Disclaimer: I do not own Darkest Powers, or any characters associated with the series.

9:19:57

9:19:58

9:19:59

9:20:00

Derek looked from the digital clock on his nightstand, to his physics text book. The first-year college student may already know the formulas for this year's curriculum, but at the moment, he could not recall any.

He had always been advanced at mathematics and science, but lately he'd been having trouble paying attention, and actually getting work done. The "genius" of a student, as his roommate called him, was having trouble grasping the reason for his recent loss of focus.

Hell, he did know why. He knew the exact date it had started, and why it started.

His roommate and best friend.

The kind, blonde-haired, blue eyed pixie of a best friend he had; a polar opposite to his blunt, black haired, green eyed hulking figure.

Chloe Saunders. Best friends since childhood, along with his tag-along of a brother; the charismatic, half Asian Simon Bae.

They and always been close, Chloe positive and trying to get Derek to be more happy, and to smile more. Something he did do, but only around Chloe.

He never thought he would see her this way. He thought of her as a best friend, not as a potential love interest.

But a few days ago, 7 to be exact –which Derek always was- reality hit Derek in the face.

March the 5th, the day Derek's brother asked out Chloe.

He didn't realize it at first, but he was annoyed. He confronted his brother about this. His brother, who had a reputation as a womanizer (getting woman into bed a profession of his), was adamant to taking Chloe out on a nice date, at a restaurant Derek could never afford due to his large tuition fees, that may or may not end in sex.

Sex.

Sex with Chloe Saunders.

Derek's best friend.

Simon also ignore the fact that he may be ruining Chloe and Derek's friendship, as he told his brother, "What's the worst that can happen?"

Well, in Derek's mind, there were many worst case scenarios. Other than death, his least favourite was the one where Chloe and Simon fell in love and got married, and had blonde babies and Chloe never wanted to see Derek again, and never really wanted to be his friend and-

Derek took a deep breath. That was improbable, he would tell himself. You're a numbers guy; you should realize that the chance of that happening is low.

Chance. That was what had caused all of this. Chance was what caused Derek and Chloe to meet. So there was a chance that this could happen. And that Chloe and Simon would fall in love.

But another scenario that was most probable, was Chloe falling in love with Simon. And after a few dates, and Simon's loss of interest beginning, he would break up with her, causing Chloe to go into a stage of depression and push Derek away, and then commit suicide-

Derek leant his head against the wall his bed was leant against. Thinking of this was not helping his situation and lack of focus. If anything it was making him more anxious for Chloe to come home.

Home. That's what this apartment was to him.

Derek had been 5 years of age when he had come to live with Simon and Kit Bae, who had later adopted him but allowed him to keep his "original" last name. They had welcomed him into their home, and given love and shelter.

He loved Kit, he really did, but that didn't stop the fact that he had always felt like an outcast. Growing up as a Caucasian giant, against a Korean heritage family was strange, as were the looks Derek would receive at family reunions. Kit had tried to make Derek feel at home, but that feeling of being an outsider was always there.

That feeling shrunk a tiny by when he met Chloe Saunders in the seventh grade. She had just moved to town, and was living in the house across the street from Kit's, and was beginning to go to the same school as Derek and Simon.

On her first day of school, she noticed Derek sitting alone and went to make friends with him. After many failed attempts, she had begun tearing up, and Derek attempted to comfort her. In between stutters, she told him that she had just moved to town, and most of the students weren't friendly, and she felt like an outsider. Derek had almost smiled when he heard that, and handed her a tissue, telling her they could be outsiders together.

After that, he learned she lived across the street from him, and her absent father was away for work, leaving her alone for the rest of the month. He told her to come by to his house, and have dinner with Kit, Simon and himself.

That's how it had begun.

They had been through so much: Chloe overcoming her stutter –which only came out when she was crying and extremely nervous-, Derek running away after a fight with Kit about his biological father looking for him, Derek explaining the abuse he had from his biological father, Chloe crying because her Aunt Lauren had died, Derek beginning his 'acne, grease' phase –which Chloe spent by his side-, Chloe having her first heartbreak from Owen Maloney –who Derek had to hesitate not to beat up for making Chloe cry-, the burning of Derek's baggy clothes –except a few sweatshirts which were kept in Chloe's closet for her to wear-.

And now, they were in their first year of college together. Sharing a two bedroom apartment on the edge of town, equal distance between both of their colleges –Chloe had wanted Derek to live near his college because he had more morning classes, which he flat out refused-

And everything had been nearly perfect. Derek was helping Chloe with a basic math class she was in, and Chloe was trying to break Derek from his shell, inviting him to parties, where he would be stalked by horny, actress wannabes who thought his muscles were "so hot." Derek did not enjoy those parties.

And now, this. Chloe being asked out by Derek's brother. She was out on that date right now, enjoying herself. She deserved it sure, but Derek couldn't help that feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. He didn't want this date to happen. He wanted Chloe at home with him, finishing her script.

It was selfish, but Derek wasn't bothered by that. He was bothered by the fact that he had, in fact, developed feelings towards his best friend. What a cliché event.

Derek looked at the clock again.

9:32:10

Screw this. He thought, before grabbing his jacket and exiting the apartment.

Author's Note: Okay, so I hope you guys liked that, I should hopefully have the rest of it done within the month. Hopefully. Anyways, I have a favour to ask, if any of you would like to read some of my original writing? Send me a PM if you want a description. Thanks!

P.S: This looked so much longer in word, sorry about that!

~Jessicanne