The next few days went by with no unneeded interruptions. Gabbie's dad went to work a bit more than usual, but that was mainly because of the dead body found in the woods. Well, half of a dead body. Gabbie's Aunt Claire went to work at the book store she owned in town, The Storyteller. Besides the nightmares popping into Gabbie's mind every time she went to sleep, everything was starting to get back to normal.
Until one day after school, when Gabbie was watching TV and Aunt Claire was making dinner. The house phone that was barely used started to ring, making both women jump.
"I got it." Aunt Claire called, picking up the extension in the kitchen. Gabbie started to zone back into what she was watching when her Aunt's voice brought her back. "Gabbie! It's for you."
"What?" Gabbie asked, getting up from the couch and walking over to the kitchen. Aunt Claire had her casual clothes on since being home, and the phone in her hand.
"It's a boy." Aunt Claire said with a smile, covering the end of the phone with her other hand. "Says he needs to talk to you."
Gabbie looked at the phone with the aught most confusion before grabbing it from her aunt. Aunt Claire's smile got wider seeing her niece interacting with someone other than her cat. She then gave Gabbie a pat on the back and whispered in her ear, "Ill leave you to it." Then left the room.
Gabbie slowly put the phone to her ear and asked, "Hello?"
"Gabbie? It's Stiles."
The amount of attitude that was put into Gabbie's eye roll could have won her an Oscar at that moment. She sighed and put her hand to her head, "Ugh, Stiles. How did you even get this number?"
"I looked in the phone book." He said simply. Before she could hang up, he started talking again, "Look, I know that you don't want to talk about what happened to you in the woods the other night. But some stuff is happening to Scott and I need your help."
"What kind of stuff?" Gabbie asked.
"Weird, supernatural-like stuff."
"I'm hanging up now."
"Wait! Wait! Please, you gotta help me out here." Stiles begged.
"And why, pray tell, do I have to help you?" Gabbie asked. The phone went silent, Gabbie waiting for Stiles to respond. "Stiles?"
"Because I know that you're a good person besides all the attitude you throw out there and I know you don't want to see anyone get hurt. And if I'm right, Scott could hurt people."
Gabbie contemplated Stiles's words, remembering that Scott had been but that night in the forest. And Stiles was right, under all the sarcasm and attitude, she was a caring person. Gabbie sighs, making Stiles sit up a bit straighter in his room.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Dress up nice, we're heading to a party tonight."
Of all the things Gabbie had thought she would do tonight, going to an actual high school party was not one of them. Stiles had told her to dress nice, but it didn't help her in her decision making. After a half hour of trying not to back out at the last minute, Gabbie picked a pair of black skinny jeans with a red plaid shear long-sleeved shirt. She put on a silver chain around her neck and silver rings on her fingers before going to make up and making her eyes look smokey and dangerous. It might not be nice but it's not in her comfort zone when going out in public, and that's what parties are all about.
Just as she was pulling on her black converse, the doorbell rang. She ignored it, getting her laces all tied. But she did not expect to here her father's voice.
"Gabbie, Stiles is here for you!" He yelled up to her room. Gabbie froze, what the hell is he doing here? Gabbie then grabbed her keys from her dresser and rushed down the stairs.
Downstairs, Stiles stood in the breezeway of the Reynolds home with Gabbie's dad looking confused as ever. Ryan was still in his uniform, just getting home 5 minutes before Stiles showed up, and had his arms crossed as he tried to figure out what a boy was doing in his house.
"So," Ryan started, getting Stiles to look up from his shoes, "Stiles, what exactly are you doing here?"
"Oh u-um, me and Gabbie are heading to a party tonight."
"A party? Whose party?"
"It's just a party th-that happens every year after the first scrimmage." Stiles said, reaching up and itching the back of his neck as he got a surge of nerves go through him. It was as if Stiles was picking Gabbie up for a date, and he didn't know how that felt to him.
Before Ryan could interrogate the poor boy anymore, someone coming down the stairs caught both of their attentions. Gabbie rushed down the stairs in her punk-esc outfit, totally catching Stiles of guard.
"Hey kid." Ryan walked over to his daughter and kissing her on the cheek.
"Hey dad."
"So apparently you're going to a party?"
"Yeah. Sorry for not telling you earlier. It was kinda last minute." Gabbie explained, giving Stiles a look over her father's shoulder.
"Alright, just remember ground rules when you go out." Ryan said.
"No drinking, doing drugs, or staying out past 1. I got it dad."
"That goes for you too Stiles." Ryan turns back to Stiles near the door who is wide eyed.
"Got it! Got it, I totally got it." Stiles rambles out as Gabbie gives her dad a look and walks past him.
"Bye dad." Gabbie waves as Stiles opens the door for her.
"Be safe. Don't do anything I would do."
"Bye Mr. Reynolds." Stiles said just as the door is shut behind them. Leaving the two kids on the porch, Gabbie finally gets a good look at Stiles. The boy had taken the time to tidy himself up with a light purple button up and black tie matched with jean and sneakers. His buzz cut brown hair looked short as ever, and for some odd reason, Stiles's cheeks were flushed. "Was it just me or did that feel like I was being interrogated before a date?"
"A date?" Gabbie asked. She had a small smirk on her face, and attitude ready to pour out of her.
Stiles saw Gabbie's reaction and turned away, mumbling "I guess it was just me."
"Oh, don't be like that Stiles. You should be happy, you don't want to date me. I'm a social outcast with one friend which is my cat. You don't want any of what I am." Gabbie explained, looking over to him as the two walked towards Stiles's blue jeep. The car itself has seen better years back when Gabbie remembered when Stiles's mom would drive to the station in it.
"Well, if I'm right about Scott, my only friend will be a dog so we'll be on the same level of social outcast."
Stiles smiled at Gabbie before opening the passenger's side door for her. Gabbie looked at Stiles with a raised eyebrow before sighing and getting in the car.
The party was in full swing by the time Stiles drove up, the music pulsating through the air making Gabbie's heart beat faster. Stile's parked the car and the two walked though the open door to be met with kids around every corner; either drinking from red solo cups or making out quite publically.
"Wow, this is what I have been missing? How did I live before?" Gabbie asked sarcastically. Stiles rolled his eyes and walked over to grab two cups from a table in the room before walking back to Gabbie's side. "So where's Scott?"
Stiles hands Gabbie one of the cups before digging into his pocket and pulling out his phone, "He texted me earlier saying he picked up Allison so they should be here."
"And we just do what? I'm still looking for this supernatural proof."
"I'm telling you, something is up with Scott and since he isn't thinking with his head right now, we have to do it." Stiles explained. Gabbie rolled her eyes and took a sip from her cup as she scanned the party.
"I still can't believe you got me to come here with you." Gabbie said, turning to Stiles who was also drinking from his cup. The boy looked sideways at her before raising an eyebrow.
"Am I really that horrible? Do you hate me that much?"
"No," Gabbie said, shaking her head with a chuckle, "Stiles, I never hated you. I just meant that I can't believe you convinced to actually leave the house and come to something like this. You've known me long enough to know I've never been one for social interaction on this scale."
"To be totally honest, we've 'known' each other for a long time but I don't really know anything about you." Stiles said, shocking Gabbie. She just looked at him with a surprised look on her face.
"A-And?" Gabbie asked.
"And, I wouldn't mind getting to know you."
Before Gabbie could respond, someone bumped into Gabbie, causing her to lurch forward. She turned to yell at whoever had done it, but seeing the mopey brown hair gave it away.
"Scott?" Stiles asked, turning to his best friend. Scoot looked as if he was about to pass out or be sick, maybe even both. Stiles tried to help, but Scott hobbled out of the room and to the front door that was wide open.
"That was weird." Gabbie mumbled. Stiles downed the rest of his drink before grabbing Gabbie's hand and rushing out the door. By the time the two got outside, Scott's car was gone.
