Never Again

Scott flicked through the channels. There was nothing on TV. His mother entered the room and sighed. She picked up the dirty dishes and pop cans around the living room. Scott paid no attention to her and continued flicking through the channels halfheartedly. His mother sighed once more. "Scott, if you are going to sit here like a lazy bump on a log, the least you can do is clean up after yourself." Scott shrugged and picked up his half empty soda can. "Sorry." Was all he said.

After she put the dirty dishes in the sink she went back into the living room and cut off the TV. Scott looked up at her with hard, cold eyes that only showed signs of depression. She sat beside him on the couch and blew a piece of hair out of her face that had fallen out of her messy pony tail. She grabbed his face a turned towards her.

He sighed but kept his eye contact on the couch cushions below them. "Scott, look at me." After a minute he looked up and met her gaze. "Did this girl hurt you that bad?" Her voice was soft and comforting. "I loved her." He whispered but she caught it anyway. "Hey, remember what I told you, you fall in love more than once, you need to move on." Her voice was firm but not cold. "I-I can't." Scott shoved her hand that was still on his chin, forcing him to look at her. "What did I tell you about using excuses in this house? Huh?"

Scott gripped his knees and rolled his eyes. "Excuses are just like buts, we all have them and they all stink." Scott recited what his mother had told him while he was growing up. "That's right, when was the last time you showered, oh here's a better question, when was the last time you've been out this house, or how about when was the last time you saw Stiles?" Scott lowered his head in shame but didn't speak. "Mhhm that's what I thought." Without another word she stood up from the couch. "Get up, take a shower, were going to go visit Stiles." She was half way up the stairs when she realized Scott was still sitting there. "Scott either you get up, or so god help me I will take that motor bike right back to the shop!" And with that Scott was rushing up the stairs in seconds. When she heard the bathroom door slam she smirked to herself. "Still got it."

Scott was dressed in all black. His black t-shirt, his black jeans, and his black gym shoes. Over a month of summer vacation he had dyed his hair black. Mellisa at first didn't approve of it and made him wash it out but over time she got over it. It was raining out side, just how Scott felt.

He didn't want his best friend to see him like this, it was already torture enough that his mother had to witness it. They stopped in front of the house. Scott shoved his head phones in his ears and threw his hood over his head. He turned up the music as loud as it could go. He looked at his mother who frowned at him and sighed.

He took one ear bud out and his mother smiled. She grabbed an umbrella from the back seat. She didn't ask him was he ready like he expected. She just stepped out of the car. He followed her up the pathway and stood there silent as she knocked on the door. He shoved his hands in his pockets and waited uncomfortably. John opened the door.

He almost gasped at the sight before him. "Scott? Mellisa? C'mon on in it's been a while." He opened the door and they stepped in out the rain. "Here let me get your coats." John offered. Scott took off his coat and stood there awkwardly. "So Scott how have you been?" John tried to small talk. Scott nodded. "Good." Sweet, short, and simple. John nodded. "Ya' know Stiles is up in his room." Scott nodded, seeing that as his cue to leave. While he

headed up the stairs he looked around. The house seemed so un-familiar. He stopped by Stiles' door at the sound of giggling. Did Stiles have company? And was it a girl? Scott wondered. He knocked on the door and heard foot steps.

"Scott?" He looked at his best friend. He looked different but still the same. His hair was still long but instead of it's usual up-do it was sticking to his forehead. He had a slight bit of peach fuzz on his chin. He pulled Scott into a tight embrace. Scott only put his arms around him slightly. He wasn't much of a hugger any more, but Stiles didn't seem to mind.

After they released Stiles had the biggest smile on his face. "Man come in." He opened the door wider. Scott saw two beautiful girls on Stiles' bed. One he recognized as Lydia but the other was new. "Scott you remember Lydia, and this is Allison, she just moved here this summer."

Now it made since to Scott. And for the first time in weeks upon weeks Scott gave a small smile. Allison was different though, she was showing all of her teeth in an award winning smile and her beautiful deep dimples. "Hi." Was all he said. "Scott you look different, did you do some thing with you hair?" Lydia asked.

Scott stood beside Stiles and had his hands behind his back and stared at the floor. "Yeah, I dyed it black." Stiles snorted. "How did you ever pull that by Mellisa." Stiles said, more of a statement than a question.

"Well I think it looks really good." Allison interjected. Scott could feel a blush creeping up his neck and hid his face under his palms. "Wow, do I see a blush?" Stiles teased.

Scott punched him in his shoulder and laughed for the first time in weeks. 'Just like old times, but not for long' Scott thought. His face went back into the serious face like usual. He had never met a girl that could make him blush in the first five minutes he met them. Maybe his mother was right. Maybe he did need to move on. Or maybe he was just feeling like this in the heat of the moment.