Uncover • TW [3]

[7]

...

Rose shoved a few books into her locker before catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror that was taped onto the door. She gulped at the sight. She wondered why she constantly looked tired. It is true that life has been spiraling out of control lately. It's like Rose hasn't felt the ground beneath her feet in weeks.

Slowly she dragged her fingers gently across the dark circles under her eyes. She sighed, grabbing a stick of concealer from her bag. Normally she would never care what she looked like, but she really didn't need anyone to worry. There was too much going on. Rose was too busy worrying about everyone else, to think about herself at this moment.

"No you need to back the hell up, both of you."

Rose heard from the hallway. Looking past her reflection in the mirror, from behind her she saw Scott and Stiles standing in front of Liam.

Seeing how Scott and Stiles have already handled the situation poorly, she decided to intervene. Though she would rather watch this crash and burn in front of her, she didn't need Liam losing control in the middle of the school hallway.

Shutting her locker, she made her way over to the boys.

"Can you just listen for one second, please?" Scott begged, "Liam, we're brothers now."

Rose pressed her lips tightly closed, keeping in any chuckle.

"What are you talking about?" Liam grimaced, "We just met and you bite me. That's it."

"The bite is a gift."

Rose raised her eyebrows, knowing very well that she should have just minded her own business.

"Scott, you gotta stop." Stiles shook his head, complete disbelief across his face.

Liam then turned to face Rose, "What are you staring at?"

Rose looked back at him in shock. She wasn't expecting a rude tone coming from him since she was the one that actually listened to him the other night and let him go.

"Maybe if you put your anger issues aside, you would see that Scott is actually trying to help you."

"And why should I trust you?" Liam shot back.

"Because I was the one who let you go the other night." Rose deadpanned, tilting her head to the side.

Stiles and Scott whipped their heads over to the girl, complete shock flashed upon their face. They didn't realize that was her plan after all. Rose knew, however, that if they kept Liam there any longer it would've just ended badly for everyone. It was best that she just let him go.

Someone had to be the voice of reason, and most of the time it was Rose.

Liam's scowl faded as he nervously bit his bottom lip. Rose listened as his heart beat returned to a normal rate.

The bell rang, interrupting them and preventing them from saying anything else to help prepare Liam.

"I have to get to class." Liam said, shoving his way in between Scott and Stiles, jolting them both to the side.

Scott sighed, looking back at Rose. He knew that Liam trusted Rose more than the two boys right now. If he was going to get through to Liam, he needed Rose's help.

She nodded her head and reassured him, "He'll be okay Scott. He'll figure it out."

"But he's my responsibility...he's my beta."

...

"You want me to share my basement?" Malia exclaimed, her eyebrows raised as she looked back at Stiles in disbelief.

"Actually," Lydia corrected, "it's my basement."

Malia rolled her eyes as Lydia continued, "And, by the way, my mom noticed how you tore it up last time."

"Alright," Stiles held his hands up as he defended Malia, "She is still learning."

"We were going to use the boathouse for Liam. It's got support beams. We'll just chain him to one of them." Scott explained.

"So how are you going to get him there? Sedate him?" Rose suggested.

"Yeah!" Stiles agreed. "I say if it keeps him from murdering someone we chloroform that little bastard and throw him in the lake."

"I said sedate him, Stiles." Rose stated, "Not kill him."

"Well we're not going to kidnap him either." Scott sighed, "That won't work based on how last night went."

"What do you mean 'last night'?" Lydia whipped her head over to Scott. "Did you kidnap him?" She exclaimed.

"Maybe." Scott said shamefully.

"Yes." Rose blurted out. "They did."

"Well it's no wonder why he doesn't trust you guys."

"He trusts Rose." Scott said.

"Rose, why don't you just get him to come. Tell him it's a party and invite him." Stiles said.

"If I'm the only one he trusts right now, it wouldn't make sense for me to lie to him." Rose said. "Why doesn't Lydia invite him? It's her lake house."

Lydia let out a light laugh, "Oh no...I'm done with teenage boys."

"Well," Malia interjected, suggesting a new idea, "If we're playing a trick on someone, we should use the trickster..."

Everyone's gaze moved to Kira, her eyes growing wide. Everyone was thinking the same idea, it was just up to Kira to be ok with the decision.

"What? Me?" She gulped nervously.

"Oh yes," Lydia nodded, "Definitely you."

Rose looked at the girl, knowing all Kira needed was a little more confidence.

Rose took off her leather jacket and she spoke, "Do you know what they call a female fox, Kira?"

"No," Kira answered innocently.

Rose draped the leather jacket around Kira's shoulders, "A vixen."

"A vixen?" Kira repeated in complete disbelief, "Me?"

"Yes you." Rose nodded, "Be a vixen."

Kira smiled gently back at everyone and then asked Rose, "You really think that I can do this?"

"I do." Rose said honestly.

Kira had always been so intimidated by the confidence and power that Rose held. She figured that it was Rose's Hale status that gave Rose that extra boost of self esteem. Knowing that Rose believed in her, gave Kira confidence.

"But remember," Malia chimed in behind the two girls, "if something goes wrong, it's all on you. No pressure!"

...

"He hit his teacher's car with a crowbar?" Rose exclaimed as they all stood around in a circle inside the lake house.

"Yeah, he may have some slight anger issues that he needs to work on," Stiles awkwardly trailed off rubbing the back of his neck. He handed Rose the phone to show her the picture.

Rose took it, immediately looking down at the wrecked car. She looked back up at Stiles in bewilderment.

"Slight?" She repeated.

"Are we sure this is such a good idea?" Lydia asked skeptically, looking between Scott and Rose. The only two people here that may have to fight harder than expected to restrain him. That is, if worse comes to worst. And something was telling everyone here, that this was going to be a difficult and long night.

"It's too late now," Scott sighed, "Kira is going to be here any minute."

And with that the doorknob twisted open.

...