❛ Well, good for you, you look happy and healthy. Not me, if you ever cared to ask. ❜

SEASON 1, EPISODE 5
the tell

"HONEY," LYDIA'S MOM called into her daughter's room, knocking lightly on the door while opening it. "There's a Stiles and Willow here to see you."

⠀⠀⠀Willow noticed as she walked through the Martin home that it was neat and pristine when there weren't hundreds of teenagers chugging beers and grinding on each other in every square inch of the house.

⠀⠀⠀However, without the people, Willow realized that there was nothing in it. It felt empty, like there was no life to it. Just plain white walls, weird knick-knacks that looked like they were bought from a museum's gift shop, and no sound of life anywhere inside.

⠀⠀⠀It was different from anything Willow had been used to. Her house was always full of life and things and memories. There was always someone cooking, cleaning, dancing, singing, doing something in her home. That was true comfort. To come home and not feel pressured to be anyway but yourself.

⠀⠀⠀Coming into a home-like Lydia's made her thankful for the chaos in her own.

⠀⠀⠀"What the hell is a Stiles?" Lydia slurred.

⠀⠀⠀Lydia was lying on her bed diagonally and on top of the covers. Her feet were kicked over her head as she lazily swung them while looking at her nails in modest interest.

⠀⠀⠀"She took a little something to ease her nerves," Lydia's mom explained with a slight waver in her voice as she turned to look at the two teenagers. "You can—You can go in," she assured them, ushering them inside.

⠀⠀⠀"Thanks," Stiles smiled, walking in.

⠀⠀⠀Lydia's mom left them to talk. Stiles stood at the end of her bed while Willow stayed at the door, frowning and crossing her arms as she leaned against the door frame and watched the two.

⠀⠀⠀Lydia flipped onto her side, looking up at Stiles through thick lashes, her cleavage on full display for him in the blue nightgown she wore. Willow didn't even think she looked comfortable. She preferred an oversized shirt and spandex shorts or large fleece pajama bottoms if cold out.

⠀⠀⠀"What are you doing here?" Lydia asked Stiles, narrowing her eyes at him.

⠀⠀⠀"I was just making sure you were okay," he explained.

⠀⠀⠀"Hm," she said, turning her head away as she smacked the strands of hair caught in her mouth before finally pulling them out. Then, she suddenly looked back at him and asked, "Why?"

⠀⠀⠀Stiles stood there for a beat, staring at the wall ahead of him without an answer for her. Lydia took a moment to pat the covers beside her, insisting he sit with her. Stiles stared at the space, then turned back to Willow, who could feel the glare settled on her face despite trying not to come across as jealous. Then, he looked back to Lydia and took the opportunity laid out before him, literally.

⠀⠀⠀"Because I was worried about you today," Stiles finally got out, his back to Willow. "How are you feeling?"

⠀⠀⠀Lydia raised her hand above her head, throwing it back down to land on Stiles' biceps to feel the muscle. Willow could feel her gaze focus on the move, restraining herself from saying anything out loud that would out her.

⠀⠀⠀Lydia pulled herself up from her laying position, moving closer to Stiles' ear in an attempt to whisper but her husky words only filled the room. Stiles shuddered from the nerves wracking up his body.

⠀⠀⠀"I feel fantastic," Lydia assured him with a gooey smile.

⠀⠀⠀Stiles smiled before his eyes turned to her nightstand. He glanced at Lydia and then back to the pill bottle. He leaned forward and grabbed it, holding it away from himself to read the label.

⠀⠀⠀He turned to Lydia with a flickering smile and said, "I bet you can't say, uh 'I saw Suzy sittin' in a shoeshine shop' ten times fast."

⠀⠀⠀Lydia glared up at Stiles, parting her pretty pink lips to prove him wrong, repeating, "I saw Shuzy—" she cut herself off, catching herself falter. "I shaw—!"

⠀⠀⠀Stiles grinned when he stumped her, nodding his head, and moved to put the pills back.

⠀⠀⠀"I saw," Lydia continued, her voice now dead of emotion as she stared at the wall in front of her.

⠀⠀⠀Willow stepped away from the door frame, furrowing her brows.

⠀⠀⠀"What did you see, Lydia?" Willow asked her.

⠀⠀⠀"Something."

⠀⠀⠀"Something like," Stiles continued. "Like a mountain lion?"

⠀⠀⠀"A mountain lion," Lydia repeated.

⠀⠀⠀"Are you sure you saw a mountain lion, or are you just saying that because that's what the police told you?" Stiles asked her.

⠀⠀⠀"A mountain lion," Lydia said again.

⠀⠀⠀Willow walked past the two, grabbed the stuffed giraffe sitting next to the pill bottle, and held it in front of Lydia's face. Willow waited until Lydia's eyes focused on it, then asked, "What's this?"

⠀⠀⠀"A mountain lion!"

⠀⠀⠀"Okay," Stiles laughed, looking at Lydia with a smile. "You are so high."

⠀⠀⠀Willow turned to put the stuffed giraffe back, and as she did, Stiles made a noise at the back of his throat that had them both turning red. She turned to see Lydia passed out on his lap, her hand dangerously close to his crotch and an expression of idiotic bliss stretched across his features.

⠀⠀⠀"I can try and tap into her recent memories," Willow said, holding her fingers up, and sparks began to light at her fingers. "Since she's knocked out cold, I'm mo—"

⠀⠀⠀"Don't ruin this for me, Gallagher," Stiles interrupted her, and she frowned deeply at his comment. "I'm finally getting my moment with my dream girl!"

⠀⠀⠀"Fine," Willow said, her heart cracking when she thought it had already shattered before. "I'll be in the car."

⠀⠀⠀"What? Gallagher! Will—Jesus Christ," Willow heard Stiles call after her. She slammed the door shut, walked down the stairs, out the door, and closed the door behind her without saying goodbye to Lydia's mom.

⠀⠀⠀Willow's hands were shaking, her breathing going ragged as she lifted the palm of her hand to the side of her head and hit it.

⠀⠀⠀"Stupid, stupid, stupid," she muttered to herself.

⠀⠀⠀Willow stood there, thinking it over and growing increasingly annoyed with herself for getting jealous over an ex. She walked to Stiles' Jeep, pulling excessively on the door handle, but it didn't budge. She furrowed her brows, glaring at the lock, and muttered a spell under her breath. Finally, the lock popped up, and Willow sat in the passenger's seat until Stiles returned. If it weren't for the fact her house was on the other side of town, she would've walked home.

⠀⠀⠀It wasn't much later that Stiles walked out of the Martin's house, waving to Ms. Martin and heading over to the Jeep. His head was down, and he slid into the driver's seat. He turned on the engine and glanced over at her, furrowing his brow.

⠀⠀⠀"Was the car unlocked the whole time?" he asked her, realizing he hadn't given her the keys.

⠀⠀⠀"No," she responded, crossing her arms and looking out the window.

⠀⠀⠀"Oh," Stiles muttered. "Listen, Will—"

⠀⠀⠀"We don't need to talk," Willow told him, keeping her eyes on the window.

⠀⠀⠀Stiles deflated, then nodded. He let out a small sigh before backing out of the driveway and starting the way to her house.

STARLA AND VIC were sitting in Ms. Ramsey's class. The woman had pulled two chairs for the couple to sit in while she sat in front of them. Starla thought it was endearing that the woman wanted them to have an open and honest conversation because they were seated without a desk between them.

⠀⠀⠀Starla's hand was wrapped in her husband's and rested on his knee as Ms. Ramsey greeted them. She had a small stack of papers in her hands of notes to remind her how each student was performing.

⠀⠀⠀"Let's start with Bridgette," Ms. Ramsey began as she scanned over the papers, flipping through a couple and putting Bridgette's at the front. "I believe she is one of my best students."

⠀⠀⠀"I don't mean to sound rude," Vic replied with a small laugh reaching the corners of his eyes. "I love my daughter very much, but she isn't that bright when it comes to school."

⠀⠀⠀Ms. Ramsey nodded her head.

⠀⠀⠀"I can understand that," she assured him with a small smile. "What I meant is that Bridgette is one of my best students all around. She does her homework on time, tries her best, and even if she struggles, she doesn't hesitate to come and ask me what she does not understand. She is also very kind and patient, even with the other students."

⠀⠀⠀"I'm happy to hear that," Starla grinned, squeezing Vic's hand. "Bridgette struggles a lot with school, so I'm happy to hear that you see her as a good student."

⠀⠀⠀"In my class, grades aren't the only things that matter," Ms. Ramsey explained. "Attitude, interest, and really making an effort are what I look for. I would recommend possibly hiring a tutor for her other courses in math and science. She's only just made a C in those classes.

⠀⠀⠀"We'll keep that in mind," Vic nodded.

⠀⠀⠀"Now, on the other hand, Laurel."

⠀⠀⠀Starla sighed.

⠀⠀⠀"I know. She's always had issues with school."

⠀⠀⠀"She's actually doing very well, nearly all As in her classes, but she doesn't seem very motivated or wanting to participate in class," Ms. Ramsey explained. "I don't mind if a student doesn't feel inclined to answer a question or participate. It's not for everyone. Some students struggle with confidence or anxiety in the classroom and among their peers. What I'm finding in Laurel, although, is that she seems bored. She's not pushing herself enough, and I worry that it's because of her sisters."

⠀⠀⠀"What about her sisters?" Vic asked, readjusting himself to sit up straighter.

⠀⠀⠀"Laurel seems very attached to her sisters, more to them than they are to her. I think, and I know they aren't triplets biologically but growing up as such, Laurel has purposely set herself as the glue to keep the triplet status. Going at the same pace as her sisters kept them together."

⠀⠀⠀"So, you're saying Laurel could be excelling even higher than she is now?" Starla asked.

⠀⠀⠀"Yes," Ms. Ramsey nodded. "And possibly even more than that. There's still time after this school year to sign Laurel up for AP classes if she's willing to do them. They're a little harder but I think she'd have no issues except for leaving her sisters."

⠀⠀⠀Vic and Starla glanced at each other then back to Ms. Ramsey.

⠀⠀⠀"We'll talk to her, but Laurel is a very stubborn and loyal girl," Vic explained.

⠀⠀⠀"I understand," Ms. Ramsey nodded. "I have a few pamphlets for what an AP class looks like."

⠀⠀⠀"Thank you."

⠀⠀⠀"Now, Willow," Ms. Ramsey continued with a slight nod. "She's similar to her sister, Laurel, but on a different scale. I believe she has a lot of potential, sitting near a C like her sister, but whereas Bridgette works hard to get that grade, Willow does it because it's easy. I don't think she would be able to handle the workload of an AP class, but if she committed to working towards an A, I think she could with ease."

⠀⠀⠀Starla nodded and frowned, "She's very quick to get tired of something unless it interests her, and even then, she hops from one interest to another. She's like a jack of all trades. She knows a lot but isn't a master at any because she can't commit."

⠀⠀⠀"Some people are like that, but I do wish Willow would put a little more effort in, even for a B, for her college transcripts."

⠀⠀⠀"Maybe if we ask Willow to help or tutor Bridgette, it might benefit them both," Vic commented, turning to Starla.

⠀⠀⠀"That could work if she's willing to do it," Ms. Ramsey said. "Maybe having a study group will help, too. Keep them on track while maintaining that social and relationship aspect of it."

⠀⠀⠀"That's a very good point," Starla nodded.

⠀⠀⠀Ms. Ramsey smiled, then nodded.

⠀⠀⠀"I think this went really well tonight. I think it went really well," she finished, standing from her chair, and Starla and Vic followed.

⠀⠀⠀"Yes, thank you," Starla agreed, shaking her hand.

⠀⠀⠀Vic shook her hand as well, and the two walked out of the classroom.

⠀⠀⠀"I miss when Rowan was in school, and I only had to worry about one kid failing," Starla sighed, resting her head on her husband's arm.

⠀⠀⠀"I know, honey," Vic sighed, his hand around her shoulders and rubbed up and down her arm. "But at least the girls aren't getting into nearly as much trouble as Rowan did when he was their age."

AUTHOR'S NOTE —

Yay! The Tell is now complete. Next up is NIGHT SCHOOL! (skipping over the heart monitor episode because it's stupid and Willow and her sisters have no point in it). But, guys, I'm so excited for Night School. it was so much fun to write and one of the longer episodes I've written out!! that will come out this Sunday, getting back on that schedule.

SONG: good 4 u by Olivia Rodrigo

Thank you for reading! Leave comments telling me your thoughts on this chapter, but however you interact, know that I really appreciate you reading. I hope you enjoy, and until the next one.