Author's Note- Sorry for the delayed update. I had a rough and busy couple of weeks moving out of the military and finally coming home after spending a year and a half in South Korea. I was so happy to be home and I took some well needed time off- about another couple weeks. :)

Now, I'm starting school full time this upcoming winter term and so I'm going to try- key word there- to work through this story as much as I can before I'm bogged down with that responsibility. We'll see how it goes, BUT, I said I'd see this story through to the end and I'm determined to do just that! :D Thanks for staying with me this long and I hope that all you lovely readers continue to do so. You're all, truly, the best and I love every last one of you.

This chapter was only seven pages two days ago. When I finished it was over fourteen… So I decided to chop off a chunk at the end and make it Chapter 29. That means the next update is already written! I'm going to hoard it for now so I can work on Chapter 30 and not keep you guys waiting so long again.

Otherwise, for now, Enjoy!

Forbidden

Conflicted

I really couldn't say how I kept so calm in Professor Banks' office. I'm sure I looked as if I was confused and terrified in the moment but, as soon as I closed the door to my dorm room, the whole thing truly hit me. Like a sucker punch to the gut. I gasped, struggling to breathe and staggered backwards, back hitting the door. I slid to the floor and doubled over, trying to keep myself from hyperventilating.

Calm down. Breathe.

Oh God, I felt like throwing up.

After a few minutes, I finally got my breathing to about as even as possible considering the circumstances. I couldn't afford having a panic attack right now. Not while my brain was swimming, my emotions a hurricane-

I had to put my head between my knees to keep from going into panic mode again.

After a few more minutes, my nagging conscious convinced me that this wasn't going to get me anywhere. What would, however, would be taking what I knew and the stack of case documentation in my hands and putting everything together. Professor Banks only gave me his assumptions, his bias beliefs. I couldn't look at this through his point of view. I couldn't look at it through mine either.

I had to pretend as if I had no relations to either of these men whatsoever. No personal involvement. Just a random citizen on the jury looking at the evidence with fresh eyes.

That was not going to be easy.

I moved myself to the middle of my room and took out the contents of the envelope, wincing once again when my eyes landed on the picture of the dumbbell covered in Austin Banks' blood and bits of brain. Putting everything in chronological order was possibly the easiest task. Every piece of paper was dated. Once I finally finished with that, I separated the case into three individual piles. One solely about the three girls that had gone missing, one about the case concerning the murder of Austin Banks, and one for when the new accusation that Derek was responsible for both arose.

Then, I picked up the first stack and settled in.

The first girl's name was Sam Russo. She was a sophomore when she disappeared and she was last seen at her job as a teacher's assistant. Her male co-worker had been the last to see her and was questioned.

The second girl went missing a month later. A sophomore named Nicole Tillson, who had been on the college's swim and long distance teams. She was last seen on a run with a group from her team. They were all questioned.

The last girl's name was Haley Morris who was a junior. She was last seen by her tutor who was questioned. None of the girls were found.

The newspaper clippings didn't give the names of the students questioned, but I knew that Derek held his scholarships for college by joining the university's long distance team and had earned money for tuition by assisting teachers and tutoring other students.

I tried to find some sort of connection that these three girls had, maybe pinpoint why they were targeted. Two sophomores and one junior, all of different interests aside from Hayley and Nicole being on the same swim team. Not one girl looked at all like the others, nor did it seem like they'd be seen hanging out together. And no article even settled on the idea that they were kidnapped, though, the horrible option was the most plausible in comparison to a runaway story. When coming up with nothing in common between these three girls became frustrating, I moved on to the second pile.

Austin Banks' murder happened just a few days after a missing person's report was filed on Haley Morris. He was found dead on campus in the student gym, head bashed in by a twelve and a half pound dumbbell. When he was found, however, Derek too was found. An article pointed out that the police noticed him from being questioned before and, though nobody disclaimed specifically what he was previously questioned for, I knew he had been one of the few interviewed about the missing girls. Because of that recognition, his obvious physical appearance of someone who could easily obliterate a kid he had a hundred pounds over and the very fact that he was found at the scene of the crime, he was arrested on site.

And immediately accused of being Austin Banks' killer.

When questioned during the trial, Derek pleaded not guilty, informing the court that he was at the gym during that hour for his regular workouts and had just found the body when the custodian came in and saw him. Staff and other gym goers were able to bide for his exercise patterns. No prints were found and no blood had been found on Derek's person. It was a seemingly false accusation.

That was when the third pile started. It was at this point that Royce Banks remembered the voicemail he had received from his brother on the day of his death, suggesting that Austin Banks knew of a connection between the missing girls and Derek Souza. Professor Banks' case morphed then into that of his brother discovering Derek's supposed crimes in being the recently missing girls' kidnapper and that Derek had silenced him to keep himself from being found out.

However, Derek had alibis for the times in which the girls went missing, the court digging up the reports- this portion of the case validating my previous theory- in which Derek was questioned on all three accounts. He'd been with one member of his family or another, in which they were all brought out as witnesses- including Derek's lawyer, his own father- and, again, had the court leaning towards Derek's innocence.

It was when Professor Banks made the desperate attempt to not only blame Derek but his entire family for the disappearances and the murder of his brother that the court started to see that these accusations were coming from a fiercely grieving man looking for justice in anything and everything. The media was eating up the possibility that the college student had been falsely accused and even started grasping at straws for scoop, exclaiming that this was just another example at the justice system instantly questioning the kid with a stereotype stamped onto his forehead. They meant the fact that he was a foster child, and of course it was all a load of stretched and exaggerated truths, but it made the court system antsy.

And yet it didn't quite end there. Not until Kit tried suggesting that perhaps Royce Banks' desperation in blaming Derek was because he was guilty himself and was trying to frame someone. He was trying to frame Derek specifically because they had had a recent falling out. Kit's accusation was that it was Professor Banks who had been responsible for the kidnappings, all girls in which Derek had relations with. He had a plan to get Derek into trouble that way, but his brother found out. It was then that Royce found a way to frame Derek and keep his brother quiet. Killing Austin Banks and setting it up to make it look as if Derek was the murderer.

At that point, coverage of the case was surprisingly cut off and the most anyone could gather was that Derek was ruled innocent shortly after that. But so was Professor Banks despite Kit turning the tables on him. Then everything was sealed up for 'private' investigation as the search continued for Austin Banks' killer. Of course, Professor Banks somehow managed to keep his gatherings throughout the case, obviously infuriated with the outcome. Most likely feeling cheated of justice for his brother's fall. After all, the kidnapper and the murderer- whether they were the same person or, in fact, two separate individuals- were never identified.

The more information I objectively took in, the more certain things that I noticed over the past few months seemed to link together, forming a solid chain of events that began the moment I walked right in between these feuding men.

"If you'd like some advice or help with your piece, I'd be more than happy to relay my own thoughts."

Still feeling off about the conversation, as Professor Banks had never once approached me before, I gave him a hesitant smile and replied cautiously.

"S-sure, but maybe a-another time? I have study hall with P-professor Souza at four and I wouldn't w-want to be late."

Professor Banks' brows knit together curiously and his beautiful orbs ran over me for a brief second, searching for something, perhaps, I wasn't too sure. When his eyes bounced up to mine again, his lips tugged into a questioning smirk and he stated, "Professor Souza, huh?"

"Um, yes. H-he doesn't really seem l-like he enjoys waiting, so I-I'm in somewhat of a hurry."

"Of course, that's very understandable," Professor Banks agreed euphorically. I nodded slowly before gifting him with an awkward, Alright. Bye then, and made to flee the auditorium and rid myself of the creepy vibes I was getting from the arts teacher.

However, after I had hopped off the stage and made it halfway down the aisles towards the auditorium's back exits, Professor Banks called for my attention again and exclaimed, "Do me a favor, Chloe? Inform Derek that it's been far too long since I've had the pleasure of speaking with him." He chuckled almost menacingly before he continued. "I'm sure he's dying to catch up on our good old college days just as much as I am."

Back then, I'd pegged the edge in his expression and tone as that of a predator, totally misinterpreting the vibes rolling off of him as something that I and girls in general should be wary of. But hadn't I learned anything by Derek not to judge a book by its cover? I had known absolutely nothing about Professor Banks; surely not that he had tragically lost his brother and that, deep down inside, his aura- in which I had interpreted as something dangerous- he was no more than an angry, grieving man. That in that moment, he realized that the man he was convinced was a kidnapper and a murderer was interacting closely with a student.

He wanted Derek to get that message. A warning.

And if it hadn't been for what Derek had drilled into me not fifteen minutes after that first encounter with Professor Banks, then perhaps I would have eventually been able to discern more of the man than I gave him credit for.

"-as not only your mentor, but as one equal speaking to another, I'm warning you to keep as far from Royce Banks as possible. For my own reasons, I don't trust him and I don't want to see-" He seemed to struggle for the right words.

"-I don't want to see anyone get hurt."

What he said had only solidified what I had assumed about Professor Banks. But there was more to it all. Underneath the surface, Derek had received Professor Banks' warning, loud and clear. Only, to Derek, it was a threat.

And that's why, until after Thanksgiving, Derek had backed off, being nothing more than a teacher tutoring his student. Because he thought that Professor Banks was the criminal. The one who had a vendetta against him and was trying to hurt him, therefor, capable of hurting anyone close to him.

But then, Derek suddenly came back with renewed fervor. As if he had made a decision and wasn't backing down. Perhaps that he wasn't going to let Professor Banks continue to control his life, his decisions. Or perhaps he thought that it was better keeping me closer…

That's definitely what he thought now.

But that was getting too far ahead. The next significant moment had occurred before Christmas break.

"What do you want, Royce?"

"Come on, Derek. That's no way to greet an old friend." Professor Banks teased, eyes flashing menacingly.

Professor Souza snorted and took a slight step forward, somehow slipping himself between me and Professor Banks.

"Friend? That's news to me, Professor. Last I checked, you were informing the board of my inability to be a fitting mentor." Professor Souza rumbled lowly. "Explain to me the significance of friendship in that."

I remember wondering if that was the reason they seemed to despise each other. If they had wanted the same position at the university, or something along those lines, and Professor Banks had sabotaged Derek's chances. But I know now that Professor Banks must have gone to the board to express his concerns about having a man that had been accused of murder teach there.

I also knew that Derek had been aware of my unfortunate presence and was then refraining from delving too much into why he really didn't consider Royce Banks a friend. Though it happened, what he had said in that moment had been to purposefully keep me in the dark.

But Derek could only control the information he revealed, not that from his unwanted guest.

"How's your old man, Souza? Has he been working hard lately?" Professor Banks asked casually, tone suggesting he could really care less.

"What's it to you?" Professor Souza questioned, his demeanor just as placate as Royce's though noticeably forced. "Worried? Been feeling a little anxious nowadays?"

"Want to know something, Derek?" Professor Banks asked, tone light with a dark sense of mirth.

"I have nothing to be afraid of. You and your father have nothing on me because there is nothing on me."

"Is that the reason you're here then? To reiterate that?"

And now it was so obvious that they were talking about the turn in the case in which Kit started to speculate that it was, in fact, Professor Banks who was responsible for all the crimes. But, as Professor Banks had professed, he also showed up at that time in the form of another warning. Because he feared that with as much time as Derek was spending with me, that I was a target, just like the girls from a couple years before.

And then exactly what the both of them had been dreading happened.

"Excuse me, miss. Do you mind turning on the news for me on that television set up there?"

I reached for the remote beside the brewing station and clicked on the TV. When it confirmed that we still, in fact, had the cable hooked up, I changed it to the local news that aired every day at five.

"Thank you, miss." The elderly man said gingerly and I nodded politely before the anchor's next words caught my attention.

"-young woman by the name of Rachelle Rodgers was reported missing this morning by her roommate and several of her friends."

New Year's day, Rae was declared nowhere to be found. And that was the strange day that Derek had turned up unexpectedly at the diner. I thought he was checking Michael's for himself to see if Rae was truly missing. Though, I don't really know why I came to that conclusion, seeing as how he had admitted that he didn't much care for her as his waitress. Now I could tell that he had rushed to the diner to see if I hadn't gone missing as well.

This was definitely the shift in which Derek prescribed more time to our study sessions in the guise of gearing me up for the upcoming final.

"What do you think about adding Monday afternoons to our study schedule?"

But it hadn't been about my math grade at all. And, to my displeasure, it also had nothing to do with my deluded ideas of which he just simply wanted to spend more time with me.

At that point, Derek no longer had any concern for my grade. He didn't talk to his family about the girl he was tutoring that was kind of smart and pretty. He didn't show up to the diner just because he wanted to see me…

He was just trying to make sure that nothing happened to the girl he had unintentionally dragged into his mess.

His easy compromise.

When Derek got tired of just glaring at me, he simply dipped his head and occupied my lips enough to shut me up. I laughed against his mouth and wrapped my arms around his neck, taking this as an agreement to my proposal of what he so blatantly labeled as a 'secret affair.'

His continuous skirting around his past with Professor Banks.

"Chloe, do you trust me?"

"Of course I do." I answered honestly.

"Then trust me when I say that the reason I'm not telling you about Royce is not because I don't think that you deserve to know. It's because I want to keep you as uninvolved in the situation as possible."

The confirmed tone in his cryptic words after we discovered that Miranda had gone missing.

"It's the same pattern. She was the second one."

The interrogation.

"Let's not beat around the bush this time, boys." Derek spoke first. "You want to know about my relations to the girl who was reported missing this morning."

The paranoia.

He tossed his keys into the bowl sitting on top of the table in the entryway and we made our way to the dining room. As our eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw him reach to flip on the light switch, but he froze.

"What's-" I started to ask, but the hand that was resting against my shoulder, holding me to him, instantly covered my mouth.

I glanced up at him, but only saw the silhouette of his face, head turning as if he was scanning the room. His body was suddenly so tense and rigid against mine and I could feel his heart thundering against his ribcage, my right ear against his chest.

He knew somebody was here, however, he instinctually reacted against danger. Not as if he suspected that his siblings were actually hiding in his living room, waiting to jump out and surprise him.

That hushed discussion with his father.

I could hardly hear their whispered conversation, only catching a few words here and there that didn't make too much sense.

"I... know what... doing, Derek. You... her involved... keep... eye... her. I don't... away... her, but... understand... consequences. You... he's watching... now... her too."

'I hope you know what you're doing, Derek. You got her involved and now you have to keep an eye on her. I don't want you to stay away from her, but you have to understand the consequences. You know he's watching. And now he's watching her too.'

That was easy enough now to discern between the lines.

"But I can still be morale support, just not from within the campus. I'll take you to and from the audition."

"You don't have to do that, Derek." I smiled. He's just trying to be sweet. "Nate said he already had a ride. That way I can just head over to Juilliard after my classes are over and then come here when I'm finished."

And suddenly, Derek's expression was hard again.

"I'm taking you, Chloe."

Not asking if that's what I wanted, not leaving any room for arguments. Like a parent scolding their child. From sweet and supportive to unyielding and overbearing. My flushed cheeks were no longer from flattery.

"I'm perfectly capable of taking myself."

When he responded, he sounded pissed and bitter

"Fine."

I knew Derek felt more than just a sense of responsibility over me. He cared deeply for me and wouldn't have gone as far as he did to watch over me if it were Rae or Miranda, even if he had known that they were going to be targeted. He would have found another way to keep them safe.

But with me it was different. I was too close. I was far more personal than a casual acquaintance. I was an easy target and that scared him to no end. He was trying, doing the best that he could do, against a threat he was so sure of…

But in that lay a very deep, unsettling problem.

It had been hours since I had fled from Professor Banks' office. Long, exhausting, debilitating, troubling hours since everything around me had shattered.

I was no less confused and crippled by this recent revelation as I was when it all had come to light. What started as trying to objectively decipher whether Derek was innocent or not had morphed into piecing together his actions because of his past and realizing something else entirely that I hadn't initially intended to. And, with that knowledge, I had no idea what I was going to do.

I HATE this chapter. It started out well, and it was definitely needed for what happens in the next chapter- and, really, the rest of the story- I just wish I had found a way to write it all out better…

I decided that I really needed to update, seeing how the lovely jabc4 has been going through my works and reviewing like a maniac- and even following me on some of my other social networking pages?- asking me so nicely to update the stories that I need to update and, seriously, how could I resist? Thanks so much for all your nice reviews, my dear, I hope this update wasn't too disappointing.

Next time, you guys will get that 'conversation' between Chloe and Derek that I mentioned on Twitter. I'll update in a week or two. Until then, stay classy. :)