CHAPTER TWO:
She was ignoring him. Not that he could blame her. After all, what right did he have to expect her to forgive him so readily? But the radio silence and complete lack of acknowledgment brought him back to those early days when Lydia had no idea he existed. It wasn't a welcome feeling.
Every day for the last week, one member or another asked him what he had done to piss her off. He hadn't been answering any of Scott's texts, so his best friend decided to drop in on him. He found Stiles doing what he does best in these situations. Compulsively digging through his entire collection of mythology and supernatural references. He had been building his own compendium of sorts-it was something that Lydia had helped him start-and he was scribbling something down in a notebook when Scott knocked on his door and pushed it open without welcome.
Stiles didn't even bother looking up. His hand just kept moving, his brain focusing on the words as if he couldn't make sense of them.
"You know, I could have been naked in here."
Scott rolled his eyes. "That would have been easier to deal with than whatever's going on with you now."
At this, he stopped writing. "Nothing's going on with me."
"Stiles," he replied. "You're working on that stupid compendium thing, which you only do when you're upset about something-or paranoid about some threat. Both of which would be bad. So which is it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm fine." There was beat where the only sound that could be heard were the keys Stiles pressed on absently. He looked over his notes as he typed, trying to gather his thoughts.
Scott glanced over the screen. "You're on the chapter about banshees, Stiles. This is about Lydia."
"No, it's not. I'm just…" He continued moving his fingers absently. "...you know, adding information into this thing. It's been a while and lot has happened. I haven't really had the time what with dealing all the supernatural disasters that keep hitting this town."
As he took a seat on the bed, Scott said, "Maybe you should talk to her, work it out. Lydia can't be that mad at you, Stiles. I saw her earlier and she seemed like she was in a good mood."
At this, Stiles finally ceased his typing and swirled in his chair, facing Scott. "That's just Lydia being Lydia. How do you think she's maintained being the reigning queen of Beacon Hills High for long without having an amazing poker face? Trust me, Scott. She wants to kill me."
"It can't be that bad, Stiles. Just go to talk to her. After all you two have been, I can't think of a reason why she wouldn't forgive you."
"You don't know what I did."
"Doesn't matter, Stiles. I know you, and when it comes to Lydia, you would never hurt her."
Scott had a feeling that whatever happened between his two friends had something to do with the party Lydia threw. They had been dancing around each other that night for some reason Stiles wouldn't relate. Scott had spent the small part of the last few years watching those slowly get closer only to watch the fragile friendship crumble away. Despite how much he missed Kira, he would be happy if Stiles and Lydia managed to work out the thing between them.
For the moment, Stiles was silent, pondering if it was really a smart thing to go talk to Lydia. To crack open that can of worms again. He had tried and failed so many times. If he didn't take it seriously, then it would never be what he knew it could be. Lydia deserved so much more, and he wanted to be the one to give it to her. Even if the other night hadn't seemed like it, Stiles put Lydia above anything else.
She deserved an explanation at least.
"You're right, Scott. I need to talk to her."
Smiling toothily, Stiles' best friend replied, "I'm always right. How long's it going to take for you to figure that out?"
Stiles offered him a roll of his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips.
Scott spent the remainder of his visit going over the things the pack would talk about at their next meeting. Stiles was a good soundboard for that sort of thing, even if he was distracted by thoughts of a certain strawberry blonde and his work on the compendium.
After Scott left, Stiles deliberated about sending a text to Lydia. It took me less than a minute to type it, but he hesitated when he was about to hit send. Before he could think twice, he tapped the screen.
Hey, look, I'm sorry. Can we talk?
When he didn't get a response after twenty minutes, Stiles called her. Surprisingly, she answered.
"If you think you're going to be forgiven so easily, you are out of your mind, Stilinski."
"Lydia, I have an explanation."
Silence. Okay, she was giving him a chance. That was something, right?
"A lot has happened in the last couple of years, you know? With all of us, I mean. Scott's an Alpha, I was possessed, then everything went to hell-it went to hell a few times, but you know what I mean-and we just got out that thing with the dread doctors, and who knows what's next… I was actually just reading through some online news sites and there have been some weird disappearances recently, which I've been thinking about for a while and there's something there, but I'm not sure what. I've been researching it for a while now and going through the bestiary, but I can't quite figure it out and-"
"Stiles."
He sucked in a breath. "Right. Sorry. I got off topic. Anyway, we weren't talking for a while, Lydia. I mean, we talked. But it wasn't like before. And I know why. Things are good now, aren't they? And when you sent me that picture, I thought, 'Wow, oh my god, this is it.' I screwed up. I know I did. And I'm sorry. But Lydia, can you blame for having a moment where everything came crashing down around me and I panicked? You're so much more than just a casual thing to me, and I am so happy we've managed to become friends again. I just don't want to mess it up. That's all it is."
Heart in his throat, Stiles stared at the wall. All he could focus on was the phone at his ear. She hadn't hung up yet which was comforting. It wasn't that difficult to admit this stuff to her. Not like he thought it would have been. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she already knew most of it. She had to. He wasn't exactly good at hiding it.
"You are the biggest jerk," she finally said, her voice thick with some emotion he couldn't decipher, but it managed to even out his heart beat.
"But am I forgiven?"
"No. Not yet. You have to do penance."
"And what does that entail?"
"You doing any and everything I say for the next two weeks."
Grinning now, Stiles couldn't help but tease her. "Anything?"
"Stiles, wipe that smirk off your face. This won't be fun for you. Imagine me looking fabulous and stunning-"
"-Not that hard, but okay-,"
"-walking to class, and there you are, behind me, holding my books and looking miserable. Imagine you making and bringing me lunch every day. Holding every door open for me. Honestly, I could go on and on. And for every time you don't do something I tell you to, I add on a day to your sentence. Knowing you, this could actually go on for years. You're not that good at taking orders."
Stiles was grinning from ear to ear now. Lydia literally had no clue whatsoever that he would already do all those things for her, without complaint, and expect nothing in return. But he could play along. He would make sure that he earned her forgiveness and didn't do anything to mess up their friendship.
"Sure thing, Lyds. Whatever you want."
"Starting tomorrow, Stiles, you're my slave."
"Got it."
"Good."
"Goodnight, Lydia."
"Night, Stiles..."
Notes:
As much as I was hoping to make this a longer chapter, the words just weren't coming to me. I had the hardest time writing this chapter, which sucks, because I was hoping to make it up to guys for the long wait. Though with the holidays and work, there wasn't a lot of time for me to sit down and think this chapter through. I'm looking forward to where this story will end up. It's going to take a few twists and turns! And flow right into where season six, episode one picks up.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and as always, feel free to leave whatever advice, comments and critiques you want! I appreciate feedback.