Dad took a while to get his head around everything but he got there eventually. I think at first he was worried that I would go of wolf on him during the full moons but I smartly pointed out that we'd been fine for the past year, so there was no need to worry about that. He got used to it after a few days and constant reassurance, in fact I was surprised he took it so well. I'm still concerned he'll just take his gun and shoot me through the head for being a monster, though Stiles reassured me that dad wouldn't do that. Quite honestly, it was just a lot of reassurance all round.
The twins, as it turned out, actually healed from Jennifer trying to kill them, which I was glad to hear about. I even checked in on them, though mostly I just warned them that if they ever step over the line, I'd be the one that would be coming to sort them out. They got the message. A lot of things happened really fast, including me getting a new job. I walked down the hall, smirking slightly with my hair twisted in a neat bun as I wore a plain black pencil skirt, a white collar shirt with a nice blue sweater with suede heels, I opened the door and entered the classroom for first period.
"Good morning everyone. I'm your new English teacher, Miss Stilinski." I announced and instantly several jaws dropped, including Scott's, Erica's, Isaac's, Lydia's and Allison's but none so much as my brother's. I'd kept it as a surprise for them as I placed my small pile of books and my notepad on the desk, turning to face them whilst lacing my fingers together, giving them a broad smile. "I hope we all get along, please be patient with me as get used to your names and faces but for now, let's get started, shall we?"
"What the hell are you doing here Sophie?" Stiles gaped, the question blurting from his mouth as I had turned to the board, arching an eyebrow at him and instantly he dropped his head. The kids in my class very soon found out that I had a zero tolerance policy and when one guy tried to give me lip, I simply placed my hand on my hip and looked at him.
"Mr Jordan, if you really think that I can't very easily drag you by your ear to the principal's office then you are greatly mistaken, because not only am I going to be your English teacher, I shall also be taking a few of your gym classes to help out your coach, so the first thing I will do is have you in the boxing ring with me, and considering I'm fairly handy with my fists, you do not want to find out just how little patience I have with dumbass comments like yours." I informed him simply before turning around and walking back to the board. "And don't even think about putting that gum underneath your desk Miss Hill, there is a bin right in the corner here." They all stared at me and I smirked turning around with an easy smile. "So, who can tell me what an idiom is?"
I'll admit, I rather enjoyed teaching English to the students, though at break Stiles came running back into my room with so many questions that I almost had a minor brain malfunction because of the overload. "Why are you my teacher? This is so freaking weird I can't get my head around it, this is worse than when you came to my teacher parent conference with my dad when I was six and threatened to beat my teacher with a chair!"
"Calm down Stiles, jeez!" I rolled my eyes, dusting off my hands as I finished cleaning the board to pick up the chalk and began to write up a few passages ready for my next class, going over my notes as I held them in my other hand. "I needed a job and the perfect one just so happened to open up, seeing as Miss Blake isn't coming back." I smirked slightly in satisfaction. "Plus, it means I can keep a better eye on the lot of you whilst you're at school. You're still having nightmares, they're getting worse you know and don't think I don't notice that you're going a little loopy whilst you're awake."
"Yeah well this feels like its own nightmare, now you can give me all the homework and detentions you want." He muttered so I smiled at him affectionately.
"Only when you deserve them. Don't worry, when at school I'm your teacher, not your sister. So go enjoy your lunch, I know you have a test next period for biology." He gaped for a moment, floundering and not knowing how to respond so just closed his head and nodded, accepting it. My first day was rather successful, especially in gym last period where I had the excuse to kick their butts in the ring, teaching them boxing, wrestling and took charge of the running teams, giving coach a little more down time. The guy wasn't exactly what I'd call normal, but who was I to judge?
Changing back after class into my smarter school attire, I went back to the class that had used to be Miss Blake's and before that had even been Allison's mother's, Victoria. At least now they didn't have to worry about their English teacher being some kind of secret witch, they knew exactly who I was and I'd been listening out for them all day. Chewing on my lip thoughtfully as the bell sounded for the end of school I sat at my desk and made sure I had everything prepped for tomorrow, going through the lesson plans and made adjustments to the curriculum that I'd been given as I saw fit. There were some good choices, however I added in a few more suggestions for the poetry for cross analysis and made mental notes about certain students who I believed might need a little help.
I remember when the twins had seen me and how they'd frozen in shock, unsure how to respond until I'd smiled at them and waved them in. By the time class had ended, I think they understood that everything was fine between us and I didn't hold a grudge. In fact I found them quite pleasant to talk to and Ethan in particular had a real interest in literature. He was actually very good at discussing and debating when you coaxed him into giving his opinions.
As I worked I listened to the halls empty themselves, students going to their after school activities, out with friends or home as they had planned. I pondered about making a book club, wondering if any of them would have an interest in that. Maybe, maybe not. I liked discussing books so I'd have a great time, if there was enough student interest then I'd bring it up with the principal. Highlighting a few areas on my lesson plan I exhaled, leaning back in my chair and closing my eyes for a second. It felt rather surreal not having anything to worry about like out of control bloodthirsty Alpha packs and clinically insane ritual sacrificing druids. I relished in the peace.
Footsteps sounded and I arched an eyebrow, recognising them instantly. The door slowly opened and I turned my head, smiling towards Derek as he slipped into the room and shut the door behind him. "Hey." I said before slowly sitting up. "You know if Cora wants to go to school here then I can always help you arrange that. She's still seventeen, right?" Derek didn't say anything and he wasn't smiling so I paused, swinging my chair around to face him. "What's the matter?"
"We agreed we'd talk." His voice was quiet and I felt a coldness press against my chest as I stopped breathing for a moment, suddenly feeling nervous before I sucked it up and nodded my head.
"Right, we did agree." Glancing around I stood up, putting my things away and grabbing my notebook. "How about we go somewhere else? It's not exactly ideal to talk here, especially since you're not really meant to be here." I said to him though I gave him a smile. "But don't worry, I'll put a good word in for you with the principal, he won't mind this one time." I was stalling, trying to buy myself some time and put it off for as long as possible however Derek blocked my way, not moving from the door. "Hale, that's not exactly a wise idea." I warned him however his gaze was fixed on me.
"You're stalling." He told me and I cursed myself as he stepped closer. Instinctively I stepped backwards, jumping slightly as I made to put some space between us. I didn't want him that close to me, my defensive walls quickly erecting themselves around me. "Sophie."
"Just, just talk Hale, I don't exactly have time to mess around." Turning my face away I felt my expression waver, a heavy pounding in my chest making it difficult for me to focus as everything seemed to swell with emotion. If I hadn't been sure before I certainly knew now, there was no way I'd react this way if I didn't really care for Derek, loved him even. Ugh, I hate that word so much, it made me feel like I was fifteen years old again, but the thing was, part of me didn't mind that. I really did love him, but in a mature way this time. I loved how he cared for others and did his best for them, I loved how close we'd become. I even loved the way he scowled and how easy it was to poke fun at him. I just felt whole when I was with him, like he filled the gap that had appeared when my mom died and had been ripped further open when I lost Clara. "Hale?"
"Sophie, I'm leaving." Instantly my eyes snapped up to his, staring openly as my body froze in shock and alarm. "I'm leaving with Cora. I can't protect her if we stay here, not with the Nemeton activated and bringing other powers back to Beacon Hills. I have to…I have to put her first." My chest constricted and I felt like all the breath had been sucked from my lungs, choking me as I started to tremble.
Panic attack, I was having a panic attack. I was afraid, afraid to lose him but the rational part of my mind knew that he was making the smart choice in protecting Cora, but the rest of me refused to accept it. "Can't…breathe…can't…" I choked, staggering backwards before I gripped onto my desk, dropping down as Derek rushed to catch me, alarmed by my sudden reaction. The lack of oxygen made my head spin and my legs went completely numb, almost as if the Kanima poison had returned. This is why I hated romances, I hated it when the woman reacted this way to her supposed true love left her sobbing woefully behind.
"Hey, hey calm down, it's okay Sophie, breathe, you can breathe you're alright." Derek's voice was so smooth and kind that I smiled through my breathlessness, shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it all. Him being like this only made me want him more so I steeled my resolve and nodded my head, pushing my hand against his chest.
"It's okay…you go…you go…look after…Cora…it's okay…" I tried to reassure him however he only gripped my hand and pulled me to look at him properly, hand anchored to my face.
"I'm not going just yet and I'm definitely not leaving you here like this. Just…take it easy. Try take deeper breaths." He guided and slowly I felt myself calm down. When I finally drew a deep gasp of air into my body I relaxed, head rolling back to rest against my desk as Derek remained crouched in front of me. God that was awful and extremely embarrassing. Let's not do that again. "Sophie? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." I assured him, waving my hand at him. "Just give me a second, it's been a while since I've had one of those." Even though I was now breathing fine Derek didn't shift, keeping a close eye on me so I gave him a look, forcing myself to smile. "Honestly I'm okay! Don't look at me like that Hale, you look like you're constipated." He blinked at me.
"Why do you have to say things like that?" He drawled as I smirked, patting his cheek mischievously, trying to keep up the act that everything really was alright when in truth, it wasn't.
"Because with ninety nine percent of the time you spend frowning, someone has to brighten the mood. Is that all you came to tell me? You could have just called you know, you didn't have to come all the way here just to say it to my face." I said as I got to my feet and smoothed out my skirt before I moved around my desk and started to pick up my things to take home, making sure I had my phone and keys with me. Stiles had lacrosse practice after school with Scott and Isaac, so he'd be in home for dinner and I still had to get that sorted. "I have to go, dad will be home from work and everyone will be hungry and I promised to make pie so I have to hurry to get that baked and out the oven and then there's my prep for tomorrow. It's a real pain turning up in the middle of the term, there's so many assignments that I have to hunt down and I have no idea where anything is kept yet so I'll have to come in early tomorrow to make sure everything is stocked up…" I babbled as Derek just watched me. "Come on Hale, I'll escort you off school property." With a wink I opened the door, gesturing he should exit first.
With a long sigh Derek moved forwards, sliding through the door and I followed after him, quickening my pace as my heels clicked along the floor. A bunch of freshmen came wrestling out of the corridor that joined the main one, making me step aside and I quickly shot them a look. "No fooling around in the corridors boys, if you're going to wrestle then at least do it somewhere sensible like the gym or outside." I said and they blinked before grinning, watching me leave though when Derek glanced their way, they shrunk back slightly. "Don't intimidate them Hale." I murmured to him with amusement as we left through the main doors.
"What? I didn't do anything." He protested as I walked towards my car, unlocking it with a click whilst elegantly descending the steps.
"If you weren't previously aware, you do have a rather moody scowl almost permanently written all over your face that says 'talk to me and I shall rip you to shreds'." I informed him bluntly, opening the door to my car and tossed my things onto the passenger seat. "Let me know when you plan to leave and I'll drop down to see you off, maybe Cora will even gift me with a pleasant goodbye though I doubt it, I think she still hates me."
"Sophie." Derek began, resting his arm on my door to keep me from closing it as I looked at him, our faces a little too close for my liking but I didn't pull away. "This isn't what I meant when I said we should talk." Looking at me pointedly I opened my mouth, unsure of how to respond so I patted of the roof of my car, giving him a smile as I hurriedly thought of something to say.
"We talk all the time, you can text me right? That'll probably work out better anyway, you're probably busy making arrangements and now I have classes for English and gym as well as numerous students who are already trying to give me trouble but I think most have already learned who the Alpha in the class is." I joked, laughing lightly before I reached forwards and gently bumped my head against his cheek, nuzzling like a wolf would before drawing back. "I'll see you soon okay?"
"You're avoiding the subject." He accused me but I was already sliding into the car. "You can't avoid me forever Sophie." I heard him call out as I started to pull away and now that my face was hidden, I could allow myself to tremble. I just couldn't stop shaking and I don't know why, even when I got home it wouldn't go away. Somehow I managed to make the pie I promised my brother and dad, pulling it out of the oven just as they both got home with the potatoes and other vegetables ready to dish up too.
"Come get food!" I called out in a singsong voice, smiling as they both appeared with rumbling stomachs.
"Aw man I've been looking forward to this all day." Stiles announced as he grabbed the cutlery from the side and hurriedly laid the table as I divided up the portions and placed the plates on the table.
"Thank you honey, this has really made my day." Dad said before placing a forkful of the pie into his mouth. It went down a treat and so did dessert, all of us conversing and laughing together as we discussed my first day as a teacher and Stiles gave me all the stories about the students that he felt I should know, as well as warning me about some of the jocks on the football team who thought they were kings of the school. I couldn't wait to have gym class with them and find an excuse to put them in their place. There was just so much satisfaction to be had deflating an overgrown ego. We spent the evening together, chilling as a family until dad went out to meet up with a couple of friends to shoot pool and have a few drinks as he'd been promising them for months that he'd take a night out to see them and Stiles hitched a ride with him to go see Scott and Isaac as they'd agreed to do a study night together, though I doubt they'd be doing much studying. Probably they'll end up gaming and doing normal teenage things.
Which meant that tonight, I had the house all to myself. Dad wouldn't be back until the early hours of the morning or maybe not at all if he decided to drink so I'd sent him off with strict instructions for him to call me if he felt too tired to drive back or had drunk too much and wanted to come home if he didn't want to stay the night at one of his friends' houses. After Stiles left in his jeep I just stood there, a little lost and alone in the house. I could feel the emptiness and slowly as it crept on me, I felt that loneliness embed itself within my chest.
