Fan Fiction ❯ Everything You Want ❯ Chance Encounters ( Chapter 16 )

Everything You Want

Chapter 16:

Chance Encounters

 

 

 

“So, why do you think ears are shaped the way they are?”

 

Bella put her pencil down and turned her questioning gaze to Ms. McCloon, who was sitting next to her doodling on the test she was supposed to be grading. “What?”

 

Looking up from her drawing, Ms. McCloon sat back in her chair and schooled her face into a serious expression. “I mean, what's the point of them being shaped like that? Why don't we just have holes in the sides of our heads?”

 

Bewildered face shifting to an amused one, Bella laughed. “You are so incredibly random, did you know that?”

 

Ms. McCloon shrugged. “I try,” she chuckled as she returned to her scribbles. “So, how are your classes? Are you understanding the concepts better now that we've gone over them?”

 

Bella nodded. “Yes, thank you so much for your help, Ms. McCloon. I don't think I could've got through this last semester without you,” Bella sighed almost sadly, “I can't believe that school's going to be over in less than four months, this year has gone by so fast.”

 

“Yes, but look at all the good things that have happened,” Ms. McCloon pointed out as she stretched and propped her feet up on the table.

 

Bella smiled brightly. “I know. I haven't been this content in a long time and so much of my current happiness has to do with my relationship with Cole. I mean he's always been there, but this is the closest I think that I've ever been to one person. It's impossible to imagine my life without him in it.”

 

Glancing over at Ms. McCloon, Bella noticed a melancholy air about her. “Are you ok, Ms. McCloon?”

 

Shaking her head as if trying to clear her mind, Ms. McCloon smiled faintly and lowered her legs to push herself from her chair. “I'm fine, hun, and please, call me Lacey. I'd like to think of us as friends, wouldn't you?”

 

“Very much… Lacey,” Bella grinned and embraced the older woman quickly before collecting her books and waving goodbye. “I've gotta get home. That huge history test is tomorrow and Cole promised to help me study. Have a good night!” she called as she rushed from the room.

 

Lacey watched as Bella rushed from the room with a quiet chuckle. `I've never met anyone quite like that girl,' she mused to herself thoughtfully, `She used to put up a brave, happy façade, but lately it seems as if the wall she's carefully built around herself has faded and crumbled away.'

 

Spending so much time with the young girl had enabled Lacey to get to know her very well. Bella had confided in her about her mom's death and her father's drinking problem. She'd even told her much about her and Cole's budding relationship.

 

Lacey knew how deep her love for the boy ran, and sometimes she worried that Bella put too much of her happiness into him. Not that she doubted Cole, not at all. A blind man could see the deep, unconditional love he had for her.

 

It's just that nobody's perfect, and everyone is bound to slip up once in awhile. Lacey just hoped that the two lovers would be careful with each other's hearts…

 

 

 

 

 

Halfway outside, Bella stopped and slapped her forehead with a groan. “Son of a bitch…” she mumbled as she realized she'd neglected to call Cole and let him know she needed a ride today. Dad was home, but his car was in the shop so that left her in a jam.

 

Fumbling around in her purse for her cell phone, Bella jumped at the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her.

 

Spinning around to confront said throat clearer, Bella narrowed her eyes and scowled as recognition washed over her in unwelcome waves. “What do you want Derrick? I'm really not in the mood for your shit, so say your piece quickly and then be on your way.”

 

Derrick held his hands up in mock surrender. “Chill butch, I come in peace.”

 

Bella snorted disbelievingly. “Uh-huh.”

 

“I'm serious. I've searched you out to apologize for the callous way I treated you. Honestly. I'm really sorry, Bell. I have serious issues and there is no excuse for what I did to you.”

 

Head spinning at the complete change in his personality, Bella shook her head and frowned. “Do you really expect me to believe that, Derrick? You were a complete ass to me a couple of months ago in the park, why all of a sudden are you begging for my forgiveness?”

 

Derrick shrugged. “I don't know. Let's just say you… knocked some sense into me.”

 

Bella bit back a laugh as she remembered his shocked expression when she'd slapped him and kept her suspicious stare trained on the sincere looking boy in front of her.

 

“I'm not the naïve girl I used to be, Derrick, and I'm not going to fall willingly into your lies anymore. Apology not accepted. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've gotta get going. Cole's waiting for me.”

 

Before she could completely turn away, she felt Derrick's hand tug her back around to face him. “Wait, please, Bell? At least hear me out, ok?”

 

Sighing loudly Bella crossed her arms in front of her and rolled her eyes. “Fine.”

 

Derrick smiled gratefully. “Look, I know you don't trust me, and I don't expect you, too. At least not for a while, but I really want to be your friend, Bella. I want to make up for all the shit I've done to you.”

 

Bella uncrossed her arms and moved a little closer. Looking into his eyes, she could see the regret and honesty swirling in his chocolate brown depths.

 

`Maybe I should give him a chance to redeem himself. I mean I'm on this whole self discovery kick, what better way to better myself then to let go of past bitterness…'

 

Bella smiled cautiously. “Friends, right? Only friends?”

 

“Cross my heart,” Derrick promised.

 

“Alright, Derrick, but don't disappoint me. You only get one chance.”

 

Derrick grinned. “Understood. Now, where ya heading? Need a ride?”

 

Bella gestured helplessly. “Yeah, if you don't mind. I completely forgot to call Cole this afternoon and let him know I needed picked up.”

 

Laughing, Derrick winked and motioned for her to follow him. “Not a problem, chica. I remember where you live.”

 

“Great, thanks,” Bella said appreciatively, “I thought I was going to have to hoof it back to my house.”

 

“No biggie. I was actually heading that way anyway.”

 

Bella glanced over at him as she slid into the passenger seat of his car. “Why? Does Chrissy live out near me?” she asked, unable to keep the note of sarcasm from her voice.

 

Wincing at her tone, Derrick shook his head. “I guess I deserved that, huh?” he mumbled, “No, I'm actually not seeing her anymore.”

 

“Oh. Then why…”

 

“My new girlfriend Michelle lives out in your area. Actually, she's part of the reason I decided to confront you today.”

 

Shifting in her seat, Bella turned to look at him. “What do you mean?”

 

Turning his head, Derrick cast her a sheepish grin. “Well, she found out from a couple people what happened at the club and let's just say she was less than amused.”

 

Bella snorted.

 

“Anyway, she's threatened to leave me if I didn't right myself in your eyes,” Derrick continued, “And I can't lose her, Bell. I've never felt like this about anyone. I'm sorry if that hurts you…”

 

Surprisingly, Bella wasn't hurt by Derrick's words. Actually, it was quite the opposite. She felt… relieved. She and Derrick were alike in so many ways. Both used to try and hide their emotions away because they were too afraid to face them. Bella was just happy that Derrick had found someone he deemed worthy enough to be real with. Just like she had.

 

“It doesn't. Hurt me I mean. I'm really happy for you, Derrick,” Bella replied honestly with a genuine smile in his direction.

 

“Thank you,” Derrick smiled, “It's weird, ya know? How this whole shitty thing between us worked out. Honestly, if it wasn't for the stuff you said to me at the park, I probably would've never been able to make the relationship I have with Michelle work. You helped me finally realize what an ass I've been.”

 

Bella laughed as he turned onto her street and parked in front of her house. “Glad I could help,” she teased.

 

Derrick grinned and twisted in his seat to face her. “Yeah, you always did have a way with words.”

 

Bella stuck her tongue out at him with a giggle. “Well, I gotta go. Cole's probably waiting for me…” Bella trailed off when a troubling thought struck her. `Cole is not going to be happy when he finds out I've been hanging out with Derrick. What am I going to do…?'

 

Derrick poked her arm, snapping her out of her daze. “Are you ok?”

 

Bella smiled weakly. “Um, Derrick. Could you possibly not tell anyone about this? Not yet at least. I mean, it's not that I want to hide it, it's just that Cole really doesn't like you and…”

 

Derrick waved away her words. “I understand. I'll let you tell him, ok? I don't want to cause you any more problems.”

 

“Thank you so much,” Bella grinned gratefully as she got out of the car.

 

“Bella?”

 

Stepping down off the curb, Bella crouched down to see Derrick through the open window. “Yeah?”

 

Reaching out his hand, Derrick cupped her cheek affectionately. “I'm really happy for you, too,” he murmured softly.

 

Tears pooling in her eyes, Bella covered his hand with her own. “You've changed so much, Derrick, for the better. I'm so glad you approached me today and I hope we can be friends now that all that crap is behind us.”

 

“Definitely.”

 

Smiling, Bella pulled away and waved as Derrick drove away. Watching until she could no longer see his car, she dropped her hand and sighed. `Now, how do I tell Cole about this?

 

Bella smiled cautiously as an idea came to her. `Maybe I don't have to. I mean it's ok to have a few secrets, right?

 

`That would not be a wise idea.'

 

`Why not? I'm sure Cole has stuff he doesn't tell me…' Bella tried to reason with herself.

 

`I sincerely doubt he's hiding secret trysts with an ex girlfriend from you,' the voice replied sarcastically.

 

Bella winced. `You make it sound like I'm cheating on him or something. Derrick and I are just friends.'

 

`Ok, then why are you so hesitant in telling him about your new friendship, huh?'

 

Hitching her books higher in her arms, Bella sighed. `Because we both know how he would react… Hold on a second, aren't you supposed to be on my side?'

 

`No, I'm the rational part of yourself that you often neglect to listen to. The one who tries to prevent you from screwing your life up.'

 

`I'm not screwing anything up. I will tell him…Just… not now…'

 

The voice fell silent for a moment.

 

`Running again, Bella?'

 

Bella scowled darkly. `I'm not listening to you anymore.' With that thought, Bella shrugged off her upsetting thoughts and crossed the street to her house.

 

`Cole and I are so happy and our relationship is still new. I just don't want to ruin anything…'

 

`What do you think is going to happen if he finds out you've been lying to him?'

 

`He won't find out and I'm not lying.'

 

The voice snorted. `Call it what you want, in the end you're still keeping things from him.'

 

Ignoring the voice, Bella stopped in front of her mailbox, failing to notice the figure standing in front of her bedroom window. Watching her.

 

Upstairs, Cole followed his girlfriend with suspicious eyes as she collected the mail and walked towards the house with a slight frown marring her features.

 

`Why in the hell did that asshole Derrick drive her home?' Cole backed away from the window and sat down heavily upon the bed. Looking up as Bella entered the room, Cole pushed away his bewildered anger and smiled brightly over at her.

 

“Hey baby, why are you so late?” he asked as Bella dropped her books with a thump and launched herself into his waiting arms.

 

Bella curled herself around his body and hid her face in his shirt to hide her guilty expression. “Because I'm retarded and forgot to tell you I needed a ride today,” she mumbled into the fabric, “Soooo, I had Sara give me a ride home.”

 

Cole froze. `Why would she lie to me?' he wondered wildly, desperately trying to convince himself that he had just misheard her.

 

“Who drove you?”

 

Bella burrowed her head deeper into his shoulder. “Sara. Remember her? You met her at the carnival last year.”

 

`She's lying to me. Why is she lying to me?'

 

“Cole?”

 

Shaking his head, Cole mumbled, “No, I don't recall meeting her.”

 

Bella giggled nervously and lifted her head to press a quick kiss to his neck as she pushed herself from his lap. “Oh, well then I'll just have to introduce you two again. Oh by the way…” Cole tuned her out as she babbled on about something Ms. McCloon had done earlier in the day.

 

All his befuddled mind could comprehend was that fact that Bella was blatantly lying to him. `Why would she do that? Is she seeing him again…? No she wouldn't do that. She loves me… Right?'

 

“Bella? I love you, you know that right?”

 

Stopping her nervous chattering at his softly uttered question, Bella turned questioning eyes to his. “Of course I know that, silly. I love you, too,” she murmured as she closed the distance between them to kneel in front of him.

 

Resting her head on his knee, Bella sighed as Cole began running gentle fingers through her wind tangled hair. “Do you have anything you want to tell me, Bell? Did anything happen today?”

 

Cole's body tensed as he waited for her answer. `Surely she won't lie again… Maybe she was just afraid about how I would react…'

 

“No, baby. Nothing,” Bella mumbled as she mentally kicked herself for being such a coward.

 

Cole's face contorted into a grimace of pain. `Why? Why are you lying…?'

 

Continuing his gentle ministrations, Cole replaced his previous expression of hurt with one of determination. `It doesn't matter. I'll find out.'

 

Staring down at the girl at his feet, Cole frowned.

 

`I refuse to lose her to him.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*~~~~A/N~~~~*

 

 

 

This is the longest chapter I've written in awhile! lol Hope you enjoyed the new twist… :o)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Next Chapter: Dangerous Deceptions