Veronica's POV

I thought I was done with school but now I will also have to attend summer school to save my grades.

I've been more distant with Derek, I'm still trying to process the situation and how to deal with it without losing him... I know what I feel for him.

I just don't understand how to deal with it.

I lock the main door and I leave my house when I notice Alexander coming to me.

He seems happy to see me.

"Hey," he says shortly and I greet him, taking a walk with him.

"I was looking for you, I really wanted to talk to you!" he exclaims and I smile.

"Yeah? Why?"

"Are you still seeing Derek? Haven't seen you around lately..."

"I am- but it's complicated," I admit.

We get to the park and we sit on a bench. I'm going to Shanice's house later, Derek stopped fighting with her and they sorted out everything.

"I told you about Derek-"

I cut him off. "He doesn't sell drugs, Alex," I hiss at him annoyed.

"And you believe him?"

"Remind me why you care? It's not your problem," I snap at him, he has been so clingy lately and I don't understand why.

"I told you. I think you deserve better," he mutters as he takes my hand into his and it takes me a few seconds to process what he is doing so I free my hand.

"Listen. We've been so close these months, and seeing you almost die made me realize that..."

"I kinda like you," he blurts out and I let out a muffled laugh, thinking he must be joking. Alexander, 'the player' likes me?

The guy who doesn't fuck the same girl twice?

"I'm not kidding."

"I'm dating Derek," I say and he laughs.

"Remember when I said falling in love was gonna be the death of you?" I nod, still thinking he was dramatic.

"I think the problem is just Derek. He is lying to you. He doesn't care about you and he is still seeing Olivia," he says and I laugh, I know Olivia hits on him all the time, Derek told me. And it's my fault she isn't stopping, but I'm trying to protect Derek.

I know if I tell Derek he will do something he is going to regret and piss them off even more.

"And how do you know that?"

"I saw them kiss," he says and I frown, then I let out a nervous smile. It's not true.

I don't know what Alex is trying to do, but he is lying.

"Listen, I have to go to Shanice now. We will talk about this another time," I lie.

~

I hold Derek's hand and I can stop thinking about what Alexander told me... his confession, claiming that Derek is lying to me and kissing Olivia behind my back. No, there is no way.

We get to Shanice's house and the house is fuller than I expected it to be?

Olivia, Dominic, James are all here and Alexander comes soon after we arrive.

I let go of Derek's hand when I see them and he seems slightly disappointed. I do this way too often and he hasn't said anything about it but he noticed...

Alexander stares at us all the time and luckily Derek doesn't notice him.

"I'm going to talk to Shanice," Derek speaks and I nod.

I accidentally look at James and he looks miserable, his hair is messy and he seems tipsy.

I smirk, happy to see him suffering. He deserves it.

"I gave you one condition..." Olivia says to me and I turn to face her.

"I'm not- dating him," I struggle to lie as Alexander is listening to us. He looks confused.

"James is kinda tired, there is no point anymore and he might just talk... if he doesn't, I will," she threatens me and I almost consider telling Derek. This is going too far.

Irène enters right as we speak and she comes to us as if she owns this place.

Her confidence, or should I say arrogance is astounding.

"Why are you still here? Bye?" she snaps at Olivia and I laugh.

Olivia rolls her eyes and leaves. I am starting to like Irène more than I should.

"Why are you here?" I ask Irène and she shrugs, she never answers my questions and it's so weird how she always knows where I am.

"I'm here for James..." she says and my eyes widen.

"Don't worry, I'm not in love with him," she jokes and I roll my eyes.

"You were so right about Nicole, she is so pathetically in love with him," she says and I stare at her. What is she doing and why does she care about Nicole?

"Does she ever check her messages?" she asks and my eyebrows furrow.

"Yeah? Kinda. Why are you asking these strange questions?"

"Nothing. Forget it. You will soon find out." She smirks.

"Oh, and you are welcome." Irène wraps her arms around me and I am hesitant. What am I welcome for?

Derek comes back and he walks to me with a big smile on his face.

"I cleared out everything with Shanice and I also told her about us."

No. My mouth drops as he pronounces those words... she is friends with them. She will tell them and that will be the last straw, considering I also didn't help James with Nicole, he only kept his mouth shut for Olivia.

"Why would you tell them about us?"

"You'd rather pretend you are single?" he asks with a bitter tone.

"Y- no. But... she didn't have to know."

"It's been two months. I'm not going to hide from people. I'm not ashamed to be with you," he says and I frown.

"I'm not ashamed either but I told you I wanted to keep it a secret," I talk a bit louder than I should have and Alexander listens to every word which is blatantly annoying, I will call him out later.

"You want to keep everything secret. I understood at first, now it just seems like you will never open up about a damn thing. This isn't how relationships work." He raises his tone back at me.

"I'm not hiding everything because I want to- it's just-"

"Maybe you just deserve it for lying to her?" Alexander cuts me off and I swear I want to kill him right now.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Derek snaps at Alex.

"You fucking Olivia behind Ronny's back? Olivia, come here," Alex yells and Olivia comes to us, hearing everything.

"It's true," Olivia says and my eyes widen. No fucking way. I don't believe Olivia... but Alex on the other hand...

Would he lie about this in front of Derek and Olivia?

"Is it true?" I ask Derek while my eyes get watery and he comes to me and he grabs my hand but I look at Olivia.

"No. God, Veronica. Will you ever trust me? I always prove to you that you can trust me. This is what I'm talking about. You will never open up," he snaps at me and he takes a deep breath in. "You will never trust me."

He looks away and a tear slides down my cheek but I brush it away quickly before anyone notices.

"Just calm down, kids." Dominic interrupts us and I roll my eyes, annoyed.

"Are you two in a relationship?" Olivia asks suspiciously and I shake my head before I realize that what I just did will fuck up everything with Derek even more.

He says yes while I say no at the same time. Then he looks at me and frowns.

"And you keep going... I can't. I can't do this anymore Veronica." His husky voice is the only thing I can hear in this room and I look at Irène, she seems amused by the situation.

Since he said I love you, everything changed. Now he is all in and I'm not, I'm still hiding and I knew it was going to bother him but I did it anyway. I make everything worse and now it's too late to tell him about James and Olivia.

The way Olivia stares at me tells me everything I need to know.

Derek leaves and I run after him. Olivia will snitch on him, the least I could do is protect him.

"Wait. Derek, don't leave," I beg and he doesn't turn around, smashing the door.

"I can explain everything, just give me a chance!" I yell and he finally stops, as he is near his car.

"I gave you so many chances, Veronica," he snaps back at me.

"Is it because... because I didn't say it back?" I ask with tears in my eyes and he looks at me attentively.

"Say what back?" he asks coldly.

"You know..."

"For fuck's sake Veronica, you can't even pronounce these words when you aren't directly saying them to me. You are always lying and you never tell me the truth, everything is a secret to you. You want to be with me but you don't want everyone else to know? You don't ever trust me. Do you think I'd go with Olivia behind your back?! You keep running back to Alex every time things don't go your way. Is this what you want? I'm tired. I told you that one time that I won't stick around for you to let you decide whether you 'like' me enough or not." He takes a break to gather his thoughts and his eyes look red. "I think you don't care at all right now."

"You are so wrong Derek, I care about you so much." But he has every right to feel tired, I'm still giving him mixed signals even after I promised that I wanted to be with him. I know I like him but I don't know how to deal with James and Olivia, everything is always so complicated.

"Then why are you acting like this?" He comes closer to me and I let my head down.

Because I'm terrified.

"You know I did my best, I gave you time but I think you aren't ready for this," he continues.

My silence tells him everything he needs to know and I wipe away the tears. I'm terrified to say it but I know I love-

I know I will lose him.

I knew I was right when I thought it wasn't gonna work out.

"Wait," I yell again as he opens the car door.

"I don't want to lose you," I say as I wipe away another tear.

He gets into the car and I get into the car with him before he locks the doors.

"A-are you leaving for real?" My voice breaks.

"I need time to think. I don't think whatever I do will ever be enough for you," he says.

"No, Derek. Wait, it's just because... it's just this town. I need more time to think too but not away from you."

"I think we should take a break from everyone!" I exclaim.

This would be a perfect idea, I won't be scared for his safety anymore and maybe... maybe I can open up if I'm far from this town, from my past.

He takes a few minutes to think and I wait impatiently.

"You want to escape your problems rather than deal with them? Then what? We come back and you go back to being cold?" he snaps and I shake my head.

"No... please, let's just try it. The last chance." I grab his hand. "Please."

We sit in silence for a while and I impatiently wait for his answer.

"The last chance..." he mutters to himself.

"Don't fuck it up," Derek says, still slightly angry by our discussion.

We don't fight that often... but it's always the same thing.

"I won't. I promise." I caress his hand and he smiles a bit sad.

Why does it seem like he knows I'll fuck it up but he cares too much to not try?

"What are you going to do with your mom?" he asks shortly after.

"I will- I don't know. I will deal with her later."

"Let's prepare the baggage," he says and I smile giving his hand a slight squeeze.

"It's so hard to stay mad at you..." he murmurs and I grin. "But I can't take this anymore- it's the last chance," he warns me and I nod. I can't keep disappointing him. If I want this to work I have to put some work in.

Gosh, I lov-

What?

He drives me to my house and he goes to his after he drops me off. My mom isn't home yet and I think she will murder me if she finds out, but I have to do this.

I want to do this, and perhaps it won't be for a long time. I still have exams to take.

I prepare everything we need for a two weeks 'holiday' and I sprint outside, worried that my mom will catch me.

Derek pulls up in front of my house to not scare me anymore and because I told him my mom is still working.

I get inside the car and he looks a bit worried.

"Do you want to do this?" he asks and I nod. We have to or it's over.

"Just drive," I say and he obeys.

"We should tell Shanice and Dominic at least..." I mutter and he nods. The first stop is at Shanice's home, they just saw us fight but Olivia and James probably went home or are fucking in some random room.

He drives fast and we arrive at Shanice's house fast enough. I grab his hand and he smiles, kissing me on the cheek.

I enter and he looks for Shanice while I look for Irène, hoping that she didn't leave.

I find her in the kitchen with James... which is kinda weird but I shrug.

"We need to talk," I tell her, and James leaves, surprisingly without his usual stupid remarks.

There isn't enough time so I just say what I need to.

"I'm leaving with Derek for two weeks-"

"Didn't you just two fight?" she asks amused.

"Aw. Love. Makes you do stupid shit," she continues and I roll my eyes.

I pull her in for a quick hug which she finds quite surprising but she doesn't push me away.

"You are leaving... without me?!" Dominic runs to us with Derek and Shanice following him and he is a bit too loud. I don't want James and Olivia to know this, yet...

I will also tell Derek everything.

"Can I come?" Dominic jokes and we laugh.

"No, little Dom," Irène mocks him and we burst into a laugh.

"I think you should make it a trip and invite all of us," Shanice suggests and I shake my head.

This is our only chance and I desperately need to be away from this fucking stupid town.

Shortly after Alexander walks out of the house in hurry and I look at him confused but he doesn't turn back. So he was here...

Irène follows after him and I shrug. Not my problem anymore.

I wonder if Olivia is still here...

~

We are almost out of Georgia.

A few hours later after laughing at stupid jokes and talking about some old cartoons, I finally gather the courage to open up to Derek.

"I need to be honest with you..." I say as I notice we are already out of state, luckily. This way he won't beat up Alexander.

"Alex confessed he likes me?" It comes out more as a question, I see Derek tensing up but he quickly relaxes.

"It was obvious. I mean, who doesn't have a crush on you?" he jokes and I laugh.

I don't know that many people with a crush on me.

"He lied to you," he continues and I nod.

I know he did. I know Derek thinks I don't trust him but I trust him more than I have ever trusted anyone.

I can't believe this month it's a year since everything changed, since I met Derek too.

"I have something else to tell you-"

"Wait a minute. We need to refuel the car. It's not enough for Ohio," he says and I nod. At least I can take a break to organize my thoughts, he will hate that I didn't tell him this important piece of information, which could put him in a dangerous place.

Or maybe James was all talk and no action... of course. Two months and he completely forgot about me and stopped threatening me, the problem is Olivia.

Derek parks in a gas station and he goes out to fuel the car, I stand near him.

"Go buy some snacks. It's gonna be a long ride," he suggests and I nod.

I smile and I sprint inside the store. This is probably the best day of my life or at least this year.

The time spent with Derek is always the best and I can't imagine my life without him even though it's cheesy.

I still get butterflies when he looks at me... when he goes do-

I can feel the heat rising to my face and then I notice the cashier staring at me. It's midnight.

I sprint towards the isles and I grab a lot of snacks we are going to need; a few sandwiches, chips, and protein bars along with some sweets.

Then I buy some drinks and I realize I can't buy beer... he is driving anyway, but we are eventually going to stop to sleep and maybe f-

It's hard to have innocent thoughts around Derek.

I smile. He makes me the happiest and I could never imagine this happening.

The cashier scans the snacks and I try to look out of the store windows, I can't see Derek.

I pay and mutter, "thank you!" and he smiles wishing me a good ride.

I walk out of the store and I notice a dog near Derek's car.

A police dog?

I walk a bit closer but it's night and the lights are dim. My eyes try to get used to the dark when I suddenly see Derek talking to two... cops?

"Derek?" I call out his name and I get closer to the gasoline pump.

My heart skips a beat when I see a police car parked near his car.

He is talking to the police officers and I walk to him, we are both confused.

I keep the bags with drinks and snacks in my hands, they are getting quite heavy. Maybe I bought too many things.

The dog starts sniffing around Derek's car and my heart is racing, Derek seems nervous but he is trying to hide it. He knows he has nothing to hide but we don't understand why they are checking on us.

The dog starts barking and my knees weaken. I take a step toward the back of his car and so does Derek.

The cop pulls out my bag and opens it right in front of us.

He puts the flash on it and I almost drop to my knees when I notice it's filled with cocaine.

It's full of plastic bags with cocaine.

Derek looks at me disappointed. Does he think it's mine? Does he think I would do this to him?

"It's not mine!" I yell and he keeps looking at my baggage, ignoring me.

They take out the handcuffs and I gasp, thinking I'm going to be arrested.

"Derek Forster, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions." They handcuff Derek's hands and he looks at me disappointed.

"Wait! No! It's not his," I beg the cops with my heart pounding as if it's going to jump out of my chest and they listen carefully.

"The cocaine is mine. I barely know her." Derek cuts me off and I stare at him in disbelief while he looks at the cops.

"W- what are you doing Derek? Why- why would you say that? It's not yours!" I yell while tears are welled up in my eyes and he shakes his head disappointed.

He thinks it's mine... he thinks it's mine and he is covering for me. He admitted to it.

They cuff him up and pull him towards the police car, shoving him in the back.

"NO! Why would you say that? It's not his. Don't arrest him!" I yell while sobbing and the officers don't turn around. They ignore me.

My heart drops when the cops get in the car.

I drop all the bags full of snacks and my throat feels tight and I can't say a single word.

Tears stream down my face when I realize they are actually taking him away-

He confessed to it... its a lot of cocaine. There is no hope.

I start shivering and my heart feels tight.

Oh my God... they are taking him away. it's not real, it can't be.

"Derek!" I yell his name through sniffles and I barely see his head through the window. He doesn't turn.

I run towards their car but they drive off before I reach it.

"Derek! I love you!" I yell while panting and gasping for air but he doesn't hear me.

The car is already far away. I collapse on the cold and wet concrete and I put my hands on my head. My knees got hurt but the way my heart breaks in a million pieces is greater than any physical pain I could ever feel.

I shake my head, a hollow feeling takes over my body and I lay on the concrete, looking at Derek's car.

I have to wake up. It's a nightmare. It's not real.

~

I turn on the TV and I stare at it, lost in my thoughts. I just finished crying because Derek ignored my letters, again.

I can't remember the last time I ate. I just know Derek was sentenced to five years in prison and he completely ignored me. I haven't heard from him since then and it broke me. Completely utterly destroyed me.

The local show up on the TV and I notice it's about our town so I turn up the volume.

"Finley Brown, a 42-year-old man has been sexually harassing teenagers at coffee shops. A girl came forward and he is now on the run. We are trying to catch him. Please, if you see him, contact the local authorities." My heart stops beating and I gasp for air, expecting the worst as they show his picture.

It's him.