Burn It Down || Stilinski || Book One

Twenty-Two

SIERRA STOOD BEFORE the double doors at Beacon Hills High with her nerves and anxiety through the roof. She straightened her dress and jacket, a habit to stall actually walking inside. A hand intertwined through her own and she glanced to her right to see Scott and Stiles standing there with proud smiles. This was Scott's first time seeing her since she got hurt, since he had been too caught up in werewolf drama to visit her in the hospital. He gave her a hug, as a thank you and as a supportive gesture. "I never got to thank you," Scott said after they pulled away. "You saved my life, Sierra, by pushing me out of the way."

"I couldn't let my best friend get hurt," she replied softly. Stiles had given her another pep talk this morning in the jeep about talking again, and she was taking it slowly, step by step. "I'm really glad you're okay, Scott. I mean it."

"I know you do," he replied with a grin. "And don't worry about what everyone in here thinks, alright? If I need to, I'll punch anyone who looks at you funny or makes a snide comment."

Stiles smiled as he saw her let out a chuckle, happy she was using her voice. "I appreciate it, but I'm fine," she told them both, her blue eyes flickering over to the boy holding her hand. Ever since they made up, he had been more affectionate with her. She didn't know what had changed but she certainly wasn't complaining.

Scott smirked to himself; it was only a matter of time before he pushed them together or Stiles finally would man up and do it himself. So far, it seemed like they were making a steady progress.

"Do you want us to go in with you?" Stiles asked her, his voice laced with concern. He was proud of her actually making it this far, but she surely deserved one more day at home.

Sierra shook her head, a soft smile on her lips. "I'll be fine, plus don't you guys have lacrosse practice right now, or at least a meeting or something?"

Stiles' eyes widened; he had completely forgot about it. Scott, however, knew and patted his best friend on the shoulder with a chuckle. "She's right, dude," he said. "We've gotta go." He gave Sierra another hug, seeing as he really hadn't seen much of her at all lately and he missed her. Stiles pouted but agreed only after he kissed the girl on the cheek for good luck. She promised she'd talk to them later yet Scott had to physically drag the pale boy  away from her by his shirt collar.

Once they were out of sight, Sierra glanced around and happily spotted Allison and Lydia about to walk in the building themselves. It seemed as Lydia felt the same way she did, more or so because she had spent the last two days running around the woods naked without any remembrance of it, and Allison was trying to help her. "Hey, guys," she greeted quietly and they both smiled at her.  "How ya feeling, Lyd?"

"I'm okay," Lydia stated confidently. "I was telling Allison that even though I don't remember what happened, I lost nine pounds. How are you doing?"

As it had turned into a habit, Sierra's fingers grazed her scars before she nodded her head. "I'm going to be fine." All three were slightly nervous to be back at school, I mean they had been the gossip for the past week or so, but they all straightened their backs. There was no way they would let people who don't know what they've been through judge them. Those students weren't worth it. "Are you guys ready for this?"

"Please," Lydia scoffed and flicked her strawberry-blonde hair over her shoulder. "At least my aunt's not a serial killer." As she swung open the double doors and walked in, Allison and Sierra exchanged shocked looks. Sierra gave the Argent a comforting grin and then they followed Lydia in together with locked arms. It seemed like everyone just stopped and stared at the girls, not caring how obvious they were being.

"Don't you guys have classes to get to?" Sierra snapped in frustration and then winced at how raspy and choppy her voice sounded. The hallway snapped out of it and the students continued walking and talking like nothing had happened. The trio all lifted their chins, trying to display confidence before they all started to daringly walk past the lockers, only looking forward to see where they were going, not back to see where they had been.