(Lila's P.O.V)

It was Thursday already and my evening was passing by uneventful and calm.

No one was home and after I'd ended my call with Grace who was having a good time back at Uni with her boyfriend Eric, I was so not going to open my school textbooks.

She made me jealous.

And so I was killing time. Not that watching the beauty that is How I Met Your Mother could ever be a waste of time.

So here I was in Grace's room on the ground floor. Meaning it was below mine and away from Derek's line of sight which was all I was asking for, really.

I was on the good part of the Goat episode of How I Met Your Mother where on Ted's birthday Barney took him away because he had slept with Robin and was trying to find a loophole in the Bro Code and Lily was housing a goat.

And then the goat ate their towel while in the bathroom, wearing a party hat because....yes.

I chuckled and then my phone pinged.

I switched it on and when I saw Looney Tunes flashing on the message box, my chuckles died down real fast.

I didn't want to but I still opened the message.

Looney Tunes: Are you hiding from me, Kitkat? :(

I sighed to myself.

Yes, Derek had somehow gotten my number by Tuesday afternoon and proceeded to bug me by texting between classes. I considered blocking him but then he'd just annoy the hell out of me in person.

At least I could leave him on read this way.

And yes, I'd also saved his name as Looney Tunes because he still refused to stop calling me Kitkat and I still don't know where that nickname for me originated from so tit for tat, I guess.

Looney Tunes: You're not in your room.

I raised a brow at the text and peeked out of the curtain in Grace's room to see Derek upstairs in his room, texting while peeking into my room.

So not creepy. Nope.

Another text lit up my screen and I read it.

Looney Tunes: But I know you're home.

My lips twitched in amusement but I still didn't respond.

He had enough friends, both males and uhm, females (with benefits). I acknowledged Derek as much as I'd acknowledge seeing Veronica wearing red which goes to say - not at all. Unfortunately he never fails to put a spotlight on me in any classes we share or during breaks.

Looney Tunes: I'm lobely.

Looney Tunes: Lonely* but that works too ;)

I almost told Warren he was better than Derek once this week.

And that was when Derek took to opening my hair and re-braiding it in the middle of History class yesterday and then proceeding to ask the other girls for some accessories silently.

If I was permitted to do it and it wouldn't get me more attention than Derek already had, I'd punch the lights out of him so his face would be unrecognizable. Sadly, I couldn't even turn around or he'd pull my hair and the teacher was already glancing at me suspiciously.

By the time class ended, I felt like Rapunzel in Tangled after those small girls had braided her super long hair with flowers and all. 

I wondered what he would do if I just cut it all off but I loved my mahogany hair more than him. Needless to say, it took me a full fifteen minutes to take out the various kinds of pins and rubber bands and scrunchies he'd managed to plant into my fancy hairdo which was saying a lot because it was supposed to be a simple braid.

So you can understand why I was more than comfortable ignoring him. It wasn't like he apologized either.

No, he just went ahead and got me the apple pie on the school's menu which was even better than an apology.

But I enjoyed it fully and then proceeded to ignore the damn lunatic again when he tried striking a conversation with me while some girl straddled him.

Looney Tunes: Do you want me to throw stones into your room? I'm that bored and you left the window open.

Looney Tunes: I'll do it Romeo style ;) 

I read the text twice and then heard a faint sound like something had fallen into my room.

Fine, he can do it. I'll just collect the stones for the day I'd have to return them to him.

By obviously throwing them back at him. Or his window. Either will work.

Derek sure as hell was annoying. I didn't think it was even possible. He repeatedly made me question if he was even a bad boy with his persistence with annoying me but then he'd do something the opposite of being a hyper kid and we'd be back at square one. 

Shaking my head, I silenced my phone and then kept it face down before diving back into HIMYM.

Ted, Barney, Robin, Marshall and Lily were far more important.

Oh and the goat. Don't forget the goat.

•♤•

My senses picked up on the smell of cigarette smoke.

That's one thing I can't ignore no matter how distracted I might be.

I'd switched from watching the show on Netflix to reading books.

I exhaled harshly and closed the book I was now reading - Empire of Storms (Book 5 in Throne Of Glass Series) by Sarah J Maas.

Standing up, I lightly stretched, already preparing myself to go back to my room. The smell was coming from next door and I had a good idea who it could be.

I checked my phone again to find at least over twenty more text messages from Derek. I deadpanned internally.

When I entered my room, I found an impressive amount of stones. Almost twenty or so. I took a couple of minutes to collect them into an empty jar I kept handy.

I was more than amused but the scent of the smoke was unnerving to me.

Done with that, I stood back up and went to my window.

I saw Derek leaning out of his own window, arms stretched out on the pane and supporting his weight while his dark blue dyed hair shone slightly. It fell over his eyes as he looked away towards the scenery. 

I silently mimicked his pose and my eyes snagged on the lit cig dangling from his lips almost lazily. His posture was slightly tense though and I sensed something wasn't going well for Derek. Taking the silent moment, I observed him again. Strong jawline, clean shaven and definitely got abs and biceps that were bulging in the position he was.

His snake tattoo was wrapped around his right bicep and went up to slightly peak through the neckline of his t-shirt. But there were flames there. And hell, if he didn't rock that look.

Despite how ensnaring his pretty copper eyes were watching me with amusement every time, they were just a distraction from the devil within and that left dimple was not cute.  For once though, those copper eyes weren't trained on me. Derek's face was turned sideways and he seemed to be lost in thought.

Wow. I'm being creepy now.

Shaking myself out of the stupor, I spoke, "Don't smoke."

His copper eyes were instantly on mine and his posture stiffened before a small smirk curled his lips. He relaxed and rose a brow. He released more smoke after a puff. "Why should I do as you say?"

I tilted my head. "You're smoking to distract yourself. You don't particularly enjoy it."

"Watching me secretly, Kitkat?" Derek stilled in response to my words but his smirk didn't fall as he looked at me through hooded eyes. 

My heart skipped a beat with that look but I only leaned down further on my side of the window as a slight breeze ruffled his hair up. "No, I'm just observant."

He chuckled softly.

"Stop smoking, Looney Tunes."

Derek only rose a brow in amusement but grinned, letting the cig dangle languidly from his lips. "And then what will be my distraction?"

It took me a heartbeat to respond, "Aren't I enough of one?"

"If you were in bed and under me, then yes." Derek shrugged and shot me a dimpled grin. "I'd love it if you'd distract me. Sure, you probably aren't the best out there but I could always give you private lessons that'll end in blissful orgasms, Lila." 

Derek's wink in the end and his smirk had me gulping slightly. His perverted jokes weren't that hard to ignore but this was a little over the top.

And coupled with the way he exhaled the smoke from the cigarette with the tattoos visible and the intense gaze, it actually sounded and looked hot.

So right now when he also used my name to emphasize his point, it kinda stirred some weird things inside my stomach.

Like a really nauseous feeling.

I blinked to clear my head.

But the aura right now that enveloped us was different. So was his intent graze, like he was actually considering it.

I let myself smile slightly, "I'll have to pass up on that offer. I feel like you'll be a bit lacking down there."

His eyebrows hit his hairline and he clicked his tongue, plucking the lit cigarette from between his lush lips. "You wanna confirm?" He smirked and I stared at him impassively.

"I'm in a habit of being right and I don't think you'd like to lose major guy points." 

Derek chuckled in response. "That, I wouldn't but I'm also confident. You're just scared."

I smirked, "Sorry, that tactic doesn't work on me."

"Aw, Kitkat what a pity."

I raised a shoulder nonchalantly and he flicked the cigarette, making the ashes fall before he inhaled again. I coughed softly as the smoke infiltrated my senses.

Silence blanketed us and for a few moments, neither of us spoke. Derek wasn't looking at me but I was watching him as he inhaled the smoke and the urge to crush the cigarette underneath my feet grew.

"Derek, I'm being serious. Smoking is injurious to health. Stop it."

"So now you care?" He questioned. "Also that sounds like those commercials and ads during TV time."

"Sure."

He snickered, "Right. What's the real reason?"

I mean, yes I might have my own motives but no matter what smoking is bad and it's not a secret. If I can kill two bird with one stone then why not?

I locked eyes with him. Derek held my stare, giving me a smile that was slightly brittle.

"You're not the only observant one, Kitkat."

I mused, regarding him carefully. "Do you think it helps release stress just because people do it to look badass?" 

He gave me a cheeky grin so I continued, folding my hands on the window sill.

"Some people think it releases stress. However, research has shown that smoking actually increases anxiety and tension. Nicotine creates an immediate sense of relaxation, so people smoke in the belief it reduces stress and anxiety. But it's quite transient."

Derek regarded me carefully and then let the cigarette slip from his lips.

He looked away, clenching his jaw and I gulped, the smell of the smoke bringing forth memories for me so I waved my hand in front of me to drive the smoke away.

We both just watched the surroundings turning darker and he just idly held the smoke in between his fingers.

His husky voice broke the silence, "Do you know what's the most important thing in the world, Lila?"

Him using my name told me he had to be serious. I pondered over it and after a minute give him my response.

"For everyone it's a different thing. But if we're gonna go by the trends then I'll humor you by saying 'love'."

He shot me a grin. "Quite right. But what kind of love?"

I rose a brow, tilting my head at him. "What kind?"

"Family kind." He spoke softly and clenched and unclenched his jaw. 

I listened attentively.

Derek rolled his shoulders, "They're the reason we're even here. Parents. And theirs is the first kind of love we experience."

I couldn't disagree. In most cases at least, he was on point in his deduction.

So he had family problems? 

Still, when we visited their place last Sunday, the family seemed as perfect as any rich one. But thing is, the reality hidden behind the four walls of a house can be easily kept hidden and like I said, I don't believe in first impressions.

I kept mum and he took his time, glancing at the cig before continuing, "And a family's influence can lead you to make decisions that can have weighted consequences."

I wasn't burning to ask him the why's and how's. He was already sharing enough. Though I wasn't interested in Derek anyhow, he wasn't proving me wrong by talking about such sensitive stuff.

If I've learned something from Wattpad books, it's that the badboy always has his demons.

Derek stared intently at his cig, swallowing thickly and the thing was already out by now. No longer lit and producing smoke but not even halfway complete. He crushed it in his hand.

"Family matters. But you matter more." My words made his eyes flit back to me and he gave me a small smile.

Was this why he'd been texting me so much? For a distraction instead of smoking?

"Thanks, Kitkat."

I licked my lips aware of his eyes following the movement, "And Derek?"

He hummed, looking at me as I gave him a non-committal look, "I'll try not to ignore your texts."

He gave me an unimpressed look and I chuckled, "Okay, just 90% of the time. But I'll try."

I didn't need to elaborate. He already understood what and why and so did I. I'm not that heartless, after all.

"I'll be your distraction - and no not in bed." I gave the copper-eyed guy a pointed look and he stared at me in amusement. I kept an impassive face, unaffected externally.

"Just don't smoke again." With that, I closed the curtain and rested my back against the wall, heart beating erratically for some reason.

What was that?

Derek's soft words were almost lost in the wind, but I still caught them, "You already are my distraction, Kitkat. Thank you."

•♤•

A/N

So this was a chapter giving insight into some other deep things, hm? I hope the progression was good! What did you think of the stone-throwing and the text messaging?

Smoking is honestly bad but people still do it, the concepts of people and especially guys looking cool with the whole bad-boy vibe, it's all true and pushes people to pick things like these up and harm themselves. Or the fact that they think it reduces stress. But it shouldn't be supported.

Look out for the next update and please don't forget to vote and comment to let me know what you thought! Thanks for your support so far!

Don't forget to press that start button and comment to let me know your thoughts!

Till next time then!

[Fully Edited.]

~Skyler