Rory had waited about 15 minutes. Meandering around and talking to Linda here and Jordan there. She had a red solo cup in her hand solely for the purpose of pretending to take a sip while talking. In truth she wasn't interested in the spiked punch the beer cans or the bottles of whiskey and vodka. No she had one drink in mind, only one drink could appease her and when she saw it her dark eyes zeroed in on the coffee cup from ten feet away.

Stilinki moved through the crowd the cup raised in the air but despite his best efforts she could see the dark spots on his sleeves where the precious liquid must have spilled over. Not that it mattered, the only thing that could have ruined the moment was if the entire cup went topsy and lost all its life blood on the marble floors.. or his salmon button up.

It was not his color and frankly wearing a suit jacket and tie with jeans to a house party wasn't the movie at all. It seemed that maybe he was trying to dress to impress though she wasn't really sure who would be impressed by the combo.

"Oh you have no idea how long I've waited." Her hands pressed against the soft fabric of her cloak as she brandished it over her heart.

"Yeah sorry about.. and you were talking to the coffee." The words trailed off as she took the coffee from his hand admiring it for a moment and refusing to acknowledge her blatant addiction. If she could do it with every other problem she was going to do it with something that brought her genuine joy.

"You're gonna be burnt aren't you? I bet you are." Cooing to the cup she moved forward to the kitchen where her ingredients were. She didn't trust anyone making her coffee after all. "So about that question."

She decided to ignore her judgment about his shirt. He had after all done something incredibly kind and she didn't want to repay him by being rude about his fashion choice.

"Yeah?" pushing through the thicket of people she started opening the fridge forcing the girl leaning against it to scoff at her as she was forced out of the way.

"I read that werewolves can shift if their pulse rises."

"Yeah we talked about that earlier." She interrupted him absentmindedly looking for the mint flavoring.

"Can hormones be a catalyst for that? Like attraction or say a girl you like?" stopping Rory turned giving him a look that must have communicated her thoughts quite well cause he quickly back tracked.

"Hypothetically of course."

"Of course." nodding she slowly went back to her craft opening the lip of the coffee and pouring in a bit of mint flooring followed by irish creme. "You want me to be honest with you?"

"Obviously."

"You're not a werewolf Stilinky." His face dropped before he gave her a look she could only describe as offended.

"I-i could be."

"You could be but your not." Placing the lid back on the cup she grabbed his wrist dragging him to the crowded stairs.

"Woah were we going?"

"To prove myself right."

"Prove yourself right?"

Throwing open her door she downed the coffee forcing herself to stop at some point as she trecked deeper into the room only turning to see stiles standing in the doorway. "What? Never been in a girls room before?"

"No I've went into Heather's room all the time when we were like six." he told her awkwardly rubbing his nose.

Not knowing who that was or caring to ask she waved her hand beckoning him further in before planting her hands on her hips at his hesitation. "What do you live by vampire rules? Cause werewolves usually go wherever they please."

"No its just.." trailing off he looked around before his eyes caught the bookcase causing him to finally move. Rory sighed as he marveled at her grandfather's collection as she pulled out his chest.

"Alright Constellation, try to open this." turning she motioned at the chest dramatically until it was apparent that he wasn't paying any attention his fingers ghosted the spines before he pulled out the black leather bound book.

"Hey." She snapped, finally getting his attention. "Constellation."

"Constellation wha- why constellation and again i have a name."

"Your moles are like stars so.. It made me think of constellations… anyway that's not the point, try to open this." gesturing to the box again she ignored his confused look only gesturing to the wooden chest again. "Just try i'll explain in a minute."

Giving a final confused look he moved slowly approaching the chest before slowly bending over and opening the chest. "Now stick your hand in there." again he did as told touching the bottom before he stopped his eyes locking with the lining his eyes find hers in an instant.

"The lining? Is that wolfsbane." his hand moved up to the long stems of purple petals that lined the inside of the box.

"That it is and the chest itself is made of mountain ash wood and if we're taking my grandfather's word as gospel then theoretically you wouldn't be able to even open the chest much less get inside of it." thoroughly satisfied she crossed her arms as he fixed his eyes on the box.

"So how does it feel?" taking another drink she took a seat on her bed.

"How does what feel?"

"Knowing you're really not a werewolf. Is it disappointing or do you think you're something else like an omen of death or a wendigo or even a druid?"

"I already knew that… isnt wolfsbane poisonous to werewolves?"

"I mean no, in Harry Potter it allows them to keep their humanity during transformation. In some tales it just weakens them. In my grandfather's journals he says that if it gets into their body their body will reject the healing process. It's different in almost every story."

"So which one do you believe?" he asked, looking up at her as he closed the chest.

"I dont. I just read about it. Besides there's so many lores out there it would be impossible to believe just one."

Getting up from her bed she moved to the bookcase. "I mean think about it if it was all real. If there was really a Jykell who made a Hyde or a way to bring a body back from the dead. Or even a telachetic teen who destroyed an entire town. If stories like these were real don't you think knowing would only be depressing because there's only ever three roles in every story." Turning on her heels she faced him putting up one finger.

"One you don't know and suddenly you're a minion to the supernatural, a Renfield, per say."

"Two you do know and you're forced to play the role of Sam and Dean compelled to protect those who don't know." Then she put up the third finger.

"Or three you know and you're powerless to stop it and you just try to handle your new reality, the Bella Swan effect."

His eyes searched the shelves he muttered lightly under his breath. "What?" she asked and he looked back at her eyes wide.

"But what if it was reality? What if you had evidence that you just can't ignore, what then?"

"You can always ignore it and hope it goes away. Tell yourself it was a trick of the light or a dream that was too vivid. There's a reason we have the saying ignorance is bliss."

"You would do that?" She's been doing that but she wouldn't tell him that so instead she turned around training her eyes on the spines of her books.

"Nah. As someone who's been obsessed with the supernatural since she was young I would be thrilled to know that it was all real that a woman could turn into a wolf." She thought of the women from her dream. Her fingers reached out as she grazed over her new collection. "That sirens really do sit on the rocks calling sailors in. If the stories I begged to hear when I was little were all real, that would be an adventure.'' She was lying through her teeth. She would be terrified if that happened if the bastard screaming at her from the white abyss of her mind was screaming actual facts and not psychotic delusions.

"Of all the places how did I know I'd find you here?" Lydia's voice hissed from the door and she was suddenly very aware of the coffee in her hand and the lack of socialization she was doing. "And really I tell you no more coffee and you just have to find a way. I ask you to talk to my friends and let them know you're not some freak of nature recluse and you hide in your room.?"

"Technically." she starts turning to Stiles her eyes flickered to stiles who were bright pink now an all too obvious collar on his pale face. "I am socializing just as i was instructed.'' Despite her cheerful tone she felt the flame as it sparked the fight was coming. The wall of the sirens crafted dam was cracking and with a final shit eating grin she knew it was going to burst.

Then she smiled that sickly sweet smile that reminded Rory of cough medicine. "The sheriff's son Im guessing?"

"Uh yeah I didn't know you actually know that or me or maybe you don't uh I-im Stiles I sit behind you in biology." He introduced himself but failed to notice that she had tuned him out, her eyes connecting the pupils were slits but they should be from all the venom was probably pooling from her fangs.

"Right, could you give us a moment Stills I want to clear things up for my dear cousin." Despite her completely butchering his name and her eyes staying trained on Rory Stiles jumped his pink face going dark red and Rory found herself suppressing a laugh.

He liked her.

He had a crush on her.

Oh the poor fool.

"Uh yeah sure." Then he was gone, his eyes glued to the strawberry blonde as he passed through the door he didn't even give the blonde another look before he was out of sight.

"What the hell you tell me to socialize but when I find someone to talk to you send them away?"

"I asked you to talk to the swim team trend setters and lacrosse players, not no name cheerleaders." The refrance wasn't one Rory understood but she let it slide.

"You're the one who said I should go after the sheriff's son."

"I didn't know the sheriff's son was him. He's benched Aurora serially and there is not going to be another merical McCall. I don't associate with losers and you won't either."

"You quite literally lose the game of life everytime you giggle at one of Jackson's stupid self centered ego feeding one liners." Eyes narrowing she pursed her lip.

"I mean what's the point highschool popularity? What about after high school are you going to marry the guy? Do you think you could put up with his brooding narsasiam your whole life? Are you gonna be a Beacon hills socialite that every mom at the PTA meeting envy's cause the diamond on your fingers is bigger then there's?" There was a genuine grimace that passed over Lydia's pretty face at the thought and it gave Rory a glimmer of hope.

"No of course not I just..this is where I am right now can you just be okay with that?" She asked In that hushed voice that she does when she is being genuine those brief seconds where she knows she is vulnerable but doesn't want to be.

"Come on i want you to meet some people since you still don't know the names of half my friends ill fill you in on the way down."

"No, no way i am not going to talk to them if you didn't notice they don't really like me much." Lydias1 iron grip was already on her wrist.

"Well that's because you've been acting like a lunatic all week." Her feet started to drag from the sheer force of Lydia's death grip and the flame licked at her lungs begging for some kind of confrontation, a fight , something. But Lydia only smiles blandly as they pass people.

"Now if you need me I'm going to entertain Jackson before my mother comes back tonight." Her smile was sultry but her eyes were tired another bait.

"You know Lyds you should find someone who actually satisfied you cause you look like your in literal pain" She stops then and Rory can actually see her whip with malice in her eyes but that didn't ever happens she just breathes in deeply before continuing on her walk towards a group of girls in similar dresses as Rorys.

"Hey girls, look who i brought." she announced with that smile that commanded a room like the dictator she projected she was. Rory noticed that said girls weren't the group that she had sat with today at lunch but a completely different set of girls.

"Aurora heey." that looming blonde smile vaguely her hands clasping together and her head tilted. "What was your name again?" the smile dropped completely and as if to say fuck you Lydia's not watching the group went back to talking actively excluding Rory.

She wasn't sure if Lydia would approve but she was doing what she wanted. Looking around she watched the people as they mingled dancing to When I Grow Up the song was played at the last pep rally of the year at her old school. She remembered Ariel blasting it on repeat so she could practice her routine. Remembering her vivid excitement when she finally got it perfect.

"Rors! It's perfect you have to watch when we get home!"

"Scott, wait!" Allison called coarsely presenting the blonde with much needed pull from her situation. The blond searched the room looking for the dark haired girl but ultimately she couldnt see her at least not in the dining room no she was.. Running for the door.

From the corner of her eyes she saw it, bright yellow eyes. It was quick just a glance before they fell behind a curtain of black hair. Scott barreled past her gaining the looks of the group that started whispering about the 'Miracle Mccall'.

It was only after Allison bounded through the crowd that she followed, making her descent to the front where she could see Allsion nearing a car that was quickly started up. The brunette jumped as it speed off her shoulders slumping in defeat.

Then there was a man tall with a leather jacket, the stereotypical bad boy with a bad past that readers only find redeemable because he's hot. He talked to her briefly and Rory only noticed she was hauling ass down the path to catch up when she almost ran into Allsion.

"Al hey what's going on?" Her hands found the girl's arm. It was a simple gesture, one that didn't set any alarm bells off since she was always touching her. A hand on her shoulder, wrist or forearm wasn't anything Allsion hadn't become accustomed to.

"Scott, he just started acting weird and then he ran away from me. I.. I don't know what I did. I thought it was going well." Her eyes were misty. She was probably an easy cryer quick to panic just like Ariel.

"We can talk about the shitty McCall later, what I was talking about was the broody boy." Her chin pointed to the taller man.. He looked like he was in his early 20s with lean muscles and a brooding face. With high cheekbones on a strong jaw he was probably something Lydia would try to wrap around her fingers in less than 24 hours. But something made her uneven, not uneasy but tilted.

"Oh him." She sniffed looking back at the man. "He's Scotts friend he offered me a ride home since he ditched me." She huffed her eyes looking past the blonde to the road.

"And do you know said friends name? Age? Home address maybe" For a moment she had convinced herself that Allsion couldn't be that oblivious, that she couldn't be that trusting to let some random guy with a five o'clock shadow take her home.

"I guess I should have asked." Her eyes went back to the guy his hands stuffed in the pockets of his leather jacket.

"Derek." He nodded, seeing the question reasonable enough to answer but not showing any indication of understanding how this whole situation was creepy.

"Right see he's Derek uh can we go please I don't want to stay." Derek nodded, already moving towards the sleek black car and Allison followed with Rory clinging to the crook of her elbow.

"Right and we're gonna ignore how creepy this is."

"Wait, are you coming?" Allsion asked dryly; she seemed to have the trust of a child who hadn't yet had her favorite toy ripped from their hands on the playground. She was innocent, unmarked by grief and if this guy had any ill intentions Rory was going to make sure one of them got out unscathed.

"Yeah stranger danger law basically requires friends to not leave their friends to get potentially kidnapped. If this dude tries something, two missing person reports are better than one."

"I guess." Looking exasperated she pressed her jacket against her chest,then her face brightened and suddenly fell.

"What? What was that?" Rory asked taken aback by the sudden mood swings.

"Well I was going to say you could meet my parents tonight but my dad went out tonight?"

"Uh huh." She smirked trying to lighten the feeling that plagued her, feeling her own impending psychotic break edging closer with yellow eyes and strange feelings she wanted to be there for Allsion as much as she could.

"So an Argent out on a full moon?" To her delight she actually provoked a smile, a wide one and even a small laugh.

"How many times do I have to tell you my family doesn't go around hunting the supernatural? He has a poker game. In fact I was saying bye to him when I hung up on you earlier but if I knew you were going to come home with me I would have just asked him to stay home tonight."

"It's whatever Al I get to see your room at least, see all your secrets." Opening the door to the car she slid in either not noticing or caring that Rory didn't break contact for a single second.

Vaguely she knew she should be convincing Lydia to take the car or even letting her know where she was going but Lydia wasn't going to take kindly to her escape and she wouldn't give Rory time to explain. The only other contact in her phone was Natalie but that was a no and Stiles. Taking her phone out she prepared her contact list just in case. She wasnt stupid enough to not prepared. If it could save Al she would send out a SOS before her stubborn pride had any say in the matter.

"So do you have a full name Derek or is it just Derek?" She asked pressing herself farther into Allison her body subtly inclined forward just in case he tried to pull anything.

Derek didn't answer, in fact his only response was blue eyes flicking up to look at her in the rearview. She decided she would put sand in his gas tank if he was even a little weird.

"So how do you know Scott?" She continued after another long pause she could feel Allsion hitting her arm. She grabbed the brunette wrist lightly but seemed to think better of it as she released it.

"So Scott just what left you? I thought he wanted to go out with you that was him right driving like a mad man? What the hell was he running from?" She could see now that Allsion was finally grasping the fact that she had gotten into a car with someone she didn't even know. That it made her nervous but she didn't want to project it. So Rory changed the subject her back hitting seat with a thud as she relaxed her body.

"Me apparently." Her bottom lip jutted out and she looked disgruntled, her eyes casting down to her jacket as she probably picked apart the night and what could have possibly done to make him leave.

"Maybe he had a panic attack." Her eyes shot up and suddenly she looked confused but eager. There was a spark of hope that he didn't leave because of something she might had done.

"I mean think about it the whole school watched him make first line today and they went nuts. There literally calling him Meracle Mccall for Christ sake, he went from an apparent nobody to on the radar of basically the whole school. It's a lot of pressure. I bet this was his first party. You know the guys on the bench aren't usually invited, right?" Allsion nodded along with her words seeming more convinced and more worried.

"So he must have just been overwhelmed I.. I didn't think of that. Do you think he's okay?"

Honestly she didn't care. All she knew was that a dumbass just left a beautifully wonderful girl at a party all alone after bringing her there. She didn't care if he flipped into a ditch. At that moment the puppy eye boy could suck it and drop dead. Rory was going to ensure thought for a moment that she should make him pay but what could she do that he hadn't already done to himself.

"So did he call you to take her home? Did he know that this was going to happen?" She asked turning her attention back to the blue eyes in the mirror.

"He had a feeling." He answered slowly, obviously being vague following the lines of Rory's story.

"So why couldn't Stiles take us he has a car?"

He was silent then not quite sure how to answer telling her that he didn't exactly know anything he took a turn and she realized with a dropping stone in her stomach that Allison had not actually given this guy directions.

Her hand went to her phone nearly staring up a text when he made a final turn stopping In Front a large brick house with white pillars and widows.

"Oh thank God." The words came out as a small whisper so low Rory might not of actually heard it but Allsion put on a winning smile giving him a quick thank you before opening the door and sliding out.

"She didn't tell you were to go." She told him blankly and his eyes met hers in the mirror. They were different now, still blue but different, darker and dangerous.

He looked at her an almost amused look on his face but said nothing a slight raise in his brow and she decided to leave it.

"So you're a stalker got it." Nodding awkwardly she shut the door, deciding to do what she apparently did best. Ignore.

"Rory?"

"So Al this is where you live huh?" She asked looking up at the giant brick house.

"Yeah my dad picked it out he said he liked the neighborhood."

"Yeah." She nodded absently staring up doing a head count of the windows she was counting 8 in the front alone. "fucking rich people."

"Come on."

"Mom, I'm home."

She could see the women in the kitchen a phone pressed to her ear. Her body turned like she was trying to shield the conversation.

"Allison honey I thought you would be gone a bit longer and uh you brought your friend it's nice to see you again." From the look she was giving her Mrs. Argent seemed almost familiar with Rory now so the blonde took that as Allsion being close enough with her parents to actually tell them things.

"You too Mrs. Argent." The woman had one of those reassuring smiles that clashed with Rory's awkward one.

"Allsion has a habit of keeping me up to date do I hope you don't my asking but how's your insomnia? Are you sleeping any better?"

"Other than sleepwalking, yeah it's been decent."

"We're gonna go upstairs kay mom."

"But what about the party why are you home early."

Her nerves burned and her skin itches every part of her wanted to proclaim 'her date ditched her' but she bit her tongue holding back.

"I was just tired this week drained me you know and we'll Rory wanted to get away, so she tagged along." Allsion smiled, her brown eyes strained. She wasn't going to let her mom think Scott had ditched her. It was noble it was very Allsion.

"Well if I would've known I would've saved you something to eat. How about I makes some snacks and bring it up to you?"

"Yeah mom, that sounds great." She was smiling even as she pushed forcibly at Rory's shoulder pulling her towards the stairs.

"Do.. Do you think I should call him?" Allsion asked finally the question had been sitting at the tip of her tongue as Rory flopped on her bed, being sure to toss her heels aside. Her head hit one of her pillows.

"No."

"No? But you said he was having a panic attack. What if needs help?"

"You've known each other for what a week? Give him his space, panic attacks are different with everyone." Talking a round pillow she pressed it to her chest though she would have rather pressed it to her face and screamed. Why the hell did she defend him? Now she had to make up a stupid lie rather then just admiting that she thought Allison should make him sweat first.

"Just leave him be Al. He still left you stranded at a party he invited you to." Allsion wasn't pleased but she stopped pacing instead she draped over the end of the bed her arms spread out she angled herself so she wouldn't clash with Rory which was nice but unneeded.

"So why Al?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you start calling me Al?" She asked propping up on her elbows to look at the blonde.

"Oh that? What haven't you ever had a nickname before." The moment she said it she realized that she might have come off as rude luckily Allsion didn't seem mad instead she smiled a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Well no not really but Allsions is a bit hard to make a nickname for."

"Nah." Rory drawled waving her off before dropping her head back to the pillow to stare up at the ceiling. "Ally, Ally Cat," she paused as her mind tried to make up more but she came up blank.

"Ah see it's not that easy." Al smiled her entire face bright.

"Oh shut up I like Al its short, simple and easy."

"You know I'm actually really happy you went with Al. I don't really think I'd make a good Ariel." Her voice was light and joking the opposite of Rory who suddenly became stiff and rigid. Her body reacted so quickly her head hit the headboard as she bolted upright.

"Whoa hey are you okay."

"I never called you.. that." She couldn't bring herself to say the name. It was a damn shame and a cowardice move one she hadn't even acknowledged until Lydia shoved it in her face but she just couldn't.

"Yeah you did. You probably don't remember cause you were kind of the living dead but you did call me that." Her words became slower as she sat up right copying Rory's actions. "Is there a problem?" Her brow raised and her eyes were like the melted chocolate pools from Willy Wonka the one that the child fell into and almost drowned in.

Rory wished she to could drown at the moment preferably in chocolate hot chocolate maybe to make it just a little bit better. Actually she would have taken an asteroid hitting her upside the head then get into that conversation.

"No." Shaking her head she forced her body to relax. She wanted to get up and leave just get away because that's what she did now. She ran away from her problems but she couldn't. Not when Allsion had that face, not when she was looking at her tenderly the way her sister did. So she slowly laid back down and let things go quite more a minute.

"So did no one try to make a nickname for you? Sounds like some shitty friends." She broke the silence trying to stop the running of her brain as she kept her outward appearance as relaxed and listless as possible.

"Well you know I didn't really make a lot of friends. We always move so much I don't want to build something up just to move and have it torn down again"

"What makes you move around anyway?"

"My dads work. He sells firearms to law enforcement or as my mom puts it he's a highly respected private security consultant." Her voice changed as she tried to copy her mother's more stern hourser tone. "That basically just means he runs out in the middle of the night with a duffle bag of guns but it pays well I guess." Allsion sighed her eyes tracing the room with its swatched walls and multiple piles of boxes.

"You haven't put a lot of yourself in here yet have you? Is it because you feel like you're gonna leave again."

"Yep any second. Though I hope not when dad said we were moving again it was actually really sudden he was getting a lot of work in San Francisco so I was actually surprised. At least we stayed in the same state this time." Sighing she pressed her lips together she looked defeated as a arm swung to rest over her eyes.

"Well yeah you could have gone across the country that sucked at least I didn't have to worry about my stuff though. They can't lose your luggage if there is none to begin with." Sitting up she slung her legs over the side of the bed. Her eyes danced over the boxes one was opened next to her closet it was half empty and there was one closer to her night stand filled with files and papers.

Allsion didn't answer but Rory really didn't expect her to; she was probably grappling with the questions that were left unanswered.

"So why Scott then if you're always worried about losing stuff?" Sliding off the bed she came to the box, her fingers running over the files of beginner level water color paintings.

"Oh my god no." Allsion was next to her quicker then Rory had expected her entire face was scarlet as she fumbled with the lid hastily covering the box. "It's just too embarrassing."

"And I don't know Scott was.. well we just connected." Covering up her outburst she quickly changed subject, her face thoughtful as she not so subtly shoved the box away.

"Like in the books?"

"Yeah like in the books it..it's weird i just feel safe around him like he drew me in somehow."

"But you've only known each other for a week." Rory found herself deadpanning at the sappy face that blushed again.

"I know like I said it's weird but I don't feel like I can help it after he saved that dog. I just felt something he was just different."

"Oh right I almost forgot about the whole dog thing honestly when you returned his shirt I thought.. well I thought other things happened." She had war flashbacks of Lydia and Jackson, the real PTSD that would forever haunt her brain.

"No nothing like that. I was just wet and freezing and he offered me his shirt and he didn't even try to look at me or anything he was just so attentive with her."

"Her?"

"The dog."

"Oh right, did he ever find her owner or?" There was a sudden pause in her doopy love sick expression and suddenly her face broke.

"Oh my god I never asked. I almost killed her and I never asked if she was ever found or anything." Her brow creased and she stared hard at her hands. "Oh god am I a horrible person?" She asked and Rory couldn't tell if this was a genuine question or an off handed throw away line.

"No. Just a bad dog person." She made a pouting face puffing up her bottom lip before breaking out into a fit of giggles.

Then the bell rang…once.. twice then three more times in rapid succession.

"Who's that?" Allsion asked but it had to he a rhetorical question because it wouldn't make any sense for Rory to know the answer.

"Maybe it's the man of Miracles himself."

A smile crossed her face. "I seriously hate that nickname. Who even came up with it?"

"Me, I did." She joked fixing her face to looked deadpanned.

"Oh sorry." Turning she gave her a genuinely sympathetic look as she took the door knob.

"Al seriously give me more credit come on if it is him hes probably here to apologies or something."

By the time they made it to the balcony Allison's mother was halfway through her summoning. Standing at the door was a wide eyed Stiles Stilinski's his face melting from sheer panic to pure embarrassment.

"Uh h.. hey you two. I just wanted to see if you made it home and uh look at that you did." The entire sentence was an awkward mess with pauses and stutters in the strangest of places. In fact everything about his posture was akin to a car crash as his body shifted about five times going from having his hands on his hips to trying and failing to place his forarm on the door frame to clasping his hands together.

"Yeah stiles im okay." Als voice was a bit stuffy proabably because it wasnt the dark puppy dog eyes and floppy hair boy but instead his tall pale and spastic friend.

"Rory decided to join me on the ride home." Her words were short since her mother was standing at the door and she didn't want to be caught in a lie.

"That great we'll yeah you two have fun I just came over to check on you make sure you got home safe."

"Why wouldnt she of gotten home safe?" There was hard steel under the sweet skin of Mrs. Argents question one that was immediately picked up on by Stilinski.

"Uh no..no reason honestly I just noticed Rory dissapaired and she wasn't picking up her phone and I heard that she was with Allsion. And I just wanted to." He seemed to pick up on the lie that Allsion was weaving and thankfully played along.

"Shes fine they were just about to have snack if you wanted to join them." Rory could see her smile even from the top of the stairs the women was a freaking mystery cause she didn't seem to want him to come in at all.

"Yeah no no I shouldnt really I just wanted to check on my friends thats all I should go." He started to turn and in that moment Rory saw an optitunity she just couldn't let slip.

"But you came all this way." She insisted dispite still not sounding like she wanted him to come in herself.

"Mom it's okay." Allison finally said. "Uh why are you letting him go we should grill him." Rory whispered leaning closer to her friend without having to go through the embarrassment of getting on her tip toes.

"Why?"

"Uh best friend of date who just ditched you and left you to go home with a creepy other friend. He probably knows what happened. Make him stay."

"But what if Scott did have a panic attack he wouldn't even want to talk about it."

Damn she should of just told her to let him stew why the hell did she have to defend him.

"Fine. I guess you're right." She didn't believe a word of it but she still relented. This was the bed she made so she'd just have to lay in it.

"But you're a better person than me so I'm going to go ask some questions."

"Rory." Her was being called but she didn't answer trotting down the stairs she gave a nod to Mrs. Argent before throwing the door open.

"Stilinski what the fuck." He froze his shoulders tensing. "What the hell happened to prince Puppy eyes huh he freaking left her stranded. She was going to be all alone with some guy she never even met before so tell me what the actual fuck happened to him."

"It's complicated, okay I really don't know how to put it he just had an attack." He turned to face her his entire body already on the defensive.

"Like an asthma attack? Did you guys not find his inhaler?" It was only then that she was actually reminded that Scott had asthma. The guy who avoided being tackled by half his team and did a whole ass flip over three people has asthma. She hadn't actually seen him use an inhaler the whole week of school granted she had been more or less preoccupied with her own shit but still he hadn't had an attack or fit the entire week.

They stared at the each other as he racked his brain for something that was probably an excuse. But she was thinking. The yellow eyes she saw earlier the way Scott moved his reflexes and stamina.

'But what if the eyes are yellow…like your hair.'

The gash in his side that never seemed to bother him.

'What if they were bitten closer to the full moon like a week before.'

"You have got to be shitting me!" She screamed her fist clenching at her sides before she advanced. "A werewolf? Scott is not a fucking werewolf I sware to god Stilinki!" Taking his tie she used it as leverage pulling him down closer to her level before she took his collar.

"Tell me you don't think he's a freaking werewolf tell me that your just reaserching a character for some game and not trying to figure out if your best friend is a fucking supernatral wolf boy." He gaped at her, seemingly losing a fight before.

"No I mean yes I mean why are you both whispering and screaming at me?" His brows furrowed. Her eyes searched his they were just as uncertainty scanning hers and they stood there for a moment locked in the position while she worked out her next move.

"I.."

"The true Alpha will rise! And our dear Ariel will lead him she will be his guide, the high Seeress of his pack. Ariel this is destiny."

God damn it her head fell forward as the pain started behind her eyes. There was a light thud as her forehead rested against his chest and she ignored how his muscles locked. It was okay there. The fabric of the ridiculous salmon shirt was soft and she could feel his body heat.

"Our family has been following our ancestors foresight for generations for this. You're our prophet, a full blooded seerer." His voice cracked and she was starting to see the blurred outline of his form taking over the blackness behind her eyelids.

Pulling back slightly she pushed forward making a final bang rather than a tap this time her teeth clenching painfully behind drawn back back lips. She wanted this to go away; she wanted everything she had to come back to her. Her forehead tapped against his chest in frustration. Her grip on his collar never losenef as she did this three more times letting out longer more miserable groans.

"Scott is fine." She finally said and she tried to ignore the silent plea she was making. "Hes just some normal teen who just had some untapped hidden talent."

She left out the part where he notability flipped over three guys.

"He's just some guy who has a crush on the pretty new girl."

She ignored the mysterious draw Allison admitted to having towards him.

"He's not some lycan teen okay." Finally she looked up at him, his face a mixture of pinched brows and parted lips. A strange expression but it quickly changed as his eyes searched hers. "This isn't a book.. and we're not in the movies. Okay?"

His mouth moved mechanically like he was going to contradict her. Like he knew something and he felt the need to share with the class. She soaked in the pain as it spread slowly but surely from the back of her eyes up to her temple to the middle of her skull.

Her fist opened and she let go of him because she suddenly knew if he got another word out things were going to change. The wheels were already turning for him and the train was plowing right down the tracks breaking through the walls of logic and setting it's sight for madness.

"You know what, I don't care." Letting out a breath she couldn't tell if she actually didn't or if she was that believable but she took a staggering step back, her hands reaching for her temple they were cold and she hoped it would do something for her… it didn't.

"You know this is none of my business. I don't want it to be my business. I don't know what's going on with Scott and I don't care." Turning her hands balled tightly at her side. At that moment she was forced to acknowledge something was very wrong with her. That something she assumed was what therapists were trying to chicle into her brain for the past month.

The truth is she would have never passed up on an optitunity like this. She would have never walked away from a mystery even if it was insane. Had she been home in New York she would be the first person to hop on the train to crazyville. Everything about this was the adventure she had dreamed since she was young but she couldn't do it.

The door and its golden knob, the bastard and his so-called prophecies had snuffed out her fire and she didn't know if her flame would burn like it used to ever again.

"Just tell him to say he had a panic attack okay I need to go back in I.. I have a headache." It was like she was back to the morning when she was sleep walking. Lured outside by a dream by a voice by music.

She was just losing her fucking mind.

He didn't call after her and she was grateful she just wanted to go in to get away to be safe with Ariel.

The moon gleamed bright and full.

Her stomach sat like a stone at the sight.

They were pulling up the drive of the Martin cottage manor. Allison had silent through the entire ride which Rory had foolishly chalked up to the dark haired girl giving her space to let the medicine Mrs. Argent had given her settle in. Or maybe it was the probing questions that left her silent. She was completely mortified when her mother started asking questions about Rory's cape asking about the raven on the bronze clasp.

"An eagle" She had corrected the ice pack that was kindly provided to her pressed to her temple.

"An eagle are you sure?" Her smile was a forced pleasantries as she shook out a few Tylenols.

"Mom!"

"Yeah it's supposed to represent ravenclaw from Harry Potter. The house bird is an eagle not a raven but a lot of people get it wrong it fine." Waving the women off she downed the pills.

"Oh so you like those things? Magic and the supernatural?" There was something in her tone that laced around her words like a snake. Looking back it seemed more like an accusation accusation. Maybe she could have pointed out the lore in Argent 's own lineage but she just couldn't not after freaking out In front of Stilinski.

At the moment Allsion only seemed partially embarrassed as she went through the motions of crossing her arms and trying to have an entire conversation with her mother through her facial expressions alone. Now though her hands gripped the wheel before they lossesed.

For her part the blonde didn't care as much as she would have if she wasn't trying to live in a constant state of denial but now she knew there was something Allsion had to get off her chest.

They sat in silence and she waited for her to just come out and say it. She was about to tell her to just not think about it and throw whatever she had to say into the wind when the dark haired girl let out a large breath.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She stared straight ahead not willing to look at the blonde just yet as she finally got the question out.

"Tell you what?"

"About the funeral? That you were going to New York this weekend you haven't said anything about it all day and.. and I wouldn't even know about it if Lydia hadn't brought it up." She got the words out quickly before she could question herself before she could really consider if asking was even worth it.

"Oh." Rory cringed away from the sound of her own voice. How the hell did she make a single syllable sound so pathetic.

"Nah it's not that big of a deal it's just a funeral. I mean.."

"Rory!"

"What?" She jumped the skirt of her dress was beginning to rise as she gathered the tool in her fists scrunching the fabric.

"How could you say that?" She trailed off for a moment, her head bobbing as she thought about how she could proceed. "I just don't get it."

They sat in silence and the thought of getting out was tempting but she couldn't. Allsion hadn't looked at her the entire time the corner of her lips were pulled down and tightly pressed together and her brow was scrunched. She couldn't leave it like that because she liked Allison. She was the first real friend Aurora had ever had that didn't share her blood.

"I'm not thinking about it."

"What?"

"I'm. Not. Thinking. About. It." She said slower this time emphasizing each word as if that was the problem that she didn't say them right.

"I know what you said I just don't understand why?" Moving Allsion finally turned to look at her shifting her entire body.

"I mean would you want to think about it? I'm not exactly going to Disneyland, I'm going to a funeral…" Her knines dug into the tip of her thumb and she ignored how she looked like she was sucking on her thumb.

"Stop it Rors!" Her sister hissed and then she was silent the words held a double meaning. "Your just making it worse!" Wide glassy dark eyes stared at her and she was scared.

Rory had never seen her that scared before.

Rory wondered if she would have that look on her face if it was frozen there when she saw her again would her eyes bore into hers accusingly? Would they ask her why the roles weren't reversed and why she didn't come out on top like she had so many times before? Ariel was the golden child.

She remembered vividly sitting on the couch watching as Carly Beth put the haunted mask on her face, the defined scale like skin dried and grey with high cheekbones and sharp lined fangs. She was so inthralled that she was only pulled away by the high pitch scream. Her sister and het group behind her didn't like horror and despite it being the early morning of Halloween and Aurora had been promised the tv while Ariel and her friends prepared their costumes the privilege was quickly stripped away from her.

She spent the next hours arranging hair rollers helping with face paint and by the time they went out for trick or treating her goosebumps marathon had been completely forgotten about.

"Hey? Rory? Hey!"

"Did you ever watch the goosebumps shows when you were a kid? In addition to that, did you read the books? Cause i did both and it always bugged me that the show didn't match up with the book. Like in Dead House there wasn't some ugly garland thing keeping the family safe in fact they were pretty adamant on just killing them after a couple of weeks so i don't understand why they added it." looking over at her she might have actually believed that she had gone crazy simply from the look she was getting.

"What?"

"Well I mean by the end of the book there was already another family set to move into the house and the main character, im totally blanking on her name at the moment, thought she saw Mr. Dawes on the porch welcoming the family. So it doesn't make any sense since they added some magical protective reave not only that but the people of deadfalls were turned into the living dead by some yellow gas not some magical curse so the garland makes no freaking sense!"

"Rory!"

"What?"

"You're changing the subject."

She took a moment setting her face in a way that always entertained Ariel; she pretended to think about being sure to be completely dramatic about it before looking at Allison, a wide grinning spread across her face as she nodded vigorously.

"Yeah pretty much." The blatant honesty would have usually cracked a smile, maybe even a snort then she would've dropped it but Allsion just looked concerned and sad.

Sad.

She looked just like Ariel right now her brows didn't draw together but there was an obvious wrinkle. Her lips were pressed together in a small pout.

"Hey! Come on, it's just a stupid funeral, why would we talk about that anyway." Her body moved completely to point at Allison. "You know just because there's 'fun' in funerals doesn't mean there fun!' Her arms moved to complement the dramatics of her words.

There were many faces to a person and depending on the situation those faces could be seen. In Rory's case she thought some of her sides had died. She assumed that this one in particular had been left behind it's lifeless body not even cold yet on the wooden panels of her old apartment, its chest punchered and gapping.

But now she was falling into step effortlessly the familiar dramatics and goofiness was all apart of a character she thought she left softly moaning with wheezing breath on the floor. The Harlequin that danced foolishly around the queen's court hopping from foot cracking jokes and trying to make her majesty smile.

But Allsion wasn't smiling, in fact the abrupt change in behavior seemed to concern her more than entertain her.

Her smile tightened, straining as she grappled with this new reality.

Ariel would have laughed ; she would have at least had a pity giggle.

Press on. Find something.

"Ally seriously it's not that big of a deal." Waving her hand she ensured her voice was light sleepy even her head lolled like she was drunk and she waited for the playful response.

"I-" there was a pause as if she thought the worry in her voice was too thick. "I think I prefer Al better." Her voice was low and breathy and even though she tried to shave away the thickness it was still there. "Come on Rory talk to me.. please your my friend I'm just worried about you."

"We've been friends for like what five seconds, you hardly know me right?"

The ping rang in her ear with each word but it didn't stop them from leaking out staring straight ahead the moon glowed back at her and she could of swore the cloud moved to cover it was a sign that the universe was glowering at her. She could feel her face moving mechanically as she stared ahead eyes mirroring the slowly disappearing moon.

Her body froze and she understood that she was afraid but she didn't know why.

She knew she didn't want to look to her left and didn't want to see the raised red brow and accusing deep brown eyes. Maybe Ariel crossed her arms or maybe she put her hands on her hips despite sitting she was dramatic like that.

Why the hell would she say that.

Ariel didn't deserve it. She was her best friend, her only friend, she was the one who stuck beside her.

Why. Did. She. Say. That.

She wanted to apologies turn her head and face whatever angry look she was getting and just spit it out get it over with. Maybe Rory could just smile and offer her some task she could do: the dishes or her English… no she already did that for last week's mistake.

The stone that had dropped in her stomach became heavier as she racked her brain. This wasn't some sarcastic comment that her sister would just blow off. She was being melious; it was clearly embedded in her voice; it was so unlike her so again.

Why. Would. She. Say. That.

Damn it, their birthday was just right around the freaking corner too if she just mentions it then...

She just wanted the live action alice and wonderland dvd damn it! That wasn't too hard just a dvd but she might as well kiss half her wishlist goodbye if Ariel decided to get petty.

Taking a breath she tried to ignore the shaky tremor she had to actually look at her, allowing her features to soften; she was sure the 'Bunny' expression would at least get a laugh. If anything it would show vulnerability the equivalent to a wolf showing his belly.

Her mouth opened ready to appease her talk and redirect the topic use flattery and remind her that she knew her sister was her one true friend but she stopped.

The words wouldn't come in fact she was completely blank, her cheat sheet was white fuzzy. Where her planned words were carefully crafted over the many years she stood by her sister's side, her loyal knight and protector.

What could she offer?

What could she say?

Her mouth was dry like she had set paper over her tongue.

She felt like she was losing her mind. Were was her loyalty her devotion were.. Were was Ariel?

"Rory oh.. Rory oh my god are you okay your crying."

You cant cry Rors you protect me first remember." her voice was distant and she felt the hot tears track down her face. "I'm the oldest. I need your help. I can't do this alone! You can't make me!

Her hand darted out turning up the dial hoping that she could distract her with some pop song while she racked her brain.

The song played smoothly a familiar tune that she knew well from the pick being played on the electric guitar to the rattle that faded as quickly as it came. The beat of the drum started up as the singer started.

…Hotel California she couldn't have had the worse freaking luck.

Letting out a nervous laugh she quickly turned the dial trying to change the channel but it didn't. The song continued and she noticed the axc cord.

The song was on a playlist…but Ariel hated this song Rory had made sure of that. she had told her about the mental institution theory a stupid idea since Ariel hated them… it wasn't a completely irrational fear. Ariel was quick to gain a certain mindset and cling to it one of those were fears of mental hospitals and 'crazy people'.. So she refused to listen to it she even vetoed the song from being on the pep rally playlist, refusing to dance to it.

Thinking to herself she tried to turn the music down but she ended up turning the air up. Rory laughed again because the air and the sound had switched places and she was losing her mind.

"Did dad get you a new car and I just wasn't aware of it?" She muttered when it dawned on her this was not there dad's car so.. so maybe she did have something offer.

"Guess he didn't like that I messed up the other one? Did you get a look at it? Really banged it up." Like you told me to. She only thought the last line knowing just how defensive Ariel got when she was reminded that Aurora usually worked under her orders.

What would she get this time? Maybe Ariel would get her the Alice in wonderland live action DVD. She really hated the old hunk of junk so maybe something more.

"I shattered the front side and rear windows. Shit I bet he was furious." Despite her musing she was trying to think of his reaction cause if he had already gotten Ariel a new car she must have seen it by now. It was an actual surprise that he didn't get her one when she asked the first time. She didn't actually know his reaction but she did know Lydia's. She was pissed, fuming Rory actually thought she would physically fight her when she saw it.

"Rory! I don't know what your talking about!"

"Yeah but Lydia was pissed.." trailing off she realized that Ariel wouldn't know Lydia cause Ariel wasn't in California.

She was in New York.

No.

Her hair bounced around her face as she shook her head Ariel couldn't be in New York cause Rory was in California and she was talking to her she was trying to make amends. Her mind scrambled as she tried to keep up.

"Ariel you're here right?" She asked in a whisper, her voice low and vulnerable.

"Aurora!" Hands took her shoulder caving into her shoulders and shaking her.

The hands lackef the freckles and there were rings on the fingers Ariel didn't even own. The skin was pale, dark eyes followed the trail of long slender arms up to a full jaw and narrow nose. Allison was staring at her line etched under her eyes making her look tired and scared.

"Rory, who were you talking to?"

"Was I? Was I talking?" She knew she was she had a mental lapse she though that her sister was there in the car with her.

It was the pancakes incident but it wasn't at the same time. This was different. She had mixed the before and the after.. She had never done that before.

Still her mask was on her mental turmoil wasn't enough to pry it off she was the of jester and she would play the role until the queen is appeased.

So she leaned closely a smile spreading across her face and she assumed the Cheshire cat would be beyond amused. "I think I've finally lost my mind." Her voice was high and it was intended to be a surface level joke but Allsion didn react correctly and she was yet again left grappling.

Redirect.

"I'm kidding Ally Cat it's fine I'm fine listen I should go you should uh probably watch out for dogs." Ducking out of the car she stumbled nearly tripping over her own feet as she trekked to the door not allowing herself to look back.

"Rory wait.'' The clicks and slams of the car door made her simultaneously cringe and appreciate Allison even more. She was mostly sure she just had a mental break in front of her and she was still trying to chase her down.

"What just happened, are you okay?"

"Oh me im peachy i'm just going to go inside and wait for Natalie to get home so we can get on a flight and i get to see her in a coffin cause shes gone."

"Your mom?" The visible confusion seeped away as her voice drew closer. "Or your sister?"

"I don't really want to talk about it."

"You know im here right? I know that we havent known each other for a long time i get it but im here."

"Thanks Al." there was a brief silence. "I'm probably not going to turn around sorry. I know this could be a super grand scene of moving friendship but I thought you should know." there was a small snort behind her and she smiled. Why did she only make people laugh when she wasn't trying to?

"That's okay but uh if you need to call me this weekend you can."

"I'll probably be in a state of mental anguish so probably not. I'll send you pictures of pigeons and rats though maybe a I heart New York shirt those are popular."

"Yeah okay then ill call you know to tell let you know my size."

"Yeah that sounds great." the key to the front door clicked and she felt better.

"This is okay right?" Allison asked timidly.

"It is with me just.. Just give me time." she didn't think she actually needed it but she thought Alison needed to hear it.

"Okay then im going to go home call me okay even if you don't talk."

"You get attached easily don't you?" she asked more to herself it sounded bitchier than she intended but Allsion took it in good faith laughing again.

"I don't usually, actually this is new to me."

"It's new to me to goodnight allison."

"Good night Rory."