This was a random idea that I came up with and started to write. Currently writing chapter 2, that is, if you wanna see it! Leave some comments and tell me if you do!

I always pictured California with bright sunny beaches, palm trees, and skaters in muscle shirts and board shorts. Beacon Hills was about the farthest destination from my imagination. I could see the treeline of the woods from my new bedroom window, the sun barely a speck through the heavy banks of clouds. Half expecting a shimmering Edward Cullen to stroll out of the trees, glittering like a fairy, I continued to stare out the window, and contemplate where my life had led me now.

Being the daughter of a military man, I was used to moving a lot. I knew better than to let any place feel truly like home, it would just hurt that much worse when we up rooted and moved again. That all changed when we got the knock. The knock on the door that no military family wants to receive. Dad was gone, and our little family was in tatters. Suddenly, all I wished for was a place to call home, friends, family, anything to hold onto. Mom took the job as a surgeon at Beacon Hills Memorial Hospital, and once again, we picked up, maybe this time for the last time.

Our new house was big, at least compared to what we were used to on base. It felt so much bigger standing there alone, something I'd gotten used to lately. Ever since dad's death, mom basically drowned herself in work, taking on as many shifts as she could, only coming home to shower and lie down. Neither of us had gotten very good at sleeping again. Heading downstairs, I stopped at the kitchen, seeing an open box on the table. Our wind chime sat on top, one we picked out for dad his last father's day. We'd just moved into the house, finally one with a decent backyard, and dad loved the sound of it, clearing his mind of the sounds of whatever he'd come home from. Taking it out on the porch, I tried to catch the hook on a nail, but was failing miserably. Standing on tiptoe I stretched as far as my legs would allow, but still no luck. Huffing, I looked for something to stand on when I heard it.

"Need some help?" The metal poles clanged noisily as I hugged them tightly to me, trying to remember how to breathe, glancing quickly at the stranger standing on my steps. His big brown eyes stood out starkly from his pale skin, moles dotting his cheeks. Dark brown hair was hidden underneath his black baseball cap. Carrying a sack of what looked like groceries, mystery man eyed the decoration, squinting a bit in the sunlight.

"It's too high." I pouted, sounding like a toddler instead of a teenager, smiling shyly as he stepped up, settling the grocery bag down, taking the chimes from me. His fingers were a little rough, he seemed the athletic type, almost a full foot taller than me. Reaching up, he hooked them easily, and it wasn't long before the breeze had them clinking, flooding me with memories.

"Thank you, uh..."

"Sorry. I'm Stiles Stilinski." Stiles must have caught my questioning gaze, adding, "it's a nickname. My first name is kinda...difficult. Anyways, my dad's the sheriff, we live right over there-" he pointed to the house a little further down the road, a blue Jeep parked in the driveway, "and he, well, we, saw you guys move in yesterday, and figured you'd need some groceries." Small town at its finest.

"I'm Olivia James. And thanks. We've been so busy unpacking, food hasn't even come up yet."

"We? Sorry, I just-" his cheeks flushed as he stammered, and I found it adorable.

"My mom's the new surgeon. She's been spending a lot of time at the hospital." A lot of time ignoring life, but who was I to judge? I reached down to take the bag, but Stiles beat me to it. Grinning cautiously, I let him follow me back inside and into the kitchen.

"You can just put it on the table if you want." Sitting the bag down next to the box I pulled the chimes from, Stiles picked up a picture frame. I could tell just by the cherry wood which photo it was. His last Christmas home, our last family portrait.

"What's your dad do?" Keep it together, Olivia. Don't become a sobbing mess in front of the boy. A tear must have escaped, before I knew it his thumb had caught it, though I didn't remember him being so close.

"He was in the Army. He was killed in Afghanistan about six weeks ago." My voice quivered, Stiles hanging his head in front of me.

"Olivia I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have-"

"It's alright, Stiles. There's no way you could've known." Scratching at the back of his neck, I could almost see the wheels turning in his brain, trying to figure out a way to steer us out of awkwardville.

"You should come hang out with us. My friends and I."

"I don't wanna intrude."

"But you won't! You'll fit in great!" I wasn't convinced, but I nodded anyways, God, Stiles was infectious. Clapping his hands on my shoulders, a huge smile on his face.

"Great. Now, let's get this stuff put away, huh?"

xxx

Riding with Stiles to the mall that Saturday, my heart was in my throat. I wasn't sure what to expect. It was a couple of weeks before school started back, so I guess it was good I was making friends before I ended up being alienated at yet another new school.

Entering from the food court entrance, I was confused when he jumped in line for pretzels.

"What? A man's gotta eat, Olivia!" Rolling my eyes, he at least offered to buy me a soda, looking around the area, nodding at a table full of teenagers. Gulping internally, I followed him, scanning the table, knowing they were doing the same to me.

"Guys, this is Olivia. Olivia, this is Scott, Kira, Liam, Malia, and Derek." Derek looked like he was going to kill me, Malia looked like she would be willing to help. I noticed Kira scoot subconsciously closer to Scott, who shot me that friendly boy next door smile. Liam looked like a little puppy, Lydia scanning me like I was a project, not a human. Well then.

Scott cleared a spot on his left, Stiles slipping in beside him, and I took the end of the table, opposite Derek, next to Lydia.

"Stiles has been telling us a lot about you." Lydia piped up, and I couldn't hide the blush running up my face. I felt a little self conscious sitting with these girls, dressed in just jeans and tee shirt, all of them looking like freaking runway models. Even the guys looked like they stepped out of a magazine.

"Oh yeah? He's told me some about you guys too." Just the very basic, index card notes. Malia was Stiles' most recent ex, which might explain the toxic stare. Derek was the daddy of the group, Liam the baby. Stiles, Lydia, and Scott had been friends since the first of forever, and I felt like I had intruded at a family reunion.

"You should come shopping with us. I saw some sandals in Topshop I know you'll look amazing in."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Remember, Lyds. We're supposed to go see a movie this afternoon. I'm not paying for an extra seat for all your bags." Huffing, Lydia stood, Malia and Kira following suit.

"Oh hush, Scotty. We'll see you later." My eyes locked with Stiles, his little smirk giving me a weird sense of security. Scott clapped him on the back, and he turned away, I had a notion to follow him until Kira put her arm around my shoulders, the two of us trailing behind Lydia and Malia.