Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize. Lyrics belong to Florence and the Machine. One day I'll use lyrics that aren't from a Florence and the Machine song and that day will probably be when I run out of songs to use. Probably.
A/N: Look! I did it! I posted it! I'm so happy! I hope you are too!
Side-note, 'cause I'm weird. I was watching the sneak-peek for Monday's episode and it has me a wee bit worried. The pack's reaction to the full moon seems a lot more intense than Paige's was last chapter. Depending on how the episode goes, I might rewrite that chapter a bit. If I do, I'll tell you that things have been changed.
Also – more plot holes! Ah! Lydia's birthday is in August. The formal was a winter formal. They all wear jackets. This next episode occurs on Lydia's birthday. Lydia's August birthday. In California. I can't handle this. I'm just going to start making shit up. Watch me.
And! Prepare for the beginning of some romance.
Enjoy!
Big Empty Houses
By: Ginny
I was a heavy heart to carry
My feet dragged across ground
And he took me to the river
Where he slowly let me drown
Previously:
Derek had only been gone a few seconds when the air shifted and Paige threw her focus into hallway and across the school.
On instinct her claws jutted out.
The alpha was here.
And then, the sirens pierced her ears.
Of all the things to happen, that was probably the worse combination. Paige knew that she had the hunters and the alpha to worry about. Derek on the other hand had both of those and the cops. And two of the three were here, now. Oh, and if the cops caught the district attorney's daughter helping a known fugitive evade arrest, her father would literally murder her.
With legs she wasn't aware could run so fast, she sprinted off in search of Derek – only to run almost right into him.
"The alpha!" they said in unison.
Then, Derek grabbed her arm and yanked her around the corner, down another hallway and into a classroom.
"We need to split up," Derek said, poking his head out the window. "You head east, I'll head west."
"Are you sure?" Paige asked. "You said wolves are stronger together." And she wasn't entirely certain she liked the idea of letting him out of her sight… or of him letting her out of his sight.
He shot her a distracted look. "In a pack sense, not a literal sense," he muttered. "Meet back at your place. Watch out for hunters." And then he opened the window and jumped out.
Paige watched him damn near sail across the lacrosse field until he disappeared from even her wolf sight. And then, in the distance, she could hear the police stomping up the halls.
Time to fly.
She made it back to her house in half the time she had expected to, even given her wolf-power estimation and climbed up to her bedroom window. It seemed that she was using that method a lot more than the front door at this point. After a few minutes of pacing around her room, waiting for Derek to come back, she finally got fed up. Her trip home had gone off without a hitch – was it possible that his hadn't?
Careful not to make a lot of noise, she pulled herself up to her roof. Even when she sharped her focus, she couldn't find him… She did however, find a couple two doors down having pretty kinky sex. With a blush, she sat down and admitted to herself that he wasn't in her neighborhood.
What could have happened?
Trying to calm her wildly beating heart, she crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knees. Her head felt light. Instead, she closed her eyes and kept her focus on every single rustle within earshot.
It must have been half an hour before she was able to hear a car screeching in the distance.
Derek came stomping up the road about a block off and then climbed up onto the roof to sit beside her.
"What happened?" she asked in a hushed voice. Her parent's bedroom was on the other side of the house, but she figured up on the roof her voice would carry.
"I had a run in with a hunter," he explained. "Scott and Stiles picked me up."
"A hunter? Shit… Three out of three," she muttered.
"Hm?" Derek grunted, dropping his head into his hands.
"You have the cops to deal with, the alpha to deal with, and the hunters to deal with," she explained. "You dealt with all three of them tonight. Three for three. Your luck just sucks tonight, doesn't it?"
"My luck is usually nonexistent, if I can be perfectly honest," came his reply.
There was a brief moment of silence between the two before Paige ventured, "Where were you before you came back to Beacon Hills?"
"New York." He pulled his head from his hands and turned his attention to the sky. "My sister moved us to New York after the fire."
Well, that was probably a touchy subject and Paige would rather avoid it entirely. Instead of pressing further, she smiled and asked, "Is it weird being back?"
"If by weird, you mean one trip after another down memory lane, then yes," he snapped. "And half those memories I've spent years trying to forget." The force of his glare made her heart jump. But instantly, his looked softened. He must have heard the effect his anger had had on her.
"Sorry," she muttered, pulling at her t-shirt.
Derek glanced at her momentarily. "Don't be," he whispered. After a moment he changed the subject. "We have a lead. A necklace Laura was trying to find – it belongs to Allison Argent."
"Scott's girlfriend?" Paige inquired.
"Apparently ex-girlfriend now. He's seeing if he can locate it."
"… And what do we do in the meantime?"
"Lay low."
The next day at school, Paige felt basically like her old self. Actually, almost entirely like her old self. Without the impending full moon to eat at her frustration and make her more vocal and sharp, she was just plain old, shy Paige Flanagan.
However, lunch took a turn for the interesting as Stiles and Scott called her over.
Gingerly and with suspicion written in every aspect of her body language, she sat down across from them. "Yes?" she inquired.
Stiles glanced at Scott and Scott glanced at Stiles. Finally, Stiles broke the ice. "We just thought you might want someone to sit with…" he informed her. "And our lunchtime discussion does involve you somewhat."
Paige still stared at them. "Aren't you scared of my brother?" And then she pointed.
Across the lunchroom, Wyatt was sitting with a couple of the lacrosse players – including Jackson and the female entourage that always seemed to follow them. Wyatt was looking right at the little rag-tag bunch with an eyebrow raised. He looks like dad when he makes that face, she thought.
Scott glanced at Wyatt and then back at Paige. "It's fine."
Relaxing a bit, Paige grabbed her fork and began to eat. "Did you find the necklace?" she asked, recalling what Derek had told her the night before.
When all the boy did was groan, Stiles explained, "She isn't talking to him so he has to steal it."
"Peachy," she muttered.
Then Scott perked up. "He's watching us," Scott said.
"Who?" Paige asked, twisting in her seat. It was Jackson. Of course it was Jackson. The little weasel.
Suddenly Scott's face went white – well, as white as a Mexican face can get. Paige instantly sharpened her senses in some attempt at figuring out what was wrong.
"You can, can't you?" came Jackson's voice loud and clear from across the room. Who was he talking to?
"What's wrong?" Stiles questioned.
"Jackson's talking to be," Scott explained in hushed tones. "He knows I can hear him." When Stiles glanced across the room, Scott demanded, "Look at me. Just talk to me. Act normal. Pretend like nothing's happening."
"Are you pretending not to hear me?" Jackson asked.
"Say something! Talk to me!"
"I can't think of anything!" Stiles admitted. "My mind's completely blank."
"D-derek lives at my house sometimes," Paige piped in, trying to help. Both boys shot her horrified expressions. "It's not so bad. I mean, he's not so bad."
"Where does he sleep?" Stiles asked.
"My bedroom," was Paige's reflexive answer.
If it was possible, Stiles turned a shade of purple and sputtered a bit. Paige could feel her face flush a bright red as she realized what the connotation of that phrase might imply. But her embarrassment was short-lived as Jackson continued to speak.
"Hey McCall, I'm over here. So what else can you do? Uh? Can you see better? Are you stronger? More powerful? No, I knew there was no way you suddenly got good at lacrosse. Which means you're actually a cheater, aren't you? I mean, can you even play lacrosse?"
"Yes," Scott growled.
Instantly, Paige reached across the table and grabbed his hand. "Scott, he's trying to bait you. Don't let him. Focus him out."
But the younger wolf wasn't listening. At all. He was so focused on Jackson and Jackson's little tirade. Paige focused him out of her own head – just in case he turned to her next, and tightened her grip on Scott's wrist. But when suddenly Scott's arm jerked and he broke his lunch tray, she realized Jackson had already won.
"What is the purpose of this again?"
"I need to know if Scott has the necklace."
"I already told you that he has plans to break into her house after school today."
"And it's a bit after what would be considered "after school". Stiles will be the first one to know if Scott has managed to get the necklace."
Paige sighed from her place on Stiles' bed. "I have mixed feels about breaking into someone's house."
"Well," Derek leaned up against the wall. "Get over them."
"There's a bit of a situation you should know about," Paige began. She had been debating all afternoon if she should tell him because she wasn't sure what he would do if he was informed of the matters at hand. "Jackson knows what Scott is."
"What?" Derek pushed himself off the wall. "I told Scott he shouldn't be playing lacrosse – he can't control himself." Then he rounded on her. "Does he know about you?" When she shook her head he responded with a curt nod. "Keep it that way."
"What… what are you going to do?" she finally asked. Did she want to know the answer?
"I don't know yet…" he admitted. "Maybe threaten him. Rough him up a bit."
"So, you won't kill him?"
Derek shot her a look. "I'm a predator. Not a killer."
Paige opened her mouth to say something – probably apologize for assuming such a terrible thing about the mad, but the jeep pulling into the driveway halted all conversation. Derek crossed the room and nearly dragged Paige into the corner behind the door with him. His heartbeat pulsed in time with hers – up until hers began to climb because of how close they were. Derek didn't comment, even though she knew he could feel it.
Stiles came bounding into his room and sat himself at his desk. He didn't even bother to check his surroundings. Jesus, if Derek and Paige had wanted to kill him, it would have been too easy.
"Hey, Stiles!" came a voice from downstairs. His father, Paige realized.
"Yo…" Stiles twisted around and caught sight of them. "…Derek." Well, now Paige knew who he was more afraid of. "I…um," he was cut off as Derek jerked a finger at the opened door and the impending entrance of the Sheriff. Stiles distracted his father.
The second he reentered the room, however, Derek grabbed him by the collar and forced him up against his door. Instinctively, Paige reached out a hand to pull him off the younger boy, but before it made contact she thought better of it. Derek ignored her. "If you say one word…" the beta trailed off.
Despite the situation, Stiles still had his humor. "Oh what, you mean like, "Hey, Dad. Derek Hale's in my room. Bring your gun"?" Derek relaxed a bit. "Yeah, that's right. If I'm harboring your fugitive ass, it's my house, my rules, buddy." The kid gave Derek a light tap with the back of his hand. Paige bit her lip as Derek glanced down at where Stiles' hand had made contact.
And then he surprised her.
Derek gave the boy a nod and let him go. Then, as though to further shock her, Derek tugged Stiles' jacket back into proper order… only for Stiles to reciprocate. Was this some kind of weird male bonding?
Stiles returned to his desk, but not without Derek getting the last laugh as he jutted his head out – startling the boy so much he let out a yelp of, "Oh my God."
"Scott didn't get the necklace?" he immediately pounced.
"No, he's still working on it," Stiles explained. "But there's something else we can try. The night we were trapped at the school, Scott sent a text to Allison to meet him there."
"So?"
"So, it wasn't Scott."
Interesting turn of events. "Can you track down who sent it?" Paige asked, joining the conversation for the first time since Stiles had arrived.
"No, not me," Stiles turned back to his computer. "But I think I know somebody who can."
"Who?" Paige sat back down on the bed.
"Danny – he's on the lacrosse team," Stiles said over his shoulder.
"Oh… the gay one? Who's friends with Jackson?"
"The one and only?"
Paige shifted in her seat on the bed. Her notebook had been opened for the past twenty minutes, but she was too engrossed in her own thoughts to put any real effort into studying. She wanted a leather jacket, she decided. But would Derek think that was weird? Would he think she was copying him? It did make him look less visible at night – so it had it's uses besides a fashion statement…
And then their guest arrived.
When Danny followed Stiles into the bedroom, he glanced at Paige. "You're Flanagan's little sister, aren't you?" he asked.
"Um…" Paige felt her face flush. "Actually, um – I'm his… I'm older than him," she finally got out.
"Oh, sorry," Danny had the decency to wince. "I've just seen you around sometimes and you always seem… well, younger I guess."
"It's okay," she mumbled.
It wasn't okay. But she shoved it deep down inside herself instead of properly dealing with it. Derek glanced up at her, she knew because she could feel his eyes on her face. She didn't look at him. She just turned back to her studying and didn't check back in until…
"You want me to do what?" Danny exclaimed.
"Trace a text," Stiles repeated.
"I came here to do a lab report," he stated. "That's what lab partners do."
"And we will," Stiles placated. "Once you trace the text."
"And what makes you think I know how?" he shoved in Stiles' face.
"I… I looked up your arrest report, so…"
"I… I was thirteen," Danny protested. "They dropped the charges."
"Whatever."
"No," he took a seat. "We're doing lab work."
And the matter was settled.
As they got to work, though, Danny glanced back at Derek. Probably because of the aura the wolf was sending the gay teens way. Paige could feel it – a kind of heat radiating from his body. Derek was scary when he was angry and the fact that this kid wouldn't help him find information he needed, whether the kid knew he was being unhelpful or not, made him very upset.
"Who's he again?" he asked Stiles. He probably thought he was being quiet. He was better off screaming it in Derek's ear for all the good it did him.
"Oh, uh… my cousin. Miguel."
Paige muffled a snort and Derek glared at her. All she managed by way of apology was a small smile.
"Is that blood on his shirt?"
Stiles glanced back. "Yeah. Yes. Well, he gets these terrible nosebleeds. Hey Miguel," he addressed the wolf. "I thought I told you you could borrow one of my shirts."
Derek slammed the book shut and Paige had to completely turn around to hide the grin stretched across her face. And then he yanked off his shirt. That… well, she couldn't say it was unexpected. Stiles had told him to change shirts. But still, the sight of his toned back made her heart speed up. She knew he could hear it. Oh Lord, how embarrassing.
Her attention wasn't anywhere near the conversation Stiles and Danny were having until…
"Uh, Stiles…" Derek spoke up. "This… no fit."
"Then try something else on," Stiles suggested.
As Derek turned back to the dresser, he shot her a dark look. He could tell she was enjoying this. Paige stuffed her face back in her notebook.
"Hey, that one looks pretty good, huh?" Stiles asked. "What do you think, Danny?"
Paige snuck a peek from under her eyelashes.
"It's… it's not really his color," the boy finally admitted.
Derek's jaw clenched, but Paige silently agreed. Maybe just the blue… especially with his eyes, but that orange was just – ick.
"Stiles," the wolf's voice rang out. "None of these fit."
Paige glanced up between Stiles and Derek… and then noticed the look Danny was giving Derek. Ah, so that was Stiles' game. Paige understood it, but she certainly didn't like it. The fact that Danny was eyeballing Derek was just… wrong. A spark of possessiveness flamed up inside of Paige for a moment and her claws dug into her notebook – leaving holes through all one hundred leafs of paper. Derek's head jerked up as he sensed the disturbance.
Calm down, Paige coached herself. Of all things to get upset over! Danny is gay. Derek is… well, she didn't know which way he swung… had never bothered to ask. But it doesn't matter, she reminded herself. He isn't yours, no matter what his preferences.
The claws disappeared, but she didn't look up. She knew what she'd see – Derek's questioning gaze. And if she looked up, he'd know immediately what was wrong with her. It was one thing for a girl's heart to beat out of control in a guy's presence – that can be written off as lust. It's another thing to get possessive about a guy.
Twenty minutes later, and Danny sighed, "There. This text was sent from a computer. This one."
Paige's shoulder brushed Derek's as they both leaned in close to see the name… Melissa McCall.
"Scott's mom?" she asked.
Paige sat on the floor this time. Danny had left, and Stiles was just grabbing a bite to eat before they went to the hospital to investigate.
"The alpha can't be Scott's mom," Paige threw out. "It's a guy."
"But she could be helping him – protecting him," Derek shrugged on his jacket. "That might explain why Scott was bitten." The beta crossed the room to glance out the window.
"Wouldn't explain why I was bitten, though," she muttered. After a pause she finally just asked the one question that had been bugging her since Danny had left. "What's your sexual orientation?"
For a moment Derek kept his gaze outside… then he turned and simply said, "I'm straight." Before Paige could backtrack and make some kind of excuse for wondering about a question like that, Derek added, "But don't get your hopes up. Nothing would ever work between us."
And then he fled the room.
Which meant… he had thought about whether something would work. Which meant… he had at one point considered something.
Yes, most girls would hear the blatant rejection in his statement and ignore everything else, but Paige… well, Paige was an overthinker. It came with the same territory as being terribly shy. Maybe he had never actually considered anything, ever. Or at least, on his own. It was very likely that one of those times they'd been a bit too close and her heart had freaked out, he had taken note and put his foot down mentally about whether it was a good idea to start something with her. Either way, Paige was just going to nod and move on. What kind of relationship could she have with a fugitive werewolf anyways?
Though, he did sleep in her bedroom.
Preview:
Stiles stuttered, glancing between Peter and the nurse. Then he just broke down into muttering, "I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die."
Paige couldn't agree more as a whimper escaped her throat. But, she wasn't looking at the nurse. She only had eyes for the alpha. And he was only looking at her. He was looking at her like he could see every thought she was having, each pulse of fear pumping inside her brain.
And is it worth the wait
All this killing time?
Are you strong enough to stand
Protecting both your heart and mine?
