Concrete Angel

26

A knock sounded on Emma's door, causing her to jump.

The door opened to reveal Stiles. "Hey. Do you rememb- Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Remember what?"

"Emma-"

"Remember what?"

He sighed. "I'm not gonna get an answer, huh?"

"No. Now talk before I kick you out."

"There's a party tonight for Heather and I was wondering if you wanted to come."

"Heather? Really?"

"What?"

"Stiles you're... You're a good looking guy, okay? She'll be all over you."

"You think I'm good looking?"

She didn't answer.

He grinned goofily and asked, "So are you coming? Please?"

She let out a long sigh. "How do I look?"

"Like a dream."

Emma smiled sadly, knowing full well something could happen between Stiles and Heather.

---

They got to the party and Emma offered a brief wave to Heather and made her way to the punch bowl. She poured some punch into a cup.

A clearly buzzed guy walked up to her and said, "Wanna find somewhere quiet?"

"No," she retorted.

"Come on, baby." He pulled her close, a hand inching towards her butt.

Emma moved back and the guy roughly grabbed her wrist, causing her to fall back.

She darted back and looked at the boy in terror.

Scott walked up to his friend and led her away. "Emma? You okay?"

"Where's Stiles?" she asked softly.

"I don't know."

She got up and ran from the house, bumping into Stiles.

Stiles pulled her up, seeing her panic. "What happened?"

Emma froze, then asked, "Where's Heather?"

"Um, I don't know. We were making out and I went to the bathroom upstairs and when I returned to the basement, she was gone. What happened to you? You look terrified."

She shook her head. "Uh, nothing. Sorry about Heather."

"Em-"

"Just drop it! Please. Can you take me to my dad's?"

Stiles nodded slowly. "Yeah sure."

The ride back to her house was awkwardly silent and Stiles waved as she got out upon arrival. "See you tomorrow."

He watched as Emma walked into her father's apartment with a conflicted expression.

---

The next day at school, they met up with Derek in an empty classroom. Emma pointed to Lydia and Allison's wrists. "Derek, look."

He shook his head. "I don't see anything."

"Look again," Scott said.

Derek frowned at Scott. "How is a bruise gonna tell me where Boyd and Erica are?"

Emma frowned. "If you looked, you'd see it's exactly the same on both sides."

"It's nothing."

Lydia pursed her lips. "Pareidolia. Seeing patterns that aren't there. It's a subset of apophenia."