ochisia | stiles stilinski [2]

chapter nine: party guessed

"Lyds, I don't think we should be here," my eyes shifted across the large foyer of the house as we climbed up the staircase, my teeth biting into my lower lip, preparing to meet any one of the Argents.

Lydia ignored my warning and expertly swung open Allison's door with her arms full of shopping bags, "Clear your schedule — this could take a while."

Unsure of how to act with her, I greeted Allison with a small smile, perching myself at the end of her bed. How do you interact with someone whose mom tried to kill you and your best friend the night before which lead to her being bit by an alpha?

Allison's posture seemed relaxed enough which let me know that she wasn't aware of what her mom tried to do as Lydia dumped the bags on Allison's bed, "...How many outfits do you plan on wearing tonight?"

"It's my birthday!" Lydia chirped extremely perkily, her strange behavior continuing as she lifted out a grey bodycon dress, laying it against her body before setting it down. "I'm thinking host dress, evening dress, then, mmm... after-hours casual?"

I frowned a little at Lydia. She'd been acting off all day and been brushing off concerns I had repeatedly when I asked her if she was okay. She turned towards the bed and began laying clothes out on it.

Allison gave me a hesitant look before broaching a fairly sensitive topic, "I noticed that you didn't send out any invites..."

Lydia tensed but continued her motions, albeit a little more stiffly than before as she avoided looking at Allison and me, "It's the biggest party of the year, Allison — everyone knows."

I sunk back in my seat, playing with my fingers as a means to keep myself busy, not wanting to get involved.

"I was wondering if maybe this year, things, you know... might be different...?"

The tension in the room was palpable, making me shift in my seat a little.

"Why would anything be different?"

"Just cause things have been off lately... Things, and people... Like Jackson."

My eyes widened a fraction of an inch at the mention of Lydia's ex-boyfriend and I knew that this wasn't going to end well as Lydia finally lifted her head up to look Allison dead in the eye.

"What do you care about Jackson?"

"Do you know if he's coming tonight?"

Lydia broke into a fake smile as she lifted up a flowy, nude dress that was sleeveless, laying against her body as she inspected it in the mirror, "Everyone's coming. This one's American Rag. Mmm, I love it — for me, not you.

At that, the conversation was over and I mouthed to Allison to drop it. Allison nodded defeatedly as Lydia roughly yanked out a short dress adorned in a flowery pattern from a bag.

"This one's Material Girl. It's for you. And this one's girly but badass for Lexi."

The dress Lydia had decided for me was gorgeous. It had a sleeveless black bodice that had small cutouts on the side. The skirt was a soft dusty rose as it flowed down. My eyes lit up as I laid eyes on it, immediately falling in love with the flowy material but my excitement dropped as I caught the scent of a sickly sweet perfume that was masking the faint tinge of blood as a soft knock came at the door.

Victoria.

Her face was sheen with a light layer of sweat, her skin paler than it usually was.

"Lydia, I need to go do something but I'll be over at yours to get ready," my heart raced as I lied, not wanting to be in the same vicinity as the woman who tried to murder my best friend any longer.