Author's note: YOU GUYS! I'M BREATHING, BUT I'M BARELY ALIVE!
I can put the reasons in two words: ARCADE FIRE! Best concert I've ever been! I'm serious, they are amazing! I can't even.
But, after two days of Lollapalooza and a couple more trying to recover, I have to say I'm still not 100% and I have the worst flu.
Well, I doubt you are interested in knowing about me, so let's get to business.
I wasn't expecting so many good reviews, I'm serious. You guys are always surprising me, aren't you? Because I had those sad and fluffy chapters and then I was like "let's write some Pissed-Off!Malia even though people will probably hate it" and then, BOOM, good reviews. You never know what to expect huh?
Here's the new chapter. I just finished writing it and I totally threw away my Latin test (I nailed the Greek one, though 8) Greek is so much cooler!). I also threw away any revision, sorry.
Remember that I don't know english and please enjoy.
Chapter five: I fall so hard
"I'm aware I'm a wolf. So is the moon here."
Kanye West
At the end of the day, Malia was just fine. She stepped out of school, hands on the stripes of her backpack, and took a deep breath. Only ten minutes earlier, Coach Finstock was telling her she should try for the lacrosse team, because she'd do great and could kick the other boys' butts, even though she never really played lacrosse in her life. She remembered the baseball and soccer games, but never lacrosse.
Other good thing was Hanna and her clique. She seemed to understand the message and now where keeping their distance. There was this day when she was eight, Malia recorded, at school, when she defended this blonde girl who was sick and people were treating her really bad. She had punched one of the girls in the girls locker room after P.E. and got two days of detention. It'd totally worth it.
Her thoughts were cut by Kira, who was running in her direction, holding a piece of paper. The fox stopped in front of her breathing heavily and she took a minute to recover before start talking.
"Hey, Malia! So, I was talking to Scott about taking some self-defense classes and all," she said, not leaving any space for answers. "because really, this is Beacon Hills and we better know a few more tricks, and I was thinking maybe we can join together?" Kira handed her the paper, that was a flyer with information from a gym. "Scott thinks it's too soon for you, but I think you can handle it. What do you think? I'll start tomorrow night."
"Sounds like a great idea, actually." Malia agreed, reading the flyer quickly. "I mean, I could really use some extra training. Some things just creep me out since I turned back."
"Are you able to fully turn already?"
The werecoyote shook her head.
"No." she answered. "But I'm almost there. The next full moon is next week, we'll see what happens."
They heard a honk and looked over to see Mr. Yukimura waiting for Kira. The girls waved for him.
"You're going with your dad today?" Malia asked, then remembered at the same time Kira answered.
"Lacrosse." They said at the same time.
"You want a ride?" the kitsune asked, and Malia shook her head no.
"I'm fine, I think I'm gonna walk home. I feel like exercising a bit."
"Are you sure? We can take you."
"No, it's okay."
Kira smiled and patted Malia's shoulder.
"Okay! Think about that self-defense classes! See you tomorrow, right?"
Before she could answer, Kira already was running down the stairs to her father's car and Malia smiled, folding the paper and putting it on her back pocket, then she started to walk, heading home.
She hadn't go even one block before hearing another honk, but she was pretty sure it wasn't the Yukimura this time. Sure enough, she looked to her left and a blue Ford was slowing down. Lydia.
"Why are you walking?" the girl asked and Malia shrugged.
"Stiles have lacrosse practice, so I have no ride home."
"You can take the bus."
"I don't really like the bus. Too much noise."
The banshee agreed with a nod.
"Well, jump in, I can take you home."
Malia shook her head.
"I was feeling like walking."
"Don't be stupid." Lydia replied. "I feel like giving you a ride home, you better accept it."
At this point, she had stopped already and the two girls looked at each other for a dead minute. Malia knew Lydia for long enough to know everything had a meaning when the banshee "feels it", so maybe she should go along this time, just to see what was going to happen. Nodding, she opened the passenger's door and hoped inside, Lydia started the car right after.
Initially, the girls were silent and Lydia turned on the radio. She was listening to Arcade Fire's last album, even though she liked better the first one, and hummed along the lyric of "Porno" hitting the steering wheel with her fingers.
"I was with Aidan" she said abruptly, not looking at Malia "in this very car going to your very house when my banshee instincts kicked and I had to park, I just had to park, and we found Stiles – the Void version of Stiles – at a parking lot, just waiting to be found. It was so scary, because he looked bad. He had this cut on his stomach and the dark circles and he was very pale. It was the same day we brought him back, when he detached from the nogitsune. Do you know what made him wake up?"
This last part, Lydia asked looking at Malia, who just shook her head. Stiles never told her anything about that day, because it was too hard for him. The nogitsune did more bad things than good using his body and he didn't like to recount them.
"Your name." Lydia answered, surprising Malia. "For a while I wanted to believe it was my voice, but I knew better. It was when I said your name. He forced his way out and well, everything kind of makes sense."
There was a confession hidden in there, Malia noticed. Something she was longing to know since the day Lydia arrived at the hospital looking all worried about Stiles and offering her a moment to rest. It was the moment to ask, the coyote sensed.
"What exactly is going on between you two?" Malia asked. There was no accusation in her tone. She didn't feel threatened and she could handle the answer.
Lydia turned left, avoiding the question for a few more seconds before answering.
"We are friends." She finally said. "I mean, rumor has it he had a crush on me since third grade and he was always trying to get my attention, especially after Scott and Allison started dating and we were forced to spend more time together. Somewhere in the middle of it we've became good friends and I don't think he has much of a crush anymore. I think it's equal now – the way we feel about each other. I mean, sure we kissed a couple of times but he has you now, doesn't he?" she looked at Malia, who nodded. "And I think I'm just fine on my own for a while. So don't worry, I don't want to steal your boyfriend. I'm not looking for a cat fight."
"Well, good." Malia said unsure, trying to think. "Because I really like your company, Lyds."
The banshee smiled and parked in front of Malia's house.
"I like your company too, wild fox. You seem like the right kind of trouble to have around." She said, making Malia laugh and laughing along. It didn't last long, however, because Lydia sensed something and slowly turned her head to the left. "Are you kidding me?"
"Oh, for fuck's sake." Malia complained, looking in the same direction as Lydia. "He's never going to leave me alone, will he?"
Felling a little guilty, for she was the one who told Peter who his daughter was, Lydia looked over to Malia.
"He's been here before?"
"Almost every day." The werecoyote answered. "Stiles gave me a hell of an earful the other night when I told him I decided to talk to Peter alone."
"Well, that's not very wise." Lydia pondered, making Malia roll her eyes. "What did he want?"
"Just talk. He was the one who told me about Derek and Aidan. He said he has no memory of me, but it's okay, because I have no memory of him either."
Lydia looked over to Peter again, who was watching both girls on the car.
"What did Stiles say to you about talking to Peter?" the banshee asked.
"To not do that alone ever again, and I've been trying to avoid him ever since." Answered the coyote and Lydia nodded.
"Okay. Let's see what he wants." She said, undoing her seat belt. Malia shook her head confused.
"I thought you were scared as shit of Peter!"
Lydia shrugged and leaned to catch something under her seat. She raised a taser that had a blue light when on.
"Yea, a bit. But Allison's dad left me a feel tools before he moved to France, so I think I'll be all right. I think we both will be all right." She pressed the teaser bottom again, making Malia shrink. "Sorry."
"What the hell is that?"
"Just a little something to make bad wolves stay away." Lydia answered, opening her door and exiting the car. Malia did the same.
"This thing is not little." She replied and they waited for Peter to cross the street.
"Ladies." He greeted, and Lydia made sure to keep her wolf taser visible. Peter kept a safe distance. "You both have been avoiding me."
"Never thought you'd notice." Lydia said humorless.
"Don't need to be so acid, Lyds, remember that I created you." Peter turned to Malia. "And you."
"What do you really want, Peter?" Malia asked, shifting from one feet to the other, annoyed.
"I want to get to know my daughter, is that a crime?"
"Well, since aunt Talia felt the need to erase me from your memories, yes, I guess." The werecoyote replied matter of factly.
Peter made a face.
"I'm still working on it." He said. "The memory thing. But I think that, in fact, Talia was afraid of you and what you can do."
"Me?" Malia asked and laughed. "Tell me about bullshit."
"Think about it, kiddo." Peter said, stepping forward but stopping with the sign of Lydia's taser. "If you were so important to me, it's because you're powerful. Talia knew how it is to me, other people's power, and for my own daughter to have so much to offer…"
"Are you telling me the only reason you'd be interested in me, in my life, is if I'm powerful? Are you seriously saying this?" she asked, the disbelief clear in her voice.
"No!" he quickly answered. "Sort of. But look at you, Malia! You are all shades of great and I would love to train you. I really want to do that and fill the missing years we couldn't have together."
"Sounding a little desperate, Peter." Lydia commented.
"You kids are too hard on me, you know?" he said casually. "I can help you too be better. I can help you improve. Just try and listen to me."
"We already have an Alpha." Lydia stated and Peter rolled his eyes.
"I wouldn't replace him, just co-work!" both girls exchanged a look.
"I don't think I'm ready for you yet, Peter," Malia said soberly. "and Stiles agrees."
"Is that little pain in the ass your boyfriend?" Peter asked out of the blue and Malia brushed a little.
"He's not a pain in the ass, he's amazing." She replied. "And yes. And I don't think I can do any training with you, Peter. I don't think it's the right moment."
"And we'd appreciate if you stop stalking her." Lydia completed, crossing her arms.
Slowly, he realized that he wouldn't win this time, the girls were too stubborn and were pretty firm in their decision. Peter stepped back.
"Well, Malia, Lydia… you know where to find me."
"And I will." Malia answered. "When the moment is right."
Nodding, Peter turned around, but didn't left before giving them one last cracked smile, as if he knew everything damn well.
The girls finally let go of their breaths and looked at each other.
"You think I did the right thing?" Malia asked Lydia, who nodded.
"I know how you feel and yes. You'll know when he's needed, don't worry."
Malia smiled.
"Thank you, Lyds." She said and looked at the front door of her father's house. "I think I can take it from here."
Lydia nodded.
"You seeing Stiles tonight?" the banshee asked, heading to the driver's door and opening it.
"Probably. I need help with biology." Malia answered and Lydia smiled.
"Yeah, sure. Don't forget the condoms."
They laughed.
"Shut up." The coyote said, and turned to her house.
A/N: This is it, see you next time!
And have yourself some Arcade Fire, they change lives!
Also, I love me some review. Please? :(
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