p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"I do not own Teen Wolf/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Chapter Six/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Do you want the bite?" Peter was staring at her intently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""The what?" she asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""The bite," he said. "It's a gift. If you accept it, you'll heal. You'll be faster, stronger, beautiful."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I feel like you're only telling me the good things," she said, tilting her head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I knew you were smart," Peter smiled before continuing. "The bite could kill you. If it doesn't, you'll have to learn control so you don't hurt anyone. There are people who would hunt you and try to kill you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Why?" River asked, panicked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's okay," he promised, moving closer to her. "I wouldn't let anyone hurt you. You'll be my family, my pack."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Do I have to have the bite?" she asked. "To be your family?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," Peter smiled. "You can stay as you are. I can teach you different things without the bite."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Like what?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""How to defend yourself from the hunters and others like me. I can get you mountain ash and spell books to study. Self-defense and hand-to-hand combat."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Magic?" she gasped. "I can learn magic?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yes," Peter smiled. "You can be like that Hermione girl."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You emcould/em hear me," River smiled. "I told her you could."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yes, I heard you arguing with Jennifer," Peter chuckled. "So, do you agree? You'll be in my pack?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sure," River shrugged. "I'm half-sure this is a dream, by the way."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Peter just smiled at the admission before standing and kissing River's head. She felt a warmth grow in her chest and let out a small 'oh' at the feeling. Peter breathed her in, hand going to the back of her neck. She hummed at the feeling before pouting when Peter turned away./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Will you read to me?" Peter requested, pulling 'The Fellowship of the Ring' from her bag./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sure," River smiled, opening the book./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She read for an hour before Peter stood./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Where are you going?" she asked, frowning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You need rest and visiting hours are starting soon," Peter explained. "I'll send you a few books and come visit you soon."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Okay," River nodded, placing the bookmark in the page and handing the book over so Peter could put it back in her bag. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Peter kissed her head and left the room quickly. River sighed before leaning her head back and closing her eyes. She fell asleep quickly just to jump awake when Stiles ran into the room, falling to the floor in his rush./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What the hell?" she asked, thinking of the strange dream she had had./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Hey," Stiles said, grinning to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Hi," River sighed, rolling her eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles frowned before sitting down beside her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sorry," he admitted. "I know you have questions. It's just hard to explain."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Then start from the beginning," River grumbled, staring at the ceiling./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Later," Stiles promised. "Dad's doing the paperwork now so we can take you home."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Thank God," she sighed in relief. "I hate hospitals."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I know the feeling," Stiles smirked. "I see you changed your clothes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I even showered by myself," she smirked. "Speaking of, I left my shower stuff in the bathroom last night. Can you grab it for me, please?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sure."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles jumped up, rushing to the bathroom to gather her stuff. He came back a minute later, putting everything away for her. Once he zipped the bag closed, Noah walked in. He smiled brightly at seeing her awake and dressed in her own clothes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""How you feeling, kiddo?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I actually feel great," she answered honestly, noticing that the pain was basically gone. "I don't know what meds they have me on, but they work."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""They took you off your medicine," Noah told her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Are we sure? Cause I feel fine."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sure," Noah smiled. "You ready to get out of here?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Born ready," she groaned. "Save me from this prison."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Noah and Stiles both chuckled at her dramatics before Melissa came to her room. Melissa smiled as she helped River stand, pushing her slippers onto her feet so that River wouldn't have to do it herself. Once she was standing, she felt a twinge of pain on her side before a warmth in her chest batted the pain away. She felt confused for a moment before a bright grin overtook her features, realizing the dream had been real. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Happy you can stand?" Melissa quirked her eyebrow./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Happy to go home," River shrugged. "No offense to your place of work, but it kind of sucks."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Is that your notice?" Melissa smirked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Dad said I can organize the station," River shrugged, not noticing the sparkle in Melissa's eyes when she called Noah dad. "Is that okay?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""That's fine," Melissa smiled. "I know how much you like to organize."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It makes me feel better," she shrugged her good shoulder. "Like I have control over something."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I know," Melissa nodded, helping her to the wheelchair. "Let's get you out of here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yay!" River cheered, Stiles letting out a whoop behind her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Once in the hall, River noted the hall looked completely fine, as if a struggle hadn't happened the night before. She wondered how Peter had pulled that off before looking ahead and seeing Jennifer. Jennifer gave her a smile and a wink as they passed and River couldn't help but smile back. Once they reached the front door, Melissa helped her stand as Stiles rushed forward to open the passenger side door of the cruiser. Noah took over for Melissa, leading River to the car and helping her climb in. With the door closed, River let out a happy breath, rubbing the chest where the warm feeling came from./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"When they got home, Noah helped her up the stairs and to her room. She snorted when she saw her schoolbooks with a note from Lydia explaining that she was making copies of her notes for her to use for homework. River sat on her bed, leaning against the backboard and pulling her favorite quilt over her legs./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""How are you feeling?" Noah questioned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I promise, I'm good," River said again. "If I start hurting I'll let someone know."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Alright," Noah sighed. "I have to head to work, but Stiles is here if you need anything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Okay," River nodded. "Love you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Love you, too," Noah smiled, kissing her forehead before heading out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles came into her room and she stared at him, watching as he sat on the edge of her bed. He stared at his hands for a while, not saying anything. River cleared her throat to get his attention./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""This is where you start explaining," she stage whispered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I can't," Stiles sighed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What?" she asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's not my secret to tell."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River rolled her eyes and let out an annoyed groan./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Go away," she pushed him off the bed with her foot. "Go bug Scott. I need to do homework."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""River," Stiles pleaded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," her firm voice and hard eyes caused him to take a step back. "Just, no."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles huffed and left the room, slamming his bedroom door closed and causing her to jump. River rolled her eyes and grabbed her schoolbooks, reading through the chapters the Lydia had marked for her before going to the worksheets. She had finished half of the worksheets by the time that Stiles came out of his room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I need to go do something. Will you be okay by yourself?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll be fine," she waved him off. "Will you turn on my light and open my window before you go?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I don't think you should leave your window open," he said slowly. "What if a mountain lion climbed in."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I thought the mountain lion had been shot," she shot back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""There could be another one," he tried, his voice going up a pitch and telling River he was hiding something./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Whatever," River rolled her eyes. "Just the light then please."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles turned on her light and left. Once she heard the Jeep head down the road, she set her book aside and stood. She stared out of her window for a moment before unlocking it and opening it slightly, a light breeze moving through the room. She sat back on her bed, continuing her homework. After another hour, she heard a car pull up in front of the house and stood, looking out to see who it was. A silver car that she vaguely recognized was idling in the driveway. She watched as Jennifer exited the car, opened the back door and pulled a box out. Jennifer approached the front porch and disappeared from sight as she reached the front door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River heard the doorbell ring and headed down the stairs, taking a break halfway through to catch her breath. She finally made it to the door, opening it wide, but finding Jennifer and her car missing. She looked down, finding the box waiting for her. She squatted down and lifted the box, letting out a breath at the weight of it. She started up the stairs again, having to take more breaks ascending the stairs than she did descending them. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Finally making it back to her room, River shut her door and set the box on her bed. She opened it carefully, not sure what would be inside. She smiled as she began pulling the contents out to study. She found three old, leather-bound books, two journals made with some sort of animal fur, two large jars of what looked like black minerals, multiple stones and crystals, a velvet jewelry box, a first edition copy of 'Dracula' and a letter with her name on it. She decided to open the letter before looking through the books and journals./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"'River,/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"I hope you aren't in much pain. I'll come to you when I have the chance. At the moment, I have quite a bit of business to attend to and am not sure when I will be free. I'm sure you're curious about the contents of the box and, if I know you as well as I believe that I do, you're reading this letter before going through everything./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The dusty books contain spells, each of varying degrees of difficulty. Please, start with the top book. Master all of those spells before going to the next. Magic can be dangerous, and I don't need my future emissary getting herself hurt. /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"One of the journals is a bestiary from my family tomb. It's a book on supernatural creatures that I hope will help us in the future. Study it carefully. There are blank pages that I hope we won't have to fill at a later time./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The other journal is made of my own fur. It is for you to write your notes and questions while studying magic, or even for when you begin writing your own spells. Please don't start trying to make your own spells until you have mastered the three books completely./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The jars are mountain ash. Mountain ash is the ashes from Roran trees and can protect you from a few different types of supernatural creatures. It can be used in spells or in combat. It is most commonly used to make a circle around a specific area for protection./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The crystals and stones will help you with spells and for grounding your magic. I'm sure you can look up what the stones are and what they mean. The Internet, I am finding, is a very resourceful tool./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"'Dracula' is from my own personal library. I hope you enjoy it. Maybe you can read it to me sometime?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Please wear the other gift. It will help protect you from outside sources, such as possession. It is also a family heirloom. Keep it hidden when you wear it. Try not to take it off. It will not break./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"If anything were to happen to me, everything I own would go to you. You are my sole beneficiary. I know that may seem strange, but you reading to me was what helped bring me back. It reminded me that I was human. My own nephew and niece left me there to rot, never coming to visit me unless it was to make a point to someone else about what hunters were capable of. Well, in some defense, that was only one time, but that also shows that they only visited me once./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stay safe. I'll come to you as soon as I can to explain things better, but you're smart enough to figure it out on your own. That warmth in your chest is a bond between us. We'll be able to feel each other's emotions and it'll help me to know if you're in danger. I can feel your happiness through it and, if you ever went missing, I would be able to follow the bond and find you./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"I am sorry for hurting you. I have my power under control now that I have a bond. I can't do much about the pain without touching you, but I will continue to try to fight it off. Be careful. Stay away from the Argents. Practice your magic. I will come for you. I will always find you./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"-Peter'/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River smiled down at the letter and tried to concentrate on the bond. She felt it in her chest and tried to send her happiness from his words through it to him. She wondered if he could feel it at all before she felt the bond heat up as happiness and contentment were sent back to her. She let out a small giggle before reaching for the jewelry box. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Inside the velvet box was a necklace that was held together with black leather. Hanging from the end of the leather was a jar that was closed with black wax. Inside the jar she could make out a few small stones, mountain ash, and what looked like rock salt. She could tell that there was more to it but didn't recognize it immediately. Along with the jar, there were three charms; a black wolf, a planchette, and a three-spiral triskele. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She pulled the necklace over her head and slid it under her shirt, placing her hand over the necklace where it rested between her breasts. She picked up the spell books, making sure to leave them in order before placing them on her overstuffed bookshelf. She placed 'Dracula' on her bedside table, pulling out a fresh bookmark and setting it on top of the book. She placed the journals on her bed and left the mountain ash, stones, and crystals in the box, which she stashed at the top of her closet, placing the quilts in front of the box to hide it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Once she was situated on her bed again, she reached for the journals. The first one she opened was blank, so she assumed it was the one made of Peter's hide. She closed it and rested her hand over the cover, taking in the coarse feeling beneath her fingers before setting it beside 'Dracula' and opening the bestiary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The pages had browned with age, the writing starting to fade. River decided she would have to trace over the words with a pen once she finished reading through it. She made herself comfortable and began reading as Peter had suggested. Losing herself in the pages was easy, reading through descriptions of supernatural creatures and how to either kill or subdue them. She heard Stiles knock on her door and she set the book down, standing and walking to her door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What's up?" she asked, only opening her door a crack./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I brought some dinner. Peace offering," he explained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's not a peace offering unless you plan on telling me what the hell is going on," she glared./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I have a milkshake."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll meet you downstairs."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She shut her door, placing a bookmark in the bestiary and hiding it, along with the journal, in her bedside table beside her walkie talkie. She made her way down the stairs, groaning in frustration as she had to sit halfway through. Stiles came back up the stairs, food and drinks in hand. He placed the food and drinks on the step above them, reaching in the bag to separate the food./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Thanks," she whispered as she took the offered fries and burger./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles nodded and popped the lid off of her milkshake so that she could dip her fries in it. He began eating his own food and they sat in silence for a few minutes. River finally let out an annoyed huff and face him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Stiles? Just tell me what's happening?" she pleaded. "Everyone has been pushing me out lately and I feel like shit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I didn't mean to push you out," Stiles said, regret and guilt crossing his features. "Like I said, it's not my secret to tell."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I thought we told each other everything," she argued. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You didn't tell me about Isaac," Stiles countered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I also didn't ignore you for weeks," she shot back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles sighed, rubbing his face. He stared forward for a bit and River could see him arguing with himself in his head. River leaned back, letting him think everything through as she continued eating her fries and chocolate shake. As she was swallowing her final fry, Stiles groaned and leaned back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I can't," he said simply./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You know I'll just figure it out on my own eventually, right?" she asked in amusement./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Please leave it alone," Stiles begged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," she shook her head and put the lid on her shake. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She stood and made her way up the stairs sipping her shake and leaning against the wall for support. She left Stiles on the steps where he didn't even try to come after her. She shut her door and flipped the lock, deciding she would unlock it once she heard Stiles head to bed. She threw away her empty cup and pulled the bestiary back out, getting back to her research./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"After reading two sentences, she decided to pull a notebook towards herself, flipping it upside down and going to the very last page. She began taking notes about the creature she was reading, slowly coming to a realization in the process. She let out a bark of laughter before covering her mouth to hold it in, not wanting Stiles to try to come into her room. Once she finished the section she was on, she shut her notebook and continued reading, opening the notebook every so often to make notes on other creatures. She knew she would end up rereading the book a few times before she had it all memorized, but she knew it would be worth it in the end./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"After the first read-through, she began tracing the words over, knowing it would help her to remember what she had read. She only paused in her task when she heard Stiles go into his room. She stayed still listening as he moved around his room, getting ready for bed. Once she heard his bedsprings squeak, signaling that he was in bed, she stood as quietly as possible, stepping over the two baseboards that creaked when stepped on in order to unlock her door before heading back to her bed. She stayed up all night, tracing over the words until the sun came up. She'd only finished two-third of the book when she heard Noah get home. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Sighing, she hid the book and set her pen down, heading down the stairs so she could see him. She was mildly surprised when she didn't need to rest while heading to the first floor, but she felt accomplished, nonetheless. She smiled when she found Noah in the kitchen, making himself a quick sandwich./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Do you want me to make you some eggs?" she asked, her voice soft so as to not scare him with her sudden presence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," Noah turned to her, taking in her appearance before speaking again. "Did you get any sleep?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll be okay," she smiled. "Was trying to get my homework done. If I don't, I'll just have problems falling asleep thinking about the mountain sitting on my desk."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sure your teachers will understand you needing to rest rather than do homework."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Not Harris," River stated. "He'd probably tell me that if I can't get it done then I need to drop his class."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""He does not seem like a polite man," Noah joked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""He's not. Picks on Stiles a lot."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What do you mean?" Noah was in concerned parent mode now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Stiles has a hard time staying still and paying attention, obviously. Harris picks on him for it, even though its due to his ADHD, which is well documented at the school. It doesn't feel right."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It isn't right," Noah complained. "I'll go up to the school Monday and talk to the principal."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Thank you," River smiled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked. "I've noticed that you haven't been spending as much time with Stiles or any of your friends lately."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Everyone is being weird," she shrugged. "Stiles and Scott are up to something, which I am being left out of, Jackson is spending a lot of time with Allison, Lydia is being stand-offish, and Erica and Boyd decided that they were more invested in their friendship to Isaac than to me. Doesn't really leave me anyone to hang with. On the bright side, I have straight A's and have gotten a lot of writing done."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You'll have to let me read something one of these days."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I will," she promised./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Do you want me to talk to Stiles about ignoring you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," she shook her head. "He'll come to me when he's ready. I wanted to talk to you about what happened at the school, actually."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I need to get your statement anyways," Noah nodded, grabbing a notebook and pen. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The two sat at the table, Noah's coffee letting off steam as it sat in front of him. He sat with his pen hovering over the notebook paper, ready to begin writing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I got a text from Scott saying to meet him at the school, which is weird since he didn't have a phone at the time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I remember you asking Stiles about it that morning," Noah nodded before letting River continue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Well, I got to the school at seven-fifteen and saw Jackson's Porsche. I remember wondering what he was doing there with Stiles before seeing the blood by the front door. There was so much of it. I saw something move in the bush by the school and realized it was a person. I ran over and pulled them out of the bush. I didn't recognize him, but he had short, black hair and some stubble, leather jacket, Henley shirt. There was a hole in his chest so I called the station and put pressure on the wound. He was still breathing, but just barely. Amber hung up on me the first time because someone had called and said that they were told there would be prank calls from the school. I called back and yelled at her while still putting pressure on the guys chest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I heard a growl and turned around and…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She trailed off, remembering the red eyes and the beast that had been behind her. It was like she was there all over again, Peter losing control and attacking her. She remembered the feeling of being thrown, torn open, and thrown again. She could still feel herself sliding across the asphalt and landing in the pool of blood. She shook out of her daze when she felt the warmth in her chest flare and Noah rested his hand his hand on her good shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sorry," she told him before continuing. "I thought I saw red eyes, but maybe it was just the lights from the cruiser in the distance or an exit light reflecting from its eyes. It threw me into the Jeep, scratched me up, and threw me again. I don't remember any real details though. Everything hurt too much."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""If I show you a picture of someone, can you tell me if you recognize them? Noah asked, his voice wavering a bit./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," River nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Noah pulled his phone out and looked for a specific picture. Once he found it, he turned his phone so that she could see it. She recognized the man immediately./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""That's him," River gasped. "That's the guy that was outside."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You say this was at six-fifteen?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," she nodded. "I was on the phone with Amber for a bit before that thing attacked me though."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I have the call transcript," he nodded, causing River to flinch at the idea of him having to hear her getting attacked. "You're sure this is the man who was outside?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," she nodded. "Who is he?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Derek Hale. Scott said that Derek chased them through the school."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You don't agree?" she asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""The timeline doesn't add up," Noah shook his head. "If you were outside with him, there was no way he was in the school at that time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Maybe he saw Derek outside and assumed it was Derek chasing them?" she suggested. "Trauma can do that to someone. Make them see things."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," Noah nodded. "I'll figure it out."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Do you want help?" she offered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Not with any ongoing investigations," Noah smirked. "You know that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah, yeah, yeah," River waved her hand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"A few seconds later, Stiles could be heard stampeding down the stairs. He walked into the kitchen and froze when he saw River and Noah at the table with a notebook between them. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion before understanding dawned on his face. He walked to the coffee maker, pouring himself a cup of coffee as River looked to Noah./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Anything else?" she asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," he shook his head. "If I think of anymore questions, I'll let you know."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Okay," River smiled. "Now, my turn to ask questions."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""River," he warned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I know, I know, ongoing investigation. It isn't about that," she promised. "When do I get to start organizing stuff?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""When you're stitches come out," Noah said with a pointed look./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm going to have so many scars," River complained, covering her face with her hands./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sorry, sweetheart," Noah said, leaning forward and taking her hands from her face. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's fine," River whispered, hoping Noah ignored the crack in her voice. "I prefer long sleeves anyways."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You can't wear long sleeves in the Summer," Noah sighed. "You'll pass out from heat exhaustion."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Only if I'm in the heat," she defended. "I think we both know that I prefer staying in the cool A/C anyways."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Noah let out a sigh, deciding not to argue with her this early on. He squeezed her hands instead, trying to comfort her in any way that he could. Stiles just stood by the coffee maker, refusing to turn around and look at River. He felt guilt eating at him for not being able to protect her, from not being able to tell her about werewolves. Scott had begged him not to tell her, wanting to keep her out of danger. Stiles had agreed originally, but after she had almost died from blood loss, he didn't think keeping her in the dark was the safer anymore. After literally wrecking Melissa and Peter's date the night before and eating on the stairs with River, he had gone to Scott's, sneaking into the house and argued in hushed voices for an hour before he had left to go back home./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River stood from her seat and bumped Stiles, pushing him out of the way a bit so that she could get to her tea. As if on autopilot, she reached up with her left arm and gasped in pain, tears forming in her eyes. Stiles responded immediately, pulling her away from the cabinet and setting her back in her chair. She closed her eyes tight, breathing heavily for a few moments before opening her eyes to find Stiles and Noah both kneeling in front of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm good," she lied through her teeth. "Just give me a minute."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll make your tea," Stiles said. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll get your pain medication," Noah added./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Both Stilinski men stood, heading in different directions. Noah went to the living room, grabbing a bag and coming back to the living room as Stiles went to the cabinet that River had tried reaching for. He pulled down the tea bags, leaving them on the counter so she could get to them, before filling the kettle and placing it on the stovetop. Noah placed two pills in front of River and poured her a glass of water. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"After she took her medicine, they all waited with bated breath for the kettle to whistle. Stiles went about fixing her tea the way she liked it before placing it in front of her. She sipped it slowly, closing her eyes and enjoying the taste and warmth that it provided. After a few sips, she looked up and locked eyes with Noah./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm okay," she promised with a smile. "Go get some rest."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Noah nodded, heading up the stairs and leaving River and Stiles alone. River looked to Stiles, watching as he checked her over with his eyes. She smirked as she continued sipping her tea, letting him finish his assessment before speaking./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm okay," she repeated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Are you?" he asked seriously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I am," she promised. "Or, at least, I will be."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sorry for avoiding you," he said honestly. "I knew you were having a hard time after everything with Isaac, but I also knew that you wouldn't want to talk to me if you knew I was keeping something from you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Let's just forget about it," River said. "You'll tell me when you're ready."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Really?" Stiles asked, confused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," she shrugged with her good shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles was in shock. River was stubborn. When she wanted something, she stopped at nothing to get it, including with information. He narrowed his eyes for a moment, not trusting it before shrugging and letting it go./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What do you want to do today?" she asked hopefully./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I actually had plans with Scott," Stiles scratched the back of his head. "I didn't realize that you would actually want me around. I can cancel though."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's fine," River shook her head. "I need to finish my homework anyways. I'll just do that and watch some movies."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""As soon as I'm done with Scott, I'll come home. I'll even bring snacks," he offered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Deal," River smiled. "Go. Hurry back."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles kissed her cheek and River ignored the fact that her stomach flipped at the action as he went out the front door. She shook her head, heading up the stairs with her tea so that she could do her homework./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"It took her three hours to finish her assignments and she groaned as she shook out the cramp in her hand. She went back down the stairs, putting a random movie in before sitting on the couch and curling up under a throw blanket. She fell asleep before she even got to the main menu, her all-nighter finally catching up to her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She woke up as Stiles got home, the sun already down again. She sat up, looking towards the entryway and seeing him rubbing his face with his hands as he held stress in his shoulders./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You okay?" she asked, causing him to jump./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," he nodded. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Where's the snacks?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Shit," he groaned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's fine. I was about to head to bed anyways."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River felt disappointment settle in her stomach as she stood, ignoring the want to stretch out of fear of causing her side to hurt. She folded the blanket and laid it across the back of the couch before noticing the glass of water and medicine on the coffee table. Knowing that Noah left it out for her, she took the pills and downed the water quickly before turning off the tv and turning towards the stairs. She patted Stiles' shoulder as she passed him, heading up the stairs and to her room. She laid in her bed and rolled to her good side, pulling the blanket over her head and crying softly, letting out the feelings of abandonment that she felt in her chest from Stiles./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"After crying herself to sleep, River woke up with a headache. She groaned as she stood, holding her head in her hands. She waited a few minutes before standing and looking out her still cracked window. Stiles was already at school and Noah was at work. She decided she didn't want to sit at the house all day, nor did she want to miss anymore school, so she took a shower and decided to get ready. She would miss first period for taking her time getting ready, but she didn't really mind considering she had finished the essay that wasn't due until the end of the week the day before. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"After carefully blow drying her hair so as to not irritate her side, River opened her closet, trying to decide what to wear. She pulled out a pair of skinny jeans and slid them on easily. Next she grabbed a black tank top, pulling it over her head and shoulders before sliding the spaghetti straps up her arms. She grabbed her lightest sweater and pulled it on, rolling up the pink sleeve on her uninjured arm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She did her makeup and crammed all of her assignments and books into her bag. Hauling it over her right shoulder and grunting at the weight. She grabbed her keys, relieved that someone had brought her car back to the house, even if it was probably Scott. She headed out the door, ignoring Mrs. Anderson's judgmental looks as she tossed her bag into the back seat before getting into the driver's seat. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The drive to school was fast as always. Getting out of the car took her a while. It wasn't from any sort of pain though. River couldn't help but stare at the spot where the blood had been that night. The sidewalk seemed darker in that spot but that was the only indication that she could see that that night had truly happened. When she finally brought herself out of her thoughts, she walked into the school and went straight to the office./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The front office assistant had been surprised to see her but gave her a pass to second period anyways. River dropped off all of her books and assignments that weren't for Chemistry and walked the empty halls, pausing in front of Harris' classroom. She let out an annoyed sigh before opening the door and stepping inside./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"All eyes fell on River as she stepped forward, heels echoing in the silence that fell over the room. She passed her office note to Harris before setting her finished assignments on his desk. She gave him a forced smile before walking to her normal spot beside Stiles, head held high and shoulders back like Lydia had taught her. She slid into her seat and opened her notebook and chemistry book, copying the notes from the board as Harris cleared his throat and began speaking again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles' leg was bouncing so hard that River worried he would have a bruise from where it kept hitting the table. She rolled her eyes and placed her hand on his thigh, grounding him. He reached his left hand down and held hers, squeezing gently in thanks before releasing her. She left her hand on him as they both took notes, Stiles being able to actually pay a bit of attention with River holding him down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"When the bell rang, Harris asked for River to stay behind. Stiles stayed by the door, waiting for her as Harris asked her a few questions, making sure she understood the assignments. He surprised her by telling her that if she needed to leave at any point then to let him know. She thanked him before going to Stiles, letting him lead her down the hall and to her locker. Lydia was waiting for her there already./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Hey," River greeted her, grabbing everything she needed for her next class./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Good job," Lydia smirked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You noticed?" River smirked back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What?" Stiles asked, confused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I was very proud," Lydia's smirk turned to a small smile, the genuine look giving River a confidence boost./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Then my life is complete and I can die happy," River joked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Lydia rolled her eyes, her smile growing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm confused," Stiles announced./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""So, same as normal," River joked as Stiles took her books from her arms./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Har-har," he rolled his eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll call you later," Lydia promised./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Okay," River nodded, taking Stiles' hand and following him towards her next class./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Are you okay?" Stiles asked, studying her sweater. "I thought you were kidding about the long sleeves."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I was not," River sighed. "I'm going to move all of my long sleeve shirts to the front of my closet tonight. This was just the quickest thing I could grab."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sorry," Stiles said, fully genuine./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It'll be fine," River assured him. "I'll get over it eventually. It's just going to take time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Well, you could always tell people that you fought a shark?" he suggested./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Or a mountain lion," she smirked. "Sounds more likely."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""True," Stiles nodded as they stepped into River's next class./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"He followed her all the way to her desk, setting her stuff down as she sat and then kneeling in front of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""If you need anything, just call me," he told her. "I don't care that we're at school. Pull out your phone and call me. I'll come running."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Okay," River nodded. "Now, go to class."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles stood and kissed her head. He rested his forehead against hers for a moment, both of their eyes remaining closed before Stiles finally backed away and left the room. River watched him go, a small smile on her face before she faced forward. At the end of class, she turned in her assignments and found Jackson waiting for at the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Can we talk?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sure," she nodded. "What's up?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Not here," he shook his head and led her to an empty classroom./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What's wrong?" she asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What did you see that night?" he asked bluntly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Well, there was a guy bleeding on the ground and then I fought a mountain lion," she replied without thought./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Are you sure it was a mountain lion?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River looked into Jackson's eyes and saw doubt. What he was doubting, she wasn't sure, but it was probably the mountain lion bit./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Tell me what you saw first," she told him, wondering just how much Jackson knew./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Not a mountain lion," he said simply./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Well, if you didn't see a mountain lion, and I didn't see a mountain lion, then it probably wasn't a mountain lion."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Jackson held her gaze for a few moments, taking in a shaky breath as he repeated what she had said over and over in his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It was big," he said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""And fast," she added./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Huge."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Red eyes and sharp claws."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""How sharp?" he asked, then shook his head. "No. You don't have to answer that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""This sharp," she said, pulling up her sleeve and showing off the stitches that she had hidden from few at the hospital./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Shit," he breathed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Here, too," she sighed, pulling her sleeve back down and showing Jackson her side./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Jackson stared at the marks that littered her body and River noted the anger that lit up his eyes. He reached forward, pulling her sweater back down gently. He held her waist and River refused to flinch as he touched her other stitches. He leaned in, pulling her close and resting his lips on her head. River was reminded of the night she had become friends with Jackson./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"He was sitting in front of a grave with a half a bottle of Jack. He was crying when she sat next to him. He had been abrasive at first, telling her to go screw herself, but the alcohol loosened him up and he had ended up with his head in her lap, crying as he told her about his birth parents. She had drunk the rest of the bottle for him, telling him about how she wished she could remember who she was before the sheriff had found her. She told him about how, every so often, she would smell something or read something, and she would feel like something was just scratching at the back of her brain, trying to figure out what was so familiar about the smell or words. She woke up in Jackson's bed, curled up to his side with her first and only hangover, swearing off alcohol from then on. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"A throat cleared and River sniffled, wiping the tear from her cheek as Jackson turned to face the person intruding on their moment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yes, Allison?" he asked, his voice hard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sorry," she said. "The bells about to ring and you two have been in here for a while. I figured I'd warn you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""We've been warned," he said and River could hear his eyeroll./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sure Lydia is wondering where you are," Allison's attitude was finally on River's last nerve./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Isn't Scott looking for you?" she shot back, finally looking at the girl./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""They broke up," Jackson informed her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Hmm. Wasn't important enough for me to hear about from Scott or the rumor mill," River shrugged, ignoring the pain it caused in her shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She heard Jackson snort and caught his smirk out of the corner of her eye. Allison looked shocked, not expecting River to speak up since she usually stayed quiet. Jackson wrapped his arm around River's waist and pulled her past Allison and into the hall. They walked into their next class just as the bell rang, both with mean smirks in place. It wasn't often that River pulled out the mean-girl act, but damn was it a good act./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She realized that she didn't have any of her class supplies when the teacher told them to open their books and she wanted to smack her forehead. Jackson slid his open book over so that they could both read along with the teacher as he took notes. When the bell rang, he handed the notes to her so that she could copy them in study hall later./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"At lunch, she followed Jackson to the popular table, sitting her down in the chair that Allison typically occupied to show that she wasn't welcome, Jackson on one side of her and Lydia taking the other side. Lydia pulled her into a conversation about their chemistry test that was coming up, causing her to miss Jackson talking about Allison and River under his breath to Scott. She noticed when he stood and walked away but didn't think anything of it as she continued talking to Lydia./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She heard a loud snap and looked towards Scott and Stiles quickly, seeing them both run from the cafeteria. She shook her head, going back to Lydia as Jackson took his seat again, a smug smile in place. When the bell rang, River went to her locker, grabbing the rest of her assignments and taking them to her teachers before heading towards study hall. She sat beside Lydia, copying the notes that Jackson had taken for her before passing them back to him. She copied some of Lydia's notes as well before it was time to go to her last two classes of the day. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"When she walked out of psychology, she caught sight of Isaac staring at her, worry or concern etched on his face. River raised a brow at him before rolling her eyes, turning, and walking in the opposite direction. It took her longer, but she finally reached her locker and leaned against it, letting out a rough breath as her side and arm ached. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What did you say to Allison?" Scott's voice asked from in front of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Hi, Scott. Nice to finally not be ignored by you for your girlfriend. I'm good thanks. Just in a bit of pain. Thanks for the concern," she responded without opening her eyes, annoyance clear in her voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What did you say to her?" he asked again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Why do you care? You broke up," River sighed, turning and opening her locker to grab her books for her last class of the day./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River did not expect Scott to grab her injured arm, forcefully turn her, and slam her into the locker next to hers. She let out a yelp of surprise and pain before finally looking into Scott's golden eyes. Wait, golden?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Dude!" Stiles yelled, pushing at Scott./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Let. Her. Go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River turned to see Jackson standing beside them, his face morphed in fury. Boyd stood behind him, his usually blank face filled with so much rage it made her flinch. She let out a relieved breath as Scott finally released her. She sank to the ground and Stiles rushed to catch her. Jackson stood tall, staring Scott down, Boyd stepping forward so that he was beside Jackson rather than behind him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River let out a whimper of pain, causing all three boys to stop their staring contest and look to her. Boyd stepped in front of River, blocking Scott when he seemed like he was about to step towards her. Jackson moved around Boyd, going to River's side and helping her stand. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She leaned against him and felt the bond flaring as she felt Peter getting closer. She turned her head into Jackson's chest and let out muffled sob, hoping no one would be able to hear it outside of him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Breath," he whispered to her. "Don't let them see."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River nodded, getting her breathing under control before turning back to her locker. She checked her reflection in the small mirror on her locker door and carefully fixed her runaway makeup with her fingers, making it look as normal as possible before grabbing her books and turning to face Boyd's back. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She tapped his shoulder and Boyd stepped forward, closer to Scott so that River had room to move towards class. Scott made to follow but Boyd stepped in front of him again but Boyd continued to block his path, only letting Stiles and Jackson follow her. Jackson wrapped his arm around her waist as Stiles grabbed her hand, the ragtag group of three causing people to move out of their way as they headed down the hall. Once in the safety of the classroom, River took her spot at the front of the room, Jackson sitting beside her while Stiles took the seat behind her. She more felt than saw Lydia sit behind Jackson, making sure all of the seats around River were occupied before the bell rang and Scott ran in. He sat in the seat furthest away from River, sending a glare in their general direction every so often./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River bolted from the room when the bell rang, grabbing her homework and rushing to her car. Once in her car, she drove straight home, slamming the door behind her and kicking off her heels. She let out a sob and leaned against the wall. Her arms and back hurt from Scott and her side and arm hurt from the stitches. She slid down the wall, not noticing Peter walking up to her through her tears. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"He took her hand, causing her to jump and then sob as her body jolted. Peter began taking her pain and she let out a sigh of relief, tears still streaming down her face. When he had taken all the pain he could, he lifted River into his arms and carried her to her room. He laid her in bed, pulling the covers over her shoulder before running back down the stairs to gather her books. He was back just as quick as he'd left, setting down her books and then freezing before he climbed out of her window, closing it before jumping down to the ground below. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River let out a small whine of protest before Stiles ran into the room, completely out of breath. He ran over to her bed and climbed in beside her. River rolled to her good side, facing the wall as Stiles climbed under the blanket with her. He wrapped his arm around her waist carefully before snuggling into her back. River cried for a few more minutes as Stiles spoke soothingly in her ear, his chest pressed against her. Once her breathing was under control and the tears had stopped, Stiles continued speaking softly, his voice lulling her to sleep./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Chapter Six/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Do you want the bite?" Peter was staring at her intently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""The what?" she asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""The bite," he said. "It's a gift. If you accept it, you'll heal. You'll be faster, stronger, beautiful."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I feel like you're only telling me the good things," she said, tilting her head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I knew you were smart," Peter smiled before continuing. "The bite could kill you. If it doesn't, you'll have to learn control so you don't hurt anyone. There are people who would hunt you and try to kill you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Why?" River asked, panicked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's okay," he promised, moving closer to her. "I wouldn't let anyone hurt you. You'll be my family, my pack."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Do I have to have the bite?" she asked. "To be your family?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," Peter smiled. "You can stay as you are. I can teach you different things without the bite."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Like what?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""How to defend yourself from the hunters and others like me. I can get you mountain ash and spell books to study. Self-defense and hand-to-hand combat."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Magic?" she gasped. "I can learn magic?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yes," Peter smiled. "You can be like that Hermione girl."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You emcould/em hear me," River smiled. "I told her you could."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yes, I heard you arguing with Jennifer," Peter chuckled. "So, do you agree? You'll be in my pack?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sure," River shrugged. "I'm half-sure this is a dream, by the way."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Peter just smiled at the admission before standing and kissing River's head. She felt a warmth grow in her chest and let out a small 'oh' at the feeling. Peter breathed her in, hand going to the back of her neck. She hummed at the feeling before pouting when Peter turned away./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Will you read to me?" Peter requested, pulling 'The Fellowship of the Ring' from her bag./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sure," River smiled, opening the book./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She read for an hour before Peter stood./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Where are you going?" she asked, frowning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You need rest and visiting hours are starting soon," Peter explained. "I'll send you a few books and come visit you soon."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Okay," River nodded, placing the bookmark in the page and handing the book over so Peter could put it back in her bag. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Peter kissed her head and left the room quickly. River sighed before leaning her head back and closing her eyes. She fell asleep quickly just to jump awake when Stiles ran into the room, falling to the floor in his rush./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What the hell?" she asked, thinking of the strange dream she had had./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Hey," Stiles said, grinning to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Hi," River sighed, rolling her eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles frowned before sitting down beside her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sorry," he admitted. "I know you have questions. It's just hard to explain."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Then start from the beginning," River grumbled, staring at the ceiling./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Later," Stiles promised. "Dad's doing the paperwork now so we can take you home."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Thank God," she sighed in relief. "I hate hospitals."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I know the feeling," Stiles smirked. "I see you changed your clothes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I even showered by myself," she smirked. "Speaking of, I left my shower stuff in the bathroom last night. Can you grab it for me, please?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sure."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles jumped up, rushing to the bathroom to gather her stuff. He came back a minute later, putting everything away for her. Once he zipped the bag closed, Noah walked in. He smiled brightly at seeing her awake and dressed in her own clothes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""How you feeling, kiddo?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I actually feel great," she answered honestly, noticing that the pain was basically gone. "I don't know what meds they have me on, but they work."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""They took you off your medicine," Noah told her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Are we sure? Cause I feel fine."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sure," Noah smiled. "You ready to get out of here?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Born ready," she groaned. "Save me from this prison."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Noah and Stiles both chuckled at her dramatics before Melissa came to her room. Melissa smiled as she helped River stand, pushing her slippers onto her feet so that River wouldn't have to do it herself. Once she was standing, she felt a twinge of pain on her side before a warmth in her chest batted the pain away. She felt confused for a moment before a bright grin overtook her features, realizing the dream had been real. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Happy you can stand?" Melissa quirked her eyebrow./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Happy to go home," River shrugged. "No offense to your place of work, but it kind of sucks."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Is that your notice?" Melissa smirked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Dad said I can organize the station," River shrugged, not noticing the sparkle in Melissa's eyes when she called Noah dad. "Is that okay?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""That's fine," Melissa smiled. "I know how much you like to organize."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It makes me feel better," she shrugged her good shoulder. "Like I have control over something."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I know," Melissa nodded, helping her to the wheelchair. "Let's get you out of here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yay!" River cheered, Stiles letting out a whoop behind her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Once in the hall, River noted the hall looked completely fine, as if a struggle hadn't happened the night before. She wondered how Peter had pulled that off before looking ahead and seeing Jennifer. Jennifer gave her a smile and a wink as they passed and River couldn't help but smile back. Once they reached the front door, Melissa helped her stand as Stiles rushed forward to open the passenger side door of the cruiser. Noah took over for Melissa, leading River to the car and helping her climb in. With the door closed, River let out a happy breath, rubbing the chest where the warm feeling came from./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"When they got home, Noah helped her up the stairs and to her room. She snorted when she saw her schoolbooks with a note from Lydia explaining that she was making copies of her notes for her to use for homework. River sat on her bed, leaning against the backboard and pulling her favorite quilt over her legs./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""How are you feeling?" Noah questioned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I promise, I'm good," River said again. "If I start hurting I'll let someone know."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Alright," Noah sighed. "I have to head to work, but Stiles is here if you need anything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Okay," River nodded. "Love you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Love you, too," Noah smiled, kissing her forehead before heading out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles came into her room and she stared at him, watching as he sat on the edge of her bed. He stared at his hands for a while, not saying anything. River cleared her throat to get his attention./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""This is where you start explaining," she stage whispered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I can't," Stiles sighed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What?" she asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's not my secret to tell."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River rolled her eyes and let out an annoyed groan./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Go away," she pushed him off the bed with her foot. "Go bug Scott. I need to do homework."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""River," Stiles pleaded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," her firm voice and hard eyes caused him to take a step back. "Just, no."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles huffed and left the room, slamming his bedroom door closed and causing her to jump. River rolled her eyes and grabbed her schoolbooks, reading through the chapters the Lydia had marked for her before going to the worksheets. She had finished half of the worksheets by the time that Stiles came out of his room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I need to go do something. Will you be okay by yourself?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll be fine," she waved him off. "Will you turn on my light and open my window before you go?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I don't think you should leave your window open," he said slowly. "What if a mountain lion climbed in."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I thought the mountain lion had been shot," she shot back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""There could be another one," he tried, his voice going up a pitch and telling River he was hiding something./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Whatever," River rolled her eyes. "Just the light then please."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles turned on her light and left. Once she heard the Jeep head down the road, she set her book aside and stood. She stared out of her window for a moment before unlocking it and opening it slightly, a light breeze moving through the room. She sat back on her bed, continuing her homework. After another hour, she heard a car pull up in front of the house and stood, looking out to see who it was. A silver car that she vaguely recognized was idling in the driveway. She watched as Jennifer exited the car, opened the back door and pulled a box out. Jennifer approached the front porch and disappeared from sight as she reached the front door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River heard the doorbell ring and headed down the stairs, taking a break halfway through to catch her breath. She finally made it to the door, opening it wide, but finding Jennifer and her car missing. She looked down, finding the box waiting for her. She squatted down and lifted the box, letting out a breath at the weight of it. She started up the stairs again, having to take more breaks ascending the stairs than she did descending them. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Finally making it back to her room, River shut her door and set the box on her bed. She opened it carefully, not sure what would be inside. She smiled as she began pulling the contents out to study. She found three old, leather-bound books, two journals made with some sort of animal fur, two large jars of what looked like black minerals, multiple stones and crystals, a velvet jewelry box, a first edition copy of 'Dracula' and a letter with her name on it. She decided to open the letter before looking through the books and journals./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"'River,/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"I hope you aren't in much pain. I'll come to you when I have the chance. At the moment, I have quite a bit of business to attend to and am not sure when I will be free. I'm sure you're curious about the contents of the box and, if I know you as well as I believe that I do, you're reading this letter before going through everything./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The dusty books contain spells, each of varying degrees of difficulty. Please, start with the top book. Master all of those spells before going to the next. Magic can be dangerous, and I don't need my future emissary getting herself hurt. /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"One of the journals is a bestiary from my family tomb. It's a book on supernatural creatures that I hope will help us in the future. Study it carefully. There are blank pages that I hope we won't have to fill at a later time./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The other journal is made of my own fur. It is for you to write your notes and questions while studying magic, or even for when you begin writing your own spells. Please don't start trying to make your own spells until you have mastered the three books completely./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The jars are mountain ash. Mountain ash is the ashes from Roran trees and can protect you from a few different types of supernatural creatures. It can be used in spells or in combat. It is most commonly used to make a circle around a specific area for protection./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The crystals and stones will help you with spells and for grounding your magic. I'm sure you can look up what the stones are and what they mean. The Internet, I am finding, is a very resourceful tool./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"'Dracula' is from my own personal library. I hope you enjoy it. Maybe you can read it to me sometime?/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Please wear the other gift. It will help protect you from outside sources, such as possession. It is also a family heirloom. Keep it hidden when you wear it. Try not to take it off. It will not break./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"If anything were to happen to me, everything I own would go to you. You are my sole beneficiary. I know that may seem strange, but you reading to me was what helped bring me back. It reminded me that I was human. My own nephew and niece left me there to rot, never coming to visit me unless it was to make a point to someone else about what hunters were capable of. Well, in some defense, that was only one time, but that also shows that they only visited me once./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stay safe. I'll come to you as soon as I can to explain things better, but you're smart enough to figure it out on your own. That warmth in your chest is a bond between us. We'll be able to feel each other's emotions and it'll help me to know if you're in danger. I can feel your happiness through it and, if you ever went missing, I would be able to follow the bond and find you./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"I am sorry for hurting you. I have my power under control now that I have a bond. I can't do much about the pain without touching you, but I will continue to try to fight it off. Be careful. Stay away from the Argents. Practice your magic. I will come for you. I will always find you./span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emspan style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"-Peter'/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River smiled down at the letter and tried to concentrate on the bond. She felt it in her chest and tried to send her happiness from his words through it to him. She wondered if he could feel it at all before she felt the bond heat up as happiness and contentment were sent back to her. She let out a small giggle before reaching for the jewelry box. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Inside the velvet box was a necklace that was held together with black leather. Hanging from the end of the leather was a jar that was closed with black wax. Inside the jar she could make out a few small stones, mountain ash, and what looked like rock salt. She could tell that there was more to it but didn't recognize it immediately. Along with the jar, there were three charms; a black wolf, a planchette, and a three-spiral triskele. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She pulled the necklace over her head and slid it under her shirt, placing her hand over the necklace where it rested between her breasts. She picked up the spell books, making sure to leave them in order before placing them on her overstuffed bookshelf. She placed 'Dracula' on her bedside table, pulling out a fresh bookmark and setting it on top of the book. She placed the journals on her bed and left the mountain ash, stones, and crystals in the box, which she stashed at the top of her closet, placing the quilts in front of the box to hide it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Once she was situated on her bed again, she reached for the journals. The first one she opened was blank, so she assumed it was the one made of Peter's hide. She closed it and rested her hand over the cover, taking in the coarse feeling beneath her fingers before setting it beside 'Dracula' and opening the bestiary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The pages had browned with age, the writing starting to fade. River decided she would have to trace over the words with a pen once she finished reading through it. She made herself comfortable and began reading as Peter had suggested. Losing herself in the pages was easy, reading through descriptions of supernatural creatures and how to either kill or subdue them. She heard Stiles knock on her door and she set the book down, standing and walking to her door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What's up?" she asked, only opening her door a crack./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I brought some dinner. Peace offering," he explained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's not a peace offering unless you plan on telling me what the hell is going on," she glared./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I have a milkshake."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll meet you downstairs."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She shut her door, placing a bookmark in the bestiary and hiding it, along with the journal, in her bedside table beside her walkie talkie. She made her way down the stairs, groaning in frustration as she had to sit halfway through. Stiles came back up the stairs, food and drinks in hand. He placed the food and drinks on the step above them, reaching in the bag to separate the food./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Thanks," she whispered as she took the offered fries and burger./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles nodded and popped the lid off of her milkshake so that she could dip her fries in it. He began eating his own food and they sat in silence for a few minutes. River finally let out an annoyed huff and face him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Stiles? Just tell me what's happening?" she pleaded. "Everyone has been pushing me out lately and I feel like shit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I didn't mean to push you out," Stiles said, regret and guilt crossing his features. "Like I said, it's not my secret to tell."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I thought we told each other everything," she argued. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You didn't tell me about Isaac," Stiles countered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I also didn't ignore you for weeks," she shot back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles sighed, rubbing his face. He stared forward for a bit and River could see him arguing with himself in his head. River leaned back, letting him think everything through as she continued eating her fries and chocolate shake. As she was swallowing her final fry, Stiles groaned and leaned back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I can't," he said simply./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You know I'll just figure it out on my own eventually, right?" she asked in amusement./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Please leave it alone," Stiles begged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," she shook her head and put the lid on her shake. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She stood and made her way up the stairs sipping her shake and leaning against the wall for support. She left Stiles on the steps where he didn't even try to come after her. She shut her door and flipped the lock, deciding she would unlock it once she heard Stiles head to bed. She threw away her empty cup and pulled the bestiary back out, getting back to her research./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"After reading two sentences, she decided to pull a notebook towards herself, flipping it upside down and going to the very last page. She began taking notes about the creature she was reading, slowly coming to a realization in the process. She let out a bark of laughter before covering her mouth to hold it in, not wanting Stiles to try to come into her room. Once she finished the section she was on, she shut her notebook and continued reading, opening the notebook every so often to make notes on other creatures. She knew she would end up rereading the book a few times before she had it all memorized, but she knew it would be worth it in the end./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"After the first read-through, she began tracing the words over, knowing it would help her to remember what she had read. She only paused in her task when she heard Stiles go into his room. She stayed still listening as he moved around his room, getting ready for bed. Once she heard his bedsprings squeak, signaling that he was in bed, she stood as quietly as possible, stepping over the two baseboards that creaked when stepped on in order to unlock her door before heading back to her bed. She stayed up all night, tracing over the words until the sun came up. She'd only finished two-third of the book when she heard Noah get home. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Sighing, she hid the book and set her pen down, heading down the stairs so she could see him. She was mildly surprised when she didn't need to rest while heading to the first floor, but she felt accomplished, nonetheless. She smiled when she found Noah in the kitchen, making himself a quick sandwich./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Do you want me to make you some eggs?" she asked, her voice soft so as to not scare him with her sudden presence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," Noah turned to her, taking in her appearance before speaking again. "Did you get any sleep?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll be okay," she smiled. "Was trying to get my homework done. If I don't, I'll just have problems falling asleep thinking about the mountain sitting on my desk."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sure your teachers will understand you needing to rest rather than do homework."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Not Harris," River stated. "He'd probably tell me that if I can't get it done then I need to drop his class."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""He does not seem like a polite man," Noah joked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""He's not. Picks on Stiles a lot."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What do you mean?" Noah was in concerned parent mode now./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Stiles has a hard time staying still and paying attention, obviously. Harris picks on him for it, even though its due to his ADHD, which is well documented at the school. It doesn't feel right."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It isn't right," Noah complained. "I'll go up to the school Monday and talk to the principal."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Thank you," River smiled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Why didn't you tell me sooner?" he asked. "I've noticed that you haven't been spending as much time with Stiles or any of your friends lately."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Everyone is being weird," she shrugged. "Stiles and Scott are up to something, which I am being left out of, Jackson is spending a lot of time with Allison, Lydia is being stand-offish, and Erica and Boyd decided that they were more invested in their friendship to Isaac than to me. Doesn't really leave me anyone to hang with. On the bright side, I have straight A's and have gotten a lot of writing done."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You'll have to let me read something one of these days."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I will," she promised./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Do you want me to talk to Stiles about ignoring you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," she shook her head. "He'll come to me when he's ready. I wanted to talk to you about what happened at the school, actually."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I need to get your statement anyways," Noah nodded, grabbing a notebook and pen. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The two sat at the table, Noah's coffee letting off steam as it sat in front of him. He sat with his pen hovering over the notebook paper, ready to begin writing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I got a text from Scott saying to meet him at the school, which is weird since he didn't have a phone at the time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I remember you asking Stiles about it that morning," Noah nodded before letting River continue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Well, I got to the school at seven-fifteen and saw Jackson's Porsche. I remember wondering what he was doing there with Stiles before seeing the blood by the front door. There was so much of it. I saw something move in the bush by the school and realized it was a person. I ran over and pulled them out of the bush. I didn't recognize him, but he had short, black hair and some stubble, leather jacket, Henley shirt. There was a hole in his chest so I called the station and put pressure on the wound. He was still breathing, but just barely. Amber hung up on me the first time because someone had called and said that they were told there would be prank calls from the school. I called back and yelled at her while still putting pressure on the guys chest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I heard a growl and turned around and…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She trailed off, remembering the red eyes and the beast that had been behind her. It was like she was there all over again, Peter losing control and attacking her. She remembered the feeling of being thrown, torn open, and thrown again. She could still feel herself sliding across the asphalt and landing in the pool of blood. She shook out of her daze when she felt the warmth in her chest flare and Noah rested his hand his hand on her good shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sorry," she told him before continuing. "I thought I saw red eyes, but maybe it was just the lights from the cruiser in the distance or an exit light reflecting from its eyes. It threw me into the Jeep, scratched me up, and threw me again. I don't remember any real details though. Everything hurt too much."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""If I show you a picture of someone, can you tell me if you recognize them? Noah asked, his voice wavering a bit./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," River nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Noah pulled his phone out and looked for a specific picture. Once he found it, he turned his phone so that she could see it. She recognized the man immediately./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""That's him," River gasped. "That's the guy that was outside."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You say this was at six-fifteen?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," she nodded. "I was on the phone with Amber for a bit before that thing attacked me though."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I have the call transcript," he nodded, causing River to flinch at the idea of him having to hear her getting attacked. "You're sure this is the man who was outside?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," she nodded. "Who is he?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Derek Hale. Scott said that Derek chased them through the school."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You don't agree?" she asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""The timeline doesn't add up," Noah shook his head. "If you were outside with him, there was no way he was in the school at that time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Maybe he saw Derek outside and assumed it was Derek chasing them?" she suggested. "Trauma can do that to someone. Make them see things."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," Noah nodded. "I'll figure it out."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Do you want help?" she offered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Not with any ongoing investigations," Noah smirked. "You know that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah, yeah, yeah," River waved her hand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"A few seconds later, Stiles could be heard stampeding down the stairs. He walked into the kitchen and froze when he saw River and Noah at the table with a notebook between them. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion before understanding dawned on his face. He walked to the coffee maker, pouring himself a cup of coffee as River looked to Noah./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Anything else?" she asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""No," he shook his head. "If I think of anymore questions, I'll let you know."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Okay," River smiled. "Now, my turn to ask questions."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""River," he warned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I know, I know, ongoing investigation. It isn't about that," she promised. "When do I get to start organizing stuff?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""When you're stitches come out," Noah said with a pointed look./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm going to have so many scars," River complained, covering her face with her hands./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sorry, sweetheart," Noah said, leaning forward and taking her hands from her face. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's fine," River whispered, hoping Noah ignored the crack in her voice. "I prefer long sleeves anyways."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You can't wear long sleeves in the Summer," Noah sighed. "You'll pass out from heat exhaustion."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Only if I'm in the heat," she defended. "I think we both know that I prefer staying in the cool A/C anyways."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Noah let out a sigh, deciding not to argue with her this early on. He squeezed her hands instead, trying to comfort her in any way that he could. Stiles just stood by the coffee maker, refusing to turn around and look at River. He felt guilt eating at him for not being able to protect her, from not being able to tell her about werewolves. Scott had begged him not to tell her, wanting to keep her out of danger. Stiles had agreed originally, but after she had almost died from blood loss, he didn't think keeping her in the dark was the safer anymore. After literally wrecking Melissa and Peter's date the night before and eating on the stairs with River, he had gone to Scott's, sneaking into the house and argued in hushed voices for an hour before he had left to go back home./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River stood from her seat and bumped Stiles, pushing him out of the way a bit so that she could get to her tea. As if on autopilot, she reached up with her left arm and gasped in pain, tears forming in her eyes. Stiles responded immediately, pulling her away from the cabinet and setting her back in her chair. She closed her eyes tight, breathing heavily for a few moments before opening her eyes to find Stiles and Noah both kneeling in front of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm good," she lied through her teeth. "Just give me a minute."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll make your tea," Stiles said. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll get your pain medication," Noah added./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Both Stilinski men stood, heading in different directions. Noah went to the living room, grabbing a bag and coming back to the living room as Stiles went to the cabinet that River had tried reaching for. He pulled down the tea bags, leaving them on the counter so she could get to them, before filling the kettle and placing it on the stovetop. Noah placed two pills in front of River and poured her a glass of water. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"After she took her medicine, they all waited with bated breath for the kettle to whistle. Stiles went about fixing her tea the way she liked it before placing it in front of her. She sipped it slowly, closing her eyes and enjoying the taste and warmth that it provided. After a few sips, she looked up and locked eyes with Noah./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm okay," she promised with a smile. "Go get some rest."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Noah nodded, heading up the stairs and leaving River and Stiles alone. River looked to Stiles, watching as he checked her over with his eyes. She smirked as she continued sipping her tea, letting him finish his assessment before speaking./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm okay," she repeated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Are you?" he asked seriously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I am," she promised. "Or, at least, I will be."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sorry for avoiding you," he said honestly. "I knew you were having a hard time after everything with Isaac, but I also knew that you wouldn't want to talk to me if you knew I was keeping something from you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Let's just forget about it," River said. "You'll tell me when you're ready."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Really?" Stiles asked, confused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," she shrugged with her good shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles was in shock. River was stubborn. When she wanted something, she stopped at nothing to get it, including with information. He narrowed his eyes for a moment, not trusting it before shrugging and letting it go./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What do you want to do today?" she asked hopefully./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I actually had plans with Scott," Stiles scratched the back of his head. "I didn't realize that you would actually want me around. I can cancel though."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's fine," River shook her head. "I need to finish my homework anyways. I'll just do that and watch some movies."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""As soon as I'm done with Scott, I'll come home. I'll even bring snacks," he offered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Deal," River smiled. "Go. Hurry back."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles kissed her cheek and River ignored the fact that her stomach flipped at the action as he went out the front door. She shook her head, heading up the stairs with her tea so that she could do her homework./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"It took her three hours to finish her assignments and she groaned as she shook out the cramp in her hand. She went back down the stairs, putting a random movie in before sitting on the couch and curling up under a throw blanket. She fell asleep before she even got to the main menu, her all-nighter finally catching up to her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She woke up as Stiles got home, the sun already down again. She sat up, looking towards the entryway and seeing him rubbing his face with his hands as he held stress in his shoulders./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You okay?" she asked, causing him to jump./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yeah," he nodded. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Where's the snacks?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Shit," he groaned./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It's fine. I was about to head to bed anyways."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River felt disappointment settle in her stomach as she stood, ignoring the want to stretch out of fear of causing her side to hurt. She folded the blanket and laid it across the back of the couch before noticing the glass of water and medicine on the coffee table. Knowing that Noah left it out for her, she took the pills and downed the water quickly before turning off the tv and turning towards the stairs. She patted Stiles' shoulder as she passed him, heading up the stairs and to her room. She laid in her bed and rolled to her good side, pulling the blanket over her head and crying softly, letting out the feelings of abandonment that she felt in her chest from Stiles./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"After crying herself to sleep, River woke up with a headache. She groaned as she stood, holding her head in her hands. She waited a few minutes before standing and looking out her still cracked window. Stiles was already at school and Noah was at work. She decided she didn't want to sit at the house all day, nor did she want to miss anymore school, so she took a shower and decided to get ready. She would miss first period for taking her time getting ready, but she didn't really mind considering she had finished the essay that wasn't due until the end of the week the day before. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"After carefully blow drying her hair so as to not irritate her side, River opened her closet, trying to decide what to wear. She pulled out a pair of skinny jeans and slid them on easily. Next she grabbed a black tank top, pulling it over her head and shoulders before sliding the spaghetti straps up her arms. She grabbed her lightest sweater and pulled it on, rolling up the pink sleeve on her uninjured arm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She did her makeup and crammed all of her assignments and books into her bag. Hauling it over her right shoulder and grunting at the weight. She grabbed her keys, relieved that someone had brought her car back to the house, even if it was probably Scott. She headed out the door, ignoring Mrs. Anderson's judgmental looks as she tossed her bag into the back seat before getting into the driver's seat. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The drive to school was fast as always. Getting out of the car took her a while. It wasn't from any sort of pain though. River couldn't help but stare at the spot where the blood had been that night. The sidewalk seemed darker in that spot but that was the only indication that she could see that that night had truly happened. When she finally brought herself out of her thoughts, she walked into the school and went straight to the office./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"The front office assistant had been surprised to see her but gave her a pass to second period anyways. River dropped off all of her books and assignments that weren't for Chemistry and walked the empty halls, pausing in front of Harris' classroom. She let out an annoyed sigh before opening the door and stepping inside./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"All eyes fell on River as she stepped forward, heels echoing in the silence that fell over the room. She passed her office note to Harris before setting her finished assignments on his desk. She gave him a forced smile before walking to her normal spot beside Stiles, head held high and shoulders back like Lydia had taught her. She slid into her seat and opened her notebook and chemistry book, copying the notes from the board as Harris cleared his throat and began speaking again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles' leg was bouncing so hard that River worried he would have a bruise from where it kept hitting the table. She rolled her eyes and placed her hand on his thigh, grounding him. He reached his left hand down and held hers, squeezing gently in thanks before releasing her. She left her hand on him as they both took notes, Stiles being able to actually pay a bit of attention with River holding him down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"When the bell rang, Harris asked for River to stay behind. Stiles stayed by the door, waiting for her as Harris asked her a few questions, making sure she understood the assignments. He surprised her by telling her that if she needed to leave at any point then to let him know. She thanked him before going to Stiles, letting him lead her down the hall and to her locker. Lydia was waiting for her there already./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Hey," River greeted her, grabbing everything she needed for her next class./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Good job," Lydia smirked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""You noticed?" River smirked back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What?" Stiles asked, confused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I was very proud," Lydia's smirk turned to a small smile, the genuine look giving River a confidence boost./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Then my life is complete and I can die happy," River joked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Lydia rolled her eyes, her smile growing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm confused," Stiles announced./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""So, same as normal," River joked as Stiles took her books from her arms./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Har-har," he rolled his eyes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'll call you later," Lydia promised./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Okay," River nodded, taking Stiles' hand and following him towards her next class./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Are you okay?" Stiles asked, studying her sweater. "I thought you were kidding about the long sleeves."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I was not," River sighed. "I'm going to move all of my long sleeve shirts to the front of my closet tonight. This was just the quickest thing I could grab."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sorry," Stiles said, fully genuine./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It'll be fine," River assured him. "I'll get over it eventually. It's just going to take time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Well, you could always tell people that you fought a shark?" he suggested./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Or a mountain lion," she smirked. "Sounds more likely."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""True," Stiles nodded as they stepped into River's next class./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"He followed her all the way to her desk, setting her stuff down as she sat and then kneeling in front of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""If you need anything, just call me," he told her. "I don't care that we're at school. Pull out your phone and call me. I'll come running."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Okay," River nodded. "Now, go to class."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Stiles stood and kissed her head. He rested his forehead against hers for a moment, both of their eyes remaining closed before Stiles finally backed away and left the room. River watched him go, a small smile on her face before she faced forward. At the end of class, she turned in her assignments and found Jackson waiting for at the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Can we talk?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sure," she nodded. "What's up?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Not here," he shook his head and led her to an empty classroom./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What's wrong?" she asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What did you see that night?" he asked bluntly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Well, there was a guy bleeding on the ground and then I fought a mountain lion," she replied without thought./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Are you sure it was a mountain lion?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River looked into Jackson's eyes and saw doubt. What he was doubting, she wasn't sure, but it was probably the mountain lion bit./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Tell me what you saw first," she told him, wondering just how much Jackson knew./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Not a mountain lion," he said simply./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Well, if you didn't see a mountain lion, and I didn't see a mountain lion, then it probably wasn't a mountain lion."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Jackson held her gaze for a few moments, taking in a shaky breath as he repeated what she had said over and over in his head./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""It was big," he said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""And fast," she added./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Huge."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Red eyes and sharp claws."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""How sharp?" he asked, then shook his head. "No. You don't have to answer that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""This sharp," she said, pulling up her sleeve and showing off the stitches that she had hidden from few at the hospital./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Shit," he breathed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Here, too," she sighed, pulling her sleeve back down and showing Jackson her side./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Jackson stared at the marks that littered her body and River noted the anger that lit up his eyes. He reached forward, pulling her sweater back down gently. He held her waist and River refused to flinch as he touched her other stitches. He leaned in, pulling her close and resting his lips on her head. River was reminded of the night she had become friends with Jackson./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"He was sitting in front of a grave with a half a bottle of Jack. He was crying when she sat next to him. He had been abrasive at first, telling her to go screw herself, but the alcohol loosened him up and he had ended up with his head in her lap, crying as he told her about his birth parents. She had drunk the rest of the bottle for him, telling him about how she wished she could remember who she was before the sheriff had found her. She told him about how, every so often, she would smell something or read something, and she would feel like something was just scratching at the back of her brain, trying to figure out what was so familiar about the smell or words. She woke up in Jackson's bed, curled up to his side with her first and only hangover, swearing off alcohol from then on. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"A throat cleared and River sniffled, wiping the tear from her cheek as Jackson turned to face the person intruding on their moment./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Yes, Allison?" he asked, his voice hard./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Sorry," she said. "The bells about to ring and you two have been in here for a while. I figured I'd warn you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""We've been warned," he said and River could hear his eyeroll./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""I'm sure Lydia is wondering where you are," Allison's attitude was finally on River's last nerve./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Isn't Scott looking for you?" she shot back, finally looking at the girl./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""They broke up," Jackson informed her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Hmm. Wasn't important enough for me to hear about from Scott or the rumor mill," River shrugged, ignoring the pain it caused in her shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She heard Jackson snort and caught his smirk out of the corner of her eye. Allison looked shocked, not expecting River to speak up since she usually stayed quiet. Jackson wrapped his arm around River's waist and pulled her past Allison and into the hall. They walked into their next class just as the bell rang, both with mean smirks in place. It wasn't often that River pulled out the mean-girl act, but damn was it a good act./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She realized that she didn't have any of her class supplies when the teacher told them to open their books and she wanted to smack her forehead. Jackson slid his open book over so that they could both read along with the teacher as he took notes. When the bell rang, he handed the notes to her so that she could copy them in study hall later./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"At lunch, she followed Jackson to the popular table, sitting her down in the chair that Allison typically occupied to show that she wasn't welcome, Jackson on one side of her and Lydia taking the other side. Lydia pulled her into a conversation about their chemistry test that was coming up, causing her to miss Jackson talking about Allison and River under his breath to Scott. She noticed when he stood and walked away but didn't think anything of it as she continued talking to Lydia./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She heard a loud snap and looked towards Scott and Stiles quickly, seeing them both run from the cafeteria. She shook her head, going back to Lydia as Jackson took his seat again, a smug smile in place. When the bell rang, River went to her locker, grabbing the rest of her assignments and taking them to her teachers before heading towards study hall. She sat beside Lydia, copying the notes that Jackson had taken for her before passing them back to him. She copied some of Lydia's notes as well before it was time to go to her last two classes of the day. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"When she walked out of psychology, she caught sight of Isaac staring at her, worry or concern etched on his face. River raised a brow at him before rolling her eyes, turning, and walking in the opposite direction. It took her longer, but she finally reached her locker and leaned against it, letting out a rough breath as her side and arm ached. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What did you say to Allison?" Scott's voice asked from in front of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Hi, Scott. Nice to finally not be ignored by you for your girlfriend. I'm good thanks. Just in a bit of pain. Thanks for the concern," she responded without opening her eyes, annoyance clear in her voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""What did you say to her?" he asked again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Why do you care? You broke up," River sighed, turning and opening her locker to grab her books for her last class of the day./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River did not expect Scott to grab her injured arm, forcefully turn her, and slam her into the locker next to hers. She let out a yelp of surprise and pain before finally looking into Scott's golden eyes. Wait, golden?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Dude!" Stiles yelled, pushing at Scott./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Let. Her. Go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River turned to see Jackson standing beside them, his face morphed in fury. Boyd stood behind him, his usually blank face filled with so much rage it made her flinch. She let out a relieved breath as Scott finally released her. She sank to the ground and Stiles rushed to catch her. Jackson stood tall, staring Scott down, Boyd stepping forward so that he was beside Jackson rather than behind him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River let out a whimper of pain, causing all three boys to stop their staring contest and look to her. Boyd stepped in front of River, blocking Scott when he seemed like he was about to step towards her. Jackson moved around Boyd, going to River's side and helping her stand. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She leaned against him and felt the bond flaring as she felt Peter getting closer. She turned her head into Jackson's chest and let out muffled sob, hoping no one would be able to hear it outside of him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Breath," he whispered to her. "Don't let them see."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River nodded, getting her breathing under control before turning back to her locker. She checked her reflection in the small mirror on her locker door and carefully fixed her runaway makeup with her fingers, making it look as normal as possible before grabbing her books and turning to face Boyd's back. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"She tapped his shoulder and Boyd stepped forward, closer to Scott so that River had room to move towards class. Scott made to follow but Boyd stepped in front of him again but Boyd continued to block his path, only letting Stiles and Jackson follow her. Jackson wrapped his arm around her waist as Stiles grabbed her hand, the ragtag group of three causing people to move out of their way as they headed down the hall. Once in the safety of the classroom, River took her spot at the front of the room, Jackson sitting beside her while Stiles took the seat behind her. She more felt than saw Lydia sit behind Jackson, making sure all of the seats around River were occupied before the bell rang and Scott ran in. He sat in the seat furthest away from River, sending a glare in their general direction every so often./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River bolted from the room when the bell rang, grabbing her homework and rushing to her car. Once in her car, she drove straight home, slamming the door behind her and kicking off her heels. She let out a sob and leaned against the wall. Her arms and back hurt from Scott and her side and arm hurt from the stitches. She slid down the wall, not noticing Peter walking up to her through her tears. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"He took her hand, causing her to jump and then sob as her body jolted. Peter began taking her pain and she let out a sigh of relief, tears still streaming down her face. When he had taken all the pain he could, he lifted River into his arms and carried her to her room. He laid her in bed, pulling the covers over her shoulder before running back down the stairs to gather her books. He was back just as quick as he'd left, setting down her books and then freezing before he climbed out of her window, closing it before jumping down to the ground below. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"River let out a small whine of protest before Stiles ran into the room, completely out of breath. He ran over to her bed and climbed in beside her. River rolled to her good side, facing the wall as Stiles climbed under the blanket with her. He wrapped his arm around her waist carefully before snuggling into her back. River cried for a few more minutes as Stiles spoke soothingly in her ear, his chest pressed against her. Once her breathing was under control and the tears had stopped, Stiles continued speaking softly, his voice lulling her to sleep./span/p
