【ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ　ｓｉｘ】

🀢 🀣 🀥

"𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽                                                                 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄"

🀢 🀣 🀥

It had been a few nights since the mountain lion incident, and everyone seemed to calm down. Since the animal was dead, people were beginning to feel more at peace, and things were beginning to go back to normal.

The only thing that wouldn't the same, for a short period of time, was Ariel's leg, which had taken the brunt of the hit. The nurse had informed that it was a simple twisted ankle that would just remain in the cast for a few weeks, so it didn't really phase the petit girl. Her sister, however, was livid.

"Simple, my ass," Lydia scoffed as she stood next to Ariel's locker, "Doesn't she realize that now you can only wear one-inch heels? I mean, thank goodness your hair still looks amazing because foundation still doesn't manage to cover some of the bruising."

Ariel shrugged, she didn't mind the cast. Plus, Lydia was more lenient with her wearing clothes that she found more comfortable, so Ariel actually loved the freedom. 

'Goodbye color block, hello vintage patterns,' Ariel mused to herself.

The brunette laughed at her sisters' complaining. Turning away from her she noticed Scott walking towards them, "Hey, Scott," she shouted.

Lydia turns to look up and waves, "Hey."

Scott begins to mumble to himself as he walks away. Lydia and Ariel turn to look at each other before nodding their heads and mumbling, "Weird."

Ariel looked over at Scott, fiddling with the locket around her neck. None of the girls had taken the necklaces off.

The girl sighed when the bell rang, signaling the beginning of their first period, "Lydia, can you help me with my books, " she asked, looking up to see that her sister was gone. Ariel nodded my head muttering, "Nevermind."

She noticed Scott leaning on the lockers, looking a bit distressed, "Hey, Scott, can you help me with my books?"

Scott opened his eyes to look at her for a few seconds before he sighed, nodding as he grabbed the books from the petit girl's hands.

Ariel smiled gratefully as she moved her crutches under her jean-jacket covered arms, "Thank you so much."

Scott shakes his head, obviously not in a social mood, 'No problem. It is my fault you are hurt, anyway."

Ariel scoffed, as they slowly made their way to the first period, "Scott, this was not your fault. Allison told me you saved her. You couldn't have protected both of us."

"Stiles won't talk to me," Scott argues, trying to prove his guilt.

Ariel shook her head at the puppy-like boy, "Stiles will forgive you. He is just a little upset."

Scott looks up at her, "I would say more than a little."

Once they walked into the classroom, all eyes were on the two, causing Ariel to blush and Scott to groan. The opal-eyed girl slowly began to maneuver her way to the closest open seat, which just happened to be in front of Stiles.

She turned around to face Stiles, "Hi," the brunette blushed, watching his angry expression melt away.

Stiles smiled at her before quickly sending a glare in Scott's direction, "Are you okay?"

Ariel nodded her head, glancing down to her cast, "I'm fine. How is your dad?"

Stiles shrugged, "He has small cuts and bruises. Are you sure you are okay because that," Stiles said, looking down at her leg, "Doesn't look okay."

Ariel let out a small laugh, "Promise, I am fine. It is just a minor injury," she told Stiles before looking over to Scott, "But I would feel even better if you spoke to Scott. He really misses you."

Ariel sent Stiles a final wink before turning back to the front. She overheard their conversation since the boys were both terrible at whispering.

Scott leaned over, his eyes darting to Ariel for support, "Still not talking to me?"

Stiles just ignored him, causing Scott to let out an annoyed breath, "Can you at least tell me if your dad's okay? I mean, it's just a bruise, right? Some soft tissue damage? Nothing that big?"

Stiles just glared at Scott, not making any move to respond. He was visibly upset, which confused Ariel as to why he acted so calm when he spoke to her. 

"You know I feel bad about it, right?" Scott continued, not about to give up. They are such good friends, "Okay. What if I told you that I'm trying to figure this whole thing out, and... that I went to Derek for help."

Stiles huffed, "if I was talking to you, I'd say that you're an idiot for trusting him. But obviously, I'm not talking to you."

Ariel twisted her body to look at Stiles, her eyes flitting between him and Scott before she whispered, "Give him a chance."

The brunette turned back around, wondering how long Stiles could hold a grudge. It took only ten seconds before he sighed, "What did he say?" 

🀢 🀣 🀥

"The what of who?" Lydia asked for what Ariel felt was the tenth time. Allison was telling the girls about her family history. The Argent girl had uncovered a tale about her family linking them to a fabled beast.

"The Beast of Gevaudan. Listen, 'A quadruped wolf-like monster, prowling the Auvergne and South Dordogne areas of France from 1764 to 1767. La Bete killed over a hundred people, becoming so infamous that King Louie the 15th sent one of his best hunters to try and kill it'," Allison read from a book she found in the library.

Ariel was not in the least bit fazed by the stories Allison read. She knew better to believe some french legend that was probably just a way to get more tourists.

"Boring," Lydia stated, causing Ariel to glance at her sister. The brunette did not understand why Lydia felt the need to be mean to everyone. 

"'Even the church thought it was a messenger from Satan,'" Allison continues.

"Still Boring," Lydia drawled, playing with a string she found on the table. Ariel scoffed at her sister knowing that she couldn't be that bored. The story may be unrealistic but it was interesting. Ariel ignored her sister as Lydia dramatically yawned.

"'Cryptozoologists believe it may have been a subspecies of a hoofed predator, possibly a mesonychid,'" Allison continued.

"Slipping into a coma bored," Lydia said, acting like she was about to pass out on the table. A small smile crept on Ariel's face.

"'While others believe it was a powerful sorcerer who could shapeshift into a man-eating monster,'" Allison continues, trying to make her voice seem scary to convince the girl's that the story was more interesting.

"Does any of this have anything to do with your family?" Lydia asked, finally looking up to look at Allison.

Allison nods, turning the page of her book, "This. 'It is believed that la Bete was finally trapped and killed by a renown hunter who claimed his wife and four children were the first to fall prey to the creature.' His name was Argent," Allison finished.

"Your ancestors killed a big wolf, so what?" Lydia asked.

"Not just a big wolf. Take a look at this picture. What does it look like to you?" Allison said before she showed them the book. Ariel leaned over the table to get a good look at the image.

the small girl froze as she was overtaken with nausea. The image looked oddly familiar to the girl, making her think back to the night of the video store. Ariel shakily sat back into her seat, trying to forget about the haunting red eyes on the page.

"Lydia? Ariel?"

"It looks like a big," Ariel numbly begin, not knowing what to say, as she took a big gulp.

"Wolf," Lydia finished, "See you in History," Lydia smirks before she grabbed all of her stuff, shoving it in her bag. With a small yank, she pulled Ariel by the arm and pulled them towards the exit. Lydia knew the last thing they needed was to look like e bunch of loonies who can't handle a simple animal attack.

Ariel stumbled over her feet, trying to ignore the pain that her sister was causing as she practically dragged the petite girl out of the room. She stopped when she noticed Scott and Stiles staring at the two girls.

Gently pulling free form her sister's grip, Ariel began to walk back towards the boys, "Hey Lydia. I will meet up with you later. I have to talk to Stiles about studying."

Lydia pursed her lips before eyeing Stiles, who looked like he was hiding behind a textbook. Lydia rolled her eyes before sighing, "Fine." And with that, she walked out of the room, shooting a threatening glare at Stiles.

Ariel smirked at her sister's retreating figure as she sat next to Stiles who was speaking to Scott, "Yeah, I'll be your Yoda,"

Ariel smiled at Stiles was dorkily talking to his friend. She never thought she would go out with a guy like Stiles, but he was making her change her mind. Scott seemed confused as he stared at his friend, "Yeah, you be my Yoda."

"Your Yoda, I'll be," Stiles smiled.

Scott gave him a look, while Ariel just grinned, taking a seat next to Stiles. Deciding to make her presence known, Ariel tilted her head at Scott explaining, "He said it backward, like Master Yoda."

"Yeah, I - I know," Scott stutters, obviously not aware of how Yoda speaks.

Stiles turned to look at the girl next to him, not realizing that she was there. Stiles was more shocked, however, by the fact that Ariel had been sassy with Scott. Stiles never thought he could love Ariel moe, but she continues to prove him wrong.

Stiles snapped out of his reverie, glaring at Scott, "Alright, you know what? I definitely still hate you. Uh-huh. Oh, yeah," Stiles grabs his books from the table before walking away.

Scott looked at the brunette sitting in front of him with a frown while Ariel tried to conceal her hurt that Stiles just walked away. She was about to leave the table to find Lydia when Scott spoke, "Do you want to hang out with us?"

Ariel's lips formed an 'o' as she turned her head to look at Scott, not expecting him to speak to her, "Yeah."

Ariel copied his smile as they walk out of the cafeteria together, "Ignore Stiles, he is moody today."

She laughed, not osed to speaking to Scott. She thought he was a nice guy, "He is fine. I just need to figure out a time that we can meet up to study."

Scott gave the petit brunette an odd look, "Seriously?"

Ariel furrowed her eyebrows, a slight smile forming on her face, "What do you mean?"

Scott laughs, "Are you kidding me? I may not know you that well, but I have heard Stiles talk about how smart you were for years."

Ariel felt a sudden spark of anger surge through her at the thought of Stiles telling people she was smart after she told him not to. That was before the dark chocoate haired girl realized a small detail Scott had mentioned, "Years?"

Scott looked at her, shocked before he began to stutter, obviously lying, "I meant days."

The opal-eyed girl bit her lip before nervously looking to Scott, "Does Stiles talk about me often," Ariel tried to ask, making her voice as nonchalant as possible.

Scott smiled, "You like him, don't you?"

"No way," Ariel scoffed, trying to hobble a little faster so Scott would drop the conversation, "We are just friends."

Scott shakes his head, "No, but you totally like him."

The petit brunette spin on her heels, giving him her most threatening glance, "tell him anything about this conversation, and you are dead, McCall."

Scott nodded with a goofy smile, "You should tell him."

"Nope," Ariel yelled as she walked ahead before the girl slowed down, realizing where he led her. She turned to look at Scott, who was right behind him, "Why are we outside?"

Scott shrugged before pointing to Stiles, who was looking at the both of them in shock, "This is where Stiles and I were supposed to hang out."

Ariel nodded her head, deciding not to question what was going on. If this was her way to figuring out what was going on, then the girl would suck it up and sit outside. 'With the bugs. And trees. And nature,' she thought.

Ariel believed it wasn't the worst way to spend her free period, so Ariel sat down at the bench and watched Stiles open his duffel bag. Pulling out a heart rate monitor and handing it to Scott.

"Here. Put this on."

The brunette tilted her head as she looked at the familiar band, "Isn't this one of the heart rate monitors for the track team?" Ariel asked Stiles.

He turned to the doll-like girl, his mouth partially open as he tried to come up with an excuse, causing Ariel to smile, "Yeah, I borrowed it."

The brown-haired Martin raised her eyebrow, trying to conceal her amusement, "Stole it," she corrected him.

"Temporarily misappropriated," the Stilinski insisted, smirking at Ariel before he turned back to Scott. "Coach uses it to monitor his heart rate with his phone while he jogs, and you're gonna wear it for the rest of the day."

"Isn't that coach's phone?" Scott said, pointing to the cell phone in his hand.

Stiles nodded, licking his lips, "That, I stole."

The younger Martin nodded her head with mock interest, "Are you worried that your klepto ways will get you in trouble."

Stiles shook his head with a thoughtful expression. The boy often didn't think about getting in trouble until after he was caught.

"Alright, well, your heart rate goes up when you go wolf, right? When you're playing lacrosse, when you're with Allison, whenever you get angry. Maybe learning to control it is tied to learning to control your heart rate," Stiles explained. 

'Wolf?' Ariel turned her head to the boys, wondering what they were talking about.

Scott nodded, "Like The Incredible Hulk."

Stiles tilted his head from side to side, "kind of."

"No... I'm like The Incredible Hulk," Scott smiled cockily, flexing his muscles. Ariel laughed at the two ridiculous boys, not realizing how much she was enjoying spending time with them.

"Would you shut up and put the strap on?" Stiles sighed, a bit jealous, watching Ariel giggle at his best friend. Scott sighed before putting on the heart monitor.

After handing the phone over to Ariel, Stiles taped Scott's hand together with duck tape. Ariel narrowed her eyes on the duck tape as she looked between the two boys in confusion.

"This isn't exactly how I wanted to spend my free period," Scott sighed while Ariel  nodded in agreement, "This isn't what I thought you meant when you said hang out."

Stiles looked at his friend trying to understand Scott's motives in inviting Ariel, "All right. You ready?"

"No."

"Remember," Stiles called. "Don't get angry."

Ariel hobbled over to stand next to Stiles, watching as he cradled the lacrosse ball in his net before hurling it over to Scott.

She winced as Scott groaned in pain, "I don't get boys." Ariel watched as Stiles continues to hurl balls at Scott. She watched as Scott's heartrate slowly increases. The brunette places her hand over Stiles's arm, bringing his attention to Scott's heart rate, which was over a hundred.

Stiles looked down at Scott, who was hunched over the ground breathing heavily.

"Okay, that one kinda hurt." Scott winced, trying to remain calm.

"Quiet," Stiles called, looking up from the phone. "Remember, you're supposed to be thinking about your heart rate, all right? About staying calm."

"Stay calm. Staying calm. Staying totally calm." Scott began to quietly chant to himself as he got back up. Stiles began hurling balls at him. 

Ariel winced as she saw the ball fly to Scott's face.

"Aah! Son of a bitch!" Scott curses.

Stiles threw one at his gut, "You know what? I think my aim is actually improving." Stiles smiled at his lacrosse stick.

"Wonder why," Scott glared.

"Don't get angry," Stiles reminded him with a small smile. This was an interesting form of anger management.

"I'm not getting angry," Scott told himself.

"Stop. Just - can we just hold -"

Stiles turned to Ariel, holding out the racket, "You wanna try?"

Ariel shook her head, looking at Stiles like he was insane, "No way. I am not going to hurt Scott."

Stiles scoffed, waving his hand at Scott, "He is fine. It doesn't phase him. Right, Scott?'

Scott groans, glowering at Stiles before nodding his head, "Go ahead, Ariel."

Ariel sigh before moving to stand next to Stiles, who gave her the lacrosse stock. The opal-eyed girl smiled, taking it in her small hands and trying to position it before she aimed at Scott.

Stiles shook his head, before walking up behind Ariel, causing Ariel's face to redden, "It will be easier if you hold it like this," he told the small girl, fixing her grip before helping her pull back on the stick.

"Ready," Stiles asked Ariel. She blushed to realize how close he was; she could smell his minty breath, hitting her cheek.

With a small nod, she tossed to the ball towards Scott.

Ariel gasped covering her mouth when she hit him where the sun doesn't shine. Oops. "I am so sorry, Scott."

He just shakes his head as he falls onto the ground. Stiles looked at Ariel proudly before giving her a high five and quickly grabbing a ball and hurling it at Scott while he was still down. Making him fall on his back with a loud groan.

"Stiles!"

Ariel began to ignore the boy's bickering as she focused on the heart rate that continued to rise. The numbers were increasing at inhuman rates

"Stiles, I think you should check this out..." Ariel began watching Scott's heart rate go up to a deadly rate. Stiles's cocky expression faded away as he looked at Scott, who had fallen to his knees.

Ariel began to walk over to Scott to help him up when Stiles pulled the girl behind him. She tried to look over Stiles, "Let me help him up."

Stiles shakes his head as he backed them away by a few steps, "Scott? You okay?"

Stiles slowly began to walk over to Stiles, looking back at Ariel to make sure that ahe hadn't moved, "You started to change."

Scott spoke in a low gutteral voice that didn't seem like his own, "From anger." Scott chocked out. "But it was more than that. It was like, the angrier I got, the stronger I felt."

"So it is anger, then. Derek's right," Stiles said to Scott.

Scott panted. "I can't be around, Allison."

Ariel furrowed her eyebrows as she thought about everything that had occurred, 'What does Allison have to do with all of this? Does she even know? Is it connected to that story she was telling Lydia and me?' Ariel began to think of everything she learned.

"Because she makes you happy?" Stiles nodded his head as he helped Ariel hop over to the bleachers.

"No, because she makes me weak." 

🀢 🀣 🀥

After abusing Scott, they all went to Ap Econ. Ariel took the seat across from Scott while Stiles sat behind her. The brunette smiled, waving at Allison, who looked excited to see Scott. 

'They are so cute together,' Ariel thought to herself.

Scott quickly turned to Stiles, "Sit behind me."

Stiles looked between Scott and Ariel, upset that he could not sit next to the girl he liked. "You have got to be kidding me."

Ariel watched the two boys bickered like an old couple before Allison took the spot behind Scott, causing Scott to glare at Stiles.

"Let's go! Sit, sit, sit, sit," Coach yelled at the class, "We got a lot to cover today. Let's go! Quicker!" 

Ariel smiled, pulling out a pencil, 'I loved that man, and not just because I was his favorite student.'

"Hey. I haven't seen you all day," Allison said, leaning over her desk to speak to Scott. "When are you gonna get your phone fixed? I feel like I'm totally disconnected from you."

"Uh, s-soon....real soon," Scott stuttered, sending Stiles, and Ariel worried glances. Ariel looked confused, not understanding why he was so upset. Ariel did know, however, that if Scott were playing Allison, she would personally hunt him down.

"I changed lab partners, by the way."

My head twisted to look at Allison, with a hurt expression, "You did?"

Allison winced, "Sorry for not telling you ahead of time, Ari. I figured you would be okay with it since you got to sit with Stiles."

Ariel's eyes widened at the mention of her maybe crush, "Allison," the girl practically hissed before realizing the boys could hear them. The Martin tried to remain calm as she said, "I just would have liked a warning, that's all. We were halfway through a project."

Allison fake winces, although Ariel could tell that she loved this, "Sorry."

Turn back to look at the board, Ariel began to take notes, not wanting to embarrass herself further.

"Let's settle down. Let's start with a quick summary of last night's reading," Coach said, walking to the front of the class, slamming down a stack of textbooks. People in the class began to raise their hands, including Robert Greenberg. Coach hates Greenberg.

"Greenberg put your hand down. Everybody knows you did the reading," Coach orders in disgust.

"How about uh - McCall!"

Ariel turned to Scott to watch him explain the homework. "Oh no," she heard Stiles mutter, causing her to furrow her perfectly arched eyebrows.

"What?" Scott looked confused.

"The reading," Coach told him again, losing his patience.

"Last night's reading?" Scott asked.

Ariel bite my lip as she begin to hear a beeping noise. Her eyes widen, realizing she still had Coachs phone. The brunette pulled the phone out of her jean jacket pocket, watching Scott's heart rate go higher than it has been so far.

"How about, uh, the reading of the Gettysburg Address?" Coach sarcastically asked.

"What?" Scott asked, looking nervous.

"That's sarcasm, you familiar with the term 'sarcasm,' McCall?" Coach shouted.

"Very," Scott looks at Stiles. Stiles nodded his head proudly.

"Did you do the reading or not?" Coach asked him.

"Uh - I think I forgot," Scott winced.

"Nice work, McCall. It's not like you're not averaging a 'D' in my class. Come on, buddy. You know I can't keep you on the team if you have a 'D,'" Coach whispered, "How about you summarize, uh, the previous night's reading? No? How about the, uh, the night before that? How about you summarize anything you've ever read in your entire life?"

Scott's heart rate was over 130 and was going up every second.

"I - I, uh," Scott stutters.

The petite Martin worriedly turned to Stiles, showing him the phone in her hand, "I don't know what to do," she told him, "His heart rate won't go down. He can die."

Ariel's right hand began to squeeze the chair as she tried to calm down, not knowing how to help Scott. The chocolate haired girl felt someone grab her hand, rubbing small circles on the inside of her palm. She instantly felt better as she let her shoulders relax.

"No? A blog? How about, uh, how about, uh, the back of a cereal box? No? How about the adults-only warning from your favorite website you visit every night? Anything?"

Ariel sighed as Stiles whispered to her, "He is going to be okay."

She nodded her head as the heart rate began to go down, "Thank you, McCall, thank you. Thank you, McCall!"

"Thank you for extinguishing any last flicker of hope I have for your generation. You just blew it for everybody. Thanks," The beeping finally reached normal speed, causing her to slump back in the desk, squeezing Stile's hand as she laced my fingers with his, unaware of the huge grin on the Stilinski's face.

"Next practice, you can start with suicide runs. Unless that's too much reading. Alright. Everybody else, settle down," Coach finished.

🀢 𝖘 🀥

"It's her," I told Scott, as he, Ariel, and I left Econ class. Ariel and I were going to study after school today, so I offered to give her a ride to my house. The word 'spectacular' doesn't even begin to cover how I am feeling right now.

We both knew that she was smarter than me, but she wanted to keep up appearances. I wasn't going to complain. I selfishly enjoyed having an excuse to hang out with her after school.

"What do you mean?" Scott looked confused.

I look at him as if it were obvious, because it is, "Its Allison. Remember what you told me about the night of the full moon? You were thinking about her, right? To protect her," I explained, my eyes quickly darting to Ariel, who was probably confused.

"Okay," Scott said, still not understanding what I was trying to tell him.

"Remember the night of the first lacrosse game? You said you could hear her voice out on the field," I continued, trying to not blatantly say your werewolf ass needs Allison to clam down.

"Yeah, I did," Scott answered.

"Well, so that's what brought you back so you could score. And then after the game in the locker room, you didn't kill her. At least not like how you were trying to kill me," I add, because, yeah, I was still upset about that. Scott looks confused again, "She brings you back, is all I'm saying."

"No, no, no, but it's not always true, because literally every time I'm kissing her - or touching her," Scott begins before he is cut off by Ariel.

She was so short I had to look down to see her, but I loved that about her. She was perfect in every way.

Like now, how even though she has no idea what we are talking about, she is smart enough to understand exactly what I am telling Scott.

"No, that's not the same," Ariel explains, her soft voice ringing in my ears like an angel's song, "When you're doing that, you're just another hormonal teenager thinking about sex."

I smile, hearing the word 'sex' fall out of Ariel's pink lips. I begin to think about what it would be like to have her moan my name. The way I could make her feel.

My hands exploring every inch of her soft skin as she screams out in pleasure. My lips touching, sucking right at her sweet spot, making her cry out in endless pleasure as I mark her as mine. Fuck that would be hot.

Ariel's voice snapped me out of my horny haze as I slowly looked at her, with a smirk stuck on my face. "Oh my god, you two are thinking about sex right now, aren't you?" Hell yeah, Babygirl.

"Yeah, sorry," Scott apologized, while I was still envisioning my body pressed up against hers, as I drive her to her breaking point.

I hear a snap and take in a deep gulp as I look at Ariel, who was waving her hands in front of me. I blink away the rest of my thoughts, giving her my full attention.

🀢 𝖆 🀥

I was twirling a pencil in my hand, kicking my legs in the air as I looked down at my notes. I was lying on Stiles's bed playing with my cuticles as he read from the textbook.

I was bored out of my mind, not because I was with Stiles. Actually, Stiles was making this a bit more entertaining, but for the most part, I still had to listen as he read to me the watered-down Chemistry textbook that I already understood.

Stiles was sitting down in his desk chair as he leaned over so we could both read the book he had placed on his bed, although he was the only person who was actually looking at the textbook.

Stiles pulled out his highlighter as he began highlighting the book, "Okay, so, Atoms consist of three basic particles: protons, electrons, and neutrons. The nucleus or center of the atom contains the protons, which are positively charged particles and the neutrons, which are particles with no charge. The outermost regions of the atom are called electron shells and contain the electrons."

I try to hold it in, but I let out a yawn, unable to hold it in any longer. Stiles looks at me with a frown, "Look, I am sorry. I must be boring you by just spitting out facts."

I shake my head, wearing a bright smile, "No, please continue. I am sorry, I am just tired from...school."

Stiles nodded, although he obviously didn't believe my excuse, "I could take a look at your notes. Maybe see if you are missing some key points. If you think that is better?"

I quickly shook my head, "I don't think that would help."

Stiles looked at me with a confused expression, "No?"

I nervously laugh before I open my book to show him my virtually nonexistent notes, "I don't take any."

Stiles's eyes widen as he nods, "Well, I am beginning to understand why you need help studying."

I gasp in fake betrayal, throwing one of his pillows at his head, "That is mean."

Stiles laughs, easily catching the pillow before lightly hitting me with it.

I freeze up, shooting daggers at Stiles, "What do you think you are doing?"

I get out of the bed, acting like I am going to leave. Stiles quickly lets go of the pillow, moving out of his chair, "I am so sorry. Look, Ariel, I tho-"

I giggle, grabbing the pillow from the bed before hitting him with it, causing his eyes to widen as he blocks my weak blows.

I squeal when he picks me up, throwing me over his shoulder, "Stiles," I giggle before he throws me on his bed. I giggle as my hair cascades around my face. I watch Stiles tower over me, holding my hands over my head. My chest heaving as I try to catch my breath.

I can't help but squirm a bit as we both laugh in his room. Once we calm down, I realize how close Stiles and I are. If I leaned up just a few inches, my lips would be on his.

And right now, I was thinking it wouldn't be a bad thing to do.

I watched as Stiles looked at me, a foreign emotion swimming in his eyes. I felt myself begin to lean forward as he did the same. Just before our lips were about to touch, I froze.

I couldn't bring myself to kiss him, not because I didn't want to, because I really wanted to for some strange reason, but because I was scared of what it would mean if we did.

The first time we kissed it was to stop my panic attack, and I was never really sure if Stiles felt the same way that I did when it happened, but now with my forehead pressed against his. I needed to know how he felt.

I feel heat rush up to my cheeks after realizing the intimate position we were in. My legs were basically wrapped around Stiles, pulling him on the bed.

I quickly move away, not knowing what else to do as my emotions ran haywire. Combing my hair with my fingers, I try to look around the room, pretending to ignore what just happened rather than pursue it.

My eyes stop on a small picture frame that was sitting on Stiles's desk. It was a picture of him and a woman. They both shared the same dark hair and light complexion.

I slowly move to pick up the frame analyzing the image closely before smiling, "Is this your mom?"

I ask, turning to Stiles, who seemed to be trying to calm his breathing. He nodded, pointing to the frame before standing behind me, "Yeah."

I smile, looking up at Stiles, "She is really pretty," I frown, realizing that I had only met Stiles's dad, "Maybe I could meet her someday," I say, looking up at Stiles.

Stiles frowned as he looked at the photo in my hands, "My dad took that photo of her and me a year before she got sick."

My heart nearly stops, the small smile on my face immediately falls into a frown as I place the picture back where I found it originally, "I am so sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned it in the first place. I am so dumb. God, you must think I am so insensitive-"

Stiles shakes his head with a melancholy smile, "You didn't know. Don't feel bad."

I bite my lip as I nod, looking down at the ground, feeling terrible for bring up the sensitive topic and making everything so awkward.

"We should start studying again," Stiles nodded his head, moving to open his textbook while I nodded, sitting down on his bed.

"Stiles," I sigh as Stiles tries to continue studying, although we were both too distracted to focus on chemistry, "You don't have to do this, you know. Why don't we just hang out instead?" I smile.

Stiles looked up at me, with his jaw wide open, like I had said the craziest thing ever, "With me-yeah-pfft-I mean-sure, we could do that," Stiles said casually leaning on the bed before his elbow slipped and fell onto the floor.

I sit up to make sure he is okay, but he jumps back into the chair before I could see. I laugh at the silly caramel eyed boy.

"So, what do you wanna d-" Stiles was cut off by his phone ringing. He frowned before answering, it, "Hey Scott, I am kinda bu-What do you mean-Like right now-Are you sure-We could so it to-bu-you just can't-Fine!"

Stiles sighed before he looked at me, "hey, I am really sorry, but I have to help Scott with something," he looked really upset, although I feel the same way. This was going to be my chance to get to know Stiles better and sort out my feelings.

I nod my head, packing my things, "I totally understand."

"You can come with if you like," Stiles said, looking at me. I bite my lip, checking the time before nodding my head. Lydia would be out all night with Jackson anyway, so I couldn't get in trouble.

"Sure," I smile, "What are we doing?"

🀢 𝖆 🀥

"This is not what I had in mind when you said help Scott in school," I tell Stiles, looking at the dark, deserted building. I wanted to know what was going on with the boys, but every time I got closer, I began to worry more and more about my sanity. Whatever they were doing was not normal, and there was a good reason, they were keeping it a secret.

I just wish I could convince my heart of the dangers I was about to face. But as I watched Derek Hale walk into the parking lot after coming from the woods, the only thing I felt was excitement. I always loved traveling, but this seemed to be a new adventure, and somewhere deep inside of me, I knew it would change my life. I just hoped it was for the better.

"I can't believe he convinced me to do this," Stiles said, opening his trunk to pull out a pair of bolt cutters. My eyes widen as I look between the two boys.

"Yes," Scott answered, causing Stiles to sigh before he walked up to my side of the car. I tilted my head as he held his hands out before he explained, "Do you need help?"

I blush, nodding my head, as I began to move out of the car, using Stiles's hand for support before I fell out of the car. Stiles quickly caught me in his arms, causing my already red face to change from a light pink to bright red.

Once he helps me stand on my own, I fix my hair to cover my face. I really like him.

"This is a terrible idea," Stiles looked at Scott.

"Yeah, I know," Scott replied, looking around the parking lot. Wait, this is really something bad if the guys are upset about it.

"But we're still gonna do it?" Stiles asked him. I really need to learn how to say no. I mean, who needs this much adventure in their lives?

"Can you think of something better?" Scott fussed.

"Well, personally, I'm a fan of ignoring a problem until eventually it just goes away," Stiles stated. I roll my eyes at his sarcastic comments, acting like I wasn't fazed. Although in reality, it just made me more attracted to him.

I need to chill.

"Where's my boss?" Scott asked Derek, finally acknowledging the frightening man.

"In the back," Derek told us. Maybe he isn't as creepy as he looks.

I tilt my body to look inside the car and see an unconscious man who had his hands and feet bound by rope. Nevermind, he looks creepy because he is creepy.

"Oh, well, he looks comfortable," Stiles stated, sarcastically.

The boys started walking to the school, so I went to follow them, "Wait, hey! What are you doing?"

"You said I was linked to the Alpha," Scott shrugged, "I'm gonna see if you're right." There goes that word again. Alpha. I was beginning to feel like I couldn't ignore the truth any longer. That they were werewolves, or at least they were talking about werewolves.

Derek looks at Scott as if trying to see if he were telling the truth before nodding, "Fine, but Strawberry Shortcake over here stays with me," Derek said.

Stiles immediately shook his head, pulling me closer to him, "No way. Uh-uh."

I turn to look at Stiles, with a smile, he was trying to protect me. That was the sweetest thing I think someone has ever done for me. "I'll be fine," I tell him, focusing on his caramel eye to help me believe what I was saying was true. Stiles continued to shake his head, causing me to bring my hand up to his cheek, softly stroking it, "I promise, Stiles."

He sighed before glaring at Derek, "Touch her, and I swear I will take your little werewolf ass and skin you into a nice little fur coat. M'kay," Stiles gave Derek a final look before walking away with Scott, turning back to look at me. I waved to him before he walked through the two double doors entering the school.

I leaned on the car next to Derek as I tried to come up with something to talk about. He didn't seem really social, but there had to be at least one thing we had in common.

I look down at my cast before finally speaking, "So, are you happy to be back in town?"

Derek didn't bother to even look at me, causing me to sigh, "I just moved back a month ago, and the transition hasn't been so bad considering I grew up here. Do you-"

I was interrupted with a terrible screeching noise that sounded like an animal crying for help right before it was strangled to death.

Derek sighs, "You have got to be kidding me."

My head snaps to look at him, "What was that?"

Derek looks at me before he turns back to stare at the window in the same position he had been in this entire time. I huff, kicking a pebble that was near my foot, "What was the point of you making me stay if you won't even talk to me?"

Derek sighed before making a small growling noise, "Do you never shut up?"

I glower at him, "Not when I am forced to be with someone I don't trust while my friends go off and do something that I don't know about."

Derek sighs before a ground-shaking growl ran through the school campus, making me look back at the school building, wondering what the hell the boys were doing.

Right after the growl ended, Derek and I walked up to the school meeting the boys halfway as they ran out the building like little kids who had just stolen a cookie from the cookie jar without permission.

"Sorry. I didn't know it would be that loud," Scott smiled arrogantly standing next to Stiles.

"Yeah, it was loud. And it was AWESOME!" Stiles said in a weird voice, causing Derek and I to look at each other.

"Shut up," Derek rolled his eyes at Stiles.

"Don't be such a sour wolf," Stiles told Derek while I chuckled. Earning a glare from the man next to me.

I smirk, moving to stand next to Stiles, "Chin up, Derek. They did what you wanted, and, now, Strawberry Shortcake can go home."

"What'd you do with him?" Scott asked, pointing to Derek's car. I furrow my eyebrows looking to see that the man was no longer in the car.

"What? I didn't do anything," Derek replied while I nodded, "We were standing here the entire time.

Suddenly, Derek began to cough up blood as a hole formed in his chest caused by a large beast behind him. The same beast I had seen in the video store. I slowly hop back as I watch the beast lift, Derek, up and throw him into a wall.

I felt my legs collapse beneath me as Stiles quickly lifted me up and ran behind Scott.