The Alexandra Chronicles ¤ Derek Hale

Chapter 20

If it was possible to die of second-hand embarrassment, I'd have been dead a long time ago by now. Between the insane things Scott and Stiles both did, I was surprised people haven't started to treat me like an outcast just for being associated with them.
... Okay, so maybe that's just me being dramatic. But can you blame me? I mean, I am currently sitting on the bleachers during lacrosse practice, watching as my brother literally sniffs his team mates. By the second or third time this was done, I huffed and made my way down to the field, where Stiles was lined up with the other players waiting his turn. "I need to talk to you," I said to the pale boy. As usual, Stiles nearly jumped out of his skin, having not noticed my approach.
"Jesus, Alex!" He exclaimed, clutching his heart. "You've got to stop doing that!" I just rolled my eyes and grabbed his arm, towing him off to the side of the field so we could talk without anyone overhearing. Nick had been in line with the other team mates and called out a greeting to me, smiling widely, and despite my frustration with Scott I managed a smile back before I turned to Stiles. "Please tell me there is a reason for this borderline-psychotic need of his to smell his team mates," I said, shooting him a pointed look.
Stiles sighed. "Scott said there's another werewolf on the team - he could sense it in the locker room. But he can't tell who it is."
"So he thinks shoving his nose into the personal space of sweaty lacrosse players will solve the problem?"
Stiles looked offended, and that's how I knew that this had been his idea in the first place. "Well, what would you suggest?" He demanded, crossing his arms. "Werewolves smell differently than humans."
"Possibly a more subtle approach," I said without missing a beat. "You know, maybe waiting behind in the locker room to sniff out their clothes or something, when no one's around to look at him like he's a nut-job?" My voice was dripping with sarcasm as I rolled my eyes. "I don't know, it's just a thought."
Stiles's jaw dropped as he turned to look at me. "I can't believe I didn't think of that."
"I can," I responded simply, a smirk pulling at the corners of my lips.
"Stilinski! Female McCall!" Coach barked after he gave up yelling at Scott. "What the hell is wrong with your friend?"
Stiles and I exchanged a look with each other. "Uh, he's failing two classes," Stiles began to list off without missing a beat. "He's a little socially awkward, and if you look close enough, his jaw line's uneven."
I shrugged as Finstock turned to look at me. "He's got a major lack of common sense and a strange habit of still sleeping with a night light even though he's sixteen years old," I supplied.
Coach's eyebrow twitched. "Interesting," he grumbled before turning his attention back to the field. "Let's fire it up!"
"Does Scott really still use a night light?" Stiles asked after we sat in silence for a moment.
"Yep," I said, popping the 'p' and then losing my trail of thought when Scott went up against Danny. I couldn't do anything but watch as Scott did the same thing with him as he did everyone else that went before him; but unlike with the others, Danny actually noticed what Scott was doing, as he wasn't subtle at all and it wasn't really hard to figure it out.
"McCall!" Coach screamed. "You come out of that goal one more time and you'll be doing suicide runs 'til you die! It'll be the first ever suicide run that actually ends in suicide. Got it?!"
I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "And on that note," I muttered, "I'm going to leave before I literally keel over and die from second-hand embarrassment." Stiles just shrugged and I told him to get a hold of me and let me know if they figured out who the werewolf was before leaving the field. It was my free period so technically I could do whatever I wanted, which was why I decided to go sit in my car and listen to music. However, just as I was about to reach my car, someone walked up behind me and I whirled around with my fists clenched, ready to swing. I've been a lot more alert and on edge since everything that had happened, which was only to be expected.
Familiar green eyes stared at me in amusement as he easily caught my flying fist before it could make contact with his face. "Nice reflexes," he complimented. "If I were human, you'd have gotten me good."
I huffed and pulled my fist away from him, turning back so that I could unlock my car. "Quit sneaking up on me, Derek," I said. "It's not cool." Then I paused, realizing that Derek was here in the middle of a school day, and he usually only did that when something was up. "What's going on?" My voice was wary as I studied his expression, looking for a tell-tale that would let me know if he was lying when he answered me.
"Nothing," Derek said immediately. "Maybe I just wanted to see you." And he said it so smoothly, I would have believed it - that is, if I hadn't noticed his fingers twitch and his posture shift slightly.
"Answer that again," I told him. "But try being honest this time."
Derek rolled his eyes. "I was checking on my beta to make sure he didn't shift on the field," he admitted. "But I did want to see you. I always want to see you."
I ignored his last words and fought the flush of my cheeks as I asked, "Who's your beta?"
"Isaac Lahey." We were both silent and Derek stepped closer to me, sensing the questions that I wanted to ask but didn't know how to without sounding accusing or rude. I wanted to think the best of him; I wanted to believe in the good in him. But sometimes I didn't know how to, because Derek Hale was one of the most unpredictable people I've ever met. "It wasn't against his will," he said softly, reaching out and taking one of my hands in his. "And I told him about the hunters and the full moons, too."
"And he still wanted it?" I breathed, unable to believe it. I knew being a werewolf gave you enhanced strength and all of that, but even I wasn't sure if it was worth it; the constant fear of being hunted, of never knowing if you were going to kill someone you cared about during a full moon or not. I wasn't sure if I'd ever want to be a werewolf - after seeing all of the supernatural things I've seen thus far, I've come to appreciate being human.
"I wouldn't have gave him the bite otherwise," Derek assured me. He was so close to me now, I could feel the heat emanating off of his body as his free hand crept up to caress my cheek. I swallowed - it was so hard to think straight with him being so affectionate like this. It's become obvious to me that I have feelings for Derek, but I was having a hard time figuring out just how deep they ran and it was even harder to do so with him so close to me.
"Why did you want to see me?" I asked quietly. We were the only ones in the parking lot so there was no need to talk in hushed voices, but with him so close it just seemed like I should.
"How do you feel about me, Alexandra?" Derek answered my question with one of his own, one that caused my eyes to widen ever-so-slightly.
"Wh... what?" I breathed, surprised at the sudden question.
"I need to know," he murmured, brushing his thumb across my cheek. "I need to know because you're driving me crazy and I..." Derek paused and licked his lips, trying to get his thoughts straight. "I can't stand the thought of you going on another date with that stupid lacrosse player -"
"He's not stupid."
"But you're mine," he growled possessively, pushing me back firmly but gently so that I was up against my car's door. Derek caught himself and shook his head. "I want you to be, anyway - but you're so damn stubborn and you're not giving me any signs that you can feel this mate bond, too, and I... I don't know what else to do." He released my hand so that he could cup my face with both of his, tilting my chin so that I was looking him directly in the eyes. "So, please. Tell me how you feel about me."
"I... Derek, I -" but before I could even get another word out, sirens broke through the peaceful afternoon air and I looked over to see police zooming into the parking lot. A few of them got out and marched toward he lacrosse field, and I sent Derek a confused look. He closed his eyes in frustration and sighed to himself as he released me, knowing I wanted to go see what was going on. I heard him following closely behind me but once I got close enough to see what was happening, my eyes widened and I immediately stopped. Derek nearly stumbled right into me but hurriedly placed his warm hands on my hips to steady himself as I stared at the field.
Isaac Lahey, the quiet and shy sophomore boy nobody really knew much about, was being arrested right before my very eyes.

+ + + + +

The end of the school day seemed to take twice as long to come around as usual,mostly because my mind was swarming with Isaac Lahey and the fact that he was asuspect for his father's murder. Call me crazy, but that quiet boy reallydidn't seem like the type to be able to kill someone, much less his own father,and he's always been very polite to me. Granted, we never really spoke much butwe have study hall together since it's one of the few classes that mix allgrades, and sometimes he'd hold the door open for me and things like that. Weweren't friends, we were hardly even acquaintances. But he's not a murderer. Ijust know it.
Which is why, once the final bell rung, I hurried to my locker to get myjacket. I wasn't sure what plan Scott had come up with yet, but it was clearthat we needed to help him. Jackson told Sheriff Stilinski that Isaac's dadused to beat him almost every night, which really made me pity the poor guy andmade me want to help him even more. No wonder Isaac was always so silent andhesitant to make eye contact with anyone...
"Hey," a voice suddenly said beside me. I quickly turned to look atthe person, having been taken by surprise, only to see the new transfer thathad joined the lacrosse team. I think his name started with an M, but I'm notsure. He smiled at me. "I'm Matt."
"Nice to meet you, I'm -"
"Alex McCall," he finished for me. I just stared at him. It wasn'treally uncommon for people around here to know me even if I didn't know them,but there was just something about him that made me wary. "You're kind ofpopular around here."
I nodded slowly and grabbed my jacket out of my locker. "What can I do foryou, Matt?" I asked.
He stuttered over his words for a moment, shaking his head. "Oh, n-nothing, I just - wanted to tell you that... you have pretty eyes," Mattmumbled, his cheeks flaming red.
I swallowed. "Um... thanks."
"Alex!" Scott called my name down the hallway.
I quickly excused myself from Matt and met up with my brother as we walked outof the school, about to head over to my car. However, Derek's Camaro pulled upin front of us and he rolled down his window. "Get in," he said.Figuring he had a plan, I stepped forward to do as he said but stopped whenScott grabbed my arm, preventing me from moving any further.
"Are you serious?" He snapped at Derek. "You did that. That's your fault."
"I know that," Derek said with a huff. "Now get in the car andhelp me."
"No, I've got a better idea," Scott said. "I'm gonna call alawyer. Because a lawyer might have a better chance at getting him out beforethe moon rises."
"Not when they do a real search of the house."
Scott and I exchanged a look before turning back to him. "What do youmean?" I asked, gravitating toward the vehicle. Behind me, I heard Scottsigh to himself, but he followed me anyway and climbed into the backseat whileDerek leaned over and opened the passenger's door for me.
"Whatever Jackson said to the cops," he answered me, "what's inthe house is worse. A lot worse."
"Great," Scott groaned in the back while Derek drove out of theparking lot. "This is just what I need."
"What's got you in such a shitty mood?" I asked curiously, turning tolook at him between the front seats. He seemed even more stressed out thanusual, but I didn't particularly think it was because of the full moon beingtonight.
My brother just shot me a look. "Nothing." When I just pursed my lips- my way of calling bullshit on him - he sighed. "It's just... you know,things with Allison are really good right now, but - herfamily are just making it harder and harder on us, and..."
"Yeah, Stiles was complaining to me about it earlier," I said with alaugh as I sat back in my seat. "Apparently you give him too much detailson your relationship with Allison."
Scott hurriedly poked his head in-between the front seats and looked at me withwide eyes. "What did he tell you?"
"Chill out, Scooby-doo," I told him with a roll of my own eyes.Beside me, Derek snorted at the nickname, but he didn't bud into theconversation. "I stopped him before it could get too personal. Idon't really feel the need to know everything about your relationships."
He sighed in relief. "Good," he said, retreating back into his seatand into his own little world.
Derek glanced at me for a moment before turning his gaze back to the road, andthen he reached over and slipped his hand into mine. "Don't think we'renot finishing that conversation we had earlier," he murmured to me. Itried to smile at him, but it probably looked more like a grimace. The thoughtof having to tell Derek how I felt about him when I couldn't even figureit out myself seemed incredibly daunting. I know that what I feel for him isobviously something more than I would feel for a friend, but... it just seemeda little more complicated than that.
Needless to say, I wasn't really looking forward to that conversation rightnow.