All Chapters of Imperfect Replacement: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Derek Hardy called me past midnight, demanding I bring something to the hotel just off campus. His voice was sharp and urgent as he told me to hurry three times in the span of a single sentence.I didn't even bother changing. Just threw on a heavy coat over my pajamas and ran out the door into the freezing winter night.I grabbed what he needed from the convenience store and jogged all the way to the hotel. But before I could even step inside, I spotted him from across the street—standing at the entrance with a girl tucked under his arm."Ha! Told you she'd show!" The second he saw me running toward him, he puffed up and bragged to his buddies like he'd just won a bet.His grin was blinding. And the faint flush creeping up from his cheekbones? Classic Derek after a few too many drinks. That was the only time his usually sharp, arrogant face ever softened into something almost gentle.I caught myself staring for a second too long. By the time I snapped out of it, his friends were a

Chapter 2

"Exactly! With a face like yours, you could land a guy way above Derek's league—maybe not the campus king, but at least a department heartthrob. Like that guy, Ross. He's so into you! Last time, he actually threw hands because Derek made fun of you. How can you—"Sophie was a talker. Once she got going, there was no stopping her.I didn't bother answering. I went about my business, washed up, and climbed into bed with my beat-up old phone clutched in my hand.Seeing that I wasn't going to engage, Sophie finally sighed and dropped it.…Our dorm was tight-knit, and the main reason was that all three of my roommates couldn't stand my hopeless, lovesick streak.Not even two days into freshman year, I'd already made a grand public spectacle of myself confessing to Derek in front of the whole class.Derek—probably spoiled rotten by girls his whole life—didn't even blink at my dramatic display. He just sat there, slouched in his chair with that mocking smirk of his."You like me? You

Chapter 3

"New clothes. Put them on." I ignored the fury flickering across his face, my voice flat.Derek's expression twisted. "Bella, you really think you're my girlfriend now? You're gonna tell me what to wear?""I just wanted to see." I met his eyes. "Figured this would look good on you."Derek was the type who thrived on praise. Sure enough, his scowl softened—though he still shot me a sideways glare. "Just this once.""Don't get it twisted. Just 'cause you're my girlfriend doesn't mean you get to boss me around."He started changing right there, not even bothering to turn around. I looked away. A moment later, I heard him snort."What, playing shy now? It's not like you haven't seen it before."I'd seen it once. Accidentally. And ever since then, the sight of it made my stomach turn. This time, I just didn't want to throw up in front of him.I kept my head turned. Then suddenly, a shadow loomed over me, and I was pulled into a warm embrace.I looked up—and the face staring back at

Chapter 4

I never once thought Derek was actually falling for me.That wasn't his style. He liked games, and right now, I was his new favorite toy.But if he wanted to hang around, I wasn't about to stop him. I went to class like usual—except the person sitting next to me had gone from my roommates to Derek.Derek rarely showed up to lectures, so by the end of the day, every professor who saw him with me had something to say."At your age, we don't discourage relationships. But you should find yourself a good girlfriend like Bella—someone who helps you stay on track. You hear me?"Every time a teacher said something like that, Derek would lean in close, breath warm against my neck, a sly grin on his face. "Good girlfriend? You hear that, Bella? They're singing your praises."It was his usual move—the same trick he'd used on a dozen girls before me.But I didn't give him the reaction he was fishing for.Derek looked genuinely disappointed. He sat across from me at lunch, legs crossed, bro

Chapter 5

I was a little stunned. "The library."Derek sounded like he was running—I could hear his ragged breathing through the phone. A moment later, I spotted a figure in a white shirt jogging toward me from across the campus.It was Derek."You go to the library and turn your phone off?" He stopped in front of me, yelling, still catching his breath between words.I stared at him, genuinely confused. "Force of habit. Why'd you run all the way here?"His expression flickered with embarrassment, then he scoffed and looked away. "Thought you were actually out there cheating on me."Cheating.Oh. So he'd seen the video of Ross confessing. That explained the dramatic entrance."News travels fast," I said flatly.Derek shot me a sideways glare. "Too fast. I didn't even know there was anyone on this campus dumb enough to like you."Whenever he threw out those cold, cutting remarks, I never bothered to respond. I had no interest in playing that game with him."That Ross guy," he said, star

Chapter 6

But Derek wouldn't say it outright, so I played dumb.Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "So, Bella. Are you coming or not?"I was lying in bed with both headphones in. If he hadn't been so loud, I might've missed it entirely."I'll have to check my schedule," I said."Tomorrow afternoon! Your flight's Friday night, right? You've got time.""Fine."I agreed to watch his game. When I got there, I realized the bleachers were packed."Most of them are here for Derek," Chloe whispered beside me."Honestly? After all your work on him, he's even more of a magnet now. You'd better keep an eye out. You put in all that effort growing that tree—don't let someone else enjoy the shade."She'd come a long way. These days, she was practically my number one cheerleader for the relationship, never once calling me lovesick. When I wasn't around, all three of them took turns keeping watch, making sure no female within a hundred feet got too close to Derek.The game was intense. I didn't rea

Chapter 7

"Don't think you can just talk your way out of this!" she spat. "It was you all along. Derek only pretended to humiliate you in public—but the real humiliation? That was us!"She lunged forward and swung her hand at my face.I saw it coming, but the girls behind her didn't hesitate either—they all rushed me at once. They shoved me to the ground, and then came the kicks and punches.As I hit the pavement, my old phone flew out of my pocket and clattered onto the ground.I didn't care about the beating. But the second I saw that phone hit the concrete, something in me snapped."Get off me! All of you, get the hell off!"I screamed, shoving the girl in front of me so hard she stumbled backward. Their feet kept stepping on my hands, but I didn't feel a thing. I scrambled forward, pushing through the chaos, and threw myself over that phone, shielding it with my body.My earbuds were crushed underfoot.A soft, gentle male voice crackled faintly from the phone. "Bella... are you okay?

Chapter 8

"Then what is it?" Derek's eyes went wide.Probably because no one had ever used him as a stand-in before—he seemed desperate to get to the bottom of it."He's dead," I said quietly.…Sam Carter was my first love. He was my childhood sweetheart. The one I'd loved, and who'd loved me back.They say you should never meet someone too extraordinary when you're young. I think Sam was the most extraordinary person I'd ever meet—or ever will.If he hadn't died, we would've done exactly what we'd dreamed about a hundred times. We'd have gotten together officially that summer after high school, with our parents' blessing. We'd have sailed through four sweet, uneventful years of college, graduated, found jobs—steady, ordinary, normal.He'd have proposed with some small, perfect gesture, and we'd have spent months planning a wedding. After that, we'd have savored a couple of years together—no distractions, just each other.We'd have built our careers side by side. Eventually, we'd have c

Chapter 9

When the next semester started, a completely transformed Derek shocked everyone.He'd cut his hair—the slightly long, careless locks were gone. And when he smiled, his eyes were soft and gentle. He looked almost like Sam now."Bella," he said, right in front of the whole class, "if you're going to treat me like a replacement, then go all the way. I don't mind."Everyone around us gasped.But I just frowned. "Derek. Don't do this."He smiled. "I'm not messing around. Call it what you want—I guess I'm just pathetic like that. I spent the whole break thinking. And every time I imagined us breaking up, I felt sick."So here's the deal: either give me a reason I can actually accept, or we just... stay together. What do you say?"He looked serious. Genuinely serious. The only other time I'd ever seen him like that was when he'd asked me to watch his basketball game.But I stepped back, keeping my distance, and shut him down cold. "Derek. Don't even think about it. We both know—no mat

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