The Alexandra Chronicles ¤ Derek Hale

Chapter 25

"Let's be honest," Riley said as my friends and I all sat at a table in the media center. "None of us are actually here because we're interested in WSU. We just want to skip class."
"Speak for yourself," Nick responded, being the only one out of the four of us who was paying attention to the Washington State representative. "I already sent my application in." He paused and glanced over at me. "Did you apply yet?"
I averted my gaze, feeling a little sheepish about my answer. I'd told Nick I'd consider applying to WSU, but the truth was I think I'd always known leaving Beacon Hills wasn't really an option for me -- even before all the supernatural crap had started happening, I don't think I'd ever been able to see myself moving away from Scott and my mom, Cassidy, or even Stiles and Riley. And even if I had, my decision would have surely changed when Scott turned into a werewolf and everything. "Um, no," I answered honestly. "I don't really think I'll be going there, anyway."
He looked a little disappointed. "You should apply just in case... you might change your mind, or something."
Cass and I exchanged looks with each other; she raised her eyebrows and shook her head, signifying it might be time to distance myself from Nick a bit more. Even though I'd explained to Nick that I just wanted to be friends and I didn't see him as anything more than that, it was still painstakingly obvious that he had feelings for me and didn't want to stop pursuing me just yet. Which was really flattering, because he was a sweet and smart guy -- two traits that were hard to find in a guy these days -- but there was just... nothing there me. I couldn't live with myself if I gave him a chance, knowing fully well I didn't have feelings for him; because how could I be with Nick when I couldn't even seem to go a day without Derek Hale crossing my mind? It wouldn't be fair to him.
Cassie was probably right. She didn't have to speak out loud for me to know what she was thinking; when you're best friends with someone as long as we have been with each other, you start to pick up on each other's mannerisms and it's easy to tell what they're thinking. With just one look, I knew what she was trying to tell me -- and I knew that she had a point.
"Well, I, for one, have no intentions of going to Washington State," my best friend spoke up, thankfully pulling Nick's attention away from me. "I'm just here because I hate tech class."
"Tech's the worst," Riley agreed, nodding his head emphatically.
"Dude," Nick said. "You don't even take that class."
"That's because I'm not stupid enough to take a class I know I'll hate."
Cassidy scoffed and shot her boyfriend a dirty look. "You know what? Don't make fun of the choices I make," she told him. "Being with you is one of them."
I laughed loudly, only to turn it into a cough when the WSU rep turned and looked at me while he was in the middle of his speech. Once the guy finally looked away again, I said, "You're in the dog house now, Ri. Good luck getting out of it."
Riley merely kicked my leg under the table and then scooted closer to Cassie's chair so he could whisper into her ear, no doubt sucking up to her even though she was only pretending to be mad at him.
Sometimes I really envied Cass and Ri's relationship. Everything was so simple for them -- they didn't have to worry about werewolves or hunters or murderous kanimas; the only thing that mattered was that they loved each other and that was it. Their only concerns involved how they'd color coordinate for prom and choosing a place to move into once they saved up enough money to put a down payment on it. They were both planning on going to the community college, Cass for communications and Ri for criminal justice, and then they were going to move in with each other eventually. They had their whole lives planned out, as did Nick.
And then there was me, who couldn't even remember what I'd ate for breakfast this morning. Yikes.
Later on, I tried to find Scott, Stiles or Allison to check in on things -- but of course, they were nowhere to be found. And (because they're all either terrible at answering phones or just don't care to keep me updated) no one would answer any of my calls. "Seriously?!" I vented to my brother's voicemail. "What's the point in having a cell phone if you won't answer it?! Call me back and tell me what's going on, Scott."
It didn't sit well with me that there was a creepy, murderous kanima on the loose and I couldn't get a hold of anyone. Scott caught me up on everything this morning as we were getting ready for school, but now I was seriously regretting skipping chemistry class because that was the only period I had with him and now I had no way of finding out what was going on. Of course, I could probably call Derek, but it was always difficult to tell whose side he was on and I still wasn't his biggest fan at the current moment. (I'll admit that the whole Derek-and-Erica-kissing thing got under my skin... just not out loud.)
"I guess I'll just have to hunt them down," I grumbled to myself as I slammed my locker shut and spun on my heel to leave.
"Whoa," Ri said as he grabbed my shoulders to stop me from running right into him. He, Cassidy and Nick frowned.
"What's wrong?" Cass asked.
"Nothing," I lied, and then, because I felt bad for hiding so much from her, added, "Scott's just not answering his phone, which is annoying." It wasn't a lie, but that's not really why I was so upset that he wouldn't answer the phone.
I could see that she could tell there was something else bothering me, but she thankfully didn't press the issue as Nick said, "A bunch of us are heading out to the old diamond to play some softball like we used to do. Are you in?"
"Um.. actually," I tried, "I have to --"
"Uh-uh," Cassidy said, linking our arms together and basically tugging me down the hallway. "You are not getting out of this one."
"But --"
"Don't even say you have to work, because I called Rita, and she said you had the day off," she told me matter-of-factly. Then she sighed. "Seriously, Alex, senior year is almost over and I feel like I haven't got to hang out with you at all! Prom's coming up and we haven't even went dress shopping or anything yet, and you totally bailed on the senior bonfire last week, even though I know you were really looking forward to it."
If the guilt hadn't been eating me alive before, it definitely was now. "I know, and I'm sorry," I apologized sincerely, wishing I could just explain to her what was really happening in my life right now. "It's just... things have been really hectic at home lately and I --"
"I get it," Cass said as the boys trailed behind us. "And you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. But getting away from everything every once in a while can help you, Alex."
"She's right," Nick piped up. "It'll be fun. And besides, don't you love softball?"
Not really. It sort of lost its shine when my dad left. But still, they had a point. Cassidy and I had made so many plans for our senior year and I felt really terrible for bailing on the majority of them. I haven't had hardly any time to spend with her lately, or any of my other friends, and that really sucked. I missed them a lot. I missed being a normal high school teenager whose only worries were what she would do on the weekend or whether or not she would pass her exams.
Surely the others could make it through a day without me? I mean, they're not exactly blowing my phone up saying they need my help or anything. And if they do call, I'll just leave.
"You should come, Alex," Riley said, nudging my arm as Cassidy looked at me with hopeful eyes.
"Okay," I said, forcing a smile even as my gut twisted in worry. "I'm in."