Beacon Hills 1983

Chapter 62: Feelings

(Teen wolf + Riverdale)
11 November 1983, Tuesday

I wake up almost forgetting my sister, Billy, and Greg are in a room downstairs.

Last night, right after she told me our mother killed our father, I came up to mine and Lucy's room, and went straight to bed. I didn't want to hear more about it, or think. We agreed to focus on one thing at a time. And the first thing we were going to do, was fix Billy and Timothée. Or at least, trap them until we figure out how. Then we were going to fix her and Greg. I have no idea how, but Lucy suggested asking some of her Greendale witch friends for help... She didn't sound too confident.

Lucy knew how upset I was, because she climbed in next to me, and hugged me while I tried to fall asleep.
"It's okay, Nes. It's okay." She whispered.

Natalie and Claudia went to their room next door. I never bothered to wonder what they thought was going on, or cared to explain. Whether they understood it or not, they already know too much. Talia is going to be so dissapointment in me for not guarding the secret well enough from humans. But anyway, I've got bigger issues to worry about.

I brush my teeth, bath and get dressed. Today is a new day.

Lucy is already at one of the tables in the hotel diner, sipping Coca-Cola straight from the can. I need to remind her it's unhealthy to have soda for breakfast.
"Then get me some doughnuts instead." She groans. 
I order coffee and toast at the counter.

Just as I finish eating, Emel walks in. This is probably the first time I've seen her in public without make up- or that unforgettable red lipstick. She seems to be in a hurry.
"Nes, we have to find Timothée." She says, and grabs me by the arm.
"Have you even had breakfast yet?" I ask, but with no real concern.
"No time. Whatever's going on with me and Greg... It's going fast." The agitation in her tone only adds to her awfully drained appearance. My mind drifts back to the scales growing on her torso...

My best friend eyes Emel carefully.

Last night, I planned to tell Lucy everything, but, too my luck, it so happened that she figured most of it out herself.
Now the only thing she doesn't know is that Taylan...

Maybe nothing happened between Taylan and Heather. Maybe I don't have to say anything to Lucy because I don't know my brother as well as I think I do.

I mean... I don't know Emel AT ALL.

Usually, I'd feel really guilty about it. But now I just feel like there are more important things going on, and that there might be a slight chance Lucy didn't like Taylan as much as I'd expected.

I'm really hoping on the last part being true.

"Let's go." I tell Lucy, and the three of us exit the hotel.

To our luck, Timothée is on his way to the North Side, and we find him on his bike- his dad's bike.

He takes off his helmet and smiles.
"Hey Nes."
He's about to kiss me on the cheek like he did last night, but stops when he realises I'm not alone.
"Uh... Hey Lucy. And..."
"Emel." My sister says.
The smile is slowly wiped off Timothée's face. He narrows his eyes.
"Emel..." He repeats, probably recalling the name Billy told him on the bus.

Before he has time to remember anything else, I turn his face toward me.
"Timothée?" I say, sadly.
"Yeah, Nes?"
"I'm so sorry about this."
He frowns. "About wha-"
I knock him out with one punch.

He falls back, but Lucy catches him. We drag him into the woods nearby. Lucy says there's some space near Sweetwater River that's always empty, so we take him there.

I know how suspicious this may look to everyone else, but there's really no other way to do it. And luckily, there aren't much people around this time of the morning.

We leave his body on the soft grass. I shake my head, wishing things were different. Praying for a solution to this seemingly unsolvable problem.

Timothée doesn't deserve this. Niether does Billy- even if he is an asshole.

My sister got them into this mess, and now she has to get them out.

"Nes, you wait here, while Lucy and I get Billy." Emel explains.
"What about Greg?" I ask.
"I don't know. He's been in that cocoon all night and nothing's happened." She sighs.
"We'll figure it out. One thing at a time."
I nod, repeating, "One thing at a time."
Then, they're off.

My eyes wonder at Timothée. His curly brown hair, sculptured jaw line, pink lips, and pale skin.
I'm not sure what I feel about him anymore. I knew I liked him as a friend before last night, but now...
Something's changed. I don't see the shy nerd cowering behind books. I see the beautiful boy who knows what he wants, but not how to get it.

And then there's Billy.
A tough jock on the outside, but small and broken on the inside. Not knowing what love is, and assuming it's the way I make him feel. If this were happening a week ago, I'd be on the top of the moon. Completely blinded by his confession, and accepting it without question.

But now that Timothée has been added to the equation, things are beginning to feel... a little different.

I never liked Billy enough to call it love. But niether do I like Timothée enough to call it a crush.

When and how did I end up in a situation like this?
I'm the one who's always alone. I'm the one who makes fun of relationships. I'm the one who doesn't connect with people.

But maybe... I'm not that one anymore.