Chapter 1
Erica whacks her racket against the ball and watches go flying over the net. It's first class on a Wednesday, and her and Lydia are paired against Stiles and Scott for a tennis match. All of a sudden something hard hits Erica in the face and she stumbles.
"Ow!" she exclaims with a pout. She curses under her breath, but she's pretty calm actually. She takes her hand away from her face and sees blood on her hand. "Dammit."
"Oh my God, are you okay? I'm so sorry!" Scott rushes over and she smiles up at him.
"I'm fine, I'm used to it." She's totally okay with it, this is not the first time she's had a nose bleed.
"Dude, what the hell?" Stiles demands, grabbing Erica's arm. "Are you alright?"
"Yes!" Erica hisses, "I'm fine!"
Stiles is her best friend, and has been since she could talk. When they reached Kindergarten Stiles met Scott, and so Scott became her friend too. Basically, Stiles is her best friend, Stiles is Scott's best friend, Erica and Scott are Stiles's best friends, but Scott and Erica are just friends… Confusing, right?
"I said I was sorry!" Scott defends himself.
"And she said it was fine, Stiles," Lydia intervenes. "I bet I can still beat you two boys without Erica by my side." She teases and they go back to the game while Erica goes to the bathroom to clean up.
After P.E.
Erica is walking down the hall towards her locker when suddenly a person grabs her arm, "I saw what happened there, Erica." Lydia says sharply.
"What?" Erica asks, totally oblivious.
"Right, because you did not see Scott totally over-playing your little incident?" Lydia asks sarcastically.
"Wait- What?" Erica stops at her locker and leans up against it while Lydia stands in front of her, lips pursed.
"He clearly likes you, Erica."
Erica has liked Scott for a while now, but they were just friends, and she wasn't really sure what she should do. "Lydia, he does not!"
Lydia raises an eyebrow, "Oh, I'm pretty confident that he does, honey, but if you want me to, I can probably find out for sure?
Erica hesitates for a moment before quickly saying, "Fine. Do it."
The next day
Again, Erica is at her locker, throwing today's books on the floor when suddenly Stiles appears beside her. "Why didn't you tell me you liked Scott?"
Erica places a pile of books in his arms, "Hold these. Thanks." Then she turns back to face her locker so he can't see her expression change from boredom to panic.
"Hey!" Stiles demands, slamming a spare hand against the locker, "Answer my question!"
Erica sighs heavily, "He's your best friend."
"Yeah, and I'm your easiest way to get him!"
"And you wouldn't think I was just using you?" She asks.
Stiles pauses, "Fine, you win there, but-"
"Plus, I don't even know if he likes me, so it doesn't matter… yet." She takes the books out of his arms and they start to walk to their classes.
"This is not over." Stiles hisses as they part ways.
"Bye," Erica replies sweetly.
Lunch
Erica sits down at the table carefully. It's just her and Lydia, the boys haven't arrived yet, so Lydia informs her of last night's results. "He thinks you're really pretty, and funny. He would like something between you two, but only if you want it too."
But Erica doesn't want an arranged love, she wants it to be real, and she tells Lydia this.
"So kiss him." Lydia says simply.
Erica nods, "Not a bad idea, that."
Lydia flips her hair over her shoulder, "I know."
