Stiles didn't even text me until that next Wednesday. I would be lying if I said I hadn't missed him at all during the near week that we hadn't talked to one another.
Sorry about ignoring all your texts. Been busy helping Scott with the whole Derek thing. –Stiles
I hope everything is okay. How's the search?
Could be better. We haven't found even a clue, but Derek doesn't want to give up.
If my friend went missing, I wouldn't give up either.
So if I just disappear one day, you'd search for me?
Of course.
I hadn't even hesitated, blushing moments after I pressed the send button. When he didn't respond after a few minutes, taking longer that he had earlier in the conversation, worry gripped my gut. Had I said the wrong thing?
Good. I'd look for you too :)
I smiled at the text when I opened it, letting out a relieved sigh.
Hey, do you want to go bowling tomorrow? I typed into my phone, hesitating before I added. You could tell Scott to come too.
Are you sure? I mean, two guys and just you, wouldn't you get a little overwhelmed?
I was afraid to tell him that as long he was there, I'd be fine. That's how it seemed to be working, and I hadn't been lying to my father. Stiles made me feel safe.
It's okay. I mean, it's just you and Scott. I know you're both good people.
Alright, I'll text him and see if he's okay with it. If he mentions his ex, Allison, though, feel free to kick him. He won't stop when he starts.
I laughed softly, responding with a confirmation and a reminder that he'll have to pick me up, since I had no car.
The next day, I was sitting on my front step when Stiles pulled up. I smiled and stood, racing to the jeep before he could even get out.
"Impatient, aren't we?" He asked, grinning a bit as he shifted the vehicle back into drive, headed towards the bowling alley.
"It's more like mom is freaking out that this is the second time I'm leaving the house and the first time she didn't know until that night." I said with a sigh. "She's probably going to call me like three times at least to make sure I'm alive."
Stiles grinned a bit, shaking his head. "Do you and your mom get along?" He asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, she's just being really overprotective and it's getting a bit suffocating." I shrugged, pulling my feet up to wrap my arms around my legs, only for Stiles to slap my leg.
"No feet on the seat!" He groaned, causing me to laugh and plant my feet back down.
"Alright, geez!" I giggled softly. "So, we meeting Scott there?"
"Yeah. Are you sure it's okay?" He glanced at me, raising an eyebrow.
"Stiles, I'm going to be okay." I told him, smiling. "You'll be there."
He blushed slightly, grinning like a fool. "Yeah, I'll be your Batman."
"Of course." I giggled slightly at his look of pride my words seemed to cause. Minutes later we pulled into the parking lot of the bowling alley, and I beat Stiles to opening my door of the jeep. I grinned when he pouted a bit. "I do love a gentleman Stiles, but I can't function by myself."
He blushed, slightly, reaching up to scratch his cheek. "Yeah, I know."
I shook my head, smiling softly, before taking his hand and pulling him towards the entrance to the bowling alley, unable to see the look of shock on his face as he looked down at our joined hands.
Scott was already there, sitting at a table near the entrance. He grinned when he saw us, waving us over. "Hey Stiles. And Julie, right?" He asked, looking at me.
I nodded, giving him a small smile. "Yeah. Hi Scott." I responded.
"Okay, I'm buying. Julie, what size are you?" Stiles asked, turning to me.
"Size six, but I can get my own shoes Stiles." I told him.
"No need, I got it." He waved me off, walking to the counter.
"Then you better get me some nachos!" I called after him, crossing my arms over my chest. A soft chuckle to my left caused me to turn. "Something to say McCall?"
Scott chuckled again, shaking his head at me. "Are you sure you two aren't dating?" He asked.
I blushed at his question, thankful in that moment for the dim lighting of the bowling alley. "We aren't together. Stiles is just…helping me through something."
Scott blinked at that. "Are you okay?"
I blinked back and nodded. "Well yeah, I just…it's hard to talk about it." I admitted, looking away.
"Well, you don't have to tell me about it." Scott said, smiling softly at me. "Not if you don't want to."
I looked back at him, raising an eyebrow. "Stiles hasn't told you?"
He blinked, frowning slightly. "No, when I asked he said it wasn't his news to tell." He explained and shrugged. "Just, know that you can tell me when you're ready."
I smiled softly and nodded. "Okay, thanks for the patience." I said, looking up when Stiles approached us again. I smiled at the shoes he handed me. "They have these here? Seriously?"
Stiles grinned in triumph as I held up the bowling shoes that had the Batman logo on the toes. "I know someone who works here that told me about them." He admitted. "You're lucky they're in your size!"
I laughed, sitting at the table to change my shoes. "You're the best Stiles."
"You like Batman?" Scott asked, raising his eyebrow at me as he changed into the shoes that Stiles had handed him.
"Scott, she quotes Batman!" Stiles said, grinning as he sat on the floor in front of us to put on his own pair of borrowed bowling shoes, causing me to laugh.
"So, how you doing?" Stiles asked as he sat down next to me while we waited for Scott to choose his ball.
I looked at him, raising an eyebrow at him. "Good, why?"
"Just…if you start to feel overwhelmed, let me know, okay?" He asked, looking down at his hands, his elbows rested on his knees. "We'll run out as quick as we can if you want."
I smiled widely, ducking my head a bit. "Thanks Stiles, but I'm sure it'll be fine. Thank you for being so concerned though."
"Don't mention it." He said, looking up and smiling at me.
"Am I interrupting something?"
We both looked up to see Scott standing in front of us. I smiled and shook my head. "Nah, the moment's already gone. Ready?"
He nodded, holding up the bowling ball he'd selected. "Ready." He grinned.
"Want me to turn on the bumpers for you?" Stiles asked, grinning at his best friend.
Scott shot Stiles a glare, causing the taller teen to chuckle as he turned to me. "Well, ladies first."
I rolled my eyes, shoving his shoulder as I got up. He laughed, moving over to the seat at the little computer for our lane. Stiles had already entered our names, though Scott had yet to notice that Stiles had put each of us in as character from the Batman series. Stiles was Bruce, Scott was Alfred, and I was Lorna. I wondered what made him choose her out of all of Batman's love interests from the comics. Or a love interest of Batman's at all.
A few rounds later, Stiles was just trailing ahead of me but about ten points while Scott was struggling to keep up. I sat down next to Stiles at the screen, looking at our scores.
"So, why'd you choose Lorna for me?" I asked, looking at him as Scott concentrated on getting trying to get a split.
"Oh, well she was a museum curator, and you said you really like to read and stuff so I thought she was the best option." He shrugged.
"Please, if I have to be a female has any connection to the Batman comic series, it'll have to be Dinah Lance." I said, smirking at him.
Stiles raised an eyebrow at me, grinning a bit. "You want to be Black Canary?"
"Why not? She kicks ass, is gorgeous, and one of my favorite female heroes from DC comics." I shrugged, smiling as I looked back at Scott. "Just aim for one of them Scott, not even many pros can get both pins in your situation!" I called, causing the other teenage boy to turn around and scowl in playful annoyance at me, but he did as I instructed while Stiles changed my name on the scoreboard. "Now, I'm going to get those nachos, you two want anything?" I asked as I stood. "Maybe some coke?"
"Sound good." Scott said, sitting down in my now vacated seat. "Hey, why am I Alfred?"
"Because this time, you get to be the sidekick." Stiles answered before looking at me. "Coke is good, are you going to share those nachos?"
"Only if I get two orders of them." I said, grinning as I pulled my wallet out of my bag and headed towards the counter.
While I was gone, Stiles watched me for a moment before he stood to take his turn. Scott glanced in my direction before looking over at Stiles with a grin on his face.
"So, when's the last time you thought about Lydia?" He asked Stiles.
The other boy looked at him, blinking rapidly. "Why do you ask?"
"Because you keep giving Julie this look that you used to give Lydia, back in the sixth grade or so." Scott explained. "Plus, I'm pretty sure you two have been flirting half the time we've been here."
Stiles scowled as he picked up his ball. "No flirting is going on Scott, we're just two friends of the opposite gender talking." Stiles told him, pausing as he concentrated on the pins at the other end of the lane. He sent his ball rolling towards them swiftly, pursing his lips when all but one fell. "Besides, I know for a fact she's not looking for a boyfriend so there's no point. I've been friend-zoned for life when it comes to Julianna Carlson." He added as he turned back to Scott.
"Why do you say that?" Scott asked, his eyebrows drawing together slightly.
"Because she's been through a lot of crap that I'm not allowed to tell you because it's her life, not mine, and I only know about it by accident. She says I'm a distraction from her bad memories and what not, but after what happened, I know she doesn't want a relationship." Stiles sighed, waiting for his ball to be sent back up to him. "I've only known her a couple weeks, but I already know I like her, but she has scars I can't heal. I don't know if anyone will be able to heal them."
Scott continued to look confused, but before he could say anything, Stiles' ball had appeared once more, as had I. I set down three orders of nachos on the little table for our lane, an employee of the bowling alley setting down a pitcher of coke and ice as well as three disposable cups. I thanked the man before looking at the guys.
"Food and drink is here." I said, filling up all three of the glasses, leaving the pitcher half full. While Stiles rolled his ball down the lane again, effectively knocking down the last pin with ease, Scott got up and moved to the table, pulling one of the nacho orders towards him and grabbing a cup.
"Thanks Julie." He said with a grin as he dipped a chip in the orange concoction they passed off as melted cheese.
"No problem Scottie." I said, patting his head as I made my way over to take my turn.
We played a total of two games, filled our stomachs on nachos and coke, before we finally decided to call it a day. I awkwardly refused a hug from Scott when we said goodbye, blushing darkly as he looked at me with eyes filled with hurt and confusion. Stiles had been quick to distract us both, knowing why I had shied away. Even though Scott and I had bonded considerably during the past couple hours, a large part of me, the scared, damaged part left behind after the incident, was afraid of his touch.
Stiles drove me home, talking the entire way in order to keep my mind off things. My mother offered him to stay over for dinner again, but once more he refused with the same excuse of cooking for his dad before he bid me ado, saying he'd see me soon. We'd already made plans to hang out again in a couple days.
The rest of the evening passed by slowly. Dad got home from work in time for dinner, mom went to bed earlier because she had a morning conference call for work and had to be out of the house by five, and I retired to my room after dinner only for my dad to appear in my door with two bowls of brownie fudge ice cream. We talked for a while before he had to go to bed, he had a fairly early morning tomorrow as well. I tried to read, but the overall lack of sleep from the past few weeks caught up to me and I was asleep by 10:30.
That night, the nightmares got worse.
Before, they'd always been the same. I was running through dark woods, the voice of the man who'd raped me close behind, calling for me, making crude promises of taking me away again. Lately, in these dreams, I'd been calling out for my mother or father. On that night though, my nightmares included Stiles.
I had been running away from the voice again, running through the trees with fear as my only fuel now. But instead of endless woods, the trees suddenly opened up, and I found myself just outside of an old, burnt down home. Something told me I should know this house, at least know of it, but then came that voice again, and I ran inside.
When I burst through the doors, I skidded to a halt, eyes wide as they landed on him. Stiles. He stood at the bottom of a large staircase in front of me. His back was too me, but when I'd ran into the remains of the once large home, he started to turn towards me slowly. Those amber eyes were filled with fear and worry. His mouth opened, his lips moved, but no sound reached my ears. It looked like he was shouting something, but all I could hear was the man's voice behind me. It was growing louder.
Suddenly, Stiles' eyes widened and he looked away from me, his eyes going down to his stomach. My gaze followed, and when I saw what he was looking at, I wish I hadn't looked. An arrow stuck out of his gut, looking like it had gone deep enough to pierce through his entire body.
Stiles looked up slowly, the color in his eyes fading slowly as his mouth moved again. The stranger's voice came from his lips this time, saying my name.
I woke screaming, fighting against my sheets. Almost instantly though, I was able to take in my surroundings. My breath came in labored pants as I scrambled to free my limbs, crawling across my mattress to the bed-side table that held my alarm clock and where my phone was plugged in.
I was surprised neither of my parents had burst into my room yet, I was sure I'd been screaming bloody murder just now, but I ignored it as I went through my contacts swiftly, calling the number I had been searching for.
I had to call him three times before he picked up, sounding disoriented and half asleep.
"Hello?"
"Stiles." I hated how weak I sounded, even with my quiet sobs.
Suddenly, Stiles sounded very much awake. "Julie?! Are you okay, what happened?!"
"I-I'm fine." I said, the lingering sensation of fear slowly ebbing away at the sound of his voice. "Just a n-nightmare." I explained, hiccuping softly. "Y-you were in it, you died."
"It's okay Julie, I'm fine, no wounds or blood or feelings of terminal illness." He said, speaking rapidly. "Stiles good, Stiles safe."
I nodded, even though I knew he wasn't able to see me. "I-I just needed to hear your voice." I told him, wiping tears from my cheeks.
"Okay, yeah, no problem. Do you want me to just keep talking? Because I can totally do that if you want."
"Could you?" I asked, sniffing as I lay back down in my bed, keeping my phone to my ear.
"Yeah, of course I can." He said, and he did, he talked about whatever seemed to come to his mind, no matter how random it was.
The next morning, I woke up six hours later with a dead cellphone on my pillow and feeling more rested than I had since the day I was raped.
Sorry about uploading so late today, work this week has been stupidly busy. All but one local school had spring break this week and there's something about teenagers and coffee these days. Worked a twelve hour (7 to 7) shift today, and this chapter hadn't been looked over yet. Hopefully now that spring breaks are over (except that one), things will be slower enough that I can actually write something this week. Which means that I might have to delay Just Enough Time again, but hopefully not by much.
If this story seems pretty slow for you guys, things start to pick up after chapter 6. It's important that the relationship between Julie and Stiles builds up a bit before I throw stuff at you, because trust me, there's a lot of stuff that I'm going to be adding to the entirty of season 3 of Teen Wolf. Unfortunately, I have to change some things about certain myths and such. I give the tinniest little hint of what's to come in chapter 6, but I doubt anyone will realize it until I give you more info.
Enjoy! And don't forget to review :) PS: I know Black Canary is a character from the Arrow comic series, but according to the DC comics wiki, she does appear in a small series of Batman comics. I watch the show Arrow and love Canary's character, and I'm sad her name is Sara in the show instead of Dinah. I like Dinah better.
