—

"An axe murderer?" Kira repeated Stiles' words.

The Yukimura was currently walking with Ryder, Austin, Scott and Stiles. The Stilinski having just told the group of the news he received on his phone.

"A family murdering axe murderer." Stiles corrected.

"As if thats supposed to make us any more thrilled to help investigate the situation." Ryder scoffed, leaning back against Austin's chest as they stopped in front of the lockers. He took less than a second to hug her by her waist, pulling her closer than she already was.

"I already heard about it." Scott said softly.

Stiles began waving his hands around in confusion, "Wait. What? You did? How?"

"My mom called me. She knew we'd see it on the news."

"Perfect. Let's go." He gestured for them to follow.

"We've got Econ in five minutes."

"All right. Did you forget the part about the family murdering axe murderer?"

"Did you forget the part where it's the middle of the school day?" Austin asked.

"Or that your dad's the sheriff? They want us to stay out of it."

"Which I fully agree on. I can't play superhero while my mom's pregnant, last thing I need is to stress her out."

"Are you guys kidding me? There's a family murdering axe murderer and we're not going to do anything about it?"

"Why would we?"

"Right..."

Kira shared a look with Austin and Ryder, "Maybe we should just let the adults handle it."

"Adults as in, the police and you know, the FBI, maybe." Austin said, placing his chin at the top of Ryder's head.

The girl groaned lowly, pushing back against him. She let out a soft laugh as he poked her side.

"So the four of you, you just want to stay here, school, go to class?"

When he received looks that confirmed his statement, Stiles couldn't help but scoff,

"Never heard anything so irresponsible in my life."

They watched with faces of amusement as he walked away with his shoulder tense in annoyance.

"See you at tryouts?"

Ryder huffed out a laugh at the dismissive wave Stiles sent them.

Austin looked over and caught a look Kira gave him, one that practically begged that he and Ryder left her alone with Scott. He sent her a teasing look, pulling Ryder by her belt loop,

"Come on, Ry."

"Where are we going?"

Her question was answered with him grabbing her hand and ushering her forward,

"I-okay."

•••

"It was the first kiss since our actual first kiss." Scott then tapped Austin, "I saw what you did, taking Ryder away. Thanks, man."

"She wouldn't have wanted to stay very long, so no problem." He chuckled.

"This is good. That's good. You kissed her." Stiles began to celebrate.

Scott's face fell, "I did. But I didn't."

"Was... Was it on the lips?"

"Yeah."

"Was there tongue?"

"No. I... It was like how you kiss your grandmother when you're five."

Austin narrowed his eyes, "You guys are kissing your grandmothers on the lips?"

"Not like that." Scott huffed.

"I would hope not."

"Chaste. You gave her a chaste kiss." Stiles winced.

"Yeah, and now it's... It's all weird. It's all completely weird and I—I don't know what to do. Maybe I should text her."

"Absolutely not." Austin's voice came out muffled as he was taking his shirt off to change into a more fitting one for the practice they were about to do.

Stiles couldn't help but roll his eyes at the reddish purple marks that covered the George teens lower hip, trailing up to the side of his neck. He sighed before shaking his head at Scott,

"No. Just no with the texts."

"As a reminder, it's an open tryout today. All positions available. This is a rebuilding season, people. Jackson's gone, Lahey's gone... Greenberg, the one guy I actually wanted gone... Was held back. Again." Coach ranted, "Get your asses on the field!"

The players clamored out of the locker room with haste. Austin walked out after a few, earning a pat on the shoulder form Bobby as he walked by him.

"Hey, Coach..." Scott called out, gaining the man's attention, "I just wanted to ask if I was still—If I'm... You know..."

"You're on the team, McCall."

"But am I... Everything that I was on the team before?"

"All positions are open."

Unbeknownst to Scott, but very clear to Stiles, a certain freshman was caught smirking at the possibility of taking Scott's place.

•••

"This dear sister, is one of the only things that comes out of a good day at school." Ryder said, adjusting the glasses she had on her face. Technically speaking, she wasn't supposed to wear sunglasses at school, but she was outside and the sun beaming down on her was not something she wanted to deal with.

"Watching people try out for lacrosse?"

"No." Ryder scoffed, almost offended that Josie would think that was the reason she watched practice, "It's watching coach bring them down."

"Terrible. Horrifying. Pathetic. Unbelievably pathetic." Coach shook his head disappointingly at the boys as they ran past him.

From behind them, Kira chuckled, her mood slowly fading the second she finished.

"Is that everyone? Yep, that's everyone."

Austin lifted his shirt to wipe the sweat that dropped down his face while Scott helped Stiles keep his balance, oblivious to the eyes that weren't his girlfriend watching his every movement.

"I got you."

"Who came in first?" The Stilinski wheezed out, glaring over at Liam, the Dunbar teen having immediately dropped into push-up position the second he finished running. "He isn't human. What is he? Like a Were-Cheetah? Does it even exist? Is that a thing?"

"I think he's just good." Scott admitted.

"I'm gonna puke, take me somewhere."

"Okay. Okay."

•••

"What's wrong with you?" Malia looked up from her math book.

"Me?" Kira pointed to herself, "Nothing."

"You reek of anxiety."

"Yeah, it isn't very appealing to nose." Ryder leant back on her elbows to look at the girl.

"And it's distracting. What's going on?"

"Scott and I sort of had this thing happen. But it wasn't much of a thing. And I'm starting to think it never was anything at all."

"Huh?" Josie turned around.

"What do you want it to be?" Malia asked.

"More."

•••

"You know, maybe he's only good in goal. You know, just totally useless on the rest of the field."

"Doubt it." Austin said as soon as Liam made a goal.

Finstock's shouts could he heard from the sidelines, "Yes!"

"Maybe he's just perfect at everything. I hate this kid!"

Austin wouldn't be surprised if Stiles began to stomp his feet like a child. He was growing annoyed at this point. Liam was simply a new student that got kicked out of his old school. It was none of their business why he got kicked out. Especially since it's been proven that the kid wasn't a werewolf out to kill them.

"You don't have to hate him. The team needs new players." Scott said.

Stiles scoffed, "What about a new team captain?"

His words sent a visible shiver down Scott's spine and if either of them had been paying attention, they would have noticed the eye roll Austin gave Stiles.

Coach instructed for them to get in a single file line, wanting to test their ability to shoot the ball into a slightly guarded goal.

Scott was first and to say he missed was a complete understatement. His shot was actually so bad that Ryder's laugh could he heard from where she sat. It didn't help that one of his possibly future teammates began taunting him.

"Nice, McCall."

"Hey, Garrett." Stiles smiled sarcastically at him, "Shut up!"

•••

"Isn't the captain supposed to be one of the best players on the team? Or good?" Kira asked, confusion taking over her usually soft features.

"He isn't captain anymore." Ryder said, earning confused looks from the girls, "Tryouts means all positions are open and he feels threatened that someone could take that away from him, maybe that's why he's sucking so bad. Oh- shut up!"

"We weren't saying anything?" Josie frowned,

"Ah." Ryder waved a hand, focusing her attention on Austin who was the next to shoot the ball.

Her claps, along with Coach's shouts of happiness could be heard over the claps of the other lacrosse players. As Austin walked to the back of the line, his face flushed red at all the attention.

Liam went next, also succeeding in getting a goal. He however, smirked at the claps he received, stepping past Stiles to meet Austin in the back,

"Yes! Hot damn! Yeah!"

"You did good." Austin praised him, earning a thankful look from the shorter teen,

"Thanks. Your friends don't seem to think so." Liam said, dragging his eyes over to the two juniors who glared at him. It was no secret to Austin that Scott was listening in, but that didn't stop him from saying his next statement,

"Don't sweat it. Maybe they're jealous." He shrugged, "I would be too if I was at risk of losing my position on the team to you."

•••

"McCall and Stilinski, grab the long sticks. You're covering goal for two-on-ones. Let's go! Line it up!"

"We still don't know if he's a werewolf, too. And if he is, he'd just be cheating. And we'd just be cheating the cheater."

Stiles mumbled to Scott, unaware of Ryder's brown eyes that had been narrowed in on him since she had figured out his dislike for Liam.

Of course, she knew before. It was obvious that Stiles had some weird obsession with proving that Liam was supernatural, but she didn't think it was as bad until she heard Austin mention the jealousy they had over the freshman. Since then, she hadn't took her attention off of Liam, Scott and Stiles.

"But he's not. I'd know. I'd be able to catch a scent or something."

"Maybe you need to get closer."

Scott looked ahead, "I think I'm about to get my chance."

"Good Lord." Ryder rolled her eyes, leaning forward as they knocked a teen down.

"Yes!" Kira cheered, resulting in Malia looking up the Yukimura with an odd look.

"That's my boys! Those two are like sons to me." Coach gushed, pointing directly at Austin, "No where near as close as you!"

"Sure, Bobby." He laughed out.

Liam was next.

This had Josie unintentionally standing up to pay closer attention, leading to Kira doing the same as she couldn't see over the girls body. She didn't mind though, glad that Josie was no longer sitting in silence.

Ryder could see Austin give Liam an encouraging pat on the shoulder before he ran forward, dodging both Scott and Stiles, making a goal.

Josie jumped up and down, cheering and clapping for Liam, the Dunbar looking over at her with a bright smile. One that sent the brunette's heart beating quickly. Malia and Ryder shared a look, both having heard the intense beating of Liam's heart as well.

"That's how you do it! That's how it's done!"

Malia suddenly stood up, "That was luck!"

"Woah—"

"Oh no, Malia. Don't get involved."

"Do-over!"

"Sweetheart, there's no do-overs. This is a practice." Coach shut it down.

"Ten bucks on Scott and Stiles."

Austin shared a look with Liam, the teen suddenly nervous that so many people had something against him. Seeing this, Josie took less than a second to challenge the girl behind her. She also did this because she knew Malia didn't have ten dollars.

"Ryder has twenty on Liam."

Liam perked up, "What?"

"Huh?" Kira followed.

"Excuse me?" Ryder scrunched up her face.

"Ryder, please." Josie mumbled to her sister. Was Ryder aware of why Josie wanted to spend twenty on a boy she hardly knows? yeah. And did Ryder have twenty to spare in case this went wrong? Also, yes. So, she figured why not.

She also refused to let her sister look like an idiot for being the only person betting on the new kid.

"Uh- yeah, sure, twenty on Liam."

"I'll take that action." Coach pointed to the girls, "Hey! Get back in there, Liam."

Scott stared harshly at Ryder from across the field. His shoulders moving up and down as he breathed heavily. His eyes flashed at her before he was suddenly charging full speed at Liam, not giving him a chance to dodge him before his body flipped and he landed wrongly on his leg. A sickening crack echoing throughout the field, Liam's pained cries following closely behind.

"Oh, shit."

"Don't move! Don't touch him!" Coach shouted, gesturing for everyone surrounding him to back away.

"I'm okay, Coach. I'm all right." His words were contradicted by his own yell of pain, "I think it's my leg."

"I think we better get him to the nurse."

"Don't touch me!" Liam glared at Stiles, his blue eyes locking on Austin's matching ones.

"Liam, could you just—"

Stiles was cut off by Austin, "I'll take him."

"You sure?" Bobby looked at him.

"Yeah, I'll take Ryder and Josie with me, if that's fine with you?" Austin looked down at Liam for confirmation.

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Okay! You guy's take a lap. Run around... Start running around the field!" Coach yelled.

"We're coming with." Scott said as Austin wrapped Liam's arm around his shoulder, gesturing with his head for Josie and Ryder to follow after him.

Liam didn't protest, in far too much pain to even care to speak to either of them.

•••

Austin's car was silent as he drove to the hospital. That was until Ryder suddenly leant backwards and shoved a twenty dollar bill in Liam's face.

He furrowed his brows, slowly taking the money before asking why she was giving it to him.

"Just take it. I feel bad that your foots probably broken and you no longer have a career in lacrosse."

"Oh—"

"Ryder." Josie sighed.

"It's not your fault. I'm glad someone even had enough faith in me to bet on me like that."

"Yeah, i'm never doing that again." She looked at Josie through the rear view mirror with raised brows.

"Your friends are weird, though."

Ryder snorted, "Bold of you to assume I have friends outside of anyone in this car."

As she said this, Austin came to a stop outside the hospital.

"Alright, kids." He exhaled, "I'm gonna go ask for a wheelchair."

"You don't have to." Josie said as she got out of the car, gesturing to Scott who wheeled a chair over.

Liam reluctantly allowed Scott and Stiles to help him into the chair, walking him into the hospital with Ryder, Austin and Josie behind them.

"Hi, Mom." Scott hesitantly smiled at Melissa.

Melissa gave her son a look, looking down at the agitated teenager in the wheelchair, "Don't worry, Liam. We'll take good care of you." She then looked to the two girls, "Your dad's on lunch."

"Thanks, Melissa."

"I got to get going. I promised Malia I'd help her study." Stiles said.

"Sure. I want to check on him anyway."

"I doubt he wants anything to do with you." Josie muttered under her breath, brushing past them to sit in a waiting chair.

"I don't need to say that wasn't your fault, right?" Stiles asked, having not heard what Josie said.

Scott shrugged, "I don't know."

"Scott, if you had used any wolf power that kid wouldn't be limping, he'd be crawling—back to the other half of his body."

For what seemed like the hundredth time today, Austin rolled his eyes. Something about Stiles just seemed to rub him the wrong way recently.

He had heard Stiles push Scott over and over to use his powers to best Liam. Whether he was a werewolf or not, which was now proven that he wasn't, Stiles shouldn't be persuading anyone to use their powers unless deemed absolutely necessary.

It blew his mind how the Stilinski was so reckless with other peoples abilities just so he could prove a point that turned out to be wrong.

"If I hadn't been so worried about being captain he wouldn't be hurt either."

"It's okay to want something for yourself once in a while." Stiles caught himself glancing over at Ryder, the girl now walking away to stand by her sister. He could fairly hear her tell Josie that they'd come visit Liam once everything calmed down.

"Team captain, Alpha werewolf. You're still only human." He patted Scott's shoulder before he turned around and walked out.

What he wasn't aware of were the blue eyes that caught him staring longingly at Ryder's figure before he completely disappeared from his sight.

—
A/N: might have to quit cause this new update is not doing it for me

me 🤝 starting unnecessary problems between characters

also!! Bottoms is such a good movie