♙CHAPTER EIGHT ♙

( SELENE HAYDES )

ONE: CHILD OF THE STARS

derek had gotten scott to deaton and called the others saying it was okay. selene could've gone home that night relieved but instead was dragged into driving matt and allison home, considering mr. argent had taken her car. nicholas had driven erica and isaac back to the railway depot and stiles had gone home on his own. selene sat at the front of the car with matt, and allison in the backseat.

"so, about that incredibly bad idea i had..." matt started as he turned to allison in the backseat, selene scrunched her eyebrows confused.

"you mean, the kiss?" allison said causing selene to abruptly stop the car a few houses away from matts. the witch turned to them with wide eyes.

"don't worry about it" allison said to selene and matt waving it off knowing selene would want to know what the hell happened.

"for real?" matt asked as he turned to allison with an appreciative smile.

"definitely" allison nodded obviously not wanting to speak about it. the silence was interrupted by allison phone ringing, she signalled to the others to wait as she got out of the car to talk to her dad.

"so, what's going on with you and lahey? are you guys-you guys together, or-or what?" matt asked selene gaining confidence remembering how he had seen them running around the rave together.

"god no, nothings going on. not really..." selene said slightly smiling as she looked down at the steering wheel confusing herself. not noticing it looked like something was going on between the two.

"not really. god, I hate "not really's." you never know what to do with "not really." he said chuckling nervously as selene silently prayed allison would hurry up.

allison was finishing up the call to her dad but was able to hear everything going on in the car, the girl decided she'd let matt finish whatever he was trying to do before getting selene out of the awkward situation

"what about complicated?" selene asked finally looking matt in the eye, not knowing how to describe her situation and wanting the boy to stop asking.

"not really" they both laughed "but i'll try" matt said quietly as he grabbed selene's hand squeezing it, she slowly pulled it away laughing softly.

the boy opened the car door exiting as selene let out a breath of relief and leaned her head against the seat. the girl noticed her window looking foggy and blew on it fogging it up before wiping it and sitting back again. she noticed matt had left his camera bag on the floor and picked it up going through the photos on it smiling as she saw the lacrosse team, however her smile faded as she noticed pictures of herself she didn't know were being taken. she began to grow more freaked out as she noticed some were from her bedroom when she was asleep.

a loud knock on the window caused her to drop it on her lap as she looked at the door matt had just left. the boy tried opening the door after realising she wouldn't open it "open the window" he mouthed.

the girl did as he said as he smiled "forgot my bag" he said in a weird voice.

"yeah, yeah" selene said as her stiff figure quickly moved to pick it up for him wanting him far away from her.

the boy kept his eyes on her as she prayed to god someone would get her out of the situation, she knew there was a reason the boy made her so uncomfortable and after finding the pictures she didn't want to be around him any longer.

"some good pictures in there, don't you think?" matt asked well also saying as a statement.

"yeah, the lacrosse ones are amazing. you're really talented. i was-i was-i was really impressed..." she said nervously as she struggled to speak

"there's a good candid of you in there, too." he said making her internally roll her eyes. only one? she thought to herself.

"really?" she asked as she leaned back in her seat as far from him as possible.

"you can see some of the others, if you'd like. i mean, this-this tiny little screen doesn't really do it justice. but, uh, i could show you some on my computer." he said as his eyes never left her still figure.

the harsh tension in the room was broken by allison jumping in the back of the car, matt turned to her with a harsh glare. "maybe another night, matt. gotta get allison home" selene said pointing at allison as the girl in the backseat could see her scared eyes.

"just for a few minutes?" matt asked pestering the girl.

"it's getting late, my dad wants me home" allison said trying to get the boy as far away from the car as possible.

"it's the weekend. and, it's spring break . i mean, you don't have anything going on tomorrow, do you?" he asked selene turning his head away from allison.

"i really should get going" she said tensely as she turned her car back on.

"you sure?" the boy asked again as she nodded aggressively "okay then" he said awkwardly as he chuckled walking away.

selene not waiting for him to reply as she quickly started driving away, allison staring at her concerned from the back seat. selene let out a choked sob as she began shaking. allison quickly unbuckled her seat belt moving to the front seat as selene drove.

"what's wrong?" allison asked as she grabbed one of the girls hands on the steering wheel trying to get her to calm down.

"he had pictures of me on there, so many" selene said quickly turning her head to allison before moving them back to the road. the thought of the boy scared the girl.

"what do you mean pictures?" allison asked confused, not knowing what she could've seen that scared her so much.

"ones from my room, allison! ones from lydia's house of me asleep!" she yelled as she quickly pulled up outside of allison's house. the girl trying to control her shaking, allison quickly pulled the girl into a hug as she let selene cry.

the thought of people invading her life without her knowing scared her, there was something about the boy that scared the girl to no end. he had no sense of personal space and who knows what he could've done if allison hadn't gotten back in the car when she did.

after around five minutes the girl stopped crying, although her makeup was horrible and her straightened hair had gone slightly frizzy. she had allison call lydia telling the girl she would be staying at allison's overnight because she was hungover. lydia agreed to come round the next day and pick her up.

allison had given the girl clothes to sleep in, after changing she walked out to see allison passed out on her bed on top of the covers, selene covered her with one of the girls blankets before getting underneath of the covers next to her.

――――

"clear your schedule - this could take a while" lydia said the next day as she walked into allison's room with three bags full of clothes. selene lay on allison's bed messaging nicholas as allison laughed before shutting her notebook.

it was the night of her and lydia's joined birthday. they had been doing it since they were five every year, it had become a tradition. the girl smiled as she stared at her strawberry blonde friend.

"...how many outfits do you plan on wearing tonight?" allison asked as lydia poured out all of the clothes onto the girls bed and over selene.

"it's our birthday party!" lydia said as she quickly leaned down and hugged selene giving the girl a kiss on the forehead. selene hugging the girl in reply.

"i'm thinking host dress, evening dress, then, mmm... after-hours casual?" lydia said as allison stared at all the clothes with wide eyes.

"i noticed that you didn't send out any invites" allison said nervously as she took the words right out of selene's mouth. after everything that happened she doubted people would show up.

"it's the biggest party of the year, allison" lydia said as she sorted through the clothes not even looking at her friends "everyone knows" she sighed.

"i was wondering if maybe... this year things, you know, might be different" selene said for the girl as she sat up and kept her eyes down.

"why would anything be different?" lydia said not paying attention to anyone.

"just 'cause things have been off lately... things, and people... like jackson" selene said finally looking at the girl causing her to look at her.

"why do you care about jackson?" lydia said as she turned her gaze to selene.

"he's my bestfriend" she said confused on why lydia would ask a stupid question.

"do you know if he's coming tonight?" allison asked trying to break the harsh eye contact the girls were giving eachother.

"everyone's coming" lydia said as she tried convincing herself what she said was true.

"this one's american rag. mmm, i love it-- for me, not you" lydia said brightly as she pulled out a dress looking over it.

"this one's material girl. it's for you" lydia said throwing a dress at allison, "and this one is upper east side" lydia said throwing a tight light blue dress at selene which the girl appreciated.

"mrs. argent, what do you think of this one?" selene asked as the woman entered the room, the teenage girl holding up her dress.

"oh, it'll look lovely selene..." the woman said as she stared at allison distracted "allison, uh, can i grab you for a moment to talk? just the two of us?" mrs. argent asked.

"um, can we do it later?" allison asked preoccupied as the girls on her bed began to pull dresses out.

"actually, uh, to be honest, sooner would be-would be better..." the woman said as she stared at her daughter smiling.

"party's at ten" lydia reminded the girl as she pulled out jewellery.

"um, will you be around before then?" mrs. argent asked awkwardly as selene noticed the woman's weak state.

"i think so.." allison said distractedly as she began to hold the dress up against her body.

"you think so?" mrs. argent asked tensely.

"i don't know" allison said annoyed as she turned to her mother before turning back to the piece of jewellery lydia held out.

"you think so?" allison asked lydia as the woman walked out of the room before stopping and tuning to her daughter smiling at how happy she looked.

"oh, i think the black one would fit" selene said as she held out a black necklace towards the girl.

"no, it's too much" allison said as she looked down at the clothes.

"i think I like it. you like it?" lydia asked as selene had offered another necklace which wasn't too flashy.

"yeah... no. i do" allison softly said smiling as lydia looked at the outfit happily.

"oh yeah, happy birthday" allison said as she looked between her two friends with a smile the girls smiling in reply.

"thank you!" "i actaully appreciate that" selene and lydia said as they looked at eachother with smiles.

――――

selene had gotten dressed in the short satin blue mini dress that lydia had bought her and paired them with a pair of white open toe heels. when she came down she could see lydia walking around with a tray of punch and a large box at the front door with a skinny body behind.

"stiles?" the girl asked as she quickly moved to the door to help him get the box through, the boy dropped the box after sighing as his eyes widened at his bestfriend.

"selene! wow, you look great!" the boy said as he quickly moved to give her a hug, the girl accepting it.

"don't sound so surprised" she laughed as she twirled showing of her outfit. stiles quickly dug in his pocket pulling out a small wrapped box.

"and, happy birthday!" he said putting the box in her hand, the girl scrunched her eyebrows not expecting him to get her something. the girl opened the box as he stared at her with worried eyes, hoping she'd like the present.

the girl was met with a small jewellery box, inside it being a small locket with her initials on the front. on the inside was a picture of the five of them from the day at the ice rink. the girls eyed quickly glassed over as she met the nervous face of stiles.

"if you don't like it i can return it" he rushed out seeing her nervous expression, the girl threw her arms over the boy giving him another hug.

"i love it" she said kissing him on the cheek repeatedly before letting herself smile. the boy smiled widely as he accepted the hug.

the girl put it on herself quickly before grabbing his hand and dragging him to the back of the house, bumping into scott on the way. the boy wished her a happy birthday before hugging her.

"have you see jackson anywhere?" stiles asked the two, making them shake their heads.

"no. seen allison or nicholas?" scott asked worried for the two other humans.

"no. but, we should probably tell them what we found." stiles said as looked at the random people walking around.

"...i'm still kind of not sure what we found" selene said as she looked between the two boys.

"i figured out it has something to do with water-- you know, the fact that all the victims were on the swim team, the way the kanima reacted around the pool..." stiles explained making selene nod.

" so, whoever's controlling the kanima really hates the swim team...?" scott asked confused.

"hated the swim team. specifically, the 2006 swim team. so, it could be another teacher, maybe, like, a student back then... i mean, who are we missing, though? what haven't we thought of?" stiles said as selene thought back to everyone she knew.

the three had made it to the back, seeing allison there. the girl walked over to join the trio.

"uh, jacksons not here" allison said as she made awkward eye contact with scott.

"yeah, no ones here" selene and stiles said at the same time as they looked around the empty house.

"maybe it's just early" scott said trying to be optimistic of the whole situation

"or maybe nobody's coming because lydia's turned into the towns wack job," stiles said as selene looked at her bestfriend with sad eyes the girl holding a tray of punch across the pool.

"well, we have to do something, because we've completely ignored her for the past two weeks..." allison argued making selene nod in agreement

"she's completely ignored stiles the past 10 years" scott said turning to his lanky friend.

"i prefer to think of it as me not having been on he radar yet" stiles said as selene patted his shoulder, scott shaking his head.

"we don't owe her a party" scott said before a large bang of the front door caused all of them to jump. nicholas' voice echoing.

"what about the chance to get back to normal?" allison said before selene could argue with scott.

"normal?" scott asked confused not understanding what she meant by the word.

"where is everyone?" nicholas asked as he walked into the group invading their space.

"she wouldn't be the town wack job if it wasn't for us" allison explained as selene shook her head to nicholas telling the boy to shut up.

lydia looked down at her tray sadly as she picked up one of the drinks, the five across from her feeling bad for the strawberry blonde.

"i guess i could use my co-captain status to get the lacrosse team here" scott said shrugging.

"me and selene are just popular" nicholas said shrugging as he pulled his phone out and began messaging people.

"yeah, i also know some people who can get this thing going" stiles said pulling his phone out "like, really going"

"who?" selene and allison questioned.

"i met them the other night. let's just say they know how to party" stiles said with a serious look.

――――

twenty minutes later lydia's backyard was filled with hundreds of teenagers and other random people stiles had claimed to know. selene and nicholas were dancing as lydia walked around handing out drinks. scott and stiles were off talking about allison.

"are you gonna apologise to allison or what?" stiles asked scott as he sat in front of him.

"why should i apologise?" scott asked confused.

"because you're the guy! it's, like what we do" stiles elaborated as he looked down at his friend.

"but i didn't do anything wrong" scott argued not knowing whether he was right or not.

"then you should definitely apologize. see, any time a guy thinks he hasn't done anything wrong, it means he's definitely done something wrong" stiles said shaking his head.

"i'm not apologising" scott said bluntly.

"is that the full moon talking, buddy?" stiles asked as he pulled his lips in.

"probably" scott nodded along "why do you care, anyway?" he asked wondering why stiles was so hung up.

"because, scott, something's gotta go right, here! i mean, we're getting our asses royally kicked, if you haven't noticed. people are dying, i got my dad fired, you're gonna be held back in school, I'm in love with a nutjob, nicholas is in love with the enemy, and if, on top of that, I gotta watch selene go to a stalker like matt, i'm gonna stab myself in the face!" stiles argued as he looked between all of his friends.

"don't stab yourself in the face" scott said standing up.

"why?" stiles asked as he turned to look where scott was.

"because jackson's here" scott said with a worried look as selene approached the boy with a smile.

"glad to see you could make it" she said handing him a glass of punch as lydia stared at him with a sad smile, continuing to pour the punch which she had put wolfs bane in.

――――

selene was stopped dancing by a hand on her shoulder, the girls smile not leaving her face as she turned around to come face to face with matt. her smile faltering slightly as nicholas also stopped.

"can we talk"? he asked as he tried avoiding nicholas' glare.

"stay here" she said to nicholas before walking into the house, to a quieter spot, the boy following along before shutting the doors of the room.

she should've known nicholas would've followed her after he had heard all of stiles' bizarre theories on the boy. the look she gave him was telling him to open them, which he did as he coughed trying to cover up his mistake.

"okay. uh, right. so i know i took some pictures of you that i should've told you about, but is it really that bad that ...that i think you're beautiful" the boy asked walking closer as selene kept the same defensive look.

selene rolled her eyes as he continued "and i think you should be the subject of a perfect photograph?" he asked coming on too strong the girl slightly backed up as he continued.

"well, matt, some of those pictures, i don't even know how you took them." selene said nervously as he chuckled.

"telephoto lens. i mean, come on, selene" he said as he tried not sounding crazy to the girl "photographers call them candids" matt said shaking his head.

"well, police officers, call it stalking" she said factually as she tilted her head, copying his laugh.

the girl noticed the footsteps behind matt , the girl wearing the same shoes as her. not noticing the mad look the boy gave her