Chapter 12

"Since when does Angelo Stiles call you?" Steve scrunched up his face, curiosity and skepticism etched in every line.

"Since never." Maya frowned, emerging from the car and closing the door behind her. She leaned against it, her gaze shifting toward the brightly lit field hidden behind the school building. The lights were still on, indicating that the guys were probably still practicing or just finishing up. Pressing her lips together, she answered, bringing the phone to her ear. "How did you get my number?"

"Magic," Angelo replied with a smirk in his voice.

Rolling her eyes, Maya heard Steve's door close and half-turned to give him a little wave. She sighed, her gaze drifting back to the bright lights backlighting the school. "So, to what dubious reason do I owe this phone call?"

"I need a ride," he said bluntly.

Her gaze scanned the parking lot, realizing belatedly that his truck wasn't around. "What happened to your truck?"

"I'll explain it later," he declared. "So, will you give me the ride or what?"

She let out a little breath. "I guess."

"Please, hold your enthusiasm in check," he snarked.

She smirked. "Don't push it, buddy."

Steve came around the side of her car. "Everything okay?"

She covered the receiver and nodded. "Yeah, don't worry." She smiled at him before blowing at a strand of hair that fell into her face. "Thanks again."

Steve shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, looking both uncomfortable and determined. "If Stiles is giving you grief, just tell him to get lost or I'll deal with him."

Her smile grew, wondering when he had started acting like an older brother to her. "I'll let him know that."

"See you later then." Steve grinned, heading toward his truck.

Maya smiled at his retreating figure, tucking a wind-blown strand of hair behind her ear as she watched him hop into his truck.

"Oh god, I'm going to puke at such a display of corniness," Angelo's voice mumbled in her ear.

Sighing, remembering she had him on the line, she turned her gaze to the school steps and saw Stiles slowly coming down toward her. Considering she'd be talking to him face-to-face, she hung up the call and waited, leaning against her car.

Angelo eyed Steve before jogging toward her, shouldering his duffel bag filled with sports equipment. "I bet you're wondering how I knew you'd be here."

"Obviously, you're in love with me, and it's turned you into a stalker," Maya sighed, as if a great burden had been placed on her shoulders.

Angelo rolled his eyes. "The correct answer was I spelled you."

"Wait, what?" Maya turned toward him, her shock palpable.

"Well, actually, I spelled your parking space," Angelo admitted, eyeing the spot where her car was parked. "Have you noticed that no one else ever parks here? It's like unofficially reserved for you or something."

"I'm here earlier than most, getting the Chronicle ready for publication," Maya responded, raising an eyebrow. "No one's usually around, so I get to pick my own space, and this one is right outside the Chronicle's windows so I can keep an eye on it while I'm there."

"Oh." He leaned against her car, hands in his jersey pockets. "So, I've decided not to go to the Brew anymore."

Her eyes widened in shock. "What? Why?"

"If I wanted to belong to something where the adult abused the teenager, I'd stay home." He sneered, shaking his golden head before his gaze slid to her. "Clarissa shouldn't have done that to you... no matter how annoying you are."

Maya leaned hard against her car, her head turned toward him, feeling a mix of humility and amusement. "Thanks."

"How's your throat?"

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the Halls candies she'd been sucking on ever since the incident, trying to soothe the burning in her throat. "I'll survive."

Angelo cleared his throat, his gaze shifting to where Steve's truck had been. "So, when's McNulty getting voted off the island?"

"Excuse me?" Maya eyed him in confusion.

"Oh, come on, don't play coy." Angelo smirked. "Everyone knows he's just replacing Dawson and Jason. Now that you've got them back, you've got no use for him."

"I don't use people," she retorted, frowning at him. "I admit I only asked Steve to help me because Dawson and Jason were no longer around, but I honestly like him, and I'm not going to just push him aside because they're back in my life."

"Whatever." He gazed away. "Found anything interesting tonight?"

"Actually, yeah." Maya motioned for him to get into her car as she slipped inside, locking her door.

Angelo slid into the passenger seat and locked his own door, throwing his duffel bag onto the back seat as he turned toward her. "What's up?"

Maya already had the camera ready, pressing play to show Angelo the video of the attack on Farmer Wilson's cattle.

Angelo leaned in closer, his face inches from the screen. "Jesus," he hissed.

"I know." Maya flinched, unable to watch without feeling a deep sympathy for the cattle. "It killed several of them but didn't feed once."

Angelo made a face. "But predators only kill to eat, right?"

"Exactly." Maya paused the video on a close-up of the creature as it turned to look toward them. "There's something off about this thing. Steve thought it was a werewolf, but the lunar cycle is completely wrong."

"What about a Skinwalker?"

"Huh?" Maya turned to face him, puzzled.

He met her gaze, his expression serious. "I've read about them in some of the green magic books Clarissa lent me. Apparently, some strong shamans could use herbs and rituals to go into a trance and shift into animals. It's rare, but it's a possibility. And considering we're in a town of witches, it's not too 'out there.'"

Maya leaned back against her seat, shutting off the camera. "A Skinwalker."

Angelo mirrored her, his eyes never leaving hers. "I could try to find more detailed info on Skinwalkers for you. I could look up the transformation ritual, the herbs needed, and see who sells those things around here. Maybe we can figure out if someone has a grudge against Farmer Wilson."

Maya stared at him in shock. "You'd do that?"

He smirked. "I'm not saying it'll be my top priority, but since I won't be going to the Brew anytime soon, I'll have some free time. Might as well use it productively."

"Thanks." She gave him the first genuine smile she'd ever given him. "That means a lot to me."

He grinned back.

"So," Maya said, putting her key in the ignition, "straight to your house, right?"

"Nope." Angelo shook his head as she began reversing out of her parking space. "We're going to yours."

"I don't remember agreeing to this." She stopped the car and turned to look at him. "Why are we going to mine?"

"Because everyone knows your father lives at the facility. If we're not going to take direction from Clarissa anymore, we need your family's book." Angelo's revelation caught her off guard. "My douchebag of a father will never tell me where his is, Dawson's mom says she's waiting until he's twenty-one to give him his, and Jason's mom probably burned hers after she became all 'holy.' So, that leaves you and Turner as the only ones with a slight chance of finding your family's books." The quarterback raised an eyebrow at her. "And I am not spending time alone with Turner. We'd end up killing each other... or ourselves."

"How long do you think we have until Clarissa realizes you bailed on her too?" Maya asked, glancing at Angelo.

"Oh, I quit outright. She knows." Angelo snorted, the sound bitter.

Maya's eyes widened in shock. "She must have been ecstatic."

"I'm not going to voluntarily be around an adult who physically bullies someone younger and with less power than them." Angelo's features were grave as his gaze slid away. "I have enough of that on the field to take it in any other part of my life."

Maya frowned slightly, having heard about Angelo's dad from Sam, but surprised to hear this news. "You're getting bullied?"

"It's not bullied." He frowned, looking around before clearing his throat. "If any hint of this gets in the Chronicle, I will burn it down. Do you get me?"

"Crystal clear." She leveled her gaze with his.

Angelo cleared his throat before leaning closer. "Coach? He's a witch too."

"Coach Cochran?" Maya's eyes widened.

"Yeah." Angelo nodded. "He has a really 'fiery' temper and uses that to keep us all in line."

"Fiery as in...?"

"Fiery." His blue eyes met her green ones.

"Oh, wow." Maya blinked, leaning harder against her seat, turned fully towards Angelo. "I can see why you wouldn't leave the team like Clarissa wanted."

"Nah, that was because I love the game." Angelo grinned at her lopsidedly. "Though, I would pay good money to see those two square off if she'd insisted I leave the team and went to the coach about it. They're both intimidating in their own way."

Maya eyed him silently, taking in the quarterback she'd never really thought about before, other than as the School Jock or Harper's Drone. She felt a little guilty for being so closed-minded against him for so long. "So, any idea where we're supposed to begin looking? Because I tried my dad's room already and that was a lost venture."

Angelo's grin brightened. "Well, I say we take your house room by room. There might be some sort of hidden door or something."

Maya let out a small laugh. "Like a treasure hunt for a spellbook. Sounds almost fun."

Angelo shrugged, his expression turning thoughtful. "We could start with the obvious places—the attic, the basement. Anywhere your dad might've thought to hide something important."

"Good idea." Maya nodded, starting the car again. "Just... try not to make too much noise. My neighbors already think I'm weird."

Angelo chuckled. "No promises, but I'll do my best."