Origins- Sequel to "Nothing Personal"

Beginnings and Ends

Tabitha sat solemnly in the chair, ducking her head low to avoid the suspicious glances of her peers. She shied away from them, covering her face with her hands to hide her eyes. She heard steps approach her but she refused to lift her head. The person knelt down in front of her and touched her hands, pulling them away and taking them into their own. She first saw his converse shoes and forced herself to look up, catching herself in the intense stare of his honey brown eyes. She didn’t speak and glared at him, silently begging him to go away, but he was adamant to stay and clutched her hands tightly, also showing his support silently. She leaned forward before she could stop herself and rested her head against his shoulder and wept softly. He released her hands and wrapped his strong arms around her, soothing her back and hair.

“It’ll be all right, Tabitha,” he assured her, kissing her left temple before turning his head to eye his friends. “I got you.”

They weren’t as comforting, keeping their distance from the pair. For the past few hours they isolated her in the corner, suspicious of her, shooting her accusing glares every now and then. Stiles glared back at them, disappointed at their behavior. Tabitha didn’t deserve to be shunned but yet she was because they believed she was withholding information –very important information –purposely. Stiles knew deep down she knew something but he knew she was never to blame. Shunning her wouldn’t deliver answers, either. He rose, bringing Tabitha up with him. She stumbled onto her feet and clutched his waist to keep balance. He did the same and guided her away from the vultures observing them across the floor on the other side of the wall.

“Where are you two going?” Derek demanded, emerging from the group as their spokesperson. Stiles stood his ground and hid Tabitha’s face in his shoulder. He glanced back, not bothering to turn around to face them, instead kept his back to them.

“Away from you assholes,” he seethed, and returned his attention forward, pushing Tabitha in front of him, so that he would be the wall between them. Lydia’s ivy green eyes widened, surprised at his animosity towards the whole of them. Sure, she expected him to be pissed at Derek, maybe Scott to –no, definitely Scott, she realized, despite the closeness of the two –but her? Why would he insult her? She didn’t do anything! Exactly, her conscience told her. You didn’t help at all. You just enabled the rest of them. Don’t forget you seconded the idea Tabitha caused all of this. No wonder Stiles is peeved. They all ganged up on his girlfriend. His loyalties were tied to her for a while now.

“Stiles,” Derek yelled. Stiles only walked faster. Derek began to go after them but Scott held him back. “What the hell Scott? Are you going to let them get away?”

“Don’t push him,” Scott warned him gravely. “We need him and if we push him to decide a side, I guarantee you he’s going to support Tabitha. Give them space.”

Derek seethed but stepped back, agreeing with Scott’s reasoning. “She knows everything and she hasn’t told us anything. Her best friend is in the hospital and what she could say could save her but she hasn’t done anything!” Derek ranted, growling.

“Leave her alone,” Allison insisted, standing to her feet. Scott reached out to her but she slapped away his hand, stunning him. As his hand dropped to his side, Allison caught a glance of the hurt in his dark eyes but she ignored it, angrier than anything. “She’s just as traumatized as anything! She was there! She actually saw whatever happened! We weren’t. In fact, she had to make the calls. She was sobbing when she called me! She’s racked with guilt, can’t you see that? She would rather face blame because she blames herself to for whatever happened but that’s not the answer. Whatever she can tell us doesn’t change the fact Madison is out cold and unstable. We need to be supportive and make her feel loved and welcomed so she’s more opened to telling us. We are providing anything but a safe environment for her.”