A/N: After reading some other various fics, I feel like I should just inform everyone there will be NO smut whatsoever, nothing even close. Personally, reading that is just way too weird, there would be no way I could write it, plus I have no desire to write it. Next, I apologize for how incredibly long it has taken me to get this out, I've been on a Twilight kick lately and Teen Wolf had been put aside..but I'm back! Happy reading!
"What were you thinking?" Derek growled as he helped his sister put Erica into the back of his car. "I was thinking that I would keep an innocent human from being ripped apart by a bitchwolf." "Innocent?" Derek scoffed, "She's an Argent, Erica. There's nothing innocent about her." Erica rolled her eyes and grimaced with pain as she propped herself up in the backseat. "Stop acting like she did something wrong, Derek." Cora snapped at her brother. "Are you okay?" she asked as she turned to face Erica. "I'll be fine, I'm already healing." "Yeah, but how long is it going to take for you to walk again, to be completely healed? Alpha wounds take a long time. Not to mention, she pretty much snapped your back, Erica. I'm surprised you're not dead."
Derek's words were cold and unpitying, hurtful to Erica, but only for a moment. "What was I supposed to do, Derek? Let her die? Kali would have killed-" Erica was beginning to get her strength back and she sat up. "It doesn't matter, it's none of your business," Derek snapped. "Just like how what I do is none of your business?" Erica snapped back. "I'm not as cold as you, Derek. I actually care if people get hurt." Derek's grip tightened on the wheel as Erica spoke, his knuckles turning white. "Derek," Erica's tone was softer now, "the bite can be a blessing or a curse, you've said it yourself. We're incredibly fast, we're strong..we have the ability to to do something good in the world, why shouldn't we?" Derek began to reply but was cute short, "because she's a hunter? It doesn't matter. She's still a person, Derek. She doesn't deserve to die just because of her name."
Erica leaned back in her seat, feeling accomplished at having shut Derek up for once. Every word she said was true, if she had the ability to save people, she had to, she needed to. She was saved, now she has to return the favor. Not necessarily to Derek, sure, she could hold her own with him, but Derek seemed to be able to take care of himself. He was nothing like Allison, so small, fragile..so helpless. Kali would have torn her to shreds, I couldn't just stand by. They sat in silence as Derek drove back to campus, dropping the two girls off at Wisteria, then making his way back to Guardian Hall, ironic enough really, Derek, living in Guardian, the same name of that which he tries to convince everyone he is, but in reality, he's only looking out for himself. Erica walked down the hallway towards the elevator and pushed the button for 8, Cora staying behind to catch up with a classmate. "Medicinal Herpetology just sounds made up. Besides, I'm not going to be an emissary, I'm already a wolf, why do I need to know this crap? That's what Lydia is going to be for." Erica never understood how her roommate took the classes as if they meant nothing, like they were a waste of her precious time.
Erica loved class. Even when she was human, she loved school. She hated everyone laughing at her expense, but she loved learning. Erica appreciated it more than most students, she understood that broadening one's intelligence is a privilege and that there were people in third world countries who would love to be in her position. Now that Erica's peer experience had improved immensely, she found it easier than ever to focus on the learning itself. Druids, finding out the stories she had heard as a child were actually true, understanding more about her own species, it was an exciting experience for her. Even though Cora was born into it and Erica was new, she couldn't understand how anyone could brush it all off so easily. To be honest though, right now, she was glad her roommate was like that, needing to catch up with someone about homework, it gave her a chance to be alone, which was a rarity these days.
And I'm tearin' down the walls I've made to try and keep girls like you away. But still you'll find your way right back into my heart. Erica put in her headphones and laid down on her bed, still aching from the fight with Kali. "Next," she said to herself as she skipped the song and waited for the next one to play. Here I stand, nothing more than a broken man. Staring death in the face, all my mistakes have got a hold on me again. As the music played, Erica laid on the bed, poking at different parts of her body, choosing to find out what hurt and what didn't thehard way. "Stupid Allison.." she mumbled. Poking a dark spot on her forearm, she winced. "Stupid Kali.." she squinted with frustration, "Stupid Kali who hates stupid Allison for being a stupid Argent.." Will someone just tell me which way to go? I need a saint, I need a miracle. "Next," Erica skipped the song again. "Stupid Derek," she paused, "just because I try to do the right thing, he thinks that makes it okay to jump all over me? Why? Because he's my alpha?" Erica continued to lay in the dark, mumbling to herself, listening to music, not even slightly noticing Cora entering the room. "It's not like I just came to the rescue because someone was in trouble. I was already there..I just wanted to talk-" Erica's sentence was cut short as Cora ripped a headphone out of her ear, "Talk to who?" she asked as she bounced to her side of the room, laying a stack of papers on her desk.
"What? No one." Erica laid back down, cursing herself for thinking out loud. "I'm so sure," Cora scoffed. "I'm too tired to fight with you," Oh, really? Did you fight with an alpha wolf who ended up snapping your spinal cord in half tonight? No? Exactly. "So, feel like talking tomorrow, I wanna know," Cora began to yawn, "everything." Moments later the girl was asleep, snoring lightly on the other side of the room. You've got secrets, yeah. And I've got a weakness- Erica jerked out the other headphone and dropped her iPod to the floor, "Fuck it."
"Dude he was pissed." Stiles ripped open a bag of chips and started shoveling handfuls into his mouth. "Screaming about saving a hunter and stuff, being a sourwolf as usual. Not taking the time to acknowledge that she actually saved someone's life or anything." Scott's expression was blank, he was staring into space, seemingly not paying attention to a word his best friend was saying. "Dude?" nothing, "DUDE," Stiles dropped the chips, "SCOTT!" "Huh? Oh, wait so how do you know this?" Scott picked up a sandwich and took a small bite, looking around the room for no one in particular. "Cora told me. She was actually pretty pissed herself," "At Erica?" "Nah, well," he paused, "both of 'em, really. Erica for defending an Argent, Derek for being an asshole. She needed to vent and I was her only available option."
"She doesn't have to put up with that kind of thing," Scott said, just before Lydia, Allison, and Isaac sat down too. "Hey," Stiles kissed Lydia on the cheek before continuing to devour his food. "She can meet other people." "Who can meet other people?" Allison asked, poking her fork into her meatloaf, swearing she saw it wince in pain. "Erica," Stiles said with a mouthful. "Have you seen her?" Allison asked a bit to anxiously for her liking. "I mean, you know, is she okay? She looked pretty hurt." Allison timidly looked down and started picking at her nails. Lydia rolled her eyes, "Apparently Derek has scorned her for saving an Argent's life." "Are you serious?" Isaac said, speaking for the first time since he sat down. "Yes, apparently Derek feels like it broke some wolf-moral code or something." Lydia shook her head as if the thought disturbed her and turned to her boyfriend who, somehow, was managing to eat the equivalent of three lunches. "Remind me again why I like you?" she said, not hiding the disgust in the slightest. "Because I'm charming, good looking, intelligent, funny.." he trailed off, "You forgot narcissistic," she smiled.
"I just don't understand why she spends all her time with Derek," Scott spoke up, still clearly hung up on the Derek situation. "Well, I mean, he did turn her, so.." Isaac said in between sips of chocolate milk. Scott rolled his eyes, "So what? Peter turned me, you don't see me going to the movies with him?" "He's really not that bad," said Isaac, "I think she just really wants a friend, you know?" "If she wanted friends, she could do a lot better than Derek Hale-" "That hurt, Scott." Derek, followed by Boyd Erica, and Cora approached the table. "If you're going to review me, you could at least take a consensus. Erica, how has life been for you since we met?" Derek asked, grinning ear to ear. "Hm..in a word?" she paused and bit her lip, "Transformative." She flashed her bright, beta yellow eyes and turned to follow Derek and Cora out of the cafeteria, leaving Boyd who sat down at the table. "I really do not like that girl," Lydia said. "You gotta admit, Erica looks pretty good," Stiles said in between bites, "The word sensational comes to mind." Lydia shot him a death glare, to which he immediately said "Sorry," and continued to eat. Allison stood and threw her tray away, going in the direction Erica and the Hales went.
"So, are you ready to tell me who you wanted to talk to last night?" Cora sat down at their usual picnic table outside the cafeteria, immediately biting into a burger. Repulsed by the grease dripping down Cora's chin, Erica grimaced and turned away, only to be met by a pair of dark brown eyes, framed by pale skin and dark hair. "Allison?" "Hey, can we talk," she paused to look at Cora who shot a glare, causing Allison to look at the ground, "like, alone?" Cora rolled her eyes, "I'm not done eating so, you wanna be alone, you two leave," she said as she made a "shoo-ing" motion with her left hand. Now Erica was the one to roll her eyes as Cora started shoveling food into her mouth again. "Let's go," she nodded towards an empty bench on the other end of the parking lot. As the girls crossed to the bench, they were both silent, not exactly sure what was about to happen or be said. Erica sat with one leg on either side of the bench facing Allison who sat timidly on the edge of the opposite end. "So.." Erica said, waiting for Allison to speak.
"I-," Allison paused, furrowing her brow and picking at her fingers. "I just wanted to thank you for-" "Don't even worry about it." Erica cut in, smiling warmly. Allison was still looking down and as she reached up to brush some hair behind her ear, Erica could now see the cuts and bruises on the girl's face. "It's so weird to me to see wounds now," Erica reached out and tilted Allison's head up, "I'm so used to them going away pretty quickly," she gently brushed her thumb around the outline of a bruise framing her cheek. "Oh, they're fine. Nothing a band-aid can't fix," she said with a light laugh. Erica shook her head and smiled, "So you're okay then?" Allison nodded her head, "I'll live," she paused, "thanks to you." Erica could feel her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. The two sat in silence, watching the surrounding students passing and Erica could smell the nervousness coming from Allison.
"Why did you do it?" Allison's voice eventually broke the silence. "Huh?" her question caught Erica off-guard at the time, though she had known it was coming at some point. "Why did you save me last night?" Allison repeated, her voice more steady, as she finally made eye contact. Erica bit her lip, looking down to pick at her jacket sleeve. Now I'm the one being ridiculous. She shook it off and sighed, "I couldn't let you get hurt-" she shrugged as Allison raised an eyebrow, "anymore hurt," Erica rolled her eyes and Allison laughed lightly. "You didn't have to do that though." Allison turned slightly to face Erica and put her leg on the bench. "I know how much trouble you're in with Derek, I'm sorry that happened because of me." "Hey, no worries. I'd do it all over again if I had the chance. Your life is more important to me than being in Derek's good graces," Erica smiled. "Erica, hey, we gotta go." Cora ran up to the girls, "Is something wrong?" "No, not exactly, but Derek needs us now." "Well, that's my cue.." Erica stood, "Nice talking to ya Argent," she flashed a toothy grin and winked at the girl as she turned and faced Cora to leave.
"So what was that all about?" Lydia asked as she sat her bag down on the bench and pulled out a nail file. "I just wanted to talk," Allison sighed as she watched Erica and Cora turn the corner and disappear behind the building. "About last night? Did she tell you why she did it?" Lydia's questions poured out as she filed away at her nails, stopping only to blow away the ground up dust collecting on her fingertips. "Uh, yeah, I asked, she said she 'had to do it'." Allison didn't want to give the exact details of Erica's weird explanation, then again, maybe a second opinion-one of a genius at that-would help her understand. "Actually," Allison furrowed her brow and bit her lip, "actually, she said 'Your life is more important to me than being in Derek's good graces'," Lydia stopped filing to give her best friend a puzzled look, "I..I don't know. I was hoping you could explain?"
"Well, I think Stiles mentioned something about her thinking that the bite is more of a gift than a curse, she said she feels obligated to help people who can't help themselves." Lydia looked as though she continued thinking for a moment before going back to filing her nails. Allison sat beside her, processing what she had said. "So then Erica just did it because I'm a human?" she sounded almost hurt when she spoke. Lydia sighed, "I don't know, ask her, but that's what it sounds like to me." She threw the nail file back into her purse and stood, "Now, come on. We have things to do." Lydia pulled Allison to her feet and led her to her car.
