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I didn't like this chapter, but I needed to post something, so please bear with me.

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Disclaimer: All characters belong to Kelley Armstrong

Chapter 5

Chloe's P.O.V.

"Walk a little faster, would you." I muttered sarcastically towards Derek who was nearly ten feet ahead of me as we walked to the movie theater. I pressed my jacket a little tighter around my body, zipping it up to the collar to preserve as much heat as possible. Currently being the beginning of February, the wind was cold and dry, each gust a blow to the face.

Derek doubled back, slowing his pace significantly, allowing him to walk beside me at an average speed. "So," Derek sent a glance in my direction. "How long's this going to take?"

I glared at him. "Two hours maybe. Why?"

"I have stuff to do." Derek ran his fingers through his hair, green eyes glimmering in the New York City lights.

"It's a Friday night and you're hanging out with me, what else would you be doing?"

"Homework." Derek said curtly, pausing as we approached a crosswalk.

"Which I would be helping with." I pointed out, looking up at his face with a small grin.

He looked at me, really looked at me for a moment, lips pursed together as I felt myself draw slightly closer to him to protect myself from the harsh wind. I stared up at him curiously, feeling the pit of my stomach tightening in a nervous panic as his emerald eyes analyzed me, as if he was figuring out everything about me in one look.

Derek let out a breath and broke the gaze. "Go."

I frowned and looked around, confused by what he meant until he began walking across the street and the green man on the traffic light began to blink. I followed him, shoving my hands deep into my coat pockets and looked down at my feet.

I quickly caught up to him, wanting to find out some information about him.

"So what exactly are you majoring in?" I asked while untying my ponytail and letting the tresses fall down my back.

"Applied Physics." Derek muttered gruffly.

"Do you want to physicist or something?" I asked him, more intrigued than before. I was finally getting somewhere with this guy.

"I'm interning at a medical research facility." Derek said blandly, swiping his hair out of his face.

"So you want to be a doctor? I'm thinking you should work on your bed side manner." I smiled up at him, hoping for him to crack a smile, but to no prevail.

"I don't want to be a doctor. I want to be a medical researcher." His voice sounded irritated, but as I looked as his face, it held no emotion.

I sighed, "Oh." There goes getting to know the guy.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, Derek kept on sending me passive glances until he rubbed his neck and opened his mouth.

"What are you majoring in?" He asked me, causing me to almost stop short, I wasn't expecting that.

"Film studies, I'm hoping to become a director and screenwriter." I brushed my golden colored hair behind my ear.

"Both?"

I nodded. "I love films and directing's great, it's just that I don't only want to tell people what to do; I want to help tell the story."

Derek looked at me for a second and nodded his head. "So that's why I always hear the TV."

I let out a swift laugh. "You've got sensitive ears."

Derek shrugged, his lips quirking up a millimeter. "You crack up the volume, it's the only thing I can hear."

I smiled up at him. "I'm actually working on a screenplay with Nate."

Derek eyes remained focused on the crowded street, New Yorkers shoving their way past us. "Your ginger boyfriend?"

I sputtered, gaping at Derek as if he had just grown another head. "N-no! N-Nate and I-I are ju-just friends, I swear!"

Nate, my boyfriend? How could Derek even think that? Nate and I were close, sure, but we never had feelings for each other, at least it had never been that way for me. Nate had grown into a brotherly figure for me, always being there and supportive, on occasion even annoying, but I had never viewed him romantically. Maybe Derek assumed that because he visits the apartment a lot, but I've never thought about Nate other than platonically, and that's the truth.

I pushed my hair out of my face and stared at Derek, who just shrugged and muttered a sarcastic 'okay'.

"No," I insisted, urgency seeping into my tone. "I really don't. Nate's like my brother, annoying and always in my face."

Derek just shrugged and mumbled okay for a second time, causing me to get upset, however, it was mainly with myself. Why would I really care what Derek thought my relationship status with Nate was, it wasn't even this business really.

Derek's pace slowed down as we turned the block, the shabby theater already coming into view.

"Let's get this over with." I heard Derek mumble as we both trudged inside, relieving ourselves from the bitter February air.

…

Towards the end of the movie, I was suddenly hyperaware that Derek was sitting right next to me, my stomach beginning to twist into tight knots as my eyes focused on the film. The kissing scenes were the worst, making me realize that if I just stretched out my fingers slightly then I would be grazing his bare skin. My face flushed and my hands flew into my lap, clamped together tightly.

The last time I had gotten this clammy in a theater was when I was on my first date ever in ninth grade, where I was so jittery and nervous that absolutely nothing happened. I didn't quite understand the feeling flitting through my body, maybe because I didn't know Derek well and sitting next to him in the dark seemed slightly scary. No, not scary, but rather enticing, and that was the scary part.

I scowled at myself, 'No Chloe, stop it and watch the movie.' And that's exactly what I did.

…

Walking back to the apartment was easier, Derek was silent but pensive, his hands shoved deep into his pockets and his green eyes staring straight ahead as we shoved our way past the crowds of people.

"That was a terrible movie." Derek said finally, shooting me a look, lips quirked up a millimeter for a second, causing my throat to tighten significantly.

"What were you expecting in a cheap horror movie?" I asked, glancing up at him with a small grin perched on my face.

"I was expecting you to have a good sense in movies considering you're majoring in them." Derek grumbled, however, his tone held no sign of annoyance.

"Hey, it's February, there aren't any good movies in February. This is the best I could work with." I gave him a small nudge. "And I have excellent taste in movies, mind you."

"I'm sure." Derek snorted, his hair falling slightly in his face.

"Hey, I got a top notch collection, alright?" I smiled wider, completely focusing my attention on him as I stepped onto a street in Manhattan.

Suddenly there was a giant yank on my arm, nearly sending me soaring towards the sidewalk as Derek loomed over me. A car flew by the place where I was just standing mere seconds before, and Derek had somehow managed to pull me out of the way in time before I was covered in tire marks.

Chest heaving, images of what could have happened if Derek hadn't pulled me out of the way flitted through my mind, memories of my mother's accident flashing through my head. Derek was saying something, but I couldn't hear him over the pounding of blood in my ears, as I shakily tried to push myself up, but failed.

Derek reached forward, his face a mask of worry with an undertone of anger, as if the whole nearly dying thing was definitely my fault. He reached forward, his large palm gently wrapped around my small hand, and pulled me up swiftly.

My knees were weak and heart galloping; I almost collapsed into Derek, but somehow managed to hold my ground. Placing his other hand around my waist for support my heart went haywire, the struggled gasps of breath becoming more shallow and making me feel light headed. It was becoming harder for me to concentrate on anything else other than his calloused, but gentle hand that lightly lingered on my waist, so I pushed him away slightly since I was slowly gaining back control. Getting the message, Derek's hand dropped, immediately shoved deep into his pockets as he looked at the ground for a second, dark hair sweeping into his face before he looked up at me again.

"You okay?" Derek grumbled, staring at me warily as if I was about to fall down again.

"I-I," Words had escaped me, my throat so constricted that all I could do was nod.

"Good," Derek stood in place as I placed my hand over my heaving chest. "You should be more careful."

I gaped at him, the urge to talk taking precedence. "I-I'm careful," I insisted, my voice scratchy and raw. "The car came out of nowhere."

Derek shrugged. "We should head back if you're fine."

I sighed and nodded, a dull headache beginning to form at the back of my head. "Yeah, let's just go home."

Home? Did I consider the apartment my home? Well, I had lived there for a little over two months, but still, dare I consider it my home? Albeit, it wasn't the friendliest place to live, but slowly, really slowly, it was starting to become nice living there, Derek becoming more open and Tori less irritating. Yes, it was my home, it was more of a home than living with Rae offered, and definitely more of a home that living with my father.

While walking home, I noticed Derek standing with me, but a little in front of me, as if to ensure I wouldn't get trampled. It brought a smile to my lips, the idea of someone as antisocial as Derek protecting me slightly was really sweet, well, really sweet for Derek.

"Thanks." I mumbled, just audible for only Derek to hear it. I'd imagined him to make a snarky comment about how if I died then nobody would be paying my rent, however, Derek remained quiet.

Arriving back at the apartment door, Derek unlocked the front door and we walked in, heading to towards the kitchen table. Tori wasn't home yet, so the apartment was silent except for the shuffle of Derek's feet across the hardwood floor. Plumping down in a chair at the table, I dropped my aching head into my arms as Derek moved towards the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets.

"What some cookies?" Derek asked, his voice traveling.

I pushed myself up onto my elbows. "What'd you got?"

"Uh," Derek picked up two boxes and shook them, cookies rattled inside. "Chocolate and sugar."

"I'll take the chocolate chips, please."

Derek grunted in response and heaved himself over towards the table, taking the chair beside me.

"So, let's get this over with." Derek mumbled, handing me the box of cookies.

I frowned, not sure as to what he was talking about, but suddenly I remembered. I was supposed to tutor Derek.

"Yeah, get your stuff." I shoved the hair out of my face and attempted for a smile, my headache finally subsiding. "Should I make some coffee?"

Derek shrugged, already heading towards his bedroom. "Sure."

I nodded and turned towards the coffee maker, and began making the coffee for the two of us.

Derek returned seconds later, lugging an overstuffed backpack, dropping it on the kitchen table. Promptly sitting down, Derek began to sort through his work before firmly grasping the book that Davidoff asked us to read.

"Have you read it?" I asked, staring at him while the coffee was brewing.

"Yeah."

"What did you think about it?" I asked, decidedly tying up my hair in a messy bun, before crossing my arms over my chest.

The look that Derek gave me said he didn't care, but he opened his mouth anyway, "It was okay."

I turned away from him, the coffee was ready. Pouring two cups I slowly walked towards him, before racing back for a cup of milk.

"Sorry," I looked at him sheepishly. "I don't know what you take with it."

"Black's fine." Derek grunted, taking a sip of the piping hot liquid.

Black, should've expected that one from him.

Deciding to take a sip as well after pouring in my milk, the mug was several degrees hotter than expected. Hands fumbling for control of the cup, my fingers burned, causing the hot substance to fall onto my sweater.

A hiss escaped my lips behind clenched teeth, Derek watched as I struggled to peel the damp cloth away from my skin. Offering up a napkin, Derek said nothing, deciding to look away and drink his coffee, his cheeks tinted pink.

"You should probably change." Derek muttered, still not looking at me, instead at his assignment as he chomped down on a cookie that he fished out from the box settled in between us.

Dabbing at the spilt coffee, I began to notice that not only had it seeped through two layers of clothes, but now it was completely see through, broadcasting my small chest to Derek.

I flushed, racing towards my bedroom, slamming the door behind me as I yanked off the shirts. Slumped down against my bed, I plucked up a clean oversized sweatshirt, the logo of my university displayed across the front. I pulled my legs to my chest, hugging them as I tried to calm my embarrassment.

At least Derek was polite about it, looking away and quieting pointing it out, not goggling like other guys I knew. The need to scream into a pillow was tempting, but knowing that Derek was right next door and could probably hear everything I was doing made me decide against it. I sighed, I should probably go back out there and pretend nothing happened, shouldn't I?

Standing up, I walked forward and opened the door to my bedroom before making my way back to Derek.

I needed to post something, so here it is.

Don't forget to favorite, follow, and review!

Thanks, Bridget