Black Webs

Inside Us: Only Stars

There in the dark, down in the valley,
under the motel neon sign,
Room 105, the back of the alley,
you're wearing my coat while sleeping,
it feels like I've come home.

xxxxx

f o u r t e e n:

L y d i a

All she could think as she entered the water was I'm gonna get hypothermia. I'm gonna get hypothermia and die.

And then... Cold, cold, cold...

The wind seemed to be throwing frosted darts at every patch of exposed skin on her body, which sucked because she'd pulled off her dress so she was in her bra and Allison's denim shorts (because she refused to go swimming in her underwear).

Stiles didn't want to take off his khakis, even though they would get drenched completely.

"You'll be picking seaweed out of those pants for days to come," Stiles shrugged. "At least it'll wash out the sand."

"Yeah, temporarily," Lydia muttered. It was just an excuse for him to keep his pants on, Lydia had no problem with him keeping his pants on - in fact, she kind of wanted him to keep his pants on. They weren't ready to get naked in front of each other.

Not because they were uncomfortable, but because they wouldn't be able to contain themselves and in no time, Lydia would be pinning herself on him and things would go south.

It was definitely not the time to play pin the Lydia on the Stiles.

So pants on was definitely a good idea, mostly because it would keep her inner Lusty Lydia in check.

Stiles waded past her until the water was all the way up to his navel. Lydia was shivering in the shallows, only ankle-deep in the water. Maybe being weightless was being stupid. Stiles laughed and outstretched an arm.

"Just leap in, Lyd. You won't feel the cold once you're in. You'll get sicker if you stay in that position," he insisted.

Lydia knew that, she knew it. "I know how science works!" she cried grouchily, but still couldn't get herself to leap in. Life really wasn't a movie.

Stiles rolled his eyes and the next thing she knew there were strong arms like summer vines clasped around her middle and he yanked her headfirst into the arctic waters.

Stiles laughed as she came up for air, spewing saltwater everywhere and smacking at him with her small hands. "Asshole!" she exclaimed, still smacking at him even though she knew it didn't hurt him.

"I was helping you. I bet you don't even feel the cold now," he muttered. It was true, she didn't feel like she was going to turn into a popsicle anymore. "Whatever," she groaned in defeat, splashing at him. Stiles tried to call out to Allison and Scott, but they were out of earshot and in the middle of an intense make-out session by the looks of it.

"Let's keep our distance from our porn star friends, okay?" Stiles said.

Lydia laughed, grinning wildly as she splashed more water at him. "Okay."

It was an insane feeling; a complete rush. Watching the moon shimmer like a spotlight in the sky, tasting the saltwater on her tongue, breathing the fresh air, feeling invincible for a split-second.

Lydia attempted to do the backstroke but Stiles snuck up behind her and wrapped his arms around her stomach, his own torso flat against her spine. He kissed her hair and she shivered.

"Let's not... do that," she decided, twirling around to look at him. "You know," Stiles mumbled, his voice suddenly very gravelly as his sunshine eyes met her gaze. "You're not allowed to call the shots all the time."