Alone • Liam Dunbar

Twenty-Three

After I almost beat a locker to death earlier, it was fair to say my friends were concerned for me.

They kept me company for the rest of the day, urging me to skip the remainder of my classes. I agreed only because I highly doubted I'd be much of a participant in Economics in my current condition.

Stiles couldn't stay with us for long, though I was sure he would have if he could have. He only left because Lydia asked him to accompany her to Beacon Hills Memorial. She was positive she'd seen something there during her surgery from when Tracy sliced her, but the memory that surfaced after she read Valack's book didn't correlate with that. They went together to investigate and find any clues, always the best duo for discovering the undiscoverable.

The others remained with me until the end of the school day. Liam, Brett, and Hayden put aside their hatred for one another for my sake, and the five of us stowed away in the back of the library, hidden behind rows of bookshelves that shielded us from the outside world.

Mason was our main source of entertainment in those hours that passed. He picked random books to read to us while we sat crowded around him like school children, intent on listening to their teacher during storytime. I don't remember much of what he chose, I only remember the comfort of being surrounded by my friends while my mind attempted to heal itself from what it had seen.

All good things must end though, and our time in the library couldn't last forever.

Mason had to get home for a family dinner, Liam had lacrosse mandatory lacrosse practice, and Brett needed to pick up Lori from school before his shift at Richard's started. Hayden had to work too, but she was adamant about not letting me be alone and ordered me to come with her. Not only that, but she also claimed this weekend I would stay over at her place so she could keep an eye on me.

"Are you sure Valerie won't mind me staying over?" I ask Hayden for probably the thousandth time today.

We stand together in one of Sinema's back storage rooms, a fold-out table between us. It was covered with over a dozen miniature maroon glass jars filled with artificially musky wax that made me slightly nauseated.

When we arrived at the club, Hayden's boss Phil ordered her to put out multiple sets of candles. He claimed it would 'add to the ambiance'. I wanted to caution him against using open flames as decor in a building that was inevitably going to be packed with stumbling drunk patrons, but decided against it. Phil didn't exactly seem like the type to take well to constructive criticism.

Hayden laughs lightly in response, using a slim plastic lighter to light another wick. She seems more focused on the current task at hand rather than my growing nerves.

"She'll be fine with it, Jac. In all honesty, Val will probably think you're a godsend. She's been waiting for me to show her proof that I'm not a total loner since I was in like sixth grade," Hayden jokes, an attempt to ease my mind.

I offer a chuckle in return, though it's only a minor one.

It was important to me to leave a good impression on Valerie. Not only was she a member of Hayden's family, and most likely the only one I'd ever meet given their parental situation, but she also worked for Stilinski. The last thing I wanted is for the sheriff, a man I deeply admire, to have to listen to one of his deputies rant about any of my potentially unsavory or unfavorable behaviors rubbing off on their sister.

I'm sure he already got an earful from Parrish about my midnight racing with Theo.

Hayden catches on that I'm still not exactly soothed and continues her efforts.

"Jac, relax. This weekend is going to be great. We're gonna eat tons of junk food, put on face masks that are terrible for our skin, and most importantly, watch the best romantic drama known to man, The Notebook." At that last bit, Hayden stares off into space dreamily, though I can't match her attitude.