A/N: Okay, I am so, so sorry for taking so long to update. I moved into a new place this week and barely had time to sleep, let alone open my laptop.

Please note that there are warnings in this chapter. It was hard to write and kind of left me breathless when I finished it, so yeah.

Chapters will be updated weekly. Special warnings would be at the bottom notes of the chapters when needed.

Summary: 'Derek glanced at Stiles, who's smile dissolved into a light frown. He moved his hands again, and Derek flicked his eyes back to Sheriff Stilinski, silently asking for help. The Sheriff took a few steps forwards. "Stiles is mute." He said.'

I own nothing.

Chapter 14

We are the reckless,

We are the wild youth.

Chasing visions of our futures.

Their motel surprisingly was... almost acceptable. That is, if you had low standards.

It was definitely not a five-stars, but the sheets barely had any stains on them and the smell of penicillin was faint enough that a few squeezes of spray deodorant covered it pretty well. With another much appreciated addition in the shape of the girls' perfumes, their gloomy rooms finally became a little bit more than welcoming.

Lydia, of course, rented a room with Jackson, and Scott - after a short, quick apology to Stiles - went with Allison, leaving him to share a room with the only other available group member - Isaac. It wasn't like Stiles wasn't happy about sharing a room with Isaac, and frankly, Scott's claim was understandable, despite his unhealthy, disturbing need to be glued to Allison every waking moment. Stiles didn't blame him.

Well, maybe just a little.

Anyway, they were all currently lounging in Lydia and Jackson's room, since they were the only ones who could afford a room with a television. Plus, Jackson was generous enough to order all of them some pizza, and so they all stayed there for movie night, chatting and joking and discussing the future games excitedly.

They were going through their fourth movie when Allison's head started dropping onto Scott's shoulder, cuing everyone to their beds. They got up and pretended to clean a little before Lydia shooed them all out, closing her door as everyone parted to their own rooms.

"Big game tomorrow, huh?" Isaac asked as he dropped himself onto his bed, yawning. Stiles nodded with a large grin.

Can't wait. He signed quickly, sitting down and kicking his shoes off as he climbed onto his bed as well. Aren't you going to sleep? He asked after a few seconds, when Isaac showed no sign of getting ready for bed. Isaac looked slightly thoughtful for a moment, then shook his head.

"I think I'm gonna go get something from the machine outside." He said, getting up on his feet and stretching. "Do you want me to get you anything?"

Stiles shrugged. Surprise me. He signed. Isaac chuckled, closing the door behind him as he left.

The moment he was gone, Stiles rolled over with a groan and reached for his bag, fishing out his phone and turning the screen on with an eager smile. He had twenty one missed calls, and there were fourteen new messages blinking slowly on his screen. Stiles soon found out that two were from his dad, twelve from Derek. Of course.

[09:34 PM] Hi kiddo. You are not answering you phone. Call me when you get there.
[09:52 PM] Hi babe. Where are you?
[10:46 PM] Stiles.
[10:48 PM] STILES.
[10:57 PM] You promised you were gonna call when you get there, you little shit.
[11:13 PM] Stiles. It's your father. Whatever you're doing, just call your boyfriend already, he's driving me crazy.
[11:22 PM] S
[11:22 PM] T
[11:23 PM] I
[11:23 PM] L
[11:23 PM] E
[11:23 PM] SSSSS.
[11:24 PM] I swear to God, if you don't answer in the next ten minutes
[11:35 PM] That's it. No sex. Ever.

Stiles laughed, placing his palm over his mouth ti stop himself from being too loud. His shoulders shook as he couldn't hold it in and let out a snort, first typing back to calm his father.

[01:04 AM] Hi dad, I'm alive. Forgot to call, sorry. We are having fun here in this dusty motel, and tomorrow we gonna go see the game. Talk to you tomorrow. Love you.

He pressed 'send' and smiled, proceeding to text Derek next. He was still lightly laughing, amused by Derek's childish, needy messages. He was so going to hold that against him when they get back home.

[01:09 AM] U still up? He sent. He waited for a whole three minutes before he typed in another message. [01:12 AM] I know you're up.

No response.

[01:15 AM] Oh come on. I'm sorry, okay?

[01:15 AM] YOU DAMN WELL SHOULD BE.

The reply was instant. Stiles snorted.

[01:16 AM] How was your day? Stiles typed back with a playful smirk dancing on his lips. [01:16 AM] Did u miss me?

[01:16 AM] Of course not, you stupid pip-squeak.

[01:18 AM] Hey! I'm nearly as tall as you are! Plus, I know you're lying, judging by the giant shitload of calls and texts u sent me today.

[01:19 AM] Shut up.

[01:19 AM] Don't you just hate it when I'm always right?

Stiles typed with a smug, cocky grin.

[01:20 AM] I'm not talking to you.

[01:20 AM] U are now.

[01:21 AM] If you don't shut it, I'm gonna shove a cactus up your ass, shithead.

[01:21 AM] That's the most romantic thing you ever said to me.

[01:23 AM] You're impossible.

[01:23 AM] I know. Thats why u love me.

Stiles sent that without thinking, freezing on the spot when he realized what he just said. That was cruel... saying that before Stiles could even be absolutely sure he actually loved Derek back. It seemed like Derek was stunned as well, as it took him nearly five minutes to reply.

[01:28 AM] It's late. You should go to bed, big day tomorrow.

[01:30 AM] Yeah.

Stiles sent, typing slowly. He was chewing at his bottom lip, heart pounding nervously and chest heavy with the unjustified guilt he felt for not being able to return the emotion. [01:10 AM] You're right.

[01:31 AM] Okay. Goodnight.

[01:32 AM] Goodnight.

The heavy feeling from their conversation lingered over Stiles' heart all night, and even when he got up in the morning after the little sleep he'd gotten, he still felt terrible about the way it ended. He could practically see Derek's disappointed, hurt face, the face the man tried to hide every time Stiles didn't say the words back.

Truth is, Stiles was thinking about it. He turned the subject countless times in his head, arguing with himself and studying his own feelings, complicated as they were. But every time he thought he finally found an answer, he's change his mind or find a silver of doubt, and that was enough to get him to chicken out and shut his mouth.

He was dressed and ready before Isaac could even get out of bed, waiting for the other to finish washing his face. They were supposed to be outside in ten minutes, as Lydia ordered while knocking on their door furiously earlier. Stiles stood at the bathroom's door, arms crossed and foot tapping on the floor impatiently. Isaac shot him an annoyed glare through the mirror, huffing as he reached for his towel.

"Anyone ever told you you are annoying as fuck?" He grumbled, lowering his towel and sniffling once.

Yes. Stiles signed, untangling his arms. We need to get going, you know. I don't want to get Lydia mad.

As if on a cue, a rapid knocking was heard from their door, and a shrill voice calling. "Stiles, Isaac, I swear to God we can and will go without you! Get your asses out here!" Too late, Stiles thought gloomily. Lydia was already pissed.

Isaac got dressed in record time and they both were out before Lydia could even knock again. Everyone else were already there, waiting for them in a safe distance from the pissed strawberry-blonde girl. She stood there with her arms crossed and jaw so tight Stiles worried she might break her teeth.

Without a word, she threw her hair over her shoulder and turned around, marching away toward the stairs with her heels clicking and hips swaying. Jackson quickly followed, prompting the others to hurry after them as well.

The day passed with no farther incidents. That is, until dinner.

They went to a small diner two streets away from where the game was going to be later, grabbing a quick meal before the excitement start. They were laughing and talking amongst themselves, discussing the game and the odds feverishly. Stiles waved his arms around enthusiastically, trying to prove his point as Isaac kept arguing about the chances their favorite team had.

Half-way through, though, a mocking laughter suddenly sounded from the booth next to them, making their conversation die in an instant.

"Look at this freak," One beefy guy said, leaning back in his bench and covering his mouth to stifle his laughter. His friends - there were three of them - chuckled. "Is he retarded or something?" He was looking at Stiles.

Stiles' face turned bright red in a second.

Silence fell over their table. He felt Scott tense next to him, his fist tightening on his knee, and heard Isaac hiss dangerously on his other side. Across from him, Lydia's expression hardened into the most frightening cold mask Stiles had ever seen, and she set her fork on the table with a loud click that startled everyone around the table. She turned to the side slowly, her cold green eyes focusing on the still snickering guy.

"Excuse me?" She said slowly, her voice calm. But the gang already knew how to spot the dangerous signs of an upcoming storm. The guy gave her a look, smirking as he didn't even pretend to hide the fact he was checking her out.

"Whoa, hello there gorgeous." He said, one of his friends - a tall guy with black hair and a pierced ear - whistled in agreement. "Com'ere for a second, let me see that smokin' body." Lydia's jaw hardened, Jackson growling next to her in a barely contained rage. She put a hand on his knee to calm him down, then stood up and walked over to the table next to them. She stopped in front of the beefy guy, leaning forwards on one hand she flattened on the table. The guy smirked up at her, raising his eyebrows and nodding at his friends proudly.

"I assume you think this line would make every girl just... jump into your arms?" She said coldly, poison dripping from her voice as she leaned in until her nose was inches from his. Her hard, green eyes stared straight into his as she continued. "But I couldn't find a more disgusting man even if I tried. You know what they say about men with a constant need to show how large and confident they are...?" She trailed off, her gaze dropping briefly to his crotch before she looked back at him with a sneer, straightening up in a sudden movement. She turned around, walking back to her friends, that were sitting there, stunned and still around the table.

It took exactly three seconds for the cheering to explode around their table - and in a few others that heard the conversation - and even that guy's friends chuckled a little, watching as an angry blush spread on his cheeks. He got up sharply and stormed out of the diner, slamming the door behind him.

No one mentioned the incident until after the game, when Scott took residence on Isaac's bed and left the other boy to sit on one of the chairs. He asked Stiles if he was okay, and Stiles signed he was fine, changing the subject quickly as he didn't want to remember the humiliation he felt back at the diner.

They dropped it after that, resuming their conversation about the game until it was time to go to bed.

They had two more days until the final match, and Stiles barely had time to talk to Derek. With his days busy and full with Lydia's (and Allison's) plans for the vacation, he only found time for himself at night, when everyone finally went to their beds. Stiles and Derek texted each other every night, telling each other about their day and exchanging sweet, loving nonsense that made Isaac want to puke.

That incident in the diner never came up.

On that night, the gang decided on another movie night. This time, Slashers. Scott complained it couldn't be a Slasher night without some red food (his suggestion of popcorn with a topping of strawberry jam was ruled out with disgusted cried from basically everyone), and so Stiles volunteered to go and fetch some red licorice, red velvet m&m, and a very questionable cherry drink no one liked but Jackson.

He was on his way back to the motel, a plastic bag full of all the red candies he could find hanging from his hand as he just finished writing Derek a text message to let him know he'd talk to him later that night. He pressed 'send', when his eyes caught a movement in the shadows, about fifteen feet from him. Sliding his phone back into his pocket, Stiles slowed down, walking suspiciously down the sidewalk, hoping to appear innocent enough to avoid the troubles he knew he usually attracted.

"Well well well, look guys. It's the retard." A familiar voice said, sending chills down Stiles' spine as he saw the bullies from the diner emerging from the shadows, led by that same beefy guy. Stiles tensed.

"You have some nerves, showing up here." He said, his gang circling Stiles, who tried not to show how worried and scared he was. He was alone against four huge guys... he didn't stand a chance if something were to happen. "Can't you understand English? You? No? English?" He mocked, slowing down on purpose as if Stiles was an idiot.

"Are you stupid?" One of the others sneered - a dirty blond with a black beanie - and approached closer to Stiles, looking him over. "Hey. He asked you a question."

Stiles couldn't answer, furious and humiliated, he tried to walk past them, hoping they'd just leave him alone. They didn't, and the black-haired guy with the piercings grabbed at Stiles' shoulder, forcing him to turn around. He smirked at him mockingly.

"What, a cat got your tongue?"

"Look at him, such an idiot."

"Freak."

"You think your chick friend can protect you now?"

"Answer when we talk to you!" Someone pushed him from behind, sending him straight into the beefy guy. His bag dropped to the ground as the guy grabbed his shirt, throwing him back.

And then, everything exploded.

Punches came at him from everywhere, making gasps of pain escape his lips as he tried to fight back, escape, anything. They tossed him around, closing in at him as they screamed insults, calling him a freak, a retard.

And he couldn't tell them to stop. He tried, but his mouth refused to get the words out, and he stuttered and gasped, only fueling the heated names they threw at him.

Everything hurt.

Stiles was scared, panic bubbling in his chest as he realized they weren't going to stop. They kept hitting him, each blow harder than the previous. He stumbled for a second, and they used the momentum to knock him down, adding kicks to the punches. Stiles was pretty sure he cracked a rib or two.

A particularly harsh kick to his stomach made Stiles cry out in pain, and he curled in on himself, clutching his middle. His head hurt. He tasted blood, and even with his eyes closed shut, he could feel how things were getting shady and distant. His ears were ringing, and he couldn't hear himself scream anymore.

Then, everything turned dark.

And if you're still bleeding,

You're the lucky ones.

'Cause most of our feelings,

They are dead and they are gone.

A/N: Song used: "Youth" / Daughter.

Warnings: Bullying, abuse, violence, stress. If any of you who couldn't read this chapter because of triggers want a censored summary, just send me a PM and I'd love to help you.

Don't forget to leave a review and tell me what you think.