A/N: I don't own anything, except for the characters I've created. Also, English isn't my native language so throughout the story there might be some grammar mistakes or words that are used incorrectly.

Chapter Six

It turned out Jackson might have a dislocated shoulder, which put Saturday's game in jeopardy. He was currently sitting on the bench, clutching his injured shoulder with all the guys from the team standing around him, looking like they didn't know what to do with themselves. The anger radiating from their captain was clearly making them uncomfortable by their absolute silence as well as the fleeting glances they were sending each other.

The only ones from the team that weren't there was Scott and Stiles, but Candice figured that it was probably a good thing, considering it was Scott who'd smacked Jackson down. If the sophomore hadn't been on Jackson's shit list before, he would definitely find himself there now.

Coach Finstock was talking to the school nurse a few feet away, but they could all still hear what was being said between them. Their coach didn't even make an attempt to hide his concern for the sake of his players about their chances to win in the upcoming game if Jackson would have to sit this one out. The nurse didn't do much to ease their worry either.

Candice gave Luke's hand a gentle squeeze, knowing he was silently panicking over the prospect of Jackson not being able to play in Saturday's game as much as the rest of them.

He smiled appreciatively down at her and sighed. "I think I'm gonna take Jackson to the hospital to have them examine his shoulder. Maybe they can prescribe him something so that he'll be fine to play."

"Okay," Candice said, nodding.

"It might be a while, but would it be all right if I came over afterwards?"

"Sure," she replied. "I don't know how much fun I'll be though. I have some homework I need to get done."

"That's fine, I don't mind. I might be of some help even."

Candice huffed a laugh because that was seriously doubtful and Luke knew it. School had never really been his thing, and the only real chance he had of getting accepted to a college despite his grades was a lacrosse scholarship. "Funny. But I guess I'll see you later."

She gave his hand another squeeze before letting it go and shifting her attention to the team captain. "Feel better, Jackson," she wished him, hiding an amused smile behind her hand when she only received a grumpy nod in return.

Candice caught herself searchingly looking around at her surroundings as she crossed the school parking lot to her car. She realized she was checking to see if a certain someone in a leather jacket was still around somewhere and felt a tinge of disappointment that he'd already left. She hadn't had a single conversation with the guy but for some reason he intrigued her. She frowned at herself and shook her head to clear her thoughts.

She got into her car and left the parking lot but decided to make a quick stop at a gas station on her way home. She pulled into a parking space and turned the engine off.

As she was making her way towards the small convenience store, Candice caught sight of a familiar black Camaro parked next to the gas pumps. The glass door to the store swung open just as she reached it and she came face-to-chest with the owner of the racy car.

"Hey."

She lifted her gaze and locked eyes with him. "Uh, hi."

Derek stepped aside and continued to hold the door open for her.

"Thank you," Candice said and slipped passed him. "So, uh," she began in a lame attempt to spring up a conversation with him. She forgot what she had been about to say however when she turned around to face him again and his back was already turned and he was walking away from her. The door closed and she was left watching him through the window as he got into his car without so much as a glance back at her.

She felt her face heat up, embarrassed for thinking he would be interested in having a conversation with her, but even more embarrassed when she noticed the kid behind the counter giving her a pitiful look. She lowered her head a little and let her hair fall across her shoulder and hide her blush as she went over and grabbed a granola bar. She quickly paid for it and then she was out of there.

The house was empty when Candice came home. Both her parents were still at work, and Malcolm had said something that morning about going over to his friend Brian's house after school.

She went upstairs and into her room, and the first thing she did was connect the Bluetooth on her phone to her Marshall speaker. She chose a playlist that fitted well with her mood and the first song that came on was 5 Years Time by Noah and the Whale.

She opened her textbooks and logged in on her laptop, and by the time Luke texted that he was on his way over she was halfway done with her paper.

"Stop stressing," she told him, clicking the save button before getting up from her MALM desk and crossing the room to him where he was sitting on the edge of her bed.

It had been nearly twenty minutes since he rang the doorbell and he still hadn't been able to let go of his worry.

"It'll be fine," she stressed, stepping between his legs, and easing his hands away from his face before lifting his chin to make him look up at her. "I'm sure Jackson will be able to play in the game. But, you know, even if he wouldn't be, you still might be able to win."

Luke huffed, bemused. "Yeah, might." He turned his head a little and pressed his lips to the palm of her hand, his frown slowly dissolving into a sly smirk. He gave her other hand a little tug and she smiled as she let herself fall flush against him until his back hit the mattress. She felt his fingers vow into her hair as she straddled him and placed her hands on his chest to help her balance.

He stared up at her with a sort of wicked smile. "How long did you say we have the house for ourselves for again?"

"About an hour." She dipped her head and brushed her lips against his in a teasing manner, arching her neck when his fingers tightened in her hair. He rolled them over and closed the minimal distance between them, releasing her hair and slipping his hands underneath her shirt as her lips parted against his.

"So, how was school today?"

Candice looked up from the pot roast on her plate and met her mother's eyes across the dinner table and shrugged her shoulders. "Uneventful," she replied, not wanting to get into anything.

Renée shifted her attention to Luke in the seat on the right of Candice. "Well, how's lacrosse coming on, Luke? I look forward to seeing you play in the first game of the season."

"Thank you, ma'am," Luke said politely. "Lacrosse is… lacrosse. Jackson Whittemore dislocated his shoulder today at practice, but I'm trying to stay optimistic that he'll still be good to play."

"Oh, no." Renée took a sip of her red wine and set the glass back down on the coaster. "I'm so sorry to hear that."

Luke nodded somberly and took a bite from the food on his plate.

"I can come to the game too, right?" Malcolm asked their mother from his seat next to her.

"Of course," Renée told him, smiling at her youngest. "We'll go together, all three of us."

Candice froze. "Not four?"

Renée inhaled sharply and her smile wavered, a sign that showed she was really having to apply herself to keep her composure in front of Luke and Malcolm. "Your father has to work."

"On a Saturday night?"

"Yes," she hissed, giving Candice a hard look and she knew it was a good idea to stop pushing the subject. "Sometimes your father has to work after business hours and it so happens that he has to work on Saturday and won't make it to see the game."

Candice glanced over at Luke when she felt him pat her thigh under the table. "It's okay," he said to her. "Your dad's probably been to more of my games in the past two years that we've been together than my own pop ever has."

She laid a hand on top of his and half-smiled. Luke had no reason to doubt her father's whereabouts since she never confided in him after she found out the truth. So of course, Luke would assume she was making a deal out of her dad having to work because she wanted him to see her boyfriend's lacrosse game with the rest of her family. In that moment, Candice also felt bad because she knew Luke wanted nothing more than to make his dad proud, yet Mr. Reyes had never showed an interest in seeing his son play the game he loved.

"This meatloaf tastes great, Mom!" Malcolm blurted, breaking the weird silence that had fallen around the dinner table and effectively changing the subject.

"Well, I'm full," Luke announced after they all were done eating. He stood from his chair and everyone else did the same as well. "Thank you, Mrs. Atkinson, for inviting me to stay for dinner. It was lovely as always."

"Oh, you're very welcome, Luke," Renée replied as she began to clear away the dishes. "Be sure to say hi to your mom for me."

"I will."

Candice walked him to the front door. "I'll see you tomorrow in school."

He leaned in and kissed her before he stepped back and turned the door handle. She followed him out to the porch and watched him jog down to his car, which stood parked behind hers on the driveway. He waved as he got in behind the wheel and she waved back. Then she went back inside the house and helped her mother and little brother clean up after dinner.

A couple of hours later, Candice descended the stairs, sporting her black running tights and neon yellow long-sleeved shirt.

"Mom, I'm going for a run!" she shouted through the house as she tried to untangle her earphones.

"Oh, a-all right," her mother said with a shaky voice, coming into the foyer with her arms loosely crossed over her chest and a deep look of worry on her face.

Candice frowned at her. "I'll be careful."

"Hm mm," she said, nodding, and uncrossed her arms only to cross them again a moment later. "I know you will, sweetie."

"I'll be back in an hour or two," Candice informed her mother when she finally had managed to untangle the earphones. "I promise," she added and gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek before turning around and leaving through the front door.

Candice jumped into her car and drove to the Beacon Hills Preserve and as per usual the parking lot was clear of other cars.

She had hesitated coming back to the woods since she could've just gone for a run around the neighborhood, but she had always preferred this trail and she figured it could be sort of therapeutic to return after the traumatic night she'd had there just about a little over a week ago.

She put her earphones in and put on an upbeat playlist she had created specifically for her to listen to during her runs. The music filled her ears as she started running the trail with only the dim light from the street lamps lightening her way. She almost immediately felt a sense of panic building up within her as she was all too aware that with every step she took she was getting closer and closer to the scene where she and Reed had found the body.

Despite the dread she was feeling in that moment, Candice still didn't regret coming out to the woods. She could only guess it was because in a twisted way she felt like she deserved to feel that pain. A big part of her was convinced she wore the blame for her cousin's disappearance because she should've tried harder to stop her from returning to the woods that night.

Her steps faltered as she reached the scene. She paused the music and took out her earphones as she stood frozen to the ground, her eyes fixed on the exact spot the girl's body had been hidden behind a branch. Time passed and she didn't realize she was crying until she heard the snap of a twig.

She wiped her hand across her cheeks and looked around but couldn't see anyone. "Who's there?"

A dark silhouette started approaching her and she instinctively backed up a step and felt her heartbeat speed up.

"It's all right," a voice she recognized said. "It's me."

Her shoulders instantly sagged in relief and she pressed a hand to her chest. "Derek? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he retorted, coming to a stop a few feet in front of her. He buried his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. "I'm sorry if I scared you."

"It's okay." There's just a murderous maniac on the loose. "So?"

"I grew up close by and used to wander through the woods a lot as a kid," he explained. "I've lived in New York for the past six years, and I have to say, Central Park just doesn't do it for me."

"What are you doing back?" Candice asked him curiously, feeling the panic within her from before subduing into nothing.

He was quiet for a moment, seeming to hesitate whether he should tell her. Candice started worrying if she'd overstepped and was about to apologize when he apparently decided he was in a sharing mood after all.

"My sister, Laura, returned to Beacon Hills a while back, and when I stopped being able to reach her on her cell, I jumped on the next flight."

"She was fine though, right?"

Derek looked away and was quiet again for a moment before he said, "It's late and it isn't safe out here. Come on, I'll walk you back to your car."

He strode passed her, expecting her to follow him, but she lingered behind, lost in her own head. Candice thought about his disclination to answer her rather simple question, and feared it could have something to do with the Jane Doe they'd found, just a few feet away from where she was standing. She snapped herself out of it a moment later and jogged up to him and fell into step beside him.

He opened the car door for her but she hesitated to get in at first. Just as she was about to however, he stopped her.

"Hand me your phone?"

She removed it from her running armband and gave it to him. He pressed the home button and showed her the screen.

"It's password protected."

"Right," she muttered, and put in the code. "There."

She tucked some of her hair behind her ear as she watched him program his phone number into her cell.

He gave her phone back to her and cleared his throat. "Have a good night," he wished her before turning on his heels and walking back into the woods.