Thanks for all of the reviews for the last chapter! You guys made me feel a hell of a lot better about the fight scene between Laci and Derek. I was for sure that I had written him wrong and you would all have hated it lol. This chapter's short, but the next few chapters will make up for it lol.

Chapter 10

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A week had passed since the game, and Laci still hadn't told Scott where she had been during it. At least, where she really was. Stiles hadn't mentioned anything to her, and hopefully not to Scott, either. She knew that he knew, but it seemed like he didn't want to believe it. He probably thought that if he didn't talk about it, or think about it, that it had never happened in the first place. That was the least of her worries right now though. Not only did she have a producer from one of her favorite ballets coming to see her class, but there had been an attack on some bus driver. Scott thinks that it had to do with alpha, and for some reason he doesn't feel like he needs to let her in on anything about it.

He didn't want her to get involved, once again. God, he didn't even want to be involved. She couldn't worry about that now though. She'd just have to trust him on dealing with this one on his own. She had to be in her top shape for the weekend. She couldn't be distracted for one single second. Not even with knowing that no one would be able to come see her solo dance. Even with the new curfew everyone had to follow. She found out earlier that her mom had to work the afternoon shift that day, and she couldn't get out of it. Scott was having his double date with Allison, Lydia and Jackson. She hadn't even thought to ask Stiles. He couldn't even sit though a class of music at school. She didn't think he'd enjoy a dance performance as well.

She knew deep down who she wanted to invite, but she refused to let her mind go there after last weekend. What he had said to her wasn't right. She couldn't just forget that. He wasn't making an effort to talk to her either though. Not directly at least. She knew that he followed her home after her dance classes. She knew that it was to protect her, keeping her from being hurt by every day low lives or the loose alpha. He never drove near her though, and he certainly didn't offer her anymore rides home.

If he wasn't going to face her, then she wasn't going to care. After the fourth day of him following her home, she had Stiles come and pick her up. Stiles knew that he was there too, but when he came the next day to pick her up, Derek's black car was no where to be found. It was finally the day though. While Scott's out enjoying himself with Allison, she would be giving the performance of her life. A performance that no one would be coming to see. Her mom was going to drive her over there on her way to work. She was just finishing up getting ready in her room.

She was lacing up her ballet slippers when her mom knocked on her bed room door. She looked up to see her leaning against the door frame, a sad look on her face as she held back her tears. "I am so sorry that I have to miss you dancing tonight. What with the police issued curfew and the hospital giving me more shifts, I have to be the worst mom." she said out to her, her voice choking up slightly as she hugged her arms around herself.

Laci looked up with a small smile. She knew that it wasn't her mom's fault that she had to miss her dancing tonight. She had tried her hardest to get out of her shift, but it just couldn't be done. She didn't hate her for it, it was just life. They had to get by, and one dance shouldn't ruin that. "It's fine, mom. Besides, Carry's mom said that she would get doubles so you could have a set." she told her with a shrug of her shoulders, as if it wasn't a big deal. She knew that it was a really big deal to her daughter though. She knew how important it to was to her, and no one was going to be there for her.

Laci finished up with her ribbon lace and stood up. She was wearing her shining red leotard that her mom always said brought out her eyes. Her skirt was a glossy white color that flowed down from the red around her waist like flames. Her hair was pulled back into a braided bun like she always did for dance. She hated putting it up, but she knew that it was easier to dance with it up rather then leaving it down. "Oh, sweetie, you look amazing." her mom said to her as she embraced her daughter in a hug. "You are going to do amazing, and Scott and I will be there for you in spirit, and so will your dad." she told her as she gave her a small squeeze for comfort.

Laci held onto her in returned. She pulled away when she felt herself getting worked up. She couldn't be crying before the show. It would ruin her stage make up. Her eyes were covered in glitter. Her cheeks were a rosy pink color from her blush and lips were a sparkling glossy red color as well. If she ruined it before the show, her instructor would kill her. "Can we go before I ruin anything. You know how Miss Latruce is with smudged make up." she laughed out as she went to her mirror to give her face one last look over. Her eyes shined with happiness as she spotted the necklace hanging from her neck. Just where it should be. At least her dad would be with her tonight. Granted, not really there in person, but he would be there in her heart and that was all she needed.

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Laci was back stage waiting for her number to be called. She was jittery mess, she couldn't sit still for longer then a second. She wondered if this was how Stiles felt. She tried distracting herself by going over all of her steps in her head. She had chosen a dance very close to her heart. It had been her dad's favorite. He always had her dance it for him when they went to the park. She was in the middle of spinning when she heard of the other girls talking to someone else as they passed by her. ". . . that guy in the front row couldn't sit still for longer then a second. I swear, if I didn't know any better? I'd say that he had ADD or something." she said to the other girl as they walked by Laci.

Laci's head shot up at that. She knew that it was a really long shot, but she had to look to make sure. She moved to the curtain where she had seen the other girls going to look out at the crowd without being caught. It wasn't a big crowd, but it filled up half of the studio. She knew the producer was up front with Miss. Latruce, so she was careful to not look directly at them. Her eyes scanned the first few rows until they landed on a familiar face. She felt her heart sore at the sight of Stiles. Sure, he looked bored out of his mind, but he was still here and even sitting in the front row! He had come to see her dance, even when no one had forced him to.

She jumped when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see one of the girls standing behind her. "Laci, it's your turn. Break a leg." the girl said quietly to her. She gave her a weak smile as she nodded before she went out to the crowd. She gave the crowd a little bow before she got into her first position. Her eyes immediately found Stiles, who had just realized that it was her turn to dance. Her smile beamed brightly as he fumbled to straighten up in his seat. He shot her an awkward thumbs up from his seat. She tried her best not to crack up laughing right then and there.

The music began, and so did her dance. In her head, she said out every step she was suppose to do. She tried her best to smile the entire time, but she was finding it hard to multitask as she spun around. Stiles could see that she was nervous and panicking over something. She was over thinking something and it was causing her to frown. He didn't know what exactly she was doing, but he knew that tonight was very important to her. He looked around to see that no one looked very excited to be there and watching her.

He figured that it was making her more nervous. He saw that her eyes kept coming back over to him. He needed to do something to make her relax without making a fool of himself and her. He shifted in his seat uncomfortably as he thought it over. He couldn't think of anything though, and it was starting to frustrate him. He scratched his head as he continued to watch her. His eye brows scrunched up in confusion when he saw her crack a smile. She was laughing at something, and he had a funny feeling that it was him. He shot her a funny look, which just made her smile grow. It lit up the entire room in his opinion. He sat back in his seat, now satisfied with his success as she finished her dance.

He was the first to stand up and cheer her on as he clapped. After a minute, he noticed that no one else was standing up. They were clapping, but not nearly as loudly as he was. He blushed as he looked back at her. She shook her head and laughed to herself as she blew him a kiss. He blushed even more as he fumbled to sit back down, only to embarrass himself even more as he missed the chair and fell to the floor. He shot back up and scrambled to sit into his seat. He gave her a small wave, telling her that he was okay. She just laughed and gave the crowd another bow before going back behind the curtains.

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After the rest of the dancers preformed, they were all brought back out to the front of the room. They were going to give out trophies, and who ever got first place got a scholarship to some fancy pants dancing school. Stiles was secretly hoping that Laci didn't win for a selfish reason. He just didn't want her to leave, especially now with everything going on. He waited on baited breath as the third place dancer was announced. It wasn't Laci, but there were still two other awards to be given out. "I am very pleased to announce the second place winner . . . Laci McCall!" Miss Latruce announced to the crowd.

Stiles was, once again, the first to jump to his feet and start cheering for her. Laci moved across the room toward her instructor and shook hands with her and the producer guy. She smiled sweetly as she took the trophy from them and went back in line with the others. First place was then announced, which Stiles didn't care for. He just wanted it to be over so he could congratulate Laci face to face. Once it was done, he jumped out of his seat and basically jumped over people to get to the dancers. He hurried over to Laci and once he was close enough, he picked her up in his arms and held her up over his shoulder. With a small shriek of laughter, she was spun around. "Second place! Whoo hoo!" he cheered out as he spun her around.

She laughed out happily as he let her slip down his arms, only when she was low enough, she went to wrap her arms around his neck. She was careful not to hit him in the head with her trophy as he spun her around another few time. She continued on to laugh out as he finally put her back down on the ground. "Seriously, Lace, this is awesome." he told her as he slowly let her go from his arms.

She smiled up at him, still not believing that he had come. She was happy about her winning second place, but she was more happy that someone had actually come. Without warning, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. As she pulled back, she saw that he was beat red and stammering for words. "Thank you for coming, Stiles. You don't know how much that means to me." she told him as she jumped forward and threw her arms around him again. He was taken back by the kiss and even the hug she was now giving him. His happiness was short lived though as he looked up and locked eyes with someone that was was definitely out of place.

Derek Hale stood only feet away from them. One of hands were in the pockets of his usual leather jacket, his eyes cold and narrowed on the sight of Laci holding onto him. Stiles eyes dropped to Derek's other hand. A red rose was in his hand, blood now dripping from his hand from the thorns he was stabbing into his skin. Stiles smiled smugly in return as he held onto Laci, who was completely unaware that Derek was standing just a few feet behind her. "Are you kidding me, Lace? Somebody had to come and cheer you on. Besides, I'd pick watching you dance over being a fifth wheel to Scott's date any time." he laughed quietly to her.

She pulled back slowly, her eyes beaming from her glittery face. Tears shined in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "Are you kidding me? I'd rather be bowling right now. I'd so kick you ass in it." she laughed out to him as she hit his arm. He winced with a chuckle as he rubbed his arm. "Now, come on. You're buying me dinner before you drive me home." she told him as she grabbed a hold of his hand with her free one and dragged him towards the exit. He followed behind her willingly. He glanced back for a quick second, only to find that Derek was gone. His eyes caught sight of something on the floor where he had been standing. It was the rose.