─────────────────────

       Harper was still at the Animal Clinic. Her curiosity getting the better of the Hale, she wanted to know just how much Deaton really knew about the supernatural world she's lived in her whole life but before she could even start to question the man he had told her she should sit and rest instead of standing there giving him questioning looks.

Reluctantly Harper had sat in the chair in the room and as hard as she tried to keep her eyes open it didn't seem to work. Once the woman had woken up that's when she began to toss her thousands of questions in the air.

To her surprise Deaton seemed to know quite a bit of the world she was living in and how he had known her aunt Talia.

Before she could fire another question at the man which is what she was doing for about an hour or so Scott shot up from the table and stepped onto the ground nearly losing his balance.

Deaton stopped organising his things as he turned to the boy. "Welcome back to the land of the conscious. Are you doing okay?" he walked towards him."Maybe you should sit down, "

Scott looked around the room, but before he could say anything, the bell on the door rang, all three turned towards the doorway.

"Hello?" Deaton called out, but there was no reply.

He went to walk out of the room, but Scott took his arm. Deaton gave him a reassuring look and walked out, "I'm sorry, but we're-- we're closed."

Harper listened for the other voice, and as soon as it hit her ears, she knew who it was. "Hi there, I'm here to pick up," Peter said to the man.

Deaton's expression didn't change. "I don't think I remember you dropping off."

Peter walked towards him. "This one wondered in on his own."

Harper and Scott share a look as they duck down in the back room, continuing to listen to the two men.

"Even if he did, I'm afraid I can't help you. We're closed. " Deaton shrugged, hinting that Peter wasn't going to get what he wanted.

Peter's head tilted, "I think you can make an exception this one time, don't you?"

Deaton kept the blank expression on his face. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that's not possible. Maybe you could come back during regular hours."

Peter's voice lowered into a menacing tone as he glared at him. "You have something of mine. . I'm here to collect it."

Deaton raised his brows at him. "Like I said, We're closed."

Harper grimaced slightly at the sound of nails scratching against wood. "Mountain ash," Peter seethed. "Now that's an old one."

a loud crash caused Harper to jump slightly.

"Let me be as clear as possible. We . . Are . . Closed"

Peter headed to the door as he whispered, knowing that the pair could hear, "There are others who can help me get what I want, Scott. More innocent and far more vulnerable"

Harper and Scott share a look "Allison" the boy uttered.

⇜⇝

Harper watched as Scott practically flew around the room in search of his phone. "Call it again!" he shouted at Stiles, who was sitting in a chair in the doorway.

Stiles sighs. "It's not here." The McCall continued to search his room, tossing things to the side.

"So you lost your phone. Why don't you just get a new one?" The Stilinski shrugged growing tired of his friend's shouts to call his phone.

Scott dropped to the ground, searching under his bed. "I can't afford a new one. And I can't do this alone. We have to find Derek"

Harper's brows furrow. "Um, I agree with finding Derek, but you do realise you're not alone, right?"

Stiles nods. "Exactly, A, You have me. And B, didn't you both say Derek ran into gunfire? He sounds pretty dead. "

Harper placed a hand on her chest. "Wow, that makes me feel wonderful, Stiles, thank you."

Stiles went to say something back, but Scott cut him off before he could get a word in. "The Argent's plan was to use I him to get to the Alpha. They're not gonna kill him. "

Stiles bunches his shoulders. "Alright, so then just let them do what they were planning, you know? They use Derek to get to Peter, problem solved"

Harper's brows furrow. "Well, unless they kill Derek after Peter, then come for me. That kind of creates a problem for me either way because they're kind of my family and I particularly don't want to die in this shit town"

Stiles looks at the girl as he asks, "Does becoming a psycho run in the family or something?"

Harper fakes a laugh. "Funny, is it impossible for you to stay on topic?"

Scott rushes out of the bathroom. "Not if Peter's going after Allison to find Derek!" he exclaims."I can't protect her on my own, which means we need to find Derek first. "

Harper tilts her head to the side. "Okay, Scott, you look for Derek, and I'll watch Allison. That way we can find Derek faster and keep Allison safe"

The fluffy-haired boy glances at her before nodding- agreeing with her somewhat plan and continues tossing things off his shelf.

Stiles sighs once again, "You know you probably lost it when you two were fighting. You remember that? when he was trying to kill you, after you interrupted him trying to kill Jackson. Are you starting to see a pattern of behavior here?"

Scott stopped what he was doing for a moment. "He wasn't going to kill anyone."

"Harper, do you know if he was going to kill Jackson?" Stiles looks at the Hale girl asking an almost rhetorical question trying to prove his point.

Harper narrowed her eyes at him "Derek keeps more secrets from me and tends to think I don't notice" her attention shifts from the Stilinski to the the McCall "I don't completely think he was going to kill Jackson but I wouldn't be all that sad if he did"

Scott took a deep breath and nodded. "He wasn't going to kill anyone, And I'm not going to let him die."

"Can you at least think about letting him die? For me, " Stiles asks his friend, his hand on his chest but his comment earned a glare from Harper.

Stiles points at the girl. "You and Derek have that same shut up before I kill you glare."

Harper's face contorts, almost fed up with the boys comments this far, she looks at him with confused eyes "same what glare?"

Stiles turns in the seat. "You like, have the same glare, but his is more shut up. I'm gonna kill you, and yours is more like shut before I decide I want to kill you."

the Hale's brows knit together. "What?" she exclaims, but before the two could say another word, Scott shushed the pair.

"What?" the two say in unison Scott looked between the two before shaking his head."My mom just got home from work, "

silence filled the room while the two teenagers stared at the McCall. "Is she okay?" Stiles questions his friend.

Scott shakes his head. Harper looks him over. "What's she doing?"

Scott sighs as his eyes fall closed, a saddened expression on his face "crying" he makes his way towards the bed as he plopped down in almost defeat.

"Scott, you can't protect everyone," Stiles said to his friend.

Harper nodded in agreement "that's a heavy burden to bare, Scott"

Scott looked up at them. "I have, too"

⇜⇝

Seeing as Allison was dodging Harper's calls leaving the girl to think of the many possibilities why- one sticking out more then the others, Harper has been following Allison around for about an hour and now Allison and Lydia were in the mall shopping for dresses for the formal.

Harper quickly passed them before she turned around and walked towards them, pretending not to pay any attention as she bumped into Allison's shoulder

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," Harper began before plastering a smile on her face. "Allison!"

The Argent looked hesitant at first, "Harper, hey"

Harper looked between the two. "Do you guys know any good dress shops for the dance, I haven't been shopping here in a while." She chuckled almost awkwardly.

Lydia looked at the girl. "That's what we're about to do. You could come with us if you want."

Harper smiled, slight shock on how the Martin girl was so inviting to her "Yeah, I'd love to."

The three began to walk towards the escalators. Harper looked at the Argent, who looked like she was distancing herself from Harper and giving her warry looks ever so often while Lydia spoke which caused the Hale girl to grow slightly anxious.

"So what's wrong with you?" Lydia asked the girl.

Allison shook her head. "Nothing's wrong, I just . . . I have a lot on my mind. "

Lydia raised her brows at the girl. "You could smile at least. Ever hear the saying, 'Never frown, someone could be falling in love with your smile.' "

Allison chuckled as Lydia gave her a look "Smile Allison, I'm buying you a dress."

Allison's head tilted, "I have to admit as far as apologise go, that's more than i expected."

Harper's brows furrow. "Apologise for what?"

Allison glanced at her. "Oh, um, She and Scott kind of made out a while ago,"

Harper's brows raised as she makes an 'o' shape with her mouth while she nods. "Okay then,"

Allison looked back at Lydia. "But it's not as much as I'm going to ask."

Lydia's brows furrow. "What? what's that supposed to mean?"

Allison takes a breath. "It means you're gonna cancel on whatever roided-up jock you said yes to And you're gonna go with someone else."

"Who?" Lydia questions, brows furrowed

A smirk spread across Allison face "Him" she looked to the all too familiar boy.

Harper looked between Lydia and Stiles while Stiles smelled perfume before accidently spraying it in his face, causing him to sneeze.

Harper chuckled lightly at the boy with a shake of her head. Stiles attention shifts to the three as he gives an awkward wave to them.

"Don't frown, Lydia. Someone could be falling in love with our smile," Allison teased using the girls words from before.

.         .       .

Stiles was now roped into dress shopping with the three, Harper's eyes widened at the pile of dresses Stiles was carrying around following after Lydia.

Harper went back to looking through the racks glancing up at Allison ever so often, Harper held up a short dark red off the shoulder dress her hands running along the sides as she sighs.

Harper had no intention on going to some stupid dance but she had promised Scott she would watch over Allison and Allison was going to the dance.

Harper took her attention away from the dress as she looked back up to Allison, her face dropping as she watched Peter take her hand, holding a dress against her arm.

The two had what looked like an awkward conversation before an attendant announced on the speakers about a car getting towed, and Allison quickly rushed out of the store.

Harper walked towards the man. "So, what you come out here to set your eyes on the Argent's next generation?"

Peter raised his brows at the girl "you're dress shopping while the Argent's have Derek somewhere."

Harper scoffed as she nodded her head. "Trust me, I'm well aware of Derek and the Argent's, I was there when it happened in case you forgot that I almost did die" her angry glare in the older man "And the only reason I'm going to this stupid dance is to protect Allison from you, she may be an Argent but she's just a teenage girl with a life ahead of her"

Peter sighed as he began to walk. "An Argent is an Argent, Harper. She'll live up to her name, And you'll learn it the hard way"

Harper glared at her father as he walked out of the store before running a hand through her hair, taking a breath.

His words rattling in her mind.

⇜⇝

Harper walked around the gym as she watched the crowd of people.

The Hales blue eyes landed on Scott, who was ducking behind the bleachers trying to stay out of sight of Coach Bobby Finstock.

She walked up behind him as she crouched slightly. "Watching Allison, I see?"

Scott jumped back, placing a hand on his chest before he searched for the Argent girl in the crowd again. "Yes, I need to make sure she's safe."

Harper gave him a really look. "Well, I'm gonna pretend to not be offended," a small smile spread across her face. "Try not to drool while you're staring." She teased.

Though Scott had his issues with trusting the Hales- but Harper seemed to be more and more trustworthy each day to the boy.

Harper wouldn't dare admit she was friends with the two idiots as she would say- but she does care about them.

Scott gave her a look as he scoffed lightly, but before the boy could answer, a loud shout came from across the room. "McCall! I see you!"

Harper looked up at coach as she stood straight, giving Scott a light shove "Go"

Scott didn't waste a second as he began to run through the gym. Harper made her way towards Coach who was storming in Scott's direction "Coach, hey, have you ever thought about girls on the Lacrosse team 'Cause I think--"

"Not now, Hale, get out of my way." Coach pushed past her as he continued following Scott.

Harper took a deep breath, shaking her head, following after him. "You know, I just thought I'd bring it up, you know? put some girl power in the team -"

"McCall! You're not supposed to, " Coach trailed off as he looked between Scott and Danny, who were currently dancing. "What the hell are you . . . What the hell are you doing? "

Everyone's eyes were now on the scene even the Dj had stopped playing the music.

Harper's brows furrow as she looked between the two boys.

Scott adjusted his arms around Danny's neck. "Hey, Coach?"

Harper bit on her cheek as she tried to keep herself from laughing, adverting her gaze to the ground.

Coach raised his hands "Okay" he chuckled nervously "Hold on, now you- I was just saying he's not supposed to be, I mean I wasn't saying that he shouldn't- You guys don't think I, I was" he looked around the room before tossing his hands in the air "Just dance everybody, just dance! it's a party!"

Harper watched as Coach backed away in the crowd as she mouthed a wow, scratching her brow before giving Scott a thumbs up as she walked away.

The dance went on as usual while Harper sat at an empty table her head resting on her hand while she played with a loose strand of hair, Stiles sat down in the empty chair across from her with a sigh.

Harper peered up at him. "Where's your date?" She questioned.

Stiles glanced at the girl. "Looking for.. Jackson" he had a somewhat look of defeat and sadness across his features.

She nodded, mumbling an oh "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I came alone."

Stiles looked at the girl who had a smile present on her face, causing his own to tug on his lips before they laughed.

If they had noticed- this was the one conversation they have had that seemed somewhat pleasant- no arguing, bickering or insults being thrown each other way.

And that was odd for the two.

Harper looks at the crowd of dancing teenagers before looking back at Stiles. "You wanna dance?" she bunces her shoulders, "you know, it is a dance and all. "

Stiles went to answer, but Harper spoke up again. "And this dress was quite a bit of money for a girl who's basically homeless in a sense"

Stiles smiled at the girl. "Yeah, sure. let's dance. "

Harper nodded "okay" the two teens got up from their seats, Stiles holding his hand out, which she took as they made their way out onto the dance floor.

Harper put her arms around his neck as she watched her feet glancing at him. "Just, uh, warning you, I'm a pretty bad dancer." she chuckles

Stiles shrugged. "I'm sure you're fine." Harper gave him a look, tilting her head as the two chuckle.

Stiles' hands went to her waist as the two sway to the music, and Harper seemed to look almost everywhere and barely look at him while Stiles was only looking at her.

noticing everything, the way she had styled her hair all the way to her make-up but her blue eyes seemed to capture his attention the most.

Harper looked at the boy, his eyes already looking into hers, the breath caught in her throat as a feeling she's not used to washes over her. Harper takes a breath, pulling away from him as she gives him a tight-lipped smile.

Harper pointed over her shoulder. "You, um, you wanna go outside?" She pressed her lips together.

Stiles nodded before clearing his throat- a feeling of almost awkwardness filling the air between them. "Yeah, sure."

The two began to walk towards the doors once they turned down the hall. Jackson came into their vision.

"Where the hell have you been?" Stiles questions him rather quickly ."Did Lydia ever find you?"

Jackson sighs as he looks at the two but his silence and the look on his face cause the pair to grow suspicious. Stiles bunches his shoulders, "What? What's wrong?"

Harper's eyes narrow at him as she listens to his rapid heart. "What did you do?"

"I, I was out behind the school, and I," he begins to Stammer out, "I was out -"

"What happened?" Stiles quickly cut him off,"Jackson. What'd you do?"

Harper's head tilted at the look he was giving them, and she didn't have high hopes for what he was about to tell them.

.       .       .

Harper and Stiles were now running towards the field as fast as their legs would carry them. "Lydia!" Harper shouted.

"Lydia, run!" Stiles hollered out after, but it was too late Peter had already sunk his teeth into the girl as she fell to the ground Peter tower over her.

Stiles dropped to the ground, but Peter grew closer to him, stopping him from getting to the unconscious girl

Harper ran up as she spoke "Lecutio maxima" with a motion of her hands, a shot of electricity emitted from them, causing Peter to go flying back.

Stiles spun around to face her with wide eyes and a questioning look but Harper ignored it as she dropped to the ground beside him listening for a heartbeat as her eyes fall closed as s relieved sigh leaves her lips.

Peter was already walking back towards the pair, and Harper shot up from the ground

a smirk spread across Peter's face. "I'm glad our little chat worked out."

Harper scoffed. "I didn't start using my magic because of your stupid little speech about me having a gift."

the smirk didn't leave his face as Harper glanced down at Lydia before looking back at him a pleading look in her eyes "Don't kill her, please"

Peter's head tilted. "Of course not." he attention went to Stiles as he crouched down. "Just tell me how to find Derek."

Stiles looked at him. "What?"

"Tell me how to find Derek Hale," Peter repeated as he dragged his claw down Lydia's face, causing Harper to take a step forward just as he removed his hand.

Stiles shook his head. "I don't know that. How am I supposed to know that?" He frantically stuttered out.

Peter met his gaze "because you're the clever one, aren't you? And because deception has a particularly acrid scent, Stiles. Tell me the truth, or I will rip her apart. "

Harper glared at the man in front of her. Stiles took a shaky breath. " I don't know, I swear I don't know."

"Tell me!" Peter bellowed his voice echoing around them, Harper's eyes squeezing shut as she looked away from the man.

"Okay!" Stiles snapped. "Okay, okay, look, I- I think he knew. "

Harper looked at Stiles with furrowed brows. "Knew what?" Peter questioned.

"Derek, I think he knew he was gonna be caught," Stiles announced to the two Hales.

"By the Argent's," Peter asked again, and Stiles nodded. "And?"

"When they were shot him, Scott, and Harper, I think he took Scott's phone," Stiles continued to explain

Peter's head tilted. "Why?"

"they all have GPS now," Stiles replied. "So if he still has it and if it's still on," he met the Alpha's gaze, "you can find him."

⇜⇝

A/nOne more chapter than Season 2!!. Thank you all for the support on this book!! :)

──────────
Words;3056
──────────