Enjoy. I hope to get at least 10 reviews per chapter, so please remember to review.

it's been forever and I am so sorry! I suck at remembering to post stuff lately with all my final exams and SOLs going on. But I haven't forgotten! But now, school's over! Which is a little bittersweet, but now I have more time to work on this and my other story, and I have an idea for a new story so be prepared with tons of tons of stories and chapters from me, just be a little patient.

Oh and I decided to change Chloe's age to like 20. Nearly 21 just for the sake of this chapter. Don't forget to favorite, follow, and review!

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Kelley Armstrong

Chapter 7

Chloe's P.O.V.

"I don't know, Nate." I laughed nervously, running a hand through my golden colored hair. "You don't even like their music."

Nate scoffed, and put his hand to his chest, pretending to be insulted. "I've never said that."

I grinned at him. "I thought it was too girly for you, remember? Does one too many love songs sound familiar?" I positioned myself on the couch so that my feet were draped on Nate's lap, my neck against the edge of the sofa.

Nate blushed slightly at my action and stared at his lap where my toes were wiggling around. "You're wearing different socks." His voice was quiet, thoughtful before he cleared his throat and looked up at me again. "Come on, it'd be fun. Maybe we'll go to dinner after, my treat."

I scrunched up my face thinking over my decision to going to a concert with him. I mean, it would have been great if I really liked the band, but their songs are just too romantic for me to feel comfortable going with Nate, who was one of my closest friends.

"Why don't you go with Kari? I'm sure she would love it." I suggested with a friendly smile. He had practically worshipped my other friend Kari since the tenth grade, following her around like a lost puppy and a little over two months ago they finally started going out, but by that time I was getting the feeling that he was slowly loosing interest. So, this concert would be the perfect date for them. "It could be a real mood setter, you know." I tried for a suggestive wink but failed by a landslide. Nate rolled his blue eyes.

"I broke up with Kari last week." Nate said nonchalantly, as if he was stating it was going to rain later that day. One of his arms hooked behind his head, holding his neck while the other stayed in his lap.

I sat up, clearly shocked by the sudden news, "What? Why?" I asked incredulously, my eyes widening. "What happened?"

Nate's thumb moved in a small circle on my bare ankle, rubbing softly, I glanced at his hand warily. "It just didn't feel right." He said calmly.

My brows furrowed, what was that supposed to mean? "Is there someone else?" I asked, concerned.

Nate's thumb froze and his cheeks turned the color of his hair. He refused to look at me, eyes focused on the mug of coffee sitting on the table in front of the TV. "What makes you say that?"

I looked at him strangely. "Because you've been crazy about her since, like, Pre-K! That's why."

Nate exhaled and turned his head towards me. "It just didn't feel right." He repeated his eyes begging for me to understand.

I frowned, it wasn't as if he was expected to meet his future wife at the age of 21. He was only a junior in college, it didn't have to be very serious, but I wasn't in any predicament to impose on his relationship troubles, it was his business, not mine. But when he felt that we could talk about it, I was there for him.

I rubbed my neck for a moment before opening my mouth. "I'm really sorry you guys broke up." I sat up and scooted closer to him on the couch, embracing him in a hug. "I really thought it was going to work out."

His arms wrapped around me immediately, one hand tangled slightly in my hair. "It's okay, Chloe." He mumbled into my hair, before wrapping his arms gently around my waist and pulled me closer to him. I patted his back.

A noise sounded behind, sounding similar to someone clearing their throat, making me jump slightly and I released Nate.

Nate scowled and rubbed his mouth, sounding defeated he spoke, "What do you need Derek?"

I turned my body and quickly moved away from Nate. "What's up?" I pulled my knees to my chest, slightly embarrassed that he saw me hugging Nate.

His head turned back to the table, where his backpack sat neatly on one of the chairs. Stacked perfectly were books, paper, and pens placed delicately on the tabletop.

"I was, uh, wondering if you could give me a hand with Davidoff's new assignment?" Derek's voice was low as he stuffed his hands into his jean cocked his head to the table. "Whenever you're ready." He glanced at Nate for a split second before returning his attention back to me.

For some reason I was tempted to go "sure!" and push Nate out the front door, after all Derek was asking for my help. But that wasn't like me at all; Nate was my best friend and I loved spending whatever time I could with him. So it really struck me as strange that suddenly I was willing to drop nearly everything for a few quiet moments with Derek as he was simply just my roommate and inching towards a friend. I shrugged it off, blaming it for my lack of enthusiasm to go to the concert with Nate.

I was fully prepared to tell Derek to wait a few more minutes, but when Nate suggested that he should take of anyway, I was more than thrilled.

I walked him to the front door. "I'll go with you to the concert." I muttered, as I made a move for my purse.

He glanced up from typing his shoe, his dark blue eyes sparkling in the dim lights, his grin wide, streching across his entire face. "I knew you'd come around."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. You owe me." I grinned cheekily at him as he stood up. "How much's the ticket?' I asked, my fingers fishing for my wallet in my overflowing bag.

Nate waved me off. "I got it."

I frowned, pushing my hair behind my ears. "Come on Nate, let me pay you."

"No, you won't." Nate insisted. He put his hand on my wrist to stop me from pulling out any money. I scowled up at him where he stood only a few inches taller at maybe 5'9. "It's on me." Nate said again.

I sighed and put my purse away. "Get out of here before I start throwing money at you." I pulled my wrist out of his grip and sent him a small smile.

Nate just grinned and told me that he'd text me the details about the concert later. "Bye Derek." Nate grumbled, causing Derek to look up sharply from his homework.

I expected for Derek to look down and ignore Nate, or worse, say "bye Nick" but instead he nodded slightly and mumbled a simple, "Nate."

I closed the door after he left and walked over to Derek.

"So," I snatched up the book from his pile. "I see you've come running back for my help." I grinned at him.

He put his pencil down. "I see someone's going steady." He said blandly, his face for the most part expressionless, but his green eyes twinkled with what seemed like mirth.

"Nate?" I gawked at Derek, as if he had grown a third head. "No. No way. And as a matter of fact, I think we've been over this before."

Derek simply shrugged. "Sure seemed like it to me." Ignoring my last comment.

My eyes widened, my face paling. "What makes you even say that, Derek?"

He sent me a look, clearly his expression telling me that he wanted this conversation to be over and that it was a waste of his time. I sent him a look back. "Tell me." I said, eyes pleading.

"You guys are going to a festival together, right?" Derek asked.

"Concert." I corrected, he waved me off.

"Whatever it is, he's paying and wants to get dinner afterwards."

I shook my head, not wanting to accept his so called logic. "We're just friends."

Derek rolled his eyes. "Forget I said anything, can we just start this?"

And that's exactly what we did.

...

My pencil twirled between my fingers, a ballerina on a stage, while I bit my lip in confusion, my right hand fingers thumping against the wood of the table.

Damn you, physics.

Normally, I did okay in physics. Surely not the top of my class by any means, but in my opinion, I was slightly above average. But lately, the pressure of the final exams and lack of interest took a toll on my physics knowledge and well, for lack of a better word, I was suffering. So after I got Derek moving on his essay, I pulled out my own homework and began my dreaded work. Thus, the strain of concentration started to take over.

While I was twiddling my pencil between my fingers like a baton, Derek's large hand swooped in and snatched up my homework, his green orbs scanning over each problem quickly before flickering up to my questioning blue ones.

"Hey!" I made a grab for my homework. He dodged it easily. "You're supposed to be doing your essay."

"I'm done." His voice was low, as he returned his attention to my homework. "This one is just all wrong, I have no idea how you even could have gotten this answer." He pointed at one of the problems I was having major difficultly with.

I sighed, defeated. "I don't even know."

Derek stared at me for a moment as I pulled my hair up in a ponytail. "You're just over thinking it. It's not as hard as you think." Derek scooted his chair closer to me, so he could explain the problem better.

"See, this is all you have to do." Derek explained simply, pointing at what he just showed me, before cocking his head to the side to see my reaction.

I stared. "There's no way that was that easy."

Derek almost smirked, before nodding at the paper. "Try the next one."

And it all made more sense after his explanation. Sure, I didn't automatically know it, but by the time I got all the problems done, I figured I had a pretty good handle on what was currently going on in my class.

"Thanks," I grinned up at him. "I really needed your help."

"Yeah." Derek's eyes turned less serious. I laughed. "I owed you. Now we're even." He finished, brushing his dark hair out of his eyes at stared at me for a few seconds before scooting his chair back to its' normal position. My cheeks flamed slightly at the look he gave me, completely unaware as to why my face was a higher temperature than the rest of my body.

I cleared my throat. "T-thanks again."

Derek just shrugged like it wasn't a big deal, before we both heard the front door begin the unlock and a bubbling Tori burst through. She grinned at us both, her smile manic and wild, similar to her disheveled pixie hair. Derek and I looked at her, who was practically bouncing from foot to foot.

I could have laughed at what she looked like, it was so un-Tori. "Uh, what's up Tori?" I asked hesitantly, glancing quickly in Derek's direction.

She plopped down into one of the chair next to me, pulling her legs up to her chest, and rested her forehead against her knees. "I have news."

Derek scoffed. "I figured." He relaxed in his chair.

Tori grinned at us again, biting her lip in excitement. She could barely contain herself; something good must have happened to her if she's being this happy.

"Ash asked me to move in." Tori's voice was more timid than I expected, holding back her excitement for a split second before a blazing smile lit across her features. I got up, smiling as I embraced her in a tight hug.

"That's amazing, Tori! Congratulations." I mumbled into her hair, before I pulled away from the hug. Derek stood up as well, although his response wasn't as enthusiastic.

"You sure about this?" His green eyes stared deep into her brown eyes, searching for any sign of doubt about them moving in. He cared.

Derek never really seemed like the type of brother to care deeply about his younger sister more than necessary, and at the sight of him really opening up to his sister like that was so, I don't know. Touching? Well, maybe. But it made me see Derek in a different light, where he didn't have a cold exterior and he cared more. And it was nice to see that side of him.

But, I felt like I was intruding on the picture perfect scene. It was so intimate for someone like me to watch quietly; an only child watching siblings bond slightly.

And the act wasn't exactly lost on Tori, she paused, her face becoming more serious as she looked Derek in the eyes. "I love him." Derek shifted slightly, almost uncomfortable. "I'm sure."

And with that, Derek nodded and shoved his hands inside his pocket. That was all the confirmation he needed; he knew she was responsible for herself. Tori smiled as Derek backed off a little, before pushing her hair away from her face.

"I'm moving out in about two weeks." Tori straightened her tank top. "And we're going out for drinks tonight."

I smiled at her reassuringly. "Of course."

But that meant Derek and I were going to be alone the rest of the summer.

...

Considering the fact that I looked like I was sixteen and I wasn't asked to show any I.D. was a miracle.

I was a few weeks away from turning 21, and being 20 and completely terrified of getting caught, I've never stepped into a bar or a club. I mean, it wasn't the first time I'd tried alcohol, because I have been to a few college parties, but drinking definitely wasn't my thing. And from what I learned from my past experiences, I had a pretty low tolerance. Which made sense since I was barely 5'2 and had trouble not falling over things while I'm sober. Now imagine me drunk.

So sitting across the booth from Derek as we quietly watched Tori and Simon go wild wasn't the most ideal. Derek wasn't really a drinker either, occasionally taking a sip from his beer as he picked at a few french fries in front of him. Liz was chatting up the couple in the booth next to ours, I think their names were Maya and Daniel. They were nice enough, but right now, I kind of just wanted to go back to the apartment, change into my pajamas, and have a bad movie marathon. But, my current partners in that act, Tori and Simon, were completely wasted, laughing loudly as they slipped the bartender a wrinkled five, before chugging the rest of their drinks down.

This was Tori's little party, if you will. Ash couldn't join, so she could be just as wild as she wanted on one of her last nights in our quaint apartment. But I'm sure we'd see enough of Tori either way, but my main concern was the fact that Derek and I were going to spend the rest of my time there sharing the apartment. The extra rent I would have to pay would be a little hard, but manageable. But Derek and I alone all summer? I wasn't sure how I felt about that. Mainly because I didn't have a problem at all with it, which worried me.

I mean, for starters, when Nate finds out he'll absolutely lose it, but I didn't really care that much. Below Derek's harsh exterior, he wasn't that bad, and lately, I started to see him in almost a different light. We were friends, in a weird way, definitely not the way I was friends with Tori, but not the way I was friends with Nate either. And that, I think, is the most confusing.

"Want some?" A gruff voice sounded across from me, pushing his plate of french fries towards me. I snagged a few.

"I'm surprised you didn't inhale it the second you got it. Feeling alright?" I joked, glancing up at him with a smirk as I took a sip from my beer, which was getting closer the the bottom of the glass.

Derek shrugged. "I had a big lunch."

"Never stopped you before." I pointed out, pushing my hair behind my ear, as I leaned my back against the plush cushion of the booth and sighed. "We're out of fries."

Derek rolled his eyes before standing up. "I'll get some more, need another beer?" I glanced down at my hand which held the glass before I nodded, sending him a gracious smile.

"Just one, okay?" I asked, before reaching into my purse to pull out a few bills for him to pay for it with. Derek waved me off.

"I got it." He said simply.

I stared up at him, who was towering over me as he stood up, "You sure?"

"It's not a big deal." Derek rolled his eyes for the second time in a minute, already taking a step closer to the bartender.

"I'll buy you your next drink." I called out, before sitting back in my seat and smiling after him. He simply nodded, not looking at me but sure that I knew he heard.

He approached the bartender, sitting at the stool as he waited for the fries to be ready, as a pretty Asian girl in a white dress neared him, taking a seat next to him as she waited for her own drink to be ready. I continued to look, curious slightly as the scene unveiling in front of me.

She flashed him a kind, but flirty smile, which he merely glanced at for a moment before nodding to whatever she was saying to him. Her grin widened and suddenly the room felt a little dizzy to me, and I must have drank a little to much because I was overwhelmed with this feeling I couldn't place and it just made me even more confused.

I downed the rest of my drink in one gulp, still looking at the two of them for a minute longer before I pulled out my phone to distract myself.

Chloe's a tad jealous, isn't she? But she doesn't really seem to get the fact that she does like Derek a little, so I'll play with that later on and hopefully soon get the plot rolling and a little bit of drama. I got it all planned out. Sort of.

So I hoped you liked it, at the end I just got tired and decided to leave it as it is, so I'm sorry I'm basically just throwing everything at you. If anyone has any suggestions or predictions about future chapters I would love to hear them in the reviews or you can private message me anytime you want.

Oh, and how great is Atoning by Kelley Armstrong, her novella. I'm excited, a little nervous but hopefully it'll be great. Chloe is really forward now, and Derek's been feeling her up and just wow. I really want more Derek, but I can't really complain, can I? Message me if you want to talk about the story.

Thanks again for reading this story!

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

Thanks, Bridget