Emotional Tethers

Chapter 8 - Love?

Training was hard on Lydia. She knew it would be. But she didn't know how badly a human took training. She was thrown to the ground while Scott hovered above her. Teeth showing. She tried to push him off her, but couldn't succeed. She closed her eyes trying again as she did it. Panting out of breath, Lydia kept on laying on the ground while Stiles showed Scott to stop.

"Okay, I think that's enough," Stiles said helping Lydia up.

"You okay?" he asked noticing that Lydia was rubbing her arms.

"The only person to kill me is going to be Stiles Stilinski with his training," Lydia said as she exhaled.

"We need to prepare you," Scott said.

"You guys are literally killing me. It's 2 in the freaking morning. We have Chem in like 6 hours. Stiles, I'm done," Lydia said.

"Lydia, you need to be prepared for when we aren't there," Stiles said.

"And what will you do, huh? You're human, Stiles. You are even worse than me," Lydia said.

"I'm trying to prevent you from getting hurt. Because you know how I'll feel? I'll be devastated. And if you die, I will literally go out of my freaking mind," Stiles said while Lydia looked at Scott.

"You care?" Lydia asked.

"You aren't just my best friend's friend and neighbor, Lydia. You're my friend as well. So yes. I care," Stiles said.

"After Jackson..."

"Jackson was a jerk, nothing more. I'm sure as hell not him. Don't think because he treated you like rubbish that is what you deserve," Stiles said as they saw Allison.

"Are you guys done or what?" Allison asked.

"Yeah. I think they are done. Allison, why don't you take Lydia home? I want to talk to Stiles about something. If you're not up by six one of us will wake you up," Scott said.

"See you guys at school then," Lydia said as she and Allison were off.

"What do you want to talk to me about? I don't have secrets with Lydia, you know?" Stiles said as Scott looked at him.

"Does she know that you like her then? Because that is written all over your skin and I can smell it on you," Scott said as Stiles looked at him.

"I don't like Lydia," Stiles said.

"Don't joke around, please. She deserves a hell lot better. Whether you like or love her, just be honest. She doesn't deserve lies after Jackson," Scott said as he jumped on his bike driving off.

Stiles looked as Scott left staying behind slightly longer. Yes. He had to admit that he was feeling something for Lydia that seemed a lot different than what he felt when he started the school year. But love? That he didn't know about. Stiles headed back home seeing how his dad was busy with another case.

"Still busy, Dad?" Stiles asked.

"You are awfully close with this girl. To teach her until two am is extreme," Noah said.

"Yes, I know that," Stiles said knowing his father had a point.

Maybe he did love Lydia?

Lydia woke up as it was slightly after five. She had ended up sleeping two and a half hours. She smiled and slightly stretched her body while she saw as Scott and Allison were fighting through the window. She exhaled as she got her things together and jumped in the shower. She didn't feel like doing anything fancy, but today she did feel like doling up. Lydia had decided on a black floral dress pairing it with a black jacket and nude heels. She blow-dried her hair leaving her curls to fall naturally while applying just a little bit of makeup on.

"Lydia?" she heard Stiles as she opened the door.

"Morning. Wasn't sure if you would be up or still asleep. I brought coffee," Stiles said.

"Thank you," Lydia said taking the coffee as she grabbed her backpack.

"Sometimes I feel like you are getting hard core with training. Is there any specific reason?" Lydia asked.

"I told you. I want to make sure you're safe. I've been training some of the wolves as well. They struggle as well. But they are protected from humans who wants to kill them," Stiles said.

No, Scott! That's not it! We can't just...

"Are Scott and Allison okay? They've been fighting since I woke up," Lydia said as Stiles shrugged his shoulders.

"They should be. But don't worry about it," Stiles said.

"I am worried," Lydia said.

"Finish your coffee so we can head to school," Stiles said.

"Okay," Lydia said.

Quickly finishing her coffee, Lydia grabbed the last of her things as she and Stiles went out of the house. While Stiles was worried about her, she was also worried about him. Dealing with the death of his mother couldn't have been easy and she knew it was somewhere around here when she had passed. But she didn't bring it up. She couldn't. Arriving at school, Lydia saw Allison as she immediately approached her.

"Alli... Hey, what's wrong?" Lydia asked noticing that Allison was crying.

"He broke up with me. Scott broke up with me," Allison said through the tears.

"Oh, Ally," Lydia said as she pulled Allison into her body.

For the first time in a while, it wasn't Allison who needed to be consoled. She looked at Stiles who just watched over them as she mouthed 'broken up'. He knew what she was saying while it just seemed like he wasn't responding. He looked around and suddenly saw Scott heading into school.

"Scotty, man. Why break up with the one good person in your life?" Stiles asked.

"Who told you? It just happened," Scott said.

"Lydia is consoling Allison," Stiles said.

"Things change. Anyway, focus on your relationship with Lydia," Scott said.

"We are just friends! Nothing more," Stiles said.

"You love her. I can smell it on you," Scott said.

"Stop smelling me, Scott. That is just disturbing," Stiles said heading into class.

But Scott was right. He did like Lydia. Maybe he even loved her. But how does he tell her without losing a friendship?