Liquid Silver

One

Jemima had almost had enough.

It was cold, and getting damp. She was uncomfortable, in the back of the jeep with her headphones in, and her data connection was constantly failing. 

She was above and beyond ready to go home.

Scott and Stiles were sitting on the bumper, which only annoyed her more because he would never have let her do that. The only thing stopping her from really whining was the fact that although her bum was going numb from sitting across the leather seats, at least she was comfier than Liam.

He, in comparison, was currently chained to a thick tree trunk, a few yards behind them. Jem didn't know he still put up with the whole chained animal scene. It had been almost five months since Mexico, tonight being Liam's sixth full moon.

If she really thought about it, then maybe last months little episode might have been a good reason to bring him back to the basics this time around. Jem's mouth turned upwards into a smile as she remembered her dad in the sheriff's office, desperately trying to explain to a sixty something year old woman downtown was not in fact 'a naked wilderness boy, hairy and feral', but rather just an animal with a trick of the light.

She flinched as the jeep lifted, relieved from the weight of the two boys as they stood up again. She tugged her music out from her ears, praying they were finally ready to drop her home. She made a pact never to accept another lift from Stiles if it included 'running a few quick errands before we go home'. 

"You sure you're okay?" She heard Scott asking, and peered out the jeep window towards Liam's semi prison. 

"Complete and total control" He responded. Jem wasn't so sure as Scott and her brother got to work untying his chains, but she didn't comment. The sooner she got home the better. It was only getting darker and stormier behind the treeline. 

Anyways, it was her first night home alone in what felt like forever. Her dad had called about an hour ago to tell her he'd have to stay in late. There had been some accident on the highway into town, and both the hospital and police station were over run with calls of injuries, power outages and just general complaints. 

Stiles on the other hand, was gearing up towards a night he'd be dying for since freshman year. Senior Scribe. Anyone in Beacon Hills knew about it, whether it was supposed to be a sworn senior secret or not. 

He'd been planning it for days, making sure everyone was home on time so they could arrive together and make their marks together. Jem always imagined she'd have done the same thing in her own senior year, but she didn't think Devenford had any similar tradition. 

However, senior scribe was the last thing on her mind as her data failed yet again. Stupid connection so high up at the view point. The last text she'd sent was a half hour ago- I'll text you when I'm home. Jem hadn't gotten any reply yet but she hoped it was just the connection. 

She had some idea on how to spend her night at home, now that her big brother wouldn't be on her back at every waking second. She jumped as Liam swung the door open, forcing her to swing her legs off the seat where she'd stretched out, allowing him to sit into the jeep beside her.

"What's with the nerves?" He asked, giving her a sideways glance. Stile's turned around from the front seat, eyebrows raised in a 'well?' sort of manner. Stupid, dumb werewolf senses. 

"I'm not nervous" she stammered, putting her headphones back in in annoyance. "Why would I be?"

She didn't meet Liam's eye as Stiles gave in and turned back around, starting the jeep so they could finally  get going. The truth was that she wasn't actually nervous, at least not in an anxious sort of way. She was excited.