Derek pulled out of Stiles' driveway and headed back to his building. As he walked up the many flights of stairs, he knocked on everybody's door and told them to meet at his loft. He waited until everyone was gathered in his living room before he started telling the news.
"I gathered you here this morning because my Uncle Peter is dead. He was killed this morning. The sheriff thinks that the Hunters are responsible for his death. That said, we have to be more careful when we leave the protection of the rings. The Hunters are in town now.
As for shopping and stuff like that, Stiles has nominated himself to go shopping for us. I'm sure that he can get others to help him shop. Um, so for right now just sit tight and text Stiles if you need anything. If you don't have his number just ask me for it. I'll be happy to give it to you and I'm sure he'll be happy to know that he is needed. So that's it, um, you guys can hang out here or go back to your places," Derek said.
Everyone nodded and split. A couple people asked for Stiles' number and some stayed and played Derek's Xbox. Derek noticed that everyone's mood dulled even more and he felt the pang of fear from everyone. He wanted to comfort them and tell them the plan, but he didn't want to panic anyone. He went upstairs to Peter's room and fell onto the bed. He decided to call Scott and tell him the plan.
"Hey bro, what's up?" Scott asked once he picked up.
"So, Stiles told you about Peter and the Hunters?"
"Yeah, it's pretty scary. My house is the closest to where they found Peter."
"Um, I went to Stiles' and talked to Columbine. She has a plan about getting rid of the Hunters."
"Oh yeah? What is it?"
"Columbine wants to kill the Hunters. She said that locking them up won't keep us safe. What do you think?"
"Well, you know how I'm against killing and stuff, but if that's the only way to stop them then I'm okay with it. How many have they killed already?"
"She told us that we are the only ones left in the US, so I'm assuming they have already killed a whole lot."
"Damn. So did you tell the others?"
"No. I want to keep this a secret until we have a good battle plan lined up. I don't want someone to be preemptive and end up dead."
"Yeah, that makes sense. Um, I'll start thinking of some ways. Thanks for keeping me in the loop, Derek."
"No problem, Scott. Good-bye."
"Bye, dude."
Derek tossed his phone next to him on the bed and shut his eyes. He couldn't believe that Scott, of all people, was down for killing the Hunters. He heard the Just Dance game start up downstairs. He walked down and watched Liam, Isaac, Lori, and Hayden duking it out to the song 'Walk This Way'. He laughed and sat on one of the bar stools in the corner of the room. It looked like Hayden had the crown, but Lori was pulling a close second.
"I play winner," Derek shouted.
"Yeah, sure. You seem like the dancing king," Liam shot back.
"Well, it is my game."
"Okay fine, we will see."
"Well, I won't be playing you. You are so far behind. You don't even have one star and the song is almost over."
Liam grunted and looked back at the screen to see the song end. Hayden had the crown and she was jumping around.
"So who's next?" she asked.
Soon Derek found himself dancing with Jordan, Malia, and Hayden to the song 'I'm An Albatraoz'. He had the crown but Hayden was sneaking up on him. Jordan was trying to get Derek to lose by hip checking him each minute, but Derek wasn't budging. He won, with Hayden a close second. Jordan stalked off to a secluded corner to brood in and Derek laughed almost forgetting why everyone was at his building in the first place. Soon nighttime rolled around and everyone headed back to their respective apartments.
Stiles woke up the next morning, his phone blowing up with names and requests for items from the store. He waited until his phone stopped buzzing before looking at the texts and compiling a shopping list. He asked Columbine if she wanted anything from the store.
All she wanted was some clothes and a hairbrush. He nodded and added to the list. He had to make two trips to his car. He bought all of the non-food items and placed them into his car before going back into the store to buy all of the food.
He drove to Derek's first and carried everything into the building, but stopped at the foot of the stairwell. He quickly ran up and called for everyone who requested anything to come down and collect it. He heard shuffling from the apartments and assumed that everyone heard him and was coming down. Stiles sat down next to the bags and waited for everyone. Derek was the first to come down.
"I don't remember you requesting anything," Stiles said, his hands rubbing the sides of his pants.
"How much did it cost?" Derek asked.
"Um, here are the receipts."
Derek took the receipts and added up the totals. Derek pulled out his wallet and handed Stiles two fifty dollar bills and a ten dollar bill.
"Derek, you don't have to do this."
"No, you are taking the money," Derek said, shoving the bills into Stiles' hand and closing it into a fist. "Go back home and stay safe, okay?"
Stiles only nodded, his tongue thick in his mouth. He quickly left the building, not wanting to turn back in fear of what Derek would do. He peeled out of the parking lot and headed back to his house with Columbine's items.
Stiles arrived back his house and gave Columbine her things.
"Thank you so much, Stiles," Columbine said, giving him a hug.
"It's no problem," Stiles said. He laughed and went to his room.
