All she heard were sounds of wailing. Lydia peaked her head out of the room, loud crashing noises coming from downstairs. "What's happening?" She called, her heart in her throat. Allison appeared out of nowhere.
"Get back! Someone's trying to break in. Go. Lydia, go!" The franticness in her voice told Lydia that she was not joking around. She nodded, her heart pounding. She ran back into the room. That's when she realized Jackson was no longer there. She locked herself into the closet as she dialed 911 desperately. And then there was complete darkness.
She was shaking violently. She heard crash through the door. Allison. And another girl. She could hear them exchanging words. A loud laugh. And then a crash. Lydia held her breath, before finally opening the door. Slowly. She saw a mess of blonde hair and a body, not moving. She held in a scream as she ran past the body, taking the stairs two at a time. She stumbled out the door, where all eyes turned to her. Stiles and Allison, and surprisingly Scott were all standing together. Boyd and Derek were standing a few feet away from them. They all looked frightened, all but Derek. He looked furious.
She finally found her voice as she yelled "Can somebody please tell me what the hell is going on?"
xx
Allison guided her towards her car, Derek falling in step behind her. They helped her into the passenger seat as she the adrenaline ran through her body. She couldn't stop shaking.
"Turn the heat up" Derek demanded. Allison obliged. He kneeled down beside Lydia, exhaling loudly. "I'd give you my jacket" he said more softly, turning to Lydia "but I've seemed to misplaced it." Lydia let out a small laugh, and smiled up at him. She saw a twinkle in his eye.
"Will you get her home safe?" He said to Allison, standing up. "And try to calm her down?"
"Obviously" Allison answered, rolling her eyes. He looked at Lydia one more time, giving her a reassuring smile before turning back to Scott. Allison slid into the drivers seat and looked at Lydia.
"Ready to get home?" Concern was written all over her face. Lydia nodded vigorously. She watched as her best friend put the car in drive, and peeled out of the driveway. She glanced out the window to see Derek watching the car. She could see Scott and Stiles both turned towards him, their mouths moving. He wasn't paying them any attention. Their eyes locked, and a small blush made it's way up her neck. She could have sworn she saw him smile.
xx
It was only after Allison gave Lydia the big speech about her "grand first love and how important it is to keep what she knows to herself" and dropped her off at home (empty as usual), that she allowed herself to break down (yet again). She curled up on the sofa and held her face in her hands and cried. Out of the loop, once again. She couldn't even keep up with her friends, let alone herself. And while her best friend had found her soulmate at age seventeen, Lydia couldn't even be her true self around a guy. Her problems, some more complicated and severe than others, were mixing together and slowly tearing her apart.
"Doomed to be alone forever" she muttered to herself as her dog barked at the backdoor. Lydia stayed on the sofa for a few more moments before collecting herself and treading towards the patio door. She let her dog out and stepped out behind her.
"Hurry up!" She called to the dog before adding, "you're all but six pounds."
Seconds passed by like hours. How long does it take an animal to do it's business, Lydia thought, rolling her eyes in irritation. "Prada?" She called, walking towards the back corned of her backyard. "Prada" She called again, her voice catching. After the night's events, she was already on-guard.
But her fear subsided as a boy, an all-too-familiar boy strolled out from the open passage way carrying her puppy dog. "Lose something?" He smiled at her.
She was standing by her back door, unsure of how to feel about this boy.
"Everything okay?" He asked, breaking the silence.
She sighed, "okay meaning what?"
"Okay meaning.. are you okay?" he tried again. He stepped towards her, and she stepped back.
"Why did you do that?" He sounded hurt.
"Do what?" She narrowed her eyes.
"You stepped back."
"You stepped forward." She challenged.
"Maybe I wanted to kiss you." He smiled.
A small laugh escaped her lips. "Maybe I don't want you too."
"Does that mean maybe I could?" He sounded so hopeful. She half admired his attempts. No matter how many times he was shot down, he kept trying.
"If you want me to punch you in the throat." She smiled sweetly.
He frowned, looking around. He reached out towards her, pulling a small lavender flower off the vines on the porch.
"Could I give you a flower?" He asked. She smiled, but when she went to take it from him, he pulled back.
"Promise to keep it? If I ask you tomorrow if you have it and you say 'no', I'm going to be really hurt." He looked at her, truly looked at her. The electricity between them was intense.
"If I don't" she started, leaning towards him and plucking the flower out between his fingers, "I'll lie."
xx
School was dragging by for Lydia. She was being followed through the halls by Stiles who begged her to tell him about Jackson's real parents. She met every question to a firm 'no.' He finally got the hint and left her alone. She was unloading all her books into her locker as a familiar figure approached her.
"Busy after school?" The boy asked. She smiled as she turned to see the boy from last night. "Always" She answered.
He smirked, moving closer towards her. This time she didn't step back. "Well unbusy yourself. I want to talk to you. Actually, I want to show you something." She looked at him questionably, unsure of what his intentions were. He moved closer, his lips brushing her ear. "And bring your flower." He pulled back and smiled, before walking away, leaving a confused Lydia standing with books in her hands.
xx
Lydia couldn't believe herself as she walked towards the deserted house. Only a few minutes behind hers, just like he said. She went to knock on the front door, surrounded by large white pillars. But the door opened on its own. She hesitated before walking inside. The house was completely empty, vacant of furniture or any sign of life. Leaves cluttered the hardwood floors.
"Hello?" she called out.
"Over here". She turned to see the boy appear out of nowhere. He grinned as he stepped towards her.
"Is this your house?" she asked, confused.
"It was" he answered cryptically. "Did you bring your flower?" He asked, giving her no time to speak.
Her smile faded. "I couldn't find it" she mumbled. He reached out, sliding his hand under her chin and raising her head to meet his eyes.
"It's okay" he reassured. "But since you don't have it, I'm gonna need that kiss." He leaned towards her, his lips hovering over hers, waiting for her okay. She swallowed her nerves and closed her eyes as she felt cold lips press onto hers gently. It wasn't until she opened her eyes again that she realized how deeply in trouble she was.
Darkness surrounded her. She was no longer in the large, open house that was filled with the evening light. She was standing in a cold, dusty basement. There wasn't a boy in front of her anymore. A man who appeared to be severely burned was smiling at her. "Is something wrong?" it asked. She was stepping back, her feet tripping together to get away faster. She knew this man. Even with the burns that covered his entire face, she knew those eyes.
"Peter. Oh God. It was you. It's been you." She said all at once, before letting out a loud scream.
xx
Twenty miles away, Scott and Derek were in deep discussion. Erica was passed out in Stiles arms, healing and safe despite her appearance.
"We're going to catch him" Scott declared, "not kill him."
Derek crossed his arms, his irritation showing. "And?" He questioned. Scott went to speak but stopped, as a scream ripped through the air. It brought both boys to their knees. Fear crept up Derek's back, as a rapid heartbeat filled his ears.
Oh God, he thought, recognizing the heartbeat. Lydia.
