Author's Note: Sorry that I've been absent for a few extra weeks than normal. Getting settled here in Korea has been tougher than I thought and work has become my main priority. However, after finishing the first part to the collaboration piece that I'm working on with xSweetEternityx, I instantly jumped into writing for this story and hopefully I'll be updating Forbidden here pretty soon.

Enjoy!

Tram Wrecked

Part 3

Derek stepped away from me and his gaze fell. I wasn't having that. I reached for his arm to keep him from getting any farther but he slid out of my grasp.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that," he rumbled.

"You're not answering my question, Derek." I said, teeth nearly clenching to keep tears from spilling over.

"When we get out of this mess, I promise, I'll leave and you won't have to worry about-"

"Tell me why!" I exclaimed, cutting him off. I couldn't help it. Tears welled and spilled. To think that I had imagined that I had shed enough tears over this man the first year after he left. I had been utterly and painfully wrong. Just as the emotions of being in love with Derek came snapping back at me the moment he kissed me, so did those of being hurt at a crippling level once he left. I felt angry, sad, pained and scared. Scared by his words, that he'd leave all over again, though, I knew for my own health he should and never show his face again.

But I had to know why.

"No note. No phone call. One day you're there, distant because of your guilt about that kid and the next day you're gone. Like you and your family packed overnight and fled the country. Didn't you once think that I deserved some sort of an explanation?"

"Of course I did, Chloe. But-"

"But what?"

He finally met my eye and I had to steel myself from faltering under those puppy dog orbs of his that said 'I know I peed on the rug, but I didn't mean to.' When I held his gaze, unyielding, unwilling to be fazed by him again, he lifted his arm, hand going to the back of his neck as he rubbed it uncomfortably, a habit he had when he felt uneasy.

"But what, Derek." I said again, tone tight.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me."

A muffled sigh as Derek's hand moved from his neck to his mouth, then to his hair, raking his fingers through it. He was still close enough for me to see his features but, even if he wasn't, his strange, luminescent green eyes were unusually brighter than, well, already being unusually bright. There was a light sheen of sweat forming on his brow and upon noting that I realized how warm it was in the tram.

"Derek." I said sternly when he still had yet to answer.

"Chloe, I can't-"

"You can't?" I interrupted, scoffing. "What's so hard about giving me an explanation? Were you really so afraid to look me in the eye and tell me that you didn't want me anymore, didn't love me, that you had your family uproot and leave without a word?"

Derek's eyes suddenly snapped to mine, anger filling them.

"It was nothing like that. I never stopped loving you and don't you dare assume that I did."

"What other choice did you give me?"

"Didn't you ever once think that you knew me, that you knew how I felt about you and that there was a reason?" Derek growled, returning the step he had taken away before. "That I wouldn't have left unless I had to?"

Despite seeming angry, Derek absentmindedly tugged at the tie around his neck, loosening it as if he were having a hard time breathing. He scratched at his right arm incessantly that I wouldn't be surprised if he'd been able to draw blood despite his dress shirt protecting his skin.

"I tried to, Derek. Believe me, God knows I tried. But after a year, two years, four? What you want to believe and what seems more logical become more difficult to distinguish between."

"You don't understand-" He started, voice rising.

"You could have contacted me-"

"I did it to protect you!" Derek bellowed, sweat trickling from his temples, hands at his sides, fists clenching to keep control of his temper that I knew him to have.

For a moment, we stared at each other. I processed his words and what they could possibly mean while allowing him to cool down. It was an old tactic really. One I used back whenever Derek and I fought growing up. But, this was more than one of our petty, childish fights. I was going to get my answers. Answers I've been waiting five years for. Telling me he never stopped loving me? I could tell that by the way he kissed me. Saying that what he did was to protect me?

It wasn't enough.

"I left to keep you safe, Chloe." Derek murmured, voice softer now as his anger ebbed. His tense shoulders slacked a fraction, though, there was still a hint of stiffness radiating off of him.

"Safe?" I questioned, untrusting.

He nodded. "And as soon as I saw you this morning, I should have turned and walked away. I should have left you to stay mad at me and kept myself from moving back into your life so that you could stay safe. But, when I knew it was you I just-" Derek struggled for a second, continuing to scratch at his arm. He glanced down at it, frowned, shook his head and met my eyes again with a new resolve.

"It doesn't matter. As soon as we are out of here, that's just what I'll do. I'll leave and everything will go back to the way it should be."

"But why are things supposed to be this way? Stay safe from what?" I questioned.

Derek shook his head and made to turn away. This time I did get ahold of his arm and I held my grip.

"That's not good enough, Derek. After all this time, how am I supposed to believe anything that you say, especially when you put things so vaguely? I need the truth."

"Chloe, you won't be able to understand the truth."

Voices and tension were rising again as was the temperature of the tram.

"Believe it or not I can understand a lot of things. Things that otherwise don't make sense. Tell me the truth." I annunciated the last four words harshly, as if that would help them to absorb into his thick skull. However, Derek opened his mouth with another retort that would no doubt be something similar to 'Drop it, Chloe,' but froze before he could.

Below my palm his muscles twitched. My brows furrowed as I removed my grasp, observing as a muscle spasm erupted beneath his skin.

I looked up at him, perplexed, finally putting all of Derek's odd physical occurrences in the last couple of minutes together. Heavy sweat, bright, fever-shot eyes, the scratching that seemed to be a quirk of discomfort, muscle spasms? They all started when stress was put on him. By me. Was it the enclosed space? He had always been somewhat claustrophobic. Was he having an anxiety attack?

"You need to sit down," I murmured.

"No," Derek said, voice gruff at he stared down at his arm. "I need- I need to get out of here."

"What?"

I barely had the word out before Derek pushed past me and staggered to the door. Bewildered, I trailed behind him, questioning him along the way.

"Derek what are you…"

Derek's hands slid over the door before landing on the seam I had attempted to pry apart earlier. I stared, incredulous as my words trailed off. Derek's shoulder's contorted and he gave a low, rumbled grunt that was soon silenced by a shuddering, groaning sound. Eyes wide with shock, I watched as the metal of the sealed doors quivered at the force of Derek's strength, moaning and whining as he pulled them open.

When they were open enough for Derek to slide through, he murmured a weak "Stay here," before he slipped between the doors and disappeared into the tunnel.

It took me less than ten seconds to shake myself from my befuddled stupor and stumble after him, his name echoing throughout the tunnel as I barreled into the darkness.

A lot of dialogue for this chapter without much of anything else going on. However, this was needed to move into the second half of this fic where some questions will finally start having some answers. Hope you guys enjoyed!

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