In The Shadows (Teen Wolf) (Shadow Series #1)

Chapter 15

I race across my sister's bedroom, bare feet slapping on her carpeted floor. At the foot of her bed, I pounce on top of her sleeping body, hands grasping on to her. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIS!"

A groan emits from her lips, but a smile spreads across her face. "Happy Birthday, Clara."

I lean back on my heels. "We're the big one seven now." I hold up my fingers.

"About time." Allison rolls over on her back.

"I can't wait to give you your present, but you'll have to wait until later. I've been lazy and I still haven't wrapped it yet." I admit, sitting down next to her, shoving my legs under her comforter.

Allison adjusts the comforter on both of us. "You get yours when I get mine." She grabs a hair tie from her bedside table and pulls her hair up in a bun.

"So, what is Scott doing for you today?" I slide further down in her warm bed.

"Nothing. He doesn't know."

"You didn't tell him?"

"No."

"Why not?"

Allison sighs. "I just don't like when people flood us with questions about why we are only seventeen."

"They should mind their own damn business." I shrug my shoulders.

"I wish I had your carefree attitude." Allison throws the comforter off of her legs. She swings her legs off of the bed, deserting me to head to her closet.

I roll over on her bed, closer to the edge, my arm hanging off of the side. "It's a lot harder than you think to be like this."

"You make it look easy."

"No one should look easy." Aunt Kate strolls into Allison's bedroom. "Haven't you ever heard the saying of 'never trashy, always classy'?"

Allison smiles. "Wrong kind of easy."

Aunt Kate motions for me to stand up. I drag myself to my feet, not too thrilled to leave the warm bed. "My two little girls are growing up." She hugs both of us.

"Don't get sappy, Aunt Kate." I chuckle, hugging her back.

I may be secretly on Derek's side, but I still need to play the innocent niece.

"When have you ever know for me to be sappy?" Aunt Kate releases us. Ever since she brought me to Derek's house, Aunt Kate has been acting like it never happened. I thought I was a good actresses, but she may be slightly better.

"Touche." I step back.

♢♢♢

"Hey, Clara!" Danny runs after me in the almost empty hallway. "Hey, Birthday Girl!"

I stop walking, almost making an underclassmen run into me. "Sorry." I apologize before turning to face the direction Danny is coming from. "What do you want, Mahealani?"

Danny laughs. "Do you want to tell me why there is a tall, dark, and handsome guy out in the parking lot looking for you?"

My head snaps so quickly in his direction, I'm surprised I didn't get whiplash. "What?"

He stops by a set of lockers. "I never thought you would be into bad boys. I don't really blame you. He is one attractive man."

"Wait, wait." I hold up one hand. "He's really out in the parking lot?"

Danny nods. "Yeah, he doesn't seem to be leaving any time soon unless you go out there."

A smile sneaks its way on my face. Derek is waiting outside for me? "But, I have class." My smile replaces with a frown.