Stand By Me

15

Peyton listened as Allison and Scott started to climb up the rock wall. They began flirting, and let out a sigh. A nervous expression crossed her face.

Scott moved closer to Allison, and she kicked him further down the wall. Coach smirked. "McCall, I don't know why, but your pain gives me a special kind of joy. Right? All right, next two. Stilinski, and um, Sawyer. Your turn."

Stiles placed a hand on Peyton's shoulder, causing her to jump. "Sorry. Are you sure you can do this?"

Peyton shook her head. "No. Stiles, I want to, but I'm terrified."

"Just feel around and take it once step at a time, okay?"

"What if I fall?"

"You'll have a harness and there's a mat below."

She swallowed and nodded.

"I'll be with you every step of the way," Stiles reassured.

Peyton felt for the rocks and slowly began climbing the wall. Stiles climbed up slower so he could be there to catch her if she fell.

As soon as Peyton reached the top, she hesitated. "Stiles? What do I do?"

"Push off and you'll be lowered down," he said.

"I... Can you hold my hand?"

Stiles took her hand and felt her grip tighten. After a moment, he said, "I'm proud of you, Peyton."

A small smile crossed her face. "Thanks."

"Next two," Coach said. "Erica and Devon."

Erica started climbing the wall and muttered, "Oh, please-"

Coach looked up at her. "Erica. Dizzy? Is it vertigo?"

Lydia frowned. "Vertigo's a dysfunction of the vestibular system of the inner ear. She's just freaking out."

"Erica," Coach called again.

"I'm fine," Erica mumbled.

Allison was quiet a moment before she said, "Coach, maybe it's not safe. You know she epileptic."

Coach threw his hands in the air. "Why doesn't anybody tell me this stuff? I have to get -- Erica -- y-you're fine. Just -- Just kick off from the wall. Th-There's a mat to catch you. Come on. See, you're fine. You're on the ground. You're all right. Let's go. Shake it off. You're fine."

Peyton made her way to Erica and said, "You're all right now."

She nodded and sighed. "Why'd you come over?"

"Epilepsy isn't something to take lightly. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Suddenly, Erica fell to the ground and began seizing. Scott, Allison and Stiles ran out while Peyton had managed to place Erica on her side.

Allison looked at her. "How'd you know?"

"It's what you're supposed to do so someone seizing doesn't choke on themselves."

Allison turned to Scott. "How'd you know?"

Scott met Allison's eyes. "I felt it."

Paramedics came and took her to the hospital while Peyton walked with Scott and Stiles to lunch. Scott and Allison sat at the normal table the group always sat at. Stiles dragged Peyton along so he could talk to Boyd.

Stiles sat down and said, "Boyd. You got the keys?"

Boyd frowned at him. "This isn't a favor. It's a transaction."