The Rebel Royalties

Chapter 16

Derek's POV

I was getting my bike down from the tailgate of Carla's truck as she headed to the front door of my house. "Hey, it's locked," I called, she glanced back at me and shrugged.

"Okay," she answered, walking up to the window next to the door and reaching under the window sill. My jaw dropped at the fact that she remembered where the spare key was, I put my bike on the driveway and put down the kick stand.

I walked up to her as she opened the door, I shook my head, "How the fuck do you remember that that was there," I asked, she shrugged.

"I don't know, just do," she answered, as we headed inside. We were walking upstairs as she smiled slightly, "I remember that one time when you locked us out and I had to use it," she said, laughing a little, I looked at her and snorted.

"That's right and my mom was so pissed because we didn't put the key back," I said, she nodded as we walked into my room. Carla dropped her bag on the floor and fell onto my bed and I realized how much pain she had to be in, "You good," I asked, sitting beside her, she shrugged and shook her head.

"Sure," she answered, as she closed her eyes and I raised an eyebrow, she hadn't relaxed the whole time since I found her in that alley.

I looked at her jaw to see one side starting to bruise, "What happened to your jaw," I asked, she shrugged.

"Riley got a lucky punch," she muttered, shaking her head, I let out a breath.

"Want me to go get you an ice pack," I asked, she looked at me and nodded.

"Please?"

I nodded and got to my feet, "No problem, Princess."

***

I was working on homework and glanced up to see Carla working on something on her computer that I'm going to assume is her writing. "Hey, Carls?"

We were still playing twenty questions as we worked on our stuff and she glanced up at me, "Sup?"

"You remember how I said that I needed to talk to you before Creative Writing," I asked, her eyes widened as she nodded.

"I completely forgot about that, what's up," she asked, setting her computer on the ground beside her.

I gulped, "I-um-I," I stopped, I didn't know how to start this as she raised an eyebrow at me. "I have a crush on this girl," I said, and she tilted her head as I shook my head. "No, no, I think that I'm in love with this girl," I corrected, running a hand through my hair, her lips parted.

"Who is it," she asked, she was trying to keep her voice neutral and I let out a breath.

"I gotta move," I muttered, standing up and heading for the hallway, Carla followed right behind me.

"Derek, you can't just say that and walk away without telling me who it is," she said, I let out a breath as she grabbed my wrist and turned me to face her. "Derek, c'mon."

I swallowed and leaned back on the wall with Carla standing in front of me, "I guess it's now or never," I muttered, she raised an eyebrow at that as I looked up at her. "Carla, I-I think I'm in love with you," I said, she stared at me in shock before shaking her head.

"I-" she stopped, before pointing at herself, "me?" I nodded as she rubbed her face, "How? How could you love me," she asked softly, I stared at her.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because, why the fuck would Prince Charming love me," she asked, looking back up at me and shaking her head. "Fuck, I don't even believe in love," she said, I gulped.