As the cars pass by, I suddenly notice Derek's car and he slows down at the same time that I stop running.

I take a deep cold breath of relief and my heartbeat picks up even more than it ever could. My eyebrows relax and I can only think about Derek. I'm safe with him.

Despite the bad light on the street, I notice the shock and worry on his face. I know I look horrible, straight out of a horror film, my dress too short and my bare legs freezing. I tried to pull the dress down but it kept going up when I ran. My hair is messy and all over my face, my mascara running down my cheeks and it's so damn cold it's becoming warm, my bones slowly freezing and my movements becoming slower.

Derek stops near the sidewalk and he opens his door but I stop him. We can't stop here, it's too close to Alexander. I know he would still follow me, after what he just confessed.

Derek looks confused but I get in the passenger side and I feel the cold air fill the car.

He takes out his jacket and gives it to me. My now icy cold heart melting a bit. I feel like I can breathe, and even just being near him makes me feel protected.

I put on the jacket but my legs are freezing and the goosebumps are giving it away.

"Do you want my pants too?" he jokes and I try to smile but it comes out as crooked and awkward. He has no idea what he's gotten himself into.

I pant as I try to gather my thoughts and speak, "you- you have no idea. I- need to tell you-"

"Did you drink?" he stops me and I furrow my eyebrows.

Nope... wait, I did drink.

"You reek of vodka, like a lot of vodka. Why would you drink?" he asks in a protective voice and I gulp down hard, I look down at my bare thighs too close to his. Our knees could almost touch.

We need to drive off, we shouldn't stay here. Alex could reach us anytime now.

Derek turns up the temperature, suddenly making the car warmer and I mentally thank him, even though my mouth can't speak straight.

"I- fuck, yes, but we need to talk, you should drive first," I stutter and he looks confused. He looks ahead at the streets I came from. I told him to meet at the campus but I'm far away from the campus.

"You ran that much?" he asks as he drives off.

I take a big breath of relief and I look at the sidewalk, expecting to see Alexander but he is nowhere to be seen. He didn't follow me, I outran him and he was probably too hurt. I bet he went to my dorm.

I'm so fucking dead.

"What happened?" he asks as he turns the street to go the way he came from. So, we aren't going to my dorm. Phew.

I swallow the tears and I force myself to speak. He needs to know now.

I cover my face with my trembling hands and I sob. I hate myself for crying, I want to be strong but how can I be strong when everything bad happens to me?!

This guy I called my friend ruined me and everyone I know... Alex will come after me, and also Felix's guys. I want to catch a break so desperately but I never do.

I suddenly feel Derek's warm touch on my hand. My eyes widen and I uncover my face as I look at his thumb caressing my cold hand. I almost forgot how good it felt.

"I know who- I know who did it," I mutter as I continue looking down. His hand still on mine.

The warm temperature in the car isn't enough, even though he turned it on pretty high. I think I caught a cold. When you are running at night almost naked when it's freezing and windy, it's hard to get warm afterward.

"Who did what?" he looks at me, one hand on the steering wheel as he drives smoothly.

Where are we even going?

"Alexander!" I raise my voice frantically, still trying to make sense of my thoughts.

Derek suddenly turns to me, the car slightly moving as his eyes fix on mine. I can see the fine expressions on his forehead as he gets angry.

"Did he do something to you?" he asks through gritted teeth and I don't say anything. He did many things to all of us. But mostly he ruined Derek and me.

Suddenly his thumb doesn't caress my hand anymore. He looks at the street again for a few seconds as he passes a car and then looks at me, frustrated that I'm not speaking.

"He framed us! It was him all along, Derek. He put those drugs in the car."

The shock on Derek's face is insurmountable. He grips the steering wheel tighter. He doesn't have to ask twice, he believes me. Even if I'm drunk. Maybe it's not a surprise at all, Alexander always ruined everything between us and he was often the reason we fought that year.

"How did you find out?" he asks through gritted teeth, his jaw clenched.

"He confessed. He said he did everything just so I could be with him," I admit shyly. Derek shoots me a look I cannot decipher.

"I was at this party," I start to say but Derek looks at me a bit disappointed. "And he came to talk to me, I agreed and when he left to get me a drink, I saw the messages on his phone. He was talking to- to a guy about what drugs to put in my drink-"

Before I can get another chance to speak, Derek suddenly turns the car—where he can't because cars come right in front of us—and drives back to the frat house.

"No! Please no. He will be livid. I don't want you to get hurt."

Derek chuckles bitterly. "I'll fucking kill him."

I put my hand on his. "Please, you got hurt two weeks ago. You need to rest more," I say as he looks at me, his eyes slowly softening.

"You won't go back to your dorms," Derek says in an assertive tone and I nod. I didn't even intend to. I'm scared. He will be waiting there for me.

Could he harm Nicole or Irène too?

Fuck, I left Irène there and I don't have my phone. She was so drunk, I didn't want to leave her.

"I left Irène there... she was drunk, we need to do something."

"I'll call Dominic and tell him to get her, okay?" he reassures me and I smile faintly.

"Also Dominic needs to warn Nicole. I'm scared he will hurt her-"

"Yes. Don't worry," he comforts me and he smiles, despite how angry he must be. He still smiles to make me comfortable.

Derek is handsome, but when he smiles it's something extraordinary, I have never really seen a man smile like him. Everyone else disappears, and everything feels better, even if it's just for a few seconds.

I tighten my jaw to stop my thoughts. I'll never love someone like this again. I can't even imagine smiling the way I smile with him with someone else. If he knew how much I care...

"Are you still cold?" he asks and I nod. He is already sweating and the car temperature is high but it just doesn't work for me.

"You are probably sick. I don't think I can get it up more than this," he says as he slows down the car near a convenience store.

Flashbacks take over my brain and I feel a weird intuition in my gut as he gets out of the car. It's as if the night I lost him repeats.

I follow him.

"I'll get you something warm to drink, it will help you-" I pull his hand as he is about to leave and he turns to me.

We are only a few inches away, I look up at him with terror.

If he goes inside, something bad will happen just like that night. I can't lose him, even if he isn't even mine to begin with.

"I'll come with you," I say and we break the eye contact as we walk inside to get two hot cappuccinos.

Soon after we walk back to the parked car, sometimes my hand brushing against his but we don't say a word until we get back to the car.

I slowly sip from the hot cappuccino. It is helping a bit.

We sit in silence for a while and I decide to tell him everything else Alex said. He needs to know everything, not just that he framed us or talked about drugging me. He did it several times.

"Because of him, you almost fucking died?" His voice slightly breaks and I nod.

He turns the engine on. We are probably going to his apartment.

I only now realized he is taking me there, I thought he would take me to Dom's apartment considering it's nearer but I'm happy we are going to his... Even though it's dangerous.

He grips the steering wheel harshly, still upset because of everything I told him. It torments him. Derek had to spend a year and four months in prison because of Alexander. I got kidnapped because of him and Derek got shot. Everything that ever happened to us started when Alex appeared in our lives. If he wouldn't have framed us, Derek wouldn't have snitched on Felix.

But I know Derek was already in shady business with Felix, simply because they didn't let him get out. Even if it was just driving them around.

I have one question in mind that's been bugging me for the past two weeks. I don't expect him to answer honestly. He is over me but I'm not over him.

"I know you are over me. But why are you still staying away from me? Those guys will always hunt us, now they know and they won't stop," I question him and he looks ahead for a few seconds.

Then he turns his head, his icy blue eyes fixed on mine. We both have blue eyes but his are completely different. Mine are vivid sea blue, sometimes with green patches and his are light blue, with undertones of gray.

"Who said I'm over you?" he asks in a low voice.

My heart skips a beat, my stomach fills with wild butterflies and I don't blink once. I can't even move. Did he just say he isn't over me... that there is hope?

He looks ahead at the road as he accelerates, and I look at him for a few more seconds, then I turn to look at the window to distract myself but I can only think about his words.

I feel like I'm savoring every word of his as if it's the last, I could never get tired of him. Every phrase sounds sweet like honey. And somehow I think he could say "fuck you" and still sound pure.

"Then why are you staying away?" I bring up the courage to ask, I don't want to be pushy but I need to know the truth.

"It's the same answer it was two weeks ago. To keep you safe. While it's true that they are after us, they're not after you. Those men are after Dominic, Shanice, Irène, and me."

"Shanice? Why?!"

"They know it was her who hired the lawyer and convinced me to snitch."

The fact that they want revenge on Irène doesn't shock me, she shot two of Felix's men.

But why am I not a target? They kidnapped me. They wanted revenge on Derek.

"They think I care more about Shanice and that they kidnapped the wrong person. Shanice can't even leave her house anymore. She doesn't live in the dorms too," he explains as if he read my mind.

I didn't know. I didn't see her around anymore. But Irène is fine? I mean, mostly fine.

Fuck. I shouldn't have left her alone.

"Didn't you know? They destroyed Dominic's car," he says and I gasp.

"What? When?!"

"Two days ago."

"Fuck... that's bad," I swear under my breath.

"At least you're safe now." His gentle eyes now fall on me. Could it be that he cares about me more than he cares about everyone else?

"So... I shouldn't be with you right now," I add confused.

"No. You really shouldn't. That's why we aren't going to my apartment."

I furrow my eyebrows confused. I didn't even know in the first place where we were going. I didn't expect to go to his place anyway, but something tells me he wouldn't have minded-

Maybe Antonia would mind.

Here it goes again, jealousy takes over my mind. I keep thinking about them together and it makes me sick to my stomach.

Perhaps it's the fucking alcohol but I need to say something.

"Why did you fuck Antonia if you care about me?" I gulp down hard. I said I forgave him in the hospital but we both know it still affects me.

"I thought you were with Alex. And I knew we would never talk again," he answers awkwardly.

I blink away the tears. Derek was so convinced he was going to stay away from me. It pains me to think he could stay away when I couldn't even if I had to die.

But the difference is that he wasn't protecting himself, he was protecting me... he didn't care if he died when he came to rescue me unarmed, he didn't care when he took the bullet meant for Shanice, he didn't care if he spent his whole life in prison. And if I was in his position, I would've done the same. Anything to protect him.

"Somehow it doesn't make me feel better. I know you can do whatever you want but God... it hurts," I say as I look away, a tear slipping on my cheek.

"I never wanted to hurt you. I did everything I could do to stay away from you, to protect you. You were always better off without me, Ronnie."

"No. I wasn't!" I raise my voice. "Stop telling me I'm better off without you, because I'm not."

He sighs as he continues driving. Silence falls upon the car.

After thirty minutes we reach Colleen Hotel four stars and I look at Derek confused that he brought me here. I still don't understand how he affords such hotels, his car, the apartment. He must have saved a lot of money from selling drugs years ago, but how much money can someone even make out of that? Would it be enough for years later?

"Interesting... place. Are we going to fuck?" I ask annoyed from our previous conversation.

He chuckles, easing the tension. "Yeah, why not?"

I laugh. "Idiot."

Derek smiles as he looks at me and he parks the car in the hotel's parking lot.

"I've been staying here the past two weeks," he explains.

He stops the car and looks at his phone for the hotel reservation.

"How's your wound?" I ask with worry.

"Hmm," he dodges the question.

"Can I see it...?" I question him, knowing that I must sound so weird right now.

His mouth curves into a faint smile as he takes the keys from the storage and we both get out of the car.

We walk to the entrance and he opens the door for me. We must look like a weird couple right now. He isn't particularly dressed up but he looks better than me. A simple gray sweater and blue jeans, not too tight but not too large. My dress is revealing and my middle-length hair looks horrible. My makeup is all smudged and I have mascara on my cheeks.

My eyes are still slightly purple from when that piece of shit punched me, and I have a cut on my forehead.

The lady at the reception greets us but she seems disturbed by my look. She probably thinks Derek hurt me.

"Don't worry. We like to get wild in the car," I joke and Derek looks at me briefly and laughs but when we notice the lady's strange expression we both turn serious.

We go to the elevator and the moment the doors close we both burst out in laughter.

"I'm relieved she doesn't think I hurt you, but really? Wild in the car? What about the purple eye?" he asks with amusement and I grin.

"Well, we can just pretend I hit myself on the steering wheel."

"Somehow I can't imagine which position would hurt your eye like that."

I laugh and the elevator reaches the 9th floor.

"Do you want a demonstration?" I joke back but it comes off more flirty than I intended.

Derek looks down at me and I quickly look away as I walk to our room. He opens the door and turns on the lights before I enter.

"Wait, I'll check every room," he says in a protective paranoid tone.

I can imagine how bad it must have been for him. He is always on the defense, he is always hiding. I know he wouldn't admit he is scared but he must be. He got shot and he isn't as fast as he was before. I hate to see him live like this.

Why don't we both never get good things?

He comes back after he checked every room and I close the door.

I look around the hotel room and I walk into the hallway, immediately into the bedroom.

One bed.

One bed.

No couch either. Am I going to sleep on the floor? Perhaps in the bathtub?

"I didn't think I'd bring someone here so I only booked the room with one bed," he explains.

Well, it's a big bed for Derek and Antonia.

I hate being jealous.

"I will sleep on the floor, don't worry," he says without any resentment.

I turn toward him, his face several inches away from mine but still close enough that I see his expression lines on the forehead and the long dimples that form when he is excited.

"No, for fuck's sake. You got shot just two weeks ago. I can't let you sleep on the floor," I say frantically. I'd rather sleep on a chair than let him sleep on a cold hard-ass floor.

"I'll be fine," he mutters as he takes out his sweater. I suddenly remember I asked him if I can see the wound, but now it feels weird because we are in a hotel room... he is a few inches away from me and we are both semi-naked, considering that my dress is short.

But I try to focus on his torso, on the wound below his collarbones to the right. It's still bandaged so I slightly graze my fingers over it. He heavily exhales and I get worried it hurt him.

"Does it still hurt when you touch it?"

"It hurts without even touching it," he explains.

My fingers accidentally brush the skin near the bandage and I look up at him. My heart is beating fast and loud, I know I shouldn't stay this close to him but fuck, I want to kiss him so badly.

I missed him more than words could ever express.

"You are sleeping in bed with me and don't worry, I don't bite," I say to ease the tension and he grins.

I take the shoes off. "I'm going to take a shower, but if you don't want to waste water or time-" I say jokingly and he shakes his head in amusement.

It's the alcohol, not me, I swear.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Let's save water," he jokes and I burst out in a laugh.

I missed laughing with him so much. I really needed this, I needed him.

I realize I don't have any clothes as I take off his jacket.

"As much as I love how you look in that dress, I think you should take this," he flirts as he hands me one of his oversized t-shirts.

Well, I didn't expect him to compliment me, but I guess we are both feeling brave tonight.

I take his white t-shirt and immediately notice that it smells like him. I wonder if I'd steal it, would he notice?

The steam of the shower fills the bathroom. I prefer hot water so I can wash off the feeling of disgust Alex left on my skin.

I get in the shower, sadly he doesn't have a bathtub, but it's fine. The water drizzles on my skin, warming me up and wetting my hair. I don't have my shampoo so I just grab his—let's hope he doesn't mind,—I pour a bit of 2 in 1 shampoo on my head and I scrub my scalp.

It smells so manly.

After I wash myself, I step out of the shower and dry my body with the hotel towel I found in the cabinet.

I feel more relaxed and warm now but I can feel the dry throat persisting. I know I'm catching a cold anyway, let's hope Derek doesn't catch it because of me.

I get out of the bathroom with only his t-shirt on and my hair barely dried. He doesn't have a hairdryer so I had to use the towel but it didn't dry completely. I brush my hair out of my face and he stands up from the bed and he puts the phone down, screen up.

At least he has nothing to hide.

Derek looks me up and down and my cheeks flush, my legs are exposed and I don't have on any bra. A white and slightly wet T-shirt doesn't hide much.

"I used your shampoo," I say shyly.

"Mhmh," he says absentmindedly as he stares at me.

He is still shirtless and it takes everything in me to not look at his naked torso, abdominals, the V line that almost shows his boxers.

Well, fuck, I glanced.

Derek grabs a pair of pants and walks to the bathroom.

"Can I use your phone to see how's Irène and Nicole?" I ask a bit awkward. I doubt he would say yes.

"Yeah, go ahead," he says as he goes into the bathroom and closes the door. Soon after I hear the shower turn on.

I wish it was the only thing turned on here.

I grab his phone and I don't lurk, surprisingly. I'm nosy but I don't want to do that anyway, even if it helped me discover what kind of person Alex is.

Derek is nothing like him.

I'm surprised he doesn't have a password.

I text Irène and she replies quickly.

Me: hey it's me Veronica, I'm sorry I left, you have no idea what happened, but are you okay?

Irène: Why the fuck are you using Derek's phone?

Me: long story lol, but I'm staying at his place tonight so don't worry

Irène: Use condoms.

Me: fuck off. By the way, we need to talk tomorrow... I have a lot to say. Also please check on Nicole for me.

She doesn't reply anymore. Typical. I just hope Nicole is fine.

I don't even know where I'll stay these days. I can't go back to my dorm but I can't bother Derek either. I could go back to my mom's house... only if Alex didn't know where I live.

Soon Derek comes back, his hair slightly wet and shirtless.

He could have put on a t-shirt, but I don't mind the view.

"Don't you have more shirts?" I pretend that it bothers me.

"It's not like you have never seen me like this," he jokes and I laugh.

Derek gets into bed with me and my heart stops for a second. It's been so long since we've been this close and in the same bed. I'll have to sleep near him. It's a dream.

I won't close an eye tonight.

He grabs his phone and goes to the messages I sent and I hide my face embarrassed as he reads them.

He chuckles and turns off the light.

"I know you hate any light when you sleep so I'll turn off the bedside lamp too," he says and I gulp down hard.

He remembers.

The whole room is dark, and the only thing I can hear is his chest rising and falling as he breathes. He falls asleep so fast...

I close my eyes and I just enjoy his presence. I haven't felt this safe in months.