Erica approached the tiny lunch table with Stiles. She stared at his friends who he introduced as Scott and Allison. She could tell they were already looking at her cautiously. Especially Allison but they smiled through it anyway.

They must really care about him.

''It's nice to meet you guys''

Allison smiled, ''It's nice to meet you too''. Though how genuine it was could be questioned.

Stiles pulled out a chair for Erica and she sat down with them.

''So Erica, what sport'd you do?'' Scott asked politely in an attempt to make conversation.

''I am a tennis player'' she answered.

There was a pause before Stiles contributed, ''How did you get into that?''

Even telling this story could be difficult at times.

''I got into it because it was a gentle sport. Something that wasn't too straining... after the surgery''.

''Surgery?!'' Stiles squeaked a little too shocked for Erica's liking.

She felt like she should have been used to this by now, the amount of times she had to tell the story. ''I wasn't allowed to do anything too straining or it could cause me to... have a seizure''.

Everyone looked at her with a look she always wanted avoid. Pity.

''I had Epilepsy but thankfully it could be solved with surgery. It was painful but to try and keep active I got into Tennis and found myself to become really passionate about it. It quickly became my favourite past time. Any spare time I had I ended up practising at the local sports club in my area. Eventually I decided to devote myself to it full-time and I've been here for almost a year now''.

Allison was relenting now. She was determined not to like the girl after seeing how miserable she had made Stiles but if he'd moved on, why couldn't she? There was something admirable about Erica. She appeared to make the best of a bad situation: something Allison knew a lot about.

''That's amazing that you've been able to do all of this''.

Erica could have found it patronising but the way Allison said it, she could tell she meant it as a compliment.

She's finally starting to like me.

''What about you Allison? What's your sport?'' She asked, feeling confident Allison would really want to talk to her

''Archery''

''How did you even get into that?''. Allison knew by now people found her sport an unusual one to get into.

''My dad bought me a little toy bow and arrow when I was a kid'' she said sadly, ''I used to play with it all the time. I'd go in the forest and pretend I was Robin Hood or something stupid like that''

''It's not stupid. I used to play pretend all of the time''

''I used to play as a dinosaur when I was younger'' Stiles interjected.

They all gave a little laugh at that and although he joined in, it made him feel a little self-conscious.

''Alright then Mr Confident'' addressing Scott, ''What did you used to pretend to be as a kid?''

Scott tilted his head to the side, looking up at the ceiling as he scanned his brain to remember.

''I used to be a wolf. Like a werewolf. I was obsessed with them at one point. I woke up the neighbours in the apartment below us because I used to howl at the moon at night'' he chuckled.

It was everyone's turn to laugh at Scott when Jackson bumped past Erica's head deliberately hard with his elbow as he went past.

She got up and shouted at him.

''Hey!''

He turned around. His friends by his side watching too.

''What'd you do that for? I don't even know you''

''From what I heard you know quite a few guys'' He scoffed, as all his 'bros' tried to high five him when she stepped closer to him.

''What is your problem with me?''

He looked at her up and down disapprovingly, ''I haven't got a problem with you. I wouldn't even waste my time on you''

''Oh really? Then why go spreading rumours about me and Coach Hale, hm?'' She challenged.

He got closer and whispered into her ear, ''You were just in the firing line sweetie. It was Derek I wanted to get''.

Impulsively, her eyes saw red so she tipped the dinner tray he was holding into his chest and the greasy food slid down his shirt.

Before she realised what she had done, everyone in the dining hall was staring at them. Erica was proud.

''Maybe in the future you shou-''

But before she could finish her damning insult, Jackson had tipped the bowl full of custard off his friend's tray straight on top of her head and she gaped at him in surprise.

''Quite the improvement'' he laughed.

Allison went over to Erica's side, ''Come on. I'll help you get it out in the bathroom'' and led her to the girls' bathroom leaving Stiles and Scott to confront Jackson.

''What the hell is your problem? What did you say to her?'' Stiles demanded with Scott stood behind him ready to join in if things got messy.

''Nothing. Bitch needs to clear her ears out''.

Just as Stiles was getting ready to take a swing, the voice of the intercom boomed: ''After dinner, every student is to go into the assembly hall for a five-minute talk. Oh and can Jackson Whittemore please report to my office on the third floor. Thank you''

Stiles enjoyed the panicked look on Jackson's face.

''You are what we call 'officially screwed' my friend'' Stiles jived at him.

Jackson didn't say a word but glared at Stiles as he pushed past him and left. His friends still staring until Scott told them: ''Show's over so you can fuck off now''

And they did. They weren't anything special without Jackson there.

Stiles felt his body relax and Scott whooped in his ear. ''Dude! Do you have any idea how cool we looked?!''

He took in the small victory until he realised he would have to see Jackson later on that night. For now he was happy.

''Here let me try''.

They had clogged the sink to keep the warm water still.

They dunked the tissues Allison had in her bag in to dab the custard off her head.

''Is it working?'' Erica asked.

''Kinda'' Allison lied. Some of it was coming out but most of it had gotten deep into her scalp.

''I feel horrible and sticky''.

''Do you have time to go in the shower?''

''I don't. Class starts in about ten minutes and my hair takes forever to dry''

''What class?''

''My running lessons... with Derek and the other running group...'' she said in harsh realisation, ''Great... could my day get any worse?!''

Erica tried to fight the tears that were coming but she didn't even care any more. She felt at the lowest she'd felt in months.

Allison pulled Erica close to her and let the girl cry on her shoulder. Even if the smell of custard directly underneath her nose reminded her that she had left her dinner and was still hungry.

''At least you smell tasty'' She offered comfortingly.

Erica gave a little smile at that and tried to wipe away her tears and stop new ones from forming. She stood up and looked in the mirror.

''I look like shit''

''You didn't before?'' Allison wasn't sure how well Erica would take it but Erica lovingly called her ''Bitch''.

Can someone lovingly call you bitch? Allison wondered.

''Thanks Allison. I know you probably thought I was this mega bitch for not meeting Stiles''

''I just didn't want him to get hurt''

Erica scoffed, ''I was focused on if I'd get hurt, I hadn't really thought about him''.

Allison put rubbed her hand on Erica's shoulder.

''I'm sure he's forgiven you now. Besides, the way we just stuck up for you: You're one of us now''.

And she really felt like she was.

Feeling embarrassed by the affection she told her to shut up. But Allison still sensed the gratitude she was trying to mask.