puppy love } { of first dates and death threats

[impetere]

Stiles: [pulls up and goes to ring the doorbell]

Talia: [and she opens the door with a small smile] Hello, Stiles.

Stiles: Hi Mrs. Hale. Is Cora ready?

Talia: Sure. She's just going to need a few more minutes, so why don't you come in?

Stiles: Thank you. [and he will enter looking around] Nice place you have here.

Talia: Thank you. My family has lived here a long time.

Stiles: I know. Your family is a founding family.

Talia: In a way we're the founding family.

Stiles: Pretty sure the Native Americans would disagree. You're not native are you?

Talia: [her head tips to the side] Actually, we are. Or at least a branch of the family is, anyway.

Stiles: Really? I didn't know that. You don't look it.

Talia: It's far back, but it is there.

Stiles: Cool so do you know and like rain dances?

Talia: [she laughs] No.

Stiles: Darn.

Talia: [she shrugs and as she does Cora comes down the stairs]

Cora: Hey, Stiles.

Stiles: [and he looks up at her and smile] Hi.

Cora: [she's dressed like she normally would for a pep rally, but she's playing with the hem of her shirt, giving away her nerves a bit] Ready to go?

Stiles: Yeah, yeah totally. You ready?

Cora: [she nods, before glancing back to her mom] We won't be late.

Talia: [she nods as she goes to close the door behind them] Have a good time.

Stiles: I'll take good care of her. [and he will show her to the Jeep and open the door for her]

Cora: [and she'll climb in and buckle up]

Stiles: You look real pretty today.

Cora: [her head ducks a bit] Thanks.

Stiles: So do you want to stop and get something to eat on the way?

Cora: [she shrugs] We could always get hot dogs and stuff at the rally? [she's too practically minded to think that he might want to eat where he'll actually be able to talk to her]

Stiles: Yeah but if that's not your thing we can get food and not have to fight everyone else.

Cora: [she considers for a moment before nodding] Okay.

Stiles: Awesome. [and off the go to the In and Out]

Cora: [and she will order far more food than she should be actually able to eat]

Stiles: Did you not eat today?

Cora: ... No?

Stiles: I don't think I've seen you eat that much before.

Cora: Do you pay attention to what I eat a lot?

Stiles: I may kinda watch you sometimes at lunch.

Cora: Well, you can only buy so much from the cafeteria.

Stiles: There are limits?

Cora: How much money you have?

Stiles: Um... I have enough.

Cora: Well, I have a really fast metabolism.

Stiles: Yeah me to. It's a side effect of the ADHD.

Cora: I'm just lucky, I guess.

Stiles: So you'll never have to worry about people saying your fat or something.

Cora: I guess not. But that's screwed up, people shouldn't have done it anyway.

Stiles: Dad says people are mad when they are teenagers and I just ignore the haters.

Cora: [she nods] I just don't think tearing people down is okay.

Stiles: No is not. But not everyone believes that.

Cora: Yeah. I'm friends with some of them.

Stiles: Yeah I know.

Cora: Lydia isn't always that bad.

Stiles: I was kinda thinking more like Jackson.

Cora: Well, Jackson isn't actually my friend.

Stiles: More like by associating.

Cora: Lydia and I have been friends a long time. We understand each other in ways a lot of people don't. Jackson ... is a phase I'm hoping she'll get over.

Stiles: Here's hoping? [grin]

Cora: [she laughs] Who knows? Maybe Jackson will grow up.

Stiles: That's possible?

Cora: Stranger things have happened. [a beat] You got me to go on a date with you.

Stiles: I guess it's proof that miracles happen? [his grin grows]

Cora: [she shakes her head] I guess so.

Stiles: I'm really glad you said yes.

Cora: [she glances down at her food, playing with one of her french fries] I still don't get why you wanted me to.

Stiles: You don't... [leans in a bit] Cora, do you know how beauitful you are?

Cora: [that makes her uncomfortable and she doesn't look up right away] Guess I'm just used to flying under the radar.

Stiles: Under the radar is fine. I'm used to being under it. But you have always been beautiful. [slurps his drink through his straw] At least to me.

Cora: [she looks up at him for a moment, before shrugging. She's Lydia's best friend and she's Derek's sister and they tend to just overshadow her. she's not used to people noticing her] Good to know. I guess.

Stiles: [he bit his lip a moment] Are you... you're not more into girls are you? Cause if you are... I don't want you to think...

Cora: No. I mean, I don't know. I've never really thought about it.

Stiles: Never thought of dating, or if you're into girls?

Cora: Both?

Stiles: Well, we can solve the first one. Are you interested in girls or boys?

Cora: [she shrugs slowly as she looks up at him. There are some things about Stiles that make her feel warm, but she's never really given much thought to ... that] I don't know.

Stiles: Well, we should explore that. When you’re ready, I mean. That's what you're supposed to do I think, to learn that if you don't know it.

Cora: I guess. There's just always school and stuff I figured it was something I would figure out later.

Stiles: Well, you have a chance to learn it now. I mean, you can't learn everything in a book.

Cora: Books are way less complicated.

Stiles: Unless you're reading math books.

Cora: Math is easy compared to people.

Stiles: How about a trade? You help me with Math... and I help you with people?

Cora: [she considers him for a moment, before nodding] Okay.

Stiles: [grins] Okay.

Cora: [and she will finish her pile of food before nodding] We should get going or we're going to be late.

Stiles: Yes, right. [and he will down the rest of his curly fries and they can be on their way!]

Cora: [yep, to the pep rally where they have spirit yes they do!]

Stiles: [totally spirit driven. Go team go]

Cora: [and once that's all over they'll head back to Stiles' car]

Stiles: [yup, and he will go to open that door] You have fun?

Cora: Yeah. It was fun.

Stiles: Great. Well, I can take you home, or we can go do something else?

Cora: [glances down at her watch] What were you thinking?

Stiles: We could drive up to the other side of the preserve. Maybe take a walk?

Cora: Just not too late. I told my mom we wouldn't be.

Stiles: I will have you home before you turn into a pumpkin, I swear.

Cora: [nods] Okay.

Stiles: Great! [and he will take her up to lookout point because it's one of the few places they can drive]

Cora: [and when they get there she will get out of the car and look around] Isn't this Lookout Point?

Stiles: It's one of the few places we can park. I was really thinking the trails, not just sitting here... I swear.

Cora: Uh-huh. [a smirk as she shakes her head] C'mon.

Stiles: [and he will lock his car and head off to join her] So you must know like, every inch of this place like the back of your hand.

Cora: [she nods] I've been running in these woods since I was a kid.

Stiles: What was it like, growing up out here?

Cora: [she shrugs] I liked it. It gave me a lot of space to figure out me. At least the parts of me that don't rely on other people.

Stiles: That's a lot of space. You must have a lot of parts to figure out.

Cora: I'm more complicated than I look.

Stiles: So tell me something complicated about you.

Cora: [she's a werewolf] So my family is super matriarchal. My sister and my mom are super tight and Laura's going to inherit all of the family stuff. Derek and Peter bonded over being the boys in a sea of women. And then there's ... me. The extra one.

Stiles: So... you don't think there's anything special to you in your family line?

Cora: [she shrugs] I've never really thought there was anything special to me, period.

Stiles: Well, maybe I can help change your mind on that? Because you're totally special.

Cora: Am I?

Stiles: Of course. Special isn't something you see - it's what others see in you.

Cora: And what do you see in me, exactly?

Stiles: I see a beautiful girl who's smart, can probably kill me with her pinky, great taste in books, and when she does smile it lights up the room.

Cora: [she maintains eye contact for most of it, up until he hits the "too many compliments" mark and she uncomfortably looks away again]

Stiles: And she blushes way too easily. [smiles]

Cora: [and at that she rolls her eyes. she knows when she's being teased] I'm not used to people noticing me.

Stiles: Do you mind me noticing you like that? Because I mean, we still have to figure out if you like boys or girls... and we're in your whole thinking space.

Cora: [she shrugs] It's just ... weird. Getting the attention.

Stiles: Do you think you'd come to like it?

Cora: Maybe? It's not a bad weird.

Stiles: [holds out his hand] Do you want to try holding hands?

Cora: [she hesitates for a moment, before reaching forward to take his hand]

Stiles: [smiles, and he laces his fingers with hers]

Cora: [smiles back, before glancing back to the woods] So were are we going now?

Stiles: Just walking. We can follow the path or go off road.

Cora: Going off road probably isn't a good idea. There're coyotes out here.

Stiles: [nods] Okay, on road it is. Ending the first date in the ER is not a good way to get a second date.

Cora: No, it is not.

Stiles: So let's walk. [and they can walk on the path hand in hand]

Cora: [and eventually she will glance down at her watch and...] I should probably get back. It's getting late.

Stiles: Okay. I can drive you...

Cora: Are you sure? Don't you have your own curfew to get back for?

Stiles: I happen to be an expert at sneaking in after hours.

Cora: Oh really?

Stiles: Yup. Right through my window. I never lock it.

Cora: Good to know. [and as she finishes there's a snap! from somewhere in the woods behind them and her head snaps around]

Stiles: [and he will spin around as well and... well he's got that protective Stilinski gene and he will step in front of Cora a bit]

Kate: You know, you kids really shouldn't be out here this late. Almost anyone could be out here.

Stiles: Oh come on, everyone in Beacon Hills comes out here on dates. Probably more people here than in Starbucks.

Cora: [says nothing, she's just starting at Kate, white as a sheet, her hand moving up to fist the back of Stiles' shirt to keep him close]

Kate: [her fear tells Kate all she needs to know, though, and her smile widens as she does] At least your girlfriend here seems to have some common sense.

Stiles: Well, if you're getting picky here, you aren't following your own advice. You're out here. Who knows what's out here? [smug smirk, but he will squeeze Cora's hand reassuringly]

Kate: Oh, I'll be fine. [she reaches behind her and pulls out her favorite glock] I've got one of these. And before you run to your dad about it, I have a permit to carry. [she turns back to Cora, leaving the gun out for both of them to see] You know who I am.

Cora: [swallows and nods, still looking nervous]

Kate: Good. Then I need you to deliver a message for me. I need you to tell your brother to keep his grubby little paws off my niece. Can you do that for me?

Cora: [swallows and nods again]

Stiles: [puts two and two together and] You're Allison's aunt?

Kate: Aren't you a smart cookie? [to Cora] You make sure he gets that message, alright?

Cora: [finally managing to find her words] I'll tell him.

Kate: Good. [and there's a wink to Stiles before she turns to go] See you kids around.

Stiles: [and he will look at Cora] Wow, she's kinda crazy.

Cora: [yeah, she doesn't look okay. she looks pretty terrified and she hasn't let go of his shirt] I need to go home.

Stiles: Yeah, okay. I'll take you home. [and without asking, just out of instinct, he's going to wrap his arm around her shoulder and pull her a bit closer as they walk back to the jeep]

Cora: [and she will appreciate that but she's not going to say much until they get to her front door]

Stiles: [and he will be worried, and as they got close] You know, I would do whatever I could to keep someone from hurting you. And someone tries to hurt me and they have the entire body of the Beacon Hills police force down their throats. Once, someone pushed me out of the way at the diner and my dad all but handcuffed him and arrested him for assault of a minor.

Cora: [she glances over to him with a small smile, but she doesn't think that would stop Kate in the end] Thanks, Stiles. [and when they stop in front of her house, she moves to get out quickly] I had fun, up until the end.

Stiles: Hold on, I'll walk you in. [and he is going to book it to her door and hold out his hand to her]

Cora: [she pauses for a moment, smiling as she takes his hand and let him lead the way] You don't have to. I'll be okay.

Stiles: I know, but I want to. [and she had been scared so he wasn't going to risk it] Plus you know, doesn't look good if I just kick you out of the car and drive off.

Cora: [she snorts a bit at that, before nodding and continuing to follow him to the door]

Stiles: [and once they are at the door] So I guess I'll see you at the game tomorrow?

Cora: [she starts to nod but then she pauses because she doesn't know how this conversation with her mother is going to go] I don't know. I'll text you?

Stiles: [nods] Okay. Yeah, cause if you do, we can totally make fun of your brother during the game or something to keep from getting bored.

Cora: [she nods with a small smile] Sounds good.

Stiles: I have a feeling that the mood is dead to ask if I could kiss you...

Cora: [she laughs softly before shaking her head] Not tonight, sorry.

Stiles: Hey, no problem. Best things are worth waiting for, right?

Cora: I guess.

Stiles: Talk to you later. [and he will let go of her hand, taking a few steps back so she could go in] I had fun tonight. Except you know for the crazy aunt and all.

Cora: [she smiles a bit at that, before making her way inside. once the door closes she'll lean back against it, waiting for the sound of Stiles' Jeep leaving before her breathing kicks up and all the panic she's been holding down floods back in again as she sinks down to the floor]

Peter: [and he is leaving the living room for the kitchen when he hears her and makes a sharp turn and kneels down next to her] Cora, what's wrong?

Cora: [and she looks up, swallows hard] Kate Argent was in the woods.

Peter: [and there's a soft growl, and he's looking her over] Are you hurt? Did she threaten you?

Cora: [she shakes her head] She threatened Derek.

Peter: Because he's friends with Allison Argent.

Cora: [she nods] It was just me and Stiles, and she had a gun. I didn't know what to do.

Peter: Coming home was the right thing. She would know better than to do anything in front of a human.

Cora: Didn't stop her from flashing her gun and rubbing in the fact that she had a permit.

Peter: Permits don't give her the right to kill people with it. [pulls her in to hug her] Calm down, you're home and you're safe.

Cora: [curls into him easily, burrowing into his shoulder] I'm worried Derek won't listen.

Peter: Your mom will make him.

Cora: I'm worried he won't listen to her.

Peter: I'll make sure of it.

Cora: [she just nods, still not having much faith in Peter's ability to persuade Derek]

Peter: Come on, let's go find your mother.

Cora: [nods and lets him pull her to her feet]

Peter: [and they will go off to talk to Talia]

Derek: [and he will be coming home soon after because he stayed a bit after to hang with his friends and with Allison. He's all smiles]

Talia: [and they'll be sitting at the table looking very sober] Derek.

Derek: [blinks] Sorry I was late... I was with the guys...

Talia: That's not what this is. Sit down.

Derek: [and he'll come in slowly, looking at them all] What's going on?

Talia: [turns to face Derek more] Kate Argent was in the woods tonight. She cornered your sister while she was alone with Stiles.

Derek: Oh shit. Are you okay, Cora?

Talia: [Cora doesn't answer, just looks at her hands] She's fine, but she left a message for you. She wants you to stay away from Allison.

Derek: Well, that's kinda hard. We go to school together.

Talia: But you can still keep your distance.

Derek: But we're friends. You told me it was okay for me to be friends with her. I can't just suddenly stop that.

Talia: You're going to have to. I'm sorry, Derek, but you need to stay away from her.

Derek: That's not fair!

Talia: This isn't about fair anymore! This is about the safety of the pack, and her aunt is just like her grandfather. She can't be reasoned with.

Derek: [pouts, angry] Fine.

Talia: I really am sorry, Derek. I know you liked her. But she threatened your sister with a gun. I can't ignore that.

Derek: Maybe you should take the problem to her, and not me. [and he's going to go storm out of the room]

Talia: [sighs and leans back in her chair, rubbing her eyes]

Derek: [and he's going to slam his door shut and just flop onto his bed]

Cora: [shifts uncomfortably in her chair because part of her is mad that that was his reaction, but she can get it too. but she's mostly mad.] Can I go to bed?

Peter: Only after you tell us how things went with Stiles before that. [because he can see she's mad and maybe giving her something nicer to think about will help her sleep]

Cora: [she glances up at him because she really doesn't want to talk about it now. She swallows and shrugs] It was fine.

Peter; [looks up at his sister, since she would be the one to tell Cora to go to bed]

Talia: [glances over with a small smile] It's fine. Go ahead.

Cora: [nods and she'll go upstairs to her room, hesitating in front of her brother's door. She'll stare at it for a moment, debating, but she's too angry to ignore it and she needs to put it somewhere so hopefully you're not doing anything to personal Derek, because she's just going to barge right in] Why is she more important than me?

Derek: [he's just pouting in his bed. He'll look over at her] What are you talking about?

Cora: I am your sister. I'm your twin. Her psychotic aunt had a gun in my face and she threatened our family and you're more upset about not being friends with her anymore than you are about me.

Derek: Because you're standing here yelling at me. Standing here, alive, safe, and home. I'm the one being punished.

Cora: Being punished? [oh fuck that] So just because I'm fine, you can pretend it didn't happen? You barely know her, and you're acting like she's worth selling out me for.

Derek: I'm not selling you out for her! What do you want me to say, I already asked if you were okay?! Mom said you were fine.

Cora: God, you don't get it. You're being a baby about this girl you barely know and how having to protect your family by staying away from her is this great punishment, but if it were me? I would give up everyone to protect you. Lydia, Stiles, all of it. Because you're my brother. Why is it such a hardship for you to protect me?

Derek: No, you don't get it. I will always protect you, but I'm being told I have to give up someone who makes me happy, Cora. She makes me smile in a way I haven't before. And it's not my choice, or hers. It's because someone decided they don't like it and put a gun to your head that they think they can control me. Control ALL of us and it's not fair to you or me or mom or Allison or anyone!

Cora: Maybe not. But it isn't about fairness, Derek. And maybe it's not right either, but there's nothing we can do about that right now. So suck it up and deal and maybe try acting like my brother instead of a giant brat. [and she's going to turn to go because she still feels like she's playing second fiddle to some girl and she resents it. a lot]

Derek: [and that's not what he's doing at all but he's going to sit in his bed and stew a bit longer before he opens his window and just leaves]

Cora: [and she's going to go back to her room and slam the door and not follow him this time because she's tired of being treated like she's dumb or deficient or whatever else that seems to come with Derek lately. But she will text Stiles and say she's not going to the game, sorry Stiles]

Stiles: [is disappointed but will ask her if everything is okay]

Cora: Not really. Derek's being an ass.

Stiles: About having to stay away from Allison?

Cora: Yeah.

Stiles: Sorry to hear it. Though can't say I'd blame him either.

Cora: [huffs] He's more mad about not being allowed to be friends with her than he is that Kate threatened me in the first place. And don't tell me I don't get it because he's already tried but God forbid I expect a little loyalty from my twin brother over the girl he's known for two weeks.

Stiles: No, no I can get that. He should be worried about you. Did he say he wasn't worried about you?

Cora: But I'm fine so clearly it doesn't matter as much that he can't be friends with this "girl that makes him happy."

Stiles: Did you tell him you're not fine?

Cora: [she thought she made that pretty clear also she had a GUN IN HER FACE it should be obvious that she isn't fine] Everything he said about me was followed by a "but" about Allison.

Stiles: I'm sorry.

Cora: [anger as given way to just rejection and sadness at this point and she's pretty much curled up in bed crying, not that Stiles can see that] I'm sorry about the game.

Stiles: Hey, it's a game. I'm not really a fan anyway. If you want, I could come over and keep you company while your family goes to the game so you're not home alone?

Cora: [she considers quietly for a moment] Okay.

Stiles: [grinning at home] Okay. What king of movies do you like?

Cora: Nothing boring?

Stiles: Action movies then.

Cora: Yeah, those are fine.

Stiles: Cool. I have an idea then on what to bring. The game's at two so I'll come over at like, one?

Cora: Make it 1:30. I don't know when my family is leaving.

Stiles: One thirty it is. You have popcorn or should I bring some?

Cora: We've got popcorn.

Stiles: Cool. See you then. I should probably go to bed now.

Cora: Yeah, me too. Night, Stiles.

Stiles: Night Cora.

Cora: [and she'll put her phone to the side and go get ready for bed and splash some water on her face]