Ever Since I Met You (A Stiles Stilinski Love Story)

Frayed

I was an emotional wreck...on a bus full of boys...heading to a cross country meet. I was in the front, as usual, by myself, staring out the window. I just needed to talk to him...

FLASHBACK:

We were at Derek's loft, Scott explaining to everyone that the Alpha pack was in the same apartment building as the Argents. I knew he would find out eventually. Derek was already planning a pre-emptive strike against them, but I felt uneasy about this, knowing they were waiting for us to make our move. Deucalion promised if I didn't get involved, I wouldn't get hurt...but what about my friends? Playing both sides was harder than I thought. Derek sensed my uneasiness, because he pulled me aside from the group to talk to me privately.

"Hey, are you okay? You seem uneasy," he said softly.

"Scott's right. They're going to know we're coming. I don't want you- or anyone getting  hurt."

"Life's full of risks. Some are more dangerous than others. But this is one risk I'm willing to take. Deucalion and his pack have had their fun. I can't wait around much longer. You understand that?"

I nodded. "Just...promise me you'll make it out alive. I can't afford to lose you. Not when I have so many questions and in desperate need of brotherly advice."

He grinned, placing a hand on my head and ruffling my hair. "I'll try."

We rejoined the group, discussing the plan thoroughly.

"They're one floor above them, in the penthouse right above Allison," Derek said. 

"So, kill them first?" Scott said skeptically. "That's the plan?"

"They won't even see it coming!" Boyd said.

"Why  is the default plan always murder?" Scott exclaimed exasperatedly. 

"Just once, can someone try to come up with something that doesn't involve killing everyone?"

The newly resurrected Peter Hale scoffed. "You never get tired of being so blandly moral, do you?"

"And you just won't stay dead,"I growled, still not accepting the fact he was alive.

He rolled his eyes, completely ignoring my comment. "Not that I disagree with him."

"I do!" Cora exclaimed. "Why do we need this kid?"

"This kid helped you save your life," Derek reminded her. "And you know we can't just sit back and wait for them to make the first move."

"You realize we are facing a pack of Alphas, right?" I reasoned. "We struggled against one," I glared at Peter for emphasis, "but now there are five."

"That's why we're going after Deucalion-just him," Cora said.

"Cut off thehead of the snake and the body dies," Boyd continued.

"Only, this isn't a snake, it's a hydra. And, like Melody said, they're all Alphas," Peter stated. 

"Deucalion's still the leader," Derek replied.

"Let's hope so...Because you know what happened when Hercules cut off one of the heads of the hydra?" Peter asked, as if teaching a lesson.

"Two more grew back in its place," Scott answered. 

"Somebody's been doing their summer reading," Peter said, faking enthusiasm.

Once the meeting was over, I discovered Scott was going to meet with Deucalion later tonight at an abandoned mall. He was trying to settle things peacefully, but I knew Derek was going to be there with his pack, and the Alpha pack will be waiting. It was going to be a blood bath. So, I decided to go...to get involved, and with my own back up: Allison.

So, when we arrived, I saw Deucalion encouraging Derek to kill Boyd while the rest were subdued by the Alphas. Allison readied her bow and started to shoot flash arrows, pandamonium breaking out.

"Thanks, Allison," I told her before I jumped down from the balcony we were on and joined the fight. I saw soctt struggling against one of the Alphas. They charged at each other before colliding hard, both of them falling back. At this moment of weakness, I tackled the Alpha from behind, but he managed to flip me over his shoulder, like I've done many times with him, knocking the air out of my lungs. Before he could lay another finger on me, Derek came to my aid roaring. While they fought, Scott crawled over to me as I struggled to breath. I recovered eventually, but my ribs ached as I got up from the floor. 

"I'm...fine. Go...help Derek," I panted.

I watched him slice the back of the Alpha's leg and he tumbled over an edge...taking Derek down with him. I shouted in agony, crawling over to the edge and saw Derek's body on an escalator below...not moving.

"Derek!" I cried, tears streaming down my eyes. "Derek...no. You promised."

I felt two pairs of arms try to drag me away, but I slipped out of the grip multiple times, wanting to jump down and cradle Derek in my arms. I couldn't lose someone else. I just couldn't. He was family and I already lost them once. But the two managed to grip me firmly and dragged me out to my car. I collapsed in Isaac's arms, Scott watching nearby. I gently pounded my fist against his chest.

"Hey, hey, Melody," Isaac said softly, trying to soothe me.

"No. He promised, Isaac. He...promised..."

END FLASHBACK

Derek was gone...and now, I may never know how I knew him. He was...the brother I've always wanted, the family that was always there for me when my own family died. He was strong, protective, stubborn, and caring. I didn't want to feel what I felt after my parents died twice...but I had no choice, did I?

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Stiles attempting to talk to Coach and Coach replying with his whistle. I didn't bother listening in. Every whistle blow echoed through my head, making my head hurt. And to make matters worse...someone threw up and we had to pull over at a rest stop. I ran off the bus towards the girls' bathroom, locking myself inside. My breathing quickened as I staggered to the sink, gripping the sides so hard my knuckles turned white. I began to shake as my anxiety took over, breaking down in tears and choking on air. I felt weak and numb, collapsing to the floor and curling up against the wall. 

Derek was gone. I was alone. My trust was broken. Duecalion is slowly starting to creep back into my life and I was unsure if I wanted to be a part of his pack anymore. I haven't even talked to Stiles yet...to learn the truth...to try to forgive. I was beginning to believe that I had made a mistake and now I have to face the consequences. I couldn't take it anymore! I was a Luna Wolf, this powerful and fearless being told in ancient myths, but I didn't feel powerful. I was terrified. I couldn't possible do this. Stress and heartache kept finding me, my anxiety getting worse, and I don't want to deal with it anymore. Why couldn't I just be a normal, teenage girl that never knew about the supernatural? Why can't this all be a bad dream?

After my mental break down, I wiped away my tears, putting a smile on  my face and climbed back onto the bus. I ignored what went on around me, only focusing on trying to get through this trip.