Author's Note:

Hello guys. First off, I owe everyone who has read my discontinued Fanfiction 'End of the Road' (originally called 'Outside') a sincere apology. First off, for not updating and not actually stating it was discontinued and keeping you waiting for so long. I really am sorry. I have another Author's Note at the end of this chapter somewhat explaining why my old story was discontinued, and what plans I have for this one.

Also, this is kind of an AU. Peter Hale and Allison's mother aren't dead; Kate still is, though. Any other things that I need to mention will be added in the future Author's Notes.

Disclaimer: I don't own 'Teen Wolf'.

Chapter 1: Happenstance

It was late at night at Beacon Hills High School, and Stiles and many others were watching the results of training and hard work from both teams unfold in the spectacular game of lacrosse in front of them, underneath the heavy glare of artificial lighting. Stiles was once again gifted with his unfortunately named spot on the bench, along with a few other guys on the reserve team. He was more upset than anything to actually admit to himself that he began to not care about sitting in that same spot every single game. He was becoming too accustomed to it to say the least; not having played on the field for a long time, even after the Coach saw that he was actually pretty good that one time, a while back.

He tried to ask Coach Finstock one time if he could be allowed to play alongside the rest of the team, and be taken off of the bench for once. He was flat out rejected by his Coach, him stating that if Stiles were to ever bring it up again, he would definitely take him off of the bench; as well as off of the team for good. Stiles didn't know why he was acting the way he was, so he decided not to press it further. Instead, he asked his buddy Scott to try and subtly bring the topic up in conversation with their Coach.

However, he could never actually count on anything that had the words 'Scott' and subtle' in the same sentence. Scott came back to him saying that Stiles was indefinitely staying on the bench until each of his team members were 'either severely maimed or injured', he quoted with what seemed like an undeniable degree of accuracy. Scott must have said something really off, that was Stiles' first thought; and he truly had nothing to respond with. Sometimes he wondered why he was even lingering on the edges of the team. He not only had to put up with being surrounded by people who didn't really like him or acknowledge his existence, not mentioning any names though… (Jackson).

The worst part though, was that he never actually got to spend time with the one person he actually came to these games for. His best buddy was always there on the pitch, having made first line months ago; leaving Stiles in his wolfed-out supernatural dust.

As per usual.

It wasn't the best of feelings to say the least; however, judging by how said best friend was playing at the moment, he might have been joining Stiles' with his rump placed firmly on the 'Reserves' bench. Stiles truly didn't know what was going on.

The past few games that they had been playing, or that Stiles had been watching at least, Scott had been acting particularly strangely. He was being profoundly and unusually aggressive towards people; even Stiles at some points, when it seemed like Scott just couldn't put up with the somewhat 'pointless drabble' that usually left Stiles' mouth, as Scott liked to call it. Stiles noted that he hadn't really been acting that way ever since he was first turned into Werewolf, by a now 'on the loose' Peter Hale, back when he had trouble controlling the urges that being turned into a supernatural creature brought.

Scott eventually calmed down with a little help from his so-called 'best friend' and one particularly dangerous brunette by the name of Allison Argent. Stiles had to place his hand over his mouth to stop himself from giggling right then as he knew he was the only one who helped Scott through his transition into wolf-hood more than she ever did. He wished he got credit for that more honestly, but what was done was done. It was in the past now.

Except, maybe it wasn't.

Scott was rampaging across the field, taking every chance he got to try and steal the ball mid-flight or knock people over whilst trying to score. Sometimes his teammates were lucky to avoid the onslaught brought on by their own companion; barely moving out of his way as he rushed past them towards the opposing team's goal, trying his very best to score. He never once succeeded though, and now Beacon Hills were losing quite badly. If Scott kept playing the way he was, Beacon Hills were going to lose this match. The team really couldn't afford another crushing defeat. From the looks of the crowd behind him, especially Mrs McCall in the crowd, Stiles wasn't the only person who noticed it too.

"For God's sake McCall, Pass!" Jackson, who was clearly irritated from his personal lack of involvement in the game that they were currently losing, shouted from across the field to Scott; who was quickly racing across the lacrosse field into the opposing team. He was met with the full force of two particularly stocky men from the away team, who had eventually caught onto Scott's solo plan of 'go-hard-or-go-home' and teamed up against his force. Of course, they had no trouble with blocking him from advancing any further and sending him to the ground with their padded shoulders alone.

A large of array of shouts and jeers erupted from the crowd; some at the opposing team for their action, yet most were against Scott for his selfish attitude during the game. Stiles had to say he was surprised for Scott not wolfing out right there. He was somewhat proud too, that he wasn't using his powers to take the advantage. He had tried to excel at lacrosse when he first became a werewolf, using the skills and powers that it granted him to excel at the game, but Stiles quickly scolded his best friend and brought him back to his reality. He should use his own skill to win his games; not the borrowed strength of a supernatural creature that he originally thought of as a curse. Heck, if Stiles could do it, his wolfed out buddy could at least try.

Stiles looked up from the state of his best friend on the ground, not moving straight away from the impact of the collision. The roaring crowd behind him was slowly silencing back down to the normal conversational level of amplitude. He was just in time to notice Jackson, a distance away on the field, literally face palming himself out of regret and disappointment for Scott's actions. Or at least, that's what Stiles figured out from that particular gesture.

He didn't know what was up with his friend recently, who was slowly getting up from his encounter. Jackson was shouting profanity at him from across the field for his actions, but Scott wasn't having any of it. He began walking up to Jackson after dropping his lacrosse stick and he seemed pretty pissed. Thankfully, Finstock was able to get between them in time. The last thing Stiles, and surely the rest of the people watching the game, needed to see were two supernatural creatures battling it out in the middle of a lacrosse match.

The Coach sent Scott to the bench, where Stiles was currently resting, and the Coach gave him a stern warning for his retaliation to Jackson's, also somewhat uncalled for, response. Jackson was scolded as well by Finstock, however if the team wanted to keep their chance of winning this match at all, he needed to keep Jackson on the pitch.

Stiles was knocked out of his train of thought as his friend plonked down on the bench besides him and the rest of the reserves on the team; one of whom was overjoyed at finally being allowed to play on the pitch. Stiles' slightly envious gaze drifted from the back of the guy currently running on to the pitch as he noticed his friend hadn't spoken to him yet since he sat down. He turned to look at Scott, somewhat surprised to find him looking away from his gaze. He, naturally, became concerned for his friend; as despite his recent behaviour being very… different, from his usual character and personality; this was a whole other level.

Here was Scott, who was not talking to his best friend of over ten years. Just because he got sent off of the lacrosse pitch? It wasn't really like Scott to throw a tantrum for any reason.

"What's up buddy?" Stiles asked, concerned. However, his friend didn't respond straight away.

"Scott?" He turned to look at Stiles then, and forced a smile upon his face. It didn't seem at all natural to Stiles, and unfortunately for Scott, it had him even more concerned.

"Stiles… Don't worry about it. I'm just a little… stressed, that's all."

"What? Why? There aren't any exams coming up that you haven't studied for there, are there? Please don't tell me you haven't been studying Scott. I can't afford to have to tutor you any more you know. You have to pay attention in class, Scotty!" Stiles laughed as he confessed, his ADHD on the brink of running wild. He shouldn't have forgotten to take his Adderall that day. "Believe it or not, I actually have better things to do."

"Like what. Play with yourself?" Stiles' smile left his face as he looked at his friend speaking. "Because I'm the only friend you've got." Scott then got up as the whistle went for half-time, leaving his friend behind on the bench as both teams went to take their short break back at the school, before he could even respond. It had truly been a while since anyone had left Stiles without a chance to respond like that, and he didn't know what annoyed him more.

The fact that Scott, his best friend, had said that; or the fact that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pick another person in that school who was truly his friend. Of course, there were the usual people that they hung around with at lunch and he saw in class sometimes. Among those people, Lydia, Danny, Jackson and Allison were present. However, Stiles and those 'friends' didn't have anything close to the bond formed over ten years, that he and Scott had forged together. However, something was clearly forcing that bond to loosen.

"Thanks Scott. Low blow." Stiles spoke to himself as he walked back to the School to get some refreshments with the rest of the team.

He didn't bother coming back for the second half.

Author's Note:

Okay so, I personally feel like I rushed the vast majority, if not all, of my previous story to the point where it was hard to continue. I unfortunately crammed too many irrelevant things like too much dialogue to ignore the true elements of Teen Wolf; with each of the character's involvement and depth within the story needing much more description in my opinion. That's what I hope to accomplish with this Fanfiction, rather than rush it as much as I did previously. Despite this, the chapter's will still be relatively short.

A surprise of sorts is that this story will be similar to 'End of the Road' (or 'Outside', whatever), which I will be keeping up on the site, in the sense that the plot will be similar to that story; however in hopefully more depth to keep you, the readers, intrigued and me as a somewhat aspiring writer, motivated. A quick reminder is that due to things like school, and any other major priorities that simply can't wait, updates may be quite intermittent at times; however I'll try let you guys know by leaving an update on my profile if any problems arise.

Also, I don't know anything about lacrosse. I'm going from Teen Wolf itself as well as a few things from Wikipedia. Lol.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

-Zharrk