Tether ⌲ Stiles Stilinski [2]

three

I had forgotten how eerie a school could be without the usual force of students which brought it to life. The last time the halls had been this quiet was the night our pack fought against the original alpha werewolf, when most of us were more innocent and naive than we were now. However, instead of dark and shadow ridden the halls were bathed in sunlight as it was extremely early in the morning as opposed to the middle of the night.

Scott had decided that the safest plan to meet up with Derek would be to join together when no one else was around. So, fueled by coffee, Lydia, Allison, and I had driven to Beacon Hills High as soon as it opened. Long before any classes began and even prior to the morning lacrosse practice.

"I don't know, it doesn't really look like much to me," Lydia had been showing reluctance all morning. Despite pointing out the bruised symmetry last afternoon, she wasn't fully committed to being up this early just to speak to Derek Hale of all people.

"Come on, Lydia," I pleaded. "Don't quit on us now. It's a pattern, and it's extremely similar to the symbols in our ancestor's journal. "

"Right, the one gifted to you by your estranged, murderous Aunt. Perfectly trustworthy."

"It wasn't her journal," I crossed my arms. "It was my great grandmother's."

She simply huffed, dropping her purse into a vacant seat in the otherwise deserted classroom we had decided to meet in. "Whatever. I'm just saying this Hale better have some information for us after I had to set my alarm this early. I need my sleep, you know."

"We know," Allison lifted herself up to sit on a desk.

My sister had not been thrilled about the early morning meeting either, especially if it meant she had to face Derek Hale, but she knew there was a pattern on our arms and that the marks weren't a coincidence

"Hey!" Stiles called joyfully, too loud for this hour of the morning.

My stomach squirmed when I saw him.

His hair was still playfully messy from his morning bedhead and he was wearing a plum coloured flannel. I would've melted on the spot if I wasn't still picturing him with Heather partying all night long together. I had never even met the girl before, yet the thought of her got under my skin somehow and I hated it. Insecurity was never a great feeling.

Scott scampered in behind his best friend and proceeded to glance over his shoulder.

"Where's your murderous recluse of a mentor?" Lydia flattened the creases on her skirt with a sigh.

"He's right here," a grumbling voice carried into the classroom as Derek Hale stepped through the doorway. His arms were crossed over his chest and his face wore a perpetual grimace.

Lydia shifted uncomfortably and I could feel my sister tense up at my side.

"What do you have to show me? Let's get this over with," Derek muttered.

Scott nodded at Allison and I, so we stumbled forward, pushing up our sleeves and holding our forearms together in the process.

Derek leaned forward and barely glanced at the markings before sending each of us an icy glare.

"I don't see anything."

"Look again," I did my best to glare back.

My effort made him roll his eyes. "How is a bruise going to tell my where Boyd and Erica are?"

"It's the same on both sides!" Scott protested. "Exactly the same."

"It's nothing."

"Pareidolia," Lydia shrugged. "Seeing patterns that aren't there. It's a subset of apophenia."