CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
❝︎The Diner❞︎

BEING THE NEW KID IN SCHOOL WAS BOUND TO GET YOU LOOKS AND WHISPERS, AND EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS THE CASE FOR ALASKA, SHE WAS SURPRISED TO FIND IT WASN'T ALL BAD THINGS. The first day ended, Alaska walked Stiles to his jeep and explained that she was supposed to meet up with Liam and that she would be back home soon. Now, she and Liam sat in a small diner, their food arriving before them as they began eating.

     "How should we start?" Alaska asked. "Should I tell you more about me? Or do you want to tell me more about you?"

     "Let's start with you." Liam said, giving her a small smile. "Although we spent two weeks together, it seems like I barely know you, but I want to."

     Alaska smiled. "Well, what do you want to know."

     Simply, he said, "Everything."

     Alaska hummed. "Alright." She pursed her lips, thinking about what she wanted to tell him. "Well, my favorite color is yellow. When I was little, before my mom died, I had a pet cat named whiskers."

     Liam chuckled. "Whiskers?"

     "I was a kid, okay?" Alaska said with a soft chuckle. "Now, if you're finished judging me." Liam rose his hands up in surrender. "Uh, let's see, I love romance movies, my favorite one is probably The Notebook. I love The Beatles. And. . . um. . . oh! I got to skip kindergarten because I started school late, however I was smart enough to go straight to first grade." She took a bite of food before crossing her arms on the table. "What about you?"

     "Well, what do you want to know?"

     Alaska thought about it for a moment before carefully asking, "How did you become a werewolf?"

     "I don't know if you want to hear that story." Liam shyly said, scratching the back of his neck.

     "I do." Alaska assured. "But, if you don't want tell me, I completely understand. Boundaries are important."

     "No, no I want to tell." Liam quickly stuttered out. "It's just a little. . . uh, unusual, I guess."

     "So far our entire friendship has been quite unusual." Alaska shrugged. "How much more strange could it really get?"

     Liam sighed, raising his brows. "You're going to really wish you hadn't asked that question." Alaska looked at him expectantly. "Alright, well, last year, there were these killers that were around town. Humans wanting the supernatural dead in exchange for money. A guy called the benefactor was orchestrating all of this. Well, it wasn't really a guy. . . actually, it wasn't a person at all really. It was a machine. Meredith Walker was helping. Anyways, I had hurt my leg in practice, Scott and Stiles took me to the hospital, one of the murdered was there―︎we called him the mute, he had no mouth―︎and I heard screaming, found myself on the hospital roof where a wendigo was. He was trying to kill me, I was hanging of the edge of the roof, barely holding on. The mute killed the wendigo and in order to save me he had to bite me to get a grip on me to keep me from falling. And then I became a werewolf. Oh! And before I knew what I was, Stiles and Scott kidnapped me."

     Alaska stared at him for a long moment, trying to process all of the information. She blinked, mouth slightly parted. "Okay. . . so. . . wait, there was a guy with no mouth?"

     "That was what you got out of that?" Liam asked.

     "It did stand out." Alaska nodded. "How does a guy not have a mouth?"

     Liam shrugged. "I have no clue."

     Alaska hummed. "So, that's your story? Quite an interesting one, that's for sure. So, I know you've told me before, but tell me again. Who is what?"

     "I'm a beta. Scott's an alpha. Lydia is a banshee, she can sense death. Malia is a werecoyote. Stiles is just human. Like you. Although, for a while he was void."

     Alaska frowned. "Void?"

     "Yeah. I wasn't here for that, but apparently he was possessed by a very evil spirit. Killed Scott's first love."

     "I'm sure there's some underlying trust issues somewhere in there." Alaska mumbled. "Though, he can't really help that the spirit chose to possess him. Wait, can we go back to the kidnapping thing?"

     "They were trying to help."

     Alaska rose a brow. "By kidnapping you?"

     "Well, obviously that went about things the wrong way. It took me awhile to believe him, but now here we are." Liam pushed his food around on his plate. "I'm thankful for Scott, he's a good friend. So are the others. Honestly, I don't know where I would be without them."

     "They seem like really good people." Alaska said with a small smile.

     Liam nodded. "They are. How's living with Stiles?"

     "Not bad." Alaska shrugged. "He's actually made me feel very comfortable and safe. It helps having a sheriff in the house. I'm going to try and get a job so I can help pay. I feel guilty for living there rent free."

     "I'm sure they understand."

     "They do. I mentioned it to Sheriff Stilinski, as soon as I mentioned as job I thought he was going to have a heart attack. He claims that even if I tried to give him the money he wouldn't take it, so I've opted to buy the groceries every time I get paid instead." She took a sip of her drink. "It's the least I can do. Everyone's been so kind to me."

     "Well, you've been through a lot." Liam gently said. "Listen, Alie, I just want you to know that we're all here for you."

     "Liam, I don't need your pity." Alaska said with a frown, jaw ticking in slight anger.

     Quickly, Liam shook his head. "No, no I didn't mean it like that. I meant, we're you're friends, and we care about you. I care about you. And I just want you to know that I'm always going to be here for you for anything. Even if it's just to go to a diner and play 20 questions."

     Alaska felt herself relax as she softly said, "I care about you too, Liam. A lot." She felt her face start to heat up. "Maybe more than I should." She pressed her lips together. Was she really going to do it like this? Rip the band-aid off so fast? Yes, she was. Alaska didn't have time for regrets, she wanted to live her life, and she wanted Liam to be at her side every step of the way. "I like you, Liam. I really, really like you. You've showed so much compassion and care for me, and maybe I misread the signs, but I kind of thought that maybe. . . I don't know, maybe you liked me too? I could be wrong, and if I am I'm sorry, but I just don't want to live my life with anymore regrets and I--"

     "Alaska." Liam stopped her rambling, reaching over the table and placing his hand over hers. Alaska looked at their hands and then at him, eyes widening slightly. "I like you too. I wasn't going to say anything because I wanted to wait until you were back on your feet. I was trying to let you breathe for a second before I even tried to figure out your feelings."

     Alaska softly chuckled. "Well, sorry for ruining your plans."

     Liam smiled, shaking his head. "Don't be sorry. I think this plan was much better. I want to be your boyfriend, but I want to do it your way. So, when you're ready, when you've had a chance to get used to having your life back, I'll come find you."

     Alaska nodded, her smile bright and blinding. "I like that plan."