A/N: So this is the last chapter I have written for this story, but I'm working on the next one. As always, reviews are welcomed and greatly appreciated.

"Wait. What?"

Stiles seemed confused. He was really confused. This was Jackson Whittemore, the guy who hated him with everything he had. Stiles had hurt Jackson's best friend – practically crushed her very soul – so why the fuck was he offering to help him?

"Look, Stilinski, Lydia's a mess. She's hurting so badly right now. She thinks that nobody cares, and even though you're the one that did it, I can't bear to see her this way. I'm only going to be in town for four more days, and I hate to leave Lydia hurting as badly as she is right now. So I'm going to tell you how to fix it."

"I figured you wouldn't want her to have anything to do with me," Stiles said, still in awe that Jackson would do this for him.

As if he could read Stiles' mind, Jackson gave Stiles a look before saying, "I'm not doing this for you, Stilinski. I'm doing it for Lydia. She deserves everything good and more."

Stiles nodded.

"So have your group meet me at The Grind tomorrow after school. Say, four o'clock? Be there, okay?"

Stiles nodded, "Okay. We'll see you then."

And with that, Jackson left the Stilinski house, hoping that this could be fixed.

-x-

Derek wasn't exactly sure why he told Stiles he'd meet Jackson at The Grind the next day. He was really thankful, though, that Betsy had lifted the ban she had against him going to that particular coffee shop. Derek was pretty sure that Jackson had something to do with that as well. But this was for Lydia, and Derek would do anything to prove to Lydia that he was making an effort. He would do anything to show her how sorry he was.

He was the last to arrive, and after getting his coffee and sitting down at the table, he looked at Jackson. Finally, after a few minutes of just looking at him, he said, "What's your angle here, Whittemore?"

"What do you mean angle?" Jackson asked.

"I mean, why are you doing this? I don't deserve your help."

"You're right, Hale; you don't. But I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for Lydia. She's hurting and miserable, and feels like she opened herself up to someone and got burned. But I know you love her."

"How do you know that?"

"Because of the way I've heard you talk about her. Because I've seen the way you look at her. It's true; when the two of you first started dating, or whatever you want to call it, I warned her. I told her you might not look at your relationship the same way she did, but I can tell something's changed. You've changed, Hale; a hell of a lot since I've been in London. And Lydia deserves everything she wants in life, and for some reason, she wants you. I just want to help her get to be happy again."

"You're in love with her, too," Derek said. He wasn't sure why he hadn't seen it before.

"I was," Jackson said. "But Lydia and I agreed to just be friends. The thing I want most for Lydia is for her to be happy. When you really love someone, you want what's best for them. I want Lydia to be happy."

Derek nodded.

"So I'm gonna tell you how to win her back. And this is how you're gonna do it."

-x-

The Hales held a Halloween party every year, on Halloween, and while Lydia was all for costume parties, she wanted to avoid this one like the plague.

Since the whole mess with Stiles and Derek, Lydia had avoided the Hales. She didn't want to make Cora or Malia feel bad, since they were two of her best friends, but she wasn't exactly sure how to proceed from here.

But when Jackson woke Lydia up that Friday morning, she wanted nothing to do with the Hales or their party. It was always held the Saturday before Halloween (unless Halloween itself fell on a Saturday), which was tomorrow, and Lydia had no intention of going at all. Jackson, however, had different plans.

"Hale parties are legendary," Jackson was saying, as Lydia gathered up some clothes so she could jump in the shower. "Besides, you always go. Cora and Malia are two of your best friends."

"That's true," Lydia said, "but I'm not interested in the Hale Halloween party. Not after what Derek has put me through. Besides, Stiles is gonna be there, and I don't exactly want to see him, either."

"Too bad," Jackson said. "I'm only going to be in town for a couple more days and I want to go to that party, and I want you to be my plus one. Please, Lyds? I haven't been to a proper Halloween party in a long time, and Talia always really outdoes herself when it comes to holiday parties."

"I don't have a costume," Lydia said.

"Now you're just making up excuses," Jackson said. "Besides, I have a really great idea for your costume, and I already picked it up. I know your size already."

Lydia sighed, "What, exactly, is your grand idea, anyway?"

Jackson smirked, "You'll just have to wait and see."

After school that day, Lydia had a shift at the coffee shop. Betsy was working, too, and she stopped Lydia as she clocked in.

"It's good to see you, Lyds," she said to her. "I mean, I've been pretty worried about you, especially after you went through that depression thing after the whole thing with Derek Hale and Stiles Stilinski."

"They're assholes," Lydia said. "What they did to me was unacceptable."

Betsy nodded, "I know, sweetie. You deserve so much better." She watched Lydia for a moment after Lydia took her place at the cash register. "So, I see you've been hanging around with Jackson Whittemore."

Lydia shrugged, "He's my friend. We've gotten pretty close after everything we've been through together."

"But you love Derek," Betsy said. When Lydia gave her a bewildered look, Betsy shrugged and said, "It's written all over your face. I can tell you have a thing for Derek. And yeah, he doesn't deserve you, but you have to be true to what you want."

"I can't do that," Lydia said. "I can't sit here and pretend that I'm totally okay with what Derek and Stiles did to me. I just have to move on."

"Sometimes, that's easier said than done," Betsy said. Then she looked at Lydia, "Look, Lyds, I know that Derek did you wrong, okay? I get it. But at the same time, I think you should talk to him. Even if it's nothing more than to call him a bastard and tell him exactly what you think of him, I just think you should clear the air."

"Thanks, Betsy," Lydia said. "I'll take your opinion into account."

Betsy left Lydia to do her work, and the shop was pretty busy that day. Lydia didn't really have a moment to think to herself for a while, with all the coffee, muffins and cookies she was handing out. Around six o'clock, two hours before Lydia was supposed to get off, Allison, Kira, Cora and Malia walked into the shop. They all ordered coffee and Allison looked at Lydia.

"How are you holding up, Lyds?" she asked her. As Lydia handed them their orders and took their money, she just shrugged.

"I've been better," Lydia said truthfully, "but things can't always be bad, right? Things have to get better."

"Jackson told me that you're coming to the Halloween party tomorrow night," Cora said just then. He's bringing you as his plus one."

"It's true," Lydia said. "He's finagled his way into making me attend your party." She looked embarrassed for a moment before saying, "Not that any of this is your fault. I just kinda want to distance myself from your brother."

"It's understandable," Malia said. "I understand you feel badly, but I think this would be the best thing. You need to move on, live your life like you normally would. We only want what's best for you."

Allison looked at Kira, "You think that Lydia should go to the Hale Halloween party tomorrow night, don't you? I mean, you're going with Scott, right?"

Kira nodded, "Scott asked me. This'll only be my second Halloween in Beacon Hills, and last year, Scott and I weren't together yet, so I haven't ever been to one of their Halloween parties. I think you should go, though, Lydia."

Lydia gave Kira a quizzical look, "Why?"

"Stick it to him. Derek hurt you really bad. My mom always told me that one of the best things you can do when someone breaks your heart is to live your life and be happy. They hate that. Make Derek jealous; make him see that you don't need him to survive."

"That's actually a really good idea," Cora said. "You need to prove to Derek that you don't need him."

Lydia sighed. She knew they would never understand how much in love with Derek she was, but she wasn't going to make a big deal out of it. She could do this. She could go to this party with Jackson and pretend to be happy. She would do it.

-x-

"You've gotta be kidding me, Jackson," Lydia said as Jackson set her costume down on her bed. "Little Red Riding Hood? Fucking seriously?"

"Yes," Jackson said. "It was actually Allison's idea, so if you're gonna be pissed at someone, be pissed at her. She thought you should wear something revealing to show Derek what he's missing."

Lydia sighed, "Really?"

"Yes, really. Now get dressed. We've gotta be there in an hour."

"And what about you? What are you going as?"

"The huntsman," Jackson said. "I would've gone with a werewolf, but I didn't want to walk around half-shifted all night and I was having a hard time finding a wolf costume. So I'm borrowing Allison's crossbow and wearing an appropriate outfit."

Lydia nodded, "Sure."

"Get dressed, Lyds," Jackson said. "Party starts in an hour."

While Jackson had the right idea, the outfit was kind of revealing. It consisted of a short black skirt, a white peasant top, and a red cloak with a hood that went to her mid-thigh. Lydia wondered who exactly put the costume together and what they were thinking at the time. She felt a little weird about wearing it to the party.

She put her hair in two braids and did her makeup. She went for a subtle look, something that didn't look too wild, and then took a look at herself. She did look pretty good, she had to admit it. It was just so different from anything she'd ever worn before, so she felt a little weird in it.

A knock came on her bedroom door twenty minutes before the party was supposed to start. When Lydia let Jackson in, she had to laugh. He was wearing a plaid shirt over a white tank top, it was mostly buttoned up, save for the first few buttons. He was wearing regular jeans and a pair of boots, and was accessorized with Allison's crossbow. He was also carrying a picnic basket.

"This is for you, Red," he said, handing her the basket. "I figured it would complete the outfit."

"You've gotta tell me, Jackson," Lydia said, after watching him for a good minute, "whose crackpot idea was this outfit?"

"Actually, Malia came up with the idea, but Allison and Kira were the ones who put it together," Jackson said. "I thought it was a good idea, though. Ally told me what Kira said yesterday – show Derek what he's missing."

"You sure this is a good idea?" Lydia asked hesitantly. "Because I've got homework to do and a painting to work on –"

"Lydia, this is a great idea, okay? Things are going to be okay."

Lydia sighed, "Okay, fine. Now do you want me to drive, or do you want to?"