Lil and Lydia, Monday afternoon

[om_panax]

Lil catches Lydia in a potentially compromising conversation--and lets her know her life is about to become hell. Spoilers: they still don't like each other very much.

"All right, yes, fine." Lydia snorted--delicately--into the phone, smiling. Well, that was plans for Founders Day in Mystic Falls finalized. This should be interesting... to say the least. "No, that's perfect. Yes, Damon. Byyyyye."

She hung up and shifted her bag over her shoulder, then turned towards the classroom door.

Unfortunately for Lydia, there was a large body leaning against the wooden arch of the open door with arms and ankles crossed, blocking her exit.

"Going on a little trip?" Lil asked with a feigned smile that might have been more at home on a cat who was toying with a mouse. "Sounds like a lotta fun."

Of course. Lydia sighed. "Okay, seriously, the creepy note under my door was bad enough. You need to stop stalking me."

"Don't flatter yourself, Princess," the giantess snorted, not budging an inch. "I was leaving Brian's classroom and overheard you talking to everyone's favorite sucker. Can't imagine Scott's thrilled about that."

Lydia pursed her lips, allowing some of her annoyance to slip through. She wasn't afraid, which was a relief after last time. But she was pissed. ... partly at herself, at the moment. "And you thought you'd stop by to tell me?"

Lil shook her head slowly. "Nah. Just thought I'd remind you about what I said. I still care about him even if he can be a jackass, so don't hurt him."

There was a beat before she asked, "Scott does know about this little trip, right?"

"Okay, seriously, you need to stay away from me," Lydia said, face going cold and expressionless. Inside she was boiling (shit, shit, shit, she's going to fucking tell him and make it look like I was never going to!), but she wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

"Okay, seriously," the Canadian parroted back, "I ain't taken a step toward you. I ain't even in the same room as you," she pointed out, gesturing to the floor where it was clear the taller girl had been careful not to cross the threshold.

Her smile spread slow and sinister. "But I'll take it from your answer that you ain't told Scott. Interesting. 'Cause we both know how he reacted to me letting Damon feed on me. You, going on a road trip with him, alone, to his hometown for how many days?"

"Whether I was going with Damon or Betsy, do you think I would go anywhere without giving my boyfriend a head's up?" Lydia raised her eyebrows. She was completely aware that Scott wasn't going to like it, but hadn't planned on having that particular fight for another week or so--nearer to Halloween so there was enough time to cool off before she left, but not so much that he'd drive himself half mad beforehand.

She started for the door. Lydia had no reason to be in this room, and if Lil wasn't going to go away, she'd just have to.

The Brick still didn't move, keeping herself in the doorway so Lydia couldn't leave until she allowed her to.

"Do I think that? Oh, yeah, I do. I think a manipulative bitch like you would if you thought you could get away with it," she chuckled darkly. "Or at the very least, stall until it was best for you and the world that revolves around you. But since you can't, you're gonna tell him before tomorrow night."

"Get out of my way," Lydia said calmly, but her eyes flashed. Of course, yes, turn her own tricks back on her; she deserved it and she knew it, even if it was a serious inconvenience. But the bullshit physical domineering--that was what Lydia had been scared of before, and refused to be scared of now she'd faced down an actual punching threat. By comparison, this was no problem. But it made her angry as hell. "And never speak to me again."

"Mm, no. To either of them." Her nose scrunched for a moment in a mock gesture of even considering listening.

"You know, this isn't even about Scott anymore. I don't want him back; I just want to hurt you. I may not be the smartest kid in this school but I ain't the dumbest, either. I know I can't smack you around like I really want to or you'll get me kicked out. But, I can do other things to hurt you. Because I do want to cause you as much pain as you've caused me, Princess. I want you to get so tangled up in that little web you like spinning that it's gonna take the jaws of life to get you out."

Lydia stood right before her, just far enough away that she didn't have to crane her neck awkwardly to look her in the eye. God, what the hell? The girl was a complete psycho--and yet, she had to admit that if she'd just let it go the first time, she wouldn't have a fucking stalker out of the deal now.

The threats meant nothing to her; it just fucked Lydia off horribly that now she had to change her plans. Again. Because of goddamn Lil Crawley. "I could also get you kicked out for stalking and harassing me, for the record. Are you done, now?"

Lil only continued to smirk that maddening little smile and held for another beat before standing up to give Lydia room to pass by her. "Sure, Princess. I would just hate to cause you anymore inconveniences today."

Lydia tried not to let anything show, but couldn't help rolling her eyes as she walked past. Dammit, goddammit, this was irritating. Did Lil even exist for any reason except to throw her shit out of alignment? "Great. Thanks so much."

A throaty laugh followed her out the door and down the hall. "All part of the service."