𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐀 | 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐊𝐈

7. I Told You So

The next day, I get home relatively late in the day. Mostly because Stiles texted me the plan earlier and it was so bad that I didn't even want to come home to take part in it. So, to distract myself, I'm baking a cake. I can give some to Jackson and hopefully he forgets all about my friends kidnapping him. Hopefully.

I hear a knock at my door so I leave the kitchen to go and answer it.

"Stiles, hey," I greet and move aside to let him in.

"Hey, whatcha doin'?" He asks as he strolls through to the kitchen. "Something smells good."

I close the door and follow him. "Yeah, I'm baking a cake."

Stiles turns to look at me with a childlike joy in his eyes. "Can I help?"

"Sure," I chuckle, "But I've already done pretty much everything except decorating it."

Stiles claps his hands together. "No problemo. I am quite the cake decorating master."

I raise an eyebrow at him, "Somehow I doubt that." I sit down at the table as Stiles picks up the chocolate icing. "Can I add how freaking crazy your plan is?"

"Oh, I know. It's not like you've texted me telling me that 20 times in the past hour."

"What can I say? I like to make my opinion clear."

"Allison and Scott are onboard."

I lean back in my chair and sigh. "What if we get caught? And you can't hold Jackson in the van forever." As I speak millions of scenarios fly into my mind. "And what will happen when Jackson does get out? Huh? You seriously think he's not going to go straight to the cops? Your dad?" I bounce my leg as I unintentionally begin to stress myself out. I put my head in my palms as I sigh. "I don't want you, or anyone else for that matter, getting into trouble because of this."

I take my hands away to see Stiles in front of me. "Hey, we'll be fine."

I slouch in my chair. "I'm sorry, Stiles," I frown, "I'm just stressed is all."

Stiles takes the seat next to me. "We never got to talk about what was going on with you that night."

"Yeah..."

I abruptly stand up as I throw my hands in the air and walk past Stiles. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?" I take the cake out of the oven and sit it on a cooling rack. "I mean, if it's not my brother being murdered then it's my only family that I actually have left going missing!" I slam a fist on the counter, which hurts more than I'd like to admit.

"Ava-"

"Not to mention my brother's killer is literally roaming about free back home and it's not like I can vent to my sister about it because she doesn't care about anything! Not even me." I make my way to the dining table and sit down on a chair as I wave my hands about. "And now we have to deal with some dumb lizard person, who is a complete dick in his human form."

Stiles takes the seat beside me at the table and gazes at me with a gentle look on his face and sad eyes. "Your sister's missing?"

I cross my arms and sigh as I avoid his light brown eyes. Maybe I'm too comfortable around Stiles. I can't believe I just acted like that around him. Ever the dramatic, Ava.

"I-I'm sorry." I go to get up but Stiles grabs my wrist.

"Ava, I'm here if you want to talk. I'm not leaving you alone," He reassures and I nod before re-taking my seat.

"I miss her—Elena. I mean, before all this vampire stuff we were super close. I'd tell her everything and she'd do the same. But then Stefan and Damon happened, and don't get me wrong but–" I let out another sigh as I think about the Salvatore brothers who have been there for me throughout all this, when my sister has not–"I'm glad they're involved in our lives now. I just wish my sister hadn't turned turned off her humanity and bolted when I need her most. I have no idea where she is. She could be dead too for all I know."