Mission: Derrick Wells ✔️

You've Got Some Explaining To Do

(Eli)

I lay in bed, watching out the now open curtain window as snow falls to the ground. As birds sit huddled on branches everywhere and as they kept close to those around them to keep warm.

There was a knock at my door, and no matter how much I tried to ignore it, they kept knocking. Never speaking, never pausing.

I let out a frustrated sigh, ad got up headed for the door. I turned the nob, then opened the door.

Timothy and Josh stood at my door with knowing looks on their faces. "He came to see you last night and told you everything, didn't he?" Timmy asked, and when I nodded, he opened his arms for me to run to, which I did.

Timmy held me close as he rocked us back and forth, rubbing my back as I let soft tears fall at the memory of what Derrick said he'd done. "Here, let's go inside and talk." he said, guiding me into my room.

We all sat on the floor in silence for a while, but then Josh began his usual rant on how big of an idiot his brother is, while me and Timmy raise an eyebrow at him.

"Derrick is so retarded to even realize how much of an idiot he is!" Josh shouted. "Who does that?! Just because he gets butt hurt he tries to hurt you by getting a fake engagement?!"

"Josh, enough." Tim snapped, his eyes telling him he thinks it's best he stops.

There was more knocking at my door, and Tim got up to answer it. Derrick stood there, glaring at the man who answered my door. "What are you doing here?" He snapped.

"Here seeing my girl-friend." Tim grinned. "Why are you here, last I checked you weren't allowed in this house."

Tim-o-thy had a point...

Rufus appeared beside Derrick with a tired look, "I told him to come fix all the shit he got himself into."

Josh stood up and glared at Derrick. "You do one thing that makes her uncomfortable, and I'll smash your face in, understand?"

Derrick nodded, then his eyes met mine, ignoring everyone else in the room. Tim stepped aside as Derrick stepped into my room, and everyone left.

It was just us two, alone, in my room.

"I realize that after I told you everything I did, you probably could care less what I say right now, but I just ask like last night, just hear me out please." he pleaded, both vocally and with his eyes.

I nodded, and gestured for him to sit on the floor with me. He smiled and copied the way I sat, Indian Style.

"Ok, so I have come to realize that the way I acted and treated you was very stupid and immature. I was an idiot." he said, an offered a smile as he made a brief pause, then continued. "I called in some favors from some people I know and got the basic info I needed to know about this past that still haunts you at night." he said, as if it was no big deal.

"You had strangers look through my background history?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

He must have thought I took it offensively, because he rushed to expain. "Only so I could understand why you acted the way you did. I didn't ask for details, just a basic summary of why you'd act the way you do, that's all. I wanted to know what happened, but to still give you the chance to share any details that you buried too deep for anyone else to see, so that I could help carry those fears." he explained.

I ave a small smile, "I wasn't mad, just a little surprised you honestly wanted to know." I laughed a little.

*****
(Derrick)

Seeing her smiling at me for the first time in so long had a big smile on my face. I was the one who got her to smile right now, not Josh, not Tim. Me.

"When those people told me if your past, I knew I had to find you immediately and apologize so many times it would make you wish you were dead so you couldn't hear me anymore, and then apologize some more after that." I said. "When I heard that the man, you'd mentioned before, had taken you from your own home, dragged you with him hundreds of miles away from your home state, and raped you... I wanted them to fin him and kill him." I told her, the anger I'd felt when Jimmy had told me all this resurfacing.

"It would help me sleep a little better to know he was gone for good, but I wouldn't want to be the reason for someone's death, even if it was him." he said softly, looking at the ground.

"Well then here's some good news," I grinned ready to see her smile. "He's been dead for about for months now." I said, waiting for her smile.

It didn't come.

"What?" She asked, confusion on her face. "He's dead?"

"Yeah, the cops had gotten a lead n him from one of the other girls who was taken, and had no choice but to fire when he held a gun to the girl's head." I explained, remembering every word Jimmy told me of the police report.

"Oh," was all she said.

"You don't seem as happy as I thought you'd be to hear you worst nightmare is dead." I told her honestly.

"Well, I don't think it's in me to be overjoyed at someone's death, even someone who did horrible things like him." she said, as got up, going to sit on the window seat.

I stood as well and leaned opposite of her against the wall around the window, looking out at the snow as she did.

"Thank you." she whispered, still not looking at me.

Her words confused me, after all I'd done wrong, why would she thank me?

"For what?" I asked her as I looked down at her small form curled up against the window.

She looked back up at me and smiled, "For caring." then she looked back out the window, but now she wore that smile I'd missed seeing.

"It's my pleasure." I said, still looking at her, and I swore I saw her smile grow just an inch.