I N S T I N C T | Jackson Whittemore

24: crush?

Crush?
Chapter Twenty Four

Scott watched as Derek examined Lydia from his spot at the bottom of the hill in the BHHS parking lot. The bell abruptly cut into his reverie and Scott ignored Mr. Harris yelling things in his direction as he chased Stiles out of the classroom.

The entire group had study hall this hour, so they met behind the one of the shelves. Annie watched as Allison went to walk up to Scott and Stiles, but quickly pulled her arm, rushing her to the opposite side of the shelf.

Allison looked around panicking, "What's the matter?"

Annie pointed to the ceiling's corner, where a new and expensive camera sat, watching their every move. She sighed, "More and more are showing up around the school... you have to be more careful."

Allison nodded, watching as Annie moved books from the shelf to the ground, creating an opening to talk through. Allison wondered how Annie became so immune to all of the supernatural. How can someone think it's so normal, and be so easy-going about the entire situation? She was slightly jealous of her control and strength.

Scott watched as a book fell and hit Stiles's toe. Stiles groaned, "Hey, who did that?" he asked, looking around him.

Scott cleared his throat, grabbing another book and seeing Allison and Annie on the other side. "Hey, Stiles," he whispered, cocking his head in the girls' direction.

Stiles picked up the book, "Oh."

Scott looked back at Annie and Allison. He shook his head, thinking about what to start with, "Derek's outside waiting for Lydia."

Allison's eyes shot wide, "Waiting to kill her?"

"If he thinks she's the Kanima, then yes, especially after what happened at the pool," Scott nodded.

Stiles shook his head, oblivious to the facts that were laid out in front of him. Lydia didn't pass, yet he still believed in the purity of her heart. "It's not her."

Scott snaked an arm around his shoulders, shaking his head, "Stiles, she didn't pass the test, man. Nothing happened."

"No," Stiles shook his head. "No, it can't be her."

Annie scoffed, running her hands through her hair, "Either way, it doesn't matter. Derek thinks it's her. So either we can convince him that he's wrong, or we have to find a way to protect her."

Scott nodded, "Well, I don't think he's going to do anything here. Not at school."

Allison swallowed hard, her throat thickening at the thought of her best friend being slaughtered by the same family who killed her aunt. "What about after school? What if we can prove that Derek's wrong?"

Stiles scoffed, rolling his eyes, "By three o'clock?"

Annie elbowed Allison, light enough not to hurt her but hard enough to grab her attention, "There might be something in the bestiary."

Stiles shook his head, "Oh, you mean the 900 page book written in Archaic Latin that none of us can read? Good luck with that."

Annie raised her eyebrows, smirking, "Actually, I think I know someone who might be able to help us translate it."

Scott nodded, "And I can talk to Derek, maybe convince him to give us a chance to prove that it's not her..." Scott paused, looking directly at Allison and Annie. "But if anything happens, you guys let me handle it, okay?"