The world changes you. One minute you're on top, happy as a clam, and the next, everything seems to be crumbling around you. You never know when it happened, only that it did happen. You're left grappling with the concept, wondering if you could have done something differently, wondering if perhaps this was the way you were meant to be all along. Hurt. Helpless. Broken.

Those are words that were absent from Lydia's vocabulary up until very recently. She never thinks of herself as a wounded thing, a bird trying to fly with a broken wing. But that is exactly what she is. That is what she has become. She hates every minute of it.

She knows where the blame should be placed. Her so-called friends have brought this terror into her world. But even knowing this, even with all of the anger she feels towards them for keeping her in the dark, unable to defend herself, she knows that it is really and truly only one person's fault: Peter Hale. The name itself strikes fear through her, and she hates him for instilling such a reaction in her.

His power and his influence over her alienates her. Lydia Martin has been queen of Beacon Hills for as long as she can remember, but that reign has come to a close. She isn't Miss Popularity anymore. She isn't the most envied girl at Beacon Hills High School. She isn't even the bitchiest person to roam those hallways. No, now she's the town whackjob. Instead of envying her or fearing her, the people of Beacon Hills seem to pity her.

He's the only one who doesn't, and although she isn't sure just how she feels towards him yet, Lydia is grateful for it. Because Derek Hale is the only person who knows the true extent of her struggle, and although he should be angry for what she's done, for costing him his position as Alpha, he's understanding. It isn't in Lydia's nature to apologize, but there's something about him that compels her towards it. She resists nonetheless.

Derek's been hovering for days now. Although he never actually acknowledges it, Lydia knows that this is less for her protection and more for the protection of the rest of the town. Peter has a direct gateway into Lydia's mind, and that doesn't bode well for anyone, in the end. Still, she hates feeling as though he's babysitting her, and she doesn't have enough self-control to keep it from showing.

"If he's such a threat, why didn't you kill him?" Lydia's tone is accusatory, but Derek seems unfazed by it.

"We did. Or so we thought." He rubs the bridge of his nose.

"Well, bravo," she responds drily, clapping her hands in slow, drawn out beats. She has half the mind to point out that this could very well be the reason why he lost his position as Alpha of the pack, just to see if she can get a rise out of him (to see if anything can get a rise out of him), but she decides against it. It seems to be going just a bit too far, even for her, particularly when he's showing her more attention than any of her friends have the past few months.

"Are you always this sarcastic?" He barely looks up at her as he asks.

"If it's warranted. Are you always this surly?" She tilts her head, one hand on her hip. Lydia has heard plenty about Derek Hale, although until recently, she'd never actually spoken to him. She can't remember a time where he didn't look as though he was brooding about something though, and given his family's history, she can't exactly blame him for that. Even so, it'd be nice to see him crack a smile now and then.

Derek merely gives her a look, and it's all she can do to keep from sighing. One day, she decides, she will get a smile out of him. It's her new goal.

"Whatever," she mutters, waving a hand airily. "Are we going to take care of this problem or what?"

This question seems to shake him a bit, and he drops the brooding expression long enough for Lydia to register surprise etched in his features. "We?" he repeats, eyebrows furrowed.

"Yes, we," Lydia replies impatiently, rolling her eyes. "Look, we can beat around the bush all we want, but this is partially my fault, and I know you have to be blaming me at least a little bit." She raises her eyebrows at him, waiting for him to protest. He opens his mouth but says nothing. With a satisfied nod, Lydia crosses her arms. "I want him gone just as much as you do. I need him gone. So let's do this. Let's get rid of him."

Derek watches her for a moment, looking for any sign of reluctance, or perhaps any hint of a trap he has to worry about. Finally, he speaks. "You're still vulnerable to him."

This seems to grind Lydia's gears. Her eyes narrow, her nostrils flaring just slightly as she purses her lips. She doesn't like the idea of being vulnerable, and she likes hearing the words come out of Derek Hale's mouth even less. He doesn't know a thing about her, as far as she's concerned.

"You seem to be pretty educated in all things werewolf," she answers icily, glaring. "Can you teach me to shut him out of my mind for good?"

Derek hesitates. He seems to realize that he's hit a nerve. "Probably. But it would be difficult."

"I didn't ask if it would be difficult," Lydia snaps, because Lydia Martin has never once backed down from a challenge and she isn't about to start now. "I asked if you could teach me."

Lydia's reaction gives him pause and he looks her up and down, perhaps seeing her for the first time. Derek's heard stories about Lydia, but none of them ever included this side of her. He decides that this is a side of her that he would like to see again. "Yes," he answers, nodding solemnly.

"Well then," Lydia declares, hands on her hips and a pleased smirk painted across her lips. "Problem solved. Teach me how to block him out and I'll help you take him down." She isn't sure what she can do. She isn't a werewolf or any kind of supernatural being, but she is, apparently, immune, and that has to count for something.

To seal the deal, Lydia holds out her hand. This time there's no wolfsbane, no malice, no purpose other than her own: to get her life back. And from what she can tell, Derek wants his back too. And so, after a thoughtful moment, he reaches out and shakes her hand. He's surprised by how firm her grip is, but even more surprised by this unexpected change in events. Even Lydia isn't quite sure what it means for them. But they have a common goal now, and she's willing to go above and beyond to make sure that they achieve it.

A/N: This is basically just a little ficlet to get back into the swing of writing. Plus I have an insane interest in Teen Wolf lately and Lydia x Derek just seems appealing. Anyways, reviews are appreciated and all of that. Thanks! xx