3. Scott's Father Leaves:
"Dude, did you see Lydia today?" Stiles asked, grinning from ear to ear. "I swear she gets prettier every hour of the day."
Scott shook his, laughing at his friend's obvious obsession. "You notice when she combs her hair differently and she doesn't even notice that you exist."
"That's harsh Scott," Stiles placed a hand over his heart in mock hurt. "She dropped her cell phone in the hallway yesterday and I picked it up. She smiled at me."
"Stop the presses," Scott exclaimed. "She must be in love."
"There's only room for one sarcastic person in this friendship," Stiles said seriously.
Scott chuckled to himself, shaking his head once more.
The school bus slowed to a stop and Scott stood up. He slung his bag over his shoulder and stepped into the aisle.
"You wanna just get off here and come to my house for a little while?" Scott asked. "My dad can give you a ride home after dinner."
Stiles grabbed his bag and nodded. "Yeah, we can work on that history project for a little while."
They stepped off the bus and started walking down the sidewalk.
"I was thinking more like play some Xbox," Scott replied.
"Dude, you suck at school," Stiles laughed.
Scott shrugged nonchalantly. "I get by."
"For now," Stiles said ominously.
They walked up the driveway to Scott's house in comfortable silence. Scott stopped at the front porch before going inside. He turned back to the driveway with a puzzled look on his face.
"What?" Stiles asked, following Scott's line of sight.
"My dad's car is gone," Scott pointed out. "He's usually here when I get home."
Stiles shrugged, "Probably went to the store or something."
Scott nodded. He opened the front door and both boys took their shoes off and threw their bags on the floor. They walked into the kitchen and Stiles immediately went to the fridge.
"Dude, your mom bought string cheese," he yelled happily. "This day is awesome."
He grabbed two sticks and turned around to hand one to Scott. He stopped suddenly when he saw Scott standing frozen, his back to him. Stiles took a step forward and Scott's mom came into view. She was sitting at the table, looking up at Scott with wide eyes.
Her eyes were red, her cheeks blotchy. It was obvious that she had been crying for quite some time.
"Mom," Scott started, his voice quiet. "What's wrong?"
Mellissa stood up slowly and walked closer to her son. Stiles stood in the background, wondering if he should leave. He felt like he was witnessing a moment that he had no business seeing. His feet seemed to be rooted to the ground so he just stayed still and quiet, watching.
"Scott," Mellissa began gently. "Your father is gone."
Scott's shoulders tensed. "Gone? Where did he go?"
"I don't know," she answered honestly. "He didn't say where he was going."
"Well when is he coming back?" Scott asked. Stiles sighed in sympathy, already understanding what Mrs. McCall was trying to say and what Scott was failing to hear.
"He's not sweetie," she said. She placed a hand on his arm. "It's just going to be you and me now Scott."
Scott shook his head slightly. "He just left? Just like that?"
Mellissa nodded. "I'm sorry baby. I asked him to wait, to at least say goodbye to you. But he said he couldn't."
She took another step forward, attempting to close the gap between herself and her son. Scott took a simultaneous step back. He shook his mom's hand off his arm and turned around. He didn't meet Stiles' eyes as he exited the kitchen and stormed up the stairs.
Stiles stood awkwardly by the fridge, two un-opened sticks of cheese in his hand. He opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't find any words so he closed it. Mellissa looked up and met his gaze, noticing him for the first time.
"Stiles," she wiped her eyes with her shirt sleeve. "I'm sorry you had to see that."
"No, it's okay Mrs. McCall," he replied.
She stiffened at his reply. "It's Miss McCall now," she said softly, as if that thought had just registered in her own mind.
Stiles nodded sadly, still not knowing what to do.
Mellissa walked over to the table once more, picking up her keys and placing them into her purse. Her movements were jerky and flustered.
"Should I leave?" Stiles asked. "I don't want to intrude."
"Stiles, you always intrude," she pointed out. "Things are going to be different around here, but I don't want everything to change. Stay."
Stiles nodded, still unsure of himself.
"Look, this is the worst timing ever," Mellissa looked up at him. "But I have to go to work. Can you stay and make sure that he's alright?" She looked toward the staircase with a sad expression. "I don't think he wants to talk to me right now anyway."
"Of course Mrs- sorry, Miss McCall," Stiles replied. "And don't worry, he'll be okay, he's just in temporary shock."
"I know," Mellissa agreed. "He's a tough kid."
"The toughest I know," Stiles concluded.
Stiles knocked hesitantly on the door to Scott's room. He turned his head to the side, pressing his ear to the door. No sound was coming from inside.
"Scott?" Stiles yelled through the wood. "It's just me."
He frowned when he got no response.
"I'm coming in," Stiles warned. He opened the door slowly, peering around the frame for a glimpse of Scott. He saw him sitting on the edge of his bed with his back to the door.
Stiles entered the room, closing the door behind him. He walked over to Scott and sat down next to him so that their shoulders were touching. He shrugged lightly, his shoulder brushing Scott's in a questioning manner.
"You wanna talk about it?"
Scott shook his head. He was staring at the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
"Okay," Stiles replied simply. He stayed where he was and sat in silence, waiting for Scott to talk but not expecting him to. He was fine with just sitting there and offering a comforting presence.
What seemed like hours went by with the two of them just sitting.
"I'm glad he's gone," Scott whispered.
Stiles looked up, startled by the sudden noise in the quiet room.
"I saw it coming you know?" Scott looked up and met his friend's eyes. Stiles was taken aback by the raw expression he wore. It was one he had never seen on him before.
"He was always angry, always distant," Scott admitted. "But lately it was like he was just running in place. I could see it in his eyes for weeks."
"Scott, I had no idea," Stiles admitted softly. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Scott shrugged. "I didn't want to say it out loud I guess."
Stiles nodded in sad understanding. "Are you alright?"
Scott chuckled darkly, the sound making Stiles itch with worry.
"I'm glad he's gone," he said again. "He made my mom sad."
"What about you?" Stiles asked. Scott looked back down at the floor. "How did he make you feel?"
Scott didn't respond. He fidgeted slightly, feeling uncomfortable all of a sudden. He was angry that his eyes were starting to burn. He didn't want to cry. He didn't want to admit that he was hurting. He pressed the back of his hand to his eyes, trying to stop the tears from forming. They continued to pool despite his efforts. He turned his head away as he realized that there was no stopping them.
Stiles watched his friend try to control his emotions. He could see that it was a battle he wouldn't win. He frowned when Scott turned away from him completely.
He sat and did nothing, trying to respect Scott's privacy. He felt helpless as he watched his friend's shoulders begin to shake. He lifted a hand and laid it on Scott's shoulder, trying to offer any comfort possible.
A sob escaped Scott's throat and Stiles was caught off guard as his friend turned and pressed his face into his shoulder.
Stiles moved his hand around Scott's back as Scott cried into his sweatshirt. He tried to think of what his dad did when he cried as a child. He started rubbing circles on Scott's back, attempting to soothe him.
He felt awkward, but he knew that Scott needed to let this out and he wasn't going to run away just because he had issues with personal space.
After a few minutes Scott's sobs died down and his breathing grew deeper. Stiles thought that he had fallen asleep so he moved slightly, trying to see Scott's face.
Scott stiffened and gripped Stiles sweatshirt in his hand, face still pressed against his shoulder.
"Don't leave," he mumbled tiredly.
Stiles felt his chest tighten and he suddenly wished that he could see Scott's dad one more time, just to punch him the face. He tightened his arm around his friend's shoulders.
"I'm not going anywhere buddy."
Third installment done; three more to go! Thanks for everyone that's reviewing, alerting, and favoriting. You guys make me smile. Let me know what you think of this one!