So…

This is, as you have probably guessed, another DerekxOC story. It's a sickness, I tell you. But I just really, really, really, really wanted to try my hand at one. I know. I'm not going to go episode to episode, though. I'll talk about them, but chapters won't necessarily be based off just an episode. I plan on fleshing it out.

THIS IS JUST A PREIVIEW. IF I GET ENOUGH INTEREST I'LL CONTINUE. I DON'T WANT TO BE WRITING A STORY NO ONE LIKES. SO IF YOU WANT MORE, REVIEW.

Summary: After getting into some trouble at home, Stiles' cousin Emma comes to stay with him for a while. As if uprooting herself in the middle of her sophomore year wasn't enough, there's something strange about Beacon Hills. The Stiles she knows has changed. He's dark, and keeping secrets. In her quest to find out the truth, she unknowingly stumbles upon Derek Hale. Entranced by his beauty but put off by his attitude, she realizes he knows the town better than anybody. But as she delves deeper and deeper into the mystery of Beacon Hills, she'd dragged into a rich history of violence and betrayal that she's not sure she can escape from. STARTS MID-SEASON 1.

Taking Chances

Prologue: Glimpses

"I'm not sure this is such a smart idea," Emma whispered to herself, glancing at the expanse of trees before her. All around, the woods took on a life of its own. Crickets chirped in the distance, a creak babbled softly to her right, and birds cawed from the sky. It was hard not to be slightly creeped out about the whole thing.

The soles of her shoes sunk into the mud. With a groan, Emma pulled out a dirt covered heel. Great; that would never come out. Although, looking back on it, wearing a pair of Gucci pumps to go exploring in the woods probably wasn't such a bright idea to begin with. Exploring the woods probably wasn't such a bright idea to begin with.

And speaking of…

"Stiles! Get your ass over here!" Emma hissed, taking a peak behind her shoulder. The other boy was nowhere in sight. "Stiles!"

There was a tumble, the sound of leaves crunching, and suddenly a body was rolling towards her. Letting out a small cry of surprise, Emma jumped back, the mace in her hand held poised in front of her. She relaxed when she realized it was Stiles, but only slightly. She raised a brow at the dirt and moss covered boy.

Stiles looked sheepish. He brushed the leaves out of his hair and stood up. He fumbled for a second but managed to right himself. "I fell," he said simply. Then, "I told you this wasn't a good idea! These woods are dangerous."

"You and Scott are in theses woods all the time," Emma said logically. "So I highly doubt it can be that bad. Besides, I want to explore. If I'm going to be living here, I need to know my way around."

Stiles looked at her funny. "You need to know your way around the woods?" He asked slowly as if she couldn't understand English. "Why? Plan on taking a Short Cut." He jabbed her side at the reference.

Emma rolled her eyes. The ninety minute, direct-to-DVD horror film had been a favorite of theirs growing up. Every visit, they'd huddle together on the couch and turn out the lights. They'd pop popcorn and mix it with baked M&Ms to eat and each had a two liter soda bottle they'd drink from. There was no pausing it and they would even role previews. Their parents had gone along with it, donning aprons and pretending to take fake movie tickets. Truthfully, it was the highlight of her childhood—not that she'd even tell Stiles that.

"Grow up," she said not unkindly at the teen. Her glossed lips curved up into a smile. "I guess this is where you're supposed to kill me, then." She raised her hands as if she had a knife and mimed stabbing herself in the chest. She went on to open her mouth dramatically and sway as if she was about to fall but dissolved into a fit of giggles before that could happen.

Stiles laughed with her, offering her a hand to help her up from her knees. Once she stood, he brushed the crunched leaves and dirt from the front of her dress. He wrapped his arm with hers and the two began to walk at a leisurely pace. They strolled for a while, Stiles pointing out landmarks or interesting looking things to Emma. After a while, the sun began to set in the distance and splashes of orange-y light broke through the canopy of trees and shone against the ground. They'd strayed so far into the woods now that Emma was sure they must be lost.

She glanced around her worriedly. "Uh…Are we lost?" She asked tentatively. Even if they were, she doubted her companion would admit it. He had too much pride for that.

Seeming to snap out of a daze, Stiles looked around them and then at her. "No," he said surely. "I know exactly where we are." And it was true. He hadn't been aware they'd walked so far. His mind had mostly drifted in and out of awareness and he had lost track of time. He glanced in front of him once more time. Through the underbrush, he could just make out the slight curve of trees that would lead them to the crisp, rotten building that was the Hale house.

He steered Emma around almost immediately. Under the guise of checking his watch, he swept his gaze around the area. He saw nothing but the slight tint off the back of a familiar black Camaro. No one was around but them. "It's late," he said. "We should get back. Dad has early shift tonight and he said he wanted to make us dinner."

Emma nodded. She watched the orange ball that was the sun as it descended another few inches behind the horizon line. She hadn't realized how much time had passed. "Sure," she said, letting Stiles pull her back the way they'd come. Just as they rounded the corner, she could have sworn she saw a figure from the corner of her eye. But as she turned to look, there was nothing there.