The Alexandra Chronicles ¤ Derek Hale

Chapter 26

"Normally I would just tell you that you're full of shit and demand to know what kind of drugs you got into, but since there was just a slimy mini Godzilla destroying my house not even three hours ago..." Cassidy's eyes were wide with horror and realization as she digested all that I had just finished telling her. "Holy shit, holy shit, you're telling the truth -- holy shit --"

"Cass, calm down," I said, casting a glance toward the kitchen doorway as if someone was lingering behind the wall and eavesdropping. No one was; Cassidy's parents had went to the hospital to get checked after they regained consciousness. They'd tried to call the police department, but when Mrs. Allen started spouting a story about some large reptile creature breaking in and attacking them, the dispatcher hung up with a snippy comment about getting fined for prank calling. After they realized no one would believe them, they decided the least they could do was go to the hospital -- but not before telling Cassie and I that they'd be checking in every ten minutes. (I had to give them credit; Mrs. Allen texted Cassidy's phone every ten minutes on the dot.)

"How am I supposed to calm down?" My best friend asked, tugging her hands through her hair like she always does when she's starting to freak out. "Werewolves are real, Alex -- and kanimas, whatever they are -- and the Argents are literally hunting your brother and your.... -- what even is Derek Hale to you? -- and --" She spared herself a moment to catch her breath and shook her head vehemently, as if doing so would eliminate the truth that the supernatural world actually existed. Then her eyes sharpened as she looked back up at me. "So this is what you've been keeping from me all year!" I nodded sheepishly. "Why?"

I raised my eyebrows at her. "Cassidy, you said yourself that you'd have thought I was full of shit. You wouldn't have believed me at all if it weren't for what happened today."

Cass frowned as she studied me. "That's not why you didn't tell me," she said knowingly. "Because if me believing you was the problem, all it would take was your word and maybe Scott wolfing up or something.... But I'd totally believe you if you came to me seriously, because you're my best friend."

A sigh escaped my lungs as I glanced out the window. The sun was setting, and the sky was filled with a kaleidoscope of pinks, oranges and purples. On an ordinary day where I didn't have to worry about murderous creatures or werewolves or hunters, it would have been the perfect time for Cassidy and I to sneak out on the roof with junk food and blankets and talk about anything and everything: prom, boys, graduation, where we saw ourselves in the future. We used to do it all the time, but nowadays we hardly even saw each other at all.

"Okay, fine," I acquiesced, knowing she wouldn't leave me alone about it until I told her the truth. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to bother you with it."

Cassidy reeled back, surprise and confusion written on her face. "What?"

I began rotating my cup back and forth as I spoke due to the nerves that were still eating at me. "Cass, this stuff completely flipped my world -- my life -- upside down. One day I was a normal teenage girl looking forward to prom and graduation and college, but now my brother's a werewolf, and all I ever do is worry about hunters and kanimas and whatever other bullshit that gets thrown at us." I offered a sheepish smile as I glanced over at her and then back down to my drink. "I didn't want to bother you with it. Your life is perfect -- you and Ri are happy, and you're doing great in school, and you have your whole future planned out and..." I shrugged, not really knowing how to explain it. "And I guess, you know, there was a part of me that wanted at least one part of my life to stay the same as it's always been."

"And our friendship was the part you wanted to stay the same?"

"Yeah."

Cassidy was silent for a long moment as she just looked at me. Then she asked, very carefully, "Why do you think it would change?" I blinked, not knowing how to answer her that. She shook her head. "Alex, you're my best friend. We tell each other everything -- crazy supernatural stuff or normal teenage girl stuff, it doesn't matter what it is. What's important is that we trust each other and we have each other's backs. All this time -- all this time you've been so stressed out about everything that's been happening, and I could have been there for you, but you totally shut me out."