My Bad Boy Is A Murderer [EDITING]

Chapter 20 (Living Situations)

"Derek stop." I said, looking down at a bloodied Brad. Derek didn't listen, he continued punching Brad over and over, full force. "Derek, stop!" I grabbed his arm and he looked up at me. "What's wrong with you?" I asked him, knowing he wouldn't usually do something like this.

I knelt down beside Brad who's face was bloody and cut up. I can't believe Derek did this with his bare fists.

"Well, I made myself look stupid." Brad said.

"No, you were just trying to help. And I'm glad that I'll always have a friend there for me."

Brad's friends helped him up and helped him to the nurse. The group that had gathered slowly dispersed.

Derek leaned against my locker with his hands shoved in his pockets. He looked down at his shoes.

"What was that?" I asked him. He didn't look at me. "Derek, what's wrong?" I tilted his chin up so he'd look at me.

"I know that I give off this tough demeanor, but I'm human. It hurts to hear the names everyone calls me. I don't care about the stares that I get everyday, or the fact that people are afraid of me. But I do care that they call me a murderer and a woman beater, because I'm neither of those. I'd never lay a hand on you or any other girl. And they don't know what happened with Thomas Malfoy."

"I get that, but you can't just beat someone to a pulp. I mean, what if you had killed him?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Derek's P.O.V*

I want to be a better person for Arabella. I'm trying, I really am. But sometimes I can't suppress my anger and it takes control. I know that I scared Arabella while beating up Brad, but I couldn't help myself. I've hated the guy since the moment he became interested in Arabella. He dated her, then shunned her, and now he has the nerve to call me a woman beater. He was asking for it.

"It won't happen again." I told her.

"Can we go to class now?" I nodded and took her hand in mine.

~*~

Five minutes before lunch, Charles called me out of class to talk. I really wish he'd leave me alone.

"I thought you'd like to know how the investigation is going." He said.

"Yeah, definitely."

"We think we've found some prints on whoever broke into Arabella's house. And another thing, a friend of mine questioned the guy who hurt Arabella. They have reason to believe that he's working for whoever wrote that letter. Everything is beginning to tie together."

So Arabella did get hurt because of me. Whoever wrote that letter was trying to send me a message.

"I'm bring Arabella into my mess." I said.

"Your mom told me Arabella is living with you guys for a little while. I'm guessing that was your idea."

"Yeah, but now I'm beginning to rethink it. If Arabella is getting hurt because of me, she should stay away. But I tried to break up with her once and she wouldn't let me. In fact, she told me that she loves me."

"I really like Arabella, but I'm not going to stop you from breaking up with her. That's for you to decide."

"Thanks, that really helps."

~*~

After school I waited by my bike for Arabella. All day I've been debating whether to break up with her or not. If I do, where would she stay? Would she still be willing to live with us? And we still have to do the project together, that'd be awkward.