The Rebel Royalties

Chapter 24

Derek's POV

I walked into my house after dropping Carla off at her house to find Mom waiting, she looked pissed and crossed her arms, "Where have you been?"

I let out a breath and my smile dropped, "I was out at laser tag," I answered, rubbing the back of my neck and swallowing. "I told you a few friends and I were going for my birthday," I finished, I was confused, she told me that this was okay yesterday.

She shook her head and scoffed slightly, "What's wrong with you," she asked, I stopped myself from wincing and hid my reaction to it.

"I'm, um, I'm just gonna go to my room and work on homework," I told her, as I slid off my shoes.

I walked up the first step, "Do you ever care about anyone other than yourself," she asked, I froze and gulped.

I shook my head and ran upstairs to my room, shutting my door behind me, "What did I even do," I whispered, going over to my bed and falling on it.

***

I walked up to Carla's locker after grabbing the stuff I needed for our last period before Christmas break. Carla was tense and holding something, staring down at it, "Princess," I asked, her head shot up when she heard my voice and she crumpled the paper in her hand.

"What's up," she asked, I shook my head.

"What's in your hand," I asked, nodding at it, she shook her head.

"Nothing, Charming, I got it covered," she told me, I raised an eyebrow.

"You suck at lying," I told her, as she started tapping her leg. "Plus, you're fidgeting, Carla," I said, she looked down and let out a breath, shaking her head.

"Fuck," she muttered, letting out a breath as I took the paper from her hand. "Charming!"

I shook my head and uncrumbled it. You better find a shield, Princess Witch, cause you aren't gonna be able to save yourself this time and neither will Prince Charming.

"Princess," I started, she shook her head, leaning back against her locker as I put the note in my pocket.

"I'll be fine," she answered, but I could tell that she was scared, she just didn't want anyone to worry about her.

"Don't do that," I answered, she looked at me and sighed, shaking her head.

"I don't know what to do," she whispered, I let out a breath and grabbed a pocket knife from my jean pocket.

"Here," I said, putting it in her hand, "just don't get caught using it," I told her, she nodded slightly and slipped it into her jacket pocket.

"We should get to class," she said, I nodded as she pushed herself off her locker. She started heading to Creative Writing and I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into me.

I kissed the side of her head, "Are you sure you don't just wanna skip," I asked, my lips next to her ear, she nodded.

"It'll be fine," she answered, looking at me, I nodded.

"Does the writing look familiar to you," I asked, she shrugged as we walked into class and sat in the back.

"Kinda, but I can't think of who," she answered, I nodded.

"Neither can I," I muttered, shaking my head and biting the inside of my cheek, she was tapping her finger on her desk.

She bit her lip, "Is it too late to skip," she asked softly, as the bell rang.

"Sadly, yes," I answered, she let out a breath and sank in her seat as Mrs. Stone walked in.

"Put yourselves into groups of four and come up with Christmas story ideas," she said, that was when Rylee and Charlie took the spots in front of us and turned to face us.