Lunar Clock

~ Chapter 21: Still Locked In ~

CPOV

Derek seemed a little fidgety, I mean, the guy was stuttering even more than I do these days! I could feel it in the way the muscles in his arms tensed as I placed my hand against them to stop him from breaking the door. I felt a little strange too, stopping someone from trying to free us from this locked room is a strange concept to try to process, and if this was a movie people would be whispering about how the director coordinated this poorly. But I wanted to talk-no, I wanted to apologize to Derek for all the grief I must of caused him by not telling him about the association between him and the other subjects, I mean_ his brothers. I would be heartbroken to know that my siblings were killed, and that I didn't even know they were my siblings until... they were already just a long forgotten memory of the past. This made my insides ache with grief, but all in the fraction of a second I shoved that grief aside, and looked up to Derek.

I forgot how beautiful those eyes were, how_ clear and bright his face could look, I felt my face heating, but still then I was able to muster up enough courage to speak.

"No, let's talk first." He seemed like he was holding back, his Adams Apple bobbing as he swallowed hard, his eyes wide, and brows conjoined together. He looked, nervous, like he was starring at a Chloe with two heads. Jeez, that's a good thought to have pop into your head right now. Good going Chloe, just imagine yourself with two heads, yup that is definitely what he is thinking alright...

"S_ Sure, O_ Okay." I looked back up at him, forgetting all about his having to answer. Whoops, better stop daydreaming now...

"Derek, are you okay?" I felt myself becoming worried. Was this all because of me, his reactions, his nervousness, was this all because of the secrets I kept from him? "This is my fault isn't it!" he jolted upwards, shaking his head in protest.

"NO!" he clasped his hands onto my shoulders, holding me while I was made to stare into those ominous green eyes. I felt strange being held like that, the shock and nervousness Derek had radiating into me and filling me with those feelings also. I knew I was reading too far into something just as basic as being held by the shoulders, but still this was how my mind was reacting. Those green eyes holding me with their stare.

No... He was not being like this because of me, I think.

"Look, I am not mad at you over keeping that from me. You were just trying to keep my mind at ease, I know that! I'm not dense!"

"But it was wrong!"

"It doesn't matter! It was only a small meaningless chapter in my life."

"But they were your brothers!"

"I never knew them, they never conversed with me. They may be my siblings by blood, but Simon is my real brother." His glance faltered.

"Derek..." I raised my hand towards his face, but fell short from touching it.

"I was not shut out by Simon like they did to me. They treated me like I didn't belong, but Simon never did that, he was a real brother to me, and so was the father we shared. That's why I will do anything to protect them and you_" he released his grasp and stumbled back, my hand falling to my side. Maybe I should have held his face?

"I'm touched that you care so much about your family and me Derek, but you don't have to ball me up with them, I can look after myself. You don't ever need to worry about good old Chloe!" I smiled, but the atmosphere became thick, like the mood that was just fuzzy a moment ago became a prickly storm of icy needles.

Derek seemed extremely shocked and...hurt? Did I say something wrong? He turned and sat down on the bed, laying his elbows on his knees as he looked down at the floor.

"No, I c_can't do that Chloe. I care about you guys, and I worry. I can't just stop protecting you." His head rose and I was swallowed up by an emerald ocean. I think my heart just skipped a beat. "It's just that I_" he then grumbled, baring his teeth as he looked away trying to find his words.

"Derek...?" I came a little closer, kneeling down to be eye level with him. He looked back, face blazing and leaning backward to gain greater distance from me. "Why are you acting like you are scared of me?"

"I_I'm not!"

"Then why are you_"

"I_I think I might_" he was breathing hard, and leaning forward more, shortening the gap between us. I just couldn't figure out what was going, on, my mind seemed like it was in a trance, floating into those ever- getting- closer green eyes.

"I think I might..." he whispered, those eyes starting to close as he approached me. I was stock still, trying to process this scenario. I couldn't believe it... was he going to?

"HEY YOU TWO GET DOWN HERE AND GET READY FOR OUR GUEST BEFORE HE COMES!" Andrew called down the hall.

We were distracted and knocked foreheads, smiling two goofy embarrassed smiles and me chuckling.

"Um," Derek pulled away earnestly, his eyes closed and tensed with a nervousness as he faced the floor. "Let's pretend that did not just happen okay?" I blinked, and straightened myself.

"Uh,"

"COME ON CHLOE, DEREK!"

"Coming!" we both called in unison, Derek got up and freed the door, and I took off after him.

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