Stiles stormed out the doors of school trying to calm down. He reached his jeep and spent a few moments leaning against her, just breathing and feeling the air against his face.
The ringing of his phone startled him back to where he was. He wasn't used to his ringtone, this being the first day since he had his heart broken that he had his phone switched on.
"Hey dad."
"Hello kiddo, how was it today?" Stiles wanted to lie, wanted to tell his dad how much better it was than he thought, but he was tired of lying to his father.
"…alright. I guess."
"What happened?" The Sheriff asked instantly, Stiles could almost hear how his father instantly tensed.
"Nothing really."
"Stiles." Stiles knew he had no choice, despite all his lies in the past, he somehow was a sucker when his father used the dad voice on him. With a sigh he told his father.
"Dad I'm fine, just kept getting looked at, think it's the clothes, than Jackson douche bag Whitmore decided to try and go all alpha on me after school."
"Did he hurt you? Shall I take you to the hospital?"
"Jeez dad no, I can handle myself I'm fine. Not a scratch."
"Handle yourself? Since when? You have been in exactly one real fight Stiles and you were 6, and you lost. You talk a big game Stiles, always have but you're not a fighter." Stiles remembered that fight, it was indeed his first fight, but by no means his last. He hated how much of his life is hidden from his dad. All the fights and battles he had fought in and planned, all the wounds he has bandaged up and hidden, all the late night stake outs, all the illegal acts, the 3 times he was kidnapped and 2 times he did the kidnapping, the 2 curses he was hit with and the one werewolf he had fallen in love with. Stiles swallowed a lump in his throat.
"A lot has happened since I was six dad. Besides he was bullying some freshman, I couldn't just stand there."
"And Jackson?" his dad asked, because he couldn't find it in him to argue Stiles' point. He was proud of his son more than anything, but he was still the Sherriff.
"I took it easy on him, the position he was in I could have broken his arm without breaking a sweat. I mean he would heal but I didn't particularly want that kind of attention so the
only thing he is nursing is his ego."
"You nearly broke his arm?!" Stiles almost regretted his words but he was emotionally exhausted and tired of hiding who he was, tired of everything. This was supposed to be a fresh start, a new life. He didn't want to lie to his father anymore, he was all he had now.
"But I didn't."
"Stiles that's not the point." He could hear the frustration in both their voices, he had not had enough sleep for this.
"That is exactly the point! I defused the situation, no one was hurt, the freshman feels less alone and probably won't be bullied again and Jackson deserved worse. Besides even if Jackson tried anything like I said I can handle it, better me than a freshman anyway."
"When did you become such a martyr?"
"When you became a hero." He answered easily. It was true. His father was a hero in Stiles' eyes. When he became involved in the supernatural he couldn't just turn his back because he knew it was not what his father would do. His father would dive into it and do his job to protect the people of beacon hills. Since he was not going to allow his father to find out, he took it upon himself to protect them. "What do you want me to make for dinner tonight?" Stiles asked changing the subject and attempting to break the thick heavy silence between them.
"You're cooking?!" Stiles frowned at the phone as his father exclaimed through the phone rest.
"I know I haven't this last week but I gotta get my shit together, right? Starting with cooking and keeping you eating right."
"Since when can you cook?"
"Ha ha dad I know I'm not brilliant but you haven't complained before." Stiles started to become worried at the silence that stretched out as he waited for a reply.
"Stiles. Are you okay?" That, was not what he was expecting, why did his dad sound so worried? Now Stiles thought about it, this wasn't the first time recently his dad had seemed genuinely shocked or worried when he did or said normal things.
"Yeah, why?" He asked cautiously, alarm bells starting to ring in his mind.
"You have never cooked me dinner. I have never dared asked you too."
"Huh?" was all he could muster, mind racing and swimming in confusion and worry. "Listen dad I gotta go." He couldn't handle more weirdness at the moment. "Love you, bye."
"Love you too." Once again he replied with a little confusion mixed within the genuine words.
Stiles stared at his phone for a little while, he must have been really distracted because he did not hear footsteps, did not feel another's presence. He had become very attuned to the world around him, he had a particular flare for tracking, though not as good as a werewolf he was better than most hunters.
The first thing he knew he was not alone was when a familiar voice reached his ears making him jump, he almost got into battle stance, almost threw the first punch. Thankfully his mind caught up with him. He recognised that voice, Danny.
He instantly relaxed, he had to remember he was no longer in that world. He was no longer part of a pack. He no longer needed to be on guard to defend his or others' lives. He just needed to be normal. He looked to the familiar well-kept tanned boy in front of him and smiled, calming his rapidly beating heart.
"Hello Stiles." Danny spoke as he placed his left arm on the roof of his jeep, leaning forward a little. If Danny did this to Stiles a year ago he would have thought Danny was flirting, now however he knows differently.
"Danny, to what do I owe this honour?" He joked, he knew Danny was not a malice person but he was also best friends with Jackson, which did imply some level of stupidity. Stiles folded his arms across his chest and leaning his back against his jeep, attempting for casual.
"I hear you humiliated Jackson." Great Stiles thought.
"He humiliated himself when he thought it was big of him to bully freshman."
"I never said I agreed with what he did."
"But you still want me to apologise." Stiles told him with an eye roll, Danny always defended Jackson, even when he was being a complete dick.
"What? No I, I wanted to say I'm impressed. From what I have heard happened, well. I didn't think you had that in you Stilinski." Stiles took the compliment with a pinch of salt, he saw the smirk and the way Danny eyes roamed down his body. It made him feel good, Stiles smiled.
"Taking assholes down a peg or two is just one of my many talents."
"All your talents involve ass?" Danny really was a good guy, he knew Danny didn't want him in any which way but they were friends, sort of. So Stiles really appreciated the effort, the weird act of comfort that actually seemed to work a little. Stiles couldn't help play along.
"More than you'd think."
"Really." They way Danny almost growled the word as he leaned a little further in towards Stiles, hit a little too close to home. Stiles sighed and scratched his neck.
"You can stop now Danny."
"Hmm?"
"I know what you're doing, thanks for trying to make me feel better. It worked, a little. Until I remember your reaction when I asked if I was attractive to gay guys." Stiles explained, Danny though didn't seem ready to drop his façade.
"What are you talking about Stilinski? You are defiantly attractive to gay guys, let me assure you." Danny started leaning in again Stiles though was done with the game, he pushed himself away from his jeep and the boy next to him.
"That's sweet of you, thanks. I needed that." He gave the taller teen a pat on the shoulder, Danny though didn't take it as a sign of friendship he merely looked confused.
"Stiles, what aren't you getting. I trying to come on to you, not comfort you."
"What?" He squawked, that was not where he saw this conversation going.
"I thought it was obvious." Danny chuckled obviously himself getting embarrassed by the turn of events.
"I'm flattered Danny but I'm still trying to pick up the pieces of my heart and my life." Stiles explained, he hated that he had to fight the tears as he spoke.
Danny usually knew everything, how did he not know. That wasn't Stiles' problem he reminded himself, he walked away from his friends from that life. It wasn't any of his business what communication problems the teens had.
"Bad break up?" he inquired, voice having lost the flirty twinge to it and replaced with sympathy.
"The worst." Was all he was able to say about Derek and him. "Thank you, you're a good friend. Just help keep everyone away from me." He told the boy, Stiles figured Danny was always an ally to his supernatural band of misfits but he was never technically one of them, he could still have Danny as a friend, maybe he didn't have to be completely alone.
"Everyone?"
"Yeah, even Scott, I can't handle him right now."
"Who?" Stiles wanted to laugh at the joke, but the genuine look of confusion in his eyes made Stiles' blood run cold.
"Scott. Scott McCall" Stiles told him, mouth gone completely dry
"Sorry Stilinski, never heard of him."
"You're, you're joking right?" Please Stiles thought, please be joking. His mind swirled, heart beating a mile a minute and palms sweating,
"Are you okay Stilinski?"
"I'm starting to think I'm not." He croaked through his dry throat. "I have to run, bye Danny!" he called as he jumped into his jeep as drove out of the school grounds, he needed to get away from Danny and be alone. After a few minutes driving he pulled over to the side of the road, pulled out his cell and dialled by heart his best friend's number.
"Come on Scott, come on pick up." He mumbled listening to the ringing in his ear, grip on his phone so tight the tips of white fingers were white.
"Hello?" a familiar voice came through the phone.
"Scott!" Stiles almost shouted, so relieved to hear his brothers voice.
"Who is this?" his body ran cold, that was not good. He sounded groggy like the phone call had woken him up. Maybe Scott was sick, he did not remember seeing him in school that day. He loves Scott but he his is rather dopey when he first wakes up.
"It's me Stiles."
"What's a Stiles?" Stiles could feel his heart beat in his mouth.
"Stop fucking around Scotty, it's freaking me out." Please Stiles thought, this can't be happening, what even is happening?!
"Look man, I think you have the wrong number."
"What?" He squeaked, was this one huge cosmic joke; you don't want to be part of our lives we will pretend you don't exist? He wishes everyone was being cruel because there was no other explanation that made a lick of sense. "No Scott, I need your help!"
"Please don't call again, if you do my dad will answer, he's in the FBI."
"Your dad?! You're with your dad?" what the hell is happening! stiles mind screamed he didn't understand any of this.
"Goodbye."
"No Scott, wait!" what was happening?! Stiles thought "Dammit!" he shouted breathing heavily and gripping the stirring wheel trying to calm down.
Stiles was confused, so very confused and scared. What had happened to Scott? Was it a spell? A curse? Some cruel joke? Stiles started his jeep and drove to the one person he felt safe, his father. He put his foot down and drove to the station.
