This is not edited.

Chapter 7

"Derek. That was Derek Hale."

I chewed on my bottom lip while allowing my brain to replay the weirdness of what just happened. Yesterday, I saw Erica get bitten so I know that's the reason for her very sudden transformation. What I don't understand is the need for the scene at the cafeteria and why Stiles and Scott ran after her. Well, I can see the purpose of the scene seeing that yesterday everyone was making fun of her because she's epileptic.

"And what exactly is Derek Hale doing with a high school student?" I questioned, jolting the boys out of their silent communication.

"We - We have no idea. I mean why would we. It's - it's not like were friends with him. Right, Scott?" Stiles rambled while dragging Scott towards the school doors.

"Uh yeah. Ha-ha, what he said." Scott stammered while scratching his head with his free hand.

I stood with my brow raised, confused about what just happened.

Focusing my hearing, I could hear them heading for the cafeteria whispering quietly - well quietly for Stiles - about what they are going to do now that Derek had bitten a second person.

Sighing, while making myself a promise to not get involved in the town drama, I followed the boys inside, flinching when the shrill bell sounded. Happy that I had grabbed my bag before rushing after the boys, I headed to my next class.

When school ended, instead of going straight to my car and going home, I headed to the lacrosse field. During last period, there was an announcement about needing more girl track and field runners. Since I lived in the middle of the woods and had no neighbors, I figured why not. It could be a chance to make friends that did not act suspiciously when questioned about their relations to the local Alpha.

"EVERYBODY TRYING OUT FOR THE GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM GO TO THE TRACK AND START RUNNING. IF YOU STOP BEFORE I TELL YOU TO, YOU ARE CUT! GOT IT? GOOD, LET'S GO!"

By the end of his screaming rant, the coach was blue in the face and a couple girls were picking up their sport bags and speeding walking away.

With me waking up late, dressing to the nines wasn't on my agenda so I just picked a simple pair of light blue skinny jeans, white tank top, and a maroon sweatshirt with gold studs on the shoulder. I completed the outfit with a pair of maroon All-Stars. And now I couldn't be happier with my choice of footwear, because vampire or not running around a track in heals just wasn't appealing. Or even possible for that matter.

Once my sweatshirt was removed, I grabbed my iPod and headphones before heading out to the track. The coach was now focused on the lacrosse players, which surprisingly included Scott and Stiles. And as I ran the laps it quickly became obvious that Stiles wasn't an actual member of the team even though he had a uniform. More like an honorary bench guarder. Scott on the other hand moved with a gracefulness on the field that reminded me of Tyler after he turned into a wolf.

I paced myself even though I wasn't breaking a sweat. I would run a lap and jog the other to keep up the pretense of trying not to get tired. A couple of the girls had tried to show off and started off by running the laps as fast as they could. Soon they could barely breathe and had no choice but to stop. Coach would then promptly yell "YOU ARE OUT! GET OFF MY FIELD YOU WEAKLINGS!" while basically chasing them off them field. He would then go back to yelling at the lacrosse players as if nothing had happened.

After two hours my throat was burning for both water and blood and I was about ready to tear into the neck of the girl who had fallen and scrapped her knee. Kudos to her though because she got up immediately after falling before the Coach could see her and started to limp her way around the track.

When one of the girls hurled her lunch on the track one of the assistant coaches called Finstock and asked him to let us go unless he wanted us to all pass out. After called us wussies and weak he finally relented and told us to grab our stuff and get off his field. Out of all the girls that had started only about twelve were left. I'm not sure if that was even enough for district competitions.

I breathed in, then immediately held my breath when the amazing smell of fresh warm blood invaded my nose. I paused for a bit and started breathing through my mouth before starting my walk to the cooler of water reserved for the players but if they complained I would be more than happy to drink from their veins instead. After getting a refreshingly cold water bottle from the cooler I walked back to where I had put my bag and plopped down on the cool bench. I leaned back against the bench behind me and placed the water bottle on my forehead instead of the drinking it right away. Barely a second after I had closed my eyes "Caroline!" rang out from somewhere higher up on the bleachers. I lazily rolled my head back, shooting an equally lazy smile in Allison's direction when I noticed her waving me up to where she was sitting with Lydia.

With a groan, I picked up my sweater and bag and started walking up the bleachers at a snail's pace before I finally reached the girls. I sat down next to Allison with another groan and this time I opened my water bottle and guzzled down the cool liquid instead of using it as a way of cooling myself down. I mean I know this is California but damn.

"You looked really good out there, Caroline." Allison started

"Thanks," I grunt, leaning back

"How do you run in designer jeans for two hours?" Lydia questioned, though I could tell she didn't really want an answer to her random question.

We mostly sat in silence except for the occasional scream from Lydia and Allison cheering on their respective mans. Although Allison was a bit more discreet about hers.

Soon enough Coach was screaming at the players to go take a shower because "your stink is burning off my nose hair!"

"Uh, Caroline" I turned my head towards her to show that I was listening "We're all going to the skating rink later. Do you want to come?"

Not that I was really interested in being a fifth wheel, but the discontent noise that came from Lydia showed me just how welcome I was.

Before answering I stood up and grabbed my stuff before I turned around and gave her an apologetic smile before answering her "I think I'm going to go home and crash. Thanks for the invite though."

"Where is home, Caroline?" Lydia questioned in a soft voice, her head tilted to the side like a curious dog.

"See you tomorrow girls."

Although I barely broke a sweat while running I still felt glad for the deodorant and extra shirts in my car. When a couple of the girls that had been in the try outs with me exited the locker room I stopped and pondered the idea of getting my shirt from the car and then going to the locker to change but then since I was going home anyway there was no point in walking all the way to my car then always the way to the locker room and back again.

When the boys surrounding my car noticed me, their heartbeats picked up and they scattered, causing the hungry monster in me to rear its ugly head. Soon enough it was back on its leash though and I popped the trunk of the car, grabbed a black tank top and headed back to the driver's seat.

Another wave of laziness washed over me as I drove when I noticed a small diner on the side of the road. The idea of going home and cooking was not high on my list. Or on my list at all for that matter. So making sure that no police cars were around I made a seriously illegal U-turn and pulled into the parking lot of the diner. I grabbed the tank top, deodorant, my phone and wallet from the passenger seat before pulling the keys out of the ignition and exiting the car.

When I entered the small diner two things caught my attention: The amazing smell of greasy, fried and Sheriff Stilinski – who I've been avoiding since moving here. The Sheriff has known me since I was a kid, meaning he knowns my real age and could blow my cover by calling my mother and telling her that I've been avoiding him. Which of course means compelling him is my only choice.

Before moving to Beacon Hills, I had met the Sheriff a couple times when I was younger. My mom used to drag me to her Sheriff conventions when my dad would be travelling for "work". I would spend my time running around the room, making sure that all the attention was on me. Even back then I was an attention seeker. A result of an always working mother and father. Stiles came to one of the conventions too but he was so young he wouldn't remember me. Which is perfect. I didn't even remember him either until he told me his name the day I met him.

I made a beeline to the surprisingly clean bathroom and locked myself in the big stall, taking my sweet time to change hoping that the Sherriff would be gone by the time I got out. But when has anything ever gone in my favor? A few minutes after changing and moving around the bathroom in an effort to stall, I finally left the bathroom. Unfortunatly for me, the Sheriff was standing as close to the girls bathroom as he could without looking like a perv with his arms crossed on his broad chest and a dark blond eyebrow arched.

"You've been avoiding me."

It is really hard to keep a straight face under that glare. A pang of sympathy passed through my chest at the thought of all the petty criminals that have cracked under that stare.

I am positive that the deer in headlights look on my face was comical and the slight twitch of his lips confirmed it. After wiping the look off my face I shrugged.

"No I haven't. What makes you think that?" Deny. Deny. Deny. I tucked my phone into my back pocket and the deodorant roll into the other.

"You trying to tell me you haven't gotten any of my calls? Or messages?" His eyebrows moved past his forehead and became one with his hairline.

"Exactly!" I chirped, the biggest, fakest smile on my face. I walked past him and headed towards where the line of people stood waiting to order their food. Instead of leaving like I had prayed, he sat down at a booth and leaned back with his arms folded under his head as make shift pillows. Obviously waiting for me.

The line moved surprisingly fast and before long my order had been placed for a spicy chicken patty sandwich, curly fries, an ice tea and a salad to me feel better about all the calories I was about to inhale. While everybody sat down after placing their order, I stood off to the side, impatiently flirting with the high school sophomore manning the counter as I waited for my food and my escape. He had no chance and I would feel a little bad when he figured that out. Finally after what feels like an eternity of waiting the cutie handed me my to go bag of heavenly smelling food that I am not ashamed to admit caused my mouth to water a little bit. After flashing the cute but too young 10th grader a smile and seeing him blush I felt better. The ego boost was much appreciated.

In vain I tried to make my escape to my car as quietly as possible but the man didn't become a Sheriff by not being observant.

"Sit down, Caroline."

"I'm tired, Mr. Stilinsky and my bed is calling my name."

His response was a single word "sit" but that word had a no nonsense tone to it. So I sat.

I pulled my food out of the take out bag and popped a fry in my mouth, eyes rolling into the back of my head at how good the greasy goodness tasted. Without ketchup.

The sound of people chatting was our background music as I focused way too much energy on my food while he searched my face.

"What are you doing here, Caroline?" He never did like beating around the bush.

"Am I not allowed in the beautiful town of Beacon Hills?" I teased a grin on my lips. Which died as soon as I lifted my face and saw the look on his face.

For the first time ever a bit of high school gossip will help save my skin.

"There have been a lot of murders in town and one of the victims family hired me to check out how the investigation has been going." A mask of indifference on my face

"Where did you hear that exactly?"

"Through the grapevine."

"Your mom didn't tell me you were doing investigative work." The look on his face told me he was trying to trip me up

"I specifically asked her not to tell anyone." My attention turned to the untouched sandwich

"Then why is it that my son can't stop babbling about a girl named Caroline that has just transferred to the school as a junior? You are almost thirty years old. What are you doing in a high school and why do you look seventeen?"

"All part of the process. High school students know more than people give them credit for." That tidbit of information is from personal experience.

"I'll find the real reason you are here, Caroline. Things have been getting weird in this town and I don't know how much more I can handle." That was a promise.

Of course he wasn't buying it and I didn't expect him to. Just needed something to keep him off my back while I ate until I could get him outside and compel him.

Instead of responding I drank the last bit of my ice tea, gathered my garbage and headed for the can that was by the door. After making sure that I had everything I headed outside in hopes of making my escape without being questioned again but getting what I want just isn't what is going to happen today. Right when I was about to climb in my car the Sheriff shouted out my name and jogged after me, two take out bags in his hands.

"Where are you staying?"

"At my Aunt Sophia's house." I shifted from one foot to another making it obvious that I did not want to be here right now. He wasn't done though.

"You're staying in that big house all by yourself? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"I can take care of myself, Sheriff." I turned to face him

"Trust me I kno-"

"As far as you are concerned I am 17 years old and a high school junior." I cut him off, making sure that my eyes were dilated and that his were focused on mine. "You will forget you ever saw me here as soon as you get in your car and drive away." I stopped there, not wanting to mess with his memories and mind to much.

"Okay." He said in that annoyingly monotone voice with a confused look on his face as if he couldn't understand why he was obeying me. Then he turned and walked to his cruiser, got in and drove away without a backwards glance.

I buried the twinge of guilt I felt for using my powers over the Sheriff and was just about to get in my car and drive away when the smell of wolf and the sound of footsteps made me pause. I twisted my body around to see who was trying to sneak up on me and came face to face with the person I've been seeing on wanted posters all over town.

Isaac Lahey.

"What'd you do to him?"

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