Chapter Text
Unsurprisingly, Erica’s family is unwilling to let her return to the life she briefly had in the space between the bite and disappearing. She wants to tell her family about the change, the pack, about why she needs to be around them. The Sheriff kept (tried to keep) Stiles away from the pack for nearly a month before accepting them, but that wouldn’t work with the Reyes.
It wouldn’t work for Erica’s wolf.
Which is why, during the bi-weekly study session at Lydia’s house with Stiles and Lydia in attempt to catch Erica and Boyd up on what they’d missed while they were… missing, Lydia is pretending to focus on teaching Boyd about stoichiometry and definitely not straining to hear the angry Spanglish coming from the hallway, seemingly raising octave by octave with each sentence.
“No, mamá. No. ¡ya he dicho! Es diferente. ¡porfa, escúchame!
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Erica rolls her eyes to the heavens as her mother lists the things she needs help with at home, knowing that half of them her father has already taken care of. She hops down the stairs of Lydia’s expansive front hall, needing to go outside and feel some fresh air to cool her head.
Looking up at the stars as she steps outside, Erica counts as many as she can before getting bored… It’s either than, or hanging up and chucking her phone across the yard. And that’s something she doesn’t want to have to explain to Mama Reyes later on.
“Mamá, escúchame, es… it’s different now. I swear! Te prometo, estamos estudiando. Lydia and Stiles are really good. They’re helping. Somos amigos, mamá. Tengo amigos, ahora.”
“Lydia… I know what I used to say about her. I was wrong, really. She just wants to help. Por favor. No me hagas volver a casa.”
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Erica is gone for about 20 minutes before Boyd starts to get up to check on her. Before he’s even halfway up, Lydia waves him back down.
“Go over the problem set with Stiles, I’ll go check on her. The extra review won’t hurt.”
Lydia slips outside, trying to be stealthy in case Erica is still locked in verbal battle with her mother. When the cool night air hits her face, she wishes she had grabbed her cardigan. Seeing Erica peacefully looking up at the stars gives her pause.
Erica turns as Lydia steps fully onto the patio, two sets of warm brown eyes meeting, Erica giving a crooked smile in response to the questions in Lydia’s eyes that she’s trying really hard not to let show.
“She’s always been really protective. It’s not only that I’m her preciosa,” she sounds half-wistful, half sneering with her emphasis, “but before… all this, she needed to make sure we kept in touch in case I had an attack. I can’t exactly explain to her that I’m the monster that goes bump in the night, but how else can I get her to calm the fuck down and trust that I know what I’m doing?”
Both girls are surprised at Erica’s outburst, it’s not like they’re friends. Allies, yes. Friendly, arguably. But neither is the sharing feelings-type.
Fists clenched, Erica turns back to the house.
“C’mon, Lyds. Time to beat some more chem into my head before we start working on the history homework.”
Lydia stays outside a few beats longer, looking up at the stars like Erica had been moments earlier.