Every year, on the anniversary of his mother death, Stiles would look for an escape. When he was little, it had been a few hours lost in Disney movies. Then books. More recently it had been parties and the bitter kiss of alcohol. This year, it looked like it was going to be just him, a bottle of fireball and his Playstation. Stiles sank back into his comfy beanbag chair and sighed. He picked up the controller and turned on the game.
Several hours later his phone buzzed. This time he decided not to ignore it and paused the game. There was one from Scott asking if he would like to see a movie with him and Allison. Stiles grimaced, he knew Scott meant well but did he really think he wanted to spend his night third wheeling? No thank you. The next message was from his father, saying that he was going to be working late again. Stiles wasn't surprised, with all the activity that had been going on recently his father was busier than ever. The third and most recent message was from Erica. Stiles raised an eyebrow, a text from Erica was not in his usual list of people who bothered him on a regular basis.
"Stiles, Bored. Scott told me to check up on you. Coming over."
He looked up from his phone and dropped it in shock.
"Holy God!"
His bedroom window was thrown open and Erica let herself into his room.
"Umm…Erica…Have you forgotten how to use the front door?" I mean, I could have been doing anything." He looked down and realized he was only wearing a t-shirt and his batman boxers."
"Whats the point of being a werewolf if you don't get to make an entrance now and again." She flashed a smile with too many teeth in it at him. Then she wrinkled her nose. "Why does it smell like a brewery in here?" she eyed the now quarter full bottle next to his chair. "Ah, been helping ourselves to daddy's liquor have we?"
For once in his life, Stiles was profoundly lost for words.
If someone had told Stiles yesterday that he was going to be playing playstation with Erica Reyes, he probably would have laughed in their face. But here he was doing it anyways. Not only that, but Erica was really good with Catwoman. That bitch. Stiles button mashed furiously but all he could see on his screen was batman getting his ass handed to him. He sighed, "Where did you even learn to play?"
Erica smirked. "Oh, what's the matter Stiles, sore loser? Now I'm just better then I was before."
"God save me from these werewolves" muttered Stiles.
"If I didn't know any better I'd almost say that sounded like a curse.
"yeah well, sometimes being the only human isn't fun anymore."
Erica paused and looked over at Stiles. "You're lucky you know. You've somehow been able to help with all the shit that's been going on despite being human. Isaac, Boyd and I, before we wolfed, we were nothing. According to Derek, we still are. He doesn't say you're useless." A hint of bitterness seemed to creep into her voice.
Stiles put down his controller. "uh, Erica, the only reason Derek hasn't trashed me is I'm pretty sure that he doesn't even think about me. I'm just Scotts sidekick. Totally different standard of mediocrity. They looked at each other for a moment before breaking into grins.
"I might be the most mediocre werewolf ever, but I can still kick your ass." She punctuated her last statement by knocking batman on his ass again.
About half an hour later Erica announced it was time to go, after having beat Stiles yet again. As she climbed out the window she turned. "Hey Stiles. You're alright, lets do this again sometime." She winked and was gone. Stiles stared at the area she had left in the window and grinned. This years escape had been better than he expected.