Sorry for the delay, but the real word got in the way of the fictional one I wished I lived in. Anyway, this chapter is pretty short and sweet. It was my first time trying to write like a ten year old boy, go figure. Hopefully I captured them alright. Enjoy!

Scott Runs Away From Home:

Scott sat on the swing, his toes grazing the dirt below as he rocked back and forth gently. He gripped the rusty chains tightly and stared at his shoes.

He had not planned on coming here; it was just where he had ended up. Tip-toeing out of his room, down the stairs, and through the front door was easier than it should have been for a ten year boy to do. It was easier than Scott wished it had been. He had purposefully gone slowly, looking behind him every few seconds until his house was out of view. But no one had noticed that he had left or tried to stop him.

He sniffled and released the chain to wipe at his eyes, stubbornly refusing to start crying.

The wind blew and he looked up as the empty swings around him rattled in the breeze. A small smile tugged at the edge of his lips when he saw a familiar figure walking towards him through the field.

Scott pulled his sleeve up over his hand and swiped at his nose again, attempting to hide all evidence of his tears.

"Hey," Stiles grabbed the chain of Scott's swing and shook it.

"Hey," Scott replied. He continued to stare at his shoes, not sure if really wanted the company right now.

Stiles sat down on the swing next to Scott and began swaying back and forth. They sat in silence for a few moments. Scott could feel Stiles staring at him but he refused to meet his eyes.

"Why can't we go play somewhere else?" Stiles asked. "We were here all day."

Scott shook his head. "I didn't ask you to come. I'm not playing today."

Stiles looked confused. "But we play every day."

"Well not today," Scott said angrily.

Stiles scratched his head. He and Scott met every day after school to hang out before dinner time. Scott was supposed to come over to his house today to play his new Nintendo, but he never showed up.

"Are we in a fight?"

Scott looked up at his friend's question. "No. Why would we be in a fight?"

"'Cause you didn't come over today," Stiles replied simply.

Scott looked down again. "I forgot. Sorry."

"That's okay," Stiles smiled.

Scott looked up again, surprised at how quickly his friend forgave him. He started to smile in return.

"Good thing I followed you so I could remind you."

"You followed me," Scott asked.

"Well yeah," Stiles shrugged. "I didn't want to play Nintendo by myself. That's stupid."

Scott laughed but it turned into a frown when he remembered why he had forgotten about their play date. He looked back at the ground and sniffled again.

"But I can't come over today," he said softly. "I'm running away."

"No you're not. You're sitting on a swing."

Scott shot a glare at his friend who stared back at him innocently.

"I just stopped for a minute. I was in the middle of running away when you came."

"You weren't gonna say bye to me?"

Scott didn't reply. He hadn't even thought of that. He shrugged.

"Where's your stuff?" Stiles asked.

Scott sniffled again, "What stuff?"

"You know, clothes and toys and food and stuff."

Scott shrugged once more, feeling more stupid by the second. He hadn't really thought this plan through. He fidgeted with his shirt sleeve which was wet with snot and tears. He rolled it up, disgusted.

"Can I come?"

Scott smiled but shook his head.

"You don't need to run away," Scott pointed out. "Your parents would miss you."

"So would yours Scott," Stiles nudged his friend on the arm.

It never ceased to amaze him how observant Stiles was. He always knew what was wrong; he always knew whenever anything was wrong, and he always knew what to say.

"They fight too much," Scott admitted quietly. He didn't bother trying to wipe the tears that formed in his eyes.

"I know," Stiles said. "But all parents do that."

Scott nodded, but he knew that his parents were not fighting like normal parents. He was only a little kid but he was old enough to know that parents were not supposed to act like his acted.

"You still running away?"

"No," Scott said. "I guess not."

He looked up at the dark clouds in the distance. It would rain soon and he didn't even have his raincoat. The rain would drive him home and he would spend the rest of the night in his room trying not to listen to his parents scream at each other.

"Wanna spend the night at my house?" Stiles suggested happily. "It would make up for you forgetting to come over."

Scott looked at his best friend incredulously; somehow he had befriended a mind reader all those years ago.

"Okay sure." Scott smiled.

Stiles stood up and extended a hand to Scott. He took and let Stiles haul him up.

"And you don't even have to go home to ask 'cause my mom can call your mom," Stiles said as they started walking through the field toward their neighborhood.

Scott looked up and smiled shyly at Stiles' knowing look. He never realized how good it was to have a best friend.

"Thanks Stiles."

"Yep. Wanna race?"