CHAPTER 10
"What happened to you out there?" Allison asked Lily in the deserted changing room as Lily changed from Lydia's borrowed gym uniform into her own clothing, "It was as if you were a completely different person."
"I felt like it," Lily admitted, adjusting her top, "I didn't even know I could do that. It just... Happened, I guess."
"So, are you going to stay on the team?" Allison asked, "Because last week you were set on being a lone wolf, and now not only are you on a cheerleading team of all things, but you're going to Danny's party tonight."
"Maybe you were right about me socialising," Lily shrugged, taking another muscle memory pill from her bag and easily swallowing it. If one pill could make her feel so incredible, increasing her dosage should double that, right?
"I don't know if I trust that pill," Allison admitted, "It's a little sketchy, don't you think?"
"Whatever," Lily shrugged, picking up her bag and jacket, "I need to get home. See you later."
"Wait-" Allison began, but was cut off by the changing room door slamming shut.
Lily walked through the deserted corridors of Beacon Hills High confidently. Classes had ended for the day by the time cheerleader tryouts had ended. Danny had been expecting her early for his party to help her settle in, but she didn't feel so nervous anymore. She felt... Like herself.
"Lily!" Scott called as he spotted her walking towards the school entrance, rushing over to her.
"Hey," she replied simply, "I saw you at tryouts."
"You were insane," Scott complimented awkwardly, "I, uh, didn't realise you did cheerleading."
"Neither did I," Lily admitted with a smirk, "I don't know why or how, but it was as if my body knew what to do before my head did."
"That's... Kind of weird," Scott admitted, rubbing his neck awkwardly, "Uh, my mum mentioned you went on some new medication. Are you okay?"
"Honestly?" Lily scoffed, "This is the best I've felt in a long time."
"I'm glad," Scott interjected quickly, "But, uh, it's quite a drastic change, don't you think?"
Suddenly, something clicked inside Lily's head. In an instant, her smirk became a scowl, her eyes shifting into the now familiar darkness. Why didn't Scott understand she was happier and healthier with the new pill?
"It's no longer any of your business," Lily snapped, pushing past Scott aggressively as she stalked through the front door of the school.
Guess that was her ride home gone.
Lily arrived at the party with plenty of time to spare, happily helping Danny mix drinks and set out snacks. Danny seemed to be surprise at her sudden interest in cheerleading, but decided not to question it. If it made her happy, he wouldn't stop the strange interest.
Lily had rushed out of the McCall house in hopes of avoiding another encounter with Scott. She'd grabbed the first clothes she'd found from her old selection of clothing, which included a tight pair of black jeans, black heels and a silk copper cami top. She'd taken one last pill before leaving, grabbing her makeup on the way.
She spent the last twenty minutes before the party in Danny's bathroom, reapplying her red lipstick before smudging some eyeshadow and eyeliner on her eyes, topping her look off with an application of mascara. She looked and felt good, and with a confident smile to her reflection, she made her way downstairs to the party.
Danny playfully wolf whistled as he spotted Lily making her way down the stairs, "Jesus Walton, you definitely clean up nicely."
"Why thank you," she smirked, "So, who are we expecting?"
"Not too many people," Danny shrugged, busying himself with connecting his phone to a speaker, "I thought you weren't a party person?"
"I was wrong," Lily admitted, "Actually, I can't wait for tonight."
True to his word, Danny hadn't invited many people. However, that didn't stop half of the student body from appearing at his household.
The house was bustling with teenagers, music booming through the rooms as people danced and shouted. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, especially Danny, who was dragging a boy upstairs with him.
Lily had kept the conversations to a minimum, barely interacting with many people. The only people she'd really spoken to were her new squad-mates, who had excitedly welcomed her to the team.
She was thankful for the ongoing stream of alcohol provided by Danny's kitchen. Although she wasn't meant to drink on her medication, she couldn't help but try the tiniest sip of vodka, and when she didn't feel any aftereffects, she continued to drink the various cocktails.
Half an hour later, she found herself happily dancing with another girl on the cheerleading team, ignoring the feeling of being watched. She knew what everyone was looking at. He arms were on show once again, displaying the two large scars across her arm. But she ignored it, preferring to enjoy her night.
"Lily?" Lydia exclaimed in surprise as she spotted the girl, gently tapping her arm, "I didn't realise you were coming tonight."
"Danny's like, my best friend," Lily replied boredly, watching as Kira and Malia joined the conversation, "I assume the boys are here too?"
"Somewhere," Kira confirmed, looking around.
"Are you meant to be drinking that?" Malia asked harshly as she spotted the drink in Lily's hand, "Won't it make you go crazy?"
"I think I can handle a few drinks," Lily snapped back, "Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to get a refill."
She swiftly turned her back on the girls, stalking to the kitchen and leaving a confused cheerleader behind.
"Something's off," Malia stated, "She smells different too."
"Scott said they argued earlier," Kira admitted, "Maybe we should keep an eye on her."
"I don't think we should follow her. It'll make her temper worse," Lydia added, "Maybe she really is coming out of her shell?"
"Or she's possessed," Malia shrugged, earning two glares from her friends, "What?"
Meanwhile, Lily was pouring her fifth drink of the night. It was nothing too strong, but she was angry. She didn't understand why no one would let her be happy. She'd gone through hell and back, she deserved a little fun.
By the time she'd finished mixing her drink, everyone in the kitchen had dispersed, leaving her to calm down in peace. The music was quieter in the room, allowing her to relax.
She just needed to enjoy her night, and then she'd apologise for snapping at Scott in the morning. She made her way to the door, about to rejoin the party. However, before her hand could touch the doorknob, the door swung open, Stiles stepping into the room.
"Oh, hey Lily," Stiles greeted awkwardly, scratching his neck, "Enjoying the party?"
"Wonderfully so," she joked, taking a sip of her drink, cringing at the sudden sour taste, "I didn't realise you were coming."
"Oh, uh, Lydia got us all invited," Stiles admitted, closing the door behind him, "It was a total last minute thing."
"Interesting," Lily replied distractedly as she felt her head begin to spin, setting her drink down as she gripped the kitchen counter tightly.
"Hey, are you alright?" Stiles asked as she instantly noticed the change in her demeanour.
"I'm fine, probably just dehydrated or something," Lily lied lamely as she attempted to compose herself, her head spinning violently now.
"Maybe you should sit down," Stiles tried, to which Lily complied, sliding to the floor, "I didn't mean the floor but-"
Lily smoothed down her skirt in the mirror of her bedroom, re-adjusting the necklace around her neck one last time before taking the whole picture in. She looked good, she knew she did, but she just hoped Aaron thought so too.
"You have nothing to worry about, you know?" she said to herself in the mirror, "I mean, he's made it clear he likes you. You're just freaking out for nothing."
She took a deep breath, before turning around and stalking out of her room.
"Ethan come on," Lily laughed as he dragged her out of the seedy club, "Just a few more drinks, pleaseee?"
"You're absolutely wasted Lil," Ethan protested, draping her arm around his shoulders, "Come on, lets get you home."
"But-" Lily began protesting, before her body doubled over and she started violently vomiting on the concrete in front of them.
"Told you," Ethan mumbled, pulling her towards his car, "Come on Lil, time to go home."
"Is Aaron mad at me?" Lily asked as her and Ethan walked to her homeroom, biting her bottom lip, "He hasn't spoken to me since Sunday."
"I still don't get why you're dating him," Ethan admitted, "He's not especially good looking, and we both know you could do so much better than someone who takes you out to a seedy club just so he can grind on other girls."
"If you find someone better, let me know," Lily joked as the two rounded the hallway corner, causing Lily to suddenly gasp.
Directly in front of her, her boyfriend was making out with a blonde-haired girl against the lockers, the familiar ponytail telling Lily that it was, in fact, her cheerleading captain. Ethan growled lowly, causing the two humans to interrupt their make-out session as turn to them, the girl instantly jumping off of Aaron the second she spotted Lily.
"I can explain-" Aaron began, interrupted by Lily simply holding up her hand.
"Save it," she snapped, rage bubbling up inside her, "I don't want to hear whatever pathetic excuses you two have."
"Oh there's no excuse," Emily shrugged, smirking wickedly, "You wouldn't put out for your boyfriend, so I saved you the hassle and did it for you. And let me tell you; he is fantastic in bed."
"Emily-" Aaron tried, but Emily just continued.
"I mean, I'm sure you were fun too, when you were on those pills," Emily continued, Lily's eyes widening as she realised her secret had been revealed, "But some guys just need someone with a little more... Pep."
"Lily-" Ethan tried to call as Lily stepped forwards, tightly clutching the books in her hands.
"Good luck," she began simply, "Because once Aaron realises what kind of bitch you really are, he'll be straight back in that club, looking for his next distraction."
"Oh honey," Emily laughed, "I'm not you."
Lily was hyperventilating on Danny's kitchen floor, Stiles trying to sooth her panic. Why was she remembering things now?
"Are you okay?" Stiles asked lamely, "Maybe we should get Scott or Danny or-"
"No," Lily choked, her breathing returning to normal, "Everything's just... Dizzying."
"Did you remember anything?" Stiles asked, seating himself next to her.
"I remembered my boyfriend cheating on me with the cheerleading captain," Lily scoffed, "Oh, and me getting wasted at a club."
"Thats, uh... Not the best memory I guess?" Stiles replied awkwardly, watching Lily carefully, "Do you know what triggered the memory?"
"I'm not sure," Lily replied closing her eyes to stop the world from spinning, "Maybe its the alcohol in my system."
"You drunk alcohol?" Stiles asked shocked, "Isn't that like, super dangerous with medication?"
"Yup," Lily replied, rubbing her eyes, "I'm so stupid."
"Wh- Hey, no you're not," Stiles protested.
"I don't know what came over me," Lily replied honestly, weakly opening her eyes to watch Stiles, "I tried out for cheerleading Stiles. Cheerleading. Which apparently seemed to ruin my love life back in Jackson."
"Maybe it was your body's way of remembering things," Stiles tried, "Like, muscle memory I guess."
Suddenly, it clicked. Lily groaned in annoyance letting her head fall back against the kitchen drawers, "It's those stupid muscle memory pills."
"That's a thing?"
"Apparently," Lily mumbled, "They were meant to help my amnesia, but all they did was put me back into my bad habits. I was getting drunk and taking pills and snapping at Allison and Scott."
"At least you didn't snap at me," Stiles joked, a small smile crawling its way onto Lily's lips, "But seriously, how are you feeling?"
"Honestly? I feel like crap right now," Lily admitted, groaning at the pain that was slowly making its way to her head, "And I'm definitely going to feel worse tomorrow."
"Do you want a lift home?" Stiles instantly asked, "I, uh, didn't drink at all tonight, and I doubt you want to stay here much longer so-"
"I'd like that," Lily interrupted, a smile dancing onto her lips. Despite his sometimes awkward demeanour, Lily found Stiles to be, well... Nice.