Disclaimer: teen wolf does not belong to me in any way, shape or form. Thank you for the continued support on this story and the hundreds of reads, it means the entire world :) and a special shout out to guest, guest, guest, TeenWolfLover7, mcdx025, c and Scottken for the reviews and well wishes on the wedding, it means the entire world.
This chapter isn't as progressive as the others, and is mostly stayla relationship building, but I've been so busy and wanted to post something so I hope you like the cuteness haha :)
It flattered her to know just how nervous he got being inside her house.
She knew it shouldn't... she was, after all, used to this behaviour from boys and had experienced it for long enough over her teenage years, but it was different with Stiles. She enjoyed, more than she wanted to admit, his very apparent attraction on more than just a superficial basis.
He followed her in like a little lost puppy, sounding like he was tripping over his own feet as his quick pace was too fast for her limp, having to stop and adjust as he was just millimetres from stepping on her heels.
She pretended not to notice, hiding her smile as she lead him into the kitchen and perched herself on the stool by the centre island, swinging her feet back and forth.
"The coffee machine is over there" she smirked, jerking her thumb over to the far corner of the kitchen, much to his surprise.
"O-Oh... you were serious about me making the coffee, huh?"
"I saved your ass enough times last night to warrant me a homemade coffee" she joked, making him playfully roll his eyes.
"How long are you going to keep rubbing that in my face?"
"How often are you going to need me to save you?"
He mimicked her question sarcastically under his breath as he strolled around the kitchen island and over to the countertop on the far right, looking down at the coffee machine in confusion.
"Did you steal this from Starbucks?"
"Is that you saying you don't know how to use it?"
He looked at her indignantly, "I never said that!"
"Do you need some help pushing the buttons and pulling the leavers?" she teased, unable to hide the grin spreading across her face.
"This thing looks like something from an alien spacecraft" he pointed out, placing his hands on his hips and facing her, "where's the instruction manual?"
She laughed, but knew he was serious and decided to take pity on him, standing up and limping towards him and putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I got this" she smiled, "who knew Mr whizz kid would get defeated by a coffee machine"
He rolled his eyes again but sat down next to the stool she had been sitting on, his jumpy and jittery body nearly bouncing up and down on the stool and she sent him a quirked eyebrow look.
"Or maybe you don't need any coffee" she observed with a smirk, "you're jittering more than an addict waiting for their next hit"
He placed his hands on his knees, forcing himself to stop twitching but she noticed his toes still moving up and down.
"Rough night"
She spent a few minutes making them both lattes and, whilst waiting for the machine to finish, reached up and grabbed some rubbing alcohol and some paper towels, throwing them over to him.
"For your face" she smirked, busying about with the lattes as he scrubbed at his face, leaving his skin a mottled red but free from sharpie doodles.
Once made, she brought them over to the island in fancy tall glasses, being careful not to spill any as she took a seat next to him.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"About how we almost died? Repeatedly?" he asked, clumsily lifting the tall glass and almost dropping it, "funnily enough, not something I want to relive"
"That was only like a four outta ten on the excitement scale"
He lifted a brow, "what, to you, is a ten?"
She smirked, "you couldn't handle it"
"Probably right there" he acknowledged, lifting the glass to his lips and taking a few sips, the brown liquid still hot so it burnt his tongue, resulting in his spitting out some coffee so it dribbled down his shirt.
Wordlessly, she handed him a towel, not even bothering to hide her amusement as he blushed and took it, dabbing his shirt dry.
"I promise, I'm not always this much of an idiot. It just seems to be when I'm around you"
"I've noticed"
He averted his eyes, concentrating on drying himself before putting the towel on the counter.
"Maybe I could find you a sippy cup" she continued, holding back her laugh as he sent her a half hearted glare, "or maybe we should just get you a bib instead"
"Ha-ha" he mocked, though she could see the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips, "you're hilarious"
"I know"
"Modest, too" he remarked sarcastically
"Being modest is definitely no fun" she smirked, hoping he would understand her flirty, playful banter which just seemed to slip out more than usual around him.
It took a couple seconds but he did, that pink tinge returning to his speckled cheeks.
"Well, uh..." he coughed to clear his throat, "I wouldn't know about that"
"I'm guessing skinny dipping isn't a thing here then?"
His eyes widened, the images no doubt spreading through his brain.
"S-Skinny-? Uh... heh... not at any party I've been at, because, trust me, I would definitely remember that"
"Then you've not been invited to the right kinda parties" she joked.
"Bold of you to assume I get invited anywhere" he snorted, "remember, I'm sort of at the bottom of the social pyramid. Actually, probably below that. I'm the equivalent of being subterranean"
"You were at Lydia's party the first week of school"
"That's because everyone - including losers - gets to go to Lydia's parties. I think she allows it to reinforce the social hierarchy. Rub it in the little guys faces"
"Sounds like Lydia" she laughed, taking another sip of her coffee, "it's funny though, back home she would get eaten alive"
"Really?"
"Oh yeah" she nodded, lifting the glass to her lips again and taking another mouthful, "she'd be knocked off her pedestal so fast she'd get whiplash"
"Now that would be kind of great to see"
She laughed, finishing off her latte.
"What uh... what was it like? Back home I mean" he asked, trying his damnest to get that little bit closer to her, past those secretive defences she wore so well.
"It was... home" she answered simply, shrugging absentmindedly, probably not even realising she wasn't answering the question like he hoped she would.
"Why there though?" he persisted, "your dad was brought up here, right?"
"... Right"
"So why'd he haul you all halfway across the country? Why not stay in Beacon Hills?"
"Because Beacon Hills sucks" she laughed, "and, well... Louisiana, believe it or not, is actually one of the safer states for werewolves"
"Why?"
"It's French influence" she replied, "there's old stories about a powerful French family who oversee the happenings in the supernatural world. Maybe protect them. Personally? I think it's bullshit, but there is much less hunter attacks there than elsewhere. My two cents? It's the humidity. It's a bitch"
"So your dad moved you there to keep you all safe?"
"Yeah" she nodded, though her eyes got this sad glint in them, "didn't really work though, did it..."
Silence cascaded over them, Stiles internally hitting himself around the head for bringing up that uncomfortable topic of conversation.
"I'm sor-"
"It wasn't much, but it was still home" she continued, cutting off his awkward apology, "it was all I knew. But, hey-" she forced a smile on her face as she shrugged, "-I'm adaptable"
"Doesn't mean you can't still miss it" he sympathised, "you can go back and visit"
A nearly inaudible wince passed her lips, piquing his interest.
"I think I've burnt enough bridges there" she chuckled, though it was void of any humour, "and by burnt, I mean completely destroyed"
"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think"
She quirked a brow at him, a little surprised by his blind optimism that she could salvage any hope of redemption.
"I'm sure it is" she smirked, "went off the rails, remember?"
"I see your friends from back home still tagging you in stuff on Facebook, sharing memories to your page... that doesn't sound like they hate you"
This time she raised both eyebrows, hiding her smile.
"You stalking my Facebook?"
"What? No, no... uh..." he blanched, "I just... I noticed... I scroll when I can't sleep... uh... heh..."
She ignored his awkwardness, knowing he probably was stalking her Facebook but she didn't mind, he was harmless. A puppy dog. It was cute.
"Yeah... they message. And call" she admitted, "I don't pick up"
"You should" he encouraged, "they probably miss you"
"... I didn't say bye" she admitted, hating herself for admitting this, "mom just kinda sprung moving on me and... and I only told one person. The rest had to find out when they saw the for sale sign in my front yard and an empty driveway. I guess I thought if I didn't say goodbye, it wouldn't be real. But I do miss them. I miss them a helluva lot"
"Then why don't you call?" he suggested gently, "I'm sure they'd be happy to hear from you"
"Oh..." she hesitated, "I don't know-"
"Call" he said with a smile, "I think, deep down, you want to. Let people care about you, it's not a bad thing you know"
She rolled her eyes playfully as she pushed his arm.
"Don't psych me"
"I'm right though, aren't I?"
"I disappeared" she said, "I left. That's pretty bad"
"Friends forgive. That's what they do"
"Would you forgive me if I left?"
"Yes" he answered without hesitation before frowning, "but please don't"
She sighed, slowly reaching across the kitchen island to grab her laptop and opened it up, the screen lighting up.
"Fine" she gave in, typing in her password and opening up Facebook, "I'll call. Happy now?"
"Over the moon" he smirked, happy she was taking this step and proud he had convinced her stubborn self it was a step she needed to take. Something told him she didn't notmally listen to people, so he didn't know why she listened to him but he wasn't about to kick a gift horse in the mouth.
He tried to pretend he wasn't peaking at the screen, trying and failing to look preoccupied with his tall coffee glass but he wasn't being very subtle, leaning towards her slightly to watch the screen.
She knew what he was doing but she didn't mind, clicking on the name 'Blake Guidry'.
"Heh... she must really like powerlifting huh?" he murmured, unable to hide for long he was snooping over her shoulder as he got a look at the profile picture, "that girl is ripped"
Kayla sent him a puzzled look and he was ashamed with how long it took his brain to register that the profile picture was that of a dude squatting, not a chick.
"Oh..." he whispered, "it's a guy..."
She seemed perplexed, but her look was that of amusement.
"Yeah... Blake is a guy..."
"T-That's cool" he spluttered, "I just, heh, assumed, well, y'know..."
"That I'd have girl friends?"
"Uh..."
"I have plenty of girl friends" she smirked, "but I also have guy friends too. It's 2011 Stiles, genders are allowed to mix y'know"
Her laugh was infectious, proving she was simply winding him up as he groaned to himself, probably coming across weirdly jealous.
"Just call"
She was still giggling under her breath as she clicked to video call this 'Blake' and, for some reason, Stiles wished he never encouraged her to do this.
Long distance dating was a thing now, y'know. As if he didn't have enough guys here to try and beat off to win her attention, now he had the ones from back home too?
Fantastic.
And ew, not that kind of 'beat off' either.
The video call gave a few rings before the screen cut to a guy with red hair smiling.
"Kayla Hale, as I live and breathe" the dude exclaimed playfully, "you don't call, you don't write... I was starting to think you'd died and no one told us"
She looked a little nervous though hid it well, smiling at the screen.
"It's come close a few times" she joked, though Stiles knew she wasn't actually joking. Beacon Hills, as it turned out, was dangerous.
The guy, Blake, turned his head slightly and called out a few peoples names, beckoning them over.
"Hey guys, get your asses over here. Kayla called"
There was a rush of activity before four other guys and a couple of girls blurred in front of the screen, each smiling and happy and waving.
"Long time no see, sugar" one guy grinned, "how's the move been?"
"It's been, uh..." she cast Stiles a careful glance, probably not wanting to offend him, "... alright" she settled with, "I miss you"
"We miss you too" another guy chirped up, "how are you doing?"
"I'm good" she lied smoothly, relaxing the more she talked to her friends, "I'm... doing better"
"Hope those folks over in Beacon Hills are treating you well" yet another guy spoke up, "otherwise, we'll fly over there and beat their asses"
"As if I wouldn't beat their asses first" Kayla scoffed playfully, a wide smile tugging at her lips, "and yeah, they've been great. There's some good people here"
Stiles felt her a cast a quick look in his direction but, before he could meet her gaze, she had already looked back at the screen, placing her chin in her hand as she concentrated on the screen.
"Not as good as us, obviously" Blake joked.
"Any hot guys?" one of the girls asked, "I heard Californian guys are meant to be on another level" she gushed.
"There's a few" she replied slyly, a devious smirk pulling at her lips.
"You dating anyone?" the second girl asked, "c'mon Kay, spill the beans"
"You know I don't date"
"Okay" the girl relented in long drawn out voice, rolling her eyes, "well, are you 'hooking up' with anyone?"
"No" she replied simply, shrugging her shoulders.
"Well that doesn't sound like the Kayla I know" the girl gushed, "maybe the men over there aren't that great after all"
"Or maybe I'm done with hooking up" Kayla laughed, "anyway I... I'm sorry I sort of fell of the radar. It's just been a bit of an adjustment period and I wasn't sure how to... reach out, I guess"
"No worries" Blake smiled kindly, "it's been a tough time. For all of us. Coming back to school without you and Harry-"
She suddenly coughed uncomfortably, cutting off his sentence before he could say anymore and Stiles had the feeling it was to stop him from finding out stuff she wasn't yet ready to tell him.
"I'll call more. And message back" she promised, "I miss you guys" she repeated, "I miss home. Anything else been happening?"
Stiles excused himself, picking up both their coffee glasses and taking them to the sink, giving them a quick rinse off before putting them on the draining board.
She sounded so happy and at ease. These people - her friends - were ones that she had grown up with. Maybe she had kept secrets from them about the supernatural, always hiding that part of her, but they were a big part of her life.
He grabbed the towel, drying off the tall glasses and placing them back in the cupboard.
He turned around, trying to subtly grab her attention as he jutted his thumb out of the kitchen, indicating that he was heading off to give her some time and space to catch up with her friends.
She quickly shook her head, waving her hand out to stop him.
"No, it's okay, don't go yet" she said, "stay"
"Ooooooh" a range of voices exclaimed from the laptop and Kayla simply rolled her eyes.
"Excuse me miss 'done with hookups'" one girl exclaimed, "who can stay?"
"A friend" Kayla said with a pointed look, "one of my new friends to replace all of you"
She was joking, teasing them as they laughed and one of them even booed.
"Bullshit" one of the guys exclaimed, "no one can replace us. We're awesome"
"You're annoying" Kayla reiterated, "and why aren't you in class?"
"Free period"
"And you're not out the back of the bike shed smoking a joint? I'm surprised"
"Well, my little smoking buddy ran off to California" he laughed, "and I don't get it at the same rate you did because I don't have boobs. That shit can get expensive you know"
"Cry me a river" she chuckled, "anyway guys, I better go. Thanks for being cool with this and not chewing me out for disappearing"
"That's on the next phone call"
"Looking forward to it" she smiled, "love you guys"
"Love you too Hale"
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do"
"Catch ya later Kay"
"Peace out"
"Bye homie"
"Call soon Kay"
"Bye babyyyyy"
All their voices rang out in unison and Kayla smiled and waved at the screen before tapping the keyboard and ending the call, letting out a relieved sigh before shutting the lid.
"They seem, uh, interesting" Stiles opened with, not quite sure what else to say, "and... lively"
"Yeah, they can be a handful" she chuckled, "it's just the way of live over there. The people are always so happy and ready to party. Lots of big personalities"
"I... I could tell"
"Hey uh... thanks" she said as he walked back over, "for encouraging me to reach out. I didn't realise how much I missed them until now"
"Oh, uh... a-anytime. Happy to help"
"I... I am a different person though" she said carefully, "than I was back then. Back when they knew me"
"I know" he nodded.
"We used to party every weekend" she smiled, "even on a school night. Smoke weed at the graveyard. Shrooms in the woods. It was fun for us to hallucinate shit and laugh about it. We'd go out on boats and cliff dive and hot wire cars to burn the tyres out because we could. I'd never date, but I was always the first to volunteer for spin the bottle or seven minutes in heaven. Life just felt so free. Then it all went to shit, I went off the rails and then I moved here. Life isn't free anymore. That's why I'm not the same person they were friends with"
"I get it" he nodded, "you don't need to explain to me"
"I guess I just don't want you thinking badly of me" she snorted with an almost shy giggle, "I'm trying to be better"
If this was her just trying to be better, Stiles knew he would be blown away by her when she was better.
Not that he thought she needed to be better... from what he had seen, she was damn well near perfect. And that was not a phrase he used lightly, things or people not often living up to, and exceeding, his expectations.
Yet she did.
Hell, she could reach out and snap his neck and he'd die a happy man.
"Why do you care what I think?" he asked, a little perplexed by her statement but she either didn't hear him or chose to ignore his question - most likely the latter - as she stood up, gingerly placing her weight on her bad ankle.
"You coming upstairs?"
"U-Up-Upstairs?" he asked, his jaw nearly hitting the floor at that word, "upstairs?"
"To hang out?" she reminded him, "I don't know, chilling in the living room just seems so - bleh - formal"
"Oh.. heh... um, sure"
"Unless you need to go and-"
"No. nope. I'm not needed anywhere" he rushed out, catching the amused gleam in her eyes, "no one needs me"
"Good" she smirked, "because I have snacks"
That was just the cherry on top.
He followed her from the kitchen and down the hallway to the stairs, watching her slowly try and pull herself up them.
"Do you need a hand?"
She quirked a brow at him from a couple steps up, resisting a smile.
"What you going to do, carry me up them?"
"I'm stronger than I look y'know"
"Are you insinuating I'm heavy?"
"What? No. god no. Oh my god-"
"Relax" she laughed, "I'm kidding. Don't take everything so seriously"
He gulped but nodded none the less as she grinned and continued making her way up the stairs, limping slightly with her sore ankle but Stiles had to give it to her - she was determined. She made it up the stairs quicker than he expected, surprised she could move so fluidly despite her injury.
"And uh, just so you know, I did get you up my stairs when you were off your face on Lydia's meds. So yeah. You're definitely not heavy"
She turned around, sending him a sly smile.
"You man-handled me. Luckily, I like being man-handled"
He, yet again, was speechless as he followed her down the hallway and into her room that she oh so willingly let him enter - something that still amazed him.
She clocked his surprise as she turned around, seeing him hover over the threshold as he twisted his hands in front of him.
"You don't need a special password" she smirked, "relax. Let's watch a movie or something"
"A-A movie?"
"Yeah, why not" she shrugged, pointing under her bed, "there's a box under there filled with DVD's. Have a look, I'm going to shower and get into my PJ's. Today is a day to do fuck all"
He slowly entered as she went into her en suite, yet again not closing the door all the way over - maybe a force of habit or maybe a bit of flirting. Who knew.
He waited until he heard the shower turn on and very gingerly kneeled opposite her bed and pulled out a box, opening the lid but instead of DVD's he saw a box of keepsakes.
He knew he should close the lid and put the box back where he found it, especially because if she wanted people to see this stuff it would be out on display, but he was also super curious and a little bit nosey, pulling the box closer to him and peering in.
He saw report cards dating all the way back to first grade, with every one scoring high apart from freshman year.
The year she lost her dad and brother.
Compared to the A's and B's before, every column had D's and F's, accompanied by letters of concern over concentration, attitude and attendance. Her attendance monitoring card had more crosses than ticks and, to his surprise, she had failed that entire year and only got through by taking make up classes and private tutoring to be allowed to progress, late in the year, into sophomore year.
Below that was awards in track, gymnastics and weight lifting.
Under that was a few yearbooks which he flicked through, the back pages filled to the brim with signatures. Pictures occupying the pages from high school events to group pictures and he could tell, every time he came across her smiling, she was genuinely happy.
He then came across more photos - photos from her past life with her friends and family. Kindergarten. Elementary school. After school classes. Sleepovers. Summer camp. Family holidays. Trips back to Beacon Hills. He noticed a shift in her preteen years. More experimental with make up and clothes. Slightly risqué poses and environments. Instead of paintbrushes in her hand, it got swapped by cheap alcohol and cigarettes, then joints. Her activities seemed to be partying a lot, that childlike innocence forgotten.
The most surprising photos though were a few of her and this guy, their features barely distinguishable as the photos looked like it had been folded, torn and destroyed several times over. In each photo, they both looked to be either high as a kite or absolutely wasted and, to be quite frank, quite terrible.
She didn't look well at all from what he could see from the picture. She looked like she was dying a slow and terrible death.
He wondered if this was the guy she had told him about. The one she got involved with that was "bad" for her and helped lead her down a slippery path. The same guy that used to hit her, and she in turn hit back.
He was surprised she kept these photos after all this time, especially because their relationship sounded awful. If he was her, he would've shredded and burnt them to a crisp by now.
But then again, he didn't know the full story. Maybe, despite all the toxicity and violence, maybe a part of her did care for him. Hopefully, way way way deep down.
Hidden beneath that was a pale yellow, hand knitted blanket. It wasn't very big, almost like a baby blanket except it didn't look very old so he doubted it was hers from 16 years ago. It was folded neatly, in pristine condition. As if it hadn't even been used.
There was other random little bits, small ornaments and such and a little box that, upon opening, he found a necklace. The little pendant in the shape of a tree. A small note pinned to the inside of the lid.
'Happy birthday to my beautiful daughter,
Never forget how perfect you are. My true blessing.
Lots of love, Dad xxx'
Stiles felt an ache in the back of his throat, snapping the little box shut and putting everything back - hopefully, the way he had found it. He shouldn't be looking. If she wanted people to see this stuff, she would have it out on display.
Clearly it was hidden away for a reason and he didn't want to break her trust in him.
He pushed the box back under the bed just as he heard the shower turn off and hurried to find the box she meant, grabbing it and pulling off the plastic lid to look at the vast array of DVD's.
He tried to forget what he had seen, but it played on the back of his mind. That box was filled with a lot of accomplishments and memories, it seemed sad she was hiding it away.
Then the pictures of that guy...
He didn't know why, but he felt this sickening twist in his gut that he supposed, could be, maybe jealousy.
It was stupid. He had no right to be feeling this, but he was. From what he heard, that guy didn't deserve her. Far from it. In fact, he sounded like a complete and total ass. In a way, it irked him she had pictures of them still, even though they were hidden under her bed. What if she still had feelings for him? What if they were still in contact? What if there was more to their relationship than he knew, and they reconciled?
He was in a world of his own, his mind racing a thousand miles per second and he must've had a sour look on his face because when she emerged from the bathroom, she asked if he was okay.
He looked up from the box of DVD's he was kneeling opposite, seeing her towel dry her hair as she padded over to him, dressed in a pair of pink and white satin silk shorts and oversized button up shirt - very Victoria secret vibes - and he simply gulped, trying not to let his eyes wander.
"What? Oh - yeah. Yeah. All good"
"Did you find a DVD yet?"
"I have not" he chuckled, "I suck at making up my mind"
She smiled, finishing patting her hair dry as she threw the towel to the floor next to her vanity table and kneeled next to him, reaching out to run her her fingers along the cases.
"I'm feeling spooky vibes" she announced, "how about Halloween?"
"John Carpenters 'Halloween'?"
"It's a cult classic" she shrugged, "unless you're scared?"
Her voice was light and teasing, a playful smirk pulling at her lips.
"I don't get scared over horror movies" he said, "it's all fake anyway"
"We'll see" she grinned, grabbing the case and pulling it from the box, "c'mon"
She gave him a hand up before crawling across her bed and shutting the curtains, the room dimming to a peaceful haze as she reached for her laptop and slotted the DVD in, pulling the covers up around her waist.
"You just gonna stand there or...?"
"Uh" he looked down at himself, awkwardly rolling backwards and forwards on the balls of his feet, "... yeah. I can see the screen from here"
She rolled her eyes, reaching out for his hand and pulled him on the bed before he could protest, giving him a look as if to say 'stop being so ridiculous'.
"Get comfy. I'm not going to bite you"
Stiles kinda wished she would, but he wasn't going to say that.
He simply listened to her, kicking off his shoes and sitting back against her headboard as she fluffed her pillows and snuggled down, setting the laptop between their knees as she pressed play.
"Oh, and before I forget-" she said, reaching down her side of the bed, producing a big bag of toffee popcorn, "-snacks"
And that was how they spent the rest of their day.
Relaxing. Eating. Watching movies. Over the course of the day he relaxed more and more, both of them talking about the most random crap and her laughing as Stiles got multiple jump scares, teasing him that she knew he was a "little bitch".
Things felt comfortable. Relaxed. Easy. He hadn't felt this way before, least of all around a girl. He still got nervous, but there was something about her that brought out the best parts of him. Parts he didn't even know existed.
By the end of the five films, she closed the lid of the laptop and rubbed her eyes, pushing it to the bottom of the bed.
"I needed a day like today. Thank you" she said, "it's been a great distraction"
"Always happy to help"
"Do you think Derek is alive?" she asked carefully, peering across at him.
"I... I don't know" he mumbled, "I'm still not quite sure what werewolves can survive"
She sighed, that deep rooted sadness etched across her features.
"I guess I just thought that, if he was alive he would've come and found me. Let me know he was okay. Put my mind at ease. Except it's now been the whole next day and... no Derek"
"That's why you wanted to stay home today" he said in realisation, "so Derek could find you"
She didn't say anything, but he knew that was the case.
"I'm sure he'll be okay" he tried to reassure, "and maybe he just doesn't want to put you in the firing line by coming around. The cops will be patrolling your street a lot now, just in case you're hiding him out"
"Yeah" she sighed, "I have noticed that. I just don't want to lose anymore people. Even someone as annoying as Derek" she added with a chuckle.
"He is very annoying" he agreed with a smirk.
"He didn't used to be" she smiled, "he used to be carefree and happy. Then he lost everyone. Overnight, he changed. He didn't finish school. He bounced around for a bit before trying to settle in New York. He became a loner. We wouldn't hear from him for months at a time. When he came to my dad and brother's funerals, it was the first time I'd seen him in eight months. So I know he can be a difficult person, but he has reason to be"
Hearing her speak about Derek like that did put things into perspective for him. The man may be mean, sour and downright rude, but after losing his entire family tree, he couldn't really blame the guy.
"Why don't you give yourself the same kindness?"
She quirked a brow at him, confused by his question.
"Well... I just... I see how hard on yourself you are" he continued gingerly, "but you lost the same as Derek. You lost your family too. So maybe it's okay for you to be... uh..."
"A hard bitch?" she smirked.
"What? No" he exclaimed, suddenly feeling like he put his big foot in his big mouth, "n-no, uh..."
"Damaged beyond repair?"
"I didn't mean-"
She laughed, cutting him off.
"I know what you meant" she smiled, "and I appreciate it. You're always trying to see the good in me, aren't you?"
"That's all I see" he answered honestly, "because you are a good person. You're too hard on yourself"
"Stiles..." she mumbled, "you don't know me. Not the real me anyway. Trust me, I'm not a good person"
"That's where you're wrong" he said, "I do know you. I know you pretty Damn well and trust me, you're being hard on yourself"
"You see what you want to see"
"No, I see the truth" he insisted, "you punish yourself because you think you deserve it because you made some crappy decisions. But guess what, we all make crappy decisions. No one is perfect"
She shrugged, still not looking like she believed a word he said.
"Hey..." he reached out, touching her elbow to draw her attention back to him, "trust me. I don't lie. Especially to you"
She was quiet for a few moments, staring into his gaze and for a split second he saw a flash of vulnerability, like she let her walls down just a little.
"Well... you'd be the first"
"And I never will lie to you" he insisted, wearing his heart totally on his sleeve, "I promise"
"Please..." she murmured, shaking her head as she looked down, "don't make promises you can't keep"
"I will keep them" he vowed, "what makes you think I won't?"
She didn't reply at first, retreating back into herself and becoming a little withdrawn, deliberately not looking at him but he reached out and cupped her chin, tilting her head towards him.
"What makes you think I won't?" he repeated, slowly lowering his hand and hoping she wouldn't turn away again.
"Because... eventually... you'll leave me too. Like everyone else"
"I won't. How could I?" he smiled, "to me, you're pretty amazing"
"That's because there's stuff you don't know. If you knew-"
"It wouldn't change anything" he insisted, "ever"
"But you don't know what-"
"And I don't need to" he said, because even though the curiosity was eating him alive and he had already failed earlier by looking through her stuff, what she did or what had happened didn't matter to him. It was her past, he would be a shitty person to judge her on that. "I don't need to know if you don't want to say"
She was starting at him differently than she usually did, like she was looking at him with new found appreciation and it was enough to make him blush a little, suddenly feeling very hot and flustered, the duvet that was wrapped around him making him feel claustrophobic.
"Thank you" she whispered, "you, uh... you don't know how much that means to me"
He did though. He knew his lack of judgement was a relief to her and he was happy just to give her a sense of security and friendship, knowing she hadn't had that in a long while.
She kept looking at him and he kept looking back, their stares melting into one another and he didn't realise they had both shifted ever so slightly closer to each other, their arms brushing.
His heart was palpitating in his chest, a nervous sweat seizing his palms and forehead.
It felt like they had crossed some sort of invisible line that there was no going back from. Almost as if they had passed a barrier that now meant all bets were off and anything could happen.
He wished he could reach out and cup her cheeks, pulling her close and capturing her lips in a slow, yearning kiss. He knew he shouldn't be thinking that - she was his friend, and had made it perfectly clear she didn't want to date anyone - but when he was around her, it was all he thought about.
He thought about the cute stuff, the loving stuff and the dirty stuff. He day dreamed about holding her hand and kissing her cheek, but then he also thought about what it would be like to have her under him, on top of him, next to him. Usually naked. It was almost embarrassing how often he had naughty dreams about her, and more embarrassing to admit how many times he touched himself just thinking about her.
These feelings for her came at him hard and fast and didn't seem to be slowing down. It was confusing. He didn't know how to deal with it, let alone understand it. All he knew was, he wanted her. He wanted her so bad but he wasn't sure if she wanted him.
They were caught in their own little bubble, just looking into each others eyes and souls until they heard the sound of a car pulling up into the driveway.
He blinked, the moment disappearing into the void as Kayla sat up and peaked around the drawn curtains and groaned.
"Oh great. Mother's home" she remarked sarcastically and just those four words seemed to suck all the energy out of the room.
"Oh god" he said, suddenly sitting up straight as he suddenly felt guilty for his thought, "I-I shouldn't be here. She's going to kill me for being here"
"It's fine, she's used to boys in my room" she dismissed, "plus, you're the son of the sheriff. She probably thinks you'll be a good influence on me"
That didn't calm Stiles' nerves any, floundering from the bed and turning around in a circle, looking for somewhere to hide.
"Well, don't you look guilty" Kayla laughed, "you look as if you did just fuck her daughter. Relax. She'll just get snarky"
Mrs Hale's snark was terrifying as it was, but he accepted he had no where to go and sat himself at her desk, keeping a good few feet of distance between them, pretending he hadn't just spend the entire day in her bed and day dreaming about making love to her in it as Kayla chuckled, amused by his awkwardness.
As predicted, it didn't take long for her mom to clock her daughter had company, most likely because of the very obvious baby blue jeep in the driveway, and immediately made her way up the stairs and, without knocking, walked in.
The scene did look suspicious. Kayla, sitting cross legged in her bed with pyjamas on and Stiles sitting flustered and panicked at the vanity table, as if they had deliberately put distance between them.
"Thanks for knocking" Kayla remarked, "I see we left common decency at the doorstep this evening"
Her mom ignored the quip, folding her arms across her chest.
"What's going on here?"
"Nothing" Kayla replied with an eyeroll, "we had a movie day. Is that illegal now?"
"Why was the door shut?"
"It gets drafty"
Her mom turned her displeasing stare to Stiles and he found himself gulping, wriggling under her stern look.
"Stiles, is it?"
"Uh y-yes mam"
"I thought the son of a sheriff would be able to make better life choices than spending the day in a girl's bedroom. Don't you have a job? Or school work to do?"
"Uh..."
"I'll take that as a no"
"Mom" Kayla chastised, "enough. You wanted me to settle in here, well guess what? That includes making friends. Stiles is my friend. My friend who was good enough to give me a lift back from the police station after you abandoned me there"
Her mom seemed to somewhat listen to that statement, recognising maybe she was being a little OTT but still looked between them with untrustful eyes.
"Well... it's getting late. Your friend should leave soon and, Kayla-" she said, giving her daughter a pointed look, "-leave your door open. I've had enough of you and your untoward behaviour to last a lifetime"
"Whatever you say boss" Kayla said sarcastically, watching as her mom left the room and, deliberately, pushed the door wide open.
Kayla rolled her eyes, her face pinched in anger.
"Sorry" she muttered, "she's so embarrassing"
"It's-It's fine" he shrugged, "she is right though, it's getting late. I should probably, uh..."
"Yeah... I suppose"
There was sadness in her voice, an edge of disappointment at the thought of him leaving and he faltered, remaining pinned to the chair.
"Unless, uh... unless you want to watch one more movie?"
Her expesssion lit up, nodding her head.
"Yeah. Yeah I'd like that very much"
He shook of his awkwardness as he stood and crawled back into her bed, savouring the time he got to settle next to her.
A/N) sorry it took a while - life is hectic hahaha but I hope you all liked this chapter, stayla is developing and I'm loving these moments. It's so much more detailed than before. So please please review and I promise to see you all super soon :) xxx