The Rebel Royalties

Chapter 30

Derek's POV

I was putting gas in Carla's truck as she was inside the gas station, getting drinks and paying for gas. I leaned back against her truck as she came outside with drinks for both of us. "Once you're done pumping gas, we can go," she said, I nodded as she put the drinks in her truck.

She leaned back on the truck next to me, "It's almost done," I said, she nodded and let out a breath. I looked at her and tilted my head, "What are you overthinking about," I asked, she shrugged, looking down at the ground.

"I want to help them, Der," she said, looking up at me and shaking her head, "but if I do anything she could lose Jordan."

I nodded, "We'll figure out some way to help them," she nodded and I kissed her head. "Please, relax for a night," I asked, softly, she let out a breath and nodded slightly.

"Alright, fine," she agreed, I nodded and kissed her as her tank finished filling. "So, where we going," she asked, I shrugged as we got into her truck. I was driving with her in the passenger seat.

"Around town, looking for Christmas lights," I answered, she nodded as she connected her phone to her radio. She started playing I Bet My Life, Imagine Dragons as she turned up her radio, I looked at her to see her relax. "I love you, Princess," I told her, she grinned at me.

"Love you too, Charming."

***

"Hey, Nightmare Before Christmas ones," Carla exclaimed, pointing at some lights ahead of us. I laughed as I looked at them, she shook her head, "Sorry, I'm being a dork," she said, laughing at herself, I grinned at her.

This just reminded me of when we were kids and it made my grin bigger, "Don't worry bout that, Princess," I said, as she looked at me. "It suits you."

She stuck her tongue out at me, "Shut up."

I shook my head, "No, plus, it's cute."

She glared at me, "I'm not cute."

"You clearly don't see what I see," I answered, and she shook her head.

"That's cause you're nuts, Charming."

I let out a breath, "I'm being serious," I said, she nodded and raised an eyebrow at me.

"Fine, Charming, what do you see?"

I grinned, "How smart and beautiful that you are," I answered, looking at her, she shook her head but couldn't hide the smile she got.

"You're insane."

"Whatever you say, Princess," I said, winking at her which got her to give me an actual smile.

***

I woke up to see Carla's head on my chest and smiled, kissing her head. We had ended up going back to her house after a few hours of driving around. "I love you."

"I love you too," Carla mumbled, sleepily, as she tightened her arms around me, I grinned.

I let out a breath and grabbed my phone, looking at the time, "Shit," I muttered, before setting my phone down. "Princess," I said, she hummed, "I gotta get home."

She shook her head, "No," she groaned, burying her face in my chest, I let out a breath. "Please, don't go."

"Princess, it's already seven thirty," I said, she tightened her arms around me again.

"A little bit longer," she mumbled, I shut my eyes and nodded.

"Okay," I said, sighing, "a little bit longer."

I ran a hand through her hair as she nodded, "How bout another hour," she asked, she was already almost asleep again and I nodded, unable to say no.

"Go back to sleep, I'll wake you up in an hour," I said, yawning, she nodded, her body relaxing again. I closed my eyes and remembered that Carla's Christmas present was sitting in the drawer of my nightstand. I let out a breath, I can't wait to see her reaction to it.

***

I was up in my room, sitting on my bed and holding a small box in my hand, "Fuck, what if she doesn't like it," I whispered, bouncing my knee, I took a deep breath and shook my head.

"She'll like it," I told myself, before letting out a breath. "I hope she likes it," I whispered, covering my face with one of my hands. I got up and went over to my jacket and put the box in my pocket so that I wouldn't forget it later, when I got a call.