Authors Note: HEYO! XD Please tell me what you think; I would love to know XD I own nothing and no one, apart from the following: Zane, Chase
JUST SO YOU KNOW: like everyone else, I think, I have no idea what Stiles' real name is, so I'm going along with what everyone else puts :) and I've made his middle name up XD
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Chapter 5
Stiles
It was later that afternoon that I heard someone approaching my Jeep. I sighed, figuring it was one of the wolves wanting to berate me some more. Sitting up and sliding out of the back seat, I found that while I was right about the person being one of the wolves, I was wrong about the motive.
Danny was standing by his car, not too far away, looking – and smelling – a little embarrassed. Breathing a sigh of relief, not really wanting more of my past brought up from people who knew nothing about it, I made my way over to the Hawaiian, trying to come off as non-threatening as possible. Danny and Isaac were the only two that seemed to be understanding enough to be nice. It actually felt kind of nice to have someone on my side, after nine years of having no one.
The red paint was still stuck onto the side of the car. I couldn't help the small wince at seeing that first word, but I couldn't stop looking at it.
"Er... Hey." Danny said, smiling slightly. "Look, I'm sorry about..."
"Don't." I interrupted. "Don't apologise for something you didn't do. I hate it when people do that."
"But I..."
"No. If that's what you came here for then you might as well leave."
Danny went quiet for a moment. I thought he was going to turn around and leave, just leave me to myself. I really did think that when he looked down, staring intently at the ground, like it was going to give him all the answers he needed.
I turned to get back into my Jeep, or take a run; I hadn't quite decided which. But then Danny's head snapped up and took a step forward. I froze, not knowing what he was going to do next. I had learned that it hurt less if you were still and waited it out – well, if the person was going to attack you. But I couldn't see Danny doing that... Well, just because I couldn't see it, didn't mean he wouldn't. I knew that from firsthand experience.
"I was wondering, could you come by the house tomorrow?" Danny asked, a little nervous. "To help me get the paint off? I would ask Isaac, but last time I let him help me with my car the door ended up coming off."
"The door came off." I repeated, trying not to laugh.
"Yeah... He got a bit frustrated. But you've got to love him. It's hard not to."
The scent coming off of Danny then was so strong, that I was amazed I hadn't actually started chocking. The only other time I had caught this scent was when my mom was alive. Love. It was obvious that Danny loved Isaac, and vice versa... And I didn't know these guys. That was how obvious it was.
"What time tomorrow?" I asked, after a moment's silence.
The smile Danny had then pretty much beat the one from earlier, after I fixed the tag on his car and put the same on mine.
"Can you come over at about ten?" he grinned. "I can help do yours too."
"Thanks." I nodded, not being able to resist giving a small – like, tiny – smile of my own. "I'll be there."
After a quick goodbye, Danny jumped in his car, driving away.
Yeah, I'm going for a run.
I loved running. When I turned I could be either a fox (a real fox, with purple eyes), a wolf (an actual wolf, or in my beta form, with red eyes) or I could be half and half (beta wolf form, with one red eye and one purple eye). Normally, when I ran, it would be as a fox – unless I wanted to stay human. Foxes were easy to ignore, wolves weren't. Besides, I loved the feeling of the wind in my fur, the ground underneath my claws.
One night, when I was fifteen, I had been locked out of the house – on purpose. I spent the night as a fox running around the nearby woods and sleeping in my garden, until I was able to slip back inside the house and into my room.
It gave me that sense of freedom. It made me feel safe.
As I ran in my foxy form, I thought about the past two weeks and three days. So far I was the talk of the town, pretty much everyone hated me, I had save a werewolf from bullies, I had tagged my own car after fixing the one on another werewolf's car, I had pinned to my car and had my own past used against me... Oh, and the group of werewolves found out I was homeless, living in my car. Couldn't forget that.
It was troubling how these people, these werewolves, had gotten under my skin so quickly, how they ended up finding out more about me over this short amount of time. No one ever knows much about me, not like they did... I wasn't even sure how they found out... I would have to ask about that...
I ran around the woods a few times, before I headed back to my Jeep. It was a nice afternoon, even if it was cold, but I couldn't run around forever... Eventually, I had to stop.
The next day – Saturday 21st – I was up later than usual, but I was at the Hale house at ten, like I said I would be. Danny was already outside by the time I turned up, wearing old clothes – black sweats and an old white t-shirt. I parked my Jeep a short distance away, jumping out once I switched the engine off.
I was still amazed at the sight of the house, never had I seen something so nice. Mom would have loved it, it was just one of those things that she would have absolutely adored and dreamed of having. It was just a shame that she would never see it.
"Stiles! You're here." Danny grinned.
"Said I'd come, didn't I." I replied. "Should we get started?"
I grabbed one of the sponges from the bucket of water near the car, not waiting for Danny to answer before I started scrubbing away at the paint. I doubted we were going to get all the paint off though; he would probably have to have a paint job done to get rid of what we couldn't get off.
I'd probably just leave it on my Jeep though. I had near enough no money, and it wasn't like there was any use in re-painting my car. This car had had a lot of damage inflicted to it over the years, especially after I came out... What were a few more dents here and there?
Danny, like Isaac, was rather chatty while we worked on his car and mine. He would try to get me involved in the conversations, but I tried to say as little as possible. It was easier on my that way. The less I said, the more I distanced myself, the more I distanced myself, the easier it was not to trust people, the easier it was not to trust people, the less I got hurt. I figured that out quickly after Zane became a bastard.
But Danny and Isaac were persistent. They didn't back down and whenever I tried to close off, they would try and pry their way back in. If the circumstances were different, I could see myself becoming friends with these two... And I wish I could, because I could really use some friends right now. But, unfortunately, that couldn't happen.
We had finished Danny's car and had moved on to my Jeep when it happened.
One by one, the rest of the wolf Pack – including Derek and Peter – appeared, guilt and embarrassment coming off of seven of them. I sighed, wondering what I could possibly be blamed for this time, or if my back would be introduced to a tree instead of my car. But nothing happened.
They all stood as a group a safe distance away from me, Isaac and Danny between us, with Peter standing slightly off to the side. I couldn't help but softly hum Thriller by Michael Jackson, after catching the scent of decay, as I continued to scrub the paint off of the hood of my car. I kept my back to them all, trying to finish quickly so I could make my escape. If anyone noticed, they didn't pick up on my reasoning, which just made it all the better!
I thought that they would leave me alone after seeing I was doing nothing to hurt anyone. But they just stood there. I shuffled slightly where I stood, the stares on my back starting to feel uncomfortable... It just reminded me of Dallas...
I shook myself off. I hadn't realized how long I had been in my daze until I saw that the tag I had placed on my Jeep had pretty much disappeared, all that was left was a faint red blob on the light blue hood. I chucked the sponge back into the bucket with ease, turning around to say that I was just leaving, that they really didn't need to come out here and wait for me to drive away.
But before I could get a word out, I was bombarded with apology after apology from everyone accept Danny, Isaac and Peter. The sudden noise forced me to step back until I was leaning against the hood of my Jeep, eyes wide and slightly shocked. The last time I had been in any situation with people this loud was the night I decided to leave Dallas for good. So, yeah, excuse me for being a little jumpy.
The quietened down after I practically pressed myself as far into my Jeep as I could go, though, and my hearing was suddenly taken over by the quiet again. I relaxed a little now that most of the noise had disappeared, stepping slightly away from my Jeep.
"Look, we're sorry about yesterday." Boyd said.
"We didn't realise you were helping." Erica added.
"We shouldn't have jumped to conclusions." Allison agreed.
"Or said what we said." Scott mumbled.
"Or have you pushed up against your car." Lydia sighs, looking towards Derek.
"We're sorry." Jackson muttered.
"And we'd like you to reconsider about staying here." Derek finished.
That was the first time anyone had actually ever apologised to me. To be honest, I had no idea what to say... Or do, for that matter. So I just stood there, gaping at them.
It actually took me a moment to actually figure out the rest of what had been said – what Derek had said, specifically. I frowned... Again with the offering a place to stay.
"Why do you keep doing that?" I demanded.
"Doing what?" Erica asked, rolling her eyes.
I smirked slightly.
"For you? Being a bitch would be a good answer." I answered, smoothly. "But meant, why do you keep saying about me staying here? What's with that?"
"Well, you are homeless." Jackson said.
"You helped Isaac." Allison smiled.
"And you helped Danny. Twice." Scott added.
"So you thought you would treat me like a charity case?" I asked.
Even with all the arguments, that was how I saw it. Poor Stiles has no home, but helped out two wolves, so of course the rest of the Pack wants to say thanks. I shook my head slightly, looking directly at Derek.
"Thanks for the offer, but, no." I told him.
"Won't at least take some time to think about it?" Isaac asked, quietly, as I started walking towards the driver's side of my Jeep.
Damn that Pup...
Sighing, I looked at him properly, turning back around.
"If it will stop you all from bugging me, then fine, I'll think about it." I sighed.
"Great!" Peter grinned. "Now, while this is fun, can we get back to our previous activities?"
Now that peaked my interest.
"Training." Boyd told me, noticing the look I got.
"You should come watch." Isaac grinned.
So, that was how I was found watching the nine wolves and one human train, in their 'training room'. Well, Allison was a hunter – it was easy to spot after a while. I watched as the Betas – of course none of them knew I knew they were werewolves – fought each other, building their skills.
The problem was, they knew each other's strengths and weaknesses all too well. They knew each other's fighting skills too well. They needed to fight against someone new, someone that could knock them down a peg or two – especially Jackson, the arrogant douche. That's what justified what I said next.
"Can I try?" I asked.
They all turned to look at me, no one more surprised than Derek. There was silence for a short amount of time before anyone actually spoke.
"Go against Isaac." Derek said.
So I did.
And I got Isaac on the ground within five seconds.
Danny lasted seven.
Erica lasted ten.
Lydia lasted eleven
Allison lasted ten.
Peter lasted four – HA!
Boyd lasted thirteen.
Scott lasted twelve.
Jackson lasted twelve.
I hadn't even broken a sweat by the time I was done with the nine of them. I looked towards Derek, shrugging at the raised eyebrow.
He shrugged off his black t-shirt, standing on the other side of the mats. Well this was going to be interesting.
At first, we just circled around the edge, not getting any closer than we were already. But when Derek did move, all I saw was a blur of black. But, being part fox, I was agile. I moved out of the way quickly, avoiding the attack easily.
We moved like that for a while – one launching themselves forward, while the other moved just as fast out of the way. We made contact a few times, only just though.
I had never fought someone this skilled before.
Thirty five minutes later, and we were still going. Derek was a good fighter, better than his uncle. I was surprised that the older wolf had lasted such a sort amount of time, while his nephew was holding out so much longer.
I grinned as we continued. I loved the feeling of control and power from this. Knowing, for once, I didn't have to hold back on my strength. Knowing that I didn't have to cower away from anything or anyone. It was such a great feeling; one I wished never went away.
It was while my mind was occupied with those thoughts that Derek managed to trip me and pin me to the ground.
It was then I started to panic. One too many times I had been in this position before, being held down, by Zane. I grew tense before I started to struggle, but Derek didn't get off. He wouldn't let go. The panic started rising and I knew that any moment now I...
But nothing happened.
Derek, in the end, realised what was going on and got off of me. I scrambled backwards and up onto my feet as quick as possible, not missing the curious gazes of everyone in the room...
"I'm not good with people touching me a whole lot." I explained. "You guys already know about my past, somehow, so you'll know my criminal history... For the time I spent in jail, I was usually the youngest out of everyone. And...uh... They don't tend to want to leave you alone, if you get what I mean..."
I cringed just thinking about it. You know, this wasn't actually a lie; everything I was saying was true. It just may not have been the reason for my freak out. But they didn't need to know that, now did they.
Seeing the looks on their faces though, I needed to correct what I had said.
"Oh, no! No, no, no, no!" I rushed. "They didn't, like, do anything... Just...I'm not too great with the touching."
They all nodded, the expressions on their faces relaxing slightly.
And then it hit me.
Zane or dad could be out there right now, looking for me. They could be in town right at this moment. If I went back to those woods, alone, who's to say they won't find me, if they were here? I wouldn't be able to do anything to fight them off...
There was only one thing I could do.
"So..." I breathed. "Where am I sleeping?"
"No, seriously, what's the catch?" I asked, not believing it for a second.
"There is no catch." Derek growled. "This is your room."
"You're kidding? I thought for sure I'd be on the couch. Or the floor!"
Derek sighed; I could tell he was fed up.
But it was hardly my fault. The walls of 'my' new room were painted a dark-ish grey. Shelves were put up everywhere, a desk by the window, shelves dotted around the room... And a bed! An actual bed that hadn't been mutilated! An actual springy, comfy mattress with soft, squish pillows! A guy could get used to this.
"So... I get to stay in here?" I clarified.
"Yes!" Derek groaned. "We've been over this already!"
"I know, but..."
"But, what?!"
I stayed quiet for a moment, wondering if I should say what was stuck on the tip of my tongue.
Sighing, I sat down on the edge of the mattress, staring at my hands as they curled and uncurled into fists, before talking.
"But it's the first thing that's been mine in a while." I told him.
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