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: Zane,Gabriel (Gabe), Ben.
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
You guys are all so amazing and I love you all! In a non-creepy non-psycho kind of way XD
Please, please review XD
Chapter 26
Stiles
Tuesday, January 7th 2014 – 12:37pm – Ben: Ur frm Dallas? Man, I'd luv 2 go there! U just keep getting gr8er!
Wednesday, January 8th 2014 – 1:59pm – Ben: Dude, ur awesome! How r we only just m8s?!
Thursday, January 9th 2014 – 9:50am – Ben: Mornin' Sti!
Friday, January 10th 2014 – 10:15am – Ben: Buddy, u help my w/ this hmwk, n u'll b savin my life!
Those were only four of the texts that I got from Ben over the weekend – the text talk bugged me... I had text him sometimes before dinner on Monday, when he gave me his number, so he had mine... Since then we had been texting over the weekend, since we saw each other at school, just getting to know each other a little more.
I liked the idea of having a friend outside of the group of ten I lived with, someone who didn't know about the supernatural shit. Someone who really didn't seem like a creep! That was something I had never had before!
I mean, sure, the Pack weren't creeps, but they knew about all things supernatural. I just like the fact of having a friend that didn't know. It was new...and a little exciting...
I was noticeably happier... I mean, it was so obvious that I could tell! I started talking more; I was easing into the whole touching thing, getting used to touches that weren't meant to be harmful... I was slowly relaxing, turning into the kid I used to be, even if it was such a small little part of me. It just gave me hope that one day I would be able to let go of my past completely and be able to go back to who I used to be.
But that didn't mean I was safe from the teasing. Which was what I was getting on this Saturday – January 11th.
"Stiles has a boyfriend!" Scott sang, childishly.
"Say, are we going to see the big kiss scene?" Erica teased.
"As long as it's not the sex scene." Jackson snickered.
"Oh, that would be hot!" Lydia grinned.
Rolling my eyes I leaned back into the couch cushions.
"I don't like anyone." I told them.
But then they started grinning.
They knew it was a lie.
Sure, they didn't know it was because I liked Derek, but they still know I lied.
"Ok, fine! I like someone." I muttered, face as red as a cherry. "But it's not Ben."
"Is it..." Erica started.
"NO! It's not Gabriel! And no I'm telling you who!"
To show them that I had ended this conversation, I grabbed my laptop, which was next to me, stuck in my headphones and placed them in my ears, before turning my music on. I just let the music wash over to me as I sat there and set about finishing off the small amount of English homework we had been given.
I hadn't been working on it very long when I felt my phone vibrate, on the arm of the couch, next to me.
Picking it up, I didn't miss the snickers and teasing looks my friends sent me, as I opened up the newest message from Ben.
Ben: Sti, man, help, pls!
Stiles: Dude, what's wrong?!
Ben: English hmwk! WTF is it bout?!
Stiles: All you have to do is write a few paragraphs on the line "And do we blame superstition on what has come to pass? Or could it be what we English have come to know as class?" I'll give you a clue, the Narrator says it XD
Ben: Sassy btch :P Help?
Stiles: Look, just talk about the superstitions in the play, as well as the different classes and see how they relate to the death for Mickey and Eddie. That's pretty much all you have to do.
Ben: ...Ur shitting me.
Stiles: Nope. If you were listening, you would have understood ;)
Ben: Y listn whn ur betta 2 lk ?
Stiles: It's not like I do anything interesting.
"Training, five minutes." Derek huffed, leaving the room as he said this, not uttering another word.
Ever since Monday, when we all first met Ben...he had been acting strangely. Especially towards me. To be honest, I just brushed it off. But now? Now I was just confused.
Stiles: Hey, I gotta go train. Speak later?
Ben: U train? Wht u do?
Stiles: Laps, beat the shit out of punching bags, do a little defence and offense with the guys I live with. You know, stuff like that.
Ben: I'd luv 2 c tht 1 day!
Stiles: What? Really?
Ben: Yh! Can I wtch sumtime?
I really didn't expect to see that come up...
And, because I was kind of rushing slightly, so I could actually go train without Derek biting my head off, I replied with the first thing I thought of.
Stiles: Monday, after school, in the gym. I'll beat you into the ground.
Ben: Countin' on it ;)
Saturday afternoon, after a nice long hot shower, I was sitting in the living room, trying to read.
I say 'trying' because my head was killing me, my sight was going all blurry and I could barely see the words of the pages. This had been happening a lot recently, but I thought it would go away after a while...like it used to.
But it didn't.
It just kept getting worse.
In the end, I chucked the book onto the coffee table, slumping back into the couch cushions like I had earlier that day, one arm wrapped around my middle while my other hand rubber at my eyes.
"Frustrated much?" Peter's amused voice chuckled.
The eldest Hale was sitting in his usual armchair a short distance away, casually flipping though that day's newspaper.
"Aren't zombies supposed to be silent?!" I growled.
"Only the boring ones." Peter dismissed, with a wave of his hand.
"Because you're so much fun."
Peter, setting aside the newspaper in his hands, sat up straighter, a small smirk on his face.
"Perhaps this isn't any kind of frustration." he quipped, a small laugh in his voice. "Maybe you're just a little...sexually frustrated."
As soon as those words had left the elders mouth, I grabbed the closest thing – the TV remote – and launched it at the older wolf. I didn't wait to see if it collided with him or if he caught it, instead I was up and out of the house, heading towards my Jeep. I just ignored the looks the Pack gave me as I walked passed them, already knowing they had heard everything.
Unlocking my Jeep, I jumped in and opened the glove compartment, rummaging through it to find the one thing I hoped I would never have to use again. Never liked the fact that I had them, I never liked the fact that I had to use them. I didn't like the look of them.
But they would help take the edge off.
I slipped them on before taking a deep breath and walking slowly back to the house, just wanting them to start working before I walked back in. And once I did...
"You wear glasses?!" was the collective response when I walked back into the living room.
Yeah, glasses... They were black and thick framed, basically looking like the ones people wore as fashion accessories. Only these ones had a job. Well, they did. They were a bit beat up and the left lens was cracked...but it was better than nothing at the moment.
"Yeah, I do... Only for reading. Or writing long assignments, especially on a computer." I explained, sighing as I sat back down. "I haven't worn them in a while and they don't work so well because to the left lens...but I can't afford any others and they take the edge off."
It was left at that...no one said anything else.
No one even commented when, a little later on after I took my glasses off, Derek just got up and left...
Two hours later found me sitting in the kitchen, in my pyjamas – a pair of sweats and the Batman t-shirt Derek bought me –, finishing off the English homework that I had been interrupted from earlier by Ben texting me and Derek insisting we all train, while listening to a few songs by All Time Low. Of course, I was doing this after I made a few cookies...
Even though I was listening to what was going on around me, I still jumped when someone reached around me and placing something on my face. Turning around in my chair, keeping my headphones in my ears, I found Derek walking towards the coffee maker...
He bought me new glasses.
That was all I was thinking at the moment.
Derek had left, taking my old glasses with him, and bought me new ones. New ones that were similar to my old ones, but looked a hell of a lot better.
This guy was going to be the death of me!
Smiling a little, and ignoring the warm feeling settling in my stomach, I readjusted the glasses on my face and turned back to my work. I had literally only just started typing again when the rest of the Pack walked in, all looking for something different – whether it be a person, food or a drink.
I didn't think anything of it; it was just something that normally happened. But then I noticed something, even if it was behind me.
"Jackson, get the hell away from those cookies. I need them for dessert." I said, not taking my eyes off of my laptop, close to finishing my work.
"How the fuck do you do that?!" Jackson asked, slightly awed.
Sighing, I turned my music off, taking out my headphones before turning towards all of them. I didn't need to ask why they all looked a little taken back...I knew I looked exhausted and a little bit paler than usual... It was only natural that they were a little shocked and, apparently, concerned.
"I had to be on my toes twenty-four-seven." I explained, with a tired smile. "You would be surprised how much I can do while still listening for a threat."
I didn't need my super wolfy-fox powers to be able to tell that they were upset with that. I mean, yes, while I felt safe with all of them, I still needed to be on my toes...just in case.
Before I could turn back to my laptop, Derek was suddenly there, taking both the computer and my phone away from me.
"Bed. Now." he said, keeping his gaze level with mine.
"I'm not even tired!" I protested.
Of course, nine werewolves and a hunter against a sleep deprived half-werewolf-half-fox... Well, it was easy for them to get my upstairs.
Although, it was a little harder for them to get me into bed. Derek had disappeared right before they all got me into my room, most likely placing my laptop and phone in there, whilst the rest of the Pack tried to get me into bed so I could sleep.
Not that any of them were doing a very good job of it.
In the end, they all left me in my room, fed up that I wouldn't co-operate. I, on the other hand, found it rather entertaining...
Well, I did until Derek strolled in, raising an eyebrow.
"Did you really think it was going to work?" I asked, running a hand over my face. "Dude, I'll be fine."
"No. You'll pass out from exhaustion." Derek battled. "I won't leave until you go to sleep."
"Dude, creepy much."
Derek just stood there, arms folded, leaning back against the closed door of my bedroom. I just responded by crossing my own arms in front of me.
Damn, he's gorgeous!
No, don't think like that.
He's a really good kisser.
I said: no!
Wanna kiss him.
No, I don't.
Do.
Not.
Do.
Not!
Do.
...Ok, yeah, I do! But I'm not going to! Nope, not going to happen. Never going to happen. Supposed to be forgetting about that last kiss, not wanting it to happen again. He doesn't even like me that way! I mean, look at me and then look at Derek! Why the hell would he want me?!
He only kissed me because we were mad, and we were standing way too close, and...yeah. That's why. That's why it happened.
But, damn, he's hot!
Being able to prevent feelings and emotions to play across my face or in my scent was something I had mastered a while ago. I mean, there was the odd time when a werewolf would wander into Dallas an see me, so I had a bit of time to perfect the art of keeping my emotions hidden from creatures like me.
Hopefully I was doing a good job of it now.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I glanced at my bed... It did look really comfy right now.
"You know what, fine." I sighed, walking over to my bed and wriggling underneath the covers, cocooning myself in the warmth.
As soon as I was settled, Derek pushed off of the door, turning to open it. I couldn't help the small stab of panic that pulsed through me.
"Wait!" I yelped, causing the Alpha to stop and turn his head towards me, questioning look on his stupidly handsome face. "Could you...stay? For a little bit, I mean... The nightmares aren't so bad with you around. Well, apart from last Saturday when I pretty much stabbed you with my claws but, anytime when it's just you, no one else around, I don't seem to get them. Like at all. I know it's a lot to ask, but I..."
A hand covered my mouth, stopping me from finishing my rant. Though, realising how much I had said, I was pretty sure I was a light pink instead of my ghostly paleness.
I relaxed a little, showing that I would stop talking now. It was only then that Derek took his hand away.
"You really do ramble when you're nervous, huh?" he smirked, amused, while sliding my glasses off of my face and placing them on the table beside my bed.
I nodded mutely, not wanting to risk getting another bought of word vomit. I mean, I really wanted to; he didn't answer my question... But I didn't want to come across as stupid as I already had.
"Sleep. I'll be right there." Derek told me, quietly, smirk falling off his face slightly, pointing towards my desk chair. "We'll order pizza when you wake up... Lord knows you deserve a night or two off from cooking."
"Thank you." I murmured, already drifting off now my head was resting on my pillow.
Before I drifted off completely though, I could have sworn I felt something soft brush against my forehead.
"Genim, baby, come here, please!" mom yelled from the hallway.
Five year old me ran from the living room, straight into her arms, floppy mop of hair bouncing around and falling into my eyes.
"What do you say we go see Talia today?" she asked, smiling.
We had lived in Beacon Hills for as long as I could remember. But I was five...not really a long time.
My mom was beautiful, I always knew that. Long dark brown hair, amber coloured eyes... Everything about her was just stunning. Sure, Talia was pretty too, but my mom was more than that. I didn't need to talk to people to know that they were jealous of the way she looked.
"Talia!" five year old me grinned, jumping slightly. "Yeah, yeah, yeah! Now?!"
"Yeah, baby, I mean now." mom giggled. "Come on; let's get your shoes on."
Mom was always smiling and laughing, always knowing the right thing to say in certain situations.
"Momma?" mini-me said, quietly. "Why we no tell daddy we special?"
"Because, baby, this is our secret." mom smiled, but it faltered as she continued. "And if the bad people, the ones that daddy goes after, find out...then he could get in trouble."
"No! No hurt daddy!"
"Then we have to keep this our little secret, baby. Don't let the wolf or fox out. Unless it's just you and me and the Hales."
Little-me nodded violently, smiling when mom ruffled my hair, lifting me up once my shoes were on. She grabbed our jackets as we got closer to the door, but paused right before she could open it.
"I love you, my beautiful baby boy, never forget that." mom smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.
"I love you too, momma." mini-me whispered back, grinning.
When I opened my eyes, the sun had already gone down. Glancing at the clock on the table beside my bed, I found that it was seven in the evening. And, yeah, ok, this had probably thrown off my body clock... I mean, I'd probably be up way later than I usually was tonight.
Though I did feel a little better after sleeping...
Thank God it was the weekend!
Shifting slightly, I rolled onto my back and sat up, seeing that Derek was still sitting in my desk chair.
So that's why I had no nightmares...
I knew he knew I was awake. I mean, come one, change in heart rate and breathing pattern, it's easy to spot. Smiling slightly, I yawned a little as I stood up; walking over to him to see what he was staring so intently at.
Pictures. Well, drawings. My drawings. All the sketch books he had gotten me were laid out on the desk in two different piles – probably those he had looked through and those he hadn't...
There were quite a few.
Three was dedicated to my mom, and ten others dedicated to each member of the Pack – though Derek, like my mom, had more than one. I had a couple that had a mixture of drawings of people and things – some of my first sketch books – while others would contain drawings of monsters that I had seen, characters I had made up, places...
And Derek was looking at all of them.
"Sorry. I was curious." he said, quietly, not taking his eyes off of my sketch books, continuing to turn the pages.
"I-It's fine." I stuttered slightly, voice hoarse from sleep, as I tugged at the hem of my Batman t-shirt.
Derek nodded slowly, continuing to look through the books, taking his time to look at each and every one of the pictures in them. I couldn't remember the last time someone had looked at my work like this.
"Who are these people?" he asked, still keeping his voice low.
"You don't know them. No one does." I replied, making Derek turn around to face me and frown. "They're characters I made up...for my stories..."
Derek just nodded, gently closing the book he had been looking at, before getting up out of my desk chair and stretching.
Yup, still hot.
Shit!
"We better go order that pizza." Derek chuckled, walking over to the door. "Coming?"
I just followed.
About half an hour later, there was a knock at the door. Since I was the closest, I stood up, grabbing the money that Derek held out to me.
This was all getting so strangely domestic... But I really liked it.
I heard the happy whine of both my wolf and fox inside of my head, as I made my way towards the door. They were happy, I was happy... That hadn't happened for a long time... So, it was only natural that I was grinning when I opened the door to the pizza guy.
"Well, hello, beautiful." the guy winked.
Oh, for fuck sake, not again!
"No flirting. Stop flirting." I groaned. "I am sick and tired of people doing that."
"Well, one date with me and they'll stop for good, gorgeous." he – practically – purred.
Holding back an annoyed growl, I forced the money into the guy's hand and took the many pizza boxes from his hands, placing them all on a table by the door.
"What do you say, babe?" he grinned, stepping closer. "Wanna take a ride?"
And didn't that just make you sick? That poorly hidden innuendo. I was seriously debating giving up on guys forever... Yeah, forever alone, that was me.
And here's something I never thought I would do.
"You do know I'm the kid that, apparently, burnt down my old school, right?" I asked, taking a step back. "All those rumours are about me."
I don't think I've ever seen someone run away so fast in my life.
Slamming the door shut, I picked up the pizza boxes, heading into the living room. Everyone was sitting there, amused, all trying desperately not to laugh. Not that Jackson was trying very hard.
I threw the boxes down onto the table, huffing as I dropped down onto the couch beside Isaac.
"Why the hell does everyone think I'm gay?!" I demanded. "I could be straight!"
"You aren't though." Peter smirked.
"I could be though!"
That just tipped them all al little further, all of them snickering.
"Really, Stiles?" Derek coughed, trying to cover up a chuckle.
"Yes!" I protested, before gesturing over to the girls. "You know I have legitimately thought of pretending to be straight and asking the assistance of one of these lovely ladies to help me, because I detest people, that aren't you guys, that much!"
In the end they left it alone, focusing more on food than some idiotic guy trying to pick me up.
I couldn't help but notice that Derek seemed kind of happy about my reaction to it all, though...
But that was probably my imagination. Well, it most likely was.
After the food was gone, all of us were just lounging around, enjoying each other's company. In the three months and three weeks that I had been living with these people, it was the first time that I actually felt comfortable enough with them to just...chill out properly.
But it wasn't like I was paying attention to anything being said.
No, instead, I was thinking about my mom...
However, my spacey-ness didn't go unnoticed.
"Stiles? Everything ok?" Boyd asked.
"Yeah..." I nodded. "Just thinking..."
"Wanna explain?" Erica pushed.
Sighing a little, but smiling still, I sat up a little straighter.
"Earlier... I had a dream about my mom." I explained. "That hasn't happened in...a long time. And I bet none of you knew I actually used to live here, in Beacon Hills."
By the shocked faces surrounding me, I knew I was right.
"Yeah... I didn't move to Dallas until a short time after I had turned five." I told them. "The dream I had was actually a snippet of one of our last days in Beacon Hills..."
"What was she like? Your mom, I mean." Allison smiled.
With a grin, I told them everything about her. What she looked like, what she liked. How she taught me how to do most of the things I love. How everyone loved her. How she was always smiling and laughing and singing and dancing.
I told them how she was the one person that I would do anything for, simply because I loved her and she deserved it...
"The nights after we – mom and me – visited her friends, she would tell me this story. Well, it wasn't really a story, but that's what I used to called it." I chuckled. "She based it on me and her friend Talia's middle child."
"Do you remember it?" Isaac wondered.
I nodded, still smiling, as I thought of how she would lie next to me, hugging me close and one hand running through my hair as she recited the words she knew by heart.
"Can you tell us?" Isaac questioned, quietly.
Looking around, all of them seemed a little interested...especially Derek and Peter. Hesitantly I nodded again, taking a breath before closing my eyes and telling them what she used to tell me.
"Once there was a little boy,
Who played every day.
He played with toy trains and toy cars,
Even with toy bears and in the park.
And one day when the sky was clear,
And the boy was on the slide,
He looked over towards a tree,
Where something caught his eye."
She had made this up before we knew I was a half and half like her... Even when we found out, she still told this to me most nights before I went to bed.
"Jumping up from the slide,
And over to the tree he went.
To find a wolf hidden in the shade,
Who look far less than content.
But the wolf looked nothing like the rest,
He looked more like you and me.
With fur and fangs, with claws and glowing eyes,
He was a werewolf, you see."
I remember that, at that part, I would hold Wolfy – the toy wolf that Talia's middle child wanted me to have for my third birthday – tighter, smiling a little wider.
"Stepping towards the wolf boy he said,
With a hand he did extend,
'Come on out into the sun, and I will be your friend'.
A little scared, the wolf boy took the hand,
From the child whose smile was wide and fun.
Retracting fur, fangs, claws and glowing eyes,
Stepping out into the sun."
This little rhyming story thing never failed to make me smile, even if I was just thinking about it. It was something that I always associated with my mom.
"The two boys walked away from the tree,
Going over to the seesaw.
"Where the wolf boy said,
'I'll be your friend, so I can know you more'.
Every day they met in the park,
Playing and talking away.
And as teens they talked all day and night,
Nothing able to keep their friendship at bay."
Chuckling slightly, I opened my eyes to see everyone smiling. I always thought that, with those last two lines and the four that were to follow that my mom was trying to tell me something.
"Then when they introduce one another,
To their families, in the end,
They both turned towards the group and said:
'Even the most unlikely two can become friends'."
With the story over, I grinned as I ran my hand through my hair. I looked up a little, noticing the look on Derek and Peter's faces.
That's when it clicked.
Talia had a brother called Peter. Their last name was Hale. Talia was married to Oliver and they had three kids: Laura, Derek and Cora. The Derek I knew had dark brown – almost black looking – hair and green eyes.
Derek was the middle child of my mom's friend Talia. Derek was the werewolf kid that my mom based the story on, as well as me. Derek was the one that wanted to give me Wolfy. Derek was my first friend here in Beacon Hills when I was a little kid, even if we didn't see each other as much as we do now.
"I need to run." I whispered, before jumping up and heading towards the door. "Alone."
Right now, I had a lot to think about – my mom, my childhood, Peter and Derek...
Sunday morning – well...it was almost afternoon, since it was eleven in the morning – found me sitting in the living room, a Snickers bar in hand. Sometimes you craved chocolate and, for me, it just so happened to be at that moment.
It also helped that chocolate made me feel better after a sudden and shocking revelation. Like the one I had last night. About Derek and Peter...
"How can you even like those...things?" Lydia asked, scrunching her nose as she saw the candy in my hand.
"Hey, you gotta love them nuts." I grinned, winking as I took another bite.
It just made everything a little funnier when all of us started laughing, while Scott and Isaac just sat there like confused little puppies.
"Wow, I actually just said that!" I laughed – not giggled, laughed!
All of them just watched me as I just smiled at them all, grinning madly.
It was kind of quiet, now that no one was talking or anything... Everyone just looking at me while I just sat there smiling.
"You have a nice laugh, Stiles." Allison smiled, breaking the silence. "You've actually been a lot of good for all of us, so...thank you."
And, yeah, wasn't expecting that.
My smile dropped as my eyes widened slightly, looking around at the seven Betas and one hunteress... No one had ever thanked me before.
So, that was a lot for me.
"I'm pretty sure I'm the one that should be thanking you guys." I replied, quietly. "You've all done more for me than I've done for you. All I've done today is provide you with my comical genius."
"That's the thing, though." Danny spoke up. "None of us have laughed so much before. Some of us...not at all. You've helped us."
"In more ways than one." Isaac added.
I don't think I had ever felt like this before. All warm and gooey inside...
It felt...kind of...nice...
"You guys better stop, because I don't want to become a red light and start sobbing like a thirteen year old girl." I chuckled; face already starting to heat up. "It won't be pretty, trust me."
I should have seen it coming.
I didn't. But I should have.
I mean, after saying something like that, I should have expected that I would have been hugged.
But, I didn't.
Though I didn't think it would be Scott doing the hugging...
I kind of froze, going slightly pale, as I tensed under the touch. But I didn't want to be rude! This guy was one of the people I considered friends, and he was doing this as a friendly gesture!
So, awkwardly, I patted him a couple of times on the back.
"Dude, I know I said 'you gotta love them nuts', but I didn't mean it literally. I mean, your girlfriend is sitting right there!" I mocked, trying to relieve some of the tensions as Scott pulled away.
The dark haired Beta shoved me gently as he pulled away, grinning, before going back to Allison. Sure, Scott and I had gotten off to a rocky start, but we were starting to become good buddies now.
And then Isaac spoke up.
"It's okay to be like that...I was like that too..." the pup said. "But, after a while, you'll learn to just allow people to touch you and know it's good."
I wanted to oppose, say that he had it all wrong... But there was no use. They'd be able to tell I was lying. So, instead, I just nodded appreciatively.
"I do have a question though." Isaac added.
"Oh? Go on then." I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Thinking for a moment, Isaac scrunched his face up in confusion...just like a puppy.
"Why did everyone laugh when you said 'gotta love them nuts'?" he wondered.
And, boy, you've just got to love the innocence.
Later that day, we were training again.
We would always rotate, taking it in turns to take each other on. Most of the time I was on the punching bag or being taught by Allison how to use a crossbow properly. I had improved from the first time she and Chris tried to teach me.
We had all kind of set up this routine. All of us knowing where to go to first and when to go over to the mats. It was also a known fact that the last person each of us would take on would be Derek, and we all knew that I was the last person to go to them before Derek.
But today? Today was a little different.
Today, while I was up against Derek, they were all suddenly interested about what my anchor was.
Hell, even Derek and Peter wanted to know!
I still hadn't really spoken to them since my little revelation Saturday night... Only the odd sentence here or there. But it was still kind of hard to look at them and think that they knew before me but had said nothing. It was hard to look at them and think that the people my mom had been so close to were all dead apart from these two. It was hard to look at them and remember what they used to be like, knowing how they are now.
"Stiles, you should share with the group." Peter smirked. "You should especially tell Derek and me. I mean, we do happen to go way back."
It was also hard when Zombie-wolf was using it against me.
And it wasn't like I could leave. I mean, hello, training. While I would have loved to have run out of that room so I didn't have to answer, I knew this was important. This helped me gain control over my wolf and fox, just like with my one-to-one sessions with Derek.
"No. Not telling." I huffed, continuing to spar with Derek.
That was, until the Alpha wolf held up a hand, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.
"How about this: you win, you don't tell us what your anchor is; I win, you do tell us?" Derek asked.
And this? Yeah, this was not fair! I was competitive and stubborn and didn't know when to give up... Derek knew I wouldn't back down, even if it meant giving up what my anchor was... He was an asshole.
Hot.
But an asshole.
A hot asshole.
That jus sounds wrong...
Ok, a hot jackass.
Yeah, that could work. A hot jackass.
"Bring. It." I growled, grinning.
I don't think I had fought harder in my entire life! Seriously!
I mean, over an hour of fighting later – after both of us had sparred with the others – I was flat on my back, on the mats. Derek was being a little smug, though he worked hard to keep it as only a small part.
I sighed as all of them collapsed to the ground with me – Derek to my left, Isaac to my right –, so we were all in a massive circle, our heads facing the middle. It felt so natural to do this, to be a part of this. To be a part of something.
For most of my life, I had felt so alone. Having no one there, no friends, no family... No nothing. It was hard to deal with, so many times I had thought of just going down to that basement myself, taking out the knife and go to town on myself. Slicing and cutting and stabbing...just so I could get away from the torture, the pain, the loneliness.
But now I had these guys.
These ten people that took me away from it before getting to know me.
They like me for me.
They don't judge me.
And yet they had no idea how much they had actually done for me, or how much every word or every gesture they say or make means to me. Because those little words and those little gestures might be nothing for them...but it means the world to me.
And yet they have no idea.
Well, I assume Isaac would... But each experience of abuse and self harm – which I admit, I did do – was different. But Isaac would know more than the others.
"I have two anchors. One of them...one of them I only realised back in October." I confessed.
"What are they?" Isaac asked, quietly, moving his arm until it was brushing mine in comfort, his wolf senses telling him how I was feeling at this moment.
I was grateful for the pup. I was grateful for them all. I was so thankful, that I didn't care that happy tears – for once, something happy – gathered in my eyes, a few leaking out of the sides and running down towards my temples.
"The one I've always had... My mom." I told them, aiming a watery smile up at the ceiling. "She always knew what to do to calm me down. Most of the time, she just had to be there, or I just had to think about her."
I let out a short breath, which could have almost passed for a laugh.
I already knew I couldn't talk much about my mom, no like I did last night. But I liked talking about her. Even if it was hard.
"The other... Well, the other, which I found I had back in October... It's you guys." I confessed. "All ten of you. You guys don't understand how much you do for me. Ever since my life turned to shit when my mom died...the ten of you have been the only things that have helped to turn it around. Sure, it's slow...but there are a lot of scars and wounds that need to heal before I'm back to me again...but you've all helped so much. You guys are the greatest people I know, and I am just so...thankful and grateful and honoured to know you all."
I should have known that telling them the truth and opening up to them that they were going to puppy pile me.
But this time I didn't care.
I liked it.
After a nice hot shower, I was back downstairs in the living room, finishing off the last of my English homework. I only had one more paragraph to write...this would be my longest paragraph out of the whole thing. But it was also my best. It was talking about how the seven deadly sins – it was a superstition, I checked, especially with what people think will happen if the commit said sins – take place throughout the play, as well as the number seven appearing quite often, even if we didn't realise it.
But it was too quiet for me to concentrate at the moment. Everyone was still upstairs, cleaning up. So, I did the only thing that could bring some noise to the quiet living room.
I put my headphones in and started to listen to music.
And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't wanna go home right now
There was something about this particular song – Iris by Goo Goo Dolls – that I just connected with... Some of the lyrics I could relate to... Especially the chorus.
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
When sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight
It was at this point that Peter made an appearance. I had looked up, just to think of how to best word my next sentence when I saw the older Hale. I sent a small smile over to the elder wolf, before turning my eyes back towards my laptop.
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
Soon, I had noticed that Peter – Peter – was humming along to the song under his breath, as he sat in his armchair and flipped through a book of his. He was doing it quietly, trying to keep it hidden that he knew this song.
Which I couldn't let happen.
So, I took my headphones out and turned the music up.
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive
Even though Peter tried to hide it, I couldn't help but grin at the fact that he obviously knew this song. So, English homework forgotten for the moment, I sat up and crossed my legs on the couch, setting my laptop down next to me, before leaning forward a little to watch the Zombie-wolf.
"And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am"
I couldn't help but start to sing a long quietly to the song... It was habit and it was nice to know that I could do it without getting a knife or a fist to my body.
It was even better when someone else knew the song too.
"And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am"
What I loved though, was Peter started singing with me. Something I didn't think would happen... He wasn't even trying to fight a smile.
"And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am"
For a moment, there was a small silence as the song came to an end.
I paused the music before the next song could come on and just sat there grinning at the wolf in front of me.
"Most teenagers aren't supposed to know good bands." Peter commented, looking up from his book.
"Do I look like most teenagers?" I countered, raising an eyebrow. "Besides, not many teenagers were three, almost four, years old when this song came out, and they didn't twenty one year old wolf, who know happens to be a zombie, introduce them to the awesomeness."
It's true.
In 1998, after the song was released, Peter made Laura, Derek, Cora and I listen to the song. I immediately loved it. Laura and Cora...not so much.
I remember that Derek didn't really care; he said it was a good song but it wasn't anything to get so excited about. Though he always put up with it and smiled when I started to sing along to the song, every time Peter played in when mom and I visited.
"So you remember." Peter mused.
"I'm starting to remember a lot of things. Well, I do now that I know that you and Derek are part of the things I remember." I shrugged.
"Well then, maybe I could be of assistance."
"...and it went..." Peter gasped between laughs.
"All over the kitchen!" I laughed – not giggling! – nodding my head vigorously as I remembered this particular story. "Oh. My. God! How could I forget that?!"
"Forget what?" a voice asked, tightly, from the doorway of the living room.
Still chuckling, Peter and I turned our gazes to where the voice came from, finding Derek leaning against the frame, arms folded, ankles crossed and an eyebrow raised.
Seeing him did nothing to stop our laughter...it only fuelled it more. Which wasn't appreciated by the younger Hale.
"Oh, lighten up, Sourwolf." I sniggered. "We're just reminiscing."
"Yes. For example, we just finished discussing your failed attempt at making a simple milkshake when you were nine." Peter snorted, trying to regain composure.
"Oliver's face though! I thought he was going to pass out!"
"He did... After Claudia, your mother, took you and Derek upstairs to clean up. Poor man was just lying there in the puddle."
That set me off again, thinking of the man that Derek looked like so much passed out on the kitchen floor...
"You know, I wondered what that sound was." I grinned.
"It wasn't all my fault." Derek protested, quietly. "Someone didn't put the lid on the blender properly."
"Dude, I was two!"
"A month away from turning three!"
Like the grown up I was, I flipped the guy off. Hey, it was more mature than sticking my tongue out like a four year old!
"Face it, Der. You can't blame this on me, you knew better." I shook my head, still grinning.
"Shut it, Gen." Derek grumbled.
That was new.
Derek had been the only one when we were kids to call me Gen. No one else ever had. Not even after I moved to Dallas... I had forgotten all about that name, and he just...he just used it.
What?!
"D-Did you just..." I trailed off, blinking owlishly at the Alpha wolf in front of me.
Even Derek and Peter seemed a bit surprised by it.
Derek opened his mouth to speak, probably to make some excuse, but a voice interrupted him.
"Hey, Stiles! Can you give me a hand?" Scott called from upstairs.
Sighing and rolling my eyes a little, but still smiling, I jumped up from the couch, taking my laptop with me, before heading upstairs.
But I wasn't too far away to hear Peter say: "You really should control your jealousy, nephew. You have nothing to worry about."
Lessons on Monday went by rather fast, art being my favourite that day. I was closer and closer to being done with my project and, so far, it was looking great. I just couldn't wait to have the finished product put together and in front of me... And, you know, I wanted to show the Pack...well, if they wanted to see it, that was.
Chase and Gabriel even left me alone that day!
Then, before I knew it, I was in the gym after the day had ended, with Ben.
"You sure you wanna do this? I'm telling you, I'll beat your ass into the ground." I asked, dropping my backpack in one corner.
"Dude, who doesn't want a hot guy on top of them?" Ben grinned, impishly.
Something I had learnt over our many, many texts: Ben was gay. He lived with his mom, who was accepting, but his dad – who his mom had divorced – wasn't so... But he didn't care, said his dad was a deadbeat.
It was actually nice having a friend – outside of the Pack – who was gay...
"Straight guys and lesbians wouldn't." I replied, instantly. "I don't think they'd take too kindly to that."
"Eugh, you're boring. Why can't you just ever go along with what I say?!" Ben groaned, still grinning.
"Because, usually, what you say is wrong."
"Ouch, you wound me."
"Not yet I haven't."
Ben just, childishly, stuck his tongue out, pull off his shirt after he placed his backpack next to mine.
I turned away as my friend removed the piece of clothing, instead focusing on setting up the mats...just in case. I mean, it was better to fall on mats that a solid hard floor...I knew that from personal experience.
Besides, the bruises on Ben would take way longer to disappear than they did on me.
"So, how we gunna start this thing?" he asked.
I had found an old punching bag in the back to the storage space that held all the gym equipment. It was in good shape, so it would serve its purpose.
I was holding it still while Ben punched at it. I gave him tips on how to get more force behind the hit, while simultaneously causing less damage to himself, but he ended up just becoming frustrated.
"Show me." he said. You do, show me how I'm supposed to do it." Ben begged. "Please?"
"Fine. But I'm not doing full strength." I smirked.
Until this point, I had been careful in avoiding anything that would mean for me to get too warm... I didn't want my shirt to cling to me, to irritate my scars... I didn't like people knowing about them. Which meant, I was going to do everything to keep the scars away from Ben's attention for as long as possible.
"Fine then." Ben grinned, taking a hold of the punching bag from his side.
Sighing, I nodded slightly. I rolled my shoulders, cracking my knuckles, before taking a step or two backwards.
Curling both hands into fists, I started off by explaining how to get the proper amount of force behind a punch, without breaking or damaging your hand. It was something I had to teach myself, since no one was around to actually teach me...well, until I met the Pack.
It was during my explanation that the door to the gym opened, not that I looked up. It was just a passing thought in the back of my mind, something I was aware of but didn't really pay attention to.
I continued to explain while simultaneously speeding up the punches and increasing the strength behind them, but only by a little. Just enough that he could feel it through the bag, but not enough that it would hurt him.
"Ok, I think I got it." Ben said a short while later. "Can we speed this up a little now?"
"What, you think you're ready for hand-to-hand?" I scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously? Fifteen minutes on a punching bag and you think you got it?"
"Hey, I'm a fast learner! Come on!"
"Your funeral."
Moving the bag out of the way, Ben and I moved to the middle of the mats.
It was fairly obvious that Ben was going to come charging at me, a move which was easily blocked. It was a move that so many people went for, but it was also a move that Jackson used whenever he was up against someone. Sure, Jackson wouldn't use it straight away and would change when he used that particular move, but it was obvious and easy to dodge/block.
"What were you were saying about being a fast learner?" I asked, grinning a little smugly.
It was only two minutes later when my shirt was clinging to me, and it became too much to handle. I pulled it over my head quickly, whilst dodging another tackle from Ben, chucking it to the edge of the mats.
Instead of getting self conscious, even though I already was, I tried to focus more on the training. And by 'training' I meant beating my friend into the ground, without hurting him.
Which was exactly what I did, considering the fact that a minute later he was flipped over and face down on the mats with my foot in-between his shoulder blades.
"I think we're done here, don't you?" I chuckled, helping him up from the floor.
"Shut up." he grinned, shoving me to the side.
Grinning myself, I picked up my discarded shirt, shoving it into my backpack, before taking out a clean one and shoving it on.
"At least you know never to pick a fight with him." a voice from behind us said.
Turning around and picking my backpack up at the same time, I found the entire Pack – Derek and Peter included – leaning against the wall, all of them smirking a little.
"How long have you guys been there?" I asked, confused.
"Since you started hitting the punching bag." Boyd shrugged.
So they were the ones that walked in earlier.
"I thought Peter was supposed to be the creepy one." I grinned, walking over to them.
"Careful, he might eat your brains." Scott mocked, side stepping as Peter made a swipe at his head.
"Watch it. I can always go speak to your mother."
Well, at least I knew what to say if I ever wanted Scott to shut up.
"Ready to leave?" Derek asked, glancing almost subtly at Ben, who was still standing behind me.
I nodded, turning to say goodbye before we all left.
Back home, I ran upstairs to put my backpack down, before grabbing my phone and going into the kitchen.
I mean, a glass of water and a cup of coffee – maybe even a hot chocolate – sounded really good right now! Of course I was going to make something for the rest of them since I was getting something for myself... We all did it, everyday, if we had had school.
Usually, with after school drinks Allison had coffee with cream; Boyd had coffee black, with sugar; Danny had just black coffee; Erica had coffee with cream and sugar; Isaac, Jackson and Scott actually didn't have coffee – they had hot chocolate, so I made that separately; Lydia had coffee in a way similar to a non fat half caf-triple Grande quarter sweet sugar free vanilla extra hot extra foamy caramel macchiato; Peter either had water or juice, but if he had coffee it was usually with hazelnut and caramel; Derek and me had coffee the same – in the style of a white chocolate mocha from Starbucks.
Coffee sounds good right now... Decision made!
So, placing my cell phone of the counter, I grabbed eleven mugs and two glasses, since I didn't know yet what Peter would want, and got to making the drinks. It was kind of therapeutic and yet another one of the domestic things I never thought I would ever be doing.
I couldn't help but smile...
When the door to the kitchen opened, six people walked in: Allison, Danny, Erica, Isaac, Lydia and Peter.
"Coffee would be great, thank you." Peter chuckled as he went down into the basement...
Even going past that door gave me the creeps and I knew I would never be able to go down there... That, or it would take years for me to get down there.
Pulling my mind away from those thoughts, I just focused to brewing the coffee and heating some water for the hot chocolate.
That was the moment that my phone went off.
"Is that Ben texting you?"Allison asked, slightly amused. "You saw each other, around, ten minutes ago."
"Probably needs help with English work." I shrugged. "He doesn't really pay attention."
"Well, let's check, shall we?" Lydia grinned, snatching my phone off of the counter before I could get to it.
Sighing, I knew there was no use it trying to get it back. I saw Erica try to do the same thing once...Lydia had ended up biting her... I didn't really fancy being bitten.
I thought she was just going to look at the one message.
Nope.
Lydia scrolled to the first message I had sent to him – the one that gave him me number – and looked through all of them. She even had Allison and Erica looking over her shoulders.
Shaking my head, I turned my back to them as the water finished boiling and coffee finished brewing, pulling out everything I needed to make the hot drinks, as well as filling one glass with water and putting the other glass back in the cupboard.
I didn't even know that the girls had gone over the Isaac and Danny until Isaac came up to me and handed my phone back.
"Y-You do realise that...that Ben's flirting with you, right?" he asked, timidly.
I froze.
"What?" was all I could come up with.
"Yeah..." Isaac nodded. "Everything he's saying...he's interested in you."
"No. That can't be right."
But Isaac wasn't lying... He genuinely thought that was the case...
I was screwed.
The panic must have been obvious, since the next thing I knew, Isaac was hugging me.
Seriously, these guys and hugging!
"I'll...uh... I'll j-just, you know, explain to him that I'm n-not interested." I stammered, quietly. "Y-You know, let him down easy."
That would be easy to do.
Right?
THIS IS THE LONGEST CHAPTER YET!
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