Recess
"How do you always manage to do that?" Stiles asked, chucking his controller to the floor.
"What can I say, I learned from the best," Grace replied, forcing a 'cutesy' smile-shrug combo for show. "Aw, well than-"
"Um," she laughed. "Not you. No, you suck. I meant Scott. The kid has skills."
"Yeah, you have no idea." Stiles scratched his head, looking out the window. He couldn't believe they still hadn't told her. They'd been the three best friends since early middle school, when Scott and Stiles used to run around the playground pulling her pigtails. In turn, she'd usually make one of them eat dirt. Grace had always been tough. So why couldn't Scott trust that she'd be tough enough to handle this? Even his mother had gotten over it by now.
"Dude, what is with you? You've been getting this stupid space-y look on your face all the time since I moved back."
"Okay, first of all I've been making stupid faces since the dawn of time, and second... Well, a lot can change in a year."
Tough Skin
"Hello?" Stiles answered the phone warily.
"Hey, pizza later?" It was Scott.
"You know I can't say no to Cheesy Martin's extra sausage and peppers,"
"Sweet, I'll pick you up on my way back from Derek's."
"Wait, Scott? You should pick up Grace first. What better way to tell someone you're a werewolf than over delicious, greasy food," Stiles knew he was reaching out on a limb.
"Stiles,"
"I know. I know, but it's Grace. We're talking about the glue of our friendship trio starting in like the fifth grade. Now that our parents know, Allison and Lydia know... what's stopping you?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe it's the fact that 'Hey, welcome home! Oh and you can stab me for fun now because I'm a werewolf and it will heal!' isn't exactly all that normal sounding!"
Scott ended yelling.
"Well we're not normal anymore! Nobody in this freaking town is. What is hiding the werewolf thing from her protecting her from? She can handle it."
"Sometimes even the people with the toughest skin need protecting from the truth sometimes. But fine. I'll pick her up."
Awkward
"Well this is something that never used to happen between us." Grace stated, breaking through the silence as she rode in Scott's passenger's seat.
"What do you mean?" "Oh, you know. Just this whole awkward silent thing we're doing. Tell me things! What's changed?"
"Well, besides lots?" They breathed laughs out, lightening the mood a little.
"Come on," Grace was serious now. "I want to know everything. Girls? Grades? Oh, how's lacrosse going? Are you any better than you used to be?" She playfully hit his arm.
"Much better, actually. Like, Captain better."
"No freaking way. I used to score ten points on you in like thirty seconds. You're joking?"
"Yes, very funny. It's not my fault you're some kind of woman beast at any and all competitive things."
"Shut up. Anyway, more things. Go."
"Uh, grades are better this year. I finally know what it feels like to get an A. Girls...
Girl. Allison. We're not together now, but we will be soon. I hope."
"Do you love her?"
"More than anyone or anything." He confessed softly, pulling to a stop in the Stalinski driveway.
Grace checked herself out in the mirror. She wasn't trying to impress anyone, but the woman beast comment kind of hit home. She wasn't the same rough tomboy they used to know. She tucked a blonde wave behind her ear and separated a mascara clump on top of her bright green eyes.
"Who is this?" Stiles asked as he climbed in back. "You were supposed to pick up Grace, not a girl." She reached back and punched him.
"Just because I wear makeup now doesn't mean I'll hesitate to kick your ass."
"Noted," he said, grabbing his now sore thigh. "I'll stop talking."
Old Times
"It smells like being 14 in here." Grace said, taking in a lungful of Cheesy Martin's air.
"Isn't this the same booth we used to sit in?"
"Every time we came. Those were the days." Scott said with a smile. "Well, I've missed you too, Softy." They gravely waited for their pizza to arrive, checking their phones to occupy themselves.
"What a coincidence. Hey gang!"
"No. Way. Danny!" Grace jumped out her seat and into a hug with him.
"Oh my God, Gracie?! When did you get back, are you visiting?"
"It's so good to see you. I've been back for like a week or two. I'm sorry I didn't look you up, but don't worry. Hopefully I'll be around for awhile."
"You're staying? This is going to be the best summer ever! Oh, I'm being so rude. Gracie,
this is Ethan. My, um... yeah." Grace looked the handsome stranger up and down before extending her hand.
"Grace Bradley. Nice to meet you."
"You too. We should go sit down, babe."
"Okay, right. You have to get my number from one of those guys, okay?"
"Promise." She sat down, and Danny followed behind his cute, undefined friend.
"Well someone's wasting no time catching up with old friends."
"When did he come out of the closet? It's about damn time."
"Nothing was ever officially announced, but I think we've all known since that day he cried when Mrs. F wouldn't let him be a girl pony in the play." Stiles said, and the others nodded in agreement.
"Right, good old drama class. Now those were the good days. Ah, pizza! Thank you," Grace grabbed for the first slice as soon as it hit the table.
"Dude, McCall. Get off your phone. Food." She waved a hand in front of his face.
'Yeah, sorry. It's Isaac. He's just leaving Derek's. Quote, Cora makes me want to pull my own eyeballs out with my cl-ingers. Fingers. Unquote."
"What happened there? I thought there was a little, I don't know, there."
"So did I. And Isaac. Guess it didn't work out. I told him we'd save him a slice."
"Can we talk about people I know, please?"
"You might know Isaac, actually. Lahey? Shy dude, curly blonde locks? No? Okay. Anyway, Scott. That thing we talked about. That pairs nicely with pizza. Should we..?"
"Do... you want me to ask for a refill for you?" Grace asked, confused. "On a scale of one to ten, how open are you to handling serious news right now?"
"Well, as long as it's not 'Hey, the only parent you've ever known is going to jail, go live with an aunt you've never met, bye!' I should be alright. What, is one of you, like, sick or something?"
"Something like that. Actually, this usually works better when we show people. Bathroom?" Stiles suggested.
Unisex Bathrooms
Grace covered her eyes and faced a corner, just as she was instructed upon entering this strange smelling unisex bathroom.
"Can I turn around? I feel like I'm inhaling taco scented Lysol right now."
"Go ahead." Stiles said from right next to her. They say it's impossible to forget how to breathe, but Grace was proving them wrong. She had just witnessed her oldest friend turn into some kind of animal. He had glowing yellow eyes and fur coming down his face.
"Grace, you're turning red... Hey, are you okay? Breathe!" Stiles instructed, slapping her cheek. It did the trick. Air filled her lungs, and she scrambled backwards, never taking her eyes off of what used to be her friend.
"It's still me," the animal spoke, revealing giant fanged teeth. "No. No, what is this? What is-"
"Werewolf. He's a werewolf."
"What is this, Twilight? How do you feel safe right now?" Grace asked Stiles. She was as pressed up against the wall as she could be.
"He doesn't hurt people. It was tough at first, especially on Full Moons, but now he controls it. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"This isn't real. It's not. Things like this don't happen," Scott hunched himself over, pulling his now clawed hands right below his chin. He made his eyes wide and stuck out his bottom lip, inching closer and closer to his terrified friend.
"Get away from me. I mean it!" She tried not to laugh. He stopped right in front of her.
"Wove me, Gwacie. I'm a adowable!" "Yeah, far from it. You look like you eat small children for breakfast. Back up." There was a knock at the door. "Stiwles, wet Isaac in, pwease," Scott instructed, making him laugh. "Wook how cute and fuwwy I am!" Scott was directing his attention at Grace again.
"What in the-" Isaac whispered to Stiles after slipping through the door. "You know, I'm not entirely sure." Scott was now turned around, wagging his butt in Grace's direction. "I would so hit you if I wasn't afraid you'd go all animal instincts on me and rip my arm off.
Get away!" She was laughing now as she tried to push him away by his hips.
"Who is that?" Isaac asked quietly.
"Uh, that's Grace. Old friend." Stiles said, looking up at Isaac who was full blown creepy staring at their childhood friend.
"Come on, dude. What are you-"
"Is she single?"
"And not looking, as far as I know." As much as Stiles wanted to be protective of his friend, there was a look that Stiles had never seen in Isaac's eyes before. Something genuine. As many girls as Isaac had set his eye on in the past, something was different this time.
"What're you, imprinting right now? Calm down, Jacob." Stiles said, putting a hand on Isaac's stomach. Isaac laughed and looked down, slightly ashamed.
"She's beautiful."