A/N:

Okay, okay, okay. Here be the sequel for What Hurts The Most. I'm saying this up front, because I don't want any confusion going on.

This takes place when Jojo, Derek, and Trace are Sophomores it college.

I meant to get it out on like, Monday, but things happened and it got put on the back burner, not to mention I had to inspiration, and there were millions of things I could have done with it. But I was doing dishes tonight, and I was like, "OH MY GOD. I GOT IT." I did say that I get inspired at the weirdest of times.

So here it is, hope you like it.

Also, if you're offended by sex…you should probably skim through the middle of this chapter. :/

BUT MAKE SURE TO READ THE END. -nod-

Enjoy.

~Emma

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It's hard to juggle school and a relationship, especially when the boy you're in a relationship with doesn't go to the same school as you.

But Derek and I managed it somehow. We'd been together since Junior year in high school, and we had our ups and downs, struggled with jealousy and telling the world that he was still alive, but somehow we made it through.

Derek rents an apartment in down town Phoenix, Arizona, and does online school and holds down a job, while I live in Tucson and attend U of A. We see each other on weekends mostly, and school breaks, and we talk on the phone. A lot.

But today is Valentine's Day, and I skipped my classes so I could be with him. I drove to his apartment building and went up to his apartment. He hadn't gotten around to making a key for me, so I knocked and waited while he opened the door.

"Hey baby," he said. He gave me a light kiss, and pulled me inside and into his arms. He kicked the door shut behind us.

I smiled, "Hello handsome."

"How was the drive up here?"

I shrugged, "It was boring. Once you make the trip a few times, it gets boring."

He nodded, "Agreed."

"But enough about that. I just want you to hold me, and kiss me senseless."

He grinned, "I can do that. But first.." he let me go and went into the kitchen.

I put the dress I'd brought in his room, and then I sat on the couch and waited for him to come out. For being a guy, and a guy in college at that, his apartment was remarkably clean. He had simple modern-meets-minimalistic style that I loved.

He came back out with a very large cookie in the shape of a heart, with pink and while frosting on it.

I rolled my eyes as he set it on the coffee table, "I always wanted a cookie for Valentine's Day,"

He pulled me into his lap, "You like sweets, so, I figured it was better than just chocolate."

I kissed him softly, "Way better, babe." I turned and wrapped my legs around his waist.

He kissed me softly, which soon turned into a rather passionate make out session. His hand snaked up my shirt, and I pulled away just before he unsnapped my bra.

He frowned, "Jojo," he whined.

"Baby, if we have sex now, we won't go to dinner. And you promised that we'd go to dinner."

He huffed, "Fine, but afterwards…"

"Afterwards I'm all yours."

"Good," his lips claimed mine again, but it wasn't passionate. It was a slow, sweet kiss that lingered on my lips for the rest of the night.

And, not for the first time, I felt that tingling sensation that ran throughout my body when he kissed me. The one that made me want to not play it safe, and give into reckless abandon.

I pulled away soon after, "I should get ready."

"Need help?"

"You're shameless," I smiled, "But no, I don't need help." I got off of his lap and went into his room and shut the door, claiming the room as my personal dressing room. It was a habit of mine, to take over his room when I came up for special things. He didn't mind, and told me that he liked it, because it always smelled like my perfume when I finished, and when I was gone, he'd do his school in there until the smell faded away.

Luckily for him, we went out to some nice restaurant, or a party, or something about once every other weekend.

The dress I was wearing was black, a halter top with a single silver jewel at the cleavage. It didn't show too much. I wore red heels, per Derek's request. I wore a single silver bracelet that Derek gave me a few years ago. I curled my hair and pulled the sides back into a clip. My earrings were simple, red hoops to match the shoes.

When I finally exited his room, he was standing and waiting for me. He'd changed into dark pants, a red shirt, and a black blazer.

"You look amazing," he said.

I smiled, "Thanks. You look pretty good yourself."

He smiled and kissed me softly, then opened the door, "Shall we, my love?"

I nodded.

He took my hand and lead me to the elevator. There were other couples in there, probably doing the same thing we were. All of us girls were wrapped up in our dates, while the men looked slightly bored. Except for Derek. Or maybe that was just my bias.

Either way, he looked pretty into it.

The restaurant was nice. There were tons of couples cooing over each other, but the couple that stood out the most, was the people that were probably about seventy. Her eyes glistened at him, as he spoke to her about something. Their eyes locked and they held hands. After they shared what seemed to be an incredibly intimate moment, ruined by the untimely appearance of a waiter bearing chocolate covered strawberries, he began speaking to her again.

I watched, enthralled, as the old man fed his wife a strawberry, and she leaned over to table and kissed him.

"I want to be like them," I whispered to Derek.

He smiled and kissed my head, "Someday."

We were showed to our table, and Derek pulled my chair out for me.

Everything was perfect, red roses, fine china, and the perfect man sitting across from me.

He got more and more fidgety as the night wore on. We ate our meal, laughing and sharing things, frequently exchanging "I love you's".

When we finished with dinner, we decided not to each dessert, since we had that huge cookie at the apartment.

We went back and ate part of the cookie, but ended up making out instead of anything else. I was laying on my back, with Derek next to me, his torso slightly on top of mine. My leg was wrapped around his.

Before I knew it, he picked me up and carried me into his room. He put me on the bed and took off my shoes, and kissed each foot. He rubbed my feet for a while, and then my legs, but stopped when he reached the hem of my dress. He moved on top of me and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed back. He moved from my lips to my neck, I tilted my head back to allow more access.

He reached behind my neck and untied the halter. I arched my back so he could unzip the dress. He slid it off, and it landed on the floor beside the bed. I worked on removing his shirt, and then his pants.

He kissed me again, and I eagerly responded to it. It was hard not to kiss him after the initial kiss at the door, there was something about his lips that mesmerized me.

I teased his tongue with him, flicking mine out across his bottom lip. As we kisses he removed the rest of my clothing, which truth be told was only a few strips of fabric. I removed his boxers as well.

Then the fun part started. My legs spread automatically, and he thrust his hips. A soft moan escaped from my mouth as he entered in. My moans got periodically louder as the speed and intensity of his thrusts grew.

My arms were still linked around his neck, but it wasn't long before my hands were buried in his head. He kissed my lips, my chin, and every place he could reach.

He slowed down every once in a while, to prolong the love making, but I knew when he started to tremble that he was close to release.

Most of the time, I tried not to "relieve" myself until he did, but tonight was different. I'd already came once, and that was usually my limit, but I felt a second climax building inside of me.

And then it wasn't long before he rolled off of me, both of us panting.

He grinned and me and kissed me in a breathless kiss, "Wow?"

I nodded, "Definitely wow." I grinned.

He smiled and pulled my close to him, so my back pressed against his chest, "Was I extra good tonight or something?"

I blushed, although how I could blush after what we just did, I don't know, "You were amazing, as always."

He placed a soft kiss on my neck, and we lay in silence for a long time.

"Baby?" he asked.

"Mhm?"

"Did you have a good Valentine's?"

I nodded, "I did."

He smiled, "Good." He suddenly got up and found his boxers and put them on.

"…Derek?" I asked.

He kissed my forehead, "I'll be right back. Don't move."

I nodded as he left the room. I snuggled into the blankets more, trying to gather all of the warmth I could. But let's face it, I need him to keep me warm.

He returned moments later, with a small black velvet box. He sat down on the bed again.

"Jo?"

"Mhm?" I asked sleepily.

"Baby, I need you to pay attention."

"I am," I assured him.

He nodded, "I've been thinking about this for a while, and I know that neither of us are happy about being so far apart."

I nodded.

"And I love you more than anything in the world,"

I nodded again.

He picked up the box and opened it to reveal a diamond ring, "Marry me?"

I gasped and sat up, "Oh my god! For real?"

He nodded, "For real."

I squealed and hugged him, "Yes! Yes, yes, yes!"

He grinned and put the ring on my finger, then kissed the back of my hand. He kissed up my arm, and onto my shoulder, neck and chin until he reached my lips. He brushed his lips across mine, and then kissed me softly. He pulled me against him and we snuggled under the blankets again. We kissed a few more times, until I pulled back and yawned. I turned so my back was pressed against his chest. His arms were around me and his face was buried in the crook of my neck.

"Der?" I asked.

"Yeah?" he asked sleepily.

"I love you,"

"I love you too, my darling." He mumbled into my shoulder. He kissed it softly and fell asleep. I fell asleep a few minutes later, listening to the sound of his breathing.