CATCHLIGHT
- The reflection of a light in the subject's eyes in a portrait.
Dead eyes stared out at me. I tried to turn my head to see more but something was preventing me from moving. A heavy pressure pushed into my back as my hands reached forward clawing the earth beneath me in a pitiful attempt get away. I tried so hard to move away from the shadow that loomed above me but nothing seemed to work. I could feel its glowing red eyes drill into me. Then it started. The pressure multiplied and soon a searing pain blazed through my back. Sweat rolled down my forehead as I shot up in my bed. A light grimace crossed my face as I stumbled out of bed. The soft light of the sunrise filled my room. Pulling one of Matt's abandoned hoodies on I decided to get some fresh air. Ignoring the chill on my bare legs I perched on the porch steps my body still recovering from the nightmare. "Crap," My head snapped toward the sound of someone staggering through the thin row of rose bushes that lined the drive, "this isn't my house."
"Stiles," My gaze feel of the heap on the floor that had just appeared.
"That's me," piped the possibly drunk teen. He fumbled to his feet and frowned in confused. Moving toward him with a sigh I scooped his arm up and held him upright. Oh yeah he was definitely drunk, I could sell the whiskey on this breath as he slurred out, "Why are you up? Did you have a nightmare?" I stopped moving not sure how this intoxicated idiot knew about the nightmares. Surprisingly, Stiles seemed to have his wits about him even though he couldn't stand up straight. "You scream sometimes," he mumbled, "windows open," When he realised I was leading him toward his house he let out a whine, "Oh my God, Dad's gonna kill me."
With anther sigh I turned us toward my house practically dragging the uncoordinated boy along with me, "Come on, he's not going to know." It took twice as long to get back up to my room as Stiles took his time inspecting the endless number of family pictures that hung proudly up the stairs. I pushed Stiles onto the bed carelessly before turning to leave and grab the boy a glass of water, maybe a bucket to. Light snores filled the room by the time I returned and I couldn't help but laugh inwardly at Stiles. He hadn't moved an inch since I had pushed him on to the bed. His legs hung off the bed awkwardly as his arms twisted around his head protectively. Pulling a blanket from the edge of the bed I curled up in the pillows on the window ledge. I stole one last glance at the sleeping figure on my bed as the sun finally making its appearance over the horizon. Smiling at his muffled mumbles I began to thumb the warn pages of my Lycanthropy book.
I had left for school before Stiles had even begun to stir, opting to spend sometime in the school's newsroom before the majority of the students arrived. Having left the soon to be hung over boy under a blanket I almost wished I could have stayed just to see his reaction of the note I had written for him. My messy scrawl simply reading 'last night was fun'. My smile only grew when Stiles refused to make eye contact with me as I entered the classroom. Most of the class had already taken their seats as Mr Harris paused, "Miss King how nice of you to join us." He continued lecturing the class as I sunk into a seat by the door. "25% of your grade can be earned right now simply by writing your name on the cover of the blue book. However, as happens every year, one of you will inexplicably fail to put your name on the cover, and I'll be left yet again questioning my decision to ever become a teacher. So let's get the disappointment over with. Begin."
I glanced around the classroom as the majority of teens began to circle, scribble and tap tables impatiently. Everyone looked so focused, I barely manged to answer a few of the easier questions before I started to lose interest. My pen went from circling the correct letters to doodling tiny full moons and crudely draw wolfs. "Mr. McCall?" I peered up from my poor attempt of art to see the back of Scott's head as he darted out of the room. If I was a gambling girl I would have put bets of who would chase after the moon fuelled teen. "Mr. Stilinski!" I would have won that bet to! As I watched Stiles leave the room after his friend I couldn't help but notice Alison trying to catch my eye. Why she seemed to think I would know what the pair were up to was beyond me. I palmed her off with a half-hearted shrug before continuing my masterpiece.
The 45 minute test had dragged on forever and I couldn't help but cheer inwardly as we were released from the classroom. I made a beeline for lunch hall, collecting an annoyed looking Matt along the way. He was still annoyed that I wouldn't tell him about the late night adventures we, my new BFFs as he called them, had had in the school. He groaned again as he began to shovel his food down. "Matt for the last time I didn't see anything! I got my tin back and changed our scores that is it. I didn't even see Sco…" I paused. He wasn't groaning at me it seemed. Instead of talking he pointed his fork toward a table behind me.
I turned my body round the chair to see what him so worked up. Ah, well his sour expression made much more sense now. Only a few tables away sat Allison and an extremely smug looking Jackson. His hand had curled around her chin as he wiped a crumb from her glossed lips. "Great, Scott I could deal with," I snorted he couldn't deal with Scott. He had been insanely jealous of the boy right up until the point the pair had broken up, "but Jackson! He's the team captain I haven't got a chance." I couldn't help but frown as I watched the pair talk. Sure I had noticed Jackson's attention to Allison during our time locked in the classroom but I had but that down to the situation. However here he was openly seeking her out and acting so cosy with the brunette. I couldn't help but hope Lydia wasn't close by, "ready for a cat fight?" Matt's comment confused me until I saw the one person I didn't want to standing by the canteen doors. Her face paler then normal and a light frown pulling her eyebrows together. I stood, "where are you going? You haven't touched your food."
"Not hungry," I lied as I started towards the door. Why I felt the need to move her I'm not sure but it seems her little attempt to buy my friendship had worked. As I reached her I curled and arm around her tiny shoulders and twisted her to face the hallway. We both marched out of the canteen in silence. "You can take that stupid expression of your face now."
She turned to look up at me tutting lightly, "at least I don't look like a panda." I wasn't sure whether she was referring to the heavy bags under my eyes from being unable to sleep after my nightmare or the thick charcoal lines I caked on to try to hide them. Pulling my hand away from her as I leant back against the lockers we had stopped by letting her finish talking in her own time. I knew how hard it was to get words out sometimes particularly for someone like Lydia who wore her battle mask so well. Her glossed lips pressed against each other in a small pout as she let out a soft, "thank you."
"Not sure way you're thank me I just fancied a walk and you were there," I shrugged nonchalantly.
Lydia's lips quirked up at the reply thankful that I had not mentioned Jackson. "You do realise if we are going to be friends I'm going to have to sort your clothes out," she replied smoothly as her eyes rolled over my outfit. I couldn't help but look down at my chunky black boots and fishnet covered legs. I tucked my thumb into the plaid shirt I had tied crookedly around my waist over a baggy jersey dress as I cocked my head to the sign defiantly. At least I wasn't wearing Leopard print.
"I like my clothes," I countered. Sure I had started wearing short dresses and fishnets as a way to annoy my conservative father but I liked them. I liked my clothes almost as much as I liked my unruly dark hair which from the Lydia's face was another thing she thought could use some improvement. Her eyes drifted from my curls to her bag as her phone began to beep.
"That's unfortunate," was her only reply as she pulled her phone from her bag, her fingers almost dancing across the buttons she typed out her messages. "Oh," she paused as she focused on something on the screen. "You can actually use that camera," I raised an eyebrow at her idiotic statement. As if I would just carry a camera round for the sake of it. Lydia rolled her eyes at me before showing me the image on her screen that had made her pause. I realised then that what she meant to say was 'oh, you actually take decent pictures'. She showed me a shot I had taken at the last Lacrosse game, Audrey and I had posted it this morning on the school website with Matt's short article about the game.
"So?" Lydia didn't hear my question, or just decided to outright ignore me, as she continued to study the image. It was a shot of the team in their final play, Jackson stood front and centre of the image glaring down the opposing team's goal keeper. The cheering home crowd standing proudly in the background. Personally I was proud of the picture. Peering over the top of her phone I chuckled, I had thought she was starting at Jackson but instead she had zoomed into the crowd to find herself beaming out at the camera. "I have a better one of you," I told her as she fussed with the photo trying to crop it so that it was just her. Her eyes lit up eagerly. I pulled my camera out of it case and began to search through the thousands of images that filled the tiny screen. Smiling I beckon her closer as the picture appeared on the monitor. "Here, It was from practise the over day," I felt slightly nervous showing it to Lydia, aside for the ones Audrey liked and posted I rarely shared my work. However, from her growing smile I assumed she liked it and I don't think she minded that I had taken it without her permission.
"Hey Lydia, can we talk for a second?" we both looked up from the camera to find Scott standing in front of Lydia, clearly not at all interesting in me.
"Of course," she pressed her lips together in thought before plastering on her usual ditzy smile. She started to lead Scott away, "Send me it," was the only form of goodbye I got as the pair waltzed into an unused office.
Shaking my head at the pair I headed out toward the Lacrosse field. It didn't take me long to fall into step beside my favourite neighbour, "so how's your head feeling?" He jumped away from me comically dropping his stick in the process. Scooping the item up, I passed it back to him.
"Do you realise how much trouble you got me in!" He hissed back as he snatched the stick from me, "Dad flipped out this morning."
"Didn't you just climb across to your bedroom?" I replied easily. I had honestly thought he would have realised that both windows were open and he could get home without waking the sheriff. Maybe he wasn't as skilled at sneaking out as I had thought. He stopped walking for a moment as if it was the first time he had thought about it.
Throwing his hands in the air he groaned loudly, "the window! Why didn't you write that down instead of your stupid suggestive message?" I shrugged carelessly as we approached the field smiling lightly at the way he spat out the word 'suggestive'.
"Sucks to be you, why was Scott so keen to talk to Lydia earlier?" I asked casually as I settled down on the bench next to Matt, who looked annoyed by my choice of company. I couldn't help but smile weakly back at him as Stiles wedge himself into a spot beside me with a large beaming grin. His mood improving dramatically at the mention of Lydia's name.
"Today is a good day," Stiles muttered happily to himself. Before I could pry anymore the werewolf in question strolled confidently past us. Stiles flapped happily as he buzzed eagerly around his friend, "what happened?"
Scott seemed different. "What?" he didn't even look up as he answered. Scott perched on the end of the bench not once looking up from his gloves as he tighten them. Not even to apologise as we shuffled into each other to make more room. Matt grumbled something about him being an entitled prick now he was co-captain. However, I couldn't help but wonder if his change in attitude was due to more than a new title.
"What do you mean, what? Did you ask her? Did she say anything? Did she say she liked me? Did she imply she liked me?" Stiles questioned hastily clearly not bothered by the fact Matt and I could hear every word of his conversation. Scott still hadn't looked up from his gloves as his friend rambled on at him.
Eventfully He replied, "Yeah. Yeah, she likes you. In fact, she's totally into you." Though his words held very little sincerity in them as he finally lifted his head to stare out across the field at the other plays with hooded eyes. Stiles nudged me happily checking I had heard the words to before cheering wordlessly to himself. The words might have averted his friend attention but Matt and I continued to watch the newly appointed Co-captain as he left.
"Did he have lip gloss on?" Matt asked quietly as Stiles scurried off after his friends is search for more details. I turned to Matt and nodded thankful the keen eyed boy had spotted the tell-tale sheen on Scott's bottom lip to. My eyes stayed focused on Scott for the remainder of the practise. Scott's temper flared and poor Danny seemed to take the worst of it as he was sent flying backwards, blood gushing from his nose as he crumbled to the floor. A chorus of shouts and yelled filled the pitch. I joined the back of the group settling into a spot behind a worried looking Jackson. I placed a hand on his shoulder to pull him back out of the way as the school's medic rushed in to help. Once he realised my hand was still there, why I felt the need to comfort the idiot I'm not sure, he shrugged me off with ease.
"Is he okay?" Lydia's questioned as she joined us.
Jackson began replying before he had turned to face the girl, who had positioned herself between us, "It looks like he just has a bloody nose…" His words trailed off and I turned to see what had made him stop. His brows furrowed as his eyes where focused in on Lydia's lips, "your lipstick."
Lydia's usual confidents seemed to drop as her eyes widened fractionally. "Oh," She reached into her bag for her compact and proceeded to wipe away the smudged gloss. "Oh, wonder how that happened." I think I knew and I'm pretty sure Jackson knew to. I'm not sure why but I couldn't help but turn my eyes to a heartbroken Stiles. My chest constricted as he stared between his best friend and the girl he was obviously mad about. He seemed to have figured it out to.
Matt didn't seem to find the revelation as scandalous as I had. He had actively steered the conversation back to Allison and Scott's break up. I had almost refused to give him a lift home when he once again started pestering for more information on the night we spent at school. By the time I had arrived home the street lamps eliminated the drive with the street an eerie stillness. As I pulled up onto the drive I couldn't help but stare at the Stilinski house hold. The faint rattling of chains drifted from the open garage along with Stiles annoyed mutters. Instead of heading inside I cut through the gap Stiles had created in the rose bushed last night and peered into around the tatty old jeep. "Didn't think you'd be into that kind of stuff," I commented honestly. The sound of metal tumbling to the ground and a sharp intake of breath almost drowned out my chuckles.
"Oh My God, seriously would you stop," In his shock the boy had jumped backwards tangling his feet and wrapping himself in the thick metal chains. I watched in amusement as he struggled to untangle himself almost falling twice before he groaned, "you could at least offer to help."
I picked up one of the ends surprised at just how heavy the length of chain was. Pulling the end quickly I whipped the metal out from under him sending the unbalanced boy to the ground. With the chains now free I proceeded to loop them around my arm neatly, "better?" Stiles glared up at me and if I'm not mistake I'm pretty sure he was swearing at me under his breath. "This for Scott?" for a moment he looked surprised as if he had forgotten I knew about his friend's furry little problem.
Nodding his head Stiles answered, "the full moon is doing something to him, he" the boy paused as if searching for the right words, "he isn't himself." I think he was trying to convince himself more than me. Without another word I turned placing the chains into the open duffle bag in his boot and moved to the front of the jeep. "What are you doing?" he questioned as he watched my open the door and slide myself into the passenger seat. "You're joining? Of course you're joining why wouldn't you join. Chaining a possibly murderous werewolf up on a full moon so he doesn't kill anyone, is something everyone wants to do," I just stare back at him in amusement as he grumbled to himself.
We didn't talk on the drive to Scott's house. Instead I left Stiles along with his thoughts. However, as we approached Scott's porch I couldn't help but make a comment when Stiles pulled a key from his pocket to unlock the door, "A Key? Cute, you have set of pyjamas here to?"
"You know what," He turned to look at me from the corner of his eye, "I liked it better when we didn't talk," he pushed the door open and strolled inside as if it were his own home.
A female voice called out from a different room, "Scott?" A nurse stepped out into the hall to greet us. I quickly made the assumption that this dark haired woman was Scott's mother.
Her dark eyes slide from Stiles to me before returning back to Stile's hand as he waved, "Stiles."
"Emma," I greeted politely though she was far more interested in the object in Stile's hands than our words.
"Key!" The corner of my lips quirked at her surprised tone.
The boy replied simply, "Yeah. I had one made," I doubt it even registered to him that most people would see that as a breach of privacy. Particularly as she hadn't know he had one made!
Nodding her head calmly the older woman, who Stiles would later inform me was called Melissa, replied "That doesn't surprise me. It scares me, but it doesn't surprise me." Clearly things like this were common practise with Stiles. I watched as her eyes slid to the large duffle bag I'd tossed over my shoulder, much to Stiles protest.
"We're going a school project together," the lie rolled off my tongue with practised ease.
I could feel Melissa thinking the words over in her head clearly she put more thought into how her son spent his time and who he spent it with than my own mother. "Okay," she finally replied slowly. Passing us and heading for the door, "be careful tonight."
Stiles had started up the stairs as he called out a merry, "You, too." I started following upwards.
"Full moon," Mellissa's words cut through the air a knife forcing both of us to stop and face her, mouths open ready to protest. She saw our shocked faces and mistook them for confusion. She began to explain her comment, "There's a full moon tonight. You should see how the E.R. Gets brings out all the nut jobs."
"Oh right," was all Stiles could return as we watched her as she scooped up her bag and open the front door.
I doubt she realised how heavily her parting words hung over us as she closed the door behind her, "You know, it's, um, actually where they came up with the word lunatic." Stiles and I shared an uneasy look as we listened to her heels click down the drive way toward her car. With a nod Stiles turned as if remembering he had a job to do.
"Oh, my God! Dude." Stiles' yell pulled me forward as I rushed toward him only stopping when I could see what had giving him such a shock. As I peered into the room the duffle bag slid from my shoulder and cluttered to the floor. There in the corner of the room was Scott. His face shadowed as he stared downwards away from the dull flicker of his bedroom light. An intimidating aurar radiating from him as his fingers clawed the arms of the chair. "You scared the hell out of me. Your mom said you weren't home yet."
"I came in through the window," his eyes remained low and his voice came out as soft growl. Not enough to sound animalistic but just enough to send chills down my shine.
"Okay," Stiles seemed to sense the edge in his voice to as he edged forward picking the bag up and bringing it closer to his friend. "Uh, well, let's get this set up. I want you to see what I bought," he crouched in front of the bag and began to rummage around inside it.
"I'm fine. I'm just gonna lock the door and go to bed early tonight," was Scott's soft reply.
I couldn't help but scoff loudly from my place at the door at his words, "wow, yeah you seem fine." Scott's eyes shifted to look up at me and every nerve in my body screamed at me to run. He cocked his head slightly as if only just realising I was there.
I was happy when Stiles' snarky comment pulled his predatory look away from me, " 'Cause you've got this kind of serial killer look going on in your eyes, and I'm hoping it's the full moon taking effect, 'cause it's really starting to freak me out." I nodded along with him letting him know he wasn't the only one creeped out by the young wolf.
"I'm fine. You should go now," Scott stated slowly. Each word that left his mouth made me more and more uncomfortable.
Stiles and I shared a look before Stiles turned back to his friend, "All right, we'll leave." He held up the side of the bag up to show Scott the inside, "Well, look, would you just at least look in the bag and see what I bought? You know, maybe you use it, maybe you don't. Sound good?"
"You think I'm gonna let you put these on and chain me up like a dog?" Scott's voice had changed from a soft grumble to a threatening growl as he lent forward.
"Actually, no," quicker than I'd ever seen him move, Stile grabbed Scott's wrist and slammed a pair of metal cuff onto him before curling them round the side of the radiator.
Scott's eyes glowed in anger as he snapped and snarled in protest to the action, "What the hell are you doing?" Even though I know he was tied down I couldn't stop my heart racing in fear as he writhed around angrily.
"Protecting you from yourself," Stiles turned and began to head for the door. It was hard to pull my eyes away from Scott, no hard wasn't the right word. It was impossible to pull my eyes away from him, "and giving you some payback - For making out with Lydia." Stiles left the room and I soon became very aware that I was alone with a werewolf being influenced by the full moon. I wondered momentarily if Scott could smell my fear.
Even If he couldn't smell my fear my face must have given my feeling away. Scott finally stopped struggling against his restraint to stare at me. His eyes narrowing dangerously as he questioned me, "Why are you here? Nowhere better to be?" I couldn't reply. My voice catching in my voice at his tone. He smirked and if he hadn't been tied up I was positive he would have started to circle me like a predator ready for the kill. "Prey," not the insult I had expected but as his eyes roamed across the collar of my top before settle on my scars that were visible I realised what he meant. "You'll always be prey to us," the way he said 'us' scared me and from the growing smirk he must have heard my heart pounding against my ribs. "Those scars prove that. Those scars. You don't know anything about them do you? I do. Let me out and I'll tell you everything"
I'm not proud about it but I took a step toward Scott. My shaking hands reach forward but before I could get any closer Stiles gripped my shoulder tightly, "Emma?" Snapping me out of my thoughts I turned ignoring Scott's growl. I couldn't be in the same room as him as much as I hated to admit it I just wasn't brave enough. "I brought you some water," I turned to see what Stiles had brought back with him. My eyes widened slightly as he placed a dog bowl of all things on the ground.
"I'm gonna kill you!" Scott wasn't amused. He snarled and kicked the bowl across the room.
"You kissed her, Scott, okay? You kissed Lydia. That's, like, the one girl that I," I hadn't realised Stiles felt that strongly about Lydia, I'm not sure why but I didn't sit well with me. "and, you know, the past three hours, I've been thinking, it's probably just the full moon, you know, he doesn't even know what he's doing, and tomorrow, he'll be totally back to normal. He probably won't even remember what a complete dumbass he's been. A son of a bitch, a freaking unbelievable piece of crap friend."
"She kissed me," Scott sneered.
Stiles sound heartbroken as he let out a tiny whisper, "What?"
"I didn't kiss her. She kissed me," It was my turn to place a hand on Stiles shoulder as I pulled him out of the room. Scott continued to jeer as the Stiles sank to the ground outside his room, "She would have done a lot more, too. You should have seen the way she had her hands all over me. She would have done anything I wanted. Anything!" I slammed the door shut before falling into the wall opposite Stiles. Neither of us spoke as Scott whined and moaned from inside the room. Hours passed and Scott continued to call out to us, to Stiles, "Stiles, please let me out. It's the full moon, I swear. You know I wouldn't do any of this on purpose. Please, Stiles, let me out. It's starting to hurt. It's not like the first time. It's the full moon. It's Allison breaking up with me. I know - That it's not just taking a break. She broke up with me. And it's killing me. I feel completely hopeless. Just, please, let me out."
Stiles pulled is knees up and buried his face into his legs. His arms curled up and covered his ears. "We can't," I reminded him when he lifted his head to look at me. He cringed and held his hands tighter to his head as Scott's whines turned to screams.
Then silence. Panic filed Stiles' eyes as he shot up, "Scott, are you okay?" He opened the door and stared at the empty room, "Scott? Crap what do we do?" He spun to ask me.
I took as deep breath and pretended to me calmer than I felt, "You find him, he has to be somewhere. What usually goes through his head when he shifts?"
"Allison!" his eyes lit up as he rushed out the door. Hands pressed against the door frame he turned back to me, "stay here, if he comes back message me." With that I found myself alone in Scott McCall's house not knowing when the teen would be back or what mood he would be in when he did. I sat on Scott's bed and pulled my legs up. The moon peaked in the sky before moving back down toward the horizon as I waited for news on Scott. It wasn't until the first ray of sunlight began to reach out over the top of the houses that something stirred outside. Pulling my heavy eyes toward the door I watched as a leather clad man strolled into the room with Scott draped over his broad shoulders.
"Didn't you die?" I peered curiously at the older boy as he dropped Scott unceremoniously onto the bed beside me. I had recognised Derek Hale the moment he had entered the room. He rolled his eyes sourly at me as he turned to leave without as much as a goodbye. I pressed my lips together in thought and pulled my phone from my pocket. After texting Stiles to inform him Scott had been brought home by an incredible unfriendly werewolf I left Scott's house. As I walked down the drive I passed Scott's bike which had been abandoned near the road. Smiling to myself I picked it up from the ground and swung my leg over the seat and set of home as the sun rose higher in the morning sky. Another sleepless night.