On My Own | Hale - TVD/TO/TW [4]

4 | A Fake

Leaning against the window, Lexi looks out at the field. Normally, there would be students playing lacrosse in the crisp breeze; instead, she can hear those very students stretching in the woods to run.

As the door to the room opens, Lexi glances over at the brunette teacher pressing her forehead against the wood. When the woman turns, she screams when she sees Lexi, jumping away. Quickly grabbing the closest weapon—a flimsy wooden stick—and readies it; Lexi raises an eyebrow at the display but does not move.

"What do you want?" She asks. "You gonna threaten me? Tell me that no one's gonna believe me? Try to scare me?" She lowers her voice. "Kill me?"

Lexi presses her lips together to suppress her growing smirk as she takes a step forward. "I was going to see if you were ok."

"Physically or emotionally?" She asks. "Although, I guess that presupposes I was emotionally ok before any of this, and, according to my therapist, I—it's been debatable for a long time."

Reaching forward, Lexi plucks the stick from her hands. "I think you're gonna be ok."

"I mean, you teach high school," the woman chuckles to herself. "In 20 minutes, I have to start two dozen teenagers on The Crucible, and I honestly have no idea what I'm gonna say."

"Well, why don't you start by telling them that it's an allegory for McCarthyism?" Lexi asks with a small smile.

"Is that a subtle way of suggesting that I shouldn't say anything?" Her eyes widen. "Because I won't." Lexi shakes her head, offering the stick back. As the woman takes it, Lexi steps towards the door. "Who are you?" She asks.

Lexi glances over my shoulder. "I told you. I'm Lexi Adams. I teach history next door."

"Jennifer," she replies. "W-Will I see you later?"

"I'm taking the day off," Lexi says. "Still have some wounds to heal." After another look, Lexi walks out of the classroom with a grin. "Check," she mutters to herself. "Now, Cora."

She passes Isaac in the parking lot; she calls after the boy as he runs towards the locker rooms. "Hey!" She shouts, causing him to pause. "Are Boyd and Cora ok?"

Isaac glances at the ground. "Yeah, still healing, I guess."

Lexi nods. "They at Derek's?"

"Yeah."

"Isaac, is there a reason you can't look me in the eye?"

He meets her gaze. "You're her, aren't you?" He asks, lowering his voice. When she frowns, he sighs. "The Original Alpha?"

Lexi clears her throat as she glances around. "This is not the time for this conversation, Isaac," she replies. "I was part of her pack—"

"Because you're her."

Lexi narrows her eyes. "Don't want to be late to practice, Isaac. Better get going."

"He doesn't want to see you, you know." Lexi shakes her head as she walks towards her car. "Ms. Adams, seriously. Give him space."

She hesitates before getting onto her car. Running her hand through her hair, she glances down at her phone. As she starts the car, the Bluetooth begins to ring.

Derek sends her to voicemail.

With a sigh, she says, "Good to know you're ignoring me. Look, I'm just calling to see if Cora's ok—if you're ok." She pauses as trees fly by her eyes. Her grip on the steering wheel tightens as she bites her bottom lip. "The Alphas are coming. I doubt Cora's healed yet, so please just take it easy. If you need something, I'm only a call away."