|SUN |MOON |TRUTH| (COMPLETE T.W SERIES)

S1: Hallway Gossip

Walking out of the bathroom with my head tilted to the side as I squeezed the water from my hair, I noticed the pile of clothes I had worn the other day. Bloody and scattered with mud stains I kicked over the clothes into the bathroom, stuffing them underneath the cabinets where the cleaning supplies has been placed. But with a towel wrapped around my body, there was a surge of anxiety as I gazed around the room. I was still frozen in time four years ago, surrounded by things that I hadn't worn or touched since I was a teenager.

Knowing that most of my clothes were not going to fit, I took a look inside my closet. Switching on the light, I was bombarded with rows of athletic clothing, shoes, and cleats on the floor. My jeans had been folded up and neatly tucked on a shelf, while my shirts were hung in different categories. Sweaters and jackets near the back and t-shirts near the front. Gazing back at the clock near my bed, I grabbed as many clothes suited for this weather in 10 minutes. Tossing the rest aside, I was left with a pair of jeans, a white t-shirt, and an old plaided jacket.

Hearing a door creek open from the hallway, I looked over my shoulder and could smell the strong scent of cologne seeping through the cracks of my door. Dragging something across the floor, Scott's footsteps slowly walked in front of my room as I bent over to slip on my shoes. Cracking the door open, Scott was already halfway down to the foyer when I stood at the edge of the railing.

"You're heading to work already?" Scott asked.

"...yeah, I need to pick up an extra shift-,oh, you're up."

"I couldn't sleep..." I mumbled, catching my mother's attention.

"There's melatonin in the cabinet above the sink if you need it... and there's cereal in the pantry. I'm doing a double shift so I won't be home until late." My mom blurted out, hurrying out the door.

Heading straight for the kitchen, Scott slumped over the gym bag he was carrying next to the foyer as I quietly stepped down the stairs. Trying not to interrupt the silence between us, Scott's internalized anger spoke volumes as he waltzed around me. With his head down low, he quickly made a bowl of cereal and scarfed it down as I opened the fridge door.

"...do you want a ride to school?" I mumbled, holding my breath.

"No, thanks..."

"I don't mind, I was heading-

"Stiles is outside." He blurted out.

Hearing a honk from the street, Scott made a run for the door as I followed behind him and caught it before it slammed. Peaking my head outside the house, I watched him throw his things in the back and jump into the passenger side before Stiles' floored it down the road.

"Alright then...see you at school," I whispered.

Walking back into the kitchen, I grabbed one of the sports drinks near the back of the fridge and made my way out of the house. With the sun peeking above the trees, I took a look around the neighborhood again now in the daytime, trying to sneakily get into my car without one of them noticing. But as I turned on the engine, one of the neighbors from across the street stared my truck down before hiding back inside.

"...well that's not suspicious at all."

Stepping on the gas, I headed down the road following the other mass lines of cars heading towards the middle of town. Passing through some old roads that I used to know, I caught glimpses of what changes had happened since I had left. Large paralegal buildings replaced a majority of the strip malls, mom and pop shops had been replaced by large chain restaurants, not to mention the billboards signs.

Turning down the main street heading towards the school, I came across several traffic lanes near the parking lots. Swerving and passing those that were turning, I made my way back over to my assigned parking spot and quickly gazed at Emma who waited near the curb. Holding her books in her arms, I watched her from the rearview as she looked over to her left at the groups of people waiting nearby.