Stiles was convinced she is an apparition of some kind. How else could he explain her sudden random disappearances whenever she felt like it? Maybe she was some figment in his mind. Another personality he made up to keep him entertained during the most boring Spring Break of his life.

He explained everything to Scott but his friend seemed disbelieving, the girl sounded like a Martian. After Scott had left Stiles was left to his thoughts again. Unable to stand the suspense of waiting for her to return that night he texted her asking her if she was okay.

Sorry about that and I am fine, I got a text from my uncle and it was urgent so I had to leave.

It was vague and left him even more curious about this uncle she rarely spoke of. In fact she never spoke about herself at all. Stiles tried being patient but now it was just getting ridiculous. But he didn't want to scare her away by asking too many questions. No, the girl was a freaking Rubik's cube. He had to plan and analyze from all angles before making a move to piece her together.

The biggest priority to him was making sure he wasn't the only one who could see her. He was pretty convinced she wasn't real and he needed someone to show him otherwise. There was a sharp knock at the door and Stiles perked up on the bed when his father walked in.

"Hey Stiles." The sheriff greeted, his lips curved into a soft smile and his eyes droopy and tired.

"Dad, you are early." Stiles noted looking to his father, he nodded.

"Yeah I got off early, wanna order dinner tonight?" The younger Stilinski's gaze drifted to the clock that hung above his work table. It was almost eight which was the usual time when Ariel came over. A sly conniving grin curved his mouth and he looked to his father and nodded eagerly.

"Sure."

Stiles was sitting in front of his window. His chin resting lazily over the frame, but at the sight of a looming shadow approaching his house he instantly perked up. Ariel was making his way to his window, her hands buried in the pockets of her stripped jacket.

"Hey!" She froze at the sound of his voice and immediately looked up at him. Stiles was practically leaning over the window and waving wildly at her. She cocked an eyebrow.

"Why are you yelling?" She questioned.

"Sorry," He cried back but then immediately dimmed the tone of his voice.

"You can come through the front door, my dad's not here." He informed. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion but nodded without qualm.

"Alright." She agreed and Stiles watched in apprehension waiting for her to disappear from his line of vision. The moment she did, Stiles dashed out of his bedroom and down a flight of stairs. He was praying she didn't catch on to his deceit. He didn't want to trick her but sometimes it was the only way.

Ariel grasped the door handle and turned only to be surprised by to see the Sheriff standing the corridor. He was about to walk into the dining room when the door opening had caught his attention. He turned his profile to her looking just as perplexed as she was. He took slow steps in her direction and Ariel stood rooted to her spot at the threshold of the house.

"Hello, who are you?" He asked. She struggled to form words even when his smile was so welcoming. Stiles suddenly appeared behind his dad, throwing one arm over his father's shoulders and grinning in her direction.

"Hey dad, this is Ariel she is new in town." He introduced and then released his father before stepping closer to her and standing beside her.

"You can see her right?" He asked gesturing to the girl.

"Yes I can see her Stiles," The Sheriff muttered at the irrationality of his son's question and rolled his eyes before looking to the startled female "Sorry my son is a little strange, welcome to Beacon Hills, I haven't seen you around here though."

"I live down town, with my uncle." She said looking frantically between Stiles and his father in total confusion "Sorry if I am intruding on your dinner I just came to return this book to Stiles—"

"Actually Ariel is going to be joining us." Stiles cut in. She stared wide eyed.

"You don't seem aware of this." The keen detective noticed. She looked to him and shook her head, still reeling from the information.

"I wasn't." She mumbled the man smiled pityingly.

"If you are not too busy we would love to have you as our guest, Ariel." She looked to Stiles who was nodding eagerly for her to accept. She was having an internal battle to whether run fast but the moment her gaze locked with those soft hospitable eyes of Mr. Stilinski she knew she couldn't say no.

"So how did you two meet?" The sheriff asked while stabbing the vegetables on his plate with a fork. They sat at the round dining table. He sat facing Ariel, with Stiles between the two. Their dinner consisted mainly of carrots, leeks and salad leaves and cups filled with soda. Ariel was picking at her food but then her attention snapped to him at the question he uttered.

The Sheriff noticed the way she glanced at Stiles who immediately began to answer the question.

"Well Ariel was lost because she was new here and I offered her help and we just became friends from there."

"Where were you lost?" The older male inquired keeping his gaze focused on the girl, she smiled.

"I wasn't really aware, considering I was lost and all. I am still trying to remember all the names of the streets here." She answered he sensed no dishonesty from her but his son on the other hand, he knew he was hiding something.

"Ah..." He breathed but then his ardent stare noticed the way the female kept playing with the vegetation on her plate "Are you not enjoying your food?"

Ariel wasn't expecting for him to comment on it. She was tempted to lie but decided against it and gently placed the fork beside the plate, Stiles was studying her too.

"No its fine, I am just not a fan of take out and meals that mainly consist of...vegetables." she answered. The Sheriff grinned friendly creases forming around his eyes, he was clearly amused by her words.

"Oh a carnivore, I am very pleased to hear you say that because let me tell you girls these days. All I see them eat is a salad and an apple." He stated, worry evident for the female generation of this time.

"I would love to sink my teeth in to a nice juicy steak but my son here insists on eating healthy." He said nudging his fork in Stiles's direction.

"Hey it's for your own good. He'll see the benefits later trust me." Stiles answered nodding to Ariel, she smiled politely.

"I suppose but there is the risk factor of you two developing some form of germ by eating vegetables that are most likely not properly washed or boiled for that matter." Stiles dead-panned at her words the sheriff's fair brows rose in wonder.

"Ariel, that's not really helping the whole eat healthy regiment." Stiles whispered to her, she looked to him.

"I am being honest and meat can be healthy depending on how it's prepared. I could show you if you have any meat in the house."

"Actually I think I brought some steaks home last night." Mr. Stilinski stated, nudging his thumb in the direction of the fridge behind him.

"You did?!" Stiles exclaimed flabbergasted.

"I was planning to make it for myself in the night, when you were sleeping but I've been too busy." He said with a fond smile and then looked to Ariel "It's a nice offer but you don't have to trouble yourself."

She smiled and shook her head in dismissal "It's no trouble. The thought of steak has gotten me salivating."

Stiles watched her with gleaming eyes. He knew having her meet his father would be a good thing. He had his doubts at first but they seemed to be getting along fine, and he just discovered she can cook.

"Be warned our spice rack is nonexistent and the remaining vegetables in the fridge can mostly likely be used as biochemical fuel at this point." Stiles stated, Ariel was already in the kitchen rifling through the fridge in search for the frozen meat. The two males watched her bustle about the kitchen with much wonder.

"Do you have any type of sauce?" She called out while arranging a pan on top of the cooker.

"I think we have some soy and salsa on the top shelf there." The sheriff replied.

"Wine?" She asked, the two men exchanged shifty glances and Stiles smiled cheekily. Alcohol was probably the one thing the Stilinski house hold was stocked up on.

"I hope you two don't mind waiting a little over half an hour." Ariel warned and the Sheriff laughed.

"For steak I could wait a lifetime."

Stiles dead-panned at his father's words and glared in his direction "Oh great dad, I'll remember that the next time I bring over more unwashed vegetables for you to eat."

Ariel heard this and smiled in amusement.

"This looks fantastic, real restaurant presentation." Mr. Stilinski exclaimed with much enthusiasm when she placed the steaming dishes in front of them. Stiles was feeling a little high from the delicious aroma of the cooked meat in front of him.

"Thank you, I hope it's satisfactory." He hadn't seen her so bashful before, it was quite charming. Eagerly the elder male cut into the steak with his fork and knife before stabbing the beef and devouring the piece.

"My God." He groaned in appreciation in unison to his son.

"Look at how well done that is dad." Stiles pointed out gesturing to the perfect warm pink middle of the meat that was dripping with sauce.

"I know on, I could eat this forever."

Ariel was watching the two with a fond twinkle in her blue eyes. She hadn't touched her plate of meat yet, simply enjoying the two appreciate the food like they hadn't eaten in years.

"I am glad you are enjoying it." She said softly. Stiles looked to her with his cheeks bloated and covered in sauce. It was adorable and she quickly averted her gaze to avoid staring for too long.

"I am shocked you managed to cook in the mess that is our kitchen." He said mid chewing, she smiled and shrugged modestly.

"The lack of a clean pan and pepper was a bit of a hassle but there was plenty of wine." She began cutting through her beef "Is there an age limit to having wine in your steak?"

"I don't think it matters at this point, Stiles has practically inhaled the steak." The sheriff was right, there was only a puddle of sauce left on the ceramic plate and Stiles was licking that up with his finger.

Ariel wasn't used to such praise for doing something as simple as cooking a meal, so she felt slightly overwhelmed by the commends. Her hands felt slightly shaky and when she reached for her fork again the silver clumsily slipped from her hands and rattled to the floor, she tensed.

"Excuse me." She stumbled and bent under the table to get it, Stiles instantly reacted.

"No wait let me get it—ow!" Their heads bumped from his sudden action to pick the fork up for her. Ariel reeled and rubbed at the ache on her head while glaring at him.

"I told you I will get it, Stiles."

"Why are you complaining, I am the one who will get a bump on the head tomorrow." He whined caressing his head while pouting at her, she rolled her eyes.

"Did you forget you bumped into my head?"

"You don't look injured." He noted, she shook her head at him.

"Because I am not a big baby like you."

"Hey," He whimpered clearly hurt by the jab of her words, she straightened her posture from under the table and Stiles mimicked her movements.

"Let me see."She insisted gently reaching out to her, Stiles leaned in and allowed her to examine the area. The sheriff paused in his eating to watch the two, utterly fascinated by their closeness. Ariel was gently brushing the tips of her fingers of the reddening region of his forehead and the way Stiles sat there allowing her to, proved that he was clearly enjoying her touch.

"Your stamina for pain is nonexistent too." She murmured in a fond teasing voice, Stiles rolled his eyes.

"Bruised my head and my ego, thanks." He grumbled. She grinned and dropped her hand but they continued to stare at each other before turning to their plates once more. Feeling Mr. Stilinski's unwavering stare they both looked to him in question.

"What dad?" Stiles asked, the Sheriff grinned and shook his head in amusement.

Of course Stiles would be oblivious, he usually was but then again—he looked to Ariel who was carelessly eating her food—so was she.

"Nothing just...how long has you two known each other?" He asked trying not to seem too prying. They glanced at each other and Stiles shrugged.

"A month or so—"

"And a week to be exact," She added.

"And I am just meeting you now?" Sheriff wondered in disbelief.

"Ariel likes to keep a certain mystery, considering I had to practically trick her into meeting you."

"I get shy," She responded but from the lack of bashfulness in that statement. Mr. Stilinski knew that wasn't true.

"Right." Stiles retorted disbelievingly she grinned his way.

"Well it was still nice to meet you, Ariel—Stiles doesn't usually have many female guests here, the last time we did it was Meg."

"Oh yeah..." Stiles reminisced.

"Who is Meg?" Neither of them noticed Ariel's sudden peak in interest at the mention of the newest Beta in Beacon Hills.

"She used to live here a while ago but then she moved to Colorado and now she is back here and goes to school with Stiles, speaking of. Are you planning to enroll in Beacon Hills high?"

"Yes actually, starting next week I believe." She answered his question with a faint smile. Stiles looked to her resisting the urge to grin happily, but his heart raced in anticipation of seeing her in school.

"That's good, you won't be alone then when you start classes." The sheriff mused, she smiled.

"I guess not." He saw the way she looked at Stiles with such fondness in her eyes.

He yawned and leaned back on his chair "Well I'll leave you two kids, I need to get some rest considering the police force doesn't really have spring break".

He gave a quick glance at the messy dishes and looked to Stiles "Do you need help washing up?"

"No its okay dad we got it, good night." His son insisted.

"Good night Stiles, good night Ariel." The sheriff said his farewell

"Good night, Sir." Ariel retorted. He grinned and made his way to the stairs and they waited for the sound of his bedroom door closing.

"Sir? You don't have to be so formal around him."Stiles snorted and Ariel looked to him with those azure eyes of hers.

"He is an adult, a very nice one too." She retorted. He smiled but then his stare fell to the barely eaten juicy steak on her plate

"Hey are you going to finish that?" He asked his fork already alert and waiting in his grip, she smirked at him.

"How about half?" She suggested nudging the plate closer to him. He dragged his chair nearer to her and grinned in her direction.

"Works for me."

Stiles ended up eating more than half of her steak but she didn't seem to mind. She encouraged it actually knowing how much he loved eating a home cooked meal for the first time in a long time.

"So where did you learn to cook...so...soo good." He moaned taking another crater of a bite after dipping it in the sauce, she smiled at his ways.

"Books mostly, I find something I want to eat I cook it, though I can't bake it's mainly protein based meals." She replied vaguely, he paused in his eating to grin her way.

"You really are a carnivore. " He mused before shoving the fork in to his mouth and sucking on it, savoring the last bit of the steak.

"Can say the same about you?" She retorted, he chuckled.

"Heh yeah." His honey eyes sparkled in a sudden idea "Do you know how to make shepherd's pie? It's not technically a pie—"

"I know what it is, I don't have an oven."

"Oh I do!" He exclaimed with much enthusiasm. Ariel leaned back against the head of her chair and sent him an incredulous look.

"Is this your way of asking me to cook for you?"

"Yes." He replied mischievously. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the surface of the table and watching him with her lustrous blue eyes.

"What do I get in return?" She murmured casually though her look suggested otherwise. He tried to ignore his rapidly beating heart and continued to smile.

"My gratitude?"

"Meh." He frowned at the way she snorted.

"Smores?"

"Some more what?" She asked. Stiles resisted the urge to laugh at her misheard words.

"No no, Smores!" He cried. She stared unsure of how to react to his outburst.

"I don't understand." She replied her eyebrows furrowed, utterly perplexed.

Stiles dead-panned.

"Ugh, just wait here." He said before abruptly running in the direction of the kitchen—carrying their empty dishes too— Ariel stood there listening to the many cluttering, crashing noises from the kitchen before Stiles emerged. He was panting and carrying a plate in his hand, a candle buried in the space between his side and arm, and a long tooth pick.

"Basically it's a camp fire treat, there is marshmallows, chocolate and biscuits." He explained. Gently placing the items on to the table and then sitting beside her again. Ariel stared at the single rectangular cracker, marshmallow and two squares of chocolate on the plate.

"I was saving this for later but I'll just show you now plus we didn't have any desert yet." He said while busing himself with lightning the candle and then turning to her. Ariel was completely absorbed by the task. She watched as he picked up the soft marshmallow with his nimble fingers, stab it with the toothpick and hold it to the flame. The pure white of the sweet began to slowly roast and he pulled it away the moment it became a golden brown shade.

"We put the chocolate on top of the biscuit and then we roast the marshmallows and then put it on top of the chocolate and then sandwich it with another biscuit and—voila!" He presented the Smore to her and she glared down at it.

"You eat this monstrosity?" She inquired with distaste curling at her lips. The chocolate was oozing from all sides of the biscuit.

"Well it's usually a lot less messy but the chocolate was already melting because it was in my bag." He motioned it to her insistently "Anyway, eat it trust me you will like it."

Ariel was hesitant but at her own leisurely pace she picked up the treat. Brought it to her lips before slowly taking a bite, Stiles watched her reactions keenly.

"Well?"

"It's crunchy and chewy at the same time but overall, quite pleasant." She mused.

"That's it?" He demanded, not satisfied by her answer.

"Fine it's very...how you say—yummy."

"Its freaking...how I say—awesome!" Stiles exclaimed and she grinned at his witty nature.

"Yes yes it's good." She assured nodding in response. He heaved and exasperated sigh when she offered some of it to him and he lazily took it before shoving the entire thing into his mouth and chewing purposefully.

"You are very strange." He stated.

"So are you, I suppose it's why we get along." She considered he had to agree with that.

"You don't get along with many people?" He asked. Her gaze softened and she averted her stare to the chocolate stained plate, playing with the smooth rim of the ceramic.

"I don't make the effort to, I usually end up scaring them." She confessed.

"Scaring them? With your bluntness I bet." He joked, Ariel smiled faintly.

"That and well—my eyes don't exactly give the most subtle impression."

"But that's like the best part right?" The words simply rolled out of his mouth before he could stop them, Ariel froze and turned to him.

"What do you mean?" She asked softly and hesitantly.

"I mean uh... they are just so unusually attractive." She stared silently but then she began to lean towards him.

"So my eyes don't make you nervous?" She inquired. Stiles tried not to let how close she was getting bother him.

"Well at first but now I am kinda used to them." He stated with open honesty.

"Really?" She was clearly not expecting those words to leave his lips. She seemed almost pleased, but then it wore of when her blue gaze suddenly hardened "Well don't get too used to them, you never know when they might change."

Stiles took note of the bitter yet warning tones underling her words. She was avoiding his gaze and staring into space, her expression devoid of emotion.

"What do you mean?" He asked, his words snapped her out of her stupor.

"It's just a saying my uncle used to say about how a person's eyes reflect their true nature." She mumbled and then sat up looking to him "Speaking of, I won't be able to come by tomorrow morning."

"Oh..." Stiles was determined not to let his disappointment show but she seemed oblivious to it anyway.

"I am needed at the flat." She informed him.

"Why do you keep calling it the flat or the apartment?" He asked abruptly.

"Why do you think I do that?" She responded with her own question and with a challenging look in her eyes. Stiles figured she would jump at any chance to test him.

"To remain impersonal, like you know you won't stick around long enough to call it your home." She blinked at him and fell silent and Stiles felt like celebrating because he knew he was right.

"What is a home?" She asked he reeled from the unusual question.

"Personally?" He retorted, she nodded and Stiles pondered the subject "Home is where you feel most comfortable, like everything around you is familiar and you just know you belong there."

"So if I don't think of it that way it's not necessarily home is it?"

"It could be, but you already decided it's going to be just 'the apartment' leaving no chance for the place to be your home." She absorbed his words mutely and attentively. She was reading his expression and Stiles was shocked by how bravely he stared back without looking away for a moment.

"You are very keen, Stiles. I am starting to think I have nothing else to teach you." She stated with a soft almost proud smile. He should have felt smug from her words but he felt empty at the thought that teaching him about deducing facts was the only reason she wanted to hang around.

"Well there is cooking, you can teach me that." He suggested. She chuckled and he liked the sound, it was airless and velvety.

"I should go, I'll see you tomorrow night yes?" She was slowly getting to her feet and Stiles mimicked her movements.

"Uh yeah definitely." He answered and cursed himself mentally for reacting too eagerly.

"Rad." She uttered and he cocked an eyebrow, she simmered "I am trying out this slang business."

He snickered and she rolled her eyes before turning and walking in the direction of the door.

"Oh wait I have something for you." He called out just as she opened the main door. Ariel turned to him patiently waiting as Stiles struggled to pull something out of his pant pocket.

"It's my old iPod. I don't use it anymore because I have my phone." He said handing the device to her, she took it reluctantly.

"You are giving this to me?" Her voice was full of wonder and disbelief, he scratched at the back of his neck bashfully.

"Yeah, that way it's yours and you don't have to steal from Ethan." He stated teasingly, she grinned in recollection.

"He has been whining about that."

"Here, there are head phones for it." He fished out a pair of white headphones and placed them in her open palm. He watched her carefully wrap the sinuous cords around the square device with great care and precision.

"Thank you," Ariel said gratefully, he nodded in acknowledgement. She stood there for a moment as if struggling internally but then decided to go with her body's instinct and stepped to him. His eyes widened into saucers when she pressed her soft lips against the side of his face in a chaste kiss before pulling away.

"Good night Stiles." She breathed holding his stare. He was still trying to absorb the fact that she kissed him on the cheek, the tingling sensation wouldn't leave and his heart wouldn't stop racing.

"Y-yeah uh, good night." He stuttered out. She smiled in that sultry way before exiting the house. Stiles watched her leave with a dazed smile on his face while vaguely rubbing the side of his face in awe, he could still feel the press of her warm plump lips.

I wonder what would happen if I bought her a phone