✓ | battle wounds, scott m.

chapter fifty six.

Ella's eyes were closed shut, light snores coming out of her mouth. Her head was laid atop of her crossed arms and her face was covered by her hair. "Economic disparity exists in all forms. Well, take sports, for example. Some teams have better training facilities. Some have better equipment. Unlike Beacon Hills that can barely afford the duct tape to keep our equipment together," Coach said, banging the lacrosse stick on Stiles's desk which caused both him and Ella to jump up. Coach took one of the gruesome pictures from Stiles's desk, "You know, Stilinski, if I could grade you on how profoundly you disturb me, you'd be an A plus student." Stiles nodded, "Thanks, Coach." Coach tapped the stick on the desk, "Put those pictures away."

Stiles did a double take at the stick, grabbing it and looking at the bottom. "Stilinski!" Coach exclaimed as Stiles took the bottom piece off to reveal almost a rhombus shape. "The hell is wrong with you?" Coach asked before snatching the stick out of Stiles's grip, "Don't answer that." Stiles looked at his sister and Scott, "It's a lacrosse player." "The killer's on the team."

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Ella stood off to the side as she watched Kira, Scott, and Stiles practically tear apart the different lacrosse sticks. "This. . This is pointless," Stiles said. "Most of the team plays with their own gear," Scott added. "Maybe instead of trying to find a lacrosse stick with a hidden dagger in it, you should be trying to get the game canceled?" Kira suggested. Scott looked at her and shook his head, "The game's the best way to catch him red-handed." Ella narrowed her eyes and pointed at her boyfriend, "But what if he's red-handed 'cause his hands are covered in the blood of the person that he just stabbed to death? Which, by the way, could be either of you guys. Or Liam." "Ella's right. We don't have the whole list and he could be on it," Scott said.

"We don't know anything about that list. How it's made, how it's updated. I mean, who's been out taking a supernatural census anyway?" Stiles asked. "How do they even know about me?" Kira asked no one in particular. Ella shrugged, "They know about everyone. I think Kira's right. I think you guys should stop the game." "I'm not afraid," Scott shook his head as he looked at his girlfriend. "Yeah, neither am I," Kira agreed, Ella shaking her head at the two. "Well, I'm terrified! And I'm not even on the list!" Stiles exclaimed, Ella motioning towards him and nodding, "Guys, these are professional killers. It's their profession. One of them's got a thermo-cut wire that cuts heads off. Who knows what else they have?"

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Ella stood with Scott and Stiles, watching over Liam as he talked to some boy from Devenford. Ella had her chin held high, slowly walking up to him. "We're gonna break you in half out there. And it's gonna be all your fault," The boy said, Ella finally stepping up to Liam and taking his forearm into her grip. The boy looked Ella up and down, "Woah, Liam, you got yourself an older girl? She's hot. You know, you can do way better than this shithead." Liam's claws had appeared and he had began to pierce them into his palm so hard that blood began to drip down. Stiles pushed Liam back as Scott wrapped an arm around Ella's waist, glaring daggers at the boy. "Hey, what's going on prep students? Welcome to our little public high school. How you doing? Stiles," Stiles held out a hand for the guy to shake, but he didn't, "That's a firm handshake you got there. Uh, we're very excited for scrimmage tonight. Uh, but let's keep it clean, all right? No rough stuff out there. All right, see you on the field. Go!"

The boys got Liam into the locker room and put him under a shower, Liam roaring loudly with his bright yellow eyes and fangs. "Okay, you calm yet?" Stiles asked, Liam replying with another loud roar. The boys nodded at each other before pushing Liam back against the wall. Ella placed herself in between the boys, Liam looking up at her and going to roar, but Ella shined her white eyes, causing him to calm down. "Okay! Okay!" He called to the boys, Stiles turning off the shower. Liam leaned against the wall and fell and sat on the floor. "That car you smashed. I thought you said that was your teacher's," Ella said with furrowed brows.

"He was also my Coach. He benched me for the entire season," Liam responded. "What did you do?" Scott asked. "I got a couple of red cards," Liam said, looking down. "Just a couple?" Stiles asked, causing both Liam and Ella to glare at them. "You gotta be honest with us. What else happened?" Scott asked. "Nothing. I got kicked out of school. They sent me to a psychologist for evaluation," Liam said, not looking up from his shoes. "What did they call it?" Ella asked, crouching down beside Scott. "Intermittent Explosive Disorder," Liam said, looking up at her.

"I.E.D? You're literally an I.E.D? That's great. That's great. You gave powers to a walking time bomb," Stiles gave Scott a thumbs up and wink. "Did they give you anything for it?" Scott asked. "Risperdal. It's an antipsychotic," Liam replied. "Oh, this just gets better," Stiles said sarcastically. "But I don't take it," Liam shook his head. "Obviously," Stiles stated. "I can't play lacrosse on it. It makes me too tired," Liam said, Ella nodding in understanding. "Okay," Scott said, "I think you should bail out of the game. Tell Coach your leg is still hurting." Liam instantly stood up, "No, no! I can do this," Liam looked at Ella, "Especially if you're there."

"But, Liam, it's not just about the game," Scott said. "We think whoever killed Demarco might be on your team," Ella added. "Who's Demarco?" Liam asked. "The one who brought the beer to the party. The guy who was beheaded," Stiles said, "Remember?" "We think the person who ordered the keg killed Demarco," Ella stated. Liam looked down at the ground. "Liam? What, you know something?" Scott asked. "I don't know who ordered the keg. But I know who paid for it."

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Ella wore her brother's lacrosse jacket, black jeans, and maroon vans. Stiles struggled with his duffel bag, throwing it to the ground once they had gotten to the bench. "Dad, you're supposed to be here, where the hell are you?" Stiles asked, Ella walking over and giving Scott a hug. "I'm gonna go say hey to Liam, okay? Good luck, babe. I love you," Ella said, giving Scott a peck on the lips before jogging over to Liam and Mason, "Whats up, ma dudes." Liam and Mason laughed at Ella before their attention went to the boy they had seen earlier. "What's that's dude's name?" Ella asked, eyebrows raising when she saw him without a shirt.

"Brett. And I don't care if he's a foot taller than me. I think I can take him, Liam nodded, turning to Mason and Ella. "Yeah," Mason and Ella said simultaneously, nodding together then blowing out. Liam furrowed his brows at them, looking between Brett and his friends, "What do you think you're doing?" Mason immediately turned to Liam whilst Ella continued to stare, "What? Me? Agreeing with you. I'm being agreeable. . Ella is staring too!" "Don't bring me into this!" Ella snapped, looking at Mason.

"You two think he's hot, don't you?" Liam asked, raising his brows. "No! No. Not at all. No way!" Mason exclaimed before looking back at Brett, "Maybe. Yeah, maybe a little." "He wants to destroy me," Liam reminded him, not paying attention to Ella. "I think you could definitely take him. . And then give him to me," Mason said, making both Liam and Ella laugh. "No, no just go out there and kick their smug prep school asses," Mason nodded, giving Liam a fist bump and leaving him with Ella.

Liam sighed as he faced Ella, waving a hand in front of her face, "Ella. Ella? Daniella!" Ella shook her head out of her trance, looking at Liam with a confused expression, "Huh?" "You got a little bit of drool right there," Liam teased, pointing to the corner of Ella's lip. "Oh do I?" Ella narrowed her eyes. Liam laughed, "I'm just messing around with you, El." "Hey, Liam! Think fast!" Both teens turned, Liam catching a ball with only one of his hands. They turned to look at Coach and Scott, "Oh, he plays." Ella took that as her cue to leave, and so she said goodbye to Liam then goodbye to Scott before leaving to sit beside Mason.