𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, i. lahey

𝟎𝟎𝟔. protecting lydia

SIDELINES

____________

EMERY WALKS OUT the door to her English class, flipping through the assigned chapter. Her eyes skim through the pages, concentrating on the words as she makes her way through the main hallway to meet Allison at her locker.

The girl struggles to remain focused on the book while her mind travels to the topic of Isaac, who she hasn't seen in over a week now. Despite Erica telling her that he was alright, Emery can't help but worry about him. She can practically feel her worries eating her alive.

For the past nine days, Emery has been unable to think about anything— anyone else. Everything in her life is consumed by her endless thoughts of Isaac and his safety, knowing the Argents are aware of his existence in Derek's pack. She can't keep him safe when she doesn't even know where he is.

Suddenly, Emery's thoughts are interrupted when her forehead slams straight into somebody's chest, and she stumbles away while clutching her head. The person reaches out and grabs hold of her arm to help steady her. "Shit, I'm sorry—"

Her apology fades to nothing but a shocked silence when her gaze meets Isaac's, whose eyes are slightly wide with surprise as he looks down at her. "Sorry," he blurts. Then, Isaac tries to use his hand to move past Emery.

She gapes at him, shaking her head and clasping her fingers over his wrist. "I haven't seen you for an entire week and that's all you have to say to me? Sorry?"

"I can't talk right now, Em," Isaac hesitantly says. His attention is directed at something down the hall, and Emery turns to find Erica waiting by the door to their chemistry class. "I'll call you, okay?"

Without giving her a chance to argue, Isaac slides his hand out from hers and strides over to Erica. They walk into the classroom together, leaving Emery by herself. When was Isaac acquitted as a suspect in his father's murder? When did he come back? She can hardly register what has just happened before the bell rings.

Allison approaches Emery with a slight grin. "Hey, everything okay? I was waiting for you."

"I just saw Isaac," Emery informs.

"What?" the brunette furrows her brows. "I thought he was still hiding—"

"I guess not," she shrugs her shoulders lightly. Emery begins to cross the hall, Allison following suit with a sympathetic expression.

"Did he tell you that he was back?"

They enter their chemistry class to see Isaac and Erica sitting behind Scott, Stiles, and Lydia at the lab stations. Stiles has awkwardly pulled up a chair to the side of the desk, as though he's guarding the strawberry blonde. The girls narrow their eyes at them.

"Nope," Emery says while taking her seat beside Allison. She drops her bag to the floor, glancing back at Isaac. "He didn't tell me anything."

"Einstein once said, "two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe,"" Mr. Harris speaks. "I myself have encountered infinite stupidity." The man places a hand on Stiles' shoulder, "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."