1𝑥3 ~ 𝑃𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑀𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦
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"Attention, students, this is your principal. I know you're all wondering about the incident that occurred last night to one of our buses. While the police work to determine what happened, classes will proceed as scheduled," the principal said through the P.A system, making a collective of moans and groans echo throughout the halls,
"Why couldn't the guy have gotten attacked inside the school?" A girl groaned as she walked pass my locker,
"Leo!" A voice said, I snapped my head around to see Lydia staring at me with wide eyes and an annoyed expression,
"Sorry, I zoned out," I apologised as I closed my locker and gave the strawberry blonde my full attention, "what's up?"
"I was asking...why don't you drive to school?" Lydia said tossing her hair over her shoulder,
"I get a drop with my Aunt sometimes in the morning, or I catch the bus, so why would I need to drive?" I questioned, we started to walk down the hall to our class, through the crowded halls with people talking about the body,
"Yes, and while that is sweet and all, you have a literal car parked in your Aunt's garage, which is yours and you never drive it," Lydia said as we walked around the corner,
I sighed deeply. The car she was referring to was my dad's prized possession. My grandfather and dad bought and fixed that car together, and I knew my dad wanted to give it to me, but that never really happened. After the accident, I kind of inherited the car by birth right but I never drove it.
"Yea I know, but the Impala was my dad's car Lydia, and I haven't touched it since I was like ten, and you just want me to just start driving it?" I asked her as we walked into chemistry class and took our seats across from each other,
"Yep," she said without hesitation, "it can be like your dude magnet or something, plus we can go shopping and stuff without Jackson having to drive us,"
"Yea, no, I don't need hormonal teenagers trying to dry hump me in the backseat, which where I'm pretty sure I was conceived," I said that last part like a whisper and thankful Lydia didn't hear me, "and I haven't gotten in that damn Porsche, since freshman year,"
Lydia only rolled her eyes at my statement. I pulled out my books, while grabbed her mirror and started to touch up her face. More students walked in, taking their seats with Scott and Stiles talking wildly. Soon after them Danny walked in, but with Jackson close on his heels.
By the grace of the universe, they sat together on the opposite side of the class which gave me some distance from him, however,
"Hey Jackson," Lydia chimed as he walked over and kissed her on the cheek,
"Hi Lydia, Leo," Jackson said lowly as he stood beside us, I watch him in the corner of my eyes, he and Lydia were talking, but I caught him glancing at me on occasion,
"Hey Leo," a boy that sat in front of me said, so I looked at him with a bored expression, "can I borrow a pen?"
"Sure," I said calmly, before digging into my pencil case, he leaned backwards but couldn't reached so I got up and held forward to hand him the pen,
"Alright lets get ready for class shall we?" Mr. Harris said as he walked into class with his bag and stuff, so I sat back in my seat,
As he started to teach I zoned out, trying to focus on my work, but the occasional buzzing and whispering from Scott and Stiles was starting to irritate me.
"Mr. Stilinksi, if that's your idea of a hushed whisper, you might want to pull the headphones out every once in a while. I think you and Mr. McCall would benefit from a little distance, yes?" Mr. Harris said causing the duo to stop talking,
"No," Stiles answered and Mr. Harris didn't feel moved by his answer
"Let me know if the separation anxiety gets to be too much," Mr. Harris said as the two moved seats with Stiles moving closer to me, and Scott moving closer to the front of the class,
Class resumed only for it stop again, making me groan as everyone ran over to the windows, just in time to see the police moving a body on a stretcher. A silence fell over the class only to be broken, when the body lurched forward, making everyone scream and jump backwards.
A weird tension fell on the class, as we all didn't settle down with everyone having their own theory about the attack. Even Mr. Harris weighed in his opinion at one point.
•••
Class ended and I found myself with Lydia, Allison, Danny, Jackson plus some others making our way towards the table where Scott and Stiles were sat.
"Figure out what?" Lydia asked as we walked up to the table,
"Just uh, homework," Scott said as everyone started to take sit down, I sat down next to Stiles, and Danny sat next to me,
"Yeah, why is she sitting with us?"I heard stiles say I got comfortable in the seat,
"Thanks," I heard Allison say as she sat down beside Scott with a smile, and I couldn't help smile as well, I glanced at Stiles to see him smiling at me, but I only rolled my eyes at him as I wasn't in the mood for his antics,
"Get up," Jackson commanded to one of the boys who sat with us,
"How come you never ask Danny or Leo to get up?" He questioned with groan,
"Because we don't stare at his girlfriend's coin slot," Danny said, Lydia and I threw him a smile, and he smiled back at us before changing the topic, "So I hear they're saying it's some type of animal attack. Probably a cougar,"
"I heard mountain lion," Jackson said propping up his feet in the chair,
"A cougar is a mountain lion. Isn't it?" Lydia said sounding confused,
"Their the same thing, yes, but they just vary in size, colour and diet, depending on where in the world their located," I told her,
"Where'd you learn that?" Danny asked me with a smile,
"I don't know, guess I just knew, huh," I said trying to figure out where learned that fact,
"Who cares? The guy's probably some homeless tweaker who's gonna die anyway," Jackson said sounding very cold heartedly,
"Can you be anymore cold blooded," I muttered as I opened my lunch and started to eat it,
"Well I can think of a few things that could warm my blood," Jackson said smirking before looking at Lydia who threw him a knowing smile,
"Kill me," I and another voice said simultaneously, so I looked over to Stiles with a grimace on his face as he stared down at his phone,
"Actually, I just found out who it is. Check it out," Stiles said before turning his phone for everyone at the table to see,
"The Sheriff's department won't speculate on details of the incident but confirmed the victim, Garrison Meyers, did survive the attack. Meyers was taken to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition," the reporter said as images and videos of the scenes from outside our school played,
"Why does he look so familiar," I muttered as I tried to place his face to the memory of where I knew him from,
"I know this guy," Scott said causing some of the others to look at him,
"You do?" Allison asked him,
"Yeah, when I used to take the bus back when I lived with my dad. He was the driver," Scott told her and I started to remember his face but not entirely as me taking the bus was a rare occurrence
"Can we talk about something slightly more fun, please? Like, oh, where are we going tomorrow night? You said you and Scott were hanging out tomorrow night, right?" Lydia said changing the topic of the conversation in a heartbeat,
"Um, we were thinking of what we were gonna do," Allison said sounding very unsure of herself,
"Well, I am not sitting home again watching lacrosse videos, so if the five of us are hanging out, we are doing something fun," Lydia said and a lightbulb went off in my head, causing me to choke on my food,
"F-five?" I questioned between coughs and Stiles pat my back, so I nodded in appreciation,
"You are coming, right," Lydia said as more as a demand than an offer,
"I'd rather third wheel for Danny and his boyfriend, given the fact, that I may get some action," I said raising my eyebrows suggestively with a smile, at Danny who only rolled his eyes while trying to force back his smile, then I look back at Lydia, "than fifth wheel you heterosexuals, I love you all don't get me wrong, but that's not happening,"
"Well if me and Chris ever need a third for a threesome will let you know," Danny said smiling at me, and I hummed in response, before going back to my meal,
Lydia only scowled at me playfully before turning her attention to Scott and Allison whose voiced I drowned out because this conversation didn't occur me. As I ate my lunch I felt someone tap my foot, I looked over to see Danny leaning closer to me.
"Um? Chris and I may actually need a third partner, though," he said in a whisper and I looked at him more proud than confused, "we were talking about it, and we both decided that if we we're to include anyone, it would definitely be you,"
"Well, just let me know in advance," I said smiling at him, and he winked which made me smile brightly with a chuckle,
In the corner of my eye I saw Jackson glaring at me, but I couldn't careless at the moment.
•••
"Hey Leo can I ask a question?" Stiles asked as I stuffed my bag with books I needed to study,
"Go ahead," I said absentmindedly as I thought about what else I needed to take home,
"Am I attractive to you?" Stiles asked, I did a double take before looking at the boy,
"Do you want me to answer that?" I asked and Stiles nodded enthusiastically, "does this have something to do with your crush on Lydia Martin?"
"You knew!?" Stiles questioned, clearly he didn't know who the hell I was,
"You seriously thought, that I, out of everyone in this school, didn't know you have a crush on my best friend," I told taking actual offence at his statement,
"Yea, okay that makes sense, but the only person who doesn't seem to know, is Lydia herself," Stiles said sounding very defeated,
"She's to busy being blinded by the love she has for her spawn of a boyfriend," I said not caring about how Stiles would react, I closed my locker and started to walk towards the exit,
"Speaking of, what's with the sudden, animosity between you and Jackson?" Stiles questioned, as he jogged to catch up with me, and I looked at him with narrowed eyes, "Oh yea, the others may not see it, but I noticed the glaring, the remarks, the sudden 'I would kill you if we were alone' looks on your face whenever he talks to you,"
That alone made me stop and look back Stiles. I slicked back my hair, I crossed my arms and glared at him. This caused the skinny boy raise his arms in defence.
"When did you have time to analyse me?" I asked genuinely confused as to how he learned all of this,
"I take a lot of Adderall, so I basically pay attention all the things I see," he told me nonchalantly, and tilted my head because that kind of made sense,
"Okay, then tell me something about myself that other people wouldn't know," I said as I started to walk towards the exit and he soon followed,
"You don't drive, not because you don't have a license, but because your scared of damaging your dad's car, almost all of your shirts have paint splattered on them, and though you rank highly on the social status at school, you are the least socially active member of Lydia's clique," Stiles said sounding confident in himself and not to mention very annoying, due to him getting most facts about me right,
I opened my mouth to reply but nothing came out. Until a light bulb flickered on.
"Would you mind giving me drop home?" I said as I stepped outside the school,
"Sure," stiles said as he started to pull out his keys,
"Oh and one more thing?" I said as we walked towards his jeep,
"Yea?" He answered,
"You are attractive, but not to gay guys, and maybe not to Lydia," I said with a smirk,
"Wait? What!" He said with almost all the panic he could muster, and I smile devilishly as he started to ask me questions as to why,
•••
Night had fell and I was done with my studying and was currently avoiding looking at the hundreds of pictures Lydia was texting me off their night out. I was home alone, as per usual my aunt had a habit of working long shifts, though I wasn't complaining. Her late nights allowed me ample time to, have more freedom.
I was cozied up on my couch watching Lost when the door bell rang. I got up and walked to the door, I had on a vest and some sweat shorts so it was fine in case it was someone important. I opened the door to reveal, my seventy-six year old neighbour smiling at me.
"Oh Leo, Thank heavens your home, I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she said with a kind smile,
Yes, I said in my head,
"Not all Mrs. Baker, what's wrong?" I said putting on smile,
"It's twilight again," she said as her smile turned to frown, "she got out,"
"Lemme guess, she climbed up the curtains and went through the top windows again?" I asked as I was all to familiar with her cat and its antics,
"She's a little gymnast, I would have come over, but I can't seem to find her in the yard so I think she may have wondered down the road and-" she kept saying but I cut her off,
"Say no more," I said as I stepped back inside to grab my phone, my house keys and my jacket that I had from school, "I'll look for her,"
"I really hope this isn't a bother, Leo," she said as we walked down my driveway,
"No, no, Mrs. Baker, it's not problem at all," I told her as I looked up and down our neighbourhood, "you head back inside and I'll bring her back to you,"
"Thank you so much dear," she said, I walked down the driveway and down the sidewalk looking for where her car could have ran off to this late at night,
I loved only a few blocks away from Lydia, but the neighbourhood itself was fairly large, and so where the houses. So my expectations for finding twilight were low from the beginning but I couldn't say no to Mrs. Baker, she babysat me for years.
Also, ironically, her cat twilight was a white cat and to my advantage, the moon was shining particularly bright tonight, so hopefully I could spot her more easily.
"Twilight! Here kitty kitty!" I called out as I walked down the road looking back and forth for any scenes of her, "it's late, come on out,"
The further I walks down the block, the stronger this feeling that someone is as watching felt. It was like a burning sensation on the back of my head, but whenever I looked back I didn't see anyone.
"Twilight! Come on out!" I called out as walked pass the last house which was closer to forest area, "it's cold, and I would really like to finish my show,"
I looked around and saw a white blue dash across the street, and without hesitation I took of after. There weren't any cars on the road luckily so I caught up to her as she made it to the other side.
"There you are!" I said as I picked her up and scratched her head, she was shaking like she was scared, "What the hell got into you..."
My voice trailed off, as the sound of twigs snapping made me look up towards the trees. The night was silent but I could hear something approaching me from the other side of the street. From the sounds of snaps it was large, but I could barely make out it's shape. It kept walking towards me and I started to hear a growling sound.
Something compelled me to step forward and I did. I stepped into the road and started to walk as whatever was in the tree slowly made its way towards me. I was in the middle of the road when a screeching sound and blaring light appeared on my left. I grabbed twilight and I flinched as I waited for impact.
"What the hell are you doing?" The driver shouted at me, I looked over but I couldn't see him through the head lights, I looked back at the trees and the thing in trees was gone, "did you not hear me!"
I looked over to see the last person I expected to see glaring at me.
"Derek?" I asked as he turned off the headlights, "What the hell?"
"I'm the one who should be saying that," Derek said as he walked around his car towards me,
"Sorry, I was just," I said as I pointed to the trees, "I thought I saw the, um, mountain lion, I think,"
"You saw it?" Derek asked sounding concerned as he started to stare at the tree line,
"Well kinda, it must have ran off," I told him, he took a step closer to me and Twilight started to become restless,
"You shouldn't be out here, it's late, you could have been hurt," Derek said in grimace but his attention was still on the trees,
"I can take care myself ya know," I said as I tried to calm down Twilight, "and I'm not scared of some mountain lion,"
"It's not the mountain lion you should be scared off," Derek said as he turned to look at me, "You should head home, seriously,"
"Huh?" I said with a smirk as I started to walk back to my house,
"Huh, What?" Derek called out and I turned to face him,
"Huh, as in, I know your not a high schooler, I don't know how you got in Lydia's party or how you know Scott, I barley know you, and yet your concern for my safety," I told in very matter-of-fact way,
"So I'm not allowed to be concerned for your safety," Derek asked as he pushed his hands in his jacket's pockets,
"Trust me, mister mysterious, I can take care of myself," I said to him, I glanced at his car and saw the broken window before looking at him with a confused look,
"Bunch of drunk idiots, don't worry about it," he said as he walked closer to me, and Twilight got restless again but I caressed her head and Fahd calmed down,
"Don't worry about it!? Derek the shattered the window of your Camaro, please tell me your gonna at least slash their tires for this," I said with chuckle as I looked at the damage,
"Something like that," Derek said with a smirk before he placed his attention on me, but I pretended not to notice his stares, "you like cars?"
"My dad left me his 1967 Chevrolet Impala, I don't drive it, but I know the appreciation of a good car," I told him as put twilight down on the street, not caring if she ran off again,
"Why don't you drive it?" Derek asked sounding genuinely concerned, I felt something in my chest tighten as I didn't know or want to answer that, especially after Stiles' reasoning today at school,
"I should get home," I said as I moved off and towards my house, "come on twilight,"
I called her and she came trotting behind me as we walked back to my house. I was only a few feet away when the sound of footstep alerted me that Derek was now walking beside me.
"I'll walk you," he said before a silence fell between us,
My parents died when I was twelve, and things were hard for me after that. Everyone kept saying they were sorry about what had happened and that their all happy I'm alive, but that didn't make me feel any better. I tried to put on a brave face and do the things I normally did to let people think I was fine, but when I started high school, all the extra activities and hobbies seemed like seemed like nothing but a waste of time and energy. I only kept painting as it didn't require that much effort, and I actually liked the art classes at Beacon Hills.
Then once you add on the crap that went down with Jackson over the summer, to which I promised myself I would never tell anyone, my life soon started to feel like it was being consumed by a black hole, and I wanted nothing more but it jump in it.
But, I tried to keep a brave face, and act happy, and smile for the sake of my Aunt, Lydia and the others at school, but the truth was I felt pain and lost almost every day, but I knew I have to survive, so I kept going like nothing was wrong.
I glanced at Derek and saw he had a scowl on his face like he was thinking. I could tell he had a lot of stuff going on, but so did I and I didn't want to open up to a guy I barely kne-
"Hale," Derek muttered as we reached Mrs. Baker's house,
"What?" I asked as I watched Twilight run up the pathway only to scratch at the door,
"I'm Derek Hale," he told me, and with the both names now, I mentally pieced together who he was exactly,
"Your one of the survivors from the Hale house fire," I muttered as I saw the door open and Mrs. Baker waved at me, before letting twilight in and closing the door,
"More like the last survivor, my uncle is in mental ward of the hospital, my sister died a while ago," he said in somber voice, I looked at him as he stared at the ground and something told me to take his hand off of his pocket and I held his hand in mine,
"I know what it feels like to have survived something and to be left alone because of it," I said as we walked over to my house hand in hand, "you could be surrounded by people and still feel alone,"
Derek only nodded at my words as we walked up my path to my front door. I looked back at him and he had a sad look in his eyes.
"Thank you, for walking me home," I said with smiles as I turned to open my door, "though you didn't have to,"
"I'd said take care, but I'm sure you'll say otherwise," Derek said as he started back away, with a smirk,
"He's learning," I said with a smirk, to which he only chuckled as he walked off, he looked back at me and I waved before stepping inside and closing the door,
•••
"Really Lydia?" I complained as I laid down listening to her on the phone,
"Yea, You should have seen him tonight, Scott was a pro," she sighed sounding content with herself,
"Wow, and why do you sound so overjoyed, didn't you and Jackson lose?" I asked as i kept my eyes on the ceiling of my house,
"We did, but that lost taught me something," Lydia said and I could feel her smiling through the phone,
"Which is?" I asked, I narrowed my eyes in concentration, as I really couldn't understand what she was getting at,
"When one star falls, another rises to takes its place," she said and I heard a slight giggle through the phone but ignored it as that could only mean nothing but trouble for me,