North Starr

17

Melanie searched for Scott and Stiles and found them entering the school.

"Stiles, Scott, you look worried. What is it?" Melanie asked, noticing their expressions.

"Dude, Mel, I just talked to my dad, who just talked to Jackson, and I've got really terrible, horrible, very, very bad news," Stiles said.

Scott sighed. "I think I already know."

"All right. I only found one thing online called a kanima. It's a werejaguar from South America that goes after murderers."

"That thing was not a jaguar."

"Yeah, and I'm not exactly a murderer."

Melanie raised an eyebrow. "You're not exactly a murderer? Stiles?"

He brushed her comment off as Scott continued. "Yeah, but you did, you two did see it kill somebody, which is probably why it tried to kill you, and it probably won't stop until you're dead."

Melanie frowned. "Thanks, Scott. I love thinking about my impending death. Again!"

Stiles nodded in agreement. "You know, sometimes I really begin to question this "friendship.""

Melanie rolled her eyes at. The three of them walked to Economics, and Melanie sat down behind Stiles while Scott sat next to him. Jackson slid into the empty seat behind Scott. "Hey, testicle left and right. Antisocial chick. What the hell is a kanima?"

Stiles glared at Jackson.

Coach stood up and faced the class. "All right, listen up. A quick warning before we begin our review. Some of you, like McCall, might want to start their own study groups, because tomorrow's midterm is so profoundly difficult, I'm not even sure I could pass it. Okay, I need a volunteer at the board to answer the first question. Who's got it, huh? Come on, let's go, buddy."

"Paralyzed from the neck down," Jackson said with a hiss. "Do you have any idea what that feels like?"

Stiles nodded. "I'm familiar with the sensation."

Scott frowned a moment. "Wait. Why would Derek test you? Why would he think that it's you?"

"How should I know?" Jackson retorted.

"Unless, are they thinking it could be Lydia?" Melanie asked as she took a moment to think.

Jackson shrugged as he glanced to her. "I don't know, all I heard was her name and something about Chemistry."

"Jackson!" Coach called. "Do you have something you want to share with the rest of the class?"

Jackson thought for a second before turning to Coach. "Um, just as an undying admiration for my -- my coach."

"That's really kind of you. Now shut up! Shut it! Anybody else?" Coach yelled.

As class ended, Scott turned to Melanie and Stiles. "How do we know it's not her?"

Stiles sighed. "Because I looked into the eyes of that thing, okay? And what I saw was pure evil. And when I look into Lydia's eyes, I only see 50% evil. All right maybe 60. You know, but no more than 40 on a good day."

"Stiles, that's not a very good argument," Scott said.

"And besides; her evil level is lower than 40," Melanie added. "But maybe that's because I'm her friend."

Stiles sighed and said, "I'm aware of that you two, but I swear it's not her. It can't be, all right? Lydia's fine. Melanie would've said something."

Their conversation was interrupted when Coach said, "Okay then, anybody else want to try answering? This time in English?"