UP IN FLAMES ➳ S. STILINSKI [02]

prologue

My phone buzzed in my hand making me jump. 

'Hey, you wanna do something?'

Eyes scanning over the message, I swallowed hard, it was always difficult writing messages like this, but it was for the better. Allison didn't need to know what was going on, I'd tell her at some point, but this summer was her healing time. My fingers typed the message out and I paused for a moment before pressing send.

'Hey! Sorry, not feeling that well - having a quiet night. Catch you tomorrow?'

I ran a clammy hand through my hair and bit my lip, anxiously waiting for her reply.

'Yeah no problem, hope you're alright!'

My chest sunk with relief and I placed my phone next to me on the grass, laying back and looking at the stars. The blanket underneath me was scratchy but the only comfort that I needed in the world, was the person lying next to me. Stiles.

"I feel awful" I shook my head.

His hand cupped my own as we both stared up. "It will be fine, they haven't suspected anything yet and it's been like what - a month? We're good"

My head turned to face his but he was already looking at me. "It's not just her, it's Scott too. I mean, I live with him but when I sneak out he doesn't ask any questions or anything, it's strange"

"Let's just forget them" He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. "School starts in a few days, we can come clean then or pretend we didn't see each other all summer...don't stress"

I smiled into the kiss. "Fine, you're right. Instead of thinking about them I'll think about this delicious picnic we just had, or how you look gorgeous under the moonlight.." My voice trailed off for a moment before we both shot up with wide eyes.

"-Moonlight!!" We yelled in unison.

"Oh god, it's a full moon and here we are having a date in the woods - great, we're going to die" He stood up and started packing up all the food, I stood up too and looked about the clearing that we were in. Stiles was muttering to himself and frantically cramming things away, going back and forth to the jeep.

"Stiles, don't panic. We'll be-" A low howl ripped through the air, stopping me in my tracks.

He whipped around to the trees, squinting his eyes to see anything before coming back to me. "We're you going to say 'We'll be fine!' because that is what always happens before the unsuspecting couple gets murdered in a horror movie, okay? Always!"

I climbed inside the jeep after he had packed everything in and started the engine, the lights illuminating the cliff edge that we had been lying on. My head turned to him as he started driving. "Oh so we're a couple now?"

"Really?" He deadpanned. "That's what you took from that?"

The dark trees whipped past us as Roscoe bounded through the forest and out onto the clearing, which was thankfully lit up with street lights. Ignoring his last sentence, I held my hands up. "Look? Not dead! Totally not dead!"

"Hey, we're not home yet - there's still time" His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel tightly. "Maybe being dead would be better than going back to scho-" He let out a high pitched scream and swerved to the side, avoiding a dog that had ran out in front of the jeep.

"Oh my god that was terrifying" I held my hand over my heart as it pounded in my chest.

"It was like it wanted to die" He shook his head. "It ran into oncoming traffic, what kind of dog does that?!"

"That dog" My head nodded. "Strange"

"Very strange"

We were nearing the house now and I undid my seatbelt, motioning for Stiles to pull over. He would always drop me off here after we had met so that Scott didn't suspect anything. As far as he was concerned, I was at Allison's.

"You sure? Text me when you get in, okay?" He leaned over and pulled me into a passionate kiss.

"I'll call you" I pulled away and opened the door.

"You've just spoken to me?" He laughed at me and pulled a face.

My head shook. "Talking to you makes my day, Stilinksi"

His cheeks shone a bright red and he nodded. "No problem ma'am"

I smiled at him before closing the door and walking towards the McCall's house - where I now lived permanently, thanks to Melissa. Stiles' smell and memory still fresh in my mind, it was all I could think about. He was intoxicating and boy was I drunk.

I was falling fast, and falling hard. I just hoped someone would catch me.