"You're an alpha? That's so cool." Scott praised, yet a severe expression on his face. She nodded as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "But how did you know about me?"
"I heard... A rumor." She answered vaguely. After tracing a circle on the counter with her finger for a few seconds, Scott's face turned into a scowl of realization.
"Did Stiles tell you?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"He contacted me the other day, said you were falling apart." She lightly chuckled, pulling her fingers through her hair. "I'm glad he did, Scott. You're just kids. You need help with this."
"It's tough with school and the whole werewolf thing. And ugh, then there's Allison. I really like her but Derek keeps telling me I'm gonna hurt her eventually, and I'm sacred he's ri–"
"Wait! Hold up!" She quickly cut him off and raised both her hands in the air to stop him from talking. Yes, it was too much information so she had to put up both hands. "Allison as in Allison Argent? And Derek? As in Derek Hale?"
"Yeah. Do you know them?" Scott asked and raised his eyebrows a little.
Vanessa was too stunned to talk. Firstly, there was Allison. No matter how sweet she seemed, she was an Argent and that meant her family was still hunting these woods. Worst case would be that Kate returned as well. If she was back, Vanessa didn't know if she could contain her anger. Secondly, Scott casually talked about Derek which meant Derek had contacted him more than once. Not only did Scott seem to have forgotten about hanging out with him when they were younger, but Derek had actively 'coached' her cousin without telling her. These thoughts angered her and Scott took a step back when he got to see her glowing red eyes in action.
"No, I..." She caught herself, blinking away the anger. "I don't. Or I mean, I know the Argents. Sort of. Anyway, what has this Derek told you so far?"
"Only that I'm dangerous and that the alpha who bit me wants me in his pack. Which I'm not interested in, by the way." He shrugged, playing it off even though she could see that this was clearly eating him up. Scott, dangerous? Never in a million worlds.
"Don't listen to him, you don't even know the guy. And that alpha won't lay a hand on you, not while I'm here." As soon as the words left her mouth, Scott lowered his head the slightest and knitted his eyebrows together. She soon realized what a poor choice of words it was; had she been there the entire time instead, maybe Scott would still be a normal human. Had she still been there the entire time, she and Scott would've been so much closer. "Sorry." She whispered and pursed her lips.
"No, it's fine. I don't blame you, I just which you could've been. You never even told us why you left."
"You'll hate me if I told you." She murmured and pulled her fingers through her hair in an act of frustration.
"Come on." He scoffed, disbelief in his eyes. "There's nothing that could make me hate you. You're my closest friend after Stiles and you know that."
"I'll tell you, just not no–"
"Wait. You're an alpha. The only way to become that is to..." He drifted off in realization, slowly fixing his eyes on her.
Vanessa didn't need to finish. The tears building up in her eyes and her pushed lips together confirmed his assumption. However, Scott didn't look disgusted, ashamed or even afraid. He only sighed and then completely took her by surprise when he pulled her in for a hug.
"It was self defense." She sniffed and buried her face against the crook of his neck.
"I believe you." He nodded and stroked her back. "I know you'd never kill someone for power. You're better than that."
"We'll take this alpha down and I'm gonna help you cope with this all." She said as she ended the hugs. With a wry smile on his face, he wiped away her tears and nodded.
"Sounds good. I'm just glad you're here."
"Me too." She agreed, inhaling deeply to shrug off all the emotions. "There's someone I need to see, is that alright?"
"Of course."
Vanessa placed a kiss on his forehead before she put on a jacket and headed outside. Thankfully, the fresh air helped her process and breathe. So the Argents were still here and her werewolf cousin was crushing on a hunter. Great. On top of that, her ex best friend was charading as a horrible mentor to her cousin. Derek. Her feet dragged toward his old house in the woods. Vanessa swallowed a lump in her throat and placed her hands in the jacket pockets as she approached his home.
"Derek? I know you're in there! We need to talk." Expectedly, Derek stepped outside a moment later and crossed his arms together. His black hair and pale skin really contrasted each other.
"What do you want?" He asked cooly, slightly raising his eyebrows at her.
"He's my cousin!" She stated with that tone that always made him flinch when they were younger. "How can you think it's okay for you to coach him? To tell him that he'll hurt someone? That's not your responsibility, he's not yours to take care of! And how can you have contacted him without telling me?! He doesn't even remember you, remember us, so why not stay away? Or at least tell me? You really think you're the one to comfort him when I haven't seen you express any emotion since I got here? He's a kid! You can't just tell him he'll hurt someone! Especially since he's better than that!"
"Yeah, well, at least I was here!" Derek snapped, this time making her flinch. He looked like he was done and fed up and ready to defend himself like there's no tomorrow. "I was here when he turned! He might be your cousin, but you weren't here. If Stiles hadn't even contacted you, you wouldn't have known about him! Okay, I've been here ever since you left. I might've out of town a couple of times but I never cut my ties here. If I still had a family here, I would never leave for four years without visiting or contacting. At least I was here to guide Scott, to explain what was happening to him! Yes, I might not be the best tutor and he might not be my blood but I care about that kid and I was available. I was the best thing he had for a pack member! I was here! What's your excuse, Vanessa?"
Derek exhaled some hot air and managed to calm himself down while Vanessa was shook. Tears had rolled down her cheeks and her chest was heavier than stone at the moment. Not knowing was to say, she clenched and unclenched her hands and cocked her head sideways.
"Wow." She whispered and let all the words sink in. What hurt almost the most though was the fact that he referred to her with her full name. He hadn't done that in gods know how long.
"Sorry I yelled." He quickly apologized, awkwardly looking anywhere but at her face.
"No, I needed to hear that. I deserved to hear that."
"But I shouldn't have yelled." He mumbled and clenched his jaw. Vanessa didn't respond for a few seconds because she realized what it was that he really wanted to hear.
"I'm not sorry that I left." She stated, looking up at him. "I know that's what you want to hear, that I regret leaving, but I don't, Derek. I made a life for myself and I was happy. But I am sorry for just leaving without saying anything and I'm sorry that I never contacted you. That I am. I should've been here to prevent him from ever turning."
"Well..." He sighed and raised his hands up beside his body, dropping them shortly after. "At least remember that I warned him about full moons and the Argents."
"Wait, he knows Allison's family are Argents, yet he still wanna be with her?" She asked and frowned. "Who's her dad?"
"Chris." The word held so much hatred and guilt that it almost radiated over to her.
"As in...?"
"Kate's brother. That Chris."
"Which makes Kate Allison's aunt. Wow."
"Scott sure knows how to pick 'em."
"You're one to talk." She scoffed but the second hurt flashed across his face, she regretted opening her mouth. He still blamed himself and he probably never would stop. "Sorry."
"It's fine. It's been years, we should be good to joke about it." He shrugged.
"No, we shouldn't." She shook her head and then boldly pulled him in for an apologetical hug. "Thanks for being there for Scott."
"Yeah." He whispered and slowly and cautiously wrapped his arms around her waist. "It really wasn't a pleasure. The kid's so stubborn and has a lot of questions."
"Wouldn't surprise me if you only answered one of them." She snorted and closed her eyes in content. He laughed through his nose and then rested his cheek against the top of her head. "You two should just play some soccer and get over it."
"I was surprised when he didn't remember me, you know. He didn't even think twice, it's like we're complete strangers."
"To be fair, he was just a kid." She defended, remembering those times he and Scott would talk whenever she brought them together.
"Not a toddler." He shrugged and carefully ended the hug. She rolled her eyes playfully and exhaled.
"Let's focus on finding the alpha from now on." She decided and he nodded softly. "I'll see you around."
"See you."
Vanessa awkwardly waved at him before she left and stopped midway back to Scott's. Her body turned to her old house where a car stood parked and the lights were on. She hadn't even planned on going there but now that she stood faced with the building, she couldn't help apporoaching the door and knocking on it. A hawaiian man about Scott's age opened the door and gazed at her.
"Hi, you don't know me." She quickly said, biting her bottom lip. "But I used to live here before I moved. I just wanted to... I don't know, see how it looks now. This is really weird, sorry."
"This town is pretty famous for its weirdness. Come in." He smiled and opened the door more so she could enter. "I'm Danny, by the way."
"Vanessa." She smiled and followed him inside.
"The place basically looks the same. My parents said that they thought it was so modern and to their liking so they didn't want to change that much." He began telling her and he was right. The wave of sad nostalgia washed through her as she entered her old living room. Sure, the couch might be new and some photos here and there but the structure and design were the same.
"Wow." She whispered and slid her hands down her pockets. "Never thought I could miss this place this much..."
Danny turned around to look at her. He was about to drop a comment about how you couldn't miss your house and yet take time to visit it, but he soon examined the deep expression on her face.
"You're not just talking about the house, are you?" He questioned, snapping her back to reality. She blinked at him since it was as if he read he thoughts.
"No." She said simly, lifting her shoulders a bit. "This town never really did me any good."
"Then why are you back? If I may ask." He asked with a soft smile and leaned back against the wall.
"Family problems. So uh... Do you know which room used to be mine?" She changed the subject.
"Oh, yeah, it's actually my room." He said excitedly, as if he was planning on contacting her about the manner. When Danny moved toward her old room, Vanessa laughed quietly and followed, licking her bottom between her teeth as he opened the door. The room was surprisingly the same. The walls were white, the room was still as simple and organized as possible while still being embarrassingly personal and the furniture (even if they were new) stood at the same spots.
"Shit." She sniffed and raised a hand to cover her mouth. He sat down on the edge of the bed and patted beside him, silently telling her it was okay to get comfortable. It was after all her old room.
Vanessa joined his side and looked around the room with an absent smile. Their situation reminded her of when Derek finally came over to her place and was welcomed by her dad. Her eyes soon landed on his desk where he had binders stacket, each binder a color of the rainbow. Danny noticed where her gaze stuck.
"I'm gay." He stated. She hesitated for a moment before turning her head to look at him with a relaxed face.
"I'm... Bisexual."
It was the first time she had ever said it aloud. Vanessa was pretty certain her dad knew but he had never asked because she hadn't been in a proper relationship, so there was no reason to ask. The only reason she knew was simple: she'd been with both men and women considering both bodies attracted her and her first priority was personality. Again, he noticed the expression and tone of her voice.
"Are you coming out right now?"
"I guess."
"Then I'm honored."
"I've just never had a reason to say it out loud before. No one to tell." She shrugged and scratched her upper arm.
"But you've know for a long time?" He suggested, intertwining his hands together against his lap.
"I think so. I've just never put relationships first. When I moved, that's when I started to live for real and that's when I ended up with both men and women. But I've always thought of girls as sexy and beautiful, just like boys."
"That's okay, you know. For some it's crystal clear and for others it isn't." He comforted, making her look down and smile ridiculously.
"Gods, you're a complete stranger, yet I'm telling you all this." She shook her head and made a funny face.
"To be fair, I'm a good listener with a good heart." He joked as he placed a hand against his chest. "Which reminds me, I'm glad you decided to come here because I've been keeping something that I think is yours. I think when you guys moved, the estate agent forgot to tell the workers to look under the bed because there was this box here when we moved in."
"Wait, are you serious?!" She exclaimed and quickly dropped down to the floor on her knees. "I cried about it for like, two weeks!"
"Yeah, it's under there. I never opened it though, so I really hope it isn't sex toys." He smirked.
Vanessa glared and simultaneously smirked at him while she grabbed the box from under the bed. She squealed with happiness as she opened the box and sighed in relief.
"Ah, my childhood in a box." She whispered and picket up a few things. Danny leaned forward and looked inside it.
"Are those pom-poms?" He chuckled.
"Yeah. I stored all my stuff here. Movie tickets, theater tickets, minor gifts that I didn't know where to put, special–" She cut herself off when her eyes landed on two significant items.
"What?" He asked with a concerned look.
"Special jewelry..." She murmured and picked up the snake ring from Derek and sweat band from Peter. "Oh wow... Sorry, I don't mean on getting all emotional on you."
"No worries. My best friend isn't exactly the softest person on earth." He waved it off.
"Can't be worse than the guy I met today at the high school." She snorted, then made her best imitation. "'I drive a Porsche'. Gods, does that really impress someone?"
"Was that guy's name by any chance Jackson?" He asked and frowned with a troubled smile.
"Yeah, why?"
"That's my best friend." He admitted. She stared up at him with a look of pity.
"Oh, pobrecito... I feel so bad for you." She said with sympathy, making him laugh. "How did you two even... I mean, you and him don't add up."
"He used to be a lot nicer before he found out he was adopted." Danny defended, but not aggressively. Vanessa believed him and nodded a little, standing up with the box in her arms.
"Thanks. And uh, I should probably tell you, while I'm here, that I might substitute some of your classes this year. So in case I enter the classroom and you're there, you don't have to be so shocked."
"You're nice to talk to and okay, what subjects?"
"English, history and p.e."
"Cool."
Vanessa laughed through her nose, said goodbye and then made her way back to Scott's. She hid the box under Scott's bed but not before taking out the snake ring and putting it on. It brought a smile to her face plus it looked nice. The old Hale's had some style. Suddenly the doorbell rang and Scott was already on his face.
"I'll take it!" He yelled, even though he knew only Vanessa was home with him. A second before he opened the door, she could smell a familiar scent that made her hurry toward the door.
"... Hi. You don't know me." A female voice said, one Vanessa had grew to like a lot.
"Raven?" Vanessa asked once she was beside Scott. "What are you doing here?"
"Not stalking you, I swear." Raven Caravantes quickly said, not that Vanessa thought she was. Scott eyed the girl in front of him. She looked lik a latina and he would've guessed she was from Mexico. Her brown hair was tumbled down her shoulders and her plump lips were formed as a smile.
"Come in." Vanessa said. She watched Raven enter the house carefully and cursed silently.
The last thing she needed was another person she cared about to be put in harms way. Beacon Hills had already taken enough from her.
