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Chapter XVIII

I drag my eyes back to the untouched food in front of me and pay attention to the conversation the group is having.

"Aye, Amanda you been quiet you good?" I look up at Luke and shrug giving him the same response I gave Derek this morning.

"Here." He pulls out a Hershey's Kisses from his pocket and hands it to me.

I let out a laugh and shove the chocolate into my mouth. 

"Here comes Derek," says Sarah gesturing behind me. I turn and immediately notice something off about him. He looks serious. The complete opposite from this morning and in class.

When he reaches our table he leans into my ear, ignoring Luke's glare. Guess they're not quiet friends yet.

"I need to talk to you after school," he whispers. His voice sending chills down my spine and with that he walk away- not bothering to turn back around.

**

I step out of my car and head inside the cafe. The same one I've come to before- where he found me, and send a quick message to Brenda. Letting her know I've arrived. 

I immediately spot Derek sitting at a booth close to the window looking at his phone. His eyes narrowing at whatever he sees on his screen.

"Hey," I say, sliding into the booth across from him.

He looks up at me showing no emotion. Where is his smile?

"Is something wrong?" I ask feeling nervous all of a sudden. I've never seen this side of him and I hope I don't see it again.

"I just wanted to talk to you. Get to know you better."

I look at him confused.

"Look I .. realized what little I know about you. We never got to that point. You would always ignore my questions, I think I deserve a right to know something." He explains. 

"Okay,.... fine... what do you want to know? My favorite color?" I playfully ask,  trying to lighten the mood we suddenly have going on.

"I suppose we can start there."

D e r e k

We've talked about many things, yet something seems off about her as I listen. It's like her responses are rehearsed. Almost like she's been practicing what to say if anyone ever asked her these very same questions. And throughout this whole situation.  I can't help but also feel this attraction towards her. Instead of her dark black hair and blue eyes.  I'm faced with light brown hair and those brown hazel eyes that always managed to take my breath away, her skin- less pale, and her smile I've missed so much. I shut my eyes and push the image away. She's not here, but I have to do this. I need answers for her. Whatever this is needs to stop. This... this feeling that's been trying to creep up on me lately. Enough. I have her. 

"Derek?" I open my eyes and see her looking at me, concern etched in hers.

"Are you okay?" I look out the window and slowly nod. 

Stop it Derek.

I suddenly feel her hand grab my own and our fingers being intertwined.

"Don't lie. Somethings wrong tell me" I look down at our hands. Which only fuels my messed up emotions and thoughts. How am I supposed to tell her, maybe I'm wrong in doing this? But my phone in my pocket suddenly becomes heavy. 

Ask her about Linda. I can assure you she has a lot to say, more than what you think..

She pulls her hand away. "Never mind, you don't have to tell me."

"No, I want too," I reply "I was thinking of Linda actually." She tenses.

"What about her?" She knows.

"She's in a place shes not suppose to be in ....over something she didn't do."

I'm sure she know the full story but something about her response to my words seems off. I does not correlate with what I imagined her reaction to be. 

"Do you believe she did it." She asks.

This makes me snap "No, because she didn't!"

I see her flinch and guilt has me immediately apologizing. "Sorry," I say glancing around and noticing every person now looking in our direction.

"Look" She places her hand on my chin making me look back at her again.

"I heard what happened and I believe she didn't do it too, but ....do you know who could have?"

I shake my head. "I've been trying to figure that out ever since I got here." And maybe you have answers.

My guard suddenly goes up. When I heard Linda's voice it gave me hope. So yeah, I want to figure out what happened with Jacob- even after these years, and with these messages and phone calls I've now been getting. They've been making me doubt almost everything. Not to mention Luke's words to her that day. 

"What are you hiding?" I blurt out causing her eyes to widen.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't Lie" I growl out. 

"Why are you asking me all of this all of a sudden?" Her eyes are burning with rage and bewilderment, and her hands are clenched into fists. 

"Because maybe your not whom you appear to be," I say slightly raising my voice. Remember you have Linda. Its her you like- the one you've been waiting for.

She shakes her head- running a hand through her dark hair "What are you hiding. Because I believe we're all hiding many things." She fires back.

I stay quiet.

"That's what I thought" With that, she walks out leaving me with my thoughts and emotions once again.