𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚊'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

The rest of Coach's class is spent with each of us getting up and trying to throw the coin into the mug. I easily manage it, like a few do, while the others fail and are made to do extra work. The bell rings to tell us that class has ended and I make my way to the library where I told Lydia and Allison I'd meet them.

"Hey, girls" I chirp, sitting down at the table.

"Hey, Nat" Lydia grins, while Allison absentmindedly waves at me with her eyes on her notebook.

I drop my bag onto the floor, watching as Allison aggressively scribbles on her paper and Lydia clicks her pen as she reads from a textbook.

I feel someone's gaze burning into my face and my eyes travel upwards to see the twins. One of them is looking right at me while the other is looking around the room.

"I want one" I mumble, glancing at the girls.

Allison turns to look at what I'm talking about and Lydia looks up from her book.

"Which one?" Allison asks excitedly.

"The straight one, obviously" Lydia retorts.

Allison looks back at them to see that one of the twins is now staring at Danny, smirking seductively at the boy.

"Go for it. He's obviously into you, Nat" Lydia tells me and I grin, nodding.

"Wish me luck" I rush out before getting up and walking over to them.

I pretend to look for a book and, just like I knew he would, the straight twin walks over to me. He leans against the bookshelf and I turn to him, giving him an innocent smile.

"The name's Aiden" He tells me confidently.

"I'm Natalia" I reply, looking up at him through my lashes.

"You wanna go out sometime, Natalia?" He smirks, taking a step closer to me.

"Maybe" I hum, biting my lip.

"How about you give me your number and I'll text you?" He suggests, reaching out to tuck my hair behind my ear.

"That's okay with me" I smile.

He hands me his phone and I add my number to his contacts before handing it back to him. He types something on his phone and my phone pings in my pocket, making him grin. I open my mouth to say something but I'm interrupted by my name being called out.

"Natalia! Hey, Natty! Over here!" Stiles yells and I groan, making Aiden laugh.

"See you later, Aiden" I tell him.

"Later, gorgeous" He replies, making me smile.

I then grab my bag and send the girls an apologetic look before walking over to the boys.

"What do you two dorks want?" I snap, punching Stiles' arm.

"Ow!" Stiles whines, grabbing his arm.

"We have to go to Deaton's. Derek and Isaac are meeting us there" Scott explains.

"Ooh! To the Jeep!" I exclaim, perking up.

❦ ❦ ❦

While Stiles, Scott and Derek get to work filling a metal bath with ice, I find myself walking over to a very confused looking Isaac Lahey.

"Hi" I greet him and he tears his eyes away from the bath, looking to me.

"Hey" He smiles weakly.

"I know you probably don't remember me-" Before I can even finish, he cuts me off.

"Natalia McCall, we were in 4th grade and you were the only kid who would speak to me because everyone else thought I was a freak" The Lahey boy states and I smile slightly.

"They didn't know what they were missing out on. You were a great friend" I explain and his smile widens.

"Thank you, for sticking up for me when we were younger" He says softly.

"It wasn't fair that you felt unsafe at home and at school, I had to do something" I shrug.

"No, you didn't. But you did it anyways and I really appreciate it, Nat. I can still call you that, right?" He smiles and I roll my eyes jokingly, nodding at him.

"Anytime, Isaac" I assure him.

Deaton walks up to us and I step back a bit to let him speak to Isaac.

"Obviously, it's not going to be particularly...comfortable. But if we can slow your heart rate down enough, you'll slip into a trance-like state" Deaton explains to the boy.

"Like being hypnotised" Isaac says and Deaton nods.

"Exactly. You'll be half transformed. It'll let us access your subconscious mind" Deaton tells him as he crouches down, leaning on the metal rim of the ice bath.

"How slow does his heart rate need to be?" Scott asks.

"Very slow" Deaton answers vaguely.

"Okay, well, how slow is very slow?" Derek asks.

"Nearly dead" I answer this time and the others look at me in disbelief while Deaton nods with an impressed look.

"It's safe though, right?" Isaac asks worriedly.

"Do you want me to answer honestly?" Deaton asks.

"No. No, not really" Isaac mumbles.

"Hey, we're gonna be right here" I assure the brunette, placing a hand on his shoulder and he smiles up at me weakly.

The next sound that's heard is the snapping of a rubber and I look up to see Stiles with a rubber glove on his hand, playing with it.

"What?" He asks in confusion as we all stare at him.

"Quit playing around, dork" I snap and he rolls his eyes, yanking off the rubber glove and throwing it on the counter.

"Look, if it feels too risky, you don't have to do this" Derek tells the beta.

Isaac sighs before pulling off his shirt and exhaling loudly. He steps into the bath and I grimace as he pants due to the cold. Scott lightly pushes me towards Stiles as the brunette sits down in the water and I roll my eyes, but don't object.

Scott and Derek hold each of Isaac's shoulders and push him down, under the water. Ice and water spills over the edges and I squeak, jumping at Stiles. The startled boy catches me bridal style and looks at me in complete disbelief as I cling onto him.

"It's just water" Stiles states.

"And these are expensive shoes!" I hiss, pointing at my heeled ankle boots.

"I forgot how dramatic you are" He grumbles.

"Come on, Stilinski, you've missed me" I grin, poking his cheek.

"Shut up, Natalia" He huffs.

"Admit it then. Tell me you've missed me" I demand and he rolls his eyes.

"Okay, fine, I've missed you. Now, shut up" He rushes out and I smirk widely.

"I've missed you too, dork" I hum, laying my head on his shoulder.

All of a sudden, Isaac shoots out the water and roars viciously, his eyes burning a bright yellow in colour.

"Get him back under!" Deaton barks.

Scott and Derek push him down but he frantically struggles and kicks his legs. Stiles places me down where it's not wet and rushes to hold Isaac's legs down.

"Hold him!" Deaton orders.

"We're trying!" Derek retorts.

The struggling boy abruptly stops moving and everyone freezes. He slowly floats to the surface and takes a short breath of air. The boys look at Deaton who holds up his finger, telling them to wait.

"Now, remember, only I talk to him. Too many voices will confuse him and draw him out" Deaton explains and I take a couple steps closer, forgetting all about my shoes getting wet.

"Isaac? Can you hear me?" Deaton asks softly.

"Yes. I can hear you" Isaac replies, his eyes still closed.

"This is Dr Deaton. I'd like to ask you a few questions. Is that all right?" Deaton then asks.

"Yes" Isaac answers.

"I want to ask you about the night you found Erica and Boyd" Deaton states "I want you to remember it for me in as vivid detail as possible, like you're actually there again"

"I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna do that" Isaac chants in distress and the lights start flickering above our heads.

"Isaac, it's all right. Just relax. They're just memories. You can't be hurt by a memory" Deaton assures the boy and I shake my head, taking a few steps back.

"Natalia, what's wrong?" The man asks me and I clench my fists.

"I need some air" I blurt out before practically sprinting out the room.