A/N: Just as a quick little side note, I do not own anything from Teen Wolf. The only thing that I own is the cellist that I created. Also, I would like to thank tumblr user deniiisey for being a beta for this one shot. The song that the cellist plays in this story is "Carnival of the Animals: The Swan" by Camille Saint-Saëns. Enjoy!

The Swan

Derek Hale searched the empty hallways of Beacon Hills High School for Scott McCall and Stiles Stilinski, to discuss what the next move on the Alpha Pack should be. He had been off on his own ever since the death of his Beta last week. Boyd's death had brought back memories that Derek had suppressed for many years, and having them resurface made his emotional pain more difficult to bare. To make matters worse, Derek's only remaining pack member, Isaac, seemed to be more interested in joining Scott's pack than to stay in his. And despite the fact that he still had his sister Cora and his uncle Peter around, he felt alone.

Memories of his teenage years enfolded from his mind as he walked on the tile floors of the school that he once attended. The remembrance of both happy and heartbreaking times consumed Derek's thoughts to the point where he forgot why he had come to Beacon Hills High School in the first place. His mind was working overtime, remembering important moments and individuals, and there was one that stood out above the rest. Paige. The mere thought of her name brought love and guilt inside of Derek's heart.

They say first love is the kind of love that is unforgettable and can leave permanent scars on the soul. Derek could vouch for that, and he used to even have a more visible scar, too; the color of his eyes. Before he became an Alpha, they had changed from a beautiful golden color to ice blue, reminding him of Paige every time he shifted. Ever since her death, he never thought that he could feel complete again. In the end, Paige loved him, despite what he was and he would always keep her close to his heart because of that.

As he continued to roam around the school, Derek found himself in a familiar place. The music room is in this hallway. Derek's thoughts immediately brought him back to the day he first met Paige. He remembered how she asked him and his friends to go play basketball in the gym. He also vividly recalled telling her that they wouldn't leave unless she could take the ball away from him. Derek allowed himself a little chuckle as he was reminded of happier times in his life.

Derek snapped out of of his thoughts when he heard music coming from a nearby classroom. The room where Paige used to practice. He wanted to turn away and try to find Scott and Stiles, but the melody was too captivating. He never really cared much for classical music, but something about hearing the sound of a cello always made him stop for a few minutes to listen.

A small smile escaped Derek's usually cold demeanor as he thought of how Paige had challenged him to play one instrument that was in the music room. He remembered how proud he was of himself when he had picked up the triangle and successfully produced a clear note from the instrument.

Derek continued to listen to the melody that the celllist was playing and he couldn't help but be mesmerized by the music. He had almost forgotten how warm and rich the cello sounded. Just like all of those years ago, he was in awe of how beautiful it sounded. He had to admit he was impressed with how good the cellist was. Whoever it was, they took their time to play the song perfectly, and for a few seconds he felt as though he was floating around in an infinite ocean.

As he continued to listen to the captivating melody, Derek couldn't help but wonder who the cellist was. He knew that he should have turned away, instead of letting his curiosity get the better of him, but he had lost all control. Just listening to the music wasn't enough for him, he needed to see the cellist actually play it.

Quietly, he took a few steps forward. Like all those years ago, he was leaning against the doorpost, watching someone play beautiful music.

The cellist was a young woman, seventeen or eighteen if Derek had to guess. She had honey blonde, straight, shoulder length hair that was put in a ponytail. Her hazel eyes were focused on the sheet music in front of her while she pulled the bow across the cello's strings, and let her left hand's small, graceful fingers dance across the top strings with ease.

The girl shared no physical similarities with Paige and as Derek continued to watch her, he noticed a different aura, too. Paige's aura was filled with determination and intensity, and this girl's aura exuded peace and relaxation.

Derek's heart clenched as he compared the past to the present. Thinking of his first love always brought up intense emotions, such as longing and guilt. Beneath his cold and harsh demeanor, was a broken man, looking for a lost love.

To Derek's disappointment, the song ended. The cellist took a deep breath in through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, giving Derek the impression that even though she seemed to love playing music, she was relieved that she'd finished. She looks exhausted, he thought. She must have been practicing for hours to get it to sound perfect.

The girl must have finally sensed that she wasn't the only person in the room anymore, because she turned around to face Derek. Her pink lips formed a smile and she tilted her head to the side. She seemed fascinated by him and wasn't freaked out by his intense gaze.

After what had felt like an eternity of silence to Derek, the girl's lips parted and he heard her voice for the first time that night.

"Hello."