Final Chapter! :( Someone hold me.
xx
SSC
P.S: Suprise announcement at the end ;)
Ariel hated driving, especially when it was through heavy storms currently like the one she was driving through right now. Meg sat on the passenger seat beside her. Her face practically plastered to the window, watching the heavy rain and winds that threatened to blow them away. It was Meg's idea to take a route through the woods to get to Beacon Hill's faster and avoid the outgoing traffic. Ariel was regretting the moment she agreed.
"Are you seeing this?" She exclaimed in awe, Ariel glared.
"Pretty stupid question don't you think? Considering I am driving through it." Meg deadpanned at the alpha's snappy tone and leaned back against her seat.
"You know you are starting to sound a lot like Stiles." She noted. Ariel narrowed her eyes at the beta. Meg smiled all knowingly but then her smile fell the moment she recognized a vehicle in the distance.
"Speaking of, isn't that his car?" Ariel immediately pressed down on the brakes, sending the unsuspecting beta flying forward.
Ariel glared down at her ringing cell phone on her bed. Meg was sitting on the single bed beside Ariel's bed. Glancing frantically between the alpha and her cellular device.
"Aren't you going to get that?" She mused.
"I shouldn't." Ariel spoke through gritted teeth.
"Is it Derek?" She asked in full alertness, Ariel shook her head.
"No...It's Ethan." Deciding against her better judgment, she picked up the phone.
"I saw you take your car. You are not as stealthy as you think." Ethan spoke, her frown deepened.
"Neither were you when you stabbed me in the back."
"Hey Kali did the stabbing, well techincally it was slashing and I did —"
"Nothing, per usual" She cut in taking a deep breath to calm herself "What do you want Ethan?" She demanded cruelly.
He sighed and fell silent for a moment "I—we want you back Ariel."
"You have got to be kidding me. Did Deucalion put you up to this?"
"NO-no... things are so wrong. Aiden nearly pulled off that Cora chick's head yesterday, he is more torn up than you think." Ariel scoffed at his words and rolled her eyes.
"Well you can fuse together and be one fortified muscle man can't you?" Her snarky comment didn't rub off on him the best way. She would hear in the way he was taking deep jagged breaths.
"You did this all for him, didn't you? For that Stilinski kid." He hissed through gritted teeth.
"No, I can differentiate between what's right and wrong, you could too except you two clearly lack the balls." She snapped while pacing the room. Meg watched her with wide bewildered eyes.
Is she having a phone fight? Meg pondered listening in on the whole conversation.
"You want to talk about right and wrong? How about how wrong it is for you to put so much faith into a boy that doesn't give a shit about you—I saw him kissing that Lydia girl."
Ariel tensed at the words he uttered, she froze.
"You are lying." She murmured in anger, masking her uncertainty.
"You are the great one at deducing, you be the judge." Was the last she heard from him before he hung up the phone. In a fit of rage she wanted to throw the blasted phone against the wall, but she reminded herself she was more composed than that and carefully tucked the phone back into her pocket.
They found his jeep crashed against the tree. The headlights were still on and the wind grew only fiercer. Ariel and Meg got to the driver's side of the jeep and wrenched open the door to find an unconscious Stiles with a bleeding head. Meg gasped at the sight, praying he wasn't dead.
"Stiles wake up, Stiles!" Meg exclaimed shaking the male by the shoulders, he wouldn't budge. Ariel lightly pushed Meg to the side then abruptly brought her hand up, curling her fingers into a fist but in the last minute her palm made contact with the side of his face.
Stiles jolted awake, wide unblinking gaze falling on to Ariel.
"You slapped me." He murmured in disbelief, clutching to his stinging cheek. Meg sighed in relief and helped unbuckle his seat belt. Ariel was getting frustrated with the wind that kept forcing her hair over her eyes.
"Can you move?" She asked checking for any further injuries on the male. He nodded while shifting his body around to climbing out of the seat.
"Y-yeah but my head, Jesus—"A sudden panic set in and he jumped out of the jeep "Shit I am supposed to be helping Scott, him and the alphas are going to fight Jennifer."
A sudden wave of dizziness washed over him and Ariel quickly brought his arm over her shoulders to help him.
"The school teacher? What the heck did she do?" Meg exclaimed. Stiles sighed and looked to the two girls, knowing there was a lot to explain.
While treading through the forest...
"She is the Darac? Are you freaking kidding me and Lydia is a Banshee? You mean like in Halo?" Meg demanded as they hurried through the forest heading for the Nemeton.
"What's a Halo?" Ariel asked Stiles shook his head in disbelief he was holding the steel bat he grabbed from his jeep.
"No not like Halo, geez Meg think a little more in the box."
"Where are we going again?" Meg asked when they arrived at a really large stump. The wind bellowed around them, threatening to blow them away.
"To save my dad and the others, Jennifer has them trapped under—there it is!" Stiles immediately approached the trap door he saw near the tree and using the she-wolves help they lifted it up.
"It's blocked. We can't get in through here." Ariel stated they all stared down at the rubble and slabs of wood that blocked their path to the torn down stairs. Stiles cursed but then the ground under them began to shake. A few feet beside them, the earth collapsed and a crevice was formed.
"There!" Stiles exclaimed, they approached the hole. He handed the bat over to Meg who grabbed it. Stiles jumped down before his hand shot out for the bat which Meg returned before the two females followed in after him.
"Hey my vision is blurry, what the hell—"It was like she needed her glasses again.
"Meg?"
"Isaac!" Meg exclaimed ducking under a dangling slab of wood and avoiding Stiles steel bat that kept the earth falling onto them. Stiles and his father were hugging fiercely and she didn't want to disturb them.
Her eyes lit up at the sight of Isaac panting and sweating. He grinned when he saw her. Though he was surprised by her presence at the same time.
"You handsome shark you," She exclaimed smiling and hugged him tightly. Isaac laughed and embraced her tightly. They pulled away and Meg looked to Mrs. McCall and grinned.
"Oh Meg am I glad to see you."Melissa murmured smiling fondly and embraced the girl in a motherly affection.
"You too and uh..." Meg's smiled wavered when she looked to the Argents "You guys too I guess." Allison uttered a breathy laugh and her father smiled too.
Ariel felt alienated and out of place. She had half the mind to turn and dash out the hole—if only the weather didn't threaten to kill her. They were all reunited and most probably going to die but they were going to die together, it was poetic and sad.
"Ariel," She was startled when a sudden pull on her hand resulted in her falling to her knees. Stiles had pulled her down by the arm so her head didn't bump into a floor board above her.
"Stay close," He pulled her to his side "or something might fall on you." Their eyes met, icy to russet. Ariel felt such a deep sense of relief and adoration, knowing he was there with her.
"Ariel it's good to see you again." The sheriff awkwardly cut into their ogling, she looked to him and smiled warmly.
"You too ."
"So which are you a hunter, Kanima or werewolf?"
"Pink dad, pink's a werewolf—I told him everything." Stiles explained looking to Ariel, she nodded in understanding.
"Oh, well that's good, how are you taking it?" She wondered looking to Mr. Stilinski. He sighed and shrugged clearly overwhelmed by everything.
"I am still trying to come to grips with the whole situation." He mumbled.
"I could show you my fangs if that help." Ariel suggested, they both looked to her, she grinned.
"I am joking." Stiles cracked a smile and the sheriff laughed.
The rumbling heavy winds suddenly stopped, the room fell silent.
"Is it over?" Alison asked her brown eyes wandering over the ceiling.
"Sounds like it." Meg mused when her vision sharpened again along with her hearing. A heavy relieved sigh escaped the huntress lips and they all cheered in victory, except for Ariel—she kept her cool.
"We are not going to be ceremoniously crushed? That's awesome." Meg exclaimed throwing her arms around Isaac and Melissa in celebration. Ariel was surprised when Stiles and his father hugged around her. Crushing her body between them, she sat awkwardly in between.
Stiles phone vibrated in his pants which everyone was aware of, he quickly pulled it out, glanced down at the caller ID before swiftly answering the call.
"Scott?"
"Hey, you okay?" the young McCall asked pressing the phone to his ear; Derek sat behind him on a wooden bench of some kind, regaining his energy.
"Yeah I'm okay, we are all okay." Stiles stated glancing at the rest of the refugees; Meg was practically a bouncing bundle of joy.
"Hey Scott!" She exclaimed unable to contain her enthusiasm.
"Meg?" Scott uttered in confusion, Derek immediately sat up alert at the mention of his love.
"How are you guys doing is everything alright?" Stiles asked when Meg was shoved away by Ariel by a hand to the face.
Scott glanced back at Derek for a response; he shrugged made a vague hand gesture.
"Sort of." The true alpha mumbled.
"Think you guys can come get us?" Stiles wondered unsurely.
"Yeah of course."
"Great okay um" He began to trace the sand under him "…bring a ladder." They all laughed at his last words.
Somehow they all ended up back at Derek's loft, well almost everyone. There was an exception of the Alpha twins and the parents, who Meg guessed was probably having their own celebration.
Ariel was vaguely paying attention to Meg's eager questioning of the situation. Her mind was on other problems like the way Lydia kept glancing at Stiles in that awkward blushing way. The she-wolf's suspicions only grew—in fact she was certain at this point and the truth made her heart clench and a bitterness flooded her mind.
"Okay so Miss Blake was Kali's emissary and that's how it all started?"
"Yes."
"So the Nemeton isn't another Decepticon and is actually a tree that gives power to Druids that Scott has tattooed on his arm because he has come across the stump before when he first got bitten?"
"Pretty much." Scott said with a gentle shrug of his shoulders.
"And a True alpha is not an alpha that tells the truth but an alpha that becomes an alpha from the sheer force of will?" they all nodded simultaneously and Meg sighed, her shoulders slumping in disbelief as Scott, Stiles, Allison and Isaac stared at her pityingly.
"Damn and I missed all that? I was gone for like a week—" She whispered still reeling from all the information. She glanced at Ariel who stood beside her with that same blank expression on her face. All of the news didn't seem to faze her.
"Three weeks, Meg. Clearly you weren't paying attention then either." Meg dead panned and rolled her eyes in response to Ariel's accusatory tone. The female alpha crossed her arms over her chest and glowered at the Beta.
"She is cranky because of the long drive back." Meg informed her friends who looked curious, Ariel snorted.
"You talk too much."
"Well somebody's gotta fill the silence. I was going to go crazy if I had to listen to another season by Vivaldi—I rather enjoy it the normal way, every three months."
"I was trying to drown out your annoying monologues." Their eyes were darting back and forth between the two. Stiles was amused by the entire ordeal but his fascination was short lived because his was still pondering reasons for Ariel's sudden cold exterior towards him.
"Whatcha talking about, I am fascinating." Meg huffed crossing her arms over her chest like a ten year old.
"You were trying to decide which type of pie you liked best."
"Apple definitely apple." Stiles added and this caught Ariel's attention, she stared and he gazed back. He was hoping for a quick shifty eyed look and blushing cheeks. Part of him hoped that her intense feelings for him was the reason why she couldn't bear to look at him, but when she looked away her expression held the same coolness that made his heart fall into his stomach.
Meg-oblivious to the exchange-casually added "I don't know because now I am thinking about blueberry."
"Damn I could really use a blueberry pie right now." Scott agreed
"With whip cream and some ice cream." Allison suggested. Isaac groaned in appreciation of the mental image.
"Ohhhh yeah that's the stuff." Scott grunted, Cora looked to her brother. He stood looming over the teenagers with his muscular arms crossed in their usual way but she was paying the most attention to his face. The way he stared down at Meg with so much longing –and hope that she would look his way. Cora dead-panned at the girl.
"You know the bakery place is not that far off, why don't we all go?"Allison suggested with a large dimpled smile, Meg's eyes lit up at the idea and the boys—except Derek—nodded eagerly.
"Sweet!"
"Yeah man let's go."
"Now's your chance" Derek was surprised by his sister's whisper. She was nudging her elbow in Meg's direction hinting at something which he immediately picked up on. Megra was bouncing at the opportunity to sink her teeth into some pie. She was starving from the ride back to Beacon Hills and she wanted to know more about what had happened when she was away, this was the perfect chance.
She pushed Ariel in the direction of the door. Accidentally making her bump into Stiles—which she clearly didn't appreciate from the glare she shot Meg's way. She was about to follow their chattering forms out the door when she realized Derek wasn't in front of them. She spun around to find him standing behind her all by his lonesome seemingly in his own thoughts.
The last thing Ariel wanted was pie and she was never much of a sweet tooth. She could feel Stiles's lingering stare on her but she refused to look at him, knowing that if she managed to sneak one glance at him her urge to punch Lydia's face in would be hard to ignore.
I should check on the twins, Cora said they were in pretty bad shape.
"Red, are you okay?" Ariel was surprised by the concern in Meg's tone. She didn't even realize the girl had returned from her chat with Derek. She held back to talk to Ariel and the others walked ahead.
"Yeah I'm fine." Even though the assurance left her lips. Meg saw the way Ariel's eyes wandered after Stiles who stood next to Lydia. She felt her heart sink in pity for the female.
"You know it probably didn't happen the way you think it did—"
"Probably, not odds I take Meg. I like to be certain and right now, I am not." She cut in. Her words resolute and masking her true feelings.
"You should give him a chance to explain," Meg insisted, Ariel turned away.
"I have to go—"
"But you just—"
"The twins. I have to see if they are alright. I owe them that at least." The alpha stated. Meg sighed and submitted. She didn't want to force Ariel especially when the girl was as unbendable as block of gold.
"Alright I'll let them know, want me to save you some pie?" the beta wondered smiling warmly. Ariel was not expecting the offer and managed a measly little smile.
"No but thank you." She whispered
"Hey Meg, where's Ariel?" Stiles demanded looking over the girl's shoulder when Meg was the only one who exited the building, without Ariel. Meg frowned and startled the teenager when she abruptly grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and tugged him down to her eye level.
"Alright listen here Stilinski. What the heck happened between you and Lydia?"
"What do you mean?" He asked in pure confusion. Meg sighed and released her hold on his shirt.
"I think you know." Stiles stared unsure, but realization dawned on to him when staring into Meg's disapproving scowl.
"Does she know?" He asked heart racing in apprehension.
"Ethan told her."
"Ugh, are you serious?" He exclaimed running his hands through his hair out of frustration with he urge to rip out that hulking alpha's head.
"Unfortunately...you don't still see Lydia in that way do you? Because you better be honest with yourself and Ariel because she—despite all that Robocop exterior. She really cares about you." Stiles gaped at Meg's words and his lips parted to retort when Isaac's voice boomed behind them.
"Hey you guys coming? I am starving man!" He exclaimed. Derek was watching them with furrowed eyebrows and Meg pitied her boyfriend's mystification.
"Do the right thing man." Meg stated trying to be inspiring and swiftly jabbing Stiles in the chest then walking past him and heading in Isaac and Derek's direction.
Stiles hesitated. His mind a jumble and his heart heavy before slowly trudging after them. Part of him wanted to go after Ariel and assure her but he wasn't sure where to start. Knowing her, Stiles figured she had already made up her mind and the fact that she didn't want to even look or talk to him, annoyed him.
Ariel arrived at the clinic and Deaton allowed her in with a small smile playing at his lips. She nodded in thanks and walked into the operation room to find the twins seated on adjacent tables facing each other.
"Ariel," They jumped at the sight of her. Ethan was already on his feet and Aiden watched her warily.
"You guys look well. I was under the impression you were dying. I came just to make sure so I can steal your stuff." She teased leaning against the frame of the door and smirking tauntingly, Aiden rolled his eyes.
"You do that regardless of us being alive or not." Ethan pointed out, she smiled.
"Yeah," She moved away from the door and walked up to them "I am proud."
"We are sorry." They both said in unison, she shrugged and waved her hand dismissively.
"I am too, I should have told you guys what a prick he can be."
"Indeed I am." The deep familiar voice behind her startled them. Aiden and Ethan grew alert and glared at Deucalion who lingered by the doorway.
"What are you doing here?" Ariel hissed glaring at her uncle ruthlessly. His stare fell to her and they were blue and not the memorable murky grey, his vision was back.
She was dumbstruck by her uncle's attire. The man looked positively defeated.
"Ariel I—" His gaze was soft and apologetic. He took a step forward to approach her but Aiden gripped her arm, forcing her back behind them. The twins stood side by side in front of her, shielding.
"You stay away from her."
Deucalion and Ariel were surprised by the twin's sudden protective instinct towards her. She felt cherished and grateful and looked to Deucalion with a look that seemed to say do-your-worst.
Ariel knew he could take them on. With his eye sight back the task would be effortless but he retreated back to the threshold off the room, in a submissive manner.
"I came to apologize for my actions." It sounded genuine enough, but Ariel knew to be wary of his manipulative ways.
"You are aware that you catalyzed all the events that led to this point—you did this." She declared firmly. He lowered his gaze almost shamefully.
"I know," He replied.
"It took teenagers to teach you better, not feeling so adult now are you?" Aiden spat, baiting him. Deucalion sighed he was expecting a negative response from his former allies.
"I've decided to change my ways. Scott has showed me a new path and I would like nothing more than to have you three, by my side."
"What do you think?" Ethan asked in a hushed whisper and looking to Ariel for guidance. She gave him an astonished look.
"You are asking my advice?"
"You always know what's best." Aiden stated with a gracious smile.
"I don't trust him, you know that." She retorted they nodded in agreement.
"Yeah but how about just the pent house for now, that place is nice." Aiden pointed out. They weren't so keen on punishing Deucalion by evicting their home, and it was more luxurious than the woods they were used to.
"You don't want to end up like Bobby do you?" Ethan reminded. Ariel shook her head at their shallow desires, though secretly she missed her room too.
"Fine, pent house then." She announced looking to Deucalion.
"We want the pent house back." The twins confirmed, the demon-wolf managed a smile.
"Done." He stated and the twins nudged their muscular arms against Ariel, commending her in the smallest of victories.
Stiles had been trying to reach Ariel for a day. Luckily with the mess at school and explaining everything to his dad kept him busy, but his thoughts were on her 24/7. He wondered what she was doing. When he met the twins at school—who were volunteering with clearing up the school after the storm—they had told him she was back at the penthouse.
Stiles knew she couldn't avoid him if he showed up unexpectedly.
Stiles brought up a clenched fist. Intent on knocking on the hard wood of the door when it suddenly opened, startling him. Ariel stood there staring at him in question with those electric blue eyes.
"Stiles." She acknowledged "what are you doing here?"
"So I have to have a reason but when you pop into my room it's completely normal?"
"Touché." She murmured fondly before turning and walking into her house. Stiles assumed it was her own way of welcoming him. He stepped in to the house, the scent of an ocean breeze immediately greeting him and making him wonder where it was coming from. He shut the door behind him and walked in. The corridor branched out into a living room with black leather couch in the center facing a flat screen TV, there was a mahogany desk in one corner of the room with a desk lamp but that was pretty much it, a simple interior. Stiles figured the lack of furniture was to help Deucalion navigate easier when he was blind.
I wonder if he is here.
On the coffee table in front of the couch was a ceramic tea pot and a small cup that matched, all on a simple tray. The tea bag was still in the cup and the tea was half consumed.
"Do you want some?" He heard her ask from the open kitchen beside the living room. Stiles knew she was referring to the tea. He grimaced just at the remembrance of the bitter taste.
"It's not the herbal one, its lemon." There was a hint of a fond smile playing at her lips. Stiles felt eased from just the sight, so she wasn't completely cold towards him.
"Oh, yeah okay thanks." Stiles agreed, she nodded and turned away take a tea bag from the cupboard. He quietly made his way in to the kitchen and leaned back against the opposite counter, watching her prepare the tea.
"So uh, what are you going to do now?"He asked rubbing at the back of his neck, a nervous tendency. She clicked on the electric kettle, before turning to face him.
"I thought Meg told you, we are going to go find her mom." His body stilled at the news. She watched him with those keen piercing eyes, he cleared his throat.
"I didn't realize you were going to go with her." The kettle was emitting puffs of steam from its stout, she turned to face it.
"Why not? It's not like I have anything for me here." Stiles heard the hostility underlining her flat words. He tensed and clenched his hands into fists.
"When are you going to stop running away?" She stopped reaching for the sugar on the open cabinet above her.
"What are you talking about?" Stiles hated the vague interest in her voice, he stepped forward nostrils flaring.
"It's what you do isn't it? Just when you start feeling even a fraction of emotion for someone. knowing that they are constantly on your mind, distracting you, weakening you, you run away." She spun around to face him. Glaring into his eyes with an expression full of irritated inquiry.
"Who are you referring to?" She asked through holding his stare.
"Me, myself—but it's not about me, it's about you." He tried not to fumble with his words. Especially when the intensity of her blue eyes threatened to render him speechless. She blinked when his words sunk into her. Her full lips twisting and parting trying to form words. For a moment Stiles though he had won, but her posture suddenly straightened and all expression left her face.
"I don't feel that way about you—"
"Yes you do." He cut in quickly "I was a little slow to realize it but you do because shockingly…you get jealous."
"I didn't."
"So Lydia kissing me didn't bother you?" There was only an inch of space between them. The air around them thickening in heat and angst. Ariel was fuming and tried her utmost not to allow his words to irk her, but they did. How dare he make such an accusation? To even suggest she felt that way about him anymore. Ariel knew her mental denial and outrage was futile. It was true but she would rather die than admit it to him.
"I am glad she kissed you, she saved your life. When she is not kissing you she has her tongue down some patient prone to panic attacks in the Beacon Hills hospital, how charitable and kind of her." Ethan told Ariel about his panic attack that triggered Lydia to pull him into a room, which was when the twin alpha had seen them. Ariel felt guilty for demeaning him for his anxiety attack, but the kiss felt like an irrelevant excuse to her.
Stiles gaped at her words. His arms flying into the air out of frustration.
"See right there—are you really that oblivious to it?" He exclaimed gesturing an open hand in her direction "You care but you try to hide it because you are afraid. You are scared that if you start to care that person would end up betraying you and you will be one huge weakness which is ironically your packs code so technically you are subconsciously obeying it like a good little werewolf."
She reeled from his words. Suddenly being near him made her feel vulnerable and that terrified her. She had never felt this bare, this naked in her life. His honey brown eyes watched her with such gleaming, demanding honesty that made her heart heavy and throat contract.
"Why are you saying this now?" Ariel whispered leaning back against the counter. He stepped closer, looming above her and then leaning down slightly.
"It is not rocket science Ariel. It's your personality profile." She stared at him, paling. He had used her words against him, the roles has reversed and she hated it with a passion.
"This is your sad attempt to get me to stay isn't it? Because you can't deal with people leaving. I am not your tag along Stilins—"Her words were silenced when he abruptly kissed her, hard and determined. She stared wide eyed and unsure of how to react. His eyes were closed and his dark brows were furrowed but internally Stiles was cursing himself.
What am I doing? Dear god what was I thinking?!She is going to punch me in the face and I will have to deal with the humiliation. but his arms moved on their own. Cupping her face in his hands and deepening in the kiss and shockingly, she began to kiss back. Ariel relaxed in to the warmth of his lips her hands clenching his shirt for support. She was afraid she would fall from how unbalanced and dizzy she felt.
He couldn't help himself. He had to get her to shut up and stop telling him that he was wrong to feel this way because he had never been so sure about anything else. Stiles hadn't kissed properly since Heather but he couldn't exactly get census from her and he was too terrified to ask Lydia but he felt he was doing okay. Ariel hadn't pulled away yet, so he took it as a good sign.
God she smells incredible. Stiles tried his best not to moan at how soft her lips felt. Just like he had imagined countless times. The last time she kissed him he wasn't able to stop thinking about it for the longest time. He wondered how he was going to manage if she decided to leave.
He pulled away, heaving deep breaths and she was equally panting. Those full lips parted in awe and staring up at him with blue eyes full of bewilderment…and wonder. His hands still held her face in his hands. His grip softened and his thumbs brushed over her cheeks bones as he locked stares with her.
"I am not asking you to stay, I just want you to come back. Because despite how ridiculously stubborn and puzzling you are. I like you I really really like you." His voice shook in each word he uttered. Stiles was terrified of what he had said because the last time he bared his soul to a girl—it didn't exactly go according to plan, but he knew there was something between them. It was tangible and evident and it wasn't a complete shot in the dark.
Ariel was speechless, her heart racing like a rabbit caught in a trap. He likes me? From the intensity of his statement Ariel knew it wasn't the same as liking a soft toy. He wanted her but she didn't know if she believed him.
"I am not sure if I believe you." She admitted breathlessly. He grew silent and she cursed herself mentally. Now he was going to recoil into himself and part of her wanted that. Maybe it would help her move on,. There wasn't going to be a future for them and she didn't want to pollute his life.
After all the shit I've done, happiness is the last thing I deserve, this is for the best, I will go look for Bridget, right my wrongs and Stiles will forget about me in time.
"Believe what you want, because I'll be here waiting. Considering my ten years of experience and all." Her heart melted at his words. He then smiled in the heartbreaking, bashful way that made her just want to grab him and kiss him senseless, but she was too stunned to even move. There was a long silence between them. Her hands were still clenching the material of his shirt. Stiles wished he could read her mind. Her face was so blank of emotion that is frightened him. He was on the knife's edge for her response. He was resisting a serious impulse not to tap his foot nervously.
"I can't make any promises." She said. He heaved a heavy sigh and averted his gaze to the tiles for a moment, before looking back at her and nodding.
"I know." He replied Ariel watched him with her keen eyes. Slowly one of her small hands detached from his shirt to reach out to his face. Stiles stood motionless. There wasn't that usual confidence in her eyes that walled her true intentions. There was this raw deep uncertainty. He could see it in the way her fingers wavered at their attempt to touch him. He stilled neither helping her nor denying her but simply waiting patiently. Her warm fingertips grazed his flesh, tracing the skin down to his jaw line and to his neck, in an exploratory caress.
She raised her gaze he was instantly entranced by the electric blue. Her stare lowered to his lips and then she began to lean up. He slanted forward to meet her half way when a sudden noise behind them made them both freeze. It was the sound of a door closing. Ariel immediately pulled away and Stiles took a step back.
"Deucalion." She answered to the questioning look on his face. "It is technically his apartment."
"Oh yeah right, I knew that." He replied with a quick shrug of his shoulders, just then Deucalion rounded into the kitchen.
"Ariel I—oh, sorry I didn't realize you had company." He stopped in his words when he noticed Stiles standing at extreme proximity to his niece. He wanted to question their involvement but the swift glare from Ariel told him otherwise.
"Yeah so do you mind?" she practically hissed. Deucalion nodded and lowered his head in submission before walking away. Stiles was surprised by the alpha's actions. He had become so tame, practically a kitten ever since his sight was returned to him, but then again his relationship with Ariel was different.
"Brrrrrr, you still mad at him?" He uttered. Ariel's expression immediately softened when her gaze moved to him, he liked that. She exhaled heavily. Her shoulders slumping slightly and she leaned back further into the counter before running her fingers through her tousled wavy hair.
"I am not mad, I am just wary. It's hard to gain my trust once it's broken, he should know that better than anyone." She murmured. Stiles nodded in understanding, he wondered how Deucalion felt about her leaving with Meg.
"Well I, I better get going. I told my dad I'll be home before twelve."
"I understand, say hello to your father for me."
"I will." He surprised her by leaning over and placing a chaste kiss to the side of her face.
"See you later Ariel." He mumbled before turning and exiting the kitchen with Ariel staring after him.
Stiles hesitated at the door, feeling like the whole situation was unsettled. He didn't want her to leave the though made his heart feel like lead. He itched to go back to her and beg her to stay but he knew she would feel threatened by such an act. Then an idea sparked in his mind, it lit up his amber eyes. Stiles hurriedly searched through his back pack and pulled out a novel. A grin curving his lips before he swiftly fished out a pen and began to write on the first blank page of the book.
Ariel was dazedly running the tip of her fingers along her lips, the tingling sensation of his fine lips on hers hadn't left and she never wanted them to. She closed her eyes and her arms dropped to her side. She wanted to choke herself for not running after him. She wanted to be at the same time she was scared out of her mind. It would mean opening a door and stepping into a world that could end in a disaster. She wondered if she would feel as strongly as she did for anyone else, except Stiles. It hurt too much to think about it, she needed to see him again. Maybe he was still at the car park.
She left the kitchen and made her way to the short corridor. The door stood was shut and beckoning her to open it. She resisted, nibbling her lip unsurely, but then her gaze fell to the book on the small table on the side of the wall. Confused, Ariel reached out and picked up the book in her hands, turning it over to read the title.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. The skin on her forehead wrinkled, she didn't recognize the book. She turned over the over to find a little message written in messy, familiar writing sprawled across the first page.
Ha! Now you have to come back because you have my booook.
-Styled.
An effortless laugh escaped her lips. The smile brightened her face and she shook her head in amused disbelief. Heaving a sigh Ariel looked to the door, torn.
1 week later...
Ariel rang the door bell once before taking a small step back. She held his book in her hands. Her fingers tapping over the hard cover nervously waiting for him to open the door.
He is taking his sweet time isn't he? Ariel began to wonder if it was a mistake, maybe he moved on. What if Lydia was at his house and they were in the middle of a heated kiss and she is interrupting? Ariel shook her head, about to start pacing when the door handle jiggled. Her attention snapped to the entrance and she turned her entire body around to face it.
Meekly the door opened and Stiles stood at the other end blinking at her like she was a vision, his lips parted in surprise.
"So how was the book?" That simple question sparked such a wild need in her. Ariel didn't hesitate to launch at him and kiss him right there at the threshold of his house. They stumbled back into the house, his arms flying up to wrap around her small waist and hold her against him. Her heart rate elevated when he began to kiss back. Crushing her body to his chest as her fingers tangled through his chestnut brown hair while the other hand held the book.
In their frenzied kiss, Ariel accidentally slammed the back of the book against his head that instantly made him flinch and pull away.
"Ow" he uttered wincing from the stung of the book to his head. Ariel pulled away so suddenly he immediately missed her touch.
"I am sorry I didn't—"
"No no its okay we can—" He attempted to reach out to her again. Insist that they continue kissing in that way that made his heart race but she suddenly shoved a book against his chest.
"Here." She waited for him to take it, he looked to her "It was very enjoyable thank you."
Sighing he picked the book from her hands and nodded in acknowledgement "You're welcome." He uttered begrudgingly.
Ariel grinned at him in that sly mysterious way she usually did that instantly shunned away his previous disappointment to their kiss abruptly ending. She stepped further into the house and Stiles shut the door with vague interest. His attention was more focused on her. Her gaze was wandering around the interior of the house like it was her first time—which it wasn't.
"Is your father home?" She wondered looking to him again.
"No he uh has work—did you just get here?" He noticed the duffle bag hanging by her side, she nodded reflexively.
"Three hour drive. I am starving." She stated patting her stomach to express her hunger. He grinned and grasped her hand and began pulling her into the kitchen, she followed submissively.
"Did you find Bridgett?" He asked while pulling out a ham sandwich from the fridge and shoving the plate into the microwave and starting the timer. The machine whirred to life and lit up before the plate began circling and warming.
Ariel placed her bag on the floor beside her and leaned back on the counter, facing him.
"No, they are still working on it and Meg kinda insisted I come here."
"Why is that?" He asked approaching her.
"Apparently I am moody when I miss you too much." She grumbled and rolled her blue eyes "I've never been moody in my life so I wasn't too happy to hear that."
"You missed me?" Stiles stuttered out, his heart racing in happiness. She gave him a flat look though her eyes were gleaming.
"Yes, as I just stated."
Stiles couldn't forget all the times he woke up in the morning thinking about her and falling asleep wishing she was with him. Wondering if she missed him as much as he longed for her.
Knowing that she felt the same way filled him with such an intense relief and adoration that he couldn't stop himself from cupping her face in his hands and kissing her.
Ariel kissed back in eager abandon. Her fingers gripping at the front of his plaid shirt. She loved how large and warm his hands were on her skin and the way his slender fingers would play with her tresses. It was sweet and loving and made her heart flutter.
They pulled away but remained close, the point of his nose pressed against her cheek and he was still playing with her hair. She admired his dark fine brows and long inky lashes. Stiles was having trouble averting his gaze from her mesmerizing lips. All he wanted to do was devour her, the intense emotions he felt were overwhelming but he welcomed them.
"So how long are you staying?" He asked breathless and dazed. Her fingers danced up the breadth of his shoulders to his neck, gently tracing the attractive moles littered on his neck.
"Well I have a football game in a few weeks. I've been receiving relentless calls from your irritating coach for me to show up for practice, the man is positively ruthless."
He had forgotten she was part of the soccer team. It made him feel a sense of pride his girl was in the team.
His girl...mine
The arm that was on her waist tightened possessively.
"So you will be staying for a while." He mused grinning. Her electric eyes glimmered that sultry smile curving her lips.
"I suppose." She murmured and the microwave emitted a sharp ding sound.
FIN
A surprise as promised! Since I love this story waaay too much I've decided to add little fluff pieces, incidents that happened during Ariel's stay in Beacon Hills ^^ I am so excited to start writing that.
I would like to thank everyone who has read, voted and commented, thank you sooo freaking much! It was a fun ride :D
x
SSC