p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 Nine/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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;""This is the reading of Peter Hale's will," the lawyers voice bored River to death, but she continued listening anyways, Noah holding her hand tightly in his. "To Brook Hale, also known as River Stilinski, I leave all of my earthly belongings, including my properties, money, and personal property. Until she reaches the age of 18, she will receive $5,000 a month. When Brook, or River, reaches the age of 18 she will have full access to my accounts. She is given access to the home that I own (316 Connecticut Dr, Beacon Hills, California) at this present time. She will receive access to the other properties once she reaches the age of 18. I now ask that she be given the letter I wrote her that she can read on her own or out loud at her leisure."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 lawyer finished reading the will and River let out a sigh. Once she had been handed an envelope with the name em'Brook'/em written across the front of it, she stood and followed Noah out of the office. Once in the car, they drove home, River squeezing Noah's hand like a lifeline. Entering the house, River breathed in the smell of home before moving to the living room where Stiles was watching a movie. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 laid across the couch, putting her head in his lap and he immediately began running his fingers through her hair. River hummed at the feeling, a small smile forming on her face. She felt Noah sit on the table in front of them and opened her eyes. His concerned look held her in place and made her breath catch in her throat. He finally broke the silence, letting her breath again as he spoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 read it for you?" 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 shook her head and opened the envelope, reading through it a few times and feeling tears run down her face. She sat up, dropped the letter on the couch, and ran to her room, shutting and locking the door behind herself. Noah ran after her as Stiles grabbed the letter and began to read it./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, Brook, my daughter,/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 not sure what happened to you on that night, but I know that you don't remember either. If you are reading this, I am dead and did not get the chance to tell you the truth. I am sorry for that and for the pain that my death will cause you both physically and emotionally. I wish we had more time, but I want you to know that hearing you reading to me, getting to know you through those moments, was the best moments of my life. /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;"Stick close to Derek. He'll keep you safe. Remember to take things slow and don't grow up too quickly. I am happy that you already found your mate and I am so proud of you for being such a kind and strong young woman. Never lose that./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;"All my love and my entire heart, Your father, 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;"Stiles folded the letter and put it back into the envelope before heading upstairs. Noah was standing outside her door, unsure what to do. He looked to Stiles, noticing the letter in his hands, and reached for it. Stiles shook his head, telling his dad that River wouldn't want him to./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 her father," Stiles whispered before sliding the letter under her door. "I'll talk 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;""I know," Noah sighed quietly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 grabbed his dad's arm and dragged him down the stairs where River wouldn't hear 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;""What do you mean you know?" Stiles 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;""When half of Laura Hale's body showed up, we ran blood tests to see if we could find a match in the hospital database. Her blood matched River's as a cousin. I requested blood from Peter from the hospital and Melissa got me the results a week later. They showed a direct match."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 her?" Stiles asked, angry for 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;""Because the only family she had were either in a coma or a suspected murder," Noah answered back with a roll of 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;"Stiles let out a frustrated breath, looking towards the ceiling where River's room was./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Don't tell her that you knew," Stiles said after a moment. "She'll never forgive 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;""I have to go into the station," Noah sighed. "Finish the paperwork for Kate Argent."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Don't forget the system River made," Stiles 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;"Noah smirked back before his smile dropped. After a few long minutes, Noah left, heading to work. Stiles knew River wouldn't open her door so he went to his room and grabbed the walkie talkie, hoping she wouldn't turn it off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, it's Stiles. Do you copy? Over."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 heard River moving next door, opening the drawer where she kept the walkie talkie. When she didn't respond, he tried 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;""Riv, it's Sti. Do you copy?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 he didn't hear his own voice through the wall, he knew she had turned off the walkie talkie. He groaned at the next idea he had, hoping he wouldn't end up falling and breaking his neck. He put down the walkie talkie and went to his window, opening it slowly so that she wouldn't hear him coming before stepping onto the roof and going to the window right next to his. He smirked when he saw it was cracked and lifted it. River sat up in her bed and looked to her window, glaring when she saw Stiles climbing 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 want to be alone," she stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 be alone together?" Stiles asked, standing 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;"River let out a deep breath before nodding her head and lying down, moving closer to the wall with her blanket pulled up to her shoulders. Stiles climbed into the bed and pulled her close, cuddling into her back. She wasn't crying, which Stiles couldn't tell if it was a bad thing or not, but he whispered soothingly to her anyways. River took his hand and brought it around her and holding it by her face, her breath hitting his 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;"After a few minutes, River fell asleep and Stiles stayed up, wanting to make sure she didn't have a nightmare. He was pretty sure it was the longest he ever stayed still in his life before he fell asleep holding her. He woke on his back, arm around River's shoulder as she buried her head in his chest, their legs wrapped around each other and the blanket around their waists. Stiles stared at River as she slept, noticing how beautiful and peaceful she looked in the mornings, the sunrise causing her skin to take on an orange glow as it peaked into the room. A gentle breeze swept through the room, causing her to shiver and cuddle to Stiles more as her blonde hair rustled slightly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 gently pulled the blanket higher on them and wrapped his other arm around her, trying to help keep her warm. He kissed the top of her head before closing his eyes, fully prepared to fall back to sleep. A throat clearing caused him to frown. Assuming it was his dad, he looked around the room and held in his yelp and forced his body not to jump as his eyes landed on Derek./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 are you doing here?" Stiles managed to whisper once he had his racing heart under control 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;""I came to check on my cousin," Derek whispered back, glaring at where Stiles' arms held River./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Get over the scary cousin routine," Stiles rolled his eyes. "River likes to cuddle. I'm not going to tell her we can't cuddle just because it makes you uncomfortable. You're really going to have to get over it for when Scott's also 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;""You all sleep together?" Derek 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;""In the most innocent terms, yes," Stiles shot back, feeling defensive of his relationship with River before he saw the opened letter on River's desk. "You shouldn't have read that without her permission."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 rolled his eyes and let out an annoyed huff./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 does he mean?" Stiles 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;""Which part?" Derek 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;""The mate part," Stiles clarified./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, Hale's have a tendency to mate for life, human or otherwise. Someone in her life is her mate."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 don't let it be Isaac," Stiles sighed. "I might just have to kill him if it is."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Who's Isaac?" Derek 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;""Guy she used to be friends with. His dad's an abusive asshole and when River reported the abuse to dad, Isaac dropped River as a friend and treats her 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;""Do I need to have a talk with 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;""No," Stiles rolled his eyes. "Jackson and I have been keeping him away from 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;""Jackson's an issue," Derek said as if Stiles hadn't been thinking the same thing his entire life./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 wants the bite," Stiles sighed. "Wolves want packs though. He'll want to be alone."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 have to give it to him to keep him quiet," Derek admitted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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'll become more insufferable than he already is," Stiles groaned before going still as River fidgeted slightly in her 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 should go," Derek said softly. "I'll come check on her 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;""Be careful," Stiles told him as he stared at River./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 stared at Stiles for a moment, watching how Stiles looked at River. It was the same look that his father used to give his mother. Derek knew who River's mate was in that moment but kept it to himself, not wanting to add any pressure to the situation after everything River had been through. He jumped out the window, landing on his feet easily before jogging to his car down the street. Mrs. Anderson shook her head in disappointment from her window before going back to her knitting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 couldn't hold still anymore, no matter how hard he tried. He carefully untangled himself from River, putting the stuffed wolf in her arms to cuddle. He smirked at the wolf, at the irony of it. He unlocked her bedroom door just as Noah went to knock on it. Stiles just barely dodged the incoming fist, stopping himself from flailing and looking over his shoulder to make sure River was still asleep. Seeing her still asleep, Stiles led Noah downstairs, pulling River's door closed softly as they left./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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's she doing?" Noah asked as Stiles started the coffee maker./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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'll be okay," Stiles 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;""How's 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;""Minimal scarring and it's already healing over."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Noah 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;""Yeah," Stiles nodded along. "She'll be able to hide her scars better than River."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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's she doing with 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;""Well, it's getting colder outside, so the sweaters and long sleeves look normal now. I'm not sure how she'll feel once summer hits."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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'll try to help her out," Noah 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;""Already working on it," Stiles smiled. "She let Scott see the scars the other day. I know Lydia has seen the scars, too. As more people get used to it, the sooner she'll forget about them completely."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Might get her in a dress in time for prom," 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;""We'll figure it out. Any plans for today?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 going to get some much-needed sleep, but I'm worried about 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;""We're going to go see Lydia later," Stiles told him as he placed a coffee mug in front of his dad. "River was really freaked out when she saw her, but she hasn't been there since Lydia woke 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;""It's been a week," Noah 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;""Seeing your best friend in a hospital bed with no clue if they'll survive does strange things to a person," Stiles mumbled into his coffee, remembering when River had been attacked at the school. "It isn't a good feeling."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, son," Noah said, placing his hand on Stiles' shoulder at the haunted look on his face. "She's okay now 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 know," Stiles nodded, sipping his coffee./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, you took Lydia to the dance? Anything happening there?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Stiles shook his head. "Lydia owed Allison a favor and Allison owed me one, so it was Allison trying to pay me 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;""A favor?" Noah 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;""Don't ask," Stiles 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;"Noah rolled his eyes and shook his head at the teenager, deciding to not get into 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;""So, no one in the dating department?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 remember a few weeks ago when I promised to tell you if I started having feelings for River?" Stiles asked, refusing to look at his dad and staring into his coffee instead./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 we need to have a talk?" Noah 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;""Probably," Stiles shrugged. "Nothing's going to happen. I just wanted you to know. It's weird. It's like a switch got flipped when you mentioned it and I've just been noticing things that should have been obvious 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;""I'm sorry for saying anything," Noah said. "I didn't mean to make it awkward for 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;""That's the thing," Stiles sighed. "It isn't awkward. It feels right. Makes it harder to deal with. It's just a crush though. It'll go 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;""How long did it take you to get over your crush on Lydia?" Noah 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 don't think my crush on Lydia was real," Stiles argued. "Lydia's gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but she…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 isn't River," Noah nodded. "We Stilinski men pick someone for life."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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?" Stiles asked, looking to his dad and remembering the words Derek had said earlier that morning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 fell for your mom when I was your age and that was it for me. Once you've fallen, it's kind of hard to get back 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;"Stiles nodded, looking away again. Was his crush really something more? He shook his head, clearing it as a loud knocking came from 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;""That sounds like Mrs. Anderson," Stiles 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;""What did you do now?" Noah asked, heading to 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;""Why do you assume it's me?" Stiles asked, offended./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Because River's my good kid," Noah joked before opening 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;""Well, your 'good kid' had a boy sneaking out her window this morning," Mrs. Anderson informed Noah, having heard the comment through 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;""What are you talking about?" Noah 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;""Derek!" Stiles slapped his forehead as he came into view of Mrs. Anderson. "He came by to check on River. We were both asleep and didn't hear him knocking. He assumed something was wrong and scaled the house to come through the open window, which was River's room. Mrs. Anderson must have seen him leave."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 was here?" River asked, coming down the stairs and rubbing her eyes sleepily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 left right before dad got home," Stiles 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;""Grown men should not be climbing out of teenage girl's windows," Mrs. Anderson complained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, he's her cousin, so," Stiles stated, giving Mrs. Anderson an annoyed 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;""What?" Mrs. Anderson 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;""He's her cousin," Stiles said again. "Her father's sister had a kid. Makes them cousins."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Noah warned him. "Sorry for making you worry Mrs. Anderson. Thank you for your concern."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Oh, anytime, Noah," Mrs. Anderson smiled sweetly, thinking Noah was being 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;""The kids and I are going to head to breakfast though. Some bonding time. We'll see you later," Noah smiled, dismissing the nosy woman./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Of course," she smiled before leaving./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 shut the door behind her, letting out an annoyed breath. River and Stiles wore similar smirks before going to the kitchen. Stiles passed River a coffee, cream and sugar already stirred in. She made grabby hands until the mug was in her hands and hummed happily as she took her first slip./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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're my favorite," she 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;""You talking to me or the coffee?" Stiles 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;""Dad," River 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;""Rude," Stiles huffed as Noah laughed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 get dressed and we'll go to the diner," Noah instructed the two teens./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 took her coffee and headed upstairs as Stiles stayed where he was, just watching her walk 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;""You got it bad," 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;""Shut up," Stiles mumbled before heading upstairs to get dressed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 threw on jeans and a random hoodie before opening his door and dodging the second hand to try knocking on a door he was opening that day. River caught herself though and pulled her hand back before it got close to Stiles. He smirked and raised an 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;""Can I steal a plaid?" she asked, her voice small./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 mine is yours and what's yours is yours," Stiles joked, stepping aside and letting her into the 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;""Good boy," River smirked, patting the top of his head as she went to his closet. "You should hide those files somewhere other than under some clothes in your closet, 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;""Wait, what?" Stiles 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;""Maybe make your password something other than mine and Scott's names and the date I moved in," River continued. "If dad comes in, he'll be able to find everything really easily. Can we tell dad?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 aren't telling dad," Stiles responded immediately. "Wait, how do you know my password?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 super easy to guess," River shrugged, pulling a plaid over her tank top and buttoning the top three buttons before tying the bottom of it so it stopped under her breasts. "Why can't we tell 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;""You were in my room," Stiles accused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Obviously," River shrugged, pulling her hair into a messy bun on 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;""What were you looking for?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Evidence," River stared at Stiles like it was obvious as she exited his room to head down the stairs, Stiles hot on her heels. "It was the night Lydia stayed over last. She watched the door while I rifled through your stuff. Also, clear your search history. I don't need to know what you watch in your spare 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;""Don't go through my history and you won't see that stuff," Stiles stated, an embarrassed blush covering his face and travelling down his neck./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Won't see what stuff?" Noah asked, standing by 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;""River was snooping in my room," Stiles 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;""I was bored," she shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, how would you feel if Stiles went through your room?" Noah tried./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 for it," River shrugged, handing her phone to Stiles. "I don't care."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Oh, jeez," Noah sighed, rubbing his face as Stiles started going through River's phone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 clear your search history," Stiles accused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Duh," she smirked before looking to Noah. "Breakfast?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 drove her car, Stiles in the passenger seat as Noah drove himself, not wanting to be in the car with the two bickering teens. Stiles was still going through River's phone when they sat in a booth, the waitress automatically bringing three coffees over to the table. They ordered their usuals and the waitress was off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Find anything?" River asked, knowing he hadn't./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 and Lydia have very strange conversations," Stiles mumbled setting her phone 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;""I know," River shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 breakfast was eaten and Noah had gotten some information about how school was going, River and Stiles headed to the hospital while Noah went home to get some sleep before work. River parked beside Jackson's Porsche and stepped out of the car, Stiles holding her hand as they walked through the halls towards Lydia's 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;""Can I leave now?" Lydia 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;""One more night," her mom argued, smiling when River stepped into the room. "Hi, River. How are you dear?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Allison and Jackson both turned to stare at River as she walked over to Miss Martin and gave her a hug./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 told her before turning to Lydia. "How are you feeling?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 swear to whatever Gods exist, if you ask me that question again, I will smother you with a stuffed animal," 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;""She's fine," River smirked to Miss Martin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 has one more night," Miss Martin stated. "Don't the two of you start ganging up on me 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;""Fine," Lydia huffed, scooting over in her bed so that River could climb in next 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;"River kicked off her Converse and laid beside Lydia. Lydia rolled so that her back was to her mom and grabbed River's hands. River breathed a sigh of relief as their hands met and the bond warmed in comfort. Lydia smiled at the feeling and rolled her eyes from the movement behind River./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 should go," Allison said and River didn't even pretend to care as the girl walked 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;""I have to get to work," Miss Martin sighed. "I'll leave you in River's capable 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;""So, you'll leave when River is here, but not anyone else?" Lydia 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 know for a fact that River will take care of you," Miss Martin stated. "No offense Jackson. River is just a mother hen like I am."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Am not," River grumbled as Stiles and Jackson snorted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Miss Martin kissed Lydia's head and left the room, closing the door behind herself and giving the teenagers a semblance of privacy./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, anyone want to talk about all the weird shit in this town?" Jackson 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;""You mean werewolves and witches?" River asked, turning so she was on her back. "Sit down, Sti."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 took the empty seat beside Jackson, leaning as far away from the other boy as possible. Lydia moved closer to River, snuggling into her side as River wrapped her arm around Lydia's shoulders. Jackson smiled softly, watching the two girls interact with each other. It wasn't often that Lydia was soft with someone, but River brought it out in her better than anyone else./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, Scott's a werewolf," Stiles stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, and Lydia and River are witches," Jackson rolled his eyes. "I'm badass, but you're still kind of a weak human."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Lydia warned, narrowing his eyes at 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;""I said kind of," Jackson defended himself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 can teach you self-defense," River offered 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;""No," both boys immediately declined./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 him or Derek," River said with a roll of her eyes. "Either way, you're learning."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 would Derek teach him?" Jackson 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;""Because I'll tell him to," River shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 would he listen though?" Lydia 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;"River sighed and rubbed her eyes 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;""So, Peter was my father apparently."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 and Lydia both stared at her with wide 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;""We almost had your name right," Stiles spoke 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;""I said it was something about water," River laughed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Wait, what?" Lydia 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;""Apparently my real name is Brook Hale. I'm sticking to River Stilinski. We're guessing I snuck out before the fire started. Not sure why I didn't show up until a few months later," River explained. "The reading of Peter's will was yesterday. He left a letter telling me who I really am and he left me everything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Including a house down the street," Stiles stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 should go look at it," Jackson 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;""Tomorrow," River sighed. "That way Lyds can come with."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 could sneak me out of here?" Lydia 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;""Not happening," Melissa's voice came from the doorway. "What have I said about hospital beds, River?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 they aren't big enough for three people, but we are two people," River 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;""Smartass," 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;""It's a Stilinski trait," River smiled 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;""You're a Hale," Stiles defended./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 a Stilinski," River growled out. "Say otherwise and we will be having words. Hope you know sign language, because all you're seeing is my 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;"Jackson snorted and Lydia rolled her eyes. Stiles just looked offended as Melissa checked Lydia over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 the verdict?" River 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;""Doctor wants her to stay one more night," Melissa sighed. "If it were up to me you could leave today 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;""But it isn't," River 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;""So, I'm stuck," Lydia sighed back. "You kind of look like a Brook."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 lie and tell the doctors you told me you were having pain so that they keep you longer."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Shutting 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;""All right kids, Lydia needs her rest. Maybe you three should be doing homework or practicing lacrosse?" Melissa 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;""Good idea Momma McCall," River smirked, standing up. "Let's go boys. To the field!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Have fun torturing our boyfriends!" Lydia called out and River rolled her eyes as Stiles got red 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;""So, you're back to being boyfriend?" River asked Jackson as they headed towards the cars./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Jackson smiled. "Meet you at the high 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;""See you in a minute. Going to go home and change and grab some gear," River responded. "Let's go thing one!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 climbed into the car, still beet red. Once they got home, they both changed into work out clothes and Stiles grabbing his lacrosse bag. They drove to the school with the windows down and the music on, both singing along terribly as they went. Jackson rolled his eyes when they pulled 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;""You're both terrible," he 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 love me," River smirked. "Stiles needs to work on his back shots. I'm going to run a few laps before I sit and judge you both."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 head before she stripped off her jacket and took off. Jackson stared at her scars as she ran off, not having seen them 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;""Don't stare," Stiles said quietly enough that River wouldn't hear. "She's trying to let people see it, but if you stare she'll get weird."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 go Bilinski," Jackson 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;""No," Stiles held his ground. "Call me Stiles. If River is insisting that we hangout, the least we can do is try to act civil."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Fine," Jackson 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;""How about we start over?" Stiles 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;""How?" Jackson 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;""Hi, I'm Stiles," Stiles held out his hand. "I like video games, comic books, and true crime."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 rolled his eyes before taking Stiles' 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;""Jackson," he breathed. "I like sports and fast cars."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Nice to meet you Jackson," Stiles smiled. "Let's go. River's right about my back shots."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 snorted a laugh as he and Stiles headed towards the pitch. River ran circles around them as they practiced, Jackson giving Stiles helpful pointers as they played. After River had worn herself out, she laid in the grass near the guys, catching her breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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're fast," Derek's voice spoke up and River opened her eyes to in time to see Derek sit down next 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;""Thanks," River nodded. "Think I'm going to take up track." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 should," Derek 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;""You here for me?" 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;""Yes and no," he said. "I wanted to check on you, but Jackson has been asking for 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;""He'd be a decent candidate," River acknowledged. "I think he needs to work on social skills a bit more first."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 a popular kid," Derek provided./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 because he's liked," River said. "He's good at sports and kind of a dick."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 why are you friends with him?" Derek 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 met him through Lydia and then we had a heart-to-heart," River shrugged. "After a drunk night of confessing your darkest secrets, you kind of have to become friends after something like 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;""You drink?" Derek asked with raised eyebrows./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""God, no," River shuddered. "One- and only-time event. I learned the hard 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;""Did anything happen while you were drunk?" Derek 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, you perv," River sighed. "We got drunk, said some dumb shit, and then proceeded to pass out. He made sure I drank a bunch of water and ate plenty of bread the next morning before he took me 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;""So, get him alone and he's fine?" Derek 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;""Depends on who you are," River shrugged. "Me, Lydia, or Danny, then yeah. He doesn't trust easily."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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. He shouldn't," Derek grunted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 is behaving himself with Stiles though, so that's something," River sighed, looking over to see the two boys playing. "They need to take a break. Guys!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 and Jackson both turned to her and ran over when they saw Derek./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 here for me?" Jackson 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;""Not yet," Derek told him. "We need to work on your social skills first."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 and Stiles both smirked, Stiles sitting down beside River. He went to lay on her, but she pushed him 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;""Ew!" she complained. "You're all sweaty!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 are you!" Stiles stated, lying on her 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;""Yuck," River continued complaining. "You smell."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 just playing!" Stiles defended./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Drama queens," Jackson 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;""You're one to talk," River 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;""How's your friend?" Derek 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;""Good," River smiled. "She's being released tomorrow."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 fine," she sighed. "It's just a lot. How are you, dear cousin?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 rolled his eyes but felt warm at the title./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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've been worse," he shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 doesn't mean that you're doing good," River stated. "Peter left me a house in town. We're going to go look at it tomorrow. You coming with?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Derek nodded, passing her his phone. "Put your number 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;"River put her number into his phone and snapped a picture of herself, Stiles' face just barely visible in the frame. She sent herself a text, followed by sending the picture to Stiles and herself before handing the phone back over. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDerek rolled his eyes at the photo, biting down on a fond smile. River closed her eyes again, the sun warming her skin as she laid out and the boys talked about lacrosse together over her. Eventually, the sun began to go down and the temperature truly dropped, reminding River it was supposed to be the coldest night of the year and they all began moving./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 and Stiles raced into the house, trying to beat each other to the bathroom for first dibs at a shower. Stiles ended up grabbing River halfway up the stairs and picking her up at her waist./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Put me down!" she yelled, kicking her feet around. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 took her up the stairs and to her room, dropping her on her bed before running to the door. She got to the door just as he slammed it shut, holding it closed so she couldn't escape. River concentrated and heated the door handle and smirked when she heard a yelp on the other side of the door. River opened the door and ran pass Stiles where he was shaking his hand out. He ran after her, catching her just inside the bathroom door and lifted her at her waist 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;"She sighed as Stiles simply held her up. He slowly set her down on her feet, both just standing in the doorway to the bathroom. She leaned against him and closed her eyes, feeling his chin on her shoulder. He let out a soft sigh as he rocked them back and forth slightly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 smell," River joked. "You can go first."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 could always shower together," Stiles said before turning red./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 laugh and turned in his 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;""Oh, sweet, sweet boy," she took his face in her hands. "You wouldn't know what to do with me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 patted his face lightly and moved around him, leaving him speechless in the doorway. She went to her room and shut her door, pulling her phone out faster than she ever thought imaginable once Stiles couldn't see her./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;"'I think Stiles and I just flirted.'/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;"Lydia texted back as if she already had the message waiting to send./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;"'What happened? Tell me everything.'/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 texted out what happened and Lydia told her she should undress and climb into the shower with him, which River rolled her eyes at. Eventually she grabbed sweatpants and one of Stiles jerseys to sleep in and opened her door, half expecting Stiles to still be standing in the bathroom doorway in shock. She smirked and laid across her bed, arms out beside her so she took up as much room as possible. As she laid there, she felt her bond flare slightly and frowned before rubbing her chest. She reached out to Lydia from the bond and, upon getting no response, called Lydia's phone. When she didn't answer, she called Melissa. Melissa also didn't answer and River felt the bond grow cold and numb, causing her to sit up. She tugged on a pair of tennis shoes just as Stiles came out of the bathroom./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Somethings wrong," River 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;""What do you mean?" Stiles asked coming to her doorway and leaning against the frame. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 glanced his way and did a double take. His arms were crossed over his chest, showing off muscles that were typically hidden under plaid. He still had a bit of water clinging to him as well and he looked at ease in her doorway. River shook her head to clear it as she 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;""Something's wrong with Lydia. The bond flared up a bit as if she was in danger and now it feels numb. I tried calling her and Melissa and neither answered," she 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;""I'll put my shoes back on," Stiles said, heading to 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;"Once they were in the Jeep, Stiles drove to the hospital where they saw the Sheriff's cruiser. They ran into the hospital towards Lydia's room and froze. There were three officers talking to nurses and going in and out of Lydia's room. Stiles and River headed towards Melissa and Noah, seeing them speaking in a corner. Noah and Melissa both gave them matching worried looks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 happened?" River 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;""Lydia's gone," Melissa said gently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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?" River 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;""How?" Stiles asked as he put his arm around River, pulling her close to comfort 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 went out her window apparently. She was in the shower and someone heard her scream. We ran in and the window was open."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 need to go look for her," River insisted, turning to 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;"Stiles was about to agree when Noah interrupted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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. You need to get home and let me do my job."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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's my best friend," River argued. "You can't stop me from looking for 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;""Yes, I can," he said. "I am your guardian and I am telling you to go home. Don't make me have a deputy follow you home and ask Mrs. Anderson to keep an eye on the house."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Fine!" River yelled in anger, turning and heading 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;""I'm just going to go pee and then go after her," Stiles said, pointing his thumbs to the bathroom. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 disappeared into the bathroom in the hall and waited a moment before looking out the door. Once Noah and Melissa were distracted, he snuck into Lydia's room and grabbed her hospital gown, calling Scott on the way to the Jeep. He explained what had happened and hung up before climbing into the driver's seat, River fuming in the passenger 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;""He's your dad when he acts like this," she complained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 chuckled as he pulled behind the hospital and put the Jeep in park./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 are we doing?" she 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;""Scott's on his way. I snuck in and grabbed this," Stiles held out the hospital gown. "He can use it to track 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;""Is this her hospital gown?" River 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," Stiles 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;""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;""Yeah?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 this is her hospital gown, what's Lydia wearing?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 froze at the thought, turning slowly to look at the hospital gown. Scott jumped onto the top of the Jeep and backflipped off of it just then, causing River and Stiles to both curse at him. River climbed into the backseat as Scott opened the passenger side door and 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;""Here," River said, passing over the gown./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 not going to let anyone hurt her. Not again," Scott 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;""All right, just shove the thing in your face and let's find her. Wow!" Stiles shouted out as Allison appeared in Scott's window/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 are you doing here?" Scott asked. "Someone's going to see us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 care," Allison stated firmly. "She's my best friend, and we need to find her before they do."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 find her before the cops," Scott assured 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;""How about before my father does?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 knows?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Allison nodded. "I just saw him and three other guys leave my house in two SUVs."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Search party," Scott 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;""More like a hunting party."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Oh, my God! Just get in the Jeep so we can go!" River yelled from the backseat, causing everyone 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;"Allison climbed into the back, leaning as far away from River as she could, basically pressing herself into the side of the Jeep as if River had some sort of disease. River rolled her eyes as Stiles began driving. She held in a snicker when Scott stuck his head out of the window like a dog and caught Stiles' eye in the rearview mirror, noticing him trying not to laugh as well. He drew Allison into a conversation and River tuned them out as she tried feeling for Lydia through the bond, but still getting the numb feeling./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Take the next right!" Scott's voice broke her concentration./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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't River feel here through their bond?" Allison 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;""River is right here," River spoke. "She feels numb. I'm not getting a direction and I can't send her a message."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Allison looked chastised and went back to staring at Scott. Stiles caught River's eye in the mirror again and she shrugged, not sure what Allison's problem was this time. Last time that they had seen each other, River has stepped between Allison and Peter. Twice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 pulled down the road that led to Hale house and got out of the Jeep, following the scent on foot. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 came here?" Stiles asked to clarify. "You 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;""Yeah, this is where the scent leads," Scott 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;""All right, but has Lydia ever been 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;""She didn't make it here on the night that everything happened," River shook her head. "She did have the directions to get here 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;""Maybe she came here on instinct, like she was looking for Derek," Allison added. "Wolves need a pack, 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;""She isn't turning," River shook her head. "She can only be one of three magical beings, and all of them are immune to 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;""Not every wolf needs a pack," Scott threw 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;""You have a pack," River told 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;""Who? Derek?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Us, you ass," River rolled 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;""Lay off him," Allison ground 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;""Don't tell me how to talk to my brother," River 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;""Whoa, hey, look at this. You see this?" Stiles voice distracted the two girls from their argument. "I think it's a tripwire."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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?" Scott asked from behind all three of 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;""Yeah, buddy," all three turned and tried not to laugh. "Oh."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Next time you see a tripwire – don't trip it," Scott said as he hung upside 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;""Yeah, noted."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 get you down," River shook 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;""Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Someone's coming," Scott said. "Hide. 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;"Stiles grabbed River and pulled her behind a tree, Allison behind the tree next to them. As Chris threatened Scott, Stiles put his hand over River's mouth and held her still when she tried to go defend Scott. Allison rolled her eyes at River, causing the girl to glare at her. Once Chris was out of earshot, Scott called the coast clear and Stiles released 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 you okay?" Allison and River asked at the same 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;"Allison glared as Scott made a joke out of the situation and then cut himself down. Scott wasn't able to pick up the scent again so they headed home, Stiles dropping Allison off first and then Scott. River climbed into the front seat and 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;""You and Allison don't like each other," Stiles stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 know what her problem is," River huffed out. "I literally stepped between her and a psycho wolf. Twice!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 think she sees you as competition," Stiles shrugged. "You have to admit, your relationship with Scott and I is weird to an outsider."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 needs to get over it. If I wanted to date Scott, I would date Scott," River insisted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, you would," Stiles nodded, going red 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;""I could date Scott!" River insisted. "I'd date him so 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;"Stiles let out a loud laugh, causing River to smile. Once they were home again, River tried the locater spell, Stiles watching from her bed. When it didn't work, she sighed and cleaned up. After her shower, she walked back into her room and smiled as Stiles was still on her bed. She climbed in next to him, taking her side of the bed and getting under the blankets. Stiles turned off the bedside lamp that he had left on before sliding down in the bed and pulling her close./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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'll find her. I promise," Stiles insisted. "We'll go looking after school tomorrow."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 whispered, letting sleep finally take over as she felt safe and warm in Stiles 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;"Chapter Nine/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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;""This is the reading of Peter Hale's will," the lawyers voice bored River to death, but she continued listening anyways, Noah holding her hand tightly in his. "To Brook Hale, also known as River Stilinski, I leave all of my earthly belongings, including my properties, money, and personal property. Until she reaches the age of 18, she will receive $5,000 a month. When Brook, or River, reaches the age of 18 she will have full access to my accounts. She is given access to the home that I own (316 Connecticut Dr, Beacon Hills, California) at this present time. She will receive access to the other properties once she reaches the age of 18. I now ask that she be given the letter I wrote her that she can read on her own or out loud at her leisure."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 lawyer finished reading the will and River let out a sigh. Once she had been handed an envelope with the name em'Brook'/em written across the front of it, she stood and followed Noah out of the office. Once in the car, they drove home, River squeezing Noah's hand like a lifeline. Entering the house, River breathed in the smell of home before moving to the living room where Stiles was watching a movie. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 laid across the couch, putting her head in his lap and he immediately began running his fingers through her hair. River hummed at the feeling, a small smile forming on her face. She felt Noah sit on the table in front of them and opened her eyes. His concerned look held her in place and made her breath catch in her throat. He finally broke the silence, letting her breath again as he spoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 read it for you?" 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 shook her head and opened the envelope, reading through it a few times and feeling tears run down her face. She sat up, dropped the letter on the couch, and ran to her room, shutting and locking the door behind herself. Noah ran after her as Stiles grabbed the letter and began to read it./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, Brook, my daughter,/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 not sure what happened to you on that night, but I know that you don't remember either. If you are reading this, I am dead and did not get the chance to tell you the truth. I am sorry for that and for the pain that my death will cause you both physically and emotionally. I wish we had more time, but I want you to know that hearing you reading to me, getting to know you through those moments, was the best moments of my life. /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;"Stick close to Derek. He'll keep you safe. Remember to take things slow and don't grow up too quickly. I am happy that you already found your mate and I am so proud of you for being such a kind and strong young woman. Never lose that./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;"All my love and my entire heart, Your father, 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;"Stiles folded the letter and put it back into the envelope before heading upstairs. Noah was standing outside her door, unsure what to do. He looked to Stiles, noticing the letter in his hands, and reached for it. Stiles shook his head, telling his dad that River wouldn't want him to./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 her father," Stiles whispered before sliding the letter under her door. "I'll talk 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;""I know," Noah sighed quietly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 grabbed his dad's arm and dragged him down the stairs where River wouldn't hear 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;""What do you mean you know?" Stiles 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;""When half of Laura Hale's body showed up, we ran blood tests to see if we could find a match in the hospital database. Her blood matched River's as a cousin. I requested blood from Peter from the hospital and Melissa got me the results a week later. They showed a direct match."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 her?" Stiles asked, angry for 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;""Because the only family she had were either in a coma or a suspected murder," Noah answered back with a roll of 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;"Stiles let out a frustrated breath, looking towards the ceiling where River's room was./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Don't tell her that you knew," Stiles said after a moment. "She'll never forgive 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;""I have to go into the station," Noah sighed. "Finish the paperwork for Kate Argent."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Don't forget the system River made," Stiles 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;"Noah smirked back before his smile dropped. After a few long minutes, Noah left, heading to work. Stiles knew River wouldn't open her door so he went to his room and grabbed the walkie talkie, hoping she wouldn't turn it off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, it's Stiles. Do you copy? Over."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 heard River moving next door, opening the drawer where she kept the walkie talkie. When she didn't respond, he tried 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;""Riv, it's Sti. Do you copy?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 he didn't hear his own voice through the wall, he knew she had turned off the walkie talkie. He groaned at the next idea he had, hoping he wouldn't end up falling and breaking his neck. He put down the walkie talkie and went to his window, opening it slowly so that she wouldn't hear him coming before stepping onto the roof and going to the window right next to his. He smirked when he saw it was cracked and lifted it. River sat up in her bed and looked to her window, glaring when she saw Stiles climbing 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 want to be alone," she stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 be alone together?" Stiles asked, standing 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;"River let out a deep breath before nodding her head and lying down, moving closer to the wall with her blanket pulled up to her shoulders. Stiles climbed into the bed and pulled her close, cuddling into her back. She wasn't crying, which Stiles couldn't tell if it was a bad thing or not, but he whispered soothingly to her anyways. River took his hand and brought it around her and holding it by her face, her breath hitting his 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;"After a few minutes, River fell asleep and Stiles stayed up, wanting to make sure she didn't have a nightmare. He was pretty sure it was the longest he ever stayed still in his life before he fell asleep holding her. He woke on his back, arm around River's shoulder as she buried her head in his chest, their legs wrapped around each other and the blanket around their waists. Stiles stared at River as she slept, noticing how beautiful and peaceful she looked in the mornings, the sunrise causing her skin to take on an orange glow as it peaked into the room. A gentle breeze swept through the room, causing her to shiver and cuddle to Stiles more as her blonde hair rustled slightly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 gently pulled the blanket higher on them and wrapped his other arm around her, trying to help keep her warm. He kissed the top of her head before closing his eyes, fully prepared to fall back to sleep. A throat clearing caused him to frown. Assuming it was his dad, he looked around the room and held in his yelp and forced his body not to jump as his eyes landed on Derek./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 are you doing here?" Stiles managed to whisper once he had his racing heart under control 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;""I came to check on my cousin," Derek whispered back, glaring at where Stiles' arms held River./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Get over the scary cousin routine," Stiles rolled his eyes. "River likes to cuddle. I'm not going to tell her we can't cuddle just because it makes you uncomfortable. You're really going to have to get over it for when Scott's also 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;""You all sleep together?" Derek 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;""In the most innocent terms, yes," Stiles shot back, feeling defensive of his relationship with River before he saw the opened letter on River's desk. "You shouldn't have read that without her permission."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 rolled his eyes and let out an annoyed huff./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 does he mean?" Stiles 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;""Which part?" Derek 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;""The mate part," Stiles clarified./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, Hale's have a tendency to mate for life, human or otherwise. Someone in her life is her mate."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 don't let it be Isaac," Stiles sighed. "I might just have to kill him if it is."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Who's Isaac?" Derek 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;""Guy she used to be friends with. His dad's an abusive asshole and when River reported the abuse to dad, Isaac dropped River as a friend and treats her 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;""Do I need to have a talk with 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;""No," Stiles rolled his eyes. "Jackson and I have been keeping him away from 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;""Jackson's an issue," Derek said as if Stiles hadn't been thinking the same thing his entire life./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 wants the bite," Stiles sighed. "Wolves want packs though. He'll want to be alone."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 have to give it to him to keep him quiet," Derek admitted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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'll become more insufferable than he already is," Stiles groaned before going still as River fidgeted slightly in her 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 should go," Derek said softly. "I'll come check on her 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;""Be careful," Stiles told him as he stared at River./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 stared at Stiles for a moment, watching how Stiles looked at River. It was the same look that his father used to give his mother. Derek knew who River's mate was in that moment but kept it to himself, not wanting to add any pressure to the situation after everything River had been through. He jumped out the window, landing on his feet easily before jogging to his car down the street. Mrs. Anderson shook her head in disappointment from her window before going back to her knitting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 couldn't hold still anymore, no matter how hard he tried. He carefully untangled himself from River, putting the stuffed wolf in her arms to cuddle. He smirked at the wolf, at the irony of it. He unlocked her bedroom door just as Noah went to knock on it. Stiles just barely dodged the incoming fist, stopping himself from flailing and looking over his shoulder to make sure River was still asleep. Seeing her still asleep, Stiles led Noah downstairs, pulling River's door closed softly as they left./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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's she doing?" Noah asked as Stiles started the coffee maker./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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'll be okay," Stiles 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;""How's 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;""Minimal scarring and it's already healing over."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Noah 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;""Yeah," Stiles nodded along. "She'll be able to hide her scars better than River."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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's she doing with 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;""Well, it's getting colder outside, so the sweaters and long sleeves look normal now. I'm not sure how she'll feel once summer hits."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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'll try to help her out," Noah 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;""Already working on it," Stiles smiled. "She let Scott see the scars the other day. I know Lydia has seen the scars, too. As more people get used to it, the sooner she'll forget about them completely."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Might get her in a dress in time for prom," 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;""We'll figure it out. Any plans for today?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 going to get some much-needed sleep, but I'm worried about 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;""We're going to go see Lydia later," Stiles told him as he placed a coffee mug in front of his dad. "River was really freaked out when she saw her, but she hasn't been there since Lydia woke 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;""It's been a week," Noah 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;""Seeing your best friend in a hospital bed with no clue if they'll survive does strange things to a person," Stiles mumbled into his coffee, remembering when River had been attacked at the school. "It isn't a good feeling."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, son," Noah said, placing his hand on Stiles' shoulder at the haunted look on his face. "She's okay now 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 know," Stiles nodded, sipping his coffee./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, you took Lydia to the dance? Anything happening there?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Stiles shook his head. "Lydia owed Allison a favor and Allison owed me one, so it was Allison trying to pay me 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;""A favor?" Noah 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;""Don't ask," Stiles 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;"Noah rolled his eyes and shook his head at the teenager, deciding to not get into 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;""So, no one in the dating department?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 remember a few weeks ago when I promised to tell you if I started having feelings for River?" Stiles asked, refusing to look at his dad and staring into his coffee instead./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 we need to have a talk?" Noah 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;""Probably," Stiles shrugged. "Nothing's going to happen. I just wanted you to know. It's weird. It's like a switch got flipped when you mentioned it and I've just been noticing things that should have been obvious 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;""I'm sorry for saying anything," Noah said. "I didn't mean to make it awkward for 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;""That's the thing," Stiles sighed. "It isn't awkward. It feels right. Makes it harder to deal with. It's just a crush though. It'll go 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;""How long did it take you to get over your crush on Lydia?" Noah 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 don't think my crush on Lydia was real," Stiles argued. "Lydia's gorgeous, don't get me wrong, but she…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 isn't River," Noah nodded. "We Stilinski men pick someone for life."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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?" Stiles asked, looking to his dad and remembering the words Derek had said earlier that morning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 fell for your mom when I was your age and that was it for me. Once you've fallen, it's kind of hard to get back 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;"Stiles nodded, looking away again. Was his crush really something more? He shook his head, clearing it as a loud knocking came from 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;""That sounds like Mrs. Anderson," Stiles 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;""What did you do now?" Noah asked, heading to 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;""Why do you assume it's me?" Stiles asked, offended./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Because River's my good kid," Noah joked before opening 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;""Well, your 'good kid' had a boy sneaking out her window this morning," Mrs. Anderson informed Noah, having heard the comment through 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;""What are you talking about?" Noah 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;""Derek!" Stiles slapped his forehead as he came into view of Mrs. Anderson. "He came by to check on River. We were both asleep and didn't hear him knocking. He assumed something was wrong and scaled the house to come through the open window, which was River's room. Mrs. Anderson must have seen him leave."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 was here?" River asked, coming down the stairs and rubbing her eyes sleepily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 left right before dad got home," Stiles 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;""Grown men should not be climbing out of teenage girl's windows," Mrs. Anderson complained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, he's her cousin, so," Stiles stated, giving Mrs. Anderson an annoyed 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;""What?" Mrs. Anderson 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;""He's her cousin," Stiles said again. "Her father's sister had a kid. Makes them cousins."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Noah warned him. "Sorry for making you worry Mrs. Anderson. Thank you for your concern."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Oh, anytime, Noah," Mrs. Anderson smiled sweetly, thinking Noah was being 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;""The kids and I are going to head to breakfast though. Some bonding time. We'll see you later," Noah smiled, dismissing the nosy woman./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Of course," she smiled before leaving./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 shut the door behind her, letting out an annoyed breath. River and Stiles wore similar smirks before going to the kitchen. Stiles passed River a coffee, cream and sugar already stirred in. She made grabby hands until the mug was in her hands and hummed happily as she took her first slip./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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're my favorite," she 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;""You talking to me or the coffee?" Stiles 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;""Dad," River 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;""Rude," Stiles huffed as Noah laughed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 get dressed and we'll go to the diner," Noah instructed the two teens./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 took her coffee and headed upstairs as Stiles stayed where he was, just watching her walk 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;""You got it bad," 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;""Shut up," Stiles mumbled before heading upstairs to get dressed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 threw on jeans and a random hoodie before opening his door and dodging the second hand to try knocking on a door he was opening that day. River caught herself though and pulled her hand back before it got close to Stiles. He smirked and raised an 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;""Can I steal a plaid?" she asked, her voice small./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 mine is yours and what's yours is yours," Stiles joked, stepping aside and letting her into the 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;""Good boy," River smirked, patting the top of his head as she went to his closet. "You should hide those files somewhere other than under some clothes in your closet, 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;""Wait, what?" Stiles 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;""Maybe make your password something other than mine and Scott's names and the date I moved in," River continued. "If dad comes in, he'll be able to find everything really easily. Can we tell dad?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 aren't telling dad," Stiles responded immediately. "Wait, how do you know my password?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 super easy to guess," River shrugged, pulling a plaid over her tank top and buttoning the top three buttons before tying the bottom of it so it stopped under her breasts. "Why can't we tell 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;""You were in my room," Stiles accused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Obviously," River shrugged, pulling her hair into a messy bun on 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;""What were you looking for?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Evidence," River stared at Stiles like it was obvious as she exited his room to head down the stairs, Stiles hot on her heels. "It was the night Lydia stayed over last. She watched the door while I rifled through your stuff. Also, clear your search history. I don't need to know what you watch in your spare 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;""Don't go through my history and you won't see that stuff," Stiles stated, an embarrassed blush covering his face and travelling down his neck./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Won't see what stuff?" Noah asked, standing by 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;""River was snooping in my room," Stiles 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;""I was bored," she shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, how would you feel if Stiles went through your room?" Noah tried./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 for it," River shrugged, handing her phone to Stiles. "I don't care."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Oh, jeez," Noah sighed, rubbing his face as Stiles started going through River's phone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 clear your search history," Stiles accused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Duh," she smirked before looking to Noah. "Breakfast?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 drove her car, Stiles in the passenger seat as Noah drove himself, not wanting to be in the car with the two bickering teens. Stiles was still going through River's phone when they sat in a booth, the waitress automatically bringing three coffees over to the table. They ordered their usuals and the waitress was off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Find anything?" River asked, knowing he hadn't./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 and Lydia have very strange conversations," Stiles mumbled setting her phone 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;""I know," River shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 breakfast was eaten and Noah had gotten some information about how school was going, River and Stiles headed to the hospital while Noah went home to get some sleep before work. River parked beside Jackson's Porsche and stepped out of the car, Stiles holding her hand as they walked through the halls towards Lydia's 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;""Can I leave now?" Lydia 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;""One more night," her mom argued, smiling when River stepped into the room. "Hi, River. How are you dear?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Allison and Jackson both turned to stare at River as she walked over to Miss Martin and gave her a hug./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 told her before turning to Lydia. "How are you feeling?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 swear to whatever Gods exist, if you ask me that question again, I will smother you with a stuffed animal," 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;""She's fine," River smirked to Miss Martin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 has one more night," Miss Martin stated. "Don't the two of you start ganging up on me 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;""Fine," Lydia huffed, scooting over in her bed so that River could climb in next 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;"River kicked off her Converse and laid beside Lydia. Lydia rolled so that her back was to her mom and grabbed River's hands. River breathed a sigh of relief as their hands met and the bond warmed in comfort. Lydia smiled at the feeling and rolled her eyes from the movement behind River./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 should go," Allison said and River didn't even pretend to care as the girl walked 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;""I have to get to work," Miss Martin sighed. "I'll leave you in River's capable 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;""So, you'll leave when River is here, but not anyone else?" Lydia 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 know for a fact that River will take care of you," Miss Martin stated. "No offense Jackson. River is just a mother hen like I am."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Am not," River grumbled as Stiles and Jackson snorted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Miss Martin kissed Lydia's head and left the room, closing the door behind herself and giving the teenagers a semblance of privacy./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, anyone want to talk about all the weird shit in this town?" Jackson 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;""You mean werewolves and witches?" River asked, turning so she was on her back. "Sit down, Sti."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 took the empty seat beside Jackson, leaning as far away from the other boy as possible. Lydia moved closer to River, snuggling into her side as River wrapped her arm around Lydia's shoulders. Jackson smiled softly, watching the two girls interact with each other. It wasn't often that Lydia was soft with someone, but River brought it out in her better than anyone else./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, Scott's a werewolf," Stiles stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, and Lydia and River are witches," Jackson rolled his eyes. "I'm badass, but you're still kind of a weak human."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Lydia warned, narrowing his eyes at 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;""I said kind of," Jackson defended himself./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 can teach you self-defense," River offered 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;""No," both boys immediately declined./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 him or Derek," River said with a roll of her eyes. "Either way, you're learning."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 would Derek teach him?" Jackson 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;""Because I'll tell him to," River shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 would he listen though?" Lydia 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;"River sighed and rubbed her eyes 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;""So, Peter was my father apparently."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 and Lydia both stared at her with wide 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;""We almost had your name right," Stiles spoke 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;""I said it was something about water," River laughed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Wait, what?" Lydia 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;""Apparently my real name is Brook Hale. I'm sticking to River Stilinski. We're guessing I snuck out before the fire started. Not sure why I didn't show up until a few months later," River explained. "The reading of Peter's will was yesterday. He left a letter telling me who I really am and he left me everything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Including a house down the street," Stiles stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 should go look at it," Jackson 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;""Tomorrow," River sighed. "That way Lyds can come with."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 could sneak me out of here?" Lydia 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;""Not happening," Melissa's voice came from the doorway. "What have I said about hospital beds, River?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 they aren't big enough for three people, but we are two people," River 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;""Smartass," 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;""It's a Stilinski trait," River smiled 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;""You're a Hale," Stiles defended./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 a Stilinski," River growled out. "Say otherwise and we will be having words. Hope you know sign language, because all you're seeing is my 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;"Jackson snorted and Lydia rolled her eyes. Stiles just looked offended as Melissa checked Lydia over./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 the verdict?" River 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;""Doctor wants her to stay one more night," Melissa sighed. "If it were up to me you could leave today 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;""But it isn't," River 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;""So, I'm stuck," Lydia sighed back. "You kind of look like a Brook."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 lie and tell the doctors you told me you were having pain so that they keep you longer."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Shutting 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;""All right kids, Lydia needs her rest. Maybe you three should be doing homework or practicing lacrosse?" Melissa 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;""Good idea Momma McCall," River smirked, standing up. "Let's go boys. To the field!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Have fun torturing our boyfriends!" Lydia called out and River rolled her eyes as Stiles got red 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;""So, you're back to being boyfriend?" River asked Jackson as they headed towards the cars./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Jackson smiled. "Meet you at the high 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;""See you in a minute. Going to go home and change and grab some gear," River responded. "Let's go thing one!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 climbed into the car, still beet red. Once they got home, they both changed into work out clothes and Stiles grabbing his lacrosse bag. They drove to the school with the windows down and the music on, both singing along terribly as they went. Jackson rolled his eyes when they pulled 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;""You're both terrible," he 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 love me," River smirked. "Stiles needs to work on his back shots. I'm going to run a few laps before I sit and judge you both."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 head before she stripped off her jacket and took off. Jackson stared at her scars as she ran off, not having seen them 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;""Don't stare," Stiles said quietly enough that River wouldn't hear. "She's trying to let people see it, but if you stare she'll get weird."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 go Bilinski," Jackson 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;""No," Stiles held his ground. "Call me Stiles. If River is insisting that we hangout, the least we can do is try to act civil."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Fine," Jackson 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;""How about we start over?" Stiles 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;""How?" Jackson 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;""Hi, I'm Stiles," Stiles held out his hand. "I like video games, comic books, and true crime."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 rolled his eyes before taking Stiles' 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;""Jackson," he breathed. "I like sports and fast cars."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Nice to meet you Jackson," Stiles smiled. "Let's go. River's right about my back shots."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 snorted a laugh as he and Stiles headed towards the pitch. River ran circles around them as they practiced, Jackson giving Stiles helpful pointers as they played. After River had worn herself out, she laid in the grass near the guys, catching her breath./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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're fast," Derek's voice spoke up and River opened her eyes to in time to see Derek sit down next 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;""Thanks," River nodded. "Think I'm going to take up track." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 should," Derek 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;""You here for me?" 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;""Yes and no," he said. "I wanted to check on you, but Jackson has been asking for 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;""He'd be a decent candidate," River acknowledged. "I think he needs to work on social skills a bit more first."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 a popular kid," Derek provided./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 because he's liked," River said. "He's good at sports and kind of a dick."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 why are you friends with him?" Derek 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 met him through Lydia and then we had a heart-to-heart," River shrugged. "After a drunk night of confessing your darkest secrets, you kind of have to become friends after something like 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;""You drink?" Derek asked with raised eyebrows./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""God, no," River shuddered. "One- and only-time event. I learned the hard 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;""Did anything happen while you were drunk?" Derek 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, you perv," River sighed. "We got drunk, said some dumb shit, and then proceeded to pass out. He made sure I drank a bunch of water and ate plenty of bread the next morning before he took me 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;""So, get him alone and he's fine?" Derek 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;""Depends on who you are," River shrugged. "Me, Lydia, or Danny, then yeah. He doesn't trust easily."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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. He shouldn't," Derek grunted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 is behaving himself with Stiles though, so that's something," River sighed, looking over to see the two boys playing. "They need to take a break. Guys!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 and Jackson both turned to her and ran over when they saw Derek./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 here for me?" Jackson 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;""Not yet," Derek told him. "We need to work on your social skills first."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 and Stiles both smirked, Stiles sitting down beside River. He went to lay on her, but she pushed him 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;""Ew!" she complained. "You're all sweaty!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 are you!" Stiles stated, lying on her 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;""Yuck," River continued complaining. "You smell."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 just playing!" Stiles defended./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Drama queens," Jackson 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;""You're one to talk," River 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;""How's your friend?" Derek 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;""Good," River smiled. "She's being released tomorrow."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 fine," she sighed. "It's just a lot. How are you, dear cousin?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 rolled his eyes but felt warm at the title./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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've been worse," he shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 doesn't mean that you're doing good," River stated. "Peter left me a house in town. We're going to go look at it tomorrow. You coming with?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Derek nodded, passing her his phone. "Put your number 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;"River put her number into his phone and snapped a picture of herself, Stiles' face just barely visible in the frame. She sent herself a text, followed by sending the picture to Stiles and herself before handing the phone back over. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDerek rolled his eyes at the photo, biting down on a fond smile. River closed her eyes again, the sun warming her skin as she laid out and the boys talked about lacrosse together over her. Eventually, the sun began to go down and the temperature truly dropped, reminding River it was supposed to be the coldest night of the year and they all began moving./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 and Stiles raced into the house, trying to beat each other to the bathroom for first dibs at a shower. Stiles ended up grabbing River halfway up the stairs and picking her up at her waist./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Put me down!" she yelled, kicking her feet around. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 took her up the stairs and to her room, dropping her on her bed before running to the door. She got to the door just as he slammed it shut, holding it closed so she couldn't escape. River concentrated and heated the door handle and smirked when she heard a yelp on the other side of the door. River opened the door and ran pass Stiles where he was shaking his hand out. He ran after her, catching her just inside the bathroom door and lifted her at her waist 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;"She sighed as Stiles simply held her up. He slowly set her down on her feet, both just standing in the doorway to the bathroom. She leaned against him and closed her eyes, feeling his chin on her shoulder. He let out a soft sigh as he rocked them back and forth slightly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 smell," River joked. "You can go first."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 could always shower together," Stiles said before turning red./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 laugh and turned in his 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;""Oh, sweet, sweet boy," she took his face in her hands. "You wouldn't know what to do with me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 patted his face lightly and moved around him, leaving him speechless in the doorway. She went to her room and shut her door, pulling her phone out faster than she ever thought imaginable once Stiles couldn't see her./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;"'I think Stiles and I just flirted.'/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;"Lydia texted back as if she already had the message waiting to send./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;"'What happened? Tell me everything.'/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 texted out what happened and Lydia told her she should undress and climb into the shower with him, which River rolled her eyes at. Eventually she grabbed sweatpants and one of Stiles jerseys to sleep in and opened her door, half expecting Stiles to still be standing in the bathroom doorway in shock. She smirked and laid across her bed, arms out beside her so she took up as much room as possible. As she laid there, she felt her bond flare slightly and frowned before rubbing her chest. She reached out to Lydia from the bond and, upon getting no response, called Lydia's phone. When she didn't answer, she called Melissa. Melissa also didn't answer and River felt the bond grow cold and numb, causing her to sit up. She tugged on a pair of tennis shoes just as Stiles came out of the bathroom./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Somethings wrong," River 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;""What do you mean?" Stiles asked coming to her doorway and leaning against the frame. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 glanced his way and did a double take. His arms were crossed over his chest, showing off muscles that were typically hidden under plaid. He still had a bit of water clinging to him as well and he looked at ease in her doorway. River shook her head to clear it as she 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;""Something's wrong with Lydia. The bond flared up a bit as if she was in danger and now it feels numb. I tried calling her and Melissa and neither answered," she 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;""I'll put my shoes back on," Stiles said, heading to 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;"Once they were in the Jeep, Stiles drove to the hospital where they saw the Sheriff's cruiser. They ran into the hospital towards Lydia's room and froze. There were three officers talking to nurses and going in and out of Lydia's room. Stiles and River headed towards Melissa and Noah, seeing them speaking in a corner. Noah and Melissa both gave them matching worried looks./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 happened?" River 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;""Lydia's gone," Melissa said gently./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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?" River 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;""How?" Stiles asked as he put his arm around River, pulling her close to comfort 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 went out her window apparently. She was in the shower and someone heard her scream. We ran in and the window was open."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 need to go look for her," River insisted, turning to 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;"Stiles was about to agree when Noah interrupted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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. You need to get home and let me do my job."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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's my best friend," River argued. "You can't stop me from looking for 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;""Yes, I can," he said. "I am your guardian and I am telling you to go home. Don't make me have a deputy follow you home and ask Mrs. Anderson to keep an eye on the house."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Fine!" River yelled in anger, turning and heading 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;""I'm just going to go pee and then go after her," Stiles said, pointing his thumbs to the bathroom. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 disappeared into the bathroom in the hall and waited a moment before looking out the door. Once Noah and Melissa were distracted, he snuck into Lydia's room and grabbed her hospital gown, calling Scott on the way to the Jeep. He explained what had happened and hung up before climbing into the driver's seat, River fuming in the passenger 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;""He's your dad when he acts like this," she complained./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 chuckled as he pulled behind the hospital and put the Jeep in park./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 are we doing?" she 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;""Scott's on his way. I snuck in and grabbed this," Stiles held out the hospital gown. "He can use it to track 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;""Is this her hospital gown?" River 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," Stiles 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;""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;""Yeah?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 this is her hospital gown, what's Lydia wearing?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 froze at the thought, turning slowly to look at the hospital gown. Scott jumped onto the top of the Jeep and backflipped off of it just then, causing River and Stiles to both curse at him. River climbed into the backseat as Scott opened the passenger side door and 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;""Here," River said, passing over the gown./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 not going to let anyone hurt her. Not again," Scott 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;""All right, just shove the thing in your face and let's find her. Wow!" Stiles shouted out as Allison appeared in Scott's window/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 are you doing here?" Scott asked. "Someone's going to see us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 care," Allison stated firmly. "She's my best friend, and we need to find her before they do."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 find her before the cops," Scott assured 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;""How about before my father does?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 knows?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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," Allison nodded. "I just saw him and three other guys leave my house in two SUVs."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Search party," Scott 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;""More like a hunting party."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Oh, my God! Just get in the Jeep so we can go!" River yelled from the backseat, causing everyone 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;"Allison climbed into the back, leaning as far away from River as she could, basically pressing herself into the side of the Jeep as if River had some sort of disease. River rolled her eyes as Stiles began driving. She held in a snicker when Scott stuck his head out of the window like a dog and caught Stiles' eye in the rearview mirror, noticing him trying not to laugh as well. He drew Allison into a conversation and River tuned them out as she tried feeling for Lydia through the bond, but still getting the numb feeling./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Take the next right!" Scott's voice broke her concentration./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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't River feel here through their bond?" Allison 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;""River is right here," River spoke. "She feels numb. I'm not getting a direction and I can't send her a message."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;"Allison looked chastised and went back to staring at Scott. Stiles caught River's eye in the mirror again and she shrugged, not sure what Allison's problem was this time. Last time that they had seen each other, River has stepped between Allison and Peter. Twice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 pulled down the road that led to Hale house and got out of the Jeep, following the scent on foot. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 came here?" Stiles asked to clarify. "You 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;""Yeah, this is where the scent leads," Scott 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;""All right, but has Lydia ever been 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;""She didn't make it here on the night that everything happened," River shook her head. "She did have the directions to get here 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;""Maybe she came here on instinct, like she was looking for Derek," Allison added. "Wolves need a pack, 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;""She isn't turning," River shook her head. "She can only be one of three magical beings, and all of them are immune to 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;""Not every wolf needs a pack," Scott threw 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;""You have a pack," River told 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;""Who? Derek?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Us, you ass," River rolled 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;""Lay off him," Allison ground 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;""Don't tell me how to talk to my brother," River 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;""Whoa, hey, look at this. You see this?" Stiles voice distracted the two girls from their argument. "I think it's a tripwire."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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?" Scott asked from behind all three of 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;""Yeah, buddy," all three turned and tried not to laugh. "Oh."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri Light',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin;""Next time you see a tripwire – don't trip it," Scott said as he hung upside 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;""Yeah, noted."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 get you down," River shook 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;""Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Someone's coming," Scott said. "Hide. 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;"Stiles grabbed River and pulled her behind a tree, Allison behind the tree next to them. As Chris threatened Scott, Stiles put his hand over River's mouth and held her still when she tried to go defend Scott. Allison rolled her eyes at River, causing the girl to glare at her. Once Chris was out of earshot, Scott called the coast clear and Stiles released 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 you okay?" Allison and River asked at the same 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;"Allison glared as Scott made a joke out of the situation and then cut himself down. Scott wasn't able to pick up the scent again so they headed home, Stiles dropping Allison off first and then Scott. River climbed into the front seat and 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;""You and Allison don't like each other," Stiles stated./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 know what her problem is," River huffed out. "I literally stepped between her and a psycho wolf. Twice!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 think she sees you as competition," Stiles shrugged. "You have to admit, your relationship with Scott and I is weird to an outsider."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 needs to get over it. If I wanted to date Scott, I would date Scott," River insisted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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, you would," Stiles nodded, going red 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;""I could date Scott!" River insisted. "I'd date him so 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;"Stiles let out a loud laugh, causing River to smile. Once they were home again, River tried the locater spell, Stiles watching from her bed. When it didn't work, she sighed and cleaned up. After her shower, she walked back into her room and smiled as Stiles was still on her bed. She climbed in next to him, taking her side of the bed and getting under the blankets. Stiles turned off the bedside lamp that he had left on before sliding down in the bed and pulling her close./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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'll find her. I promise," Stiles insisted. "We'll go looking after school tomorrow."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 14.0pt; 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 whispered, letting sleep finally take over as she felt safe and warm in Stiles arms. /span/p