The song for this chapter is Ursine Vulpine - Wicked Game
STILES' POV:
In all the time we've been friends, I've never been so mad at Lydia. I didn't think it was possible. Not because I loved her, but because Lydia was a responsible person. She was logical. So when Scott told me that she made up the whole internship so she wouldn't have to stay here, to basically get away from me, I snapped.
It was weird. I went from being semi glad that she was leaving so I could move on to hating that she was leaving and hating her for not only crushing my heart but lying about it. Who did that? Apparently, Lydia.
So when she called after me I ignored her. I had to. The last thing I wanted to do was disrespect her, but she kept at it.
"Stiles," She grabbed my hand.
I didn't want her to touch me so I pulled away.
"Please, listen to me. Please," Her teary eyes begged mine.
How could I look at her the same way I did before? I didn't care that she lied. Everyone lied here and there. It's that she lied about probably the most important coming in my life; her feelings for me. I knew she loved me as a friend, that she liked me a little more to some extent, but I was never sure how much. To hear that she wanted to leave because she thought she was protecting me was so stupid because we risked our lives every freaking day, so I knew she was covering for something else.
"You lied to me," I looked down at her, hoping my eyes conveyed how I felt about her in that moment. "You lied to me about everything."
A few tears streaked her cheeks. "I know, but I'm sorry." She sounded honest that time.
It didn't seem like I'd get an answer out of her so I turned for my jeep, this whole thing was enough for one day.
She pulled my hand back in desperation. "Please, don't go." She sounded more anxious than I ever heard.
My hand jerked away. "Why, so you can lie to my face again?" Even more anger filled me if even possible. "Tell me another bullshit story about why you don't want to be with me?"
Her head shook. "No more lies. Just don't leave things like this between us. I don't want you to hate me."
Hate her? Me hate her? That was unbelievable. She was unbelievable. And not in a good way.
I felt my forehead crease. "Hate you? That's what you think this is about? Lydia, I'm flat out in love with you, don't you get that by now?" I was aware I practically yelled at her, but I didn't care. For someone so smart she could be really thickheaded sometimes, namely about my feelings for her. What was so hard to understand that I loved her and it wasn't going away?
"I know..." She paused to gather some courage. "I'm in love with you, too."
My heart stilled in my chest, then it slid into my throat. For a long time, I thought I'd never hear her say those words to me. I wanted to hug her or kiss her, but my pride stopped me.
Instead, I asked, "So why did you lie to me earlier?" I couldn't keep my disappointment out my voice. "Why are you pushing me away?" I thought back to her reasoning. "Because you think I'm going to die just because I'm with you? That's not a good enough reason." As if I touched on something she didn't want to unleash from her brain, another round of tears clouded her jade eyes. "Lydia, you need to tell me the truth or I'm gone for good." I threatened. I didn't know if she believed me, but I was serious. I wouldn't put myself through any more of these mind games.
She took a deep breath before she said, "Stiles," Her eyes searched mine. "I'm pregnant."
Some of my anger disappeared, but then shock took it's place.
Then she really started to cry. Like really cry. Red-faced, every emotion showing on her face. She was scared and alone.
"Lydia," I rushed to her side to catch her before she fell to the ground.
Crap.
Lydia. Pregnant. Lydia. Pregnant. Lydia. Pregnant. My brain tried to make sense of this new information, but it couldn't. She couldn't be pregnant. She just graduated, she just got free of one prison, and now she was delivering another. Don't get me wrong, kids were great. I wanted kids, but right out of high school?
My arms wrapped around her. "You're going to be okay," I promised. Saying it was going to be okay would be a lie. I didn't know what the future held, but I knew she would be okay because she was resilient.
She leaned her head against my chest, her whole body shook with the pain and fear she felt. I didn't have to smell chemosignals to know that. My guess was that she didn't tell anybody, not even her mom about this. But she told me.
I picked us up. My hand wiped her face free from tears even though they kept coming. "Look at me," When she did I continued. "We're going to the hospital."
Her eyes widened. "What? No. I've already taken the tests."
"Lydia, you're not going to rely on a piece of plastic to determine your future. Let a real doctor look at you. If you aren't then you can relax and if you are then we'll deal with it."
Fear sat in her sad eyes. "They're going to call my mom."
"You're eighteen. I don't think they will. And even if they do you still have to tell her if you are."
I could tell none of this sit well with her, but she headed for the passenger side of the jeep.
The whole way to the hospital I couldn't tell if I wanted her to be pregnant or not, which sounded awful. Well, yeah. It was awful. I knew I wasn't the dad. We've never done that. I didn't want to offend her by asking who it was, but I had to know.
"Who's is it?" I didn't dare look her way.
"I don't know."
My head snapped to her. "What do you mean?"
Lydia was sexually free, but she wasn't a slut. To hear she didn't know who the father of her child could be was discouraging.
She sat rigidly in her seat.
"Lydia?"
We stopped in the parking lot.
She turned to me. "I don't know who the father is, Stiles." Shame washed over her face. "I got really drunk one night at a bar. I was already eighteen so it wasn't like I would get anyone in trouble for hitting on me. I mean, I didn't go there to get hit one." Her eyes lowered. "I went there to try to figure out how I was going leave you. Some guy offered to buy me a drink, so I accepted for the distraction. He was a nice guy, he seemed nice. I didn't think to watch my drink the whole time."
"Are you saying that he date raped you?" I asked as calmly as I could without scaring her.
She stared at me. "I don't know what happened that night, but when I woke up the next morning I was in his bed. I would never go home with some guy I didn't know, so I know he put something in my drink. I was sore the next day, I could tell I had sex, but I didn't remember any of it." She looked away again, she fought a fresh wave of tears. "I didn't tell anybody about it because I was ashamed. I thought I could put it behind me, forget it ever happened, but now I don't think that's possible." Her hand went to her stomach. "This wasn't supposed to happen to me, Stiles. I never planned for this."
"No teenager does. But you're not alone in this. We're going to be here for you if you are pregnant."
She sighed as she leaned back into the headrest, her head turned toward me. "Stiles, I'm pregnant. I've missed a period. I know my body. It's changing. We don't need a doctor to tell me that."
So that was it? There wasn't even a sliver of hope for a somewhat normal life for us? I know I was being selfish, but I wanted to be with her.
"Then we'll figure something out." I assured her.
Her head shook. "There's no 'Us' in this. It's me. I'm leaving in the morning and I'll take care of it."
My eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"
"I'm not going to abort it if that's what you thought,"
"No, what do you mean there's no 'Us? There's always been an us. And just because this big thing happened to you doesn't mean that you have to go through it alone. Sure, I don't know anything about parenting or raising a kid, but I could help you."
She nodded. "I know that and I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'm not getting you involved with this."
My arm rested on the back of her seat. "Trying not to take offense."
She gave me a look. "Why would you think that I would want to hold you back with this? There's a human being growing inside of me, Stiles. And it's not yours. It's not your responsibility. I can't ask you to derail your whole life for my mistake."
"Are you serious right now?" I leaned forward. "Lydia, you're one of my best friends. We've literally saved this town together and now you're worried that my helping you raise a child will derail my life? I'm just trying to figure out your thinking process because it seems like you're really just scared."
She gulped. "When you talk like that I am scared." She gave a wry laugh. "You act as if us raising a family right out of high school is normal, but it's not. Stiles, we haven't even gone on a date and us playing house would just be so confusing."
I nodded. "Fine, then let's not make it confusing. Let's go on a date."
A smile peeked through her rigid exterior. "You still want to be with me knowing I have a child growing inside of me?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yes," I gave a tiny grin. "That doesn't change how I feel about you, how I've always felt about you. As long as this isn't some elaborate ploy to cover up the fact that you don't want to be with me." My hand went to her neck, my thumb ran across her cheek just because.
She laughed as she leaned into my hand. "I'm not that cruel. Besides, if I could be with you I would be." Sorrow filled her voice and snatched the smile off her face.
"You still can, Lyds."
"Did you listen to my speech at all? It was all about us and maybe I was being too obvious, but after I lied to you about us I had to say all of that."
I nodded. "I get it, I do. You think you're protecting me. Maybe you are, but that's not up for you to decide. My life is my life. If I want to be there for you, then let me be there for you."
Her green eyes looked as if they got lost into mine. "You're making this really hard."
"Good." I smirked.
She gave me a hint of a smile before she leaned in, her hands grabbed my face and pulled me in. Her lips attached to mine. Over and over again until we were breathless and she pulled away. "I want you, I do." Her eyes searched mine as if to see if I believed her. After that kiss I did. "But please don't make me feel bad about doing this. I need for you live your own life away from all of this. If you meet some normal girl that wants a normal life then so be it."
"Lydia, that's not going to happen."
She pecked her lips to mine. "It'll happen. Eventually. You're a handsome guy. You're so sweet and funny. Smart. And loyal." She grinned. "There are going to be tons of girls who see what I see in you, so pick one that makes you happy."
My head shook. "No."
Her eyes grew wet. "You have to. I'm not going to be the one that holds you back."
I sighed. "I swear, it's like you're not listening to me. I want to be there for you."
Her hand grabbed mine. "I'm hearing you, but I'm saying no. I don't want to fight about this anymore. It's our last night together before everything changes. Can we just enjoy it?"
She was right. Whether we wanted it to or not, tomorrow everything would be different. Forever.
I nodded. "Okay, you're right."
If it was possible, she saddened even more. There was no pleasing her.
"Are you hungry?" I put the jeep in reverse.
"So hungry. You had to be dramatic and leave before we could eat."
I rolled my eyes. "So I'm dropping you off while I go get something to eat?" I joked.
She stuck her tongue out at me.
I leaned in to tug her lips with mine for a few moments, then pulled out of the parking lot like nothing happened.
Her gaze scorched the side of my face. "You can't kiss me like that."
"Kay," I said to make her angry.
When it worked I grinned to myself.
SCOTT'S POV:
An hour went by with no sign of Lydia and Stiles. Then two hours, then four, until we all finally accepted that they were settling whatever business they had to settle. We still all had a good time and promised we'd do this often.
We all pitched in for the clean up. My mom looked so tipsy, that there was no way she was putting away anything. Ms. Martin and her giggled like teenagers as they watched the guys. Yeah, that was gross.
Liam nudged me while we washed dishes. "Congrats, by the way."
"Thanks. I'm still going to be here for you guys."
He glanced around, then leaned in. "Not graduating you idiot, about Malia."
"What about Malia?" I played dumb.
We weren't official or anything. We had time, there was no need to rush things.
"Don't give me that. We all know there's something going on between you guys." He handed me a dish to dry.
I turned around and leaned back against the counter. "Yeah, but we're not together. Not yet anyway."
He huffed. "Will you just let me give you a compliment? I'm saying I'm happy for you. We all are."
I nodded. "Thanks."
We finished up the dishes when the girls came inside.
"Oh my God, I have to pee so bad," Hayden ran to the downstairs bathroom.
Malia stopped near the fridge. "Where are my chips, McCall?"
Kira glanced our way, then went outside. "I have to talk to my...neighbor." She gave Liam a pointed look.
He stood his ground.
She gave up and left.
"What chips?" I placed the plate in the cabinet.
"The Dill Pickle chips you bought for me. I know they're here somewhere." She searched more cabinets. When she couldn't find them she looked at me annoyed. "You know, I get testy when I'm hungry."
"Didn't you just eat like four plates of food and dessert?" I asked in amusement.
Her eyes narrowed as she walked toward me. She looked so goddamn beautiful, especially when she was mean.
I wasn't sure why I liked her like that, but it always made me laugh. She was only that way with me, which I hoped meant she was most comfortable with me.
"Where are there?" Her voice had a calculated chill.
I grinned. "What do I get if I give them to you?"
"You said one song."
My head shook. "That was a different offer."
Mischief danced in her eyes. "What do you want?" A hint of a smile softened her face.
"I want to take you on a date, Malia Tate." I offered a dimpled smile because I knew she liked it on me.
She blushed bright red as she tried to keep the smile off of her face. "Let me think about it."
Liam scoffed. "Oh, you guys are gross to not even be dating."
I laughed. "No one told you to stay."
He gave me a thumb's up before he left.
I walked over the cabinet above the fridge and tossed her chips her way.
"I thought I had to go on a date with you before I got my chips. Isn't that how blackmail works?" She opened the bag.
A smirk worked onto my face. "I'm blackmailing you now?"
She grinned. "What else would you call it?"
I'd call it budding love, but I didn't say that. Too much too soon would freak her out. Was I moving too fast? Was I pushing feelings onto her that she didn't want to feel? She went from having no romantic interest whatsoever to liking me really fast. I didn't want to question those feelings, but shouldn't I? I didn't want us to be in a relationship only to have her doubt her feelings for me.
"Hey, have you guys heard from Lydia or Stiles?" Hayden asked as she came out of the bathroom. "I'm starting to get worried about them."
Malia and I looked at each other in guilt.
"We'll reach out. I'm sure they had a lot to talk about." I said.
She nodded. "Yeah, I guess." She smiled at me, then looked at Malia. "I'll just leave you two alone." She walked off with a content grin on her face.
This was what I feared would happen if we kept things secret, the others would not so subtly push us together. What if we didn't want to be pushed together? I know Malia still had her doubts. They needed to respect that. I needed to respect that. So far I hadn't, I just did what I felt like doing.
It was time for me to step back and let her set the pace for our friendship.
When she put on Jump Around by House of Pain I knew what was about to go down. This was her thing; she'd put on 90's hip hop and rap to dance to when she felt really good. I've only seen her do this about three times. I liked to think I was a big part of her happiness, but I didn't want to assume, so I told myself it was an accumulation of things.
Her dad accepting her was huge. She had something to be happy about.
"I'm not really comfortable with you gyrating like that in front of me." I sat in the chair by my bed.
"If you dance with me then it won't matter." She challenged. She beckoned me to the the "dance floor".
My hand raised. "You don't want that, Lia. Trust me."
"What?" She did the running man. "Is the big bad Alpha scared?"
Scared? Nah.
I jumped up. "Remember you asked for this, so when I wipe the floor with your butt I'm not going to be sorry about it."
She looked doubtful. That's because she's never seen me dance.
My head bobbed to the beat as I recognized the part in the song.
"I'll serve your ass like John McEnroe." Everlast, lead of House of Pain, rapped.
I gestured for her to step to me and she did.
"If your girl steps up, I'm smacking the hoe."
I mimicked smacking her simultaneously as he rapped.
She laughed, but nodded in approval.
I got into the music, then I let my hips sway. Now, I wasn't like Juilliard great, but I was decent enough that people were impressed when I did.
A peak of interest settled into her eyes as she watched me dance.
"Are you just going to stand there or join me? You wanted this, remember?"
Her eyes rolled as she joined me. Pretty soon she forgot about me and danced because she wanted to. Well, I couldn't forget about her if I tried.
She looked up at me when TLC's Waterfalls came on.
We both mellowed out a bit and enjoyed the music. I also noticed we moved well together. We didn't try to out dance the other, but complemented each other.
Malia rapped Left Eye's part. "Come on. I saw a rainbow yesterday. But too many storms have come and gone. Leavin' a trace of not one God-given ray. Is it because my life is ten shades of gray. I pray all ten fade away. Seldom praise Him for the sunny days. And like His promise is true. Only my faith can undo. The many chances I blew. To bring my life to anew. Clear blue and unconditional skies. Have dried the tears from my eyes. No more lonely cries. My only bleedin' hope. Is for the folk who can't cope. With such an endurin' pain. That it keeps 'em in the pourin' rain. Who's to blame. For tootin' 'caine into your own vein. What a shame. You shoot and aim for someone else's brain. You claim the insane. And name this day in time. For fallin' prey to crime. I say the system got you victim to your own mind. Dreams are hopeless aspirations. In hopes of comin' true. Believe in yourself. The rest is up to me and you."
I stared at her opened mouthed.
"What? I remembered it when I was younger."
Of course, she did.
"If you sing as well as you rap then we have a problem."
She exaggeratedly groaned. "Scott, I told you I'm not that good."
"Well, you're just going to have to prove it." I stopped the music, then handed her my guitar from the stand.
"Like now?"
"Are you nervous?"
She blinked. "A little."
I grinned. "Good. You're going to do good."
"It's do well." Once she figured out I knew that she snorted a laugh, then handed me back the guitar. "Fine. I'll sing for you, but you're playing. I haven't practiced at all. I've probably lost everything I've learned."
"What do you want me to play?"
We sat on the edge of my bed.
"The song you played for me that night. I've been listening to it." Her cheeks blushed.
I didn't even know she realized what song I sang to her, but I liked that she found it and had it in her head. Nonetheless, I started playing You and I by Rhodes.
"I don't mind if you lie with me. You're my friend. I don't like to hide. Think
about all the foreign things in our lives. And how time can fly. Oh is it still you and I, forever? Is it still you and I, forever?" She sang beautifully. Her eyes never left mine. "Whether you like it or you don't. Sometimes we live alone. If we can find a little hope. We can make it on our own." She eyes closed as her hand went to her stomach. "I don't mind if you cry with me. You're my friend. I know times can get hard. Oh is it still you and I, forever? Is it still you and I, forever? Come on, you're close to me. Come on, so talk to me. Come on, lay with me. Come on, you're close to me. Come on, so talk to me. Come on, get close to me. You and I...Is it still you and I, forever?" Her eyes opened with the last note.
I tried my best not to be overly dramatic. "Another one."
She cracked a smile. "Okay, DJ Khaled."
I chuckled. "Seriously, that was really good. I liked playing with you."
"Yeah, it was kind of nice."
"Kind of? Lia, you were amazing. You have such a soulful voice." I spoke from an honest place, not a biased one. "It would be a shame if you didn't use it more."
She looked as if she never considered the thought. "Should I go off to LA? Become some big shot artist?" Sarcasm filled her voice.
I shook my head. "No, not unless you want to."
"Well, I don't. That would be stupid."
I nodded. "That's fine. Just sing a few more songs with me."
Her forehead creased together. "Now?"
I handed her the guitar. "If you want, but it doesn't have to be now."
She held the guitar like a natural. "Can you teach me some more chords?"
"Sure."
MALIA'S POV:
It was scary singing with Scott. Oddly intimate. As of late, it seemed like everything we did was intimate. Should we slow down? If we rushed things would they burn bright and fast?
I wanted to take things slow. Hell, there shouldn't have even been anything to take slow. But then we have moments like these where things seemed to move forward on their own.
Scott assessed me as I played no doubt the wrong note. "Why are you making that face?"
"What face?"
He gestured to me. "You look like you're about to fart."
I didn't have to fart. Did I? No.
"I don't think I'm doing this correctly is all. And how would you know what my farting face looks like?"
He gave a hint of a grin. "A, you're doing it correctly. And B, you've farted around me."
I did not.
"When?" I demanded.
"When you ate that cabbage and brussel sprout mix my mom made like a few weeks before Prom."
My stomach gurgled at the memory of it. "You had to bring that up." I fell back onto his bed. "That was not a good time in my life. I thought you were going to dump me as a friend." I covered my face in embarrassment.
He fell back with me as he laughed. "Because you farted?"
I nodded with a laugh. "Yeah. I didn't know what to think. We weren't as close then."
He pulled my hands away from my face. "Well, if you fart right now I'm definitely kicking you out."
I gasped in shock then playfully smacked his chest. "I wish you would try. I'd rip your throat out. With my teeth." I joked.
"You really are related to Derek. Have you talked to him recently?"
I thought back to our last interaction. He asked me if he had to kill Stiles for ignoring me. I told him no because Scott was keeping me company. At the time he sounded surprised and now I wondered if he knew about Scott's feelings for me?
"It's been awhile since I've reached out to him. Maybe I'll go visit him wherever he is. Do you want to come with?"
"Yeah, sure. Maybe he can help with our little problem."
I covered my chuckle with my hand. "Um, I don't that we need to go to Derek about our relationship problems. That would be a little weird, Scott."
"I meant so he could help us with the Desert Wolf." I moved closer. "Do we have relationship problems?"
"Oh." I looked away. "That might work."
He moved his guitar out the way and laid right next to me. "Go on, say whatever you were going to say."
I turned my head to look at him to find him so close, his body heat engulfed me. "I don't know what to say."
The gears shifted in his head as his hand grabbed the back of my neck and he leaned in the short distance to kiss me, but he didn't. "Is this okay?"
It felt like all the air left me and went into him. "Yes,"
"But?"
I leaned my forehead against his while my hand went to his face. "I want to be with you, I know that, but I just got my dad back. We just graduated, Scott. Do we really know what we want right now?"
He nodded.
"So I'm going to spend some time with him. We're going to get him clean, then everything will work out. I'm going to take you out on a date when things settle down."
His forehead raised, a grin on his lips that made me want to kiss them. "You're going to take me on a date?" His hand went to the small of my back.
I couldn't keep the smile off my face from his disbelief.
"Okay then I want flowers, some chocolate. You have to pick me up at the door," He chuckled. "And I get to pick where we're eating. If I don't like it then you have to make it up to me with a kiss on the cheek."
I leaned my face into his as I laughed, my hand moved down to his chest. "How romantic."
"I'm a lady and you better treat me like it."
"I will."
His heart thumped underneath my hand. It was one thing to be able to hear it from yards away, but to feel it working was another. I was suddenly so grateful that one vital organ pumping life into him. Without him, I'd be a totally different person. Like Lydia said in her speech, it's funny how one person can completely change you. Scott changed me in all the good ways I couldn't do on my own.
Something vibrated in his pants.
"Someone's excited." I joked.
He laughed. "It's my phone." He made a disgruntled noise, then shoved it back into his pocket.
"Who was it?"
"Uh, that girl from graduation. She wanted us to come by her party."
My hand on his chest pushed me up to stare at him. "You mean, she wanted you to come by? How did she get your number?"
He fought his grin. "Jealousy is cute on you." He sat up.
My eyes rolled. "Please, I'm not jealous."
"Really? So why did the claws come out earlier?"
He had me there.
I laughed nervously. "Okay, so maybe I was a little jealous."
"I know," He smiled his dimpled smile. "I thought you were going to rip her head off over me."
My hand mushed his face back. "Shut up."
He grabbed my hand, then pulled me on top of him. "I'm actually kind of glad you're the same level of crazy I am. When Theo comes back for you, and he will, then I don't know what I will do."
I rested my hands and chin on his broad chest. "You already know that I don't want Theo."
"You already knew that I didn't want that girl when you turned, but you did it anyway because it made you feel possessive." He reasoned. His hands went behind his head.
"I shouldn't have reacted that way. It was silly."
His eyes caught mine. "But you did because that's how you felt."
My finger traced his shirt. "Okay, but Theo doesn't want me. He wants all of us."
His brow arched. "But he also likes you."
I shrugged. "Well, he messed that up. I don't trust him enough to take out my trash, so don't worry about him."
"Malia," Melissa knocked on the door. Her eyes widened at the sight of us, but then she played it cool with a slight grin. "Your dad is waiting for you downstairs. I think he wants to go home, but you're welcome to stay if you want?" She leaned against the doorframe.
"Thanks, but I'm going to spend some time with him." Excitement filled me. "It's weird that he knows, right?" I grinned as I stood.
She nodded. "It'll take some getting used to, but we all let him know that if he needs someone to talk to then we're here for him.
"Thanks." I hugged her. "For everything."
She hugged me back in a motherly embrace. "Same to you."
"Huh?" I pulled away to look at her.
She glanced back at Scott briefly, then looked back at me. "Nothing, just the tequila talking."
"Okay," I offered a smile. "I'll see you guys tomorrow." I looked back at Scott.
He nodded.
My hand touched Melissa's shoulder in passing.
I hugged everyone goodbye before my dad and I made our way out to my SUV.
"How'd you feel about all of that?" I asked him.
He blew out a breath. "Better than I did yesterday." He offered a nervous grin. "Even if you don't believe me, I want you to know that I'm proud of you. I'm proud of us. For a while there I didn't think we'd make it."
I nodded in agreement. "Neither did I, but Scott encouraged me to tell you, so I did." I didn't know why I felt the beginnings of tears come over me, because I wasn't sad.
"Scott," He grunted. "I didn't like him, but he's not even close to who I thought he was."
My protectiveness of Scott reared up. "Who did you think he was?"
He shrugged. "Not the incredibly down to Earth and kind-hearted guy he showed me today. And he's protective of you, I like that." He glanced at me. "He loves you, Malia. In another way."
While I didn't think that was for my dad to determine I didn't want him to be wrong. Sure, it was early on in something that could be more for us, but I was becoming cowardly afraid of my growing feelings for Scott. I've never felt like this before and I didn't know if what I experienced was what you felt when you fell in love. From what I understood it was different for everybody. When your feelings were involved length didn't necessarily have anything to do with it. Well, it should, but it wasn't always the case. So maybe I was falling for him, too. I knew that when I looked at him from across the room in any situation I had faith in him to make things okay. I knew that when I was near him I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Or when he gave me a smile with his cute dimples it warmed up my whole body in the best safest way possible. So maybe he wasn't alone in his feelings. Or maybe my dad didn't know what the heck he was talking about and I was jumping the gun.
"How can you tell?" I questioned.
He gave a chuckle. "Honey, a guy knows when another guy is in love. It's the most obvious thing ever. The way Scott looks at you says it all, but I hadn't noticed that, then the way he glances at you every few minutes to make sure you're okay would give it away. Or how he'll do or say anything to make you laugh. And he doesn't think he's good enough for you, which means he's thought about giving you up so someone better could make you happy." He nodded.
I blinked back the tears, then offered a shy grin. "He's one of my best friend's, dad. He's also the Alpha. Of course, he'd want to make sure everyone was okay and make us happy."
His head shook. "No, this is different," He insisted. "He'd make sure everyone was okay, but his attention was on you more often than not."
Well, I didn't know what to say to that.
"Long story short, I approve."
I nodded. "Yeah, I know. You've been making it obvious. Especially, when you took all those pictures of us at Graduation and at his house. I saw like a billion flashes."
He grinned. "What can I say? You only graduate from High School once. Plus, you two were matching. It was cute." He coughed into his hand. "So I was thinking we could do some hunting when we get home if you want?"
Normally, I'd be okay with that. Especially, if we were doing it together, but that's not exactly what I had in mind for the rest of the evening.
He looked at the expression on my face. "Or not...So like a movie or something? What is it that you kids call it? That Netflix and Chill. Do we have that?"
A laugh bubbled from me as I nodded. "Yeah, we have that."
His eyes were the happiest I'd seen them in a long time. "Then it's settled."
Once we were both showered and changed we set up camp in the living room in our pj's. I went to Netflix while he got the popcorn and drinks. We watched Pulp Fiction because it was a great movie that needed no explanation in why one would watch it. We laughed and commented on the movie like any normal daughter and father would, only this meant so much more because it seemed like we'd never have this normalcy. Just one more thing I had Scott to thank for.
When it was over and I searched for another he turned to me with serious eyes. "What's that look for?"
"I'm going to AA tomorrow, I think it's time."
My eyebrows flew up in shock. "Really? Are you doing that for me?"
"For us." He sighed. "I want this to work between us. It's my fault for letting us get so bad in the first place. You were right yesterday. Half of the time I'm drunk and that's not okay. What I said about you not being mine was wrong. You're my daughter and I love you so much. I was so happy when you came back, but then it was like you were still gone, so I started drinking even more." His eyes held a heavy weight that made me tear up. "I'm sorry for not being there for you throughout all of this. All of what you've been through explains so much. It's shaped you into this incredibly strong-willed, intelligent, and loyal woman that I'm so proud of."
My hand wiped at my eyes. "Thanks, dad. But this isn't all of your fault. I should've trusted you enough to open up to you." Something heavy that's sat in my brain since I got back wanted to force itself out of mouth so badly. The truth sat on the edge of my tongue, but my fear held it back. There was no way he'd ever forgive me for telling him I was responsible for murdering his whole family. I couldn't. I couldn't, not when I just got back.
"What is it, sweetie?" He rubbed my back.
I leaned into him and let go of the emotions swirling around in me. All of the guilt I've felt through the years for killing my mom and Kylie poured out as I clutched to him.
He wrapped his big arms around me tight, which only made me cry harder. "Shh, it's going to be okay." He rocked us back and forth. "We're going to be okay."
I nodded even though I didn't believe it.
"Everything's going to work out, I promise."
The next morning I was woken up by the smell of breakfast. My dad didn't cook a lot. Breakfast was pretty much all he know how to do besides whatever he hunted and pasta. Even when he cooked it was a rare occasion, probably because neither of us were ever really here all that often together. So I jumped up and ran down the stairs like it was Christmas morning to find Everyone in my kitchen. Literally the whole pack.
"Um,"
My dad perked up at the sight of me. "Morning, sweetie. I invited everyone over for breakfast."
"I see," I probably looked a hot mess, but I ignored that strong possibility because I never thought this of all things would happen. My dad did this for me.
Lydia hugged me tight. "You don't have to look so excited about it."
I hugged her back. "Just surprised is all." Then I remembered today she had to leave. She texted me last night that she was with Stiles. That was obvious. She also said that she'd have a talk with me about keeping secrets a secret, which unnerved, but she didn't seem that upset right now. Probably because she still decided to leave.
Stiles came up and interrupted our hug as he sliced his arm between us. "No hogging the coyote, Lyds." He grinned before he gave me a hug.
My heart warmed that I got a hug from him. He said he'd be there for me more, so I guess this was his way of doing it.
I smelled the unmistakable emotion of jealousy. I looked up to find Scott watching us. My eyes rolled at him. There was nothing going on between me and Stiles. Nonetheless, I pulled away and headed his way. I grabbed a piece of bacon from the plate of many other pieces, then bit into it.
"Sup,"
"You're rocking that side bun." He looked at my hair then gazed own at me.
Was I?
My hand reached out to conclude I was indeed rocking a side bun. And a messy one at that. I shoved the rest of the bacon in my mouth then fixed it, although it probably wasn't much better.
We moved over the other side of the kitchen so my dad could finish cooking.
I gave Melissa a smile and a wave as we passed her and Argent.
She looked at me with kind eyes.
I worried she could see how I felt about her son and she wouldn't like it, so I looked away, then decided we should just sit on the stairs.
"How'd it go last night with your dad?" He spoke in hushed tones even though more than half the people in the house could hear him.
"Good. Really good." I blinked a few times. "He's going to start AA." I whispered as to not embarrass him.
Happiness shined in his brown eyes. "That's good. That's really good."
I nodded with a nervous grin. "Yeah, I know." A sigh left me. "It seems like things are finally starting to fall into place for me, which means something bad's going to happen."
His hand rested on my knee. "Regression to the mean. They'll balance out. We'll deal with whatever comes our way."
Nerves tingled under his touch. I stared at him with conflicted eyes, then looked away.
He removed his hand, then cleared his throat. "Sorry."
My head shook. "No, it's fine."
We were so confusing.
"Lydia's still leaving." I sighed in defeat. "After everything we did she's still leaving." I looked at him. "You have to convince her to stay."
"I think that she's doing what she has to, Lia. I can't really make her stay."
I frowned. "But I don't want her to leave."
He nodded. "Neither do I."
We sat there for a while, neither of us talked. We just sat in our thoughts.
When it came time for Lydia to leave we all decided to go with her. My dad stayed behind. He looked a little tired. It was probably the withdrawal from alcohol, so I didn't push him when he hugged me.
"I love you, Malia."
I gave him a worried look. "I love you, too. Dad, if you need to go to the hospital, then I'll take you."
He waved it off. "No, I'll be fine. Go say goodbye to your friend. I'll be here when you get back."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded.
"Okay, be back soon."
I followed the others in my car. My brain tried to think of ways to make her stay. I thought about ripping out her battery or fatally wounding her, but I think those would work. She was insistent. I wondered if I'd ever be that in love with anybody to completely leave them because I thought it was the best thing for them? That kind of love was scary and real because it hurt.
She gave her last goodbyes as she hugged us individually.
"You better keep it touch or else," I threatened as I squeezed her.
She wiped my tears away and smiled. "I will."
Her mom didn't want to let her go and I didn't blame her, but finally she released her from her clutches.
Then it was just her and Stiles. They stared at each other in the way that made us all look away. This was a private moment that only they knew what it meant for them. Finally, he gave in and pulled her to him.
I could practically hear their hearts breaking as she sniffled. I looked to Scott in hopes he'd do something last minute, but when he looked down at me I knew that he wouldn't interfere. We had done enough.
We waved her off in sadness. It was hard not to run after her car, but I stood where I was.
Scott patted Stiles' back in solace. "I'm going to hang out with Stiles for a while, I'll stop by later."
I nodded because I knew Stiles needed his brother right now.
"No, it's fine. I'm fine." Stiles assured, but he didn't look at us. "I really want to be alone right now if that's okay, so I'll see you guys later. Yeah." He rushed off in his jeep in the opposite direction Lydia had.
"You should go after him." I insisted.
"I don't think that would be a good idea."
"So are you coming back to my house?" I perked up.
He grinned. "If you want me to. I don't want to intrude on your time with your dad."
I waved it off. "He loves you so it's cool."
He looked satisfied. "Okay, then. I'll be right behind you."
On the way home I couldn't shake this feeling of dread. Sooner or later this other shoe would drop it would be catastrophic. We had to warn the others about the Desert Wolf. Today.
Smoke filled my nose as I neared my house. I sniffed the air. Someone was probably grilling outside. A hotdog sounded good right now. I felt like I was eternally hungry. Maybe it was my period. Nah. I ate all the time anyway.
Once I got closer and closer I recognized a familiar scent mixed with the smoke. It belonged to my dad.
I sped up as worry filled me.
When my house came into view my heart stilled. It was in flames. Disbelief struck me, then I abruptly stopped my car to get out and run to the front door.
"Dad!" I searched the downstairs frantically while I listened to his heartbeat. It was nearby but I couldn't find him. "Dad, where are you?" The flames and smoke surrounded me which made it hard to see and breath, but I had to find my dad.
"Malia," I heard him whimper.
"Dad?!" I rushed up the stairs.
"Malia! Scott yelled.
I ignored him. I ran for my dad's room. He laid on the floor. Most of his body was burnt to unrecognizable levels. He was scared.
I fell to my knees in front of him. Thick tears welled in my eyes. I couldn't even touch him without hurting him, that's how badly he was burned.
"Go..." He struggled to get out, his eyes on the ceiling. He couldn't even turn to look at me.
"Malia!" Scott rushed in. He stilled when he saw my dad.
I looked to him. "Fix him. Please." I begged in between crying.
"Get her out." My dad told Scott. "Please."
Scott looked conflicted as he looked between us. He finally reached out to me. "Malia, we have to go."
My head shook. "I'm not leaving him."
"There's nothing I can do for him. He's dying. And we're going to die too if we don't leave now." He begged me.
My chin trembled. "But I just got him back." Desperation filled my voice. "You can save him."
His head shook. "No, I can't. We have to go now." Alpha authority rang in his voice.
Then it was quiet. The burning wood and cloth stilled filled the void, but there was one less heartbeat.
My eyes went to the dead body beside me. I panicked. "No." I shook him. "No no no." I sobbed. "Dad?"
Scott picked me up as I kicked and screamed and clawed to get back to my dad.
"Malia, stop." He pleaded. His strong grip restrained me.
I bared my fangs at him.
His eyes looked conflicted. "Don't make me do this." When I didn't make it easy for him he pulled my arm back in a hard enough motion that it snapped.
I howled in pain. Even more pain than I was already in.
Then he flung us out of the second story window.
A/N: So I planned to have this up earlier this evening. I was going to finish it and post it on my break at work, but I didn't get a break because we were freaking slammed. From 5pm-12am we did not get a break. I didn't get food and I felt like I was going to scream, then I had a nice good frustrated cry when I got home. Anyway, had to get that out of there. I hoped you guys enjoyed reading this chapter. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK BY LEAVING A COMMENT/REVIEW