For the next week and a half, Derek and I really had no contact outside of class. It was really confusing. One night he shows up at my house, sits next to me on my couch, and makes me watch baseball with him and the next he talks to me only when necessary. Whatever. It's not like he would like me anyway. But, on the bright side, my birthday is tomorrow! I'll be turning 17. Yeah, so maybe I'm a 17 year old sophomore, but hey, kindergarten was really hard! It's not my fault my teacher could resist my adorable little boy charm! I flop down on my bed and sigh. I don't really expect Scott to remember. I love the guy but he's not very good at remembering…well…anything really. Not to mention Allison's birthday is the day after mine. Funny how fast your best friend can forget you. I fall asleep thinking about green eyes and dark hair.
My mom was falling. I don't know where we were but I was the only one around besides my mother. She was falling into a dark pit. I was reaching out to her, trying to grab her, but no matter how hard I tried to catch her I couldn't. Her mouth was open in a silent scream and tears were falling down her face. She finally made a sound, screaming my name.
"Stiles!" I jerked upwards and ended up launching myself out of my bed. I was gasping for breath and looking around desperately, finding myself in my room. I sat on the floor for a minute and took deep breaths. It was only a dream. Mom's fine and she's not going anywhere. "Stiles!" I heard my mother's voice again and realized she was calling me downstairs. I stood up and threw some clothes on before going downstairs. I froze on the bottom step and a felt a grin spread on my face. My parents were standing by the dining room table with a stack of chocolate chip pancakes and boysenberry syrup.
"Happy birthday!" They both yelled. I walked over and hugged my dad.
"You guys are the best!" I yelled and they laughed. I turned to my mom and dread filled my gut. I shook it off. It was just a dream. Nothing's going to happen to her. I hugged my mom tight and for a long time I wouldn't let go. I could tell she was confused, but thrilled. I took my time taking her in. Her smell, her hug, and when I pulled back, her face. "I love you mom." I didn't tell my mom that every day but that dream shook me. I felt like I needed to make sure she knew I love her. She smiled softly at me.
"I love you too Stiles. You're dad and I have to go to work now but when you get home tonight I'm making your favorite. And we're having ice cream cake." Mom and dad started walking towards the door while I sat down to eat my pancakes. Mom made the best pancakes and it only took my about five minutes to finish all four of them. I went upstairs and went through my morning routine: take shower, get dressed, brush teeth, put on shoes, grab homework. I was out to my jeep in about 20 minutes and on my way to school.
Just like I suspected, Scott didn't remember my birthday. For the first half of the day he went on and on about what he and Allison were going to do for my birthday. We were walking down the hallway to lunch when we passed Derek.
"Happy birthday Stiles." He said it in passing but it made my heart skip a beat. I wasn't sure whether or not I should be concerned that he knew so much about me, but it really just made my face light up. Scott, on the other hand, looked like a kicked puppy.
"Stiles, why didn't you say anything?! I totally forgot! I've been talking about Allison's birthday all day and you didn't say anything?" I shrugged.
"It doesn't really matter Scott. It's not one of those landmark birthdays. I'm actually in between those landmark birthdays." This did nothing to calm Scott down. It didn't really disappoint me that he forgot since I knew he would. What does it say about me that my best friend doesn't remember my birthday and it doesn't bother me?
"Even Derek remembered! I'm a horrible best friend!" I rolled my eyes.
"Would it make you feel better if I yell at you?" I questioned.
"Yes!"
"Ok, then, Scott, you're the worst. I want a new best friend because you suck." I deadpanned. Scott was making puppy eyes at me. "Food, Scott! I want to eat!" I dragged him to the cafeteria where he bought me five birthday/apology cookies. Not that I'm complaining.
It's time for AP Lit. Which sucks. Me and Derek already finished our project in class and today was a work day. That means I have 45 minutes to sit and awkwardly not stare at Derek. He didn't really say much to me these days and I really don't know why. When I walked into the classroom he was already sitting down, which was unusual. Usually I was there first and have time to find something to distract me. Today he was sitting there beaming at me. I slowly walked over and sat down.
"Hey Stiles." Derek's voice was light and happy. I couldn't help but raise my eyebrow.
"Hi…Derek. You seem chipper today." I commented. His face, if possible, lit up even more.
"It's a good day." He affirmed. We fell into an almost-awkward-but-not-really silence. I reached down and pulled out my notebook as the late bell rang. The class sat talking for a few minutes while Ms. Leake was getting her papers together. "So you're 17 today." I looked up at him and nodded, my eyes narrowed.
"How do you know all this stuff?" I questioned before I lost my nerve. Derek actually blushed. He looked up at me through his eyelashes while a flirty smirk appeared on his face.
"My mom and your mom used to be close friends. I was at the hospital when you were born. I was only almost one at the time. Mom has a picture of us together when I was two and you were one. I just… I don't know. I'm interested." I tilted my head to the side.
"Really? Why hasn't my mom said anything?"
"Mom says they used to work together but they grew apart. My mom got another job and they just lost contact." I nodded contemplatively. I didn't understand why my mom wouldn't have said anything since she knew about my infatuation with Derek.
Ms. Leake was just standing up to start class when there was a knock on the door. No one could see out through the window on the door except for her. When her face became pale you could feel everyone in the class suddenly become interested. She walked over to the door and opened it. I barely heard her say 'Hello Sheriff' and I froze. Why was my dad here? I could hear my dad's voice but I couldn't hear his words. I tensed up. This couldn't mean anything good. Ms. Leake turned to look at me.
"Stiles?" She asked softly. My eyes widened. "Could you come here?" I slowly stood up and walked to the front of the class. I got to the doorway and looked at my dad. He looked like he had aged 10 years since this morning and his eyes were red. That same feeling of dread filled my gut and I could barely breathe. He took my out to the hallway and grabbed my arms.
"Stiles." His voice was strained and broken and he couldn't meet my eyes. "It's-" He cut off.
"Is it mom?" My voice was small and weak. "Is she okay? What happened?" Tears started falling down his face.
"She got in a car accident. Someone ran through an intersection and hit her car. She's…she's dead." My whole world stopped right then. The only thing I could see was my mom's face smiling at me this morning, telling me she loved me. I could feel my breath getting shorter and shorter and it became harder to breathe. I fell against the wall panting for breath. My dad ran into the classroom yelling for Ms. Leake to call the nurse but it was all background noise. Mom's dead. She's never coming back. I slid down the wall and realized I was shaking. I was struggling to get any air at all while sobs shook my body. I saw someone sink down beside me but I didn't, couldn't look. Mom's dead.
"Stiles! Stiles look at me!" The voice was frantic, desperate. I distantly registered it was Derek's voice. When I didn't look at him he moved in front of me. "Stiles look at me!" He grabbed my chin and made me meet his eyes. "Stiles breathe! Please, Stiles, breathe!" He was begging now and without any conscious effort from me I took a deep breath. I saw his shoulders relax slightly but there was still tension there. He sat down beside me and pulled me onto his lap, arms wrapping around me tightly.
"Derek," I sobbed. "My mom." He pulled me closer.
"I know, Stiles. I know." I realized I was shaking and Derek was slightly rocking me back and forth, like consoling a child. The thought made fresh tears stream down my face. Mom's dead. She's never coming back.