Derek's Pov:

Being back in this town and going back to that school made me feel sick.My memories of this place wouldn't stop hunting me. Strangely, when I spotted that one girl, Lily, I felt something in me change. I just knew that this wasn't going to be all bad.

And here I am, waiting for her to get ready, awkwardly sitting in her living room with her mom looking at me closely.

"So Derek, you and Lily are good friends?"

I smiled and thought about the secret moments we had shared. "Yes ma'am." She just doesn't know it was me in the woods with her. I thought to myself.

"Hum...I wonder why she never talked about you before.Actually, she never talks about anyone really, I started to think she had no friends." Her mother was frowning but she was right, her daughter had no friends. However, who was I to tell her about that?

"Well she likes her privacy," I said avoiding her gaze and looking at the stairs.

"I think you make her nervous, usually she doesn't take that much time to get ready." Her mom smiled which made me smile as well.

I looked at Lily walking toward us but avoiding my gaze. I smiled at how pretty she looked in pink, it suited her skin.

"Good morning," She said and looked at her mom. "Me nervous? Why would I be?" she shook her head and took her bag "Derek?" she was walking toward the door and I could see the disappointment in her mother's eyes.

I followed excusing myself and walked out of the house with Lily, I opened the passenger door to let her in but she still hadn't looked me in the eye and I couldn't even fathom what she might be thinking right now. I got in the driver's seat and looked at her.

"I don't know why you're here Derek but we really are late so maybe you should stop staring and start driving!" she snapped and finally looked at me, but when she did, her eyes went to my mouth and it made me grin.

"I thought I could be nice and give you a ride, you like rides don't you?" I started the car and drove toward school.

"What do you mean by that?"

I chuckled. "Nothing, I just figured you loved to fly or something since you draw dragons."

"Yeah about that...how did you know that I had a drawing in my bag? It was perfectly folded and wasn't even visible!"

"I don't know, I just saw it." I didn't know what else to say so I blurted the first thing on my mind. "Would you like to go out tonight?"

She looked at me for a moment and nodded her head. "Only if you give me something."Her face held a mischievous smile.

"And what would that be?" I was amused by her demanding tone, I liked her already.

She leaned closer to me looking at my lips. I thought she wanted me to kiss her so I leaned in close but she stopped me.

"Not what I meant!" She glared then pointed at my necklace. I looked at it for a moment and contemplated giving it to her.

"This means a lot to me," I clutched the pendant in my hand not wanting to give it up."But so do you, even though it sounds creepy, it's true. So I'll give it to you on two conditions."I reached behind my head and unhooked the necklace.

She nodded and looked at me holding my gaze. "Condition number one, you can't lose it or give it to anyone under no circumstance." I gave her a hard

look so she knew just how serious this meant."This is a precious stone that has been passed down to me from my ancestors."

I motioned for her to turn around."Condition number two,"As I clasped it around her neck I whispered in her ear, "Be ready by 7" and I kissed her cheek softly before getting out of the car.

I looked at her still in the car looking at me in a strange way; I smirked and walked toward the building leaving her there.

I felt weird without my stone but she deserved it, she deserved to be protected from the monsters that hid in the shadows. I wasn't regretting it.

The day was slow and boring, I avoided Lily all day on purpose. I sat far away from her as I could in class. I wanted to see if she would come to me on her own, but as I thought she didn't even bother to look for me.

After school, I gave up on avoiding her and went to look for her myself. I saw her heading to the woods so I followed closely. Once I was out of sight, deep in the woods, I shifted in my Dragon form and flew to the cemetery. I waited for her by her Dad's tomb, after a few minutes she saw me and froze.

She hesitated for a moment before letting her bag fall to the ground next to her and run toward me. I smiled internally and sat down so she could climb onto my back but she didn't. I looked at her questioningly.

"I don't know if you are real or if my mind is playing tricks on me, but I really hope I'm not going crazy." She rubbed her hand against my nose then the side of my head with a small smile.

I nodded my head, wanting her to believe in this, in me.Her gaze dropped to my neck and her smile dropped into a frown.Her brows wrinkling together in confusion. I hoped that she didn't notice the stone was gone and she wouldn't link that to me, the human me. I wasn't ready to tell her who I was yet.

To distract her from the missing stone, I nudged her lightly with my nose, bowing my head for her to climb on.Her smile returned as she climbed onto my back.

For at least half an hour, we flew around high in the sky, the clouds being our shield from everyone below. When I got her back to the woods, I quickly flew away once she was safely on the ground.I needed to get ready for tonight.

Lily's POV:

I was so happy when I saw the dragon that I practically jumped on it carelessly. I knew I could hurt myself but I didn't really care right now.

I still wasn't used to riding yet.A small amount of fear would run through my veins as it started heading for the sky, I could feel the hair on my spine stand as a shiver ran through me while it was getting high and higher.

I never knew if it's a She or a He, and I guess I'll never know so I'll have to think of a name that suits both genders. I smiled at the thought but snapped out of my reveries as the creature went through the clouds and the feeling was just so amazing. I can't even express how it felt. I tightened my grip around its slender neck and closed my eyes enjoying the way I could feel the wind on my cheeks and the sunrays on my body.

Flying on the back of a dragon is like a fairy tale, I could never get bored of it and I'll always want to do it even though it scares me sometimes. I looked down at the barely visible forest and wondered how it would feel to go down at full speed.

In a split second we were diving head first to the ground at great speed—almost as if the dragon read my thoughts—forcing me to close my eyes against the harsh wind.The adrenaline in my body just rose to an all-time high; I was in a state of total happiness and excitement.

Just as quickly as the feeling came, it vanished. The second I my feet touched the ground it had disappeared. I frowned and let out a heavy sigh. I suddenly felt a stinging pain in my leg. I looked down and noticed I had cut my leg. I was so lost in the thrill of being on his back that I must have done it when I jumped on him.

I got home, took a shower and looked at my books. I really needed to study but right now all I could think of was my date with Derek. I hadn't been on a date for so long now, that I was nervous and could feel a knot in my stomach. I tried on at least four different outfits before I felt comfortable. Luckily, I had decided when I did because I was running out of time.

I was pacing my room when I heard the doorbell, I hurried downstairs to answer it too eagerly to find Derek holding red roses with a bright smile.

How romantic. I thought and took them.

"Thank you they are beautiful." I smiled shyly.

Derek chuckled. "No problem, are you ready?"

"Yes just let me put these in a vase really quick."

Derek's POV:

I was standing on the porch waiting for her to open the door, I could feel her in her room pacing back and forth nervously, and it made me smile.

When she finally answered the door, I was dumb struck by how beautiful she looked.She was always beautiful, but tonight it was different. She looked sexy and attractively wore a tight black dress that reached mid-thigh with red high heels, and she had let her hair flow in waves, as I liked them. I smiled and gave her the flowers then went to open the passenger door waiting for her to come back.

I saw her pulling her red coat on as she made her way to the car, her green eyes were sparkling like emeralds. I smiled and closed the door then got in the driver seat.

"You look beautiful Lily." I smiled and started the engine.

I saw her blush and chuckled. "So cute when you blush!"

She laughed and playfully hit my shoulder. "Stop that!"

I looked at her for a second and noticed she was still wearing the stone. "I'm glad you are wearing this." I couldn't tell her, but once I gave her that stone it meant I claimed her as mine. Noone in the whole universe could take her away from me, they could try but wouldn't succeed. She is my queen now.

Lily raised an eyebrow in that cute way of hers. "Really? And why is that?" I could tell she was getting curious and I liked it.

"As I told you this morning, this stone means a lot to me and you mean a lot to me."

"Derek," she whispered and looked out the window. "You don't know me." she shook her head.

"I know you enough to care."

"But Derek, we just met you can't be saying things like that already." she was speaking softly.

I let out a heavy sigh. I couldn't tell her; she wasn't ready for it. "It's complicated and once you're ready you will understand, but for now let's enjoy our date alright?" I gave her a smile as I parked the car in the driveway of our family lake house.

She nodded and smiled at the world 'date', but when she realized where we were, she frowned. "Where are we?"

"This is our Lake house." I saw her worried expression. "Don't worry, we aren't alone, my guardian is inside but he won't bother us."

"Guardian?"

"Yes. Both my parents are dead and I don't have siblings, but I have a guardian." I explained. "Come on". I got out of the car and opened her door but she kept looking at me without moving.

I smiled and scooped her up. "Hang on tight." I said before she squealed and giggled, I loved that sound, it gave me hope.

I took her to the backyard from where we could reach the lake.As I was walking, I could feel her gaze on me.

"What?" I asked smiling

"You're amazing."Her face lit up with a cute blush at her words.

I chuckled and put her down then held her face in my hands for a moment before taking a glimpse behind her and my smile widened. "Close your eyes and slowly turn around." She did as I said, "Now open your eyes."

*Don't forget to vote<3