CHAPTER FIVE: SEASON ONE: PACK MENTALITY/NIGHT SCHOOL

And there's a storm you're starting now

And there's a storm you're starting now

And there's a storm you're starting

Halsey

As I lock the front door behind me a rush of fear courses through my veins. Mom is screaming upstairs, and I hear something knock over. Scott is gone in a blink of an eye.

I dart up after and find Mom in her robe, her tight curls in disarray from sleep, and holding a wooden bat in her hand. There is a kid around Scott's age crouching on his bed with a hand held out in defense.

"Can you please tell your friend to use the front door?" Mom all but begs as she drops the bat in the corner of Scott's room.

"But we lock the front door. He wouldn't be able to get in," Scott whines. Said kid throws his hands out in a "see!" motion.

"Yeah, exactly." Mom meets my stare with a lock of disbelief. Then she rounds back on the two teenagers. "Do either of you care that there is a police-enforced curfew?"

Both say, "No."

I snort. "Well, Scott's accounted for. He was with me and I'm over eighteen, therefore, he's fine."

Mom sighs, "What about last night, Scott? You weren't home before curfew."

"I was busy!"

"You know what? I'm done." She throws up her hands and leaves the room in a huff, but not before pressing a swift kiss to my cheek.

My eyes find the buzzed cut teens wide amber eyes. He's blinking at me like it's the first time he's ever seen me. It takes me a moment to recall this as Scott's best friend from childhood. I couldn't forget those big doe eyes if you paid me. And honestly, I would take the money to forget them. But it's hard to forget someone so… loquacious. "Hey… Stiles? That's what you're going by now?" I ask with a cheeky grin.

He beams a wide happy smile. "Yeah! It's nice to see you Haldey!"

"It's nice to see you too. You've gotten rather tall."

"Thanks. You've gotten rather… blue?"

I run a hand through my hair. "So I've been told."

Scott and Stiles share a look. I wave my hand. "Well, I'll let you guys hang or whatever teenagers do these days-"

"Haldey. You're still a teenager for like another year and a half," Scott points out.

I shrug. "Whatever, shrimp. Have fun. Night!"

My body flops onto my bed and I'm giddy as I think of the events that transpired today with Derek Hale. I should not be as happy as I am to have had sexual intercourse with a convicted felon in the backseat of my car. Maybe I just don't see him as half-bad. So? He's a little broody and stoic, but he seems intriguing.

Maybe I just like trouble.

How is he supposed to apparently see me again anyway? He didn't even ask for my number. My mood plummets quickly as I think of this. I really need to stop getting my hopes up for guys like this. Or guys that like me. Guys that like me usually aren't the type any decent girl wants sticking around anyway.

I'm not the kind of girl good guys want around.

I rub my hands nervously over my face. fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck. I want my mind to be blank, it needs to be blank.

Scott. Mom. Scott. Mom. Scott.

I climb out of bed and make my way to Scott's room hoping he would distract me. The room is empty and I scoff. Five minutes at most have passed since I walked into my bedroom, seriously.

"Fucking kid. Didn't Mom just say something about a curfew?" I grumble under my breath.

His bedroom window is wide open, the blinds fluttering through the breeze. I dart over the window to look around to see if maybe he is still trying to climb down or something, but he's nowhere.

Pot. Scott said pot is okay. Right? Right. I can smoke.

I reach for the grinder and a glass bowl hidden underneath my bed. The cigarillos I only use for on-the-go situations.

Double checking to make sure Mom is asleep, which I can hear her soft snores through the bedroom door, I go outside into the backyard. I sit on the lawn chair and light a bowl. It's quiet outside, calming. I'm shivering, but that's okay. Outside feels as cold as it does inside MY HEART. Hah, just kidding. I frown. Or maybe not?

I light the bowl and push those thoughts to the back of my head. I'm not in high school anymore. I don't have time for that emo shit. I'm an adult. I'm not allowed to be depressed, I'm not allowed to wallow in self-pity, and I should probably get a job to occupy my time more productively.

There's a noise coming from the bushes in the backyard. I stand shakily to my feet and glare. It's most likely a raccoon, but those little bastards are vicious. And I'm way too high to fight with a wild beast at the moment. My motor functions are off.

"Go away!" I shout angrily. "Stay out of the garbages! The foods old and icky, you don't want it!"

Something growls.

I stumble towards the screen door cursing, "Shit."

A flash of red catches my eyes and I swear they look like two balls of glowing fire. I slam the screen door behind me and lock it. For good measure I push three of the kitchen chairs in front of it.

"Take that, bitch!" I grumble, yet I feel slightly victorious at my makeshift barrier. "Stupid raccoons."

"Haldey?"

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" I scream at the sudden voice in my ear. I smack a muscled arm that belongs to my younger brother. "Scott McCall! What in the hell do you think you are doing?"

He holds up his hands sheepishly. "Sorry? What were you doing outside?"

I frown. "Getting high."

Scott purses his lips.

"On, you know, marijuana."

"You shouldn't be outside this late…"

"Neither should you, Mr. Curfew!"

He rolls his eyes. "I had something to take care of."

"Oh yeah? What's so important for a sixteen-year-old boy to do outside this late on a school night?"

"Nothing."

"I thought it was something?"

Scott breathes deeply. "Whatever. You're just high, go to bed."

"Fuck you!" I shove his shoulder. "I should tell Mom you were outside this late."

"And I should tell Mom you're getting high in the back yard!"

"Whatever! Just go to bed. Fucking asshole."

"I'm the asshole?" Scott laughs sarcastically. "That's great. I see Dad rubbed off on you over the years."

The palm of my hand connects with Scott's cheek before I can stop myself.

The smack is way harder than I intend to, but softer than I wish. And something I shouldn't have done to begin with. Scott's gaping at me. I know it didn't hurt him. Not physically, but that doesn't mean it's okay. Especially as I am all too familiar with the unsettling reminder of a man's fist connecting with my cheek.

"Scott…" I want to apologize, but I can't think of any words good enough. "You don't know half the shit you're talking about. You-you don't know what I've been through with him, with Jacob. You…" wouldn't understand. Wouldn't look at me the same way again. Would see how weak I really am.

I dart around him and into my bedroom. The tears come quickly, but I wipe them away. I climb under the covers of my bed and let the nightmares consume me. They are what I deserve.

Scott and I don't talk the next day.

Mom is at work so I don't talk to her either.

I debate for an hour about going over to Derek's, but I don't feel like moving. Instead I sit in my room staring at a picture of Jacob and me while I take that stupid white pill. I don't feel as guilty since no one is around to witness it.

I thought I was all cried out from the accident a couple weeks ago. Numb from the pill. I am wrong. I cry for hours until I think I might've emptied all the water weight I have, but then more tears come. I convince myself to drink a lot of water as I hallucinate that my body will dehydrate into just bones, and then I think of what Mom will do if she finds me like that. I'm kinda angry at Scott, so I hope he'd be the one to find me and not her. Mom doesn't deserve that. Then I feel terrible for thinking Scott does, because he doesn't. He just doesn't know.

Nobody knows.

The next day I skip on the pill. Scott is at school. Mom is at work.

When I go the bathroom and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror I decide to make a trip to the store. The teal from my hair is starting to fade from weeks of washing it out. I go to the nearest drugstore and pick up the cheapest teal hair color they have.

I go home and brighten my hair. I smile when I see the new and improved color. It makes me feel happy for a brief moment that I don't look like the wreck I feel inside. At least, I don't think I look like a wreck.

Maybe I do. No one else seems to like my blue hair. Other than Derek.

I decide I want to see him.

But then I think it's too soon. I get sad thinking about how I'll come off as a stalker. I take a pain killer instead of my favorite pill, and I fall asleep.

"Hey sweetie."

I blink open my eyes to stare up at my mom. She's smoothing my hair back from my forehead with a worried frown.

"Sup?"

She licks her lips. "You've been inside for a few days. Why don't you go out?"

"Go out where?"

She shrugs. "The mall?"

I laugh. I don't have any money. "I'm okay."

"Want me to call off work? I'll call off. I'll tell them it's a family emergency and that-"

I cut her off with a grin, "-I actually have plans today."

"What? Really?"

"Yeah. I met a friend."

"What's their name?"

Shit. "Derek." Shit. Why did I do that?

"Derek, huh?"

"Yeah, um… Derek… Smith? Derek Smith. He's very nice."

"You should invite him over sometime."

I wave her off with a sheepish grin. "He works a lot of odd hours…"

"Is he a potential boyfriend?"

I snort. "Not likely."

Mom laughs at my response. "Okay. Well. Be careful."

"Don't worry Mom. I've got condoms."

She places a hand to her forehead. "Oh god. Oh no. I changed my mind. Stay inside."

"I'm kidding…"

"Yeah," she laughs in disbelief. "Okay. Whatever you say."

"I love you Mom."

"I love you, too."

"Tonight is Scott's parent teacher conference," Mom informs me as she stands up from the bed. "It's at seven. I work until five. If for some reason I'm held up do you think you can sub in for me?"

"Ugh, sure?"

She laughs. "Thanks. I'll call and let you know. Have fun with Derek."

Fuck.

My alarm clock is blinking angry red numbers informing me I slept most of my morning away. It's later in the afternoon and school for Scott should be out in a couple hours. I pick myself up out of my bed and force myself to see Derek. At least if he thought I am clingy he can get rid of me faster.

I slide on clean faded jeans, a gray baggy sweater that drooped off one shoulder, and my beat up high tops. I also roll a blunt incase Derek might want one.

The trek to his house (when did I start referring to it as Derek's in my head instead of the Hale house?) is wet and muddy. I glare as it coats my converse. Not like they aren't already in rough shape, but they are still my favorite.

I hop up the porch steps and raise a fist to knock, but the red door swings open. I'm confronted with a shirtless, sweaty, muscular (mouth watering) Derek. Beads of sweat trickle down his forehead and over his throat, and I notice how he swallows and his Adam's apple bobs.

Oh god.

He smirks, eyes staring down at me.

"Hey," I greet with a nervous smile.

Derek mimics in his deep throaty voice, "Hey."

"I don't know why I'm here."

He chuckles, "Why am I not surprised?" Then he holds open the door. "Come on in."

I step inside carefully. The interior is mostly vacant, unless you call the dust furniture.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Derek runs a hand over his face to wipe away the sweat. "You're going to anyway."

I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing at the momentary irritation he lets shine through. "Why are you staying here? Why not a motel or something?"

"I wasn't planning on staying long."

"But you clearly are staying longer than intended."

"Does it bother you?" he asks.

"No… but… if things ever get bad. Like the weather, or something, you can sneak into my room."

Derek raises a brow. "You're offering to harbor a convicted murderer in your bedroom?"

"Accused," I correct him with a wink. "Mom and Scott are never home anyway. It's not like they would notice."

He takes a few steps towards me. "I might take you up on that offer sometime."

I watch the dazzling shine of his chest mesmerized and manage to get out, "Please do."

Derek's lips are on mine. His large hands squeeze at my ass to lift me, my legs wrap around his waist, and my nails dig into his shoulders. I'm about to grind my pelvis along his when he abruptly shoves me off of him. I run a hand through my hair nervously as I watch Derek narrow his eyes at the front door.

He lowers his head so that we are eye level. I'm staring wide eyed into Derek's very serious mossy eyes. "I need you to run out the back door and keep running. I'll catch up to you. Do not turn around, do not stop."

"Wh-"

"NOW!" he shouts, and he pushes me in the direction of the back of the house. "I'll hold them off, run Halden!"

Hold who off?

I do as Derek says. I'm not running really fast because I'm confused. I keep it a light jog as I continue to glance back at the burnt out shell of a house.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The recognizable pop's of bullets going off increased my pace. A part of me wants to turn around and run back to check on Derek, but he told me to keep on running?

I can call the cops while I run? I glance at my phone. I have no reception to call the cops.

I decide to run a bit farther and hide behind a tree. If he doesn't come within the next ten minutes I'm going back for him.

My stomach tightens. How long has it been? Five minutes? Ten? Twenty?

I check my phone. One minute.

Shit.

OMG. You guys are seriously the greatest with how much love you are giving this story. UGH! Love you! SO MUCH. 12 comments for one chapter (shitting myself with happiness/ew that's gross)!

megladon1616: #HAREK - yep. totally ship them :D YAY SMUT!

WickedlyMinx: LOL yay smut! (Everyone Loves Smut)

xXbriannaXx: i don't think being high for a werewolf would last for very long, but getting high literally takes within seconds to minutes to hit ya. so i figure it'll be more instant and they would be able to feel it. or, maybe it's an herb that can effect them the same way for humans as does mistletoe & wolfsbane (since both our poisonous to humans). IDK. i thought a lot on it haha. oh definitely! i feel like most fics it's the slow burn the opposite way. it's usually a build up to love and then it builds up to sex. while this builds up sex first then a trust and finally love (or NOT?) haha. ugh! you got me thinking about how i plan to introduce her to werewolves & how she will react to derek using her!

High Guardian: THANKS! :D

Nathalie94: We will definitely see a jealous Derek in the future! :)

Teen Wolf Trash: I know how you feel! Like, I love our current Scott starting season 3+, but he grew so much to become him. Unfortunately, we are just gonna have to put up with Scott being a whiney baby for a little bit! But through all the petty fights Halden & Scott will end up having a greater relationship.

MaxineHale: haha yes! i actually wrote a Derek POV chapter in the future!

Guest: THANKS! LOVE!

Guest: I wonder. Maybe we will one day learn what Derek was thinking at that moment. It appears to me it comes off more of as a lust filled think. Kinda taking advantage of her.

Guest: hot damn!

Guest: HERE IS MORE :)

Sarah: :D

IMPORTANT QUESTION GUYS: When do you think Halden should discover werewolves are real? Season 1 or Season 2?