"He did not!" Allison laughed as she tried not to spill her coffee. It was the first time she and Scott had been able to get together alone since she'd started taking care of Lydia, so they were catching each other up on things that neither wanted his new girlfriend to know about.
"I wish I were kidding, but I'm not," Scott grumbled into his own coffee.
Allison looked around the coffee shop, just on the off chance Stiles stumbled in on their conversation. It seemed unlikely, none of her friends had been to it since Derek died. It looked the same, but it felt different. She realized that she hadn't even known the name of the place until the new barista, some guy named Matt, stared at her boobs and welcomed her to the "Cup of Hale".
It really was a stupid name, and she wished she didn't know it.
"So, when are you and Danny throwing the engagement party? I need to know what kind of strippers to hire," Allison said as she his her smirk behind her coffee. It still tasted the same, at least. Though, the lack of baked goods was notable.
"Go to hell," Scott laughed. "Can you please not tell Stiles about this? I don't want to embarrass either one of them. I just needed someone to talk to."
"And who better than your lesbian ex-girlfriend slash best friend?" Allison teased. "It'll be fine, Scott. I mean, god, we lived together after I came out and you were still in love with me. Not that I can blame you, since I'm flawless, but everything turned out okay. Stiles won't hear anything from me, but this is nowhere near that serious. It's just a drunk guy telling you you're hot. Admittedly, a really hot guy out of your league and twice your height..."
"I am not that short," Scott interrupted, but Allison waved him down.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, we'll change the subject. Midget," she winked before continuing. "Did you know that the Hale family is rich as all get out?"
Scott held up a finger. "First, I did not. And second, who says 'as all get out' anymore?"
"I do, Bitch," Allison replied as she rolled her neck and snapped her fingers. Scott just stuck his tongue out at her. "Okay, so, Lydia told me that the family is filthy rich, but really low key. It's so weird."
"Um, you came from rich stock. You didn't all gather together on the weekends to make fun of poor people?" Scott asked as he picked at a paper napkin.
"My parents were upper middle class at best, like doctors and stuff. My grandfather is the one who has all the money, and until he dies my dad is just an employee. And I won't see any of it anyway," Allison shrugged. "But no, we didn't associate with the other rich folks in Beacon Hills. Or any of the other places I lived. We were always the new money."
"God knows being new money is the worst thing in the world," Scott offered as he raise his coffee cup to her. "Here is to your familial name achieving Blue Blood status is four hundred years."
Allison laughed in his face. "You are such a dick."
"You wouldn't want me any other way," Scott agreed.
It was amazing how much Allison had missed the company of her best friends. Being around Lydia was getting easier, but it never felt as natural as spending time with Scott did. And she hadn't seen Stiles in ages, so she still owed him a good screaming match.
"Did the Hales tell you why Lydia ran out during the funeral? You and Braeden were kinda all up in the family stuff and I wasn't."
She watched as Scott scratched the back of his head and his eyebrows twitched. He was clearly stalling for time until he found the right words.
"Um, sorta. Lydia kept trying to apologize and explain, but Cora was being a real bitch and yelling at her, so Braeden and I had to take her away while Lydia apologized to Talia and Peter on her own. All I caught was that Jackson was involved. Braeden and I were worried, but that's kind of something Lydia told us to stay away from. Repeatedly."
"The police caught Jackson, and the phone call was Lydia being updated or informed or whatever the legal lingo is. It's finally over," Allison explained with an ecstatic smile. "Well, there's still the trial and inevitable sentencing, but you know what I mean."
"We've been here before," Scott pointed out. Allison wanted to slap him for trying to bring her back down to reality. He wasn't wrong, though. "I mean, Lydia had him put away before, and when he got out she took him back. Allison, a lot of women take their abusers back."
"And not all abuse is physical, Scott. I love Stiles to death, he's as much my surrogate brother as you are, but you can't deny that he was abusive to Lydia. I mean, she was just as awful, we both saw that, but he left her homeless. Of course she'd take Jackson back after the alleged good guy treated her like shit." Allison set her coffee down and played with the fringed edge of her scarf.
"Speaking of being homeless," Scott said, clearly ignoring Allison's diatribe against the third member of their trio, "when are you moving back in? I mean, you said Jackson has been arrested, so Lydia doesn't need you to watch after her anymore. I mean, that is the reason you gave for moving in there when Danny accidentally outed you."
Allison sat in shocked silence. The thought of moving out hadn't occurred to her. And now that she was thinking about it, she found herself dreading it. Which was not the reaction she had expected.
"How are things with you and Braeden? The last time we talked, you were being gross and I had to hang up."
"Yeah, right, you use my electric razor on your legs and I'm the gross one," Scott argued with a putrid expression.
"I'll stop shaving my legs the day you stop waxing your chest," she shot back with raised eyebrows. "At least you go to a salon now and I don't have to do it anymore."
"You told me it was sexy!"
"I also told you I liked having sex with you, but that doesn't make it true."
"Bitch."
"Midget."
They glared at each other before cracking up. A couple of the other customers in the coffee shop glared at them, but Allison pushed them out of her mind.
"But seriously, Scott, Braeden is a lucky woman and I'm happy that you're finally happy."
"What about you? Have you been looking for Ms. Right? Or has Lydia's high maintenance ass kept you busy?" Scott wondered.
Allison shook her head in the negative. "No on both counts. Lydia's been... well, not great, but better than I expected. And I think I'm going to be happily single for another three years before I even think about dating again."
"Whatever makes you happy. I guess." Scott replied at as he pulled out his phone and looked at the time. "This has been fun, but I need to be early to work today. We're hazing the new med students. I'm supposed to bring the shaving cream."
"Freaks," Allison winked. She just sat back and watched him leave, a smile perched on her lips.
TW
There hadn't even been time for Stiles to change out of his work uniform. Danny had a hand on his arm, practically pulling him outside saying that they needed to talk.
"You're dumping me, aren't you?" Stiles said the moment they were out in the sunshine. He put his hat back on to block the sun.
Danny let Stiles go and started walking in a random direction. Wanting an answer to his question, Stiles followed.
"I am," Danny sighed as he hung his head. His voice sounded dejected, like he wasn't happy about what he was saying. For a moment, Stiles remembered how Tyler had the same tone of voice when they broke up. "I don't want to be cliched and say that it's me, and I don't want to blame you. But it's not working. It might have, if we had a clean slate, but because of who we are and who we know it's not going to happen."
"And you couldn't have done this in private?" Stiles wondered irritably. Even though he was pissed, he kept walking with Danny. "What was with all of that bullshit about forgiving me and working things out?"
"You think I didn't want to forgive you? I've tried, Stiles. I like you. I really like you. But it is what it is. We mix for a time, but when things settle we separate. Like salad dressing, for lack of a better term. And I'm not the kind of person who needs to constantly shake things up."
"I literally have no idea what that terrible metaphor was supposed to tell me." A car honked at Stiles and he stepped away from the curb, bumping into Danny. "All I got out of it is that you think I'm a horrible person."
There was an awkward silence. For a few seconds, Stiles was afraid that Danny wouldn't challenge his claim. It wasn't like Stiles didn't already know how people felt about him. Whenever he had to make his meds stretch until he could afford a refill, even Scott and Allison had trouble handling him.
"You aren't horrible, Stiles," Danny finally sighed as he stopped and reached out. Stiles shrugged off his touch. If he was being dumped, he sure as hell wasn't going to let the guy doing it comfort him. "What you are is inconsiderate. You don't think about the consequences of what you do or say."
"Hello, remember when I told you about my ADHD? My brain literally doesn't work the same as yours, Danny. Sometimes I can't keep up with what I'm saying or doing. I mean, my god, the pills only do so much. And this isn't an excuse. This is me being honest with you. You think I would be this much of an asshole if I could help it? Do you think I wouldn't like to have a good job that paid well?"
Danny stood and stared at Stiles in shock, his mouth hanging open. Stiles opened his mouth to rip into him further, but stopped when he realized that Danny actually didn't know that.
"I thought it just meant you were a little hyper from time to time," the other man said stupidly, finally finding his voice. "My god, I am so sorry."
"That's the thing, Danny. It's why the only friends I have are the ones who live with me. People don't get it, and it usually ends with them being overwhelmed and leaving. Like you're doing now. But you're different. You tried, and they didn't. And yeah, it would be easy to blame everything on my condition, but it would be wrong. But you still tried."
Pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers, Danny closed his eyes and began tapping his feet. "Why didn't Scott tell me any of this?"
"What does my roommate have to do with you dumping me?" Stiles demanded as he yelled in Danny's face. A woman walking her dog picked up the pace as she passed them.
"He was just being a friend," Danny said evasively as he looked away from Stiles and scratched the back of his head. "This isn't about him, it's about us."
"The fuck it is!" Stiles shouted, blocking out the people watching from their windows. He wasn't going to let Danny off the hook that easily. "I apologized to you, even though all I technically did was be a little too emotional around you, and then you tell me that my best friend told you to break up with me? That is some bullshit because I know Scott and he'd never do that."
"And he didn't, Stiles. He told me to be honest with you, and that's what I'm doing!" Danny yelled back, though not as loudly as Stiles. "I was hoping to keep this civil, because we're neighbours, but you don't want to do that. You just want to make a production out of it so that I'm the bad guy who treated you horribly and you're the victim. It's exactly what you did to Lydia."
Stiles grabbed Danny by the coat and pulled him close. "Who the hell do you think you are to throw her in my face when you stood by and let Jackson beat the shit out the bitch?"
Then Stiles let go of Danny and stared at his hands, silently mouthing the words he'd just spoken. He stepped back, away from Danny and into the soft grass of some stranger's lawn.
"Stiles?" Danny's voice wasn't angry, though Stiles knew he had every right to be.
"I'm no better than he is." Stiles' voice shook, as did his hands. He looked up at Danny, his vision blurred by the hot tears threatening to fall. "My god, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I would never."
Danny's hands locked onto Stiles' shoulders. "What the hell are you talking about? Do you need me to call someone? Does ADHD come with attacks or something?"
"No." Stiles tried to calm himself, but his heart was beating too loudly in his ears. "Danny, I'm sorry. I'd never hit you. I never hit Lydia, so of course I'd never hit you. You're one of the good ones, and she isn't. But that doesn't matter because he never should have hit her and I never should have grabbed you. I'm sorry!"
"It's okay," Danny assured Stiles. Danny looked around and let go of Stiles' shoulder and one hand latched onto his elbow. "You were right, we should've done this in private. Lets go back to our building."
"You're being nice to me," Stiles said numbly.
"And you're freaking out," Danny replied, his own voice failing to hide his stress. "Come on. We'll get you home and finish this later. Maybe."
"I love you," Stiles told Danny, stopping the man in his tracks.
"Do you even know what you're saying?"
"I know that I'm a terrible person, and you're not, but not even though two minutes ago I was screaming in your face and right now all you're worried about is me. And I love you. I fucking love you."
"Stiles..." was all Danny could manage.
"I know, you don't want me. I don't blame you. We've known each other three weeks? Maybe? But I love you, and I don't care if I sound like a crazy person saying it."
"Well, I wouldn't use that word, but it is apt. You don't know me well enough to love me, Stiles. And even if you love me, I don't love you."
"That's fine. You don't have to love me. I mean, I would be shocked if you did. I just wanted you to know."
TW
Scott was surprised when Braeden showed up at the hospital with a bag from McDonalds, but his boss went ahead and let him take his lunch break early since the ER was running slower than usual.
"You eat fast food?" Scott asked as they sat in the cafeteria. It just seemed so unlike Braeden.
"Almost never, but what with the funeral the other day I want comfort food. And there are few things as comforting as grease and trans fats. I didn't know what you wanted, so I got you a cheeseburger and fries." Braeden pulled out a soggy wrapper and handed it to Scott. Then she lifted his fries out of the bag, but kept them to herself.
"I thought you said those were for me."
She smiled at him and bit into a fry. "I did. But I ate my fries on the bus and I'm still hungry. So you can deal, Scrubs."
"And my drink?"
"This was the dollar menu. Besides, soda is horrible for you," Braeden rationalized. "Just be glad I played this much into the doting girlfriend thing. I almost never spend my money on other people."
"Then I'll choose to feel flattered instead of robbed," Scott laughed as he unwrapped his burger. It was already cold, and smelled horrid, but he smiled at Braeden and he bit into it anyway.
"It's probably best that you do," Braeden agreed simply.
Scott sat his partially eaten burger down on the wrapper. "So, I was hanging out with Allison this morning. She mentioned something interesting."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Apparently, you're part Mexican. Like me. We're, like, sympatico."
"I'm a whole bunch of things, Scrubs. It's why I tick the 'other' box on the government forms. Why does it matter if I'm part Mexican anyway?" Braeden asked, her eyes boring into his. "You told me you loved me before you even knew that."
"I just thought it was cool," Scott shared awkwardly as he looked down at his food.
Braeden reached across the table and grabbed one of Scott's hands. "I'm messing with you, Scott. I don't mind talking about it, though I wish you'd heard it from me instead of Allison. Because then we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"But if your mom or dad is Mexican,why can't you speak Spanish?" Scott wondered idly. He didn't know why he cared.
"My dad is only half-Mexican, and his parents were first generation immigrants. Back in the day, they didn't teach their kids anything but English. It was part of the acclimation process. Things are different now. But my momma is Creole and that's why I learned French."
"I know nothing about being Creole."
"I'll have to change that." Braeden let go of Scott and sat back, nervously playing with a french fry. "Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"It's nothing. I'm just hoping for some good news," Braeden said as she looked at her own hands. She looked up and Scott, and he must have had a look on his face that betrayed his worry. "I'm not sick or anything. It's kinda work-related."
"One of the animals you take care of sick?"
She shook her head and sighed. "You know what, I'll tell you when it happens, but until then just trust me when I saw that it's a good thing."
"Fine," Scott answered as he picked his burger back up. "But now you have me all worried and stuff."
"It's fine," Braeden assured him as she held out her fries. "Peace offering?"
"Deal," Scott agreed as he reached forward and snagged a small bunch of fries.
TW
"We need to talk," Allison said the moment Stiles walked in the door. "We've needed to talk."
"That's the last thing I want to do," Stiles sighed. She didn't really care. The look on Stiles face showed that he knew. "Danny broke up with me today."
"I'm sorry about that," Allison wanted to flinch at the cold tone in her voice, but she pushed through. She'd put this off long enough. Even though it made her feel like a total bitch, she had to kick him while he was down. It was what they did for each other. It was how much she loved him. "It doesn't change anything, though. Stiles, we need to talk about Lydia."
Stiles slammed the door shut and slammed the back of his head against the wood. Cringing, Allison relented for a second.
"How many times do I have to say it? I don't give a fuck about that bitch."
"And that is what we're talking about," Allison scolded as she stood and walked to the door. She reached around Stiles and locked it. "Scott is at work, and I don't need any interruptions."
"You gonna beat me?" Stiles shot as he pushed past Allison. When he reached the midway point to the bed, he turned around and held his hands out. "Well, come on. Have at it."
"Stop being a little piece of shit and listen to reason for once in your life. Do you know how sick and tired I am of being the good friend who makes excuses for you and overlooks your faults? Now I'm going to be the best friend who tells you that you're a horrible person and you need to change," Allison yelled as she kicked back at the door.
"You and everyone else," Stiles muttered as he stuck a hand out to Allison and walked over to the fridge. He ran a commentary of his day as he poured himself a glass of almond milk. "Not only did my day at work suck ass, but did I mention that I was just dumped?"
"Good for Danny," Allison shot as she crossed her arms. "You didn't deserve him."
"You really are trying to be my best friend, aren't you? I can feel the love," Stiles spat venomously before drinking his milk.
Allison ran a hand through her hair and tried to calm herself. "I'm doing this because I love you, Stiles. You aren't a good person, and it's my fault for not saying something sooner. I think I was in denial until I found out what you did to Lydia."
"What I did to Lydia? You're acting like I did something terrible, and all I did was break up with her. It's not my fault she decided that she found getting a black eye a turn-on."
"That's exactly what I'm talking about! That, right there. You are cracking jokes about a woman who had the shit beat out of her," Allison screamed as she got in Stiles face. For a fraction of a second, she saw fear in his eyes and backed down. She had to remember not to become the monster she fought. "I'm not saying you have to like her, Stiles. You don't have to like anybody. What you do need to do is be sympathetic."
"Why does that whore deserve my sympathy? I seem to recall that she can give as good as she gets."
"Because she's spent her entire life fighting against people like you and Jackson. Did you ever talk to her when we all lived here?"
"You know I did. You know everything that happened here."
Feeling that she wasn't getting through, Allison scratched at every surface of her mind for a new tactic. Why couldn't she make Stiles see what she did? "Why did Danny break up with you?"
"He said I was inconsiderate." Stiles' voice grew low and dangerous. Allison knew she was on thin ice, but she also heard the chink in his armour. She knew she could do it.
Reinvigorated, Allison pulled Stiles into a hug. She held him close and ran her hand along the back of his neck. His stance was stiff as a board. Pulling back, Allison cupped her face in her hands and stood on the tips of her toes to kiss his forehead.
"Stiles, you're passionate and impulsive and I love that about you. But Danny wasn't wrong. We've all been too afraid to call you out for your behaviour. Hell, I'll even admit that it's amused me. But we need to tell you the truth. I can't protect you anymore."
She brushed the tears from her eyes and sniffed, trying to smile through it.
"The reason you don't have any other friends is because you're not likable. It's the reason you and Lydia fought all the time. I know, it was toxic and you were both at fault, but you're the one who wouldn't let it go. Yes, she regressed, but you stayed in the same place. You and Danny imploded. You and that Tyler guy ended horribly from what I've been told. You and Derek never even got started."
"You think I don't know this?" Stiles' voice cracked as he questioned her, but his eyes stayed dry.
"I know you know this, Stiles. But knowing it means nothing if you don't try to change it."
"I was going to change. For Danny. But he didn't even give me a week," he argued as he pointed at the door. "What is the point in even trying if I'm just going to be dismissed?"
Allison shook her head. "You need to change for you, Stiles. Not for me. Not for Danny. And not everyone is going to care. Some may even try to sabotage you. But I'll be here. I'll love you. Even if you fail. But what I won't do is lie to you anymore."
"Am I still allowed to make fun of ugly people trying to take selfies in the middle of the street?"
"I'll be right there with you, laughing behind their backs. We just can't do it to their faces anymore."
"Little steps, huh?" Stiles laughed as he hugged Allison.
"On a big, big journey."
He was saying all of the right things. Allison knew this and she returned Stiles' embrace. She just hoped that he meant them.