Derek's Room - hard decisions

[Derek Scott]

"...No, but I..."

"I can always apply at USD. My grades are high enough, I-"

"...But... All right. Just... tell Aunt Trudy to give me a call, okay?"

Derek hung up his phone, throwing it at his bed and flopping his head down on his desk. God damn it...

[Chloe Grant]

Hesitantly, Chloe knocked on the door.

[Derek Scott]

Derek pulled himself out of his chair, making his way over to the door to open it. Then he sighed. "Yeah?"

[Chloe Grant]

"I'm sorry about what happened." Chloe said "I know you don't want anything to do with me, but please, can you give me a chance?"

[Derek Scott]

Derek sighed, then moved out of the way, not wanting to do this in the hall. "All right, let's hear it," he said.

[Chloe Grant]

"Fighting with Melody was daft, and I shant do it again." Chloe said "I didn't mean to embarrass you, or make things hard for you, and I hope that we can put this all behind us. Because you're special, and I can't imagine my life without you."

[Derek Scott]

"...Daft? Chloe, how many stitches did she have to get?"

[Chloe Grant]

"I'm not sure, exactly." Chloe said "At least a dozen. At the time...I was just afraid that she'd blow me up."

[Derek Scott]

"Then you don't get into a..." he sighed, leaning tiredly against his desk. "Never mind. I... just nevermind."

[Chloe Grant]

"Like I said, daft." Chloe said "What is this?" she asked, looking down at the papers on his desk.

[Derek Scott]

"What? I... nothing," he said, looking away. Shit.

[Chloe Grant]

"Its just that it looks like college applications, and I don't know why you'd want to do that."

[Derek Scott]

"Well, what's it matter," Derek shot back. "I can go to school wherever I want."

[Chloe Grant]

"You can, but why would you go back to America when you can stay here and not get sent to a camp?"

[Derek Scott]

"All you've got to do is register. You think anyone cares if I'm a mutant in South Dakota? The hell they do."

[Chloe Grant]

"Right now." Chloe said "But why would you want to go back? Don't you like it here?"

[Derek Scott]

"You know what? I think that we've hit just about all the explanation I owe you. Which is none," Derek snapped, snatching up the applications.

[Chloe Grant]

"Derek,please." Chloe said "Tell me what is wrong."

[Derek Scott]

"Oh, we care about what's wrong with me now?" Derek snapped.

[Chloe Grant]

"I always care about you." Chloe said

[Derek Scott]

Derek just slumped in the chair against his desk, his face resting in his hand. "Just go."

[Chloe Grant]

"Derek, I'm here for you." Chloe said "Don't push me away."

[Derek Scott]

"What's it matter. Everything just gets shot to shit anyway..."

[Chloe Grant]

"Then I'm here." Chloe said "I'll be here, and we'll get through it."

[Derek Scott]

Derek just went silent, not looking at her, not uncovering his face. Keep it together, keep it together, keep it together...

[Chloe Grant]

"I'm here." Chloe said "I'm not going away."

[Derek Scott]

"It's my mom," he said quietly. "She just found out that her cancer's out of remission."

[Chloe Grant]

"Oh Jesus." Chloe said "Derek, I'm so sorry."

[Derek Scott]

"Yeah, it's all right. My problem. Doesn't matter."

[Chloe Grant]

"Yes it does matter." Chloe replied, hugging him "It matters to me."

[Derek Scott]

And Derek, seeming to snap at the contact, just buried his face against her and cried.

[Chloe Grant]

And Chloe held him close, comforting him as he cried.

[Derek Scott]

"I've got no idea what to do," he managed. "She keeps telling me not to move back, but... who could stay here when that's happening?"

[Amanda Weinrich]

"You should listen to your mother." Chloe said "Let her take care of you, if that is what she wants. The school could get you there if things get bad."

[Derek Scott]

"I don't need taking care of, SHE does!" he protested, looking up at her.

[Chloe Grant]

"I know that." Chloe said "But....maybe it'll help your mum more if she knows that you're safe."

[Derek Scott]

Derek leaned his head against her again. "Maybe. I don't know. I just... should be doing more. I should be there, I shouldn't be over here and... being happy and..."

[Chloe Grant]

"Its ok." Chloe said "It ok. She wants you to be happy."