Money Can't Buy Everything

Chapter 24 The Fire

---Missy's POV---

I sit in the car, not knowing what to think or how to feel, because none of this feels real. As we pull up to my building, that's entirely engulfed in flames while the fire hoses spray water with so much pressure, covering every inch of the building along with the neighboring ones as well.. We just wait in anticipation of what may result. We can only hope that it will be enough to contain the fire and hopefully put it out. I can feel my heart clench as it sinks deeper into my stomach, making me feel so helpless and vulnerable. The red and orange flames devour everything I have ever put any work into.. everything I have ever called my own or even the place that I once called home.. I know that the place was never actually mine, but I have lived there for 6 years as well, so I just feel my heart break at the closest thing to my home, engulfed in disastrous flame, causing tears to build while my voice gets choked up into my throat.

I don't even wait for the car to come to a complete stop as I swing the door open and run towards the crowd collecting out front of the building. It's filled with news workers, fire fighters and bystanders that are mixed with curiosity and devastated looks.. Some, you can tell, lived in the building with the crying, while trying to help console themselves or family as they watch their lives go up in flames with absolutely no effort at all from the fire, spreading just as fast as a wildfire in the wind. There is nothing they can do to take it completely out at the moment, but they really start to split up some of the work.. Some firefighters keep spraying the fire as some others spray the surrounding buildings and forestry that haven't been touched by flames yet, just in hopes that they don't burn, since they are now soaking wet.

It works like a charm, containing the fire just to our building, which is good for the neighbors. I just can't help but to let the overwhelming feelings consume my heart, making me so mad at the fact that those people are getting to keep all of their things and here I am left with absolutely nothing as only about 15 feet separates us.. So why me? The tears started to fall, drifting down my cheek before I could even try to hide them. My hand instinctively covers my mouth to muffle my whimpers as I take in the devastating scene before me. I feel Drake's hand on my back, rubbing across it before he tries to comfort my now broken heart. "I'm so sorry Missy, this is awful.. you don't deserve this.. You just know if you need anything, I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you." I nod saying a soft, "Thank you," not knowing what else to say.

"Missy?!" I hear from behind me as I quickly turn around to see Derek running to me, getting to my side in no time at all. "Derek.. why are you here?!" I asked in complete and utter shock because I completely forgot to even call him just thinking about my shock and dispair. "Sarah called Josh to talk to me, and told me what happened plus where you were located. So I came as soon as I heard." He explains to me as I crash into his comforting embrace crying into his chest. "Why are you even here?" Drake spats at Derek as he quickly responds. "I'm here to help Missy in any way that I can. That's why I'm here."

"Well, she will be fine because I'm here and I told her I would help her long before you did." Drake boasts to Derek, trying to make him feel bad. "Well, I'm sure she would prefer me over you.. but why are you here anyway?!" Derek inquires from him as I pull away from his frame to respond quickly, to try to end this childishness instantly. "I needed a ride here and he offered to help me, dropping everything he was doing and I was grateful for his help." I watch Drake smirk over at Derek, irritating me.

"I forgot that your motorcycle is still at my place.. I'm so sorry Missy." Derek states, feeling bad but that is not really his fault. I forgot it there too. "Why is your bike at his place?" Drake asks with offense in his words as I turn and stare at him for a moment before Derek answers. "Why do you care? It's none of your business why she has been to my place a couple of times, anyways." I can feel the tension-filled testosterone consuming the men but irritating me beyond belief. I know Derek is trying to lay down the territorial boundaries with Drake, but making me seem like I'm sleeping with him lots, is not the way to do it.

"Well it doesn't matter why it's there because we can just pick it up, Missy can stay with me while she is figuring out what she wants to do next because she has known me for years and only you for days." Drake spats at Derek irritating him more and he replies, "She can stay with me because SHE KNOWS how much extra room I have in my place for her. I think she would be way more comfortable with me anyways."

"F*#k you asshole.. You don't know anything she would want!" Drake yells at Derek as he responds by instantly shoving Drake back, yelling. "You don't know anything she wants either!" I groan out in irritation, I'm fed up with these two already. I turn around, pushing the both of them apart as they try to fight with each other over me. "STOP!" I yelled at them, getting their attention completely. I sniffle and feel the tears pouring down my cheeks like an endless stream before I continue. "Just stop.. please.. my whole life and everything I have ever worked for, earning on my own or making with my own two hands is up in flames right now, leaving me with nothing but heartbreak and devastation.. and all you two can think about is yourselves.. I don't care who has the bigger d**k in this stupid pissing contest of yours. If this is how you're going to act, then you both should just leave.. now.. I already have enough stresses that I'm dealing with right now and I don't need this from you too.. This conversation is over. Now respect my wishes and go please."

I can see the realization of how they were acting to me as their faces get sad. "I'm so sorry.. you're right. please just call me when you're done with this and seriously I'll take you wherever you want to go and make sure you have everything you need even if it's not with me." Derek says to me as Drake states, "Well we see each other everyday anyway so it would make more sense if she stayed with me.. So if she needs ME then she can call and I'm there." He states still matching Derek's glare as I roll my eyes before stating for the both of them to hear. "Thank you both for being so kind to me to come here and help me, but for right now I need to be alone. But thank you for your kind offers.. If I need you I WILL call you." I said to them as I turned around, walking up to the officers and fire fighters to try to figure out if they have any information for me in exchange for my info.

---Derek's POV---

I feel awful, like the biggest asshole to ever exist. I watch her walk away from me, knowing I let my jealousy get the best of me and that was a big mistake. The overcasting clouds are making me feel more depressed with the darkness and rain they will possibly bring. But maybe that type of weather is just what this fire needs to finally stop.

"Well the only plus about this, is that you f*#ked up worse than I did." Drake spats at me in the cockiest tone I have ever heard. "How did I possibly f*#k up worse than you? You have been on her s**t list for days at least." I retort to him as he scoffs at that comment. "I have been with her for years and f*#ked up plenty of times, that's just something I do, but something she always does is forgive me.. everytime.. she is not a person to hold a grudge, at least not against me.. But you.. you have been Mr.Perfect, who is so sweet and understanding.. and here you are now showing her that all that is a lie and you are just as big of an asshole as I am.. maybe bigger." He explains making me so mad as I shove him back, before looking back at Missy who is staring right at me from across the street, shaking her hear as she turns back around.. dammit.

"Oops.. did she see you being an asshole again? Maybe I should just feign hurt and see if she would come help me out over you? Come on pretty boy.. hit me." He mocks me just trying to antagonate me. I glare at him as he snickers, smirking at me. "Come on I know you want to hit me.. so just do it." He keeps egging me on as I roll my eyes. "I'm not going to hit you.. I'm going to respect her feelings and go.. before I mess up anymore than I already have." I say to him as he follows right behind, still trying to egg me on. "Wow.. what a dependable man, you leave right away.. not even trying to help her.. she deserves so much better.. so you should just leave her for us REAL men that know how to take care of a woman." He says making me so mad that I feel the rage boiling over as I take hold of him by the shirt, shoving him against a tree staring him down with my eyes that are filled with rage.

"Derek?! Stop! Put him down!" I hear from besides us as I look over to see a very concerned looking Missy. "Derek stop this.. please just go.. I can't deal with this stress right now. Drake I see you over here talking shit.. so stop pushing his buttons and you need to go too before I really get pissed off at you two." She declares from us as I instantly let him go before I step back. "I'm sorry Missy, I really am." I say sadly as I clench my jaw and glaring at Drake before turning to walk away. I hate this.. He is just loving every second of this as he continues to follow me away from her. I hear her groan out in annoyance as I glance back and see her walking back to the burning building and wiping away more tears from her cheeks, making me so mad at myself for not being able to be the person to wipe them away for her.