Authors Note: HEYO! XD Please tell me what you think; I would love to know XD I own nothing and no one, apart from the following: Jason, Zane, Chase.
JUST SO YOU KNOW: like everyone else, I have no idea what Stiles' real name is, so I'm going along with what everyone else puts :) and I've made his middle name up XD
Please, please review XD
Chapter 10
Stiles
Friday, October 4th, just another day at school. Just another day of stares and rumours and Chase giving me dirty looks. My day at school never really changed, to be honest. Not that I ever expected it to. I mean, I think it would be quite strange if people just suddenly stopped avoiding me and stuff... I would wonder what big bad nasty got them to make them treat me like a person.
Yeah, that would be the day...
I found it strange how I actually looked forward to getting back to the house each and every day, just to get away from the assholes in that school and just be with people that seemed to treat me like...well; the wolves treat me almost like I matter. It was a nice feeling...
Guess that was why, instead of hiding out in the room I had, I ended up dumping my stuff onto the floor next to me in the living room, with the others, leaning against the couch. I could smell the shock yet happy surprise from everyone in the room – even Jackson...fucking secret softie, I'm telling you.
"So, what we watching?" I asked, looking around at everyone, gesturing towards the playing TV.
"We haven't decided." Derek replied, slowly, before holding the remote out to me. "You choose."
And, what now?
"M-Me?" I stuttered, slightly, blinking in shock.
"Yes, you." Derek sighed.
Hesitantly, I took the piece of plastic. I didn't pick up on any objection from the rest of them, so I took that as my go ahead. Flicking through the channels, I bit my lip, trying to find something worth watching.
And then I saw it.
And I couldn't not put it on!
I mean, it was the most brilliant thing to put on at this moment in time!
So I did.
And man, were their faces a picture! I couldn't help but laugh at the look of recognition
"Stiles, why do always hum the theme tune to The Walking Dead?" Isaac asked, tilting his head to the side a little.
I turned to face him slowly, eyes a little wide at the fact that none of them seemed to have caught on yet.
"Oh, come on! Isn't it obvious?!" I yelled, pointing towards Peter. "Peter is a zombie werewolf, from the dead! Kind of the reasoning behind humming Thriller and all!"
All of them just spluttered, someone trying to come up with something to say.
"God, that felt good!" I laughed. "You guys have no idea how long I've been keeping that to myself, seriously."
"How long have you known we were...?" Jackson started, waving his hand around to finish his sentence.
"All werewolves, apart from Allison who's a hunter? Well, I knew the nine of you were werewolves when I first saw you, and I knew Allison was a hunter during that first training session I watched. Though I definitely knew she was when Mr Argent turned up of Wednesday."
"How did you know?" Derek demanded.
"I can identify werewolves easily, the same as many other supernatural creatures. As long I've met at least one. Don't ask how, I just can."
Not technically a lie. I could identify any supernatural creature as long as I had met one, so then I knew what scent to look for. They just didn't know how I could tell. Which they really didn't need to know.
Peter throughout the majority of this with an eyebrow raised, looking amused yet bored. As always. When we made eye contact, he nodded slightly, as if impressed by, either, my awesomeness of coming up with an entertaining use of his zombie-ness, or because I knew they were werewolves, or maybe both. Either way, he seemed kind of impressed.
"You guys all suck at hiding it." I told them, still chuckling. "Like, really bad. You need to practice."
Allison just laughed with me, but she was desperately trying to hide her giggles. It was quite entertaining watching her go bright red, while the wolves just spluttered and gaped.
I turned to Derek, slowly, seeing him frown with his head tilted to the side. He looked like a confused puppy – heh, puppy!
"And you, Mr Big Bad," I grinned. "You flashed those red beauties at me, when you shoved me against my Jeep, when you thought I tagged Danny's car. Yeah, still pissed about that, by the way, it's not nice!"
Derek's eyes widened slightly. Oh, this was just getting better and better!
"No comments?" I asked, looking around? "None of you? Ok, I'll make dinner."
Jumping up, I made my way to the kitchen, cackling as soon as I stepped into the room, having to lean heavily on the counter to keep myself upright.
This was all so much more fun than I first thought!
The next day – Saturday, October 5th – the others decided that going out for lunch sounded great... They seemed to think that we wouldn't have any problems getting in anywhere, even with me tagging along... It was like they had forgotten what people really thought of me... But they ended up getting me into Derek's Camaro – since my Jeep was still being fixed – and we had started the thirty three minute drive to Red Lion Family Pizzeria, in Magalia.
Apparently it was quite popular with Beacon Hills' residents, some people trying to get there as often as possible. If things hadn't been looking bad for me before, then they definitely were now... Now I was going to have to deal with a lot more people than I first though whispering about me.
"How do you get a whole town knowing about you, anyway?" Boyd asked from the back of Derek's car – I was pushed into the front – around halfway through the drive.
Though Boyd mainly stayed quiet, he did have those moments when he would give us the pleasure of hearing him talk. He seemed...ok. The only time he ever talked about me like the rest of the town was that day I heard the whole Pack discussing me while I was under the bleachers.
"I overheard some of the whispers at the school. A lot of them actually." I told them – Derek, Boyd, Erica – quietly, staring down at my hands in my lap. "One person... One person had overheard teachers talking about me. I'm guessing that word was spread round quickly, you know? People telling family and friends. It wouldn't be too had to know who the new guy in a small town was..."
I had thought, as well, that it was strange how everyone knew about me... But when I did hear that girl mention overhearing the teachers, I had it all pieced together. If the teachers were talking about me, then they would tell their family and friends, and they would spread it around until the whole town knew.
It was a sad day when the people in education lowered themselves to the level of gossiping teenage girls. But there was nothing I could do about it. Everyone decided to believe in the rumours, or blow what they hear way out of proportion, or not even think about what the reasoning behind what they found out about me could be.
But why would they? To them I was just a bad nineteen year old kid that's going to corrupt the town.
The three of them didn't say anything more on that subject. In fact, they didn't really say anything for the rest of the drive.
We had a lot of trouble initially getting into the restaurant, the staff not wanting to let me in. I had said that I would just go for a walk outside and I would meet them back at the cars later.
They were having none of it.
Derek, especially, had kicked up a fuss, saying how 'pathetic' everyone was by believing such stupid rumours or judging people on what they hear.
I appreciated that a lot. Not a lot of people would do that. Especially for me. And then, one by one, everyone else started getting involved.
"Seriously, how shallow do you have to be?!" Lydia screeched.
"Do you want to lose customers?" Jackson demanded. "If so, you're going about it the right way."
"Yeah, there are loads of people we could persuade not to come here." Isaac glared.
"I'm sure we could find a few rats and set them free in here." Peter suggested easily. "I'm sure your Health Inspector would love to see that."
After that, the guy had cut the crap and let us in. We had pushed three tables together to seat the eleven of us together.
But it didn't stop people from whispering about me.
The wolves – now that they knew that I knew they were wolves – didn't hide their cringes or sour expressions when they heard what people were saying. I, on the other hand, fought to stay composed, making it seem like I had no idea what was being said.
It was easier said than done.
Apart from the whispers that I had started to block out, the meal itself was actually quite nice. I got to know everyone a bit more, hear a few stories from things they had encountered. Learnt that Jackson had been a Kanima before he was a werewolf. I was particularly interested in that...but I could see that the blonde didn't really want to talk about that, so I immediately switched the topic.
I had caught sight of his grateful little smile.
We were, about, halfway through lunch when I heard an ear-splitting scream come from my left. Turning towards the sound I saw a little boy, no older than four, balling his eyes out, looking absolutely terrified.
And no one was helping him.
Without thinking, I was up and out of my seat, walking over to the kid. I crouched down once I reached him, so I was his height, conscious of the people staring at me. But I paid no attention to them.
"Hey, what's up, kiddo?" I asked, softly, keeping a small distance between us.
"Can't. Find. Momma." the kid cried, his words coming out choked.
It was heartbreaking.
"What's your name, buddy?" I asked, quietly.
"J-Jason." he whimpered.
"Well, Jason, I'm Stiles. Just hold on, ok, and I'll help you find you momma. Sound good."
Jason nodded, starting to quiet down. I grabbed a napkin from one of the tables, giving it to dry his face with. Now, I just had to find his mom...
"Jason! Get away from him!" a shrill voice shouted.
Looking behind the kid, I saw a woman walking towards us. She looked relieved, yet furious, a strange mix that I never thought I would see on a person.
"What do you think you're doing?!" she demanded, yelling at me. "How dare you go near my baby!"
"Look, I was just trying to help." I said, calmly, even though I was getting just a little pissed – I was helping after all.
"Help. Help! He doesn't need your help!"
"He was lost."
"Don't make excuses! Get away, go on! Shoo!"
"Ok, sorry."
Before I stood up to go back to the others, I reached into my back pocket, pulling out my wallet. I had five dollars left, all in one dollar notes. Taking one out, I passed it to the kid, telling him that he could use it to play a game if he wanted. Jason took it, opening his mouth to say thanks, when his mom ripped it out of his hand and threw it at me.
"We don't need your drug money!" she screamed, before turning to go towards the counter to pay.
I blinked a little as I watched her move towards the counter, before turning to look at Jason. Being as young as he was, he had no idea what was going on. Only that 'momma' seemed to hate the guy that was being nice and trying to help – unlike every other fucker in around.
I placed the dollar that was in my hand on the floor and, discreetly, slid it over to Jason, stopping it in front of his feet, winking subtly. Grinning, he picked it up, mouthing 'thanks Stiles', before running off towards his mom.
Smiling myself, I stood up, making my way back over towards the table, not really caring how the ten of them were staring in a mix of confusion and wonder.
"Wow, the boy does have social skills." Peter smirked, as we all made our ways back to the cars. "And here I was thinking that you would remain forever quiet."
I rolled my eyes at the older wolf on my left, turning to him to just give him that look. You know, the look you get when you just want to punch someone, even though you kind of think they're alright. No? Only me? Huh... Well, ok then.
"Well, wasn't always so quiet." I told him.
"Oh?" he replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. I used to talk for hours, laugh nonstop, always causing trouble... Maybe one day you can see that side of me, maybe one day that Stiles will come back."
"Oh, I hope not. I rather enjoy the silence."
The grin on the older Hale's face told me otherwise, hinting that he would probably enjoy the entertainment. Enjoy someone to have on his side, to mess with everyone.
I smiled slightly, huffing a small laugh, shoving the wolf a little. I just sidestepped when he tried to do it back to me, causing him to go off balance and pretty much fall into a nearby bush.
It was safe to say that I legged it to Derek's car after that...
Around an hour later, back at the house, I was getting fidgety.
I didn't know what was causing it, but I was getting fidgety, and I didn't like it. Usually, there would be a reason, and I would always try to put a stop to whatever it was that was causing this discomfort. But there was nothing this time. Absolutely nothing.
So I got up, walked out of the living room and walked out of the house.
When I was a kid, I used to love going on walks with my mom. It was what we always used to do when it was just the two of us in the house and I was getting restless.
I always had this feeling that maybe mom knew I was gay, even when I was so young. She always knew every little thing about me, even if I hadn't told her. I mean, it could have been her wolfy cross foxy powers or just her mother powers, but somehow she knew. She always knew. So she had to know about me being gay, right?
"Stiles!" a voice called after me. "Where're you going?"
Turning round, I found Scott running to catch up with me, frowning slightly. I guess they all thought I was going to run at some point, run from everyone in the town so I could get away from all the comments made. Or something like that.
"Just going for a walk." I shrugged. "I can't sit still any longer."
"I'll join you." he grinned. "It's always better to have some company."
Damn that puppy face!
I will say though, I have no idea how letting just Scott join me on this walk turned into letting the whole Pack join me... Never will I understand how that happened.
The next day, during training in the morning, Chris Argent joined us. He, Derek and Peter had worked out the terms of their truce and everyone seemed...happier. As if a great weight had been lifted.
Allison definitely seemed more at ease, and had actually thanked me for what I had said to her dad. I just said that I was happy I could help, though I didn't really do anything. She just called ball-shit, before hugging me quickly and going back to practicing with her crossbow with her dad.
I was using one of the punching bags in the corner, staring at the one spot, while I tried to punch it to death. It was quite easy. All I had to do was pretend that dad, Zane or Chase was there, defenceless, instead of the punching bag. I hadn't bothered with gloves, only the strips of bandages around my knuckles.
I had gone for one of the looser fitting, vest tops that Lydia had approved of for this, since it wouldn't cling to me all the time and wouldn't irritate my skin or scars.
I hadn't been at the punch bag for long when My Argent came up to me. He didn't touch me like most people would, probably remembering what happened when Jackson did that last time he was here. Instead, he stood there until I saw him.
I looked up, tilting my head to the right in question, holding the punch bag steady.
"Ever used a crossbow?" he had asked, smoothly.
I shook my head, shuffling slightly. Mr Argent – who had insisted we all call Chris – smiled a little. You know, that kind of friendly smile that your friend's dad would give you – in a non-perverted kind of way – making you feel welcome. The kind of smile that parents or adults should give you.
"Want to learn?" he queried.
I nodded slowly, flinching slightly when he placed his hand on my shoulder. I had seen it coming, so that stopped me from flipping him, but it never stopped me from flinching away from people's touches. He didn't seem to mind though, just steered me over to where he and Allison had put themselves.
He gave me a run down on what part was what, how to load the arrow properly, how to stand, how to hold it properly. He gave me a demonstration on each, getting me to do it myself, correcting anything I was doing wrong, before demonstrating it all together and shooting the target they had set up. Chris had turned to my when he had finished, getting me to give it a try.
So I got into the position, loaded the crossbow, held it up and pulled the trigger. Now it wasn't perfect, but I still hit the target and it was damn fucking well for my first go! Even Chris and Allison told me that!
It was a little later on, when everyone was outside, that I was walking up to my room.
Whoa, did I just say my room?!
It was on the top floor of the house, along with Derek's and Peter's , one of the only spare rooms in the house, so I walked past pretty much everyone else's room. I had to walk past Peter's room as well, to get to mine, since mine was at the end of the hall.
As I walked past this time, I saw that Peter's bedroom door was open and, in the corner, I saw a red acoustic guitar. I don't know what compelled me to, but I slipped inside his room, leaving the door open, grabbing the guitar and sitting on the floor with it. I grabbed a pick that was on the desk next to me, strumming it across all the strings.
Perfectly in tune!
I just couldn't help myself. So, I placed the capo that was clipped on the end of the guitar onto the first fret, and started playing – and singing – the mash up of Beautiful Girl and Stand By Me by Boyce Avenue.
"You're way too beautiful girl
That's why it'll never work
You'll have me suicidal, suicidal
When you say it's over"
I closed my eyes as I started to sing, the chord pattern ingrained in my muscle memory, so I knew I would go to the right stings and chord shape.
"See it's very divine,
One of a kind
But you mush up my mind
You walk to get declined
Oh Lord...
My baby is driving me crazy"
The thing was, I did actually write my own songs. Mainly about my mom.
"You're way too beautiful girl
That's why it'll never work
You'll have me suicidal, suicidal
When you say it's over
Damn all these beautiful girls
They only wanna do your dirt
They'll have you suicidal, suicidal
When they say it's over"
I wondered if my mom would like this song. If she would have sung this with me, and sang the harmonies that I had worked out for it – yes, I could work out harmonies...
"They say we're too young
To get ourselves sprung
Oh we didn't care
We made it very clear
And they also said
That we couldn't last together"
I loved the extended notes in this song, and how they were sang in the song. I always loved the way some lyrics were changed when sang.
"See it's very divine
One of a kind
But you mush up my mind
You walk to get declined
Oh Lord...
My baby is driving me crazy
You're way too beautiful girl
That's why it'll never work
You'll have me suicidal, suicidal
When you say it's over
Damn all these beautiful girls
They only wanna do your dirt
They'll have you suicidal, suicidal
When they say it's over"
The chorus of songs was always the catchiest bit. Well, that was the whole point, but still. I always loved the chorus'. I loved the change between Beautiful Girls and Stand By Me. I don't know why, I just loved it.
"When the night, has come
And the land is dark
And the moon
Is the only light we'll see
No I won't, be afraid
No I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
Just as long as you stand, stand by me."
Derek
I was leaning against one of the pillars on the porch, watching my Pack. After everything that happened, after the fire...I never thought I would be able to have this again. A family. A home. People I would do anything for. I never thought that I would have someone if my family with my again... But then Peter got back to his old self, being the uncle I remember from when I was only a child.
It was nice. Even if my whole back, aside from Peter, were teenagers. Their ages always made me more protective over them, which was always good for an Alpha – wanting to protect the Betas, especially when they're still pups. Which was what they were. Pups.
Peter had only been gone a few minutes when I heard my estranged uncle calling my name, quietly, telling me to slip away and 'come see this'.
Raising and eyebrow, I turned towards the house, walking through the door, before running up both flights of stairs, until I was standing next to him. Peter gestured for me to stay quiet, as well as pointing towards his room.
Looking inside, I saw Stiles with Peter's old guitar, sitting on the floor, moving the capo from the first fret to the third, before playing and singing.
"Hey there little red riding hood
You sure are looking good
You're everything a big bad wolf could want"
The thing was, I knew this song. He was doing a different version of it though, the version by that Amanda girl – the one from Mama Mia (Lydia made us watch it).
"Little red riding hood
I don't think little big girls should
Go walking in these spooky old woods alone"
He was, surprisingly, really good, keeping his eyes closed as he went along.
"What big eyes you have
The kind of eyes that drive wolves mad
Just to see that you don't get chased
I think I oughta walk with you for a ways"
I couldn't help but think to myself how funny it was that he was actually singing this song whilst wearing his red hoodie... With two wolves watching him.
"What full lips you have
They're sure to lure someone bad
So until you get to Grandma's place
I think you oughta walk with me and be safe"
Stiles had an amazing voice. It was one of those voices that you would sit there and happily listen to all day long if you could – I would deny saying this!
"Gonna keep my sheep suit on
'Til I'm sure that you've been shown
That I can be trusted walking with you alone
Little red riding hood
I'd like to hold you if I could
But you might think I'm a big bad wolf so I won't"
I remember listening to the original with Laura and Cora when we were kids. Mom put it on for a laugh one day, and I couldn't help but love it...
"What a big heart I have
The better to love you with
Little red riding hood
Even bad wolves can be good
I try to keep satisfied
Just to walk close by your side
Maybe you'll see things my way
'Fore we get to Grandma's place"
I think I actually preferred Stiles' version. Strange as it sounded, the kid had made it better, adding little twiddly bits here and there to make it his own.
"Little red riding hood
You sure are looking good
You're everything a big bad wolf could want
Little red riding hood
I don't think little big girls should
Go walking in these spooky old woods alone"
His use of dynamics in this was something I would never have expected from him, since he was always so quiet around us. But then he did think we were all outside...
"What big eyes you have
The kind of eyes that drive wolves mad
Just to see that you don't get chased
I think I oughta walk with you for a ways
What full lips you have
They're sure to lure someone bad
So until you get to Grandma's place
I think you oughta walk with me and be safe"
Stiles didn't break out of his trance until the end of the song, where he just smiled, a little sadly. He sighed, looking up, freezing when he saw me and Peter standing in the doorway. Before we could say anything, Stiles was standing up, putting the guitar back and apologising with a hundred words per second.
He didn't stop until Peter stepped forward, but then he just backed up into the wall.
"Stiles, it's fine." Peter told the boy, calmly, heart beat staying steady the whole time. "You can come in and play it whenever you like."
"Look, I'm sor... Wait, what?!" he breathed, looking as if Peter had grown another head.
"Whenever you feel like playing it, just come in and play it."
"Seriously?!"
"Yes. You are really very good."
And with that, Peter grabbed his book – what he was getting anyway – before disappearing downstairs.
"He is telling the truth." I told Stiles, seeing the complete disbelief on his face. "And you really are good."
I walked downstairs, after that, only to run into Peter by the front door.
My uncle was on the phone to...someone, ordering one thing or another. I never really paid attention to any calls he made. But I was interested once he disconnected the call and turned to me.
"So, I think that we should get the boy a guitar." he told me, casually.
"Is that so?" I asked.
"Yes. It could be a...Christmas present, from the both of us. I called the store where I bought mine and they said we can go browse at anytime."
I thought it over for a moment, even though I already knew my answer, and nodding before I went outside again.
I didn't know what it was, but there was something about Stiles that made him different from everyone else. That something extra that made him even more unique.
I just couldn't put my finger on it...
Stiles
I was in a basement, chained to a wall. Blood decorated the walls and floor, even the ceiling a little bit. I was breathing heavily, trying to push aside the pain that came with each breath, the pain that came from my back and ribs and chest. The marks were deeper this time, deeper than ever before. The bruises darker. Burns blacker.
Dad stood above me, yelling profanities and insults, but I could barely hear him. I was numb from the pain, too numb to care about what he was saying.
I could hear my heart pounding in my ears as I lay there on the ground, watching my father's face as he screamed. I could feel the hot slide of tears run down from my eyes to my hairline, the warm trickle of blood from my skin drip onto the floor.
My hands lay lifelessly as I watched him pull his leg back, only to snap it forward with a swift kick to my ribs. He didn't stop, not like he usually did. He just kept kicking and kicking and kicking and kicking.
But soon that wasn't enough for him. He grabbed his lighter, dropping the flame onto me, leaving it there to burn through my skin.
I couldn't hear myself scream, I couldn't hear anything. But I could see that I was slowly fading, slowly loosing the will to live, slowly being taken over by the blackness that came with letting go of life altogether.
And then I was waking up in bed, only panting and sweating this time, not screaming. I stood up, walking towards my door to go downstairs, when I heard Derek's door do the same.
Looking up, I saw Derek step out, looking down the hall at me. I thought he was just going to turn around or tell me to get back in the room. Instead he closed his door and gestured for me to follow him. So, closing the door to my room, I did just that.
We ended up in the kitchen, with Derek making decaf coffee. I wasn't a big fan of decaf, but it wasn't the best thing to drink so early on a Monday morning.
Derek didn't make me talk. For a long time we just sat there, on the sofa – we moved after the coffee was made – in companionable silence.
We stayed quiet for a while, until Derek asked how long I had had nightmares for.
"Since I was ten, when my mom died." I sighed. "They stopped when I was thirteen, but came back when everything started going to shit and I started to give myself these scars."
Yup, that's right; I was still keeping up with the bull-shit story!
"But you already knew about my mom." I muttered. "How did you find out this stuff about me, anyway?"
"Danny's a hacker." Derek told me. "I asked him to look you up, after a group of them found out you real name. I was curious, and I didn't think you would willingly tell me."
I sighed, quietly, knowing he was right. I would never have willingly given up any information they may have discovered.
"Doesn't make it right." I said. "What did you find anyway?"
"We know you're from Dallas, we know your birthday, the names of your parents. We know how your mother died, that your father is the Sheriff. We know why you went to the hospital so much and why you were in and out of jail."
"Ok... Please, just never ask me to explain any of that."
"Ok."
"I will say I was set up with the drugs and vandalism, the assault was me defending myself, and the theft wasn't even me, I was just standing outside when someone I knew did it."
"Alright."
"I'm not bad..."
"I know."
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