I walked into school with my head held high. Scott and I walked down the school's main hallway. My eyes quickly went to Lydia, who was leaning against the lockers as Aiden did his best to impress her. Was I a little upset that the moment after Lydia's panic attack-stopping kiss was tarnished and she was already back together with Aiden? Yes, but I'll have to get over it, I guess.
After stopping by our lockers, Scott and I walked into our English class, which we had with Allison and Lydia. Ever since Scott found out how close Allison and Isaac have been getting, he's been desperate to get back together with her, even if it means sitting next to her in English class, leaving me to sit on the other side of the classroom. The bell rang and Lydia rushed in, which was weird because she was always in class before the warning bell even rang. I realized the seat next to me was the only available and let out a sigh when Lydia spotted it.
"Hey," she says, placing her purse down before sitting down.
I take a few seconds to think of a response; should I rant about how Aiden is only going to break her heart just like Jackson? Or should I just admit my true feelings? "Hi," I say back.
"I haven't heard from you in a while. How are you Stiles?" she asks me.
"Good," I lie. The truth is I haven't been sleeping for a few days. I mean, I'll go a week of sleeping, then three straight days of no sleeping. The reason? Some creepy guy in my dreams saying he was going to destroy "you all, one by one". Who was he referring to as "you all"? I don't have any idea.
"That's good," Lydia says, forcing herself to smile. We share eye contact for just about three seconds before our English substitute came running in.
"Sorry I'm late, everyone! My name is…" the substitute droned on from then on. As if the class was only seconds, the bell rang and people started getting up out of their seats.
"Stiles, are you okay?" Lydia asks me as she and I begin gathering our things.
"Yeah, why?" I stand and put the backpack on my back and start walking out of the classroom, the strawberry girl less than a step behind me.
"Because less than five minutes after class started, you began writing all over your notebook," Lydia says as we make our way towards the library doors.
"What was I writing?" I ask.
" 'One by one'," Lydia responds. "Stiles, please tell me nothing supernatural is starting again." I hesitate with my response causing Lydia to let out an annoyed and upset groan. "Stiles, what the hell does 'one by one' mean?"
"I don't have any idea. It's something I've been hearing in my dreams," I say.
"Is that why you haven't been sleeping?" she asks me.
"What are you talking about? I've been sleeping," I say as I shift my weight from foot to foot.
"That's complete bull. I've been friends with you long enough to know when you haven't been sleeping. And I'm not surprised Scott hasn't noticed anything since he's been following Allison around like a lost puppy, which I find extremely ironic because…y'know," Lydia lingers before making makeshift claws with her fangs and growls like a wolf, causing me to crack a smile.
"Alright, so I haven't been sleeping. We're high school students, Lydia, it's the norm to not sleep," I say defensively.
"Is it also normal for high school students to write 'one by one' all over their notebook and have no recollection of ever doing so? No, didn't think so," Lydia starts before taking a deep breath. "Stiles, just tell me what is going on with you. Please."
I let out a sigh after seeing the sincerity shine through her green eyes. "Alright, c'mon," I say as I hold open the door to the library. Lydia walks through the door and I follow her inside.
We sit at a table found in the back corner of the library. "So what does this 'one by one' stuff have to do with you?" Lydia asks me.
"I've been having these dreams, nightmares seem like a more accurate description, and this guy has been saying 'I will destroy you all, one by one'. That's why I go for days without sleeping," I tell her.
"Who's saying that to you?" Lydia asks me.
"I don't have any idea. Whenever he says it to me, I'm always by myself, surrounded by darkness. It's from the darkness," I respond.
"Does the guy come every night?" she asks.
I shake my head. "When I finally get to sleep after going days without it, I don't hear anything. But maybe two days later, he comes back," I explain.
"He's coming back when your guard is down," Lydia states. "When you get sleep, your fearing that he'll come back, so your guard is up. But after a few days you have this sense of security, you feel like this darkness guy won't come back, and then there he is."
"Damn, Lydia, that actually makes a lot of sense. You're really smart, you know that?" I say.
"I've heard a few times," she says with that heartmelting smile of her's. She stands. "I gotta go meet Aiden. Text me if this guy starts Freddy Krueger-ing you again, all right?"
"Yeah, sure. I will," I promise her. Lydia smiles and begins to walk away. She disappears behind a shelf when I get up from the chair and hurry after her. I manage to catch up to her before she leaves the library. "Lydia!" I say loudly.
She turns to face me. "Yeah, what?"
"Thanks for talking to me about this. It was nice to have someone to talk to," I say.