chapter thirteen, MEXICO

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Noah Hall

'I promise when you get home we'll talk'
I text my mom as I sit on my couch.
'Really we do need to talk Nolly' She texts back.

Stiles and Malia walk through my front door and argue as they head to my kitchen. I furrow my brows and follow them. "Umm, hello to you too?" I say.

"Hey" Stiles says and turns back to Malia. "The point isn't to kill people Malia, it's about teamwork" he states.

"What is going on?" I ask. "Malia made the soccer team." Stiles states. I smile happily "I know I heard. I'm so proud of you." I state.

"She told me the only thing she's excited for is to be able to kick the ball at people." Stiles explains. "Well technically that's the point of the game, but yea he's kinda right the entire point is team work. So we can get points. Not to kill or maim each other " I state.

She groans and grabs an apple from my counter. "Are we ready or what?" She asks. "I have a lot of tests today. And Stiles has practice for the game tomorrow" she explains.

I furrow my brows and turn to him. "Did you Jeep break down again?" I ask. He rolls his eyes and nods.

The best thing about Stiles and I being neighbors is that whenever his Jeep breaks down, which is often. I can give him a ride to school. Otherwise he might have to take the bus with the freshmen.

"Well we better hurry, I still have to pick up Liam" I say and grab my thing. We head out the door and towards my car. Malia gets in the front and Stiles gets in the back.

"You drive that baby face?" Stiles jokes. "He needs to feel what it feels like to be a freshmen. And by that I mean he either needs to walk or take the bus. It's a monumental moment in young life" Stiles explains.

"Stiles, what are you even saying" I laugh.

"I didn't see you offering me rides when you got your license" He spits and crosses arms. "Well because I wasn't even a loud to drive anyone else for a year, sorry I follow the rules." I snap.

"Whatever, I just see that Liam's your new favorite." he mumbles.

Malia and I laugh and I drive towards Liam's neighborhood.

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"I passed!" Malia exclaims by whisper yelling in my ear. I almost jump out of my seat then throw her a thumbs up when I catch my breath.

"Lydia your notes are great when they aren't written in code." Malia says happily. Lydia turns her head to Malias paper and slowly nods "A c minus" Lydia slowly says.

I watch as Lydia turns her head towards the board. She stares at the writing and her face slowly drops and Kira and I look between each other in worry.

"Lydia it's okay, it's all over. The pool, the assassins. No one's going to die" Kira reassures.

"Not yet." Lydia whispers. As her words leave her mouth a shiver runs down my spine. I hate when she does that. It's terrifying.

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket and I grab it. I see a message from Scott and I open it.

'Need your help, Weight room'

I quickly look around the room and see coach making is way towards us. "Coach can I use the restroom?" I ask.

He stops and glares "I don't know can you?" He asks. I sigh and shake my head "May I use the restroom?" I correct.

"Yea go" he says plainly. I quickly jump out of my seat and leave the classroom. I run down the empty hallway and head towards the weight room.
I open the door and see Liam, Mason and Scott standing in the middle of the room.

Liam groans when he sees me enter and Scott and Mason walk towards me. "Talk to him." Scott whispers. "Please." Mason begs.

The two leave and Liam sits down on the bench.

I slowly move towards him. But he doesn't acknowledge me. "Everything okay Liam?" I ask and lean against the wall.

"Yes." He says angrily. "You were pretty quiet in the car this morning" I say. He doesn't say anything so I continue.

"You've been quiet a lot recently. Are you sure you're okay?" I ask again. He quickly stands up and moves towards me, making me step back. "I already told you Noah, I'm fine. You and Scott can stop pretending to care." He spits.

I furrow my brows and scoff. "Liam, Scott and I have never pretended to care, it's always be real. You're our friend Liam. We honestly, truthfully care about you. I care about you. So much." I state firmly.

"I told you before and I'll tell you again. I'll protect with my life Liam. I will."

He slowly looks up at me and sighs. "You shouldn't say that." He says. "Why not?" I ask genuinely and cross my arms over my chest. "I'm not worth that" he states. "What?" I laugh.
"I'm a coward. I'm angry all the time. I'm just a dumb kid." He explains.

I shake my head and move closer to him. "Liam. When are you going to understand that you deserve good in your life. You are one of the best people I know. I'd honestly say you're my best friend Liam. You need to know your worth." I demand.

He shakes his head and runs his hands through his sweaty hair. "I'm a coward Noah" he whispers and closes his eyes tightly. "Why?" I ask and place my hand on his arm.

"I'm scared." He adds.

"Of what?" I ask with worry. "I'm not sleeping. I'm having visions. I feel weak" He sobs. "What are you seeing?" I ask. After a few seconds of silence he finally answers "berserkers."

I slowly nod and pull him into a hug. I feel his sweat on me and oddly I don't feel repulsed. He hugs me tightly and sighs into the hug. Just like the last few I've given him, it seems like he needed this. "How long has this been going on?" I ask.

"Since the night after the hospital" he says sadly. I pull away and look at him with furrow brows. "Liam. You didn't say anything for that long? Why?" I ask.

"I was afraid" He admits. "Of what?" I laugh "that- that I wouldn't be good enough for you guys. That I wasn't strong enough" He explains.

I hold both his shoulder and look him dead in the eyes. "Liam, you are more than strong enough. You're one of the strongest people I know. Don't doubt it. Not even for a second. And also, we'd never abandon you. Never. All of us get scared Liam. All the time. I'm scared, everyday. Scott's scared, Lydia's scared. Malia...well I don't know if she's scared but you get the idea" I joke. He lightly smiles and nods.

"I promise you being afraid won't effect how we think of you." I say. "Promise?" He asks. I smile and nod "Promise."

I give him a small kiss on the forehead and he quickly pulls me in for another hug. I run his back and we stay like this for a moment.

How could Liam, of all people, ever feel like he's not good enough. He's Liam, everything about him is amazing.

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I walk out onto the field with Malia and Sheriff Stilinski. "Have they called back?" Malia asks. "No. I've called both of them four times. Each. I'm getting worried" I say to her.

"I'm sure they'll be fine." She adds.

"I'll be back" I say to them. I quickly run over to the players bench and tap Liam on the shoulder, he turns and so does Stiles.

"Have you heard from Scott and Kira?" Stiles asks. I shake my head and sigh "I've called both of them." I state. Stiles groans and stands up he pats Liam's shoulder and heads out into the field.

"Good luck guys" I say to them, Liam stands up and walks up to me. "Thanks" he whisper. "You'll do great. Don't stress" I reassure him. I pull him into a quick hug and he runs into the field with Stiles and the other players.

I make my way back to the bleachers and sit next to Malia and Stilinski. The game starts and my worry grows as neither Kira nor Scott have shown up yet.

"Do you think something happened?" I ask. "If something did, I feel like we'd know." Malia says.

My phone starts to buzz and I look at my screen. I see Derek's name and answer it. "Hello?" I say.
  "Noah. Get here fast. It's Scott and Kira." He states.

I quickly stand up and look at Malia. "Derek knows something." I state.
  "Do you want us to go?" Malia asks. I look back at the field and see Liam standing still. I smell his fear from here.

God I promised I'd be here for him. I sigh and close my eyes tightly. Still runs off the field and goes towards us. "We need to go find Scott." He whispers to us.

"Derek called. He knows where they are I think" I explain. "Then let's go." He states. His dad stands up and they start heading off. I freeze and Stiles looks back at me.

"I promise I'd be here for him Stiles. I promise we wouldn't leave." I state and keep my eyes on Liam. "Scott could be hurt. Liam will be okay." Stiles reassures.

Malia grabs my hand and I turn to her "I'll stay here, with Liam and in case Scott and Kira show up" she explains. I sigh and nod.

I quickly leave with the Stiles and his dad and we head to Derek's apartment. I have a bad feeling about this.

As we drive Stiles quickly changes out of his lacrosse clothes. He pulls his jersey off and throws it at my face. "Really?" I spit and pull the smelly jersey off my face. "Pass me that shirt next to you" He states.

I grab the blue shirt and hand it to him.

We pull up to the apartment and jump out. We go to the top floor and open his door. "Derek?" I call out and walk into the middle of the room and my eyes widen when I see the place has been trashed. Windows broken, glass on the floor, furniture ripped to pieces.

I look down and see Derek hunched over on the ground with Braeden standing next to him. He stands up and looks at us.

"What the hell happened?" Stiles asks.

"Scott and Kira were here. It was supposed to be a date." Derek explains. "They're gone." Braeden says.

Stiles phone starts to buzz and he answers it. He slowly looks up at us and worry grows in me. I listen closely and hear Lydia on the other phone.

My eyes widen and snap my head to Derek.
  Stiles hangs up the phone and looks at his dad. "They've been takin to Mexico. Deaton said if we wanted them alive. We have to go there too." Stiles explains.

Lydia comment from earlier in the day now has me worried with this new information. Why can't we ever catch a break?

Braden and Derek prepare for Mexico and Stilinski drops me off at home. The entire ride was spent with Stiles and him arguing about going.

I walk into my house and go upstairs. My mom comes out of her room and hugs me tightly. "How was your trip?" I ask. "It was good, I missed you Nolly" She breaths.

"Are you ready to talk now?" She asks and pulls away. I sigh and close my eyes tightly. "I wish we could mom, but Scott and Kira have been taken." I explain.

"What?" She exclaims. I nod and hug her again. "We have to go. We have to save them mom." I state. She nods and grabs my face, she rubs small circles on my temples just like she's done for as long as I can remember and she smiles at me.

"This next full moon will be the strangest for you. I'm warning you now okay Noah. I know we don't have time to talk now, but I don't want you to be scared." She whispers. I furrow my brows and nod.

Some how I know she's being honest, and I'm not scared as much anymore. "Will it hurt?" I ask calmly.

"Extremely." She states.

"Are you sure you're up for saving them?" She asks honestly. "I have to be. I'll worry about me later."
"You have such a big heart Noah."