Final exams for summer courses came and went. Stiles passed with B's all around, and they stayed in and watched movies to celebrate. Kira's backyard party arrived soon after.
Ky stared at herself in the mirror, smoothing down her peachy summer dress. Apparently the dress code had gone from casual to a step above it, as Kira described apologetically in the text. Some of Kira's parents' friends were coming up from LA for the weekend too. This sounded like a major deciding factor.
Dress nice! See u guys Friday at 7!
With about half an hour before she had to leave, Ky swayed to music while putting on some earrings. She looked for its matching necklace, to no avail. Oh well.
Eyelash curler, mascara, lipstick. After trying to twist her hair into a braided updo and failing miserably, she decided to just leave it down. In the corner of her eye she noticed a flash of dusty blue outside the window, and a glance confirmed her guess.
Stiles had just stepped out of the car while leaving it running. He was dressed well, with beige pants and an honest-to-god striped button-up. It was possibly the first time all summer that she'd seen him in something else besides shorts and a t-shirt. She watched as he checked his hair in the mirror, almost running a hand through it before deciding against it instead. It made her smile as she finished off a more simple braid crown-esque hairstyle. In the mirror now, Ky felt like her reflection was a new person compared to the beginning of the summer. And it wasn't just because of the makeup.
She gave herself a hard stare, remembering how small her childhood self was as she'd stood in the same place years ago. How deeply she had felt everyone's emotions but her own. Now, there was enough space to do so. There was so much more to life than fear.
Ky glanced out the window again. This time, Stiles was glancing upward too. He waved. She waved back.
There was so much love and light, too. Even if it wasn't the forever kind.
After saying goodbye to her grandparents, Ky grabbed her purse and closed the door behind her. She came down the steps.
"Hey," she greeted. "Love the shirt."
Stiles grinned, pocketing his phone. "Thanks. It's actually my dad's. I was just going to wear a white t-shirt, but… anyway." He trailed off, taking her in. "Whoa." He tried again. "You look lovely."
"Lovely," she echoed.
"Yea, it felt weird when I said it." He winced, then they both chuckled.
"Well, thank you." Despite her light tone, Ky could feel herself blushing at his words. She cleared her throat.
"So, we're both red, right?" Ky asked.
Stiles was quick. "Yep."
"Should we just…?" She nodded at the car.
"Oh, definitely."
As they opened their doors, she heard the familiar creak of the front door open too. She winced.
"Have fun, you two," her grandmother called.
"Thanks, Mrs. Chang," Stiles called back. Ky turned around too and waved, knowing what was next.
"Back by eleven, Ky!"
Or maybe not. This extended curfew was a pleasant surprise. "Okay!" she said, grateful. Her grandmother nodded, eyes serious, but a small and knowing smile at her lips.
"So, eleven," Stiles said, as they got on the road.
"Eleven." Ky could still barely believe it.
"That's the-"
"Latest, ever."
Stiles grinned. "Happy block party summer evening."
She rolled her eyes. "Happy block party summer evening."
They'd taken to celebrating the little, mundane things as an inside joke. The other day had been "unofficial diner breakfast" day. Yesterday was "babysit Stiles' neighbour's kids day" which consisted of keeping up with a speedy five year old and an equally enthusiastic three year old.
When Stiles and Ky arrived, the party was already in full swing. Scott and Lydia were already inside; they'd gotten there early to help with decorations.
It turns out Liam, Hayden, and Mason were right behind the jeep, which was a funny discovery to make since the whole time, Stiles had been confused about why a red car with tinted windows was tailing them. Liam's uncle had passed it down to his family.
Stiles and Liam geeked out about the car while Ky and Hayden watched.
"I've never seen them get along so well," Hayden said, tilting her head. "Oh, I'm Hayden, by the way." She looked glamorous in her dark evening dress. Sparkles and everything. Ky had heard about her in passing, and was pretty sure she and Liam were dating. Or off again, or something like that.
"Ky. Nice to meet you."
"You, too. Finally. It feels like I've heard about you a lot lately." She smiled, and it was both radiant and kind. Before Ky could ask what she meant, she pointed towards the house. "Wanna go ahead without them? I get the sense they'll be there awhile."
"Yea, sure."
"We're going inside!" Hayden called, motioning for Ky to follow. Stiles looked up and his eyes seemed to ask if she was alright with this. Ky nodded in assurance. "Meet you in there?"
"Yea, we'll find you!"
And the girls knew they would. So they headed to the house.
"Damn, Kira's parents know how to throw a party," Ky said, as lively music floated through the air.
"I was just thinking that too. This house is gorgeous," Hayden replied as they knocked on the door. Kira opened it.
"Hayden! Ky! Welcome," Kira said, looking beautiful in a light blue dress. "Come on in. Where's… oh."
"Yea…" Ky said, as they all looked back to see Liam turning on the light-up wheels and Stiles pleading for a test drive. "To be fair, it is pretty cool," she admitted.
Hayden groaned. "Only for the first day," she assured. They stepped inside. "Oh, Kira. I hate to be all sudden about this, but can I use your bathroom?"
"Of course. Down the hall, first door on your left."
"Thanks. See you both later!" Hayden scurried down the hall.
"Well, I'll show you to the party out back. C'mon."
"Thanks. Your house is so nice, by the way!"
Kira laughed. "Oh, thanks. My mom's really into interior design, and having a real house to decorate after a tiny apartment is like, her dream. So she's been taking advantage of that. Shoot, I need to finish making the popcorn."
The backyard party was thriving outside, with lights hung in the trees and overhead for the evening. There was a lot of food and people. Strangers, to be exact.
"Do you need any help with it? I kind of… don't know anyone."
"Oh, right. Yea, sure! I know the feeling."
Kira started heating up oil while Ky measured out the kernels. Kira added them in and put the lid on.
"So… you moved here recently, right?"
"Yep, last year. From New York. Did Stiles tell you?"
"Yea."
"Of course."
They laughed. "I heard you used to live here, too," Kira said thoughtfully. "And now you're in San Fran, right?"
"Yep. Scott?"
She nodded sheepishly. "So, does that mean you're leaving soon?"
"Mhm. Next week. I think Thursday."
"Aw. You excited to go back though?"
Ky frowned in thought. "Honestly, I've been trying not to think about it. It's been a good summer."
"That makes sense."
"Lack of solid noodle places, though."
"God, tell me about it." The popcorn finished popping and Kira pulled a serving bowl from one of the cupboards. Ky surveyed the various sodas and juices when Hayden entered.
"Hey. Did the guys come in yet?"
"Not yet."
"Jesus. You'd think they never saw a nice car before."
"Oh, help yourself with any drinks on the table there, by the way- oh," Kira said, trying to balance two bowls. Ky went to help her. "Thanks- oh, and I'm not supposed to say anything, but there's stronger stuff in the fridge." Hayden poured herself a coke and headed out the glass doors to the backyard just as Scott came in. They greeted each other civilly by name, only.
Scott stepped in with an empty tin foil tray. He tossed it in the recycling bin. "The barbeque is a hit," he announced, heading to the fridge and taking a full tin foil tray of raw chicken out.
"Awesome! Thank you for helping out," Kira said, as they greeted each other with a kiss.
"No problem, it's kinda fun playing host. Or assistant to the host. Oh, hi, Ky," he added, noticing Ky.
"Hey," Ky said, as she poured herself some sparkling water and juice. Sparkling juice.
"Did… uh, did Stiles come with you, by the way?"
"Yea, he's still in the front with Liam, I think."
"What? With Liam?"
"They're looking at Liam's new car. Or, his family's, I'm not sure. It's very red and…" She thought about the lights. "Bright."
"Oh, now that makes more sense. Well, see you guys out there. Food's going fast."
"What?" Kira asked, panicked and rushing to the fridge. "I planned it so we'd have enough for-" She stopped mid sentence, closing it again with a look of unamusement.
"Kidding," Scott said cheerily, trying to contain his laughter. "Love you, see you!" he added before sliding the door closed again.
Kira shook her head. "Boys," she said simply, finishing up the popcorn. Ky nodded solemnly, trying to keep a straight face. "Boys," she agreed, pouring herself some soda.
"You called?" Liam asked, entering with Stiles close behind.
"No, but you might wanna call Hayden," Kira said helpfully, while determinedly balancing two bowls of popcorn. Ky got the door for her, offering to help and getting declined.
"Hey," Stiles said, coming up from behind and wrapping her in a hug. She laughed. "Hi." She let herself enjoy it for a moment before slipping out.
"We're in front of a glass door," Ky pointed out.
"I don't care," he said simply.
"Well, I do. Do you want a drink? I make a mean gin and tonic."
He chuckled. "Nah, just pop or something. I don't really wanna miss this," he added quietly. Ky wasn't sure if she heard right.
"Hm?"
"Uh, nothing."
"Okay… well, can I make you something semi-fancy?"
Stiles said sure. Ky mixed some sparkling water and peach juice together to make another sparkling juice.
"Ta-da. Cheers."
"Cheers." They clinked plastic cups and sipped.
"Oh, wow. This is fancy."
"Right?"
"You'd make a good bartender."
"Mm, I dunno… not sure if people would pay for fizzy water and juice."
He laughed. "Let's head outside. I crave barbecue."
The rest of the evening was relaxed and uneventful, with the highlight being an impromptu limbo contest. Ky realized she could be with people without taking in their pains, and while there was a lot of joy around her tonight, she was quite sure this was her own. That was exciting to know. She joined the others that night without feeling too out of place, and was thankful for it. Looking around the yard to see Lydia and Kira laughing together, Liam and Hayden trying to out-limbo each other while Mason recorded it, and Scott and Stiles relaxing and having a good time too… for once in Beacon Hills, everything felt just right.
At one point, Stiles took his turn at the limbo stick. Ky was leaning by the side of the house when Scott approached her with two red solo cups.
"Hey," he said, offering her one of the cups. "Sprite?"
"Sure, thanks."
"No prob."
They clinked plastic cups and each took a sip. He smiled. Leather jacket, brown hair spiked up... Ky could see why Kira was enamored. Scott's eyes were some of the most trusting that she had ever seen. They both leaned on the wall now, watching the party.
"They're having fun," she said, pointing towards Liam and Stiles, who were now trying to limbo while staying on beat with the music and failing miserably.
Scott chuckled. "More fun than I've seen Stiles have all summer. I wanted to talk to you about that, by the way."
"Stiles having fun?"
"Well, sorta. Him being happy," he said. "We were worried about him. He wouldn't leave the house and all that." Scott paused. "But maybe we all needed to take our own time to deal with… whatever we had to. With whoever we were meant to."
"That's… pretty cheesy."
"I know, it felt cheesy when I said it." He laughed. "But after you guys started hanging out, he's been different. Better. And it'd be weird of me to thank you for that, but I thought you should know."
She thought back to the cemetery. How Isaac and Scott were handling grief in their own ways. How guilty Stiles felt. That was only two months ago. "Thanks. And even if that was cheesy, it makes sense."
"Mm."
"How are you, by the way?"
"... Doing better. Thanks for asking."
She nodded.
"Well, I better help Kira clean up some more," he said, nodding towards the messy tables of leftover food and desserts. She offered to help, but he said it was fine. While heading that way, he paused and turned back around.
"I remembered something, by the way," Scott said with a grin. "Third grade. Asthma attack in gym class that mysteriously disappeared. That was you, wasn't it?"
Ky raised her eyebrows in surprise, a distant memory resurfacing of a little boy who couldn't breathe, and her own lungs constricting. She'd forced herself to calm down and somehow, that helped the boy, too.
Ky opened her mouth and closed it again. "Maybe?" she offered. Scott nodded, a still wearing a knowing smile.
"You've been doing this longer than any of us," he noted, before turning back around and leaving her to think about those words.
Kira's parents headed inside with their family friends, leaving the backyard to the gang. The stars were out now, visible even in the glow of the colourful decorative lights and lamps that had been set out. The crew sat around in a circle while Scott and Liam tried to figure out how to get a fire started. Kira tried to help, but they assured her they could handle it. She gave up and joined Stiles, Ky, and Lydia instead. Stiles and Ky were sharing a wider bench, cozied up with his arm around her, while Lydia had a porch chair to herself.
"That's toxic masculinity for ya," Lydia said, sipping on an iced tea.
"I just hope they don't ruin my parents' firepit," Kira replied, watching nervously. "God, I can't watch. How's the night going, you guys?"
"Really fun, actually," Stiles said, squeezing Ky's hand. She squeezed back. "Thanks for having us."
"Oh, of course! I just really wanted everyone to have a good time. So, I'm glad that that is happening… although-" Kira directed the next question more to Lydia- "I guess Malia couldn't make it."
Ky felt Stiles tensing up at her name. A lot of mixed up feelings radiated from him, with the loudest one being concern.
"She said she'd be here, too," Lydia mused, unbothered. "I'm sure it's nothing. Or if it was something, she'd call."
"Yea," Stiles agreed. They looked around each other, the unsaid question hanging in the air as a sense of uneasiness began to grow. Right?
Scott and Liam got the fire started with a spark. Just as the father and son-like duo cheered, the backyard door creaked open. Everyone froze and turned their eyes to the door
It was Malia, out of breath. Which seemed surprising to everyone else, so Ky guessed this wasn't normal.
"What is it?" Scott asked, confused. "What's wrong?"
A sense of urgency filled the air.
"I looked everywhere- the house, the woods…"
"For what? What were you looking for?" Lydia pressed, staying focused and cool-headed. Ky could feel that her actual emotions were a different story. She was hit with a wave of realization, but couldn't tell whose it was. It wasn't her own.
Malia shook her head as she stepped forward and out of the shadows, leaning on the house. There was dirt smeared on the side of her cheek, and a few red cuts on her arm. The lights reflected festively on her unkept hair.
"Not what," Stiles said now, figuring it out. "Who."
Scott looked around the yard. "But everyone's- oh."
Malia finally caught her breath. She nodded, knowing he'd realized.
"Derek's gone."