CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:
❝︎Good Or Bad❞︎

ALASKA AND STILES WENT BACK TO THE HOUSE, AND WHILE STILES HAD OFFERED TO STAY HOME WITH HER ALASKA HAD JUST WAVED HIM OFF. Reluctantly, Stiles had left and Alaska locked herself in her room, putting on Star Wars so that she could have noise while she was working on her homework. Slowly, day turned to night, Alaska had just managed to finish all of her homework when noise came from downstairs. She froze, listening as the front door closed, waiting for Noah or Stiles to announce their presence like they always did if she was home alone, but nothing came.

Slowly, she stood, pausing to look around. She grabbed the metal baseball bat that Stiles had put in her room for protection just in case, carefully opening her door and making her way towards the steps. She crept down the stairs as quietly as she could before peeking her head around the corner only to drop the bat and let out a sigh.

     "Liam!" The boy quickly turned at the sound of her voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"

     "You weren't answering your phone." Liam said. His eyes then darted to the bat that now laid on the floor. "Why do you have a bat?"

     "I thought you were some psycho that just broke into the house!" Alaska exclaimed. "Why didn't you announce yourself?"

     "I wasn't sure if you were home or not. Stiles jeep wasn't out front."

     Alaska cocked a brow. "So you broke into his house?"

     Liam rubbed the back of his neck. "I was worried."

     Alaska sighed. "Liam, I'm fine."

     Liam walked closer to her. "No you're not. You're worried. I don't blame you." Alaska met his eyes and he gave her a small smile. "What if I just stay until Stiles or Sheriff Stilinski gets home?" Alaska agreed, gently grabbing his hand and leading him up the stairs and into her room. "Wow, you're room is. . . bright."

     "I told you yellow was my favorite color." Alaska smiled, shrugging her shoulders. She took a seat on her bed and Liam copied her actions. Liam laid down and Alaska did the same. They stared at each other for a moment and Liam reached forwards, pushing a fallen curl behind her ear.

     "You're so beautiful," Liam mumbled.

     Alaska managed a small smile before it fell. She searched his eyes for a moment before suddenly she said, "I love you." Her eyes widened as she quickly sat up. "Oh my God, I can't believe I just said that. I am so sorry."

     Liam sat up, reaching out and grabbing her head before she could stand up. She turned her head to look at him and he couldn't help but smile. "Don't apologize." He moved closer to her, gently cupping her face in his hands before pressing a soft kiss to her lips. He pulled away and gently said, "I love you too."

     "You do?" Alaska whispered.

     "I have since I met you." Liam answered. "I just didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to scare you off."

     Alaska shook her head. "You could never scare me off." The couple shared another kiss, and then another, until suddenly Alaska's back met the bed and Liam was hovering over her.

     "Alaska, I'm back!" Stiles yelled. Immediately, Alaska and Liam moved away from each other. Stiles entered the room, eyes narrowing as he looked at Liam and then at Alaska's flushed face. "Hey, Liam."

     "Hey," Liam said breathlessly.

     Stiles stared at him for a moment before looking at Alaska. "Dad's on his way back, he said he has some news."

     Alaska sat up straighter. "Good or bad?"

     Stiles shook his head. "He didn't say."

     Alaska nodded and Stiles walked to his room. She turned her head to look at Liam. "You should probably go."

     "Are you sure you don't want me to stay in case it's bad?"

     Alaska forced a small smile and nodded. "I'll be okay."

     "Call me?"

     "I will." They shared one last kiss before he left.

Alaska sat there anxiously, waiting for Noah to get back home. When she heard the front door open she immediately jumped up and walked out of room. She paused in the hallway, turning her head to look at Stiles as he walked out of his room. The two of them shared a look before simultaneously making their way down the steps. They entered the kitchen where Noah was sitting, his hands interlaced with his hands pressed against his lips. He turned his head to look at the two teenagers before a sigh escaped his lips.

     Alaska frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'll take it it's bad news."

     "Well, it's not great." Noah admitted.

     Alaska nodded, pressing her lips together. "What's the damage?"

     Noah looked at her before glancing down at the table. "They want you to testify."

     Stiles face contorted into disbelief. "Dad, you can't be serious."

     "I am very serious." Noah said, a tone of defeat in his voice.

     "When?" Alaska asked.

     "A week from today."

     "Is he going to be there?" Noah nodded. Alaska chewed on her lip for a moment before she finally nodded. "Alright. A week from today."

     "You won't be alone with him." Stiles assured her. "We'll be there."

     "You're damn right we'll be." Noah said, anger lacing his words.

     "As long as I don't have to speak to him or even look in his direction, I think I'll be okay." Alaska claimed, though she had to admit she wasn't quite sure about that. Even the thought of being in the same room as him made a shiver crawl down her spine. She wasn't prepared to see him again, not so soon. But if she never wanted to see him again then she had to do this. She needed to do this. She wasn't going to let him pretend that he did nothing. She was going to make him relive it, the same way she had to do, and the minute she saw the anger covering his face she would know that her mission was complete.