London Mardling has been driving for four hours now. Hoping that when she reaches Beacon Hills Isaac will be happy to see her. She hasn't seen him since they were 12, so even if she does find him she might not even recognise him. Living in Miami had its perks (such as the shopping and the parties) but she never really fit in, so now that she's 18 she has decided to leave her drugged addicted mother and psychotic step father and move back to her home town, Beacon Hills. Even just thinking about it makes her smile. Isaac was her best friend; they did everything together and were the only good thing in each other's lives. She was there with him when his mother died, and when his father abused him, and he was there for her while she dealt with a drug abusing mother who took absolutely no notice of her and spent her time getting high with a different man every night. They were each other's crutches, and when her mother made her move to Miami so she could be with her new husband, she cried for weeks.
Her small, blue and maybe a little too old car- that is currently towing a trailer full of everything London owns- passes a sign saying 'Exit- Beacon Hills- 2 miles' and her stomach flips, excited for her life back with the friend she adored. There's one thing in the back of her mind though, one thing she is dreading in a way. She has been keeping track of things in Beacon Hills and it has not been quiet since she left. Many unexplained incidents, murders and disappearances, including Isaac's father's murder. All of these things match up with what she somehow got involved with in Miami.
One night she was walking home from a party alone because her mother was too high to pick her up, when two twin boys walked out of a club she was passing. They were obviously drunk, beer bottles in hand, and one of them pointed to her while whispering something in the others ear. She tried to walk faster but they caught up and pushed her over a low, overgrown, backyard fence, scraping her legs. Then the impossible happened, they seemed to grow fangs and their eyes glowed red. She told herself she was hallucinating and tried to get up and run but as soon as she made it three steps they were at her back, pushing her and making her stumble. With unnatural speed one of them was in front of her and the other behind, their eyes still glowing bright red. After that things got blurry, but the one thing she remembered, was that they pushed her to the ground and began biting her.
The next morning, she woke up in a bush behind the obviously vacant house, with huge bite marks covering her upper body. She went home, treated and covered the bites, and searched the internet for what could have happened. The simple explanation would have been that the twins were drunk and she was hallucinating their eyes and fangs, but the bites told a different story. They were huge and deep, the pain was almost killing her. They covered her torso and her shoulders, there had to be at least 10 of them, and they were definitely not from human teeth. Finally after half an hour of research, she found a website that had pictures and descriptions of what could be the only possible explanation for the twin's faces and the bites covering her. Werewolves.
After two days of agony London had come to the conclusion that she either should have died by now, or she was one of them. She had read about the full moon affecting werewolves, and unfortunately the full moon was that night. She didn't remember much of it but she knew that she was now, definitely, a werewolf.
That was partially the reason that she was headed to Beacon Hills. It wasn't the main reason but it was like that saying, 'the straw that broke the camel's back'. Becoming a werewolf was the straw.
London arrives in Beacon Hills at 2:45pm and as soon as she pulls into the driveway of her new rental house, she dials Isaac on her mobile.
"Hello?" Isaac answers, obviously unsure of who is calling, seeing as London hasn't spoken to him in years, and managed to find his number via a lot of online research.
"Isaac? It's London! God I've missed your voice!"
"London!? How are you? Why are you calling me? Wait, how did you even get my number? God I missed you too!" Isaac says in an exited stutter.
While laughing London replies, "Wow! Slow down with the questions! For now all you need to know is that I'm back in Beacon Hills and we need to catch up! Are you busy?"
"No not at all, where are you?"
"I'm just arrived at my new rental house in town, where can I meet you?"
"Well I'm, ah, staying at Scott McCall's house at the moment and I have a lacrosse game tonight. Do you need help moving in? I could help now?" Isaac almost sounds ashamed of staying at someone's house, like he wanted to change the subject as quickly as possible, so she doesn't dwell on it.
"Yes definitely! I could use some help moving this furniture actually!"
"Okay, text me the address and I'll be there in 10!"
"See you soon then."
"Bye."
After ten minutes Isaac arrives- on foot mind you- and both of their smiles spread from ear to ear. They run to each other and hug tighter then either thought possible. It last for what feels like an eternity. And when they both pull away they say in unison 'I missed you' before laughing, and walking inside together. Isaac looks older and much, much more attractive but he's still the same old Isaac. London guesses that he is probably thinking the same about her.
After going on and on about how much they missed each other they get to work on moving London's limited array of stuff into her small, two bedroom rental. They start with her couch which is on the top of the pile and work their way down. Shifting her bed frame last and then going back for the smaller things she managed to pack into the back seat of her car. While moving the furniture they get talking about what has been happening since they last saw each other. They start with the usual chit-chat and school updates and by the time they approach the subject of the more heavy topics (mainly including the supernatural) they have finished moving furniture and London is placing her books on shelves.
"So I'm taking a wild guess here that you're somehow involved with the bizarre happenings and creatures of Beacon Hills?" London asks, trying to keep her tone casual.
"Well, you guessed right… but the question I'm dying to ask is how do you know about all this stuff? My wild guess is that maybe Miami wasn't quite as quiet and boring as you thought it would be?" Isaac replies to London, clearly intrigued by the amount of knowledge she has about the not-so-public life of those in Beacon Hills.
"You could say that..." London pauses, mentally fighting her instincts that are telling her not to get Isaac caught up in her version of the supernatural lifestyle, but after a moment she gives in and relays her story of being turned to him.
"Wow." Isaac looks shocked for a minute, his face looking concentrated like he's trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle. "So you're a werewolf too? And you know about everything that's been happening here except the alpha pack?"
"Wait, what alpha pack?"
"Well it's exactly as it sounds, a pack of alphas. I'm really not sure how that works exactly but…" Isaac passes on all his knowledge about the alpha pack and about the most recent fight, and then starts talking about London's connections to them. "Their pack must have been in Miami when you were turned because your description of the twins, who bit you, definitely fits the alpha twins."
"So they're the ones who turned me? When they were 'passing through' Miami on their way here? Wow, okay, and you're going to have to introduce me to your new band of creeps because I only know half of them from when I was twelve, and I don't think they even knew my name then!"
"Of course! Now that you're back you realise that you qualify as being in my 'band of creeps'?" Isaac laughs and the mood lightens. They talk for another hour or so while they put away the last of her possessions and when they realise that it's almost time for the lacrosse game so Isaac invites London to watch. They leave the house- London grabbing her handbag and keys from the table in the entrance hall and locking the door behind them- and drive to Scott's house so Isaac can pick up his lacrosse gear.
When they reach the McCall household Scott's motorbike is still in the driveway and the front door is unlocked so they go inside and Isaac calls out to Scott telling him he's home and he brought a friend. Scott comes bounding down the stairs in his lacrosse uniform with a grin on his face.
"A friend hey Isaac! Well this is a first!" Scott says in a friendly, yet mocking tone.
Isaac laughs and then says, "Oh, shut up Scott! This is London Mardling. She used to live here when we were about twelve. Do you two know each other?"
"No but we should!" Scott says playfully while laughing "Wait actually I think I do remember you… London, yeah that definitely rings a bell."
"Well I'll let you two catch up while I get ready for the game then!" Isaac calls, already halfway up the stairs.
"Hurry up we have to leave in ten minutes!" Scott calls after him. Then he turns his attention back to London and says "So London, I definitely remember you now, we were in the same class since kindy! Didn't you move to Miami? And now you're back, and you're the new werewolf in town."
London, clearly confused about how Scott knows what she is, says "Well yeah, Miami just wasn't cutting it in the… anything, department. Ah, how did you know that I was..."
"A werewolf? I could smell it as soon as you opened your car door. Obviously you're new to the whole wolf thing and haven't picked up on how awesome the abilities we have are." Scott says, almost sarcastically, with a smirk on his face. "Well anyway I bet you're glad to be somewhere with others like you, I'm guessing that in Miami the werewolf population wasn't exactly booming."
"Not exactly, no. And yeah, it's good to be back with old friends and will be good to have people to learn about this 'wolf thing' from. Let's just say it wasn't exactly something I planned!"
"Me either. But you get used to it. It's just one of those things that you learn to live with." After a pause Scott continues with a smile, "Okay enough with the deep and meaningful conversation! How are you, other than a little bit wolf-ish?"
"I'm good. I'll be better when I feel safer here. As much as I missed it and it still feels like home, I can't seem to shake the feeling that I'm being watched."
"Yeah you get that in a town when you know it's full of werewolves, and whatever else is lurking in the shadows. Where are you staying?"
"I'm renting a two bedroom house a few blocks closer to town, by myself. Isaac just helped me move in this afternoon."
"You're staying by yourself?"
"Well yeah that's the plan at the moment!"
"Why don't you ask Isaac to move in with you? I know you've probably just seen each other today for the first time in years but I remember how close the two of you used to be and that kind of friendship doesn't just go away." Scott leans closer to London so he doesn't have to talk as loud and says quietly to her "Just between you and me, I think he would be much happier at your house than he is here. I mean I don't mind having him here it's just that we both probably need a bit of space and, well, I just don't think he feels comfortable here okay?" Scott leans back out and London is about to reply to him when Isaac walks down the stairs, wearing his lacrosse uniform.
"You kids having fun talking about me?" He says with and almost-convincing smiling.
"Of course!" Scott replies jokingly. London can see that they are good friends but she can also see what Scott was talking about when he said that Isaac isn't completely comfortable living with him.
London offers Scott a ride to the game (which he of course doesn't refuse because riding a motorcycle while wearing, and carrying lacrosse gear? Not the best idea!), so they all pile in her tiny car and head off to the school. The drive is awkward because no one is game to start a conversation, worrying it will turn back to Scott and London's previous conversation that Isaac obviously overheard. At the school London finds a parking spot and they all walk to the field in silence, listening to the hum of conversation coming from the growing crowd in the stands. They all walk over to the stand where Lydia and Allison are sitting and Scott introduces London to them. The coach then calls over all the players and Isaac and Scott have to leave. London steps up to the row where the two girls are and sits down next to Lydia, crossing her legs.
Lydia, obviously being the popular, chatterbox type of person, starts a conversation. "So you're our new competition. God, if only I had your eyebrows. They're so perfect, aren't they Allison!"
Allison nods as if she's embarrassed by Lydia, and London who is clearly not as much of a 'people person' as Lydia is slightly uncomfortable but has become a master of faking it, so she replies "Thanks! I love your hair by the way, is it natural?"
"Of course!" Lydia replies, touching her perfect copper curls that tumble around her shoulders.
Allison, who is evidently the more sensible one of the girls laughs at Lydia and asks "So, London, did you just move here?"
"Just moved back actually. I lived here until I was twelve, then my mom and I moved to Miami."
"Oh god I didn't even recognise you, London Mardling right?" Allison says, surprised and unsure if she said the last name right.
"Yeah, that's me!" London says with a smile.
"Wow you've changed so much!" Lydia says with a frown, to that London just smiles. She knows she's changed a lot since she was twelve. She also knows the reason Lydia would be so surprised with the way she looks now. London knows she's attractive. 5 foot 9 with straight caramel coloured hair, fair skin with light freckles and a C cup bust no one as thin as her should be able to pull off. The whole werewolf thing is also giving her an edge. She's currently wearing jeans and a tight striped t-shirt under a worn looking, dark grey leather jacket. Her heeled, black, lace up boots that she had just managed to pull on before leaving the house were also making her look supermodel tall. She now realises that Lydia wasn't joking when she said 'so you're our new competition'. She was the only competition, and it was looking good for her at the moment because, Lydia was obviously happy with multiple one night stands, and Allison… well everybody knows Allison is pining for Scott whether she will admit it or not.
London looks out onto the field as the game is about to start and sees Isaac waving to her before putting on his helmet. She waves back and then begins surveying all the lacrosse players. She recognises Styles Stilinski, Scott's best friend and a few other guys from her grade but she can't seem to take her eyes off Isaac. He really has become attractive over the last six years. London decides that that would probably be a bad idea seeing as she was seriously considering asking him to move in with her, and pushes the thought to the back of her mind for the remainder of the lacrosse game.
When the game finishes and the team all gather round to hug and pat each other on the back in excitement over their newest win, London stands up and makes her way down to where Isaac is standing with Scott and Styles, vaguely aware of Lydia and Allison walking a few paces behind her. She sees something spark behind Stiles eyes that she thinks is recognition, as he notices her walking toward them, and when she comes up, hugs Isaac and says good game, Stiles says "Hey, London? Since when are you back?" and opens his arms for a hug of his own. London and Stiles had always been good friends but she had spent all of her time with Isaac so they never became really close. She hugs him anyway and says "Since this afternoon actually!" Lydia and Allison had now joined the little almost-circle and were listening in to the conversation.
"Well I'm glad you're back! It's about time we had a little normal in our 'clique'!" he says in true stiles form, laughing and adding emphasis to the word clique.
Scott laughs at that, puts his hand on Stiles' shoulder and says "Sorry to break it to you man, but she's not exactly normal."
"Wait, no. What? You can't be!" He replies, clearly shocked. London doesn't say anything; she just makes her eyes turn yellow for a moment and shrugs her shoulders. She may be new to the whole werewolf thing but she taught herself how to do that little 'party trick' as soon as she figured out what she was.
"Oh well, it's still good to have you back!" Stiles says in his happy go lucky way, unfazed by the addition of yet another werewolf to the town.
After a bit of conversation and a few laughs London grabs Isaac by the hand and pulls him away from the group.
"Hey Isaac, I have something I need to ask you."
"Okay, well shoot." With that London decides she's not going to muck around and just gets straight to the point of the conversation.
"Okay, I was just wondering if you would maybe, I don't know… want to move into my new house with me? Because it's gonna be pretty lonely by myself and you don't sound particularly happy about staying with Scott and well, yeah, I just had to offer."
"Oh wow… Well, yeah of course! If that's okay with you then, yeah I'd love to come live with you!"
Thank god is the only thing that runs through London's head in that moment. Well except for one other thing. How on earth is she going to keep their relationship just at a friend level? He is so bloody cute and her feelings for him are more prominent than she ever thought possible after only seeing him again and renewing their friendship less than 12 hours ago. Little did she know that he was also uncertain about their 'strictly friends' relationship, and was finding himself more attracted to her every minute. They were both unsure about whether it was a good idea moving in together with the unspoken feelings between them, but one thing was for sure, they were both truly happy for the first time in years and years and it was because they had been re-united. Long Lost friends with a rekindled relationship that could take them to places they had never even dreamed of.