CHAPTER FOUR:

He watched her as she worked, which didn't help her concentration but didn't completely disrupt her focus. She knew from experience that if her powers wanted her to know something, there wasn't any stopping her from seeing. As strange as it sounded, her powers were starting to feel normal to her. It used to be a foreign, detached experience that left her feeling surreal and sort of out-of-body. Now it was more seamless, a simple transition from one plane to another, at least relatively speaking.

When they first came upon the abandoned campsite, they found a green, camo tent in between two trees, a fire pit with charred wood laying haphazardly in the center and a cooler sitting next to a mossy rock. Nothing seemed out of place (apart from the police tape that encircled the campsite itself), no sign of struggle, and she kept expecting to see the campers walk through the treeline at any second. It didn't make any sense.

Lydia started inside of the tent while Stiles made a comment about checking the perimeter. She unzipped the front the tent and leaned down onto her knees, climbing inside, the feel of a soft, fleece blanket beneath her fingers. There were duffels in the far right corner, opened and showing pieces of clothing. Lydia laid on her back in the center of the tent and closed her eyes.

At first, she was focused and alert to any sudden change that might come over her, but before she knew what was happening, her breathing even out and her body relaxed little by little until she was out, not even aware that the rest of the world had drifted away.

Not really sure how much later, she was startled awake by a hand on her leg and an amused call of her name. Immediately, she scrambled to sit up, green eyes wide and alert, her hair falling out her bun. When her gaze focused on the boy in front her, taking in his smirk and twinkling, whiskey eyes, she fought a wave of embarrassment as it crept up her neck.

"Stiles! This isn't funny!"

He raised an eyebrow, that smirk not moving at all. Lydia noticed now that he was completely inside of the tent, sitting as best as he could in such a tight, cramped space. She had accommodated him by moving her legs underneath her as soon as she had jumped up, without even thinking about it. Now that Stiles was inside of the tent as well, she was aware just how small of a space it was. It just barely fit two people.

Her heart still racing from how she'd been awakened, Lydia fixed him with one of her famous glares, but it did nothing to alter his expression.

"You're very cute when you sleep, Lydia. Even with drool coming out of your mouth," he said, eyes glinting. Heat crawled up her neck and settled into her cheeks, a hand wiped across her mouth automatically.

For a moment, neither said anything but seemed to be caught with a sudden spring of awareness that formed in the tight atmosphere of the tent. She coughed, trying to ignore the tension, and moved to a crawling position. She made her way out of the tent into the fresh, cool air the woods provided. It was a pleasant sensation against her face, cooling her cheeks. When she stood, she dusted off her jeans even though there was nothing there.

She heard rustling from the tent, and without looking, knew that Stiles was coming out. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself down. There was absolutely no reason whatsoever for her to be so….so….so damn frazzled!

But when a motion in the corner of her eye caught her attention, she shifted her focus onto Stiles who was fixing his shirt, which has slid up his abdomen, revealing the flat planes of his stomach. All of a sudden her tongue felt thick in her mouth. She caught herself in time, ripping her stare from his stomach and moved it over toward the darkness of the woods before he put his shirt in place and lifted his eyes to her.

"So before you fell asleep-" She rolled her eyes. "-did you get anything?"

"No."

He was quiet. Waiting for her to say something else maybe. Well, too bad. She was on her last nerve, and it was wearing thin. Her head was beginning to pound-and if she didn't get sleep soon, she was going to make him regret ever waking her up.

A flash of light pulled her focus. Somewhere, miles and miles away, a storm was brewing. A shiver shot through her, and for a moment, she could swear she heard the rhythmic pounding of hooves and a loud song of horses whinnying.

The grip of a hand on her arm pulled her from a daze she hadn't realized she entered. Her green eyes caught by Stiles's. The concern-and more-she found there made her twitchy. She pulled away from his touch, absently sliding her hand over where his hand been. The warmth from it scalded her.

Sighing, she felt like she was going to collapse.

"Take me home, Stiles. This trip was a waste of a good night's beauty sleep."

The next day Lydia had to force herself to stay awake through her classes. More than a few times, she found herself yawning. Her feet dragged her forward through the hallway, and somehow she found the energy to greet people and provide the necessary smiles.

Stiles had met her that morning, continuing with his usual routine he'd develop since she had declared he make up for hurting her but had been uncharacteristically quiet. It didn't bother her. She could read his expressions well enough. Something told her he was working out some puzzle and would tell her when he was good and ready. Whether that puzzle was supernaturally related, however, she wasn't sure.

In the cafeteria, she found herself sandwiched between Malia and Stiles. With any other two exes, no doubt there would have been a mountain of awkwardness, especially considering Lydia being between them. Somehow none of that mattered. Malia was too... Well, Malia, Lydia thought amusedly. And Stiles... Lydia focused on him as he took a drink of his water. Well, he wasn't one to burn bridges, was he.

The Pack was in good spirits, chattering away about some group plan they have devised. She SO wasn't on board, would find a way of it, but was rethinking that plan when she noticed Stiles's smile. It was the first time that day he'd shown any sort of enthusiasm for anything.

Well, it would give me another way to boss him around. As if he knew her thoughts, he met her stare, the smile transforming into something softer. She held her breath and looked away. Not good. Oh fuck. She bid her friends a quick goodbye and tried to-calmly and inconspicuously-rush away.

A lot of good it did her. Stiles caught up to her in no time. A grimace was now etched onto her face, and she almost hated that she had anything to do with it being there. "Hey, are you okay?"

She gave him what she hoped was a normal smile without any of the panic she felt. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just realized I forget to turn in an assignment for one of my online AP classes." He just looked at her, considering her. After a moment, he nodded, seeming satisfied, offered her a smile, and said he catch up with her later. She absently watched him as he walked down the hall and then out of sight, returning back to the cafeteria.

School moved by in a blink after that. Not that she cared. Since she had all of her assignments finished, she skipped taking any books from her locker when the final bell rang and headed straight for her car.

Luckily no one stopped her.

When she was home, she made her way to her room, routinely put away her bag and her shoes, and collapsed onto her bed, lost in her thoughts. Her brain was a pool of things-to-do, supernatural worries, and unsurprisingly, Stiles was at the forefront of her mind.

As her breath evened and eyes drifted closed, she belatedly realized she had forgotten to ask Stiles if he had told Scott about what they did last night. Her last coherent thought was to text him later.

Notes:

Yeah, I know. Too long between chapters. I'm trying! This chapter was easier to write. And I think I know where the plot is headed. xD As always, feel free to comment, critique, anything. I appreciate the feedback. See you guys soon!