Less than Lovers, More than Friends

In Love

I try to sleep but I can't. All that keeps going through my mind is what I just told Derek. I made myself completely vulnerable to him. I have exposed everything. There is no other secret in my life that is darker. There is nothing more that is hidden. It's all right there. If he so chooses, he can shoot me down, and I may never get up. This is why I lay here awake. I have to.

I still can't believe that I am in a store. I am sleeping in a store. The common sense part of it all is that we could call for help. I guess it was one of those moments that you think will never happen and when it does, you just say what the hell, this will be fun. I stare at the aisles of merchandise but never move my head. I am hoping Derek thinks that I am asleep.

"Mer?" Derek finally says after an eternity of complete eerie silence. I don't breathe. I don't move. I don't want him to know that I am awake because I can't face up to him. I can't answer questions. I hear him let out a breath and roll over. I'm safe.

The biggest fear I have is that he will feel pity for me. I don't want him to tell me everything I already know. I don't need him explaining how it's not my fault. He doesn't need to point out that people can be evil. I don't need to hear about how it will all be okay, I just need some time. I don't need to hear any of this. I don't want to.

I wake up after a restless night of sleep. I tossed and turned, half expecting someone to jump up from behind and scare us to death. Fortunately I have an amazing internal clock and I can pretty much program myself to awake at the hour I wish. This comes in handy; I can only imagine what would happen if someone walked in and saw us sleeping there in the middle of the store.

"Derek." I say as I roll over on my bed and look at him. He doesn't say anything and I wait for him to jump up like I would. "Derek!" I say again a little louder this time. He needs to wake up right now and I want him to know it. According to the hours, it opened at ten in the morning and it was eight.

"Hmm...Mmm." I hear him moan as he rolls over and faces me. I can't help but giggle softly, wondering how he slept at all. "What time is it?" He asks as he looks around.

"Time to get a watch." I tell him quickly as I look in his eyes. He rolls his eyes and waits for my answer. "It's eight. They open in two hours. We need to figure out a game plan." I explain as I climb off of my chair and stretch my arms and legs.

"I say we put this stuff away and climb back in the pop house." He suggests as he looks around. I really can't think of any other plan. At least we could hide in there until they opened and then climb out without being seen. It isn't like we can wait at the door for someone to come in.

"I think that is about the best idea out there." I say with a nod as I look at it. "But then again, climbing out in the center aisle may not be the best idea. I say we hang out in the back where they have the lumber and the doors." I tell him, not wanting to get caught.

"That could work." Derek agrees. "We could almost hide behind those doors back there. I'm sure most everyone who comes in will be right here." He agrees as he begins to fold up his sleeping bag and put it into it's original packaging. "These things never go back in the way they were, do they?"

"No, I guess they don't." I agreeing, knowing that mine was the exact same way. I really don't care too much about it. I did the best I could and that was all the effort I put into it.

"We really should get going, Mer. I bet they come in here early." Derek says as he grabs up all of his stuff and begins walking to the sporting goods department. I grab up my own and follow his lead.

Derek and I made sure we put everything back where we found it. We found the perfect nook to hide in by the exterior doors, making our way between several of them. Truly we didn't need to hide. We could have just explained it all, but neither of us wanted to go through all of the trouble. As we waited, we couldn't believe how long it was until people started coming in.