𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓾𝓼𝓮 || Derek Hale

We Can Be Closer

I practically wake up whistling, and I don't even practically break my alarm clock. It goes off minutes after I get up. Then I hop out of bed and walk to my bathroom and smile in the mirror. I feel like wearing something different today. Maybe something similar to Derek's group. After rummaging through my closet, I find the perfect thing.

Happily I trot down the stairs where I find Noah and Claudia waiting for me at the dining room table. Frowning, I take milk from the fridge and set up for breakfast. "Your school called." I drop the bowl. It breaks. I quickly lean down to grab the remains and get a strange sense of deja vu. "They said you were absent your 4th and 5th class. Then Claudia tells me you come home, late at night, what, with some random boy?" He sighs and rubs his eyes.

There are dark circles there that I didn't see before. I toss the bowl into the trash. "He's not a random boy. He's my...." I struggle for the word. "Friend." I don't quite know what me and Derek are yet. It's probably best not to put a label on it. At least until we talk about it. "Friend or not, you can't just ditch school. And you didn't even say where you were going." I scoff. Someday this is turning out to be. "Whatever. I have nothing to say to you." I grab my bag and open the door to wait on my doorstep.

"I know. That's why I called her." I stop cold in my tracks.

"Cor-Mom."

~~~

"You called my mother?" I screech. Cordelia steps past me with disdain. "Yes. But I was already on the way. I've come to take you back home. This has gotten out of hand." I look at her dubiously.  "No." She stiffens, and turns around. "What did you say to me?" I stand taller. "I said no. I'm staying here." Her eyes narrow, and I very nearly back down under the heavy gaze that's pinned me my whole life.

The gaze I've spent countless time trying to please. Not today. "Regina Stilinski. I am your mother. And you will listen to me." She says through clenched teeth. I shake my head. From outside, a horn honks. That'll be my ride.

I turn to go out the door. I hear her shouting at me from inside. "Regina Kathy Stilinski! You get back here NOW!" Snickering, I hop into Derek's jeep. He wears sunglasses and a simple black t-shirt with jeans. He tilts his head downward to look at me through his glasses. "Kathy, huh?" I roll my eyes. "Just drive. Before Cordelia starts cussing you out." He shrugs with a laugh. "As you wish." Then he speeds out of the neighborhood.

Great. I'm already regretting the situation. She'll be waiting for me when I get home.

~~~

The other Neutrals wait for me and Derek at school, standing by a black Sudan. They eye us as we get out of the car, then interlock hands. I tense up. Except for Silas, they all seem completely at ease. Lillian even looks sheepish. She rocks on her heels. Iris steps forward first. "Hi, Regina. It's so nice to meet you officially. And don't mind these people." She nods to the boys.

"They do tend to come off intimidating, but they're really nice, actually. And total goof-balls." They both shamelessly grin at me. Peter just smirks at me. I smile back awkwardly. They do look a lot different now that they're not attempting to kill me. Lillian steps forward next, shaking my hand. "I just wanted to apologize for, you know, trying to kill you. It was an almost a full moon that night and technically we weren't even supposed to be out. So again, I hope there's no bad blood there."

Damien nods at me. James full-on hugs me. It catches me off guard and I hear Derek growl in response. He quickly releases me and throws up his hands defensively. "Chill out. I was just welcoming the new girl." Derek eyes him but says nothing, instead pulling me closer.

~~~

At lunch, I sit with them too. It's strange. People will stare when they see something different. And boy do they stare. Eyes follow all of us around. And the whole cafeteria seems to hold its breath when I take my place next Derek. And then he puts his arm around me. That practically sends them all into a panic. Whispers spread and gasps ensue. Whatever.

Natalie waves me over. Derek nods at her and I stand to leave. People immediately jump at me. "You and Derek?" "Are they really a cult?" "Damien is so cute, right?" I ignore that last one. He definitely is, but he's also definitely not my type. Natalie shoos them all away. "Sooo?" I shrug. "It's complicated." She sighs. "So, are you guys like...dating now?" I hesitate. We still haven't talked about it.

I can see Derek craning his head in the corner of my eye. When I still don't answer, James and Damien snort and burst out laughing. "Burn." I hear Damien say under his breath.

Later in class, Derek is nowhere to be found. I shrug. It definitely bothers me that he didn't say anything, but what is there to do? I'll tell you what. "Hey, Mr. Feeny? I don't feel so good...."

~~~

Derek and I let out whoops on the carnival ride. It swings us every way but straight. As it turns out, being a werewolf also comes with anti-dizziness. Even after consuming one cotton candy, three funnel cakes, and five hot dogs. And I can still eat more. We make our way off of it and then proceed to carnival games. Derek plays the basketball one, unironically. He wins me a plush penguin.

We attempt to have some pictures taken, but they come out funny, with both of our eyes glowing. Oh well. One is worth keeping, and Derek tears it off from the others. In the picture, both of our eyes are closed and we're kissing. He pulls out his cell phone and takes a picture of it. Then he snaps it shut and tucks it in his pocket. He lets me keep the physical picture, which I carefully tuck into my pocket.

"C'mon. Let's get out of here." He pulls me away and we walk back to his jeep. "I know a place." He says. He drives me through the woods into an opening. He parks to the side and we both get out. Wow. We're on a cliff, overlooking the city. It's beautiful. And the moon. It looks beautiful. Derek sits down at the very edge of the cliff and pats the spot next to him. I sit down. It's not like I can fall off the edge.

Together, we watch Beacon Hills, California. I notice him watching me from the corner of my eye. But I don't get any words out because he tackles me with kisses. On my cheeks, my mouth, my forehead. We roll over and he's on top of me and in between my legs. For a moment, the world stands still. My breathing speeds up. He leans down slowly until our lips are touching. I pull him closer until we're both breathing raggedly and we can't possibly be any closer. Except we can.

I tug at the hem of his shirt and he breaks off, stilling my hands. "Are you sure?" He asks in a barely restrained voice. I nod wordlessly. Then he's off and heading toward his car. I try not to roll my eyes at the prospect of him having condoms in his car. He comes back with the shiny thing in his hand, and sets it down for a moment. Then he's attacking my neck and the feeling is...superb.

He's sucking in just the right places with just the right amount of pressure and oh! He's nibbling me. It sends shivers to my spine. As he works his magic with me, I stare up at the sky. Nothing could be more perfect right now. With him. And me. Just us. Together.