The Rebel Royalties

Chapter 6

Derek's POV

We pulled into her driveway and I looked at her, her head was against the window with her eyes closed and her fingers were still intertwined with mine. I leaned back in my seat just sitting there, not wanting to bother her after she finally calmed down. Maybe she's sleeping, I randomly thought. I shrugged to myself and closed my eyes, listening to the music.

I heard her let out a breath after a few minutes and glanced at her as her fingers tightened around my hand. "Charming," she asked, and I squeezed her hand back.

"Princess?"

"Thank you," she whispered, looking at me, I shrugged.

"It's no problem," I answered, she let out a breath and nodded.

"We need to get your motorcycle into the garage," she said, I nodded.

"Yep."

I turned off her truck and we both got out, Carla grabbed both of our bags and my helmet as I got my bike down. We headed over to her garage and she barely managed to open the door, "Does it not have a remote," I asked, she shrugged.

"Something's stripped and I haven't fixed it yet," she answered, as I put down my kickstand and stared at her.

"You know how to fix it," I asked, causing her to tilt her head and scrunch up her nose before closing the door.

"I mean, I watched a video on how to do it, I just.... haven't," she answered, I nodded as I took my helmet and bag from her. I put my helmet on my bike and slung my bag on my shoulder as we headed into her house.

We heard thunder and she flinched, "Have you ever thought about working in an auto shop," I asked, trying to keep her mind from going back to the storm.

She nodded as we sat on the couch, "Yeah, but I can't be in the shop until I'm eighteen," she answered, I nodded.

"Yeah, but you are on Monday," I answered, she winced at the mention of her birthday. "Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

She shook her head, "It's fine, Ridley," she said, wrapping her arms around her stomach. "Just a rough day."

I sighed and bit my lip, leaning back on the couch and looking at my lap, "I, uh, I remember the days that followed that birthday," I whispered, she glanced at me as I scrunch my nose. "I visited Hannah every day and Cynthia and her always seemed to be coming up with a plan. Meanwhile, I refused to sleep or eat, just waiting." I shook my head and rubbed my face, feeling tears starting to well up at the memories, "Waiting to hear that you were back and you were safe," I said, glancing at her for a second.

"Then, Cynthia called Mom to tell her, hoping that that would calm me down, but Mom told me and I almost ran to the hospital before Mom stopped me and made me get in her car. I kept telling her to drive faster," I said, Carla let out a shaky breath. "And I know that I never told you this, but I missed you every second that you were gone, Princess."

"Really," she asked, I looked at her and nodded.

"C'mon, how could Prince Charming be without his Princess," I asked, she sniffed and I realized that she had started tearing up as much as I had. She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly and I returned it, she sniffed as we heard a clash of thunder and she flinched, pulling away from me.

She let out a strained laugh, trying to brush it off like it was nothing and I swallowed, "Let's watch a movie," I said, she looked at me and nodded slightly.

"What movie," she asked, I shrugged.

"I don't know, what do you want to watch," I asked, and she bit her lip.