Gabriella walked through the school halls, lost in her thoughts, when she turned a corner and nearly bumped straight into Matt. He stumbled back slightly, eyes wide.

"You scared the hell out of me," Matt said with a chuckle, placing a hand over his heart in mock relief, though his smile softened the moment.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Gabriella replied with an apologetic smile. She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, feeling a little awkward for catching him off guard.

Matt shook his head. "It's all good. You just looked like you were miles away. Everything alright?"

Gabriella hesitated for a second, then shrugged, her mind flashing briefly to Jackson, Erica, and everything in between. "Yeah, just... a lot on my mind, you know?"

Matt nodded, his expression understanding. "Yeah, I get that. If you ever need to talk or anything..."

"Thanks," Gabriella said, offering a small smile, feeling a little lighter.

"So what happened with the lizard?"

Gabriella blinked, momentarily thrown off by Matt's question. "The lizard?" she repeated, then realized what he was referring to and gave a small laugh. "Oh, right the chains couldn't hold back my little lizard friend, it escaped"

Matt chuckled, raising an eyebrow at her response. "Couldn't hold it back, huh? Sounds like your 'little lizard friend' is more trouble than you expected."

Gabriella smirked, trying to play it off casually. "You have no idea."

"Well, if you ever need help wrangling your runaway lizard, let me know," he joked, but there was a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"I'll keep that in mind," Gabriella replied, her tone light.

Matt hesitated for a moment, then, with a casual smile, asked, "Hey, actually, Hey, did you hear about the underground show? I guess they've got some big name spinning. I've got a hook-up for tickets if you're down. Should I grab you one?"

Gabriella blinked, caught off guard by the sudden invitation. She opened her mouth to respond, unsure how to feel about it, when—

"Sorry, she's busy tonight," a voice cut in sharply from behind.

Before Gabriella could even register what was happening, Erica had appeared out of nowhere, her hand firmly grabbing Gabriella's arm. The possessiveness in her grip and the coolness in her tone were unmistakable.

Erica shot Matt a quick, dismissive glance. "We have plans."

Gabriella barely had time to protest as Erica practically dragged her away from the conversation, leaving Matt standing there, looking confused and slightly thrown off.

"Seriously, Erica?" Gabriella muttered, freeing herself from Erica's grasp. "What the hell was that about?"

Erice's voice laced with jealousy as she responded, "C'mon, did you seriously want to go with that?" She glanced back toward Matt, her expression filled with disdain.

Gabriella raised an eyebrow. "That's not the point, Erica. You can't just swoop in and drag me away whenever you feel like it."

Erica stopped, turning to face Gabriella, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Maybe I don't want to watch you hang out with some guy who clearly doesn't even know you like I do."

Gabriella sighed, frustrated but also a little thrown by Erica's boldness. "And this is how you show it? By acting like a jealous psycho?"

Erica's expression softened, but only slightly. "I just don't want to see you with someone else. Especially not him."

Erica's eyes darted back to Gabriella, a hint of curiosity mixing with her jealousy. "By the way," she began, her voice a little softer but still edged with suspicion, "why was Stiles asking Lydia about Jackson's parents?"

Gabriella blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation. "What? How do you know about that?"

"I overheard him and Lydia talking earlier," Erica replied, crossing her arms. "He seemed pretty interested in something about Jackson's real parents. Why?"

"That would be none of your business" Gabriella tried to walk away but was just dragged into an empty classroom by erica and was slammed against the door.

Erica, claws out. She presses the tips into her chest "Why is stiles asking Lydia about Jackson's real parents?"

Gabriella rolled her eyes, trying to maintain her composure despite the adrenaline rushing through her. "Seriously? You think the little claw trick will scare me? I'm stronger and more trained than you. I could easily have you on the floor within seconds."

Gabriella flips them over and now erica was slammed on the door, she let go of the blonde and went to leave when erica spoke up " If you want to find his parents they're about a half mile from here...In Beacon Hills Cemetery"

"And why should I believe you"

"Because I know this town, and I know the secrets it keeps," Erica replied, her voice steady, yet laced with a hint of desperation. "And maybe because I want us to be like before"

Gabriella's hand lingered on the door handle, her pulse quickening as Erica's words hung in the air. She turned back to face her, still pressed against the door, a mixture of defiance and vulnerability in her gaze.

"Like before?" Gabriella repeated, her voice steady but her heart racing. "Before all the chaos? Before you broke into my house and tried to kill lydia?"

Erica flinched, but her gaze remained unwavering. "I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. But I've changed. I don't want to be that person anymore."

"And you think we can just go back to the way things were?"

"No," Erica whispered, stepping closer, her eyes never leaving Gabriella's. "But we can try. I don't want to lose you again."

The raw intensity in Erica's voice and the way her eyes flickered with something more than just regret tugged at Gabriella, pulling her deeper into the tension that crackled between them.

Gabriella took a step forward, her breath catching. "And what if this is just another thing Derek told you to do? What if I can't trust you?"

"derek didn't tell me to do anything," Erica insisted, her voice low, her gaze locked onto Gabriella's. "I'm not asking you to forget everything. I'm just asking for a chance."
The space between them seemed to shrink, the air thick with unresolved emotions and something much more primal. Gabriella hesitated, but the way Erica's eyes darkened with a mixture of longing and desperation sent a rush of heat through her.

Finally, something inside Gabriella snapped. In one swift motion, she closed the distance, crashing her lips against Erica's in a heated, urgent kiss. Erica responded instantly, her hands gripping Gabriella's waist, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened, both of them losing themselves in the intensity of the moment.

Gabriella pushed Erica harder against the door, her hands tangling in Erica's hair as their lips moved together in a fiery rhythm. There was no hesitation now, only the undeniable pull of what had been simmering between them for far too long.

Erica's hands roamed up Gabriella's back, her nails lightly scraping, sending shivers down Gabriella's spine as their bodies pressed impossibly closer. The kiss was raw, full of pent-up frustration, desire, and a need neither of them could deny any longer.

When they finally pulled apart, both breathless, Gabriella's heart pounded in her chest. She looked into Erica's eyes, still burning with the same intensity from moments before, and whispered, "This doesn't mean I trust you."

Erica's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile, still catching her breath. "I'll take what I can get."

Erica pressed Gabriella against the desk, her lips feverish and her hands roaming freely, tracing every curve. Gabriella responded in kind, her body arching into Erica's, both of them completely lost in the moment. The heat between them was undeniable, the intensity almost overwhelming as their kiss deepened, becoming more urgent with each passing second.

But suddenly, Gabriella stiffened. Her enhanced werewolf senses kicked in, and she pulled away sharply, breaking the kiss.

Her breath came in heavy, shallow bursts, but her eyes were wide, suddenly alert.

"Gabby?" Erica's voice was husky, confused by the abrupt halt. "What—?"

"Shh," Gabriella whispered, her head tilting slightly as she strained to listen.

In the distance, beyond the walls of the classroom, she heard chaos—yelling, the unmistakable sounds of a struggle and fighting.

Erica noticed the change in her expression, her own instincts starting to kick in. "What is it?" she asked, her voice low but tense, as she, too, became more alert.

Gabriella moved off the desk urgently, her face suddenly serious as she listened closer. "Something's wrong with Allison," she said, her voice low but full of tension.

Erica's playful expression faded instantly. "What do you mean? What did you hear?"

Gabriella didn't respond immediately, already heading toward the door. "I'm not sure, but I can hear yelling... something's happening."

Without waiting for Erica's response, she swung open the door and started down the hallway, her heightened senses guiding her.

Gabriella made her way to the boys locker room with erica behind her

Her eyes focus on WATER seeping into the corridor from underneath the door to the locker room which SMASHES OPEN.

Scott falls on the floor as Jackson steps ontop of him, Erica quickly grabbed Jackson and pinned against the wall as gabriella held Scott back from attacking jackson

Allison comes through the door as a group of students gather to watch the fight.

"What the hell's going on?" Harris said watching the scene infront of him

"I think you dropped this" Matt said as he hold Scott's tablet But Harris grabs the tablet out of his hand. He uses it to point at Scott and Jackson "You and you. Actually..."
He turns to Gabriella and the others "All of you. Detention. Three o'clock"

Harris turns to leave making Gabriella move to check on allison "are you ok?"

"...yea"

[...]

Harris seats his detained students apart in the library, Allison, Erica, Scott, Stiles, Gabriella, Jackson and a bewildered Matt.

Apparently Stiles had landed himself detention when he wouldn't stop asking Danny in class if he thought he was attractive.

"We can't be in detention together. I have a restraining order against these tools" Jackson said sitting down

"All of these tools?"

Stiles points to himself and Scott "Just us tools"

"Fine. You two. Over there" he points at an empty table across the room

They went to sit there leaving erica and gabriella alone in the table "how did Jackson's parents die?" Gabriella whispered to Erica

"It was a car accident. My dad was the insurance investigator, Every time he sees Jackson drive by in his Porsche he makes some comment about the huge settlement
he's getting when he's eighteen."

"So not only is Jackson rich now, but when he turns 18 he will get richer which will most likely turn him into more of an asshole"

Jackson groans and  puts a hand to his head, gritting his teeth in pain. He raises his free hand toward Harris "I need to use the bathroom"

Hand wiping at the sweat on his forehead, Jackson gets up.

"You don't look so good"

"I just need some water"

Concerned, Harris follows him"No one leaves their seat"

But the moment the door closes behind them, Scott and Stiles jump up and race to Erica's table

"When did they die" Scott asked as he was eavesdropping on there conversation

"I could try to find the insurance report in my dad's dropbox. He keeps everything"As she flips open her laptop, Stiles narrows his eyes at her.

"Why are you being so helpful?"

Erica smirked, not even bothering to look at him directly. "Not doing this for you."

Her gaze shifted toward Gabriella, the unspoken tension between them evident. Gabriella, feeling the weight of Erica's stare, raised an eyebrow in return, slightly amused but not saying a word.

Stiles caught the look between them, his eyes darting back and forth before narrowing even more. He folded his arms across his chest, clearly uncomfortable and not liking the vibe. "Seriously? What is going on here?"

Scott glanced at Stiles, sensing the sudden jealousy rolling off of him in waves. "Stiles, now's not the time."

Stiles, however, wasn't about to let it go. He stepped closer to the table, his gaze fixated on Gabriella, trying to figure out what had just shifted between her and Erica. "Are you two... like... a thing now or something?" His voice had a mix of frustration and curiosity, tinged with something else—jealousy.

Suddenly an announcement filled the room "Scott McCall. Please report to the Principal's Office"

"What did you do?" Gabriella asked confused

"I don't know"

Harris and Jackson walk into the room "McCall principles office now"

Harris paused looking at Stiles "I believe I said don't move from your seat Stilinski, is that demand to complicated for you?"

Stiles sighed annoyed before moving to his seat as scott leaves to go to the Principal's Office

Erica and gabriella turn back to the computer where they read the details of the insurance investigation into the deaths Jackson's parents.

Gabriella points at the screen "look at the dates. His parents--"

-"-arrived to the hospital D.O.A. Both of them. Estimated time of death 9:26 pm, June 14th 1995" Erica read out loud

Gabriella frowned "Jackson's birthday is June 15th"

Before Erica can react, the sound of Harris zipping up his bag grabs their attention. Everyone begins packing their things to leave.

"Oh no, I'm sorry. Yes, I'm leaving, but none of you are. You may go when you're done with the re-shelving" Harris points to the carts overflowing with returned books. "Enjoy the rest of your evening"

Harris leaves the library leaving the teenagers alone

Erica closed the laptop and turned to face gabriella "so what's the answer?"

Gabriella looked at her confused "what?"

"To stiles question...are we a thing" erica said putting her hand on Gabriella's lap

"We kissed, it didn't mean anything"

"Oh honey we were gonna do alot more than just kiss if Jackson and scott didn't have that fight"

Gabriella felt her pulse quicken as Erica's words sank in, the playful, seductive tone making it hard to focus. She glanced down at Erica's hand on her lap and then back up into her eyes, narrowing her gaze slightly, trying to regain control of the moment.

"It was a moment," Gabriella said, her voice steady but her heart racing. "That doesn't mean there's something between us."

Erica's smirk deepened, her fingers lightly trailing up Gabriella's thigh. "You keep saying that, but your body tells a different story."

Gabriella tensed, her senses picking up the closeness, the heat radiating between them. For a brief second, the tension made her want to give in, but she pushed the thought away, her mind snapping back to reality, when scott walked back through the doors.

"Scott?" Gabriella asked, stepping away from Erica, thankful for the interruption but still on edge from the intensity of the moment. "What did gerard say?"

"Actually gerard wasn't the one who wanted to talk to me, it was Allison's mom"

"Does she know about you two?"

"No, but I don't think we can hide it for much longer, she's getting suspicious"

"Who is?" Allison asked coming up from behind them with Stiles

"Um my mom" Scott lied "I think she is getting suspicious about the real reason that we kidnapped Jackson but I can handle it what did you find out about Jackson's parents"

"he was born after his mother died. By C-section. They had to pull him out of her dead body" Gabriella said confused on why scott would lie to allison

"So was it an accident or not?" Allison asked

"The word all over the report is inconclusive"

"Then his parents could have been murdered?"

"If they were it falls in line with the Kanima myth. It seeks out and kills murderers" Gabriella said

"But for Jackson? Or for whoever's controlling him?" Stiles asked but before anyone could say anything a  BURST of GLASS and SPARKS, a LIGHT above goes out.

Everyone hit the floor the werewolves have there claws out, Gabriella looked around her trying to find erica "Erica!"

When her eyes landed on her she saw the blonde werewolf mouth snapping open to reveal fangs  as she fell to the ground

Gabriella rushed over moving Erica's body away from the sparkes that were above her

Jackson darts forward. Hands hitting the carpet as he drops to all fours, he leaps up AND SMASHES through the window of the library but not before he left a message

Stay out of my way. Or I'll kill all of you.

Gabriella gathers the paralyzed Erica into her arms. Except she's beginning to shake, tremors rippling through her body.

she's having a seizure

Between the stacks, Gabriella tries to keep Erica on her side as her body wrenches and twists with violent spasms.

Nearby, Allison pulls Matt onto his back. "He's alive"

Scott turns to Erica, her seizure seeming far worse than the one they witnessed in gym class "We need to get her to a hospital"

Gabriella sighed "no time" as she grabs Erica's arm "am sorry" as the words left her mouth she presses down on it, BREAKING it. Erica SCREAMS in agony.

"You broke her arm?" Stiles said confused

"Just like I did with Scott when he ingested Wolfsbane, it helps trigger the healing process.... I also have to get the venom out.
That's the part that's going to hurt"

Hands gripped around her broken arm, Gabriella presses down.

As Erica SHRIEKS, BLOOD infused with the viscous Kanima venom spills across the floor.

Erica collapses into Gabriella's arms. Her eyes blink as she fights to stay conscious while looking up at her.

Pushing the hair from her face, Gabriella gazes on her with the kind of look that she used to give stiles

[...]

"Morning sunshine...technically it's midnight so that doesn't make since" Gabriella said as she sees Erica eyes slowly start to open

She had brought erica back to her house to heal after the attack

Erica blinked a few times, the memory of the attack slowly coming back to her. "What happened?" she croaked, her voice hoarse. "The library... Jackson..."

Gabriella nodded, her heart heavy as she recalled the chaos. "You were having a seizure. I had to break your arm to trigger the healing process."

Erica winced, trying to shift her position but grimacing in pain. "You did what?"

Gabriella bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile. "I know it sounds crazy, but it worked. The venom from the Kanima was making it worse. I had to get it out."

Erica's eyes widened. "And you thought breaking my arm was the best way to do that?"

"It worked, didn't it?" Gabriella said, trying to keep the mood light despite the gravity of their situation. "Besides, I didn't want you to die on me. You're a little too cute for that."

Erica managed a small smile, despite the pain. "You're lucky I like you, or