Strange Magic part 1: The First One

Part 1: The first one

You hummed quietly to yourself as you studied the book in your lap, mouthing the Latin words to better understand the pronunciation. Hot sun beat down on the back of your neck and shouts erupted from the stands around you. You sighed, rolling your eyes. You hated lacrosse, and would much rather be sitting at home studying in private instead of melting in the bleachers watching sweaty teenage boys run around with sticks.

"Hey Emily." Malia poked your side with her pen. "Hey, hey Emily. Emily I need you. Hey Emily."

"What?" You snapped, eyes flashing purple as you glared at her.

"If X is equal to half the square root of Y, and Y is five times the value of 37 divided by 7, what is Q?" She asked, oblivious to your annoyance.

You sighed, closing your book and sliding closer so you could get a better look. "You know I'm only a freshman right? I can't really help with this." You said, looking at the equation. "Jesus is this some sort of elvish? I've seen spells in Latin easier to understand then this."

"Oh look it's Stiles' turn!" She nudged your shoulder.

"Not now Malia." You said, turning your attention back to your book. "I have a meeting with the Triad tomorrow morning and I need to get this spell down."

"Is that the witch council thing?" Malia asked, watching the field.

"If by 'witch council thing' you mean the old bags that control my magic and can make my life a living hell, then yes."

She nudged you again, harder. You sighed, looking up and watching Stiles run towards the goal, whipping the lacrosse stick at the net. The ball sailed right into the goalie's net. You watched as Scott's ball not only missed, it didn't go anywhere near the net.

Malia groaned. "Can you help them? Do a spell or something so they don't suck?"

You laughed. "Oh yeah, let me just whip out my handy win-at-lacrosse spell."

"Great!" She grinned.

You shook your head. "It doesn't work like that. Being a witch doesn't mean I can just magic up a solution to everything."

"But you can do that thing with your hands where you make stuff move." She said, watching Stiles miss another shot.

"I can't. Scott made me promise not to help in any way. I didn't even want to come to the stupid tryouts, but apparently I was needed for 'moral support'."

Malia frowned, glaring out at the field. "Well could you at least make that kid do badly?" You followed her gaze to a short blonde boy who sent the ball sailing into the net. "He's making Stiles and Scott look bad."

You watched as the boy executed another perfect shot. He was good. Really good. Maybe even captain good. The next time he stepped forward, leaning down to scoop up the ball, you flicked your fingers, eyes flashing purple again. The ball jumped to the left a few inches, rolling out of the boy's net.

"Pick up the pace Liam!" Coach yelled from the sidelines. The boy looked up at him and nodded, this time getting the ball into the net.

"Watch." You whispered to Malia, feeling a grin pull at the corners of your mouth.

Liam took off running towards the net. When his foot hit a muddy patch that had been giving a lot of the boys trouble, you flicked your fingers again, sending his foot sliding to the side. You watched, waiting for him to fall, but he just used the momentum to dodge to the side and shoot the ball into the corner of the net. Your eyes widened. Wow. He was really good. Malia was growling beside you, glaring at the boy.

"Hey, relax." You grabbed her arm, digging your nails in just enough to snap her out of it. "We're going to mess him up don't worry."

Alright, you were being petty. But really, who could blame you? You had written three tests today, been sitting outside in the sun for over an hour, and had a meeting with the Triad in the morning. Messing with a cocky teenage boy was a good way to let off some steam.

"McCall, Stilinski, grab the long sticks. Your covering goal for two on ones!" Coach yelled.

"Oh Scott and Stiles can handle him." Malia said, nodding.

Unfortunately, they couldn't. Liam got the goal, flying past them.

"It's okay," you said quietly, patting Malia's arm. "We'll get him next--"

"That was luck!" Malia yelled, jumping to her feet. "Do over!"

"Sweetheart." Coach looked into the stands. "This is tryouts. No do overs."

Malia growled, taking a step forward. She was going to blow up if you didn't do something.

"Ten bucks on Scott and Stiles." You yelled, pushing Malia back down.

"I'll take that action." Coach grinned. "Hey Liam, get back in there."

Liam stepped forward, crouching down in front of the ball. Scott and Stiles both tensed, waiting. Your eyes glowed and you grinned, hands at the ready. "This is going to be fun."

Coach blew the whistle and Liam took off. Stiles ran forward, waving his stick like a lunatic, and Liam spun to the side, dodging easily. Then you made your move. You tripped him, sending him flying forward. At the same time Scott ran forward, slamming into him. He went flying over Scott's shoulder.

CRACK

"Oh shit."

Everyone ran forward, watching Liam wiggle around on the ground, trying to get into something that resembled a sitting position.

"I'm okay Coach." His voice drifted across the field, followed by a scream as he tried to stand up.

"Oh god." You groaned, shutting your eyes. "I'm in so much trouble."

-----/--/-----

You stood outside the nurse's office with Kira, tapping your foot. Scott stepped out, shooting you a look before walking over to his not-quite-girlfriend. You took that opportunity to look into the nurse's office. Liam was sitting on the table with his head in his hands.

You recognized him without the helmet. He was new to the school this semester, and in a couple of your classes. His ankle was all purple and swollen, and looked broken.

You bit your lip before walking into the room. "Are you okay?"

He looked up, blue eyes wide. "Um, yeah, I'm okay."

"I saw what happened at the tryout." You said, walking over. "Is it broken?"

"I don't know." He shook his head. "They're supposed to take me to the hospital for an X-ray."

You took a step closer and he tried to sit up more on the cot. It sent pain shooting up his leg and he winced.

"Don't move." You ordered. "You're going to make it worse." You walked over to the bed and took his hand.

"What are you doing?" He asked, eyes wide with panic.

You couldn't suppress a snort. "Relax cutie, I'm not trying to kill you. Physical contact sometimes helps with pain." You said, muttering a spell under your breath. When he let out a sigh and released some of the tension in his shoulders you knew it was working. It wouldn't heal his ankle, but it would take some of the pain away.

"We're going to take you to the hospital." Scott said, walking into the room. "Emily, what are you doing in here?"

"I was just checking on Liam." You smiled innocently. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Scott nodded and you led him into the hallway. "I want to come to the hospital with you."

"Why?" He asked.

"Um," you scratched the back of your head. "I might have done something bad."

"What did you do?" He sighed wearily.

You bit your lip. "When you were bodychecking Liam, I might have been… tripping him. That's why he went flying."

Scott's eyes widened, and you saw him sigh with relief. You were glad he didn't feel like it was his fault that the kid was hurt.

"I just want to make sure he's okay." You said.

Scott nodded, leading the way back into the nurse's office. "Stiles is waiting for us in the Jeep okay Liam?"

The blonde boy nodded. Scott walked over and pulled Liam's arm over his shoulder, helping him stand. You stepped forward and took his other arm, pulling it over your own shoulders. It was awkward because despite his shortness, he still had a couple inches on your 5ft1 frame.

"Are you coming?" Liam asked, his eyebrows drawing together in surprise.

You nodded. "Stiles is my ride home."

He frowned, looking ridiculously confused. You chuckled again, helping him hop to the car. The two of you climbed into the back of the jeep, Liam's foot resting in your lap. You kept the tips of your fingers on his bare ankle, absorbing more of the pain, so that when the jeep jostled and jumped, which was often, he wouldn't pass out.

Mrs. McCall met you at the hospital doors with a wheelchair. You helped Liam sit down and pushed the chair after Melissa as she led you to an empty room. The two of you helped Liam onto the hospital bed.

"Your dad will be here in a few minutes to give you an X-ray alright?" She put a hand on Liam's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine."

She looked at you then. "Do you need a ride home?"

You shook your head. "Stiles is driving me back to the house. I would stay with you and Scott, but I have to study."

"Oh right. You have your big test tomorrow." Melissa smiled. "You'll do fine honey. Tell the Sheriff to get some rest for me okay?"

You nodded. You had been living with Stiles and his father since Derek had gone to South America with Cora. Derek hadn't been sure when he would be returning, and he wasn't comfortable with a fifteen year old living in the loft by herself. And of course, Peter wasn't exactly parenting material.

Melissa smiled at you, patted Liam on the shoulder, and left.

"So, your dad's a doctor here?" You asked.

Liam nodded, studying his hands. "My stepdad. So, you live with Stiles and the Sheriff?"

You nodded. "My cousin travels a lot. And my uncle, he's kinda crazy."

He looked at you then. "So you just live with Stiles? Are you guys related or something?"

You shook your head. "He offered. And it's just him and his dad, so they had the room. It was either that or my legal guardian Grace. She's a bitch."

"Oh." He shifted his weight and looked back down at his ankle. "God I'm so stupid."

"Why?" You asked. "Because you wanted to do well?"

He looked up at you. "I was showing off. I didn't need to shoot again, but I wanted to prove that I was good. I want to be captain. Why does a freshman want to be captain?"

"Hey." You leaned forward, nudging his uninjured leg. "It's not your fault. You want to do well, and make friends, and be important. There's nothing wrong with that. Besides, it could have been worse."

"How could it have been worse?" He snapped. He took a shaky breath, clenching his hands into fists. "It's broken. I'm out for the season."

"You could have landed on your neck." You said sternly. A boy who couldn't run around with a stick for a season wasn't really on the top of your list of end of the world situations. "You could have died. Not being able to play lacrosse for one year is nothing compared to not being able to do anything ever."

He frowned, looking at you in surprise, but just then a man in a doctor's coat came in.

"Hey Liam, how are you doing?" He paused when he saw you. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had company."

You smiled. "I was just leaving actually." You put a hand on Liam's leg. "I hope it's not broken. Feel better okay?"

He nodded, and you walked out, running to catch up with Stiles before he left without you.

"Hey!" He shouted at your back.

"Yeah?" You turned around, sticking your head back in the room.

"Good luck on your test tomorrow." He gave you a weak smile. "It's not for history right?"

"Right." You shot him a smile. "Thanks cutie. Good luck with your leg." Then you turned and ran off after Stiles, who's jeep was pulling out of the lot.

Liam couldn't keep his eyes off your retreating back as you took off down the hall, watching the way your hair swayed across your back. Wow. She's absolutely gorgeous.

"Who was that?" Mr. Dunbar asked.

"Just a girl from school." Liam said with a shrug, trying to downplay it. "She was watching the game and she lives with the guy that drove me."

"I didn't know you were friends with a Hale."

"What?" Liam asked, frowning at his stepfather.

"That's Emily Hale. Derek's cousin."