Chapter Nine
"Confessing"
I should have known this moment was inevitable. As much as I'd wanted to, you couldn't run from your past. You had to embrace it and learn from it. What I could learn from being shot at three times I'll never know, but it's nice to be positive.
"I was at school," I started, the pack, minus Derek gathered around his living room, "We were at lunch. I didn't feel anything, it all happened so fast. I looked down and there was blood. I passed out before I could see who'd done it.
A guy had managed to get into the school, and for some reason decided to go around with a gun. He got locked up somewhere back home. A teacher managed to beat him up with a rounder's bat before he could shoot anyone else.
The first bullet entered my heart- I can't really remember the exact medical jargon, my dad would know though. The next two hit me in the stomach, puncturing my abs. The doctors performed extensive surgery, but there was so much damage to the interior of my body, they induced a coma. I was unconscious for six months and in hospital for another couple of weeks, but by that time my body had healed as much as was possible and there wasn't much else for the doctors to do. I couldn't remember the shooting at all so I was a bit shocked to wake up after half a year.
I went back to school soon after but everything had changed. My friends had new friends, I was so far behind on my GCSEs there would have Ben no point in taking them, and I basically had no life there anymore. Sure, my friends tried, but even they gave me that look of pure pity which they think is sympathy but really just makes me feel worse. My family knew that it was being so hard for me, and a month after I was released from hospital, they decided to move out here- I'd always wanted to live in America. At first I was reluctant, thinking that being with strangers would be worse than at least being with people I used to know. But I fell in love with the place as soon as we moved here." I finished, smiling. They all looked at me speechless, even though they'd already heard the story from Erica. I'd been in hospital exactly 24 hours and had been let out late last night. Scott had invited us all round to the Hale house for a big discussion, which I'd been dreading. Now I realised there had been nothing to worry about.
"So...moral of the story, lets never get Mer drunk again!" Stiles said and the mood instantly lightened.
"Yeah, that was one fiery kiss." Isaac teased. I blushed and they laughed.
"We didn't think you had it in you." Jackson said, smirking.
"Hey, lay off Mer," Lydia said, and I gave her a grateful smile, "us girls are the only ones who get to hear every detail." I groaned, and the boys all laughed, moving towards the TV to play yet another video game.
"So...give us the gossip!" Lydia said. I looked to Allison for help but she just smirked.
"I want to know too," she told me.
"Fine. He waved to me, then an hour later we made out like a couple of horny drunk teenagers. It wasn't anything special." I told them, much to their disappointment.
"Nothing like what it would be like with Derek..." Erica said.
"Let that go! He's been avoiding me since last night." I said.
"Wait, what happened last night?" Allison asked.
" I woke up, Derek was awake and he was actually civil to me."
"Derek? Civil?! Are you sure you weren't still drunk? Or he was?!" Lydia said.
"I most certainly wasn't." Came a low voice from behind us. We all turned to see Derek emerge from the shadows of his Entrance Hall, and I blushed hoping he hadn't heard what we'd just discussed. His hair glistened with the rain from outside, and the droplet ran onto his leather jacket. I tried and failed not to drool.
"You need to go home." he told me. "Your family's worried." I nodded, looking around the room for an offer for a lift.
"I can drive you." he said, and turned to leave. Lydia raised her eyebrows at me.
"Hot car sex. It's the best kind!" she whispered to me. The werewolves all snickered, and I rolled my eyes and followed Derek out of the house.
The werewolves all snickered, and I rolled my eyes and followed Derek out of the house. We sat in the car in silence, but this time, it was definitely uncomfortable. When we finally pulled up at my house, I breathed a sigh of relief. Not that I didn't mind being in a confined space with Derek , but I couldn't handle the serious tension building.
"So...this was pleasantly uncomfortable." I said, reaching for the door handle. He still didn't say anything. "Well...bye." I didn't wait for his reply and climbed out of his car. Before I'd even reached the porch, I heard him drive away.
Once again, Reese and I were on grocery shopping duty. Even though I'd been in hospital less than twenty four hours ago, my parents had deemed me well enough to be able to go to the store. It sucked when your dad was a doctor- you couldn't play the ill card- and having a teacher as a mother- they had built-in lie detectors.
We walked out into the lot and emptied the trolley into the boot of the car. Reese offered to take the empty trolley back to the bay and I was left to shut the boot. I turned to get back into the passenger's seat, but suddenly a man stood before me, blocking my path. He inhaled deeply, a smile spreading across his face.
"Tantalising." He said. He had straggly pale blonde hair that reached his chin, and a wide set face that many would find attractive, but I just found him creepy.
"Um...hi?" I said, looking around the lot for Reese. Unfortunately, we were parked at the back of the lot and I couldn't see the trolley bay from here.
"So good to finally meet you." Came another gruff voice, somehow seductively. I turned and another man stood close being me, arms crossed. He was the opposite of the other man; thin, tall, and dark.
"We've been waiting to get you alone." the first one said. I was severely creeped out now.
"I have no idea who you are, and I will call the police if you come any closer." I said, my voice wavering.
"You don't want to do that, Sweetheart." The second guy said. I shuddered at his use of the petname, but gasped when his eyes flashed a brilliant red, and claws appeared at his fingertips. "I can see why the Hale pack are so interested in you." Once again, they both inhaled, leaning closer to me. I froze, too shocked to speak.
"That scent. Never smelt anything like it." The first guy said.
"Glad you find me so appealing. Now please leave me alone." I barged past the fair one to the passengers door. Before I could reach it, both my arms were grabbed, and I was pulled round to face the two men.
"We're not finished here yet." The first one growled.
"Surprising how you weren't at all shocked by my...special abilities." The dark one said quietly.
"I've seen better." I shrugged, defiantly. His face spread into a dark grin.
"Oh,really? So you do know about us..."
I nodded. "So please just piss off, because I will get my Pack on your ass!"
"Ooh," the fair one chuckled, "scary!"
"Meredith?" Called a familiar voice from behind us. Within a second, the two wolves were gone, and Reese jogged towards me. "Are you ok?! Who were those guys?"
I shifted, still shaken by the whole experience. I'd never really thought about there being other werewolves.
"Um...I'm fine, it was nothing." I said, climbing quickly into the car to avoid his penetrating gaze.
"Nothing?! You can't expect me to believe that, Mer!" He said as he got into the driver's seat.
I shrugged, trying not to let my growing shock show. "Really, I don't know who they were but they weren't giving me any trouble...they just asked for a dollar for the parking charge. I told them I didn't have any." I blustered through the lie.
"So why the hell where they holding onto your arms?!" I was avoiding his gaze, but could feel his anger and confusion build beside me.
"I don't know...they were pretty creepy." I confessed. "But I'm fine now!"
He was silent for a moment, I guess to decide whether or not to believe me.
"Are you in a gang?" He asked suddenly, quietly.
"What?! No!" I cried, shaking my head vigorously, finally turning to face him.
"Doing drugs?"
"You know I wouldn't! Look what happened last night! I'm not stupid!" Bringing up last night was not a good idea.
" And what happened last night? Don't your friends care about you?! Have you still not told them? Why did you let anyone spike your drink, you need to be more careful! Ever since you came here, you've been different. I'm worried about you, Mer. There's been rumours about you and some guy Derek Hale flying around! What am I supposed to believe? I asked around, and my buddies told me he's been in constant trouble with the police over the last couple of years! He lives in a totally abandoned house, middle of nowhere." He finally stopped, breathing hard from the outburst. I sat there, speechless. Reese rarely got angry, and I could tell it was only because he was so worried about me, but now I was angry too.
"Last night, somebody- I don't know who and if I ever find out I will seriously kick their ass- spiked my drink. You think I enjoyed that?! Think I liked being in hospital throughout the night, my stomach pumped, putting the people I care most about in more worry?! You know I don't go to parties to drink and do drugs and have sex with endless guys! Neither do my friends! They were there for me! It was my fault they had no idea what was going on because I'd chosen not to tell them! I know that was a big mistake now, but I know you understand why I kept it from them! I told them everything earlier, and I'm glad I did. And about those rumours...you're believing rumours about me now?! Don't you trust me?! I told you they weren't true, it was just my friend Stiles messing around! Ok, yeah, maybe Derek was in trouble with the police, but he's been cleared of all charges! And maybe he does live in an old house, but it's all he's got left of his family! Who nearly all died in a fire!" I cried. Then sat in shock, realising I had just defended Derek Hale. Who I barely knew, and had really only been nice to me twice, and the rest of the time been a complete ass, and who right now seemed to be ignoring me altogether.
"So you do care about Hale?" Reese asked, his voice softer now, all trace of anger gone. "I'm sorry Mer, I didn't mean...I just...you know how I worry about you. We all do. And we're all so happy you've found this group of friends, who seem really great by the way. Even Stilinski." I smiled. "And I guess I'm happy you like someone. I should've asked you about him first, not believed some crap other people said who barely knew him. But I just hope he cares about you in the same way you do." What?!
"Reese, what? You've got this all wrong! I do not like Derek, there is nothing going on between us! I barely know the guy, he's just friends with my friends!" I said.
He sighed in relief. "Phew! Because I was seriously contemplating going all big brother on him, but have you seen that guy? He's pretty freaking scary! And he's like six years older than you!" I laughed at his protectiveness.
"Come on, let's go home." I said, nearly forgetting what had just happened. I had to tell the others, quickly.
I'd finally gotten up to my room alone, and it was already dark. All evening I'd been freaking out over the two werewolves and how they'd found me, scared they could find me again in my house. But I'd had to keep calm and happy for my family, who for once were all assembled for a family meal. Now I strode across my room quickly, reaching for my phone. Who should I call? I didn't have Derek's house number- did he even own a phone? I decided on Scott, and dialled the number. Before the first dial tone rang out, the phone was snatched from my hand. I spun and jerked backwards in shock. For the second time, Derek Hale stood in my room. Only his eyes were visible in the gloom, reflecting the street lights coming through the window. He stepped forward, his usual frown upon his face, and took a long sniff. His frown deepened, and he buried his nose in my neck and inhaled again. I stood frozen to the spot, knowing he would hear my heartbeat thunder as his hard, muscled torso pressed against my...less muscled torso. He still hadn't said anything, just started smelling me.
"Um...what?" I squeaked. He stepped away from me in a split second, and I reached for the lamp beside my bed.
"Who were you with today?" He growled, not even bothering with greetings or explanations.
"I was actually just calling to tell you guys." I sat on the bed, and he gave me an impatient look. "I was at the store with Reese earlier and two guys came up to me. They were werewolves." He growled.
"What did they say?"
I shrugged. "Not much. They waited until I was alone, and told me I smelt good. Then they asked if I knew you guys and what you were. I said yes, and then Reese came round the corner, called my name and they were gone." I said. "Who were they? Do you know them?"
He stood in silence. "You...told them you knew us?" I nodded slowly. He rubbed his face with his hand in exasperation. "Why the hell would you tell them that? Do you have a death wish?! Fuck!" he shouted.
"Sssh!" I hissed. "My family are downstairs!"
He just growled again. "Do you have any idea how much danger you have just put us in!"
"Maybe I would if you actually told me anything!" I cried.
"I have told you all you need to know! But you decided to pass that on to a couple do strangers! I knew we shouldn't have let you near the pack!" he shouted. "Just stay away from us! Stay away from the pack, from me. Don't approach them unless someone is in your lesson and it is vital. Do not speak to those guys again, or anyone else like them. Just call for help and one of us will hear." Without waiting for a reply, he was out the window.
