2.

Stiles mouth went agape as he tried to process what I had just said. Giving him all the time he needed to process, I took a seat on the edge of the bed. I peered at the boy whose mouth continued to open and closed in shock. His eyes were wide. He fell to the ground, scrambling, searching for the phone that had fallen when I soared into the bedroom. He avoided my gaze as his pale hands skimmed the hardwood floor.

"Tala," Stiles repeated, testing the name out. His voice was shaky.

I snickered at how flustered he was in my presence, scooping up his phone where it had landed slightly under the unmade bed. I stuck out my hand, the phone resting in the center of my palm. Stiles met my eyes for a moment before carefully retrieving his phone, unable to bring himself to touch me. He cradled his phone to his chest for a moment, gazing at it as if it would give him the answers he needed.

"I'm not contagious, you know." I told him, resting on my elbows, staring at him. "I just died and came back to life. It's not that big of a deal."

"How is this possible?" Stiles spoke to himself, beginning to pace back and forth in the modest sized room, mumbling under his breath.

Even though I could clearly hear every world he uttered, I kept to myself, taking the moment to peer around the room. I was trying to get a better idea on the friend I had very little memory about. Obviously he was a good friend, or I wouldn't have traveled here. His room was comfortably messy, school books scattered on the cluttered desk and the bed.

I vaguely remembered the high school I went to. I also wondered if it was worth trying to go back and attend. Though, I was still technically dead and there was no record of a Tala ever being there. The idea seemed impossible and I dropped the thought.

The boy didn't have much hanging in his bedroom, though a picture above his desk caught my attention. I stood, walking to the corkboard where pictures of different teenagers were stuck up. I saw a Hispanic boy with dark eyes. Scott, I remembered. He was one of my kind, a Beta. A strawberry blonde laughing with a dark brunette with calculating eyes, Lydia and Allison I recalled. A hunter and a human. I peeled off one of the pictures and stared at the girl in the picture who was caught in mid-laughter. She was bent at the waist, Stiles' arms snaked around her to keep her up. Her hair was pale blonde as it spilled over one shoulder. Her blue eyes were huge and sparkling with happiness, a hand pressed against his knees as she tried to stay up. She was wearing a simple ensemble, but what caught my attention was how happy she looked, like she didn't have a care in the world.

I stared at the picture for a moment before turning to face Stiles. He paused, looking over at me. I pressed a trembling finger to the picture. "Is that me?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly. I couldn't remember ever being that happy, but in the picture, in the hazel eyed boy's presence, I looked like the happiest girl in the world.

"Yeah, you don't remember that?" Stiles responded absentmindly. "I think that was a little bit before all the Kanima mess. I don't remember when." His eyes went back to his phone.

"No, I don't." I admitted, sticking the picture back up and walking back towards the bed. "I can't remember much." I froze when the sound of him dialing a number rang in my ears. "Uh, who are you calling?"

"I don't know!" Stiles threw his arms up in frustration. "Scott? Derek? I don't know what to do!"

I shot over to him, finding myself in front of him. I stared up at him, feeling my blood begin to rush. "You can not call Derek." I told him; keeping the growl out of my voice.

"What do you mean?" Stiles glared. "He probably knows much more than I do about this shit!"

I raised my eyebrows. "If I wanted to tell Derek, I would have went to him. Not you." I turned, walking to the window.

"Why can't you tell him you're alive?" Stiles demanded. "He's been sulking ever since your funeral, even more than usual. Get a pep in his step."

"No." I repeated, narrowing my eyes. "Not yet."

Stiles shook his head. "Scott, then?" His eyes were pleading, as if he couldn't keep this secret a secret anymore.

"I suppose." I tried to remember if Scott was someone to be trusted, but I couldn't bring up a valid memory of him. Just glimpses. I shrugged, deciding it was better than Derek. "Just rely the message." I pointed a finger at Stiles. "Derek doesn't get to know."

Stiles rolled his eyes at me, pulling his phone up to his ear. He gave me a long look before disappearing out of his room. I strained to hear the conversation they were having.

"What?" Scott exclaimed on the other end. I assumed that Stiles had told him. "How is that possible?"

"I don't know. Can you come over and …" He lowered his voice and I was unable to hear the rest. My suspicions grew.

"Yeah, I got it." Scott ended the call.


"Okay, what the hell?" Scott exclaimed, startled when he walked into the room. I raised my eyebrows at him, crossing my arms. My body was tense with another werewolf in the room and I stood by the window, ready to leap if the need shall arise. "You're dead."

"Or not." I responded.

"What? How, okay what?" Scott's eyes widened as they darted from Stiles and I, demanding answers. "Did you even die? Did you fake your death?"

"No, I didn't fake my death." I glared. "From what I can recall, I died. Though, let me tell you, digging yourself out of your own grave? Not the highlight of my night."

Scott narrowed his eyes at me, crossing his arms as well. "I see your charm is still fresh."

"As death." I smirked. Even though I couldn't remember any interactions were him, I still felt the need to push his buttons slightly.

Scott rolled his eyes. "Have you called Derek and told him?"

"No." I told him simply. "And I'm not going to."

Scott looked taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"See! I'm not the only one who thinks you should call him!" Stiles interrupted.

I shook my head at the two boys, ganging up on me. "You know what? This was a bad idea. I'm going to go." I retrieved my jacket from the bed and slipped it open. I yanked open the window and straddled the windowsill.

"What?" Stiles exclaimed, eyes widening. "No! I mean, not yet!"

I gave him a look. "I'll be back later."

Stiles scrambled forward to stop me, but I dropped to the ground before he could. I landed and stood, brushing the dirt off of my body. I stood there for a moment, listening to Scott and Stiles speak before turning on my heels and walking away.

"Tala?"

I froze when a voice spoke from the front of the house. I turned to face the voice slowly, praying it wasn't who I thought it was.

My heart dropped when my eyes landed on the pale green eyes of Derek Hale.