The sun was slowly hiding in the horizon in the lovely summer afternoon. Another day had come and gone, and nothing nearly interesting had happened on Caroline's life. She stopped for a second to admire the beautiful orange appearing in the sky, and then turned back to clean the table next to her. Only a couple of minutes were left before her shift ended, and she was hoping she didn't have to clean anything else, or deal with another annoying costumer. She hated being a waitress. There was nothing exiting about it. On the contrary, it was really boring, and each day she ended exhausted. But she needed a job, and she hadn't managed to find another. She had to work most of the day, and it was poorly paid, but at least she could make ends meet. Barely.
Just as she was walking out of the diner, her phone rang. Seeing who was calling her, she doubted whether she should answer. Molly always had the worst ideas ever, and even worst timing. But she was her best friend, and she'd feel very bad for ignoring her.
"This better be good," she said exasperatingly. "I've just finished, and I´m not in the mood for bullshit."
"There's no need to be rude my dear. I only have good news," answer her friend, clearly amused.
"I know your definition of "good news". Say it already so I can say no, get home, and go to bed."
"None of that tonight! I'm picking you up in an hour." That was all she said, and then hung up.
Once again, Molly had managed to annoy her. Every last bit of her body was in pain, and the last thing she wanted was to stay up all night doing something crazy with her friend, who had an uncanny ability to always get on her nerves. She truly loved her, but they were too different. Molly was from a rich family, and didn't need to work her ass off, while she had to work on a job she hated to support both her and her brother. Her parents had died on a car crash two years ago, and she was left to take care of her teenage brother. And although Molly was very supportive, she just didn't understand what they were going through.
"Stiles!" she yelled as she closed the door behind her. Her sixteen-year-old brother didn't answer. "Stiles, are you home?" she asked again, without any hope of getting an answer.
She went for a shower, letting the water slowly wash away the worries and the pain. Of course, it wasn't enough. But at least the warm water touching her skin calmed her.
She got out, and put the baggiest and most comfortable clothes she could find. It was something she always did when she was tired, and this time, it would also scare Molly away. She brushed her hair and was drying it with her towel when the bell rang. She opened the door to find her friend on the other side.
"Howdy," Molly greeted her, imitating a southerner cowboy.
"Aren't you chirpy today? It's really annoying. I'm really hoping you won't stay long. ´Cause I'm really very tired."
"May I point out the overuse of the word really?" Molly mocked her. "There will be no sleeping today, my love. I'm taking you to the biggest party of the year. And you can't say no."
"Hm, maybe I forgot to mention I'm exhausted? And that is a no. A pretty definite one."
"Oh, c'mon! I know tomorrow's your day off. You can sleep all day if you want. But tonight we're going out. Lots of really very hot men," she tried to say as convincingly as possible.
"It's not just that I'm tired. I don't want to go out." Even though Carol put up a fight, Molly ended convincing her.
"C'mon, I'll help you get dressed," Molly said just as Stiles opened the door.
"Hello sis," he greeted his sister. "Oh, hello sweetheart," he said to Molly in a flirtatious way. "Looking good."
"As always," she answered.
"Oh stop it. He's my little brother, you perv," complained Caroline.
"Are you girls going somewhere?"
"Only the best party ever."
"The Whitmore's party?" asked the teen with a surprised and exited look on his face.
"Oh, yeah!" Molly answered in an equally thrilling voice.
"Can I please come?"
"Absolutely not. Don't you have homework to do?" his sister said, more like an order than like a question.
"All right. Have fun for me," he said as he headed to his bedroom. He suddenly turned on his heels, as if he had forgotten something. "And give Jackson my regards."
The music was so loud Caroline couldn't understand a word Molly was saying. She could only see her friend's face, and the only thing she could make out was that she was leaving with some guy she had met. A million different ways to kill her friend for ditching her crossed her mind. First, she makes a fuss about how "awesome" the party was going to be, then completely ignores her most of the night, and ends up leaving with someone neither of them knew. She was not only angry, but also very frustrated.
She started walking towards the door, only to realize Molly was her ride, and now she was gone. "Great," she thought. And to make things worse, her ex-boyfriend was walking towards her.
"Hey gorgeous," said Jackson. "How do you like my party?"
"I don't," was Carol's irritated answer. "Excuse me, I'm trying to leave."
"But the night is only starting."
"Maybe. But I'm still leaving," this time she sounded more angry. She walked out of the house to finally breathe some fresh air. She turned around and saw Jackson following her. "What do you want Jackson?"
"To remember old times," he said and pulled her closer to him, forcing her to a kiss. She struggled to separate herself from him.
"What the hell are you doing? You are clearly drunk."
"Well, maybe I am. So what? Come closer," this time he grabbed her so strongly he was hurting her. And again, he kissed her. She tried to get rid of him, but he wouldn't let her go.
"Stop it. I don't want this! You're hurting me! Stop!" she started yelling, but he still had hold of her. He was too strong, but she kept struggling. Then, out of the blue, he let go her as he was tackled to the ground. The stranger was holding him to the floor, with his hands on his throat.
"Do you not know what the world stop means?" he asked. "She wanted you to stop. Next time someone tells you to stop, you stop. Or else you won't live to tell the tale. Do you understand me?"
"Yes," answered Jackson. "I understand," he said, and the strong man released him.
He got up and turned to look at Carol, who was still shaken by what had happened. It was then she had a chance to take a look at him. Saying he was handsome didn't even begin to describe him. She noticed his big blue eyes, and felt like she could get lost in them. His face looked as if it had being sculpted, and the lines of his jaw were just perfect.
"Are you ok?" he asked her. "Did he hurt you?"
"Oh, no. I'm ok. Thank you. I tried to fight back, but he was too strong."
"Well, don't worry. He won't do that again," he said as he turned around to look at Jackson, who looked frightened, and was trying to recover from the fall. "I'm Derek, by the way. Derek Hale."
"Nice to meet you Derek. I'm Carol. Thanks again."
"I believe you were leaving, weren't you."
"Yes, I was just getting tired of being here," she smiled to him, and he smiled back. He noticed she was still shaking, and realized she was cold.
"You're cold," he said as he took his jacket off, and put it gently around her arms.
"Oh, thanks. But you shouldn't…" he interrupted her.
"It's no problem. Would you like me to walk you home?"
"That won't be necessary. Really. You have done more than enough," her face turned red.
"Yes, it is necessary. I'm not letting you go alone."
"There's no way to change your mind, is there?" she said with a grin on her face.
"Absolutely not," was his answer. And they started to walk down the road.
Her house wasn't too far away. But still she felt terrible for making him walk all the way. While they were walking, she talked about herself. She told him about her parents' death, and the little brother she had to take care of now. She didn't quite know why, but she just knew she could trust him. And that scared her. She never trusted everyone. Saying she had trusting issues was an understatement. But Derek was different. There was something about him she just couldn't put a finger on.
"So, I've told you about me. Won't you say something about you?"
"I don't have much to say, really," he said.
"Oh, c'mon. There must be something?" He gave her a blank look. "Fine. You don't have to say anything. I know what it's like to have trusting issues. We're here. This is my house," she said while pointing at the old house. "It was the only thing our parents left for us. Thank you, for everything. The saving, the walking me home, the jacket," she took it off and offered it to him.
"You're very welcome. So, I guess I'll see you around."
"Sure. You know where to find me," she told him as she walked up the stairs. She turned around and waved at him. "Goodbye Derek. And Goodnight."
"Goodbye, Caroline."
First story that I dare publishing! So hoping at least someone would read it.