it that morning. The bed was sketchily made, the covers just pulled up, though they were still wrinkled. His pillows weren't neatly lined at the headboard; instead they were just thrown there. He'd piled sheet music up on one side of his desk and had closed his closet doors. I smiled to myself as he put my bag down on his now-made bed. I was pretty sure that it was the first time that the bed had been made, however sloppily, in years.
You don't have to spend the night in here if you don't want to. I mean, you can and I can sleep on the couch, or….
I cut him off, feeling a blush crawl over my face. It's fine. We can both stay in here, right? The moment I thought it, I wished that I could just clamp down on my mind to keep it from escaping. But it was probably too late. Besides, we'd have to cross that road eventually, right? I mean, Derek was supposed to be in my life forever, and by the butterflies he gave me after just a few days I was fairly certain that it would be a romantic relationship. Besides, there had never been an imprinted couple that hadn't gotten married, to my knowledge. And honestly, I wanted to stay with him. My mom might have had a cow if she knew, but then again, she thought I was spending the night with Madison.
In my mind, it sort of felt like I heard him sigh. I didn't think about it for too long because he added, Yeah, that's fine. If you're okay with it. I don't want to push you into anything more than I already have. He sounded a little bit morose about it all. Clearly feeling the giant question mark in my head, he continued, You wouldn't have to worry about anything like this if we hadn't imprinted. I'm already forcing you to be with me all the time. I've made you give up your life to be with me.
You're not being serious, are you? I asked, surprise coloring my mental voice. I couldn't hear myself talking to him, but I figured that whatever he heard was like my actual voice. I was dying to know what I sounded like. Derek, I would have spent my entire life sitting behind that counter. Because of you, there's a life for me to have. I reached out and took a hold of his hand, pulling him closer to me. It was the most forward I'd ever been with someone before. Continuing with my sudden personality change, I reached up and took a hold of his chin, forcing him to look down at me. Choosing to speak out loud, I said, "Don't you dare wish that you didn't imprint with me. You understand?"
He gave me a look that was halfway in between admiration and a puppy that had gotten in trouble. I released my hold on his chin, glancing away momentarily. It was sort of embarrassing to do that. I hadn't been thinking when I just grabbed him. But apparently it worked, because he stepped forward and hugged me. My worry that he thought the imprint was a mistake melted away the moment his arms went around me. I let my head rest on his chest, closing my eyes and focusing on the beat of our hearts. It was so calming, bringing me down from whatever had been bothering me before. I remembered thinking at one point that this imprint had brought along pain and awkwardness, but that was overshadowed by the peace it brought. It anchored me.
We stood like that, just leaning onto each other, until Derek looked up sharply. He started to let me go to walk to the door. I turned to see who it was, but before he got there the door swung open. Jack looked smug as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the open door. He said something to Derek, holding up a hand to cover his mouth. Figuring that it was something that would either offend me or make me blush, I looked up at Derek. I knew that he would be annoyed if his brother said anything rude about me. But it must have just been slightly offensive and blush-worthy because Derek just shook his head, a small smile touching his lips. He glanced down at me and said, Jack says that my mom's breaking out the ice cream. We usually have sundaes on Sunday. He grinned at me, despite the cheesiness of it all.
"Ingenious," I replied.
Jack looked in between us and signed, "No way. You two are talking to each other? I don't believe you." He had that look in his eye that said he was having fun teasing us.
"Believe it," I told him. I sat down on the edge of the bed and kicked off my shoes. Derek had already taken his off and Jack hadn't ever been wearing any when I was over here, so I figured that they didn't mind the fact that I was taking mine off. I pushed them to the end of the bed and brushed my hair out of my eyes. Ice cream sundaes sounded really good at the moment. Besides, I figured that if I was going to lie to my mom and tell her I was spending the night with Madison I should spend a little quality time with her.
Jack's eyes scanned the room, settling on my bag sitting in the very center of the bed. He looked amused, that was for sure. Immaturity at its finest. I couldn't wait to see who he would imprint with. Hopefully she would be able to handle his flirty jokes and characteristic smirk. But then again, what if she was exactly like him? Two Jacks in one family would either be a nightmare or a party. Derek picked that up from my mind and he gave a little chuckle. Jack looked in between us like we'd sudden grown extra heads and then he shook his own head and turned to head down the hall.
I laughed to myself and followed him, leaving Derek behind for a few seconds. The majority of the house, including the hall, had wooden floors. They were cool on my feet as I followed Jack's retreating form. He turned the corner that led into the living room. I paused at the doorway. The times when Derek had left me alone while we were at his house were very few. He was my comfort blanket and I didn't want to go anywhere without him hovering at my shoulder. But I needed to get used to the fact that he wasn't going to constantly be around. Besides, these were my future in-laws. The thought made goose bumps rise on my arms, but I just steeled myself and stepping into the room. It was nearly empty. Only Madison lingered behind. When I stepped in, she jumped up from the couch and turned to me.
"It's Sundae Night!" She proclaimed, signing it at the same time. She looped her arm through mine and dragged me to the kitchen. It looked like they'd suddenly decided to open an ice cream shop in their kitchen. There were about five different flavors of ice cream, from vanilla to rocky road, and there were an endless number of toppings. I saw chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and an array of candy. There was even a bowl of hot fudge, chunks of the brownies Victoria had made for lunch, and a jar of caramel sauce. My mouth watered at the sight of it. I had always had a sweet tooth. Pastries and deserts were my ultimate weakness.
My mom loves sweets, too. Derek's voice echoed through my mind. On instinct, I looked over my shoulder to find him standing there, looking pleased with my reaction to their Sundae Night. I couldn't remember if I'd told him I loved sweet stuff. I figured that he would have noticed that Xavier brought me something like a cookie or a tart to snack on every time he walked in the store. Well, until recently. But maybe Derek didn't know that. In any case, if he was digging around in my mind he'd be well aware by now.
Victoria saw us standing in the doorway and beckoned for us to come in. She handed me a brightly colored ceramic bowl and motioned for me to go ahead. Carissa was already slipping back to the living room where the movie's credits were rolling. All I saw in her bowl was a single scoop of vanilla ice cream. Someone was a little stingy with their sweets. I was sure that to her, I would look like a pig when I rolled in with a little bit of everything. Madison leapt before me in line. I could already see Robert and Max sitting at the kitchen table talking about something over their own bowls.
I scooped out my ice cream and ladled hot fudge and an assortment of candies on top, pausing to grab a spoon. Deep down inside, I figured that I should probably be ashamed of my excessive ice cream. But I wanted it, and I had always been lucky with the high metabolism my mom had passed down. I could eat almost anything and be perfectly fine in my body shape. I could probably stand to lose a pound or two on my hips, but I was far from being even slightly overweight. I looked over my shoulder at Derek and saw him pouring all of the leftover caramel in his bowl.
Well, at least that made me feel a little better.
The majority of the family headed into the living room. Madison told me that they always watched a movie on Sundae Night. She and Derek were the only ones that hadn't given me a slightly sad look when she mentioned it. It wasn't like I'd never seen any movies. I just had to watch them with the subtitles. It was very rarely as funny as it seemed to be when you could hear what they were saying, but I digress. I was about to go sit down when Derek spoke to me in my mind. Do you mind if we go sit outside?
I stopped midstride and turned to look back at him. Sure, I said, drifting back over to him. He opened the back door and I stepped out onto the front patio. During the day, the backyard looked pretty with its landscaped yards, outdoor kitchen, swinging bench seat and rectangular pool. The lights were on in the pool, making the water look like it was a crystalline blue color. I took a deep breath. I could smell the nearby flowers and the hint of chlorinated water.
The yellow bricks gave way to stone paths that led up to the kitchen and around the pool. Over in the far corner was the swinging bench. Derek started down the path and towards the bench. I sort of expected the stones to be warm on my feet but they were cool. It was just barely September, so it wasn't cold out yet. I followed him down the path and to the bench. I sat down, pulling my feet up onto the cushioned seat. Derek sat down right next to me, his hip nearly bumping mine. On an impulse, I turned and put my knees over his legs, stretching out my feet to the other side. Derek just gave me a smile and rested his bowl on my legs.
While we ate, we talked in our minds. Our conversation went from what we wanted to be when we were kids to our favorite foods, colors, and movies. I let him know that, back when I was able to hear, I'd played my guitar mostly by ear. We talked about my parents and then a little more about the Aces. He'd told me about the reunifications and the fun they usually were, excluding this past year's, since it had been "the craziest thing" he'd ever seen. We talked about his brothers and sisters and his family. We talked about the fact that Derek had decided to take a short break from college, unbeknownst to the council since it was technically an Ace law. We continued to talk even after we'd finished our bowls and he'd put them on the ground underneath the swing.
When I was pretty sure that we'd exhausted most of the topics that I was comfortable talking about – on my side, mostly about the accident that took my hearing, the horrible deaf support group meetings my mom had all but forced me to attend, my parents' divorce and Xavier as my best friend – I leaned against the back of the seat and closed my eyes. Derek continued to rock the swing. He'd told me about his mom's love for pastries, his dad's success in the car business, Zach's dream of being an engineer, Carissa's problem with the rules, and the band that he and his buddies started when they were sophomores to quote, "get girls." Derek had always followed the no dating rule, and his regular friends had teased him relentlessly about not having a girlfriend or turning down the girls that did try to get his attention. It reminded me of all those orange-painted girls on that social website, trying to flirt with him inconspicuously. I wondered if he would have accepted any of their advances if his family hadn't insisted that he be dateless until he imprinted.
I realized that we'd been sitting out on the bench for hours. Even though it was still technically summer and slowly moving into the fall, it was decidedly a little cold outside. Neither of us was wearing a jacket, but Derek was still wearing his socks. He rubbed a hand over the top of one of my feet since they were like blocks of ice. I leaned forward, resting my chin on my knees. To an outsider, it would look like Derek and I were just staring at each other. In reality, we were still talking to each other as Derek told me about his most embarrassing moment in high school – the moment where, while acting like an idiot in the first place, he'd slipped as he was running by the cafeteria and took down an entire table with him.
Derek was a good storyteller. That was one of the first things I noticed about him when we talked on a deeper level than just Ace history. Even in his mind, his voice had an expressive inflection, and his eyes glowed. I couldn't tell if it was because of the pool lights reflecting in them, but either way they were bright and beautiful. And his laugh, my God. The first time I heard it clearly in my head I nearly had a heart attack. It was alluring and low. It made me want to lean closer to him and hear it all the more.
His lips quirked up as he was telling me about one of his best friends that he never really saw anymore, a guy named Quinn who had anger issues and a penchant for being the class clown. Derek was telling me that he was worse than Jack – hard to believe – and he continued by telling me all of the pranks that Quinn had played when they'd still been in school together. As he talked, I found myself staring at his lips. He didn't seem to notice because he was glancing out over the pool and towards the windows of the living room. We could see that it looked like Jack and Madison were still watching a movie, probably a different one than what they'd been putting in when Derek and I stepped outside. Victoria was in the kitchen cleaning up, and Robert was sitting at the kitchen table with Max. It was bound to be late, but it looked like nearly everyone was up. I didn't see Zach or Carissa anywhere.
I turned my attention back to him, thinking about how perfect this was. I couldn't hear a sound in the outside world, but Derek was inside my head. He was one of the only guys I knew that would sit out on a bench with their girlfriend (cough, was girlfriend the correct word?) at night, where he'd tell her stories about when he was in high school without the least bit of embarrassment. And as I sat there, I wondered how in the world I'd been so lucky to find someone that would do anything for me. How had I managed to find a person that I knew I would spend my forever with in just a few days? My mom thought that we had known each other for months and she still couldn't believe the notion when I'd told her that we'd never kissed. Thinking about the kiss that I'd never had….
In the previous days, I'd wanted it, but I had told myself to take a step back and think about it. Derek had been a blip of comfort and mystery, and I'd always told myself to think about the latter. But I'd accepted everything now, and I knew that he was my future. How long could I sit there and tell myself to hold back? My freaking fortune cookie had said that I needed to walk to my own future. I couldn't second guess things anymore when they were clearly the answer. I needed to take a step forward. For God's sake, I was planning to sleep in the man's bed without even kissing him.
I had my thoughts carefully closed off to him, so he didn't seem to pick up on my decision. He just kept talking, finishing his story with Quinn getting teased for the rest of their high school careers. He leaned back in the swing, his eyes focused on the stars. When he looked back down at me, I was acutely aware of the fact that we were only inches apart. My breath seemed to catch in my throat as we looked at each other. Derek's mind was only slightly open. I got the feeling that he wanted to kiss me as much as I wanted to kiss him. So why didn't he?
I suddenly remembered what he'd told me when we'd been sitting in his room. He said that he didn't want to push me any more than he already had. Even though his reasons were lame, he had really meant it. The most he was going to do without any prompting from me was drape an arm over my shoulder, hug me, or hold my hand. The most he'd ever done was press his lips to my temple, which is something that a parent might even do with their kid. He'd intentionally friend-zoned himself to make it easier on me. The realization hit me hard. I couldn't believe it. I'd learned through my various Ace lessons that whatever I felt for him Derek felt it magnified times two. It was supposedly because he had a piece of me constantly, and since he was the guy in the relationship he had the urge to not only protect me but to make sure that everyone else knew that I belonged to him. The best ways to show that you were taken was physical contact, after all. I'd thought he'd been so likeably forward, but in reality he had the most restraint of any person that I'd ever met before. It reminded me of all those times when he'd almost kissed me but had drawn back at the last second.
That was him letting me make the decisions. Well, I'd made mine.
I was so nervous. When Xavier had kissed me, I'd sort of been all shaky and excited, but this was completely different. It was nerves mixed with a want so intense that it was almost hard to breathe. I leaned forward and little more and pulled my legs back from Derek's hold. He looked at me questioningly as I scooted closer to him. Nervously, I wrapped my arms around his neck. He closed his eyes and leaned against me. When he opened his eyes and looked down at me, we were so close that I couldn't even tell what color they were. He seemed to be debating something deep down inside, and I got the flash of him pressing me against the bench and kissing me until I couldn't breathe. He wanted it as much as I did, maybe more.
Before he could pull away, I whispered, "Kiss me." He hesitated for only a moment, probably wondering if I really meant it. I imagined him taking a hold of my chin and forcefully kissing me, just like he imagined in his head. Instead, he was gentle as he leaned forward and slowly pressed his lips to mine. It was sort of like my world was kicked over and sent spinning. It was like imprinting all over again, cold and warmth shooting through me at a million miles a minute. I could tell that he was feeling the exact same thing as his hands slid into my hair. His lips were soft against mine. He tasted like caramel and chocolate, like an explosion of sugar. He pulled back to take a breath and for just a few seconds we reveled in the fact that we'd shared a kiss that was purely magical.
We looked at each other for a moment, and then he pulled my face back to his. This was the kiss that I'd been expecting – fiery, passionate, something that I had honestly never experienced before. His hands tangled in my hair as my arms, wrapped around his neck, slowly drifted down onto his chest. Underneath my palm, I could feel both of our hearts thrumming like we'd given them direct jolts of caffeine. His lips moved against mine, and he slowly deepened the kiss in a way that made me feel like I'd stepped on a live electric wire. Derek started leaning forward on top of me, pressing my back into the cushions on the bench. One of his hands reached down to pull my legs onto his lap as he kissed me senseless. I pulled away for just a second to breathe as he kissed underneath my chin. My hands slid into his hair – hair that I had wanted to run my fingers through since the moment we'd imprinted – and I marveled at the softness of it.
Derek suddenly pulled away from me even though my fingers were still tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck. He was still partially lying on top of me. I took a deep breath and glanced over to the side, towards the house. Jack was standing at the back door, and we were just barely inside the area that the pool lights hit. He could see us easily. I could feel a blush starting up my cheeks, but Derek made no move to detangle himself from me. Jack called something out to him, and I caught the sight of Madison in the living room window, her forehead pressed against the glass. In the kitchen, I could see Victoria, Robert, and Max doing their best not to look in our general direction. Embarrassment flooded through me and I looked away, bringing one of my hands down to cover my face.
Derek slid a hand behind my back. He sat up, bringing me with him. My legs were still draped over his, and I quickly put my feet flat on the ground. When I looked up, Jack was bent over because he was laughing so hard, probably either because of what he'd said or my obvious embarrassment, and possibly a combination of the two. What did he say? I asked.
He hesitated for a moment before telling me, knowing that I'd find a way to get it out of him, anyway. He says that my mom said to knock it off because she doesn't want to be a grandma just yet. I snorted at the implication, even though my cheeks were flaming. I ran a hand over my hair, hoping that it didn't look extremely mused. I had to go back in there, after all. Derek actually laughed and reached over to brush my hair out of my eyes. He stood up fluently and reached over to capture my chin, lifting my face up so he could easily kiss me on the lips. I could feel the restraint behind it. If one of us was going to be in charge of stopping the two of us from moving too fast, it was going to have to be me.
When Derek pulled away I took a deep breath. It felt like I had deprived my lungs of oxygen. In a way, I sort of did. But I would rather kiss Derek and have to catch my breath all over again. It was… out of this world, completely. I could still feel his kiss in every fiber of my being. My nerve endings had been frayed. It's probably best if we go inside. Jack says it's almost midnight.
I slipped my hand into his and let him lead the way around the pool and up to the back door. Jack was still out on the porch, grinning like he'd won the lottery. I sneered at him as I passed and he made the same face back, earning a round of giggles from me. We stepped into the living room and Jack followed. I glanced into the kitchen, but Victoria had turned her back to us and was scrubbing something in the sink. Robert was straightening the cuff of his long-sleeved shirt out, and Max was looking down at his cell phone. Jack went back to his seat on the couch and flopped out, picking up the TV remote. Madison smiled brightly at me, and she quickly signed, "That was hot."
I shook my head and tried to stifle my laughter as Derek called something out and swept me down the hallway. He pushed open his door and pulled me in after him, turning sharply to slam it shut. The movement pressed me up against the door. Derek put one hand on the door by my head and pulled me closer with the other, his arm wrapped securely around my waist. His lips came down hard on mine. I could feel the rumble in his chest against my hand. I let myself get lost in his kiss for a few moments before pulling away to take a breath and make him take a step back. I knew he didn't want to move too fast and he wanted to make sure that I was okay, but he was already having a lot of trouble restraining himself. I put my fingers over his lips and sent the thought to him. He took a deep breath and stepped away. I could feel a wave of relief from him that I'd managed to put a stop on things, but hidden underneath that was a slight pain. It was because the imprint wanted him to take out all the stops, but he wouldn't let himself do that. They hadn't been lying when they said that it was going to be hard for him.
Derek, I began softly, wondering if a simple touch would draw it away. I had no idea if it would have the opposite effect on him, though. I remained where I stood, leaning up against the door. I sort of felt bad about it.
It's okay, he said quickly, cutting me off. Sorry, I just let myself get in over my head. Kissing you is the best thing I've ever done. I can't believe I didn't do it sooner.
"Way to be a gentleman. You know, I've always thought of you as my knight in shining armor. You're doing a splendid job, by the way." I said lightly, hoping that it would take his mind off of things. He was sort of mad at himself for making me be the responsible one.
He laughed as I yawned and rubbed the corner of my eyes. I was pretty tired. Today had been… eventful. And with Sundae Night coming to a close, I desperately needed to get some sleep. My yawn was infectious; Derek covered his mouth and stretched out an arm. Go get changed and we'll hit the sack. I grabbed my bag off of the bed and returned to the hall. Derek's bedroom was directly across the bathroom, sandwiched in between Carissa's and Madison's bedrooms. I figured that Carissa and Zach were already in their rooms, either texting or studying or sleeping. I tried to be quiet as I knocked on the door despite the fact that I wouldn't be able to hear the reply and slowly twisted the knob.
The bathroom was done in a cottagey way. The floor was made of tan tiles. The cabinets and shelves were made of dark wood, probably the same type that was in Derek's room. The toilet and sink were made of white porcelain; the sink was a bowl sitting on the top of the cabinet, the tiles surrounding its base burnt orange in color. The shower curtain was the same orange color and the backsplash looked like miniature floor tiles. It was all very neat and uniform down to the slightly ragged orange and white towels in the large cabinet and hanging over the shower rack.
I changed into my pajamas, feeling a little embarrassed by what I had brought to wear. The last time I'd gone shopping for pajamas, I hadn't had anyone to impress. I'd gone for comfort with several pairs of soft fleece shorts that stopped halfway down my thigh and a series of loose camisoles with thin straps. Now, I didn't even want to step out of the bathroom in them, much less go into my boyfriend's – because that's what he was, right? – bedroom and climb into bed. But it was the only thing I had, unless I wanted to wear jeans and a T-shirt to bed. Maybe if the camisole was too much, Derek would let me wear one of his T-shirts over it.
Rolling my eyes at myself, I pulled my hair back away from my face and splashed water over my cheeks. I brushed my teeth and packed up my bag. Peeking out into the hallway, I made sure that it was clear before making a mad dash across it. I threw open the door without thinking about it. Luckily, Derek had already changed into gray plaid pajama bottoms. He wore a white undershirt that stretched across his chest. I paused in the doorway and his eyes roved over my legs and shoulders. Don't look at me like that. I snapped jokingly.
Derek's eyes met mine and he shot me one of his beautiful smiles. Yes ma'am. He replied. He gave me a short salute before going into the hallway. I figured that he was brushing his teeth and whatnot, so I set my bag down on the floor at the foot of the bed and headed over to his desk. I slipped onto the chair and picked up the piles of sheet music. It was a bunch of chords with words written here and there. It didn't look like he was the songwriter of the band. Derek's band also did a range of covers – their sheet music was in a different pile. The one that I was holding must have been the band's originals. I flicked through, looking over the chords. I could still remember the finger movements for each of them, even if I couldn't remember the sound. There were times when I had done the finger exercises without having a clue if I was actually hitting the right note. That had ended pretty quickly after frustration ensued.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped violently, my fingers immediately tightening their hold on the music. Derek apologized in my mind, coming to rest against the side of the desk. I looked up at him and gave him a smile. He looked good in his pajamas. I don't think that can be said for everyone. His hair still maintained the easy swoop and the slight volume that was more than mine could ever muster. His arms were corded with muscle. He was completely swoon-worthy.
You tired? He asked me, his arms still crossed over his chest.
Yeah, really tired. I replied, blinking slowly to emphasize. He just laughed and headed over to the bed. He pulled back the hastily made comforter and the thin sheet. He arranged the pillows and tossed an extra one over to me. I stood at the other side of the bed, closer to his closet, and looked down at it. This was the very first time that I was sleeping in a bed that wasn't mine since I was a kid and had gone to sleep in my parents' bed. And this was completely different, because this was a boy that I really, really cared about. Maybe even a boy that I already loved.
He seemed to be thinking the same thing, waiting for me to make a move. I might as well have gotten it over with. Besides, my future was filled with nights of sleeping by his side. I climbed in and he did the same. I couldn't be the only one feeling the awkwardness of it all, could I?
Derek pulled the comforter over us. I had been determined to sleep on the edge of the mattress to give him as much room as possible. He reached out and snapped off the lamp, plunging the entire room into darkness. I knew that I was facing him, but I couldn't see him. Even so, I seemed to know exactly where he was. His hand came up and took a hold of mine. Instinctively, despite my plans, I scooted a little closer to him. He pulled me all the way into his chest, so close that we were practically sharing a pillow. I could smell the mint of his toothpaste on his breath.
Snuggled up into his chest, I felt the most comfortable than I'd ever been before. I wanted to stay there, but I figured I should warn him of something first. "Derek?" I whispered into the dark. I could feel his mind answering in mine, a flash of a large question mark. "You should probably know that I'm a restless sleeper." It was true. There were times when I'd woke up with the sheets thrown off me or the pillows sprawled out on the floor. There were even a few times when I'd gone to bed normally and woken up with my head at the foot of my bed. How I managed to do that in my sleep I was still unsure.
I'm fine with that. Derek's reply was slow, like he was already falling asleep.
You've been warned. I let my eyes droop closed and snuggled a little closer, my face pressed against his chest as one of his arms draped across my side. The last thing I remember thinking before I fell asleep was that this is what heaven felt like, and it was what my forever was going to feel like.
Wow, longest chapter yet, and I really do believe it's the longest chapter that I've ever written for fanfiction. I'm giving myself a mental award for this one. :P
Leave me your thoughts in the box below. Thanks for taking the time to read this! Peace (: