Great Losses [Spurious Sequel] ✶On Hold✶

[6] The Young Adults Aren't Alright

Claire:

The socks on my feet do very little to block out the chill from the tiled bathroom floor. Not paying much mind to the feeling, I gently close the door behind me.

My feet seem to have a mind of their own and they travel to the sink. I stare at the blank expression in my oddly colored eyes before placing what must be the tenth book I've read since last night down on the counter-top.

"Just hold on alittle longer." I all but beg myself in an empty, quiet voice. "Just please be strong." Something in my words only causes a heavier weight to settle on my shoulders. So I sit myself on the bathroom ground and bite down on my lip hard. No doubt causing it to break by the metallic flavor on my tongue.

"So how old are you?" The youngest Hale sits across from me. "You know, the number since the day you were born." She adds in for clarification, reading my confused stare.

I place my bookmark on my page, somehow getting the feeling that I'm about to have to face a round of twenty questions. "I just turned 22 over the summer. Oh and hey Boyd" He sends me a nod before going up the same staircase Derek went up a few minutes ago.

She nods her head before leisurely leaning back into the couch. "Are you completely human?" Cora asks as she points a finger in the direction of my eyes.

"Nope I'm a seer. But no I can't see people's future only their past which isn't always all that convenient." I reply while looking back down at my book again.

"You seem completely sane and smart so I don't know what you see in my brother. And that's coming from the person who had to live with him for 11 years." She says with a laugh. "What's with the bracelet, did you guys--"

"You're not a cop, Cora. So stop interrogating her." Derek's voice chimes in as his footsteps quietly ring against the metal staircase.

Oh thank Hale, he just saved me from an awkward question. I glance up in time to see Cora roll her eyes before getting up from the couch.

"Claire, it's getting late maybe I should drive you home." Derek stands infront of me and I look up with a suspicious stare. Seeing Cora and Boyd place some papers on the metal table of the loft answers my question that he indeed has something brewing.

I roll my eyes and grumble, more so to myself, as I start placing my books in my bag. "Bye Cora. Bye Boyd." The teens give a short nod and wave in response before I leave with Derek.

"I'm not going to argue with you but I'm not going to say I might not get involved." I speak up as soon as he parks the car outside the apartment complex. He shuts off the car and turns in his seat to meet my stare.

"Claire these are alphas. I mean look at what one hit did to you." His tone is urgent, trying to get me to back off.

"Do you think I liked being helpless just watching you get hurt, Derek?" I ask softly as his eyes peer into mine. "No I don't. And I'm tired of only being strong for a couple minutes at a time."

He cups my cheek and tenderly plants a kiss on my forehead. "I'll be alright. I promise." Derek bends his head down to be at eye level with me. "I love you."

I can't help but instantly smile, the entire zoo of happiness warming me up from the inside. "Love you too, Derek. And I'm going to hold you to your promise."

They say that the first stage of grief is denial but for me that's not exactly the case. For me it's always been the opposite, it's always total acceptance.

When my grandmother got sick, when Stiles's mother passed away, when my parents told me they were divorcing, when I found out that I was being manipulated by Jace's parents. And especially when I lost Jace.