Scott watched closely as Stiles disappeared into the parking lot with his dad, his arm around his son's shoulder as he kissed his temple. He couldn't help but smile at the interaction, even if it faded quickly after.

He hated this.

"Hey," Allison said quietly next to him as they walked. "You okay?"

Scott could only nod, but didn't trust himself to talk. He didn't want to unload his drama on her. He was pretty sure that'd be a real quick way to get her to leave and never speak to him again. And right now he had enough of that on his plate with Stiles. He didn't want to add to it.

"You're still not talking, are you?" she continued.

He shook his head, hanging it slightly. "Nope."

"You ever gonna tell me what you're fighting about?"

He looked over at her and tried to put a small smile on his face, but he wasn't sure if it was coming off the right way.

"It was nothing, really," he lied. "Just stupid teenage boy stuff, ya know? That's why I kinda thought he'd be over it by now."

She nodded thoughtfully, and Scott hoped she wouldn't press too hard. He wasn't sure he could lie to her more than that. It already felt awful enough as it was, even if telling her would get him some pretty funny looks.

"Maybe he just needs more time," she offered. "I mean, I know you guys didn't win, or whatever, but he got to play. Lydia said that wasn't, uh, very common. That's gotta feel good, right?"

"Yeah, I guess," he admitted.

"His dad seemed happy. It was super cute," she commented, making his smile for real this time. "Lydia was too."

"Lydia was happy Stiles was playing?" Scott asked, unsure Allison was seeing things correctly. "She wasn't cheering for Jackson?"

"Oh, she was," Allison backpedaled. "She just, uh, seemed happy for Stiles too. You know? Like a friend thing. It was sweet. Jackson didn't seem mad," she tacked on quickly.

"Oh, uh, right," Scott stammered.

"Hey, what if you asked him to come out with us tonight?" she suggested, hopping beside him as she got excited by her own plan. He couldn't help but smirk at how adorable she was being. "I mean, we could find him someone to hang out with so he isn't a fifth wheel. Does he have a crush on anyone?"

"Stiles has a crush on everyone," Scott teased.

Allison wiggled her eyebrows. "Everyone? Really now?"

"Definitely."

They both laughed easily at the insinuation as a car pulled up beside them and her eyes shifted to the sleek black SUV in front of them.

"My dad must've gotten here early," she mentioned casually. "I've gotta go. I'll see you later, okay? We'll think of something."

He nodded as she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, making his eyes widen in surprise.

"I promise," she said, hopping into the front seat. "Okay?"

"Okay," he said, nodding again. "Yeah."

"See you soon."

She gave him a little wave as he raised his hand stupidly in return, watching as she drove off. As his hand dropped down slightly, he touched the part of his face where her lips had just been, still in awe of the feeling.

His skin was tingly in the spot. And the simple gesture carried him through running home, dropping off his lacrosse gear, and getting ready for their date. Before he could even really process what was happening, he was standing at her door, too scared to knock.

He was about to meet her dad and mom, and he wasn't sure he was ready. This wasn't a position he found himself in that often. Or ever, really. He didn't have any practice with this sort of thing.

He wasn't Jackson. Who, currently, was in the car with Lydia waiting for him to make a move. They both gave him a thumbs up and he shook his head with a small chuckle as he finally knocked.

Allison appeared quickly, ready to go. Thankfully, it wasn't too bad since her dad was gone and her mom just waved at him from the door. It also helped that Allison seemed pretty anxious to skip the entire rite of passage as well. And Scott wasn't about to complain about his good fortune. It would run out eventually, but tonight was all about the date. And he could deal with that.

He hoped.

They rode in the back of Jackson's Camaro, their fingers inches from each other as they made their way to the bowling alley. Scott spent his time wanting to reach out and just hold her hand, but he knew he wasn't brave enough for that. Not yet. He had already talked himself out of the meaning of the kiss.

It couldn't have meant when he wanted it to since she was Allison and he was still just Scott.

When they finally made it, he didn't miss that she made a point to stick to his side as they went through the process of checking in and getting shoes. She even stayed when Jackson and Lydia snuck off to their lane and started to set everything up.

They kept catching each other's eyes over the counter as they waited, but it wasn't long before he was distracted by his super sensitive hearing. And the mention of his own name.

"I heard you making nice with Scott," Lydia commented. "What's up with that? I thought you were under the impression he's cheating or something."

"I am," Jackson whispered back. "I figure if I butter him up a bit, he won't suspect it's me who reported him to Finstock. Or even Derek. He might even tell me what's going on."

"Ahh," Lydia cooed, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "I knew you were more than a pretty face."

Jackson chuckled and went back to typing in everyone's name as their shoes finally appeared in front of them. Allison, of course, noticed Scott's change in demeanor, and he knew he had to work on that. Because she saw way more than she should.

Which did mean she was paying attention. He just wasn't sure this was the kind he wanted, no matter what was going on with him lately.

"We'll go first," Lydia answered brightly when they got close enough.

She hopped right up and then bowled before Scott had even finished switching out his shoes, getting her first strike.

"Good luck," she said in a sing-song voice, giving them both a wicked grin. "You're gonna need it."

Jackson tried, and failed, to cover his laughter with a cough as he got up next. He wasn't quite as good at Lydia, but he still managed a spare.

Of course, all this did was make Scott feel like shit when he hit gutter ball after gutter ball. He didn't remember being this terrible at bowling before, but maybe his newfound powers didn't extend to all areas of his life.

Stiles would probably say it was to keep him humble.

He couldn't help but get frustrated, though, and by the time the pizza was delivered, he was ready to leave. He kept gripping his thighs tightly, his fingernails digging into the skin there, even through his pants, and breathing deeper than was normal for the situation.

Allison sat down beside him and put her head on his shoulder as soon as her turn was finished and his entire body relaxed for a moment. Just a moment, though, because it wasn't long before he heard Jackson and Lydia teasing him.

He knew they weren't doing it to be mean. They weren't mean people, for one thing, but it didn't sting any less. Not since this was his first official date with Allison.

"Hey," she said, moving his face until he was looking into her eyes. "You okay? You're doing it again."

"Doing what?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Freaking out. Getting all up in your head," she answered, smiling softly at him.

"I should be... better at this," he admitted.

"Is that what's bugging you?" she asked, her eyebrows perked. "It's not a big deal, Scott. We're all just having fun, right? I don't care if we win."

"I already lost once tonight," he muttered, ducking his head.

Out of nowhere, Allison reached over and grabbed his hand, pulling him to stand up with her. "Come on."

He did as she said, but he was dying to know what she was up to. Again, he wasn't brave enough to ask, but that didn't make him less curious.

She led him into a tiny hallway that was separate from the rest of the place, away from all the noise and lights. And before he could ask any questions, she pushed him against the wall and started to kiss him with no warning.

Not that warning would've helped.

For a moment, the briefest of seconds, he stood frozen. He couldn't function. His brain was literally melting out of his eyes, he was pretty sure. Because there was no way Allison Argent was kissing him. Certainly not like this.

"Scott," Allison said softly. "Kiss me back."

And then, as if a dam had broken, Scott couldn't get close enough to her. His hands were suddenly everywhere. He pushed her up against the other wall and grabbed her sides, squeezing her hard and kissing her back roughly. She didn't seem to mind, her own hands finding their way to his neck.

Scott growled under his breath and every muscle in his back tensed and tightened, causing him to stiffen in a way he knew wasn't normal. His eyes popped open and his vision pulsed with a red hue. He took a step back and forced himself to look anywhere but directly at her, unsure if he'd be able to control himself either way.

Allison stayed pressed up against the wall, and when Scott did peer up at her for a split second, she had the dreamiest look on her face. Her eyes were still closed, and when they began to flutter open, she gazed happily in Scott's direction.

"Um, I have to, uh...," his voice trailed off as he pointed toward the bathroom. "I'll be right back."

Allison giggled as he all but ran toward the door, looking quite pleased with herself and the reaction she had caused in him.

He didn't have time to think about it for long, though, since he nearly tore the hinges off the door when he raced into the brightly lit room and peered into the mirror. He grabbed the porcelain sink with both hands and his eyes widened as he saw his eyes flash a deep yellow. He nearly tripped over himself as he backed away from the sight, almost taking the sink right off the wall in the process.

Every memory from the night of his bite started to come back too. The whine of the sink at his house as he leaned on it with strength he didn't recognize. The way the door had creaked wildly at his intrusion.

"What the hell?" he whispered, trying to force all the images and sounds out of his brain. "This isn't happening."

His heart raced and the noise took over completely, beating loudly in his ears as he tried desperately to regain control of himself and the situation.

Scott put his hands over his face in an effort to block as much out as possible, failing spectacularly when he noticed long yellow nails now tipped his fingers.

He pulled his phone out of his back pocket, fumbling with the device with the new additions, and clumsily dialed Stiles' number. He would know what to do, Scott reasoned. He would help.

As long as he wanted to pick up the phone, he reminded himself.

"Pick up, Stiles!" he screamed into the mouthpiece. He growled again when a few more rings sent him to voicemail. "Stiles, something is happening to me," he whined. "I... I think you were right. I'm coming over."

He hung up and then slipped out of the bathroom, glad Allison had enough sense to not be waiting for him. There was no way to hide the way he looked right now, and he didn't have a good enough excuse for it anyway.

As he passed their lane he could see Allison sitting in the chair beside the one Scott had just vacated, Jackson and Lydia not far away in their own little world. She wasn't paying them any attention, instead staring off into space with that same giddy smile. The smile that Scott wanted to believe was the result of him.

He paused by the door, wanting nothing more than to go to her. But with his mouth clamped shut, his hand still in his pocket over his phone, he squeezed his eyes regretfully and slipped out the door before anyone could notice anything was wrong.