One Of A Kind

Chapter 7: Claudia

Maybe things were going to change, but I didn't think I cared. I was okay with it. I was tried of hiding who I was and keeping my head down. It felt good to have a friend, to have someone who not only knew your secret, but accepted it wholeheartedly and didn't really care.

Derek and I sat at the edge of the forest for several minutes, soaking up the last few minutes of the golden sun, as the birds began to slowly stop chirping.

I hummed, breaking the silence. I kept my eyes closed, as they had been since Derek and I sunk into a comfortable silence only moments ago. Though my eyes were closed, I could feel Derek's eyes on me.

"I really do have to go." I frowned and opened my eyes, standing soon after. Derek followed suit, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Thanks for coming over today. And for listening and. . . all that." Derek waved his hand, his neck red in embarrassment still. 

I smiled genuinely. "I'm really glad I came." 

I ducked my head down to its usual position, staring at the ground, and headed towards Derek's car. He was my ride after all. 

"Hey Stiles?" He called when we were only feet away from the car. I heard him pause behind me.

"Yeah?" I asked, turning towards him. He seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head.

"Never mind."

"Oh come on, you can't do that. I hate that. You have to tell me now." I said.

He smiled softly. "Have you uh. . . have you ever tried teleporting with someone before?"

"No, actually." I shook my head

"Really? I would figure you and your dad. . ." Derek motioned with his hands, trailing off.

"No, my dad pretty much likes to treat me as if I am nothing but an elemental. He avoids anything that has to do with any of my other powers."

"Oh. . ." Derek looked like was going to remark on that before he seemed to change his mind.

"Well, what do you think would happen?" Derek asked.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "Want to try?"

Derek lit up. And I probably shouldn't have suggested it, I knew that, but I couldn't change my mind now, not with Derek looking like that.

I walked over to him, chewing on my lip.

"You know this could be a really and idea. We could end up in Thailand, or you could like lose an arm or something."

Derek shrugged. "It'll grow back."

My eyes bulged. "Are you serious?" I asked loudly. I really didn't know much about werwolves, fuck. 

"No!" Derek started laughing. "It'll be fine, come on."

I sighed and shook my head. I worked up the nerves to grab Derek's hand and he smiled at me sweetly. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath.

My mind was spastic, all over the place and I couldn't seem to focus.

"Breathe. Just focus." Derek said, voice soothing and deep.

I took another slow breath and thought of my house. I thought of the tan couch and the ugly curtains. The dusty cabinets and the empty fridge. The creaky floors and the ever flowing drawers in the kitchen, full of junk.

Suddenly a wave of air seemed to pass quickly, before the chirping of the birds stopped and it got cooler. My ears popped. I opened my eyes and immediately met Derek's. They were wide and he was smiling. Almost. . . proudly. I had seen a very similar look on my dad's face when I handed him my report card.