"Come on Lydia, say yes. Please?" Erica pleaded. "You could use some distraction."
"I don't know, it's just..."
"Stiles can miss you for one night, right? And when I hear you talk about him, he really doesn't appreciate you being there."
"It's just hard on him. It's life changing you know."
"Mmhmm, I'll understand. But does that mean you have to be there 24/7?"
"I'll guess you're right. Another problem though, we still need a place for him to stay. He can no longer stay with Scott and Kira."
"Erica nodded. " I'll make you a deal, you go out with me and I'll help you find him a place. You can even bring your friends."
"Okay. When?"
"Uhm, tonight?"
"Tonight? I'm not sure my friends can make it."
"When you know where we're going, I'm sure you're friends can make it." Erice gave her a piece of paper. " This is the address."
Lydia read it. "Wait, what? This is an invite only club."
Erica shrugged her shoulders. "We have friends in high places. So, see you tonight? Make sure you let me know how many of your friends are coming so I can tell the bouncer at the door."
"Okay, I'll call you."
"Be there by eight."
They said their goodbyes and Lydia dialed Scotts number the minute she was out the door. "Scott, do you guys want to go out tonight?"
Scott looked at the club and then at Lydia. "How? I mean this is…."
"My friend Erica. And speak of the devil." She smiled when the blond approached them.
"Lydia." She hugged her. "Come, follow me."
They walked by the long row of people and stopped in front of the red velvet robe that seperated the crowd from the entrance. "Hi Bobby," Erica greeted the bouncer.
"These are your friends?" Erica nodded. The bulky man removed the rope and gestured them inside. They heard the protests of the people still waiting to get inside.
Bob stopped Erica. "Tell Derek I still own him."
Erica stood on her toes and kissed him on his cheek. "You know he just wants to help. How is she doing by the way?"
"Great! She loves the new chair."
"Good. Tell her, aunty Erica will take her shopping in a few days."
"She would love that, thanks."
"No worries. Okay, got to go. See you later hot stuff." She grinned and walked towards the others who were waiting for her.
When Lydia looked at her curiously she explained. "Single dad, daughter has spina bifida and needed a new chair. My friend Derek made it happen. They are good people. Now let's get inside."
They walked inside and Lydia and her friends looked around in aw. "This is awesome," Ian said out loud.
Erica looked around and her face broke into a smile when she saw her friends. "This way."
She walked towards one of the half rounded booths situated around the huge dance floor and greeted her friends.
"Finally," a young man with curly blond hair stated.
"What? You do know that I'm always fashionably late." Erica grinned. She plopped down next to a man who was older than her other friends. He had a full beard, broad shoulders and strong arms, covered in tattoos. Visible because he wore a short sleeved shirt, despite the cold weather outside. "Hi sweetpea." She kissed him on the cheek.
"Hi Erica," he greeted, rolling his eyes. "Let me introduce my friends. The big black one is Boyd, the blonde is Isaac and last but not least the twins, Aiden and Ethan. I am Derek."
Erica smirked. "Lydia?"
Lydia smiled and pointed at everyone introducing them. "Scott and Allison, Kira and Malia and the youngest, Liam."
"Please sit." Derek gestured towards the seats. He raised his hand and a minute later a waitress stood by their table.
"What can I bring you guys?"
"You drive?" Boyd asked Isaac, who nodded. "A beer please."
"A white wine," Erica smiled at her.
"NAB," Derek ordered.
"Which brand?" The waitress asked.
"Whatever you have on tap."
She nodded and faced Lydia and her friends. They all ordered and she wrote it down."Jesse, open a tab," Derek said.
She smiled at him and walked away.
"Uhm, NAB?" Liam asked.
"Non alcoholic beer," Derek explained. "So, what you guys think?"
"It's awesome," Scott stated.
"I will tell my brother."
"Whait? Your brother owns the club?"
"And several others." He faced Erica. "You didn't tell them?"
"Lydia glared at her. " Friends in high places, hey?"
Erica just grinned. "Well, it sounded good at the time."
Snickering, Derek throw his arm over her shoulder and kissed her forehead. "And I still love you."
They talked about different things, danced and drank.
"Well, you almost drowned," Boyd looked at Isaac.
"Did not."
"Uhm, yeah you did," Derek chimed in.
Scott and Ian, who just arrived back at the table, leaving the girls on the dancefloor, catched the last sentence and where curious. "What happened?" Liam asked, sitting down.
"Last summer we went water skiing and Isaac wants to do it again this summer. But last time he almost drowned." Boyd snickered.
"I did not." Isaac pouted.
"What are we talking about?" Erica asked, plopping down next to Boyd.
"That Isaac almost drowned last summer." Boyd explained, pulling her towards him and started to kiss her.
"Get a room." Isaac sighed.
" You are just jealous." Erica stated, kissing Boyd long and hard.
Derek checked his watch, seeing that it was almost twelve. "Okay boys and girls, that's it for me."
Boyd stood and disappeared somewhere around a corner, returning with a wheelchair.
Lydia and her friends looked at each other. "Did you know?" Scott whispered at Lydia.
She shook her head, Erica didn't tell her
Derek moved to the edge of the booth and moved into the chair with ease, he was a double amputee. Both his legs ended just a few inches below his hips.
He turned his chair and faced Boyd. "Don't forget about that delivery."
Boyd shook his head. "At two, wood delivery. Got it boss."
Derek rolled his eyes. He turned to face Lydia and her friends. " It was so good to meet you, I had a great time, we should do it again." They could only nod. " I think I broke your friends, Erica. I'll take it, you didn't tell them about this either." But instead of being angry he smiled. "Well, I've got to go."
Erica leaned forward and laid her hands on his shoulders, kissing both his cheeks. "Say hi to Kylin."
"I will." he kissed her back, said his goodbyes and wheeled towards the exit.
Erica turned to face Lydia and her friends, who were still staring at the door Derek had just disappeared through. "Hello, earth to new friends. Hey don't freak out on me. Okay, I should have told you."
"It's not that, "Scott said shaking his head. "That guy is awesome, I mean, talking about all the extreme sports he is doing."
Isaac grinned. "Yeah, he is pretty amazing."
"Okay," Erica started. "Derek Hale, thirty two years old, owns a construction business, single father and he was born that way."
"You mean congenital amputation?" Lydia asked.
Erica nodded. "I'll guess I forget to tell you because to me, to us," he gestured to the others, "it's just a part of Derek, of who he is."
Lydia and her friends nodded, understanding what she is saying.
Erica was quiet for a few minutes, like she was thinking about something. She smiled and looked at Lydia. "I just got an idea."