I Like Him

Life has gone back to normal somewhat. Well, as normal as it can be for a supernatural creature in Beacon Hills. The dead pool is over so my friends, brother, and I are not being hunted, so that's a plus, but nightmares are still plaguing my twin's sleep. There are bags under his eyes and he's extremely jumpy even in the middle of the day. Mason can even tell something is wrong with him.

I'm doing a bit better than Liam, but not that much. I haven't had nightmares, but I'm just as jumpy as Liam. Although it feels like a weight has been lifted from my chest since the dead pool was shut down, I still have an uneasy feeling that something bad is going to happen.

"Alright, why does it look like both of you didn't get a wink of sleep last night?" Mom asks Liam and I as we enter the kitchen for breakfast.

"I stayed up a bit late because I had a lab report due today," I tell her, fixing myself a cup of tea. It wasn't a lie this time. I actually did have a lab report that I procrastinated on until the night before it was due.

"Well, get a good night's rest tonight then," Mom replies. "What about you, Liam? Homework as well?"

"I just couldn't sleep," he mumbles, pouring himself a bowl of cereal.

"Is it because of the game today?" our stepdad asks him as he enters the kitchen, his tie askew.

"Yeah," Liam mutters. His heartbeat speeds up, but I already know he is lying. It's not the game against Devonford that he's afraid of. He's afraid of sleep.

I, on the other hand, am afraid of the game today. Not only is it almost a full moon tonight, but I'm also anxious to see a certain player from Devonford.

I haven't talked to Brett since the battle at the warehouse. His pack left immediately afterwards and I couldn't speak to him. I couldn't tell him everything I didn't say to him earlier.

Now I'm going to see him again. After a week of sleepless nights and overthinking and over analyzing everything. Every small detail. The things he said to me. His actions.

His kisses.

I've debated so many times in my head what to say to him. If I want to be with him. If he still wants to be with me. It drives me crazy.

"You'll do great, Liam," Dad says. "You always do, and even though your mom and I won't be able to make it, you'll have Lily and your friends cheering you on. We all want to see you succeed."

"Thanks, Dad," Liam says, giving him a weak smile. "I'll do my best."

"Good, now eat," Mom commands. "You can't play a lacrosse game if you're malnourished.

***

"Guys, where's Scott and Kira?" I ask as I get to Liam and Stiles on the side of the field.

"I don't know," Stiles admits. "They were supposed to be here an hour ago. They might just be caught up at the moment. Don't worry. They're probably fine. Besides, we can handle this game without them."

"Cause Liam's here still?" I ask.

"And I am," he replies, offended. "I don't want to brag, but I've been practicing."

"Okay, Stiles..." I say with a sly smirk on my face. I glance over at the Prep team only to see Brett taking off his shirt to change into his uniform. I bite my lip. I still don't know if I'm actually going to try to talk to him today, and if I do, what I would say.

"Lily, can you stop ogling Brett for one minute?" Stiles laughs.

I see Brett glance up at me. He probably heard what Stiles said. I quickly look away and back at Stiles whose smirking and Liam whose glaring.

"I am not ogling him," I defend, but I feel my face heating up. I know very well now that Brett can hear me.

"Okay, Lily..." Stiles says, imitating my earlier reply to him.

I huff and roll my eyes. "Whatever, good luck guys. I'll watch out for Scott and Kira."

As I walk to the stands I steal a glance at Brett again to see him looking at me as well. He gives me a lopsided smile and I give him a tight lipped one and turn away. The tension between us could be cut with a knife. I hate it.

I sit with Mason, and after a few minutes the games starts without any sign of Scott or Kira. I'm actually starting to get worried and I can tell Stiles and Liam are too.

Brett gets the ball, runs down the field, dodging all the Beacon Hills players, and swiftly scores. There's cheering on their side of the field as Brett is congratulated. I see him turn his head in my direction. I look away at my hands in my lap, my face red.

Why can't I even look him in the eye? Every time I see him I get all flustered now, and I hate it. I shouldn't be all nervous and feeling butterflies in my stomach because of a boy. Especially Brett.

But I do. Could I possibly like Brett? As in like like? I've been debating this for a week now, but I think I do.

I think I like Brett.

I do like Brett.

Why though? Why him? After all this time?

"Lily, you okay?" Mason asks me, snapping me out of my thought.

I flash him a fake smile. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I reply.

"I don't know," he shrugs. "You just seem... Off. Like somethings bothering you."

"I just... need to talk to someone after the game," I tell him. "I have a confession to make."

"Who?" He asks. "Is it Brett?"

I give him a quick , sideways glance. "What? No!" I lie.

"Really?" Mason says, sarcastically.

"How did you know?" I ask.

"Liam was annoyed and told me you like him," Mason says with a laugh.

"What?" I gasp. "I told Liam I didn't like him!"

"Lils, you might be a great actor and stage performer, but you're forgetting you're a terrible liar," he smirks.

"Fine, I like him," I huff. "But I'm not going to act on it."

"What? Why not?" He asks, shocked. "That boy is a Greek god in disguise! Why wouldn't you go for it?"

"I can't," I tell him. "He's hurt Liam, and even though I do like Brett, I can't betray Liam like that."

"So you're not gonna date him to make Liam happy?" Mason asks me as we watch Liam drop the ball when it was thrown to him.

"Good try, Liam! You got this!" I shout, trying to encourage my twin who looks like he's falling apart on the field. "Yes, Mason, I am doing this for Liam's sake."

"You do everything for Liam's sake," he comments.

"I do not," I argue as Brett scores again.

"Yeah, you do. You've constantly lied to teachers and your parents to get him out of trouble even if you get the blame. Also, you left the school you had a scholarship for because he was kicked out. Oh, and I can't forget all the times you've stayed up really late to tutor him so he can keep his grades up enough to play lacrosse. Lily, your life doesn't have to revolve around your brother. You can want things for yourself."

He's right. I'm not going to even deny it. I haven't even realized it until Mason just pointed it out. My whole life I've spent it making sure Liam is happy. Making sure he's calm and nothing bad happens to him.

"Not this," I say. "Liam's been going through a lot of things right now and I can't worry him."

"Lily, Liam is a high schooler. You can't protect him forever. He has to learn to deal with his problems. You can't fight them for him."

I stay silent for a bit, watching Beacon Hills falling apart on the field. "Fine," I mumble. "What should I do?"

"Talk to him after the game," he tells me. "Then make out."

I glare at him.

"What?" He asks in defense. "I'm single. I'm living my sexual fantasies through you since I have no one."

"God, Mason, no," I tell him with a laugh. "I am not gonna make out with Brett. I'll help you find a boyfriend so you'll not bug me about it."

"Make sure he's hot," Mason says. "And maybe a lacrosse play, yeah, that would be hot."

I roll my eyes and chuckle at my friend. I glance back over to the field to see Liam standing frozen in place as a Devonford player with the ball comes racing toward him.

"Come on, Liam, hit him!" I shout to him, but he doesn't move. I focus my hear to hear his heart racing and his breathing ragged.

Oh no, what's wrong?

The coach screams at Liam as the Devonford player runs past my brother, but Liam stays rooted to the spot as if he is frozen in fear. I look around the field trying to spot anything that might scare him. Hunters, Wendigos, Berserkers.

Nothing. I see nothing beside a regular lacrosse game, but Liam's heart is still pounding. I'm impulse I start to get up to go to him, but I see Brett knock Liam to the ground. I gasp.

"What the hell did you do that for?" Liam seethes at Brett. Even though his helmet is on, I know my brother is fuming.

"Your scared. I can smell it on you from across the field," Brett responds.

Even Brett could tell.

"Are you hurt?" Brett asks him.

"No."

Are you still alive?"

"Obviously," my brother responds with gritted teeth.

"Then get up," Brett tells him as the referee jogs up to them.

"Are you gonna try something like that again?" The ref says in a stern voice.

Brett just shrugs. "Not if I have to."

I blink in confusion. Did Brett just help Liam? That is honestly the weirdest thing I've see all day.

And I know weird.