If I'm Lucky

Chapter Five.

As Auden and Stiles made their way to the front door of the Martin house, she did her best to tamp down her anxiety. It seemed to squeeze at her stomach, constricting tighter with every step she took. She could feel it thrumming through her veins, her heart racing. 

The front porch was crawling with people, some sitting on the floor, some leaning against the railings. There was a couple making out in the corner, looking more like they were trying to devour each other, and Auden wrinkled her nose. As they walked up the steps, Auden saw Stiles' arm flail out of the corner of her eye, probably meant to be a wave at someone who wouldn't give him a second chance. 

Stiles opened the front door, gesturing for Auden to enter first. As she glanced up at him, she could see the tension in his jaw, the muscles jumping, and she was glad she wasn't the only one battling nerves. The front room of the house was similarly packed, but Auden saw no sign of Scott or Allison. She hadn't seen their mom's car outside either, but there had been cars littered through the neighborhood for several blocks, and it was extremely possible she'd missed it in  her adrenaline fueled state of panic. Directly in front of her, there was a large picture window, giving her a clear view of a crowded backyard, complete with a large pool and fairy lights. 

The steady thumping of the bass from the speakers was competing with the erratic pumping of blood in her ears. Auden jumped as she felt a hand on her back, and Stiles laughed quietly before leaning in so he could be heard over the music. 

"I'm going to sweep the perimeter, see if Scott's here yet."

He looked very serious, but Auden had a hard time taking him as such when he sounded like he was seven again, playing sheriff and trying to 'arrest' her and Scott in his backyard.

Stiles was gone before Auden could grab his arm and beg him not to leave her alone. Biting at the already raw skin of her thumb, Auden prayed he'd return quickly. Just as she was about to pull her phone out of her bag as a distraction, there was a tap on her shoulder, making her jump for the second time in as many minutes. 

"Hey, Audrey!"

Closing her eyes, Auden sighed. There was only one person in Beacon Hills that consistently called her the wrong name, to the point where she'd given up trying to correct him. Turning around, she tried to force her grimace into a smile. 

"Hey, Greenberg."

Auden had never thought Greenberg was as bad as Coach Finstock thought he was, but it was undeniable that he was obnoxious. To be fair, the same thing could be said about Stiles, but it was the fact that Greenberg just couldn't seem to grasp the fact that her name wasn't Audrey that irked her. 

He smiled widely, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, in a way Auden was sure he thought made him look cool. 

"So, how are you?"

Before Auden could answer, Stiles had skidded back into the kitchen, grabbing her arm as he dragged her away. Looking over her shoulder, she waved at Greenberg, and shot him what she hoped looked like a sympathetic smile, allowing herself to be pulled towards one of the less crowded hallways off the living room.

"Scott is here," he hissed.

Auden waited a beat, gesturing for him to continue. "And? Is he wolfing out and trying to eat Allison?"

"Well no," Stiles said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Is he dog paddling in the pool?" Auden raised an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation. Stiles huffed, clearly not pleased with her questions.

"No!"

"Running laps around the back-" Before she could finish her sentence, he was throwing his hands up in the air, cutting her off.