The next day at school, Scott was acting weird. He and Stiles aren't on speaking terms and it was grating on me and Allison.

After English, Allison and I walked to our lockers together. "I can believe your aunt walked in on that," I say with a laugh. Allison was telling me how her aunt had knocked on the door during one of her and Scott's 'study' sessions. "You want to know the worst part?" She asked me "She didn't even leave right away. She tried to help me with my history project." "And he was just hanging out in your closet the entire time?" I ask. "Yup. The whole time." We continue walking but when I look over at Allison, she looks upset. "What's wrong?" I ask her. "Oh it's nothing... I mean, it's just sort of feels like Scott is avoiding me ever since then." "Oh I doubt that," I say "He's crazy about you. I swear you guys are one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Right up there with piano playing puppies." This sends us into s fit of laughter.

• • •

"That what of who?" Lydia says. Where at lunch and Allison is trying to explain some sort of beast that her aunt was talking about. It wasn't really working. "The beast of Gevaudan. Listen," she said as she began to read out of the book she was holding. "A quadruped wolf-like monster, prowling the Auvergne and south Dordogne areas of France during the years 1764 to 1767. La Bete killed over one hundred people, becoming so infamous that King Louis the 15th sent one of his best hunters to try and kill it." Lydia gave her a look. "Boring." Allison continued. "Even the church eventually declared the monster a messenger of Satan." "Hmm... Still boring." "Lydia," I reprimand. "Cryptozoologists believe it may have been a sub species of hoofed predator, while others believe it was a powerful sorcerer who could shape-shift into a man-eating monster." Allison said. "But what does this have to do with your family?" I question. "This," Allison says "It is believed that la Bete was finally trapped and killed by a renowned hunter who claimed his wife and four children were the first to fall prey to the creature. His name was Argent." "Um..." I begin but Lydia interrupts me. "Your ancestors killed a big wolf. So what?" "It was just a big wolf. Look at this picture." Allison replied. She turned her book around and showed us the picture on the right page. "What does that look like to you guys?" For a minute I'm speechless. It is the exact creature I've been seeing outside my house. The exact creature I shot at. I finally find my voice. "Wow, that's... interesting." "I know right?" Allison agrees, "It looks more human then wolf. Lydia?" She's been staring at the picture like she seen a ghost. Finally she says "It looks like a big wolf. See you in history." And with that, she's gone.

• • •

During my free period I was sitting by my locker when Jackson walked up. "What are you you reading?" He asked, startling me. He looked awful, his eyes were bloodshot and had bags under them. "Oh hey, uh, just something for homework," I say. He slides sow to sit next to me. We aren't really friends so this confuses me. "Do you have a free period or something?" I ask him. He's staring at me weird and it makes me uneasy. "No I just don't like sitting through chem," he says, still staring. I laugh a little at this. "Understandable," I say. she just continues to sit there so I ask "Did, um, did you want something?" "Actually yeah," he replies. "I wanted to talk. I realize I've been a jerk to you, and Stiles, and especially Scott, and I wanted to say I'm sorry." I just sigh. "I'm serious," he says, as if that will make me believe him. "I trust that you're serious, I just don't think you're sincere," I say back to him. He sighs, then says "Do you know what it's like to be the best player on the team?" "Well," I say, "I'm not a lacrosse player, so no I don't." "Well it's great," he says, "You're the star. Every person in the crowd is cheering your name. And then, some kid, some kid just comes along and then everybody's looking at him instead of you. It feels like somethings been stolen from you. And then, you start to feel like you'll do anything, anything in the world to get it back." "Well there's no I in team," I say because I can't think of anything else. He looked me dead in the eye and says "Yeah but there is a me." I must be looking at him like he's crazy because then he says "Sorry that was a joke," and gives a small laugh. I do as well but only because the awkwardness of the situation is grading on my nerves. "Wow you must really, really, hate me," he says next. "I don't hate you, Jackson," I say, because I don't. "You sure?" he asks. "Because I'm not a bad guy. I mean yeah I make stupid mistakes, a lot. But I'm not bad. I really like you." This catches me off guard. "And Stiles, and Scott," he corrects. "I really like you all. and I want you guys to like me. I want to get to know you guys better." He starts to lean in, the way guys do when they are going to kiss you. I lean away because I don't want to be rude but I definitely don't want to kiss him. "So," he says, "What are you reading?"

• • •