Awkwardness

"I didn't realize the back of her head was bleeding," a voice says."It must have been when Violet flipped her over onto the ground in the locker room,"

"It might have been when I pushed her over," another voice replies.

"I doubt that, but I think when she saw Deaton cut you open, that was the last straw cause she passed out right after that," the first voice says.

My head pounds and my eyes feel glued shut. "Liam," I mumble my brother's name. I want my brother. Liam was always the sibling with better endurance to pain. Whenever I got hurt badly he was always there to comfort me.

"Did she just say something?" The second voice asks.

"Yeah, I think she might be waking up," the first voice spoke up.

I pry my eyes open and squint in the bright light. My head throbs and I groan. Once my eyes adjust to the light I see I'm laying on the ground with some blankets underneath me for padding and a blanket on top of me. My head is propped up with another blanket. I look up to see Stiles sitting in a chair next to me and Brett sitting on the metal table - with no shirt on I might add.

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty," Stiles says with a grin. "You scared us a hell of a lot when you feinted last night. We didn't know what happened."

I blink up at him in confusion and reach up to my head, feeling a bandage wrapped around it.

"You must have hit your head," Stiles explains.

"Yeah, I heard you guys just talking about that," I mumble. "I agree with whoever said that it was when Violet flipped me. I remember my head hitting the ground there."

I sit up slowly, wincing at the pain in my head. It feels like someone is playing basketball with it. The rhythmic pulse feels like someone is constantly bouncing my head on the floor over and over again.

"Do I have a concussion?" I ask.

"Luckily no, you don't," Stiles says. "You just bumped it pretty hard."

"Is this what a hangover feels like cause honestly if it is this will keep me dry for the rest of my life," I mutter.

Stiles smiles at me, and I hear Brett laughing from the table.

"You're missing the nausea and the overall disgusting feeling of waking up with vomit all over your shirt," Brett comments with his mouth slightly upturned.

"How would you know?" I mutter. "Werewolves can't get drunk."

"I'm gonna go tell Deaton that you're awake," Stiles says getting up and walking out of the room to the office. I frown and glance at Brett.

I don't want to be left in a room alone with him.

He pushes himself off the table and sits down in the chair that Stiles was just sitting. "How are you feeling?" he asks me.

What? No snide remarks? No creepy innuendos? Not even a simple, "was it my gorgeous looks that made you feint?" comment?

"Huh?" I sputter out.

A smile qwerks at the edge of his mouth. "How is your head?"

"Still on my shoulders," I deadpan.

He smirks and rolls his eyes at me. He looks at me for a second and then frowns again. "I just want to say I'm sorry for scaring you," he says.

"What do you mean?" I ask, still in shock at this normal conversation we are having.

"When I couldn't control myself," he mutters, looking at the floor and wringing his hands. "It looked like I was going to attack you- I was going to attack you." I can hear the guilt in his voice. "If Peter hadn't stopped me..."

A heavy silence fills the small room. I bite my lip, trying to figure out how to reply.

How do you talk to a guy who you've hated since you met, but is now being civil with you? Not to mention you just found out is a werewolf.

"Also, I want to thank you," he says looking at me again. His wavy, light brown hair is lying flat on his forehead and partially obscuring his his crystal blue eyes that are staring into mine. "For saving my life I mean. If you weren't there to stop Violet for even those few seconds you did, I would be dead right now. I'm sorry you got hurt while doing it though. I think I owe you now."

We sit in an awkward silence, staring at each other.

I decide to speak up. "Why are you being so nice to me?" I ask.

"Well isn't it common courtesy to be kind to the person who just saved you from decapitation?" he asks, confused. "Would you rather me go back to being rude?"

"Yes, you're weirding me out," I say jokingly.

He laughs that musical laugh again that makes my stomach clench. I wonder if he can hear my elevated heartbeat right now.

"So you're a werewolf..." I say trailing off.

"Yes," he states. "And?"

"How long have you been one?" I ask.

"Since I was born," he replies.

"Like Derek?"

"Yeah, like Derek."

We fall into another uneasy silence.

I decide to speak up again, questions probing my mind. "Does it hurt?"

"Does what hurt?" He questions.

"Changing like you do," I reply. "Does it hurt for your claws and teeth to come out then go back in?"

"Why don't you just ask your brother?" He asks, his eyebrows raised.

"Well he doesn't really like talking about it and-" I mumble

"-And you think that I like talking about it?" He gives me a sarcastic smile.

"Well - oh..." I trail off looking away from him.

"That was a joke, Lils," he adds.

He called me Lils... Why?

"Oh," I repeat still not looking at him.

Why do I feel so nervous around him all of a sudden? I've never felt bad about offending him before.

"No, it doesn't hurt," he states. I look back up at him. "I don't feel it when my claws come out. It just happens."

I pick at the edge of my blanket.

Why is Stiles not back? I should really get up and find him so he can drive me home. It's early in the morning.

Oh no... What will I tell my parents?

I push the blanket off me and roll onto my knees.

"Hey, are you sure you can get up?" Brett asks me, worriedly.

I nod, the pain in my head is fading a bit but my body aches from being tossed around yesterday. I wobble a bit as I try to stand, feeling like the tin man in need of some oil. Brett stands and grabs onto my shoulders.

"You good?" He asks.

I nod as I stand up blushing at our close proximity. I try to step away but my foot gets caught on the edge of my makeshift bed and I fall forward, bracing my hands on Brett's toned chest.

My eyes widen and I feel myself turning a darker shade of red.

"Your heart rate is elevated," Brett comments. "Does my lack of a shirt turn you on, Dunbar?"

"What?" I say dumbly, looking up at him to see his signature smirk painting his face again.

"Do I make you nervous?" He questions me, his blue eyes boring into mine as he leans closer to me. His arms slip around me to keep me from backing up again.

"Wha- n-no," I stutter. I feel my blood pounding in my ears.

What the actual hell is going on? Lily Isabelle Dunbar, up until a few hours ago you could not stand to be in the same room at Brett Talbot. What the hell do you think you're doing?

Stop letting him make you feel this way.  Just because he has pretty eyes and a model worthy body doesn't mean you should cave to his wishes.

He wants to get a reaction from you. This is all a part of his game to mess with you and Liam. Think about how Liam would react if he saw you two right now.

"Oh really?" he smirks. "Then how come you're not pushing me away?"

That is a very good question. Lily, why are you not pushing him away?

"If I didn't know any better, I would say you like being this close to me," he says with mock innocence. "But that would be impossible. Why would Lily Dunbar, faithful sister to Liam Dunbar, want to be so close to me?"

He leans even closer to me, his face only a mere inch or two away from mine. I can see his face up close. His light blue eyes are focused on me as if he's studying every part of my face. His full lips are still pulled into a smirk. I stare back at him leaning closer until his words clicked in my brain.

Liam.

I can't even think how he would react if he saw me like this. I feel like I'm betraying him and I can't be doing that.

"No," I say firmly as I push away from Brett. He backs up, his smirk slightly fading from his lips. "I- um..." I flush.

Think of an excuse to get away!

"I have to get to school," I say weakly. "I can't be missing my honors classes."

"What are you talking about?" I hear a voice down the hallway. Stiles appears back at the doorway. "School started two hours ago and you're in no shape to be doing Algebra.

"I'm in Geometry," I say partially offended that he would think I'm taking a class that the kids lesser in math skills are taking their freshman year.

"Well whatever, you're not going to school today," Stiles tells me. "Scott's orders. He wants you to feel better. Liam's been worried about you, but he left a few hours ago to take a run with Mason to clear his head."

I nod. "Okay, but can I go home? My parents must be worried sick."

"Liam texted them last night that you both were staying over Mason's after the game," Stiles explains. "I'm driving you and Brett home. Here-" Stiles tosses Brett a duffel bag and lacrosse stick. "I got into the school this morning so I grabbed your gear."

"What were you doing in the school on a Saturday and how did you even get in?" I ask him

"Never mind you that. It doesn't matter," he brushes me off. "Just get in the car, children."

"I call shotgun!" I shout out as we get into the parking lot.

"What? No I'm way bigger than you. I should get shotgun," Brett tells me. "Plus I was stabbed and poisoned last night." He looks at me with his eyebrows raised.

"I saved your life," I shoot back. "You should thank me by giving up the front seat to me. Also you see all this blood on my shirt? That's your blood when I was trying to help you. This is one of my favorite shirts."

"I don't care who gets the front seat, just get in," Stiles rolls his eyes at us.

Just then his cell phone rings, and he sighs. He pulls it out and answers it. "What Scott?"

"I'm getting the front seat," Brett says as he smirks at me as he blocks the way to the passenger door.

"Stop kidding with yourself, Talbot and get in the backseat," I shoot back.

"Fine, I will on one condition," he says, grinning.

"And what is that?"

"You have to give me a kiss," he states in a matter-of-fact voice.

I look at him for a second with my eyebrows raised to see if he's joking. "In your dreams, Talbot."

"Yes, that is in my dreams," he replies. "Except you're usually wearing a lot less clothing or maybe in your old school uniform-"

"Ew, stop!" I shout, covering my ears. "I do not want to know about your creepy and perverted dreams. Keep them to yourself."

"Guys! Guys!" Stiles yells. "I'm in the middle of a phone call so shut up! Also Lily, try calling Liam."

"Why? I thought he was at school," I question.

"He didn't show up at school, and we can't get a hold of him," he tells me.

~•*•~

I'm sorry I haven't updated in over a week. I've been so busy with play rehearsals and make up work since I missed 2 days of school in less than a week. Stupid AP Environmental. My teacher is evil.

But anyways I hope you enjoyed the banter between Lily and Brett.

Later,

Catherine