Just as a reminder to all of those who are reading: When the text is written in bold and italicized lettering "like this", that is the part of the conversation had in sign language.
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf. I also have no claim on any pop culture references that I may use throughout my writings. I only own my OCs. Enjoy the read.
(o.o)
Chapter 1.11
Stiles pulled into one of the parking spots at the school and turned off his Jeep. I hopped out of it and had intended to follow him into the school. A big change, I thought, from trying to evade Lydia and Allison last week. I wanted to go with him into the school, but then I saw Isaac.
Isaac was heading away from the school with another kid on his tail. It looked more like he was leaving school than going to it.
I furrowed my brow and stopped in my spot. "What are you doing?" I said to myself.
Stiles joined my side, gaining my attention. "Everything okay?" He asked, centering himself in front of me.
I nodded. "Uh, you can go on in without me."
"You sure?"
"Yeah," I said. "I'll catch up to you in first period." I walked away from him and towards Isaac. "Isaac!" I called.
Isaac stopped in his place, looking towards me. He smiled, waved, and broke into a slow jog towards me. His friend followed. "Hi, CJ."
I scoffed at him. "You do know that the school is that way?" I asked, pointing toward the building. "I won't fail physics because you want to ditch school."
"I'm not ditching," Isaac assured. "I've got a migraine."
I looked him in the eye. "You look fine to me," I stated strongly.
Isaac sighed. "There's something I gotta do."
I raised my brow at him.
"A friend of mine is in trouble." Isaac pointed back towards the kid behind him. "Boyd and I need to go help him out."
I waved at Boyd. After studying his face, I nodded. "At least you told the truth this time. I'll cover for you if anyone asks."
Isaac smiled. "I owe you one."
"If I fail the junior year, you'll owe me a lot more than one," I told him, seriously. I waved him away. "Just go make sure your friend's okay."
"Take good notes," Isaac said with a wink as he walked backward away from her.
I scoffed again. "Like that's gonna happen." I started my trek towards the school. It was crazy to me that everyone seemed to put school behind everything else. At least that's how all the people I knew saw it. For some reason, Isaac's worry about his friend reminded me of my own. Once I arrived at Ms. Blake's classroom, I sent Lydia and Allison a wave and sat down to pull my phone from my bag. I sent Derek a text message wondering how he was doing.
Derek was easy to worry about. Especially since I haven't seen him in a couple days. Not that I expected him to text me every day. Things were changed. We were both so different now. Even if we used to hang out every day up to a year ago, it was going to be difficult to get back to that, if we ever did. With Carter gone and Cora gone, there's a huge gap between us. Instead of my best friend, he's been feeling like my oldest friend. I don't want it to be that way.
After finding him again, I assumed that we could pick right back up. So much has changed. Not only that, but I feel bad for keeping my secret from him. I feel bad that I haven't told him that I can see Carter. That I've talked to Carter. Maybe I should tell him.
Except Derek would think I'm crazy. Anyone would think I'm crazy. Hell, my aunt did think I was crazy, and she didn't even know that I've been talking to Carter. I'd never be able to tell anybody.
The school day was going by incredibly slow. I kept thinking about Carter's laptop. Seems like all I ever did these days was think about Carter. I just wanted to uncover his secrets. What had he been hiding from all of us? He compared whatever he wanted me to read to a dream journal. What use was a dream journal? Especially if they were just dreams. I had dreams every night, just like everyone else. They don't mean anything.
I strolled quietly to Mr. Harris' classroom, in absolutely no rush to get there. Honestly, the fact that he hadn't been around in a few days was the best thing to ever happen to Beacon Hills High, at least since I had been here.
I was one of the last to arrive to Physics and was a little surprised to see Ms. Blake half-sitting on the desk at the front. There was no way that she was qualified to teach an advanced science class. I took my seat at my lab table and waited for the class to begin.
"Good morning. As you all know, Mr. Harris is still missing." Ms. Blake shook her head, correcting herself. "Uh, sick. Anyway, I'm filling in while we all hope and pray for a more qualified substitute to take my place." She smiled at us. "Okay, so let's get started, shall we?"
I sighed, and cracked open my textbook, turning to our latest chapter, ready to fend for myself. A folder appeared on my textbook, stopping me from reading. I furrowed my brow and looked up.
Ms. Blake stood in front of me with her innocent smile. She pointed to the folder. "Those are Mr. Harris' lesson plans for the rest of the semester. Don't tell anyone they're from me." Ms. Blake winked and left my table.
With a sigh, I realized that Ms. Blake was quickly turned into my favorite teacher. While my other teachers had been helpful, none were quite like Ms. Blake. I kept to myself during class, following whatever assignment was on Mr. Harris' lesson plan for the day. This man was crazily organized. Whether he was missing or sick, wherever he was, I was thankful for his consistency.
After working for a while, Scott and Stiles made a quick exit without saying much. I furrowed my brow at it but thought nothing of it. The two left fairly often without saying anything. I just hoped that Stiles remembered that we were supposed to meet in the library during lunch.
(o.o)
Lunch came too slowly and I went to the library to wait for Stiles. He and Scott never came back to class, but I was still hopeful that he'd show up. I pulled out the laptop and opened it. Clicking on the document, I tried a few passwords that would be obvious. Apparently, they were too obvious because none of them was the right password.
I took a spare granola bar I had in my backpack and munched on it, trying to think of any other possible password. Nothing worked. In between my guesses, I would glance up at the library door. I sat close to it so that I could wave Stiles over if he ever came in.
Halfway through lunch, I started to give up hope that he was coming. I also tried not to get mad at him. I tried to keep a level head, coming up with reasons why he might not have shown up.
He got sick.
He got detention.
He fell into a well.
He decided he didn't want to help me.
He didn't want to be friends with me.
Every new password attempt came with a new reason why Stiles hadn't shown up. Frustration came easily as I went back and forth between the two things troubling me. Just once, I want a win. One time, I wanted the password to come easy and Stiles to walk through the door. That's all I was asking and it didn't seem that I was going to get either. Especially when my phone started to vibrate, signaling the end of lunch.
I sighed, looking into my lap.
Why did I even think he would show up?
I closed the laptop and placed it gently into my backpack. The humiliation hit me like a brick. Just like the other night when I had fallen asleep waiting for Stiles to text me back. I'd waited too long for him to not show up. I got my hopes up for someone to be on my side, and they crashed down to the ground as quickly as they got sky-high.
I wanted to go home. I didn't want to go through the rest of the schoolday. I didn't want to see Stiles. I felt like it would hurt too much. Even if I did leave, going home was a worse option. My mom would find out. She'd be on my case, and I'd never be allowed to have another moment of freedom.
So, I stayed, going to my next class, with my head down, not even caring whether or not I saw Stiles.
(o.o)
Once the end of the day hit, I was exhausted. I was ready to be home after the small emotional roller coaster I had been on. Being anxious about Stiles showing up, and being hurt when he didn't was the worst way to go through this day. After my last class, I was the last one out of the classroom and when I came out I saw him.
Stiles was across the hall coming out of a classroom that was usually empty for the last class of the day. I furrowed my brow, especially confused when I saw Lydia and a brown-haired girl on his heels.
The anger in my stomach boiled and all I thought was that he didn't show up. He said he was going to show up, and then he didn't.
I couldn't stop myself. "Stiles!"
Stiles halted in his spot of the hallway. He looked towards me and his face fell. "Oh no." He said, taking hurried steps towards me. "Oh no, oh no!" He stopped directly in front of me. "CJ, I am so sorry!"
I scoffed. "I can sense that you guys are in a hurry. I can also see that something's up and I'm not privy to it because I'm the new girl." My hands were moving angrily in sign language. "But a text or something would have been great."
"I know, I should have texted."
"I just — " I looked to my cousin then back at Stiles. "I thought we could be friends."
Stiles shook his head. "I never said we couldn't."
"You did. When you didn't show up to the library."
Lydia took a step forward, holding her hand out in a calming way. "CJ, whatever happened, I'm sure Stiles didn't mean any harm." She insisted. "We have a friend who's in trouble, and we really need to take care of it."
CJ groaned. "And I don't know what's in the water around here, but I swear all of you people have 'friends in trouble'."
The second girl that I didn't know stepped forward. "Guys, we really have to go."
Finally, I looked at this girl's face. Something about her seemed familiar. "Do I know you?" I signed without speaking.
I watched her hand twitched and I furrowed my brow at it.
"I have no idea what you're trying to tell me." The girl said.
Stiles put a hand on my lower arm, gaining my attention. "We'll talk later? Text me later?" he asked. "Please?"
I could still feel the anger inside me, my entire body was heated, but the skin under his hand was cool. And I didn't think it was because he had cold hands. Looking up from his hand on my arm to his eyes. He certainly looked sincere. I looked over at Lydia.
My cousin gave me a quick nod.
I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes. I looked back at Stiles and hoped I wouldn't regret what I was about to say. "Sure. But if you plan on not following through, make sure you let me know."
Stiles pursed his lips and nodded. "I deserved that."
"You did. I'll see you later." I showed him a small smile and turned away from him giving the brunette one last glance. I still wasn't sure about that girl. Something about her was seriously familiar and I wished I could put my finger on it. That was another thing that I was going to be thinking about all night. The girl. Stiles. Carter's computer.
I thought about going to the cemetery tonight and just asking him anyway. I don't know that I'd be able to wait any longer. Stiles would never be free with everything that he had going on. Might as well try to go straight to the source.
It was all I could think about on my walk to my house. Halfway there, I wished I had asked Stiles for a ride. Then as the thought entered my head, I figured he wouldn't have much time to anyway with his friend that was in trouble.
I could have called Derek, too, but I didn't know if I could. I mean, physically, all I had to do was text him. Whether or not he would answer was something completely different.
The walk was long, but it was nice to be able to keep in my head. As soon as I opened the front door to the house, my mother was all over me.
"Why did you take so long getting home?" She signed after brushing her hands off on her apron. She must be cooking.
"I wanted to walk."I shrugged, pulling my bag further on my shoulder. It felt like it weighed a hundred pounds and I just wanted to get upstairs.
"It's not safe." She scolded. "There's practically been a murder every week since we've been back. At least that anyway."
I gave her a plain look before looking my body over and gesturing to it. "Obviously, I'm fine, so…" I tried to move past her to get upstairs, but she stopped me.
"What happened to Stiles?" She signed questioningly. "Why didn't he drive you?"
"He had something to do." I sighed. "I think, I don't know. Does it matter?"
My mother shook her head. "You should have texted me."
"I didn't. I just walked. And I'm fine. Can I go upstairs now?"
Mom only looked at me. She couldn't bring herself to say anything else. Or, at least, nothing that would start another fight between her and me. Instead, she just moved out of my way and I hurried up the stairs. Instantly, I realized that if I wanted to go talk to Carter tonight, I needed to ask and tell my parents I was going. That would save me from any fights.
(o.o)
Lydia.
Lydia couldn't help herself but be angry with Stiles in the car ride on the way to Derek's. Even though there were bigger things at work with the Alphas trying to hurt him and Scott's boss, Deaton, missing, she had a tinge of hatred towards the spastic boy. After staring at him for the best part of the drive, she decided to ask the question.
"Stiles, what's going on with you and my cousin?" Lydia studied him for his response, but he just looked confused. "CJ?"
"CJ is your cousin?" Stiles questioned, surprised by the fact. He looked back and forth between Lydia and the road. "Nothing."
Lydia raised a brow.
"Seriously. She just asked me to help her with something from her brother's computer. I told her I'd help at lunch today."
Lydia took in a small breath and nodded. "And you were so caught up with Dr. Deaton being missing that you forgot."
"Nothing that I wanted to!" Stiles said quickly, driving through the streets of Beacon Hills. "Just got carried away."
"I'm only gonna say this once so that you know that I'm serious. Please don't hurt her."
Stiles furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, she's been through a lot," Lydia said. "I won't tell you the details because it's not my business to tell."
"Is something wrong?"
Lydia shook her head, not wanting to divulge anything. She knew that CJ was trying to keep Carter's death to herself. "Also, if we can try not to include her in all this mess that would be great."
Cora shrugged in the backseat. "Technically, she's already in it."
Lydia turned quickly to face Cora. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I don't really know the specifics," Cora said. "I was too young. She was my best friend before the fire."
"What?!" Both Stiles and Lydia exclaimed.
"All five of us were pretty inseparable," Cora explained. "Laura, Derek, Carter, CJ, and me. We were all friends."
"Is that why you hesitated when CJ asked if she knew you?" Lydia asked.
"Is that what she said?" Stiles questioned, looking to Lydia.
Lydia scoffed at Stiles. "You know, you should really watch a few videos on basic sign language." She turned back to Cora. "Talk."
"CJ thinks I'm dead." Cora reminded. "If I have to tell her that I survived the fire, I have to tell her the secret. Which you don't want me to do."
"So you guys were best friends, but she never knew you were a werewolf?" Stiles asked Cora.
"My mom said that Aunt Christine didn't want CJ to know anything. So we promised not to tell her."
"Is she something?" Stiles asked.
"I don't know."
"Why do you think she's something, Stiles?"
"Scott got a scent off her, like, the first day."
Lydia groaned. "Please don't tell me that's why you agreed to help her with the computer."
"Of course not," Stiles said before rolling his neck and pulling into a parking spot in front of Derek's loft. "Well, not anymore."
