'Oi'

I wake up to Derek's unreadable expression lightly tapping me on the cheek. I wince sitting up as I feel my left leg ache. The pain wasn't unbearable but pretty much a pain in the arse. The way Derek looks at me is strange. To start off it's a general look of concern.

'Alright. I've decided.' Derek crouches down and lifts me up.

I get placed into a bridal carry and before I knew it, I find my ears and cheeks go red.

'H-hey! I'll be fine. Put me down!' I wine waling my legs around like a child.

Derek is still faced holding on to me tight as if we just got married. 'Wow, you're not actually 100kg, hmm.'

'100kg! Piss off, Derek and put me down!'

'Calm down, it's not like I'm gonna kiss you.'

I go silent.

Derek's face drops and he looks at me differently. 'Don't tell me that you want me to?'

I don't respond. How the heck am I supposed to respond to that. My cheeks are burning to the point where eggs can be cooked on them.

'H-ha, haha, funny. Alright, I'm f-fine, just place me down, okay? Prick?' I chuckle quickly looking down at the ground.

My cheeks are still red, and I feel my neck and hands sweat. Derek pulls me in closer in a way where I'm forced to be face to face. Our eyes meet and don't break away from each other. My hands are on his shoulders, and I can't help but get nervous.

Calm down, Brooke.

Be reasonable here. This man is your competitor, your nemesis. You should hate him. You have to hate him. Because he's taking away-well, it no longer exists.

Wait so, why should I still hate him.

'Hey, I'll stop joking around, Coffee Addict. Sorry about that.'

I blush looking away from him. 'Are you not going to put me down?'

'Nah. You're kinda cute this embarrassed.'

My heart is at the beat of a rap song as I pull myself together. Calm down, Brooke. This man is literally trying to test you out. He sees you as some kind of puzzle to solve. Please don't you dare try anything. No matter what your heart is saying.

I hate Derek.

'Brooke!'

I immediately push myself off Derek and land on the ground slightly limping. I avoid eye contact with Derek as Sophie appears from behind the hill.

'You guys alright?' Sophie looks at us as I stand awkwardly stand there.

'Yeah. We're fine. Anyway, let's go, Sophie.'

I run up to Sophie and take her away from Derek and hesitate.

My conscious is once again mad at me. I run back quickly. 'Uhh, thank you for helping me.'

Derek stares at first before bursting into a chuckle. 'Oh, it's fine, Coffee Addict.'

I don't know if my ears are playing or if that "Coffee Addict" sounded a lot more flirty than usual.