The Awakening ²|Isaac Lahey

17. Chemistry Project

“Alright, so he tests her like he did with Jackson, right?” Stiles said as they walked into Chemistry. “But when and where?”

Veronica watched as Isaac and Erica walked into the room. They gave Scott and Stiles a knowing look before looking at Lydia. “Here and now.” Veronica said before walking away from them and sitting with Lydia. Erica and Isaac went to do the same but Veronica beat them to it. “Hey!” Veronica said with a smile at Lydia. Lydia smiled at her but they both gave Stiles a weird look when he sat on the other side of her. “Ignore him. He was dropped on his head a few times.” Veronica said with a pointed look at Stiles.

    “I can tell.” Lydia said. Allison came into the room and gave Scott a weird look, he brought a chair up to sit next to Veronica. Scott motioned behind him at Isaac and Erica.

    “Hey, so we should totally hang out tonight.” Veronica said.

Before Lydia could respond, their teacher Adrian Harris began walking,“Einstein once said, "two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the universe.' I myself have encountered infinite stupidity.” He put his hand on Stiles's shoulder which made Veronica actually smile. “So to combat the plague of ignorance in my class, you're going to combine efforts through a round of group experiments. Let's see if two heads are indeed better than one. Or in Mr. Stilinski's case, less than one.” Veronica looked over at the boy who was staring at her dazedly.

    “Have some dignity.” She said to him stubbornly.

    “Erica, you take the first station. You'll start with Mr. McCall, alright next two. Veronica you'll take station too, start with-” Veronica smiled proudly whenever almost everyone's hands shut up. “I didn't ask for Volunteers. Put your hormonal little hands down. Start with Mr. Lahey.”

Veronica smiled and stood up. “Maybe next time, boys.” She said in fake arrogance as she and Isaac both sat down at station too. She looked over at him and whispered as she began to work. “I'm not gonna pretend like I don't like you. Because I like you a lot Isaac. But if you hurt Lydia. Then I...” She snapped her pencil in half with her mind. “Well.. I think you get it.” They worked in silence as they did the project. Veronica smiled at Isaac as the bell rung. “Bye.”

Veronica looked across the room at Stiles as Isaac walked over there and she sat with Lydia. “If you harm one perfect strawberry blonde hair on her head, Veronica will turn your little ass into a fur coat and give it to her as a birthday present. They share a birthday you know, it's how they became best friends.”

Isaac chuckled. “Really? I've never actually been to one of their big invite-only birthday parties. I did ask Veronica out once though.” That made Stiles look at him jealously.

    “That sounds like a beginning of a heartfelt story. I'm gonna pass, thanks.”

    “It was sometime after the first day back after winter break.”

    “And you thought everything was going to be different as a sophomore, but she said no because she's busy?”

Isaac smiled and accompanied it with a chuckle. “Yeah. Yeah, she even laughed. She wasn't being rude about it though. She was actually very nice about it.”

    “Mmm. Unrequited love's a bitch. Maybe you should write about it in English class, you know?” Stiles suggested sarcastically. “Channel all of that negative energy.”

    “No. I was thinking I would channel it into killing her best friend. I'm not very good at writing.” Isaac said. Stiles looked over at him in shock. "Oh hey, besides, unrequited love is your thing right? I have a question. Do you think she'd say yes now that she just said she liked me. Liked me a lot actually.” Isaac gave him a sly smirk as Mr. Harris dinged the bell. Veronica punched her desk as Isaac sat next to Lydia and she was stuck with Stiles. Stiles went to get up but Mr. Harris prevented him with a teaching stick.

    “If you're trying to test my patience, Mr. Stilinski, I guarantee it'll be a failing grade.” He said.

Veronica kept her eye on Lydia the entire time while letting Stiles do the work. “If you catalyzed the reaction correctly, you should now be looking at a crystal.” Veronica looked over at the beaker and groaned.

    “What the fuck is that.” She said impatiently, looking at Stiles.

    “Now for the part of that last experiment, I'm sure you'll all enjoy, you can eat it.”

Veronica looked back at the beaker in disgust before looking at Stiles,“Go ahead.” She said, placing her eyes back on Lydia as she took the crystal and almost put it in her mouth.

    “Lydia!” Scott yelled out suddenly which made Veronica jump and send her beaker flying across the room.

Lydia looked at him annoyed. “What?”

Scott sat back down again,“Nothing.”

Veronica hadn't realized she had grabbed Stiles's hand anxiously, digging her nails into his skin as Lydia took a bite of the crystal. She let go of his hand as she watched nothing happening to Lydia. She looked over at Stiles in shock.

Stiles, Scott, Allison and Veronica all walked into a room after class. “Derek's outside waiting for Lydia.” Scott told them.

    “Waiting to kill her?” Allison asked.

    “If he thinks she's the kanima, then yes, especially after what happened at the pool.”

Veronica punched the desk and turned to Scott. “It's not her.” she told him.

    “Vee, she didn't pass the test, man. Nothing happened.” Scott said.

    “She hasn't taken my test yet.” Veronica said stubbornly. “Here's what's going to happen. We're gonna prove Derek wrong. After school. We meet up at my house. All of us.” She said looking at Stiles. “Jackson, Lydia and Mattheo included.”

    “I think I know someone who can translate the bestiary.”

    “I'm gonna talk to Derek. See if I can convince him to let us prove him wrong. But if anything happens. Let me handle it.” Scott said.

Allison and Veronica both gave each other looks,“What's that supposed to mean?” Allison asked him.

    “It means you can't heal like I do. I just don't want you getting hurt.” Allison turned around and pulled out a mini cross bow.

    “I can protect myself. And so can Veronica.” Allison said, prompting the other girl to smile proudly.

    “I love that for you. Hey would you maybe consider dumping that loser and getting with me instead?” Veronica asked jokingly. 

Scott looked down at the cross bow and back at Allison worriedly. “What? Did something else happen?” She asked him.

    “I just don't want you getting hurt.” Scott said, which made Veronica roll her eyes. Yes she was jealous of their relationship, she admitted it. But she still found it disgusting. “Seriously, if anything goes wrong, you call me, okay? I don't care if your dad finds out. Call, text, scream, yell, whatever. I'll hear you and I'll find you as fast as I can. We have until three.” At that Veronica couldn't help but smiles. Allison nodded and Scott went to walk away but turned around as he caught an arrow. Veronica's eyes widened slightly as she and Allison both turned and gave Stiles and annoyed look.

    “I...” Allison held out her hand for the crossbow. “Sorry. Sorry. It's a sensitive trigger on that.” Veronica couldn't help but smile and she hated herself. She was supposed to hate Stiles right now. Not find his stupidity funny and charming.

    “So.. I guess this means for the time being. I forgive you and we are on following Lydia duty. I'll call Mattheo.” She said before walking out of the room, Stiles immediately following after her.

The four walked into the library, Mattheo was confused on why he was following Lydia but he couldn't complain. Veronica turned around when it sounded like her picture was being taken again. “Did you hear that?”

    “It was probably just someone in year book duty.” Stiles said to her. Veronica nodded and continued after Lydia.