20 Ice Pick

Today was the day we were rock climbing in gym class. I was standing next to Lydia and Stiles as we watched Allison and Scott climb the wall. Allison and Scott slowly make their way up the wall, clearly talking to each other. After about a minute they start racing the other up, Scott using his supernatural abilities to stay just above Allison. When Allison looks to see Scott by her side, she quickly kicks his foot away from the wall. She smiles triumphantly seeing him fall back to the ground, the safety line stopping him right before he slams into the mat.

I smirk as Coach leans down to speak to my brother, "McCall, I don't know why, but your pain gives me a special kind of joy." He straightens back out and turns around to address the class, "All right, next two. Stiliniski. Erica. Let's go."

Stiles happily steps up towards the mat, getting on his harness and safety lines without a problem.

Nervously, Erica Reyes, a skinny girl with dull blue eyes and frizzy blonde hair, steps up beside him. As soon as they are both safely attached to the harness and cables they start climbing.

Stiles has no problem quickly reaching the top and making his way back down. Erica on the other hand, has made it about a quarter of the way up and stays frozen to the spot. As we all gaze up at her coach starts speaking, "Erica? You okay? Dizzy? Vertigo?"

Next to me Lydia sighs, "Vertigo's a dysfunction of the vestibular system of the inner ear. She's just freaking out."

I lightly elbow her, I've never talked to Erica, hell I barely even know she exists since she's never been in my friend group, but I still don't want people to make fun of someone with a fear.

Once again coach calls out, "Erica!"

"I'm fine!" She shakily calls out, still frozen on the rock wall.

"Coach, maybe it's not safe. You know she's epileptic." Allison speaks up.

"She is? Why the hell doesn't anyone tell me these things? Erica, you're good. Push off. I'll ease you down." Erica is still frozen, the only thing she moves is her eyes, squeezing them shut.

"Erica just let go." Coach calls up once more. Finally Erica gently pushes off the wall. She grasps tightly to the safety line as Coach eases her from the wall. Her feet hit the mat and she shakily gets out of the harness, "That's it, Erica. Shake it off."

A few kids snicker at her as she walks to the back of the crowd. Sighing, I step up to the wall with Lydia by my side. I turn to her, smirking, "Race you to the top."

There is a mischievous glint in her eyes as she replies, "It's on."

*_*_*_*_*_*

Now in the locker room, I was changing out of my gym clothes with Allison and Lydia nearby. "You're coming with us tonight, right?"

I look over at Lydia and immediately shake my head. "What? Why?"

"Well Allison and Scott are going to be together, and even though you don't like him like that Stiles and you will be together."

Lydia pulls her lips into a pout, "That's not happening and you know it."

I roll my eyes but before I can say anything Allison speaks, "Nothing has to happen, but the point is that you two did go to the dance together and he does like you. Scarlett doesn't want to be a fifth wheel."

I nod my head, agreeing with the hunter. "You won't be the fifth wheel! Stiles would be." Lydia exclaims with a bright smile lighting up her face.

I shake my head, a laugh escaping, "I am not getting in between whatever weird relationship you and Stiles have."

Lydia dramatically sighs, "Then bring a date! There are plenty of guys on the lacrosse team that would love to go out with you!"

I scrunch my nose up at the thought, "No thanks. I'm living my life and I do not need a man in it to be happy." I pause pulling my shirt over my head, "Plus, Nate really screwed me over and no matter how much I want to move on, I know it wouldn't be fair to whoever I go out with. I'm just not ready to start dating yet."

Lydia's shoulders sagged as we made our way out of the locker room and back into the gym, "You girls have fun though." I smile, trying to cheer Lydia up.

Just as I finished speaking we looked up and saw Scott running towards the rock wall, making it just in time to catch Erica from hitting the ground.

*_*_*_*_*_*

I sat with the girls at lunch, Lydia still trying to convince me to come with them to the ice rink tonight. Before I could speak and tell her no once more the cafeteria doors burst open, our heads all swivel to look at whoever enters.

The girl has a face full of makeup, styled blonde hair, a tight black skirt showing off her long legs, a white tank top and black heels. "What. The holy hell. Is that?" Lydia asks.

Scott's eyebrows knit together, "That's Erica." He states from the table next to us.

As this exchange is happening, Erica reaches down grabbing an apple from another student's tray. She bites into it, then quickly turns on her heel and walks out the doors. Scott, Stiles and I quickly move after her.

We follow her to the front of the school where she exits, walking down the steps and into a black Camaro, Derek Hale sitting behind the wheel.

"So what? He's just turning a bunch of teenagers?" Stiles asks.

Scott gulps, "He's forming a pack."

*_*_*_*_*_*

I sit at my desk writing an essay for class. I'm so focused that I don't hear my mom walk into the room behind me. "Working on homework?"

I jump at the sound of her voice, "God, mom! Don't do that."

She chuckles gently, "Sorry."

Turning to look at my mom who sits on my bed, I answer, "Yeah, I have an essay for English due in a couple of days."

She nods, "Scott's not home?"

I shake my head, "He's with Stiles."

"You didn't want to go with them?" She asks.

"Not, today. I figured they should have some guy time"

"What about Lydia?"

"She's on a date. She tried to set me up so we could go on a double date like we used to but I said no."

"Well why not? I'm sure there are plenty of guys from school that would love to go out with you."

I sighed and stood up to sit next to my mother. I laid my head on her lap as she started playing with my hair, "Well-" I hesitate before speaking up again, "I know that what Nate did was horrible, but I can't help but still care about him."

"Oh sweetie, you loved him. He broke your heart. It's going to take some time for you to move on and that is okay. " My eyes started to get misty as I rapidly blink, refusing to cry.

"I know I just - I don't want to care about him anymore. He doesn't deserve my love."

My mother smiled sadly, "No, he doesn't. But I think it's beautiful, how deeply you care and love. That's something to cherish Scarlett." She paused for a minute, continuing to run her hand through my long locks, "It's alright to feel broken sometimes and someday you will find someone who looks at you like you put the stars in the sky. And when that day comes and all the days leading up until then, I will be by your side."

I sat up and pulled her into a tight hug, "I love you so much, mommy."

"I love you too."

*_*_*_*_*_*

At lunch the next day I sat near Allison and Lydia, like most days. "How was the date last night? I never got the chance to ask." I look at the two girls waiting for an answer.

"It was nice to be able to go on a date again." Allison smiled.

I turned to Lydia, "I surprisingly had a good time. But that may just be because I'm good at ice skating."

I smirk, "Are you sure it's not because Stiles was there?"

Lydia rolls her eyes, "Yeah, I'm sure."

"I don't know why you won't give him a chance. He practically worships the ground you walk on. He'll treat you like a queen."

"I don't like him like that. And once again, I'm going to ask. If you have such high praise for him why don't you date him?"

I shake my head, "One it would be weird considering he's practically another brother. And two I'm not ready to date again, which you already know."

Lydia gently grabs my hand, "Scar I know that you're hurt about how Nate treated you but you need to move on. He's not worth it and there are so many people at this school alone that have crushes on you."

"She is right you know." Allison pipes up.

"Not you too." I groan, looking at the hunter.

"Listen, I get it. You loved Nate and it's going to take some time to fully get over him. But as long as the guys that you go on dates with understand that you aren't ready for a real relationship, what's the harm?" Allison says.

I sigh, "I guess there is no harm to going on dates if they're aware of where I stand. I just don't want to lead someone on."

"That's why you tell them the truth from the beginning. I mean I'm pretty sure everyone in the school knows what happened between you and Nate anyway. I'm sure whoever you choose to date will understand." Allison smiles.

"Or you can have some fun." Lydia shrugs.

I raise an eyebrow, "You mean don't tell them anything and just lead them on?"

"No. I mean don't do dates but become friends with benefits with someone."

I laugh, "I'll pass, Lyds."

"It's just an option." She hums, a small smile on her face.

*_*_*_*_*_*

Just as school let out Scott and Stiles filled me in on what they knew about Derek's new pack. "So he's going after Boyd?" I question.

Scott nods, "I'm going to head to the ice rink to see if he's at work. Stiles is heading to his house."

I nod, "I would volunteer to come with one of you but I promised Lydia I would hang out today. Be careful, both of you." The two brunettes nod as we go our separate ways.

"There you are." Lydia says as I meet her by her car.

"Sorry, I was talking with Scott and Stiles."

"I'm happy you said yes to a girl's afternoon. I feel like we haven't hung out in forever. Just the two of us, I mean."

I smile, "I know. I miss our girl days."

Once we made it to her house we grabbed some snacks from the kitchen and headed up to her room. "Okay so I actually wanted to talk to you about something." Lydia says as we sit next to each other on her bed.

"If this is about trying to set me up you already know how I feel about that."

"Okay, one, I figured Allison and I convinced you to give dating a try. And two, it's not about that."

"If I do give dating a try, I want it to be with someone I choose. Not someone you set me up with. But that's beside the point, what was it that you wanted to talk about."

Lydia sighs, "I told the others not to tell you but I hate hiding things from you." She pauses as I knit my eyes together in confusion. "Something happened at the ice rink yesterday."

"What do you mean?"

"Well- It's hard to explain." Lydia bites her lips.

I reach for her hand to provide some sort of comfort, "Hey, it's alright. Take your time."

She nods, "I don't really know what happened but one minute everything was fine and the next I was on my knees looking at the ice and screaming." She gulps before she continues, "I think it might have something to do with when I went missing."

"Maybe it's your mind trying to remember what happened." I suggest.

"It could be." She replies hesitantly. "I just feel like a freak. Everyone was so worried about me and I couldn't even give them an explanation of what happened."

"Well trust me, Scott, Stiles, and Allison will not look at you like you're a freak. Plus, even if they did, they'll have to look at me like I'm a freak. 'Cause I'm never leaving your side, no matter how freaky you may become." I gently smile at my best friend.

Lydia starts smiling at my words, "I guess we'll just have to be gorgeous freaks together."

"Always." I pull her into a tight hug. We both fall onto her mattress as we laugh at the other.