CHAPTER ELEVEN
I burned the condom. Sadly that did not erase the disturbing image still plaguing my mind; it did, however, manage to spread a disgusting smell throughout the house.
Isaac had tried everything he could think of to backpedal his way back into my pants, but it was a no go. No matter how much he tried stroking my arms to raise goose-bumps, kissing my neck- actually kissing any exposed skin he could find, I couldn't shake that horrifying image his question had created.
When it was evident, I couldn't be persuaded he excused himself to the bathroom, and I'm pretty sure I didn't want to know what went on in there either. That's when I had decided to burn it, the damn ruiner of fun.
Isaac came running out when he smelt the burning plastic. He was holding his nose.
"What the hell are you doing Charlie?"
"Burning the evidence," I told him watching it writhe in the glass bowl I had stuck it in.
Isaac grabbed it and threw it in the sink running water on it to extinguish the flames. He shook his head as he exited the door.
He brushed my hair behind my ear.
"You're crazy you know that right?" He kissed my forehead and then grabbed his pants and began to put them on.
I realized I was still in my bra and underwear and threw on a shirt as quick as I could.
"No need to get dressed on my account" He teased. "Actually I should head back before Derek gets angry." He told me throwing his shirt on.
I sighed.
"So what you're just gonna pull a Wham-Bam-Thank-you-Ma'am?"
"Nope, we didn't do any wham-bamming" He grinned at me.
"Yeah, and who's fault was that? I told you to stop asking questions!" I accused crossing my arms.
He laughed.
"I guess it should have been obvious you got it-"
"Don't SAY IT!" I plugged my fingers in my ears. "And stop laughing it's not funny!"
Isaac pulled my hands away, being incredibly gentle with my left one.
"You're right, it's not funny" He conceded.
He kissed me gently.
"I'll see you later." He promised climbing out the window.
Well, that wasn't awkward at all!
xxx
I woke up to my Dad hovering inches away from my face and screamed! Dad and Stiles both needed to learn about personal space.
"What the hell Dad?" I asked slightly annoyed.
He had already given me the recap of, and I quote, "the best date EVER" last night, so there was no reason for him to be acting like an over-excited puppy this morning.
"Get up we're getting your stitches out today," Dad said, I'd almost forgot about that. "I'd take that make-up gunk to put on afterward too if I were you."
"Are you trying to tell me I look like crap?" I asked getting up and grabbing the first things I came to in the closet.
"No, you're perfect just the way you are, but I have a feeling you might want to have it when you get to school.
I tossed my hair back a little annoyed.
"What's that?" My Dad asked suddenly.
I froze.
"What?"
"Your neck, that mark, that almost looks like-" My hand wrapped around my neck.
"No! No- I mean, it- I got it when I fell by the pool. It's a bruise- just- just a bruise."
I grabbed a scarf as well. I was going to kill Isaac.
I walked into my bathroom and got ready. When I came back out, Dad was grinning again. We walked out of the house.
"You still haven't asked why I think you need to get all spiffed up-"
I raised my eyebrows. We were right in front of Beulah about to climb in.
"Spiffed up, really dad?"
"Would you just shut up and let me finish Kid? You're friend's off the hook!" Dad said starting Beulah and backing out the driveway.
"WHAT?"
"The Lahey kid, he's been cleared. The Whittemore boy came into John's office and recanted his statement."
I had to get to school. Not that I wasn't glad that Isaac was no longer a murder suspect, but that meant Derek had something in mind beyond ensuring Isaac got an education.
"Dad we've gotta get to school!" I said.
Dad looked at me.
"Whoa, where's the fire kid? We've gotta get to your appointment first. Isaac will still be at school when we get done."
"But-"
"We'll be in and out in no time," Dad promised me.
xxx
We were not in and out in no time. Dr. Hillard was running late. I tried to text the boys, but I got no response. Great! Well, now I knew why Isaac wasn't worried about getting spotted last night!
"Anyway, we can speed this up?" I asked as I hopped on the examining table for Dr. Hillard. We had a love-hate relationship.
"Depends we don't have to give you anything to numb the pain if you'd like-"
"Never mind."
Dr. Hillard smirked at me. Dad walked out the room, he wasn't so good with needles.
I had to figure out what Derek was planning, why would Isaac being cleared suddenly be important? I mean it's not like they couldn't have gone and threatened Jackass into changing his story immediately after it happened so why now?
I thought back to the night at the pool.
"I know one thing, when I find it, I'm going to kill it" Derek had said.
Well, now that that mystery was solved, who were they after? Couldn't be Jackass because they'd clearly already got him and he was still alive. So who did that leave, and how would they know who the Kanima was when Derek said himself it didn't know who it was. My heart started beating faster as it hit me, there was only one other person I knew besides Jackson who had been bitten by and Alpha and hadn't turned.
As soon as Hillard finished with me I was off the bench and out the door, I had to get to school. I was practically dragging Dad away from the reception counter.
"Slow your roll Kid, Isaac will still be there when we get there," Dad said starting Beulah.
I tapped on the window nervously and glanced at the clock 8:30, I had already missed a good bit of English.
I groaned and Dad chuckled, thinking I was just excited to see my friend again. I tried texting Scott and Stiles one more time.
Isaac's in the clear watch out!
I looked down and read the message from Stiles
-.- Yeah, we know.
Shit, shit, shit! We pulled up to the parking lot. I grabbed the doctor's note and jumped out the car.
"Bye Dad, Love you."
My dad rolled his eyes and pulled out of the parking spot.
By the time I got signed in there was only 5 minutes left in English and no time to come up with a plan.
"Hey I was starting to think you weren't gonna show" Matt said as I took my seat.
"Yeah, I was getting de-Frankensteined" I said motioning to my forehead.
"Nice, so you want to-" The bell rang.
"Sorry Matt gotta run, Harris has it in for me and I can't be late to chemistry." I told him standing up and going to leave.
I had to get to Stiles and Scott and find out the game plan.
Matt grabbed my shoulder. "Hold up a second, Chemistry's right down the hall, you won't be late."
I stared at his hand on my shoulder. Matt clearly didn't understand what a personal bubble was. Matt noticed my look and dropped his hand.
"I was just wondering if you wanted to meet later to go over notes, maybe we could even catch a movie or something."
I bit my lip, damn Lydia and her brilliant idea if I weren't so busy trying to figure out how to save her from Danny Zucko and the rest of the Werewolf T-Birds I'm pretty sure I'd try to kill her.
"Listen Matt, I really like you as a friend but-"
I felt someone's arms wrap around my waist and my heart started racing despite the fact I was pretty pissed with their owner. His chin was resting on my shoulder.
"She's taken" Isaac told him.
I could feel him smirking. I felt myself turn red. Matt looked angry for about a second but then smiled.
"I understand, hey seriously though if you want to go over today's notes no problem- just as friends" He added looking at Isaac. "Besides we still need to work on that project. Congratulations on getting uh- cleared dude"
"Bye" was all Isaac said.
As soon as Matt was gone I dragged him to the janitor's closet. When I shut the door I noticed him tense up for a second.
"Well it's not exactly as nice as your bedroom but okay" He grinned down at me.
"Cut the shit Isaac what the hell are you doing here?"
"Going to school, I would have thought that was obvious-"
"Why are you back at school and don't tell me Derek has suddenly taken an interest in your academic career."
He rolled his eyes. He kept looking to the door.
"Eliminating the threat, something Scott should have already done. We better get to class." He said moving to the door.
I stood in front of him and crossed my arms.
"You can't do this! You don't even know who it is- it doesn't even know who it is" I tried to argue.
Isaac sighed annoyed.
"We need to go to class Charlie" He said his voice had an edge to it.
I stood there. I wanted answers.
"MOVE"
I stepped out of the way and he walked out the door running a hand through his hair. I leaned against the wall, how was I supposed to fix this?
xxx
"So glad you decided to join us Miss Stilinski, I'll give you a warning today but the next time you arrive late you'll be serving lunch-detention with me for the rest of the year"
I ignored Harris and went to take my usual seat but Erica and Isaac were occupying the table which only made my blood boil worse. I looked around Scott and Stiles had both tried to sit at Lydia's table which confirmed my suspicions on who they thought the Kanima was, Allison was sitting with Jen Thomilson, the only seat available was next to Jared, a nervous kid that was usually with me, Stiles, and the rest of the misfits during team sports in gym class.
"Hi" I said sitting down.
He looked terrified to have a girl sitting beside him... or maybe he was just terrified in general.
"Einstein once said two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity" Mr. Harris began walking up the aisles.
I rolled my eyes.
"And I'm not sure about the Universe. I myself have encountered infinite stupidity" he said patting Stiles on the shoulder.
Stiles looked pissed (understandably) I noticed Isaac was staring hard at Lydia.
"So," Mr. Harris continued walking up to the front. "To combat the plague of ignorance in my class, you're going to combine efforts through a round of group experiments"
That's just fucking perfect!
"Let's see if two heads are indeed better than one, or in the Stilinksis case, less than one"
Asshole!
Lydia smirked at Stiles, Jackass who was sitting nearest to me started snorting with laughter.
"Erica?" Mr. Harris called. "Take the first station, you'll start with-"
Every male hand (and a few female ones) shot in the air with the exception of Stiles, Isaac, Jackass, Scott and Danny. Harris looked incredulous, Isaac smirked.
"I didn't ask for volunteers. Put your hormonal little hands down. Start with Mr. McCall."
Great! "Alright, next two."
I got assigned at a station as well as Lydia and Stiles which meant we only had two musical chairs players to keep the Leather brigade away from Lydia. Allison managed to get to Lydia first. Danny came and sat by me, I tried to pay attention to what he was telling me to do but I kept noticing how Isaac was staring at Lydia like she was his prey (which she kind of was) and then I saw Erica's hand grab Scott's thigh.
"Tramp!" I hadn't meant to say it out loud.
Three werewolves' heads snapped over in my direction. Danny was chuckling.
"Didn't know you had a thing for McCall"
"What? No. Scott's like the brother I never wanted." I said trying to focus on our experiment.
I heard the bell.
"Switch".
Jackass sat down beside me. Isaac moved to sit beside Stiles.
"So what exactly are we supposed to be doing?" Jackson asked I rolled my eyes and tried to focus on what was being said between Isaac and Stiles.
"How the hell should I know? Read the paper." Jackson huffed annoyed.
"If you harm one perfect strawberry-blond strand of hair on her head I'm gonna turn your little werewolf ass into a fur coat and give it to her as a birthday present." Stiles threatened.
I rolled my eyes that one was a bit over-kill even for me. Isaac smirked.
"Are you even going to help me with this?" Jackass asked annoyed.
"I managing a C in this class do you really want me to help? Because if you do I have no problem dropping your grade-point"
Jackass rolled his eyes and left me alone.
I missed the first part of what Isaac said because of Jackass' whining.
"... I did ask her out once though" Isaac finished.
Not this again! He did enough moping for two lifetimes over it last year.
"Sounds like the beginning to a heart-felt story, I'm gonna pass thanks" Stiles said sarcastically.
"First day of freshman year" Isaac continued.
If he seriously wasn't over that after what we'd almost done last night, I was gonna turn his stupid werewolf ass into a fur coat!
"You thought everything was gonna be different for you in high school, but she said no" Stiles said.
Yeah that's pretty much how it went. Isaac laughed.
"Yeah, she even laughed. Told me to come back when the bike I rode to school had an engine not a chain."
Okay that was a bit hard considering he was 14 at the time.
"Are you going to do anything?" Jackass huffed.
I rolled my eyes, looked at the work sheet and added the next ingredient in.
"Happy?"
Jackass rolled his eyes, I went back to listening.
"Unrequited love's a bitch." Stiles told him "Maybe you should write about it in English class you know, channel that negative energy."
"Nah, I was thinking I'd channel it into killing her."
I knew one thing he sure as hell wasn't going to be channeling it in!
"I'm not very good at writing."
The bell startled me and I looked on horrified as Isaac took the empty seat by Lydia. Stiles tried to run over there to her but Harris slapped his hand with a meter stick which I'm pretty sure was illegal since California didn't practice corporal punishment in public schools.
"If you're trying to test my patience Mr. Stilinski, I guarantee it will be a failing grade" Harris walked away.
Allison was stuck with Erica and I had... Greenburg. I repressed a groan.
"Hi Mike."
"Charlie. So I saw you and Isaac in the hallway."
"Yeah"
"Didn't he like just get cleared of being a fugitive-"
"Yep"
"And you guys are already together?"
Well we were.
"It's complicated"
Isaac turned back and looked at me. I ignored him.
"Oh" Mike sounded hopeful.
"Not that complicated"
It came out before I could stop it. Greenburg glared at me. I saw Isaac shoulders move like he was laughing. Figures!
"I guess Coach Finstock's rubbing off on you then."
I felt bad.
"Sorry Mike"
The bell went off.
"Time" Harris called. "If you've catalyzed the reaction correctly, you should now be looking at a crystal."
I stared down at our play-do blob, Scott and Stiles had a similar one. Guess that answers that question.
I looked over at Isaac and Lydia's table where Isaac had picked up a perfect crystal.
"Now for the part of that last experiment I'm sure you'll all enjoy. You can eat it."
I pushed ours over to Greenburg. "It's all yours"
"LYDIA" Scott was on his feet.
Lydia turned to look at him as well as the rest of the class.
"What?" She asked slightly annoyed.
Scott looked around. Erica and Isaac were smirking. Scott sat back down.
"Nothing."
Scott, Stiles, Allison and I watched frozen as Lydia bit into the crystal. Nothing happened. I noticed Scott glanced out the window and followed his stare. Derek Stalker Hale was leaning against his car across the street from the parking lot. And this day just gets better and better!
xxx
"Derek's outside waiting for Lydia" Scott told us as we went into Coach's office.
"Waiting to kill her?" Allison asked what Stiles and me were afraid to.
"If he thinks she's the Kanima then yes" we all groaned. "Especially after what happened at the pool"
"It's not her!" Stiles asserted.
I put my hand on his shoulder trying to comfort him but he shrugged it off.
"Stiles, she didn't pass the test man nothing happened." Scott tried to reason with him.
"It can't be her" Stiles said, it sounded more like a prayer though.
"It doesn't matter because Derek thinks it's her." Allison said "So either we can convince him that he's wrong-"
"That's likely" They all glared at me. "Sorry"
"Or we've got to figure out a way to protect her" Allison continued.
"Well I don't think he's going to do anything here, not at school" Scott said he still wanted to believe everyone had a heart of gold like him.
"What about after school?" Allison asked.
Scott sighed.
"What if we can prove that Derek's wrong?" Allison asked grasping at straws at this point trying to find a way to help Lydia.
"By 3 o'clock?" Stiles asked sarcastically.
"There could be something in the beastiary" Allison tried.
"Oh you mean the 900 page book written in ARCHAIC LATIN that none of us can read? Good luck with that!" Stiles was lashing out because he was afraid.
Allison sat silent for a second.
"Actually I think I know someone who could be able to translate it."
"I can talk to Derek" Scott sighed "maybe convince him to give us a chance to prove it's not her."
"I can try to knock some sense into Isaac" I offered, nobody liked that plan. "Maybe if we could get him on our side we'd have a better chance of convincing Derek, or at least we'd have one less werewolf to fight." I tried to reason.
"Okay, but if anything happens you guys let me handle it." Scott told us.
"What does that mean?"
Really Allison?
"You can't heal like I do" Scott told her.
I rolled my eyes here comes the star-crossed lovers moment.
"I just don't want you getting hurt."
Allison got up and started fumbling through her bag. She pulled out a crossbow.
"And I thought I was badass with my spray-bottle" I whispered to Stiles.
"I can protect myself" Allison said
Clearly.
Scott looked at her.
"What?" she demanded. "Did something else happen?"
I noticed Stiles reach for the crossbow.
"Don't" I hissed.
He glared at me.
"I'm pretty sure that thing's not Dummy proof"
"Ha, ha, ha that's why you shouldn't touch it." He shot back.
I rolled my eyes.
"Your funeral"
"I just don't want you getting hurt" Scott told her. "Seriously, if anything goes wrong you call me, Okay? Cause I don't care if your dad finds out! Call, text, scream, yell, whatever I'll here you and I'll find you as fast as I can. We have until 3."
I felt like I was intruding on something private listening to them but it wasn't exactly like I had much of a choice Coach's office wasn't exactly spacious. I wondered what I was missing in his economics class right now- if it was any other teacher I'd be worried about getting in trouble for skipping but with Finstock all I had to say was "female-trouble" and he didn't want to know anything else... it was a pretty good system.
Scott went to walk out the door and almost wound up with an arrow in his back if he hadn't caught it. We all stared at Stiles.
"Ah" Stiles handed the crossbow back to Allison "s-sorry, sensitive trigger"
"Dummy proof" I told him.
"Shut up."
XXX
I walked into Economics thirty minutes late. Finstock glared at me.
"I assume you've got an excuse Stilinksi?"
"Fem-"
"Take a seat." He didn't even let me get the words out.
I grabbed the first desk I came to.
"Like I was saying, this test is so hard I'm not even sure I could pass it!"
I zoned Coach out, I had to get a hold of Isaac and the best chance seemed to be at lunch. I knew he had Algebra 2 this period and I was pretty sure Erica wasn't in that class so if I could just grab him before Erica then maybe I'd have a chance.
I raised my hand. "Coach?"
Coach huffed. "What now Stilinski?"
"My arm hurts I need to go to the nurse."
"Fine go." Coach said.
I grabbed my books and headed out the door. I don't know what I was expecting to happen when I stood outside Ms. Lewis' door but Isaac stepping out of it already definitely wasn't it. He grabbed my hand and led me down to the basement to the boiler room. I remembered he'd come there once when Dad and I went out of town for Aunt Agatha's funeral.
My heart was beating out of my chest. Isaac cupped my cheek.
"You can't kill her!" I blurted out.
He let go of my cheek.
"Not this again."
"Isaac you don't know for sure that she's the Kanima-"
"She failed the test Charlie-"
"Even if she is. Derek said himself she didn't know who or what she is! She can't help it!"
"Why are you defending her how many times did you call her a soulless viper last year?"
"You liked her, I hated her on principal- besides you can't hold the soulless part against me she's a ginger, she can't help it they have no souls." I rambled I was hoping if I made a joke he might forget about the fact that he was plotting murder.
His eyes were still as hard as ever.
"You used to care about her too or did you forget about that." I added quietly I hadn't wanted to pull that card, there was a part of me that still had trouble believing Isaac really was over his crush on Lydia.
"A lot has changed since then."
"Clearly."
"She's killed people Charlie!"
"So have you-"
"He was trying to kill me, you can't hold that against me!"
"You tried to kill me" I said quietly.
"Fine you've made your point I'm a monster too!"
"I didn't mean it like that" I tried to stroke his cheek but he pulled away. "I just meant that she can't help it, she needs help."
I was crying. Isaac had his back turned to me.
"Just give us a chance to help her, give Scott a chance to help-"
"Scott! Scott can't help himself! Derek's the only one-"
"Derek's the cocky jerk who caused this whole mess-" Isaac rounded on me his eyes flashing.
"Derek is the only person who's ever given a damn about me!"
I felt like I'd been slapped. I turned away from him and started to walk towards the door.
"Wow, okay, thank you for that"
Isaac grabbed me and spun me back around.
"Shit Charlie, I didn't mean it that way-"
"No, I think you meant exactly what you said!"
There were angry tears coming down my face. He didn't let me go.
"Charlie."
"Leave me alone Isaac!" I said shrugging away from him and walking out the door as fast as possible.
I had finally lost him.
I hung out in the nurse's office after that. I didn't want to see anybody, I didn't want to see Isaac. The nurse kicked me out last period and I trudged towards history but the teacher was a no show.
I went to the library. Matt, Jackass, and Danny were huddled together. Well that looked suspicious.
"Maybe we did it together." Matt had said.
"Did what?" I asked taking a seat.
The boys got quiet, Jackass glared at me.
"None of your business Stilinski." He told me I rolled my eyes.
"Touchy"
"What are you doing here anyways?" He demanded.
Good question.
"I came to find Matt." Matt stared at me confused.
"Yeah, I can't meet up tonight but I was wondering if we could get together Wednesday to finish our project and I was hoping I might be able to borrow your notes from today?"
"Y-yeah sure." Matt handed them over. "I've got to get to class, I'll be back later."
He told the other two. Jackass continued to glare at me.
"So Danny, how's the school year treating you?" I asked ignoring him.
"Pretty good." Jackass glared at him now. "Actually we're sort of in the middle of a private conversation Charlie if-"
"Don't worry Danny I get it, see you later." I said getting up. Something was definitely going on there!
Somethings up with Jackson I texted the other three. Scott was the first one to respond about ten minutes later.
No time for that now, did you manage to reason with Isaac?
No
Scott sent another message.
Derek's not the one that's going to kill her Isaac and Erica are! We've got to get her out of there!
Stiles' sent one.
Allison and me are on it, Charlie you might have to find another ride. Taking her to Scott's house.
Jackson had disappeared, Danny and Matt- who had apparently only went to class long enough to get a pass back to the library were still at the table though. Danny was doing something on his computer and Matt was playing around with his camera.
I peeked out the library door, Erica and Isaac were headed down the hall! Shit! I ran behind the librarian's desk, she was gone anyways. I sprayed her lysol can everywhere hoping it would mask my scent and ducked down.
"Where is she?" I heard Isaac ask.
Matt stared over to the desk.
"I don't know I think Charlie left a few minutes ago-"
"Not Charlie! Lydia!"
xxx
I held my breath.
"I-I don't know she took off with Stiles and Jackson earlier." Isaac dropped him.
I waited until I heard the door close and stood up.
"What the hell was that all about?" Matt asked. Danny looked shocked.
"I- uh- it's complicated. I don't suppose either one of you could give me a ride to Scott's house could you. There's a group of us studying for the economics midterm.
"Yeah. Come on." Matt said rubbing his shoulder where Isaac had grabbed him
