Leaning against the chilled bleachers built to the side of the ample lacrosse field, Aspen cradled her punctured hand, the wounds taking longer to heal, considering they were from a werewolf. Thanks so Erica, she was able to cover it up with the bandaid she provided. Isaac stood before her, tilting his head as he looked down at her hand. 

"Does it still hurt?" he asked, noticing her calm expression as she continued examining the injury.

"Not as much," she answered, briefly looking at Isaac before turning her attention back at her hand with a sigh, "I left some blood to make it look like it was still healing. I'm afraid when Stiles sees me, he'll ask to look at it."

"Why would blood prevent him from looking?"

"He won't admit it, but he doesn't take well to being around too much blood," Aspen smirked, a flash of mischief flashing across her eyes, already thinking of ways she could prank him in the long run.

"Yea Scott didn't look too hot back in the locker room," Isaac stated, fiddling with his lacrosse gloved, "I take it this full moon is taking a greater toll on him."

Aspen rubbed her hand and gradually looked out on the field, the lacrosse players stretching for the intense practice they were about to participate in.

"I just don't get it," she scoffed, "the full moon is intense, always is, but this time is different. It's like the breakup with Allison is just making it worse."

"You did say she was his anchor," he recalled, "maybe Jackson is trying to get under his skin."

"That much is obvious, but why? Why get Allison wrapped up in the conflict? He's never shown any interest in her before."

Isaac was quiet for a moment, biting the inside of his cheek, "Have you ever considered the possibility that Jackson knows?"

Aspen whipped her head toward him, the idea haunting her. If Jackson had a hold on information like that, he would do anything to make Scott's life a living hell.

"No way," Aspen shook her head, "Jackson's too dense to believe something like that. Hell, I would be surprised if he conjured up the theory."

"But it's not impossible. Remember, back in the library, Jackson was talking about Scott. He's gaining on him."

Isaac was right. Jackson hasn't taken his eyes off Scott since he made the lacrosse team. Instead of focussing on a scholarship, getting Scott kicked off the team was now Jackson's primary goal.

A flash of strawberry blonde hair caught Aspen's eye as Lydia strutted past them, not overlooking to give Aspen a side-eye before making her way up the bleachers.

Isaac noticed the tension in the air and pursed his lips, furrowing his brows.

"W...what was that about," Isaac asked, pointing toward Lydia.

Aspen crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, "She accused me of being a skank a while ago, and it's safe to say she still thinks so."

Isaac was perplexed at her neutral tone regarding the matter.

"Is that why you almost lost control?"

Aspen only nodded, not caring to add any more to the topic before noticing Stiles skipping in their direction, holding his lacrosse gear like it was his child. Isaac knew the reason behind his newfound confidence and chuckled when Stiles stood between them, taking a deep inhale of the grass around him.

"Hey, Stiles-"

"Ah, ah, ah!" Stiles shouted, jolting a finger to Aspen's lips, the girl's eyes widening from the unexpected inimical response to her greeting. "It's Biles. You call me Biles or I swear, I'll kill you."

"Why would I call you that?"

"Because Biles made first line while this Stiles you speak of is nothing but a worthless bench warmer."

Aspen was skeptical of his statement and glanced at Isaac for confirmation. "Stiles made first line?"

Isaac nodded, "It's true. Coach said, Bilinski."

Aspen looked back at an animated Stiles who couldn't stay still due to his nerves. "Are you seriously doubting me right now?" Stiles asked as if she had no right to question his "skill".

"Are you seriously asking me that?" Aspen retorted, poking his chest.

Stiles opened his mouth to shoot back with a snarky remark when the shrilling screech from Coach Flinstock's whistle blared through the air.

"I should go. You know, since I made first line, gotta keep up my game." Stiles winked toward Aspen before running onto the field. Aspen and Isaac watched Stiles almost trip over his own shoes but caught himself, attempting to make it appear like a natural save.

Aspen looked up toward Isaac, admiring his cerulean eyes for just a moment before he could notice. She nudges his arm with her own, grasping his attention.

"Catch you later?" Aspen smiled softly, bringing a blush upon Isaac's cheeks, making her chuckle.

"Y-yea, see you later." he nodded before maneuvering toward the field.

"and Isaac."

The boy turned around, "Yea?"

"Careful with...you know. Him."

Isaac nodded in understanding before jogging toward the field.

Climbing on the bleachers, Aspen found a spot near the top, getting a good view of the mass of lacrosse players filtering out and practicing their gameplay for the next big match. She saw Scott gearing up as he spoke to Stiles, the boy becoming overly enthusiastic about the information he was given. While Scott had trouble handling the full moon that was only seven hours away, Stiles appeared more ecstatic than he's ever been.

"Aspen."

Her name was heard in a husky whisper, making the girl jump and look over her shoulder. She would have thought herself crazy if it wasn't for the wind blowing in her general direction.

"Aspen."

She heard it again, but couldn't make out the voice or where it was coming from. Aspen's eyes scanned the field, the sun being of no assistance as it made her eyes water.

"Trees."

The voice was warm against her ear, but she soon pieced together the familiarity. Looking toward the trees, she clearly saw Derek hiding under the shade. Aspen sighed with relief that Stiles' theory that the werewolf had been killed was proven false.

"Derek," she whispered, knowing his keen hearing would catch onto her voice. "you're okay."

"Who's okay?"

Aspen's heart nearly leaped from her chest when Lydia plopped in the space next to her, setting her purse in her lap. She grasped the material of her shirt over her chest, taking a steady breath as she collected her nerves.

"Uh nothing," Aspen mumbled then remembered their fight in the hallway, "did you need something?"

Lydia only hummed lovingly as she straightened her posture and presented a familiar blue cup in her hands. "I've brought a peace offering," she said cautiously, knowing she was treading on thin ice.

Aspen read the label on the cup then looked to Lydia in disbelief. "Lydia, did you buy me a drink from my job?" she questioned.

Lydia smiled widely, pushing the cup toward Aspen for her to grab. She accepted the drink, letting the warmth from the cup comfort her hands.

"Yes, and I asked Stiles earlier what your favorite drink from there was and vualá, Vanilla Bean Latte." she wiggled her fingers around the cup, biting her lower lip.

Aspen only stared at the cup, still confused by Lydia's motive.

"So you're telling me you drove all the way to my job, mind you, it's a thirty-minute drive, forty with traffic, bought me my favorite drink and brought it back to me out of the kindness of your heart?" Aspen raised a brow, awaiting the antsy girl's answer.

"Well, I never said it was out of the kindness of my own heart. A peace offering." Lydia corrected her, using her hands to get her words across.

"An apology would have sufficed." Aspen sipped the latte and held back the smile that the drink never failed to bring upon her lips.

"You already know that wouldn't have been enough for me. Never the less I'm sorry," Lydia smirky expression exchanged for one of sincere guilt, "I should never have made that accusation. It was stupid."

Aspen wanted to stay angry, but the small dispute had been forgotten soon after Isaac pulled her away. She nibbled on her lower lip while shaking her leg.

"That was unfair of you to assume Lydia, seriously it was."

"I know, alright, and I'm sorry. I really am. It's just...Jackson has been so distant lately, and he's been acting like I don't exist. And I try so hard to get his attention while it comes so easy to you and Allison."

Aspen snorted, "Jackson has never stolen a glance in my direction."

"I see everything Aspen, " Lydia quipped, "Jackson likes to look, and I've caught his eyes on you a few times. And Allison. And lately," Lydia's voice began to rise, bringing Aspen scoot away sipping her latte, "he only seems to have an interest in her! So that's why-"

A blush crept up Lydia's face as she glued her eyes to the field, the guilt building up in her eyes.

Aspen leaned forward, getting a better few of Lydia taking heaving breaths.

"Lydia, what did you do?" she questioned.

Lydia's silence said it all as Aspen found where her focus was cemented. Her eyes widened as she let out a gasp, Lydia squeezing her eyes shut in shame.

"Did you and Scott-"

"Yes!"

"Lydia!"

Lydia grasped Aspen's free hand and gave it squeeze, desperation visible in her pleading green eyes. "Aspen, you cannot tell Allison."

Aspen gave her an exasperated look. "You can't be seriously asking me to keep that kind of secret? Allison is my friend."

"So am I!"

"You called me a skank!"

"And I said sorry and added a latte as a bonus!"

Aspen gasped again, looking at the latte in her hand then back at Lydia.

"You manipulated me!" Aspen pointed an accusing finger toward the girl whose lips were set in a hard line.

"It's hardly manipulation. It's a latte for crying out loud." Lydia shot back.

"How is my keeping the secret that you and Scott made out, and you giving me a latte in exchange for my silence supposed to be remotely fair?"

"I was hoping our friendship would balance the scales."

"You didn't even know I existed up until this year!"

"Very true, and now that I've noticed your presence, I quite enjoy it! And you know whos other presence I enjoy? Allison's. So if we want to-"

"Oh, this is no way a we situation."

"It is now. Now we both know the secret, and neither one of us is going to say anything because we don't want to lose Allison. Agreed?"

Aspen glared at the strawberry blonde who was now wearing a sly smirk with a raised brow. She wanted so badly to unleash her elemental wrath, but losing her latte was not worth the risk. And neither was Allison's friendship.

"You manipulative bitch." Aspen scoffed with a shake of her head.

Lydia only shrugged with a laugh as if taking pride in the title.

Both girls faced forward in silence, the sips Aspen took from her cup suddenly feeling guilty. They watched as the drills on the field continued, and Scott scooped a ball from the ground and captured it within the pocket of weaved stringing. He proceeds to skillfully twist and dodge his way through defenders that aimed to stop him. But Danny, being the best keeper, wouldn't let a ball pass, and Scott's wolf side seemed to sense that. Aspen couldn't feel his body heat from where she sat, but from the way the sun's shined off Scott's eyes, she knew they were glowing amber. With all his strength, Scott rammed his body into Danny's, the boy's body frailing to the ground.

Gasps echoed throughout the field as everyone ran toward Danny, who was groaning in pain on the ground. Lydia jumped from her seat and was careful to rush down the bleachers and onto the field. Aspen wanted to keep her distance, especially from Scott. The anger he was building up was not settling well with the Elementalist, and she wasn't sure why. She made sure to give herself a mental note to check up on Danny later.

In the meantime, she drank her latte with pride as she noticed Lydia run off with smudged lipstick from her romantic rendezvous with Scott.