Study Date

The next few days were calm, no werewolf attacks, no dead bodies, no crazy nights. To make it even better, I had gotten a text from one Isaac Lahey about a study session. I couldn't deny that the boy was cute, in a soft, innocent sort of way, and I was excited. He was coming over after his afternoon lacrosse practice, which gave me roughly two hours to clean my house and bake something.

Was I being dramatic and a bit over the top, yes. However, I liked to host, and as much as I had kind of sworn off High School boys, I quite liked this one. I took a deep breath as I settled down on the couch, my own chemistry notes sprawled across the coffee table as I waited for the doorbell to ring.

When it did I was to jump up, hurrying to open it. "Hey." I said, painfully aware of how breathless my voice sounded. As much as I didn't mean to, my eyes flickered up and down him. He was fresh out of the shower, his curls still slightly damp. He raised a brow, looking at me. "Well am I coming in or are we just gonna stand here and look at each other?"

My cheeks flushed scarlet as I stepped aside, nodding weakly. "Yeah, uh, all my chem stuff is in the living room, and I made brownies that should be done soon." I said, trailing behind him. "So uh, what is it specifically that you're confused with?"

He settled down on the couch and I sat down beside him, running my fingers through my hair. "Well, Harris is letting me retake the last test, because, well, I bombed it. So I guess that is the priority?"

I hummed and nodded, flipping through my notebook until I found the review session from a week earlier. "Okay, uh, work through problem 13.3-13.6. If you get stuck, ask me and we can work them out together." He nodded, bending over to start work. My eyes stayed on him, tracing the curve of his jaw and the furrow of his brow as he scribbled on the paper. One curl fell in his eyes and he pushed it back with his hand.

I tried to keep the smile off my lips and the blush off my cheeks but he really was gorgeous. "Uh, Cassandra? I don't really get 13.5." I froze before nodding, sliding over so I could look at the paper.

I read over the problem, chewing the inside of my lip. "Okay, so it's a chemical equation and you need to balance it. So, here's a little cheat sheet with the atomic numbers and what goes with what and what can be broken down."

I grabbed the sheet from my notes and handed it to him. "So like, your IR3(PO4)2 can be simplified down to FePO4 because of what's on the other side." I explained, pointing out the furious elements on my sheet.

"So then the FePO4 becomes FeP on the next step?" He asked, and I nodded, my smile widening.

"Exactly, you got it," I praised, squeezing his arm slightly. His cheeks flushed and I felt mine darken. I quickly pulled my hand back, standing up. "The brownies should be done so I am just gonna go grab those while you work on the last one, okay?" I said, hurrying to the kitchen.

I was getting all blushy and worked up over some boy who might not even like me. This was embarrassing. I took a deep breath, pulling the brownies out of the oven and cutting them up, putting them on a plate and walking back out.

"Did 13.6 make sense?" I asked as I set the plate back down, looking over at him as I sat down on the couch.

He nodded, pursing his lips as he looked over it. "Can you check to make sure I did everything right?" he asked as he offered me the paper.

I nodded, pulling it from his hand as I looked over each problem. I heard him reach for a brownie and my lips curved into a smile as I worked, chewing the inside of my lip. "Yeah, they all look good, just make sure you're showing each step and you should be fine." I said, handing him back the papers with a smile.

"So, you're good at chemistry, you're good at english, you're a fantastic baker, it seems like you're good at everything." He said, leaning back against the couch as he watched me. Even though the words were so similar to the ones Matt said the night before these ones filled me with warmth and butterflies, not dread and unease.

I laughed and shook my head. "I'm not, I promise. I'm terrible at math. Chemistry is easy, but Math just does not make sense." I said, grabbing a brownie for myself.

He raised a brow, looking at me skeptically. "And by bad at math I bet you have an A instead of and A+?" He teased, cocking his head.

I scoffed in indignation, a playful pout on my lips. "It's actually an A- right now for your information." I said, trying to keep a straight face but dissolving into a fit of giggles.

He stared at me for a second before starting to laugh too. His laugh was perfect, just like the rest of him. It sounded nice too, to hear him laugh and be comfortable with me. He always seemed so reserved and closed off at school.

Once we both caught our breaths we turned back to work, and I walked him through my review sheet. It was pretty quiet for the next hour as he worked through more problems, me occasionally stepping in to correct something or praise him. It was almost seven by the time we had finished.

"It's getting kinda late, we can table this for the day? I feel like you've made a lot of progress." I said, pulling back and looking over at him.

He nodded, pursing his lips. "I take the test in like two days, but I feel like I'm going to do pretty well. Thanks to you of course."

I laughed, stretching slightly. "Well, uh, you're more than welcome to stay for dinner. I'm a good cook too," I said, hoping he would agree.

He glanced at his phone, and I watched his face fall slightly. "I really wish I could but I need to get home to my dad. But, another time."

I tried to keep my face neutral and nodded, "Of course, no worries." I helped him pack up his stuff, and gave him a few of my own notes. "Did you ride your bike here? I can drive you back." I offered, looking up at him, chewing the inside of my cheek.

"I'm okay, really, don't worry. I'll see you at school tomorrow." He said, walking towards the door. I nodded, trailing behind him.

I watched him hop on his bike and take off down the road. I quietly shut the door behind me. I did like him, like, more than I would care to admit. I let out a soft breath, shaking my head as I went to clean up and straighten. It had been a long day, and once everything was clean I carefully headed upstairs, flopping into bed. Sure, I could do my own homework, but it could wait, I already was second in the class and ahead on almost everything.

-----☾-----

The next day was pretty lowkey, and I was sitting with Stiles and Scott in Chem. Scott was getting irritated with Stiles' questions, and frankly, I was too. Harris handed back my test, an A+, and I grinned in triumph. I turned back to look at the boys, and saw the D- on Scotts test.

"Dude, you need to study more." Stiles said, and I spun around to whack him. "That was a joke, It's one test Scott you're gonna make it up."

I nodded, "and I'm more than happy to help you out over lunch or after school sometime if you need it."

"I'm okay, thank you Cass. I'm actually studying with Allison after school today." Scott mumbled.

I grinned, looking over at him. "That's great Scott."

"That's my boy!" Stiles exclaimed.

"We're just studying..."

"No, you're not."

"Were not?"

"Not if I'm forced to live vicariously through you. If you go to her house today and squander that colossal opportunity, I swear to God I'll have you deballed." Stiles grumbled. I watched the conversation silently, absentmindedly thinking about my own study session just the day before. Had I 'squandered that colossal opportunity' as Stiles said?

"Okay, okay! Just stop with the questions man." Scott whined.

"Done, no more questions," Stile said, leaning back in his seat. "No more talk about the alpha or Derek. Especially Derek, who still scares me."

I let out a snort, covering it with a cough when Stiles glared at me. Luckily, this was our last class of the day, so once it was over Stiles and I made our way out to the Jeep. He had picked me up this morning because he wanted pancakes.

I climbed into the passenger seat, flopping against the chair. "Stiles, give scotty a break about Alison, okay? I don't want him to freak out." He gave me a look and I just raised a brow, shrugging my shoulders. "Promise?"

"Promise." He replied and I grinned, tilted my head as he pulled out of the parking lot. However, much to his dismay and my concern, a very sickly looking Derek stumbled in front of the jeep.

"Oh my god." Stiles said, slamming on the breaks. Horns started honking at us because we had stopped and when Derek collapsed I was already halfway out the car and kneeling beside him.

"Derek, Derek?" I asked, brushing my hand against his forehead to check for a fever. He was ice cold to the touch, which did nothing to calm my racing heart. Stiles was still in the car but Scott was running over.

"What are you doing here?" Scott asked, and I gave him a tight lipped glare, trying to get Derek up into a sitting position.

"I was shot." Derek muttered, and my eyes widened.

"He's not looking so good Scott," I murmured.

"Why aren't you healing?" Scott asked.

"I can't. It was a different Kind of bullet."

"Wait, that's what she meant when she said you had 48 hours." Derek and I turned to Scott in confusion.

"What, who said 48 hours?" Derek asked.

"The one who shot you."

Derek's eyes flashed ice blue and I moved to shield him from view.

"Scott, we need to go now. Get him in the car." I said, standing up as Scott hauled him to his feet. I slid into the back while Scott shoved him into the pass.

"I need you to find out what kind of bullet they used." He said.

"What, how am I supposed to do that?" Scott asked.

"She's an Argent, she's with them"

"Why should I help you?"

I opened my mouth to protest, but Derek cut me off. "Because you need me."

"Look, we dont have time for this, Scott, get on your bike and fund the fucking bullet, we'll keep you updated. Stiles, drive before someone comes and sees we have Derek in your car. Now."

"Fine." Scott muttered, walking over to Allison.

Stiles was driving away, and I leaned forward to speak with Derek. My fingers fiddled in my lap. "D, what can we do to make you more comfortable?"

He just hissed in response and I frowned, purring my lips. Stiles lifted the phone to call Scott but I shook my head. "Text him."

He glared but sent the text as I helped Derek get out of his leather jacket.

"He said he needs more time." Stiles relayed.

"Tell him we don't have more time." I growled, tossing the jacket in the seat beside me.

"Derek, try not to bleed out on my seats, okay?" Stiles tossed his phone in the cup holder. "We're almost there."

"Almost where?" Derek and I asked in unison.

"Your house."

"What?" I asked, shaking my head in disbelief.

"No, you can't take me there."

"I can't take you to your own house?"

"Not when I can't protect myself."

Stiles let out a breath and pulled off to the side of the road, parking the car.

"What happens if Scott doesn't find your little magic bullet? Hm? Are you dying?"

"Not yet. I have a last resort."

I sat back in silence, watching the two argue like I wasn't even here. I had no intention of playing mediator if they were going to act like bratty little middle schoolers.

"What do you mean, what last resort?" Stiles yelled, waving his hands frantically. As Derek pulled up his shirt sleeve we saw the bullet hole for the first time, black and bloody. "Oh my god, what is that? Ugh, is that contagious? You know what, you should probably just get out."

"Stiles!" I scolded, leaning forward to get a closer look.

"Start the car. Now." Derek muttered, voice tight with pain.

"I don't think you should be barking orders with the way you look. In fact, I think if I wanted to, I could probably drag your little werewolf ass out into the middle of the road and leave you for dead."

"Stiles!" The annoyance rang more clearly through my tone as I reached forward to hit him.

"Start the car, or I'm gonna rip your throat out with my teeth." Derek stated.

I exhaled slowly as I sat abc into the car, watching Stiles start the engine.

"Not to be the only one with their head on straight, but where do we plan on taking our lovely dying Derek?"

"I don't know Cass."