Chapter 11

„So…it could be technically everyone?", Isaac asks me. We are sitting in Chemistry next to each other while we are actually supposed to do a project. It´s the perfect cover up because the rest of the class is busy with mixing ingredients and chatting excitingly. They don't notice us talking. And as soon as our teacher turns around to us I make sure to act totally concentrated. "Yes, it could be", I whisper back. "And for the record, Lahey, that's not really calming my nerves." He takes a look around the class room, examines every single one of our fellow pupils before he passes me a liquid that I add to our mixture. "It won´t be one of them", he states. I furrow my brows. "Why are you so sure." "Oh, we already had that. With a pupil and a teacher. Can´t happen a third time, can it?" I shake my head in disbelief. "You are so crazy over here and you don't even realize it."

I look up the next step, add something else and just hope it won´t explode in the end. Normally I really like Chemistry but I am thoroughly distracted right now by that freaky evolution dude and Isaacs perfume that I can only smell because he leans closer to me for the conversation. "You smell nervous", Isaac tells me bluntly. I feel caught but I try to stay cool. "Because I am since last weekend. Every single day", I answer gravely. I scrabble down a note about the colour of the liquid and avoid eye contact. However, I can still feel his eyes on me. "I thought you are some kind of badass witch?", he whispers. "I am. I could kick your butt easily but his? Maybe not that much." In this moment the bell rings and cuts off our little dialogue.

Isaac gets up and packs his stuff, then he gives me another one of his smiles. "You know what? Actually you look kind of cute when you are nervous. I´ll see you at the game?" I roll my eyes. "Gotta cheer for Thomas, right?" "I´ll act as if it is for me." "You are an idiot, Lahey!", I call after him half-heartedly but he already left the classroom. Well, he will have heard it nevertheless.

Lydia and Malia are already waiting for me as I arrive at the field. It´s surprisingly full and loud. So people around here actually are excited about that sport. Crazy town. Only thing that´s missing are the cheerleaders.

"He is staring at you again", Lydia tells me as soon as I sit down. I follow her eyes and discover that she means Thomas. I give him a thumbs up and he smiles in return before he puts on his helmet. "When are you gonna get this PG 16?", Lydia asks me drily which makes Malia chuckle. "When we are not threatened?" "Good luck with that. He maybe doesn't want to wait that long." "You are really cheering me up, Lydia! Can we just concentrate on the game now?" She lifts her hands defensively. "Whatever you want. I wonder how Isaac got a new jersey that fast, though." "It´s an old one. Melissa only sewed the number on it", I explain. Lydia tilts her head to the side and looks at me quizzically. "God, it must be so weird to live with those two!"

The game starts and I see a proper lacrosse match for the first time in my life. I still don't get it but I cheer them on when I feel like it´s appropriate. Scott is on fire today. He shoots three goals within the first ten minutes and the crowd is freaking. That also earns him the first foul but he gets up faster than I can get worried thanks to his supernatural healing abilities. Isaac pats him on the back and they carry on.

We are leading as the referee whistles for halftime. The boys and Kira get off the field, put their helmets off and catch their breaths while Coach constantly talks at them. I have no idea how they are able to play a second half because they all look pretty exhausted to me but they do it nevertheless. And things are heating up now. The other team gets angrier by the second as our lead grows bigger with goals from Isaac and Liam. And with angrier I mean more brutal.

One of them finally exaggerates and runs into Isaac full speed. A hush goes over the audience and I hold my breath as he goes down hard. And he doesn't get up as Scott did before but moans breathlessly as he holds his side. "Uh…looks like he broke something", Malia suspects with a frown. She is right because Isaac makes a weird movement that I can only explain with him trying to get the bone in the correct place before it grows back together. I hiss and have to look away. "That's horrible!" "Coach is taking him out", Lydia tells me because I am not looking anymore. "Isaac looks pale but he can walk." I peek through my fingers to make sure she´s telling the truth. He actually is walking and he is cursing as he sits down on the bench and grabs a water bottle so he can´t be that bad. My hand sinks back into my lap. "Seriously, Malia, how can you watch Stiles play that game? He is only human after all", I ask. Malia shrugs. "He is not good enough to earn the anger of his opponents. And I would kill everyone who hurts him like that." I am tempted to believe that she means that.

All together I am pretty relieved as the game ends. We stand up and cheer and clap. All their fouls didn't make a difference, we win anyway. The team gets together to celebrate and we watch them for a while until the crowd starts to leave and they begin to make their way to the locker room. I simply gotta ask Isaac if he is okay as he passes us. He is smirking which is already answer enough. "I have survived worse" He winks before Liam pulls him away. We are still waiting and I am thankful for the others that they do so without asking me questions. They get it. Thomas is still on the field and he comes over just now as the bleachers are nearly empty. I climb down to him.

"You kept your promise", I state with a smile. He looks kinda hot, sweaty and beaming and all. "Always do. Can we talk again after I showered?" "Yes, of course. I will drive with Stiles anyway" "Great, awesome. We´ll meet at the carpark?" I nod and that makes him beam even more. He is faster at the locker room than I thought possible after a whole lacrosse game.

"Seriously, Joe, that guy is so into you. What are you waiting for?", Lydia asks me once again as she and Malia join me. "Not sure. I am not good with these things", I mumble defensively. We are the last ones leaving the bleachers, the only thing that keeps us company are the floodlight and the night noises. I don't really think about it until Lydia suddenly stops dead.

"Lyd, what´s going on?", I ask. Then I notice the look on her face. "Oh no. Lydia?" She doesn't look at me. Actually she doesn't look at anything. "Someone is dying", she says, turns around and runs back to the bleachers. Malia and I are taken aback for a second before we hurry up to follow her. I nearly can´t see her anymore because she has reached the far end of the field where it´s almost totally dark. She stares at something lying to her feet.

It´s a body. A scream threats to escape my lips but I hold it back at the last second. I stare at the girl and I can´t believe it, I don't want to believe it. She lies there, eyes wide open and staring into nothingness. A pool of blood forms around her, caused by a bleeding wound in her stomach. The knife still sticks in it and her hands are wrapped around the handle. She must´ve done it herself. As everybody else had been busy with celebrating the victory of the game.

We are so horror-struck that we just stand there and stare at her. "Can´t you do anything?", Lydia asks me. Her eyes are full of tears. Mine are not. I feel absolutely numb. I shake my head. Slowly and regretting. "It´s too late."