"Mind Games.."

Chapter 3: "Fire and Ice.."

I was about to get up and say goodbye, until Derek said,

"I didn't plan for this, you know.."

"Then why'd you go along with it?"

"Dammit Keri! I don't know! I just..liked it.."

Something like a smile grew wide on his face and a spark rose in my heart.. I snapped..

"So! You didn't have to go along with it! Couldn't you have just looked and gone the other way?! Do you even know the dangers this has on you?!"

He tried to speak, but I didn't let him.. My heart hurt so much, that I needed to say this, or I'd die keeping it all inside..

"What about the lives that depended on you?! Your little sister?! Hell, do you even care Derek?!"

"Shut up! Just shut the fuck up! Yes, I care! I care about you, my family, and my friends!"

"Then why did you go along with it?!"

"Because I didn't know what else to do!"

"You could've gone to someone to talk about it!"

He hesitated on his response, and I broke down.. I fell to the floor, crying, regretting his decision. I was regretting? HE should be regretting! But I think it's because he's NOT regretting anything, that's why I'm feeling horrible.. I couldn't let him see me broken.. If he sees too much, he might lose motivation.. 'Get up, Keri! Get up!' I thought. 'Quickly, quickly!'

I stood on my feet, shook myself off, and started to say that I had to leave, until Derek grabbed my arm, spun me around, and hugged me tightly, as if never letting go.

"Keri? Thanks for being with me at the hardest times.."

"Ssshhh.. No need for that.. You already know I love you.."

We stood there, hugging, and I felt Derek's warmth conceal all negative thoughts into an isolated part of my mind, and left them there..

"Keri? I'm scared.."

My heart instantly broke into a million pieces and fell beneath his feet. But I had to stay whole...

"Everything will be okay.."

I said to him, but did I really believe it? Did HE really believe it?