1.6

Derek returns home, with the brooding sensation that something is amiss. "Stiles?" he calls out. There is no answer from the younger man, and he tries to shake off the feeling like it's nothing. The entire place feels different and the lights of the kitchen is turned off. No sounds of the shower turning on, no nothing.

Sure, Derek has noticed the salient things like how Stiles has perked up whenever he talks to him, and how reserved and quiet he has become, which is extremely unlike of him. Derek disregards them being normal consequences of their breakup but tonight, the difference is more obvious and the silence that permeates the room only makes the worry in Derek's heart concrete.

He walks into the corridor and sees Stiles' door open ajar. Strange, Derek thinks to himself. He has never left his door open so freely to the view of others. He walks closer to the room, and witnesses the small things that break Derek's heart as he sees the room of Stiles.

The bed has been the same, and so is the nightstand. What stands out the most is the content of the wardrobe being emptied, with nothing inside. His laptop is gone, and the insides of the drawer is bare, as if no one is staying there anymore. He sees an empty pill bottle, to which Derek picks up and sees that it's a bottle of sleeping pills. He swallows thickly at the sight of the orange bottle and then continues to find every item from his bags to his clothes all emptied like a holocaust has just occurred in such small space.

Stiles' left.

Derek figured that will happen as much. Every ounce of feeling Stiles has expressed after the break up only screams denial whenever they talk about it. Saying that it's fine has never made it across to the fragile mind of his and the more he ponders about it, the more regretful he becomes on not doing much into reassuring that everything will be okay. He walks out of the room, and closes the door gently, before returning to his. He returns to his room with a listless look, and stumbles another thing he has never expected to see.

Stiles in his room, sitting down.

"Stiles?" says Derek. Stiles is wearing casual clothes with nothing but a white shirt that has blue for its collar and jeans that fits his waist line just fine. He looks at Derek with folded lips and waits for Derek to walk in the room before shutting the door behind him.

"I guess you noticed the empty room of mine," he says. Derek doesn't say anything, and he needn't to anyway, for the silence itself was the reply he needs, "I can't stay here anymore. You and Paige getting married will bring me as a distraction to the whole picture, and if you two move in . . . well, I won't be much trouble to you both anymore,"

"Stiles," says Derek but is cut off by Stiles.

"I really wish you both the best, though. My train leaves later tonight," he says, "I have nothing here, and Beacon Hills is actually what I favor. A simple life," Stiles stands up, nearing him, "I really wish I didn't meet you, Derek Hale," he says. Derek could feel his throat go dry at the words, "Because you have been so much more than I wanted things to be," he places a soft kiss on Derek's lips and lets it linger for the last few seconds of their time.

He pulls back, "Um, the sheriff. I mean, my dad. He's gonna pick me up soon, so I need to go," he says before leaving the room.

Derek himself has never felt more empty in his life.

~RETURN~

Paige's parents are discussing about the wedding that has yet to be held soon. The guests are the particular topic that they're going on about and the more he sees Paige's satisfied face, the more Derek couldn't not help but rid Stiles of his mind. For someone who's so cocksure about being back with their crush, the desired effect stands out to be less and opposite of that.

"Derek?" Mrs. Krasikeva calls out to him, "What's wrong?"

Derek looks at Paige's parents, who show worried looks at the young man. He sees Paige, who doesn't seem to bothered by the looks cast upon him. He stands up and says, "Sorry, I can't do this," Paige nearly drops the envelopes that were held in her hands in shock. Paige's parents couldn't seem to understand the sudden declaration, "Mr. and Mrs. Krasikeva, I can't marry your daughter. You see, I'm in love with someone else,"

"AHA! Pay up, Jeffery," says Mrs. Krasikeva who opens her hand openly to her old husband. Paige and Derek both jump at the sudden proclamation, "Thank you so much, Derek. With this, I may just be able to get the new Prada bag on sale,"

"Wait, what?" exclaims Paige, "Mom, dad. What's this all about?"

"Oh, dear sweet Paige," says Mr. Krasikeva as he stands up to give his wife the money, "You can't really expect Derek here to just get married because you went almost half a decade over your studies now, can you?" His wife whoops excitedly at the money given to her, "Besides, we prefer Derek living a happy life, rather than being forced into wedlock,"

"But the paper you've signed," argues Paige.

"Is just a paper," says both Mr. and Mrs. Krasikeva, "In case you haven't realized, Paige. Derek's parents have passed away, and Derek now has found happiness in . . .," he stays quiet for a moment, "Who's this person you're in love with, Derek dear,"

"Stiles, sir. He just left for Beacon Hills last night,"

"Ah, well. There you have it," Mr. Krasikeva finishes, ending the entire conversation before walking out of the room with his wife in hand. Paige seems completely in shock at the entire words her father has just said and stays there motionlessly as the two leave both Paige and Derek. Derek wastes no time before he leaves the room, and straight for home.

He has just wasted time with his breakup, and this farce of an engagement, and he plans to not hear an apology from Paige as another way to stall time.

A/N: Just one or two more chapter and we have the end of Return. P.S this chapter where they have the bet was all made up, because I did promise that this whole story is a Romance slash Humor story. XD