Meg buried her face into her pillow, the dark tendrils of her hair disheveled over the cushion.
What did I do wrong?
She pondered sorrowfully. Her mind a mess and her heart heavy.
Everything seemed to be fine until yesterday. After the way Derek had reacted she couldn't even sleep properly—well that was an exaggeration. She did sleep but it took her longer than usual and since she fell asleep unhappily. Her emotions plagued her dreams…turning them into nightmares— Now Meg faced the problem of running into him again, the after all lived under the same roof. She groaned and raised her head a bit to check the time on her wrist watch. It was ten minutes to nine. She woke up at seven. It's been one hour and fifty minutes she laid awake on the bed thinking about what to do. Progress was nonexistent.
And I have to get ready to go to Scott's place in half an hour…urgh!
Exasperated she pounded her face into the pillow a few times before laying face down for another five minutes. Derek's pale fierce eyes and snappy tone kept coming back to her-that was her Hippocampus as work, now she felt queasy and depressed…that was her Amygdala part of her brain. On the plus side, she was brushing up on her biology.
I can't do this forever, this is not me. She reminded herself. She sat up instantly. She faced the window with her legs crossed in a meditative style.
Gosh darn it I am not a coward! But then her determination faded at the thought of facing him, or worse…him completely ignoring her.
"I can't do this." She mumbled and fell back on to the mattress. Her cell phone began to ring. Lazily she reached for it and answered.
"Ollo,"
"Meg its Stiles, just driving over to Scott's, you are coming over today right?" Meg felt herself instantly cheering up at the sound of her friend's usual upbeat tone.
"Yup, I was just about to get dressed, want me to bring anything?" She asked sitting up and crossing her legs in a meditative style again.
"Nah, it's my turn to buy the food, you just show up."
"Alright, next time it's my turn then."
"Sure, see you soon Meg."
"See you!" She hung up before heaving a heavy sigh.
You heard him girlfriend. They are waiting for you to show up. She finally managed to get to her feet and reach for her toothbrush, towel and her change of clothes. She searched to see if the coast was clear of Derek, which it was. Sighing in relief she made her way to the bathroom, her thoughts a tangle.
I guess that means it's a no from Derek. She figured, from the little incident last night and his lack of appearance throughout the day she guessed him to be busy running his own errands or just avoiding her like she was avoiding him, Megra began to wonder how she was going to get to Scott's place without her usual ride.
Meg emerged from the bathroom with a pair of skinny black jeans that she had bought with Erica and a loose blue t-shirt. She had her hair down as usual with her towel, tooth brush and pajamas draped over her arms. She was surprised to find Derek standing in the middle of the large space in his black leather jacket and blue jeans with his broad back facing her. Meg tensed, freezing on the spot.
Several scenarios began to play in her mind on how she will inevitably have to speak to Derek considering he was standing a few feet in front of her. He will probably give her the cold shoulder or worse…snap at her again like he did yesterday. Meg flinched at the thought. Taking slow deep breaths to calm her wildly beating heart she began to walk, heading to her bunk bed.
At the sound of her hurried footsteps Derek turned to face her. Meg froze cursing herself for not being stealthier, his pale grey eyes fell on her and she smiled queasily.
He regarded her appearance for a moment before looking to her face once more. Meg felt her palms begin to sweat.
"Took you long enough, let's go." He stated sternly before turning on his heel and marching to the steel steps. She stared after him highly perplexed and unsure of what to do. As if sensing her lack of response Derek stopped at the landing of the stairs and looked to her.
"Are you coming or not?" He asked. Meg tilted her head to the side with her toiletries still at hand.
"Where are we going?" She inquired with eyes full of confusion.
"To Scott's unless that's cancelled."
"—No it isn't." She noted hesitantly. Derek nodded in acknowledgement and stomped up the steps. Meg figured that was her cue to follow, so she quickly dumped her stuff on to her bed before grabbing her wallet and phone before rushing after Derek.
"Meg!" Scott and Stiles both exclaimed as McCall opened the door. Their female friend stood on the other side with her usually cheerful grin.
"Hey guys!" She exclaimed sending them a small wave.
"I brought a friend, I hope that's okay?" She uttered gesturing to her left, behind the door frame. Scott and Stiles grinned from ear to ear, moving aside to allow her to enter.
"Sure, any friend of yours is a friend of—"Scott's smile fell the instant as the last remaining member of the Hale family stepped out from beside Meg and into the threshold of his house.
"Derek?" Stiles breathed in disbelief. A tense silence lingered in the air which Meg broke with her usually obliviousness.
"I smell cookies!" She yelled out rushing past the three boys and further into the house.
"Hey where is your mom?" Meg asked while munching on a cookie she had found on a dining room table—on a tray of other junk food Scott had bought for the sole purpose of playing games—Scott and Stiles were still recovering from the fact that Derek Hale was in the McCall home. Silent and brooding as usual.
"She isn't done with her shift at the hospital yet. She will be here at around seven-ish." Scott answered as he escorted them up the staircase and into the corridor that led to the bedrooms.
"Oh great, I can meet her then. So how do you guys know Derek gain? You know other than being werewolves." Meg inquired finally sensing the silence between the three boys. Scott, Stiles and Derek exchanged shifty glances before McCall spoke up.
"His uncle was the one who turned me into a werewolf." He said Derek nodded in agreement.
"Oh your uncle is still alive?" She asked surprised. Derek hadn't mentioned that little fact on how Scott had turned.
"Not anymore, but yes he turned Scott here." The alpha answered in his usual stern voice.
"So how is training going?" Stiles asked genuinely curious and instant smile broke out in Meg's pretty face and Derek only glowered.
"Funny you should ask, just a few days ago we—"
"Don't you, dare." Hale snapped, glaring down at Meg who immediately silenced under his piercing gaze.
"Oh come on, it's a great conversation starter." She protested but Derek continued to glower. She rolled her eyes and turned her stare to the wall for a moment.
"WesatonDerekafterpwninghisass." She blurted out quickly before sealing her lips shut once more. Scott and Stiles surprisingly understood her.
"You serious?!" Stiles exclaimed before clutching and stomach and laughing along with Scott. Derek was seething silently and Meg knew she was in for it.
"Save all that rage into defeating me in Mario Cart, if you can. Muwahahahaha" She drawled opening a nearby door to make a classy exit.
"Meg, that's the bathroom."
"Left left, no the other left!"
"There is no other left, will you just shut up!"
"I would if you could drive properly, jeez Hale my grandpa can do better." They all sat on the floor of Scott's room, in front of his television. Meg sat in the middle with Derek on her left and Stiles on her right, Scott sat on Stiles other side. Derek and Scott were currently competing in a game of Mario Cart while Meg and Stiles remained as spectators, munching on a bag of Cheetos.
"Actually he could, remember that time we played that duck hunt game?" Stiles recalled, offering Meg the bag of Cheetos. She took a handful of the cheesy bites.
"Oh yeah…grandpa loved that a little too much."
"At one point he tried to shoot the dog."
"Hey that mutt was irritating!" She exclaimed in defense, Stiles smiled.
"HA! Fail Derek fail! You didn't even make 5th place." Scott suddenly shouted out pointing at the TV screen, taunting Derek. The alpha was calm as usual, though Meg could see his left eyebrow twitching slightly.
"I was going easy on you Scott. It just wouldn't be fair if I was great at everything."
"But you are not great at everything." Meg pointed out. A yelp escaped her lips when Derek abruptly shoved her with his elbow, resulting in her falling back.
"It's our turn now. Let's see how well you do against the reigning champion of Mario Cart." Stiles stated taking the controller from Scott and challenging Meg.
"Calm your tits woman, you haven't even won yet." She stated while clapping away the cheese dust from her hands. Scott laughed out loud as Derek tried to hide a smile that begged to show.
"Did you just tell me to calm my tits?" Stiles echoed, stunned but amused.
"Yeah, because you are a guuuurl." She teased the alpha dead-panned as Scott shook his head in disbelief.
"Sexist towards her own gender…only you Meg only you." He stated as he handed the controller over to her.
"Shut it Hale, you can't even get across the finish line." She snapped, snatching the controller from his grasp. Derek glowered at her.
"Alright ladies, sit back and watch the pro do it." Stiles said smugly before selecting a new track for them to race.
"Hurry Stiles she is catching up!" Scott urged nudging his friend's shoulder. Stiles stared intensely at the TV while guiding his character through the track.
"Quick turn left…turn right, go!" Derek ordered loudly.
"Stop yelling at me, it's just a game." Meg retorted flustered and frustrated.
"We must crush them, quick-turn, go faster woman!"
"How the heck do you go turbo?"
"You need to get one of those shiny power-up thingies." He instructed pointing at the various spinning objects on the screen.
"Go Stiles, you are nearly there!" McCall encouraged all giddy.
"Quick, drop the banana!" Derek stated, which Meg obeyed. The TV emitted a loud popping sound and Scott's eyes widened.
"Stiles watch out!" He warned but Stiles processed the warning a little too late.
"Shit!" He exclaimed twisting his controller on reflex and Meg and Derek both grinned simultaneously when Luigi's vehicle went sliding across the path and off the tracks.
"HA Eat my turtle fart Stilinski!"Meg yelled out gleefully and raced past him, aiming for the finish line.
"Watch out for that." Derek cautioned just before the turtle went driving through the finish line.
"That was close, did you see that? I totally went Tokyo-drift on that son of a biscuit." She stated proudly—referring to that strange bowling ball that acted like a guard dog—before looking to her opponent who seemed to want the earth to swallow him whole.
"Ha-ha, you suck, go back to fixing pipes."
"I see you are one of those intense gamers." Stiles mumbled pathetically. Meg laughed maniacally.
"The only thing intense here is your urge to cry, loser boy!"
"She is so mean, someone should take the controller." Scott stated, Meg recoiled. Her back bumped against Derek's hard chest. She hugged the controller to her body like cradling a baby.
"NO, MY CONTROLLER…MINE." She hissed Derek rolled his eyes. Scott opened his mouth to retort when the sound of a door opening down stairs startled his sensitive ears. His eyes widened when he immediately recognized the footsteps.
"Guys my mom is home!" He exclaimed shooting up to his feet.
"Great! Let's go see her." Meg suggested enthusiastically, standing up as well.
"Yeah but I am not so sure how she would feel about Derek being here." Scott mumbled almost like he didn't want to.
"Oh right, he has a point." Stiles agreed. All eyes fell on Hale who felt awkward under their ogling.
"I'll just sneak out the window." He suggested about to leave when Meg suddenly reached out and grasped his forearm.
"What Why?" She inquired her eyes wide and confused. Scott and Stiles exchanged astonished glances while looking at Meg practically clutch Derek's arm, as if silently begging him to stay. They knew Derek was equally surprised by her, Meg on the other hand was immediately saddened at the fact that Derek is forced to leave. They were having so much fun together and Scott, Stiles and the alpha were finally getting along…she didn't want it to end.
"I have some stuff I need to do, I'll be back to pick you up." Derek was surprised how gentle and assuring he sounded. Her alarmed expression softened he was pleased that he got through to her. Even more by the fact that she would be missing him when he leaves.
"Okay, bye then." She muttered reluctantly under her breath. He began to wonder how just by the tone of her voice and the fawn-like look in her eyes could just want him to stay. Despite what Mrs. McCall might think.
"See ya Derek." Scott stated as Stiles nodded in acknowledgement. Derek looked to their way, nodded and then hopped out the nearby window just as the bedroom door knob twisted.
"Scott, Stiles?" Mrs. McCall inquired. Stepping into the room all worn out from her shift.
"Mom hey!" Scott greeted walking up to his mother and giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek, but her attention was focused on the girl in the room.
"Mrs McCall!" Meg exclaimed happily and rushed up to the unsuspecting nurse before enveloping her in a hug.
"Oh my gosh, Megra is that you?" Melissa breathed. Her voice full of disbelief as she returned Megra's hug.
"You have grown up so much and so gorgeous too!" She noted holding Meg at an arms length and allowing her time to take in the young girl's appearance.
"Me? Look at you, how do you stay so young and attractive?"
"Oh stop it…go on." Melissa giggled waving her hand dismissively. Scott rolled his eyes at his mother's antics.
"Scott's told me about you arriving here. It was nice to see a familiar face again after such a long time."
"Yeah I know same here."
"Well we will talk once I finish making dinner." Melissa said, attempting to leave.
"Oh hey we can help." Megra suggested, this grabbed the two teenage boys' attentions.
"Uh…what?" Stiles and Scott both spoke out in unison.
"What, its fun to cook together! Come on lets go help your mom." Meg retorted with a casual shrug and a hapless smile. Melissa looked like she was at the brink of tears.
"Such a sweetheart as always, you should come over more often." The nurse stated gently nudging Megra in the shoulder.
"Yeah…suck up." Stiles grumbled from beside her. Meg heard and shot a playful glare his way.
"Mom, are you sure you want to kill Meg? I mean she just got here a month ago." Scott protested, Melissa gave him a flat-look. She was not amused by his insinuation. Meg and Stiles shook their head pitifully.
"I wouldn't be surprised if a knife accidentally missed the chicken and went through him." She whispered to Stiles who chuckled and nodded in agreement.
"Yeah…not like it would kill him right?" He pointed out, she couldn't resist the urge to snicker. Scott narrowed his brown eyes in their direction, wondering what all the hushed talking was about.
Derek drove away, though he was lost in his own thoughts. He was replaying the events that happened a few moments ago. He was amazed by how much had actually enjoyed hanging out with Scott, Stiles and Meg. He had come expecting tension and angst, of course that was present but Meg managed to soothe all of it away by just being herself and being there.
"What, why?"
Her large amber eyes glittering in confusion flashed in his mind, they way they silently pleaded up at him, begging him to stay, it was undoing. Derek felt flustered by the emotions he felt so intensely for just this one girl. He had never felt this way before, maybe because he hadn't fought this hard not to. Feelings meant weakness and weakness always led to pain… but why did giving into her kindness and gentle heart sound so right?
"Oh it was so nice having you over Megra, as always." Melissa stated with her usual dazzling smile. Meg returned it when a grin of her own and hugged Scott's mom. They were all standing at the threshold of the house. They had all just eaten a very hearty dinner and it was time to say goodbye.
"Thanks Mrs. McCall, it was fun."
"How are you getting home?" Mrs. McCall asked in concern. Scott, Stiles and Megra all exchanged shifty stares before Stiles quickly stepped in.
"I'll be dropping her off. Don't worry she is in good hands." But Scott and Stiles both knew Derek wouldn't let that happen. He was probably waiting outside for her right now.
"Hmm, I am sure." Melissa murmured skeptically, Stiles dead-panned.
"Good night you guys, I am heading to bed." She said before making her way to the steps
"Good night Mrs. McCall." The teens said in unison as Melissa flashed them all one last smile before heading up the steps.
"Well this was fun we should do it again." Megra stated with much enthusiasm. Stiles and Scott returned her smile.
"Definitely."
"And next time I am bringing the food."
"And Derek." Stiles added, Meg didn't like his sly tone of voice.
"What's wrong with that? You gotta admit it went better than you thought right?" She retorted defensively.
"Yes, because he was too busy flirting with you." Scott replied, she gaped a blush rising to her cheeks.
"Whaat? Derek and I were not flirting. Besides he doesn't even flirt."
"Yeah he does, I've seen him do it, and the man is the Chuck Norris of flirting." Stiles pointed out. Meg tensed and looked to him with wide eyes.
"Y-you've seen him flirt?" She stuttered out, trying to seem unconcerned but failed miserably.
"Does that bother you?" Scott inquired with a pinch at the corner of his lips.
"Pfft no!"
"Meg…"
"What?"
"Derek is bad news—"
"Scott I am not flirting with him, seriously what is with you guys?" Meg snapped crossing her arms defensively "So what if I like him? He isn't that bad you have to admit."
"Yeah around you." Stiles exclaimed waving his arms around animatedly.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I told you Meg, you can't trust him, and Derek always has an ulterior motive." Scott tried to explain a lot calmer than Stiles was but she was still taken back and insulted by the hard look in his brown eyes.
"I am leaving." She muttered turning to open the door. Scott tried to reach out and stop her but at the contact she spun around instantly and pasted herself against the back of the door.
"Don't." She warned. Stiles and Scott instinctively took a step back, sensing her seething rage.
"I wanted Derek to come along, in fact I asked him to because I wanted him to get along with two people I considered very precious to me, and you two just throw it on my face."
"Meg you have to understand we—"McCall tired to reason but Meg cut him off.
"Derek isn't the one responsible for throwing a rift between us, you two are doing that all on your own." Meg was surprised by the harshness in her voice, even more by how easily she had lost her temper. She never lost control of her anger but they began to push her buttons. Meg had to admit that when it came to Derek, she had a clear weak spot. Without another word she opened the door and walked out into the cool dark night.
Stiles and Scott stared the closed door speechlessly. Scott feeling more guilty and ashamed than Stiles did.
"We did it now." He mumbled under his breath and Stiles nodded in agreement.
"Urgh, I can't believe those two." Meg growled kicking at the grass beneath her feet. She took a few moments to calm herself beside a bush next to Scott's home. She had half the mind to rush back in an apologize for blowing up the way she did but at the same time she felt so much resentment and disappointment. She expected more from Scott and Stiles.
Then she began to wonder what she was doing picking a fight with them –two friends that she had known since she was a little girl—over Derek. Someone she got to know only two months ago—Meg had come to the conclusion that her life was complicated.
"Meg over here." She looked up from glaring at the pavement and across the road where Derek was. He had parked his Chevy and was trying to grab Meg's attention from within the car. She started stunned, she didn't even notice him there.
"Derek, you are already here." She rushed over and got into the passenger seat. Derek gave her a look that seemed to question her IQ.
"You didn't expect me to let you walk home did you?" He didn't wait for an answer when he immediately noticed the furrowing of her eyebrows and the slight frown on her lips.
"What's wrong?" He asked. Meg's expression softened to one of surprise at his observation, but she turned away instantly and sank into the leather seat.
"Nothing, let's just go home." She mumbled. Derek didn't ask her any further questions and just started up the engine and drove onto the road. There was a moment of silence which he found uncomfortable. Which was strange considering he basked in silence, but the fact that Meg was irked him.
"Should I be worried?" He inquired not taking his eyes off the road.
"Worried about what?" Meg asked a huge smile stretched across her face. Derek glanced down at her. Taking note of her glittering eyes and wavering smile.
"You look like you are about to burst into tears." He said. Meg huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I do not, you are exaggerating." She retorted defensively before stillness took over the interior of the car again.
"So…are you going to tell me about what happened?" He was amazed at how probing he was today, but he figured that's how concern worked…you keep asking until you find out the source of the trouble.
"I don't like to rant about people I consider friends." She mumbled.
"What about ranting to a friend about a friend?"
"You consider us friends." Her tone changed instantly to one of astonishment. Derek cursed under his breath.
"I didn't say that—"
"Yes you did, you hinted that you consider us friends." She cut in, grinning like a child who just got offered a bag of candy. Derek looked to her smiling face and found the internal storm in his head calming.
"Why are you so happy about it?" He asked trying to seem like he was annoyed by her ecstatic expression. Her smile only widened.
"I didn't really know what you considered me to be, other than freeloader."
"If you don't like it then—"
"NO I do…I want to be considered your friend." She said softly. He relaxed before another wave of silence took over, but this time the roles were reversed. Meg was smiling silently and Derek was pondering what to say.
"I don't have many." He suddenly added.
"I figured." She retorted.
"It doesn't mean I trust you." He warned.
"That's fine. Friend is a level up from that-girl-who-sleeps-on-the-rickety-ole-bed" Her optimism was uncanny, admirably so.
"Why did you come today?" It was her turn to ask the question this time. Derek didn't know how to answer but Meg mistook it for her lack of specification.
"I mean I figured there was some tension between you and them, which was why I was surprised you—"
"Did you want me to come?" He cut in.
"Well yeah but—"
"Then what other reason is there?"
Meg blinked, absorbing his words like a sponge…what was he saying? He came just to please her? She forced herself to stop staring at Derek and at the windshield instead, but her heart was pounding so fast. She could only pray that Derek wasn't listening to it with that supernatural hearing of his. She tried her best to prevent the smile from showing but it was hard. Especially when all the fears she had in the morning were soothed away by just those words that left his lips. He did care…he does care…and that was all that mattered.
Derek found it excessively difficult to focus on the road when Meg was smiling so brightly, but he was pleased with himself. He felt like he had finally done something right, he didn't feel as guilty as he felt last night. He made her smile again, even when she was in such a bad mood after Scott's place. He still wanted to know what they had said or done to get Meg of all people upset.
"Did you eat dinner? I am starving." He said, breaking through the silence again. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked to him, replaying his words in her head.
"Yeah I did but I still have room for dessert." Derek crescent fell and shook his head in disbelief.
"Unbelievable." He muttered under his breath as a small smirk wormed its way on to his lips. Meg sighed fretfully and nodded in agreement.
"I know I've been eating a lot ever since I became a werewolf." She mumbled patting her flat stomach.
"Plus I am storing for tomorrow when you decide to work me to the bone again." She included with a happy grin. The alpha rolled his eyes and made a left to head towards a nearby restaurant.