SHOPPING TRIPS AND LATE NIGHT CHATS

"ARE YOU COMING FROM OUT?" a voice said as soon as I entered Scott's house. It was Melissa.

"Ugh...," I tried to think of an explanation as she raised her eyebrow, still waiting for my answer. "I went out... for a run."

She just stood there and stared at me for a moment, taking notice of my uncanny appearance. My muddy PJs, bushy hair with dried leaves and twigs stuck in it, is undoubtedly indicating it as otherwise.

"Fine, don't tell me. Just go and get ready. I made pancakes," Melissa said, shaking her head a bit.

"Will be down in 5," I said, running for the stairs, happy to not have an awkward conversation.

"Don't," she said, making me pause for a second, "Please, clean yourself thoroughly until all that dirt, leaves the body."

"As you wish," I said with a tight smile.

"Maple syrup or chocolate?" she questioned as I sat down at the dining table.

"Chocolate," I said.

"Of course," she said as if she didn't even have to question me in the first place.

"So...how is school?" she started.

"It's school," was my reply. The answer spoke a million words. To think I was out of that hell hole...How naive was I?

"Did you meet any cute boys?" she asked once again, eagerly.

"Yeah, Stiles is awesome," I said, and she grimaced at the reply and sighed.

"Sorry, I have been busy the last few days," she said, "We are not even getting time to talk."

"It's alright. You have been busy, I understand. Even I am busy with school, work, and lacrosse practices," I quickly reassured when I looked at Melissa's guilty face.

"Are you playing this season?" she inquired.

"Yeah, actually. We had tryouts the other day, and guess what? I made the first line," I said with a smile. I was actually happy with it. I mean, I wasn't active in any activities in my school and trying something new like this, made me smile.

"That's great," she said with a grin.

"Yeah. But I am pretty sure the captain hates my guts," I informed her.

"Oh!" she said, little worried, "Can I help you with anything, then?"

"Nah! I can take care of him. In fact, I recently realized I like to irritate him to death," I said with a smile.

"Do you have a crush going on there?" She teased.

"Eww! No. He is a prick, and he thinks he is into girls, and I am trying to make him realize there is a possibility he is into boys too. I personally think all it takes is a little push for him to come out of the closet," I said, nodding my head in thought.

"Right..."

Later that day, I sat in front of the computer and did some research on dogs, cats, and lacrosse. I also had to do the stupid English homework. The whole time, I had this nostalgic feeling. I mean, I never thought I would read and listen to the same lessons again, ever.

Life always has a funny way to prove people wrong.

xxXxx

On Sunday, Allison called me and asked, 'Can we hang out today?" and I immediately agreed as I had to buy a few new clothes for myself. I really didn't want to use someone else's panties anymore, which is beside the point. The main point is, where is Scott's secret stash?

According to Stiles, she has been saving all her money to buy a bike for her junior year. Yes, you heard right, a motorcycle. And no, she doesn't have a debit card, and since its a small town, the people who use them are also in low figures.

And so, I started checking her underwear drawer, her closet. I looked inside the pillow covers and under the bed. I then looked at the pile of books on the table which, I really didn't want to touch, but when I looked at the time, I released a sigh and dug into it.

"haha!" I squealed under the pile of books when I found the money at last. She chose the old way. It was inside a Hollow book. She neatly cut it in the middle in a heart shape and placed it inside. It had around 3000$ in it. I took a 300 and kept the remaining back.

Maybe there are others like that. I decided to make a mental note to check the remaining once I get home.

In the show, Scott saved money for the whole summer and bought the bike. But the female version of Scott has been doing it way before, and if I can do the same, I could as well buy a nice bike or a car instead of the dirt bike he bought. It's not like I am paying for anything other than my clothes, either. Melissa is taking care of all the expenses, including my lunch money.

Wait...why am I talking like, I won't be going back to the real world?

Am I really starting to accept this stupid dream?

It looks like the shit is really getting to my head.

My personal rant ended when I heard the phone ring.

"Hey, I am outside, or I think I am. I don't know if I came to the right address," Allison said, as soon as I lifted the call.

"Yes, you are," I said when I already heard her from upstairs. I didn't even have to look out of the window. "Just give me a minute, I will be down."

"kay," she said and cut the call.

I stuffed the money and phone inside my pockets and locked the door after checking all the windows. I don't want Derek to come in like some creep in Twilight.

"You keep the keys there?" Allison asked, amused when she saw me placing them under the flower pot.

"I don't trust my pockets," I stated.

The thing is, I don't trust the wolf in me. I can go into the woods anytime or be in any kind of danger from now on. For suppose, when I come home finally, after saving the world or myself, only to find my keys lost somewhere and no energy in me to jump to my window, what then? Die of cold...

Or, what happens if the hunters find those keys and trace it back to me? So, all in all, the keys are safe under the pot, than with me.

"Where are we going then?" I asked after a while.

"I was hoping you would tell me. You know, me being new to the town and all," said Allison.

Well, shit!

"Hey, Allison, I have to tell you something," I said, holding my breath and continued when she gave the nod, "I am terrible at directions. How about we place our trust on google, huh?"

"Sure," the Argent girl said with a laugh.

Thank god.

'You have arrived,' The stupid incessant voice said at last. The Google assistant can be quite annoying after some time.

"So, did you have any training in gymnastics? I mean, your moves on the other day were superb," she said.

"Not gymnastics. But I had training in Taekwondo since eight," I said.

"Really. That's cool. What made you take the classes?" the Argent girl asked.

"It's just my mom and me. I had to learn," was my lame reply, but she nodded as if she understood it. So, I let out a breath.

I really did have Taekwondo training since I was eight. However, the reason was my real mom. As I said, my mom and dad were doctors. One day mom was called in for emergency surgery. At four in the morning, the cops came home and informed us that mom didn't make it. When they looked at the CCTV footage in the parking lot, the police closed the case saying, a guy killed her after trying to mug her. From that day onwards, dad thought its best for me to learn self-defense. So, I did. I learned it until I turned eighteen. After that, I stopped. I moved out and spent all my time in becoming a good doctor. I wanted to be like my mom and help people.

"I had training in gymnastics for eight years. Don't laugh, but I am also pretty good with arrows. My dad sells firearms to law enforcement, and I got my hands on them one day," she said as we made our way to the first floor of the mall, taking my mind off the depressing images.

"So, I can proudly say my friend is Katniss, now," I said, wishing my voice sounded cheerful.

"I don't think I am that good," she said, smiling, and her face lit up when she saw some store. "Hey, let's go there."

"How about this?"

"This?"

"Hey, this looks cute on you?"

"Come on, blue again..."

"This color suits you"

"This suits you better."

"Thank you for shopping with us," the cashier said with a shit-eating grin. Anyone can see how fake it is, but she still smiled when she saw her supervisor from across the room.

"So...what next?" Allison asked, carrying her bags in both hands.

"Let's eat. I am starving," I said. I don't know if it's the body I am in or due to the wolf...but since I came here, I began to eat more than any normal teenage girl would eat. If it keeps on going like this, I don't think there will be enough money to save for the car.

"I think I saw the food court somewhere," Allison muttered to herself, dragging me along.

We finally came home at seven after watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

"Come on, let me show you the house," I said to her, taking my bags from the back seat.

"It's alright. I should probably go home, now...," Allison said.

"Nonsense, it's just 7. I am sure you can be out a little late," I said with a smile. I had a really good time today, and I wanted to be a good friend and host for once.

"Okay," she said finally, parking the car in the driveway.

"The house is probably messy. Please don't mind," I said, opening the door as she just laughed at it.

"Even my house is in the same way," Allison said, taking in the messy view.

"That's because you are still unpacking. My house is a totally different concept," I said.

"That's your parents?" asked Allison when she saw the pictures hanging on the bedroom wall.

"Yup," I said, not looking back, instead, arranging all the books on the table neatly.

"I wasn't expecting your room to be like this," said Allison

"What did you expect then? To be covered in lacrosse posters?" I asked with a small laugh.

"Maybe," she said.

"Aww! You look so cute here," Allison cooed at a picture on my nightstand.

"Thanks, except that's Stiles. I am the one beside him," I said with a grimace. It was a childhood picture of the two friends. Except Stiles is dressed as a girl and me, as a boy. The figure in the photo frame looked exactly like my childhood self. And I knew for a fact that the only friend Scott had was Stiles. The moles on the face proved it.

"Scott? Scott?" someone's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I questioned Allison, who is looking at me worriedly.

"Are you alright?" she asked

"Yeah, just thinking. Want to order some Pizza?" I asked.

"Nah. Mom actually called. I have to go home," she said, waving her phone.

"Oh, okay," I said.

"I will see you tomorrow then," she said, at the main door before leaving.

"Of course," I said with a smile.

"Bye," and with that, she left.

xxXxx

"So, what did you do yesterday?" Stiles asked.

"We went shopping and then saw a movie," I said.

"Great," he said sarcastically.

"Why, what did you do?" I asked.

"Oh, you know, nothing big. Just browsed everything I could find about werewolves," Stiles said, shrugging his shoulders a bit.

"The whole two days?" I asked, surprised at his honest confession.

"Yeah," he said.

"How much Adderall did you take?" I asked jokingly.

"A lot," was his serious reply.

This kid really is a hyperactive spaz.

"So, what did you find out?" I asked him.

"You know the myths about silver bullet and wolfsbane," he said, "Do you know why a wolf howls?"

"Yeah. It's kind of a signal," I said

"Yes. When a wolf's alone, it howls to signal its location to the rest of the pack. So if you heard a wolf howling, that means others could have been nearby. Maybe even a whole pack of 'em." he said enthusiastically.

"Hey, what other changes did you experience other than not using your inhaler?" Stiles asked after a while.

"Well, I don't have acne anymore," I said little excited as he groaned at the reply, "And I can eat as much as I can without getting fat."

"Scott, something useful, please," he implored.

"They are useful," I said in a matter of fact tone.

"I meant something more...intense and exciting," he said, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Well, you already know about healing, speed, agility, smell, and hearing," I started to think what more, I should legitly know for now, "Oh! I can also tame animals with my eyes."

"Tame, how?" the kid with weird name asked, intrigued.

"Like this," I said, showing him my yellow eyes for a split second, facing Stiles whose back is facing the locker and so no one could see it except for him.

"See, that's what I am talking about," he said, snapping his fingers, delighted, "When did you learn how to do it?"

"Well, I didn't know what I was doing at first. The dogs and cats in the Clinic were frightened by me. And then Allison got this dog, which also started to bark at me. Then something weird happened with my eyes, and it became docile. I later practiced it in front of the mirror a few times," I explained.

"Cool!" said Stiles spirited.

"Hey, losers. Move it," Jackson's voice said from behind us.

Great! We had to be just in front of his locker.

"Wish, I could use my taming powers on him," I muttered to Stiles, dragging him along. He chuckled at it.

"Any other things you can do?" he asked.

"Umm, no. I don't really know," I told the enthusiastic guy, "I was actually thinking to ask, Derek..."

"What, the psycho that turned you? No way," Stiles cut me off, "I wouldn't trust him with my non-existent cat, let alone my nerd best friend."

"Then, what? Are you going to search for everything about werewolves on the internet and experiment it on me to verify the accuracy of the facts?" I asked incredulously.

"Well, yeah..." he said, waving his hands in a matter of fact tone.

"I am so feeling the love. Thanks, Stiles," I said, giving him the devil's eye.

"I know. What would you do without me?" the guy with dimpled cheeks said gleefully, "Come on, let's get to the class."
xxXxx
In the next two days, I was busy with Lacrosse practice and also got to know my part-time job at Clinic is only three days a week. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. Allison and I had sat for lunch one day. I haven't seen or heard from Derek since the full moon night. Jackson started to piss me off every single time at the practice by targeting me intentionally. By Wednesday, I had enough of it. I stormed into the boy's locker room, not minding Stile's warning.

"Can we talk?" I said, standing in front of the tall jock ignoring all the looks. It's alright, I am 19, they are 16. I should be more mature.

"Sure," he said with a smirk, putting his t-shirt on.

"Look, can you stop this petty fight? I am so sick of it, and the next time, I may not control myself from ripping your head off," I said in a dangerous tone, once we were in the hallway. Do you know what the response I received is?

A laugh.

A stupid condescending laugh.

"Good joke, McCall. Tell me some other time," he said, trying to getaway.

"Seriously, Jackson. Stop it," I said once again.

"If you are so scared of getting hurt, you should've joined the cheerleaders," he said in a mocking tone.

"Again, with the sexist remarks? Do you see me mocking you about your sexuality?" I blurted out.

"What?" he asked, confused.

I might as well be out with it.

"Look, I know you are afraid to be an open gay. But it's not something you should be ashamed about..." I started to say but was cut off when Jackson punched the locker behind me.

"What did you just say?" He growled. He looked like he was literally breathing fire.

"Fine, maybe it's not my place to say...but you don't have to be afraid of anyone. Take Danny as an example. He is happy the way he is is and you should be too... "

"I am not gay," he said through gritted teeth.

"Fine, bisexual, it is," I said, changing the wording. I know in real life, the actor is gay, but maybe in the show, he is bisexual. I mean, he kinda loved Lydia at one point in the show though he was gay in real life.

"I am going to kill you if you don't shut up," he said.

"Sure," I said, zipping my mouth for now.

"Up until now, I just didn't like you. But now, you made an enemy for yourself, McCall," with that he stormed off, punching the locker once again.

"I don't think that was how it was supposed to go," I murmured to myself.

"What the heck did you do?" Stiles asked, rushing over to as soon as Jackson stormed off somewhere.

"I just told him, he was into boys, and he got pissed," I said truthfully.

"What? Why would you do that?" Stiles groaned and looked at me as if I just came from Eichen House.

"I tried to help him get out of the closet," I said.

"You really believe that Jackson Whittemore is into guys?" Stiles asked dubiously.

"Yeah," I said, "Can't imagine why you didn't notice it."

"Something's seriously wrong with your werewolf brain," Stiles said, shaking his head, "Come on, let's get to the practice."

I was sitting on the stands, wearing the gloves and knee caps, ignoring Jackson's stare as best as I can. When I felt someone sit beside me, I turned to see the face and had to look one more time when I thought it was familiar.

The guy had dark blonde hair, that's slightly curly, over 6 foot, blue eyes.

"You are Issac, right?" I asked before I could think.

"Ye...Yeah," he murmured.

"You are really Issac Lahey?" I asked again to confirm.

"Yes," he said with a nod this time more confident.

"Hmm, you are hot," I blurted out, and my eyes widened when I realized what I said. Shit!

"I... I meant you are ..."

"She meant you are not cold," Stiles said from behind me before I could say something more embarrassing.

"Yeah, that's it," I said hastily, dragging Stiles from there, leaving the poor kid dumbfounded.

"What the hell is happening to you today? One second, you tell Jackson he is gay, and next second you confess to some guy that he is hot," Stiles said, waving his hands wildly as I covered my hands with a groan.

To think I am more mature than high school kids.

"You can't even blame it on the full moon, as it's already completed," said Stiles.

"Maybe someone gave me a truth serum or something," I tried to explain, and my fictional best friend gave me a look to not even try.

"McCall, get in the line," The coach shouted for me.

"Yes, Coach," I shouted back, going into the field, hearing a "Don't wolf out," from Stiles.

"I will try," I said back and stood third in line, with Stiles behind me.

Jackson was standing as a defenseman with a long stick. Generally, in a women's lacrosse, there is no physical contact, and so they don't really need any protective gear, just an eye gear. But this is different. Since I am the only girl on the team, I have to follow men's lacrosse rules.

I set my helmet straight when it was my turn, muttering, "The sun,