#ghxst-heart writes

[ghxst-heart]

ꜱᴀɴᴄᴛᴜᴀʀʏ ─ ʀʜᴇᴛᴛ ᴀʙʙᴏᴛᴛ

sᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Rhett wasn’t a religious man; he hadn’t been for a long time.  Still, he went to church with his family every Sunday and kept his eyes trained on the pulpit.  His mother thought that he was finally taking in what Pastor Simon said to heart, but only one thing could have the youngest Abbott so entranced; the preacher’s daughter that dutifully sat in the front row, every Sunday. ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs: 18+, MINORS DNI, mentions of alcohol and hangovers, swearing, use of gendered pet names (pretty girl, angel, darling), descriptions of sexual acts in a church, brief description of male masturbation, semi-public sex, slight size kink, vaginal fingering, oral sex (m receiving), unprotected penetrative sex (p in v; wrap it before you tap it), creampie, if I missed anything, please let me know, this is my first time posting smut haha ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪɴғᴏ: Pronouns used are She/Her/Hers, AFAB!Reader, beginnings of a FWB relationship between Rhett and Reader. ��ɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇs: Fem!Reader, Romantic!Reader X Rhett Abbott ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 10.1k ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀᴅ: MINORS DNI!! My blog is strictly 18+!! Any minors or ageless/blank blogs interacting with my fics or my blog will be blocked (and, yes, I do check). I can't stop you from reading my fics, but I can stop you from accessing my fics if my boundaries aren't respected. Your media consumption is your own responsibility, just as it is mine regarding what I post. Please tread thoughtfully and carefully, and keep yourselves happy, healthy, and safe.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The air in the sanctuary was thick as Pastor Simon droned through his sermon, pacing the length of the pulpit with his bible clutched tightly in his old hands.  His voice boomed through the small space, echoing off the wood-paneled walls and resounding in Rhett’s ears as he tried to ignore the pounding in his head.  His Stetson hung low over his forehead, trying to shield his sensitive blue eyes from the blinding morning light seeping through the windows.  His hangovers were never this intense; either he had drunk too much the previous night, or Pastor Simon’s voice was so boring that it was causing him physical pain.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett felt a harsh pinch on his thigh, and he flinched, ready to snap at whoever bothered him, but he quickly realized that it was his mother silently reminding him to stay awake.  His mouth fell into a sarcastic sneer before he recovered and offered his mother a firm nod of his head and a tight-lipped smile to appease her.  Cecilia frowned, and he fought against a whiney comment, instead opting for a quiet grumble as he sat up straight in his chair.  He gave her a pointed look and removed his Stetson from his head, and she hummed in approval, pleased that he had taken her silent direction.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett hadn’t thought that his silent squabble had earned anyone’s attention, but he knew he had been caught when his eyes met the pastor’s daughter’s gaze across the room.  (Y/N) had turned her head over her shoulder, a small, amused smile on her face as she watched Cecilia scold Rhett as if he were five years old again.  Rhett readjusted in his seat, his arms crossing over his broad chest as he felt the tips of his ears begin to burn with embarrassment under her stare.  (Y/N)’s head tilted slightly as if she were asking him a question, but before he could think of an answer to a question he didn’t know, she returned her attention to the pulpit, nodding along with her father’s sermon.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The young Abbott man kept his eyes on (Y/N) as she gathered her hair in her hands and let the strands settle over one shoulder, exposing her neck to his eyes.  Her fingertips grazed her skin, nails lightly scratching the base of her throat before she dropped her hand to her lap again.  Her chin tilted up, extending her neck and stretching her muscles before she relaxed, dropping her chin so she could read the bible resting over her knees.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The way that Rhett and (Y/N) were seated gave them direct views of one another, and Rhett could see most of her body.  Her legs were crossed at the ankles, relaxed against the seat of her chair.  Her skirt had ridden up, revealing the smooth skin of her thighs.  She mindlessly toyed with the hem, pulling it higher and higher up her leg.  Rhett thickly swallowed, letting his mind swim with sinful thoughts of marking up her legs, littering them with pretty purple bruises and love bites.  He thought of kneading the soft flesh with his calloused hands, relishing in the goosebumps he would leave behind, and how the plush fat would feel wrapped around his head, muffling his hearing so he’d only just barely hear the beautiful noises he would draw out of her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett was thrown from his thoughts when (Y/N) suddenly readjusted in her seat, crossing one leg over the other and swiveling her body, so she was sitting sideways on the chair.  He panicked, body flushing with embarrassment as his eyes flashed up to her face, finding that she was already staring at him.  He had been caught staring at her legs, his mind running rampant with fantasies.  (Y/N) grinned, her teeth chewing on her lip as she let her eyes wander over Rhett’s body before she looked at the pulpit once more, pretending as if she hadn’t exposed Rhett’s shamelessness in checking her out.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) had always been an interesting woman.  She was the epitome of a pastor’s daughter.  She attended church every Sunday, helped out in the daycare on weekdays, was active in the Women’s Group, and helped plan fundraising events for families in the congregation that needed extra funds.  She never did anything wrong, anything sinful, and always said the nicest things with a bright smile on her face.  She wore conservative clothes, nothing too tight or revealing, and her face was always cleared of heavy makeup, giving her such an innocent look with lightly coated lashes, soft rosy cheeks, and glossy lips.  But Rhett had always thought there was something more just underneath the surface.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎They had grown up together, going through elementary to high school in the same classes.  While Rhett grew rebellious and ambitious to achieve fame as a bull rider, (Y/N) remained the sweet, innocent girl that was content to live her life in Wabang as the pastor’s daughter.  By graduation, they were nothing more than strangers to one another, their reputations landing them on different ends of Wabang High’s social stratosphere.  But that didn’t stop Rhett from watching her as she led the congregation in song or served food at the church’s monthly luncheon, blushing when she’d catch his eye or muttering an excuse to leave before his stomach would lurch with a delicious, yet sometimes overwhelming, fluttery feeling.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett was too young and stupid to realize what his longing looks and flustered words around her meant.  He was too naive to understand that his nerves and the funny feeling in his stomach meant more than just a childhood crush.  For years, the youngest Abbott oftentimes tried to convince himself that he was just imagining the lingering stares or the suggestive brushing of her fingertips against him when she passed him.  He tried to brush it off as his darkest fantasies trying to turn polite glances and innocent touches into something more, his mind playing cruel tricks on him in place of his lonesome nights.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎But, that was before they grew up.  Now, after being in the world and experiencing real attraction, real lust, he was convinced that it was something more.  He was convinced that (Y/N) knew what she was doing and that she was purposeful in how she looked at him or placed her hand over his when handing him his food at the luncheons.  He was certain now that he wasn’t imagining things when she smirked and turned away, continuing to innocently play with her skirt and show Rhett more and more of her skin after she’d caught him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The idea went straight to his dick, and he was suddenly readjusting in his seat, sitting up straight and tightening his arms across his chest as he willed his mind to think of anything else.  He’d never hear the end of it if his brother had caught him with a hard-on during the middle of Pastor Simon’s retelling of the story of Esther.  Even with his hopes of being inconspicuous, Perry glanced over and silently chuckled, shaking his head as he grinned before returning his eyes to the front of the sanctuary.  Rhett felt his cheeks burn in embarrassment, and he quietly cleared his throat as he tried his hardest to focus on Pastor Simon’s sermon.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett could feel (Y/N)’s eyes on him, flickering toward him every few minutes to check if he was still watching her.  He was trying his hardest not to, but knowing that she wanted him to be looking at her made it difficult to think of anything else.  It was made even worse when she stood up, her hands smoothing down her sweater and skirt as she made her way to take her father’s place on the small stage, smiling warmly at the congregation in front of her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett watched as (Y/N) cleared her throat, positioning herself behind the altar and opening her bible as she prepared to read the excerpt from the book of Corinthians, transitioning the service from her father’s sermon to communion.  Before she began, (Y/N) let her eyes scan the small crowd, searching for her volunteer to help her with communion.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett thought back to high school, to when she’d silently cycle through the children and teens around her, but she’d always fall back on Rhett to help.  Back then, he was convinced that she was just trying to get him to participate, trying to lead him to the Lord by the small first step of offering communion.  A part of him hoped that she’d ask him to help just so he could feel the brush of her fingertips as she handed him the chalice filled with grape juice, or the press of her shoulder against his bicep as they stood side by side and let the congregation come to them to eat their bread and drink their “wine.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Like she had been all morning, (Y/N) surprised him by calling his niece to the pulpit. “Amy, honey, can you come up ‘ere and help me with communion?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett’s niece jumped up from her spot at the end of the row his family sat in, bouncing with giddiness as she walked up the aisle to assist (Y/N).  She smiled brightly as she took her spot beside (Y/N), her hands folded neatly behind her back as (Y/N) pointed out the verse she wanted Amy to read, as if she didn’t already know it by heart.  Even Rhett had it memorized, but that was because he used to be the Abbott standing behind the altar every week.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The young Abbott man tried to pay attention to his niece so he could tell her how well she did later on after the service.  He tried to watch his niece carefully break the bread, offering it to (Y/N) so she could take communion before repeating the young woman’s actions.  However, all he could think of was the way (Y/N)’s delicate hands would feel tracing indistinct patterns over his body, her glossed lips following closely behind her hands’ trails.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) turned to the congregation once more, motioning with her hands as she called them up to take communion.  The Abbott family sat patiently, waiting until the row ahead of them had moved into the aisle to stand.  Rhett slowly stood and placed his Stetsen on his chair, trying his hardest to hide his growing problem in his jeans without drawing attention to himself.  He was successful for the most part, but he could feel (Y/N)’s eyes on him as he moved to stand in the aisle.  Their eyes met, and he watched as her eyes subtly flickered toward his hips and her teeth caught her bottom lip, suppressing a grin as she blessed a congregation member while they dipped their bread in the grape juice.  Rhett felt his heart hammer in his chest, his body tingling with nerves as the knowledge that she knew the effect she had on him settled in his mind.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Before he knew it, Rhett was standing before (Y/N) in front of the altar.  His hands shook slightly as he tore a piece of bread from the plate Amy held before he turned to (Y/N).  He slowly met her eyes, his chest feeling tight as he raised his hand to dip his bread into the grape juice.  He had always thought that her eyes were pretty; they gleamed with purity and a hint of mischief that he only ever saw when he was in such close proximity to her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett was so focused on her eyes that he didn’t realize that he was practically soaking the piece of bread in the grape juice until it became heavy between his fingertips.  He fought against his first instinct to curse (Cecelia had always scolded him for cursing in the Lord’s Home) and quickly pulled it toward his lips, his free hand cupping under his chin to catch any drops, but that didn’t stop a few dribbles of juice from landing on his bottom lip.  Before he could react, (Y/N) had reached up and wiped away the juice with her thumb, and Rhett would have been embarrassed by the doting action if she hadn’t brought the digit to her mouth and licked the grape juice off her skin, her lips wrapping around her thumb and her cheeks hollowing just enough that it wouldn’t be noticeable to anyone else, but Rhett caught it.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The young Abbott man’s mouth suddenly felt dryer than a desert, and his brain began to short-circuit.  (Y/N) silently giggled and blessed him, ultimately sending him on his way back to his seat with her teeth running over her bottom lip teasingly.  Rhett awkwardly cleared his throat and turned around, stiffly walking back down the aisle with his head bowed bashfully.  He kept his eyes trained on the floor, unable to look at anyone in fear that they would notice the growing bulge in his jeans.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett spent the rest of the service with his jaw locked and eyes fixed in a frustrated stare on (Y/N).  His mind was racing with images of her mouth around his fingers, her tongue trailing along his digits as she sucked on them.  It wasn’t helping his hard-on, not in the slightest, but he had a sneaking suspicion that that was exactly what she wanted.  The congregation finally began to sing the closing song, and Rhett was the first one out the sanctuary doors once Pastor Simon sent them off with a blessing, making a beeline to the restrooms.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The moment the bathroom door was shut, he was unbuckling his jeans and pulling out his dick with a groan, back collapsed against the wall, and his hand furiously working to relieve his pent-up frustration.  It wasn’t hard to get himself over the edge after nearly an hour of teasing, but a part of him still felt like an inexperienced teenager getting himself off for the first time.  He came with a muffled grunt, his free hand bunched into a tight fist between his teeth.  Rhett slumped against the wall, his head leaned back as his chest heaved, the poor Abbott man struggling to catch his breath.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Shit,” Rhett cursed, pushing off the wall and reaching out to grab paper towels to clean himself up.  After he tucked himself back into his jeans and washed his hands, he took a moment to clear his head, his hands braced on the sink basin as his head hung low.  He slowly looked up and met his eyes in the mirror, a flash of shame washing over him, but it was quickly replaced with panic when he heard (Y/N)'s voice.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, I think I saw him head to the restroom, Mrs. Abbott.  He looked a little pale, though.  I hope he’s not gettin’ sick.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Her voice was soft and sweet, like the taste of Cecelia’s sweet iced tea on a hot summer day.  Rhett thickly swallowed, his eyes locked on the door as he tried to remember whether he locked it or not.  A quick glance at the handle told him that, no, he hadn’t; he had been too focused on (Y/N), her legs, her lips, her tongue.  Rhett quietly groaned, his head falling back on his shoulders as his hands ran down his face.  Thank God no one walked in before he was finished.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎He knew his mother wouldn’t divulge to the pastor’s daughter that he was probably hungover, and he had never been so thankful for his mother’s need to keep appearances around the congregation before.  He just hoped that that was all she assumed was wrong with him.  He was proven right when he heard his mother respond to the sweet girl that has been subtly teasing her son for the better part of an hour.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Thank you, dear.  Let ‘im know we’re gon’ be out in the parkin’ lot when he comes out, will ya?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett let out a relieved breath as his head fell once more, before he shook his hair from his eyes and pushed himself up from the sink.  He looked over his reflection, letting out a long breath through his nose as he willed the flush of color to disappear from his cheeks and neck.  He took a few minutes to ensure that all the churchgoers had filed out of the church before forcing himself to exit the bathroom.  He wiped his clammy palms on his jeans before tucking them into his pockets, pushing his way out the front doors to join his family when he was met with the harsh late-morning sunlight and dry Wyoming heat.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏�� ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Goddamn, it’s bright out here,” Rhett mumbled when he reached his family.  They were hanging around the bed of his and Royal’s trucks, his father entertaining Amy’s constant questions about Pastor Simon’s sermon while Perry and Rebecca were lost in each other, still just as in love with each other as the day they met.  Cecelia, however, stood with her hands on her hips and a stern look on her face as she watched her youngest make his way to them.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Cecelia was quiet as she scolded Rhett, making sure that the rest of their family was preoccupied before she began to lay into him. “Now, I’m happy that you’re comin’ t’church with us again, but you can’t bust outta there like a bull the moment the service is over, Rhett.  It’s rude; not only to Pastor Simon, but to God, too.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett grumbled, his light eyes squinting and pulling his face into a slight scowl as he looked at his mother, “I know.  ‘M sorry, Ma.  Won’t happen again.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Damn right, it won’t.” Cecelia affirmed, firmly nodding her head as she turned her attention to the rest of the Abbott family. “Alright, everyone in the trucks.  I‘m sure we wasted ‘nough time gettin’ to the diner.  Only table open’ll be right near the kitchen.  Let’s go.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Shotgun!” Amy quickly shouted, leaping down from the tailgate and running around to the front of Rhett’s truck.  She anxiously yanked on the handle as Rhett pulled his keys from his pocket.  She began to whine, her head lolling on her shoulders as she began to pester her uncle, “Uncle Rhett!  Open the door!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett chuckled, shaking his head as he fumbled with the keys.  He reached up to adjust his hat, but his hand was met with his slightly greasy hair instead of his worn Stetson. “Dammit.  Amy, go ahead an’ hop in with grandma and grandpa, I left my hat inside.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“But I wanna ride with you!” Amy sadly said, dragging out the last syllable in an attempt to get Rhett to forget his hat and drive her to the diner.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I know ya do, sweetcheeks.  But Uncle Rhett ain’t Uncle Rhett without his hat, is he?” Rhett hummed and stepped up to his niece, placing his large hands on her small face and pinching her cheeks in an attempt to get her to smile.  When he got a sheepish giggle from her, he grinned and stood up straight, softly pushing her in the direction of his mother. “Go on to the diner, I’ll catch up in a few.  Forgot my hat inside.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Cecelia narrowed her eyes, but she didn’t push the issue any further. “Alright.  Amy, hon, c’mon now.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett began to walk back to the church, suddenly realizing how empty the parking lot was.  After his father pulled out of the lot, only his truck and (Y/N)'s old Dodge were left, three spots separating them.  Even Pastor Simon and his wife had left.  A rush of anxiety ran down his spine, but there was a spot of confidence growing with the idea that he and (Y/N) would be alone in the church.  He couldn’t act on her taunting with the entire congregation surrounding them, but maybe now he could.  Even if he can’t do anything physically, the least they could do would be to talk about it, set some boundaries if they were to really begin what they both wanted.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The church door quietly slammed shut behind him, effectively closing him and (Y/N) off from the rest of the town.  Rhett couldn’t remember the last time they had truly been alone together.  Maybe that time in high school when she had to tutor him in English?  Thinking back on it, Rhett realized that she had been playing this game with him since way back then; her foot would knock against his leg under the table, slowly dragging up his calf until she reached the top of his boot before she retreated, offering him a sly glance and reciting the question she had asked him when he gave her an awestruck look.  A quiet scoff fell from Rhett’s lips; he had been so oblivious for so long.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Not headed to the diner yet, Rhett?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett’s head snapped up from the old carpeting in the lobby, finding the angelic vision that was (Y/N).  She stood outside her father’s office, holding a handful of bibles in her arms that pressed against her chest and made her breasts push just that much further out of the low neckline of her sweater.  Rhett thickly swallowed, forcing his eyes to find hers, but that didn’t help much, either.  Her eyes were wide, almost doe-like, as if she had been asking him about something as mundane as the weather.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, ma’am.” Rhett shyly said, the tips of his ears tinted pink when he saw the small smile on (Y/N)’s face when he called her ‘ma’am.’  He cleared his throat and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I, uh, I forgot my hat; thought I left it in the sanctuary.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) hummed, her eyes quickly scanning the small lobby before landing on the open sanctuary doors.  Sure enough, Rhett’s Stetson sat on the seat he claimed every Sunday.  (Y/N) quietly chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she slyly glanced toward Rhett. “An’ here I thought ya just wanted an excuse to come an’ talk t’me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Her tone was low and suggestive, sending blood straight to his dick as she ran her tongue over her lip before sinking her teeth into it and tilting her head in the most innocent way.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Do I need an excuse to come an’ talk t’ya?” Rhett rasped, his voice sounding gravelly as it caught in his throat.  However, even with the nerves slowly working their way down his spine, he managed to notice the way that (Y/N) shifted her weight, moving one foot closer to the other as her knees knocked together, almost as if she were trying to subtly relieve tension.  All of his nerves disappeared, and Rhett was filled with a sense of confidence that inflated his ego just enough for him to know that he had the same effect on her that she did him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) hummed, shaking her head as Rhett watched her teeth nibble the inside of her cheek as if she were hiding a sly grin.  She pointed a finger over her shoulder toward the sanctuary doors across the hall, “Your hat’s in the sanctuary if ya wanted to grab it.  Though, I’m not sure I want ya to have it back; I’ve been looking for a new Stetson to wear to the rodeos.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett knew this was his chance to get (Y/N) alone in a room that had a lock on the door.  And, if he was reading her signs correctly, that was what she wanted, too.  So, mustering up as much confidence as he could, he tried to sound as inconspicuously seductive as possible as he stepped closer to her and asked, “If ya wanted t’wear my hat to my rides, all ya had to do was ask, angel.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I suppose this is me askin’, then.” It was as if all his prayers had been answered when he saw her pupils dilate and her breath catch in her throat as she nodded once more.  This time, after a short, collective breath, she let that troublemaking smirk settle on her glossed lips as she held a hand out for him to take, “Want me to model it for ya, then?  Make sure it looks alright?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“So long as you know what happens when you wear a cowboy’s hat, darlin’.” Rhett smoothly said.  He surprised himself with his response, but he didn’t let himself show it.  (Y/N) grinned, a quiet giggle slipping past her lips as she wiggled the fingers of her outstretched hand, urging him to take it.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I do,” she easily said, and that was all it took.  Rhett slipped his calloused hand into hers, and his first thought was how small her hand was compared to his.  When she threaded her fingers into the spaces between his, the contrast of his rough fingertips against the soft skin of her hand immediately replaced that thought, and it was quickly followed by the idea of how her small, soft hands would feel wrapped around his cock.  His jeans tightened around his hips as she led him to the sanctuary, his body beginning to buzz with adrenaline as the realization that this was finally happening settled in his mind.  He felt like he was about to perform in a rodeo, that familiar twinge of nerves and self-assurance making his heartbeat echo in his ears.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The sanctuary doors were hardly shut before Rhett had his lips on (Y/N)'s and his hands on her hips, pushing her against the doors with a deep groan.  The bibles in her hands tumbled to the floor as her small hands wove into his hair, pulling him closer to her with every passing second.  Her lips were soft and warm, yet sticky from her lip gloss.  She tasted like strawberries and remnants of the grape juice from communion, an intoxicating combination that Rhett couldn’t get enough of.  Rhett groaned into her mouth, a smirk toying on the corners of his lips when she roughly pulled on his hair.  It stung, but the feel of her mouth on his and her back arching against his body made the sensation feel deliciously blissful.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎It was as if his hands had a mind of their own, wandering across any part of her body he could touch.  They splayed across her back, tugging her closer before they slid around her waist and began to inch upwards under her sweater, itching to feel the weight of her breasts in his palms.  His fingertips traced the underwire of her bra, the satin fabric cool to the touch and a stark contrast from her quickly warming skin.  Rhett could feel that wherever he touched her, a trail of goosebumps followed his hands and her body flooded with warmth.  It was mesmerizing, fueling his need to touch every part of her as he kissed her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett began to nibble on her bottom lip and (Y/N) opened her mouth to him, exhaling deeply through her nose, almost as if she were trying to keep quiet, but her efforts were hardly concealed when a quiet whine floated past her lips as his tongue grazed hers.  He breathlessly chuckled, pulling away slightly and tightening his grip on her waist as he said, “C’mon, angel.  Don’t hide those sounds from me.  Wanna hear how good I’m makin’ you feel.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎His words pulled a breathy moan from her lips, telling Rhett exactly what effect he had on her before she had the chance to vocally do so.  Rhett began to trail wet kisses across her jaw, gently nipping at the skin just below the bone before he soothed it with a slow swipe of his tongue, making sure not to leave any marks.  (Y/N) sighed, her head falling back against the sanctuary doors as her hands began to explore the expanse of his clothed chest, fingernails catching on the fabric of his flannel, “I knew you were lookin’ at me this mornin’.  Knew you wanted me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’ve been wantin’ t’have you like this since high school, darlin’.” Rhett admitted, his voice breathless against her skin.  The taste of her strawberry lip gloss was beginning to get lost with the salty taste of perspiration on her skin as the dry Wyoming air clung to their bodies, warming them up in the stuffy sanctuary.  Rhett mouthed his way back up to her lips, the tip of his nose nudging hers as he cheekily said, “Think you have, too, hmm?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N)'s pretty eyes fluttered open slightly, pupils blown and mascara beginning to dot along the skin under her lash line.  She gave him a grin, her chin jutting out so her lips brushed against his with every word she spoke. “Y’have no idea, Rhett.  No idea.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett wasn’t sure who moved first, the feeling of her tongue moving against his as their mouths worked on one another drowning out anything else in his head.  He slotted his thigh between her legs, a deep groan rumbling in the back of his throat when he felt her arousal begin to seep into the denim of his jeans.  His calloused hands wandered further down her body, along the smooth skin of her legs that hadn’t left his mind since he’d caught a glimpse earlier that morning, before they slipped under the hem of her skirt and bunched it around her waist so he could easily guide her hips along his thigh.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) pulled her lips from his with a whine, grinding her hips down onto him as her nimble fingers began to make quick work of the buttons on his flannel, expertly unbuttoning it before untucking it from his jeans and pushing it aside so her hands could feel the smooth muscles of his chest.  Rhett had never been so glad to forgo an undershirt in his life; if he had to wait to have her hands on his skin any longer, he would have combusted.  He could feel his cock hardening in his jeans again when her hands traveled lower, her fingertips brushing along the flexing muscles of his stomach as her lips attached to his peck, right over his bull rider tattoo.  He sucked in a sharp breath when her teeth dragged up his neck and grazed his pulse point before dragging down to the base of his throat just above his clavicle.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Fuck,” Rhett cursed, leaning his head to the side to give her more access to his throat.  She giggled against his skin, her nails raking down his torso again as she sank her teeth into his skin before soothing the mark with her warm tongue.  Rhett bit his lip as he shakily exhaled, pulling his body back as one hand trailed up her body to cup her jaw, holding her face in place so he could kiss her again.  Everything about her was addictive, from the taste of her lip gloss to the way her wet, clothed cunt dragged along his jeans.  Rhett was sure that he had died and gone to Heaven when her fingers hooked into his belt loops and pulled his hips flush against hers, her mouth against his muffling the grunt forcing itself from his lips when his dick pressed against her hip bone.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Rhett,” (Y/N) panted, their hot breaths mingling in the sparse distance between their mouths, “I need you.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Where d’you need me, pretty girl?” Rhett whispered, thickly swallowing as he attempted to catch his breath.  His fingertips began to gently play with the band of her panties, the satin fabric smooth against his rough hands slightly as he toyed with her.  He let an accomplished smile tug at his lips when she bucked her hips toward him, chasing the brief feeling of his hands when he pulled away.  Rhett traced a soft line down the front of her core, relishing in the choked hum of approval that left her lips. “Do you need me here?  Hmm?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yes,” (Y/N) sighed, hands bunching into the fabric of his open flannel to keep his body on hers.  She licked her lips and swallowed, a relieved smile covering her lips, “Yes, please.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett chuckled, a low rumbling sound in the back of his throat, but it was cut off with a proud groan when he felt just how soaked she was.  She was practically dripping, and he was the cause of it.  He hooked a finger around the satin, pushing it to the side to swipe his fingers through her folds, collecting her arousal and spreading it across his fingertips.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, shit,” (Y/N) gasped, her forehead falling forward on his shoulder as she braced her hands on his torso.  She hummed as Rhett gently circled her clit, biting her lips as her body jolted with pleasure.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Angel, I’ve barely touched you,” Rhett teased, but his voice was the furthest thing from jovial.  His voice was deep, laced with lust and barely above a whisper.  A part of him was hardly able to believe that this was happening, but when he felt her body shudder against his as he pressed two fingers against her clit, he knew that this was real.  He didn’t just feel like his prayers had been answered; he knew they had been.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) shakily exhaled, pulling her head back and snaking her hands up his torso to grab onto the curls of hair at the nape of his neck.  Her eyes were dark with desire, her cheeks flushed and lips kiss-bitten as she leveled her doe-like eyes with his.  She was completely at his mercy. “More, please.  I need more of you.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Without warning, Rhett dipped his fingers to her entrance and slowly pushed his ring and middle fingers in, cursing when he felt her warm walls instinctively clench around his digits.  (Y/N) moaned, her body falling lax against the doors as her hands scrambled to find purchase in his hair.  Rhett began to pump his fingers, his free hand holding up his weight against the door by her head.  He kept reaching for that special spot inside of her, curling his fingers to find the spot that would make her legs shake and her chest heave with labored breaths.  He knew he’d found it when he felt that spongy part against his calloused fingertips, and she surged forward and attached her lips to his, whimpering when he picked up the pace of his fingers.  Her mouth opened in a silent moan, and Rhett took advantage of her parted lips to lick into her mouth, swallowing every small whine and whimper that left her sweet lips.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Goddamn, you look so pretty, all needy f’me,” Rhett grunted, feeling her wetness begin to drip down his knuckles into the palm of his hand.  His dick twitched in his jeans, desperately aching for attention, but he was easily able to put aside his needs when he heard the melodic sound of her breath catching in her throat as a strangled moan at his praise.  He cupped his hand around her, pushing the heel of his palm against her clit as he continued to fuck her with his fingers.  Her hips began to grind against his hand, chasing her high with determined circles.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, fuck, Rhett, please,” (Y/N) began to ramble, her chest heaving as he pushed her closer to the edge.  She tightened her hold on his hair, pulling his face closer as she looked up at him with those wide, innocent eyes, silently pleading with him. “Don’t stop, please.  I’m so, so close.  Please, Rhett.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎A dark chuckle left his throat as he ducked his head and placed hot, open-mouthed kisses on the skin just below her ear.  He smirked at the high-pitched noise she made when he began scissoring his fingers inside her, teeth pulling at her earlobe before he whispered, “Let go, angel.  Give it t’me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) came with a shrill cry, her body collapsing against his as she weakly clung to him.  Rhett moaned when he felt her legs attempt to snap shut around his thigh and hand, her cum slowly seeping from her cunt and making a mess all over his fingers and jeans.  His cock pushed against the constraints of his jeans when he looked down to see his hand glistening with her arousal, and his chest swelled when he thought of the fact that he made her cum with nothing but his fingers.  He continued to slowly pump his fingers in and out of her, carrying her through her orgasm until her body stopped shaking.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N)'s hands bunched into the fabric of his open flannel, grounding herself until she found her bearings again.  Rhett gently pulled his hand away from her, holding it up to watch her slick shine in the dim sunlight filtering through the sanctuary windows.  He was suddenly filled with the need to taste her, so he brought his fingers to his lips and began to lick his fingers.  He moaned, swearing that he had never tasted anything so sweet in his life.  She tasted better than any freshly baked apple pie or hand-churned ice cream he’d ever had.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“So sweet, angel,” Rhett hummed, savoring the taste of her with his eyes half-closed before they widened.  (Y/N) had taken a hold of his wrist, pulling his hand from his lips to hers and slowly sucked his fingers into her mouth, a purring sound leaving her throat as her tongue swirled around his digits.  Rhett’s jaw slacked, his eyes darkening as he watched her clean her mess off his fingers.  He reached his other hand down to palm himself over his jeans, shaking his head in amazement when she pulled her mouth off his fingers with a faint pop. “Jesus Christ, darlin’.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) giggled, still sounding breathless as she began to push him toward the back row of chairs in the sanctuary, her hands firm on his shoulders.  She directed him to a chair and gently sat him down, kneeling in front of him and running her hands slowly up his thighs. “My turn, cowboy.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett could hardly breathe as her dainty hands trailed up his thighs toward his belt buckle, his hands flexing and unflexing around the edge of the chair, unsure what to do with them.  (Y/N) hummed, taking one hand off his leg to take hold of his, silently directing him to hold her jaw before she resumed her quest of unbuckling that large buckle around his hips.  Rhett had been hard as a rock nearly the whole morning, but he felt as if he was growing harder as he watched the sight in front of him, his dick throbbing beneath the feather-light pressure of her forearm over it as she slid the leather belt out of the clasp.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Fuck,” Rhett hissed, watching with lust-blown eyes as she unzipped his jeans, her movements so painfully slow just to tease him.  Although he complied and lifted his hips when she hooked her fingers into the waistband of his jeans and pulled them down just enough to reveal his boxers, he couldn’t stop the flash of annoyance that rippled through his body as he watched her take her sweet time.  The young Abbott man let his hand slide from her jaw to her chin, holding it firmly between his thumb and forefinger as he pulled her gaze to his eyes.  His jaw was clenched, the muscles in his cheek fluttering with aroused frustration as he sharply said, “I didn’t tease you, now did I?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) bit her lip, shaking her head before laying it on the top of his thigh, just out of reach from where he wanted her to touch him the most.  She lazily traced a finger up and down the outline of his cock tenting his boxers, which was pulsing now that the tight denim had been removed.  His hips involuntarily bucked up, his body betraying the slight dominating bite in his tone, which only brought a sly grin to (Y/N)'s face.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, but if I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout this for as long as I have, I’m gonna enjoy every second of it.” (Y/N) sassed, her brows raising slightly as she challenged him.  All the while, her finger kept running that same trail up his clothed cock.  Her eyes never left the path of her finger, simply enamored with the idea of what Rhett hid underneath those Levi jeans.  Rhett gulped, struggling to regain some control over the situation as she began to apply more pressure to her ministrations, soon letting her wrist go limp so she could use her palm to trace his cock instead of a single finger.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’m sure you’d enjoy it more if ya picked up the pace, angel,” Rhett said, his voice sounding as if it was stuck in his throat.  He watched as she licked her lips, her eyes growing wider as she met his gaze.  If he felt breathless before, that was nothing compared to the vision of (Y/N) kneeling between his legs with her palm moving agonizingly slow across his dick.  She looked ethereal, a slight halo of dim lighting surrounding her from the dust-covered windows behind her.  She looked as if she belonged there, sat dutifully before him with her doe-eyes and kiss-swollen lip tucked between her teeth.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Y’know, patience is a virtue, Mr. Abbott.” (Y/N) airily said, her cheeks proudly flushing when Rhett’s chest stopped moving.  Rhett wasn’t sure where the reaction came from; he’d never imagined that being scolded and called ‘Mr. Abbott’ would send his body into a frenzy, sparking a need deep within his soul to shove his dick down her throat.  He needed her to wrap her perfectly pouted lips around his cock, and he needed her to do it now.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett tightened his grip on her chin, pulling her face off his thigh before bunching his other hand in her hair to pull her face closer to his as he sat up.  His face hardened as he looked her over, eyes narrowing as his voice deepened, a dominating side overtaking any faint nerves he might have still had. “Y’better put that mouth to use before I do it for you.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎A grin spread across (Y/N)'s face and she leaned up to press a searing kiss to his lips.  It was all tongue and teeth, but Rhett hardly had time to register that he could still gather the faint taste of her cum on her lips before she suddenly reached a hand into his boxers and wrapped her small hand around him.  An almost animalistic growl left his lips as his jaw slacked, his breath shaky when she gently swiped her thumb over his tip and collected the precum leaking from the slit.  Rhett had never been overly vocal, but he couldn’t help the way he moaned when (Y/N) pulled away from his lips and placed a delicate kiss to his tip over his boxers.  It was just a taste of what was to come, and he was already beginning to fall apart.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) let that soft giggle of hers trickle from her lips, thoroughly amused by the young Abbott man’s reaction, before she swiftly pulled his boxers down enough to free his cock, letting it fall against his toned stomach.  Rhett opened his mouth to tell her to use hers, but a strangled groan replaced any words he was about to say when she leaned forward and licked a slow, hot stripe up his shaft, her eyes never leaving his.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett’s back collapsed against the chair, a shudder washing over his body when she finally wrapped her lips around his tip, her tongue teasing his slit and a hum of appreciation sounding from the back of her throat.  Rhett’s hold in her hair tightened, the veins in his forearm beginning to protrude slightly as he let his body take over, bucking his hips and pushing himself further into her warm mouth.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“There ya go, darlin’.” Rhett mumbled, his head falling back as a deep breath left his lips.  (Y/N) slowly dipped her head, taking more of him in her mouth as she hummed, the vibrations in her throat adding to Rhett’s pleasure.  Her hand wrapped around the base of his cock, slowly pumping what she couldn’t fit into her mouth as she began to bob her head.  The combination of her warm mouth and the sounds of appreciation she was quietly making was enough to make Rhett’s head spin.  He swore he had never felt anything so good in his life, finally having the girl he’s pined after for years with her lips around his dick and her lust-blown eyes glancing up at him through her lashes.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N)'s free hand was gently running across his hip, her nails scratching his skin so lightly that Rhett hardly realized what she was doing until he let go of her jaw to take her hand in his.  He sighed, eyes rolling back when she let go of his cock and pushed her head down further until the tip of his cock hit the back of her throat.  A deep rumble of a groan left his lips and his fingers laced through hers, squeezing her hand tightly in appreciation.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Fuck, you’re good at that,” Rhett breathed, tucking his chin to his chest so he could watch her continue to take him deeper and deeper until her nose nearly brushed the patch of hair at the base of his cock.  It truly was a sight to behold; the beautiful preacher’s daughter deepthroating the wild bull rider known for sleeping around.  Rhett knew he’d never be able to forget the image of (Y/N) between his legs, and the realization that he’d have this memory to look back on the next time he was feeling lonely made his cock twitch in her mouth.  (Y/N) let out a long breath before attempting to take him further, and the feeling of her nose finally reaching his pubic bone had Rhett bucking his hips before he could stop himself.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) gagged around him, and that didn’t help the way the coil in Rhett’s stomach tightened with the need to feel her do that again, and keep her mouth stuffed full of him.  He let go of her hand and let it join his other hand in her hair, but before he could force her to cockwarm him with her throat, he was somehow able to have the thought that she might not want to.  And Rhett was a gentleman, even with lust clouding his senses.  If he wanted to ensure that this wasn’t a one-time deal, he wanted to make sure she was comfortable.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“This okay, angel?” Rhett rasped, his voice gravelly and somewhat hoarse.  (Y/N) looked up at him, her lashes clumped together slightly and wet with unshed tears, her mascara beginning to trail down the apples of her cheeks, but that couldn’t do anything to hide the earnest look in her eyes.  She pulled off of his cock with a gasp, her head nodding eagerly as she wiped her chin with the back of her hand.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“More than okay.” (Y/N) breathlessly said, already leaning down to take him in her mouth again.  Rhett moaned when she sunk down around him without hesitation, a deep exhale through her nose tickling his pubic hair as she hummed around him again.  Her hands rested on his hips, fingers flexing as she focused on her breathing.  Rhett was utterly entranced as he watched her, so eager to please him and bring him his release right there in the church sanctuary.  His stomach began to churn, his breathing becoming uneven and ragged as he shakily exhaled.  She slowly pulled her mouth up his shaft, tongue swirling around his tip before dipping down once more, not stopping until she was completely full of him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett could feel his orgasm was fast approaching as she swallowed around him, her throat constricting and tightening around him before she pulled up and suckled his tip, her tongue running along the slit as she lazily pumped him with one hand so she could catch her breath.  The coil in Rhett’s stomach began to subside, but that allowed his head to clear enough to realize that if he was going to cum, it wasn’t going to be in her mouth.  That was going to be an image he could capture at another time, but right now, all he wanted was to have the picture of her riding him wearing his Stetson ingrained in his mind.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett heaved a long breath, his chest deflating slightly as he slid a hand around her chin again.  With a mumbled, ‘Come ‘ere, angel,’ he brought her lips to his, kissing her sweetly before he found that dominating side from moments ago. “You gon’ model that hat f’me or what, honey?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N)'s eyes lit up as she giggled, nodding her head and reaching over to grab his Stetson from the seat beside him.  She kept her eyes on his as she situated it on her head, adjusting it so it hung low over her eyes the way he had it that morning.  Her head tilted back, gaze meeting his through hooded eyes as she teasingly turned her face from side to side to show it off.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What d’ya think, Rhett?” (Y/N) teased, leaning down to kitten-lick the tip of his cock, quiet moans leaving her lips as she gathered the leaking precum on her tongue.  All Rhett could do was groan, his dick throbbing against his stomach as he looked her over with hungry eyes.  He had never seen a more perfect sight, not even the Tetons at sunset could compete with her wearing his hat.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett clicked his tongue and smirked, his fingers tightening around her chin slightly as he breathlessly said, “You’re gon’ make me an even bigger goddamn sinner, sweetheart.  You look so fuckin’ perfect wearing my hat with my dick in your mouth.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) giddily hummed, wrapping her lips around his tip once more and dipping her head until the rim of the hat hit Rhett’s abs.  She pulled off him again with a soft pop, sitting back on her heels as she hummed contentedly.  She grinned up at him, eyes playful as she asked, “Now, isn’t there somethin’ I’m supposed to do if I’m wearin’ a cowboy’s hat?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett chuckled, simultaneously amused and aroused by her seemingly innocent question.  He nodded, leaning forward as his hands slipped to her biceps to pull her up on her knees again. “Get up here in my lap, pretty girl.  Time to show ya somethin’ ‘bout ridin’.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) wasted no time in standing to her feet, teasingly trailing her fingertips up her thighs until they breached the hem of her skirt and tucked into the band of her ruined satin panties before she swiftly pulled them down her legs and stepped out of them.  She smirked as she leaned forward and tucked the panties into his front pocket before straddling his thighs.  Rhett’s hands immediately found her hips, pushing her skirt up so he could feel her hot skin against his rough hands and direct her dripping core to drag over his cock.  They both moaned at the feeling, (Y/N)'s head lolling on her shoulders as her hands gripped his shoulders.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Please, Rhett,” (Y/N) whined, her teasing nature long gone as she began to grind along the length of his cock.  She gasped when the tip bumped her clit, her eyes fluttering shut as her fingers flexed in pleasure.  She licked her lips, that intoxicating strawberry lipstick long gone as she reached a shaky hand up to hold his hat on her head. “Rhett, please, fuck me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett had imagined her begging for his cock so many times, but nothing could have prepared him for the feral feeling that would spread like wildfire through his chest when she finally did.  It was pure instinct as one of his hands left her hips and grasped the base of his cock, the other holding her firmly in place as he aligned himself with her entrance.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett’s eyes flickered up to her face to watch her as he eased her down onto his length, his jaw slacking at the sight.  Her lips parted, eyes screwed shut, and cheeks flushed as a breathy moan left her lips.  His hat was slightly askew on her head, casting a shadow over half of her face as her chest heaved with panted breaths.  Rhett swore he could have cum right then, the feeling of her tight walls slowly encapsulating him and hugging every inch perfectly as she whimpered above him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Jesus, angel,” Rhett sighed, his hands tightening on her hips as she lowered herself until he was fully sheathed inside of her.  He could feel that sweet spongy spot against his tip, every breath she took, and every noise she made making her walls flutter around him in a way that made him wonder why he’d never acted on his desires sooner.  He’d been missing out on all of this for years, but there was no way he was going to anymore.  She hadn’t even begun to ride him and he was already so far gone for her he knew she’d ruined any other woman for him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) shakily exhaled, her chest dropping forward so she could press and hungry kiss to his lips as she began to raise her hips.  Her movements were agonizingly slow, every shift of her muscles calculated to bring the both of them the most pleasure possible.  Her hands tightened on his shoulders as she sunk down on him again, faster than the first time, before repeating her actions.  Each time she lowered her hips against his, her pace grew faster and harder, a steady stream of skin slapping skin filling the sanctuary.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett let out a string of curses as she began to circle her hips every time she sunk down on him, a hand flying up to the back of her neck to keep her lips on his as his hips began to buck up into her.  He met every bounce, every roll of her hips in perfect synchronicity; it was as if they had been fucking one another for years and knew exactly how to bring each other to the brink without a second thought.  Every lovesick idea that Rhett had that they were perfect for one another was confirmed as their bodies moved, chasing their highs as their stomachs churned with desire.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) bunched the fabric of his flannel in her hands, supporting her weight on his chest as she bounced on his cock, keeping each one small so he hardly left her cunt at all but still hit her g-spot with every thrust.  Rhett felt her walls clench around him as she whimpered, “I’m so, so close, Rhett.  Oh, my god.  Fuck!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett grunted in concentration as one hand slid from her hip to the front of her body, his fingers splayed across her stomach as his thumb began to circle her clit.  He could feel his cock pushing against her stomach with every thrust, sending his body and mind into a frenzy as he sped up the speed of his thrusts.  Rhett couldn’t even form complete words, anything he wanted to say was lost in his throat as it turned into desperate moans and grunts.  His mind began to cloud with nothing but the want to make her cum, and he began to tighten the circles his thumb was making on her clit, focusing purely on the small bundle of nerves as she frantically ground her hips against his.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, fuck, I’m gonna cum, I’m gonna cum!” (Y/N)'s words were jumbled, running together as she clung to Rhett’s shoulders.  Rhett could feel his orgasm quickly approaching with each brush of his tip against her g-spot and each tug of his hair.  (Y/N)'s walls clung to him, pulsing as he finally pushed her over the cliff, sending her spiraling into a trembling orgasm that had her entire body jolting with pleasure.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Shit, angel, I’m close.” Rhett wasn’t far behind, and although he wanted nothing more than to cum inside her and claim her as his own, he didn’t want to fuck this up.  He grunted, slowing his hips just enough to keep himself right on the edge of an orgasm to ask, “Where d’you want me, pretty girl?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Inside!” (Y/N) practically begged, finding the strength to pull her head back and meet his eyes.  Hers were wide, pleading with him to cum inside of her as she nodded her head. “Please, Rhett, please, I want it all.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎That was all it took to hurl him over the edge.  Rhett’s hips stuttered before they stilled, the coil in his stomach snapping as he came inside her, painting her warm walls with his seed as a pathetic moan tumbled past his lips.  His eyes rolled into the back of his head as his body shook, her pussy clenching around him and milking him for everything he had.  His entire body tensed, fingers flexed so hard around her hips that he knew there’d be bruises when he let go of her.  He had never cum so hard, his orgasm taking every ounce of energy and more until the last spurt of cum.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎They were both absolutely spent, lungs burning for air as they attempted to catch their breaths.  It was eerily silent in the old, stuffy sanctuary, save for their labored breaths and the nearly undetectable sound of (Y/N)'s nails running across Rhett’s chest.  Rhett was slowly becoming aware of the sticky sheen of sweat covering their bodies and the mess pooling around the base of his softening cock as their combined cum leaked from her pussy.  (Y/N) lazily kissed at Rhett’s neck, grounding herself with the action before she pushed herself up, hands braced on his pecs as she grinned at him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) playfully bit her lips, meeting his shining blue eyes as she said, “You’re not gettin’ this hat back, cowboy.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett breathlessly chuckled, pushing his hair back from his face as he gazed up at her. “If I get t’fuck you like that when ya wear it, I don’ want it back.  Jesus Christ.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) giggled and reached up to tilt the hat back as she leaned down, softly kissing his lips before she sat back up, smirking as he chased after her before his back collapsed against the chair again.  She slowly lifted herself off of him, letting her skirt drop to cover herself as she stood on wobbly legs, “I’m gonna go get us somethin’ t’clean up with.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, no, I got it.” Rhett immediately said, pushing himself off the chair and scrambling to tuck himself back into his boxers.  He adjusted his jeans on his hips, but opted to leave them undone until he was cleaned up.  He smiled at (Y/N) and leaned down over her, tilting her chin up as he whispered, “Least I can do after the best sex of my life, sweetheart.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett placed a chaste kiss to her lips before he stood up straight and made his way to the altar at the other end of the room, knowing that they kept napkins in one of the tables back there.  He returned with a handful, kneeling before her and carefully wiping her legs clean of their cum with whispered apologies if she hissed from oversensitivity.  It was such a stark contrast from his fast and brutal pace that (Y/N) was wistfully sighing, watching him with adoring eyes as he wiped himself down and tossed the napkins into a bin near the sanctuary doors.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) stood up and slowly walked over to Rhett, her arms circling his waist as he finished buckling his belt as she grinned up at him. “Y’know, maybe I’ll wear the hat to the rodeos this weekend.  Could be your good luck charm.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett chuckled and turned around in her arms, hands gently squeezing her waist as he hummed in approval. “Ya want everyone t’see ya wearing my hat?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) eagerly nodded, eyes glinting with mischief as she said, “Been lookin’ for a way outta my daddy’s house for years.  Maybe he’ll be mad enough t’kick me out if he sees me wearin’ the hat of ‘that damn Abbot boy.’”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett smiled and flicked the brim of the hat, letting it settle above her eyebrows so he could see her eyes better. “Good idea, angel.  Then I’d get ya all t’myself.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) stretched up on her toes and gently pressed her lips to his, sighing contentedly as Rhett pulled her body flush against his.  Rhett knew he had gotten himself into a tricky situation by fucking the preacher’s daughter, but with her lips against his, the opinions and judgements of the residents of Wabang couldn’t have mattered any less to him.  He had an angel that could sin like the devil in his arms.

ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ's ɴᴏᴛᴇs: hehe the full fic is finally here! i'm super excited but also a little nervous, this is my first time posting smut online, so constructive criticism is greatly appreciated! the end is a little rushed, but i was just super excited to get this out for you guys, so here we are lol i have an idea in mind for a part two if anyone would be interested? let me know, love you all so so much!

ᴛᴀɢʟɪꜱᴛ: @callsign-joyride, @downinroma,

If you'd like to be added to any of my taglists, click here!

[prettytm]

@lt-ghxst

Fresh meat. From across the pond. A British boy. Accented speech. Skull mask. Skeleton gloves. As broken as the rest the staff claims.

All of it's information that filters in and out, pieces of the patient that wanders the halls like a ghost, his footsteps haunted by the shadow at his back. A curious spectator who isn't use to others around his own age, isn't use to men who look like the superheroes from the comics he's still allowed to read. A man who reminds him of the fragments of his imagination come to life. How could he not follow along after him, watching and seeing for himself.

Another broken solider. Another injury that leaves it's mark.

He's not supposed to hear but they could only try to take away his daydreams.. They couldn't take away the skills he had learned in his service to his country. They dulled them, they dimmed out his light but they couldn't lock him away inside himself.

Solider.. A solider.. He could almost remember him.. If only the medication didn't make his head feel funny.. That night he stops taking the pills, pocketing them so no one was any the wiser. And it takes nearly a week for the effects of the drug to work it's way out of his system. The withdrawal is brutal, he doesn't sleep but in fits of restlessness yet slowly he begins to feel alive again. Slowly memories begin to blossom to life within him. Simon.

Yes, of course. A face from his past. A boy turned man. Someone he had cared for, someone who had meant something.. Someone.. Who.. He can't remember.. He can't see the pictures moving through his mind.. He can't piece together the puzzle to create that larger image... But he knows there on the edges of fuzzy memories.. That this masked man belongs to him. He runs through his mind in circles, leaving him breathless and.. And.. And.. Just one more day, the medication should stop poisoning him by then.. Just one day.. Just one more.. Day to find out what part this Ghost plays in his fantasies.

[bradshawsbitch]

𝐝𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 - 𝐟𝐞𝐛

here is a list of all of the fics I read, loved and reblogged in february for the daggers reblog challenge, please read each individual warning for these fics as some of these are 18+ (you shouldn’t be following me if you’re not over 18…. but still….)

this month it is evident from my color coding that I went on bradley renaissance! love my warm himbo husband 🫶🏻 thank you all for writing amazing fics 🥹💕

arts and crafts - bob x little!reader - @sebsxphia

like I can (pt 1) (p3)- bradley x reader - @sometimesanalice

hello, i love you - bradley x reader - @roosterforme

savor - bradley x reader - @dameronscopilot

morning person - goose x reader - @jupitercomet

remember you even when i don't (5) (6) - bradley x reader - @beyondthesefourwalls

a love you don't find every day 3 - bradley x reader - @/roosterforme

old habits die hard 10 + 13- bradley x reader - @/roosterforme

flowers in november (all 4 parts) - rhett x reader - @delopsia

sanctuary - rhett x reader - @ghxst-heart

the best me has his arms around you - jake x reader - @theharddeck

hotel el royale - miles miller x reader - @astraldelights

alice down the rabbit hole - bob x reader - @/jupitercomet

ptolemaea. | god knows i tried. - rhett x reader - @/sebsxphia

talk with my hands, maybe take it real slow - jake x reader - @/theharddeck

the kind of girl i could love - bob x reader - @/roosterforme

wayfaring stranger 0.2 - rhett x reader - @sunlightmurdock

someone to love me - rhett x reader - @callsign-cacti

dona nobis pacem - rhett x reader - @lt-bradshaw

better girls - goose x reader - @/jupitercomet

living with ghosts - bradley x reader - @/jupitercomet

voulez-vous 1 + 2 - bradley x reader - @roosterbruiser

call it what you want - rhett x reader - @rhettabbotts

what we express - bob x reader - @mothdruid

corrupt preacher!rhett - rhett x reader - @hangmanapologist

26. do i wanna know? - bradley x reader - @topguncortez

27. take it - rhett x reader - @/rhettabbotts

28. how to train your cowboy - rhett x reader - @/delopsia

29. bad habit - jake x reader - @villainvindicator

30. airplane mode 1 - bradley x reader - @/roosterforme

31. love you for real - goose x reader - @/jupitercomet

32. batting practice part 1 - bradley x reader - @/roosterforme

33. selfish - rhett x reader - @/dameronscopilot

34. before the devil comes for you 3 - bob x reader - @/lt-bradshaw

35. when the lies catch up - bob x reader - @/jupitercomet

36. the nightlight - bradley x reader - @/jupitercomet

[silverjetsystm]

SHIPPING INFO:// Answer the following for your muse(s) so people know how shipping works on your blog

REPOST. DON'T REBLOG

What’s your OTP for your Muse(s)?:

I don't like "One ✨ True ✨ Pairing" when it comes to rp. This isn't Highlander. I do love and enjoy all the connections I've made with writing.

What are you willing to RP when it comes to shipping?:

Romantic, Sensual, Friendship, Familial, Platonic, Enemies.

It depends on the muses, what the other mun is looking for, and the chemistry which develops over time. Soulmates and deep romance are welcome as well as the complicated toxic. Regret flavored co-parenting 'what are you in my life?' If "it" happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it's all good too.

If a muse is a love interest from canon (listen, there's like 5 of them plus Frenchie in the entire history), I'm happy to pre-establish, it just takes a talk to make sure we're on the same page. For Layla, I'm exclusive with @lalamoon.

How large does the age gap have to be to make it uncomfortable?:

Age gaps are fine. The System is going to be 40 per my calendar this year but I sort of go between mid-30s to early 40s in my head. If a muse over a decade younger than the System, I'll probably be more selective than when they're closer in age.

Are you selective when shipping?:

I like shipping. We gotta talk about it first.

The System has a lot of baggage (what character doesn't). They're not everyone's type. Marc will never stop being Moon Kn.ight. He can be convinced to take breaks but whenever he promises he'll stop, he always gets back to work. He's got terrible coping mechanisms and struggles which make him difficult to be in a relationship with. Which, if you want to explore that up and down, that's cool.

You don't have to ship someone with the entire System. Usually, if someone only wants Marc, Steven and Jake aren't really interested in that person anyway. And there's still interesting dynamics one can write with Steven and Jake without making it romantic or sensual.

Though they don't come up often (thus far), Soldier only really has heart eyes for Reese and Badr is (headcanoned) aroace.

How far do steamy moments have to go before they’re considered NSFW?:

When clothes start coming off. I fade to black or bump it to Disco (if we're close in that way). This is not out of any sense of shame. I like my emails job.

Who are other muses you ship your muse with?:

@brooklynislandgirl @cordeliabarton @echoestm @gottahunt @kylo-wrecked @lalamoon @lt-ghxst @prettytm @positivelybeastly @voicestm @wardogsong @writteninscarlet

"It was in the past but we're raising a child" @marlenexalraune and @midnightxmission

Feeling out something @biitchcakes and @webxfshame

Familial @tjhmnd

Rip everyone's notifications o7

Does one have to ask to ship with you?:

I mean, yes.

How often do you like to ship?:

???

Are you multiship?:

Yes. Everyone has their own separate verse and can also cross into AUs. That being said, in main 616 and 'modern/no superheroes' verses, the history between the system and Marlene does impact the present time.

Are you ship obsessed or ship more-or-less?:

I like various flavors of writing. It's never Just About the Ship.

What is your favorite ship in your current fandom?:

Marla / Moon Kn.ight System/Layla

Finally, how does one ship with you?:

Talking, writing, talking….

lifted off of @brooklynislandgirl and @kylo-wrecked

[wardogsong]

Good bye. I hope everyone who bullied me is fucking happy. I hope everyone who got my account deleted is happy. I'm done.

cw: mentions of self-harm and mutilation under the readmore, and also just basic dash consideration. I realize I have not been here in months, owe everything and everyone, etc... which adds an extra layer of mind-bending hilarity to this all.

Stray,

You are both breaking my heart and wearing my last nerve out. I'm only human. I'm not a saint. While I am genuinely very sorry that tumblr deleted your account, did you read the email that they sent to you? I know that you screenshotted it. You have it posted right now on this iteration of your blog.

Truth be told? I don't know if anyone reported your account. I can say with a clear conscience that I didn't. I had no reason to. The last I interacted with you and/or that account was when I was in the comments of your pinned post, talking to you there.

I am not exactly certain that your account would have required much reporting, to be honest. I think that you are imagining a bandwagon of people joining together to work against you, given the way you are currently in several inboxes, calling people bullies and so on. Again, I can say with a completely clear conscience, I have never participated in any such link up or bandwagon against you, or anyone else.

So let's keep it a buck. You do somewhat routinely post about the things mentioned in that email. It's your blog, you have a right to talk about the state of your mental health if you want to, but in this case, it was tumblr itself taking notice and action of the frequency of that, and what specifically you were saying.

Hell, let's go back in time a bit. You and I literally met and became mutuals BECAUSE you posted a farewell note on your blog, several deletions and remakes ago. It was written as if it were a done deal, and having been familiar with your url in the fandom tags, I was immediately worried for you, stranger that you were, and desperate to reach out to you hoping it would come before a too-late kind of moment. You know what the saddest part of that search for you was? Encountering people who did claim to know you and who said, with great shame, that this was somewhat regular for you.

You know it too, because even in our conversations you mentioned having been blamed or accused of attention seeking in the past and having callouts written about you.

The answer is right there, Stray. Your blog was deleted for mentions of self-harm. You may not have been glorifying it or promoting it, but you posted about it enough that you finally tripped a flag somewhere. That's it. That's all it is.

As for the rest? This is the second time you're calling me a bully. Yet again, I am asking you to prove it. Please show me the instances in which I bullied you, or the actions that I took against you. What, exactly, did I do? Because to the best of my recollection? I spent a while trying to be your friend, trying to be as supportive as I could be, introducing you to other friends of mine to help widen your circle, gaming with you, plotting things to write with you and then the one night I couldn't stay up late to talk with you because I was literally recovering from being incredibly ill AND had to take my son to an appointment the next day... ended up with you having sent me overnight screenshots of deleting your blog and either blocking or unfriending me on discord. Which one of those things was the bullying, Stray? Because the way I see it? You're the one who ditched me the second I couldn't be of use to you.

last but not least, rumor out of the hell part of this country says you have a problem with sharing mutuals. you don't like it when someone you like writes or interacts with someone you don't like and that may be the root cause of your distress. if so, rumors of my and @lt-ghxst's relationship are both greatly exaggerated and misunderstood. it's not my fault I tagged and bagged him, as that is what you do with wild gators. however, if he has slighted you, I don't take any responsibility for him. he's untrained and not yet housebroken. it's a miracle if I can get him to only piss outdoors. he bites. he's ornery and nasty-tempered. Honestly, he should probably be put to sleep but I am determined to break him in.

[deathsprofit]

𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗜'𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥!

TAGGED BY: @hibiscusxqueen <3 TAGGING: @waveringiridescence @malafxde @precognitor @tides-of-clarity @prerodinu @villainhe-a @lt-ghxst @nvrcmplt @thecircusfreaks & all my followers

ALIAS / NAME : Ky

BIRTHDAY : Aug 8th

ZODIAC SIGN : Leo

HEIGHT : 5′9″

HOBBIES : Snooker /Video games /Writing /Photography

FAVORITE COLOR : Black and Silver

FAVORITE BOOK : The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

LAST SONG : All Eyes on You by Smash Into pieces

LAST FILM / SHOW : Reacher

RECENT READS : Deadly Cross by James Patterson

INSPIRATION : Old fictional Characters. Music. People I meet everyday.

STORY BEHIND URL : People can be really cold and greedy now days they want profit of everything even death. Just a reflection of how cold ones heart could get I picked that title for my blog.

FUN FACT ABOUT ME : I travel a lot due work. My last trip was to Greece.

[whisperofsong]

Thank you for tagging me, loves 🫶🏼 @babyonboardfloyd & @gretagerwigsmuse

1. Are you named after anyone?

My middle name comes from my maternal and paternal great grandmothers.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Tuesday evening and it was truly a healthy dose of emotion

3. Do you have kids?

No; I’m still learning to take care of myself😅

4. Do you sarcasm a lot?

Sarcasm is a major aspect of my brand.

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Their teeth

6. What’s your eye color?

I have hazel eyes and love that the prominence of brown and green changes depending upon what I’m wearing☺️

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings because reality is hard enough

8. Any special talents?

I’m extremely observant, especially when it comes to people.

9. What are your hobbies?

Singing and writing🤗

10. Where were you born?

New Jersey

11. Do you have any pets?

My family and I used to have a cat named Tinkerbell (I happily named her).

12. What sports do you play/have you played?

Bold of you to assume I’m athletic😂 I’ve never played any sports and don’t have a desire to engage in any now.

13. How tall are you?

5’7”

14. Favorite subject in school?

Literature; I especially enjoyed assignments that gave me opportunities for analysis.

15. Dream job?

A second-grade teacher💛

Tagging the following buddies: @ghxst-heart @sebsxphia @rhettabbotts

[foreverdolly]

Do you read anyone else’s fics? Or does writing, take up all your time on here? I’m just genuinely curious if you have any favorite stories? ( you may of been asked this already) -

🤍lola

i will be honest- i don't read as much as i should on this site now that i'm writing daily, but i want to remedy that. if anyone has any recs or if you want me to read your writing, just message me ! i'm an absolute sucker for a well written fic. i'm not doing this in any sort of order btw ! just writing them down as they come to me. if i haven't mentioned a fic of yours- it's not because i don't like it ! it probably means that i just haven't gotten to it yet !

here are some fics that genuinely buttered my biscuit and had my one hundred and fifteen pound, tiny chihuahua-ass doing backflips down the hallway:

forbidden desire- @mamaspresley ( i read this three times within the first 48 hours of it being posted. i would suck the grease out of austin's hair in this movie like a damn rat. i'm jealous of the pitbull that got to chomp on this man's nutsack. i wish i was the doorframe where his ass got curb stomped. jackie did the damn thing on this one. if anyone knew how many times i've actually read this fic, someone might take my phone away from me. i told her that this was one of my favorite tumblr fics in the history of ever and she didn't believe me. "really?" yes, girl. yes. this had me doing the bend and snap. jackie you're so talented.)

to find a cure- @mamaspresley ( adorable. couldn't breathe the entire time. i had my inhaler in my lap and was clutching my modelo with my free hand. knuckles pale. knees quivering. mom's spaghetti. i'm nervous.)

into you - @dreamersparacosm ( this was actually one of the first austin fics i read post-elvis, which is super cool since you were one of my first mutuals as well ! ang, your writing is stellar. this shit had me doing laps around the house. i had to fight off the urge to propose to you. i told my mom about us. the way you write austin??? jesus, mary, joseph, the donkey and all the wise men.)

going method - @oh-austin (this is just so cute to read. it cured my depression and straightened out my scoliosis. i'm also no longer lactose intolerant, and i think this might also be connected to the series.)

the big shot mississippi boy - @ghxst-heart (i devoured this series in one sitting, and am anxiously awaiting part eight. the way that you are able to so accurately describe the 50's. . . it's almost as though you've lived it yourself ! not to mention the way that you write for elvis??? amazing amazing amazing. you deserve all the love.)

a whole man is hard to find- @aconflagrationofmyown (this fic is going to be my downfall, i can just feel it. marina- please don't give me a heart attack. i'm not ready to die yet. i haven't gotten to peg, and i have a few more things after that to cross off the ole' bucket list.)

familiarity- @blainesebastian (i adore this idea, and what you've done with it is absolutely out of this world. you have this fantastic way of making your reader inserts so relatable. it feels very real and i mean that in the best way possible. like any ole' person can run into austin butler while reaching for the coveted maple clusters. gorgeous.)

on a serious note: there's definitely way more than this. i'll be making a second post of more recommendations at a later date, that way everyone can get the love and appreciation that they deserve. thank you all for what you do for this fandom. just know that your hard work does not go unnoticed. i know that most of you either have school work or maybe even a full time job (like myself), and the fact that you set time aside to write for other's enjoyment is selfless, and quite amazing of you. you are seen, loved, and so so talented.

[drunk-on-writing]

he tells me my laugh is cute i want to disagree to me it sounds like nails on a chalkboard but i just smile and thank him because i know one day i'll heart what he hears he tells me i look nice i want to disagree all i see are flaws but i smile and thank him because i know one day i'll see what he sees i tell him it hurts, but i deserve the pain he tells me i don't i tell him i'm stupid he tells me i'm not i want to believe that he isn't lying but i'm not sure that i do how he can be so certain in this? i'll never understand maybe one day i will i hope one day i will i know one day i will and it's a start.

chasing--ghxsts said: I was mistreated and used by my boyfriend a year ago and now I have terrible trust issues due to that, but I'm slowly learning to believe that I can be truly loved thanks to my current boyfriend who's so sweet and who takes care of me, could you write something about that? Learning to grow out of the insecurities someone left you with thanks to someone else? Thank you 💕  (cc, 2017)

[ghxst-heart]

ꜱᴀɴᴄᴛᴜᴀʀʏ ─ ʀʜᴇᴛᴛ ᴀʙʙᴏᴛᴛ

sᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: Rhett wasn’t a religious man; he hadn’t been for a long time.  Still, he went to church with his family every Sunday and kept his eyes trained on the pulpit.  His mother thought that he was finally taking in what Pastor Simon said to heart, but only one thing could have the youngest Abbott so entranced; the preacher’s daughter that dutifully sat in the front row, every Sunday. ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs: 18+, MINORS DNI, mentions of alcohol and hangovers, small descriptions of sexual acts, more to come in full fic. ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪɴғᴏ: Pronouns used are She/Her/Hers, AFAB!Reader, beginnings of a FWB relationship between Rhett and Reader. This is an excerpt from a full-length fic, linked here! ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅᴇs: Fem!Reader, Romantic!Reader X Rhett Abbott ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 1.1k ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀᴅ: MINORS DNI!! My blog is strictly 18+!! Any minors or ageless/blank blogs interacting with my fics or my blog will be blocked (and, yes, I do check). I can't stop you from reading my fics, but I can stop you from accessing my fics if my boundaries aren't respected. Your media consumption is your own responsibility, just as it is mine regarding what I post. Please tread thoughtfully and carefully, and keep yourselves happy, healthy, and safe.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The air in the sanctuary was thick as Pastor Simon droned through his sermon, pacing the length of the pulpit with his bible clutched tightly in his old hands.  His voice boomed through the small space, echoing off the wood-paneled walls and resounding in Rhett’s ears as he tried to ignore the pounding in his head.  His Stetson hung low over his forehead, trying to shield his sensitive blue eyes from the blinding morning light seeping through the windows.  His hangovers were never this intense; either he had drunk too much the previous night, or Pastor Simon’s voice was so boring that it was causing him physical pain.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett felt a harsh pinch on his thigh, and he flinched, ready to snap at whoever bothered him, but he quickly realized that it was his mother silently reminding him to stay awake.  His mouth fell into a sarcastic sneer before he recovered and offered his mother a firm nod of his head and a tight-lipped smile to appease her.  Cecilia frowned, and he fought against a whiney comment, instead opting for a quiet grumble as he sat up straight in his chair.  He gave her a pointed look and removed his Stetson from his head, and she hummed in approval, pleased that he had taken her silent direction.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett hadn’t thought that his silent squabble had earned anyone’s attention, but he knew he had been caught when his eyes met the pastor’s daughter’s gaze across the room.  (Y/N) had turned her head over her shoulder, a small, amused smile on her face as she watched Cecilia scold Rhett as if he were five years old again.  Rhett readjusted in his seat, his arms crossing over his broad chest as he felt the tips of his ears begin to burn with embarrassment under her stare.  (Y/N)’s head tilted slightly as if she were asking him a question, but before he could think of an answer to a question he didn’t know, she returned her attention to the pulpit, nodding along with her father’s sermon.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The young Abbott’s man kept his eyes on (Y/N) as she gathered her hair in her hands and let the strands settle over one shoulder, exposing her neck to his eyes.  Her fingertips grazed her skin, nails lightly scratching the base of her throat before she dropped her hand to her lap again.  Her chin tilted up, extending her neck and stretching her muscles before she relaxed, dropping her chin so she could read the bible resting over her knees.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The way that Rhett and (Y/N) were seated gave them direct views of one another, and Rhett could see most of her body.  Her legs were crossed at the ankles, relaxed against the seat of her chair.  Her skirt had ridden up, revealing the smooth skin of her thighs.  She mindlessly toyed with the hem, pulling it higher and higher up her leg.  Rhett thickly swallowed, letting his mind swim with sinful thoughts of marking up her legs, littering them with pretty purple bruises and lovebites.  He thought of kneading the soft flesh with his calloused hands, relishing in the goosebumps he would leave behind, and how the plush fat would feel wrapped around his head, muffling his hearing so he’d only just barely hear the beautiful noises he would draw out of her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett was thrown from his thoughts when (Y/N) suddenly readjusted in her seat, crossing one leg over the other and swiveling her body, so she was sitting sideways on the chair.  He panicked, body flushing with embarrassment as his eyes flashed up to her face, finding that she was already staring at him.  He had been caught staring at her legs, his mind running rampant with fantasies.  (Y/N) grinned, her teeth chewing on her lip as she let her eyes wander over Rhett’s body before she looked at the pulpit once more, pretending as if she hadn’t exposed Rhett’s shamelessness in checking her out.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎(Y/N) had always been an interesting woman.  She was the epitome of a pastor’s daughter.  She attended church every Sunday, helped out in the daycare on weekdays, was active in the Women’s Group, and helped plan fundraising events for families in the congregation that needed extra funds.  She never did anything wrong, anything sinful, and always said the nicest things with a bright smile on her face.  She wore conservative clothes, nothing too tight or revealing, and her face was always cleared of heavy makeup, giving her such an innocent look with lightly coated lashes, soft rosy cheeks, and glossy lips.  But Rhett had always thought there was something more just underneath the surface.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎They had grown up together, going through elementary to high school in the same classes.  While Rhett grew rebellious and ambitious to achieve fame as a bull rider, (Y/N) remained the sweet, innocent girl that was content to live her life in Wabang as the pastor’s daughter.  By graduation, they were nothing more than strangers to one another, their reputations landing them on different ends of Wabang High’s social stratosphere.  But that didn’t stop Rhett from watching her as she led the congregation in song or served food at the church’s monthly luncheon, blushing when she’d catch his eye or muttering an excuse to leave before his stomach would lurch with a delicious, yet sometimes overwhelming, fluttery feeling.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Rhett was too young and stupid to realize what his longing looks and flustered words around her meant.  He was too naive to understand that his nerves and the funny feeling in his stomach meant more than just a childhood crush.  For years, the youngest Abbott oftentimes tried to convince himself that he was just imagining the lingering stares or the suggestive brushing of her fingertips against him when she passed him.  He tried to brush it off as his darkest fantasies trying to turn polite glances and innocent touches into something more, his mind playing cruel tricks on him in place of his lonesome nights.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎But that was before they grew up.  Now, after being in the world and experiencing real attraction, real lust, he was convinced that it was something more.  He was convinced that (Y/N) knew what she was doing and that she was purposeful in how she looked at him or placed her hand over his when handing him his food at the luncheons.  He was certain now that he wasn’t imagining things when she smirked and turned away, continuing to innocently play with her skirt and show Rhett more and more of her skin after she’d caught him.

ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ's ɴᴏᴛᴇs: So this is a little excerpt from a Rhett Abbott fic that I'm working on. This will be a smut fic, and with that being said, it will be an 18+ fic only. I'm a little nervous posting this as this is my first time writing for Rhett, but I would love to hear your thoughts! Love you all so, so much!

If you'd like to be added to any of my taglists, click here!

[ghxst-heart]

ᴀ ᴛᴇʀʀɪꜰʏɪɴɢ ʟᴇꜱꜱᴏɴ ᴀᴛ ɴɪɢʜᴛ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ─ sᴛɪʟᴇs sᴛɪʟɪɴsᴋɪ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜰɪᴠᴇ ᴏғ ᴄʟᴀɴᴅᴇsᴛɪɴᴇ

ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪɴғᴏ: Main OC is Scott McCall's half-sister, there are six (6) original characters, friends to lovers with Stiles Stilinski, book one covers Seasons 1 & 2 of Teen Wolf ᴡ��ʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 9k

ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀʟɪsᴛ | ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴘᴀʀᴛ | ɴᴇxᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛ

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇 School had an extremely calm aura about it in the days following the death of the mountain lion that was wreaking havoc on the town.  Although no one had admitted it, everyone was scared while the mountain lion was alive, but now that it wasn’t, everything seemed to return to normal.  Kat, Lydia, and Allison were sitting around a table in the cafeteria during lunch, quietly conversing about their homework and snacking on the blueberries on Lydia’s lunch tray.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison was hunched over an old book, quietly muttering in French.  Kat shared a look with Lydia before asking, “What’s la Bête du Gévaudan?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Huh?” Allison asked, jumping slightly by being taken out of her trance so suddenly.  She quickly recovered, “Oh, uh, The Beast of Gevaudan.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Before Kat could question her further, Lydia asked, “The what of who?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“The Beast of Gevaudan,” Allison repeated, excitedly looking at her friends, “Listen. "A quadruped wolf-like monster prowling the Auvergne and South Dordogne areas of France during the years 1764 to 1767.  La Bête killed over a hundred people, becoming so infamous that King Louie the Fifteenth sent one of his best hunters to try and kill it.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Boring,” Lydia commented, earning an eye roll from Kat as Allison continued.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Even the church eventually declared the monster a messenger of Satan.” Allison read, taking in the reactions of the girls around her.  Kat was pleased that Allison was happy reading it and intently listened, but Lydia wasn’t as invested.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Hmm, still boring.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison was intent on changing Lydia’s mind and continued reading the book, “Cryptozoologists believe it may have been a subspecies of a hoofed predator, possibly a mesonychid.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Slipping into a coma bored,” Lydia sighed, biting a single blueberry off her fork.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“While others believe it was a powerful sorcerer who could shape-shift into a man-eating monster.” Allison wasn’t giving up, and although she loved her, Kat was also losing interest.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Alli, how does any of this have anything to do with your family?” Kat asked, brushing off Lydia’s glance that told her to keep quiet.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison quickly nodded, “This. "It is believed that la bête was finally trapped and killed by a renown hunter who claimed his wife and four children were the first to fall prey to the creature.” His name was Argent.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Your ancestors killed a big wolf.  So what?” Lydia quipped.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Not just a big wolf,” Allison said, disregarding Lydia’s snide comments and sharing an exciting look with Kat.  She flipped the book around and showed the girls in front of her the picture on the page. “Take a look at this picture.  What does it look like to you?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat decided to play along and took a look at the picture.  The faint grin on her face fell.  In the background was a creature that looked like a wolf standing on its hind legs.  It was tall and brooding and instilled a deep fear in Kat.  What really shook her, however, was the deep red eyes.  They seemed to glow with hatred and evilness, genuinely scaring Kat.  She felt her heart drop.  Only one word came to mind.  Werewolf.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia’s voice drew Kat out of the trance she was in with her sarcastic words, “It looks like a big wolf.  See you beauties in history.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The redheaded girl smirked and stood up, leaving the table and taking the blueberries with her.  Kat looked at the brunette with her with a chuckle before they returned to their work.  The McCall girl was having a hard time focusing on her homework, and her eyes were drawn to her brother and his friends, who were having a heated discussion as Scott hid behind a history textbook.  Scott peeked his face out from the book and caught Kat’s eye.  He spazzed and blocked her view by ducking behind his book again.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat chuckled and shook her head, “Allison, do you know why my brother looks like he’s hiding from us?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison’s head shot up at the mention of Scott, and as soon as she looked up, Scott, Stiles, and Spencer were leaving the cafeteria.  Allison let out a long breath as she started gathering her belongings, “I don’t know, I think he’s avoiding me, and I don’t know why.  Scott!  Scott, wait!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison ran after the three boys, leaving Kat alone at their table.  Kat chuckled and shook her head, turning the page in her textbook as she murmured, “And then there was one.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Economics was surprisingly one of Kat’s favorite subjects.  She liked learning the different inner workings of the economy and the ease of the class.  Coach Finstock always somehow derailed the lessons to lacrosse, so it gave Kat the freedom of teaching herself.  As a slight control freak, she enjoyed that more than most students.  Kat was one of the first students to arrive, but more and more students started to trickle in.  Finally, Stiles walked in with Spencer and Scott trailing behind him.  He was headed to his usual seat behind Kat, but Scott was adamant about having Stiles sitting behind him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Hey, Stiles, sit behind me, dude.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat watched as Stiles sent him a confused glance before he snatched his backpack from the desk he usually sat in and jumped across the aisle to steal the desk from Allison, who had quickly made her way to the desk.  Allison sent him a pleading look to let her have the seat and, Stiles being the nice guy he is, spared Scott an apologetic glance before retreating to the desk behind Kat.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat’s brows furrowed as she turned around to address Stiles, “What was that about?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles tried to blow it off as nothing, “Ah, nothing, really.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Didn’t look like nothing.” Kat said, lowering her voice as she leaned across his desk, “Why is Scott avoiding Allison?  Did something happen with them?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No!” Stiles loudly said, shaking his head. “No, uh, you know Scott.  He’s just weird about stuff, especially relationship stuff.  You know that.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat was completely unconvinced but didn’t get a chance to respond before all conversations in the classroom were cut off by Coach Finstock dropping a heavy book on his desk.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Let’s settle down.” Coach Finstock began, “Let’s start with a quick summary of last night’s reading.  Greenberg put your hand down.  Everybody knows you did the reading.  How about, uh . . . McCall.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Normally, Kat would have chuckled along at the daily dig at Greenberg, but something about that day just made her frown as she began to summarize the reading.  Finally, Coach Finstock cut her off, “Sorry, McCall, not you.  You always do the reading.  I wanna hear from the other one.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What?” Scott asked, caught off guard as he shared a look with Kat.  Kat shrugged and settled into her chair, giving her brother an encouraging look.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“The reading.” Coach Finstock said, moseying around his desk to lean on its front as he looked at Scott.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Last night’s reading?” Scott asked, his heartbeat rising as he started to panic.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Coach Finstock shrugged, “How about, uh, the reading of The Gettysburg Address?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What?” Scott asked again as the class started to chuckle around him.  Kat scowled at the girl beside her, effectively quieting her as Coach Finstock continued to embarrass Scott in front of the class.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“That was sarcasm.  You familiar with the term “sarcasm,” McCall?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Very,” Scott answered, looking over his shoulder towards Stiles and Spencer, seated behind his sister.  Kat glanced behind her to see her brother’s friends smirk and wink at Scott.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Did you do the reading or not?” Coach Finstock asked.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott hesitated, “Um . . . I think I forgot.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Coach Finstock was not having his excuses, “Nice work, McCall.  It’s not like you’re not averaging a “D” in this class.  Come on, buddy.  You know I can’t keep you on the team if you have a “D.” How about you summarize, uh, the previous night’s reading?  No?  How about the, uh, the night before that?  How about you summarize anything you’ve ever read.  In your entire life.” Scott started to stammer an excuse, but Coach Finstock was getting too angry to let him speak, “No?  A blog?  How about, uh, how about the back of a cereal box?  No?  How about the “Adults Only” warning from your favorite website you visit every night?  Anything?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat wouldn’t stand for someone, especially a teacher, talking down to her brother like that. “Leave him alone, Coach!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Was I speaking to you, Kat?” Coach Finstock rounded on Kat before refocusing on her brother. “Thank you, McCall.  Thank you.  Thank you, McCall!  Thank you for extinguishing any last flicker of hope I have for your generation.  You just blew it for everybody!  Thanks.  Next practice, you can start with suicide runs.  Unless that’s too much reading.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat cursed under her breath and gathered her books as she stood up and started to leave the classroom.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Now, where do you think you’re going, McCall?” Coach Finstock spit.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat whipped around with anger glowing in her eyes, “I’m going to report you for verbally abusing a student.  I’d be happy to make it two students if you want to degrade and humiliate me in front of the class as well.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Coach Finstock glowered at Kat before waving her off, dismissing her completely.  Kat curtly nodded and spun on her heel to leave the classroom.  The class watched her leave in shock, having never seen her react that way before.  She usually was quiet as Coach Finstock spoke however he wanted to his students, but today she couldn’t stand it.  Kat had been irritable all day, because of what she didn't know, but that was the last straw.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat must have fallen asleep when she got home because the next thing she knew, the moon was casting a milky light into her room, and her phone was ringing.  Kota whined and jumped off the bed to get away from the loud tones coming from Kat’s phone.  Kat sighed and rubbed her eyes as she answered the phone.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Hello?” Kat asked, clearing the grogginess from her voice.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Kat!” Lydia’s voice sharply said, “What are you doing right now?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat sighed, knowing that she wouldn’t get out of whatever Lydia wanted to do, “Nothing, just woke up from a nap.  What’s up?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Your brother bailed on Allison, so we’re going to pick her up and go bowling as a group.  Lexi’s already there with Spencer.  We’ll even go get Stiles if you want.” Lydia informed her, continuing so Kat wouldn’t have any room to argue, “So, come downstairs.  We’re parked outside.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat jumped up from her bed and looked out the window, seeing Jackson’s dark gray Porsche parked behind her SUV out on the street.  Kat hummed, “Alright, fine.  Give me ten minutes.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat hung up and flipped on the light in her room.  She glanced at herself in the mirror above her dresser and sighed, seeing the smudged makeup and tangled hair resulting from her nap.  She fixed herself up and grabbed a jacket before heading downstairs to put a scoop of food in Kota’s bowl and refill her water.  She made sure Kota would be okay for the night before kissing her on the nose and leaving the house, her phone and keys in hand as she made her way to Jackson’s car.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia jumped out and gave Kat a quick hug before they settled into the car and drove through Beacon Hills to the Argent household.  Kat was squished in the back, having no leg room left in the tiny backseat of the vehicle.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You know, this car is not meant for more than two passengers, Jackson,” Kat said, killing the silence in the car as she leaned up between the front seats.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Normally, there’s just Lydia and me, makes it much more intimate,” Jackson smirked, looking over at Lydia with a wink.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Disgust covered Kat’s features as she groaned, “I don’t want to know what you guys have done on this backseat; I’d rather keep my dinner in my stomach.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson chuckled and looked in the rearview mirror to give Kat an amused glance as Lydia called Allison.  They had turned onto her street.  As soon as Allison answered, Lydia put the phone on speaker and held it up.  Jackson spoke first.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Lydia says we’re coming to get you.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison let out an exasperated sigh, “Please don’t.  I’m sure he’s on his way.  He’s only . . . ” she trailed off, and Kat guessed she was checking the time, “ . . . twenty-six minutes late.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You hear that?” Lydia snapped, “First, it’s “he’s only twenty six-minutes late,” a month later, it’s “he only hits me when he’s drunk.” Slippery slope, Allison.  Slippery slope.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Don’t talk down on my brother like that, Lyds.” Kat sharply said, earning a groan from her redheaded friend.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“It was just an example.  Your brother’s too lame to drink.” Lydia said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson decided to cut them off, “We’re picking you up, Allison.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No,” Allison insisted, but even Kat could hear the sadness in her voice.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Too late,” Jackson said as he pulled up to her driveway.  Allison glared at the car before letting out a huff and heading to the car.  Jackson rolled down his window as Allison came up beside his door, “Lydia gets what Lydia wants.  Come on, get in.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison’s phone beeped, and as she checked her phone, Kat’s vibrated in her pocket.  Lydia leaned across the center console with another sarcastic comment of her own, “Hmm, is that him with the best explanation ever as to why he’s half a freaking hour late?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Not exactly,” Allison shook her head, “He just texted me to meet him at the school.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Stiles texted me the same thing,” Kat said, showing her phone to everyone else in the car.  Jackson grumbled something about how Scott and Stiles were annoying as he got out of the vehicle and allowed Allison to squeeze into the backseat with Kat.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The ride to the school was uncomfortable, to say the least.  The two girls in the backseat of the Porsche were shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip, while Jackson and Lydia rode comfortably up front.  The conversation in the car wasn’t any more entertaining.  Allison and Kat quietly conversed in the backseat about what Scott and Stiles would possibly want with them at the school while the couple up front debated over going bowling or seeing a new movie.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson parked at the school, and as Allison and Kat climbed out of the backseat, Jackson asked what they were doing there.  Kat let Allison answer and show Jackson the text she had gotten as she looked over the vehicles in the lot.  Unsurprisingly, Stiles' blue jeep was parked in the lot, but an unfamiliar sleek black Camaro was parked behind it.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“They lock the doors at night, you know.” Lydia smartly said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“That one’s open.” Allison pointed out, seeing that the main door to the school was propped wide open.  Lydia rolled her eyes and slumped in her seat, earning a giggle from Kat as she, Allison, and Jackson started walking towards the school.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You don’t need me to state the obvious, right?” Jackson said, looking at the girls with a grin.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“That it looks like they broke into the school?  No, pretty obvious.  And typical of them.” Kat answered, shaking her head and looking into the dark school with hesitation.  Why would they ask them to meet them at the school?

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson looked between the girls in front of him, “Do you want me to come with you guys?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat and Allison looked at each other and shrugged.  Allison hummed, “Mmm, it’s okay.  We’re pretty tough; we can handle ourselves.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The girls nodded and started heading towards the door before Jackson spoke up, “Hey, guys . . . ” Once the girls turned back to him, he paused, now self-conscious of what he was about to say.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison smirked, “You have this look like you were about to say, “be careful.””

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson recovered, slipping into his natural cool as he handed a flashlight to Kat, “I am.” Kat took the flashlight and glanced at Allison, knowing precisely what she was thinking.  It was nice to see Jackson concerned for someone other than himself.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What?” Jackson asked, earning a laugh from the girls in front of him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“That concerned look on you, I’ve never seen it before.” Allison smartly said, smiling at Jackson.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, I am concerned,” Jackson said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, it’s a good look on you, Whittemore,” Kat smiled.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison shone the flashlight on her face and lowered her voice, “Don’t worry.  We’ll be right back.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat and Allison laughed and jogged up the stairs to the door, now forgetting their fears of entering the high school at night.  They shared an amused glance as they quietly conversed and decided where to go to look for Scott and Stiles.  They wandered down the halls, peeking into classroom after classroom and coming up empty.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison decided to fill the silence that had stretched between them, “So, that thing you pulled in class with Coach was pretty major.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat shook her head and groaned, “I don’t even know why I did that, to be honest.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, I’m glad you did.  I’ve only been here for a few weeks, but I’ve wished someone would stand up to him since my first day.” Allison chuckled, nudging Kat’s shoulder with her own.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat sighed, “I sometimes question my sanity, you know.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison laughed, “Is that because of your snippy outburst in class or because we’re wandering around the school at night?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I hang out with Scott and Stiles almost as much as with you, Lexi, and Lydia.  Scott’s my brother, and Stiles is my, well, Stiles, and this is their idea of a fun time.  Leading two girls around a dark and creepy school for apparently no reason.” Kat explained, shaking her head as she chuckled, “Are we crazy for coming here?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison hummed, bobbing her head from side to side before shaking her head, “No, I don’t think so.  I think we’d be crazy if we split up.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Ah, shoot.” Kat grinned, “I was just about to suggest splitting up.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison giggled, but her smile slowly dropped, “We might find them faster if we did.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat agreed, “Probably.  You’ve got your phone, right?” Allison nodded and held it up.  Kat handed her the flashlight and grabbed her phone from her pocket, “I’ll take the upstairs, you’ll finish down here, and then we’ll call each other if we find them or come up empty-handed?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Sounds good,” Allison said, and with a quick nod to each other, the girls started walking down opposite ends of the hallway.  Kat had wound up in the science wing upstairs, suddenly bored and slightly disappointed that she hadn’t found Stiles or Scott yet.  It was like a bad game of Hide and Seek, and she wasn’t even sure she was seeking anyone.  Maybe the boys weren’t there at all.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat had reached the end of the hallway and still hadn’t found any sign that the Stilinski boy or her brother were at the school.  She sighed and started to dial Stiles' number to scold him for sending her and Allison to the school for no reason but decided against it.  She felt that argument was better suited to happen face to face.  So she instead dialed Allison’s number, grumbling as it rang.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Did you find them?” Allison asked as soon as she answered the phone.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, they’re not upstairs.  I honestly don’t think they’re here, Alli.” Kat sighed, starting back down the stairs to the main doors. “I’m gonna go back to the car.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, I might, too,” Allison said, disappointment evident in her tone.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat frowned, “I’m sorry that Scott did this.  I don’t know what he’s thinking.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“It’s not your fault, Kat.” Allison quickly said. “C’mon, maybe by the time we get to the bowling alley, they’ll still be selling nachos.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat halfheartedly chuckled, “Yeah, maybe.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’ll meet you in the lobby,” Allison said, ending the call promptly after.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat sighed and had just exited the stairwell when her phone rang again, Lydia’s contact picture appearing on the screen.  Kat swiped the answer button and immediately spoke, “Hey, we can’t seem to find them.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, then, let’s go.  I am thoroughly creeped out right now and would rather be bowling.” Lydia snapped.  Kat rolled her eyes and sighed.  She could hear Lydia argue with Jackson on the other end before she said, “We’ll be in the lobby.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, give us a second, and we’ll be right there,” Kat said, hanging up the phone and pocketing it.  She rounded the corner that led toward the lobby as a set of doors slammed shut ahead of her.  She saw Scott and Stiles skid to a stop as Allison joined them from a different hallway.  Kat started jogging and caught Stiles' eyes.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The Stilinski boy spazzed and met Kat in the lobby, grabbing her arms and holding her close as he sharply asked, “What are you doing?  Why are you here?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What do you mean?  You asked me to come.” Kat said, yanking her arms out of his grasp as she narrowed her eyes at him. “Thanks for the incredibly creepy wild goose chase, by the way.  This is exactly what I wanted to do with my night.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I didn’t ask you to come,” Stiles insisted.  Kat went to argue, unconvinced by his word alone, but Stiles cut her off with wide eyes, “Trust me, I didn’t.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat’s heart dropped as she pulled out her phone, “You didn’t send me this text?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles read the text, and his face paled.  He shook his head, “No, I didn’t.  Did you drive here?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat looked back at Scott and Allison, fear settling into her heart, “No, Jackson did.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Jackson’s here, too?” Scott loudly asked.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, and Lydia.” Allison quickly said, “What’s going on?  Who sent us these texts?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison’s phone started ringing before the boys could conjure up an excuse.  She answered it and asked, “Where are you?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎As soon as she asked the question, the door behind the group opened, revealing Jackson and Lydia.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Finally,” Lydia sighed, looking annoyed at each person around her. “Can we go now?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The group collectively nodded and started to head towards the exit when a loud thud was heard overhead.  Kat jumped, and if it were even possible, her heart dropped even lower.  The pipes creaked, and another thud was heard, somehow louder than the first.  She grabbed Stiles' hand out of fear, needing some form of comfort as the night took a drastic turn from slightly frightening to downright terrifying.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Run!” Scott suddenly shouted, and Stiles took off in the direction of the stairs, pulling Kat behind him as the group trailed after them.  A loud crash followed by one last thunderous thud sounded behind the group, and Kat glanced behind her to see a mass of black on the linoleum flooring surrounded by pieces of the ceiling.  She shrieked and allowed Stiles to lead her through the hallways leading towards the cafeteria.  Unlike any dog Kat had ever heard, monstrous barking echoed off the lockers.  The group ran faster than they ever had in their life and burst through the doors to the cafeteria, panting and shaking with fear and adrenaline.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott shut the doors and slid the bolts in place just as Jackson started to assist him in barricading the doors by moving a freezer in front of it and stacking chairs up on top of it.  Kat seemed to be shutting down, watching helplessly as the group worked to stop whatever had chased them into the room from reaching them.  Stiles stood beside her, still gripping her hand as he examined the room.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Scott, wait, not here,” Stiles suddenly said, but the only person listening to him was Kat.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison was slowly starting to freak out as she asked Scott the question on everyone’s minds, “What was that?  Scott, what was that?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What came out of the ceiling?” Lydia shrilly asked, tears pooling in her eyes as she watched Scott and Jackson work.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Will you just help me?” Scott directed, ignoring their questions as he piled chairs onto the freezer.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Guys . . . ” Stiles drawled, losing patience as Kat’s head whipped around from the group to Stiles.  Stiles started speaking louder, “Can we just wait a second?  You guys, listen to me.  Can we wait a second?  Guys?  Stiles, talking?  Can we hang on one second, please?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat was slowly regaining feeling, almost like a computer restarting, and suddenly she was shouting to get the group’s attention, “Hey!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The group jumped and stopped moving, focusing on Stiles and Kat.  Stiles gave Kat’s hand a gentle squeeze as he thanked her before returning to his sarcastic self, even in times of complete terror, “Okay, nice work.  Really beautiful job, everyone.  Now, what should we do about the twenty-foot wall of windows?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles dramatically motioned to the wall-to-wall windows behind himself and Kat, watching as everyone around him let their faces drop as they realized their next problem.  Kat felt like her throat was swelling with the anxiety coursing through her veins and stepped closer to Stiles, her free hand reaching up to wrap around his bicep as she tried to calm herself down.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison was the first to speak, looking at Scott with wild and questioning eyes, “Can somebody please explain to me what’s going on because I’m freaking out here.  And I would like to know why.” Scott looked at her, jaw slacked, before disbanding from the group to lean on a table as he figured out what to say.  Allison’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion, “Scott?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles carefully watched the people around him and glanced down at Kat as he spoke up, “Somebody killed the janitor.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What?” Kat gasped, looking up at Stiles with horror covering her features.  She knew that everyone around her shared the same expression.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, the janitor’s dead.” Stiles restated.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat started shaking her head and dropped Stiles' hand as she took a few steps back, “What are you talking about?  Stiles, this is a seriously messed up joke.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Who killed him?” Jackson asked, believing Stiles' words and moving to stand in front of the girls as if to protect them from Stiles.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, no, no,” Lydia started to murmur, “This was supposed to be over; the mountain lion killed -- ”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Don’t you get it?” Jackson snapped, “There wasn’t a mountain lion.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Who was it?” Kat asked, the revelation of information waking something inside her.  She was slowly separating herself from the emotions of the situation, becoming independent, and starting to rationally think.  If there was a way to survive this, she would think of it.  But she needed the information necessary to do it. “What does he want?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison was starting to derail, becoming the opposite of Kat. “What’s happening?  Scott!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎It was almost as if Allison’s voice broke his trance, and he stood up straight as he stammered an excuse, “I -- I don’t know.  I just . . . If we go out there, he’s going to kill us.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Us?” Lydia asked, disbelief and fear laced through her words, “He’s going to kill us?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Who?” Kat repeated. “Who is it, Scott?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The group stared at Scott as he struggled to develop any form of an answer.  Finally, he sighed and shook his head, still facing away from the group as he finally decided on what to say. “It’s Derek.  It’s Derek Hale.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat’s brows knitted together in confusion.  Derek Hale?  She hadn’t heard that name in years.  She remembered hearing the stories about how his entire family died in a fire ten years ago, but she never knew that he stuck around.  And now he was killing people?  Why?

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles' mouth dropped in shock as the news settled over everyone.  Jackson was in disbelief, much like the girls around him, as he asked, “Derek killed the janitor?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Are you sure?” asked Allison.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I saw him,” Scott insisted.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia still wanted to believe that it was an animal, “The mountain lion -- ”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No!” Scott cut her off, “Derek killed them.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“All of them?” Kat asked.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yes, starting with his own sister.” Scott continued.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“The bus driver?” Allison asked.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“And the guy in the video store.  It’s been Derek the whole time.  He’s in here with us.” Scott quickly said, finally turning to the group, “And if we don’t get out now, he’s going to kill us, too.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The group once again fell into silence.  They stared at Scott with varying expressions, disbelief, distrust, fear.  It was beginning to become too much for Scott, and Kat could see it, so she decided to speak up with the most logical solution to their problem.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Call the cops.” Kat simply said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No,” Stiles immediately answered, oddly calm for their situation.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What do you mean, “no?”” Jackson spat, stepping closer to Stiles as if to intimidate him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles shrugged, “I mean no.  Do you wanna hear it in Spanish?  No.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Although she was bewildered by his opposition to calling the police given their situation, Kat couldn’t help but crack a grin at how he added a slight Spanish accent onto the last “no” he said to Jackson.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Look, Derek killed three people, okay?” Stiles continued, trying to get everyone on his side. “We don’t know what he’s armed with.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Your dad is armed with an entire sheriff’s department.  Call him.” Jackson demanded, clenching his jaw angrily as Lydia started searching for her phone in her purse.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’m calling.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, Lydia, would you just hold on a second?” Stiles quickly said, moving forward to take the phone out of her hand, but Jackson stopped him by forcefully pushing his shoulder back.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat jumped between them, holding a hand out to stop them from pouncing on each other as Lydia called the police, “Leave each other alone; we don’t need two murderers in the school right now.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The boys glared at one another before they turned to Lydia, who had finally gotten a hold of the police.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yes, we’re at Beacon Hills High School.  We’re trapped, and we need you to -- ” Lydia started but was quickly cut off by the dispatcher.  Her brows furrowed as she pulled the phone away from her ear, “She hung up on me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“The police hung up on you?” Allison asked, just as confused as the rest of the group.  But, at least they could agree that it was strange for the police to hang up on a caller.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“She said they got a tip warning them that there are gonna be prank calls about a break-in at the high school,” Lydia explained. “She said that if I called again that they’re gonna trace it and have me arrested.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Call again, Lyds.” Kat urgently said, but Stiles shot down her idea yet again.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, they won’t trace a cell.” Stiles said, “They’ll send a car to your house before they send anyone here.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison started stuttering, wholly baffled, as she ran her hands through her hair, “What the -- what -- what is this?  Why does Derek wanna kill us?  Why is he killing anyone?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Five pairs of eyes turned to Scott, silently asking him to fill in the blanks.  All they wanted was answers, and all Scott wanted to do was give them to them, but he didn’t know what he could tell them.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Why’s everyone looking at me?” Scott suddenly asked.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Is he the one that sent the texts to Kat and Allison?” Lydia asked, eyes widening at the realization.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No!” Scott quickly said, covering his fear with confusion, “I mean, I don’t know.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Is he the one that called the police?” Allison asked.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I don’t know!” Scott loudly snapped.  Allison’s jaw dropped in shock, and she stepped behind Kat to distance herself from Scott.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles decided to settle the group down a little, so they could rationally think, “Alright, why don’t we just back off the throttle here, yeah?” Stiles nodded at the people around him before pulling Scott away to speak in hushed tones, away from the carefully listening ears of the group.  Jackson and the girls stood idly by and watched as Scott and Stiles conversed, and they could tell that it was starting to become an argument.  Jackson hated not doing anything to benefit them in their current predicament and interrupted them with an insult.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Okay, assheads,” Jackson began, “New plan.  Stiles calls his useless dad and tells him to send someone with a gun and decent aim.  Are we good with that?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat watched as Stiles' face paled, realizing that they were out of options.  His jaw hung open as he shook his head, silently saying that was the last thing he wanted to do.  Kat could tell that her brother wanted to side with his best friend, but he had to do what was best for everyone.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“He’s right,” Scott finally said, catching Stiles' eye apologetically, “Tell him the truth if you have to; just call him.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles lowered his voice, but Kat still caught his words to Scott, “I’m not watching my dad get eaten alive.” Kat’s eyes widened at his words, but before she could question him on what he meant, Jackson decided to play hero and reached out to Stiles.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Alright, give me the phone.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles rounded on Jackson and punched him square in the jaw, sending the Whittemore boy down to the floor with a hand covering his face and shock spreading over his features.  Allison called out for the boy as Kat gasped and rushed over to Stiles to separate him from Jackson if the Whittemore boy decided that he wanted to settle the score.  Allison knelt beside Jackson and whipped around with a slightly horrified look as she met Stiles' eyes.  The Stilinski boy was breathing heavily as he recovered from what he had just done and pushed Kat and Scott off of him before reluctantly pulling out his phone and dialing his father’s phone number.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Dad, hey, it’s me.” Stiles began, dropping his arm to his side as he sighed, “And it’s your voicemail.  Look, I need you to call me back now.  Like, right now.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Loud banging noises suddenly echoed through the cafeteria as everyone jumped and turned to the source.  The barricaded door started to rattle as something repeatedly and forcefully pounded on the other side.  Kat instinctively snatched Stiles' hand in her own as the group retreated to the back of the room.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“We’re at the school, okay?” Stiles continued his voicemail to his father, somehow sounding calm through it all.  Kat knew it was so his father could hear the other noises in the room so he’d believe the danger they were in. “Dad, we’re at the school.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The door continued to shake and rattle as whatever was on the other side continued their animalistic rampage to get to the teens, screws falling out of the hinges and the bolts bending out of place.  Kat jumped with each bang and tightened her grip on Stiles' hand.  Somehow, in its frantic state, her brain still managed to think of a way for them to escape.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“The kitchen,” she suddenly said, “The door out of the kitchen leads to the stairwell.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Which only goes up,” Scott reminded her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Up is better than here.” Stiles agreed with Kat and turned to direct the group to the kitchen door.  The group started running again, hurriedly following one after the other to make it to the temporary safety of the second floor.  They came out to the top of the stairwell and immediately checked the classroom doors to see if any were open.  Kat looked around and realized they were in the science wing and took off down the hall, quietly telling everyone to follow her.  She remembered that while she was searching for Scott and Stiles, she found that one of her teachers had left his classroom unlocked.  The group filed in after her, and as soon as the door was shut and locked, Scott placed a stool under the doorknob for an extra layer of protection.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎With wide eyes, they all tried to quiet their breathing and listen for any movement in the silence that was suddenly suffocating them.  Kat had an iron grip on Stiles and Scott’s arms as she stood between them.  Scott went to check the window in the door, but Kat and Stiles stopped him as they suddenly heard a faint growl-like sound in the hallway.  Kat’s eyes filled with fearful tears as she watched a shadow cross over the window in the door, but they soon became relieved tears as it passed by, not detecting the group in the classroom.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Jackson, how many people can fit in your car?” Scott quietly asked, formulating a plan to escape now that he thought they had a better chance of getting out alive.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Five, if someone squeezes on someone’s lap,” Jackson answered.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Five?” Allison scoffed, “Kat and I barely fit in the back.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I think we could all fit, given the circumstances,” Kat quickly said, but she was cut off by Stiles.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“It doesn’t matter,” Stiles whispered, shaking his head as he looked at everyone around him. “There’s no getting out without drawing attention.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What about this?” Kat suddenly asked, moving across the room to the emergency exit door behind the teacher’s desk.  The group followed her as she said, “This leads to the roof.  We can go down the fire escape to the parking lot in, like, seconds.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles shot down the idea, “That’s a deadbolt.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“The janitor has a key,” Scott said, realizing that Kat had a good plan.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You mean his body has it,” Stiles said, shaking his head at the McCall siblings.  Kat scowled and crossed her arms over her chest.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I can get it,” Scott said, immediately earning a hushed yet stern and sarcastic protest from Kat.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, gee, that sounds like an incredibly terrible plan; what else you got?” Kat spat, shaking her head at him as she joined Jackson, Lydia, and Allison by the door again.  She heard a quiet quarrel between her brother and Stiles before Scott came up by her side in front of Allison, indicating that he was serious about getting the key from the janitor’s body.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Are you serious?” Allison asked, taking the same stance as Kat and crossing her arms over her chest as she disagreed with his choice.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, it’s the best plan.” Scott tried to defend himself, shrugging slightly. “Someone has to get the key if we wanna get out of here.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You can’t go out there unarmed,” Allison said, fear reflecting in her eyes in the dark room.  Scott defeatedly looked around the room and picked up the thing closest to him, which happened to be a cartoon hand pointer that the teacher would occasionally use in a lame attempt to earn the class' attention.  The group gave him disapproving glares.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, it’s better than nothing.” Scott sighed.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat shook her head, “There’s gotta be something else.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“There is,” Lydia spoke up, her eyes locked on a cabinet behind Allison.  It was the cabinet that held all of the chemicals they used in class.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles, ever the downer, smartly said, “What are we gonna do?  Throw acid on him?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No,” Lydia shortly said, “Like a firebomb.  In there is everything you need to make a self-igniting molotov cocktail.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Self-igniting -- ”  Stiles began.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Molotov cocktail.  Lydia, you’re brilliant!” Kat finished, celebrating her friend’s brain with a bright smile.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia, usually one to soak up any attention doted on her, shuffled uncomfortably under the watchful eyes she was receiving for being more intelligent than Jackson could be.  Finally, she shrugged, “No, I think I read it somewhere.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Although impressed by her smarts, Stiles had to remind them that they couldn’t utilize them. “We don’t have a key for that either.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson sighed and rolled his eyes before breaking the glass with his elbow.  Kat and Lydia rushed forward and grabbed all the necessary ingredients for a self-igniting molotov cocktail, carefully setting them on the closest desk so Lydia could cook up the firebomb.  Kat and Jackson handed her any chemical she asked for without hesitation, but when she asked for the sulfuric acid from Jackson, the Whittemore boy paused.  His hand hovered over one chemical before he grabbed a different one, and Lydia nor Kat checked the label before Lydia poured it into the beaker with the concoction and put the cork stopper in the top of the beaker.  She held it out to Scott, but Allison still wasn’t okay with the plan.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No,” the Argent girl suddenly stepped forward, looking at Scott pleadingly. “No, this is insane; you can’t do this.  You cannot go out there.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“We can’t just sit here waiting for Stiles' dad to check his messages.” Scott contradicted her, ready to play hero and save them all.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You could die,” Allison sharply said, “Don’t you get that?  He’s killed three people.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat hadn’t wholly thought of that.  Her brother could die.  She was suddenly back on Allison’s side, but Scott bulldozed over anything she was about to say.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“And we’re next.  Somebody has to do something.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott started to move towards the classroom door, but Allison stood in his way, sobbing as she tried again to change his mind, “Scott, just stop.  Do you remember -- do you remember when you told me you knew whether or not I was lying?  That I had a tell?” Scott nodded. “So do you.  You’re a horrible liar, and you’ve been lying all night.  Just -- just, please.  Please don’t go.  Please don’t leave us.  Please.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott hesitated, looking around at the group in the room.  Kat moved around the table to assist Allison in getting Scott to stay, but Stiles had gently wrapped an arm around her and kept her close to him.  He was quietly whispering reassurances in her ear as she cried.  The reality of the situation was finally settling in, and she didn’t know what to do.  Scott met her eyes, and he felt his heart break, but he had already made up his mind.  He had to save everyone.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Lock it behind me,” Scott told Stiles, turning to make a quick escape, but Allison was just as fast.  Kat stepped forward, but Stiles tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her back as Allison fell back on her last resort.  She grabbed Scott’s face and kissed him.  Scott wanted nothing more than to relax into her and stay precisely where he was, but he also knew that he needed to save his sister and friends.  Scott pulled away and tried to give everyone a bold look before finally slipping out of the classroom and into the hallway.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles moved forward with Kat to lock the door after Scott, and he was prepared to ask Jackson to hold her back, but she instead reached out and wrapped her arms around Allison.  The girls quietly cried in each other’s arms, not wanting to think that that would be the last time they saw Scott.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The tension in the room was not ignored as Kat and Allison calmed down, somehow finding it in themselves to put some faith in Scott that he could evade Derek to get the keys and get them all to safety.  The group settled on and around the desk near the door.  Allison sat atop it, Kat stood beside her with Stiles stuck like glue to her side, and Jackson and Lydia towards the end of the table.  Kat had an arm linked through Stiles' and the other resting on Allison’s leg, calming herself down with the physical contact.  She knew that she’d be a mess of anxiety and fright without them.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison sighed, growing tired of the silence around them.  She was the type of person to voice her thoughts, and when she didn’t do that for long periods of time, especially in times of high stress, she became incredibly antsy.  She leaned forward and started chewing on her nails before voicing everyone’s current thoughts.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I don’t get this.” She began, “I don’t get why he’s out there and why he left us.  And I can’t . . . I can’t stop my hands from shaking.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson had a soft, almost sympathetic look on his face as he reached out and took her hands in his own. “It’s okay.  Okay, it’s gonna be okay.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia’s eyes snapped to the pair before flashing up to Kat’s, a betrayed glint shining in them.  Kat shook her head, trying to silently tell her that it meant nothing and that he was just trying to comfort a friend, but the red color flushing Lydia’s cheeks told Kat that she wasn’t buying it.  Kat wasn’t so sure that she was, either.  She hadn’t missed the look he gave Allison when he told them to be careful before they entered the high school earlier that night.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia busied herself with anything she could in her jealous state, and her eyes settled on the chemicals still sitting on the teacher’s desk.  Her eyes narrowed as she looked over the bottles and her head tipped to the side.  She was suddenly questioning the chemicals she had put in the molotov cocktail.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Jackson, you handed me the sulfuric acid, right?” Lydia asked, eyes still trained on the chemicals. “It has to be sulfuric acid.  It won’t ignite if it’s not.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I gave you exactly what you asked for, didn’t I?” Jackson snapped. “Maybe Kat mixed up a chemical, don’t accuse me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia flinched and took the most minor step away from her boyfriend, shaking her head. “No, I’m sure you did.  I was just making sure.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat’s heart dropped as she looked at the chemicals.  Anger suddenly filled her body as she stood up straight, and her eyes glared daggers in Jackson’s direction. “I swear to god, Whittemore.  If you let your stupid ego get in the way because you couldn’t stand for someone else to be the center of attention and my brother ends up dead, Derek won’t be the only one you have to worry about.  I’ll kill you before he even has the chance to -- ”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles reached out to pull Kat back into his side before she could start to physically attack Jackson when a deafening roar started to thunder through the school, causing the locks hanging from lockers to rattle and clank against the metal.  Kat cried out and covered her ears, and Jackson suddenly fell to the floor, a hand flying to the back of his neck as he screamed in pain.  Lydia and Allison collapsed beside him as Stiles tried to steady Kat, who was wincing and wobbling on her feet as she groaned in anguish.  A sharp pain pierced her ears, almost as if a needle was being pushed into her eardrum.  She had quieted down as the roar faded into nothingness, as did the pain in her ears, and Jackson had been the one to earn everyone’s attention as Lydia and Allison stood him up.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, I’m fine.” Jackson sharply said, stumbling away from his girlfriend with a hand still clamped onto the back of his neck. “Seriously, I’m okay.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“That didn’t sound okay at all,” Allison probed, trying to get him to open up and let them in so they could help him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What’s that on the back of your neck?” Stiles mumbled, reaching a hand out to pull the collar of Jackson’s jacket down, but his hand was slapped away before it could get too close.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson shook his head, “I said I’m fine.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“It’s been there for days,” Lydia said, trying to egg him on and start yet another fight. “He won’t tell me what happened.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“As if you actually care.” Jackson quipped, effectively shutting Lydia up.  The people around him scowled.  They all knew Lydia truly cared for Jackson, no matter how horribly he treated her.  Kat grumbled and stepped forward to give him a piece of her mind, but Stiles quickly reacted and held her back, locking his arms around her and quietly telling her that he wasn’t worth it.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia, however, didn’t have someone to hold her back, and the couple engaged in a full-blown argument.  Petty insults were being thrown back and forth, but Kat was focused on the sounds outside of the classroom.  A faint sound that reminded her of nails scratching on metal quietly echoed through the hallway, and soon following was the sound of the lock sliding into place on the classroom door.  Kat, who had slouched against Stiles' chest, suddenly stood up straight as she listened to the lock break in the door.  She gasped and forced her way out of Stiles' hold, rushing towards the door and calling out her brother’s name.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎This earned the group's attention, and suddenly everyone was flush against the door, calling out Scott’s name and letting questions tumble out of their mouths in their confused state.  Allison grabbed the handle and was furiously twisting it to get it open, but she knew it was no use.  They were safely locked in, and Scott was locked out with the murderer.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison was getting more and more intense, banging on the door and shouting her boyfriend’s name until Lydia yelled at her to stop.  Kat pulled Allison away from the door as they all turned to look at Lydia with expectant faces.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Do you hear that?” Lydia asked, looking towards the windows with a hopeful expression.  The group immediately quieted down, listening hard for what Lydia had heard.  Kat let out a relieved gasp when she heard it, collapsing into Allison as grateful tears pricked her eyes.  Sirens.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Listen,” Lydia breathed, a smile forming on her face for the first time all night.  The group ran towards the windows, watching with thankfulness in their hearts as flashing red and blue lights filled the parking lot.  Noah had gotten Stiles' voicemail.  They were saved.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat sat in the back of an ambulance as they checked her over, and a deputy took her statement.  Besides a few bruises from hitting her limbs on walls in their haste to survive and an ever-growing headache, she was fine.  The EMT, which happened to be the one that she had shadowed just a week prior, just wanted to make sure that she didn’t have any substantial injuries (“Your mom will kill me if I don’t do a thorough check, we both know she would,” said the EMT).  She waited for her friends to be released from the other ambulances, but she took the time to think over everything she had been through that night.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎She was beyond happy to be alive and unharmed, but if it hadn’t been for Stiles, she wouldn’t have been in that mess in the first place.  So what were they doing there, anyway?  Was it really Derek that lured everyone there?  If so, why?  The two people she knew who had a connection with him weren’t there with them.  Was it a ploy, a distraction?  As much as she tried to make sense of everything, she couldn’t.  She was only sure of two things: she was utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically, and she was pissed at Stiles and Scott for bringing her into their problem, even if they didn’t send the texts to Allison and herself.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Finally, the EMT let her walk away from the ambulance.  She made a direct beeline to Stiles and wasted no time wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his chest, taking a deep breath to let out even the slightest bit of stress.  As soon as she had physical contact with him, she immediately felt better.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles chuckled and let his arms secure themselves around her.  He glanced at Scott, who was standing a few yards away, staring at them with a look that seemed to be a mixture of smugness and discomfort.  Stiles let his hands run up and down Kat’s back, knowing she needed to be comforted.  After another minute, Kat took a breath and stepped away from the Stilinski boy, feeling much better than before.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What was that for?” Stiles asked, a light tint of a blush dusting over his entire face.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat sweetly smiled, feeling her face heat up because she could make him blush.  She shrugged, feeling her smile drop into a grin. “Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m pissed that you dragged me into this, whether it was unintentional or not, but I’m glad you’re okay.  We all had a bad night, and I just needed a hug.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles chuckled and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets before Scott made a noise and waved him over.  Lydia was doing the same thing with Kat, and the McCall girl held up a finger before looking at Stiles again.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Thanks for keeping me from killing Jackson earlier.” Kat said, a grin toying on her lips before it fell into a genuine smile, “And thank you for holding my hand and keeping me relatively calm all night.  I didn’t think you’d remember how much that helps.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles made a ‘pfft’ sound and smiled at her, “Please, we’ve been married since kindergarten.  I know everything about my girl.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat rolled her eyes and felt a blush start to creep up her neck. “I’ll see you later, Stilinski.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏��� ‎‏‏‎ ‎The McCall girl shook her head and met with Lydia and Jackson at Jackson’s car before sliding into the backseat.  She took a long breath and watched the school fade away as Jackson drove back into town.  Now that the adrenaline had left her system, she was left with her true feelings about the situation.  She could have died.  Scott could have died.  Stiles, Allison, Lydia, Jackson.  All of them could have died.  And Scott left them to fulfill his dream of impressing Allison by being the hero when it could have cost him his life.  With a heavy heart, she shut her eyes and willed herself to not replay the events of the night.  At least, not yet.  She didn’t think she could handle it.

ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ's ɴᴏᴛᴇs: This is my favorite episode of the season, I had so much fun writing this chapter. Definitely some really cute Kat and Stiles moments, too! I'd love to know what you all think! As always, feedback is greatly appreciated! Love you all!

I do NOT consent to have my work posted, translated, or published to any third-party app or site without my explicit knowledge and consent. My works are exclusively available on Tumblr, Wattpad, and AO3under the username ghxst-heart.

© ɢʜxsᴛ-ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸

[ghxst-heart]

ᴄᴏᴜɢᴀʀ ᴏʀ ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴ ʟɪᴏɴ? ─ sᴛɪʟᴇs sᴛɪʟɪɴsᴋɪ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜰᴏᴜʀ ᴏғ ᴄʟᴀɴᴅᴇsᴛɪɴᴇ

ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪɴғᴏ: Main OC is Scott McCall's half-sister, there are six (6) original characters, friends to lovers with Stiles Stilinski, book one covers Seasons 1 & 2 of Teen Wolf ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 8.2k

ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀʟɪsᴛ | ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴘᴀʀᴛ | ɴᴇxᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛ

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎𝐀𝐒 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐀𝐒 Kat would have liked for the group from Saturday night to remain that laid back and relaxed around one another, she knew it couldn’t happen.  That rang true on Monday morning when Kat led the group of cheerleaders and lacrosse players she usually ate lunch with to Scott, Stiles', and Spencer’s table.  Kat set her tray down beside Stiles as he quietly reassured Scott of something, but she and Lydia only caught the last part of the conversation.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, you’re not canceling, okay?” Stiles reassured him, “You can’t just cancel your entire life.  We’ll figure it out.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Figure what out?” Lydia asked, settling beside Scott and looking expectantly between her friend’s brother and his friends.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The boys were dead silent, unable to hide their shocked expressions as Allison, Lexi, Jackson, and Danny settled at their table.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Spencer quietly whispered to Scott and Stiles, “Why is she sitting with us?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat shrugged and motioned to Allison, “Allison said that you were saving her a seat today, Scott.  Is this okay?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott nodded, but Spencer was still wondering why Lydia agreed to it. “But, she’s Lydia Martin, and she hasn’t even looked our way in the ten years we’ve known her.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, Spence, stop being so dramatic.  Now’s your chance to ogle over her up close and personal; take advantage of it.” Kat winked and nudged Stiles' shoulder before focusing on Jackson, who was standing at the head of the table.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson stared down at the lacrosse player seated beside Lydia, “Get up.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“How come you never ask Danny to get up?” The boy complained, motioning to the guy seated beside Kat.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Danny smirked at the rest of the table before responding with a witty comment, “Because I don’t stare at his girlfriend’s coin slot.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia grinned at Danny as the lacrosse player in Jackson’s seat reluctantly moved, and Jackson sat down.  Danny winked before bringing up the popular topic of conversation of the day.  There had been an attack on one of the school buses, and it had been the buzz around the school since the principal’s announcement.  Kat couldn’t go one class period without hearing another theory of what the students thought attacked the person on the bus. “So I hear they’re saying it’s some type of animal attack.  Probably a cougar.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I heard mountain lion.” Jackson smugly said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“A cougar is a mountain lion,” Lydia smartly said.  She paused, taking in everyone’s reactions to her sharp comment.  She put on a slightly confused expression and cocked her head to the side, raising her voice as she said, “Isn’t it?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Who cares?” Jackson chuckled.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat let out a chuff, cutting him off before he could get his next thought out.  She didn’t want to see Lydia play dumb, especially when she was so smart. “What if I care?  Maybe I didn’t know that a cougar was a mountain lion and wanted to thank your brilliant girlfriend for the information?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia sent Kat a grateful glance that Kat returned with a wink and a grin, but Jackson glared at the McCall girl, disregarding her words with his own rude comment, “Like I said, who cares?  The guy’s probably some homeless tweaker who’s gonna die anyway.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles spoke up, “Actually, I just found out who it is.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat glanced at Stiles' phone, reading the article he had just pulled up.  She knew Noah had most likely sent it to him after a long argument about invading police investigations and not waiting for news like everyone else had to.  Stiles tapped around on the page and started playing a video before holding the phone over the table so everyone could see.  The local news anchor started speaking as the video began, showing closeups of the bus and the parking lot.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“The sheriff’s department won’t speculate on details of the incident but confirmed the victim, Garrison Meyers, did survive the attack.  Meyers was taken to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I know this guy,” Scott suddenly said, glancing up at Kat and Stiles.  Kat’s brows furrowed, and her head tilted slightly as she looked at the man closely.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You do?” Lexi asked, glancing toward Kat to see if she knew him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, I know him, too.” Kat quietly said before speaking up, “Back when we used to take the bus when we lived with our dad.  He was the driver.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat caught the confused look that Scott, Stiles, and Spencer were exchanging but brushed it off as them being most comfortable among themselves.  She knew that it was weird for them to be around a group as large as the one that had taken up residence at their lunch table.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia was suddenly bored with the conversation and loudly made it known, “Can we talk about something slightly more fun, please?  Like, oh, where are we going tomorrow night?” Allison guiltily looked at Scott as Lydia continued, “You said you and Scott were hanging out tomorrow night, right?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Everyone looked at Scott and Allison expectantly, and Spencer and Stiles were eager to watch them scramble to explain that they wanted to have a private date rather than a group outing.  Allison swallowed her food as she tried to explain away her miswording about her plans for the upcoming night. “Um, we were thinking of what we were gonna do.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, I am not sitting home again watching lacrosse videos, so if the four of us are hanging out, we are doing something fun,” Lydia said.  Scott looked at Allison, questioning her choice of words as Kat shared a sideways look with Stiles, quickly earning Lydia’s attention. “Oh!  Kat, I know you have Tuesdays off, so why don’t you and Stiles come along?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat shook her head, holding back a laugh at the trainwreck Scott and Allison’s date had become. “Uh, we already have plans to study for that algebra test in a few days.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“We do?” Stiles asked, quietly grunting when Kat stomped on his foot under the table.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, we do.” Kat sweetly smiled at Stiles before turning her attention back to Lydia, “Thanks for the offer, though.  Maybe next time.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson, who was listening in on Scott and Allison’s conversation, suddenly spoke up, quickly taking the attention away from Kat and Stiles. “You know what else sounds fun?  Stabbing myself in the face with this fork.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia sighed and grabbed the fork from Jackson’s hand as Kat laughed.  Stiles groaned, seemingly upset that Lydia had stopped Jackson from actually stabbing himself in the face with a fork, not that he would have anyway.  He wouldn’t mess up his perfect face for anything, especially comedic purposes.  Lydia suddenly thought of an idea for their group hangout, “How about bowling?  You love to bowl!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles was busy making faces at Scott as he continued to eat, silently telling him that he was making a big mistake by agreeing to a group outing with Lydia and Jackson while Jackson scoffed, voicing his doubts against Scott’s and Allison’s bowling abilities.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, with actual competition.” Jackson quipped, letting his competitive side shine through and ruining the relaxed vibe the group had achieved a few days prior.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“How do you know we’re not actual competition?” Allison asked as she tauntingly raised an eyebrow.  Then, she looked at Scott, “You can bowl, right?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott shrugged, “Sort of.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Is it sort of, or yes?” Jackson asked.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yes,” Scott confidently said, feeling slightly threatened by how Jackson was looking at him. “In fact, I’m a great bowler.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat let out a loud laugh, turning to hide her face in Stiles' shoulder.  She felt bad for Scott, she really did, but she couldn’t help her reaction.  Scott was digging a hole for himself, and it was only getting larger with each passing second.  Luckily for her, hardly anyone had noticed her little outburst and continued on in their own conversations.  Finally, she sat up straight and sent a sorry look to Scott, one that he responded to with an eye roll and glare before returning to his conversation with Allison.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“That was subtle,” Stiles joked, poking her in the side and taking a bite of his food.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat scoffed, “I’m not known for subtly, Stilinski,” Kat giggled, falling into the relaxed conversation the group had returned to.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Later that evening, while Kat was finishing up charting at the main ER desk and Melissa was taking a small break, Scott walked in carrying takeout.  Melissa chuckled, earning Kat’s attention.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat smirked as Melissa started speaking, “Is my beautiful, talented, and wonderful son actually bringing us dinner?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Thought you guys wouldn’t mind skipping the cafeteria tonight.” Scott grinned, holding the food out to his mother and sister.   Kat eagerly took the food and started separating her own from Melissa’s as Melissa continued to talk to Scott.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You are the most thoughtful, loving, most conniving little con artist ever.  You are so not getting the car tomorrow night.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Mom.” Scott stuttered, earning a loud “Ha!” from Kat.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What?” Melissa smartly asked, “There’s a curfew, no car.  But, I will take this.” Melissa took the food that Kat hadn’t claimed and started towards the back room.  Before disappearing into the break room, she smiled at Scott, “Love you.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat chuckled and stood up, gathering her food together as she looked at her brother, “You can borrow George tomorrow; I’ll catch a ride from Lexi or Lydia.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You named your car George?” Scott chuckled, giving his sister a playfully judging look.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“After George Weasley.  And don’t get on me for weird car names.  Your best friend named his jeep Roscoe,” Kat said, rolling her eyes slightly. “Just, no sex in my car.  Please.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott scoffed and rolled his eyes before smiling at Kat, “Thank you.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Kat grinned, following after Melissa and heading towards the back room, “See you later.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat and Melissa had hardly settled down to eat before the computer in the central station started wildly beeping, indicating that a patient was in distress or in need of help.  Melissa jumped up and briefly glanced at the computer before running to the room that was displayed on the screen, Kat hot on her heels.  Melissa threw open the door and ran towards the bed, finding Scott standing beside Garrison Meyers, the bus driver attacked the previous night.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What the hell are you doing in here?” Melissa seethed, tearing Scott away from Mr. Meyers and throwing him into Kat’s arms, “Get out!  Kat, get him out, now!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat quickly grabbed Scott’s arms and led him out of the room, scolding him as she made him sit down in one of the chairs across the hall. “Scott!  What the hell was that?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott was at a loss for words, “I just wanted to know what he knew.  I’m sorry.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat glanced back at the room, listening to Melissa calm down Mr. Meyers.  She took a breath before sitting down beside Scott, pushing her hair behind her ears. “What do you mean you wanted to know what he knew?  About the thing that attacked him?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott shrugged, looking down at his hands in embarrassment. “I guess.  Stiles talked about it nonstop today, and I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat nodded, knowing that she shouldn’t push him anymore, no matter how hard she wanted to scold him for doing what he did.  She couldn’t understand what would drive him to do that.  Melissa came out of Mr. Garrison’s room, a stern look on her face as she glared at Scott.  She shook her head and left the two siblings alone.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Look, Scott, I gotta get back to work.” Kat quietly said, patting his shoulder before standing up and hiding her hands in her pockets. “Thanks for the food.  I’ll leave George’s key in your locker tomorrow after school.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott wordlessly nodded and watched her walk away before following suit, but not before sparing Mr. Garrison’s room one last glance.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat had always been an advocate for fashion, and she loved Allison’s taste in it.  Still, she honestly would have chosen to stay home and study with Stiles over being dragged to Allison’s house to help her get ready for her group date with Scott, Lydia, and Jackson.  Of course, Lexi would have been there, but she was called into work at the last minute and was luckily bailed out of that torture of hearing Lydia ridicule every article of clothing that Allison held up.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison sighed and pulled a dark shirt with deep red flowers out of her closet, holding it in front of her body.  Kat opened her mouth to say that she loved it, but Lydia beat her to the punch with her disagreement.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Mmm, pass.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison made a face as she quietly chuckled and hung the shirt back up before pulling out a much more colorful one and holding it up.  This time, Kat had to agree with Lydia.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Pass.” The girls both said before Lydia sighed and stood up, crossing the room to Allison’s closet, “Let me see.” She swiftly looked through her friend’s clothes, not afraid of hurting her feelings as she said, “Hmm, pass.  Pass.  Uh, pass on all of it.  Allison, respect for your taste is, uh, dwindling by the second.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat jumped up to help her friend, grabbing the next shirt and holding it up. “What about this one?” Lydia actually liked it, the sequins on the shirt calling out to her.  She was always a sucker for shiny things.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“That’s the one,” Lydia said, nodding her head in Kat’s direction.  She took the shirt out of Kat’s hands before shoving it into Allison’s. “Wear this.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison held it up and looked into the mirror beside her desk, a small smile forming on her lips.  Kat and Lydia shared a quick high five just as Allison’s bedroom door opened and her father walked in, nonchalantly messing with his jacket.  Allison scoffed, “Dad, hello?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Mr. Argent glanced up with one arm in his jacket, the smile on his face dropping as he realized his mistake.  He sighed, pointing a thumb in the direction of the door, “Right, I’m sorry.  I completely forgot to knock.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia plopped down onto Allison’s bed, one hand supporting her head and the other resting on her hip. “Hi, Mr. Argent.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Dad, do you need something?” Allison awkwardly asked, giving her friends an apologetic look.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I wanted to tell you that you’ll be staying in tonight.” Mr. Argent said, adjusting his jacket as he finished shrugging it on.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What?  I’m going out with my friends tonight,” Allison protested.  Lydia and Kat glanced toward each other, and Kat only shook her head to tell Lydia to stay quiet.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Not when some animal out there is attacking people,” Mr. Argent stated, quite matter of factly.  Allison started to argue, but her father quickly shut her down. “Hey, it’s out of my hands.  There’s a curfew; no one’s allowed out past nine-thirty pm.” Allison rolled her eyes and threw the shirt she held onto her bed, but Mr. Argent knew what was about to happen and stopped it. “Hey, no more arguing.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The three girls watched as Mr. Argent left Allison’s room, and Lydia slowly stood up and smirked at Allison as the Argent girl deeply sighed.  Then, Lydia chuckled, “Someone’s daddy’s little girl.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat watched Allison; she could practically see the mischievous gears turning in her mind as she chewed on a fingernail and shook her head. “Sometimes.   But not tonight.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia whipped around to Kat again, who just shrugged, and the girls watched as Allison grabbed a beanie from her desk and put it on before heading to her window.  She quietly opened it and delicately climbed out onto the roof.  Kat and Lydia quickly poked their heads out to ask what she was doing before the Argent girl jumped, flipping forwards and landing clunkily on her feet in the garden below.  Kat’s eyes widened as she laughed at her friend.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Impressive, Argent.” Kat quietly called. “Cheerleader in the making!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison giggled, looking up at her friends, “Eight years gymnastics.  You guys coming?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’ll take the stairs,” Lydia said, sounding more shocked than impressed at her friend’s stunt.  Kat decided on the same form of exit, and soon enough, Lydia was pulling up to Kat’s house.  The girls said their goodbyes as Lydia and Allison left for their group date.  Kat had wanted to study with Stiles, but he hadn’t been returning her texts or calls, so she opted for a quiet night in with junk food and her dog.  It was better than fifth-wheeling, and she had some catching up on her favorite drama shows anyways.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Shortly after Kat returned home, so did Melissa.  The McCall ladies found themselves curled up on the sofa and starting on the full and unwatched DVR.  Melissa was oddly quiet, and Kat knew it had something to do with work.  She was never this down.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Mom,” Kat quietly spoke.  She waited for a response from Melissa before continuing. “Is everything alright?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa pondered the question, bobbing her head from side to side. “Mr. Garrison passed away tonight.  I hate to lose patients.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat gingerly reached out to grab her mother’s hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “One day after school, Scott and I were the last ones on the bus since Dad lived furthest from the school.  We hadn’t eaten lunch that day, and we were being made fun of because we couldn’t afford it.  So Mr. Garrison gave us a sandwich to split, and every day after that, he’d give us lunches each morning so we wouldn’t go hungry.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa smiled, “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat shrugged, “I figure you needed something cheerful to finish the day.  It’s, like, almost eleven.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa gasped and sat up, looking at the grandfather clock in the corner, “Oh, my god.  And you have a meeting in the morning.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat giggled as Melissa yawned and stretched. “Yeah, time for bed, then.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The McCall ladies shared a laugh as they folded up the blankets around them and cleaned up their junk food.  Kat kissed Melissa on the cheek and started up the stairs to bed.  Melissa was a few paces behind her, tying her robe up as she stalked down the hall to say goodnight to her children.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Alright, kids, I think it’s time to go to -- “ Melissa stopped outside Scott’s open door, finding that his bedroom was dark and quiet.  She sighed, shaking her head as she looked at Kat. “ -- sleep.  Whatever, goodnight, Kat.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat chuckled, “Night, mom.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat shut her door and started to turn off all her lights when she heard a faint thud come from Scott’s room.  Kat’s brows furrowed, and she grabbed the baseball bat that she kept behind her dresser before slowly opening her door and meeting Melissa in the hallway.  Kat glanced into Scott’s room to see a body rolling onto Scott’s bed.  Kat charged into the room, bat raised and ready to beat the intruder until they started yelling for her to wait.  Melissa and Kat screamed, and Kat stopped short when she recognized the voice.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Stiles, what the hell are you doing here?” Kat shouted, a hand over her heart as she gasped.  She willed herself to calm down, but that brief moment of fight or flight had filled her body with adrenaline.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What am I doing?” Stiles yelled back, motioning to the baseball bat in her hands, “Do any of you even play baseball?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The lights in Scott’s room suddenly flickered on, and Scott entered, a look of complete and utter confusion on his face as he took in the people in his room.  Then, as unhappy as ever, Melissa started to scold Scott, “Can you please tell your friend to use the front door?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“But we lock the front door,” Scott said, even more confused that he wasn’t getting yelled at for being late to curfew. “He wouldn’t be able to get in.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, exactly,” Melissa said. “And, by the way, do either of you care that there’s a police-enforced curfew?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No.” Scott and Stiles shrugged, earning an exasperated sigh from Melissa.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No.  All right then.  You know what, that is about enough parenting for me for one night.  Kat, you are officially my favorite kid.  Goodnight.” Melissa said, shaking her head and leaving the room.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat looked between her brother and his friend, a grin taking over her features as she stuck her tongue out at them. “Ha, I’m the favorite.  Later, losers.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat chuckled and retreated to her room, carefully putting her baseball bat back where it belonged and shutting off her lights.  She heard Kota whimper and readjust on her bed.  Kat smiled and laid down, patting the mattress beside her.  Kota moved up to her owner and curled up beside her, placing her front paws on Kat’s stomach and snuggling her face between them.  Kota let out a contented breath, and soon enough, the girl and her dog fell asleep.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Beacon Hills Memorial loved showing off everything they offered high school interns and certified nursing assistants in true Beacon Hills fashion.  Kat had entered the hospital for her shift after cheer practice, only for Melissa to pull her to a waiting ambulance and sit her in the passenger seat.  She was shadowing an EMT for the night.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Like most other nights in Beacon Hills, the night was slow, and the EMT that Kat was shadowing was the absolute worst at small talk.  She spent most of the night on her phone, texting with Stiles and Lydia about anything they could think of.  Stiles was with his father, eating fast food in his sheriff’s car, and Lydia was with Jackson, headed to the local movie rental store and arguing over which movie to watch for their weekly movie night.  She was more invested in those conversations than in her job that she hardly noticed that her shift was ending.  The EMT had pulled up to the hospital to drop her off when a call came over the radio.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Unit One, do you copy?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The EMT glanced at Kat with a grin before grabbing the radio and speaking into it, “Unit One, copy.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“We have a report of a possible 187 at Video 2C on North Evans and 5th.  Two victims, one male in his late teens, 5-D-1, one male in his late thirties, early forties, 9-D-2.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Copy, en route.” The EMT said, hanging the radio back on its stand before turning the ambulance around and heading in the direction of the movie store.  The EMT could see the confusion on Kat’s face and explained, “A 187 is a murder, 5-D-1 is a non-traumatic back injury, and 9-D-2 is an unquestionable death.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat was suddenly a mixture of excitement and fear.  Lydia and Jackson were heading to Video 2C to pick up the movie.  She hoped that they weren’t involved.  The ambulance pulled up to the movie store, and Kat’s blood ran cold.  A familiar black Volkswagen bug was parked near the shop, and the redhead it belonged to was rushing out the shop’s front door to tell the EMTs what had happened.  Kat jumped out of the ambulance and immediately met Lydia, hands on her arms as she tried to calm her down.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Lydia!  What happened?  Where’s Jackson?” Kat asked, trying her hardest to remain positive and calm about everything.  She didn’t want to assume the worst; she didn’t even want to think about it.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Jackson’s fine, he’s stuck under a shelf inside, but there’s someone else!” Lydia cried, falling into Kat’s arms and letting her tears stain the borrowed uniform given to Kat earlier that night.  Kat wrapped her arms around her friend and directed the EMT inside, watching as another ambulance pulled up and started helping the other unit.  Kat took Lydia to the back of the ambulance and pulled it open so she could sit down.  Lydia and Kat sat on the edge of the ambulance and waited for them to bring Jackson out to examine him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎As Lydia cried, Kat looked around the parking lot.  One of the store windows was smashed entirely, scattered on the asphalt beside Lydia’s car, and the lights inside were flickering and unnerving to look at.  She also noticed the crowd of pedestrians held back by police that had recently arrived at the scene.  Jackson was being walked out by an EMT, which was a good sign.  At least he wasn’t being wheeled out on a stretcher.  Lydia let out a relieved sigh as the EMT sat Jackson next to her and started examining his head.  As the EMT said Jackson needed a few more examinations, Noah Stilinski’s sheriff’s car pulled up.  After a quick, one-sided argument with Stiles about staying in the car, Noah exited the vehicle and asked one of the EMTs what was going on with Jackson.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson was hurt, cranky, and annoyed with playing nice as he spoke to the EMT that initially examined him, “Why can’t I just go home?  I’m fine.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I hear ya,” Noah said, stepping up to the ambulance, “But the EMT says you hit your head pretty hard.  They just wanna make sure you don’t have a concussion.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What part of “I’m fine” are you having a problem grasping?” Jackson spit, shuffling closer to Noah as his anger continued to climb. “Okay, I wanna go home.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Noah remained level-headed, “And I understand that -- ”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, you don’t understand, which kind of blows my mind since it should be a pretty basic concept for a minimum-wage rent-a-cop like you!” Jackson shouted, “Okay, now I wanna go home!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎While Jackson was verbally assaulting Noah, Stiles was slowly getting out of the car, growing angrier by the second with the way Jackson was speaking to his father.  Kat carefully unwrapped her arms from Lydia, quickly kissing her temple as a form of reassurance, before making her way to Stiles to try to keep him from attacking Jackson.  Before she reached him, however, he was yelling out when he spotted two coroners rolling a stretcher out of the movie store.  The body on the stretcher was covered in a sheet rather than zipped up in a body bag, which was standard procedure to minimize panic when the public sees a dead body at a crime scene, but that didn’t stop Stiles from shouting out.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Woah, is that a dead body?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Noah sighed and gave Stiles a stern look before telling the pedestrians who had somehow gotten past the police barricade to return and provide the ambulance space.  Kat pushed her way through them and made her way to Stiles, who was surprised to see her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What are you doing here?” Stiles asked, hands securing themselves on her waist and moving her out of their way as people started bumping into her.  He pulled her closer to his father’s car and lowered his head to hear her better.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I was on the ambulance that responded,” Kat explained, and when he gave her a questioning look, she elaborated, “Shadowing, remember?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles nodded, his hands subconsciously squeezing her waist to comfort her as he looked her over, “Are you okay?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“A little shaken, to be honest.  At least I know that I don’t want to be an EMT,” Kat tried to joke, moving closer to Stiles and letting him wrap his arms around her in a comforting hug.  She relaxed, relishing in the wave of calm that washed over her from the action.  She chuckled slightly, “I’m just glad that Lydia and Jackson are okay.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles shook his head and let his hands run up and down her back, chuckling as he said, “Well, I don’t think I’d be too bothered if Jackson wasn’t okay.  Maybe Spence would have had a chance if Jackson had been taken out of the picture.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat giggled, a smile tugging on her lips, “Too bad for Spence, huh?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The school hallways were always empty early in the morning, especially after an emergency cheer meeting that could have been covered in a quick text to the cheer group chat.  Kat had almost an hour to kill before school started.  After filling Allison’s locker with the balloons and birthday cards Lydia had insisted on buying her for her birthday, she wandered the halls, completely bored and not knowing what to do.  She would have left to get a coffee with the rest of the cheer squad, but she hadn’t been paid yet, and she only had about fifty cents to her name.  That wouldn’t even buy the whipped cream from her favorite iced coffee.  So instead, she called Stiles and asked him to bring her coffee.  He had assured her that he was already on the way with her order.  Kat smiled to herself.  Lately, Stiles had made it part of his morning routine to bring her a caffeinated beverage.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎After the McCall girl checked in with her homeroom teacher to make sure she wouldn’t be marked absent, she found herself in the library, waiting for Stiles to arrive with her coffee and looking through the books for anything that caught her attention.  She plucked a random book off the shelf and turned it over, reading the back, when she suddenly heard a camera’s shutter and saw the flash of light.  She cursed and dropped the book as she tried to find whoever had taken her picture.  At the end of the aisle, she caught the culprit, who looked just as shocked as she did.  She disregarded her book on the floor as she cautiously made her way to the boy, who she quickly recognized as one of Scott’s fellow teammates on the lacrosse team.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Can I help you?” Kat asked, crossing her arms over her chest in an attempt to make herself smaller.  She felt extremely uncomfortable and confused about why he’d be taking her picture. "Why’d you take a picture of me?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The boy started rambling, “I didn’t think the flash was on, and I turned off the noise.  I didn’t know it would click that loudly -- ”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“That doesn’t answer my question.” Kat quickly said.  She had no tolerance for people that avoided her questions. “Why did you take a picture of me?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎His face went pale, and he was lost for words, “I, uh, I think you’re very pretty, and the lighting in here was perfect, and I wasn’t really thinking.” He paused, trying his hardest to think of anything else to say, but nothing came.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Didn’t I tell you to wear a cup next time you messed with me?” Kat stared at him, wanting nothing more than to get out of the uncomfortable situation.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“N-no, that was Jeremy.” The boy stuttered, lowering his eyes to avoid her gaze. “I’m really, really sorry, Kat.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat started stepping away from him, “Just don’t do that again.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎He wordlessly nodded, looking upset and disappointed, before Kat turned and left the library, heading straight for her locker.  She had goosebumps covering her body, and she felt as if her hair was standing on end.  More people were starting to fill the hallways, and Kat decided to distract herself by spinning open her locker and reorganizing it.  Stiles joined her with an iced coffee in hand and a grin on his face as she shut her locker.  Kat came face-to-face with Stiles, her mood instantly lifting when she met his golden-brown eyes.  She happily sighed and hugged him before eagerly grabbing the coffee from his hand and taking a large sip.  Stiles watched her with an amused face, laughing lightly at her reaction upon seeing him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Rough morning?” Stiles asked, eyes twinkling as he joked with her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat shook her head and took another drink of her coffee, slipping her hand into his as they started walking to their first-period class, “No, it was just weird.  We had the shortest cheer meeting in the history of cheer meetings . . . ”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles had tuned her out and let her ramble, too baffled by the natural feeling of holding hands and walking to class together to focus on her words.  She had done it a few times before, but that was just to drag him behind her when he was taking too long at his locker, and she didn’t want Mr. Harris to give him another detention.  This time, it was completely unwarranted, almost as if she had done it every morning for the past year.  His eyes were wide and locked on their intertwined hands, and he couldn’t break focus until Kat let go of his hand to snap in front of his face.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Hello?  Were you even listening?” Kat asked, her eyebrows raised questioningly as she met Stiles' eyes.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles started babbling, “Uh, yeah, you were talking about the thing this morning.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat nodded, “Mhmm, yep, you were totally not listening.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’m sorry,” Stiles sighed, “What were you saying?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I said that one of your little lacrosse buddies was taking pictures of me in the library this morning.” Kat dished, shuddering before shaking her head, “It was creepy.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles felt his heart drop.  He knew precisely who was taking her pictures.  Matt Daehler, another benchwarmer that always had a camera in hand.  He’d never liked Matt; there was just something not quite right about him.  Adding on the fact that he was taking pictures of Kat really solidified his opinion of him.  Before Stiles could comment on it, the late bell rang.  Kat groaned and grabbed Stiles' hand again to pull him towards their first period of the day, chemistry with Mr. Harris.  The pair had stepped foot into the classroom just as the final bell stopped ringing.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“How nice of you two to fit my class into your oh, so busy schedules.” Mr. Harris commented once the pair had sat down in their seats.  Kat rolled her eyes, greeted her partner, Danny, and pulled out her notebook while Mr. Harris continued his lecture. “Just a friendly reminder -- parent/teacher conferences are tonight.  Students below a “C” average are required to attend.  I won’t name you because the shame and self-disgust should be more than enough punishment.” Mr. Harris walked down the aisle between the lab tables, stopping in front of Stiles, who had busied himself with highlighting in his book, to ask, “Has anyone seen Scott McCall?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎While the class was busy looking at Stiles and Kat, the door opened and loudly shut, earning the attention of everyone in the room.  Jackson hiked his backpack further up onto his shoulder before making his way to his seat.  Mr. Harris crossed the aisle to the Whittemore boy, placing his hand on his shoulder as he spoke, “Hey, Jackson.  If you need to leave early for any reason, you let me know.” Jackson’s jaw clenched before he nodded, and Mr. Harris patted his shoulder before walking to his desk, “Everyone, start reading chapter nine.” He paused, “Mr. Stilinski, try putting the highlighter down between paragraphs.  It’s chemistry, not a coloring book.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles rolled his eyes before leaning back, spitting the highlighter cap out of his mouth, and catching it with his hand.  He caught Kat’s eye and grinned before looking at the guy seated next to her, “Hey, Danny.  Can I ask you a question?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat turned back around to make it look like she was reading the assigned passage, but listened in on Stiles and Danny.  She knew that whatever Stiles had to ask Danny would be entertaining.  Those two had an ongoing banter that rivaled his and Kat’s.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No,” Danny immediately said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, I’m going to anyway.” Stiles said, “Um, did Lydia show up in your homeroom today?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Danny sighed, “No.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles paused, trying to connect dots in his head, “Can I ask you another question?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Answer’s still no,” Danny said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Does anyone know what happened to her and Jackson last night?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“He wouldn’t tell me,” Danny quietly said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles was slightly confused, “But, he’s your best friend.” Stiles sighed when Danny didn’t respond, “One more question.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What?” Danny annoyedly asked.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Do you find me attractive?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat whipped around in amusement to see Stiles fall off his stool and clear his throat as if he could smoothly recover from that.  Kat gasped, a hand clamped over her mouth as she tried to quiet the loud laughs she knew were bound to escape.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Danny rolled his eyes as he and the entire class watched Stiles set his stool upright again before answering, “No.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎This time Kat couldn’t contain her laughter, and she, as well as the few students around their tables that had been listening in on their conversation, chuckled and sent Stiles playfully pitiful looks.  Kat pouted in Stiles' direction, “Don’t worry, Stilinski.  Maybe someone out there finds you attractive.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, bite me, McCall.” Stiles quipped, a smile underlining his faux anger towards her.  Kat winked and returned to her work just as Mr. Harris snapped at the class to disregard Stiles' antics before he sent them all to the principal’s office.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎After school, Kat stopped by Lydia’s house to ensure she was doing okay before making her way to the Stilinski household for her study session with Stiles and Spencer.  Kat was doing just fine in her classes, but recently Stiles and Spencer’s grades had tanked since school began, and Kat had taken it upon herself to help them out.  She would have helped Scott as well, but Allison insisted that she wanted to.  Kat let herself into the house (the Stilinskis were horrible at keeping the back door into the kitchen locked) and made her way upstairs, where she could hear Stiles and Spencer quietly conversing.  She knocked on the door as she opened it, announcing her presence.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Alright, who’s ready to do so much chemistry homework that we’re suicidal by six o’clock?” Kat chuckled, giving smiles to the boys as she moved into Stiles' room and sat down on his bed.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Spencer groaned, “I know it’s stereotypical of me to be suicidal, being emo and all, but can’t we just watch a movie instead?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“We could watch Star Wars,” Stiles suggested, and the boys pointed at each other as they made noises of agreement.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat laughed and pulled out her chemistry textbook. “Nope, not until you guys can perfectly recite the fundamental chemical equations from memory.  No notes, no nothing but your brains.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You’re no fun when you’re in study mode,” Spencer grumbled.  Stiles opened his mouth to agree but was met with the waiting eyes of Kat, and they easily silenced him.  She dared him to agree with Spencer, but he just couldn’t do it.  Spencer grinned as he watched the two, “God, this is painful to watch.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What?” Kat asked, fishing her notebook from her bag and starting a new page of notes.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Stilinski, you’re whipped.” Spencer informed his friend, smirking at him and the girl next to him, “Just kiss and make it official already.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“As soon as you manage to get Jackson out of the picture and confess your love for my redheaded bestie, then we’ll make it official.” Kat nervously chuckled, shaking her head, and held up her notebook, “Um, here are the equations you’ll need to memorize and my very detailed and color-coordinated notes.” She stood up to hand it to Stiles, who was seated in his desk chair.  She looked over the myriad of papers strewn over the desk, but her eyes were drawn to a small black slide phone sitting near the printer.  Her brows furrowed, and she grabbed it.  A picture of Lydia and Jackson appeared on the screen, and Kat realized that it was Lydia’s cell phone.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat looked at Stiles and held up the phone, “Why do you have Lydia’s phone?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles and Spencer shared an alarmed glance before Stiles tried to cover it up, “I found it in the parking lot last night at the movie store, I was going to give it back to her today, but she wasn’t at school.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat slowly nodded, “Spence, why didn’t you give it to her?  Ms. Martin said that you had stopped by the house, too.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I didn’t know that Stiles had it.” Spencer simply said.  Kat looked between the boys.  She knew they were lying, but she knew not to push it.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Right, okay.” Kat said, recovering by glancing at her watch, “I completely forgot that I told my mom that I’d go with her to parent-teacher conferences.  So I can leave these with you guys, and then I’ll catch you tomorrow morning for a quiz.  Does that sound alright?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Suddenly feeling incredibly awkward, Kat nodded and grabbed her textbook and bag before leaving the Stilinski house.  She didn’t mean to be so abrupt and weird about the whole ordeal, but she hated being lied to.  Kat wouldn’t stand to be lied to, and they both knew that.  She knew they had lied to her; she was texting Lydia as soon as she had gotten off work to make sure she was okay.  Lydia had had her phone until Spencer went to visit her.  Kat just wanted to know why they were lying to her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat hadn’t lied about going with Melissa to parent-teacher conferences.  She had all “A’s,” but she knew that Melissa would need moral support after finding out about Scott’s grades.  The school parking lot was surprisingly full, but there was an open spot next to Melissa’s car.  Melissa was waiting outside Mr. Harris' classroom, her foot tapping on the floor as she checked her watch for what Kat assumed must have been the millionth time.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Hey, mom.” Kat chuckled, “You’re early.  Why do you look so freaked out?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Because your brother won’t return any of my calls or texts.” Melissa angrily answered, shoving her cell phone into her pocket. “I thought he’d be with you.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat sighed, “I can try calling him, but he’s been M.I.A. all day.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Mrs. McCall, if you’re ready.” Mr. Harris interrupted, poking his head out of his classroom to greet the McCall ladies.  Kat wished she had a camera.  The look on Mr. Harris' face was one that she was sure she’d never see again: shock and confusion. “Katarina, why are you here?  You have the second-highest grade in the entire sophomore class.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat laughed but quickly covered it when she saw his face harden into a scowl. “Uh, moral support for my mom once you tell her Scott’s grade.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Mr. Harris nodded. “Very well.  Come on in.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa decided to give Scott one more call as they walked into the classroom.  But unfortunately, by the time the three of them settled into their chairs, Melissa was again sent to Scott’s voicemail.  She huffed and left a heated message for her son, “Where the hell are you?  Get to the school, now.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“How about we get started?” Mr. Harris asked as Melissa turned off her phone.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Sure.” Melissa finally nodded, looking to Kat for strength to face Mr. Harris and whatever he had to say.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Mr. Harris gave a short nod and cleared his throat. “Well, first off, I have nothing to say about Katarina.  Her grades are wonderful, and she’s never been a problem in class.  Scott, on the other hand, his mind has been somewhere else, as has his body.  Personally, I think it may have something to do with his home situation.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat and Melissa shared a look, knowing precisely what Mr. Harris was referring to.  Melissa’s mouth formed a tight line. “Oh, well, personally, I’m not really sure what you mean by “home situation.””

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Uh, specifically the lack of an authority figure.” Mr. Harris clarified.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, well, I’m the authority figure, so . . . ” Melissa defended herself.  The McCall ladies scowled at the man.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Mr. Harris chuckled, “Sorry, allow me to clarify.  I mean the lack of a male authority figure.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat couldn’t stop the comment that left her mouth, “As someone who had to live with the former male “authority” figure alone for three years, I can say that we are much better off without him.  He is not needed by any of us.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, does Scott feel the same way?” Mr. Harris asked.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yes.” Melissa immediately answered before hesitating slightly, “I think so.  I hope so.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Mr. Harris was adamant about getting his point across, and he wouldn’t stop speaking. “Scott’s one of my most intriguing students.  You can tell there’s something different about him, something special.  But he’s going through some difficult changes.  He just needs a . . . little extra attention.  A guiding hand through this crucial stage of his development.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa’s face suddenly became very pinched, and Kat knew that she was about to blow up on her teacher.  Kat quickly sat up and reached out to shake Mr. Harris' hand. “Thank you, Mr. Harris.  I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat grabbed her mother’s hands and hastily pulled her to her feet, dragging her out of the room.  As soon as the McCall ladies were out of Mr. Harris' classroom, Melissa was yelling into her phone at Scott.  Kat knew that she was too upset to even attempt to see other teachers and directed Melissa out to the parking lot.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Scott, you need to call me.  Right now.” Melissa seethed into her phone.  Kat could practically see the steam rushing out of her ears.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Okay, mom, breathe.” Kat tried to help, forcing Melissa to meet her eyes. “Mr. Harris is just a miserable, lonely man that probably still lives in his mother’s basement and thinks he’s the shit because he graduated with Summa Cum Laude from Harvey Mudd College.  It’s not hard to do that at Harvey Mudd; it hardly qualifies as a university and -- “ Kat was cut off by Melissa’s giggling.  Kat let out a relieved breath, laughing along with her mother.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎However, their laughter was short-lived as the door above them was thrown open, and Mr. and Mrs. Argent stormed out, both loudly speaking into their phones.  Mr. Argent could be heard over Mrs. Argent. “Allison, answering your cell phone will make discussing the terms of your grounding much easier.  Call me back before your punishment reaches biblical proportions.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison’s mother quietly spoke to Chris as Melissa and Kat stepped up the stairs to hesitantly greet them.  Melissa cleared her throat, “Excuse me, you’re not Allison’s parents, are you?  I’m Scott’s mom, and I hate to say it, but he’s not answering his phone, either.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You’re his mother?” Mr. Argent pointedly asked.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa’s face fell into slight astonishment at his words, “Funny how you say that like it’s an accusation.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, I wouldn’t claim it as a source of pride since he basically kidnapped my daughter today.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat carefully watched her mother and jumped in, “Mr. and Mrs. Argent, I’m going to play devil’s advocate for a second.  Maybe skipping school was Allison’s idea.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Kat, please stay out of this.  We both know that’s not true.” Mr. Argent sternly said, “My daughter . . . ” He trailed off, staring out behind the McCall ladies.  Finally, he sighed, “Is right there.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat and Melissa turned around, seeing that Scott and Allison were getting out of Allison’s car.  Melissa rushed down the stairs, Kat and the Argents on her heels.  Melissa stomped up to Scott, already scolding her son before she was ten feet from him, “Where exactly have you been?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Nowhere, mom,” Scott said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Nowhere, meaning not at school.” Melissa spat.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Kind of,” said Scott.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“It’s not his fault,” Allison stated, “It’s my birthday, and we were -- ”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Allison.” Mr. Argent loudly said, coming up beside the McCall ladies. “In the car.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Before Allison could protest, a girl screamed across the parking lot.  Kat’s heart dropped as she tried to see over the cars.  People were running between cars, and the girl screamed again.  Indistinct and confused chatter filled Kat’s ears as the people in the lot started running for their vehicles.  Melissa slipped her hand into the crook of Kat’s elbow and started pulling her to their cars, but Kat paused when she caught a glimpse of Scott and Allison slowly walking towards the start of the panic.  Mr. Argent had disappeared, and suddenly a car horn was echoing through the lot.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Allison!” Scott’s voice yelled, and Kat whipped around to see her brother snatching Allison off the ground and moving her out of the way of a moving car.  Kat gasped and rushed over to her to ensure she was okay.  More car horns sounded, and Kat heard a faint animalistic snarl before someone shouted out in pain.  Kat, Scott, Allison, and Mrs. Argent searched the parking lot for anything.  They didn’t know what they were looking for, but they needed to look for something to make sense of it all.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Two loud and clear gunshots sounded.  Kat’s heart stopped with both of them.  Suddenly, everything was still.  There was no screaming, no panicked chatter, no car horns, no snarling or growling.  It was utterly silent.  Slowly, everything started to start up again.  Kat shakily stepped away from the group she was in, seeing that Mr. Argent was holding the gun and a large mountain lion was lying still in the middle of the parking lot, breathing shallowly until life left its body.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎It was almost as if a collective sigh of relief sounded over the crowd.  The thing that killed that girl in the woods and Mr. Garrison, and possibly the worker at the video shop, was now dead.  It was over.

ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ's ɴᴏᴛᴇs: This episode is so cute for Scott and Allison, I was surprised I got 8k words out of it when they were the focus of the episode haha but I hope you all enjoyed it! As always, feedback is greatly appreciated! Love you all! <3

I do NOT consent to have my work posted, translated, or published to any third-party app or site without my explicit knowledge and consent. My works are exclusively available on Tumblr, Wattpad, and AO3under the username ghxst-heart.

© ɢʜxsᴛ-ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸

[ghxst-heart]

ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ᴡɪɴ ꜰᴏʀ ʙᴇᴀᴄᴏɴ ʜɪʟʟꜱ ─ sᴛɪʟᴇs sᴛɪʟɪɴsᴋɪ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ ᴏғ ᴄʟᴀɴᴅᴇsᴛɪɴᴇ

ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪɴғᴏ: Main OC is Scott McCall's half-sister, there are six (6) original characters, friends to lovers with Stiles Stilinski, book one covers Seasons 1 & 2 of Teen Wolf ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 5.1k

ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀʟɪsᴛ | ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴘᴀʀᴛ | ɴᴇxᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛ

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐘 uncommon for cheer practice to be canceled.  However, to support the newest members of the Beacon Hills lacrosse team, the team had been granted the day off and dismissed to watch the lacrosse elimination games.  These were the games that determined who made first line and who stayed on the bench.  Luck was also in Kat’s favor that afternoon, as it was a Thursday, and she didn’t have to work.  She was ecstatic to watch her brother and his two best friends battle it out against their teammates for the top spots on the team.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat sat with Lydia and Lexi as she looked out over the field, searching for Scott, Stiles, and Spencer.  She wanted to wish them luck.  She suddenly heard Stiles yelling for Scott and Spencer to wait up, and her eyes flickered towards the trio, who were standing beside the bleachers.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Stiles, we’re playing the first elimination, man -- Can it wait?” Scott asked, somewhat exasperatedly.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Just hold on, okay?” Stiles asked, his voice strained as he spoke.  Kat knew he had something urgent to tell him.  She quickly excused herself from her friends and started down the bleachers to talk to the boys.  She didn’t hear much of their conversation besides Stiles' last words as his friends left him.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Wait, no, guys!  You’re not gonna believe what the animal was!” Stiles loudly said, unsuccessfully stopping his friends from jogging out onto the field.  Kat came up beside him as he mumbled under his breath.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Damn, I didn’t catch them in time.” Kat sighed, grabbing Stiles' arm.  She quickly grabbed his other one as he spun around with his fist raised in surprise.  Kat’s brow arched, her heart pounding loudly in her ears as she tried to brush off the fact that she almost got punched in the face with her quick wit, “Since when is your first reaction to punch anyone that touches you?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Since you got back in town,” Stiles cheekily said, grinning despite his nervous and freaked-out stature.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat chuckled, looking him over. “Are you okay?  You look like you’re freaking out.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles brushed her off, “Oh, yeah, great.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Sure you’re not nervous about the eliminations?” Kat questioned, giving his hand a gentle squeeze after moving her hand from his elbow to his own.  Stiles shrugged, now suddenly filled with that worry rather than whatever else was previously occupying his mind.  Kat nodded, taking a step closer as she started to encourage him. “Look, you’re going to do great, okay?  And, no matter what, I’m still gonna wear your jersey on game days.  You got this!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles, always the one to second guess his abilities, started to disagree with Kat, “Hey, there needs to be someone on the bench.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat rolled her eyes and smiled at him, “But it doesn’t always have to be you and Scott.  C’mon, believe in yourself!  What did you tell me when I first tried out for cheerleading?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles' brows furrowed, and he laughed, “Do it so I’ll have a popular girlfriend?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat laughed and nodded, “And look what came out of those oh, so inspiring words?  I became the captain.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles opened his mouth to respond with a witty remark, but Lydia’s shrill voice cut him off, “Kat, c’mon!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat flinched slightly and turned around to see Lydia standing up with an annoyed look and a hand on her hip.  Kat raised one finger and looked back at Stiles with a grin, “If you need another pep talk, you know where to find me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat winked and started climbing up the bleachers to join her friends again.  She took her seat beside Allison as Coach Finstock began the first elimination game.  The Argent girl sat down beside Kat, a sneaky smile on her face.  She pointed her finger between Kat and Stiles, “So, is that your boyfriend?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat started to protest, but Lexi jumped in with a smirk, “That’s Stiles.  They got married in kindergarten and were together on and off until eighth grade.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Sure, he was my elementary and middle school boyfriend, but we’re just friends now.” Kat scoffed, leaning around Allison to stare at Lexi.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Allison glanced between Kat and Lexi, a grin breaking out on her face, “Ooh, I get it.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Get what?” Lydia suddenly asked, looking at the three girls beside her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lexi filled in their redheaded friend, “The fact that Kat is continuing to deny that she and Stiles are dating even though they still continue to act like a couple.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia nodded her head understandingly, “Okay, I’m caught up now.  Don’t bother trying to change that, Allison; she’s been doing that for years.  Too scared to take it to the next level.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat ignored Lydia’s jab and rolled her eyes, sitting up straight again and motioning to the game. “Can we pay attention?  My brother is playing.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The girls laughed but did turn their attention away from the conversation to the first elimination game of tryouts.  Kat watched Scott play the game, highly impressed as he avoided each tackle and hit, performed impressive moves to get around the opposing players, and finally, did a front barrel jump over three players and launched the ball into the goal.  Coach Finstock blew his whistle to call the goal as the people in the stands stood up to cheer, and the team circled Scott in a rough group hug, hitting their helmets against his.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Coach Finstock shouted out, somehow able to be heard over the incredible roar of the crowd and team, “McCall!  Get over here!” Scott made his way over to his coach, and Kat tried to focus on listening to Coach so she could listen to what was being said, which wasn’t that hard as the crowd and team had fallen silent to watch the exchange. “What in god’s name was that?  This is a lacrosse field.  What, are you trying out for the gymnastics team?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No, Coach.” Scott respectfully said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What the hell was that?” Coach Finstock asked, sounding less angry than before.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott was suddenly at a loss for words, “I don’t know.  I was just trying to make the shot.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Yeah, well, you made the shot.” Coach Finstock said, “And guess what?  You’re startin’, buddy.  You made first line.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Everyone burst into applause again, and Kat jumped up and started to rush down the bleachers.  She ran over to Scott and jumped on him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug.  Scott laughed and dropped his lacrosse stick so he could return the hug, over the moon happy with himself.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, my god!  That was amazing!” Kat cheered, stepping back and looking up at him with wide eyes. “How did you do that?  That was, like, pro-level!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott was at a loss for words, and he was, for once, thankful for Coach Finstock’s temper.  Coach’s whistle rang out, and his harsh voice soon followed. “McCall!  Get off the field!” Scott stepped away from Kat, his brows furrowed and an offended look spread across his features.  Coach groaned and shook his head, “No, not you, McCall.  Girl McCall, off the field!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat felt her face flush with heat, and she bowed her head and jogged off the field, knowing that everyone was watching her.  She took her seat on the bleachers just as Coach Finstock started the next elimination game.  Eventually, Kat got over her embarrassment and focused on the game.  It didn’t take long for the last elimination games to finish up, and Coach had made up his mind.  Fortunately, Spencer had made first line just as he had done the year before, but Stiles hadn’t been as lucky.  Kat was quick to reassure him, giving him a tight hug and telling him that she’d still be wearing his jersey on game days, no matter what, and invited him to a celebratory dinner with her friends, Scott, Spencer, and Jackson.  Stiles laughed at that but quickly declined and left the field, mumbling that he had a ton of research to do.  Kat shrugged and joined her friends in a caravan to the restaurant they had agreed upon to celebrate tryouts being over.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The last thing Kat wanted to be doing on a Friday night was running around the hospital with charts and being yelled at by rude patients.  She would have preferred being at Lydia’s party, dancing with her friends, drinking from red Solo cups, and reveling in what it truly meant to be a popular cheerleader in high school, but she didn’t have a choice.  As much as she wanted to be a typical teenager, she also wanted to graduate high school with a Bachelor’s degree in Surgical Technology.  Her internship was getting her one step closer to doing so.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎With luck in her favor, her shift ended promptly (which was unusual on a full moon, there were fewer crazies than usual), and she was still able to show up to Lydia’s party fashionably late.  She rushed home and immediately hopped into the shower to freshen up before throwing on the dress Lydia had ordered her to wear to the party.  She had just finished styling her hair when she heard the front door slam shut.  She grabbed her jacket and purse before leaving her room, colliding with Scott in the hallway.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Hey, is everything okay?   I thought you were going to the party with Allison?” Kat asked.  Scott grunted and responded by shutting his door and locking himself inside his bedroom.  Then, with her brows furrowed and confusion settling in, she shook her head and left, eager to call Allison and ask what had happened.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Just as she locked up the house and walked down the sidewalk to her car, Stiles' jeep pulled up across the street.  Kat crossed her arms over her chest and greeted Stiles as he fell out of his car. “Hey, what’s going on?   Scott just came rushing in and locked himself in his bedroom.  What happened with Allison?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles warily glanced at the house but stopped in front of Kat, knowing how suspicious it would look if he, too, ignored her.  He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged, “Nothing with Allison.  The lacrosse team just isn’t too happy with him for making first line, and they were just being dicks.  He just let it get to him and left early.  I gave Allison a ride home.  Scott just wanted to get out of there.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat’s brows furrowed as she looked back at the house, “Well, maybe I should go up there and talk to him.  I did tell Lydia I probably wouldn’t make it tonight, so she won’t be too unhappy if I don’t show.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No!” Stiles suddenly shouted, holding his hands out in front of her.  Kat’s eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly tried to cover his sudden outburst.  He cleared his throat, “I mean, no, that’s okay.  I was just making sure he got home okay; he was pretty upset about it.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat slowly nodded, still not convinced, but she knew better than to push it. “Well, okay, if you say so.” She unhooked her house key from her keys and held it out to Stiles, “I already locked the door, but if you wanted to go check on him, there you go.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, I already have one,” Stiles passively said, missing the slightly alarmed look on Kat’s face. “Thanks, though.  Uh, you look amazing, so don’t waste it and go have fun at the party!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat lightheartedly laughed, putting the key back onto her keychain and shaking her head. “You’re such a weird person, Stiles.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Ah, you love it,” Stiles shrugged again, stepping around Kat and heading up to her house.  She carefully watched him as she got into her car.  He waited until she turned over the engine and started down the street to throw open the door and scramble up the stairs.  Kat shook her head and started towards Lydia’s party.  As soon as she arrived, she felt relieved.  The entirety of Lydia’s mansion was filled to the brim with teens, but Kat wasn’t the only one arriving late.  Kat was somewhat impressed but not surprised.  Lydia always threw the best parties in Beacon Hills; she had since they were kids.  Her tenth birthday was still legendary among the sophomore class.  She had the largest bouncy house and half of the San Francisco circus in her backyard, along with the tallest cake Kat had ever seen.  Every party since then, birthday or rager, had been just as impressive.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Music was pounding, drinks were flowing, and Kat couldn’t have felt more relaxed.  She entered the house, snatched a red Solo cup out of someone’s hand, and made her way through the house to the backyard, where she knew Lydia and Lexi would be.  She stepped through the sliding doors and onto the brick patio, overseeing the party.  It was an epic one.  She was glad she didn’t have to miss it.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Kat!” Lexi suddenly appeared by her side, slightly tipsy, and threw her arms around her friend.  Kat laughed and returned the hug, sighing as she settled into party mode. “You made it!   Thank god!   Now I’m not the only single one at the party!” Lexi laughed, swallowing her words with a sip of whatever was in her plastic cup. "Come on, Lydia is over this way.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lexi took Kat’s hand and led her over to the hot tub, where Lydia was sitting with Jackson, who refused to detach his lips from her neck to even halfheartedly greet the McCall girl.  Kat giggled and sat down beside Lydia after she was forced to do a spin so Lydia could admire her choice in apparel.  The night continued like that, full of mindless chatter and alcoholic drinks.  Eventually, everyone trickled out of the party, even Jackson, and Lydia, Lexi, and Kat wound up passed out in Lydia’s room.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎A week later, Beacon Hills Memorial Hospital was having a quiet night, much to Kat's pleasure.  However, despite the quiet evening, the few patients that she had to chart were aggravating enough to make her want to rip her hair out strand by strand. She finished charting at the nurse's station when she heard Stiles' voice.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎"Hey, Kat."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The McCall girl glanced up, seeing the buzzcut boy leaning on the counter in front of her, a giant grin on his face.  She glanced to her right and saw Spencer attempting to talk to Lydia, the pair seated in the chairs opposite the nurse's station as the Martin girl waited for Jackson's appointment to finish.  An eyebrow raised, and she said in a smug voice, "You better have food for me, or else you're leaving."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles' jaw slacked in disbelief. "Rude."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat sighed, "Sorry, long day, annoying patients.  What are you doing here?"

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles' face broke into a grin, and he held up a takeout bag from her favorite Chinese restaurant. "Bringing you food."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat's face spread into a broad smile, and she quickly rounded the counter to tackle Stiles in an enormous hug.  She squealed and pulled away, taking the food and setting it on the table behind the nurse's station.  She looked back at Stiles, her eyes sparkling with gratitude, "You are a saint.  I love you so much."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles brushed off her comment and shrugged, "Hey, it's what I do.  We got Melissa's order, too."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎"Wow," Kat drawled, fishing an eggroll out of the bag and taking a bite. "You're really sucking up.  What do you want?"

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎"Why do you assume that we want something just because we brought you and your mom food?" Stiles scoffed, stepping away from the nurse's station and taking a seat beside Spencer, who was now hiding his face behind a pamphlet.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat followed him and stood in front of the boys, eating her eggroll and chuckling at the subject matter on the pamphlet Spencer was reading. "Because I know you guys.  You're missing the third Musketeer, though.  Where's Scott?"

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎"Sniffing dead bodies in the morgue," Spencer sarcastically answered, sinking into his seat and putting the pamphlet away.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat laughed and bobbed her head from side to side, "I would have thought that that would have been you, Mr. I-Wear-MCR-Shirts-To-Look-Edgy."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Spencer's face dropped into a hurt expression, but he held back a grin. "Hey, I don't just wear them to be different.  I wear them for entertainment.  It's fun being the only emo in the school."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The trio laughed, but it was soon cut off by Melissa's voice. "Hey, Kat, sweetie, if you're going to take a break, you gotta clock out first."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat looked over to her right, seeing that Melissa was digging into the takeaway bag.  She nodded and disbanded from the boys with a wave goodbye before following Melissa into the breakroom.  The McCall ladies sat down and started to dish out their dinner after they clocked out, making quiet small talk among themselves as they ate.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎"Kat, I will be very disappointed if you don't marry Stiles," Melissa said, shoving a forkful of noodles into her mouth.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎"Mom, oh, my god." Kat groaned, tired of having the same conversation over and over again.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa laughed, "Now, Kat -- "

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎"Don't push it, Mom," Kat chuckled, shaking her head and messing with the rice on her plate. "We've had this conversation for, literally, seven years."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎"Okay, fine." Melissa grinned, "All I'm gonna say is, although he drives me insane sometimes, he's a pretty great guy.  I mean, he brought you and your dear old mother food for no reason.  Hell, your father wouldn't even do that for me."

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎There wasn't much that was off the table when it came to Kat and Melissa's conversations, but their love lives were on that small list.  Kat already had Lydia and Lexi making fun of her for not talking to Stiles about her feelings; she didn't need her mother doing the same.  Kat sighed and sat back in her seat, mumbling, "Can we not talk about this anymore?"

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa chuckled and nodded, reaching across the table to steal a piece of chicken off of Kat's plate. "Fine.  How's cheer going?"

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎At the mention of cheer, Kat's face lit up, and she immediately jumped into an explanation of the new cheer she had gotten approved Wednesday morning and how she was a shoo-in for co-captain with Lexi next year.  Melissa intently listened, happy that Kat was so pleased compared to how she was when she first arrived home.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎It was finally Saturday night, and the first lacrosse game and the first home game of the season were finally mere minutes away.  As a tradition for the cheerleaders, they were all to be dressed in the team’s practice jerseys to show their support and love for them.  Kat was the one that had to retrieve them, but she had forgotten at school the previous day and had to grab them from Coach Finstock’s office.  There were two ways to access his office: his classroom and the boys’ locker room.  His classroom door was locked, and, as her luck would have it, the only time she had to grab the jerseys was while the lacrosse team was getting ready.  Half of the team was shirtless, half were still in the shower, and all of them took notice of the girl in the short cheerleading skirt the second she entered the room.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat took in the looks she was given by the hormonal boys before rolling her eyes and letting out a giant huff. “Yes, a girl is in your locker room.  Not like there hasn’t been one before.  You’re dismissed, or whatever.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The boys slowly took their eyes off of Kat and went back to whatever they were doing, and she started grumbling as she made her way into Coach Finstock’s office to grab the box of jerseys.  Thankfully, they were sitting on his desk, and she walked out of the room as soon as she entered it.  However, she couldn’t leave the locker room as a lacrosse player had stopped her and started to grab the box out of her hands.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Here, let me get that for you.  It looks like you’re struggling,” the player smugly said.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Nope, I’ve got it.” Kat quickly said, keeping a firm grip on the box.  She sweetly smiled up at the player, “Now get out of my way before I make you.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’d like to see you try.” He smirked down at her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat’s brows rose tauntingly before she nodded and pursed her lips. “Alright, fine.” In one fluid movement, she brought her knee up to hit his groin before stomping on his foot, and then she shouldered him out of her way.  The group gathered around them started to make pained noises as they imagined the pain their friend was in.  Finally, Kat shook her hair out of her face and started to leave the locker room, shouting over her shoulder, “Maybe wear a cup next time!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎She left the commotion behind her and returned to the girls’ locker room, and started distributing the jerseys.  The coach wrote down who got what jersey as Kat held up them and started calling out names and numbers before handing them to the girls that had claimed them first and then to the girls that hadn’t gotten one last, “I get Stilinski, number twenty-four.  West, you get McCall, number eleven.  Kingsley, you get Tate, number thirty-six.  Jones, you get Mahealani, number six . . . ”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎After all the jerseys were handed out and put on, the girls grabbed their bags and made their way to the lacrosse field as a team.  The stands were filling up, and the teams were already warming up.  The opposing team hadn’t brought their cheerleaders, and, as far as Kat could tell, there weren’t a lot of supporters for them either.  Kat smiled.  It would be easy to get the crowd involved with that ratio.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Kat!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The McCall girl whipped around and met Melissa’s eyes.  She let out a happy sigh and smiled, shaking a pom in the air as a form of greeting.  Melissa blew her a kiss and found a spot on the bleachers right in front of the cheerleaders.  Kat grinned and started in on her crowd involvement to get the bleachers moving and excited before the game started.  Soon enough, the whistle blew, signaling the start of the game.  The cheerleaders turned around to watch the game, standing with their poms crossed behind their backs and eyes attentively watching the players on the field.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat exhaled, ready to watch her Scott and Spencer lead the team to victory.  She watched the referee set the ball between the starters from each team before blowing the whistle and officially starting the game.  The field was chaotic as Jackson took the ball and started towards the opposing goal.  Scott ran down the field, completely wide open for Jackson to throw the ball to him, but he threw it to number twenty-six, who threw it to another player further down the field.  Scott defeatedly let his arms fall to his sides as he ran downfield to stay in the game.  The game continued like that, and at one point, with the ball completely abandoned in the middle of the field, Jackson shouldered Scott to the ground to pick up the ball before he could.  Kat could almost feel how angry Scott was getting, and she was starting to become angry as well.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson made the shot, and the crowd exploded in applause.  The cheerleaders turned around and performed the cheer they always did when a goal was made, but Kat was hardly moving in sync with her teammates.  Instead, she was focused on the sign that Lydia and Allison were holding up.  No doubt made by Lydia, it read, “We Luv U Jackson,” and Kat knew that Scott would be even more distracted and angry as soon as he saw it.  Kat fearfully looked at Scott and took in his betrayed expression.  She knew she should have made one for Scott and Spencer for Allison to hold.  She reminded herself to do that for the next game.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The referee blew his whistle and the game resumed.  As she settled into their stance, Kat looked back up at the crowd and saw that Lydia had another sign reading, “Jackson Is #1!!” Kat quietly groaned.  She didn’t even have to look at Scott to know that he was becoming angrier by the second, and the sign wasn’t helping.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat focused her attention on the game just as Scott leaped over a player and caught the ball before taking off down the field, expertly avoiding each opposing player with lightning reflexes before launching the ball into the net, earning a point for Beacon Hills.  The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, and the cheerleaders jumped up and down, shaking their pom-poms in celebration.  Kat cheered, yelling out her brother’s name in absolute glee.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Coach Finstock ran down the field, shouting to his players, “McCall!  Pass to McCall!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Jackson scowled before crouching down in the starting position across from the opposing starter.  The referee blew the whistle, and they went straight for the ball, but it rolled away from them, and a player from the visiting team picked up the ball.  He turned around and came face to face with Scott, and after a quick pause, he threw the ball to him.  Kat’s brows shot up in surprise as she watched Scott sprint downfield to the goal, shooting and making another goal.  His throw was so powerful that it tore through the goalie’s net before officially landing in the goal and earning another point for Beacon Hills.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Everyone was shouting from either excitement or protest as the referee conferred Scott’s shot with the coaches, but Kat’s only focus was Scott.  His breathing was completely jagged, and he couldn’t seem to calm down.  Finally, coach Finstock blew his whistle, telling the players and fans that they earned the point and the game was continuing.  The score was five to five, and there were thirty-nine seconds left in the game.  The referee set the ball down and started the play.  Jackson shouldered the opposing starter, but the other team had the ball.  Kat had a keen eye on the ball, and, just like in the last play, the opposing team threw the ball right to Scott.  Scott took off again, this time to centerfield, but was surrounded.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The seconds were ticking down faster than Kat thought possible, but she focused more on what her brother was doing.  His head furiously whipped from side to side, watching the opposing team close in on him.  She intensely watched as Scott focused and wound up to launch the ball into the net just as the seconds on the clock ran out.  Finally, the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game and announcing the win for Beacon Hills.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The students and parents on the bleachers all jumped up and flooded the field, creating mass confusion and chaos.  Kat ran over to Stiles, happily jumping on him.  Stiles laughed and quickly secured his arms around her in a tight hug before placing her back on the ground, hands still on her waist as they cheered.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“He did it!” Kat eagerly shouted, stepping away from Stiles to look for her brother.  She searched the field but couldn’t find Scott.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Where’d he go?” Stiles asked, brows furrowing as he looked back at Kat.  Kat shrugged, brushing her hair away from her face.  She saw Allison running towards the trees that led back to the high school, but she figured she was chasing Lydia and Jackson back to the school.  She knew that not even sweet Allison would miss the opportunity to see Lydia explode at Jackson for not scoring the winning goal.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat felt like doing the same and started jogging that way, but Melissa was quick to stop her. “Nuh-uh!  I’m getting a picture of you guys in your jerseys before you disappear with your friends.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat groaned, ran over, and jumped onto Stiles' back for a picture.  Stiles gripped Kat’s thighs and ensured she was secure on his back before looking up and smiling at Melissa with a light blush covering his pale face, who now had her camera pointed at them.  Keeping one arm around Stiles' shoulders, Kat raised her arm above her head to show off her pom-poms, and on the count of three, the shutter sounded, and the flash burned in their eyes.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Alright, one more.  I wanna see the numbers on the jerseys, now.” Melissa smiled, thinking she sounded like a professional photographer with her directing of them.  Kat groaned and slid off Stiles' back to pose for the next picture.  She gave Stiles one of her pom-poms, and they wrapped their free arms around each other before goofily posing, making sure that the numbers could be seen.  Melissa snapped the picture and gave them a thumbs-up, telling them that she was done with them and was off to go find Scott.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat looked back up at Stiles, rolling her eyes as she apologized for her mother, “Sorry about her; she just hasn’t been able to take pictures like that for a while.  She missed having a cheerleader in the house to vicariously live through.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles laughed, “No, it’s alright.  I missed having a cheerleader to take pictures with; it made me feel cool.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“And you feel cool now?” Kat teased, grabbing her pom-pom from him and waving them as she disbanded from him, “You’re still going out with all of us tonight, Stilinski.  You’re not getting out of it.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat didn’t wait for an argument on his part before she turned and started running back to the school.  She caught up with Melissa and began to eagerly talk about the game and how much she missed cheering, especially for her brother.  Sure, football and basketball games were fun, but lacrosse was so different that they didn’t even compare.  Melissa knew that it also had to do with the fact that she got to wear Stiles' jersey and that she had an excuse to act like his girlfriend.  It was just so painfully obvious, but she refrained from saying anything.Eventually, after Melissa was satisfied with the number of pictures she had taken of Kat and her friends, the McCall siblings had joined their group to celebrate their win with milkshakes and malts at Penny’s Diner.  The night was filled with laughter and fun jabs at one another.  It was a nice break from the competition between Jackson and Scott and the tension that usually came when that whole group was together at school.  They were just a group of friends hanging out.  They felt like normal high school students, and it was downright fun.

ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ's ɴᴏᴛᴇs: I love this chapter, it's so cute. Now, I know the writing isn't too great, but I was 16 when I wrote it. I edited it the best I could when I was rewriting, and I'm happy with how it turned out. The writing gets better the further along we go, I promise!

I do NOT consent to have my work posted, translated, or published to any third-party app or site without my explicit knowledge and consent. My works are exclusively available on Tumblr, Wattpad, and AO3under the username ghxst-heart.

© ɢʜxsᴛ-ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸

[ghxst-heart]

ᴡᴇʟᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴀᴄᴏɴ ʜɪʟʟs ─ sᴛɪʟᴇs sᴛɪʟɪɴsᴋɪ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴄʟᴀɴᴅᴇsᴛɪɴᴇ

ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪɴғᴏ: Main OC is Scott McCall's half-sister, there are six (6) original characters, friends to lovers with Stiles Stilinski, book one covers Seasons 1 & 2 of Teen Wolf ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 6.8k

ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀʟɪsᴛ | ɴᴇxᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛ

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃𝐒 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆 low over Beacon Hills, California, creating a somber mood over the small town.  The roads were wet from the day’s scattered showers, making the red, yellow, and green from the stoplights reflect brightly against the dark asphalt.  A lone red SUV sped down the highway into town, driving at least twenty miles above the speed limit -- the driver was too anxious to get to her childhood home to drive at a reasonable speed.  The car shone under the streetlights as it turned onto residential streets, finally slowing down once a familiar light green two-story home came into view.  It pulled to a stop on the curb behind a broken-down black car, the driver suddenly becoming self-aware as she gazed up at the house.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The driver’s side door opened and a pair of beat-up Converse shoes stepped onto the pavement, quickly followed by four large black paws.  The dog circled her owner’s legs before running onto the lawn and sniffing around.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Kota!” The driver hissed, pocketing her keys and shutting the door of her vehicle.  She stalked after her dog, a large black Belgian Malinois, scolding her for running off. “Kota, get back here!  C’mon, girl.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The dog trotted back to the girl, panting happily with her tongue hanging out of her mouth almost joyfully.  She lapped at her owner’s hand, letting her know that she was just as happy to be away from San Francisco, before turning and prancing up the porch steps.  She knew the home all too well and was eager to get back inside.  Her owner shared that desire, but she wished she could be as confident about the decision as her dog.  The girl followed her dog, her steps less enthused.  Her feet were hesitant as she climbed the stairs and stepped up to the front door.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The last time she was on that porch, she was twelve years old (almost thirteen, as she loved to hold over her brother’s head because she was just a couple months older than him).  She had a large pink Bobby Jack Brand suitcase beside her and tears running down her puffy and blotchy cheeks.  Her arms were locked around her half-brother, crying and soaking his jacket with her tears.  Now, she was standing with her dog, her suitcases packed in her car, and her cheeks were dry.  But, she was just as nervous and anxious as the last time.  She hadn’t thought about her plan.  That afternoon when she came home to a note on the refrigerator, she tore it down and stomped upstairs, ready to pack up her room.  She already knew what it said.  It would be an empty apology from her father, explaining that he was leaving on another work trip and had left two hundred dollars for groceries.  He had a ready-made letter that he stamped onto a paper so he could post it and go.  Now she was hours from San Francisco, standing on the porch of her childhood home with her beloved dog and the desperate hope of being taken in by the homeowners.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎She stared at the door in front of her, trying to psych herself up to actually ring the doorbell.  Hundreds of doubts ran through her mind, all stemming from the same fear that she would be rejected.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Shit, Kat, just do it.” The girl whispered to herself, shaking her hands beside her.  She let out a long breath and spastically brought her hand to the doorbell.  She barely glanced at it as her pointer finger pressed the bell.  The noise echoed in her ears, causing her to squirm slightly as it seemed louder than it should have.  Kota barked beside her, earning a rushed ‘shh’ from her owner.  She heard a pair of feet clomping down the stairs inside, listening as they slowly marched across the foyer to the door.  Her heart pounded in her chest as the door opened and revealed the tired face of Melissa McCall.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat hadn’t realized how much she had missed the woman until she saw her.  Tears pricked her eyes, and her heart leaped into her throat.  Melissa ran a hand down her face as she finally looked at the girl on the other side of the door.  She grinned and crossed her arms over her chest, her exhaustion slipping away as she looked at the teen.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat’s eyes burned with tears, and her voice caught in her throat, but she somehow managed to get out a few words, “I didn’t know where else to go, Melissa.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa’s face softened into a motherly smile, and she reached out to pull Kat into her arms, “You look exhausted and hungry.  Come on in, I’ll order some Chinese takeout, and we can talk about whatever you need to.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa opened the door further and let Kat inside.  Kat turned and snapped twice, letting her dog know she should follow her, before allowing Melissa to lead her to the kitchen.  She felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders as soon as she was inside.  She missed the Beacon Hills McCall house more than she cared to admit.  It was much more lived-in than the San Francisco McCall house; it felt like an actual home.  She followed Melissa to the kitchen and sat at the island counter while Melissa went to the home phone and dialed a number she hadn’t dialed in close to four years.  She and her son had a silent agreement to not let any of his father’s tendencies back into their home unless necessary.  But, with Kat, it was necessary.  She loved the Chinese restaurant House of Food just as much as her father.  Kota jumped up onto her hind legs and let her front paws rest on Kat’s thighs.  She snuggled her head between her paws, showing she was content and happy to be home.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Kota’s gotten big, hasn’t she,” Melissa said, putting the phone down and leaning on the island countertop.  She reached down and stroked the dog’s head lovingly. “She was just a puppy when you and Rafael left.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Correction: When Rafael forced me to move.” Kat sharply said, meeting Melissa’s eyes.  She missed their lively brown that could either comfort her or scold her with one glance.  They were just as pretty as Kat remembered. “I wanted to stay here.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa sighed and nodded. “I told him that separating you and Scott would be a bad move.  I don’t know why he did, especially in his state.  Is he any better?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat shrugged. “He hasn’t had a drop of alcohol since we left, but he’s still a shit father.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Language, Kat.” Melissa playfully scolded.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat rolled her eyes, smiling slightly. “Sorry.  He’s still a crap father.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’m sorry you had to stay with him these past few years,” Melissa said. “Is that why you’re here?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎A sour laugh left Kat’s mouth. “I came home to a letter on the fridge telling me he was on another business trip.  So I figure seven times is more than enough to file reckless abandonment against him.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa’s brows furrowed, confused by her words. “You mean he never calls you to tell you he’s leaving?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No.” Kat simply said, letting her hand run down Kota’s head and neck. “The past few notes have been printed off.  I think he’s got a draft of the same thing on his computer so he can fill in the blanks of the dates and where he is.  The printed ones even have his business logo, like he’s writing to a colleague instead of me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Melissa sighed, sliding the notes away from Kat. “You’re right; he still is a shit father.  What a prick.” She looked over the letters, shaking her head as her lips pursed angrily before looking at Kat with kind eyes, “Well, we can go to the courthouse tomorrow and start the process to have your custody transferred to me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’d love that,” Kat smiled, feeling immensely more relieved than before she rang the doorbell.  She felt truly happy for the first time in years.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎A set of heavy feet stomped down the stairs and into the kitchen.  Kat looked towards the archway into the kitchen expectantly, a smile spreading across her face when her half-brother Scott walked in.  Scott was a month and a half younger than Kat, but he looked older than she did.  He shared the same tanned skin and brown hair as their father, but the only other thing he inherited from him was his eyes, which he shared with Kat.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott stopped dead in his tracks, unable to believe his sister was sitting in the kitchen.  He was at a loss for words, and all he could muster was a simple question. “Why are you here?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat laughed, taking Kota’s paws off her legs and standing up.  She crossed her arms over her chest and raised a brow at Scott. “And here I thought you’d be more glad to see me, Scotty.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Scott shook his head, “To be honest, I’m happier to see Kota.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, shut up,” Kat laughed, crossing the room and hugging her brother.  Scott gathered her in his arms so tightly that Kat found it challenging to breathe.  Kat returned the grip, relieved to be home with her family again.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The Beacon Hills mall was nicer than most in San Francisco, filled with expensive boutiques and slightly cheaper chain shops.  A custodian was always picking up trash, and employees were constantly straightening out displays.  It looked like something out of Gossip Girl, and Kat secretly loved it.  Thanks to her childhood friends, she had grown up as the perfect combination of girly and tomboy.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat was best friends with Lydia Martin and Lexi West from kindergarten to sixth grade.  Lydia was the girliest, whereas Lexi was the sportiest, making Kat the ideal combination of a fashion-loving athlete.  The girls spent every weekend at the mall, having mini fashion shows in each boutique and convincing Mrs. Martin and Mr. West to buy them anything they were just dying to have.  Because of that, it was no surprise that Kat found Lydia and Lexi in their favorite ‘high school girl’ boutique while she was killing time the Saturday after she arrived in Beacon Hills.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia was just how Kat remembered her.  Of course, long strawberry blonde hair trailed down her back, perfectly curled, and expensive clothes hung on her thin frame.  Yet, she still held the same confidence she had when they were younger, the confidence that girls envied and boys were intimidated by.  Kat knew that Lydia was still at the top of the societal pyramid of Beacon Hills High School by just looking at her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lexi, however, was no longer the basketball-short-wearing athlete from sixth grade.  Her hair was cut just past her shoulders and was dyed black, and her dark makeup deeply contrasted with Lydia’s natural look.  Kat had to smile when she saw the leather jacket that covered her band t-shirt, a few buttons pinned onto the lapels, and accompanied by metal studs.  The two girls were complete opposites, but they looked like the perfect pair.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat moved around a clothes rack, grabbing a random top and holding it over her chest before walking up behind Lydia and Lexi. “So, I’m looking for a second opinion.  Would this be an appropriate top to make a good first impression for the first day of sophomore year?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The girls looked over their shoulders, examining Kat.  It took them mere seconds to recognize her, her bright chocolate brown eyes giving her away instantly.  A smile split across Lydia’s face, and she started squealing in excitement while Lexi grinned at the McCall girl.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Kat!” Lydia dropped whatever article of clothing she was holding and threw her arms around Kat’s neck in a tight hug.  Kat laughed and returned the hug, just as excited as Lydia.  Lydia pulled back, examining Kat closer than before.  She let out a noise of disapproval and pursed her lips. “Sweetie, what are you wearing?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat nervously chuckled and looked down at her outfit.  A pair of distressed denim shorts and a music festival t-shirt were accessorized with her very worn high-top Converse.  Her outfit contrasted with Lydia’s short floral dress and tall wedge sandals and Lexi’s stern and dark look that Kat almost felt inferior.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Well, uh,” Kat stuttered, breathily chuckling as she shuffled her feet. “I just packed anything I could grab before leaving San Francisco.  Fashion wasn’t really a priority at the time.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Hey, Noise Pop was an awesome festival this year, don’t disrespect it, Lyds.” Lexi joined in, stepping around Lydia to hug Kat. “I missed ya, McCall.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I missed you too, West.” Kat sighed, relishing in the feeling of being with her best friends again.  She hadn’t realized how much she needed them around.  Phone calls just weren’t cutting it anymore.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia smiled at Kat as she and Lexi pulled apart, shaking her head. “As a welcome home present, I’m buying you a first-day outfit that will make you the hottest girl at Beacon High Monday morning.  Besides us, of course.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat giggled, “Lydia, you don’t have to do that.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t?” Lydia asked, looking at Kat as if she had asked one of the stupidest questions ever. “I’ve got full access to my mom’s card today.  So, I could buy you a whole new wardrobe if I wanted to.  And, by looking at what you’re wearing now, I might have to.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lexi chuckled, “You also owe us an explanation for why you didn’t call to let us know you were coming back.  So, clear your schedule.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat looked at the girls with a grateful smile before chuckling and linking her arms through Lydia’s and Lexi’s. “Well, if I’ve got some explaining to do, I guess we should get pretzels and iced tea from the food court.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Minutes later, the girls were seated at their old spots in the food court, a back corner counter where they could see every angle of the court, tucked between Pretzelmaker and a locally owned Italian restaurant named Luigi’s.  (“I can’t decide if it’s classic or tragic that they named it Luigi’s.  The owner can’t really be named Luigi; it’s too cliche,” Lydia always said).  They had the perfect view of every hot guy and girl who couldn’t compete with them who walked through the court.  Even back in sixth grade, they would sit there, hiding behind large iced teas and over-buttered-and-salted pretzels, sniggering about what their frenemies were wearing.  It was rare for anyone else to be seated with them.  Today, however, the topic of conversation was Kat’s return to Beacon Hills.  Lydia and Lexi hung onto her every word, and her story ended with a tight group hug and a comfortable silence.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia set her tea down on the counter, leaning in closer to Kat as she divulged what she had become accustomed to talking about when she didn’t think there was anything else of importance to discuss. “So, Kat.  Any boyfriends back in San Fran that I need to worry about before setting you up with anyone?  I have a few lacrosse players in mind that would be the perfect way for you to make your grand entrance back to Beacon Hills.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat laughed, shaking her head. “No boyfriends, anywhere, period.  They’re too much work.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Not even Stilinski?” Lexi playfully asked, nudging Kat’s shoulder with hers.  Kat groaned and rolled her eyes, a smile stretching onto her face.  She felt her cheeks heat up as she remembered her childhood crush Stiles Stilinski.  He was one of Scott’s best friends and her middle school on-again-off-again boyfriend.  Melissa always teased her about it, telling her that no matter how many times they ‘broke up,’ Stiles would always be back with a floral bouquet picked from his mother’s garden and an apology.  Even in middle school, he knew how to treat his girlfriend.  Kat wondered if Stiles had found another girl to spoil as he did her all those years ago -- that wasn’t the type of thing they talked about when they had an out-of-the-blue desire to dial one another’s numbers every few months.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Now I may have to reconsider a boyfriend if it’s Stiles you’re going to set me up with, Lyds.” Kat giggled before sitting up straighter and looking at the two girls, “Since it seems to be almost as important as breathing, who are you guys starting the year off with, then?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Jackson Whittemore, of course.” Lydia dreamily said, a soft smile on her face as she twirled the straw around her iced tea.  Kat was impressed but not surprised by her choice of boyfriend.  A junior and the star of the lacrosse team, Jackson Whittemore was the perfect match for Lydia’s ‘cool-girl’ image.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Of course,” Kat said, smiling as she turned to Lexi, eyebrows raised as she asked, “What about you, West?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“As the only gay girl in school, I don’t have any arm candy.” Lexi passively said.  Kat could detect the slight longing in her voice and felt for her friend.  Since middle school, Lexi had been open about her sexuality, but she seemed to be the only one.  There was only one other gay student in Beacon Hills, and his name was Danny Mahealani.  He, too, had always been open about his sexuality, and he and Lexi bonded and became great friends when Lydia and Jackson started dating.  Kat was glad that Lexi had someone like Danny in her life.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’ll be your arm candy; I think we’d make a cute couple,” Kat said, nudging her shoulder with her own as they giggled. “Maybe even cuter than Lydia and Jackson.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, no, we could never be cuter than Lydia and Jackson,” Lexi joked, laughing as the Martin girl rolled her eyes and waved her off, addressing Kat with a somehow serious and sarcastic look at the same time.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“It’s not like it would mean anything.  He’d just be insurance to ensure that you entered with the right people in case walking in with us didn’t do it.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Why wouldn’t walking in with you two be enough?” Kat asked, brows furrowing.  There was no such thing as social scenes or a social pyramid at her school in San Francisco.  Then again, it was an uber-exclusive private school with an average graduating class of twenty.  So it wasn’t hard for rich snobs to get along, despite what shows like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars portrayed.  They bonded over their privilege of driving Aston Martins and BMWs and weekend trips to the country clubs.  Kat didn’t have to try very hard to fit in, but she never entirely assimilated with the richest of San Francisco with her Mazda SUV and occasional tag-along trips to the not-as-nice country clubs.  Nonetheless, she wasn’t very far from the bottom of the pyramid.  She wouldn’t admit that she missed the way she could walk down the hallway, and people would trip over themselves to greet her, even if that was just stupid middle school popularity.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“We’re not in fifth grade anymore, Kat.” Lydia chuckled, “People are ruthless here.  Maybe we should figure out something else to help you back into our corrupt social hierarchy.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You say corrupt while sitting at the top,” Kat laughed but quickly quieted down as she realized that Lydia was right.  Beacon Hills kids and teens were mean if you weren’t at the top of the pyramid; she’d heard all about it from Scott and Stiles.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh!” Lydia suddenly gasped, looking at Kat with excitement, “How about cheerleading?  You were so good in middle school!  And, I know that they’re having a late summer tryout in a couple of days.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“How do you know that?” Kat asked around a large bite of her pretzel.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Because, back in June, Annie fell at cheer camp and broke her ankle in four different places.  She’s healed now, but no one really liked her in the first place, so we’re looking for a replacement,” Lexi smirked, carefully watching Kat’s expression to see if she had caught the purposeful slip-up in her wording.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Leigh’s a cheerleader?  Gross.” Kat giggled, scrunching her nose at the thought of her former middle school enemy.  Growing up, Kat and Annie always seemed to be at each other’s throats, and they weren’t sneaky about it.  If Kat and her boyfriend at the time broke up, Annie would always start spreading rumors that it was because he was secretly in love with her.  Kat never called Annie by her preferred name, only her most hated nickname Leigh.  They went out of their way to do any little thing that would get under the other’s skin.  Everyone knew they hated each other, but no one knew why.  Eventually, Kat and Annie also forgot, but they were both too stubborn to stop hating one another.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat’s eyes suddenly narrowed, and her brows furrowed as she swallowed the pretzel with a sip of tea. “Wait, hold on.  Did you say ‘we’?  As in, you and the cheerleaders?  Are you on the cheerleading squad?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lydia decided to sarcastically play along, “Wait, Lexi, you never told me that you were the captain of the Beacon Hills Cheerleaders.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat grinned at the West girl, “So, I leave for a few years, and you replace me as captain of our school’s cheerleading squad.  I never thought I’d see the day.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lexi shrugged, “Well, someone had to do it.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The girls laughed as Kat’s phone vibrated in her shorts pocket, and she quickly fished it out.  Scott’s name flashed across the screen, and the alert that she had a new text.  She unlocked her phone and read the text.

ғʀᴏᴍ: sᴄᴏᴛᴛʏ 😎 ‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎⤷ ᴍᴏᴍ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴜs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪɴɴᴇʀ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ ʜᴏᴍᴇ?

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Shoot, I gotta go,” Kat said, typing a quick response to Scott before looking at her friends again. “I’ll text you guys, though.  We’ll do something tomorrow, I promise!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“What’s your dress size?” Lydia quickly asked, standing up and gathering her things as Kat did.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Uh, three,” Kat answered, stuffing her phone in her back pocket and throwing away her tea and pretzel remnants. “Bye, guys.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Bye, Kat!” Lydia called as Lexi said, “Later, McCall.  Cheer tryouts are Wednesday at eight AM!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat watched the girls walk out of the food court with their bags hanging from their elbows and Lydia’s thumbs tapping away at her phone screen.  Kat chuckled when she heard her talk into her phone, “I need the cutest size three spring dress you own.  I’ll pay well over ticket price; it’s an emergency.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat left the Beacon Hills Mall and made her way back through town to the McCall house.  She decided to take a longer route, cutting through residential streets and trying to remember her way through the city.  She turned down a random road and immediately saw a familiar baby blue jeep.  She had turned down the Stilinski’s street.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The Stilinskis were some of Kat’s favorite people.  She had so many great memories with them, and her favorite was how she met their son Stiles.  During a recess in kindergarten, the second Kat saw the Stilinski boy, she knew she was in love.  She dragged poor Stiles over to her brother and demanded that he marry them under the monkey bars.  Kat was a little love-obsessed when she was four.  Needless to say, Kat and Stiles were married the day they met, and the three became inseparable until it was discovered that boys and girls had cooties.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The McCalls left for dinner at their favorite diner, a small 50’s themed diner named Penny’s near the highway with the best chocolate malts in town.  Melissa used to take Scott and Kat there when Rafael came home from a trip.  He was usually cranky and/or drunk when he came home, and Melissa never wanted her children to see that side of their father.  They ordered a large basket of French fries and large chocolate malts (Melissa and Scott gave their cherries to Kat just like they used to do) and laughed and talked all evening.  Kat missed nights like those; she rarely had the opportunity to revel in pure happiness in San Francisco.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎A few days later, the McCall girl walked into the high school gym in her favorite leggings and sneakers, her hair tied back into a sleek ponytail (with the signature cheerleader poof of teased hair on the top of her head) and her face done up with natural, but noticeable, makeup.  She was somewhat exhausted by the attempt to look the part and knew it would get really old, really fast, if she made the team, but realized as soon as she walked in that it would help her odds.  While possibly three of the girls trying out remotely resembled cheerleaders, most of them hardly attempted to pull their hair back and out of their faces.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You come to take your place at the top of the pyramid?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat turned around and came face to face with Lexi.  She was taken aback by how different Lexi looked in her cheerleading uniform.  Black, white, and maroon, the uniform was tightly fitted and short, exactly how Kat remembered them when she would attend the high school football games in middle school.  Her dark hair was tied up in a slick ponytail and had a striped bow sitting atop it, and her makeup was toned down and more natural than when Kat saw her at the mall.  She held the confidence a cheerleading captain should, and it almost suited her better than the studded leather jacket.  Almost.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Someone’s gotta do it,” Kat grinned, “That bow is precious.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You’d love it,” Lexi joked, gently nudging her shoulder, “Let’s see if you’ve got what it takes to look this preciously badass.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Oh, do your worst.  They’ll be voting me captain before the tryouts are even over.” Kat teased, watching as Lexi laughed and returned to the table set up in front of the bleachers, where three other cheerleaders were seated.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The West girl loudly clapped, quickly earning the attention of the girls scattered around the gym. “Alright, girls, here’s how this will go down.  We have one open spot, and we aren’t too keen on filling it with just anyone.  So it’s up to you to make up our minds on whether we will fill it or not.  We have a list of stunts and cheers that you need to be able to do, and each tryout will be individual.  But, of course, appearance and personality also count, so some of you might want to fix yourselves or drop out now.  Questions?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat glanced around at the rest of the girls, somewhat pleased to see that many had closed in on themselves, and started to shuffle their feet, knowing they wouldn’t be returning to the gym for their tryout.  Kat wasn’t worried; she was energized.  She hadn’t done anything cheer-related in months, but that didn’t concern her.  She knew she could do the stunts; she’d just be a little rusty.  And luckily for her, what she considered rusty was what others thought their best.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lexi picked up a stack of papers, and the other three cheerleaders next to her grabbed more papers, pieces of fabric, and safety pins.  They moved to the front of the table as Lexi spoke, “Come and grab the requirements, a number, and a form.  We’ll call the first number in ten minutes.  Come back stretched and prepared.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat was one of the first in line, grabbing the fabric with the number four drawn on it with a glitter pen and the needed papers before swiftly leaving the gym, her number tacked onto her shirt before she even reached the doors.  She could feel the envious eyes as she left; she knew she looked like the typical cheerleader, minus the blonde hair, and the rest didn’t.  The rest of the girls gathered in the hallway outside of the gym, spreading out to stretch and mentally prepare themselves.  Kat kept her head low and tried to focus on stretching and filling out her form, but two girls who couldn’t keep from running their mouths earned her attention and distracted her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Can you believe she’s back?  I mean, did you see the way Lexi reacted when she walked into the gym?  She’s already back in the popular circle.  It’s so not fair.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat smirked, knowing they were talking about her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“She’s been gone for years, and the second she returns, she gets her old spot back?  The rest of us have been clawing for her spot since she left.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎It’s called friendship, sweetie, Kat thought, shaking her head as she quietly chuckled.  A girl near her looked up, slightly alarmed.  Kat narrowed her eyes and snapped, “Stare, much?” She averted her gaze as quickly as she looked up.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“If only Lydia would have forgotten her instead of us.  We’re so much more deserving of her spot; at least we’re nice.  No one’s forgotten her.  What’s so special about her, anyway?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Hell, if I know.  It’s so annoying that she just gets to return and have her old life back.  None of us would be able to.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat couldn’t take it anymore and finally looked up at the girls.  They were only a few feet away and weren’t trying to be quiet as they leaned into each other and pretended to whisper.  Kat recognized one of them as Annie, her middle school rival.  The McCall girl cleared her throat, catching Annie and her friend off guard.  She sweetly smiled, batting her lashes in their direction, “Hey, Leigh.  I heard about your injury this summer.  How’s the ankle?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Annie’s face paled as she gulped, trying to cover her reaction as best as she could with faux confidence, “Completely healed and ready to get back up on top of the pyramid.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You mean supporting the pyramid, I’m sure,” Kat smirked, looking at the gym doors as they opened to reveal a blonde cheerleader struggling to keep it propped open.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Number four, if you haven’t left yet, like two and three, you’re up.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat gathered her bag, neatly holding onto her form with one hand and making her way towards the gym door with long, confident strides.  She looked at the girls gossiping about her, smirking before blowing a kiss their way. “Best of luck, girls.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat followed the blonde back into the gym, setting her bag just inside the door and taking her earbuds out of her shirt to place them and her phone in the bag.  She tightened her ponytail and stood up straight again, walking to the table and handing her form to Lexi.  She smiled at the rest of the cheerleaders before moving to the gym center, folding her hands behind her back and awaiting their instructions.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lexi glanced over her form before clasping her hands together on the table, “Alright, Kat, let’s get started.  First off, let’s start with a simple toe-touch.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat nodded and performed an impeccable toe-touch, landing with a soft thud.  She barely made a noise on the wood flooring.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lexi nodded, and the cheerleaders all wrote on their notepads. “And, now, let’s see a right herkie, then a left herkie.  You can join them or do them separately.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Once again, Kat prepped and performed exquisite herkies, landing cleanly and confidently.  Each stunt Lexi asked for, Kat executed perfectly.  She tried to keep the surprise off of her face, but she didn’t think she should have been able to do half of the things she was asked to do with such ease.  The stunts should have been too challenging for someone who had taken a couple of months off from cheer.  She shouldn’t have been able to execute them as well as she did.  However, her shock soon turned into smugness.  She would be even better than anyone expected if she could tumble that well after a couple of months off.  That spot was hers.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The cheerleaders sat and conversed quietly, sending small glances over their shoulders to Kat.  She stood patiently and eagerly, hands wringing on each other behind her back.  Then, she could hear a whisper float toward her.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I’m impressed.  Can she shout, though?  Would she be good with crowd involvement?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“She was the loudest cheerleader in the seventh grade; I’m sure she’s still got it,” Lexi said, nodding her head.  The girls around her gave her wary glances, and Lexi rolled her eyes before looking at Kat again, “It’s the final quarter of the game, and we need one last score to win.  So what’s a classic cheer that you would use to get the team riled up and the crowd involved?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat pursed her lips as she thought.  There were many classics that everyone seemed to know, but there was one that she and Lydia loved when they attended high school games.  She nodded and quietly cleared her throat before she started shouting and acting as if the bleachers behind the cheerleaders were full of Cyclones fans. “Up, up, on your feet!  Whirling Cyclones can’t be beat!  Up, up, on your feet!  Whirling Cyclones can’t be beat!”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat carefully surveyed the cheerleaders before her, relaxing at the encouraging and excited looks on their faces.  Lexi spoke first, “I’m impressed.  Thank you, Kat.” Lexi smirked, overjoyed by her quick thinking and ability to jump right back into cheerleading as if she had never stopped.  She knew that Kat would be the newest addition to the team, and she was extremely excited about it.  Lexi nodded, “Alright, Ashley, you can go get the next one.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat visibly deflated.  She thought she nailed it, that she had the spot guaranteed.  Lexi made sure to catch her eye and wink to let her know she shouldn’t be disappointed.  She couldn’t cut the tryouts short after two girls, even if it was clear who their choice would be.  Kat felt her chest swell with pride as she nodded in understanding and left the gym.  As soon as she stepped into the hallway, Annie’s eyes were on her, and Kat only grinned.  She sat on the hallway floor again, tightening her ponytail and letting her shoulders relax against the cool metal of the lockers.  Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Annie glaring daggers at her, but it only boosted her mood.  She felt selfish, but she loved that Annie was making her jealousy of her so public again.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎One by one, the girls seated around Kat were called into the gym only to defeatedly walk back out minutes later.  Even Annie, who had a smug smile as she entered the gym, came back out with a frown and a glare directed at Kat.  The McCall girl was the only one that seemed to have a successful tryout.  Finally, when every girl had either chickened out or failed their tryout, they were called back into the gym by Ashley, the classic skinny blonde cheerleader.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Perfectly lined up, Kat stood right in front of Lexi, seated at her designated captain chair with her hands folded on the table and eyes narrowed and carefully surveying the girls.  In front of Lexi’s hands were one set of maroon and white pom-poms, one maroon, white, and black bow, and one brand new maroon and black duffel bag that looked full of Kat’s new uniforms.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lexi stood up and examined the girls in front of her before clearing her throat. “Everyone but number four can leave.  So sorry, ladies, please try again next year!  Junior varsity is holding tryouts tomorrow afternoon if your confidence hasn’t already been crushed.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat watched as girls started to filter out of the gym, wiping at their eyes and angrily throwing their bags over their shoulders.  Finally, only one girl was left, a tall but stout girl with blonde hair and stormy gray eyes.  Annie stood beside her, a hideous glare plastered onto her face.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Are you joking, West?” Annie spit, “I’m healed, I’ve lost the weight, and I deserve to be on top of the pyramid more than she ever will.  She shouldn’t just get to come back and be on top; she doesn’t deserve it.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Lexi’s face was blank as she took a slow breath and looked at Annie, “Give me a triple herkie, either side, double toe touch, end in a roundoff to the knee, arms in a high ‘v.’”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Annie’s face paled, and she started shaking her head, “You know I couldn’t do that even before I broke my ankle.  I’m a flyer, not a tumbler.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Flying and tumbling have always been your weakest points, and we both know that you’re hardly even a shouter.” Lexi’s lips pursed to stop herself from smirking, “We’ve decided to round out the team and make sure anyone can be put wherever we need them.  You don’t fit the bill anymore.  So keep practicing; there’s always next year.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Annie scowled and rolled her eyes before leaving the gym, waving around her middle finger as the door slammed shut.  Kat didn’t miss the look of pure hatred Annie shot her way before she disappeared from the gym.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Congratulations, Kat,” Lexi’s voice sounded, earning Kat’s attention.  The West girl held the pom-poms out towards Kat with a broad smile as she said, “Welcome to the Beacon Hills Cheerleading Squad.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎That night, Melissa took Kat out for celebratory burgers and shakes from the hospital cafeteria.  Melissa was in the middle of a twelve-hour shift, but she would never miss the opportunity to celebrate her daughter making the cheerleading squad.  As much as she loved that Scott was on the lacrosse team, she had always wanted a daughter to follow in her high school footsteps and cheer on the local mascot.  Some mothers dreamed their daughter would become a prima ballerina, Melissa dreamed hers would become a cheerleading captain.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎The McCall ladies were seated across each other, Kat recounting her tryout to Melissa in great detail.  Melissa laughed and nodded, happy to hear Kat was so invested in something, but it didn’t last too long.  Soon enough, a teenage boy came running up to their table, stopping just behind Kat’s chair and asking a dragged-out question in one long breath.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“I know that my dad said that you’re not allowed to let me in on investigation details, and I know I’m not even remotely related to the victim of that drug deal case, but can you please tell me how they got their injuries?” The teen was breathless as he leaned on the table, completely disregarding Kat while he stared intently at Melissa with large eyes.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“No,” Melissa simply said, taking a bite of her food utterly unbothered.  The teen groaned and slouched on the table before he shot up, an expectant and excited look on his face.  Melissa shook her head and shot him down immediately, “No to whatever you’re about to say next.  Keep your nose out of police and hospital business, Stiles.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat took in Stiles' defeated demeanor as she chuckled, earning his attention.  He was just how she remembered him, down to the adorable trail of freckles that spanned the left side of his jaw and neck.  He was still that curious, freckled spaz that she loved.

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat rested her elbow on the table and smirked, waving her fingers at him as she greeted him. “Hey, Stiles.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles' jaw was slacked as he took her in.  She was even prettier than he remembered.  Her Facebook profile doesn’t do her justice, he thought.  Stiles lightly scoffed and tried to smoothly recover his shock of seeing the girl he’d been so infatuated with since they were five years old by smirking and nodding his head, “Hey, Kat.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“So, you said that it was a drug deal victim?” Kat asked, narrowing her eyes at him, “Let me guess.  A drug deal gone wrong, someone got shot or stabbed, and won’t give up a name?”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Stiles breathily chuckled, “Yeah, something like that.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat nodded. “Alright.  Yeah, what my mom said -- keep your cute little nose out of police and hospital business, Stilinski.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“You think my nose is cute?” Stiles asked, a look of awe covering his face as he placed his hand over his heart. “God, you just got back, and you’re already finding it hard to not compliment me.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎Kat shrugged her shoulders, “No, I just remembered how easy it was to make you blush and couldn’t help myself.” She grinned up at him, “I missed you, Stiles.”

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎“Wish I could say the same.” Stiles quipped, starting to turn on his heel and walk away, but Kat quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him into her as she hugged him.  He laughed and tightly wrapped his arms around her waist as he welcomed her back.  Kat sighed, fighting against the butterflies in her stomach.  His grip was firmer and more secure than in eighth grade, as was to be expected, but it felt different than it should have.  Almost like the start of something completely new and different between them.

ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ's ɴᴏᴛᴇs: I decided to say screw it and post it even after my post asking if I should post this got zero notes. I've been working on this series since I was 14, it's gone through soooo many edits in the last 7 years and I am so happy with the final result that I just wanted to share it here. Let me know what you guys think of this, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I do NOT consent to have my work posted, translated, or published to any third-party app or site without my explicit knowledge and consent. My works are exclusively available on Tumblr, Wattpad, and AO3under the username ghxst-heart.

© ɢʜxsᴛ-ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸

[ghxst-heart]

.｡.:*✧ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʟɪᴀʀs

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.｡.:*✧ ᴀʟɪsᴏɴ ᴅɪʟᴀᴜʀᴇɴᴛɪs

‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎─ sᴀғᴇ ─ Alison has returned, but she still needs reassurance that she's not in danger anymore.

.｡.:*✧ ᴊᴀsᴏɴ ᴅɪʟᴀᴜʀᴇɴᴛɪs

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.｡.:*✧ ᴍɪᴋᴇ ᴍᴏɴᴛɢᴏᴍᴇʀʏ

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This is an 18+ blog. MINORS DNI. You are responsible for your own media consumption, just as I am responsible for the content that I post. Please, just save us both the trouble and do not interact with my content if you are under the age of 18.

I do NOT consent to have my work posted, translated, or published to any third-party app or site without my explicit knowledge and consent. My works are exclusively available on Tumblr, Wattpad, and AO3under the username ghxst-heart.

© ɢʜxsᴛ-ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸

Listed in alphabetical order by last name! I have not watched past Season 6, so these are the only characters that I know and feel comfortable writing for.

[ghxst-heart]

.｡.:*✧ ɢᴏssɪᴘ ɢɪʀʟ

.｡.:*✧ ᴠᴀɴᴇssᴀ ᴀʙʀᴀᴍs

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This is an 18+ blog. MINORS DNI. You are responsible for your own media consumption, just as I am responsible for the content that I post. Please, just save us both the trouble and do not interact with my content if you are under the age of 18.

I do NOT consent to have my work posted, translated, or published to any third-party app or site without my explicit knowledge and consent. My works are exclusively available on Tumblr, Wattpad, and AO3under the username ghxst-heart.

© ɢʜxsᴛ-ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸

Listed in alphabetical order by last name! I haven't seen past the beginning of Season 4, I simply lost interest, so these are the only characters that I know and am comfortable writing for.