Hello, everyone! Just a friendly reminder that this is a collaboration piece with my good friend PC 608! We'd just like to thank you for taking the time out of your day to read our fanfic. We really appreciate it and love each and everyone of you. Sorry it's been awhile. Hope you guys are still with us.

Summary

Autumn Monroe, resident queen bee and bitch, comes back to Beacon Hills after a much needed break to find things aren't how they used to be. For instance, she no longer runs the school as her former 'best friend' and now enemy, Lydia Martin, has taken her place. Autumn will stop at nothing to destroy Lydia's life like Lydia destroyed hers.

Gia Anderson is the new girl with high hopes for her new life in Beacon Hills. She's ready to take on life away from her overbearing family and start fresh, but things prove to be a little difficult when things start to happen around town. And she's not the only that notices. Gia and Autumn may be the unlikeliest of friends, but they will learn that not every thing about Beacon Hills is what it seems.

Ready When You Are

Part Two

I walk out the school doors and into the sunlight. There are hardly any kids outside today which I find very peculiar. I spot a lone bench off to the side of the steps under a large oak tree as I make a beeline for it answering my phone.

"Hello?" I ask looking down at the unknown number.

"Hey baby sis, what's going on?" I sigh in relief when Andy's voice comes through the phone. Andy is my second oldest sister and the only one I can tolerate.

"Hey, did you get a new number?" I ask throwing my bag down and sitting on the bench. Andy is calling in the middle of a weekday which means she isn't trying to catch up. She's most likely on her lunch break and is calling out of obligation to Sydney.

"Yeah, you remember me telling you about that guy that works in my building. He's been trying to get with me since forever and he managed to get my number from someone so I had to change it." She tells me over the crunch of her food. This doesn't surprise me. Andy has to get her number changed a lot due to guys bugging her 24/7. She's the prettiest one out of us all and has no trouble maintaining self-confidence.

"Sounds rough," I mutter leaning back on my elbows to soak up the rays. She hums in agreement as we sit in silence.

"So…Sydney called you?" Andy drawls awkwardly never one to get in the middle of spats among us girls. So I'm curious what has her interested in this one.

"She did. She told me I made the right choice moving to help nana and that I should stay here for as long as I feel necessary." I smirk hearing Andy's snort on the other end.

"I bet. Did she also mention how incredibly gorgeous and intelligent you are?" Andy snickers making me frown. Andy may be tolerable, but sometimes she talks without thinking.

"What did you need?" I ask changing subjects quickly wanting to end this call and find Autumn. I grin when I think about her and Stiles sitting together. She totally finds his dorky tendencies adorable and Stiles worships the ground Autumn walks on. I can't think of a better pair of people to get together.

"Listen, I get that you needed to get away and all, but Sydney's kind of right. I'm not saying your being selfish because helping nana is not selfish at all, but you did leave on a whim. I'm just not sure you made the right choice." Andy sighs making me run a hand through my hair.

"I appreciate the concern, Andy, but this is my decision. Despite, what you all think I know for a fact I made the right choice coming here and I'm not moving back home. I'm sorry, but it's just not going to happen." I shake my head wondering when they're going to stop obsessing over what I do and let me make my own choices.

"I thought you might say that," Andy mumbles into the phone. "Which is why I have someone for you to talk to," she says making me arch my eyebrow in question. Who is she dragging into this now? I hear some light shuffling as the phone is being passed over. "Gia?" I feel the blood drain from my face when his voice says my name.

"James?" I whisper in disbelief feeling like I've just been punched in the stomach. "What are you doing with Andy?" I ask my head reeling.

"I'm doing an internship in her office. She's been really helpful showing me around." His deep voice still sends shivers down my spine as I try not to think about it for too long.

"Oh." A brilliant answer said by yours truly. God, even with ten states between us I can't think of a damn thing to say to him.

"You know we really miss you here….I miss you." I hear a hint of sincerity in his voice and it's enough to leave me breathless. I clench my jaw wondering how with three simple words he can have me reconsidering everything. "Gia?"

"Yeah I'm here," I answer quietly glancing down at my sneakers. "I miss you too." I let the words tumble out of my mouth as the churning in my stomach begins.

"When are you coming home?" He questions soundly oddly cheerful. I shake my head sighing to myself as I glance up from my shoes.

"I don't know. A while," I say tilting my head to the side when I see a familiar black mustang idling in front of the school. I briefly wonder if its Derek's until I see him watching me in his rearview mirror.

"You know, Gia, here at the office they have this annual ball hosted every year and I was thinking maybe we could go together?" I'm barely listening to James anymore as I stand abruptly from the picnic table.

"Yeah sounds great. I have to go. Later James." I hang up quickly grabbing my bag as I walk to the drool worthy car. I smile running my eyes over the car in appreciation.

"What do you want?" Derek asks frowning at me. Ray bans hang from his shirt making him even more appealing.

"I'm just curious why you are hanging around the school." I answer casually reaching out to run my hand over the cars smooth surface. "I get your going for the whole mysterious bad boy thing, but this screams a little something different." I smirk watching as Derek's lips don't even twitch in response.

"And?" I roll my eyes at his cavalier attitude as I bend down to get on his level.

"Listen, I know we got off on the wrong foot, so how about we start fresh? Hi, I'm Gia." I smile politely extending my hand towards the cranky man. He looks down at my hand like it's going to grow fangs and bite him.

"I don't care." He answers bored as his eyes trail to the school doors.

"I want you to give me the bite." I say seriously watching as his eyes snap to mine. "Oh, that got your attention!" I laugh silently wondering if I should be teasing the Alpha. Derek doesn't look away like I initially thought he would. He runs calculating eyes over me as I try not to drool.

"You wouldn't be able to handle it." He states finally shrugging his shoulders. I narrow my eyes wondering if he's serious.

"What makes you say that?" I ask a little more than curious. Am I not good enough to be a werewolf?

"A werewolf has to have fire in them," Derek remarks looking at me with doubtful green eyes. "You barely have a spark." Ouch.

"That sounds like a challenge." I mutter under my breath forgetting about werewolf hearing until Derek smirks. He looks directly in my eyes with a playful glint.

"Maybe it is." He says surprising me. I hum tapping the side of his car with my fingernail.

"Why are you here again?"

"I mean it. You two should come. It's just friends hanging out." Scott said like it was no big deal but I could see it was. I looked to Stiles who was staring back at him with shock. Scott just smiled at both Stiles and I as we gapped openly at him. I was about to answer his question when I noticed Scott's face visibly change to shock as he stared at something across the lunchroom. I turned around to see Erica, the poor epileptic girl, or at least that's who she used to be.

The girl I was seeing right now was far from being pathetically sad and epileptic. You don't just become hot overnight. Unless. Oh shit! I really looked at Erica and saw how her pale clammy skin had a golden healthy look to it. Her usual tangled lifeless hair was now nicely curled into big curls that cascaded down her back and bounced with each step. Even her face looked flawless and it was usually marked with acne.

It seemed that Erica had really taken the transformation in stride. She had really decided to give herself a complete make-over, wardrobe included. She had on cheetah pumps, a tight mini leather skirt, a white fitted tank top and a black leather jacket. It was a little bit too much on the slutty side for me but hey, at least she wasn't in sweats.

She strutted through the cafeteria with such confidence I would have thought she was the school slut long time running.

"What-the holly hell-is that?" Lydia said as she slammed her hands onto our table. I snickered that Lydia could feel threatened by a girl who was yes, beautiful, but in my opinion was dressed way too slutty.

"It's Erica." Scott replied.

"Stealing your thunder, is she?" I quipped.

Lydia stood straight up again and crossed her arms over her chest. I turned back to look at Erica as she approached a poor unsuspecting boy and bit his apple seductively.

I noticed that all the boys in the room were drooling over her except for the two boys who were sitting beside me. They had looks of suspicion. She winked to the three of us and then turned around and walked out of the cafeteria.

I grabbed my lunchbox and purse instantly not paying attention to the boys. I abruptly stood up and began practically running out of the cafeteria. I had to know if she really was a werewolf now. I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Scott and Stiles trailing behind me. Scott soon passed me and Stiles was running beside me.

"She's like Scott now, isn't she?" I asked Stiles who looked at me with astonishment.

"Y-Yeah, I'm pretty sure."

Stiles and I kept up the pace behind Scott. We turned the corner and ran down the stairs. I suddenly see Scott throw open the door causing Stiles and I to barrel through after him. We all came to an abrupt stop when we see Gia standing beside Derek's car. My mouth hung open. She had balls. I had to give it to her. I wouldn't speak to Derek if I had too.

I watch as Erica pulls open the passenger door and slides in. Gia seems to have the same expression as the three of us. She quickly stepped away from Derek's car. We watched as Erica gave a slight seductive wave and Derek smiled cockily before he sped away.

I have to jump out of the way to avoid having my toes run over as I stare in shock at the black mustang squealing out of the parking lot. Was that Erica? The same girl I helped off the wall just this morning?

"Yo, Boston. You alright?" Autumn yells out as she comes running down the school steps and toward me. I nod my head sending one final glance at the mustang's tail lights before turning my full attention on her.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I smile reassuringly as Scott and Stiles jog up to us. Stiles immediately goes to Autumn's side making my smile widen.

"Are you okay? Did Derek do anything to you?" Scott panics touching my shoulder and checking for what I can only assume to be werewolf bites.

"No, I'm okay, honestly." I give him a half-smile watching as he visibly relaxes. "We were just talking."

"About what?" Scott asks with a hard edge in his voice. He's drops his hand from my shoulder flexing it into a fist at his side.

"Um…" I tear my eyes from his intense gaze as I focus on Autumn.

"Werewolves." Autumn says with a snap of her fingers. "What else? Come on?" She rolls her eyes like if talking about werewolves was the most obvious thing. "What else could they possibly talk about?" Autumn interjects and gives me a small smile but I can see the worry behind her eyes.

"He was just answering a few questions for me about werewolves." I nod avoiding Scott's eyes as Autumn and Stiles blatantly stare. I send Autumn a pleading look hoping she'll intervene and change the subject.

"So, we are ice skating tonight." Autumn smiles cheerfully and by looking at her you would think that we weren't just talking about werewolves. She really knew how to fake the normalcy bit pretty well. It's kind of worrisome how good she is at it.

"We are!?" I ask brightening up at the idea. I used to skate when I was younger and I loved it. "I didn't even know Beacon Hills had a skating rink. Who all is going?" I ask finally sneaking a quick glance at Scott to find him already staring. I quirk my lips into a small grin that automatically makes Scott smile.

"Scott, Stiles, Allison, you, me" Autumn's smile turned into a grimace. "And Lydia." The name rolled off her tongue with pure malice that I even cringed internally.

"Oh! Well I guess this means Lydia and I are the odd balls out." I smirk when all three of them give me matching looks of confusion. "Oh well I just assumed it was a double date thing. Scott and Allison," I motion to Scott beside me, "and you two." I feign innocence gesturing between Autumn and Stiles. I almost lose my game face when Stiles cheeks turn a tomato red and he jerks his head away from us so fast that it gives me whiplash.

"Actually we're the odd balls. Stiles' and Lydia are the ones on a date." Autumn's voice holds something that seems to have a bit of anger and possibly jealously. I raise a questioning eyebrow, but let it slide…for now.

"I'm going to be the best date you ever had," I wink playfully laughing when Stiles does a little jerk beside Autumn. I roll my eyes affectionately towards the spastic boy before walking and looping my arm through Autumn's. "Well I have to talk to Autumn, but we'll see you guys tonight." I smile directly at Scott who returns it eagerly.

"Yeah, see you then." His brown eyes are warm as I wave good-bye.

"Bye Stiles," I sing waggling my fingers in his direction. His face still hasn't regained normal color.

"What was that about?" Autumn whispers lowly as we walk away from the boys.

"I just wanted to see his reaction," I smile bumping her shoulder with my own. "I'll stop teasing now, but are you sure you're okay with going tonight? I know with Lydia being there, it might put a damper on the evening."

"There's nothing to tease about he's been in love with Lydia since like forever according to gossip around school. And No. Lydia won't be a problem. If anything it will be amusing. I want to see her squirm, should be fun." She smiles a bit menacing as she pulls out her keys and unlocks the car. "We are ditching." She opens the door and slides in her car. I send a fleeting glance back at the school, but in the end I jump in after her.

"Where are we going?" I smile as she pulls out of her parking spot. I have to admit this is an adrenaline rush. Back home I would never dare to skip school in fear of my father finding out. He would have my ass if he knew I was leaving right now, but you know what they say. Ignorance is bliss!

"To my house. I think that we should totally like research this lizard thing. I want to know what is stalking in the night besides werewolves." Autumn sped down the road quickly. "Plus, I was thinking maybe you'd let me kind of help you get ready for tonight." She winked at me with a sly smile on her face. I can't help the too large grin that takes up my whole face. It's more gum then teeth.

"It sounds like a plan. I just hope Google knows more than we do." I shake my head thinking about something. "Hey, you're dad knows the Argent's right? Does he know anything?" I ask hoping she doesn't think I'm trying to pry. "Oh and you can definitely help me get ready tonight. I've never really been on a date, which this isn't, but it's as close as it's going to get for me." I laugh a little sadly before brightening up refusing to drag Autumn and I's mood down.

"Exactly, why we are going to my house. We are sneaking into my dad's office." She smirks as we pull into her driveway. "You will get a date if I have anything to do with that. Plus, if you ask me wolf boy seems interested." Autumn says with a smile on her face.

"Scott is kind of obsessed with Allison, if you haven't noticed." I point out blushing lightly at her words. I slip out of her car and follow her to the front door of her mansion. "When does your dad come home?" I question a little nervously as I play lookout until Autumn opens the door.

"For now." She shrugged her shoulders and winked. She opened the door and smiled brightly. "He's never here during the day. He doesn't come home till like eight or nine every night, but there is one obstacle." As the words left her mouth an older woman probably just a bit younger than nana walked into the foyer. She smiled brightly.

"Autumn, vhy you not in school?" The woman's voice was heavily accented with Russian descent.

"They let us out early." Autumn smiles brightly and then gestures to me. "This is my friend, Gia." The older woman patted down her black skirt and smiled.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Olga." She pulled me unexpectedly into a tight hug.

"Oh!" I smile getting over my surprise quickly as I return Olga's hug with just as much enthusiasm. "It's a pleasure to meet you Olga." I grin when she pulls away. There's just something about this woman I can't help, but find comforting.

"Olga, I would really like some oats and raisins but we are out." Autumn says with a fake small pout. Olga smiles brightly.

"I vill run down to grocery store." Olga lightly pats Autumn's cheek and opens the closet to my right. She pulls out her purse and puts on a coat. "I vill be right back girls." She waves goodbye and quickly escapes. I turn to Autumn who is grinning mischievously.

"Obstacle is out of the way for about fifteen minutes. Let's go." Autumn grabs my hand and pulls me quickly down the hall.

"That was impressive," I compliment her on a job well done. "You could seriously do this for a living." I laugh when she opens a door just to our right. The office was huge with navy and beige walls. Black modern furniture and it was neat. Extremely neat. His desk had nothing out of order even the pictures on his walls and desk weren't a bit out of place.

"Thanks. What can I say I think well on my feet." Autumn says as she shrugs her shoulders.

"So what are we looking for, exactly?" I ask as she goes to her father's desk and I meander over to the bookcase. I look over the titles of the books figuring this is a much safer option than touching anything. "Does your father keep a journal? Files?" I ask glancing back to find Autumn rifling through his desk drawers.

"He has files on all his clients. I'm looking for Gerard's and Chris's." She walked to a filing cabinet behind her father's desk. "If I can find them I might find something that leads to their hobby." She rifled through the files so well that you couldn't even tell they had been looked through.

"Great idea," I nod walking around to stand beside her. I watch as she pulls out a manila folder with the word Argent printed in big block letters. "Well done, Sherlock." I grin as she returns it with a pleased smile.

"This is just newspaper clippings. Here take it." Autumn looks a bit disappointed as she hands me the manila folder. She is instantly up and picking a lock to another filing cabinet. I take a seat at her father's desk looking over the clippings. It's mostly just about the "animal attacks" that have been happening around town. I sigh as I begin to stuff the papers back into the folder before one catches my eye.

"Wait I think I found something," I mutter distractedly while I read through the newspaper clipping. "Hale fire devastates the town." I raise a questioning eyebrow in Autumn's direction as she has ceased trying to pick the lock and is now staring openly at me.

"Yeah, Stiles' explained that to me. The night we went to get Isaac." She says turning back to the filing cabinet.

"Kate like seduced Derek." She sticks out her tongue as she concentrates on the lock. "You know gained his trust and then set his whole family on fire. Apparently, only Derek, his sister Laura, and his Uncle Peter survived." Autumn turns to look at me and shook her head in pity for Derek.

"But the really messed up part is that his Uncle ended up killing his sister. So, Derek killed him and now he's literally alone. I feel for guy, but he's really scary."

"That explains so much," I mutter more to myself than Autumn. I can't help, but frown at the clippings in deep thought. Even though I can't stand my family more than ninety percent of the time, I can't imagine losing them.

"YES!" She said as the cabinet opened. "Dad usually keeps the really horrible and life destroying files in locked cabinets. So, if he has anything on the Argents that could possibly link to that lizard it has to be in here." Autumn starts rummaging through the cabinet effortless and strategically flawless. Not a file looked touched. I quickly shake my head of all thoughts Derek Hale and walk to put the folder back in its rightful place. Derek will have to wait for another day.

"What do you think he has on them?" I ask more than a little curious. Autumn's lived here her whole life meaning her father has as well. He has to know so much more than he's letting on.

"Maybe snip-it's of information to their life's work. According to Stiles, Allison's family has been doing this for generations." Autumn snaps her fingers. "Jackpot. We hit the mother load." She looks at me with a wide grin and pulls out a huge file filled with tons of documents. I gap at the thickness of the folder as she sets it on the desk. Now it's my turn to hover over her as she reads through the papers. I catch glimpses of words like wolfs bane, silver, hemicorporectomy, and more nonsense I can't decipher.

"What are you reading?" I ask hoping Autumn is better at figuring out what exactly we are looking over.

"Some notes that Dad has. It's like a journal of all his encounters with the Argents and the supernatural experiences."

"Like Sam and Dean's dad!" I suddenly burst forth with a large amount of excitement at my favorite show becoming real life. Autumn merely gives me a what the hell look as I cough a little embarrassed. "You were saying?"

"Hear this. 'Today, I saw my first werewolf and watched disgusted as he was sliced in half. Gerard tried to emphasize on how it was the right thing to do, but I strongly disagreed. I explicitly explained to Chris that I wouldn't deal with any of his dealings, but of course I couldn't say no to Chris. If he wasn't my best friend I wouldn't have dealt or continue to deal with his father. Maya Anderson keeps telling me that I need to run as far away from Gerard and I agree but Chris needs me. " Autumn looks at me with intrigue.

"Maya, as in my grandmother, Maya?" I ask in disbelief reading over Autumn's shoulder to confirm it for myself. She knows?

"Bingo. 'I had no idea how vast the supernatural community was until Gerard brought by the bestiary'-"Autumn stopped as soon as we heard the front door close. She pulled out her phone and took a picture and then instantly closed the journal.

"Oh shit," I hiss under my breath as I help Autumn push the papers as quickly as we can back into the folder. I run soundlessly to the door peeking through the small gap as I wait for Autumn to put the file away. She gives me a thumbs up when the deed is done and the office is put back in place. I nod double checking for Olga before I slip out of the office looking both ways before I realize I have no idea where Autumn's room is. I feel a tap on my shoulder causing me to jump up in surprise. I turn with a gasp to see a giggling Autumn.

"Come on. My room is upstairs." She says between giggles. She stealthily looks around and when she doesn't see Olga she gives me a small nod. Instantly, we trek quietly upstairs and out of Olga's sight.

Thank you for taking the time to read our fan fiction. Reviews are greatly appreciated! :)) You should also check out my co-author PC 608's profile. She has some killer stories on there. My fav is her TVD fanfic. It's pretty freaking BAD-A! If you'd like to see our character face claims, outfits, and possible sneak peaks check out our profiles and follow us on Tumblr and Polyvore. Thank you again for reading. MUCH LOVE XOXO