─────────────────────

A laugh escapes Harper's lips after she had just watched Scott fall off the rock wall coach had been making them climb for gym.

The harness protecting the McCall boy forcing him to stop only a few inches above the ground.

Coach laughs as he crouches next to Scott shaking his head "McCall, I don't know why but your pain gives me a.... Special kind of joy"

Coach chuckles as he stands up "Alright, next two" his eyes scan the group of teenagers before he spoke "Stilinski, Erica, Let's go"

the two hook on their harnesses as they begin to climb the wall, Stiles quickly making his way to the top and back down while Harper's gaze turns to the frozen blonde.

Her brows drawing together as the girl begins to hyperventilate.

Harper takes a step forward along with everybody else as Coach hollers up to the girl "Erica, dizzy? Is it vertigo"

Harper glances at the older man with a look before her gaze turns to Lydia as she spoke "Vertigo is a dysfunction of the vestibular system of the inner ear" she corrects.

Lydia motions to the girl "she's just freaking out"

"Erica"

the blonde was silent for a moment before she stuttered out "I'm fine"

"Coach, maybe it's not safe, you know she's epileptic" Allison said to the man, her gaze shifting between the Blonde and the teacher.

Coach's eyes widen slightly as he looks between the teens "Why doesn't anybody tell me this stuff? Erica, y-you're fine. Just kick off from the wall there's a mat to catch you"

Harper looked at the man tilting her head "I don't think that's as comforting as you think it is"

Coach turned to the girl "wha- What am I supposed to say?"

Harper's brows raise as she bunches her shoulders.

Erica takes a deep breath as she shakily lets go of the wall and dropping to the ground.

"see, you're fine. You're on the ground" Coach said to the girl "alright, let's go, shake it off"

Erica unhooks herself from the harness as she begins to walk away, her arms crossed over one another almost like she was cradling herself already knowing the whispers that were bound to come.

The teenagers began to laugh and snicker, whispering to one another about the blonde girl.

Harper gives the blonde a sympathetic look as she disappears from the gym.

The teens continue their mocking of the girl, Anger slowly rose in the Hale.

Harper's eyes narrow at each of them "hey!" Her voice boomed and echoed through the gym "all of you need to shut up and leave that girl alone"

Harper watched as everyone eyed her through the dead silence in the room. Harper's eyes looked back at the blonde who had slowly made her way out of the gym.

.         .         .

Harper made her way through the halls but quickly stops her movements, the sound of heavy breathing and a racing heartbeat filling her ears.

Harper's gaze turns towards the boys locker room as Scott rushes out of it, sprinting into the gym Stiles following shortly after.

the Hale's brows to furrow as she runs into the gym after them only to see Scott catching a falling Erica from the rock-wall.

Harper crouched down beside Stiles as she looks at the blonde who was currently having a seizure.

"Put her on her side" Allison said as she rushed up beside the three while Scott rolled Erica onto her side.

Harper looked at the McCall as she whispered "how did you know?"

Scott bunches his shoulders "I just felt it"

⇜⇝

Harper was slouched back in her seat as she chewed on her cheek ignoring the throbbing headache that had been torturing her for about an hour.

Stiles setting keys on the lunch table caused her eyes to squeeze shut, the sound of the keys hitting each other and the table not helping matters

"Got em" Stiles said as he took a seat "pick you up right after work tonight and we'll meet at the rink" his gaze turns to the Hale girl next to his friend "Harper, are you coming?"

Harper's eyes open as she raises her brows as she hums.

"to the rink?" Stiles clarified to the girl.

"Um- you mean the double 'date' " she used quotations eyeing the Stilinski.

His eyes narrow slightly "it's not technically a double date- you could bring someone of that makes you feel better"

"Ah, my invisible friend Emily would love to come" she spoke sarcastically earning a look from the pair. After a moment or two Harper shrugged before nodding "yeah, i guess I'll go"

Scott looked at her with furrowed brows "Are you okay?"

Harper glanced at him as she gave him a tight lipped smile "yeah, just a headache that won't seem to go away"

Harper's phone buzzed on the table that she paid no mind to until Stiles voice caught her attention "who's Maia?"

Her eyes narrowed at the Stilinski as she quickly grabbed her phone "She's my friend"

"You have other friends?" Stiles asked, taunting the girl after she had just made a big deal over not knowing anyone.

She glared at him "yes, Stiles- I did have a life before coming back here" her eyes rolled before looking at the message a sigh "A friend who doesn't seem to understand don't come to Beacon Hills"

"Your friend is here?" Stiles asked the girl and Harper took a breath and nodded "is she like you and Scott?"

Harper's head tilted "sort of, she's a werecoyote not a werewolf"

"a were what?" Stiles questioned with wide eyes

a small smirk appeared on Harper's face "you know what, I'll take her to the rink with us but uh, I'd watch it, Stilinski she might go for Lydia"

Stiles mouth hung open slightly but before he could say anything he noticed how the pairs attention had shifted, their eyes wide with shock.

He looked between the two teens across from him with their shocked faces and quickly follows their gaze only to see a much different looking Erica walking through the doors to the cafeteria.

a smirk appeared on the blondes face as she leaned over by a boy taking a bite from an apple.

Harper's attention was pulled away from the blonde as Lydia's hands slammed on the table before she spoke "what. . The holy hell. . . Is that?"

"it's Erica" Scott answered the girl his eyes still on the blonde as she walked out the cafeteria.

the three share a look before quickly getting up from their seats and following after the girl.

The three burst out the front doors as they watch Erica get into the all too familiar black Camaro. Derek's gaze turns to the three a smile on his face before he drives off

Stiles glances at the girl beside him the two sharing a look before looking at the angry Scott.

⇜⇝

Harper broke off into a sprint a genuine smile on her face as she wraps her arms around the Lavine girl who hugged her back with the same wide smile on her face but as Harper pulled away she shoved her friend lightly "I told you not to come to Beacon Hills"

Maia inhales sharply as she nods her head side to side "yeah, well I know when my best friend says she's okay after watching her cousin who feels more like a brother to her kill her father that she's not really okay"

Harper gave the girl a look "I'm fine" she sighed out as Maia linked her arm with hers

"whatever you say" Maia sang out causing Harper to roll her eyes

Harper looked at the girl as they walked towards the skating rink where Harper had texted her friend to meet her.

"where are you going to stay?" Harper questioned the girl as she bunches her shoulders "because you probably don't want to stay with me and Derek who's harboring a fugitive"

Maia's brows raise "an innocent fugitive" Harper quickly adds

a small smile appeared on the brunette's face "a hot innocent fugitive?" she teases and nudges her friend

Harper gives the girl a look "Maia-"

"what, I'm just asking" Maia said as she raised her hands the smile still on her face "I don't swing that way but you do and I actually can't remember the last time you gushed over a boy"

Harper takes a deep breath "well, you know my motto"

Maia scoffed "please it's not a motto, it's called being closed off and not letting people in, besides me of course"

"of course" Harper muttered as they finally meet the four by the door.

Stiles unlocks it while quick introductions went by before they walked into the rink.

"here's the skates you asked me to get you" Maia held out a pair of skates which Harper took "thank you"

the two sat down on the bleachers as they began to put on their skates Harper glances over her shoulder as Stiles and Lydia which caused Harper to roll her eyes as she went back to tying her skates.

She hated this angry feeling, this jealousy and she wished it would just go away.

I mean it's Stiles. She had no reason to feel jealous.

Maia eyed the girl beside her as she almost angrily tied her skates "you reek" Maia whispered to her friend.

Harper looked at her with wide eyes "what?"

"jealously" Maia deadpanned with a shrug as she glanced at the boy with the buzzcut "that one right, Stiles." A smirk played on her face "Do you have a little thing for him"

Harper's eyes looked as if they were going to fall from her head as she scoffed quickly shaking her head "Pfft, Stiles" she chuckled almost nervously "No, no, no"

Maia quirked a brow at her friend with this unbelievable look as Harper continued to ramble "Why would I have a thing for stiles. He can be annoying, he's extremely sarcastic, and I pretty sure I've heard Derek call him a spaz, oh, and he's completely hung up on Lydia Martin"

"You know I can hear your heart, right?" Maia stated as she stood up.

Harper sighed as she stood "I don't like him, I'm pretty sure I'd know if I did"

Maia held her hands up "whatever you say, Harper" the two made their way to the rink as Maia stopped taking her friends arm "Lydia's the hot red head, right?"

Harper bit her lip to try and hide her smile "Yes"

Maia smacked her friend lightly as she stepped on the ice with a roll of her eyes "wipe that stupid smile off your face"

Harper shrugged as she stepped on the ice stumbling slightly which caused Maia to laugh and Harper to glare at the girl.

Harper actually couldn't remember the last time she went skating- so it was a shock to her when she was skating quite naturally and barely stumbling around.

Unlike Scott who seemed to continuously fall onto his face.

Time went by, Harper and Maia skating around and catching up on everything.

But once the two had broken apart- Maia mostly wanting to talk to Lydia which earned a look from her friend.

Harper came to a stop next to Stiles who was watching Lydia in awe as she spun in circles.

"got a little drool there, Stiles" Harper joked as she looked at him with a smile.

Stiles gave the girl a look as he faked a laugh "Funny"

"not really but watching Scott fall on his face was pretty funny" Harper said with a laugh "and I mean I laughed so hard I actually cried"

Stiles lips curve up into a smile which he couldn't seem to stop as he looked at her, her smile was contagious to him "you should smile more"

Harper looked at him, a crease forming between her brows "What do you mean?"

Stiles eyes widen slightly as he bunches his shoulders "uh, nothing just, um, you have a nice smile"

Harper chuckled "thanks"

it fell silent for a moment before Stiles broke it "I have a question about what you said a few days ago about how the supernatural world doesn't know that a werewitch exists." The Hale nods remembering her statement "why did you say it needs to stay that way?"

Harper took a breath "well, I don't really know it was just something my mother told me, that I was in her words gifted and that people would want the power that I have. no matter the cost."

Harper met his gaze as she continued "So, she gave me a bracelet that would supress my witch side to make hiding it easier, but" she holds up her wrist "I lost it"

Stiles nods before he asked again "did she ever say who?"

Harper shook her head as she went to answer but  before she could a blood-curdling scream that filled the air and their ears caused their gazes to dart to the Martin girl.

Harper's brows furrow as she and Stiles swiftly skate towards her and Maia who was already there as they try to pull her from her screaming trance, Harper glanced at Scott and Allison with a confused and concerned look covering her face.

. . .

"Is Lydia crazy?" Maia asked from where she sat in the railway depot. The two now back at 'home' although Harper would rather be anywhere than sleeping an an abandoned railway depot.

Harper let out a stifled chuckle "what?"

Maia bunched her shoulders "well, she kinda screamed bloody murder earlier"

Harper's lips rolled into her mouth as she shook her head "no, at the dance Peter bit her" she began to explain "but nothing has happened to her besides her running around Beacon Hills naked for like a day"

Maia's brows furrow "wait, she got bit and nothing happened?"

"I guess" Harper replied, tucking her hair behind her ears "if she is something we don't know what"

Maia hummed before her attention shifted to the Lahey boy who had walked into the train car.

Harper noticed the look on her friends face as she mouthed 'dont' while shaking her head.

"You're Isaac, right?" Maia asked as she stood walking towards the boy "I'm Maia, Harper's best friend"

Harper's hands covered her face in slight embarrassment from the girl, her blue eyes peaking through a small crack between her fingers.

Isaac was a shy boy based on what Harper had noticed, so she could see how he was slightly uncomfortable with Maia's enthusiasm and straight forward-ness.

Harper slowly stood from her spot taking the Lavine girl by her shoulders " 'Kay Maia, I understand social anxiety is scared of you but let's take your foot off the gas peddle"

"I was introducing myself-" Maia tried to defend, acting like this wasn't go exactly how she wanted it too, the girl slowly making her way back to where they were previously sitting.

Harper pressed her lips together before chuckling awkwardly "so, I'm sorry about her" she glanced at her friend giving her an angry look "she has the habit of sticking her nose where it doesn't belong"

A soft smile spread on Isaac's face "it's alright, she seems" Isaac paused "nice"

"You can say crazy I won't be offended" Maia shouted from her spot.

Harper shot her another look, she shook her head before looking back at the Lahey boy "so, um, how are you? Considering everything. Coming from someone who also saw her dad die too"

Her eyes squeeze shut as she cursed herself "that was insensitive, sorry"

Isaac took a breath his gaze still on the girl "I'm okay, I guess all things considered"

Harper nods "I try to think of all the other ways things could be worse to you know, show that it's not so bad" she crossed her arms over her chest.

Isaac smiled softly "I'll take that into consideration"

Harper gave her own smile "okay" she paused "goodnight"

Isaac said his goodnight back while Harper walked back towards Maia with a glare on her face "why, just why?"

Maia smiled "come on" she shrugged "he's kinda cute"

Harper shook her head with a roll of her eyes "I hate you, so much"

"Come on, you know you love me"

⇜⇝

"Would you two hurry up?" Stiles said usher the two wolves who were following behind him to where Scott was sitting. Seeing it was the next day and there was already a problem.

Stiles placed his hand on his friends shoulder "Scott, do you see that?"

Scott sighs as he bunches his shoulders "it's an empty table" he answered not understanding what his friend was hinting at.

Harper rolled her eyes "Scott, who usually sits at that table?" Harper seeing as she's been back in Beacon Hills for some time now and being the observant person she was, she knew exactly who was supposed to be sitting at said table.

"I actually don't know who sits at that table" Maia commented but it was ignored as Scott's eyes widen realisation dawning on him "Boyd"

. . .

"I'll go to the ice rink and see if he's there" Scott stated as they walked through the halls "You and Harper see if he's at his house and if he's not call me, and Maia you're gonna stay here and look around in case he is here"

Maia groaned "why do I get the boring job, plus I don't even know what this kid looks like" she holds up her hand "and I literally just got enrolled in this school and I'm already missing classes"

"You get used to missing classes" Stiles comments before going on to explain what Boyd looked like as he raised his hand above his head "he's like this tall, buzz cut ,  usually wears a sweater-"

"So basically every kid in this school, cool" Maia said cutting the boy short as she gives him a thumbs up.

Stiles stopped walking as he sighed "I mean, maybe we should let him. Boyd, you know, man. You said Derek's giving them a choice, right"

Scott grabbed his friends arm forcing the group to walk again as he whispered "we can't"

Stiles rolled his eyes "I know but you gotta admit, Erica looks pretty good"

Maia raised her hand "Erica's the blonde, leather jacket?"

Stiles nods and Maia gives a half smile "Pretty good? She was hot"

Harper gives the two a look as her brows raise with a tilt of her head, not agreeing or disagreeing.

"How good do you think she's gonna look with a wolfsbane bullet in her head?!" Scott stammers out, clearly stressed by the situation, considering the amount of hunters that are now in Beacon Hills.

"Look, all I'm saying is maybe this isn't totally your responsibility" Stiles tries to reason with the McCall.

"he has a point, Scott" Harper said as she looked at the McCall.

Scott sighed as he shoved his hands in his pockets "they all are. And you know this things gonna get out of control, that makes me responsible"

Stiles looks at his friend before finally giving in "Alright, I'm with you. And I also gotta say this newfound heroism is making me very attracted to you"

Scott rolled his eyes with a small smile "shut up"

Harper and Maia share a look, Maia desperately trying to hold back multiple comments she was ready to make.

Stiles stopped, taking his friend shoulder "No, seriously. Do you wanna try just making out for a few second?"

Scott gave his friend an unamused look as he lightly shoved his friend.

⇜⇝

The jeep skids to a stop Harper's hands land on the dashboard as she gives Stiles a look with wide eyes "trying to kill us?"

Stiles rolls his eyes before the two quickly get out of the jeep and rush up towards Boyd's door.

Stiles began to knock continuously "Hey, Boyd?"

Harper looked in through the window as she knocked on it "Boyd"

Stiles looked through the other window doing the same thing "Hey, Boyd, It's Stiles"

the two share a look of defeat seeing as the boy wasn't there. The pair turn both of them jumping back at the sight of Erica, who had just appeared out of nowhere.

"Oh, wow" Stiles mutters.

Erica giggles as she looks between the two "what are you guys doing here?"

"Uh, nothing I was just looking for, Um-"

Harper rolls her eyes as she looks at Erica crossing her arms "We're just looking for Boyd, I'm assuming you've seen him"

Stiles points to Harper "yeah, yeah, Boyd"

Erica chuckles her gaze on Stiles "you know what you're doing right now that's kind of funny? You're only looking in my eyes"

"that's funny?" stiles questions.

Erica tilts her head "Well, yeah. Because it's the kind of look where you're trying not to look anywhere other than my eyes"

a smirk falls on her lips "But you want to, don't you?" she takes a step forward "You want a nice, long, hard, look"

Stiles frowns shaking his head "Not really, no"

"Oh, so it's just my eyes?"

"yes" Stiles nods "you have beautiful eyes"

"I have beautiful everything" Erica corrects.

"and a newfound self confidence" Stiles adds.

Harper plasters a smile on her face "congratulations Erica, I think it's time we go"

Harper went to take a step forward but Erica stood in her way earning a glare from the Hale girl "you two aren't going anywhere" Erica holds up a part from Stiles jeep causing Harper's brows to draw together.

"you're having car trouble" Erica smiles. Harper's gaze shifted towards the jeep the blonde glancing at Harper who was too busy looking at Stiles jeep to notice Erica swinging back, the part from the jeep hitting Harper in her temple.

Harper stumbles back her vision blurry as her surroundings spin before her eyes fall closed. Stiles arms hook around the girl, stopping her from falling to the ground. The Stilinski looked at Erica but before he could get a word out the blonde hits him across his face.

Stiles falls back against the door, sliding to the ground his arms still around the Hale girl before he himself falls unconscious as well.

. .   .

The lid to a dumpster opens to reveal a very angry Harper as she glanced at Stiles who was holding his head, not paying attention to anything else than the pain.

Harper took a deep breath as she pushed herself up "I'm gonna kill her" she mutters under her breath as she pulls herself out from the dumpster.

⇜⇝

Harper walked down the steps into the railway depot angry radiating off the girl as she runs her hand through her hair.

She takes a breath her jaw clenching before one swift motion of her hand sends an old crate flying into a metal beam near by.

"Harper!" Derek called out his confused and worried gaze on the girl.

Her angry gaze turns to him as she holds up her hand "really not in the mood for one of the I'm concerned about you talks"

"Yeah, well sending a crate flying across the room isn't exactly making me not worry"

Harper took a breath shaking her head as she held out her arms "I'm angry, Derek! I've been angry for months and sad and I'm so tired of being angry and sad, I don't want to feel like this anymore."

"I'm angry at myself for being angry at you, but I am so mad at you" Harper's voice cracked slightly "I watched you stand over my burned father and slit his throat with your claws."

The man avoided her gaze slightly. His own guilt about the situation had been eating him up inside although he would never let anyone notice.

"Maybe he did deserve it, Maybe he lost his mind from sitting in a coma and burned for six years but I finally had a parent back, but now he's dead and my mothers dead, Laura's dead, Talia's dead, Diana's dead, I mean Derek the list goes on"

Derek's gaze softens at the girl as she continues "And yes, maybe after every bad thing that's happened since we stepped foot into this town all it has done is brought back memories I don't want to remember."

Harper's eyes fall closed "And when I try to sleep it's like each bad memory floods back in, like I'm reliving it all over again."

a few tears fall down the girls face which she quickly wipes away. Derek made his way towards the girl, he pauses for a moment half expecting her to move away from him but this time she didn't.

The older man wrapped his arms around her in a comforting hug which Harper didn't fight as she put her arms around him hugging him back, the girl crying softly.

Finally breaking down, all the pretending building up inside of her finally leaving.

⇜⇝

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A/N: I hope you all enjoyed!! Longer chapter considering it's been some time since I updated this book but thank you for reading voting and especially commenting it gives me the motivation to continue writing!!
Love y'all <3

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