Love's Spiral

The next morning, Spencer woke up naturally to her surprise after being so tired the previous night. She sat up in her bed and stretched her arms above her head. She felt weird. Different. Like her nerves were going crazy. She picked up her phone and checked out the calendar. It was a full moon. She sighed. Tonight should be fun.

Spencer looked to the floor at Isaac who was still sleeping soundly. She smiled a small smile thinking this is probably one of the most peaceful night’s sleep he’s had in a long time. It could be one of the last one’s he has, too. She sighed and pushed herself off her bed and went towards the kitchen. She pulled out the eggs and bacon from the fridge, deciding to make Isaac and herself a big breakfast, considering that he’d probably need it today.

Ten minutes later, as she was finishing the cooking, Isaac strolled out. He stood at the small entrance to the kitchen, not stepping foot in.

Spencer sensed him and didn’t turn around. “You know, you have free reign of the house. I know it’s pretty much your first time here, but that shouldn’t stop you from making yourself at home.”

“Sorry.” Isaac said, stepping into the kitchen. “I, uh, just wanted you to know that I have morning practice, so we should probably get to school.”

“School is five minutes from my house. You have time for breakfast.” She said, arranging a plate for Isaac and setting it on the table in front of him. “Sit. Eat. It’s not poisoned, I promise.”

Isaac hesitantly took a seat, while Spencer got him a fork. “Th-thanks.”

Spencer smiled and piled the rest of the food onto her own plate. “Anytime.”

“Should we save some for your mom?” Isaac questioned, taking a bite of his scrambled eggs.

“No, she’s not home.”

“You check?”

“No, but listen.” She ordered.

Isaac stopped chewing and focused on his hearing. After a minute he asked, “What am I listening for?”

“There are only two heartbeats.” She pointed out. “Yours and mine.”

After another minute, he found only two heartbeats in the house. “How’d you pick that up so easily?”

“I’ve been in the game longer. It’s a bit complicated.” Spencer told him. “Honestly, it shouldn’t be that difficult. It’s a full moon. Your senses should be heightened.”

“I feel like they are. I feel nervous. Shaky almost.”

“Me, too. Which means you have to be really careful out on the field. Scott had trouble, but somehow he controlled it after a bit of practice. All the aggressiveness, the heart racing, you need to calm it down.”

“How am I supposed to cut the aggression out of lacrosse. You do realize a majority of the sport is pushing guys around. Violently.”

“You just have to!” Spencer snapped.

Isaac cringed.

Spencer took a deep breath and sighed. “Sorry. That must be the full moon.”

Isaac nodded. “Well, how did Scott do it?”

“Well, there was one day during free period where we pelted him with lacrosse balls. Stiles also keyed someone’s car and blamed it on Scott so he’d get beat up.”

“Yeah, I’ve gotten enough bruises to last me a lifetime.”

“I don’t know how he did it. I really don’t. I wish I could tell you. But since I can’t help you in that case, I will stay at practice. Park by the field and watch. If your heart beat goes up, I will come get you and take you to the locker rooms and run you under a cold shower or something.” She smiled. “We’ll get through this.”

Isaac tried to force a smile and nodded.

“Now, finish your breakfast. I’m going to go get ready.” Spencer stood from her place at the table and dumped the little bit of food from her plate onto Isaac’s. She smiled and placed her dish in the sink and went to her room. She chose a more relaxed outfit today of skinny jeans, a t-shirt, and her chucks. She pulled her hair into a simple pony tail and decided she was ready enough for her day.

Spencer walked out into the kitchen to see Isaac had done the dishes. She smiled. “You ready?”

Isaac nodded.

“Let’s go.”

!@#$#@!

“Okay, so tell me the plan again.” Spencer ordered Isaac.

“Keep my heartrate down. Don’t get too into it.”

“Exactly. It’s just practice. We’ll deal with games later. During practice, be on the look out for my voice. I’ll be talking you through this practice. Be careful, okay? It’s not just your senses that are heightened. Scott’s are, too.”

“I’m not sure I can do this.”

“You can, Isaac. Of everything you’ve been through, this practice will be one of the easiest things you’ve ever done.”

Isaac nodded, trying to psych himself up to it.

“Alright, go get changed. I’ll be here.”

Isaac left Spencer in her truck. She sat for a couple minutes in the silence trying to calm her full moon nerves. She was worried about tonight and the things she could do. She hadn’t talked to Derek about the plans for her, but she couldn’t be out. She didn’t want to do something terrible.

Spencer noticed the boys start to file out, little by little, and start running drills on the field.

Stiles’ voice made her ears perk up. “How could you tell? About the other werewolf?” Stiles asked Scott.

Spencer’s eyes shot to their location on the bench.

“It was kind of a scent,” Scott said, “but I couldn’t tell who it was.”

“What if you can get him one-on-one?” Stiles questioned. “Would that help?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I think I got an idea.” Stiles said, getting up from the bench and running to Coach.

Spencer groaned. “They’re going to try and find out who you are.” She said aloud to Isaac, not mentioning his name to draw attention to him. “Stay calm. Maybe they won’t figure it out.”

Scott’s head twisted when he heard Spencer’s voice. His head cocked to the side, confused. He wanted to get up and go ask her who she was talking to, but Stiles came back and told him the plan.

Coach’s whistle blew. “Let’s go! Line it up!”

The boys ran onto the field in a line. Scott took position in the goal.

“Scott, you hate goal. What are you doing?” Spencer asked.

Scott didn’t answer her.

Coach threw the ball to the first player in line. He caught it with ease and started heading towards the goal. Scott, however, didn’t want to keep his position in the goal. He bolted out and tackled the guy with the ball.

Spencer laughed. “Great plan there, Scotty. Hope it works for you.” She watched as the boys got up and Scott sniffed the other boy. Spencer furrowed her brow. “Really? You’re going to sniff everyone until you find out if they’re the werewolf? Stiles has the weirdest ideas.” Spencer said. She observed as the same thing was done to three more players, including Danny. She reminded herself to apologize to him for her friend.

It surprised Spencer that even after being threatened by Coach, he still left the goal. He was determined.

Jackson coming up next was also shocking to Spencer. He looked fine. Last she’d seen him, he was struggling to stay alive. Maybe the stuff she gave him really helped him.

“Coach, my shoulder’s hurting.” Jackson said. “I’m gonna… I’m gonna sit this one out.”

“Sure, you are. You snake.” Spencer said, towards Jackson. Then she noticed Isaac was next. He was breathing heavily. “No, don’t do this now. You were doing to good. Stay calm.”

Isaac couldn’t. The wolf was already coming out.

“Shit.” Spencer cursed to herself, pushing out of her truck. She ran quickly, but couldn’t stop Isaac from running towards Scott. The two collided and were on all fours on the ground, in front of each other. Spencer saw the Sheriff coming up to the field and joined the two on the ground, crouching in between them. “Don’t say anything.” She said to Scott.

He paused, taking her in. “Wait, you’re…”

“I said, don’t.” She stressed. “Not even to Stiles. I’ll explain later.”

Isaac looked to Scott. “Please don’t tell them.” he begged.

The Sheriff walked up to the coach explaining to him that they needed to talk to Isaac Lahey.

Coach blew his whistle. “Lahey!” he yelled, waving him over.

Spencer helped Isaac to his feet. “Go on.” She encouraged. “I’m sure everything is okay.” Isaac left with the coach, gathered with the sheriff and his deputies to talk about the situation Spencer already knew about.

The three friends grouped up together by the bench. Spencer knew that she needed to explain the situation to them, leaving out that she was a werewolf to Stiles. “His dad is dead.” She said to Scott and Stiles. “We think he might have been murdered.”

“We?” Scott questioned.

“Me and Isaac.”

“And Derek?” Stiles pushed.

“Leave him out of this.” Spencer said to Stiles. “Right now, we need to worry about Isaac. Listen.” She said to Scott.

After a second, Stiles asked, “Are they say that he’s a suspect?”

“I’m not sure.” Scott said.

“Is it important?” Spencer questioned.

Stiles sighed and explained. “If they think he’s a suspect, they can lock him in a holding cell for twenty-four hours.”

“Like overnight?” Scott asked.

“During the full moon.” Spencer clarified.

“How good are these holding cells at holding people?” Scott asked Stiles.

“People, good. Werewolves, probably not that good.”

“Stiles, remember when I said that I don’t have the urge to maim and kill?”

“Yeah.”

“He does.”

“He doesn’t.” Spencer insisted. “Isaac isn’t like that.”

“He wasn’t like that.”

Spencer groaned. “Stiles, I need to talk to Scott, alone.” She didn’t wait for a response from either boy. She grabbed Scott’s arm and pulled him away from Stiles.

Once out of earshot, Scott spoke first. “You’re a werewolf.” He hissed.

“Good job, boy genius. Don’t tell Stiles.”

“Why are you a werewolf?”

“Derek’s building a pack.”

“So, he just bit you?”

“No, I asked him to.”

“Why would you want this?”

Spencer scoffed. “Maybe because I feel helpless otherwise? I was weaker. I was slower when I was just a witch. Now I have power.”

“Stiles won’t like this.”

“I don’t really care.” She said, emotionless. “He’s still hung up on Lydia. I can’t compete with her.”

Scott sighed. “What are we supposed to do about Isaac?”

“We need to make sure he doesn’t get stuck in one of those cells.”

“What are you doing tonight? When the moon’s out.”

“I’m going to help Isaac.”

“Tonight’s your first full moon, Pence. You won’t be able to control yourself.”

“I think I have a slight advantage with my past. And if I start struggling, Derek will figure something out.”

!@#$#@!

Class had begun and everyone was waiting instruction from Mr. Harris. Spencer was eavesdropping on every word coming from Scott’s mouth, making sure that he wasn’t going to spill the beans about her being a werewolf. One of her friends knew, now she just had to figure out how to tell the other one, the one she was closer with.

“So why would Derek choose Isaac?” Scott asked Stiles.

“Peter told me that if the bite doesn’t turn you, it could kill you.” Stiles explained. “And maybe teenagers have a better chance of surviving.”

“Does being a teenager mean your dad can’t hold him?”

“Well, not unless they have solid evidence. Or a witness.” Stiles thought. “Wait.” He turned his head a little to look behind him, realized something and turned his full body around the other way. “Danny.” he half-whispered. “Where’s Jackson?”

“In the principal’s office talking to your dad.”

“What? Why?”

“Maybe because he lives across the street from Isaac.”

“He’s a witness.” Spencer said, at the same time as Scott, realizing where they were going with the idea.

“We gotta get to the principal’s office.” Stiles said.

“How?” Scott asked.

“Everyone please turn to page seventy-three.” Harris said, pulling Spencer away from listening in on her friends.

She looked to the board, quickly copying down the notes before turning her page. From the corner of her eye she saw something fly towards the front and hit Harris’ head. Her eyes widened as he turned around.

“Who in the hell did that?” Harris questioned threateningly.

Spencer turned her head to see her two friends pointing guiltily at each other. She sighed. Harris ordered the two to go to the principal’s office. Spencer’s hand shot up in the air.

“Yes, Ms. Garner?”

“Um, I need to go talk to the Sheriff.”

“Is it important?”

“If it weren’t, would I be asking to leave class? I mean, alkynes are a very interesting part of chemistry.”

“True.” Harris agreed. “Alright. On your way there, you might as well babysit these delinquents. Make sure they find their way to the principal.”

Spencer nodded, grabbing her backpack. She lead the two boys out of the classroom and down the hall. She stayed a bit in front of them. They were talking to each other about their plan. After arriving at the office, the three students sat down in the chairs out front. Stiles closest to the door, Scott in between his two friends. Scott and Spencer instantly start listening in on the conversation the Sheriff was having with Jackson. It made her angry to think that Jackson was just spilling the information to them, not knowing it could very well throw Isaac in prison. She thought worse of Jackson when it popped into her head that just the other day, she was helping him; taking his pain away.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Scott asked Spencer.

“I promised him that I wouldn’t. And I understood, you know?” she sympathized. “I mean, my dad didn’t physically hurt me, but what happened between us was definitely mentally scarring.”

Scott put his hand on top of Spencer’s on the arm chair. Spencer looked up at Scott. She smiled softly at him.

The three friends heard the sheriff coming out of the office. Stiles hurried to pick up the magazine between his and Scott’s chair.

The sheriff noticed the three sitting outside the office and shook his head slowly, not expecting much less. “Hi, Scott. Spencer.” he said.

Scott waved back.

Spencer jumped out of her seat and stood in front of the man. “Pops.” she glanced back at his deputy. “Uh, Sheriff Stilinski, sir.” She said, awkwardly. “I need to talk to you about Isaac.”

The sheriff nods and puts a hand on her back, guiding her to the side of the hallway. “What is it?”

“Isaac was abused. By his dad.”

“We know. Jackson just told us. But hearing it from you, I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t tell me.”

“I promised him I wouldn’t, but really that’s not the point.” Spencer shook her head. “Yes, he was abused, but Isaac wouldn’t do this. He couldn’t do this.”

“You know, it always seems that when I go to make an arrest you’re there, convincing me that the arrested didn’t do it. Why is that?”

Spencer shrugged. “I liked to see the good in people?”

“There’s nothing you can do when the evidence points to him.”

“You’re arresting him?”

“There aren’t any facts that tell me he didn’t do it.” The sheriff explained. “I’m sorry, Spencer. Excuse me.” He said, walking around the girl and down the hall.

Spencer groaned as he walked away. She did the only thing that she could think of doing. She took out her phone and dialed a number. “Derek?” she said into the device. “We have a problem. I need you to come pick me up.” She walked out the double doors that she was standing next to. She paced outside and watched as the deputies led a handcuffed Isaac from the side of the building and into the squad car. She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, pushing the bangs out of her face.

Once in the car, Isaac glanced back, seeing her standing at the entrance to the school.

“Isaac, I called Derek. We’re gonna figure this out. I promise.”

Scott came running out just before the car started to drive away. “What now?” he asked.

“We fix it.” Spencer said simply, walking towards the parking lot as Derek’s car pulled up. She walked up to the car.

“Call for him.” Derek told Spencer.

“Scott, wait.”

“Get in.” Derek ordered.

“Are you serious?” Scott questioned, holding his hands to the side. “You did that. That’s your fault.”

Spencer looked to Derek, who looked a little guilty. “Actually, it’s my fault.” she admitted, looking back to Scott. “I talked about Isaac’s situation in front of Derek. Derek thought he could save Isaac from his crappy homelife by giving him the power.” She sighed. “But now we have to fix it, and we need your help.”

“No, I’ve got a better idea.” Scott insisted, walking towards Spencer and Derek. “I’m gonna call a lawyer, because a lawyer might actually have a chance at getting him out before the moon goes up.”

Derek was getting impatient. “Not if they do a real search of the house.”

“Which they’ll probably do to find evidence of whatever Jackson told the sheriff.” Spencer pointed out.

“What do you mean?” Scott asked.

“Whatever Jackson said to the cops,” Derek started, “what’s in the house is worse. A lot worse.” He stressed.

Spencer sighed, preparing herself for what she could find in the house. Isaac was her friend and she wasn’t really ready to put herself into Isaac’s shoes. She opened the door and moved the front seat to that Scott could get in the back. The two friends stood for a moment while Scott debated his plan. Eventually he relented, shedding his backpack and climbing into the back.

“I really hope that I’m not gonna regret this.” Scott said.

“Trust me, Scotty, I do, too.”