It's just what you do / Derek Hale

Part 9

Stella had been doing well, beside the constant worrying about Derek, who she hasn't heard of in three days.

She didn't understand what she had done wrong, well, besides the trying to kill him. Maybe he had given up on her, but why would he let her sleep on his couch, right next to him and dip on her the next day?

Maybe he was just busy, she had heard a lot from Scott and Stiles and what had happened on the full moon with him. She wished she could tell them about how she had been doing and what her struggles were but she couldn't, she had no one to talk to about this.

She did have Lydia though, who had been keeping her busy the best three days. Much like today, Lydia had taken Stella to the bowling, along with Jackson and Bruce.

Bruce was supposed to be Stella's date, but the guy didn't understand her jokes and was to busy staring at his own muscles in every reflection to be find to listen to anything Stella had to say.

'Maybe I can help you,' Bruce suggested as Stella struggled to even score just for once. 'I think the kiddy bumpers would be a better option,' she responded, not wanting to touch Bruce in the slightest. 'Alright,' Bruce sat back down in the seat he had pushed himself up from as Stella threw the ball, landing it right into the gut.

'Maybe I can help,' it was a voice she recognised, Dereks. She turned around to see him standing behind Lydia and Jackson. 'Your help usually ends in me trying to kill you,' she answered, making sure that only he could hear it. 'I don't mind,' he responded as he got closer to Stella, as Lydia smiled proudly toward her friend, giving her two thumbs up, making Stella roll her eyes.

Derek put one hand on her waist, listening closely to her heartbeat as he did so, but she tried not to show what effect this man was having on her.

'You are stressed,' he mentioned, his face right next to hers as she put his other hand above hers on the ball. 'Not hearing from a friend who is clearly in danger, makes a person stressed,' she bit back, clearly upset with him. 'It have been an eventful three days, Stella,' he whispered. 'Are you going to throw the ball or has this turned into a coffee chat?' Jackson screamed from the back.

'I'll throw the ball at your face if you don't shut it!' She joked, making Dereks lips turn up just the smallest bit again. 'You'd find a way to make it end up in the gut anyway,' he joked back, receiving a playful slap from Lydia.

'Along with you,' Stella finally said before Derek helped her throw the bowling ball. A strike. 'See, my help pays off in the end,' he said, letting go of her waist and taking a step back.

'But I still lost,' she pointed out as the scores came up on the board, making clear that Jackson was the big winner with 5 strikes. 'You threw them all in the gut?' Derek laughed, looking at her playfully.

'You will end up ik the gutter as well if you don't shut it, big guy,' she joked, taking a walk away from her friends with him. 'I'd like to see you try,' he challenged her. 'Last time I tried,' she took a step closer to him, tracing the scars she left on his stomach, 'I ruined your perfectly fit torso.'

He took a step back, trying to not let her in or let her know she had this much effect on the man. 'I came here to talk, Stella,' he said, leading her to the outside after giving her the chance to take of those irritating bowling shoes.

'About?' She questioned, the flirty mood being ruined immediately. 'You,' when they came outside, it was raining, so Derek lead her to his car, opening the passenger door as always. 'What did I do this time?' She asked, her mood being ruined in just a second. Its like when he is around, bad things happen or he just ruins it, but when he isn't around, she needs him.

'You are powerful, very powerful. And it won't take long for the alpha to notice. I can't keep watch over you 24/7, although...' he looked like he was going to say something, but decided against it,'but I have noticed that you are still fighting it off, I can feel the pain it puts you in. And it takes away your power, eats at it. So you have to make up your mind.'

He looked at her for a second, she was just staring ahead at the bowling place, seeing Bruce walkout. 'Either, you live your life in pain and die sooner or later without your powers. Or you live it without pain, and as a powerful werewolf, with my help.' Bruce walked around the corner as Stella listened.

'Derek,' it was the first time she had said his name in such a tone as serious as now, and it took him back for a second.

'Are you doing this for me or for you?' She asked, turning to look at him, and listening to his heartbeat. 'For us both, Stella,' there was no jump or raise in his heartbeat. 'You can't be safe without me, and I can't kill the alpha without you and Scott,' he looked back at her.

'You need a pack,' he said. 'You left three days, didn't let anything know, and now you come back just to ask to be part of your pack? No. I have more self respect than that.' And with that, she opened the car door and stepped back into the rain.

Leaving Derek to slam his fist against his wheel. Should he go after her or does that make him desperate? He really liked this girl, a lot. He sat in the car as he watched her walk away, he needed her. Not only for the pack, but for him.