"Why the hell do you care what David thinks?" Derik asked as soon as we were in my room. This was a conversation I knew was coming the moment I saw that look on his face. I just wasn't ready to face it so soon. Especially when I had a whole lot to process at the moment.

"Can we not have this conversation?" I asked back.

Derik didn't take my attitude that well. He looked at me with a look of complete disbelief, "Yeah, we are going to have this conversation because apparently there is something going on between you and David."

I rolled my eyes. Here were go once again on the David thing.

"There is nothing going on between me and David," I told him. Trying hard to not show my annoyance. Which wasn't very easy to do.

"Then why the hell are you so worried about what David thinks?" he asked once again. Almost yelling.

"I don't know," I shouted back, "I don't even know why even asked it in the first place. Now just drop it, Derik."

He seemed like he didn't want to, but he kept his mouth shut. But he didn't stop glaring at me as I pulled out the suitcase I stored under my bed. Ignoring him, I packed everything that I needed and could fit into the suitcase. The tension had me on guard and it was a feeling that I wasn't comfortable with.

Eventually his glaring started to get annoying. It was making packing difficult, so I guess we had to have this conversation.

"Just say it, Derik. Since you are just dying to," I told him in annoyance.

"Are you allowing me to talk?" he asked sarcastically.

This conversation was going to go downhill fast. I could just feel it as I responded, "Stop acting like a child, Derik. Can't we talk like a normal adult?"

"Now I'm a child? Sorry if me wondering why my girlfriend is so worried about another guy makes me childish," he said in disbelief, "I just need to know why it is any of David's business when it comes to us living together."

I had it as I slammed my suitcase shut. I glared at him, trying hard not to yell at him and escalate things more, "Do you want me to take back my answer to your proposal and go to David instead? Because you sure as hell are acting like it."

Derik's anger seemed to have disappeared in an instant. It was like someone flipped a switch on his emotions. The whole thing should have scared me, but my mind couldn't fully process what had happened due to his arms suddenly wrapping around me.

He hugged me as if he was scared to let me go. The tight embrace should have been comforting, but it wasn't. It felt like he was depending on me to be his lifeline. That wasn't the kind of love I wanted, but I was willing to try for him at least. Derik hasn't had anyone in his corner and I was his only hope. If it wasn't for me, he would probably join Donny in a heartbeat.

"Please don't leave me, Leah," he almost whispered into my ear before burying his face in my neck.

My arms wrapped around him in a comforting hold, "You need to learn to trust me, Derik. Because if you keep acting like this, I'm going to leave you."

That was when my eyes noticed a familiar figure leaning against my bedroom door. Derik didn't move as my eyes stared into the eyes of the person that everyone wanted me to be with instead. Part of me was surprised that he was here since he was supposed to be healing. Then the other part of me wanted him to just go away and leave me alone to be happy with Derik. Not popping up everywhere, making me second guess myself.

My eyes then traveled down to where he was stabbed. His hand held the spot as if it was causing him pain to just stand up. It amazed me that he showed no signs of discomfort at all. Derik must have sensed something was up because he pulled away and looked towards my doorway. Annoyance filled his face instantly as David slowly walked into the room.

"Do you mind?" Derik asked. Showing David his annoyance.

David ignored it as he walked past us to grab my suitcase. Making me quickly run up to him to grab it instead. Our eyes locked for a second before I quickly looked away. I know that the action was highly noticed by Derik. Especially when he angerly came up between us and grabbed the suitcase before storming out of the room. Leaving David and me to watch after him as if we could see him walking down the hall and out of the front door.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" I suddenly asked him. Making him look at me.

He waited until I returned his gaze before he answered, "I can't sit still knowing fully well that you are in danger."

And with a smile, he left the room. There was something about David that just didn't make things easy for me. Maybe this whole Gene V thing was real and the effects it has were true. But I was going to fight it because it was something that I wasn't ready to understand. It was moments like this I needed my best friend.

Sitting down on my bed, ready to get lost in my thoughts, Jake entered. It was like he knew that I needed him right now. Sitting now next to me, he waited for me to say something. Ready to give his impute if he needed to.

"Jake, I'm confused," I told him honestly, "I don't know if I am making the right choices."

He let out a sigh before answering, "Do you think that you are confused because you aren't making the right choices?"

The thought did cross my mind, but it was too late to change anything now. Or, at least that is what I thought. I promised Derik to spend the rest of my life with him. It wasn't like me to go back on that. Even if it was making me feel like it wasn't the right choice.

"Leah, you need to be sure of things before you make any promises," Jake said, now looking at me, "You shouldn't be allowing yourself to be manipulated into something you don't want to do."

"I know, but-" I started with the excuses but Jake cut me off.

"There shouldn't be any buts. You know that," Jake explained, "I get that Derik feels like that no one else is in his corner but that is all his fault. You have no idea how many times someone in the family tries to get close to him but he refuses them. Some people had the same thought as you but he would rather focus on those that hate him instead."

Jake got up off the bed and stood in front of me. I looked up at him and the look on his face said all he needed to say. He was worried about me. Everything he told me made complete sense and I should walk away from everything. But I was scared of what would happen if I did.

"I know what you are thinking, Leah," Jake mentioned, "But what if the consequences of you staying are worse than when you leave?"

He didn't say anymore and I didn't need to respond. The point was made. But even if it was made, I was still going to stick with the choice I made. It was a lose-lose situation and someone was going to end up hurt in the end. I just had to make sure to try to make it work until it all comes crumbling down.

When we got to the house my first thought was that it was perfect. It wasn’t big, but it had everything I ever wanted or needed. It was a two floors and white with black window frames. Some bushes decorated the outside of the house along with a maple tree. I could picture kids running around the front yard with a tire swing hanging from the maple tree. The whole sight made me want to go inside and see what surprises it held.

Walking into a small entry way with the living room to my right and the kitchen to my left. A closet with sliding doors stood in front of me most likely used to hang coats during the winter. Even though the entry way was small it housed a small carpet on the floor and the potted plant by the door, greeting who ever walked into the house.

The first place I walked into was the living room and nearly squealed at the sight of the fireplace. I took in the pale blue walls and dark grey carpeting. The furniture was either black or dark wood while pictures and paintings hung on the walls. There was also a flat screen TV with my game system already attached to it. I didn't even know that it was missing from my room. The whole sight just made me want to pinch myself to make sure that this was all real.

It wasn't long before I found out that there was another doorway at the back of the living room, that led to a small hallway. The compulsion to investigate, led me down the hallway and I ended up being greeted by the most beautiful dinning table I had ever seen. It had a dark wood frame with a black marble slab on top. The table looked big enough for a family of six with dark wood chairs circling it. I could feel myself grinning from ear to ear as I nearly ran for the kitchen.

The kitchen was amazing. It had latest edition of appliances it was was big enough for me to cook my meals with enough room for someone else to walk around. The counters were a dark gray marble with a stainless steel sink big enough for a restaurant. I had to open up the cupboards and see how big they were. Inside was fully stocked with everything we needed to live in the house. Heading back the the entry, Derik and David stood as if they were waiting for my return.

"Happy with your father's choice?" David asked as he leaned against the doorway. Still cradling his side. I failed to respond with words as I eagerly nodded my head, "I guess we have to show you the bedroom now."

David led the way back into the small hallway I walked through to get to the dinning room. What I failed to notice in my exploration were the set of stairs. I followed David as he walked up them and Derik was behind me with my suitcase.

"The whole upstairs is the bedroom," David explained, "I'm sure you will be just as happy with this as you were with the rest of the house."

He stepped to the side as soon as we got to the top of the stairs. Showing me the bedroom. The color scheme followed the same as the living room. Black furniture with blue walls. The lights were cast iron with white shades. The bedding on the bed matched the black and blue theme. I was ready to jump right in and never leave the bed for at least a week.

David tapped me on the shoulder, making me look at him. He pointed at the door behind me, "Your bathroom is through that door."

I nearly knocked him over, making him wince, as I opened the door. The bathroom wasn't much to look at but it was still a decent size. It was big enough to have a double sink vanity, a huge shower that covered a whole side of a wall, and a small closed in area for the toilet. The colors reminded me of a beach with light blues and browns.

Exiting the bathroom, I looked for the next location. Another door sat in behind the stairs. Making it my next location, I opened the door to find a large walk-in closet. It was the only place in the house that wasn't fully stocked. It was as if my father wasn't sure if he wanted them to buy me new clothes or to have me stock it myself.

Derik walked up next to me in the closet and set my suitcase down. Part of me expected to see David standing in the doorways, but he was no where in sight. I knew that Derik noticed what I was doing and I was sure that it only fed into his paranoia. But I wanted him to thank my father for me for picking such a wonderful house.

"Disappointed?" Derik asked. Making me look at him, "He had to leave and go rest. David wasn't looking too good."

"I just wanted him to tell my father something since he would see him before me," I told him honestly. But he acted like he didn't believe me as he left the closet and back in to the bedroom.

Following him, I closed the door behind me. He stopped suddenly and turned around making me stop short. "To make things a little more comfortable for you, I can sleep on the couch," he said, making me confused. He motioned his hands towards the bed, "There is only one bedroom in the house. Figured you weren't ready to share yet."

Why something like that never really crossed my mind was beyond me. You would think that it would when I saw that the whole second floor was a bedroom. It was nice of him to think about it and plan ahead. But if we were going to keep up appearances, I might as well share the bed with him. Especially when we were planning to get married eventually. So it was going to happen eventually.

"It's fine," I told him. Most likely surprising him, "We might as well get used to living together since we will be getting married."

The relief in his eyes wasn't hard to miss. Making me feel like this was a test that I had just passed. With us living together now, I was going to use this time to make him trust me more. To make him believe that he was the only one for me. But Jake's voice played in my head telling me that if he really did care for me that I shouldn't have to prove anything.

I hated how right that voice was in my head. The talk I had with Jake earlier was finally getting to me. But I didn't want it to ruin anything by making me overthink everything. All of the overthinking would just make me doubt everything. So brushing it aside, I headed back downstairs. There was only one place I haven't checked out yet and it was the backyard.

Due to me being the most unobservant person my friends and family has ever known, it took me a while to find the back door in the dining room. I didn't miss the fact that Derik tried hard not to laugh as he pressed his smiling lips together. Ignoring him, I opened the door and was greeted with the familiar scent of my favorite flower.

Judging by the freshly turned soil and lose dirt littering the pathway, it was a new addition. I took in the different types of rose bushes, knowing fully well that it wasn't easy getting them. Derik walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. His chin rested on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry for how I'm acting. I'm not good at this kind of thing," he apologized.

It took everything I had to not roll my eyes as I turned to face him, "You are going to need to meet me halfway and trust me a little more. All of this is new to me and David is the only one willing to answer questions and explain things to me. I need you to understand that I'm going to be talking to him and around him a lot."

With a sigh he answered, "I know. Sometimes I wish it was me that could help you with this, but he is one of the longer living members," he let go of me and stepped back, "Honestly, I would want Ricky to be the one, but he is too busy learning how to run the family."

A thought then popped into my head, but I kept it to myself. If I spoke it out loud, Derik would take it wrong. There is not telling what the misunderstanding would lead to. But the thought stayed there, poking at open wounds. Making me question if we were ever going to get this right and make things right. Because if we didn't, there was only so much mistrust I was willing to take.