The Rebel Royalties

Chapter 4

Derek's POV

Carla and I were sitting on the couch eating the pizza and watching Iron Man two still, "So, whatcha got for a tattoo design for me," she asked, glancing at me.

I shrugged, "Guess you'll have to wait," I answered, she rolled her eyes and flicked me.

"Asshole," she told me, I snorted and turned back to the movie.

"So, could I ask something," I asked, looking at her again after a few minutes. She hummed, "What causes your panic attacks to be so bad," I asked, her body tensed up as she gulped.

"I... uh, I was diagnosed with PTSD after everything," she muttered, my lips parted in shock as she started messing with some of her hair. "My side is just a trigger."

"Princess, I'm sorry for bringing it up," I told her, she shook her head and shrugged.

"It's fine, don't worry about it," she told me, I shook my head.

"No, I shouldn't have brought it up," I said, and she looked at me and smiled slightly.

"It's alright, Charming, you were curious and I can't blame you for that after how it all ended," she told me, I returned her smile and we went back to watching the movie.

***

I jolted awake, seeing that the movie was over, and Carla and I had both passed out on the couch. I got up, yawned and closed the pizza box that was empty besides for a pizza crust. I turned off the TV and looked down at Carla, I can't just leave her on the couch.

I let out a breath and picked up Carla in my arms, she groaned slightly causing me to freeze hoping that she wasn't going to wake up. She rested her head on my shoulder and relaxed again, I relaxed and went to the stairs.

I climbed the stairs and saw that her door was open, so I carried her into her room. I put her in bed, covering her with her blanket. I should've kept pushing to be friends with her. "I shouldn't have left," I muttered, glancing around her room and noticing a light sitting on her nightstand.

I glanced at Carla, who rolled over to her side, and turned on the light. She wouldn't have it sitting there for no reason, I justified to myself, before leaving her room and going downstairs. I grabbed my phone from the coffee table and headed outside to my bike, getting on and driving to my house.

***

I walked into school heading for my locker to see Carla glaring at Myra, I let out a breath and headed over to them as Carla shook her head and stormed off. I still went up to Myra, "What the fuck did you do," I asked, she shrugged and reached out to touch my chest.

I took a step back, "I was just offering some friendly advice, Der," she said, I scoffed.

"Don't call me that," I said, crossing my arms. "What friendly advice were you trying to give her," I asked, Myra giggled and waved me off.

"Oh, please, it's not like that matters," she said, taking a step closer to me again, I rolled my eyes and left, heading to my class.

I walked into class to see Carla at her normal spot with her head down on her desk, I took the seat next to her. "Princess," I asked, she shook her head, her hand tangled into her hair and she tightened her fingers around her hair.

"Leave it alone, Charming," she mumbled, I sighed and crossed my arms.

"Only for this class," I answered, that was when something kicked me. "Fuck," I exclaimed, looking at her, her shoulders shook a little and I heard a laugh come out of her. "What was that for," I asked, she shrugged.

"You're being a dick," she answered, I reached down and rubbed my ankle.

"That hurt," I said, she shrugged again as I rolled my eyes, flicking her ear.

She looked up at me, shocked, and I smirked until I noticed the tears pooled in her eyes as she shoved me, "You deserved it," she told me, I shook my head.

"You're being mean to me," I said, crossing my arms again, she scoffed, a slight smile going to her lips as she shook her head.

I flicked her again, which caused her to slap my arm, in turn I slapped her arm as Mrs. Rider walked in. Carla flicked my ear as I tried ducking away, "Ms. Smith, Mr. Ridley, do I need to separate the two of you," Mrs. Rider asked us, we both froze, looking at her.

"No," I said, weakly, Carla nodded, leaning back in her seat.

"Sorry," she said, crossing her arms, Mrs. Rider nodded as kids around us started snickering at the two of us. I glared at a kid and he gulped, shutting up, as I glanced at Carla to see that we both started glaring at the same person at the same time.

"Alright," Mrs. Rider said, everyone turned to look at her. "Back to the lesson," she announced, I glanced at Carla to see her wipe something off her cheek.

I leaned back in my seat, "Are you good," I whispered, she glanced at me for a second and shrugged.

"Yeah, she just pushed it," she mumbled, I nodded, knowing there was more to it than what she wanted me to believe.

"Alr-"

"Mr. Ridley, Ms. Smith, I am about to separate the two of you," Mrs. Rider said, I leaned forward in my seat and Carla didn't move.

"Sorry," we said in unison, she nodded and went back to the lesson.

***

We walked out of class, going towards Chemistry, "Princess, what did Myra do," I asked, she shook her head.

"It's nothing, Derek, just, please, drop it," she said, I frowned as we got closer to class.

"But, Carla, if it's bad enough that you were almost in tears, I'm worried about it," I said, crossing my arms.

She let out a breath and grabbed my arm, pulling me behind her. She pulled me into an empty hallway, "Myra told me that my mother probably wishes I got kidnapped again without her being shot and put in the hospital again," Carla said, tears welling up in her eyes again and I started shaking my head. "So that Mom wouldn't have to worry about me anymore," she said, ducking her head and I realized that the tears started falling and that was why she looked down.

"Princess, Hannah would never think that," I exclaimed, resting my hands on her shoulders. "Trust me, she'd never feel like that," I told her, Carla shook her head and looked up at me.

"Remember that talk we had last night," she asked, I nodded. "She knows that I have it and she makes it a goal to cause me to panic," Carla said, crossing her arms.

"How could she know," I asked, she shook her head and bit her lip.

"It's in my files, I'm supposed to be able to go talk to the emotional counselor whenever it gets bad, but people walk in all the time," she muttered, taking a step back. "So, I don't get help, I sit in the bathroom for a few minutes," she shrugged.

"But, Princess, Hannah would nev-"

"Just drop it, Charming," she told me, walking away and sticking her hands in her pockets.

"What about Chemistry," I called, she glanced back for a second.

"Tell Mr. Wilson that I'm in the bathroom," she answered, I nodded and headed to class as she went towards the bathroom.