☆CHAPTER THREE: THE TELL!

SCARLETT WONDERED around Allison's bedroom, looking at some of the old photos of the pair with their parents whilst waiting for her cousin to finish getting read for school.

"Come on." Allison said, throwing her bag over her shoulder and tugging at Scarlett's sleeve.

The pair were stopped when somebody knocked on the bedroom door, Kate walking in.

"Hey," She started, moving in front of Allison, "Listen, you know I feel totally horrible about my behaviour the other night, right?"

"Oh, totally forgotten." Allison shrugged, smiling at her aunt.

"No, not forgotten by me," Kate told her, "Come on. Call me a horrid bitch or something."

"You were just being protective."

"I was being a protective horrid bitch who is giving you your birthday present early so you'll forgive her." Kate revealed the wrapped up gift from behind her back, passing it to her niece.

"Do I get one as well?" Scarlett teased, standing beside Allison to get a closer look at the present.

Kate sent a playful warning look at her daughter.

Allison gasped as she opened the box, revealing a beautiful silver necklace with multiple cravings on it.

"Forgiven?" Kate asked, looking to Allison with pleading eyes.

"Completely. I love it!" Allison nodded, taking the necklace from the box to examine it.

"Same. Mom, I know what I want for my birthday." Scarlett smirked, looking up at her mother.

"It's a family heirloom. And you know me, I hate and loathe all sentimental crap, but that, well, look at the symbol in the middle of the pendant. See that?" Kate said, pointing to the symbol.

"Yeah."

"You two ever wanna learn a little something about your family? Look it up." Kate explained.

"Your gonna make us work for it." Allison tilted her head to the side with a little disbelief.

Kate shrugged, "Some mysteries are worth a little effort."

Allison pulled Kate in for a hug, thanking her for the necklace before leaving the room.

"Bye." Kate called.

Scarlett waited for Allison to make it half way down the hall before speaking up, "So she gets a family heirloom and I get what, exactly?"

"Patience," Kate teased, "I have something a little more important than a family heirloom for you."

Kate left the room for a second before returning with a medium sized box, placing it down on Allison's bed.

"What's this?" Scarlett asked, sitting down beside the box.

"Open it." Kate told her, handing her a pair of scissors:

She used the scissors to slice open the sellotape, pulling open the flaps at the top and peering in. Inside were multiple wrapped up gifts, along with a smaller box. Scarlett picked it up, taking off the lid an examining the object.

It was a silver chain necklace, like that one Allison got, but instead of their being a pendant on the end there was an already used bullet.

"What's is this?" Scarlett frowned, holding up the necklace and dangling it in front of her.

Kate took a seat next to her daughter, "That bullet I made when I was your age. That symbol on it is the Argent family crescent."

"Why did you make it?" Scarlett wondered, looking up at the older woman.

"When I turned 14, my father started to teach me how to hunt animals. Mostly deer. When I 'graduated' his training we made these bullets. Your uncle made one as well. And one day so will you and Allison." Kate explained, taking the necklace from the girl's hands and helping her put in on.

Scarlett's finger traced the symbol, "Is it always a bullet?"

Kate shook her head, "No, it depends on what weapon you use. Allison will probably do a bow and arrow, as for you, you can choose anything. I'll teach you how to use it if you like."

"Like a weapon?" Scarlett's brown eyes widened.

Her mom laughed, "Yes, you never know when you might need when you need to use that skill."

Scarlett nodded, staring at the necklace.

"Come on! We don't have all day, look in the box before Allison rips your head off for making you late for school!" Kate nudged her shoulder with the teenager's, watching as she began to rip open the wrapping paper of other gifts.

The first present was a photos album full of memories between the mother and daughter, along with some with Allison, Chris and Victoria. Another was matching mother-daughter bracelets that came alongside a little message from Kate:

Dear Scarlett,

If ever the day comes where we aren't together, keep me in your heart to your very last moment. I love you to the moon and back.

Lots of Love,
Mommy ♡

"I know it's cheesy," Kate started, leaning over Scarlett's shoulder, "I just wanted you to know that I love you."

Scarlett smiled, shaking her head, "It's not cheesy, it's sweet. I love you."

"I love you too but you need to hurry up and open the last present!" Kate joked, pulling the last gift out the box and handing it to her daughter.

Scarlett could feel her eyes water with the next present, it was a note written to her mother from her father.

Kate only ever mentioned Scarlett's father briefly in order to avoid Scarlett going off to find him and getting herself killed. She told her minor details like, He was sweet at the start, He left when he found out I was pregnant, he was selfish.

Scarlett hated her father for leaving, though that didn't stop her from trying to find out more about him. Allison always told her: You can hate someone and still miss them, even if you never knew them.

The bottom of the note appeared to be ripped, like Kate had tore it off so she could see who signed the note. Meaning, all Scarlett really had to do was find it.

"Thank you, mom." Scarlett smiled, pulling her in for a hug.

"I though that as you were turning sixteen soon you ought to know a little more about him." Kate frowned sympathetically at the girl, holding her tight.

"Scarlett! Come on, I've been waiting for ages!" Allison yelled as she stormed into her bedroom to find her cousin and aunt sharing a sweet moment, "Oh— I'll wait in the car."

Kate pulled away from the hug, "Go on, get to school." She smiled.

Scarlett nodded, kissing her cheek and trailing behind Allison.

▃▃▃▃

SCARLETT STRUTTED alongside Allison down the corridors of the high school. She was quick to make sure that her new necklace was tucked away in her clothes so that none of the teachers pulled her over and confiscated it.

"You know I never asked you, where exactly did you go last night?" Allison asked, wondering over to her locker.

"Just some cafe I found not to far away." Scarlett shrugged, leaning against the locker beside Allison's.

"Did you meet anyone or. . .?"

"Jackson was there." She told her.

"Jackson Whittemore?" Allison furrowed her perfectly arched brows, looking over at the brunette.

Scarlett hummed in response, finding with the bracelet her mother gave her earlier that day.

"Scarlett. . ." Allison warned.

"Relax, nothing happened. We just talked, jesus."

The two stood in silence, waiting for the school bell to tell them to get to class.

"There was this guy there. . .blue eyes and dirty blonde hair, really tall. I think Jackson said his name was Isaac. Do you know anything about him?" Scarlett wondered, thinking of the blue eyes boy that bumped into her the other night.

"Sorry, I don't think I've seen him around before," Allison told her, "Why are you so bothered, anyway?"

"He bumped into me and seemed genuinely scared that I would hit or scream at him. It was. . . odd." She explained.

Allison opened her locker only for balloons to fall out, she quickly tried to stuff them back in.

She pulled out a card that was taped to the inside of the locker, "Lydia."

"Is today your birthday?" Scott asked, joining the pair.

"No, no, no. I mean, yes." Allison rushed to slammed her locker shut with the balloons inside. She looked over at her cousin for help.

Scarlett shrugged, wondering off, "I'm going to find Jackson."

▃▃▃▃

"JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER, PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES ARE TONIGHT."

Mr Harris reminded the class, "Any students below a 'C' average are required to attend."

"Great." Scarlett muttered, knowing that she would be forced to go with her mom, aunt and uncle.

"I won't name you, because of the shame and self-disgust should be be more than enough punishment. Has anyone seen Scott McCall?" He asked, stopping in front of Stiles Stilinski.

The classroom door opened, revealing a traumatised looking Jackson. He made his way over to Scarlett, sitting in the empty seat beside her.

His skin had lost all its pigment, just a ghostly white color with dark rings under his eyes. She was shocked when Danny had told her that he came to school, she didn't expect him to after last night.

"Hey, Jackson," Mr Harris said, placing a comforting hand on the athlete's shoulder, "If you need to leave early for any reason, you let me know."

Jackson nodded, and Mr Harris continued with the class and instructed them to start reading chapter 9 of the text book.

"Mr Stilinski, try putting the highlighter down between paragraphs. It's chemistry, not a coloring book."

Scarlett turned to Jackson, making sure Mr Harris wasn't watching first, "Hey, are you alright? You look really. . .pale."

"Well you would to if you were attacked by a mountain lion." He muttered, avoiding eye contact.

"Fair enough," she said, her eyes filling with concern when she spotted three cuts along the back of his neck, "Is that from last night, are you okay?" She asked, running her fingers lightly over the cut so she didn't hurt him.

Jackson grabbed hold of her wrist, pulling her hand away, "Just leave it, Scarlett. Okay? I'm fine."

Scarlett frowned, leaving the subject alone. Though she knew that no matter what he said, he definitely wasn't okay.

▃▃▃▃

SCARLETT OPENED her front door to find Jackson stood outside of it. She rolled her eyes and went to shut it again. Jackson shoved his foot in before it could fully close.

"What do you want, Jackson?" She huffed, opening the door wide.

"I came to apologise. I acted like a asshole in class and—" He started, only to be cut off.

"Jackson Whittemore apologising? Sounds like a first."

"Please, let me make it up to you?" He pleaded.

"Depends how?" Scarlett's eyebrow raised.

Jackson pulled a bag out from behind his back, "I bought pizza and a movie."

Scarlett smiled, opening the door wider, "Deal."

▃▃▃▃

AN EMPTY pizza box sat at the end of Scarlett's bed, they were sat in her lavender and silver themed bedroom watching their second movie, Clueless. The two yawned and stretched as the ending credits came into the screen.

"That movie was terrible." Jackson commented.

Scarlett's head snapped around to look at him, "It was not!"

"It totally was, I only watched it because Allison told me it was your favourite and you where angry at me." Jackson said.

"She told you that?" Scarlett looked at the boy confused.

Jackson nodded, "She said something along the lines off 'Bring her pepperoni pizza, cookie dough ice cream, Mamma Mia and Clueless. She'll have forgiven you by the time you've finished the pizza.'" He explained, laughing.

"And where's the cookie dough ice cream?" Her eyebrow raised, eyes looking at the empty bag.

Jackson smirked, pulling out to tubs and two spoons from behind him.

The two sat eating their ice cream in silence, until Jackson decided to speak up, "I am sorry, about today, you know? I shouldn't of snapped at you because you were concerned about me."

Scarlett shook her head, "It's fine, really. You didn't want to talk about it and I pushed the subject too far."

"I bet you think I'm an asshole." He frowned, looking away from her addictive caramel eyes.

"I don't think your an asshole." She shrugged, eating more of the sweet food.

Jackson looked over at her with furrowed eyebrows, "You don't?"

Scarlett shook her head.

"Why? Everyone else does."

"Well first of all you bought me food and rented out movies just so I would stop being angry at you," She explained, "besides, I think your just. . .misunderstood. I get that."

"You do?"

"Mhm, I feel like it as well sometimes. I would be lying if I said you didn't have your moments but don't we all?" She shrugged, looking up at him.

"I guess so," he said, "what did you mean by you feeling like that sometimes?"

"Sometimes I feel like I'm in Allison's shadow. Like the second best, the backup plan. She's pretty, gets good grades, is respectful. She's the perfect child, I can't compete with that." She told him.

"I don't think there's any such thing as a perfect child. In fact, I'm pretty sure someone told me that Allison ditched school with McCall today." Jackson said.

"I know, I had to walk home." She laughed.

"My point is. . . What's the point in everyone being the perfect child? It would get really. . . boring."

"True but she's actually perfect. Me on the other hand, I fail all my tests, never do homework, ditch class nearly everyday, cause trouble and I always say the wrong think at the wrong time." She told him, looking down with sad eyes.

Jackson placed a finger on her chin, lifting it up to look at him, "I like that about you, it makes you unique."

Scarlett smiled, trying to hide the redness in her cheeks at the jock's sweet words. She leaned forward so that her face was closer to his, his followed her actions and their lips met in the middle, moulding together perfectly.

▃▃▃▃

SCARLETT WAITED with Jackson at the lacrosse field as her  mom and uncle were talking to Mr Harris about for the parent-teacher conference.

"What do you think they're saying?" Scarlett asked, watching as Jackson aggressively practised his lacrosse.

"Probably something bad, it's usually something bad, right?" Jackson answered, focusing on getting the ball into the spot on the tree.

"Way to be positive." She muttered, staring down at her phone.

She was searching the boy she bumped into that night at the cafe, Isaac Lahey, in every social media along with googling him. Nothing came up. It was like he didn't exist.

She hadn't stop thinking about Isaac since then. It was strange to her why he had such a heightened reaction to something as little as bumping into someone, not many people even muttered an apology.

She was brought back to reality by the sound of something smashing, along with Jackson shouting in frustration and throwing his lacrosse stick to the ground. She got up from where she was sat, making her way over to him and attempting to calm him down.

Jackson kept fighting her touch, panting heavily before giving in and pulling her close. He tried to hide the single tear that slipped, but she still felt it drop onto her bare shoulder.

▃▃▃▃

CHRIS AND KATE sat opposite from Mr Harris, waiting for him to start the conference.

"So Scarlett, from what I've seen off her she appears to be a very. . .confident girl who shares her opinion with pride. She has a great personality in the classroom but easily distracted and hasn't done any of the homework she's been given since she joined." He explained.

"Well, in her defence she has only been at this school for two days. How much homework do these kids get?" Kate joked.

"She's had four pieces within the two days and hasn't done any." Mr Harris told them.

"What where they in the day after it was set?" Kate asked, furrowing her brows.

"Yes." Mr Harris replied, his voice showing no emotion.

"That means she only needed to hand in two pieces of the homework, Mr. . .Harris." Kate said.

"Kate." Chris warned.

"Which she has failed to turn in, Miss Argent." Mr Harris argued, growing bored and annoyed.

"Bullsh—"

"Kate!" Chris raised his voice, sending a harsh look to his sister.

"I'm sorry, where is Scarlett's father? If you don't mind me asking." He asked, looking between the to.

"Scarlett's father is not a part of her life, sir." Chris explained.

"And who is responsible for her if anything goes wrong with Miss Argent here?"

"That would be me and my wife." Chris told him.

Kate shook her head, leaning forward and glaring at the teacher, "What are you hinting at Harris?"

"Nothing, it just seems like Scarlett takes after her mother, that's all." He shrugged.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Kate hissed, staring daggers at him.

"Not at all."

▃▃▃▃

CHRIS ARGENT stormed down the stone stairs of the high school that lead to the parking lot, Victoria, Kate and Scarlett all following behind.

"Excuse me, you're not Allison's parents, are you?" A lady, around early 40's, asked as she walked over to the family.

She had curly black hair, tanned skin and kind, motherly features.

"I'm Scott's mom, and I hate to say it, but he's not answering his phone either." She explained.

"You're his mother?"

Miss McCall's head tilted to the side slightly, clearly she had taken offence to the way Chris had said it, "Funny how you say that like it's an accusation."

"Well I wouldn't claim it as a source of pride since he basically kidnapped my daughter today." Chris snapped, looking at her with anger and disgust.

"How do you skipping school wasn't your daughter's idea?" She fired back, raising an eyebrow at him.

"My daughter. . ." Chris trailed off when he heard the sound of a car door opening, revealing the two rebellious teens.

Scarlett could feel the smirk growing on her face as she saw Allison and Scott shaking with fear at the sight of the angry Argent.

". . .is right there."

Melissa McCall made her way over to the pair, steam coming out of her ears as she raged at her son.

"It's not his fault, it's my birthday and we were just—"

"Allison! Get in the car now." Chris commanded, glaring daggers at the young boy beside her.

A girl's scream rang in the group's ears, chaos arising as a crowd began to gather.

Scarlett was left alone with Allison as Scott wondered off along with his mom. She assumed Chris, Victoria and Kate had rushed over to their car, thinking that the girl's were following behind them. Though, she thought that they knew them both well enough to know that they would let their curiosity get the best of them, they always did.

The two searched the area for the cause of the screams, sticking close by one another as crowds of people come flooding from the school to get to their cars.

"Allison!" Scott's voice yelled, tackling the brunette out the way.

Scarlett turned to