Sound of Madness

"How normal teenagers do. Sneaking out, lying, and kissing up." Derek suggested to her. "And don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"What if...what if I came with you? Ran away?" Carly said, surprising even herself.

"You could if you wanted too," Derek was suprused by the offer. "Would you really be happy? Being away from you brother?" he questioned her.

"I...I don't know, I've never been away from him before. But I'd be willing to try. For us," She said, blushing a little as she said it.

"No...as much as I would love to have you with me, it won't be right. I can't take you away from the last of your family. But dont worry, we will see each other. I promise you. I will do whatever it takes to see you."

Carly sighed. "Alright."

Derek sighed to her and kissed her cheek. "I'll be around. Probably try to visit you at night, if thats ok."

"Yeah, that's okay...I'm going to miss you, though." Carly laced their fingers together.

"Dont worry. We can fix this...I hope. Devon wont stay mad at me forever. At least, I hope not." Derek brought her hands up to his lips and kissed teh back of it. "I wont let anything come between us."

Carly smiled when he kissed her hand. For some reason it reminded her of a fairytale, though Derek wasn't exactly Prince Charming. Close though, in her mind. "Not even ... Demi.?" It would be so easy for Demi to sneak out and see Derek, Carly was thinking. Even if Demi SAID she was over him.

"Not even Demi." Derek reasured her, a small smile on his face. "Demi and I are over. Nothing will bring us back together."

"Good." Carly hugged him.

Derek rubbed her back gently and sighed. "HOw long do you think Devon will let me stay before he kicks me out of this house?"

"Not long. He probably wants you out as soon as possible," Carly said grudgingly.

"Better make the best of our time then." Derek sighed softly. He was going to miss her. This was the strongest he has felt about any girl and Devon was trying to take that from him.

(aww poor Derek)

"Like how? Going swimming?" Carly kind of tried to lighten the mood. She wasn't good at that, though.

Derek laughed lightly at her suggestion. "If you wanted to." he shrugged.

"I was kidding." Carly rolled her eyes. "But that's mostly what we've done. Swimming at the pond, at the pool...."

Derek laughed lightly at her logic. "Very true." He smiled to her, but his eyes were sad. He didnt want to leave her.

Carly bit her lip, she wasn't sure how to comfort him. "But, really, where are you going to go?"

"Dont worry about me. I'll be fine. I have enough money to get a shaggy apartment. I'll probably coach little kids to get enough money to live." Derek shrugged.

"If I gave you some money would you take it?" Carly and Devon had a lot of money to spare, as they took a bunch when they ranaway.

"Depends on how much. I'm not going to let you wipe yourself out on me. Five to ten bucks? Sure. But proably nothing more." Derek shrugged. He didnt want to cause her pain by helping him.

"You and I both know I can give you more than that." Carly rolled her eyes. "Really five or ten bucks is all I can give you?"

"I don't want you to wipe yourself out because of me," he explained to her. "Plus, you guys and the group need that money more than I do."