Underneath it All [Teen Wolf] | Erica Reyes

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

ACT ONE

Chapter 1: Birds of a Feather Flock Together

"Er-ri-caaaa!"

Three pleats of a honking horn punctuated the name that was stretched out that cool January morning. It was a morning that held a bright blue, cloudless sky. It was a morning that looked as if it belonged on a postcard or in a photograph. It was a morning of new beginnings.

It was the morning Melanie Crowe was going to kick Scott McCall's ass.

"Erica! Put your rear in gear!" Melanie yelled, honking the horn to her truck again. She sat in the driveway of the Reyes house, staring up at the window that overlooked the garage, waiting to see if Erica was finally ready to go to school. Melanie's fingers twitched against the steering wheel as she waited. If Erica didn't hurry up she'd leave her behind and get to the ass kicking that kept her muscles tense since she woke that morning.

Well, nerves played a part in that as well but Scott was the scapegoat she needed to put an extra pep in her step. For that day was the first day back at Beacon Hills High after the New Year and she wanted to start it off on a good foot. Last year's disaster was not going to repeat itself. The first remedy to that vow? Finally joining the Beacon Hills Cyclone lacrosse team. She may have had a set back last year but this year was hers, she could feel it.

Melanie's hand hovered over the horn once more, ready to disturb the peace again when, finally, the window flew up and Erica Reyes stuck her head out. "I'm not ready!" she called. "I have nothing to wear!" If her tousled blond hair and the large, gray sweats hanging off her body were of any indication, she didn't plan on leaving the house at all. And if Melanie weren't best friends with her, she would give in and let Erica stay there.

But they were best friends. And Erica was going to school whether she liked it or not.

Pumping the handle, she pushed open the door of her truck. It emitted an elongated creak, sounding much like her grandpa's knees when he tried to get up from his rocking chair. Once her feet here on the driveway, she closed her door, pulled her backpack through the lowered window, and then headed straight into the house. Even if it weren't unlocked she had a spare key made her for. How else was she going to have ease of access when Erica suffered through one of her 'I hate the world' meltdowns? And besides, what kind of friend knocked? At least, that's what Stiles always said.

That was the same thought that went though Melanie's mind as she barged her way right into Erica's room. Sure, there was the chance that Erica could be in the middle of changing but that was a slim chance. Erica preferred the privacy of the bathroom; even when they had to change for gym class Erica opted to do so in the bathroom stall. Dropping her backpack on the ground, Melanie surveyed her friend who had flopped down on her bed. Erica's blond hair splayed out in all directions beneath the pillow she'd pulled down over her face. Oh, this wouldn't do. With a click of her tongue, Melanie yanked the pillow upwards and lightly bopped Erica on the head with it. "You can't hide out here forever, Eri," she said.