Stiles was done. Done with werewolves, done with the alpha pack and done with Beacon Hills.
It's like everyone seemed to forget that he wasn't like them, he bruised and he bled because he wasn't a goddanm fucking werewolf, he was plain old fragile human Stiles and when someone twice his size and height decides to throws him across the lacrosse field he can't just get back up and shake it off. Because he is human and not a werewolf which everyone seems to be forgetting.
He contemplated telling the pack that he was leaving but to be honest to himself he knew that the only person who would really care would be Derek.
And isn't that just a kick up the backside, no it wasn't the boy he called his best friend since he was two or his supposed boyfriend who couldn't go a few hours without texting him. It was Derek.
The guy who he accused of being a murderer.
That murdered his only living (and Stiles is not including Peter because that guy simply doesn't understand the concept of family in his opinion) family member and buried her in the backyard of their family home which was burned to the ground whilst their family was still inside by Derek's crazy ex girlfriend.
In a way Stiles isn't even surprised or even offended at the realisation, he knows that he and Scott just haven't been the same since Allison came into the picture and Stiles notices the way Isaac looks at Erica and Malia sometimes when he thinks Stiles isn't looking and he doesn't have to be a werewolf to know that Isaac has been going behind his back and cheating on him with Malia.
His ex-girlfriend.
He wonders how long it will be before they notice that he isn't even there anymore.
How long it takes them to realise that they're basically nothing without him holding their hands like their a bunch of fucking toddlers and then beg for him to come back conveniently forgetting that they treated him like shit.
No Stiles isn't the slightest bit surprised and maybe if this was a few months ago when he was still holding on, hoping that things would change that they would get better maybe back then he would of been offended. But right now Stiles just takes one look around his now bare bedroom with blank eyes and leaves out the note he had written out for his father and maybe Derek on his desk to find later.
Stiles didn't know just how to comprehend what happened next, one second he was placing the note on the desk and the next he was laying on his back with the breath knocked out of him.
He could hear growling and the heavy press of a body on top of his and he was just about ready to piss himself when he was pulled back onto his feet and into a hug. "What?" Stiles was confused until he heard Derek's distinct low chuckle and he all but melted into the embrace. Hoping if he held on tight and long enough he could fool himself into thinking that maybe Derek might just come with him.
Derek let out a sigh and stepped back from the hug, Stiles on the other hand let out a whine and made grabby hands towards the man that was something like a big brother to him.
"Stiles, there's nothing I can do to stop you from leaving is there?" Stiles shakes his head because he just needs to leave he can't deal with all the drama and death anymore. He just wants to be able to be a normal teenager without having to look over his shoulder for the latest supernatural threat.
"So you were just going to leave without saying goodbye, like I'm some nobody that wouldn't miss you when you're gone, like I don't mean anything to you" And danm that was like a punch to the gut because Stiles knows just how much his leaving would affect Derek, Stiles knows because he feels the same goddanm way. He lets out a shaky breath because he also knows what he's about to say next will only hurt them both more and this wasn't how Stiles wanted to leave things between them.
"I was going to leave a letter, it's just easier that way, I wouldn't be tempted to stay if I didn't have to go through saying goodbye and how much watching your face would hurt as I left I couldn't deal with that Derek. I wouldn't be able to leave if that happen because you mean so much to me and it hurts leaving you, I don't want to but I can't stay either. I just can't Derek. This town has taken enough out of me and I'm just done" Stiles turns then getting ready to leave when Derek reaches out and grabs his wrist to stop him.
"That's the cowards way out, I didn't take you for a coward Stiles" Stiles grits his teeth because he knows he deserves worse than that and it's the truth he is taking the cowards way out and his excuse sounded weak and pathetic even to his ears.
"Cowards way or not I'm still leaving but it wasn't my intention to hurt you, you're family to me that's the last thing I would of wanted"
Derek laughs, it's the bitter kind with no hint of happiness hidden inside and it calls to something deep in Stiles and brings tears to his eyes because again weak and pathetic. No matter if he said goodbye or not Derek would of been hurt.
"Let me come with you, just give me a day to pack and sort some stuff out and I'll come with you" Derek knows he's begging and exposing himself to rejection something he hasn't done since Kate but he just can't seem to bring himself to care because this is Stiles he's more like family than both Peter and Cora, more pack than any of the other wolves.
Stiles is his anchor, he needs him.
Stiles looks to Derek unsure if he should say yes or not, he knows that he would be better off with Derek, he would feel safer, be safer. But he wants no needs a clean break and Derek would only remind him of things he would rather forget.
In the end Stiles drops his bags and nods his head. "Fine but only a day I'm not staying a second longer in this godforsaken town"
Derek simply nods, knowing how much effort it takes Stiles to stay here even a second longer than he had planned.
Derek knew. He had been through it before with Laura after all. That overbearing and constant need to get away, to run from the problems and heartache that comes with staying in Beacon hills.
But it's at times like these that Derek wonders if they would have been better off staying instead running to New York. Maybe Peter wouldn't of been so stuck on revenge and maybe Laura still would have been alive. Derek pushes those thoughts away because still no matter how much time passes by it hurts to think about it.
It hurts so goddanm much.
So yeah Derek knew, what it took for Stiles to wait for him.