❛ But she doesn't know who I am and she doesn't give a damn about me. ❜

SEASON 1, EPISODE 5
the tell

AFTER THE NEAR-DEATH of Derek Hale the Friday before, Willow was back at school again, acting like her life was as normal as any other student at Beacon Hills High. Of course, Willow always had to hide a part of herself from the rest of the student body, but this wasn't like hiding that she was a witch. That was a part of who she was, and she knew by now how to mask that.

⠀⠀⠀What she had gotten roped into now was different. It wasn't just something she was. It was something actively affecting her. She was constantly getting into trouble, continually getting into dangerous situations, and constantly thinking about her friends and sisters getting into trouble. Then she had to come back to school and act like she didn't just watch her mom stick her fingers into a bullet wound to heal it.

⠀⠀⠀Her ex-boyfriend was probably the most normal thing in her life right now. Other than him, Scott was dealing with the fact that he was a werewolf; Derek trying and failing to help Scott; Allison Argent's dad trying to kill Scott; her mom being best friends with Derek's dead mom; and, not to mention the Alpha trying to kill them all.

⠀⠀⠀So, yeah, there was a lot on her mind other than the chemistry class she was in and definitely not the—

⠀⠀⠀"Parent-teacher conferences are tonight," Mr. Harris announced to his class as he walked through the rows of teenagers. "Students below a C average are required to attend. I won't name you because the shame and self-disgust should be more than enough punishment."

⠀⠀⠀Willow was thankful she was riding that C average. If she had to come and listen to Mr. Harris drone on about what a terrible student Willow was, she might just kill him. Or at least ask why he doesn't get a better job. Something like a used car salesman seemed fitting.

⠀⠀⠀Mr. Harris stopped between Willow's desk and looked at the empty seat behind her.

⠀⠀⠀"Has anyone seen Scott McCall?"

⠀⠀⠀Willow turned back to Stiles at the desk behind her after their seat change a week before. Stiles was highlighting nearly every word in his textbook, cap in his mouth, and absolutely clueless to anything Harris had said. Other than Stiles, no one responded to his question, so he continued his lecture.

⠀⠀⠀After another few minutes of tuning out Harris, Jackson walked in looking skittish. He walked across the room, head down, as he darted to his seat. Just as he sat down, Harris was at his side, assuring Jackson that if he needed to step out, he was free to.

⠀⠀⠀If it were any other day, Harris' comment would not only be creepy but totally out of the blue. However, everyone had heard that something had happened to Jackson and Lydia the night before at Blockbusters. No one was sure what happened, only that Jackson was at school jumping at every slight sound and Lydia was sick at home.

⠀⠀⠀"Everyone, start reading chapter nine," Mr. Harris called as he returned to the front of the room. "Mr. Stilinski, try putting the highlighter down between paragraphs. It's chemistry, not a coloring book."

⠀⠀⠀Behind Willow, Stiles made a sharp whistle with the cap, and she turned to see he had blown it into the air before catching it. He glanced at her when he snapped the lid back on and smiled arrogantly over the feat. Willow rolled her eyes, unimpressed.

⠀⠀⠀"Hey, Danny," Stiles whispered, his voice always a couple of volumes too loud as he leaned in between Danny and Willow at their table. "Can I ask you a question?"

⠀⠀⠀"No," Danny replied blandly.

⠀⠀⠀"Well, I'm going to anyway," Stiles stated, pausing before he continued. "Um, did Lydia show up in your homeroom today?"

⠀⠀⠀"No."

⠀⠀⠀"Can I ask you another question?"

⠀⠀⠀Danny looked up from his textbook, his face blank of any emotion as he tried to process the annoyance coursing through him.

⠀⠀⠀"Answer's still no."

⠀⠀⠀"Does anyone know what happened to her and Jackson last night?"

⠀⠀⠀"He wouldn't," Danny muttered, growing fidgety as he ducked his head then glanced at Jackson. "Tell me."

⠀⠀⠀"But he's your best friend!" Stiles exclaimed, furrowing his brows as he, too, glanced at Jackson. "One more question."

⠀⠀⠀"What?" Danny hissed.

⠀⠀⠀"Do you find me attractive?" Stiles asked smoothly.

⠀⠀⠀There was a pause, hesitation, and then no response.

⠀⠀⠀Stiles fell from his stool in shock, stumbling between the two teenagers, and grabbed the table to pull himself back up to his feet.

⠀⠀⠀"You're still on this?" Willow asked him while Danny shoved his face into his textbook.

⠀⠀⠀"He thinks I'm attractive!" Stiles mouthed excitedly, punching his fist in the air, and spun back to his table with a sharp nod of his head.

"GALLAGHER!"

⠀⠀⠀Willow stopped in the middle of the hallway, took a deep breath, and turned to Stiles. Sometimes, she regretted never begging her mom to homeschool her. But, then, she would have never had to deal with any of this. Not the ex, not the supernatural outside of witches, not any of it.

⠀⠀⠀"What?" Willow asked, turning to Stiles sharply as he took a few steps back at her harsh tone and raised his hands in surrender.

⠀⠀⠀"Hey, um, I was, I was wondering if, you, if you—"

⠀⠀⠀Willow stared at Stiles blankly as he stumbled over his words. She had been here before. She could feel a knot form in her stomach, knowing that the last time she stood here, Stiles had asked her if she'd like to see a movie with him. She didn't want to hear that again or anything like it.

⠀⠀⠀Definitely not.

⠀⠀⠀"Lydia!" he finally exclaimed, throwing his hands out in front of himself, shaking his hands before dropping them back to his sides. "I was thinking of checking on her and seeing if the thing that attacked Jackson was something... not of mountain lion descent."

⠀⠀⠀Willow wanted to rip her stomach out at the fact that it dropped into disappointment.

⠀⠀⠀"You can't do that on your own?" Willow asked, beginning to walk towards the front doors, and Stiles followed after her.

⠀⠀⠀"Well, yes, but I was thinking maybe if she can't remember or something, you could help her out, y'know, with the—" he explained, twirling his fingers in front of him.

⠀⠀⠀"I don't use them in front of normal people," Willow stated with a frown.

⠀⠀⠀"You used them in front of me," Stiles retorted.

⠀⠀⠀"In an emergency, after we had broken up," Willow corrected him. "It's not like I showed you when we were dating."

⠀⠀⠀"Yeah, why is that?" Stiles asked, the two walking towards his Jeep. "Is that—"

⠀⠀⠀"Stiles, if I hear that phrase come out of your mouth one more time, I will rip your tongue out with my bare hands and make a potion out of it," Willow hissed at him.

⠀⠀⠀"I won't say it again, I swear!" Stiles exclaimed, letting a sly smirk across his lips. "If you come with me to Lydia's!"

⠀⠀⠀Willow grit her teeth, narrowing her eyes at Stiles as he looked back at her. She didn't want to concede, but he really knew how to press her buttons. She pressed her nails into her palms and nodded.

⠀⠀⠀"Fine," Willow groaned. "God, I'm never getting rid of you."

⠀⠀⠀"No, you aren't."

AUTHOR'S NOTE —

Mr. Harris saying turn to chapter nine and this being chapter nine was purely coincidental and I can't believe that happened lmao.

SONG: Teenage Dirtbag by Wheetus

Thank you for reading! Leave comments telling me your thoughts on this chapter, but however you interact, know that I really appreciate you reading. I hope you enjoy, and until the next one.