It was early September and I could see my breath in front of me. A few of the neighbourhood kids were running along the pavement pretending to be dragons while their dad ran after them rucksacks in hand. On the other side was Lydia Martin. I could hear her heals before I noticed her. The pavement was covered in ice but that never seemed to stop her. I smiled politely when she looked my way but she seemed to look right through me, I guess a girl in a worn out t-shirt, boyfriend jeans and clunky biker boots with an oversized parker wouldn't be worth her time.
I passed her most mornings as she went off to get in her new luxury car while I headed towards the bus. I flicked through my iPod. There was nothing new to listen to; luckily I still had a $10 gift voucher (I may have lived in the States for 4 years now but still found myself mentally changing dollars into pounds and then back again) left over from Christmas for iTunes so I quickly flicked through the top charts trying to find something half decent to listen to. There was rap song followed by heavy base until I heard one that was so good I almost walked right into a lamppost. I pressed download quickly and kept walking until I reached the café on the corner.
Jackson beamed down at me as I approached the counter. I always felt awkward getting my breakfast on a Tuesday ever since he asked me out. It's been three years and I still haven't given him an answer but he sneaks me a free drink every time I see him. I would feel bad about it but he knows I don't want to make things complicated and I would never play him.
Today he especially made me blush when he held my hand as I handed him the money. I cooled my self off as I approached the bus stop and began playing the album. I finally managed to get a seat giving me a boost for the day. Sitting across the row from me was a group of girls from school all engrossed in some gossip. I tuned out the laughter by turning up my volume but it didn't stop me from hearing Lydia Martin's name and something about whoever her latest conquest was which I just had to smile at before stuffing down my breakfast.
I ran off the bus and headed up the street towards work. I helped out at the local animal clinic. It was small with Dr Deaton being the only vet working there, but I wasn't the only help he had. I may have done mornings and weekends, but Scott McCall, another boy from my school, helped out in the afternoons. I hadn't ever had a conversation with him and I don't think he could pick my face out of a line up but we had this secret on going debate about how the medicine cabinet was organised and every shift I would put things in the right place and the next day find them back where he would leave them. Sometimes there would even be a note explaining why his way was better and since he was the one to use the cabinet I should let him have his way, but I didn't care if he ordered them based on what was used the most. To me, it is alphabetical or nothing. And I re-stocked the damn thing anyway.
"Morning Rosie" I heard Deaton call from over my shoulder.
"Has Scott been moving the cabinet around again?" he asked whilst checking through some paperwork.
"Yes sir" I replied trying to ignore the nagging feeling I had to organise it immediately. I knew I had to do my work before I could continue my battle with Mr McCall.
"You don't have to call me sir Rosie, I tell you that everyday." He said softly whilst smiling. I knew I didn't have to anymore but it had become routine to do so every morning. I had begun to realise just how much of a routine I had everyday. Nothing ever changed.
"Have you ever met Scott? I know you are both at Beacon Hills High together but I know what your like." Deaton began to ramble knowing to be careful with his words.
"No" I replied politely and to the point hoping not to get another speech on how talking to people and making friends could be a good thing. But to be honest, my struggle to deal with Americans who only understand sarcasm when said in a blatantly obvious way, and their obsession with sports and their constant lack of boundaries and total forwardness just baffled me. Which is one of the main reasons I hadn't agreed to Jackson asking me out. I mean, he'd barely introduced himself before blurting it out. To be honest, I think it was my accent more than anything else with him.
"Well this morning will be your chance. He texted me saying he found an injured dog on his way to school so he's bringing it in. His friend Stiles is driving him since Scott doesn't have a car, and I need you to keep him away from all the expensive equipment and drugs" he stated matter of fact and making sure not to catch my gaze.
"Oh" I said realising I hadn't spoken in a few seconds.
I was figuring out what to say when the bell over the door to the clinic rung and Scott rushed in with a dog in his arms while another boy followed with limbs flying everywhere spinning in so many directions clearly looking for inspiration for what to do in this situation where he could be somewhat helpful. I felt like an extra in a soap opera and was expecting the camera to be next through the door. It caused me to stand there looking at the boy called Stiles completely baffled as to how he even managed to get up that morning. Considering his hoodie was on inside out I ventured at a guess of not very well.
"Stiles, try and stand still for five seconds at least while Deaton and I look at the dog" Scott called out as he placed the dog on the table.
"Got it" Stiles replied pointing and winking whilst still looking around the room like he'd never seen the inside of the clinic before, which I knew wasn't true because whenever I would get an unusually large list of stock to order in, the only explanation Deaton would give is "Scott brought Stiles along to 'help' last night again".
I didn't realise I was just standing there watching the situation unfold until Deaton called my name trying to get me to usher Stiles out of the exam room.
"Rosie, Attention Rosie, can you please keep Mr Stilinski in the reception please. We shouldn't be long, it appears all our friend here needs is a splint and some medication to ease the pain." He said without taking his eyes off the dog.
I looked across from Deaton and saw Stiles looking at me expectantly. My first instinct was to physically shoo him out of the room with my hands to which he gave me an odd look before complying and heading out the way he came.
When I followed, I saw him already sprawled out across the waiting room chairs in a way that couldn't have been comfortable. I tried to ignore his staring by sitting behind the front desk and attempting to get some work done.
"So why aren't you in there with them?" he asked after finding none of the posters on the walls entertaining enough.
"I'm not a vet and I don't want to be either. I just to paperwork." I replied refusing to look up at him.
"So do you work here full time or what because I've never seen you before" He seemed persistent to have a conversation.
"No, just mornings and weekends" I replied saying as little as is needed just to get him off my back. I had a feeling if Siles wanted to know something. He wouldn't stop until he knew it.
"So what do you do with the rest of the day?" he asked not getting the hint that I was not in a conversation mood.
"I go to school, just like you" I say looking up slightly to see the realisation dawn on his face just like everyone else that I do in fact go to school with him, just that he's never noticed me before.
"Oh, but like, how does that work? First period starts in like ten minutes, how are you supposed to get there in time?" he questioned, as he sat up a little straighter seemingly deciding we are in fact going to have a proper conversation.
"I already have a lot of credits so don't take that many classes, I agreed with the principal that none of my classes are to start before 2nd period so I can have this job." I reply sitting back in my chair accepting the inevitable.
"Oh cool, so what do you do here if you don't tend to the animals?" he kept on with this strong quizzical look on his face that caught me off guard. I'm not used to people being this interested in me.
"Why are you so interested in what I do? I'm certain you don't even know my name?" I asked seeing if he remembered Deaton using it.
"Uh, its uh Roxie isn't it?" he replied with after a few seconds of looking around the room for inspiration.
"Its Rosie, Rosie Green, and before you say anything I know your name is Stiles Stilinski" I barked back with a knowing look as I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Well Stiles is just a nickname, you don't actually know what my real name is do you?" he said trying to look smug.
"No one does you refuse to tell anyone. And wipe that look of your face, you can't look smug whist wearing a hoodie on inside out." I shut him down and saw his face have all emotion whipped from it as he looked down seeing I was correct before franticly turning it the right way around and knocking into the walls several times before returning some composure and trying to hide his newly blushed cheeks.
"I send out emails to clients, I set up appointments, I file the paper work, and order in more stock, which by the way happens to be a larger order after you've been here." I say giving him an accusing look and allowing him a chance to move past what just happened.
"Trying to imply anything there Miss Green?" he said copying my expression and stance.
"What ever do you mean Mr Stilinski?" I said throwing it back. I didn't know what had gotten into me. Normally I wouldn't give any kind of reaction, but there was something about Stiles that made me unable to not.
Before he could reply the exam room door opened and Scott and Deaton stepped out seeing Stiles and I in a sort of face off.
Scott's eyes flickered between the two of us before moving toward Stiles and half tapping his shoulder half grabbing his shoulder to break him out of his trance of staring at me.
"So you're the one who keeps rearranging the cabinet" Scott said trying to change the atmosphere in the room.
"That would be me. And you'll thank me one day when there is an emergency and you need a drug you've never used before and instead of wasting time looking for it, you will know exactly where it is."
Scott gave me a half smile half annoyed look whilst realising that I did in fact have a point. He patted Stiles on the back and headed towards the door for stiles to follow. Stiles' eyes snapped to and he got up spinning around and heading for the door after Scott.
"Till next time Miss Green" he called out as Scott half shoved him out of the door.
I was trying my best to hide a smile that was trying to break across my face before looking at Deaton who was giving me one of his knowing eyebrow raised smirks.
"What?" I asked pretending to be none the wiser before getting a submissive hum from Deaton as he headed back into the exam room.
It was about four by the time I finally left to school. I was running a little late because of a disagreement with Mr Harris as to why there wasn't a plus on the end of my A grade from last weeks test. After he finally agreed to change it just to get me of his back, I was heading out of the school with a satisfied feeling inside. It was already getting dark making it hard to see all the ice on the black ice on the path. I was half way to the bus stop when someone called my name causing me to turn around so fast that I skidded on the patch of ice I had just managed to walk around. I saw Stiles' face as I was plummeting to the ground.
As soon as I hit the ground I put my head in my hands trying to erase the memory. I felt a pair of hands hands take mine from around my face and pull me up.
We both burst out into fits of laugher making me feel better for falling over. After all, the most surprising thing was that it wasn't Stiles who fell.
"Are you okay?" Stiles asked still laughing.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I seem to do that every winter" I found my self-looking directly in his eyes causing me to blink rapidly and look away. I hadn't noticed the specific hazel colour of them during our banter session earlier and wasn't willing to stare long enough to notice anything else. I didn't do things like that.
"So, is your car parked here?" He questioned me still keeping a tight grip on my hands reminding me again about how much more physical Americans are.
"Erm no, I take the bus. Why are you here? School finished an hour ago" I questioned back not sure why I was interested, but I was.
"Detention. This mornings dog emergency wasn't seen as a valid excuse for being late" Stiles stated very matter of fact.
After a few seconds I silence I said "Stiles, you don't need to keep holding my hands, I think I've got the balance now" causing him to quickly let go looking very sheepish.
"The uh, the bus won't come for like another half an hour, and its freezing out here, and uh, well the Jeep over there's mine so uh, you know if it would help you out I, well I mean you don't have to but-".
"Yes I would like a lift. Thank you" I butted in seeing as it didn't seem like he was going to be able to finish that sentence on his own. I found it somewhat endearing to know that Stiles could also be as socially awkward as me, it was a serious comfort, even if I hadn't realised it at the time.
He chuckled slightly at my forwardness, which caused me to question why I was being so forward. For someone who didn't enjoy the company of others, I was suddenly agreeing to be in a confined space with someone I'd only had one other conversation with. After all, it was incredibly cold. Being British meant I had the right to constantly complain about the weather no mater what it was. And I defiantly wasn't making up excuses.
Before I could change my mind, Stiles had his hand between my shoulder blades and was guiding me to his Jeep making a big fuss about helping me not fall over. It was something, which normally would anger me, but I couldn't help but laugh as we stopped a meter from his passenger seat door opening it with a bow.
"If you would care to Step this way Miss Green" he said causing me to laugh a lot louder than I wanted to before stepping up to the Jeep.
The steps must have frozen slightly in the cold because as I tried to pull my self into the jeep my foot skidded on the step and I went backwards with a slight scream as Stiles caught me. Before I knew what was happening I realised I had gone from standing up perfectly fine on my own to being held bridal style by Stiles with my arms wrapped around his neck as I clung on for dear life.
We stayed like that for a few seconds with neither daring to move from fear of the situation we had suddenly found ourselves in.
"Uh, good catch" was all I could muster to break the silence before Stiles snapped out of his trance putting me down on the passenger seat of his Jeep and gathering himself.
"We've known each other for less than a day and you're already falling for me" he teased with a huge grin smacked across his face as he leaned into the Jeep trying to get a reaction from me.
All I could do was give him a gentle push not trusting myself to talk as he closed the door before walking round and climbing in his own side.
As he started the engine and backed out of the space he couldn't help but tease me with "you didn't deny it".
I sat there trying to come up with a good reason as to why I didn't. But time must have run out because Stiles was already laughing to himself.