#moisture wicking socks

[hikercarl]

How to Avoid Hiking Blisters: Tips for Happy Feet on the Trail

Hiking blisters can ruin even the best hikes. To avoid them, it’s important to pick the right hiking shoes and socks. Also, make sure to break in new boots and keep your feet dry. This article will share tips and strategies to keep your feet blister-free on the trail. Key Takeaways Blisters are caused by a combination of heat, moisture, and friction on the skin. Wearing well-fitting, broken-in…

[blorgbleg]

I am allergic to wool, but very jealous of people who aren't! Astounding natural properties! I'd list them but I'm drunk and just remembering the very nice wool socks I got for Christmas one year that I immediately put on (love comfy socks!) that made me break out in hives and itch over my entire body ☹️

[letters-to-lgbt-kids]

My dear lgbt+ kids, 

When it comes to cold weather, the main rule (regardless of gender or presentation) is: when in doubt, choose warmth and safety over style. 

Some basics: 

Layering is your best friend: Start with moisture-wicking base layers to keep sweat off your skin. Follow with insulating layers (like fleece or wool), and finish with a weather-resistant outer layer (like a puffer jacket or waterproof coat) to protect against wind, snow or rain.

Keep your sensitive areas warm: Make sure your hands, feet, and head are covered! Gloves, warm socks and a beanie can prevent cold-related discomfort or injuries. 

Waterproof: If you're facing snow or rain, make sure your clothes are waterproof. Wet clothes lose their insulating ability, so staying dry is a big part of staying warm! 

Reflective Gear: If you’re out in the dark or in poor visibility conditions, consider adding reflective elements to your outfit for safety.

People can react differently to temperatures. A temperature that feels super cold to you could feel comfortable to someone else, depending on what you’re used to (and some other factors). As a very basic rule, we can say: Gloves, beanies, and other cold-weather accessories typically become necessary when temperatures drop below 40°F (4°C). In more severe cold (below 32°F (0°C)), it’s even more important to wear them to protect yourself from frostbite and maintain body warmth. But it goes even in milder weather: if you feel uncomfortable or if it’s windy or damp, it’s a good idea to add these items for extra comfort.

With all that being said: Clothes are not just for safety and temperature control, they also help you express yourself - and that doesn’t suddenly change in winter. 

Dressing for cold weather doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your personal look. Whether you want to present more feminine, more masculine, or more androgynous, here are some tips to help you layer up and feel like yourself: 

(Note that these are suggestions, not hard rules. Style is highly subjective as everyone has different tastes, preferences, body types, fashion inspirations, budgets, cultural influences etc. I could suggest something here that you’d feel super uncomfortable in - if so, that’s not a sign you’re “doing it wrong”! Cherry-pick what feels right and ignore the rest) 

If You Want to Present More Feminine

Base Layers: If you want to wear skirts or dresses in winter, start with thermal leggings or tights! These can be nicely paired with cozy, long-sleeved tops or lightweight thermal shirts. (But also keep in mind that plenty of women, cis or trans, do not wear dresses all the time! Nothing wrong with choosing jeans!) 

Outer Layers: There are plenty of styles to choose from that have a feminine touch, such as a belted trench coat, a pea coat, or a long wool coat. Shawls are also excellent for adding a touch of style while keeping you warm! 

Footwear: Knee-high or thigh-high boots lined with faux fur or fleece can keep your legs warm and add a polished look to your outfit. Ankle boots with thicker socks are also a good alternative.

Accessories: Scarves, gloves, and beanies can be both practical and stylish. Knit hats or earmuffs can add a soft, cozy vibe to your look.

Style Tip: Go for a mix of fabrics like wool, faux fur, and knitwear to create texture and warmth.

If You Want to Present More Masculine: 

- Base Layers: Start with thermal undershirts or moisture-wicking base layers. Consider long underwear for added insulation beneath your pants.

- Outer Layers: There’s plenty of outerwear to choose from, like a puffer jacket, parka, or wool overcoat! (Faux) Leather or bomber jackets layered over sweaters can also add a masculine edge while keeping you warm.

- Footwear: You might want to opt for sturdy boots, such as work boots, Chelsea boots, or combat boots. Thicker socks can keep your feet warm.

- Accessories: Don’t skip out on scarves, beanies, or gloves for being “too feminine”. They can actually be great for adding a more rugged feel to your outfit! You just gotta find a color and style that fits you well. 

Style Tip: Focus on layering in a way that adds structure. Sweaters, button-ups, and jackets work great together for a sharp, put-together look. Play with dark, neutral tones and thick fabrics like wool or denim for extra warmth and style.

If You Want to Present Androgynous

- Base Layers: Neutral-colored thermal tops or turtlenecks can serve as great foundational pieces. You may want to pair these with straight-leg or loose-fitting pants that allow room for layering underneath.

- Outer Layers: Oversized coats, puffer jackets, or long trench coats can work well for an androgynous look. Try layering with oversized sweaters or fleece pullovers for extra warmth.

- Footwear: You could go for sneakers, lace-up boots, or loafers paired with warm, thick socks. But really, any pair of shoes can work for an unisex outfit. 

- Accessories: Neutral-colored scarves, simple beanies, and fingerless gloves can add to an androgynous look. Minimalist accessories like oversized scarves or gender-neutral caps are both practical and stylish.

Style Tip: Aim for a balanced mix of structured and relaxed pieces. Try loose layers on top with more fitted pants, or vice versa, to create an effortless, warm, and non-gendered appearance.

With all my love, 

Your Tumblr Dad 

[theambitiouswoman]

Hygiene tips

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the restroom, after coughing or sneezing, and after touching public surfaces.

Carry a hand sanitizer with you. Make sure the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol and rub it over your hands until dry.

When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow to prevent the spread of germs. Dispose of used tissues immediately.

Refrain from touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible, as these are entry points for germs into your body.

Take showers or baths regularly to keep your body clean and fresh. Use soap and water to thoroughly cleanse your body, paying attention to areas like armpits, feet, and groin.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time, using fluoride toothpaste. Don't forget to clean your tongue, and replace your toothbrush every three to four months.

Keep your nails short and clean to prevent the buildup of dirt and bacteria. Use a nail brush to scrub under your nails regularly.

Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home, such as doorknobs, light switches, countertops, and electronics. Also, keep your living space well-ventilated.

Wash your clothes, bed linens, and towels regularly, following the manufacturer's instructions. Use the appropriate water temperature and detergent to ensure proper cleanliness.

Avoid sharing personal items like towels, razors, toothbrushes, or makeup.

Practice good food hygiene by washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption. Cook food to the appropriate temperature to kill harmful bacteria, and refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Keep your surroundings clean: Regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, phones, keyboards, and remote controls. This helps eliminate germs that may be present on these surfaces.

Maintain clean and healthy feet: Keep your feet clean and dry to prevent fungal infections. Wash your feet regularly, dry them thoroughly (especially between the toes), and wear clean socks and well-fitting shoes.

Ensure that the water you use for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene is clean and safe. If necessary, use water filters or boil the water before use.

If possible, use a shower filter.

If you are sexually active, use barrier methods (such as condoms) to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections. Get regular check-ups and screenings as recommended by healthcare professionals.

Take care of your mental well-being by managing stress, getting enough sleep, engaging in regular physical activity, and seeking support when needed. Good mental health is essential for overall well-being.

Sleep with aloe vera on your face to help with scars and acne.

Massage your body with oils and lotions after shower or before bed.

Eat greek yogurt to help fix PH balance, acne and odor in your private area.

Wear cotton based underwear.

Do not treat your body like a trashcan.

To smell good during the day:

Regular bathing helps remove sweat, dirt, and odor-causing bacteria from your body.

Apply antiperspirant or deodorant to clean, dry underarms to control sweat and odor.

You can also use baking soda and lemon to get rid of under arm odor.

Put on freshly laundered clothes each day. Clean clothing helps prevent the buildup of odor-causing bacteria and keeps you smelling fresh.

When choosing clothes, opt for natural fibers like cotton or linen, which allow air to circulate and help wick away moisture from your body. Avoid synthetic materials that can trap sweat and lead to unpleasant odors.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss daily, and use mouthwash to maintain fresh breath. Don't forget to clean your tongue as well.

Apply a pleasant fragrance, such as perfume or cologne, sparingly. Avoid excessive application, as it can be overwhelming to others. Focus on pulse points like the wrists, neck, or behind the ears.

Keep your feet clean and dry to prevent foot odor. Wash your feet daily, dry them thoroughly (especially between the toes), and wear clean socks and well-ventilated shoes.

Regularly brush your tongue, as it can harbor bacteria and contribute to bad breath. Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day to flush out toxins from your body. Staying hydrated can help prevent the buildup of odors.

Certain foods, such as garlic, onions, and spicy dishes, can contribute to body odor. Pay attention to your diet and make choices that minimize strong odors if you are concerned about smelling good.

Keep a small travel-sized deodorant, wet wipes, or refreshing body spray with you to freshen up during the day, especially in hot or humid weather.

Ensure your clothes, towels, and bed linens are washed regularly. Use a detergent with a fresh scent to keep them smelling clean.

Spray perfume on your brush or use natural oils that are safe for your hair.

Wipe front to back to avoid infections. Use toilet paper then wipes.

moisturize your skin.

When washing your hair, make sure you are using products that clean your hair without drying it out.

Keep feminine wipes with you.

[ittybittykittyfingers]

Winter Clothing Tips

I wanted to make a friendly and detailed list of stuff I've learned from living in a cold climate.

(Note that I do not have vegan-friendly options- suggestions with links to a vegan product's efficacy are welcome)

This stuff is common knowledge where I live but it occurred to me that it might be useful to someone if I laid it all out. I'll be updating this list if I think of more.

I absolutely adore winter and want to help you love it too! Cheers! List below.

• “Cotton kills!" You see, when cotton gets wet, it will suck warmth from your body and freeze on your skin surprisingly easily. Use wool in place of cotton because when wool gets wet, it will still insulate you.

• Know how to layer! Counterintuitively, having layers of thinner, high-quality materials is less bulky than having a single jacket or pair of gloves/socks. Plus, it has the added bonus of being able to be taken off and switched around according to your needs.

1. Base layer - this is the layer that touches your skin. You want this layer to be light, flexible, and moderately form-fitting. This layer's job is to be moisture-wicking. Sweat evaporates, even under layers, so you want something that will move it away so you don't feel the cooling effect. You also just don't want moisture on your skin. Real silk is recommended.

2. Mid layer - this layer can actually be as many layers as you want. I rarely need anything more than a knit merino wool sweater, but accommodate yourself. This layer does the brunt of the work of keeping you warm. Real, non-blended wool is recommended, but really any wool will be miles better than most anything else.

• make it a priority to keep your center warm. Many people choose a vest as a mid-layer as it keeps bulk off of your arms and keeps your middle toasty.

3. Shell - this layer keeps the warmth in and the elements out. Many people go for waterproof shells so they can be worn all year (i.e. rain jacket). Shells have little to no insulation and usually have a hood. You want the shell big enough to always cover your underlayers, but not so big that it bunches up. I don't have a material to recommend here since anything truly waterproof and tough enough to resist puncture will do. It can actually get hot under there so consider whether you might want a ventilation hole for your arm pits. There are plenty of options. Know that any shell which says it's both breathable and waterproof is lying (unless it's a super fancy item, like $300 fancy). Sometimes, a water resistant material will be better for you than a waterproof one. It depends.

• socks, socks, socks! A pair of silk foot liners paired with a good pair of wool socks will keep you comfy all day. Make sure your winter shoes/boots are a bit too big to accommodate the extra space that multiple socks take up. Make sure your socks are taller than the top of your boots. You want the socks sticking out from the top. I like to layer my foot liners the highest, then the wool socks a bit lower, than the top of my boot lower than that. You can always fold the top of socks to make them a comfortable height. (Pro-tip: do not use ankle socks! They will bunch up)

• The above logic should be used for gloves too. You'll want to make sure your shell gloves are waterproof but thin enough that you are able to use your hands. Again, the name of the game is staying dry.

• Waterproof, non-slip boots are a must. You don't need to get fluffy or insulated boots if you use my sock tips. This saves money too because now you have boots to wear all year instead of just winter boots. I'm a fan of Gore-Tex with Vibram soles.

• If you do a lot of walking on pavement and such, get a pair of crampons! There are tons to choose from. They're awesome. They'll have you confidently walking around a frozen driveway with ease. Crampons are these rubber and metal things you strap to the bottom of your boot. They often use either spikes (only recommended for seriously rough terrain) or coils that lay horizontally under your foot to increase traction.

• Speaking of footwear accessories, consider getting waterproof gators. Common wisdom is to tuck pants into your waterproof boots to keep them dry. Sometimes, especially if the snow is deep enough, snow will get trapped at the top of your boots where your pants are tucked in anyway and it'll start dripping into your boots. Gators fix this issue. They're these... they're like shin guards that go all the way around your ankle and up to your knee. They cover the area where your pants meet the boots and will completely prevent snow from getting in. (Pro-tip: if you get ones that are also puncture resistant, they can be used in nice weather too to prevent ticks and protect against snake bites. They're perfect for tall grass. I use mine all year.)

• Scarves are often overlooked but they can make a huge difference. You'll want to find a way to tie them that is comfortable for you. There are plenty of guides on the internet for that. I've found that extra long scarves tend to be the most useful. I like to stuff the ends of them into my layers for extra coverage wherever I need it. Plus, it's easier to tie long scarves.

• Get a good hat that also has ear flaps. I like ones that have space above my head so that a warm air pocket forms, keeping my head comfy. Or you could get a pair of earmuffs that go around the back of your head to pair with your hat. You can use the hood of your shell to protect your hat if you need to, so focus on comfort and warmth for the hat rather than it being waterproof or especially durable. I tend to like alpaca wool for hats.

• Sunglasses can make a difference since blinding light glares off of the snow.

• Before you go out in the snow, put one of those foldable clothes drying racks in your bathtub. Leave a watertight bin by the door you'll be coming in from. Lay a towel at the door if you don't have a good/big enough doormat. You'll be dripping water and littering the floor with snow and ice when you come back inside. Wipe off/ shake off as much snow from your person and knock your boots on the lip of the doorframe before coming inside (this logic works for cars too). Put your wet clothes in the bin. Change into whatever you need to. Bring the bin with you to the bathroom and hang up your articles on the clothes rack to dry. You can keep your boots in there too, just make sure the clothes aren't going to drip into the boots. If you want to get fancy, you can buy a cheap boot dryer to keep in the bathroom.

• Once you get inside after being out in the cold, remove your jacket immediately. It'll take you longer to warm up inside if you keep wearing your outdoor clothes.

• Quick buying tip- if you end up visiting somewhere that's cold a lot, be sure to check out a wealthy location's Goodwill and thrift stores. I've found amazing brands like Patagonia, Kool, and Spider there for cheap!

• TL;DR If there's any one thing I would want to impress upon you, it's that materials matter. You could be wearing 4 cotton sweatshirts and still be cold or you could wear one marino wool sweater with a rain coat and be toasty and comfy.

[lgtinterrupted]

Vehemence.

Chapter One.

Mature - Dark Romance Severus Snape x Female Student Reader Words: 3k Previous ; Next (Coming Soon) Chapter Warnings: Language, Smoking/Referenced Drug Use MDNI, 18+, Mature Audiences Only

Notes: Welcome to Chapter One of "Vehemence", though this chapter is introduction and establishment, I hope for all my readers to see the potential in this story . . . and buckle up for what I have planned. Love you all ꨄ

I was sure that Professor Snape had never missed a day from teaching in the seven years I had attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, despite my hoping as I stealthily slipped in through the dungeons door. Quite possibly, I considered, he had never missed a day since he started teaching all together. I didn’t specifically despise potions class, not as much as I did Herbology at least, despite my immense dislike for the potions teacher himself, Professor Snape, the “Hogwarts Sadist”, the student body had so fondly named him.

Make no mistake, I wasn’t a poor student…when I tried, I simply just lacked the motivation to try, increasingly so as my time at Hogwarts neared the end. I had deemed this effect, “Seventh Year Syndrome”, to which I was not the first known infected at Hogwarts, but perhaps the most advanced in my symptoms. 

Besides, my passing-period smoke breaks in the astronomy tower held a lot more importance in my book, which I had regrettably missed today, due to the couple of Hufflepuffs who discovered my spot and deemed it their between-class makeout spot, landing me in the foulest of moods.

Snape was leaning over his desk, flipping through a textbook with the wide expanse of his back facing me, his posture was rigid as ever. I hoped he wouldn’t notice me; realistically, though, the man had eyes on the back of his head. 

As I crept in, I received quite a  few annoyed looks from my fellow Slytherins that screamed, “do NOT risk our points with your idiocy.” I knew my hijinx were anything but appreciated by them. I was painfully aware how unpopular I was with my classmates. My arm was still sore from where Natalie Challock, a fellow seventh year Slytherin, had socked me for the last five points after my riposte against Professor Trelawney following her attempt to convince me of yet another “impending doom”. 

“Beware all subsistence for a month!” She had said, waving her fingers in my face with the eccentricity only she could muster. “You must fast or risk death!”

How did she think that would even work..? That I would starve myself for a month or risk what? A fictional punishment delivered by a fictional fate? Yeah no way.

It was only a matter of seconds before I was asking whose fortune she mistold to get her job. 

Personally, I had found it clever, unfortunately, she did not. It lost me five points…and earned me a week's worth of sorting tea leaves at lunch, which was about the last way I wanted to spend my time, especially with Trelawney watching me with her creepy owl-like eyes, and the moisture of my hands wicked away by the painful dryness of bay leaves and dried lavender.

I was about two steps from taking my seat in the back of the class - a specific chosen spot I had claimed the first day of potions (coincidentally that might have been the only day I was ever actually early) - when a monotone, baritone voice sliced through the silence in the room.

“Mrs. [Last Name], surely, you aren’t attempting to infiltrate my class ten minutes late?”

I froze my actions, one hand possessively on my book bag, which held my pack of cigarettes, among my textbooks, of course. I could deal with him embarrassing me in front of the class, I could deal with detentions and punishment, I could NOT get caught (again) with “muggle death sticks”, as so vigorously titled by Madam Pomphrey in one of her lectures, after being caught by Professor Sprout smoking out the back door of the greenhouse.

In my defense, you would assume that a Herbology teacher would be fine with a little tobacco.

Wrong.

“Shit,” I muttered, and of course it did not fall upon deaf ears.

Snape cocked his eyebrow to me, the lines of his face deepening with his scowl. “This is not the Quidditch field, which means such dull-witted language will not be tolerated, do you understand?”

Still standing in the aisle of the class, my eyes wandered across my classmates, who held mixed expressions of annoyance and despair, before landing on my best friend, Natalie Challock, who was sporting a disgustingly wide smirk, her pale face blotchy red with excitement, resembling someone who had just run through a swarm of bees. 

My eyes darted back to Snape, who impatiently waited for my response. His jaw ticked as I glared into his eyes.

“Yes, Snape,” It fell from my tongue with an unignorable amount of venom, way more than I intended. Acting on impulse was sort of my thing, but calling a teacher, calling Professor Snape by just his last name? That was stupid even for me. 

In the fraction of a second, his oxfords were echoing across the gray stone of the dungeons floor, the black void of his robes descending upon me until he stood inches from me. It was seconds before I realized the tip of his wand was poised directly under my jaw. I strained my chin up, avoiding the pointed tip of his ebony wand. I knew he had half a mind to hex me, to turn me into any number of vile creatures to prove his point; but I also knew he had self restraint.

My blood thudded painfully in my ears, no doubt my face was darkened with any number of shades of embarrassment.

“Furthermore,” His tone lowered, even and controlled, which was much more frightening than if he had just yelled at me. “If you decide to disrupt my class with your tardiness or disrespect your Professor again, I will have no choice but to report you to headmaster Dumbledore for your frequent disturbances.”

I bit my tongue until the sharp taste of metallic stung my mouth.

“Are. We. Clear, Mrs. [Last Name]?” 

He looked down at me, his angular nose almost emphasizing the sharp contours of his expression, his eyes narrowed with assertion, his lip crooked annoyedly. My heart stopped for a moment. I swallowed thickly and answered.

“Yes, Professor.” 

“Good.”

Snape turned his back and stalked up to his desk, pulling the heavy potions textbook from its resting place and balancing it with one angular hand. He seethed, “Then sit down, and tell the class how to brew three and a quarter liters of Draught of Living Death.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“And that, regretfully, concludes our class today,” Snape deadpanned, closing his book with an audible snap, and setting it behind him on the desk. Half the class had gathered items into their bags haphazardly and bolted out the door before he could say,  “Dismissed.”

“Thank Merlin,” I uttered and stood from my chair, quickly tossing my supplies into my bag, slinging the strap over my shoulder, and turning to face the door. My back ached from the hard classroom chairs, and there was a hole in my tight where I had worried at it with my finger. 

I was about three strides from freedom when Snape’s voice sliced through the bustle of students.

“Not you, Mrs. [Last Name].”

Natalie Challock passed me on her way out, shooting me a fake grin with her stupidly straight, but intensely yellowed teeth. Her little minions followed behind her, a group of three girls, all Slytherin. I tried to take some sort of satisfaction from the fact that none of them actually liked each other, but stuck together solely because of their parents' allegiances to a certain Dark Lord, but it seemed they had the leg up on me in this situation.

Wow I sucked at consoling myself.

“Have fun!” She whispered, twiddling her finger at me.

My fist bunched up and I shoved it in my pocket to grip my wand, absolutely inclined to hex her into next week. But I didn’t. Instead, I glowered at her until her posse of fakeness disappeared around the corner of the potions room doorway.

“Mrs. [Last Name].”

My attention snapped back to Snape, who stood in front of his desk, arms crossed over his chest. I could faintly hear the sound of the door shut behind me, but I was too caught under Snape’s stare to look back. He glared me down, ever the ice queen of Hogwarts.

“Do you find it enjoyable to constantly disrupt the entire class with your late habits?”

“No, Professor.” Suddenly my shoes seemed to be the most interesting view in the room. 

“I don't suppose you have a reason for being late?” He looked expectant.

“Well, I’d have to pin it on the Hufflepuffs snogging in my tower.” It came out before I thought to filter my words; maybe the damp decomposition smell of the dungeons was starting to affect my brain. It was possible, I decided, though, there was truth to my statement. If I hadn’t been late, I wouldn’t have gotten in trouble, or about to receive the detention I was undoubtedly about to earn myself.

Yes, definitely the Hufflepuffs, not my own big mouth.

Snape raised an eyebrow incredulously. “The Hufflepuffs…”

“Yes!” Guess I’m committing to this. Sorry random Hufflepuff snoggers! “If they had found some other place to snog besides my astronomy tower, I would have made my smoke break and been to class on time!” 

Oops, too much information.

In a moment, his wand was brandished, and he flicked his wrist. My book bag flipped open on my hip and out came my carton of cigarettes, a bundle of sin floating directly into my professor's outstretched palm. I was caught red handed, utterly defeated. I watched him flatly, my frustration budding.

The carton landed gently in the palm of Snape's hand, he turned it between his fingers and stared at it with a level of disdain only he could manage.  

He offers a murmured, “Eager for disease, now are we?”

I decided silence was probably the best course of action.

Snape set the carton atop the book on his desk, and replied, “I will be confiscating these.”

“But Sir,-”

“Unless you rather I bring these to Dumbledore’s attention?”

Checkmate. I was caught in his trap. I wondered if he drew a sense of satisfaction from this, from winning. I couldn’t blame him, I would probably be equally as miserable if I spent the hours of my day cramped up in the depths of the mildew infested dungeon. 

“No, thank you.” I responded curtly, not wanting to give him something else to critique me on.

“Good.” His eyes flashed with something unplaceable. “Then get out of my office.”

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The Slytherin common room greets me coldly at lunch, as I walk in and drop onto the snakeskin couch, my bag tossed forgotten by my feet. I don't bother looking around for my housemates, knowing they are all busy stuffing their faces in the great hall, so I shuck my tie, pulling it from my neck as I draw in the breath I so desperately needed since my encounter with Snape.

I settle down against the leather and brandish my wand, pointing it at the hourglass.

“Tempus Markus!” 

The sands of the hourglass pull together, shifting to fill the top chamber until they settle, and the steady stream of tan grains begin to filter down, a timer for lunch.

“Merlin, that man must be miserable.” I sigh aloud, leaning my head back against the couch, my hair falls over the back and for a moment I relish how nice it feels.

“Who? Professor Snape?”

My head darts up and I see a girl sitting across from me.

I eye her suspiciously (how did she approach so quietly?).

“...Yeah.” I say in cautious agreement.

“He was quite harsh on you today, though I suppose you were late.” She adds the second part and thoughtfully looks up, as if she’s tracking down another thought. What an odd girl, is all I can fathom. Everything about her is pristine, from her short black bob to her neat uniform. She doesn't have a bag, but instead a neat stack of books balanced over her knobby tucked together knees. I guess she is a fourth year, from her size and the youthful roundness of her face.

So why is she in seventh year potions?

The girl sticks out a hand to me. “I’m Violet Pershare.” I reach forward and shake it. Shockingly, Violet has one hell of a firm handshake “I’m a third year,” She says with an umph of pride, I can tell she’s been waiting for me to ask. “Headmaster Dumbledore has me taking more advanced courses. We have potions together, second period! I sit in the very front of the class on the left. You sit in the back right? I couldn’t imagine sitting in the back, I had bad eyesight, you see, but my mother wont let me get glasses, something about how no witch in our family has had to wear them. Personally, I think glasses look quite smart.”

I take a deep breath to ward away the headache this conversation is undoubtedly bringing on. “Yes,” Is all I have to offer for her spiel, though I’m not quite sure to what part I’m even responding to. 

“I like to come to the common room for lunch, the great hall is too loud. Usually I just study since no one else is here.” She smiles awkwardly and looks excitedly down at her lap, her hands clasped together. 

There is something charming about Violet, maybe it comes from my sibling-less upbringing, but she fits the little sister profile well, though a little goody-two-shoes and talkative for my taste; then again maybe I’m just trying to talk myself out of taking this little scholar of a third year under my wing.

I press my lips together. I could use a smoke right now, to clear my head, it feels fuzzy, like my thoughts are padded with static.

“You shouldn’t smoke!” Violet bursts out, clapping her hand over her mouth in a matter of seconds.

I stare at her incredulously. 

“I’m sorry!” She offers quickly.

My first reaction is to glance around, partially hoping Natalie Challock is going to jump out from behind a statue and howl with laughter at my foolishness for falling for a prank so ridiculous. 

My second reaction is to narrow my eyes and spit out a bitter, “I don’t think Professor Snape would be happy with you eavesdropping on his after class scoldings.”

“Oh no!” I'm surprised to find she sounds almost shocked herself. “I would never!”

“Then what, you expect me to believe you read minds?”

She twists her hands in her lap and avoids eye contact. I raise an eyebrow before bunching up my tie in my hands and tossing it to her from across the coffee table dividing us. It lands limply in her lap, shocking her out of her trance.

“I’m…” She glances around at the empty room like she expects half the year to pour in at any minute.  “I’m not supposed to talk about it.”

I shrug, nonchalantness is the key to getting this information. I yawn and reach for my bag, pulling out a random text book and laying it in my lap, flipping to a random page - dog-eared years ago by a previous owner - and pretending to scan over the words, which to my nicotine deficient brain looked like a jumble of glyphs.

Violet looks at her lap and folds my tie neatly until it resembles a pocket square. She looks dejected at the sudden abrupt end of our conversation. 

It’s only a few moments before she speaks again in a hushed voice, “If you promise not to tell anyone…”

I smile and close my book with an ecstatic snap and reach out my pink finger to her, which she looks at confused, so I lower it, chiding myself for not remembering that not everyone comes from the muggle world, as situation faced more often than not in Slytherin, a house dominated by blood supremacists - but I don't determine Violet as the type, mostly just young and unaware that there are other ways to grow up not involving overbearing pureblood parents, something I’m not unfamiliar with.

“I’ve been practicing Legilimency.” Violet admits. “Professor Snape teaches it as a special night class.”

“Legilimency?” I murmur. I’ve heard of the practice. General, ability to peer into peoples minds, but when harnessed by art wizards, it’s the ability to infiltrate and pick apart any thought. Just the idea that Violet had invaded my mind made my stomach ache something vile.

What had she seen? The bite in the back of my mind cooed that she had surely viewed more than a fleeting thought. Maybe she was poking around, maybe there was an agenda - not hard to believe with the avoidant dart of her eyes.

Fuck, I was paranoid.

“I’m not supposed to tell anyone about my classes, but I guess I’m just so excited.” Violet offers a somewhat assuring smile. “I’m sorry I read your thoughts, again, It’s hard to learn how and when…y’know?” 

“Yeah, it's okay.” I’m not sure if I mean it.

Violet nods a few times and leans forward to offer me my tie, still neatly folded. As I take it from her, her eyes float down to the hourglass, and when I do the same I see there is only a sprinkle of sand at the top of the glass chamber.

“Shit!”, “Oh Merlin!” Both me and Violet jump to our feet and exclaim.

I scramble to tie my tie, the green silk slipping loosely around my collar. By the time it's finished and I’ve grasped my messenger bag, Violet is gone.

[portraitoftheoddity]

Beginner Hiking Guide Part Three: What to Wear Hiking

Adequate and appropriate attire while hiking can make a big difference in your mobility, comfort, and even survival. Don’t worry about fashion -- nobody on the trail cares if you look good, and feeling good is far more important. Plus, you don’t want to wear anything that you don’t mind getting dirty, since you’re going to get sweaty and potentially dusty, muddy, etc. Focus on functional clothing for the activity you’re engaging in! 

Comfort & Flexibility

You’re going to be moving a lot, so make sure you’re wearing clothes that you can move in! You’ll want clothes that fit comfortably and are sturdy enough that they won’t tear like tissue paper if you take a tumble, but that are stretchy and flexible enough that you don’t feel limited in your movements. Avoid anything that’s going to pinch or chafe.

If you don’t have hiking-specific clothes -- which, if you’re just getting started, you probably don’t -- don’t worry! Odds are there’s something in your closet that will work fine. A lot of non-cotton athleticwear is perfectly good for hiking -- I’ve used my gym leggings and workout shirt on the trail. The key is finding something that uses the right fabrics:

Fabrics

Good: Synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon, as well as merino wool, are great for hiking. These fabrics are good at wicking moisture away from your body -- a key quality in base layers, or any fabric that touches your skin. You’re going to work up a sweat, so you want fabrics that will wick that sweat away and allow it to evaporate, rather than trapping it against your skin so you get clammy and chilled. Anything described as “quick dry” is going to be a good option. For socks, I always opt for wool. 

Bad: Cotton of any kind, including denim. Cotton is like a sponge and will absorb moisture and stay wet. You know how when you do laundry, your jeans are often still damp after the rest of your clothes have dried? Jeans will also hold on to moisture from sweat or from wet trail conditions, chilling you on a long hike; a lot of hypothermia cases in backcountry are attributed to cotton clothing. So unless you’re doing a very short, easy hike in optimal weather conditions, avoid cottons. 

Dress for the Conditions

I wrote in a previous segment about the importance of knowing the forecast for your hike; make sure you dress appropriately for the hike you’re undertaking, in the conditions you’re undertaking it in!

Hot weather: Wear light-weight moisture-wicking clothes that won’t trap sweat against your body and that will let you keep cool. If you have longer hair, bring something to tie it up/back to keep sweaty hair out of your face.

Sunny weather: If it’s sunny and you’re going to be out in direct light, consider a lightweight outer layer to protect yourself from the sun. A hat with a wide brim is also a good option, and definitely bring sunglasses!

Wet weather: If it looks like there might be rain, make sure you have clothing on that will dry quickly, and a rain shell/rain jacket -- something lightweight and breathable. Also consider packing an extra pair of socks (because nothing is worse than hiking in wet socks) and an extra warm dry layer since you’re more likely to get chilled when you’re wet. 

Cold weather: Layer up! Make sure you are dressed warmly, and pack one more layer than you think you’re going to need. My dad always says, “If you wore all your layers, you didn’t pack enough layers.” (more on layers below). Also be sure to have a hat that fully covers your ears, a scarf or buff or other means of keeping your face and neck warm, gloves/mittens, and warm wool socks.

While you will probably be pretty warm from exertion while you’re hiking, you’ll find yourself cooling down quickly when you stop for breaks-- or if you have to stop due to an injury or other problem. Always pack for the coldest you might get. (On a longer, more remote hike, this should include ‘how cold I’ll get if I get lost and spend the night outside.’)

How to Layer for Warmth:

Underwear: Synthetic, moisture-wicking, and comfortable. If you have breasts, make sure you have adequate support. I’m a fan of high-impact sports bras and long boxer briefs to avoid chafing/riding up.

Base Layer: Wear a top in a moisture-wicking fabric (pretty much any synthetic workout shirt will do!); if it’s mild enough you don’t need multiple bottom layers, opt for quick-dry pants or athletic leggings and you’re probably good there. If it’s cold, consider wearing non-cotton leggings or long underwear as an insulating layer under a pair of pants -- if you’re like me and slip and fall on your ass a lot, your cold wet butt will thank you.

Mid Layer: This is your insulating layer that traps in heat. In warm or mild temperatures, sticking a light jacket or hoodie in your pack for if you need it is fine, but if temps are dipping colder, bulk up your mid layer(s). I usually wear a fleece jacket and then an insulated puff jacket over it when I hike in winter. You may also consider warmer pants (I have fleece-lined joggers for when it’s REALLY cold).

Outer Layer: If base layers keep away the moisture from your skin, and mid layers trap in heat, your outer layer is preventing heat loss and moisture from everything else. Windbreakers and rain shells can keep high winds from biting through your other layers and stealing away body heat, and keep rain from soaking you through and similarly putting you at risk for hypothermia.

Will you need all these layers on a hike? Probably not! In the middle of summer at low elevations, I hike in base layers and throw a rain shell in my pack and I’m pretty much good. But in winter, I’ve had up to 5 layers. So it will depend on the conditions.

Also, be ready to take off and add layers throughout your hike. I usually shed a layer within the first half mile of a hike as I get warmed up, but will often put layers back on when I reach summit, or am taking a snack break. Dropping layers when necessary will prevent you from sweating too much (soaking your clothes and dehydrating you).

Footwear:

Perhaps the most important item in your hiking ensemble is your footwear. Proper shoes can make or break a hike. Or a leg, for that matter. 

Hiking boots are thusly named because, well, they’re good for hiking. You want footwear that:

is sturdy

has good grip/traction

keeps you comfortable by cushioning, supporting, and protecting your foot. 

Good: Hiking boots. Trail/hiking shoes. Hiking sandals, weather permitting. Maybe sneakers, on a really flat and easy trail, though I don’t recommend them for more rugged trails.

Bad: Basically everything else. Ballet flats, flip flops, crocs, converse, etc. Anything that pinches or hurts your feet after a while. Any brand new shoes you’ve never worn or broken in. 

Now admittedly, a good pair of hiking boots can be expensive. But if you’re going to invest in anything to get started while hiking, I beg you to invest in a comfortable pair of hiking boots/shoes. And practice walking in them and breaking them in before you hit the trail -- you will often find that the experience of walking uphill in a particular pair of shoes feels very different from walking in them on flat terrain. 

Additional clothing notes:

Long pants vs. Shorts. I personally always hike in long pants, though I see plenty of people hiking in shorts in summer. I recommend researching trail conditions, the local ecology, and knowing your own heat tolerance. Long pants might not let you cool off like shorts, but they do protect your legs from sun exposure, ticks and other insect bites, and scratches and scrapes from brambles or rocks.

Socks. I highly recommend wool socks for hiking, year-round. Also, make sure that your socks fit well; loose, baggy socks are more likely to slip around in your shoe and cause blisters, along with socks that are shorter than the ankle of your shoe.

Jewelry. In addition to jewelry potentially catching and tangling on things, there’s the risk of it getting lost and being near impossible to find. I recommend you don’t wear or bring anything overly precious to you while hiking. That includes clothes you really really love, because you will get gross.

Binders. If you wear a binder, consider not wearing it while hiking, or wear a binder a size up from your usual. You will know your body and limitations best, but as a matter of safety you don't want your breathing restricted or to risk overheating, and it is widely recommended not to bind while engaging in strenuous activity.

In Summary:

Dress comfortably for activity

Avoid cotton ([Edna Mode voice: NO JEANS!]) and stick to synthetics that will wick away moisture and dry fast

Factor in weather and trail conditions into your clothing choices

Layers are your friend (and pack a spare layer just in case)

Get yourself some decent hiking shoes that won’t fall apart, slip and skid, or leave your feet blistered and hurting

Don't worry about looking stylish; just stay safe, comfortable, and have fun!

<< Previous Part: Preparations - Knowledge is Power Next Part: What to Bring Hiking >>

[thedomesticanthropologist]

Sivvus in Modern AU

- Rich model, privileged, entitled

-Didn't have to work to get discovered, might be a NEPO baby

-No concept of the real world struggles despite being educated, has that 'never struggled financially' bubble around him

-Dresses in insanely pricey clothing with accessories always. Necklaces, earrings, rings, watch,

-Even his damn socks are some fancy ass brand moisture wicking hand stitched nonsense

-Poses when he sits down publicly in ways that you know means he expects not only to be photographed but that he will never have a bad photo taken of him

-Absolutely a snippy princess

-Tips insanely well though, treats staff with utmost respect wherever he goes because his mama raised him right at least in that aspect

-Gives off Dom vibes to people who are subby but despite his height and attitude anyone whose an actual dominant personality probably wants this man over their knee so he can get that insufferable calm expression wiped off his pretty little face

-I may have invented this OC extremely self indulgently

-Hazel eyes, brown in the middle green around the outside

[starlightomatic]

Guide For Dressing In Super-Cold Weather

The two main principles are lots of layers, and keeping air from getting in.

Torso: LOTS of layers. You’ll want multiple sweaters. This morning it was 9 degrees F and I wore a t-shirt, flannel, two thin sweaters, a thick fluffy sweater, and a coat. At least one layer should have a hood. Wear the thickest coat you’ve got.

Edit: Actually don’t wear cotton as your base layer!! It absorbs moisture rather than wicking it away and can make you colder.

Head: A basic beanie will work. Make sure it goes down over your ears. You will also need a hood to protect your neck — there will be exposed parts that your hat and scarf won’t cover and you need the hood for this.

Face/Neck/Chest: If your coat doesn’t have full coverage over your chest, you’ll want a scarf or shawl there. You will need a scarf or face buff to protect your neck and face. You’ll want something you can pull up over your nose.

Hands: Ideally wear big thick gloves, but if you don’t have them I’ve found that thin gloves work if you keep your hands in your sleeves (my coat sleeves are too long for me so this works for me).

Legs: Leggings or long johns under your pants. You can wear a second pair of leggings under your pants two; I was pretty cold (but ok) in just one (thin) pair.

Feet: Wear thick (ideally wool) socks if you have them. Personally I wear really thick REI hiking socks — I actually don’t know what material these are made of but they work. If you don’t have thick socks, layers a bunch of thin ones. And they need to be tall — no ankle socks. For shoes, wear your chonkiest boots. I was fine in Blundstones, but would have worn hiking boots if I had them.

It’s important to make sure you don’t have cracks where air can get in. So, tuck your leggings into your socks and tuck your shirt and innermost sweater into your leggings.

[hikercarl]

The Best Hiking Socks for Long-Distance Comfort

Discover the best hiking socks for unbeatable comfort on long trails. We've tested top brands to bring you moisture-wicking, blister-free options for your next adventure.

Choosing the right hiking socks is crucial for long hikes. They help keep your feet dry, fresh, and blister-free. In this guide, we’ll look at what makes great hiking socks. We’ll also share top picks from brands like Darn Tough, Smartwool, and Eddie Bauer. Key Takeaways Hiking socks should be made of moisture-wicking and breathable materials like merino wool or synthetic fibers to keep your…

[pjharvey-moved]

this is actually the most ive ever overshared on here but im going to tell you my sock system because im bored and people always think im insane for this. anyway whenever i wear shoes i have to wear two pairs of socks because i hate the way shoes feel on my feet. the bottom pair always is those wrightsock moisture wicking socks they sell at outdoor stores, the quarter length ones not the full crew length. the top pair can be anything (NOT wrightsocks though) but is normally decorative fun socks, thinner pairs in the summer and thicker pairs in the winter. i wear the bottom layer for only one day because those touch the feet directly and accummulate sweat, but when it’s colder out i always wear the top pairs two or three days in a row the same way one might rewear the same flannel or sweatshirt.

[longsightmyth]

We were all wearing hiking boots and smooth seamless cargo pants that Ren had made with the Divine Scarf. He had looked up styles on the Internet and had the Scarf create them in multiple colors. He claimed my apple-green shirt would protect my body from UV rays and could wick moisture away and be breathable at the same time. I had to admit the shirt was comfortable, and to show him how much I liked it, I had twisted my hair into two long French braids and tied an apple-green ribbon to the bottom of both tails.

What about your socks

Are your socks quick dry

What about your underwear

Those better be quick dry too

(He's looking up clothing styles on the internet and making them with the magic scarf that could clothe all the unclothed in the world when he's a billionaire and could simply purchase them from, oh, INDIA, a place SOMEWHAT KNOWN FOR CLOTHING MANUFACTURE)

(You could have purchased perfectly fitted clothes from someone who could use the business)

(But no you made them with the scarf)

(Does the scarf make them from nothing or what)

(Matter can be neither created nor destroyed, how is the scarf producing these)

(It's probably all plastic)

(Did he get Kelsey a quick dry sports bra or push up do we think)

(I suppose to be fair the outfit does sound like she looks v cute, I'll give Houck that and only that)

(And the hiking boots, which have been presumably broken in by this point)

[dollmaidcrystal]

Hi Crystal,

I recently got a shiny black jumpsuit for a "hexdrone" look, and though not latex, only pu leather, it's still very warm after wearing it for a bit.

Since the even warmer weather is among us, can you share any special advice, how to stay cool after wearing something like that, or even a latex jumpsuit like the one you wear, for a while?

Thanks,

Anne

PU jumpsuits and latex catsuits are actually completely different when it comes to managing heat. Skintight latex does not insulate. At all. When the weather's cooler, I may as well be wearing nothing at all.

PU leather, on the other hand, does insulate, so most of what I do to stay cool in the summer doesn't apply to you. I can only think of three tips that apply to both PU and latex catsuits.

Shiny, skintight, black materials warm up extremely quickly in direct sunlight. Nothing else you do matters if your catsuit is 10-to-15 degrees warmer than the ambient temperature. Avoid sunlight at all costs, and if you feel your suit getting warm, spray it with some cool water.

Your body's main way to regulate temperature is sweat, so you'll need a plan to manage sweat when wearing materials that don't breathe. My usual strategy is to rely on gravity and moisture wicking socks.

Drink ice cold water whenever you have a break. If you're doing the full drone look, get a hydration kit for your gas mask, and figure out how to strap the bottle to your body. Having a nice cold bottle full of ice on your chest will help, too.

[strangerstilinski]

SELENOPHILES OF BEACON HILLS | Teen Wolf Rewrite

Stiles Stilinksi/Original Female Character

chapter nine

fic summary; after an already traumatic evening involving the unfortunate discovery of a gruesome scene, amber is convinced to hike through the woods with her two best friends in search of the other half of a dead body. but it's not as if she could ever say no.. not when stiles looked at her like that.

chapter word count; 14,923

chapter notes; stiles and amber struggle to keep their best friend under control when the powerful pull of scott's second full moon succeeds in turning him into a raging asshole.

masterlist

c h a p t e r   n i n e

lunatic

Amber sighed as she stepped in a particularly deep puddle and felt the water soak into her sneaker. She shook off her foot in a sad attempt to wick away the moisture before it could fully absorb into the fabric of her sock, but it was no use because her next step squelched uncomfortably anyway.

"Where are we going?" Scott asked Stiles for the fourth time in just as many minutes.

"You'll see." Stiles repeated blankly to their friend.

"He's not going to tell us." Amber told Scott, taking a large stride past another cluster of puddles in the pothole-ridden lot where they'd parked Stiles' vehicle as they made their way through the treeline, "Besides, it's pretty obvious we're heading in the direction of the old quarry."

Stiles turned his head sharply. Keeping his left hand tucked inside of his jacket protectively, he used his right to pull her around to his other side and away from Scott, "Did you have to give it away?" He asked her quietly.

"We really shouldn't be out here." Scott interrupted them, "My mom is in a constant state of freak-out from what happened at the school."

"Are you kidding?" Amber asked him, "I'm pretty sure Jason wants to lock me up somewhere and just homeschool me at this point."

"Yeah, well. Neither one of you live with the Sheriff, okay?" Stiles announced, "It's no comparison. Trust me."

"Could you at least tell me what we're doing out here?" Scott asked as he stepped on a twig with a loud snap.

"Yes." Stiles grinned, "When one of your best friends gets dumped-"

"I didn't get dumped," Scott told them resolutely, "We're taking a break."

"Alright, well. When one of your best friends gets told by his girlfriend that they're taking a break-" Stiles amended, pulling out a large bottle from the inside of his jacket and holding it up like a trophy, "You get that best friend drunk."

The bottle of whiskey caught in the bright moonlight that shined from behind Stiles and Amber sighed, shuffling her feet, "Not to be a party pooper but.. I just- Is this such a good idea?"

He scoffed, pulling her along with a hand on her wrist as he led them further into the woods toward the quarry, "Yes, party-pooper. It is a good idea. It-It's a rite of passage! Getting drunk after your first heartbreak."

"It's just.. We have that test tomorrow morning and the full moon is tomorrow night and I think we should probably be focussing on-" She started.

"Nuh-uh," Stiles cut her off, "Not tonight. Tonight, we drink!" He announced happily, turning around and throwing his arms out to present the cluster of rocks where he intended for them to hang out.

"Stiles, did you-" Amber watched him twist the cap off the bottle of whiskey and take a large sip before sputtering and coughing as he swallowed, "Did you come out and scout this location before we got here?"

"Yeah," He coughed again, holding the bottle out to Scott, "I came out this afternoon. This is a good spot, right?"

"I.. Yeah," She told Stiles quickly upon seeing his adorably proud face, "Yeah, it's- A really nice spot." She kicked her foot against a large bit of stone that she thought might make a decent seat, "Uh, good.. rocks."

Scott took a sad sip from the bottle with a wince before handing it over to Amber. The girl eyed the dark liquid inside with a frown, she moved to lift it to her nose to sniff and Stiles reached out quickly to cover the opening with his hand.

"Don't do that." He advised her, "Don't smell it. Nothing good comes from smelling it first."

She nodded with a frown and he removed his hand so she could lift the bottle to her lips. She tilted her head back and poured a large swig into her mouth, trying to swallow the liquid before it could rest on her tongue for too long. She coughed and gagged at the bitter heat in her throat and handed the bottle back to Stiles before plopping her butt down onto her chosen rock.

The three passed the bottle between them slowly for a while, Amber perched criss-cross on the large rock that jutted up above the rest, Scott on the stone floor below her with his knees pulled to his chest, Stiles sprawled out beside him on his back where he could look up at the stars.

"Right, I wasn't looking forward to this, but I really gotta pee." Amber announced to the group, swaying slightly as she got to her feet.

Stiles tilted his head to watch her as she carefully stepped around him and moved toward the treeline, "Don't wander too far!" He called out to her as she walked away, slightly transfixed by the way her tight jeans clung to her backside.

"I won't go too far if Scott promises to tone down his wolfy hearing so I can pee in peace!" She called back over her shoulder, her long hair catching in the breeze.

"You heard the woman, Scott." Stiles told his friend, looking back up at the stars, "No listening to her pee."

"I wasn't going to listen to her pee, Stiles." Scott said brusquely.

They settled into silence and Stiles watched the way the tiny dots of the stars danced around through his blurred vision for a quiet minute, "You still thinking about Allison?" He finally asked Scott.

"Yeah." Scott said honestly.

Stiles sat up to take another drink of the whiskey before leaving the bottle sitting between them and flopping onto his back again, "Dude.. She's just one girl. Y'know? There are so many- There 're so many other girls in the sea." His words slurred at the attempt of such a long sentence.

"'Fish in the sea.'" Scott told him immediately.

"Fish?" Stiles repeated in confusion, tilting his head back to squint at Scott for a second, "Why you talkin' 'bout fish? I'm talkin' 'bout girls." He corrected with a sigh, tilting his head back toward the sky unseeingly, his mind conjuring up images instead, "I love girls.. I love 'em. I love- Especially ones with light ashy brown hair, 'nd hazel eyes that've got more green than brown in 'em, five-foot five-"

"Like Amber?" Scott asked knowingly.

"Yeah, exactly-Hey!" Stiles tilted his head back to look at Scott again in surprise, "How did you know I was talkin' 'bout- About.." Stiles trailed off distractedly, "What was I talking about?" He asked Scott, catching the sad look on his friend's face when he tipped his head back again, "Hey. You're not happy. Take a drink-"

Stiles rolled onto his side to grab the bottle again and held it out to Scott.

"I don't want any more." Scott told him with a frown.

Letting the bottle drop back down to the ground, Stiles laid on his back again, bringing his arm to rest underneath his head, "What, you're not drunk?" He asked.

"I'm not anything." Scott said miserably, looking down at his feet.

"Hey, maybe it's like-" Stiles started, "Maybe it's like not needing your inhaler anymore, y'know? Maybe you can't get drunk as a wolf," He pondered aloud, "Hey, am I drunk?"

"You're wasted," Scott told him blankly before continuing to speak under his breath, "And so's Amber.. She should probably be back by now-"

"C'mon, dude-" Stiles said, not having heard the tail end of Scott's murmuring, "I know it feels bad. I know it hurts. Well, I don't know.. But, I know this- I know as much as being broken up hurts, being alone's way worse." He paused in confusion when he processed his own words and laughed, "That.. Didn't make any sense. I-I need another drink."

"Well," An unfamiliar voice cut in, plucking the bottle up from the ground just before Stiles' fingers could wrap around it, "Look at the little bitches, all getting their drink on."

Stiles quickly stumbled to his feet, heart racing as he looked at the two men who had approached from the treeline. The smaller and lighter skinned of the two was holding Amber against his side with an arm wrapped around her waist and the girl's face was narrowed in annoyance and an underlying fear as she struggled against his grip. The larger man held the whiskey up triumphantly, eyeing the group of teens with a smug grin.

"I- Um," Amber looked between the group nervously, "I ran into these guys on my way back-"

"She told us she was here with her friends," The smaller man interrupted with a frown, "We were expecting more girls.. But, I guess just the one'll have to do." He chuckled, leaning his dirty face into Amber's hair and prompting her to jab him sharply with her elbow.

“Hey, man-" Stiles started anxiously, words cut off when Scott took a small step in front of him and spoke more firmly.

"Don't touch her." Scott spoke darkly. Stiles turned to look at him for a moment and saw no fear on his friend's face, only a cold anger.

"What's that, little man?" The larger guy asked as he raised his eyebrows, annoyed at Scott's lack of submission.

"I don't think he wants to share the girl, or the booze." The smaller man said, readjusting his grip and tugging Amber back against him when she managed to put a small amount of distance between them beneath his slackened grip.

"Let. Her go." Scott said slowly in the same dark voice.

"Listen.. You guys let her go, the three of us will leave and-" Stiles started placatingly, his heart hammering in his chest, "And you guys can keep the bottle."

"No." Scott cut in, looking back at Stiles for a moment and ignoring the furious look of disbelief of his face, "You guys brought me here to get me drunk. I'm not drunk yet."

The stranger holding the whiskey shook his head with a laugh and lifted the bottle to his lips, taking a long swig. Stiles nervously watched Scott take a couple of steps forward until he stood face to face with the two men. Scott's head turned between Amber's fear-filled eyes and the larger man in front of him.

"Let her go. And give me the bottle of Jack." Scott's voice dropped as he spoke, deepening into what was almost a growl. Stiles watched claws protrude from Scott's fingertips and Stiles' eyes widened. He quickly flicked his gaze back up at the scene in front of him. The two men both flinched back in surprise as they looked at whatever emotion covered Scott's face and the larger man slowly held the bottle out toward Scott.

Amber apparently took the moment of distracted fear as an opportunity, and she stomped the heel of her foot down onto the toes of the man still loosely holding her around the waist. She stumbled forward when he let her go in surprise and Stiles grabbed her by the arms and pulled her to stand behind Scott.

She huddled close to Stiles and fisted her small hand into the fabric of his shirt. His eyes raked over her in a rush, catching the lingering fear in her eyes and the way her chest was rising and falling with shaky breaths beneath her sweatshirt. After determining that he didn't think she'd been physically harmed, Stiles reluctantly turned his attention back to the confrontation still taking place.

Scott glanced back toward them quickly, his eyes glowing bright gold, before he turned to face forward again and threw the bottle of whiskey a couple hundred feet across the clearing. It shattered loudly against a tree and the two strange men took a nervous step away.

"We-" Stiles cleared his throat anxiously, "We cool?"

The men both nodded, backing another few steps away while keeping their eyes glued to Scott.

"Great meeting you, then." Amber said sarcastically. She tugged on Stiles' hand and grabbed the sleeve of Scott's jacket as she began to pull them away and back in the direction they'd initially hiked out from, "Let's go." She pleaded, pulling more firmly on Scott's sleeve when he didn't immediately budge.

"Yeah, Scott. Let's go, man." Stiles agreed, locking his fingers with Amber's and stumbling in his inebriated state.

He squeezed her hand guiltily as he thought about his insistence on coming out and drinking, an anxious pit growing in his stomach as she pulled him along. So far, he didn't feel like he was doing incredibly well on his promise to keep her safe.

The three friends sat in the vehicle for several long minutes after they finally climbed back inside, a thick silence filling the Jeep. Each of them unsure exactly what to say.

"So, that was kind of really scary." Amber finally admitted quietly once the silence had stretched just a hair too long. She looked between her friends for their reactions, at Scott behind the wheel and Stiles tensely sitting in his own passenger seat.

"Agreed." Stiles told her, "Am, I'm so sor-"

"I wouldn't've let them hurt you." Scott interrupted, his eyes flicking to Amber before looking back out the windshield with an angry stare, "I mean it. Just seeing him touch you like that.. If they'd hurt you I would've- I mean, I-I actually wanted to-"

He shook his head and she reached out to rest a hand on his arm to stop him, "Scott, it's okay."

"I wouldn't have let them hurt you. Either of you." He clarified, his eyes drifting past her to look at Stiles.

"We know, man." Stiles told him, leaning his head back against the window.

"Let's get out of here?" Amber prompted quietly after a moment, her attention focused on Scott.

He nodded and started up the vehicle, getting them back onto the main road. He drove the Jeep back to Stiles' house, but refused the offer to stay the night and instead insisted on walking home.

Amber watched him go with a worried frown, shivering in the late night air as she eased back from wasted into pleasantly drunk.

Stiles pulled her inside the house and they stumbled up the staircase toward his bedroom, the two of them laughing loudly at one another as they tripped over the troublesome stairs.

He veered off toward the bathroom and she entered the bedroom and moved to stand beside the dresser, leaning against the wall as she waited. When he reappeared a few minutes later, he had already changed into pajamas and she chewed distractedly on her lip when she saw how soft and attractive he looked.

"You know, you could find clothes to sleep in yourself for once." He told her with a laugh as he came to stand in front of his dresser.

"I don't want to dig around through your drawers." She frowned.

"I don't have that many clothes. There wouldn't be much digging." Stiles laughed, leaning against the piece of furniture casually and looking at her.

"No, I just meant," She paused, "I wouldn't want to, y'know, find anything.. Racy."

He blinked in surprise, "I- Amber.. First of all, I hide things better than that. My dad is a cop. A Sheriff." He laughed incredulously, "And even if he wasn't, I wouldn't keep porn in my underwear drawer."

She blushed awkwardly at his words and shuffled on her feet, her mind drifting to the contents of her own dresser.

He balked at her reaction, "I- Do you keep porn in your underwear drawer?"

"Ew, gross, no. I don't have physical copies of porn. It's the twenty-first century, Stiles." She defended quickly.

"Okay.." He started slowly, "Then what do you hide in your underwear drawer that has you so red?" He prodded gently, an eager look on his face.

"Um," She swallowed, determinedly looking at the lamp across the room, "Not porn."

"Well if it's not porn then what else would you-" He paused with wide eyes. He stood up straighter and took one step to the side to block her line of sight across the room. His own cheeks were tinged pink as he looked at her blushing face, "You.. You keep your-"

"Eugh, Stiles don't say it!" She pleaded, stepping forward and covering his mouth with both of her hands, "Yes I have a-" She paused, face hot with embarrassment, "A you-know-what. And yes, I hide it in my underwear drawer. Please, let's never talk about it again."

He was still looking at her wide-eyed and he nodded distractedly, his focus seemingly somewhere else. She dropped her hands from his mouth as she took a step back and sighed after a few seconds passed and his focus didn't return.

"Stiles, please stop thinking about my sex toys." She pleaded quietly. She'd begun to pull off her hoodie when she finally heard his voice again.

"Toys? Toys as in plural? As in more than one?"

She finally ripped the sweatshirt over her head and she glared at him as she dropped it to the floor, "I thought we were going to never talk about it again? Here we are.. Talking about it."

"Right, you're right. I'm sorry." Stiles blinked and shook his head, his eyes drifting down to her tank top for a moment. He blinked again and turned to the dresser, pulling open a drawer in preparation, "Right, okay. What'd'you need? Just a tshirt?"

"Can I have something with long sleeves?" She asked, shivering as if on command.

He shifted through his stack of tshirts for a moment before pulling out a white long sleeved tee. He held it out to her and she reached to take it from him, but he pulled his hand back playfully before she could grab it.

She made a quiet noise of discontentment and reached for the shirt again but Stiles lifted his arm over his head and held it just out of her reach, a large grin on his face as he watched her push up on her tiptoes. She pulled at his arm with one hand and nearly had the shirt in her reach when he readjusted once again.

He laughed, holding his hand outstretched behind his back where she couldn't get to it. She pinched her face in annoyance and determination and leaned closer, her arm reaching around him to grab for the shirt but her fingers only just reaching past his elbow.

"Stiles, c'mon I'm cold-" She tried again, leaning into his chest with her cheek against his as she tried to gain a couple more inches in arm length.

"The thermostat is set to seventy," He laughed again, his head turning to look at her put-out expression.

She huffed in frustration and gripped his opposite shoulder in her hand as she hauled herself higher up his body to reach for the clothing. She heard him huff another small laugh at her and she turned her head to glare at him, a quip on her tongue about it not being funny, but their faces had been hovering closer together than she'd thought and when she turned, her mouth brushed across his cheek before skimming softly over the plushness of his lips.

Her gaze caught on his eyelashes as they fluttered shut and something in her belly flipped when she felt the soft breath he let out over her lips and she gasped quietly before jerking away.

She released his shoulder quickly, dropping back down onto the floor flat-footed and easing herself back until their chests were no longer pressed together. Her heart was pounding loudly in her ribcage and her lips tingled from the soft touch of his mouth against hers.

"I'm sorry." She said quickly, eyes wide.

Stiles looked stunned and she swallowed as she watched his arm holding the shirt slowly drop back down to rest at his side, "I- No- No apology necessary-"

She nodded and trained her focus on a tiny mole on the side of his neck, worried that if she looked at his face, she wouldn't be able to force her eyes to look at anything but his lips.

Stiles reached out to awkwardly offered her the shirt still gripped in his hand and she accepted the shirt quickly, taking a small step back before pulling it on over the thin fabric of her tank top. She reached up to pull her hair free from the collar of the shirt before thoughtlessly beginning to remove her jeans. She managed to pull one leg free and lifted her other foot to tug at the fabric around her other ankle but she swayed lightly on her feet as she finally rid herself of her jeans and she felt Stiles reach up to steady her with a hand on her waist.

"I think 'm still kinda drunk." She admitted with a quiet laugh, finally looking up to find him standing temptingly close.

His brown eyes flicked slowly back and forth between hers before he spoke, "Yeah, me too."

She took a small step back out of his reach again, "Brush our teeth 'nd then bed?" She asked him, taking another step toward the bedroom door.

Stiles reached up to rub at the back of his neck and nodded, gesturing for her to leave the room first.

They brushed their teeth quickly and Amber ran back toward the bedroom excitedly, jumping into the bed and landing in an ungraceful heap in the pile of blankets where she began to kick at the duvet until she could stick her bare legs beneath the fabric.

Stiles entered the room just as she was pulling the blankets up with a contented sigh. He watched her silently for a moment before flicking off the light and coming to climb in beside her.

She flopped down onto her preferred pillow and stared up at the ceiling, dark shapes swaying and bending in her vision dizzily now that her intoxicated body was laying completely still. Her mind drifted sleepily after a few minutes in the quiet and she yawned before speaking softly into the dark.

"Can't believe we kissed after all these years.. I mean.. We've been best friends since the third grade 'nd we kiss for the first time and it's a total accident-"

"Wait, wait-" Stiles interrupted her quietly, "That wasn't our first kiss, though."

She rolled onto her side in the dark and looked at the dark shape of him in confusion, "What do you mean? Yeah it was."

She heard more than saw him shake his head against his pillow, "No it wasn't," He told her adamantly, "We've kissed before."

"No we haven't," She laughed quietly, "I think I'd remember if we'd kissed before, Stiles."

"Well, we did," He said quietly, "You were in second grade. There was this jump rope tournament going on at recess for weeks and you and Lydia refused to be a part of it. But you watched from the sidelines every day and you made these little bracelets with dandelion stems for the kids that got eliminated-"

He shook his head again in the dark before continuing, "And, anyway- Then it was just down to me and that kid Vernon and then Jackson, and- And I remember you said something about how you promised to marry the winner the next day." Stiles told the story quietly and Amber's face contorted in confusion as she struggled to comprehend his words, "Anyway, I bribed Vernon with an X-Men comic, and I untied Jackson's shoelaces, and I won."

"I do remember that," She admitted quietly, "But Stiles, you didn't win. Lydia did the whole, 'You may now kiss' thing under the slides but it was me and that third grader with the pretty hair-" She paused, trying to remember the boy's name — It hadn't been English. It had been a Czechoslovakian name, or maybe Romanian. She sighed in frustration when she couldn't quite remember, "I think he moved away after that school year. His name was.. Like, Mooshy-"

"Mieczysław." Stiles interrupted, the pronunciation seeming to fall off his tongue easily.

"Yes!" She told him quietly, "See, you do remember him."

"Amber. You know my birth name isn't Stiles.." He said slowly.

The seemingly sudden change in subject left her feeling confused but she allowed it, "Yeah, I know," She agreed with a yawn, wiggling in place in the bed to burrow deeper beneath the blankets, "It's, um-" She frowned, "I-I don't think you've ever actually told me your real name."

"It's Mieczysław." He told her with a small laugh.

She reached out and punched him in what she approximated was his arm, "No, it's not." She said quickly, but as the puzzle pieces slowly began to slide together in her brain, she gasped in the dark, "Stiles, no it's not." She repeated in disbelief before punching him again.

"Ow-" He rubbed at the newly sensitive spot on his arm, "I thought you knew!" Stiles defended, reaching out in the dark and grabbing her fist in his hand so that she couldn't hit him again.

"So then.. That was the year you were held back.. And you got rid of the shoulder-length hair.." She started, pausing for a moment, "But, the next year you weren't-"

"Going by my birth name was always hell. The teachers couldn't pronounce it, let alone the other kids-" He told her, "We went to visit my grandad that summer. He's this raging asshole of an army vet, but- He always went by Stiles and I liked it. Made my mom and dad start calling me it almost immediately and refused to answer to anything to else."

"Meecshislav," She whispered with careful pronunciation with a yawn, grinning when Stiles squeezed his hand around her fist softly, "It's kinda pretty."

"Yeah, pretty's exactly what I'm going for." He chuckled sarcastically.

She shuffled closer in the bed and nestled her head beneath his chin, taking a deep breath. He smelled like laundry detergent, and body wash, and whiskey, and something underneath it all that was inherently Stiles.

One of his arms came up to wrap around her back and she nuzzled contentedly into the warmth of his chest beneath the blankets. She resolutely blamed the remaining buzz of alcohol in her brain for the words that sleepily left her mouth next.

"Bu' you are. Think y're very pretty."

And then she was out like a light.

When Monday finally came around after the police-enforced four day weekend, just being inside of the day-lit school building felt surreal. Amber sat on the floor outside of the front office with Stiles, her legs sprawled out in front of her. She tapped her fingers impatiently against the bare skin off her thighs below the hem of her skirt.

"Stiles, I know you wanna talk to your dad, but we're seriously going to be late if we don't-"

"No," He interrupted her. "No one's gonna fail us for being two minutes late for a standardized test, alright? I need to talk to my dad before he goes out looking for Derek tonight."

She sighed, knowing that her friend was right. She was worried about the safety of all of the police officers who would be going out on the night of the full moon with a murderous Alpha still on the loose. She glanced at the clock on her phone screen, chewing her lower lip anxiously.

The bell signaling the end of the fifteen-minute morning break trilled out loudly in the hallway and Amber flinched, looking at Stiles nervously for only a second before the office door swung open. Sheriff Stilinski's voice could be heard murmuring softly to the principal and the two officers with him as they all stepped out into the hall.

Stiles got to his feet clumsily, pulling Amber up by her bicep. The Sheriff cast them both a displeased look when he spirited them and he dismissed the two officers as the teens came to stand in front of him.

"Don't you both have a test to get to?" The Sheriff asked, crossing his arms over his chest and raising his eyebrows as he looked between them.

Amber nodded and Stiles spoke quickly, "What's goin' on? Did you find Derek yet?"

"I'm workin' on it," Sheriff Stilinski told him. He looked at where Amber was checking the time nervously on her phone again before returning his attention to his son, "You, go take your test."

"Alright, but dad, listen to me-"

"Go." The Sheriff insisted.

"This is really important," Stiles told him urgently. The Sheriff glanced between the two teens again and sighed when Amber nodded her own insistence. "You have to be careful tonight, okay?" Stiles pleaded.

"Especially tonight." Amber emphasized.

"You guys, I'm always careful." Sheriff Stilinski told them earnestly.

Stiles took a breath, "Dad, you've never dealt with this kind of thing before, okay? At least not like this."

"I know. Which is why I've brought in people who have." The man told them both. They frowned in confusion before he continued, "State detectives. Now, go. Both of you. Go take your test."

Stiles scrunched his face in frustration before readjusting his grip on his backpack and begrudgingly pulling Amber down the hallway with a sigh.

"Those state detectives aren't going to be any help at all, are they?" She leaned close to ask the question quietly as they fast-walked down the hall toward the east stairwell.

"Nope. Not one bit." He told her as they climbed the stairs two at a time.

As they rushed into the classroom for the test, they were still in the first half of students to arrive and Amber sighed in relief as she took a seat at an empty desk. She quickly pulled out a pencil as Stiles threw his backpack to the ground and settled into the seat behind her.

She tapped her pencil eraser against her desk anxiously as she waited for the rest of their classmates to file into the room. When Scott stepped through the doorway, Amber watched him falter as he caught sight of Allison at a desk in the front of the room. A few students shuffled around his frozen body awkwardly as they moved toward the remaining empty desks.

Scott stepped forward a few slow steps to approach Allison's desk and Amber winced in sympathy for them both.

Before Scott could say anything, Mr. Harris stepped up behind him and leaned in close as he dropped a set of test booklets on the desk at the front of each row, "Mr. McCall, please take a seat."

Scott seemed to hesitate for a moment before he frowned and made his way toward the empty desk remaining in front of Amber and Stiles, only a few seats away from Allison. As he fell into his seat, he gave Amber and Stiles a small smile of commiseration, passing the stack of blue test booklets back onto Amber's desk.

She kept one booklet before passing the final two back to Stiles for him and the student sitting behind him. He gave her a reassuring smile and his fingers brushed softly over hers as he took the tests from her outstretched hand.

She turned back around in her seat with a sigh. She had studied and done practice tests the entirety of Thursday and Friday. Though she had no reason to be nervous, she found herself wiping her clammy hands on the wool of her short skirt under her desk anyway.

"You have forty-five minutes to complete the test," Mr. Harris' voice announced from the front of the room, "Twenty-five percent of your grade can be earned right now, simply by writing your name on the cover of the blue book." He told them, letting his glare rake over the students slowly as he continued, "However, as happens every year, one of you will inexplicably fail to put your name on the cover and I'll be left yet again questioning my decision to ever become a teacher." Mr. Harris sighed with an eye roll as he sat down at the desk at the front of the room, "So, let's get the disappointment over with. Begin."

Amber wrote her name at the top of her booklet and quickly flipped open the front cover, her eyes raking over the words on the page rapidly. She sped through the first couple of pages, recognizing many of the questions from her practice tests, and circled her answers quickly as she went. She chewed her lower lip and tapped the fingertips of her left hand against the top of her desk as she plowed through the mercifully easy test questions.

There were only a few unanswered questions remaining in her booklet when Scott suddenly shot up from the desk in front of her. He grabbed his backpack and abandoned his open test on his desktop, rushing toward the door.

"Mr. McCall!" Their teacher called out, watching Scott ignore him as he ran from the classroom.

Amber turned her head worriedly to glance back at Stiles, but he already was rising from his own desk and running after Scott.

"Mr. Stilinski!" Their teacher shouted at him as he left the room. Amber began to stand from her own seat and Mr. Harris shot her a sharp look, "Sit. Down."

She shied back from his scolding and frustratedly went back to her test, quickly skimming the last few questions and circling her answers. She flipped the booklet closed and pushed up from her seat, grabbing Stiles' backpack from the floor behind her desk and rushing to the front of the room.

"Miss Callisto, if you don't return to your seat and finish your test, I am going to give you detention for the next-"

She set her completed booklet on top of his desk, "I'm finished." She told him quickly, eyes flicking to the door worriedly.

Mr. Harris narrowed his eyes and flipped through the booklet to verify whether or not she was lying. When he determined she was telling the truth, he scrunched his face up in annoyance and nodded once, dismissing her.

She tightened her grip on Stiles' bag and ran from the room. She rushed down the hallway in the direction Scott and Stiles had gone in only a minute before, looking around wildly for a clue as to where they'd gone.

"Guys." She whisper-shouted as she ran down the hall.

She got no response, but she heard a cellphone ring out with the same ringtone Scott used. It came from the next hallway over before cutting off sharply. She rushed down the hall and realized with a slightly queasy feeling in her stomach that she was heading in the direction of the boy's locker room.

When she reached the doorway, the door that had been covered in the janitor's blood just a few nights before had been removed from its hinges. She rushed through the opening without allowing herself time to think about the last time she'd been in the room.

"-I can't. I can't breathe-" She heard Scott gasp before he took a wheezing breath.

"Scott?" She called out worriedly, sprinting to the back of the room in a panic.

She skidded into Stiles' back when she turned the corner toward the showers and found Scott hyperventilating, shirtless and soaking wet. Stiles was digging through Scott's backpack frantically and he pulled out Scott's inhaler from the bottom of the bag, holding it out toward their friend.

"Here, use this." Stiles said, shaking the inhaler at him. Amber and Scott both looked at him in confusion and Stiles shook it emphatically again, "Come on. Do it."

"I- Just try it, Scott." Amber told him, taking it from Stiles' hand. She pulled the cap from the mouthpiece and held it out closer to Scott as he continued to gasp in choppy breaths.

He took the inhaler from her hand and brought it up to his mouth, squeezing the device down and taking the medicine into his lungs. He leaned over for a few seconds, beginning to inhale deep breaths as he calmed and Amber sighed in relief.

Scott breathed slowly for a few seconds before looking up at them in confusion, "Wh- I was having an asthma attack?"

"No. You were having a panic attack. But, thinking you were having an asthma attack, actually stopped the panic attack." Stiles explained slowly, "Irony."

"How- How did you know to do that?" Scott asked him.

Stiles looked at Amber sadly for a moment before returning his attention to Scott, "I used to get them- After my mom died. And-and then Amber did too, when her parents-" His voice faded out.

Amber chewed on her lower lip at the admission, recalling all of the times Stiles had calmed her down or distracted her from her own panic attacks.

"Not fun, huh?" She asked Scott quietly, reaching down and pulling at the hem of her skirt awkwardly.

Scott shook his head at them sadly, taking a slow breath, "I-I looked at her and it was like someone hit me in the ribs with a hammer."

"Yeah, that's heartbreak." Amber told him with a sympathetic smile.

Stiles chuckled sadly and nodded, "There's about two billion songs written about it."

"I can't stop thinking about her." Scott panted, leaning his head back against the shower wall.

"You could think about this," Stiles started, "Her dad's a werewolf hunter.. You're a werewolf. So, it was bound to become an issue-" He laughed quietly and Amber reached over to slap him in the arm. "That wasn't helpful." Stiles agreed with a small nod of his head.

"It's gonna hurt, Scott." Amber said softly, "And it sucks, but.. It won't feel like this forever."

"Dude, I mean- You got dumped." Stiles told him with a shrug, "It's supposed to suck."

"No," Scott disagreed, "That's not all. It was like I could feel everything in the room.. Everyone else's emotions."

"Like, everyone else's stress and anxiety about the test." Amber realized, looking at him pityingly.

"It's gotta be the full moon," Stiles said, seemingly deep in thought. He shook his head as he refocused and looked between his best friends, "So, Amber and I'll lock you in your room later like we planned. That way, you'll be contained, and the Alpha- Who's your boss," He reminded him, "Can't get to you either."

"I think you guys need to do a lot more than lock me in my room." Scott told them honestly.

"What- Are you worried about the Alpha or- Or the hunters?" Amber asked him worriedly.

Scott shook his head, stepping out of the shower stall and coming closer to his friends, "No. I-I think if I get out- I think I might kill someone."

Stiles climbed over the changing bench in the locker room, lacrosse stick in hand, and sat down in the open space beside Scott as Coach Finstock came out of his office.

"All right, geniuses!" Coach shouted to gain the attention of the team, continuing to talk as they huddled around him at the back of the locker room, "Listen up! Due to the recent pink-eye epidemic- Thank you, Greenberg- The following people have made first line on a probationary basis. Emphasis on 'probationary'."

Stiles looked around wide-eyed. He glanced at Scott to find that his friend wasn't paying any attention to the team meeting taking place but Stiles sat up straighter as he focused his attention on their Coach.

Finstock lifted the clipboard in his hands up to look at the list of player names on the sheet of paper, "Rodriguez," He read off slowly, "Welcome to first line. Taylor.. And, uh-" The Coach paused, squinting in confusion at the paper in front of him, "Oh, for the love of crap. I can't even read my own writing.. What is that? An 'S'?" He questioned aloud.

Stiles was barely containing his eagerness, rising to hover above his seat and shaking in anticipation, praying for his last name to be called. Stilinski.. Stilinski.

"No, no, wait." Coach immediately backtracked. Stiles deflated and fell back onto the bench as Coach Finstock continued, "That's not an 'S', that's a- That's a 'B'. It's definitely a 'B'." He announced, "Rodriguez, Taylor, and Bilinski!"

Stiles' head snapped up in excitement, "Ha! Aha!" He yelled enthusiastically, rising to his feet and lifting his arms above his head in triumph. He whooped and cheered and looked around the room with wide eyes, but he seemed to be the only one affected by the incredible news.

"Bilinski!" Coach Finstock yelled at him with an unimpressed glare.

"Yes?" Stiles asked quickly.

"Shut up." Coach told him.

"Yes, sir." Stiles winced, sitting back down beside Scott as a couple of their teammates laughed.

"Stiles-" Scott said to him quietly.

"It's Biles." Stiles corrected quickly, "Call me Biles or I swear to god I'll kill you."

"And another thing!" Coach called out, "From here on out, we're switching to co-captains. Congratulations McCall."

Stiles looked at Scott in surprise and found a similar look of astonishment on his face. Stiles nudged his knee against his best friend's excitedly as Jackson stepped forward to stand beside Coach.

"What?" Jackson asked quietly.

"What do you mean, 'What?'" Coach asked him, "Jackson, this takes nothing away from you. This is about combining separate strengths into one unit. This is about taking your unit, McCall's unit, and- We're making one big unit." Coach told him assuredly, "McCall. It's you and Jackson now. Everybody else, asses on the field!"

Coach blew on his whistle in emphasis and Stiles quickly grabbed his duffle bag and stood up with Scott to walk to the front of the locker room, "Dude, can you believe this?" Stiles asked, "You're captain, I'm first line.. I'm first freaking line!" He yelled excitedly.

They made their way out into the hallway and Scott still hadn't spoken so Stiles turned to his friend in confusion, readjusting his bag over his shoulder as they walked, "Are you not freaking out?" Stiles asked, still in disbelief at the events of the last two minutes, "I'm freaking out!"

"What's the point?" Scott asked blankly, "It's just a stupid title. And- I could practically smell the jealousy in there."

Stiles paused, jerking back in surprise and pulling Scott to a stop, "Wait. You can smell jealousy?" He asked in confusion.

Scott shrugged, "Yeah. It's like the full moon's turned everything up to ten."

"Oh," Stiles said, getting distracted with a sudden train of thought, "Can you pick up on other things? Like," He shrugged in an attempt at nonchalance, "I don't know... Desire?"

"What do you mean 'desire'?'" Scott asked him.

"Like.. Sexual desire." Stiles clarified with another shrug.

"Sexual desire?"

"Yeah, sexual desire-" Stiles repeated quickly, "Lust, passion, arousal."

Scott sighed and looked down the hallway. Stiles followed his gaze after a second to see the girl of his affections exiting the girl's bathroom and walking down the hallway toward her locker, looking as inhumanly beautiful as she always seemed to, "From Amber?"

"What?" Stiles scoffed a little too quickly, "No. In a broad, general sense. Can you determine sexual desire?"

"From Amber to you?" Scott clarified once more with an unimpressed raise of his eyebrows.

"Fine, yes. From Amber to me." Stiles admitted in frustration, "Look, I need to know if I actually have a chance, okay? I've been obsessing over her since the third frickin' grade and something sort of, almost, but didn't really happen last night and- I just need to know. I can't mess up our friendship for nothing, dude."

"Why don't you just ask her?" Scott questioned blankly.

"Ah, well. To save myself from utterly crushing humiliation. Thank you, Scott." Stiles told him sarcastically, "Okay, so please? Can you just go and ask her if she likes me? See if her heartbeat rises, pheromones come out-"

"Alright. Fine." Scott said quickly, sighing in regret immediately.

Stiles watched Scott head down the hallway in the direction of their best friend with a nervous excitement building up inside of him. He bit down on a smile and bounced on his toes before rushing out toward the lacrosse field, where he would be practicing. Because he was on first frickin' line.

Coach Finstock was holding a team meeting before lacrosse practice, which usually meant either Greenberg had managed to catch some sort of contagious disease again or there was a change in the lineup — possibly both.

Amber stood just outside the locker room, her ear hovering close to the newly installed, closed metal door. She impatiently attempted to eavesdrop on what was being said, but she couldn't make out much more than the muffled sound of lockers being slammed shut. Eventually, the noise faded and she realized the meeting was being held outside of Coach's office, which was tucked away at the very back of the locker room.

Abandoning her post with a sigh, she wasted a few minutes of time in the restrooms, going to the bathroom and reapplying her tinted lip balm in the mirror.

In lieu of standing in the girl's room any longer, she eventually made her way back into the hallway to head to her locker to grab her jacket and backpack. She was only a few yards from her destination when she heard Scott's voice call out to her.

"Hey! Amber. Can we talk for a second?"

She turned around and caught sight of Scott approaching her locker, changed into the maroon bulk of his practice jersey and lacrosse padding.

"Yeah, of course," She agreed easily as he led her into an empty classroom before closing the door softly behind them, "What happened in the meeting, anyway? I tried to listen in through the door but I couldn't really hear anything."

Scott waved her off, "I made co-captain and Stiles is starting. That's not-"

"Oh my god!" She yelled excitedly, "Are you serious! That's amazing! Where's Stiles? I need to-"

"Just wait. That's not what I wanted to talk about." Scott interjected, guiding her back a few steps further into the room. Once he's pushed her to lean back against the teacher's desk at the front of the class, he released her arm.

"Okay, what? What's going on?" She asked immediately in concern, eyes raking over his face for some sort of clue.

"Do you, uh.. Do you know if Allison still likes me?" He asked sadly.

"Scott," She said softly, reaching out a hand to take his, "Of course she does."

"Really?"

The look of hope on Scott's face made all of the protective instincts she had for her best friend flare up and she rubbed her thumb softly along the back of Scott's hand.

"Yeah," She said softly, "I mean, give her some time. She's scared. We were all scared, right? And then you had to leave in order to protect us and I- maybe right now she's not necessarily grateful but-"

"Are you grateful?" He asked, the expression on his face changing into something Amber couldn't quite decipher.

"Huh?"

"You," Scott repeated, "Are you grateful?"

"You went out, knowing there was a possibility of facing the Alpha all alone, so you could get a key that would've saved us all.. I mean, duh. Of course I am, Scott." She reached her free hand up to rub the small space where his upper arm was exposed from his lacrosse pads.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, Scott had leaned into her space and brought his mouth down against hers. She pulled back slightly but the boy stepped closer and pressed her more firmly into the desk. He brought a hand up to tangle in the hair at the base of her neck to keep their mouths pressed together.

She turned her head to the side and took in a breath, "Scott-" She started, but Scott's lips covered hers again before she could finish.

Her heart began to beat harder in her chest with adrenaline as the wood of the desk pressed uncomfortably against the tops of her thighs. She pushed at her friend's shoulders but with his newly acquired supernatural strength, he didn't budge so much as an inch. She broke the seal of their lips once more but she only managed a shaky breath before he guided his mouth back over hers with the hand on the back of her neck. She pushed harder at his shoulders, leaning back over the desk as she did so in an attempt to put more space between them.

When Scott's free hand brushed against the hem of her skirt as it trailed up the outside of her thigh on the way to her hip, her stomach swooped anxiously.

She tightened her shaking right hand into a fist as his fingers curled around her waist. Leaning back a few more inches, she broke the seal of their mouths once again and swung her arm with as much force as she could manage in the limited space between their bodies. When her fist made contact with Scott's jaw, the boy took an immediate step back from her in surprise.

"What the hell!?" He yelled angrily, his hand rubbing at the spot where she'd hit him.

"Me!? Scott, what the fuck was that?" She yelled back, her voice hitching as she pulled a deep breath into her lungs.

"God, Amber. You're a tease, y'know that?" He glared at her and her eyes caught on the way his lips were smeared lightly with the bright pink tinge of her lip balm.

"I- What?" She asked quietly this time, her hands were shaking, and as the adrenaline from before faded, she noticed the sharp pain in the knuckles of her right hand.

"Don't act so innocent," Scott scoffed, "You're always touching and rubbing me. My arms, my neck? Don't even get me started on Stiles- You need to put out sometime, Amber, or you're gonna end up alone."

Scott took an angry breath and she couldn't understand the look of rage in his eyes. He was actually, genuinely, mad at her.

"Scott.." She started, voice wavering before realization suddenly washed over her, "It- It's the full moon, isn't it? The.. The moon's really affecting you this much already? We- We'll figure this out, okay, you just need to-"

Before she could continue, he had turned and stormed out of the classroom.

The silence that he left behind had her ears ringing as she remained unmoving, leaning against the desk at the front of the room. She watched the door for a full minute, half expecting Scott to walk back in with an explanation for some of what had just happened, but he didn't come.

Her hands were still shaking lightly when she lifted her right hand to inspect her sore knuckles. She found the joints reddening and beginning to swell already. She clenched her fingers into a tight fist and gasped at the sharp pain that radiated through her hand.

She took a couple of slow tentative steps forward before pushing out of the classroom. There were still people milling about in the hallway but she found that couldn't hear them over the heavy rushing of blood that filled her ears as her heart continued to pound.

Her backpack and jacket were both still in her locker, so that was where she headed.

When she got to her locker, her hands fumbled with the lock, the metal slipping repeatedly from between her shaking fingers. She huffed out a frustrated breath through her nose and willed herself to calm down.

The moon's power over Scott was only going to get stronger, and she needed to pull herself together if she wanted to help him.

After her padlock refused to open for the third time, she found herself pulling and tugging at it hopelessly. When the lock remained intact she felt heat prickle at her eyes as if she were about to cry.

"What, did you forget your combination?" A voice said beside her.

She exhaled sharply and looked up at where Lydia was standing beside her locker. When their eyes met, Lydia's face twisted into worry and she reached out to comfort the brunette.

"Hon, what-"

Amber flinched away from the outstretched hand before it could make contact with her arm and her next few breaths were shallow, unable to get a good lungful of air. The sounds around her were beginning to distort again and she felt entirely too warm, like she was going to explode out of her own skin if she got any hotter.

Her breathing was ragged and the longer she panicked, the fuzzier her surroundings became. She didn't know how much time passed, but when her breathing eventually began to slow, she felt cold water against her cheeks and flinched slightly in surprise.

"Hey," Lydia's voice said softly, placing a cold, wet hand to Amber's face again, "You coming back to me?"

Amber nodded as she slowly began to take in her surroundings. At some point, they'd moved into the girls restroom. The tap was running and every few seconds, Lydia moved her hand under the rush of cold water before patting her chilled hand to the flushed skin of Amber's face.

"Good," Lydia said, ripping off a piece of paper towel from the dispenser by the sink and drying her hands before dabbing at the wetness still on Amber's cheeks. "You gonna tell me what happened now? Did Stilinski do something?"

"It's stupid." Amber admitted quietly.

Lydia tutted at her and tilted her head thoughtfully, "If it upset you that much, it isn't stupid." She promised.

Amber shook her head, moving to place her right hand under the cold tap and sighing in relief at the cold water over her swollen knuckles. "Scott-" She started, clearing her throat when the words came out scratchy, "Scott kissed me-"

"What?" Lydia said in surprise, dropping her hands from Amber's face and looking at where the girl was gently cradling her hand under the tap.

"-And I had to punch him."

"You- You had to-"

"He wouldn't- I couldn't-" Amber faltered, unsure how to finish the sentence. She took a shaky breath, "Yeah, I.. I had to punch him."

"I'll kill him." Lydia stated, her eyes already clouded with dark thoughts.

"No! No, that's not-" She paused, unsure how to defend Scott without including werewolf drama, "It'll be fine, honest. He- He's just really torn up over Allison."

"If McCall was forcing himself on you-"

"Lydia, I would never let him anywhere near Allison if I thought he'd ever hurt her, okay?"

"But what about him hurting you?" Lydia frowned.

"I'm fine." Amber promised determinedly, pulling her hands from the water and drying them on a fresh strip of paper towel. She took a deep breath, turning away from the sink, "Honestly, I'm fine. I was just overwhelmed, okay? We should go get our stuff together before we miss the beginning of practice."

Stiles was practically oozing with anxiety as he waited outside on the players bench, watching for any sign of Scott or Amber heading toward the field. His knee jerked up and down violently and his heart was beating hard beneath his ribs as his nerves grew.

After several minutes, he caught sight of Scott and he barely contained the urge to wait until Scott was sitting on the bench before he questioned him, "Hey! What happened?" Stiles asked in nervous excitement.

"What?" Scott asked distractedly, readjusting the velcro on his glove and tightening it around his wrist.

"What do you mean, 'what?'" Stiles asked incredulously, "Did you ask her? Did she say anything? Did she say she liked me? Did she imply she liked me? Did she smell like she liked me?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure, dude." Scott told him unconvincingly.

The answer didn't instill much confidence and Stiles frowned at the lack of confirmation. He was about to ask Scott to clarify when the whistle blew for the start of practice and Stiles sighed, pulling on his helmet as he rose from his seat and grabbed his lacrosse stick.

They went out onto the field to begin drills, an offensive player charging on a couple of defense and shooting on goal. Stiles stood behind Scott in the line of offensive players as they waited their turn to run through the drill.

Scott seemed to be breathing heavily already, shoulders rising and falling with exaggerated movements, and Stiles frowned in confusion, leaning forward to speak over Scott's shoulder, "Dude, you okay? Look, I know we just got good news, and all, bit there's still seven hours until the full moon, okay? So-"

The whistle blew for Scott to take his turn and he only managed to run forward a few feet before he was thrown to the ground by the two defensive players. Stiles winced and watched his friend rise to his feet again angrily.

Coach blew his whistle and turned toward Stiles, "Who's next? Let's go!" He gestured for Stiles to take his turn, "You got a problem with that, Bilinski?"

"What?" He asked in surprise, readjusting his grip on his stick, "Uh, no-"

"Alright! You're up, big boy. Let's go!"

Stiles swallowed, readying himself to charge forward, but Scott made his way back to the front of the line and bashed into Stiles' chest with his lacrosse stick aggressively. Stiles stumbled while Scott pushed him back a step before he went to collect another ball to take his turn at the drill again.

"That's it, McCall!" Coach yelled, "That's the spirit! You gotta earn it! Earn it, McCall!"

Stiles' gaze drifted past the goal and he caught sight of Amber and Lydia making their way toward the field, heads bent close together in conversation. He watched the girls for only a few seconds before Coach Finstock's whistle blew softly and his attention was pulled to Scott as he ran forward again, rushing toward the defenders.

Scott quickly shoulder-checked both of the defensive players and sent them to the ground, continuing on without pause. Danny stepped forward out of the goal to block him next and Scott plowed into him violently, swinging his stick at the goalie's helmet and shoving him down to the grass before shooting the ball into the goal.

Danny went down hard and everyone immediately flocked over to check on him, worriedly shouting his name. Stiles watched Scott rip off his helmet as he took a few steps to the side and Stiles moved to follow him, pulling his own helmet off and shaking his head, flabbergasted at his friend's behavior.

"Dude," Stiles called out as he approached Scott, "What the hell are you doing?"

Scott scoffed, "What? He's twice the size of me."

Stiles glanced over to where the sport's paramedic was checking on their goalie's bleeding face before looking back at Scott beside him, "Yeah, but everybody likes Danny." Stiles told him, "Now everybody's gonna hate you."

"I don't care." Scott huffed in annoyance before storming away to stand at the back of their teammates.

Stiles stood stunned for a moment before he followed after him to stand where everybody was still huddled around Danny, even Lydia and Amber having rushed into the crowd at some point.

"What happened? Is he okay?" Amber was questioning, standing between Lydia and Jackson.

"Looks like he just has a bloody nose-" Jackson started before trailing off, staring at the girl beside him with an amused look of confusion.

"What?" Amber questioned, looking up at him.

"Callisto," Jackson chuckled quietly, "Your lipstick's smudged."

Stiles closed the final steps of distance between himself and the group and his eyes immediately gravitated to Amber. His chest tightened when he found the pretty pink tint that normally covered her lips was smeared around her mouth, the glossy shine smudged in a way that suggested she'd been thoroughly kissed. He felt his stomach drop sharply.

"Oh. Shit, I-" She reached up to blindly wipe at her mouth with the back of her sleeve. Her wide eyes cut sharply to where Scott was stepping up to stand beside her, "I, um. I don't know how-"

But Stiles was no longer listening to her embarrassed stammering. Instead, his eyes were caught on the shiny pink smudges that covered Scott's mouth. Stiles stared with a painful ache of betrayal as Scott's lips pulled into a smirk while watching the way Amber frantically tried to clean the makeup from her mouth.

Stiles looked between the two of them with a growing pit in his stomach. His jaw clenched and he was forced to take a small step back as his mind raced with an anger he’d never felt, heart thumping wildly in his chest.

Seven hours until the full moon was at its peak.

"Right. Now, you can't tell your father about this, because he'll kill me." Kate told Allison quietly, standing just behind her niece's shoulder. The older woman surveyed Allison's stance, legs shoulder-width apart, arms stretched out in front of her as she aimed at her target.

"Okay." Allison agreed with an excited grin.

"Okay," Kate agreed, nodding and clapping her hands together softly, "Well, what's our hapless victim's name?"

Allison kept her focus trained on keeping the little red dot in the center of her target's chest where it sat in the chair in front of her, "Mr. Bear."

"You named your teddy bear, 'Mr. Bear'?" Kate asked her in a teasing voice, "That's like, the worst teddy bear name in the world."

"I was five years old." Allison defended, eyes drifting to the side for a moment to glance at the woman beside her.

"Alright, well," Kate conceded, lifting a hand to gesture at the target sitting in the chair, "Just shoot your unimaginatively named bear and put it out of its misery."

Allison's smile spread and she fought a laugh before focusing on the task at hand, narrowing her eyes in concentration. She pulled the trigger and a cluster of wires shot out from the device in her hands, planting themselves into the teddy bear and shocking it with electricity with a repetitive low clicking noise.

Allison took a step back as she watched the bear smoke softly from its now-charred fur and her eyes burned with tears.

"See! Now that's what I'm talkin' about!" Kate laughed, looking at the teddy bear gleefully, "See, if you'd had that the other night-" She seemed to suddenly catch sight of her niece and faltered, "Woah, now.. Wait a minute. I thought you wanted to learn how to do this, sweetie?"

Allison plopped down to sit on her bed with a wet laugh, "I just don't know what happened.

"With Scott?" Kate asked, sitting down beside her and watching as Allison nodded sadly, "Aw, listen. My gorgeous, young niece, you're gonna break hearts left and right, okay?" The tears in Allison's eyes broke free and she sniffled quietly as she listened, "And he was lucky to have gotten the tiny little taste of Allison Argent's world that he got."

"But, it just-" Allison took a shaky breath as more tears fell from her eyes, "It felt so right with him. And then he started acting so strange and now I don't know what to believe."

"Well, sweetie, he's a guy. You can't believe anything." Kate told her with a roll of her eyes.

Allison shook her head softly, "It's just, the whole thing with Derek Hale the other night. And Scott saying he didn't know him, but I know he does, and I-I saw them together so-"

"Woah, woah, wait. Hold on. Back up. Scott knows Derek." Kate repeated slowly, gauging Allison's face closely as she spoke, "Alleged killer, Derek. Are they friends?"

"No." Allison told her quietly. Suddenly nervous at her aunt's intensity, "I mean, at least that's what he said. But I know his best friend Amber was kind of seeing Derek at some point so maybe-"

"How about you tell me everything-" Kate interrupted, "That Scott and Amber have said about Derek."

"What do you mean, everything?" Allison asked anxiously, leaning away and rubbing her palms along her thighs over her jeans.

Kate pulled Allison back with a hand on her shoulder, bringing their faces close together, "I mean everything." She told her firmly.

Allison looked at her aunt's intense gaze and swallowed, taking a deep breath before beginning to spill all of her friend's secrets.

Stiles checked his phone once more, re-reading the text message Amber had sent him twenty minutes before.

have to take care of something first but I'll be there as soon as I can! promise!

He tucked the phone back into his pocket and fumbled with the duffel bag in his hand as he slid his key into the front door to the McCall house. He unlocked it and pushed the door open, stepping inside and turning around to close it behind him.

"Scott?" Ms. McCall's voice called out as she stepped into the entryway in fresh nurse's scrubs.

"Stiles." He corrected with an awkward laugh. He had assumed she'd have left for work by now.

Ms. McCall glanced down at the key still clutched between his fingers and she raised her eyebrows, "Key." She pointed out with a slow blink.

"Yeah." He smiled, holding the object up proudly, "I had one made." After the last time I got in without one and you almost bludgeoned Amber and I with a baseball bat, goes left unsaid.

"That doesn't surprise me." Ms. McCall nodded with a frown, "It scares me, but it doesn't surprise me."

Stiles dropped his duffle bag to the ground beside the door and it landed with the loud metallic tinkling of chains rubbing against one another. He grimaced as he looked up at Ms. McCall's suspicious face.

"What is that?" She asked him, looking down at the bag in question.

"Uh, school project." He responded quickly.

"Mm," The woman said, unconvinced. "Stiles, he's okay, right?"

"Who, Scott?" He questioned stupidly, "Yeah, totally-"

"He just... Doesn't talk to me that much, anymore." She admitted quietly, "At least not like he used to."

"Well he's, uh- Had a bit of a rough week." Stiles told her, sticking his hands in the pockets of his sweatshirt with a casual shrug.

"Yeah, yeah. I get it." She agreed, "Yeah, um. Okay. Uh, y'know, be careful tonight."

"You too." He nodded as he watched her pull her car keys out of her purse.

"Full moon." Ms. McCall clarified, nodding up at the ceiling.

Stiles flinched, "What?" He asked in surprise.

"Uh, there's a full moon tonight," Scott's mom laughed, "You should see how the E.R. gets. Brings out all the nut jobs."

"Oh.. Right."

"Y'know," Ms. McCall started, stepping closer as she approached the front door, "It's actually where they came up with the word 'lunatic'."

Stiles stood frozen in awe as she patted him on the shoulder and headed outside, closing the door behind her. With a shake of his head, he picked the duffel bag back up and raced up the stairs, hoping to set up before Scott got there.

He pushed open Scott's bedroom door and flicked on the light, his eyes catching on the figure sitting in the chair in the corner of the room.

"Ho-Oh my god!" Stiles yelled, flinching back in surprise as he looked at where Scott was ominously sitting, "You scared the hell out of me. Your mom said you weren't home yet."

Stiles walked deeper into the room and dropped his bag loudly to the floor again, this time in front of Scott's feet.

"I came in through the window." Scott told him blankly, unmoving from his armchair in the corner.

"Okay..." Stiles said slowly, watching his friend silently for a few seconds before squatting down in front of him and beginning to unzip the bag, "Uh, well. Let's get this set up. I want you to see what Amber and I bought the other day."

"I'm fine." Scott told him emotionlessly.

Stiles looked up at him in surprise as he unzipped the bag the rest of the way.

"I'm just gonna lock the door and go to bed early tonight." Scott continued.

"You sure about that?" Stiles asked doubtfully, raising his eyebrows and gesturing at Scott's face, "Because you got this kinda serial killer look going on in your eyes.. And I'm hoping it's the full moon taking effect 'cause it's really starting to freak me out."

"I'm fine." Scott told him slowly, "You should go now."

Stiles looked at his friend for a moment, entirely unconvinced, "Alright, I'll leave." He leaned back and his eyes dropped down to the contents of his duffle bag again. He reached into the bag for a moment, fingers drifting over against the copious rungs of smooth metal before tapping his other hand against the fabric on the outside with a sigh, "Well, look, would you at least look in the bag and see what we bought? Y'know, maybe you use it, maybe you don't.. Sound good?"

Scott leaned forward in his chair slowly as he stood, his eyes not leaving Stiles until he had taken several slow steps and knelt down directly over the bag. Scott reached a hand inside and pulled out a fistful of metal chains, lifting it out and examining it with a blank stare.

"You think I'm gonna let you guys put these on and chain me up like a dog?" Scott asked coldly before dropping the chain back into the bag.

Stiles sighed, "Actually, no."

He grabbed Scott's left wrist and handcuffed him to the radiator on the wall in one swift move, jumping back out of the way as Scott reached for him angrily.

"What the hell are you doing!" Scott yelled, kneeling on the floor and pulling at the handcuffs.

"I'm protecting you from yourself." Stiles said, looking down at his friend determinedly, "And giving you some payback." He admitted, watching as Scott slowly turned to glare up at him, "For making out with Amber."

Scott seethe in anger and Stiles smiled in satisfaction before turning to leave the room.

"Stiles!" Scott growled after him, continuing to pull loudly at the metal handcuffs against the radiator.

Stiles went downstairs and collected a bottle of water from the fridge and a old metal bowl from the cupboard beneath the sink. He carried his haul back upstairs, pouring some of the water into the bowl as he walked.

"I brought you some water." Stiles announced, holding up the plastic bottle in display before making a show of pouring the rest of the contents into the dog food bowl in his other hand.

He placed the bowl down on the floor in front of Scott, satisfied by the scowl on his face and returning his glare before turning to leave the room. He flinched at the impact of the cold water and lightweight metal against his shoulder when Scott threw the bowl at his retreating back.

"I'm gonna kill you!" Scott screamed angrily.

Stiles took a deep breath, glaring at the wall in the hallway for a few seconds before back spinning around to face his friend.

"You kissed her, Scott!" Stiles finally yelled, "Okay? You kissed Amber. That's my- That's like the one girl that I ever-!" He huffed angrily through his nose before continuing, "And you know? The past three hours I've been thinking, it's probably just the full moon, y'know? He doesn't even know what he's doing and tomorrow he'll be totally back to normal. He probably won't even remember what a complete dumbass he's been. A son of a bitch. A fucking unbelievable piece of crap friend!"

Stiles took a much needed breath after his rant and Scott lifted his head with a dark look.

"She kissed me." Scott told him with a devilish grin.

Stiles deflated slightly, his stomach filling with a hollow sadness at the words. He swallowed and clenched his jaw, gearing himself up to respond when someone else spoke first.

"What?" A soft voice cut in from behind him.

Amber waited until the last possible minute to show Jason her bruising hand. He was pulling on his shoes to head into the fire station when she slowly approached, hiding her right hand behind her back.

"Hey, um.." She started slowly, "I have a first aid question."

Her brother looked up at her with thinly veiled suspicion before finishing his shoe laces and standing upright, "Okay." He said slowly.

She sighed, "So, I hurt my knuckles earlier.. It doesn't hurt that bad anymore, but I'd feel really stupid if I actually, like, fractured something and didn't ask you to look at it."

Jason sighed and held out his hand patiently. Once she laid her hand in his waiting palm he brought it up to his face to examine it closely, gingerly prodding at her knuckles and feeling around the bones.

She winced at the gentle touches to her sensitive knuckles but didn't pull away.

"What did you do, now?" He asked softly, turning her hand as he checked the swelling.

"I, uh, punched a brick wall." She explained, not feeling inclined to mention that said brick wall was named Scott. At his sharp look she continued, "It was an accident. I don't just go around punching walls."

He sighed and let her remove her hand from his grip, "Nothing's broken. You should ice it tonight and keep it elevated when you can." He told her easily as he pulled on his jacket, "Holding a pen at school is gonna suck, but it should heal up in a couple days."

"Okay." She nodded gratefully, examining her red knuckles herself for a moment.

"Do me a favor and try not to get yourself seriously injured tonight? Maybe stay in and watch a movie and stay out of trouble." He asked weakly.

"Stiles and I are going over to Scott's to work in a project." She told him.

He sighed and nodded as he pulled open the front door, "Be good. Please. I love you."

"Love you."

She dashed upstairs after he left and changed into a pair of jeans, pulling off her knit sweater and swapping it out for a cutoff crewneck. She checked the time stamp on the text she'd sent to Stiles before she'd spoken to her brother and saw that it had been nearly ten minutes already.

With a sigh, she raced downstairs and grabbed her keys before heading over to the McCall house, hoping she wouldn't be too late to help Stiles and Scott get everything set up.

She parked her car at the end of the driveway and jogged up to the front door. Stiles had promised to leave it unlocked for her and she was relieved to find that it swung open easily when she turned the knob.

The moment she stepped into the house, Amber could hear Stiles's raised voice upstairs, but it wasn't until she reached the top of the staircase that she was able to make out the words he was shouting.

"-I've been thinking, it's probably just the full moon, y'know? He doesn't even know what he's doing and tomorrow he'll be totally back to normal. He probably won't even remember what a complete dumbass he's been. A son of a bitch. A fucking unbelievable piece of crap friend!"

She had moved to stand in the doorway behind Stiles and hesitated as she took in the way that Scott wasn't chained as they had originally intended, but instead had just one wrist cuffed to the metal heater beneath the window.

She watched Scott lift his head with a dark look, his eyes drifting over to her briefly before focusing on Stiles, "She kissed me."

"What?" She said in disbelief before taking a couple of steps forward and coming up to stand beside Stiles.

Scott grinned devilishly and looked between them, "She made the first move, Stiles." He said, "You should've seen it."

She immediately thought back to the way she'd been trying to comfort her friend just before he'd kissed her and she felt her eyes prickle with frustrated tears as she became suddenly self-conscious. Scrunching her face up in annoyance at her own emotions, she huffed a breath through her nose. When she risked a glance over at Stiles, she found him looking between them, unsure.

"You're being an asshole, Scott." She told him quietly.

"Oh, yeah? Is that what you're into, then?" Scott quipped back quickly before turning his attention on Stiles again, "She would've done a lot more too, man. You should've seen the way she had her hands all over me."

Amber was seething in anger and Stiles took a shaky breath beside her. His hand dropped onto her shoulder and he pulled her back gently as he guided her out of the room without a word.

"She would've done anything I wanted, Stiles!" Scott called out to their backs, "Anything!"

They stepped to the side once they got into the hallway to slip out of view of the doorway and Amber took a deep breath, "Has he been like that since you got here?" She asked, her eyes drifting back toward the bedroom.

"Yeah, pretty much," Stiles told her, "You missed the truly terrifying way he was just sitting by himself in the dark and also the murdery look he gave me when he saw the chains but- Yeah, pretty much like this and slowly getting worse."

She sighed in frustration, bringing her fingers up to tangle in her hair and leaning back against the wall.

"Hey, wait-" Stiles said, his eyes catching on her right hand, "What happened there?" He questioned, pointing to the redness on her raw knuckles.

She looked at him in confusion for a second before she saw that he was gesturing toward her injured hand. She sighed again and slid down the wall to sit on the floor, bringing her knees up to her chest.

"Oh, that." She laughed humorlessly, watching as Stiles slid down to sit beside her in the hallway, "I punched a werewolf in the face."

"Who, Scott?" He asked quickly. She nodded and he pulled her hand toward him gently to look at her knuckles, "I'm sure he deserved it. I know I'd like to punch him right now.. But why'd you punch Scott?"

She tilted her head against the wall to look over at him as he frowned at the red swelling on the back of her hand, "'Cause he kissed me."

Stiles raised his eyebrows, "Noted. Kiss Amber, get punched."

She snorted softly, lips pulling into a frown as she shook her head, "It wasn't like that," She started, unsure how much she wanted to tell him, "He was really upset about Allison.. Asked if she still liked him and I told him she was just scared, y'know? She doesn't understand why he left. She doesn't understand that he did it to protect us from the Alpha and I-" She sighed and turned to look at the hardwood floor with a frown, "I was holding his hand. And- and rubbing his arm. And I told him I was really grateful for what he did.. I guess it was stupid. He thought-"

"Hey, no. Amber, stop it." Stiles said firmly, "I don't care what you said or did, alright? Scott should've never kissed you. Like, ever. Seriously, never. I mean, he knows..."

"He knows what?" She asked quietly when Stiles' voice faded out.

He shook his head, "Nothing. He just- He never should've kissed you."

"Agreed." She told him, "D'you think the full moon is gonna be like this every time? Forever?"

"God, I hope not." He said, thumping his head back against the wall once and closing his eyes.

She tilted her head to the side to rest on his shoulder and they settled into silence for a few minutes. Though they weren't speaking, the house wasn't quiet. It was instead filled with the sounds of Scott determinedly pulling at the metal of his handcuffs and yelling angrily at them through the closed bedroom door.

Scott stopped shouting for a few minutes, still tugging quietly the handcuffs with a quiet sound of metal clinking.

"Guys?" Scott's voice called out gently, "Please let me out."

Amber thumped her head back against the wall once and reached her left hand across her body to grab Stiles' as Scott continued softly.

"It's the full moon, I swear." Scott pleaded weakly, "You know I wouldn't do any of this on purpose."

Stiles tilted his head to look over at her and she shook her head resolutely, pinching her lips together in silence.

"Please, you guys. Let me out. It's starting to hurt." Scott begged quietly, pulling at his handcuffs again.

Amber took in a shaky breath at his words and this time it was Stiles who shook his head at her before squeezing her hand reassuringly.

"It's not like the first time.. It's the full moon, it's Allison breaking up with me-" Scott explained, "I know that it's not just 'taking a break'. She broke up with me. And it's killing me." He told them slowly, "I feel completely hopeless.. Just, please let me out."

"We can't." Stiles spoke softly, to Scott or herself, Amber wasn't entirely sure.

"No, no-" Scott began to mumble frantically before he screamed out loudly in what sounded like pain.

Amber moved to stand instantly but Stiles pulled her back down beside him as Scott continued to scream.

Amber released Stiles' hand to raise her own to her ears, palms pressed tightly over her hair as she tried weakly to block out the loud screams coming from their best friend. Her stomach turned sickeningly and she turned sideways, curling an arm around Stiles' leg and dropping her head down to rest against his knee. The two of them listened to Scott's pained screaming for a long minute, eventually giving way into a low growl before cutting off all together.

The sudden silence rang eerily through the house but this time when Amber rose to her feet, Stiles didn't stop her and instead followed suit. They both crept slowly toward the bedroom, looking between the door and each other.

"Scott?" Amber called out quietly. There was no response and her heart thumped nervously in her chest.

"Scott? Are you okay?" Stiles asked loudly, his hand reaching for the doorknob.

When the bedroom door swung open, Scott was no where to be seen. The handcuffs lay in a broken heap next to the radiator, a small trail of blood beside them. The window had been pushed open wide and more blood trailed along the windowsill and led outside.

"Oh, fuck." Amber said quietly, eyes wide. She stared distractedly at the space where Scott had been a few minutes before and was finally pulled out of her thoughts when Stiles tugged her back by her wrist to leave.

They stumbled as they ran down the stairs and out of the house, sliding into the Jeep parked at the top of the driveway.

"Where would he have gone?" Stiles asked frantically, starting the vehicle and backing out of the driveway.

"I-I don't know!" Amber said as she buckled her seatbelt with shaking hands, "Allison's house? The preserve?"

"I don't think even wolfy Scott is stupid enough to go to a hunter's house on a full moon." He told her logically, turning off of Scott's street.

"Okay, so, the preserve then?"

He shrugged at her but took the next turn toward the edge of town anyway. They drove too fast than was really considered safe on the winding roads that led out to the preserve and ten minutes later, they were coming up on the lot they'd parked in the night before.

"Stiles-" Amber leaned forward in her seat, pointing out the scene at the edge of the forest.

There were red and blue flashing lights shining between the trees and Stiles turned sharply into the lot. He put the car in park and threw himself from the Jeep, leaving the driver's side door hanging open behind him.

Amber climbed around the front of the car and followed after him only a second later, tumbling from the vehicle and rushing to stand behind Stiles.

"Dad?" He called out in the throng of officers at the scene.

One officer shrugged unhelpfully at him and the others all continued on with what they were doing, paying no attention to the two teens who had just arrived at the scene.

"Dad!" Stiles called out again, more urgently.

She reached a hand out to his arm, "Stiles, I'm sure he's-"

"Has anyone seen my dad?" He yelled.

The people around them all shied back from his panicked question but gave no answer. Amber was about to reassure him again when a stretcher was rolled past them with a white sheet laid out over the top of what was quite clearly a dead body.

The look on Stiles' face was one of pure horror and she wanted desperately to reassure him that it wasn't his dad underneath, but she was too afraid to be wrong. Stiles began to reach forward to expose the person beneath the cloth and she did nothing to stop him.

The stretcher hit one of the potholes as it rolled along the parking lot and it jostled violently. An arm from the victim fell limply from beneath the sheet and the badly burnt flesh made the both of them falter for a second.

"Stiles." A familiar voice called out from just a couple of feet away and both Stiles and Amber flinched in surprise as they turned, "What're you kids doin' here?" Sheriff Stilinski asked them with a shake of his head.

Stiles sagged in relief and pulling his dad into a tight hug. The Sheriff looked at Amber over his son's shoulder in confusion but patted him on the back and returned his son's embrace.

When Stiles stepped back after a long moment, Amber reached forward to tangle their fingers together and Stiles gave her hand a squeeze as he took a steadying breath.

"Now, circling back to my initial question," The Sheriff looked between them and crossed his arms, "What are you both doing here?"

"Uh-" Stiles fumbled for a lie.

"We were listening to the police scanner again." Amber said quickly, nodding in mock shame at the Sheriff's disappointed look, "Yeah. And we got nervous, what with a murderer on the loose, and Stiles wanted to check that you were okay."

The Sheriff looked at his son, who was nodding along with her story, and shook his head, "Next time, feel free to call me." He told Stiles, "Now go home. Both of you."

Stiles looked at where the body was being lifted into the ambulance, "W- But-"

"Now." The Sheriff demanded firmly.

Stiles sighed and pulled Amber back to the Jeep. They climbed in and she looked across the cab at him expectantly.

"Well, what now?" She asked.

Stiles drummed his fingers on the steering wheel in thought, "We can't just drive around all night every full moon looking for any sign of Scott." He huffed, "I don't- I don't know what to do."

"What if we split up?" She asked as he pulled back out of the lot, "I'll wait at Scott's incase he finds his way home like almost runaway dogs do-" Stiles snorted and she carried on, "You drive around for a little while. And if neither one of us finds anything, we'll decide from there."

He scrunched his face up unhappily at the thought of splitting up and contemplated her offer for a long minute before nodding reluctantly.

"Fine." He agreed, "But you call me the second you see him. As in, before making contact, y'know? Do not approach the rabid dog and all that."

"Deal." She agreed, "But the same goes for you."

"Deal."

Stiles dropped her off at the end of the driveway before taking off again in search of Scott.

She walked up the driveway slowly and was nearly to the front door when it pulled open and her eyes snapped up to the person exiting the house as they closed the door behind themselves.

"Derek!" She breathed out, rushing toward him.

He looked up at her for only a second before she had jumped up onto her toes and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and shoulders, her whole body suddenly trembling. She hugged him tight and took a shaky breath, squeezing his shoulders softly through his leather jacket with the tips of her fingers to be sure he was real.

After a long moment, Derek reached an arm up around her back to pat her shoulder blade gently and she inhaled sharply in what sounded almost like a sob. She released him and dropped back down to the ground, taking a small step back not giving the action a single thought before she was punching him angrily in the shoulder.

"Ow, fuck!" She gasped, shaking out her aching hand and glaring at him when he looked at her in worried confusion.

"What-"

"No, no- Don't even think about it. I've been so worried about you and you just- You just show up out of nowhere, completely fine?" She ranted, peeking down at her sore knuckles for only a second before turning her attention back on Derek, "Where have you been? How long have you been healed? How did you heal?"

He blinked, sticking his hands into the pockets of his jacket, "It took a couple days to heal completely. Wounds from an Alpha take longer. Especially life-threatening ones."

"Life threaten-" She repeated under her breath, "That's exactly my point! We thought you might be dead. I thought- I thought either the Alpha took your body or you just dragged yourself off somewhere to die." She explained, voice shaky with sudden tears.

"I didn't die." He told her unhelpfully, shifting uncomfortably on his feet at her show of emotion.

"Why didn't you let me know you were okay?" She asked quietly.

Derek shrugged, "I didn't think it mattered."

"Didn't think it mattered whether you told me you were okay or didn't think it mattered if you died?" She questioned.

Derek's eyebrows furrowed for a moment in thought before he shrugged again.

She sniffled and stepped forward once more without hesitation, invading his personal space all over again, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and burying her face in his chest. His arms came up to softly wrap around her with less hesitation this time around, settling over her shoulders.

"I thought you were dead and it was horrible and awful and I'm so glad that you're not." She sniffled into his shoulder.

Derek patted her shoulder gently, "I-" He paused for a second before continuing, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was alive."

She nodded against his shoulder, "I forgive you." She mumbled into his jacket before leaning back and giving him a serious look, "But if you do it again I'll find a way to kill you myself. Got it?"

Derek scoffed at the threat as he stepped back from her, rolling his eyes. She raised her eyebrows expectantly and he rolled them again but nodded.

"Okay, good." She said, looking up at the house behind him, "Any chance Scott's in there?" She asked nervously.

"Yeah, I dragged him home right before you got here." He told her.

"Cool." She acknowledged, pulling out her phone to text Stiles and dropping down to sit on the front stoop to wait.

Derek watched her in confusion for a moment when she slid her phone back into her pocket but remained seated outside.

"You're not going in?" He asked, nodding to the front door behind her.

She shook her head, "I've exceeded my allotted Solo Scott Time for this full moon." She told him, lifting her bruising right hand in display.

"Scott hurt your hand?" Derek questioned immediately.

She nodded with a shrug, "Yeah, his face did. When I punched him."

Derek's anger seemed to melt away and he blinked in amused surprise, "You punched Scott in the face?"

"Yep."

He shook his head with a pleased smile on his face before turning his head toward the street with a nod, "I'm gonna get going."

"Okay." She leaned back against the door, watching him turn to go and calling out to his retreating form, "Be safe! It's a full moon tonight, y'know. Some people say that werewolves run amuck on the full moon. Stirring up trouble 'n such."

Derek snorted as he walked away, "So I've heard."

[mllemouse]

Hi @b-blushes !

I took a look through my summer dress Pinterest board and found three types of outfits that look like they could fit the bill for a summer wedding with a semi formal dress code, and then I put an outfit together with my own wardrobe following the qualities from the photos.

Qualities across the board:

Look for fabric that is both lighter in colour and in weight to minimize heat retention, in materials that will wick away moisture such as linen, silk, wool, or even tech weaves for working out. Opt for looser fits to allow air circulation around your body. Choose a small crossbody bag in a contrasting colour or coordinate with your shoes. Pay attention to your desired proportions and fit!! All of these outfits feature soft shoulder profiles, loose and squared off sleeves that hit about the elbow, and bottoms that hit about the hip and fall loose but not baggy around the legs regardless of their length.

Approach 1:

Find a shirt and shorts in the same colour family to create a monochrome set

Keeping things monochrome reads visually as a set, often without requiring things to have been made intentionally as such, and elevates the formality a bit. This outfit is just a boxy cycling button up in a very light tech weave with a pair of linen shorts. The shirt is buttoned up all the way to make it hang as smoothly and appear as crisply as possible. If I were wearing the shorts for real, I'd make sure they're pressed and I'm wearing a pair of matching white boxers underneath to camouflage the front pleats. I think the boots I have closest to your chukkas is this pair of Docs, which I paired with a yellow musette pouch. The shirt hits at about my natural hip crease to make a square silhouette rather than a longer rectangle, which I love because it's very loose and comfy around my hips. For this set, I'd leave everything untucked so you don't have to worry about anything tight around the waist or visually interrupting the flow, but that depends on the individual garments.

Approach 2:

Add a colourful, unstructured garment over the shirt and shorts

If you don't have something similar already, I would say go thrift a super fun garment to go over a basic shirt and shorts. For a summer wedding, I'd look for either a blazer that has no need for a lining and softly constructed shoulders, an oversized cardigan, or a kimono/haori jacket in a lightweight material. I put on this silk haori jacket to add colour to the original white set, or increase the formality of a white button up paired with some shorter navy wool shorts. I tucked in the white shirt since the blue shorts fall higher on my waist and they have a little decorative waistband. Since the jacket is bringing some colour to the outfit, if I were wearing the blue shorts I would pick a bag that matches them closer rather than adding another bold colour to the mix.

Other little touches to consider: I tried some lavender socks that could peek out just over top of the boots and no socks at all. I'd probably end up being boring and wearing a pair of black socks that don't peek over the boots to keep my feet protected. If you don't need to wear any socks in your boots I would say take the opportunity to be sockless!

Out of the three of these options, I'd actually wear the white shirt and shorts with the haori jacket and yellow bag to a real wedding! I think the only change I would make is to swap out the boots for a pair of loafers so I could get away with being sockless and bring some Chris Pine energy to the outfit.

Good luck in your planning!!!