Unexpected LOVE

Her Absence (Chapter 6) Derek's POV

I'm a moron, that's a given.
I missed her. I never knew love could be that strong or maybe it was just attachment. I don't know what it was but I know what it is. I love her and I know it for a fact that I'll get her back no matter the cost

Merlie and I met at my friend Blake's birthday. It's basically the big party of the year. Rich son of a bitch! He is actually a nice guy. Maybe.... I'm just a little jealous. If I was like him, I wouldn't have messed it up with Merlie.
Blake and I had been friends from 2nd grade. He might be rich and devilishly handsome but he was a nice person. No stuck up behaviour, no sluts, no Ferraris or any blonde stick with preppy clothes for a girlfriend. He was a dude. A genuine real dude.
Merlie had come to the party for no particular reason.

I noticed her when I turned to look for Blake. She was like light and I had to follow it or I wouldn't live. She swayed to the music and her long brown hair swayed along with it. I wanted to know her.
I needed to look into her eyes.
I walked to her, I had to.
She turned. I swallowed a lump in my throat and stared at the glory she was. She looked so defenseless and innocent but what caught my attention was the way she looked at me. She froze. I was arresting her with my eyes, she didn't move. Before I could reach her some prick pulled her out from the frozen state. He looked at her with adoration but she was still looking at me. It made me smile for some ridiculous reason. He held her waist and coaxed her to dance but she didn't budge. She was still looking at me.

"Common, can't I have one dance?" The guy getting on my nerve asked. She didn't answer. I smiled again, don't ask why.

"No, she's with me" I don't know why I said that but I had to. He had to leave and I didn't know what else to say.

"Are you?" The perfectly suited dude asked. He was waiting for an answer and so was I. She is going to say no and go with him. He was the less creepier guy. What I was doing was beyond creepy. She just looked at me emotionlessly.

"Yes" she said? I'm not sure. Did she just agree? Did she have a death wish? For all she knows, I could be a murderer. She wouldn't be able to protect herself in the real world, I would happily volunteer.

"Well then, have a good night" he took her hand and kissed it, who does that anymore? He walked away and relief finally5swept over me. I breathed again, I didn't know I was holding my breath.

"Would you care for a dance?" I sounded like the other rich dudes in that room. Just blending in.....

She just nodded and smiled innocently making her cheeks flush. She was do beautiful.

You might ask what went wrong, it was me. I became a mess. My sister died and I didn't know how to handle it. She fought back hard but cancer won. Merlie doesn't even know that I had a sister. I kept my visits to the hospital a secret and buried it down with my sanity.

My sister's death broke me in ways I couldn't even explain. My sister was the only thing that was constant in my life. I was looking for escape, escape from pain. Merlie reminded me of the comfort Jade used to offer and it was not helping. Merlie didn't give up, she stayed. Staying made it worse. She never gave up on us. I did all sorts of things to hurt her, I did drugs, I became an alcoholic and then the worst, I cheated on her. Not once or twice but repeatedly. I didn't deserve her. I succeeded in hurting her. I seriously have no idea who it benefited, seing her hurt, hurt me more.

"YOU!" Before I could see who it was, I was pinned to the wall and punched right on my nose. Pain shot through my nostrils and I felt blood trickle down my nose. Anger and rage pulled me out of the pain as I looked up.

Jackson Whitesides. What the fuck?

I knocked him out instantly without giving it a single thought.
I was pounding at his face but he tackled me and somehow had the upper hand. I could see the damage I had to his face but it was not enough. He was holding me to the ground and choking my throat. I struggled to snap his wrist but the position didn't really help my decision. He is trying to kill me.

I kicked him in the nuts and pushed him to the floor to gain advantage. His face was flinching in pain and I was pounding his face. He wouldn't be able to recognize himself. He was groaning and struggling but he wouldn't move much in pain. I pinned his hands to the floor and held him tight.

"Oh my god, get away from him" Penny screamed and rushed to Jackson's side. She tried to pull me up and I gave in and stood up.
She kneelef down with great difficulty to check the damage I had done. I felt a pang of guilt straining my chest.
She put her arm around him and helped him up. He struggled but kept a brave face on. It was annoying to see guys with fake emotions on their face. Accept and embrace your every emotion like a man.

"Well you're on a parole to hurt people today. " she was angry and disgusted with me. I wonder why he even came at me.

Before any teacher or people saw, Penny carried him away.
Shit is falling apart and I couldn't blame anyone but me.