Meg's POV:

"This is it?" Arden asked, sounding as surprised as someone could with a spoonful of mint chocolate-chip ice cream in their mouth.

I looked down at the address then back up, nodding "Yep, this is it."

We were standing inside an apartment hallway, debating whether to knock on the door in front of us, the same door that might, or might not, be the entry of our cousins Derek's new apartment.

The last time we visited him was just before his old family home had caught on fire… So it's been a while.

Derek and the Hale's were the only other family we knew. Our entire dad's family lived everywhere but North America, so we normally visit them every year until the fire.

So, when last night we bumped into our cousin at the Sphinx and he wrote down his new address in Beacon Hills he told us to come and visit "Anytime".

But as much as I wanted to be here, part of me wondered if I was going to regret coming to Beacon Hills. This may have been a small town, but people aren't oblivious to the world around them, especially what the tabloids printed.

I'm just tired of us being talked about.

Suddenly, the door opened before we could react and out walked Cousin Derek.

Well so much for knocking.

Arden grinned, dropping her things and jumped on Derek "….Surprise!"

Derek almost toppled over in shock but he then hugged Arden back, chuckling.

"Hey kids," he grinned, looking between the two of us "What are you doing here?"

"You said we could visit anytime…. So it's anytime…." Arden smirked as Derek rolled his eyes, smirking himself before he dropped her back on the ground.

"So why are you really here?" he asked as Arden pouted.

"We need a place to stay," I stepped in, before Arden could say another thing, Derek's soft smirk turned into a concerned frown.

"Is everything okay at home?"

Arden stiffened and was about to say something, but I gave her a pointed look "Yeah, everything's fine,"

Okay, that was a lie, but everything was fine at home for me, Arden and my dad on the other hand? Not so much.

Let's just say that their relationship, which is normally perfect has turned into thin ice and the Sphinx incident seemed like the last straw between the two of them.

This is why I begged Arden to come with me when I wanted to leave, because she could have time to think of a better solution on how to fix her and dad's bond.

And I could think of how to get over Jeremy.

"We just need to get away," Arden said, in a suddenly quieter tone, pouting and watery eyes put to action.

Derek looked at her and then sighed, knowing that her puppy pout was working on him.

"Okay," he agreed opening the door wider so we could enter our new temporary home "Come on in,"

Arden grinned and grabbed her stuff, bringing it in as I followed behind her, Derek giving me a soft grin.

His apartment was surprisingly big and nice, maybe it was the few pieces of furniture and the big windows, but it felt deceiving from the outside. I recognized the couch sitting in the living room from when it used to live in the Hale house and sat down on it.

"I only have one guest bedroom and bathroom so you two will have to share." Derek said, stopping my mental house inspection "The bedrooms are down the hall to the left and the bathroom's at the end of the hall to your right."

He noticed Arden looking at a book from his large collection of them in his bookcase and slowly took it from her.

"There's take-out in the fridge if you're hungry-

"-Derek?" suddenly a voice asked from behind the now closed front door. A banging followed by another "Derek, are you in there?"

Derek closed his eyes, almost like he was counting to himself.

Arden looked intrigued as I suddenly yawned. I checked my phone and saw it was late.

"Hey, I'm going to bed now," I said, getting up and grabbing both Arden and Derek's attention "but thanks again Derek and Good Night,"

Derek nodded, pulling me into a quick hug as Arden's curiosity won her over and she went to the front door.

I walked down the hall and walked into mine and Arden's room, closing the door behind me as I heard not one, but two new voices enter the living room.

"Derek we've been looking all over for you!" said the first voice of what sounded like a guy.

"Yeah man! We've been calling you... Hey, aren't you Arden Fox?" asked another guy voice.

"No," I heard Arden reply "I'm Nicki Minaj…"

I smirked as I listened. Arden was always sassy at first to people.

But, instead of getting insulted, the guy replied "Nice to meet you Nicki, I'm Kanye."

Arden laughed, making me smile.

I stopped listening as I pulled my dip-dyed hair into a ponytail and started getting ready for bed when suddenly, there was pounding coming down the hall and the door opened.

I gasped, quickly turning around to see a really embarrassed guy standing there.

"Oh shit!" he said, blushing "I'm sorry, I thought this was the bathroom!"

I studied him as he sheepishly rubbed his hand against the back of his dark brown, almost black hair and looked at me in sincere, brown eyes waiting for me to react.

It took a moment to get that he's embarrassed, and had to admit I thought that was pretty cute.

I chuckled, giving him a sweet smile "Hey it's alright, I walk into people's rooms thinking it's the bathroom all the time,"

He chuckled, the tension releasing from his shoulders and a goofy grin appeared.

"I'm Meg," I smiled softly, raising a hand.

"Scott," he quickly replied, meeting my hand with his.

It was silent for a moment between us until I heard a crash from downstairs and Derek yelling in a very unhappy tone "ARDEN!"

Scott and I laughed, until suddenly, he gripped his man part.

"Um," he drawled, looking really embarrassed and awkward.

I stifled a giggle "At the end of the hall to your right,"

Quickly he raced out of the room, but stopped long enough to turn around and flash one last cute smile.

"Thanks, it was nice meeting you Megan,"

I laughed "It was nice meeting you two Scott,"

And with that, he left.

I sat there for a moment, letting the sudden butterflies I got subside and then got up and gently closed my bedroom door, still caught up in that smile.

I changed into an over-sized t-shirt and flicked the lights off. Crawling into one of the two single beds I couldn't help but think that maybe I wasn't going to regret staying here after all.