Hate That I Love You

Chapter Twenty Two.

“It’s Derek”

Just at them words my legs turn to jelly, making me sit down. Justin noting he walks over to me, placing a hand to my cheek “It’s ok baby” Nodding in reply, he goes back to Erin “What’s happened?” he asks her, taking her to sit opposite me, him sitting beside her on the same sofa “He texts me every morning, you know that. But all this month I haven’t heard from him” Hopefully he’s dead. She pauses, taking a deep breath “I’ll find him Erin, I promise. You can stay here tonight ok?” Justin reassures her. Watching him now being so caring and kind to another person that isn’t me, it’s hard to think of who we are, and what we do every day.

As Justin settles Erin in I go upstairs and take a shower, getting dressed and reading my book whilst I wait for Justin to come to bed. Lying beside me I put my book down and face him “Who’s Erin?” “Derek’s mom” Oh. Why didn’t I realise that earlier? Why that didn’t come to my head in the first place I don’t know.

-

Feeling Justin slip out of bed I don’t bother to let him know I’m awake. He gets dressed and goes downstairs, a few minutes later I hear the pebbles of our driveway move underneath the wheels of his car. Does he know where Derek is? Has he been talking to him this whole time? Pfft. What did I expect? It’s not like I know what the actual reason as to why he disappeared in the first place, expect from us obviously hating each other.

Realising I’m wide awake I look at the clock, three am. Sighing I push the sheets back and head downstairs, making myself a cup of tea. Hearing someone come down the stairs, I turn around seeing Erin in the doorway “Hey” I smile at her “Couldn’t sleep?” I ask, she shakes her head, wrapping a blanket around her “Would you like a drink?” “Tea please, one sugar and milk” she replies, making me scoff just a little. Making us both drinks, she follows me in to the living room, where I put the blanket over myself, her doing the same as we sit opposite each other once again “So are you and Justin, together?” She asks me, somewhat hesitantly. Smiling I take a sip of my tea “Yeah” “Have you met Derek?” She questions again. Really? It’s bad enough being awake at this fucking time in the morning, let alone her mention him “Something like that” I tell her, seeing her facial expression turn in to a look of confusion “We didn’t exactly get on, he didn’t like me being near Justin”. Smiling she looks up at me “He’s protective of Justin, sometimes a little bit too much. Ever since his mom died, Derek took over looking after him. They were very close” Nodding I don’t reply, in case I come out with something sadistic or sarcastic, one of my many bad habits “Are you and Justin close?” she asks me, her voice gentle “Very” I tell her, a smile on my face once again, I guess a sort of immediate reaction when I hear Justin’s name “I can see he makes you very happy, every time I say his name you smile like you can’t be happier” I guess it’s noticeable. Letting out a light chuckle I turn to face her “He’s my world, and we’re his” I tell her, folding the blanket up “We?” She asks, picking her mug up and standing up. In reply I put my hand to my stomach, where she gushes, putting her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. Walking over to me she puts her arms around me, her fragile frame holding me close “Congratulations” She whispers.

-

Waking up the next morning I feel Justin’s arms around me. Twisting in his grip I look at him closely, seeing if there was any cuts or bruises that weren’t there before here left at stupid o’clock this morning. Ok don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty often awake at that time but when I’ve been asleep and I get woken up early, I get more than moody. Justin’s face being clear with no fresh injuries I look at the clock. Ten in the morning “Justin? Justin wake up!” Groaning, he turns over, pulling the sheets over his head.