"What even makes you so sure that Derek has all the answers?" Scott and I both sat down at our regular lunch table. Scott was still adamant about going to Derek for help. That was exactly what that creeper-wolf wanted, stupid boy!

"Because," Scott whined, "during the full moon he wasn't changed. He was in total control while I was running around in the middle of the night attacking some totally innocent guy."

"You don't know that," I reminded Scott. Thankfully he had calmed down since Chemistry but he was still shaken up.

"I don't not know it." Scott looked away distraught, but decided. "I can't go out with Allison. I have to cancel."

"What? No way," I interjected. "You're not cancelling. You can't just cancel your entire life. We'll figure it out." I smiled at him while finishing peeling an orange.

"Figure what out?"

The voice came from next to us and I didn't even have to look up to see who it was. I stared up disgustedly at the strawberry blonde. Lydia had set her lunch tray down and was beginning to take a seat. Ok, now I was confused.

"Uh," Scott stuttered. "Just homework." He turned to look at me with the same confused expression. Lydia smirked at me and I gave her an equally fake and forced smile in return. I leaned away from her and turned my head the other way. Scott did the same.

"Why the fuck is she sitting with us?" I asked under my breath with clear annoyance. Scott only shrugged in response.

Suddenly it wasn't just us three anymore. More people came to take their seats at our usually secluded lunch table. I was on the verge of a mental breakdown before I saw the reason these popular kids were sitting with us. Allison appeared next to Scott and set her lunch tray down at the seat Scott's backpack was occupying. He moved it quickly and let her sit down, smiling like an idiot. Now I understood. When Allison said she was sitting with us, she meant all of her. So this was how it was going to end. Scott gets whisked away by the most popular kids in school and little ol' Stiles gets left in the dust. I wouldn't normally mind half of these people, but Lydia and Jackson were crossing the line.

"So I heard it was some kind of animal attack," Danny said from the seat at my right. "Probably a cougar." See, Danny I was cool with. Jackson, not so much.

"I heard it was a mountain lion," Jackson said idiotically. I rolled my eyes and began to search with my phone about the guy who was attacked. Jackson was so stupid sometimes. A cougar is a mountain lion, you fucking twat.

"A cougar is a mountain lion," Lydia said matter-of-factly just as I had thought it. I looked at her surprised. I wasn't necessarily surprised that she said something smart, but that she actually expressed how smart she could be.

When she noticed us all staring at her she quickly added, "Isn't it?" with a ditzy expression. That was one of the things I despised about Lydia Martin. Lydia was smart. And I mean incredibly smart. No one else really saw it, she didn't let them, but I did. She was so worried about her status she wouldn't let people see her intelligence. She only cared about her looks. Well if I was as smart and beautiful as her, I would show off both. She just tossed it away. And that pissed me off.

"Who cares?" Jackson sneered. "That guy is probably some homeless tweaker who is gonna die anyway." Wow. What a fucking Saint. Just then I found what I was looking for on my phone.

"Actually I just found out who it is," I informed the group. "Check it out." I stretched out my hand to the middle of the table so everyone could get a good view of the video. The video showed my dad surveying the scene and revealed the identity of the mauled man to be a one Garrison Myers.

"Wait," Scott said. "I know this guy."

"You do?" Allison queried.

"Yeah," Scott continued, "when I used to take the bus. He was the driver." Scott and I exchanged and uneasy glance. Sure, it wasn't Allison, but Scott still had a connection to this guy. This was looking bad.

"Can we talk about something slightly more fun, please?" Lydia asked prissily and I wanted to ring her perfect throat. "Like, where are we going to tomorrow?" Her question was directed at Allison. Scott and Allison looked at Lydia slightly perplexed.

'"You said you and Scott were hanging out tomorrow night," she clarified. Oh. Ouch.

Allison swallowed her food nervously. "Well, we were thinking of what we were going to do." Oh, buddy. That's rough. I couldn't even look Scott in the eyes I was so embarrassed for him.

"Well," Lydia continued, "I'm not staying at home again watching lacrosse videos, so if the four of us are hanging out, we're doing something fun." She included Jackson in "the four of us." This just got worse and worse.

"Hanging out?" Scott said with eyebrows raised, eyes filled with sudden panic. "Like the four of us?" Scott tried to look to me for help, but all I could do was cover my mouth in shock.

"Do you wanna hang out?" Scott asked Allison. "Like, us and them?"

"Yeah," she finally said with a forced smile. "I mean, I guess it sounds fun."

"You know what else sounds fun?" Jackson grunted. "Stabbing myself in the face with this fork." What a fucking tool. Like piss off, seriously.

The rest of lunch was like watching a car wreck. I tried to tune most of it out, especially when the four best friends decided what they were going to do; go bowling. And Scott even had the nerve to say he was a great bowler. Fuck off! The last time we went bowling we were eight. He was using the kiddie bumpers and still managed to get a gutter ball. Like, seriously, how does that even happen? And that dreaded phrase kept being said...

"Hang out," I moaned as we walked down the hallway, thankful school was finally out. "You don't 'hang out' with hot girls. It's like death."

"I hang out with you," Scott said eyes forward.

"But do you honestly think I'm hot?" I asked dubiously.

His eyes scanned me over. "Nope." Wow, gee thanks. Scott quickly saw his mistake.

"Not that I don't think other people find you hot," Scott blundered. "I mean, you probably are, but it's like you're my sister. I just can't think of you that way. Oh God, stop making me think about it."

Really? Scott thought I was attractive to other guys? I never really thought of myself being hot. Cute maybe, but definitely not hot.

"I just don't even know what's happening," Scott whined. "I either killed a guy or I didn't."

"Do you know of any guys who find me hot?" I wondered. I wondered if Jared from our English class thought I was hot. He was pretty cute and a lacrosse player, but not a dick like Jackson.

"I ask Allison on a date and now we're hanging out," Scott continued to complain, although I didn't really hear him.

"Do you think Jared and I would be cute together?" I asked Scott with eager eyes. Not that I particularly liked Jared, but he was nice enough. I was desperate, what can I say?

"I make first line and the team Captain wants to destroy me and now," Scott checked his phone. He sighed. "Now I'm gonna be late for work." He sped up and walked out the front of the school, not waiting for me. Rude.

"Wait, Scott!" I called. "Would Jared and I make a cute couple? You never answered my question..." I sighed and walked to my car slowly. Was I so desperate I was willing to settle for Jared? He was nice, but I didn't really like him in that way. I wasn't the type of girl to get crushes on guys. The only time I ever really had a crush on boy was during fifth grade when I had a crush on Scott for like 7 minutes, but I was going through a weird time.

I drove home in silence allowing my mind to simmer in these thoughts before I realized I was completely off topic and wow holy shit I was a horrible best friend. As soon as I got home I sent a few quick texts to Scott, letting him know I hadn't forgotten about him completely. I was trying to focus on finishing some homework when he replied, about a few hours later. His text was in capital letters and nearly made my heart stop.

BUS DRIVER NOT OK. GOIN TO DEREK TO GET SOME ANSWERS. IM SORRY.

I had to reread a few times to fully grasp what he was saying. Despite my better judgement, Scott was deciding to ignore me and go to the murderer for help. Fucking Derek Hale. I wasn't sure of what to do at this moment. I wanted to get in my jeep and blow up Derek Hale's house with a fucking nuke, but that wasn't going to happen. I also wanted to scream and slap Scott across the face. I would never be able to fully bring myself to do that either. Instead of doing either of those things, I sat quietly on my bed and hoped to God the Scott knew what he was doing. I began to hyperventilate when I realized of course he had no idea what he was doing.

I still wasn't completely sure how Scott had talked me into this. Surely any of Derek Hale's ideas were somehow going to backfire and blow up in our faces. But no, Scott decides to trust the psychotic murderer and go back to the scene where he might have possibly killed somebody. He also had the audacity of telling me to "keep watch" which roughly translated into "stay out of the way and let the werewolf take care of this." It was completely unfair that just because he had all the supernatural abilities he got to be Batman and I was Robin. Scott wouldn't even humor me and let me have that metaphor.

I sat in my jeep lightly tapping on the steering wheel, occasionally looking out into the darkened lot of school buses and checking to see if the patrol was coming around. Apparently Derek said if Scott went back to crime scene he might start to remember shit. What the hell did he know anyway? Derek probably wanted Scott to go back just so he would freak out, kill me, and then they could both skip off into the sunset and create more mischief. Well sorry, Mr. Hale. Scott was all mine. I tapped even more furiously on the steering wheel the more anxious I got.

Suddenly I saw lights coming toward the row of buses and remembered my job. I honked the horn vigorously, letting Scott know to get the hell out of there. I hoped that werewolf hearing didn't go completely to waste. Thankfully I saw him speeding across the parking lot before the lights got too close. He jumped on the hood of a car and front flipped over the fence enclosing the lot. Seriously, was that necessary? I didn't have time to ask him because the patrol was almost around the corner. Scott hopped in the passenger side and I peeled out while he was still closing the door. I will admit, I did have the Mission Impossible theme music running through my head the entire time. It was pretty fucking cool. I felt like I just pulled off a heist or something.

"So?" I prodded while we were both still panting from the thrill. "Did it work? Do you remember?"

"Yeah," Scott said. "I was there last night. And the blood, a lot of it was mine."

"So you did attack him?" I questioned still confused. If a lot of the blood was his it meant the bus driver fought back, right?

"No," Scott continued. "I saw glowing eyes on the bus, but they weren't mine. It was Derek."

Son of a bitch. "What about the driver?"

"I think I was actually trying to protect him," Scott said with a small smile creeping onto his face. I understood why he was smiling. Scott didn't attack the bus driver. He had tried to help him. I felt that same joy as well, but I was still confused about one thing.

"Why would Derek help you remember that he attacked the driver?" It made no sense.

"That's what I don't get," Scott said, the smile gone now.

"It's gotta be a pack thing," I speculated.

"What do you mean?"

"Like an initiation," I continued, my own theory taking shape. "You do the kill together." You know what they say after all. The pack that kills together stays together.

"Because ripping someone's throat out is a real bonding experience?" Scott snorted.

"Yeah," I said, "but you didn't do it. So that means you're not a killer. It also means that-"

"I can go out with Allison," Scott finished with that stupid grin he got only when talking about Allison.

"I was gonna say it means you won't kill me," I informed him. Thanks of thinking of me first Scott. You're the best.

"Oh yeah," Scott said with the same idiotic expression. "That too."

I snorted and shook my head, turning my attention back to the road. Un-fucking-believable. I dropped Scott off at his house and got back to mine, very careful not wake my dad. There was a police enforced curfew and my dad was the Sheriff after all. I slept that night a little better knowing Scott wasn't a killer. It wasn't like I had ever really doubted him, but it was nice to know for sure. Despite being a werewolf, Scott was still the best friend I had come to know and love. No one, not even Derek Hale, was ever going to change that.

The next day at school, Scott couldn't stop smiling. He was so happy about his date with Allison, even if it was a group date. Mr. Harris was still being a dick, but didn't split us up that day. Allison and her crew sat with us a lunch again and I almost slit my own throat with a plastic knife. Lydia couldn't stop talking about how excited she was for their evening and kept monopolizing the conversation. Allison and Scott were holding hands under the table, which was kinda cute, but the way they were looking at each other made me sick. I almost vomited when Lydia and Jackson started making out. Basically, lunch consisted of me sitting there awkwardly silent and being made hyper aware of my own singleness. Scott never did tell me which guys thought I was hot. After the school day was over, Scott and I went back to his place so he could mentally and physically prepare for his date.

"I don't know what's gonna happen with Jackson there," Scott worried while laying on his bed.

"He's gonna be a douche as usual," I supplied from his office chair. "And probably a cock-block."

"Oh God," Scott groaned. "I hope not."

"Relax," I snorted. "It's not like you're getting in her panties tonight. Would you even know what to do?"

"Uh," Scott stuttered, his face turning crimson. "Maybe. I've seen those videos you've shown me."

I knew exactly the ones he was talking about. "Trust me, the things the people in those videos were doing should definitely not be tried on a first date."

Scott couldn't even bare to look me in the eye and he reddened even more. He flipped over and moaned loudly into his pillow. I couldn't help but laugh. It was amazing how calm I could be about the most socially awkward situations. Just then Scott's mom, wearing her nurse's uniform, knocked lightly on his open door.

"Hey," she said. "I'm working late tonight so you're gonna have to find something to eat."

"Or," Scott replied while rolling back over, "you could give me your car keys and I'll get something to eat on my date."

"Scott," she complained. "There's a curfew. We've been over this."

"I'll be back before curfew," Scott whined. "Just please. Please?" He looked at her with some of the most intense puppy eyes I had ever seen.

"C'mon," I interjected. "How can you say no to that face?"

Scott's mom sighed. "Fine." She tossed him her keys which he caught easily. "I'll get a ride with someone. Just be careful, ok?"

"Ok," Scott said triumphantly. Melissa rolled her eyes and walked away from the door.

"See?" I said. "Things keep getting better and better."

"Yeah," Scott said with a smile. "I guess so."

"Hey, I gotta run." The sky was dark outside. "I'll let you get ready for your date, you sly dog you." I got up a patted him lightly on the shoulder as I passed him. I walked down stairs and said goodbye to his mother before exiting the front door.

When I got home I saw my dad's police cruiser wasn't there. Working late nights again. I wasn't comfortable with him being out this late or even getting too close to this case. He had no idea what was actually out there and could get himself hurt. That was the last thing I wanted and it made me sick to even think about it. I decided to try and take my mind off the subject by doing some homework. Harris completely overloaded us on the weekends because he was an asshole. I had almost finished my essay about the element of gold and how it's found in semen, even though that wasn't entirely what my essay was supposed to be about, when I heard my father slam the front door. I checked my clock and realized it was already ten o'clock. I went downstairs to see him and saw immediately in his face something was up.

"What's wrong?" I asked warily.

"It's Garrison Myers," my dad said with worry lines wrinkling his forehead, "the bus driver. I just got back from the hospital. He succumbed to his wounds only a few minutes ago."

"What?" I asked shocked.

"Something caused him to go into traumatic shock and he died," my dad elaborated.

"Oh my God." I was utterly shocked but at the same time fucking furious. I knew exactly what that "something" that caused him to go into shock was. Or should I say who. Scott needed to know about this ASAP.

"Are you taking a shower?" I asked my dad.

"I was planning on it," he answered. "Why? Did you want to take one first?"

No. Just seeing if you were going to be distracted by doing something so I could sneak out. "No. I took one this morning. I'm just gonna go to bed."

"Ok, kiddo." My dad ruffled my hair with his hand. "Goodnight."

I ran back up the stairs and locked my bedroom door. I sent Scott a few text messages and then, when he didn't respond, called him a couple times. I got sent straight to voicemail. I guess I was going out after all. I waited until I heard the shower turn on and carefully climbed out my window. Years of practice allowed me to easily make it to the grass without hurting myself. On the way to Scott's I couldn't help but fume over Derek. That asshole had killed that man so he wouldn't get caught. Hell, he probably smothered him with a pillow. Derek was fucking dangerous and even thinking about him made my heart race. When Scott found out the bus driver died, he was going to freak. He would confront Derek and go ape-shit on him. I didn't really want that to happen, but I felt obligated to tell him what happened.

I parked my car a few houses away from Scott's, just incase his mom or someone got suspicious. I walked down the sidewalk until I was in front of Scott's house. His mom's car wasn't in the drive so I suspected he wasn't home yet. I climbed up the side if his house using the drain pipe, something else I learned to do with years of practice. His room was completely dark. I slid the window open and climbed inside, landing softly on his bed. When I looked up I was being rushed by a dark figure wielding a blunt object of some kind. I screamed out and the figure screamed as well. I tried to back away until I could see by the light of the moon that it was only Mrs. McCall. She huffed out and dropped the baseball bat to her side. What was with the McCall family and attacking me with baseball bats?

"Stiles," she sighed. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"What am I doing?" I asked loudly. I gestured toward the bat. "Do either of you even play baseball?" The light suddenly flicked on and Scott was standing in the room. He looked extremely confused.

"Can you please tell your friend to use the front door?" she asked her son.

"But we lock the front door," Scott reminded her. "She wouldn't be able to get in." Yeah. We'd been using this system for years.

"Exactly," Melissa retorted, looking at me. Well then. I guess I wasn't welcome.

"And by the way," she continued, "do either of you care that there's a police enforced curfew?"

"No," Scott and I said simultaneously.

"Alright then," Scott's mom replied. "You know what? That's enough parenting for me for one night." She threw the baseball bat onto Scott's bed. "Goodnight." She then exited the room. Scott laughed breathily and said goodnight in return. He went to put his stuff down at his desk and I sighed. This was going to be tough.

"What?" Scott asked. He sat down in his office chair.

"My dad got back from the hospital 15 minutes ago," I informed him. "It's the bus driver. They said he succumed to his wounds."

"Succumbed?" Scott echoed. Oh dear, lovable, innocent Scott.

"Scott." I swallowed thickly. "He's dead."

Scott looked away from me, shaking his head ever so slightly. Suddenly he got up and rushed out his bedroom door. I called after him, but he didn't answer or slow down. He walked out of his house and headed in the direction of the woods. I knew exactly where he was going.

"Scott!" I called again. "Scott, he's not worth it. This is exactly what he wants. Don't give him the satisfaction!"

"I have to go," Scott finally answered. "I'm not letting him hurt anymore innocent people." He sped up and there was no way I was going to catch up with him. I stopped chasing after him and watched him go, knowing I was unable to do anything to stop him. I didn't walk back to my car until Scott was completely out of sight. I felt sick to my stomach. Derek killed two people. Even though he wanted Scott in his pack, Scott already proved that he wasn't a killer. What would stop Derek from killing him now? I was so out of it that I forgot to climb back into my room through the window and just used the front door when I got home. I didn't realize my error until my dad came walking downstairs, clearly just out of the shower.

"Well hello young lady," he said crossing his arms. I was already freaking out about Scott. I didn't need my dad to be mad at me too. "Where have you been?"

"I was at Scott's," I said truthfully. "I tried to call him, but he wouldn't answer his phone. I had to tell him about the bus driver. He knew him."

My dad still looked a little disappointed but asked, "How'd he take it?"
"Not well," I answered. "He was really upset." So upset that he was willing to take on a murderous werewolf, in fact. Oh God, if Derek hurt him...

My father could probably see the worry in my eyes because his face softened. "I'm sorry. You do realize there is a curfew, right?"

I nodded my head. "I'm sorry about that. But you know me. Don't live by no rules."

My dad snorted. "I don't want to see this happening again, especially since something's killing people out there."

"I understand," I said. "I'm gonna go to bed. For real this time. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," my dad returned as I bumped his shoulder on the way up the stairs.

I didn't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about Scott confronting Derek. Scott was naive and new to all this werewolf stuff. Derek had killed two people already and had been a werewolf for God knows how long. Scott stood no chance against him. I was on the verge of a panic attack when I got a phone call at midnight. I audibly shrieked with relief when I saw it was Scott. I didn't hesitate to answer.

"Are you alright?" I asked straight away.

"Yeah," he replied, but he sounded shaken up.

"Oh God, what happened."

"Well," Scott said, "you are never gonna believe me."

Oh, fuck. "What?"

"Derek didn't bite me."

I must have misheard him. "Come again?"

"Derek didn't bite me," Scott repeated. "He told me only alpha werewolves have the ability to turn people and he's not an alpha."

"Wait," I said, processing this new information. "If he's not an alpha, then that means-"

"Yep," Scott finished my thought. "There's another werewolf in Beacon Hills."

Well, shit.