Disclaimer: I own nothing obviously, but its fun pretending.
Also we are getting to the good parts, just getting some nice filler stuff in, can't wait for our favorite crazy wolf to show up!

Ashley didn't know what was up with Stiles lately, but hopefully the parent-teacher conferences tonight would clear some of it up.

Normally his dad would be going, but what with this attack at a video store, along with the other murders, he was working overtime. This time, along with the murdered man, two of Stiles schoolmates had been at the scene of the crime and found him. One had even been in the car when the murderer had escaped, saying it was like a wild animal had run out of the store. They were both freaked out and the Sheriff had to wait til they calmed down a bit to question them. Right now he was on his way to the locals vets office to ask about some strange claw marks left on the body. Therefore, to help out a bit, she was going to the conferences in his place to learn about what was going on at school with him.

She couldn't help but be a bit worried. Only last week she had gotten a call from him after school asking her to tell his dad he was at Scotts house helping with a project if he asked where he was. When she asked where he would really be, knowing him, he hesitated before saying something weird had come up and someone needed his help. She heard a painful sounding gasp in the background, and Stiles had again asked if she would please do it.

"I can't explain now, and I can't promise I ever will" he said "But believe me when I say it's a life and death thing and dad can't know about it. I'm not in trouble, but the person im helping may be."

She had just sighed and said "I trust you Stiles, and will tell him. But please be careful, whatever is going on. And remember you can tell me anything and I wont judge...I may even try to help. Just call me."

He had agreed and hung up after that. When he got home late that night he was pale and shaken looking. He didn't even say anything to her, just went straight to bed. She didn't press thing, knowing he would talk when he was ready. For now all she could do was be there for him, for better or worse. She did worry about the small spot of blood on his shirt though...not only that but she was pretty sure she saw a confused looking Scott riding towards the hospital with Derek in his Camaro the same night, not too long after Stiles got home. Too weird to not be a coincidence.

Anyway, Hopefully tonight would shed some light on at least a couple of things.

She left about 9:00am, needing to go to the mall and buy some things anyway. On her way out she spied Scott and his girlfriend Allison in her car, driving away from the school. "Funny" she though "never saw her as the type to skip school." She chuckles as she pulls over and texts Scott, making sure she had a good reason for skipping school with him. Sure enough, she got a text back a minute later.

"Allison's birthday today, she was depressed, taking her away for a bit to cheer her up"

"alright" she texted back "but next time tell me or Stiles if you need an alibi, or someone can't get ahold of you. have fun

"Thanx"

At least now they had someone to tell the parents where they were if they freaked out about them missing school. Scott was a good kid with a good heart, but not always the brightest crayon in the box. This way she could help him out a bit...and Stiles in the long run, considering how often he ran off to who knows where lately and asked her to cover. Scott was probably with him most of the time, so she worried about both of them.

With that new info in her mind she pulled into the mall parking lot and walked in, intending to spend some much-needed time-wasting buying some new clothes, a new phone, and to check in at the local GameStop. Not only that but she was going to go to Hastings and read a book with some hot chocolate.

**************Later that Night********************

Ashley had just made it to the conference when she got a call from her uncle, saying he would be able to make part of it after all. He would be late, but would make it. So far all the teachers had said the same thing, saying he was a smart boy but easily distracted. She already knew that, but also knew that when he got into a subject he liked he hit the ground running, feeling the need to learn everything there was to know about it and more. She was about to talk to the dreaded Coach Finstock, the last teacher of the night, when the sheriff showed up at her side, looking very tired.

"Sorry for being late, this case has me running all over the place. Trying to decide if it is an actual wild animal or not...the video store footage showed something walking on two legs..."

"No problem, you are just in time to talk to the coach, then all done for the night"
"Thank you so much for doing this, you are a lifesaver"
"No problem, that's what family is for"
"Lets get to it then, don't want to keep him waiting. Knowing how Stiles describes the coach this should be interesting."

Ashley chuckles and follows him to the coaches table. Coach sees them walking towards him and stands up, looking Ashley up and down appreciatively before looking at the sheriff and shaking his hand. Ashley rolla her eyes at him, having been to a few of the practices and knowing what he was like. Annoying, for one.

"Hello, I'm Coach Finstock, and you would be..."

"Sheriff Stilinski"

"Of course, and you are?"

"Ashley, Stiles visiting older cousin."

"Ah of course, i heard he had a visiting relative, nice to put a face to the name. Wait" he said, turning back to the Sheriff "You named you son Stiles Stilinski?"

"No" he said, rolling his eyes in exasperation "that's just what he calls himself"

"Then what is his real name..." the coach muttered to himself, finding Stiles file and looking at the name. He frowned, turning it sideways and upside down trying to read it "What the, how do you even pronounce that?"

"It was a family name from my wife's side..."

While coach and the sheriff talk, Ashley steps outside, not wanting to hear the rest of the conversation if his wife was being mentioned. She convinces herself it was because she needed some fresh air. Stiles's mom was the side of the family she came from, and when she died Ashley had tried to be there for him as much as possible. She often thought that was why they ended up being so close, because she slightly reminded him of his mom. If she could offer him the small comfort so be it.

Her mind wandering she almost missed Scotts mom walking out the school doors, not looking too happy, another couple right on her heels. "Oh no" She thinks, figuring she knew Scott had skipped. That would make the other two Allison's parents. She steps up when she hears them arguing.

"Mrs. McCall whats wrong? This wouldn't happen to have to do with Scott and Allison missing school would it?"

"Yes" She said sounding worried "They missed the whole day and no one has heard from them, they wont even answer their phones."

"Do you know where Allison is?" says an angry-looking woman with a fur jacket and short red hair. "Tell us now!"

"Honey calm down, yelling at the young woman isn't getting us anywhere" says a familiar sounding voice beside the woman.

Ashley looks towards the couple and meets the calm face of the man who had boxed Derek in that night, the one who had seemed to be in charge. This was just what she needed right now. That figured.

"You must be Allison's parents?" she asks, looking a the two.

"Yes, I'm Chris Argent, and this is my wife...you are?"

She blushes, knowing that he recognizes her from the gas station and hopes he won't make a big deal about it.

"I'm Ashley, Stiles Stilinskis older cousin" She was getting tired of introducing herself "I didn't mean to interrupt, but I saw them this morning when they left school. I asked them why they were skipping and Scott said it was her birthday?" When Mrs. Argent nods she continues "Scott said Allison was depressed and thought that getting her out of school might make her feel better."

As Chris Argent watches her as she speaks, face expressionless, Ashley sees Scott and Allison walking towards the school. "Why don't you talk to them?" she says, pointing them out to the anxious parents.

As the parents rush towards the two, most likely intending to separate the teens, Ashley hears a scream coming from the parking lot. When she looks towards the direction it had come from, everyone starts running and screaming in panic, trying to get away from whatever had caused it. Everyone, it seemed, except for Mr. Argent, who had pulled a gun from somewhere and, as usual, was staying calm. As she sees the sheriff running out of the school to see what was causing the panic, Ashley climbs on top of one of the parked cars to try to get a better look at whatever was making everyone go insane. She thought she saw something on four legs running in between the cars, and at one point saw Scott save Allison from a rushing car not looking where it was going, his eyes glowing a bit gold. Suddenly a gunshot rang out. Ashley looks over and sees Mr. Argent, standing over the now prone body of a ...was that a mountain lion? Mr. Argent looks over at her quickly before turning to the Sheriff.

She would have to ask Stiles about the eye thing..maybe it was just a trick of the light. As for the mountain lion..it could almost answer the murder question, but something didn't seem quite right. It almost appeared out of the blue at just the right time. This town was getting weirder every day.

At least this time Derek wasn't involved in the weirdness.