Hey guys it's been a while, and I know what you're all thinking, 'You haven't posted since last year' (ha, and I think I'm funny), but there have been some complications and stuff blah blah blah ANYWAY ENJOY...
One Year Ago
"You're such a freak Stilinski" A rough shove to the ground, the dull grey of concrete under his nose and the sound of footsteps fading away. He pushes himself up slowly, trying to ignore the painful ache in his ribs.
"Oh my god, are you okay?" Gentle hands find their way under his arm pits, and he naturally tenses at the breach of physical boundaries.
"I'm fine" He lies through his teeth, a wary glance spared to the girl who had helped him. She had bright blonde hair, and even brighter eyes.
He steps away quickly, dusting off his clothes and huffing under his breath as he spots his bag, all contents spilled out and abandoned.
"Are you hurt? Anything broken? Any blood? Any way I can help?" The stranger enquires on innocently, and the young Stilinski grits his teeth in frustration.
"Can't you see for yourself?" He bites out, and her face closes off completely.
"Actually no." She says icily, eyes settling somewhere over his shoulder. He mentally curses himself.
"Oh, well than no, I'm fine" He mutters out, knowing how sympathy just gets tiring after a while. The girl must feel the same way and smiles pleasantly, unseeing eyes lighting up instantly.
"That's okay, I can see shapes, so I could see that you fell over, and usually I have my cane, but I was only walking a short while, and it can get quite annoying sometimes" And we're back to babble.
He rolls his eyes in annoyance, bending down to put everything back into his bag. Perhaps, if circumstances had been different, he might have been more comfortable with talkative people, perhaps even have become one, but he prefers silence. And being left alone.
"Sorry, I never told you my name, it's Erica" She grins, reaching a hand out to shake. He doesn't take it.
"Stilinski" He offers, eyeing her hand and frowning. She puts it down, her grin faltering somewhat.
"That your first name" She asks
"No" Her lips set down in a firm line and she rubs the back of her neck sheepishly
"Alright then" She sighs uncomfortably, or was that sadly? He's really bad at reading people
"My first name is unpronounceable" He offers, that's not really why he gave her his last name, but he regretted making her sad, he wanted her to smile again. He hadn't seen anyone smile at him besides his dad, and that was very rarely.
"I'm sure I could manage" And there's that grin again.
"I doubt it, it's like, polish or something" He replies, a small amused twinkle in his eyes
"Try me" Erica puts her hands on her hips and tries to look intimidating, but it's ruined by the small smile she doesn't manage to squash down entirely.
"If you want to learn it, it'd take all day"
"I got nothing but time, you really think someone like me would have loads to do in a small town like this?" She challenges, a little too eagerly.
The young Stilinski's eyes widen, and his face turn stony, all trace of amusement gone as he bite his unscarred thumb nervously. She wants to hang out with him? Should he? He's been really lonely at school, and it's not like he can be embarrassed by his face or anything, she can't see. Should he?
No
No that's a terrible idea, it'll only end badly
"Alright" He said quickly. Damn it!
But he found he didn't regret it though, when he got to see Erica's blinding grin, which seemed to light up the whole world.
20 Minutes Later
It had been two minutes since they'd walked into the cafe and Stilinski had already started feeling uncomfortable. Everyone was trying really hard not to make eye contact with him, except for this one couple sitting by the door who wouldn't quit staring.
"Erm, Erica? Can we go somewhere else?" He asked quietly, keeping his head down.
"Nonsense" She replied, completely oblivious to the source of his discomfort "We only just got here, it can't be that bad"
"But..." He hesitated before glancing around and continuing in a hushed voice, "People are starting to stare"
Erica grimaced, "Really?" She sighed, "Why? I'm not that obvious am I?"
"What!? No, it's not you they're staring at" He was quick to reassure, ready for the inevitable rejection after she asked.
"Huh? Are you like, insanely hot or something?" She questioned, bright eyes widening somewhat, lips curling into a smile.
"Only the opposite" He shot back, leaning back in his chair and hiding his face behind the menu.
"What do you mean?"
He sighed, "I got burnt when I was really young, and now my face is all messed up" He said, "People are going to be like, really mean to you now if you start hanging out with me, so I totally get it if you don't want to be friends or anything. I wouldn't want to be friends with me; I've never even had any friends. SO yeah, if you leave I totally won't blame you or anything." Oh wow, maybe he is the talkative type, he's pretty sure that's the most he's ever spoken since the accident.
Erica was deep in thought for a second before she seemed to have decided on something and she set her brow in determination. Oh, here it comes...
"I've never had any friends either"
"No that's okay, I totally get i- Wait what!?"
"I've never made any friends before" She repeated, twisting her hands nervously together, "I guess, the blindness puts them off or something, or maybe it's cause I'm annoying and talk too much. I used to be really shy, so never made any friends, and once I become more open everyone had already made their friend groups and it seemed weird to try and make friends in the middle of the year. I mean, it's really hard joining a group cause after a couple of months they're all set in stone or something, ya know?" She gasped for breath, biting her lip to stop her word vomit from coming out any more.
"I kind of get it" He sighed, "Except I never really had a chance to make friends because my face makes them physically sick so..." Erica was trying to hide a smile behind her hand
"I'm serious, I made this new kid in 2nd grade throw up on the teacher" Now she couldn't stop the giggles from escaping, shoulders shaking in amusement
"Stop laughing" He grinned, "I'm serious, it was Mr. Harris, he hates me! You really think it's a coincidence he becomes the local high schools chemistry teacher the exact year I start it! He has some kind of personal vendetta, I swear" And then they both start laughing long and hard, happy crinkles in the corner of their eyes and stomachs aching.
It wasn't even that funny, it just felt so good to laugh after so long without it.
After a while they both calmed down, still smiling happily and Stilinski even managed to ignore the stares from the other cafeteria members.
"No but seriously, my scars are hideous" He warned
"So what? It's not like I can see them anyway. Now, let's order something. I'm starving"
6 months later
The young Stilinski gazed at the grave with empty eyes, a hideously burnt hand holding an ironically flawless bouquet of ivory roses, which he carefully placed on the grave of his best friend.
Here Lies Erica Reyes,
Loved Daughter And Inspiration To All,
Her Unseeing Eyes Saw Much More Than Most Could Hope To Even Touch On
I've been planning to add most of the characters from the series into this fic, one way or another. Please leave me suggestions for pairings, and I'll try and take them into account. Thank You!
