"YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL."

Selena turned her head when she heard the voice coming from the doorway of her room. Lexie Koury was stood there, still in scrubs with a tired smile on her face. For some reason, Selena wanted to cry just from seeing her mother and receiving a compliment. It was a scarce occurrence in their home.

Selena was stood in front of her full length mirror, dressed in her cheer uniform and with a face of flashy makeup they had to wear for games. Full foundation and long liner. Her baby bump was noticeable in the tight crop top and short skirt.

Lexie entered the room farther, going to stand behind Selena. She was looking at her belly, too. She looked at it fondly, like she was imagining her life as a grandma.

"Is there a game tonight?" Lexie asked, receiving a nod, "No practice?"

Selena sighed, "I had to skip it," she frowned, "High school drama."

"Ah," Lexie nodded along, "I know what that's like," she set her chin on Selena's shoulder, arms looping around to cup her baby bump, "She's growing so fast. The months blur by."

Selena snickered, enjoying the hug, "I'm still convinced it's a boy."

Lexie hummed, "What do you think you'll name the little angel?"

"I've got a few ideas," Selena smiled sheepishly.

"Let's hear them," Lexie moved back, going to sit on the bed. Selena went and sat beside her.

"If it's a girl, I was thinking Valentina Pearl Koury," Selena blushed beneath her makeup, scared her mom would think it was dumb. Pearl was the family name, all the girl's of her maternal side having it as their middle name.

Lexie grinned, "But you're convinced it's a boy, so what would his name really be?"

Selena giggled a little, settling on a warm smile, "Reuben Jasper Koury, maybe RJ or Ruby for short."

Lexie took a minute, staring off into space as she seemingly ran over the names in her head several trines. Her lips faintly moved without making noises, as if practicing saying them. Then, she turned to her daughter.

"I think those names are perfect."

Selena blinked hard, ridding the droplets forming in her eyes. She couldn't ruin her makeup. Instead, she just nodded, happy if even for only a moment. Lexie gave her shoulder a squeeze before standing up and heading for the door, "I'm going to bed, have fun at the game," then she waved towards Selena's stomach, "Goodnight, Valentina."

Selena didn't reply, simply watching her leave.

Then, with a deep breath, she decided she wouldn't let Clyde ruin her life.

The drive to the school was a fast one. The sun was already set overhead, the game going to start within the next ten minutes. Selena went running for the field, heading for where her cheer squad was.

"Hey, I'm so sorry I'm late!" she blurted to Coach Grover once she was close enough. This was going to be one of the toughest moments of the night—appeasing coach. She was known for being ruthless when it came to tardiness.

Grover turned, scrutinizing Selena up and down.

Then, in a moment of weakness, the woman's face softened.

"Just go get warmed up."

Selena realized that Grover knew something. She might not have known the full extent, but there was an understanding between the two of them. Selena gave a quick nod, going to start doing stretches as they always did before games. The other girls on the team eyed her but said nothing. Most appeared sympathetic.

Selena looked around at the crowd. The stadiums were packed, as this was the game that would determine if they'd go to state. She saw Clyde and Jackson out on the field, thankfully not spotting her just yet.

Her view was obstructed by another player sliding in front of her. Scott, dorky smile and all, "You came."

Selena nodded, her tight curls bouncing up and down, "I thought it was for the best."

"Everything will be fine," Scott assured, giving two thumbs ups. Still, there was a distant look to his eyes. Selena frowned.

"What's wrong?" she asked, only for him to hesitate, "Scott, you can tell me."

"Jackson knows I'm a werewolf," Scott reluctantly told, "And he knows about the Argents. He says I have three days to give him the bite or else he'll tell them about me."

"What?" Selena blurted, arms crossing. She knew she was supposed to be warming up, but she didn't care.

"Don't worry, he doesn't know about you," Scott assumed that was the focus of her worry.

"I don't care, what about you?" she clarified, brows cinched together, "Not only is that literally a threat to your life, but what about Allison?"

"I don't. . ," Scott stopped, looking down at his feet, "I don't think me and Allison are gonna work out."

Selena's lips quirked farther down. She lifted a hand, setting it on his upper arm, "I'm sorry," she said honestly, "I know you really liked her."

Scott flicked his stare up, meeting hers. He knew it was the absolute worst timing, but he couldn't help but admire how pretty Selena looked at that moment. It wasn't the makeup blurring any imperfections that highlighted her beauty, but rather the genuine display of concern and the way that the stadium lights illuminated her soft features.

"Good luck tonight, anyways," she flashed a final smile, dropping her hand.

Scott cleared his throat, shaking off his previous train of thoughts, "You too."

They split up, going to their respective spots.

As the night progressed, Selena found herself not caring about what people were gossiping about her. She decided she didn't care what they thought. Selena wouldn't let them hurt her, not anymore. She wasn't a pawn or a scared little girl that night.

She was a phoenix; the bird that burned and then rose from the ashes.

Beacon High won. The lacrosse team was going to state. The whole crowd erupted in cheers of joy, the field immediately flooded by them all.

Selena weaved between students until she spotted a familiar head of brown hair. She followed him into the school, still fighting through the masses until she ended up right behind him. Selena reached out, grasping the back of his jersey.

"Hey, good job out there," she complimented.

Scott grinned, "Thanks. You did great too. Was it okay?"

Selena nodded, "Yeah, nobody said anything. I think they're scared I'll kick them off the team," Scott chuckled.

He looked between her eyes for a moment, before speaking up, "You looked really pretty out there, Selena."

She was a pretty girl. Selena had been told that countless times before. Usually it was an attempt to get into her pants, and she would swiftly bully any guy that told her such a thing. Selena didn't date. She didn't hold hands with guys, or confess feelings, or pine after them longingly. She just had no interest in true romance, or sentimental kindness aside from her friendship with Lydia.

Regardless of it all, Selena felt her cheeks heat up. Not like the anger that made her powers flair, but an unexpected flustered feeling. Selena smiled sheepishly.

"Thank you, Scott," she replied, all too aware that he could hear her heart. At least any emotions she was feeling got lost in the swarm of students, "You've been, like, a really good friend to me today. I'm sorry I've been a. . . well, a bitch."

"You haven't been a bitch," Scott tried to counter, but only got a pointed look in return, "Okay, you haven't been that big of a bitch."

Selena laughed, "Right. Thanks," she nervously jut a thumb over her shoulder, "Um, I should probably go. I'll see you around."

Scott rubbed the back of his neck, "Right. I'll see you later."

Selena turned and walked away, sparing him a final glance over her shoulder. She stopped by the locker room for her bag, not bothering to change out of her uniform. She just wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Selena cut across the field, heading for the parking lot. It was already half empty from everybody trying to get out of there. A few people were standing around, but paid her no mind.

She fished her keys from her bag, going to unlock the door to her car. Just then, somebody called out to her.

"Selena."

The girl in question felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She slowly turned, finding Peter stood there. His hands were clasped behind his back, an easy going smile on his lips.

Derek was beside him. The darker haired man was much more brooding, straight faced and stormy. He was wearing his usual leather jacket.

"Peter," she nodded in greeting, crossing her arms against the nippy air. She was frigid in the wind.

"Nice uniform," he teased, chuckling lightly. Selena didn't say anything at first, uneasy. Her eyes kept going to Derek.

"Since when are you two a team?" she asked, tone flat and neutral. She'd nearly forgotten about the alpha entirely. So much had happened very rapidly.

"You weren't answering your phone," Peter said, watching her every move. He couldn't figure out where he'd went wrong, how he'd lost his grip. The girl standing before him didn't toss a warm smile his way or rush to defend him. Selena was distant.

The only hope Peter had that he could win her back was the moonstone hanging around her neck. Maybe she hadn't come to her senses just yet.

"I can't keep doing this," Selena said. Her gaze was shifty, suggesting guilt. Peter noticed that she felt bad for dropping out of their agreement, "Killing these people."

"I thought you agreed they deserve it," Peter frowned sadly. Derek watched with furrowed brows. It didn't feel right, this entire situation. He understood that the people being killed deserved what they got, but did Selena deserve to be involved?

No, she didn't.

"I do agree," Selena assured swiftly, falling back into the habit of proving herself to him for only a second, "but you went after my friends, Peter. You tried to have Scott kill Lydia, my best friend."

"That never would've happened," Peter's voice softened, "I'm not a monster, sweetheart. I knew Scott would never do anything to hurt any of them," he sighed, looking elsewhere, "I thought you trusted me."

Selena was so tired. She was sick of running in circles, trying to do what's right from all angles. Scott and Peter were both in the right. Peter deserved true justice, and Scott just wanted to save everybody. Neither had inherently ill-intent. . . or so Selena believed.

"I trust you, but I trust Scott too," alas Selena revealed why she was having a change of heart.

Peter mentally cursed, realizing how obvious it was. His godforsaken beta, the ultimate hero. The goody two shoes who just had to solve all problems of Beacon Hills, rid the town of all evil such as himself. He had stolen the phoenix from Peter, stomping all over the months of manipulation he'd carefully construed into a perfect sculpture.

"I don't want to fight you, Peter," she confessed, blinking back tears for the millionth time that day. It was embarrassing that Derek was just listening in to everything without input, "I'm not going to keep helping you kill people, but I'm also not helping Scott kill you. You're important to me."

Peter nodded stiffly, acknowledging she was a sinking ship of no use to him. At least not now. He'd need a plan to win her back, something to shift the tides of the ocean and send her crashing back to him.

"Very well," he mused, "I understand, Selena, really. I'm sorry if I hurt you."

She frowned, gut twisting as she heard the pain in his voice, "I'm sorry too."

Peter turned, sending Derek a smug smirk that only he saw. The two walked away, off to visit Scott. He was their back up. If Peter couldn't have the almighty phoenix of Beacon Hills, he would settle for his nephew and bitten beta.

Selena clutched her necklace, wishing things were easier.

* * * * *

Over the course of the next few days, Selena was not caught up on the supernatural happenings. She had no idea about the Argents thinking Jackson was a werewolf, Peter threatening the people Scott cares about to try and make Scott himself join team alpha, and she didn't know that Scott was shot while Derek was taken by the Argents.

Selena spent one of her days with Lydia, the two just lounging around the house with face masks and freshly painted nails. The next day, they were supposed to go dress shopping. However, Lydia already agreed to go with Allison and Selena did not want to be around the girl.

Instead, Selena decided to go dress shopping alone, just like she was going to the dance alone. Several boys had asked her, but after what Clyde posted, she doubted any of them would still want to go. And if they did, it surely wasn't for the right reasons.

Grabbing her purse, Selena headed for the door of her house. As she swung it open, she jumped and gasped in startle.

"Scott, what the hell?!" she shouted, not expecting him to be already stood there.

Scott smiled apologetically, "Sorry, I was gonna knock."

Selena raised a brow, giving him a once over. He was wearing a nice long-sleeved red shirt, "Did you need something?"

"No," he said vaguely, rocking on his feet, "Where are you going?"

"Dress shopping," Selena replied, tucking her hair behind her ear, "I don't have one for the dance yet."

Scott nodded along, "Are you going with Lydia and Allison?"

Selena pursed her lips, "No, I'm going by myself."

"Oh," Scott muttered, "Want company?"

Selena studied him for a moment, confused on why he was randomly showing up. She didn't know that Scott was concerned the alpha would show up and somehow manipulate her into his side again, or even potentially harm her. Scott had sent Stiles to watch Allison and Lydia, while he came to Selena.

"I guess," Selena allowed, going to shut her door behind her before heading down to her car. They both got in, Selena driving to a boutique half an hour away.

Scott spent the drive anxiously eyeing every car near them. He was afraid of Peter, he'd admit. The alpha had already used Selena once, he could and would do it again.

He did another sweep of the parking lot when they arrived. Selena was already walking up to the front glass door, not waiting for him.

"Do you have a suit yet?" Selena asked once they were inside. Scott felt entirely out of place surrounded by expensive, flashy dresses and middle aged women.

"No," he sighed, "Coach says I'm not allowed to go because of my grades."

Selena scoffed, "That's so stupid," she glanced over her shoulder at him, "It's coach, what's he gonna do? Tackle you to the floor?"

"He might," Scott mused, shrugging and stuffing his hands in his pockets. Selena hummed, beginning to look through a rack.

Scott just sort of hovered behind her as she worked her way through dozens of options. She snatched a few, throwing them around her arm but continuing anyways.

Eventually she had a decent stack and went to the dressing room area. Scott sat down on a chair, having nothing to do but twiddle his thumbs. Selena tried on several dresses, drifting in and out of the changing room. Each time she scrunched her nose and shook her head, silently telling Scott it wasn't the one.

Quite frankly, he thought all of them were fine. A few times he thought she came out in one she already tried on since they were the same color.

Finally, Selena came out with a satisfied expression. She turned side to side in the mirror, critically analyzing every square inch of satin fabric, "I think this is the one."

Scott nodded, "It's nice."

Selena could tell he really wasn't interested but was trying to be a good sport. Either way, she smiled at herself in the mirror, hands sliding across her stomach, "You can really see my baby bump in this."

Scott smiled too, finding it cute, "Do you know if it's a boy or girl yet?"

"No, I don't know if I wanna be told until I give birth or not," she shook her head, "I think it's a boy, but my mom thinks it's a girl."

Scott wondered how Selena's mom felt about the pregnancy. He realized he'd never heard anything about the woman, aside from the fact that she worked at the hospital with his own mother. Scott assumed she was handling it okay, as he had yet to be told otherwise.

Selena ducked back into the changing room, pulling on her tight jeans and sweater. Baggy tops were her favorite at the moment, although she supposed she didn't have to worry about hiding her little bump anymore. Everybody already knew.

She walked out, dropping off the other dresses at the return rack. Scott followed her again, although he was confused when they veered off into the tiny men's section.

"What're you looking for?" he asked, watching as she thumbed through a row of suits.

"You need a suit, duh," Selena said obviously, picking one up and holding it up to him before setting it back down with a head shake.

"Selena, I'm not even allowed—"

"Black or grey?" she cut him off, going between the limited options.

"I can't—"

"I agree, black is good," she hummed, holding that one up, "Can't go wrong with a classic."

"Coach is gonna—"

"Here the ties are hanging over here," she caught the sleeve of his shirt, dragging him that way. Scott sighed in distress as Selena started holding up various ties close to his neck, trying to figure out what color could go best.

"You really don't have—"

"Do you have a date?" Selena actually found it kinda funny to keep cutting him off.

"What?" Scott blurted, face flushed at the random question.

"Do you have a date?" she repeated, brows raised pointedly, "So you can match your tie to them?"

"Oh," he realized she just wanted to know for the tie, not to ask him, "Uh, no, I don't."

"Okay, this purple is nice," she decided, draping it over the dress and suit in her arms, "The paisley design is so cute," she went to head for the cash register, but Scott grabbed her arm.

"Selena, I'm not supposed to go to the dance, and I can't afford a suit from here," he said, clearly upset.

Selena tilted her head, unamused, "Beacon Hills, like, never throws dances. You have to go," she continued her pace to the front, "and I'm paying, so don't worry about it."

"You don't have to do that," Scott snatched the tag to read it, eyes widening, "Selena, it's two hundred dollars!"

"Shush!" Selena grit out, "That's to buy, I'm renting. Besides, I haven't been using my allowance lately. I can cover it."

Scott deflated, still feeling bad, "Are you sure? It's your money."

"Yes I'm sure," Selena rolled her eyes, finally dropping her things off at the cashier, "Hi, I'd like to buy the dress and the tie, and rent the tux."

"Alright," the woman behind the register typed at the computer before scanning the three items. The total came to roughly three hundred dollars, which Selena paid for in cash.

"Have a nice day," Selena smiled before her and Scott exited the building.

"Thank you," Scott said as they walked back to her car.

"No problemo."

They both hopped in, Selena reversing out of the spot and then out onto the road. Soft music filled the casual silence, along with the sound of Selena tapping her thumbs against the steering wheel.

"Do you have a date?" Scott eventually asked, unable to hold back any longer. He'd been wondering since she asked him. Selena was extremely popular, although as of late it was for all the wrong reasons.

Selena chuckled darkly, "Of course not. Nobody wants to go with the teen mom."

Scott frowned in sympathy. He couldn't imagine anyone watching that video and thinking she was somehow in the wrong. Even if it had been consensual—which it very obviously was not—how come Clyde wasn't getting hate for it? Only Selena had to walk the halls with her head down and hope to be left alone for once.

"They're missing out," Scott said.

And Selena smiled, secretly glad she was with Scott instead of Peter.