I Will Follow You Into the Dark

CHAPTER 74

When everyone met at the restaurant, Trent introduced Derek to Allison's parents. After the introductions and greetings, Derek sat down at the large square table with two chairs on each side. Derek's chair was next to Jenna's and around the corner from Ariella. Meredith sat next to Ariella. Across the table from Derek and Jenna, Trent was chatting happily next to Allison. Allison's parents—her mother, Gayle, and her father, John, sat on the side of the table between Jenna and Allison. Everyone sat and talked pleasantly. They ordered their meals and the food was served, the wine was flowing. Derek was doing his best to help things go smoothly since Trent had seemed so worried earlier. He was smiling and teasing the girls and poking good-natured fun at Trent at the same time he was playing host and making Allison's parents feel welcome.

Despite her best intentions, Meredith kept realizing that she was watching Derek talk. Every time she caught herself staring at him, she would look away quickly and try to clear her head. Darn him. All these years later and he's too good looking, especially when he's happy. And he looks so happy, she thought, her eyes drifting back to drink him in. His enthusiasm and pride were infectious. How was she supposed to ignore that? And he was being so charming—and Meredith saw it working on Allison and her mother. Darn that dreamy charm. Apparently it had only grown stronger as he had aged. At least I'm not falling for it........


Games, changes and fears
When will they go from here
When will they stop
I believe that fate has brought us here
And we should be together, babe
But we're not
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
I'll keep my cool, but I'm feigning

I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near


At just that moment, Derek looked over at her with that charming smile still lingering on his face and those incredible eyes sparkling and looking right into her soul. She was drawn in, transported, unable to breathe or think or........turn away.


I may appear to be free
But I'm just a prisoner of your love
And I may seem all right and smile when you leave
But my smiles are just a front
Just a front, hey
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
I'll keep my cool, but I'm feigning


His breath caught in his throat as he glimpsed a vision of his Meredith, his friend, the love of his life. Her mask had cracked, and, in that moment, his enduring but fragile hope was restored.


I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near

Seeing her look at him that way, Derek's smile lit up another notch, and she smiled back at him. Derek's mind was racing to outpace his hammering heart. The meal is almost over. We'll talk, he thought. We need to talk.......


Here is my confession
May I be your possession
Boy, I need your touch
Your love kisses and such
With all my might I try
But this I can't deny
Deny
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
(but I'm dreaming of you babe)
I'll keep my cool, but I'm feigning


Neither Meredith nor Derek had been paying close attention to the conversations and activity at the table. They were lost in each other's gaze and unable or unwilling to return to the reality that lay around them.


I try to say goodbye and I choke
Try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near
Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near


That's why Derek was so surprised when Trent put his hand on his shoulder. Derek looked up to see his son standing. Meredith's gaze shifted there as well, the spell was finally broken.


Goodbye and I choke
I try to walk away and I stumble
Though I try to hide it, it's clear
My world crumbles when you are not near



"I Try" by Macy Gray

Yes, it's a cliff. Sorry. Yeah, I know that doesn't help. More in the morning unless this next update is as frustrating as that one tried to be. Oh, and Derek and I have come to an agreement.........if I don't botch what comes between this update and what he and I were arguing about........