Battle Scars ❦ TW/TO

❦ THE MURDER OF ONE

SCOTT had left early, but Hope halfheartedly decided to stay in bed until she absolutely had to wake up. Him and Stiles were no doubt around town dealing with Stiles's newest obsession with human sacrifices. Isaac had faked sick from school and left with Boyd to talk with Derek about the alpha pack. Hope really didn't mind their absences.

Hope cuddled into her blankets as a slight buzzing noise cut through the peaceful silence. She groaned, reaching over for the new phone Scott had given her. She read the text message that lit up on the screen with a frown: from Lydia Martin.

I'm picking you up in 15. We're ditching 1st and 2nd period and going shopping.

The tone of the text was evident that Hope didn't necessarily have a choice in the matter, so she sighed removing the blankets from herself. Although aggravated that she had to get out of bed, going shopping with Lydia was a far better option than sitting through another boring chemistry class.

She replied a quick 'ok' before moving to the purple tote bag that was still on Hope's dresser. Feeling less lazy than usual, Hope threw on one of Lydia's more tasteful outfits. A blue floral romper that reached mid thigh, with a dark denim jacket perched on her shoulders. Her hair was atrocious, so she tied the brown ringlets into a bun on the top of her head.

A little after 8:45, Lydia pulled up in front of the McCall residence and honked the horn twice signaling that she was there, although Hope had heard the sound of the car the moment her red haired friend had pulled up.

Hope sat in the passenger seat, as Lydia hummed along to whatever song was on the radio. The mall was only about twenty minutes away, and Hope was somewhat glad. Although Lydia had been kind to her, they were still in an awkward stage of friendship where there would be awkward silence in between moments of casual and friendly conversation.

In a few minutes, they arrived and Lydia pulled Hope into a large store with a giddy smile. "Even though you wear my clothes like a goddess, we have to get you some of your own." She said.

Lydia shifted through the racks of clothes, every so often throwing a shirt or a pair of jeans into the pile in Hope's arms that had already grown quite tall. Hope was then ushered into the dressing rooms where Lydia waited for her to come out wearing whatever outfits she had told her to try on.

After about an hour, Hope had gotten a whole new wardrobe, much to Lydia's satisfaction.

As Lydia was talking to a cute boy, Hope compelled the cashier to give her all the clothes for free, as well as a pair of black heels that Lydia had been fawning over when they first arrived at the store.

She thought Lydia was going to start seizing from excitement when she gave the strawberry blonde the new pair of shoes. They hugged for a solid minute.

Just as they were about to order coffees, Lydia's phone buzzed and she looked at the screen for a moment before offering Hope a pleading smile, "So I have to go take care of something, do you mind if we continue this another time?" She asked, and Hope furrowed her eyebrows before briefly nodding.

APPARENTLY, the something Lydia had to take care of was actually a someone and Hope moved as far away from Coach Finstock's office as possible as Lydia met with Aiden behind the closed door.

As Hope was walking down the hallway, in search of Scott, she passed by Cora who was walking as if she had something important to do. Hope however, gripped her forearm before she could get to wherever she was going.

The beta struggled in Hope's grasp until her eyes fell upon the girl that she had been locked inside the vault with. "What are you doing here?"

Cora frowned. "I could ask you the same."