Chapter 6
First Date
"What do you think about this?" Allison asked Riley coming out of the changing room.
Riley looked up from the magazine, "I thinking, 'how is this fun watching you try on clothes?' I thought we were just window shopping and getting a pretzel," she said.
"We can still get a pretzel. I thought we were having fun. You can try on clothes too," Allison replied looking into the mirror, "I don't know if Scott will like this color."
"Oh, I see, this whole outing was to find an outfit for Scott," Riley accused, "You could have easily done with on your own."
"It's more fun clothes shopping when you have someone with you," Allison said.
Riley laughed, "Says you."
"Why don't you try on something?" she looked around, "Try on that red dress."
Riley looked to see what she pointed at. The red dress was knee length but had no sleeves, "I think I'll pass."
Allison spoke softly, "Is it because it has no sleeves?"
Riley held eye contact with Allison for a few seconds, "You are going to look great in whatever you decide to buy for Scott. He's not going to care what you have on because he's going to be with you," she said as she bent over to get her bag, "I'm going to get that pretzel now. Meet you there."
Allison stopped her, "I'm sorry if I upset you…I just don't know really anything about you. At school they say…I just want to be your friend."
Riley stood up and looked at her. She sighed and pulled down her shirt from the top to reveal the scar tissue on her left shoulder. Allison had large eyes as she realized why Riley had been so secretive. Allison walked over to her and pushed her shirt back into place, "I'm going to change and then we can get that pretzel, okay? My treat?" Allison asked.
"Now you're talking," Riley said trying to laugh.
They were now at a table with their pretzels.
"Can I ask what happened?" Allison asked.
Riley cleared her throat, "It was a house fire when I was thirteen…At the Hale house," she said.
"As in?" Allison asked.
"Yeah, Derek Hale."
"That's how you know him," Allison said.
"We grew up together…I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time," Riley said.
Allison cleared her throat, "Is it true, what people are saying about him? Did he…"
Riley interrupted her, "Derek was cleared of those charges. He's not capable of killing anyone."
"How do you know? I mean, you knew him years ago," Allison said.
"Yeah. And?"
"I just don't want to see you get hurt," Allison said.
Riley gave a fake laugh, "Derek would never hurt me."
"Okay," Allison said as she dropped the topic, "I have to go anyway. Thank you for putting up with me and my shopping."
"No problem. Anytime…okay not really," Riley said, "I'm just going to finish this and maybe get another."
"Parents out of town again?" she asked.
"As always," Riley replied, "You don't have to wait for me. It's a Friday night, shouldn't you be with Scott?"
"He was doing something with his mom. I'll see you Monday. Call me, if you need anything," Allison said.
"I will."
Riley sat alone at the table in the pretzel stand. She looked behind her as a group of five year olds laughing and running from their mothers toward the cotton candy stand. She looked back toward the fountain to find her view was blocked.
"Do you need another pretzel?" Derek asked.
Riley smiled, "And another root beer," she said handing him her cup for a refill.
He came back with her food and something for him. They sat in silence for a while, "So, what brings you to the mall?" Riley asked.
"I just came to walk around," he said.
She looked at him, "You've never liked going to the mall for anything, let alone 'just to walk around'," she said.
"You weren't at home…I thought I would catch you here. Not really my first option but there's not much in this town," he said.
"Yeah, just here and the movie theater, there really isn't much to this town," she said.
He leaned forward, "Do you want to get out of here?"
She leaned forward too, "What do you have in mind?" she asked.
"We can see where the road takes us," he said.
She leaned back in her stair, "That's what your dad used to say when we were bored and he would take us out driving," Derek looked uncomfortable, "I'm sorry," she said.
"No, its fine," he said.
Riley took in a big breath, "I drove here," she stated.
"I can follow you home and take my car," he replied.
She finished her drink, "I'm parked at Entrance E."
"I know," he said.
She gave him a questionable look before getting up to throw her trash away. Derek followed her out into the parking lot. From there he followed her home. She watched him from her review mirror. He kept his distance but that didn't seem to matter. She would almost hit everyone in front of her because she was too busy watching his car.
"Nice driving," Derek said as she got into his car.
"Thanks, I did learn from the best," she said, getting a smile from him, "Where are we going?"
"You'll see," he said.
They drove in silence for about 20 minutes heading out of town. When Derek shut the car off, Riley realized they were on top of Beacon Hill Cliff, a.k.a Dead Man's Cliff.
Derek got out of the car first and Riley followed, "Let me guess, you decided to get rid of me and this was the easy way," she said.
"Do you always have to be sarcastic?" he asked.
"I am when I'm nervous," she said.
"Do I make you nervous?" he asked.
"I don't know yet," she whispered.
Derek turned his back to her looking out toward town close to the edge. She joined him after she got done checking him out from behind. She stepped next to him looking toward town, "It looks different from here," she said.
"All most like a far off place where we don't belong?" Derek asked without looking at her.
"Yeah, almost," she replied.
Curiosity got the best of her and she took a few small steps forward to look down below the cliff. She looked down, "Oh shit," she whispered.
Derek came up behind with one arm secured around her, "Be careful, it's a long drop," he whispered in her ear.
It gave her the goose bumps, she turned her head slightly. The wind caught her hair and blew it into his face. He took a big inhale breath, capturing her scent, "Yeah, you make me nervous," she whispered to him.
Derek turned Riley around to face him. She tilted her head slightly to look at him in the eyes. He looked back at her intensely. He held her face into his hands as he kissed her for the first time. She returned the passionate kiss.
Derek broke away first. He leaned his forehead against hers, "Do you want to get out of here?" he asked.
Riley hesitated, "I…"
"I meant do you want me to take you home?" he asked.
"Yeah, that would be great," she said.
Derek took her by the hand and led her back to his car. He held open the door for her as she got in. He drove her home and kissed her on the cheek when he dropped her off.
XXX
Scott stopped Riley in the hallway, "Have you seen Allison?" he asked a little panicked.
Riley looked at Scott and then Stiles, "I haven't seen her since Friday. Why?" she asked.
"Nothing, thanks," Scott said trying to walk off.
She stopped him, "No, if there's something wrong tell me."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Stiles said to her.
"Shut up, Stiles," she said, "You're not the only one who cares about Allison."
"You like her too?" Stiles asked stunned.
Riley looked at him, "She's my friend too. Scott, really, this is the friend you like to keep around."
"Hey, I resent that," Stiles complained.
"Do I look like I care?" Riley asked.
"Guys!" Scott almost yelled, "This is not helping me find Allison," he walked off and Stiles followed him.
A few minutes later, she found Scott with Allison, "I see you found her," Riley said, "I forgot to ask earlier, can you give me a ride to work and then home? My car is in the shop."
"Sure," he said.
"How did you get to school?" Allison asked.
"I walked. Passed the blood stained school bus," Riley said, "That was pleasant."
Just then the principal made an announcement, "Attention students, I know you all are wondering about the incident that happened last night that involved one of our buses. While the police are trying to find out what happened, classes will continue as normal. I always have been told that there is a curfew now in place for minors. Thank you."
Riley smiled, "Well, that doesn't include me. I'll see you underage people later," she said.
XXX
"What took you so long?" Riley asked Scott, "We are going to be late."
"Sorry, I got caught up with Allison," he said.
"What else is new?" she asked sarcastically.
When they finally got to the animal clinic, Dr. Deaton was already working on removing stitches from the Sheriff's dog, "Hello Scott, Riley," the Sheriff greeted, "Aren't you guys running a little late?"
"My car is in the shop and I asked Mr. Unreliable to give me a ride," Riley said.
"Hey, I guess you don't need a ride home," Scott said.
"I know an empty threat when I hear one," she said.
"Employees, please get to work," Dr. Deaton said, "That is what I pay you guys to do, right?"
"Yes, sir," both Scott and Riley said at the same time.
"Doctor," the Sheriff said, "Can I have you look at these photos to get your take on them? These are from the bus attack.
Deaton took them, "I'm no expert," he said as he looked at them.
"We also found wolf hairs on Laura Hale's body," the Sheriff said.
This got both Riley and Scott's attentions, for different reasons, "A wolf?" Scott asked. Everyone turned toward him, "I mean I heard that wolves hasn't been seen in California for over six years."
"True enough," Deaton said, "But wolves are highly migratory. It would have wondered in from another state driven by impulse or stronger enough memory."
"Wolves have memories?" Scott asked.
"Longer term memories, yes, with a primal drive," Deaton said, "See these claw mark?" he asked pointing at the photo, "A wolf would have gone for the throat with its teeth."
"Do you think it's an animal attack?" the Sheriff asked, "A mountain lion?"
"Maybe," Deaton said, "I'll get the stitches out of Jack," handing the photos back.
"Thanks, Doc," the Sheriff said, "I'm just going to wait out there."
"Scott, will you help me?" Deaton asked.
"Sure," he said dazed.
Riley followed him out, "Sheriff Stilinski?"
He turned around, "Yes?"
"Ah, do you know yet how she died?" Riley asked.
"Laura Hale?" the Sheriff asked.
"Yes."
"I can't give out that information. It's still an open case," he looked at her, "Do you have any information?"
"No, I just…Did she suffer?" she asked.
He hesitated, "No," he finally said.
She knew he was lying. She began to walk away when he stopped her, "I know you have connections to the Hale family, and that you were in the fire," he said. She looked at him questioningly, "I was on duty that night. I was also the one to question you."
"I remember," she said, "I have to get back to work."
A few hours later, when Riley was alone with Scott, "What was up with all those questions about wolves?" she asked him.
"I…There my favorite animal," he said.
"Why not like dogs? They won't try to kill you," she said. Scott just laughed nervously, "What is up with you lately? Never mind, you can still give me a ride home, right?"
"That won't be necessary," Derek said coming up behind Scott, "I can give her a ride home."
"No, that's okay," Scott said, "I said that I would."
Riley just looked at Derek, "Scott, its fine. I know you have a life, most teenage boys do."
"Riley?!" Scott said.
She ignored him, "I don't get off for another thirty minutes," she said.
"I can wait," Derek said turning to have a seat in the waiting room.
"Riley, what happened to you telling me to stay away from him?" Scott said, "Maybe you should be taking your own advice."
"When I told you that, I was upset with him. Things have changed," she said getting back to work.
She watched as Scott disappeared into the waiting room, which she guessed that Scott might have something to say to Derek. (A/N: This is when Scott talks to Derek because he's afraid he might hurt Allison. Derek tells him how he could get his memory back from the bus attack.)
XXX
Derek drove Riley home. Once there she invited him for dinner, "How about I cook this time?" Derek asked.
"You cook?"
"When I need to," he said, "Do you have pasta?"
"Yeah," she said, "This I have to see."
"Maybe you will learn something," he said.
"You always did like teaching me new things," she said leading the way to the kitchen.
Riley sat at the table watching Derek move around her kitchen, "What did Scott have to say to you?" she asked.
"He…needed some advice," he said.
"Advice from you?" she asked sarcastically.
"Yeah, advice from me," he said.
Riley unfolded today's paper and gasped at what she saw, "What is it?" Derek asked moving toward her.
"This was the man who was attacked on the school bus," she said.
"Do you know him?" he asked.
"I don't know. I mean, I recognize him from somewhere. I just don't know where," she said as Derek looked over her shoulder at the picture.
"Maybe its nothing," he said.
"Maybe," she agreed.
Derek had fixed them chicken alfredo and pasta, "This actually looks…awesome," she said looking down at her plate.
"Did you doubt my skills?" he asked. She looked at him. He didn't realize the double meaning of what he said until he looked up at her. He gave her a rare smile, "Just try it," he said.
She did, "This is really good."
After they ate, Riley did the dishes real quick. They went into the living room to watch some TV, but neither one of them could pay attention to it. They were too busy paying attention to how close they were sitting next to each other on the couch. Without touching him, she could feel the heat radiating off his body. Riley realized if she moved her right leg or hand a little she could just touch him.
At the same time, they looked at each other. Riley couldn't take it anymore. She leaned over to kiss him. She broke away to breath for a second but Derek had other plans. He pushed her over so that she was lying on her back with him on top. After a while she was very aware of him in between her legs, "Derek," she said breathless between kisses.
He stopped to look her in the eye. She looked back up at him. He started to remove himself from her, "I know," he said.
She stopped him, "You know what?"
He sat up next to her, "I know," he repeated.
She sat up too, "You have to be more pacific," she said.
"I know that you're a virgin," he said like it was no big deal.
"How…How could you possible know that?" she asked.
"I just do," he simple said.
After a few seconds, "At least the embarrassing conversation is out of the way," Riley said.
Both of them started to laugh.
XXX
Riley sat alone at lunch the next day, thinking about what happened the night before. Thinking about Derek in between her legs. She sighed and realized Allison was sitting across from her, "What?" she asked.
"I said, what has you smiling so big?" Allison asked.
"N…Nothing," Riley replied.
"Sure," Allison said, "Scott and I are going bowling tonight."
"That's your big date?" Riley asked.
"Yes, well, I wouldn't call it a date. We're going with Jackson and Lydia," she said.
"Are you sure you guys aren't visiting hell? Cause that sounds so much like that place," Riley said.
"Its not going to be bad," Allison defended.
"Anything with Lydia and Jackson is the definition of bad," she said.
"Why do you always say bad things about them?" Allison asked, "They have been nothing but nice to me since I moved here."
"Ever since they started high school, they have made my life hell. Spreading rumors or making jokes, it never fails with them," Riley said.
Allison reached for Riley's hand on the table, "I'm sorry, I didn't know," she said.
"It's okay," Riley said.
Scott and Stiles joined them, "What's okay?" Scott asked sitting next to Allison.
Stiles looked at the seat next to Riley and then saw the look on her face and decided against sitting next to her.
"Nothing," Allison said.
"Scott I can handle," Riley said and then looked at Stiles, "But him no. He's going to have to go."
"What's wrong with me?" Stiles asked.
"Everything," Riley, Scott and Allison said at the same time.
"Thanks friends," Stiles said.
XXX
"I'm sorry you have to drive me around everywhere. My car is still in the shop until tomorrow," Riley said to Derek.
"I don't mind," he said.
"Um, can you take me tomorrow to pick it up?" she asked.
He sighed, "I guess. I need to stop for gas," he said after looking at his gas gage.
Derek pulled up in the Food Mart gas station. She waited in the car as he went out to pump gas. Two SUVs drove into the gas station; one behind them and one in front of them. Allison's father got out of the red one and some guys out of the silver one. They all watched Derek pump the gas.
Riley rolled down her window, "Is there something wrong?" she asked Derek quietly.
"Everything is fine," he said tensely.
"Nice ride," Mr. Argent said to Derek as he walked up to the car. He noticed Riley in the passenger's seat, "Black cars though, are very hard to keep clean. I would advise a little more maintenance," he said to Derek, "Hello, Riley, nice to see you again," he picked up a window washer and started to wash the windshield.
"Hi, Mr. Argent," Riley replied.
"You have something that is nice, you want to…take care of it, right? Personally, I am very protective of the things I love," he said and then looked at Riley, "I learned that from my family. You don't have much of that these days, do you?"
Riley saw in the side mirror, Derek gripping his fist. He saw Riley looking at him and he relaxed.
Mr. Argent nodded, "There you go," he put the window cleaner away, "You and Riley can actually look through your windshield now. See how it makes everything so much clearer," he looked at Riley and bent down a little, "Take care of yourself. You don't know who you are going to meet these days."
He started to walk away and back to his SUV, "You forgot to check the oil," Derek called.
Mr. Argent turned back around, "Check the man's oil," he said to the other guys from the silver SUV.
One guy walked up to the driver's window and bashed the window with something. Causing the glass to break and scatter.
Riley screamed and covered her face while turning away from the flying broken glass.
"Looks good to me," the guy said.
"Drive safely you two," Mr. Argent said before going to his SUV and taking off.
Derek did everything in his power not to go after them, "Are you okay?" he asked opening her door.
Riley looked up at him and he saw that some of the glass cute her face, "What the hell was that all about?"
"Nothing," he said while touching her cutes.
She hissed in pain.
"Bullshit! That was not 'nothing'. That was something," she said smacking his hand away, "Does Allison know how psycho her father is?"
"I said it was nothing," he said getting angry. He walked around to the driver's side. He opened the door and started to remove the glass.
"Don't get mad at me!" she raised her voice.
Derek stopped what he was going and looked at her and sighed, "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad that you were here with me and that he saw that you were with me," he said.
"Why did he do this?" she asked.
"I can't tell you," he said.
"Fine. Can you take me home?" she asked, "I don't feel like hanging out anymore."
Derek drove Riley home. Once there he followed her into the house, "I said I was fine," she complained walking into her bathroom.
"Just let me help you," he said pointing at her face, "It's my fault," he sighed, "It's always my fault that you end up hurt."
"Hey, I admit, this time was partly you're fault but the rest of it isn't true," she said as she looked at herself in the mirror at the damage. Derek was behind her. She bent down to get the first-aid kit out of the cabinet. Derek reached and took it out of her hand. He set the first-aid kit on the countertop. He turned Riley around to face him and then lifted her easily up on the countertop, "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Fixing you," he said while getting a band-aide.
"It's going to take more than a band-aide," she whispered.
"That's not true," he whispered back. He cleaned up the cuts and bandaged them. He was washing his hands, "We can't see each other anymore," he said suddenly.
Riley hopped off the countertop, "What?"
"After tonight, we can't see each other anymore," he said turning toward her before leaving the bathroom.
"Derek," she followed him, "I don't understand. Is it because of what happened tonight?" she asked.
He stopped walking, "Its part of it," he said, "I shouldn't have fooled myself into thinking that this would work. It's not safe."
"Why isn't it safe?" she asked.
"You wouldn't understand," he said at the front door.
"You tried talking to me, I just might," she said, "Derek, please, just talk to me."
"I'm done talking," he said slamming the door behind him.
Riley slid to the floor, crying her eyes out.