Stand By Me

18

While Allison dropped Lydia off, she said, "I need you to promise that you won't say anything about what the hell just happened."

Lydia gave her a nod. "I'll promise not to say anything about what just happened if you can tell me what the hell just happened."

Peyton let out a sigh. "It's... complicated."

Lydia shot her a look. "Well, how 'bout either of you start with why Derek was there? Or where Jackson went, or what is wrong with Erica? Or do you two need a minute to come up with a plausible lie?"

Peyton wrung her hands together. "The other stuff is kind of complicated. To be totally honest, half the time I'm still confused about everything that appears."

Allison turned to Lydia, who was staring at Peyton in confusion. "Part of the reason why I'm asking is because Scott and I aren't supposed to be seeing each other, okay? It's better if you just keep what you know to yourself."

Lydia sighed. "Fine. I'll keep what I know about you and your boyfriend -- which is nothing -- to myself."

Allison frowned at her. "Hey. He's not just my boyfriend. You get that, right?"

She grabbed Lydia's wrist, and Lydia tried to get it off. "Let me go."

Allison let out a sigh. "Just for one second, please, try and remember-"

"Remember what?"

"Remember what it feels like. All of those times when you see him standing down the hall and you cannot breathe until you're with him. Or those times in class when you -- you can't stop looking at the clock because you know that he's standing right out there waiting for you. Don't you remember what that's like?"

Lydia shook her head. "No."

"What do you mean, "no"? You've had boyfriends."

"None like that."

Allison glanced at the blonde. "Peyton, do you feel the same way? About Stiles?"

Peyton shook her head. "No. Stiles and I are just friends. Nothing more, nothing less, and I highly doubt we'll ever be more."

While Lydia walked inside her house, Allison drove Peyton off at hers. It wasn't a far drive and Peyton was hoping for a quiet ride, but that wasn't going to happen.

Allison glanced at Peyton for a second before turning back to the road. "Stiles is in love with you, you know."

"Can you please stop butting into my love life?"

"I think you like him."

"Just stop."

"I don't want a relationship more than friends. I mean, something could happen later, but for the time being, we're just friends."

Peyton got out and walked into her house. Since the house was empty, as both her parents were at work, she made her way to her room and flopped on her bed.

The next day at school, Allison and Peyton were called into the principal's office. Gerard gave her a smile while she frowned at him. "Why am I here? I didn't do anything. At least I don't think so."

Gerard, still smiling, said, "Relax. I just need to find out a few things." He turned to his granddaughter. "So, who did you say you were studying with tonight?"

Allison gave him a faux smile. "Just Lydia and Peyton. We're prepping for our world history midterm."

"I didn't realize you and Peyton were friends. History was one of my favorites. Especially military history. Ever hear the phrase, "know thy enemy"?"