Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.-Mary Oliver
"This is so good!" Scott said, his voice muffled because of his full mouth. He wiped the crumbs around his mouth with his wrist and looked across the table to Lydia. The redhead merely shook her head, disappointment on her face.
"What?" Scott asked, taking another giant bite of his cake.
"Scott, we are not getting carrot cake for your wedding."
Scott swallowed the cake and looked down at the rest of the samples on the table.
"But Stiles and I love carrot cake."
"And you're the only two people in Beacon Hills that do."
Scott sighed and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He pushed the dish away and crossed his arms.
"Can't believe Allison let you be in charge of the cakes." he said, sullenly.
"Because she knew you'd pick as awful as a pastry with carrots in it." Lydia said, taking a bite of the chocolate cake in front of her. She chewed it slowly and her eyes lit up.
"This. This is the one you're getting."
Scott gave her a quizzical look and tried it himself. He sat back in his chair and shrugged.
"It's alright I guess."
In the midst of nodding, Lydia let out a huge yawn.
Scott tilted his head and looked at her. Lydia had to fight her smile. She didn't know if it was a werewolf thing but the head tilt reminded her of Cora.
"You okay?" Scott asked.
"I'm just tired." Lydia answered, in the middle of another yawn. "I slept late last night and woke up early this morning."
"What time did you go to sleep?"
Lydia shrugged. "Three something."
Scott shook his head. "You need to ease up with the studying."
"I wasn't studying. I-Never mind."
Scott shook his head. "No, tell me."
"It's nothing. It's stupid."
Scott shook his head, adamant. He looked at her with earnestness.
"It's not stupid."
Lydia debated lying to him but thought against it. He would know anyway.
"Cora came over and slept at my house."
Scott nodded and then his eyes grew wide. "Oh, I get it!"
His face split into a grin and Lydia shook her head.
"No, you don't."
"Oh come on, Lydia! We're both adults. We know what adults do with their significant others."
"Scott Mccall, the next time you open your mouth, it better be to eat some more cake." Lydia replied.
Allison walked in, a bag in one hand and her phone in the other. She smiled at Lydia and sat down, giving her fiancé a peck on the lips.
"So…what did you guys choose?"
Lydia pushed a plate forward and Allison tried a bit of the cake.
"This is so good!"
"Not better than the carrot cake." Scott replied, sullenly.
"What's in the bag?" Lydia asked. Allison took out the invitations. "They're being sent out this weekend."
Lydia made an excited squeal as Allison set them back into the bag.
"Honestly though, I don't see the point. Everyone's gonna be in town for the holidays anyway. I mean, Boyd just got in last night." Allison continued. She took a sip of Lydia's
coffee and a bite of the chocolate cake in front of Scott.
As Allison was eating, she leaned closer to Lydia, narrowing her eyes.
"What?" Lydia asked.
"What's up with the dark circles under your eyes?"
Lydia groaned. "Ugh. What is it with you two? It's like you have some sort of radar or something. I just didn't sleep much last night, that's all."
"Yeah, she spent the night with Cora." Scott said to her. Allison choked on her coffee but Lydia seemed unfazed. When Allison looked at her with her eyebrows raised, all she
did was shrug.
"What, is it a crime to spend the night with your girlfriend?"
Allison shook her head and finished up the rest of the cake.
For the next half hour, Scott tried to convince Allison to buy the carrot cake and Allison ignored him.
A light rain had started to fall as the three friends walked out of the bakery. Scott had the rest of the sample cakes in his hand.
"Where to now?" Lydia asked the couple, missing the secretive grin Allison shot towards Scott.
"Scott's gonna go visit his mom and then stop by and talk to Deaton."
When Lydia shot them a questioning look Scott shook his head and reassured her.
"Nothing to worry about. Liam and his pack have Beacon Hills under control." Scott told Lydia. "Still, sometimes Deaton needs help and Stiles and I drop by whenever we can."
Scott gave Allison a kiss and headed down the street to where his car was parked.
Allison and Lydia walked towards Allison's car. Lydia had settled herself but Allison hadn't begun driving.
"What?" Lydia asked as she saw Allison smirking at her.
"So, you spent the entire night with Cora?"
Lydia groaned, sinking into the car seat and listening to the sounds of the raindrops hitting the windshield.
"We had dinner with my dad."
"Yeah, Robbi told us."
"How did she know?"
"She was babysitting Kaylie and I was skyping with her. She was telling me about the time she gave this guy a tracheostomy. Not important. Anyway, Louise called her and
told her that you and Cora where there."
"Can no one in this town keep their mouths shut?"
Allison laughed. "You've been away for too long Lydia. So, how did your dad take the news?"
"You know my dad. He'll be sweet to your face but as soon as you turn your back, he'll call you the devil incarnate."
"I take it the dinner didn't go so well?"
"The dinner went great. If it hadn't been for Louise being an asshole. It was after the dinner that was the problem."
Lydia launched into the story of last night and it ended with Allison shaking her head.
"Well, it's a good thing that this whole thing is fake right? It's not like you'll have to put up with your dads comments for too long."
Allison watched Lydia closely, trying to gauge her reaction. She noticed how Lydia's smile didn't reach her eyes.
"And then what happened? She slept over?"
"We went for coffee and talked actually." Lydia told her. "It wasn't half bad. Beneath the moody exterior, Cora Hale isn't completely insufferable."
Allison nodded, starting the car. As Lydia told her best friend about the previous night's adventures, Allison watched Lydia's smile and how it grew when she talked about
Cora. Lydia didn't notice. She just kept staring at the raindrops on the window, watching them racing down.
It was only when they had arrived at Danny's house that Lydia looked up at the sprawling mansion.
"Why are we at Danny's?"
"Patrick is a fashion photographer. He wants us to hire him for the wedding and I promised Danny I'd talk to him."
"Shouldn't you be here with Scott?"
Allison shrugged and quickly walked out of the car. Lydia had no other choice but to follow her friend up the twisting brick-lined driveway to Danny's house.
Allison lagged behind as Lydia kept on walking.
"You go ahead. I need to tie my shoe. Danny said the door would be open."
Lydia sniffed. "The security here is abysmal."
Lydia walked towards the house and opened the door only to reveal darkness.
The lights turned on abruptly and screams of "Surprise!" rang throughout the room. Lydia blinked rapidly as arms started hugging her and people were screaming in her face.
"Happy birthday!" Allison said, wrapping her arms around her friend and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Lydia's mouth was open but she didn't say anything as more people came towards her. She felt Scott hugging her and lifting her in the air and it was when she had set her
down that she managed to find her tongue.
The guests were gathered around her, waiting for her to say something. Lydia cleared her throat and wiped away a tear in the corner of her eye.
"You guys do know my birthday is in August, right?"
Laughter echoed across the room. Stiles stepped forward, a glass in his hand.
"We figured since you'll be leaving after the wedding this would be our last big hurrah for Lydia Martin. To make up for the past five years."
Lydia smiled as Stiles raised his glass and led the cheer.
"To Lydia. May you always be smart. May you always be scary."
"To Lydia." The room chimed as Lydia cried. She was surrounded by her friends as the rain fell down. She was warm while it was cold outside.
"Like it?" Allison asked. Lydia responded with a tight hug.
This party was quieter than the one Lydia had been to previously. It was all people she knew and had talked to. Danny had made sure to invite people who knew about the supernatural. There was no need for secrets and hushed whispers among this group. They all had claws and had all fought demons.
Liam had come in with his new pack and his new tattoos. He seemed taller but it could've been the fact that Lydia hadn't seen him in years.
Kira had dropped by and she hadn't changed either. The two had spent most of their time reminiscing. Lydia learned that Kira had become the CEO for an up and coming
fashion website and made her promise to send Lydia free clothes. Kira was also running her own little supernatural fighting circle in Los Angeles thought it was nothing compared
to the activity in Beacon Hills.
Boyd and Erica had also shown up, hand in hand. Boyd was wearing a blue sweater vest and a pageboy hat. He looked like he owned a bookstore. It was an accurate look.
Erica had given her a gift card of $50 to Lush and winked as she sashayed away.
Lydia hadn't had a minute to herself until nearly ten o'clock when everyone was in the living room to hear Stiles's announcement.
The kitchen was quiet and Lydia took a swig of some brandy she kept in her flask.
"You sure know how to throw a party Matchstick." a quiet voice called out. Lydia turned to find Cora. Her maroon beanie was tucked into the pocket of her jeans and there
was a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She was wearing her leather jacket and when she moved, water droplets fell. Lydia noticed how Cora's undercut had grown
out.
She looked different, softer. Lydia realized it was because Cora had taken the piercings out. She no longer looked like an intimidating bartender and more like the Cora Hale she
remembered from the coffee shop.
"You came?" Lydia asked, trying not to smile. She couldn't help it and grinned as Cora took a few steps forward.
"Well, Argent invited me and I figured why not?"
"Don't you work on Saturday nights?"
Before Cora could answer, Lydia put a hand to her hip.
"You requested the day off, didn't you?"
Cora shrugged. "You know me, I'm a complete party animal."
"Emphasis on the animal." Lydia replied. Cora responded with a swift middle finger.
A rush of voices rang out from the living room and Cora turned her head.
"What's going on?" Cora asked.
"Apparently, Stiles has perfected his Shiftjuice recipe."
"How come you're here alone?" Cora asked. "Don't like the party?"
"No, no, I love the party. It was one of the few times since I came back that I felt…I don't know…safe?"
Cora tilted her head, trying to figure out what she meant but a shout from the living room distracted her.
"Let's go." Lydia said. Cora followed.
When the two arrived in the living room, it was only Allison and Erica who turned their heads. Erica waved at Lydia from Boyd's lap and Lydia smiled and waved back. They
hadn't talked much throughout the party but Boyd had bought Lydia a beautiful copy of The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.
Stiles was in the middle of the room, holding up a cylinder he had covered with a dish towel.
"Ladies and gentlemen, warriors and werewolves, demons and demi-gods alike, gather around."
"We're already gathered." Erica responded.
Stiles shook his head and shook the cylinder in front of him.
"After four solid months of working on this, it's finally ready for tonight's festivities. I present to you, Shiftjuice!"
He pulled off the towel to reveal a plastic bottle full of a clear blue liquid that looked a lot like Powerade.
"Shiftjuice?" Boyd repeated. "Is it supposed to get us drunk?"
"Keyword, supposed." Cora told him and Stiles took a step back, offended.
"It will get you drunk. My boy Scott tried it and he was positively loopy."
Scott nodded. "No worries. Deaton said it was safe. It's got the strength of really stout beer."
"And there are more bottles where that came from. No longer will our werewolf friends sit back sober while we revel in our debauchery. Cheers!"
The room cheered as Scott bought out two full crates packed with the plastic bottles.
Cora smirked as Erica downed the whole bottle in a few seconds.
"Aren't you gonna try some?" Lydia asked, turning to look at Cora.
Cora shook her head. "I'll need to get home."
Lydia sat down next to her and bought out her flask. When Cora gave her a judgmental look, she was immediately defensive.
"What? It's my party and I'll get drunk if I want to."
It was nearly midnight but the party was still going strong. Cora had never seen a pack of drunk werewolves and she realized that after tonight, she didn't want to see it again.
Erica and Boyd were upstairs and had been for the two hours. Scott's shirt was off and he was attempting to juggle. Liam was teaching one of his pack members how to hula hoop without a hula hoop. The only seemingly normal drunk was Derek, who was passed out on the floor, head resting on an Ottoman.
Lydia had finished her drink but was entirely too sober. She found Cora talking to Kira in the kitchen. Her face was screwed in pain as Lydia walked over.
"What's wrong?" Lydia asked, as Kira rubbed Cora's shoulder, trying to soothe her.
"I don't know, we were talking and all of a sudden, she complained about a headache."
"I need to get out of here." Cora said, staggering towards the door.
"Can I come with you?" Lydia asked, grabbing Cora's wrist. Cora was about to say no but she couldn't ignore Lydia's hand wrapped around her wrist. It seemed to make her whole
arm warm.
Cora nodded but she didn't look back at the revelry as continued. Lydia heard Allison call her name but she had already followed Cora out into the cool night.
The raining had stopped but the air was cold. Lydia regretted following Cora as soon as she felt the goose bumps pricking her skin.
"Are you alright?" Lydia asked, five minutes later. The streets were quiet but she could still here Cora's heavy panting. She could still see the sweat on her forehead.
Cora was silent and Lydia shrugged. "I used to get them to, you know?"
Cora shrugged.
"After Peter attacked me, I couldn't even walk towards the football field without seeing the bright lights. Without seeing him. Sometimes it got so bad, I would throw up."
Cora looked away, up at the stars.
"I'm sorry." she said so quietly that Lydia could barely hear it.
"It's not your fault." she said but Cora shook her head. Cora would never believe her.
They kept walking, the sparse streetlights illuminating the way.
"Did you still get them? Flashbacks I mean." Cora asked quietly.
Lydia shrugged. "Once in a while. Usually when I'm stressed. But it's gotten better. Allison and Scott helped out a lot, especially in the beginning."
"How often do you get them, Cora?"
Cora shook her head and closed her eyes. Lydia didn't push her into talking but finally, Cora spoke.
"You know how I said I don't sleep very well. It's because most of the time, I dream about…the fire."
Lydia let out a small "oh" but Cora kept walking.
"I'm sorry." Lydia said.
Cora tried to smile. "It's not your fault."
Lydia wrapped her arms around herself, trying to fight the cold that had become too difficult to ignore. Cora noticed and smiled.
"I thought you'd be used to the cold seeing as how your genius school is in Massachusetts."
"Geniuses usually bring coats." Lydia responded, tucking her hands into her armpits.
Without another word, Cora took off her leather jacket and draped it across Lydia shoulders.
"You're not serious, are you? All you're wearing is that stupid t-shirt!"
Cora looked down at her Cherry Bomb t-shirt and looked at Lydia.
"This is The Runaways t-shirt. And it's amazing."
"I can't wear this. You'll freeze to death."
Cora grinned. "I'm a werewolf. Our blood runs hot."
Lydia shook her head but finally wore Cora's jacket. But then Cora abruptly turned around and put her hands up.
"Stop!"
Lydia jumped. "What?"
Cora reached into the pocket of her jacket and she was so quick that Lydia didn't notice what she had grabbed.
"What's in your hand?"
Cora held up her left hand. "Nothing."
"Ha ha. What's in your right hand? The one you're holding behind your back?"
Cora sighed and held out her hand. It was a little package, gift wrapped in pink.
"You got me a present?" Lydia asked, holding the tiny box.
Cora sniffed. "Well, it's your birthday, so…"
Lydia opened the box to reveal a small necklace. The pendant at the end was a tiny silver matchstick with the tip a fiery red.
Lydia raised her eyebrow. "You got me a matchstick?"
Cora groaned. "Look I know it's stupid but it was short notice and that was the only thing that seemed fitting and I don't think-"
"I like it." Lydia responded, quietly. She ran a manicured finger over the chain as Cora stopped talking.
"You do?"
Lydia nodded and held out the chain.
"Can you?"
Cora nodded and took the chain as Lydia turned around. The redhead moved her hair to the side. Cora clasped the necklace around Lydia's neck, exhaling when the clasp
connected. Lydia felt her hot breath on the back of her neck and though she wasn't cold anymore, goose bumps prickled her skin.
"How does it look?" Lydia asked as she turned around.
"It looks great."
Lydia smiled. "You realize this is the longest we've gone without insulting each other?"
"I know." Cora replied. "I hate it."
"And I hate you." Lydia responded. They began to walk back and neither could keep the smile off their face.
The rain picked up again and Lydia groaned. It would be another ten minutes before they returned to Danny's house.
"Here." Cora said, taking out the beanie that was hanging from her back pocket. Lydia put it on. The smell of wet pavement and grass hit Cora's senses. The streets were dark
and quiet and a small wind blew her hair back.
Lydia adjusted the beanie and her gaze lingered on the stars. She hadn't really noticed them but they were bright pinpricks against the sky. When she looked at Cora, Cora
blinked as if she had just jolted awake.
"What?" Lydia asked.
"Nothing...you just look different." Cora said softly.
When they returned to Danny's house, Scott had passed out, cuddling against Liam. Allison, Kira, and Erica were in the kitchen, drinking hot cocoa. Stiles and Danny were in the living room, playing cards.
"Are you feeling better?" Kira asked Cora as the two girls entered the room. Allison's eyes immediately went to Lydia's new jacket and beanie.
"Yeah, I am." Cora said. Erica's eyes narrowed as she watched Cora shoot a look towards Lydia.
"Lydia, can I talk to you for a second?" Erica asked, rising from her seat. Cora looked at her friend, confused. Erica wasn't wearing her prank-playing grin.
Erica raised up her claw and Cora half-heartedly matched her. There would be no listening in.
Lydia nodded and they headed to a quiet hallway. Erica waited a moment before she turned towards Lydia.
"Nice jacket."
"It's not mine."
"I know. It's Cora. And I don't need to remind you that this whole thing is fake, right?"
Lydia nodded, the gears in her head turning as she tried to figure out where this conversation was heading.
"You can't hurt her." Erica said and it was the first time Lydia could remember where Erica was being serious.
"What are you talking about?"
"You can't pretend this is real."
"I'm not. She knows it's not real."
"You sure about that?" Erica asked, plucking the beanie from Lydia's head.
"Cora's been through a lot, Lydia." Erica said.
"I know that."
"Then you also know that you can't have her think it's real. Not even for a second. She gets attached easily."
"She doesn't seem like the type."
"You've known the Hales for years, don't play dumb. She's starting to fall for you."
"That's ridic-" Lydia began but Erica shook her head.
"We both know it's true. And you can't let it go on if you don't feel the same. It's not fair. To either of you. She's my pack. I don't want her to get hurt."
Erica left and Lydia stood in the hallway, not knowing what to think.
She's starting to fall for you, where the only words playing in Lydia's head.
She took a deep breath, smelling the scent of autumn that was on Cora's jacket.
Of course she didn't feel the same, Lydia thought as she walked back to the kitchen. Cora's bright eyes instantly met hers and she gave her a small smile.
The familiar feeling of being around Cora settled into Lydia's stomach.
Of course she didn't feel the same. Lydia Martin couldn't be falling in love with Cora Hale. That was impossible. Like demons and howling werewolves. Of course she didn't feel the same. Cora Hale was annoying, moody, and had no sense of humour. She would could never even imagine falling in love with her.
Of course not.