Lydia was practically sprinting across the apartment. The prior conversation played on repeat in her head. Two red cups reached her hands, and she was back the way she came. Back to the balcony that held stars, moonlight, and whiskey eyes.

30 steps

15 steps

5 steps away from new conversations and whispers in the night.

Lydia could hardly contain herself, when suddenly she was stopped dead in her tracks. A boy stood infront of her, one she had never seen before.

"Hey, I'm Jackson." He smiled a wicked smile. His snake like eyes were a piercing green, and his words were like venom. The look he was sending her read of wickedness and desire.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?" The lizard looked her up and down, no shame in his actions.

"Eyes up here." Lydia was sick of playing nice, "And I'm not here for you so get lost."

She felt her heart was hammering against her chest,and if the room had been silent you could hear it a mile away. She tried moving around the creep, but he stepped in front of her in one swift motion.

"Aw come on babe, my place would much better suit you."

"No thanks."

Lydia tried once more to move around him, but Jackson wasn't letting go that easily.

"Sorry babe, no one rejects me."

He then grabbed onto Lydia's wrist, tight. Liquid splashed out of its respected cup, but Lydia hardly noticed due to the pain that started to radiate from her wrist.

She tried pulling away, "Let go of me asshole," but his grip only grew tighter.

"You're really starting to act like a bitch." Jackson was holding on so tight Lydia was sure a bruise would soon form.

"Let go!' The panic was animate in her voice, but Jackson had no intention of listening to her pleas. He yanked her forward while Lydia continued to desperately break free from his grip.

"Let her go Jackson."

It came out of nowhere. A voice so cold, it sent a shiver down Lydia's spine. There stood Stiles, eyes trained on the snake who had coiled himself around Lydia.

"Stilinski, what's the matter? Is this one yours? Come on, it's only fair to share."

If looks could kill, Jackson would be dead on the floor.

"Lydia is a person, not a possession. I suggest you let go of her before things get ugly."

"Oh come on Stiles, we were just chatting, right babe?" Jackson had let his grip loosen on her wrist, to which Lydia quickly broke free. She quickly moved over to stand beside Stiles.

"In your dreams asshole."

Jackson's face filled with anger, and his hands balled into fists.

"Whatever princess, you aren't my type anyways." With that he stormed away, and Lydia released the breath she didn't realize to be holding.

'Thank you, that guy was a real creep." Stiles gave her a slight nod, and then the two made their way back to the balcony. It was a full moon, and along with the stars, they lit up the air around them. The temperature was cooling, but it felt good to feel the breeze on Lydia's face.

"Here's that drink I promised." Stiles took the red cup from her fragile hand, nodding once again in thanks.

"Is Jackson a friend of yours?" They boy shook his head no.

"You're a man of few words Stiles." Lydia was slightly annoyed by his lack of communication. Surprisingly though, Stiles just shrugged, a smirk played lightly on his lips.

"I'm more of an observer than a talker."

The stars twinkled, the cool air carried whispers.

"Is that so? Tell me Mr. Silent, what do you observe about me?"

Like the stars, his eyes twinkled. Curiosity and intrigue flashed across his eyes like comets.

Stiles took a long drink from his cup, pondering what to say. Lydia mimicked his pull, purely to settle the nerves that were starting to spike under her skin.

"You hold yourself back. Under that shy interior I believe to be a real firecracker. You proved that with how you handled Jackson."

Stiles nodded to himself and finished his drink. "I'll go grab another round."

Lydia let his words sink into her skin. Was it true? She never thought of herself to have any sort of a firecracker personality. Her parents would never allow such behavior. But what if that's what made him right?

The old wooden balcony creaked under her feet, as she look to the sky. The stars twinkled and the moon gleamed. The world was peaceful up on their old platform. It felt like a twisted fairytale. Girl meets guy without the romance (or so it seemed.) Her head said to ignore the electricity that would run through her veins when they touched, but her heart just laughed and whispered "it's far too late." Lydia didn't know what to think of the boy with the cold stare that someone still melted her exterior. Maybe she was fire, but he was ice. Two elements that never mixed well.

"Oh God." Is all she muttered as the night wind chilled down her spine.

"Actually, it's Oh Zeus."

Stiles wasn't sure of what he was exactly doing. He continued to blame the alcohol for moving one foot after the other through the suddenly dead apartment. A text had been received from Scott filled with hints that Allison was staying over and he was NOT to disturb. Stiles didn't need the text though, he was already smirking from the occasional squeak of bedsprings coming from down the hallway.

It was 1:03am when Stiles found the bottle of whiskey. There was a split second decision, but he hoped that the strawberry blonde waiting at his favorite spot would see it as an invitation. He wasn't sure what pulled him to her, but something worked at him with gravitational force.

Back in front of the balcony he slide it open quietly as to not disturb the sleeping house. The girl had her back to him, and hardly seemed to notice his presence as she looked to the sky filled with stars and mystery. The action shot him straight to the core (something of course he wouldn't notice till the unknown future.)

He wondered what goddess she fell from. Was she Eos, goddess of the dawn? No, not quite. Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon and goddess of the sea? No no, that wasn't right either. Name after name, goddess after goddess he pondered who the mysterious girl in front of him belonged too.

"Oh God." Her words pierced the air, bringing Stiles back down to earth. He watched her shiver, and not a moment later the words came tumbling from his mouth, "Actually, it's oh Zeus."

The girl yelped in surprised and Stiles had to hold back a laugh. He walked over to her, shrugging his jacket off in the process.

"Here, you look cold."

Lydia didn't trust her words to protest, and hardly looked his way out of embarrassment.

"Zeus? Do you believe in the gods or something?"
Stiles took a pull from the bottle, waiting as he felt the liquid warm his insides.

"That's a loaded question."

Another pull, and he passes the bottle to Lydia. She grabbed it quickly, finally looking over at him, "Thanks..." It drew out like a music note.

Her mother always told her it was rude to stare but in the moment she couldn't tear her eyes away from the boy next to here. His white t-shirt gleamed against the dark night sky. The boy was toned in all the right places, but what really caught her eye was the moon and stars that gathered on his left arm. There was saturn too, it's icy rings shaded into the side of his arm. At the bottom near his wrist stood trees proud and tall, representing the world below. Stiles had the universe compressed and drawn over his left forearm, and Lydia found herself lost in it's pull.

"Achelois you're staring."

The name rolled off his tongue with ease. It surprised him as much as it surprised her, but in a moment Stiles realized how well it fit. He had found her goddess, a minor one as a matter of fact. But as the name swirled in his head Stiles could only smile at how well it worked.

Lydia felt like her mind was moving at the speed of light. Questions forming, but never escaping her lips. Stiles stood there not even glancing her way, a smirk laced upon his lips. He took sips of liquor as he counted the stars above, waiting for one of the million questions he knew were racing across the girl's mind. He wasn't sure if it was the red head beside him, or the alcohol in his veins, but tonight something in him stirred. In the corners of his body he felt the feeling of being alive. For a brief moment he felt as though there was an electric shock finding its way through him, doing it's best to light up the dark corners of his interior. It was strange, it was exciting, and it was something that he had not felt for quite some time.

Lydia wasn't sure where to start. There were more than a few questions surging through her brain, which to start with was what she struggled with.

"I can see the wheels turning in your head." Stiles finally decided to face her after spending enough time counting the stars. (278 is where he left.)

He saw the confusion on her face. Questions forming, but never asked. Her eyes were like emeralds, and Stiles couldn't help but wonder which god was responsible for creating such a girl. She was a beautiful mystery, and while Stiles tended to stay away from the unknown, there was something about her that kept him grounded.

"I'll give you two questions love. Night doesn't last forever no matter how much we wish it did."

There was a fire in his soul that lingered longer than ever before. Stiles blamed the liquor. He blamed the smoke in his lungs and the moon beams above. (Deep down though, he knew none of those are what was causing him to stir.)

"What did you call me?" There was a pause before she spoke. Questioning glances as the boy proved more and more to be a mystery.

"Achelois. Goddess of the moon."

"And why would you call me that?"

He blushed. Rosey cheeks and a nervous scratch at the back of his neck.

"It's a nickname, I promise it suits you."

She didn't believe him, but her body was beginning to yearn for the comfort of a bed so she locked her questions away for another rainy day.

"Tell me about your tattoo."

"Which one?" Stiles smirked watching as surprised took over the strawberry blonde's face.

He lifted his left arm gazing at the stars and planets that gathered on there.

"This was my first tattoo. Hurt like a bitch but I don't regret it. There's no story behind it, no deeper meaning. Simply, I have a love for the universe and all the mysteries that follow it. It's a reminder that on the universal scale we are so small. It keeps me humble, keeps me grounded."

Stiles looked up to count the stars once again. It was hard talking about his tattoos. They were a part of him, part of private world he had created for himself.

Star number 317 and all Stiles could wonder was why he was letting the girl beside him glimpse at his inner universe.

"I like it." Her voice was soft, and sounded like music to his ears.

"I'm glad."

That was their moment. The world stood still while the girl stared at the boy who stared at the stars. Stiles closed his eyes, just for a moment. He felt the breeze blowing from the west and took in the peace of the world around him. It was beautiful, it was magical, and for the first time in a long time, Stiles felt peace within himself.

He held his breath, doing his best to stay in that moment forever.

Hello friends, long time no see. Did you think I forgot about this story? (Never.) I hope this chapter was worth the wait, I've got the next one in the works. Thank you for sticking around and please let me know what your thoughts were in the comments!

Until the next chapter, lots of love

xxx fictionaddict

P.S here is a link to an image that I picture Stiles' tattoo to look like, but imagine what you will and feel free to let me know how you picture it in the reviews xxx

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