Cora's p.o.v
"You're nuts Cora" Stiles says.
"Just a little.." I say. "I'm sure it'll be fine" I assure them. Scott and Stiles share a look. Scott's in the passenger's seat, Stiles in the back with Lydia. We dropped his jeep off at home and he got in with us. Lydia called Stiles and she's ended up with us as well. We're driving through the other side of the reserve, heading for the waterfall. It's a long dirt road and a high stone wall. You're not supposed to be able to get to it but..werewolf so.. On top of the stone wall is the beginning of the waterfall. It's not too high up but you can jump in safely and swim around in the lake area below it. We continue up the road.
"There! There it is!" Scott points it out excitedly. I pull up beside the wall. It's got to be 12-15 metres high so it's not to much of a task. It's the slipping and falling that stops people from going up. We get out and look up it.
"Stiles, Lydz, you still sure you wanna come up?" I ask, turning to the humans. Stiles nods determinedly.
"Yeah, just don't let me fall" he says.
"You've got my word" Scott smiles.
"I've got you Lydia" I assure the female.
"Okay, let's do this" Scott says. The boys take their shirts off, already in board shorts after getting them from Stiles'. Thanks to Lydia, i've got a bikini to wear and some shorts. We get changed into what we're going to wear swimming, the towels from Stiles' in the boot too.
"You and Stiles go first, we'll back you up" I say to Lydia. They nod and step up to the wall. They climb up, Scott and I behind them. I have to catch Lydia's foot a couple times but apart from that, we get up safe. We stand up the top, looking down at the water. I grin. I've only been up here one other time and that was with Derek, Mum and Peter. "Still as beautiful as it was before" I say. Scott smiles at me. The sun's bouncing off the water, sparkles reflecting off it. The only sounds are birds, insects and the water splashing at the bottom with a comforting roar.
"Who's going in first?" Lydia asks. They all look between each other. I chuckle and jump, curling up knees up and holding my breath. When I come up, they're wide-eyed.
"We don't have all day" I grin. Scott comes in next, popping up beside me with a big smile.
"Holy crap that's cold" Scott says. I chuckle lightly. We look up at the other two. "Well? Come on" Scott says. Lydia looks skeptical. Stiles scoops her up in his arms, jumping in holding her. Scott and I laugh as they come up, Lydia splashing water at him. Scott goes under, coming under me and bringing himself up with me on his shoulders. Stiles does the same with Lydia. We all laugh as Lydia and I try to push each other off. I get Lydia down.
"No fair, she has wolf powers!" Lydia pouts playfully. Scott lifts me off him, bringing his arms around my back and pulling me close. I bring my arms around his neck, pressing our lips together. Scott chuckles and I smile againist his lips.
"This is the happiest i've been in a while, thank you" I say to him.
"Same here" he smiles a real smile, those little dimples coming out.
"Aw!" we turn and see Lydia cooing, Stiles smiling widely. "It's like you're a real couple" she says. Scott and I share a look and Scott nods.
"Well.." I say, pulling away from Scott and looking at them. "As of last night..we are" I tell them.
"It's about time" Lydia smiles, coming over to hug me. Stiles does that handshake with Scott that all guys seem to know. Is this what being a normal teenager feels like?
..
Derek's p.o.v
I look up, suprised, when someone knocks on the loft door. I get up, claws out at my side just in case. I inhale..what's she doing here? I open the door, revealing Malia.
"Malia" I say, unsure what else to say.
"I won't be here long" she says.
"Hi to you too" I say, frowning at her rudeness. I get she was a coyote for all those years but that excuse is wearing thin now. She's being rude and she knows she's doing it.
"I just thought I should let you know that Cora, Scott, Stiles and Lydia aren't at school" Malia says.
"What? I saw them leave for school this morning" I say, confused.
"Well they never showed up, I suggest you find them" she says before turnign around to leave. I catch her arm. She shrugs my hand off.
"What is your problem?" I ask the girl.
"My real father is locked up forever, that's my problem" she sneers, turning back to me.
"He tried to kill us all, on more than one occasion. He tired to hurt you as well" I say.
"So he deserves to be locked up for the rest of his life?" she asks harshly.
"Yes" I say. Malia's face twists with anger. "You don't know Peter like I know him. You didn't grow up with him like Cora and I did. He can't be trusted" I tell her evenly.
"He's my Dad. And I do trust him" she says. "I'd go looking for your 'trust-worthy' sister if I were you" she says before storming away. I sigh, slamming the door closed. I was right. Malia doesn't want anything to do with us. I pull my phone out, calling Cora. It rings and rings and goes to voicemail. I don't leave a message. I ring the school next.
"Mr Hale, I assume this is about Cora's absense?" the receptionist answers. Firstly, they have my number? And secondly, why the hell isn't Cora at school?
"Uh..yes. She's at home, sick. She will definitely be in tomorrow" I lie to the woman. I'll deal with the school's punishment for her later.
"Thank you very much. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Yes actually..I was wondering if Scott McCall was in school? He was over yesturday and i'm hoping he hasn't caught what she has" I lie. The school know the 'special situation' between the Hales, McCalls and Stilinskis. Of course they don't know the truth but as far as they're concerned, we're very close and keep an eye out. John and Melissa can ask about Cora, as i've given permission, and they've done the same for me. It's for pack emergencies or if something happens but I can use it to my advantage right now.
"Actually, he hasn't come in today. Along with Stiles Stilinski and Lydia Martin. Is there anything else I can do for you?" she asks far too cheerily.
"No, thank you" I say, trying to sound polite.
"You have a nice rest of your day, goodbye" she says before hanging up. I cringe, hanging up as well. That recepionist is terrible at acting really nice. I run a hand down my face. Where the hell are they? Cora better- actually they all better have good reasons for not being in class.
..
Cora's p.o.v
We sat under the sun, drying off. I drive the camaro back to the loft. It's not long after 3 so we can pull it off as coming home from school. The 3 follow me up to mine and Derek's loft. I open the door, finding Derek reading a book on the couch.
"Hey" I smile at him, all of us piling to sit down.
"Hey. How was school?" he asks, eyes still on his book as he reads.
"Suprisingly good" I tell him, sharing a knowing look with Scott, Stiles and Lydia.
"Suprisingly good huh?" Derek asks. I nod. He looks at me over his book. "Because as far as the school's concerned, none of you turned up to school today" he says, slamming the book closed on the table. Crap.
"Uh-" Stiles starts to make up a story.
"Don't" Derek stops him. "You 3, home. Cora, you're grounded" Derek says.
"Come on Derek" I object. He's grounding me again. Seriously? "Okay, so we were truant for 1 day, it's only 1 day" I say.
"It doesn't matter. Give me the keys" he says, holding his hand out.
"What?!" I frown.
"Keys. Now" he says. I take them from me pocket, throwing them back to him. "Scott, Stiles, Lydia, your parents are expecting you as well" Derek says. Oh no. Noone was supposed to know. The 3 stand up, sulking as they realise they're going to be in trouble as well.
"Bye Cor" Lydia says, giving me an apologetic smile.
"See you Cora" Stiles says.
"I'll see you tomorrow Cora" Scott says, giving me a small smile. "Sorry Derek" he says.
"Just get home" Derek says, not angerily but not in the happiest voice either. I cringe when the door closes, leaving just me and Derek.
"Derek, I-" I try.
"Did you eat?" he asks.
"Eat? What?"
"Did you eat?" he asks again, slower.
"No" I answer.
"I'll start dinner now then" he says, getting up.
"Wait" I say. He stops and turns to me. "Why aren't you mad?"
"Stiles was right, i've done all this before. But i've punished you, you're grounded and you're not allowed to drive the car again for now. What's the point in getting mad and yelling? You'll just get upset and then I will" he shrugs.
"Have you been smoking?" I ask him.
"No" he answers, amused by the question.
"Drinking?"
"No" he says again. "I'm not having a repeat of last time. But be warned, if you do this again, I will do more than ground you and take the car, okay?" he says.
"Okay" I nod. "And I am sorry. It was my fault"
"I can believe that" he says, making me smile a little. "But they're all old enough to make their own decisions so the blame's not entirely on you" Derek says.
"You're far too calm, it's kind of scary" I say. "Are you turning over a new leaf? A calmer new leaf?" I ask. He chuckles and shakes his head.
"No, i've been sleeping most of today" he says.
"That explains it" I say and he nods. "Well..message received. I won't do it again"
"Good" he says before going into the kitchen. Huh. That went alot better than I thought it would.
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Why's Malia telling on them? Ah..fatherly Derek. Favourite, follow and review!