Learning to bump

[not_yet_screaming]

Lydia swallowed checking her makeup just round the corner from the Argents. Allison wasn't a rival, of course. Not that she couldn't handle rivals. But you should always look either your best or your worst when asking for a favour - and Lydia very much needed one. Like most things she'd prefer to not have her facade slip, but it was either Allison or people she didn't know and couldn't investigate properly.

She'd barely slept the past couple of nights since that night in the school, instead wondering how she could fit in and thrive in this new world. It wouldn't be much harder than for a gawky math-geek to become Queen Bee after all. It was just the consequences of a mistake that might be a lot more severe. Fortunately she was Lydia Martin and did not make mistakes. But if she wasn't sleeping she could at least put the time to good use; most recently downloading the MIT guide to lockpicking and starting to teach herself. She was never again going to be stopped by a locked door at school, and she was working on getting some hairpins that worked as a torque wrench and picks (having realised that using ordinary hairpins was pure Holywood).

Still, this was more important. She checked her makeup one last time, as if she was going on a date. But she wasn't. She was Lydia Martin, and there were just too many downsides to dating a girl, at least while she was still at school (at College might be a different story). No bags under her eyes; makeup was useful that way.. Hair loose, lips pink. Nail polish only a semi-translucent pink. More innocent than she normally looked but she was going to ask Allison to teach her. A nice flaring skirt; after the incident in school she'd taken all the pencil skirts out of her wardrobe. Nothing she couldn't run in if she tried - and the differences were subtle.

Everything in place she drove up to Allison's house to knock on the door, noting with relief that Chris Argent's car wasn't there. He was creepy. A breath before she stepped out of the car and walked up the drive, heels barely clicking, to ring the bell. She was Lydia Martin. She didn't get nervous - especially not when seeing one of her best friends.

Comments

[bowsandarrows]

Feeling Lydia writhe under her, the flush on Allison's cheeks darkened and she abruptly shifted off her friend, standing up. "There are things we should talk about, but not here." She extended her hand to help Lydia up. "Possibly not yet."

[not_yet_screaming]

Lydia smiled, taking Allison's hand, and then smirked as she pulled herself to her feet. "How was that for a way of escaping? It wouldn't work on everyone." She gave Allison a second to process that. "And I'm not going to shoot you down in flames, although I might tease you silly." If Allison wanted to ask her out, depending how it was done and what Allison wanted, she might or might not say yes although she probably would. But Allison wanted the time.

and it took me a week to get to this; many apologies!

[bowsandarrows]

"I wouldn't try it on many people," Allison said, wrinkling her nose, and refusing to acknowledge the rest of Lydia's comment, though she did file that information away to examine later. "You never know how they'll react."

She let go of Lydia's hand to wander into the kitchen, pulling two water bottles out of the fridge and giving one to Lydia. "Stay hydrated, especially after that workout."

[not_yet_screaming]

Lydia smiled wearily, taking the bottle. "Thank you. Although I'm not sure whether to drink this or pour it all over myself to cool off. And what you can do to someone depends on who they are." She shook her head with a pout. "But what am I doing other than getting bruised? Either you or Jackson could throw me around like a ragdoll, and that's not going to change. And that... thing ... could do the same to Jackson."

[bowsandarrows]

Allison shuddered, thinking of that thing from the other night. She still had no idea what it was or what it could do, and part of her didn't want to encounter it ever again. But they would encounter it again, because Beacon Hills wasn't as sleepy and quiet as it appeared on the surface.

"You learn to be quicker and smarter than that thing," Allison said. "And stick to people you trust."

She couldn't carry her knives or bow to school and that was frustrating. But the rest of the time? Allison was going to make sure she had something on her.

[not_yet_screaming]

"I am smarter." Lydia shrugged putting her bottle down after taking a swig. "I'm never going to be quicker. And for sticking to people I trust?" She smiled slightly. "You're as close as anyone. And I've ordered a rape alarm and some bear spray." It was, after all, like pepper spray only stronger.

[bowsandarrows]

"Keep them close." Though Allison knew Lydia didn't need the warning. She'd definitely keep them on her. "Take a warm shower tonight and do some light stretching so you don't get sore."

[not_yet_screaming]

"I'm not an idiot, Allison." Lydia rolled her eyes. "And I'm going to be stiff and sweaty anyway." Another chug from her bottle. "And probably going to need some concealer for the next few days."

[bowsandarrows]

Allison could point out that Lydia didn't need make-up - she was just as beautiful without it - but somehow, she knew that wouldn't be appreciated. Lydia was well-aware of her looks and what she needed to do to maintain her place as queen bee at school.

"Make sure to give yourself time to practice falling in the morning, as well as everything else." She chugged at her own water. "I'll break into the safe later and get pictures from the book, so we can start analyzing it."

[not_yet_screaming]

"Will do. And thank you for the lesson." Lydia smiled before frowning as she heard a car stop outside. "It had better be later. I think that's your folks."

[bowsandarrows]

"You're welcome." Allison listened to the car, the sounds of car doors opening and closing, and sighed. "I should go get cleaned up before I see them. Keep practicing, and we'll make this happen regularly."

[not_yet_screaming]

"And I need to get changed back into my clothes." Lydia shrugged. Not that she'd be particularly modest doing so. Especially knowing Allison was interested.

[bowsandarrows]

"Come on, then." Allison tugged Lydia upstairs and into her room, yelling out a hello to her parents as they came inside.

[not_yet_screaming]

Lydia smiled, following, with a lot to think about and remember. Which didn't stop her teasing Allison a little more before she left - the ball was in the other girl's court.