shadow

“–Hey.”

Stiles turned quickly, heart thudding - he hadn’t expected anyone about, and the sound of the locker shutting ( no matter how gently ) was enough to startle him. “Hey,” he responded in kind, a little uncertain. “...What are you doing here?” Though he said you, it managed to sound more like I, somewhat of an inquiry about himself. The teenager was fairly lost, and despite trying to hide it, it was fairly obvious.

Wandering the halls, Rosalia was once again getting familiar with the High School she had once left behind. Turning a corner she saw a guy, looking to be about her again though she had yet to see his face. “You look a little lost there, any way I can change that?” She spoke, an eyebrow raised as she awaited an answer.

Stiles turned to face her after a moment, trying to concentrate enough to see her face, but he was pretty sure he didn’t know her once it processed. “I just need a minute,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “I can figure it out.” He tried to read the signs around, but the room numbers and labels melded together into unknown symbols. “Just another minute.” He’d get it soon, he hoped.

“I’m fine, okay? I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong, I’m just . . ” The teenager trailed off, glancing at the area around him again. It feels as though it should be familiar, but it’s far from it. “I’m just lost.”

The words didn’t register for a moment-- but when they finally came through, confusion flooded his features. “What? I’m not looking for anyth--” Stiles cut himself off, realising that he had little to no idea as to where the HELL he was. “ . . Forget it, Jackson. Whatever.” 

his eyebrows raise as his FRIEND speaks, surprise overtaking his features. but again, he doesn’t say anything about it. “y-yeah, this way.”

“--right, yeah. of course. this way,” he echoes, shoving his hands into his pockets. “and . . remind me, what class is it? AP U.S. History?” he’s pretty far off; it’s calculus.

Stiles turned to face her, confused for a moment before her words fully processed. “Oh-- Yeah, everything’s . . good. Things are alright.” He rubbed at his tired eyes, doing his best to focus. “ . . Do I know you?” She was a little too in the dark for him to be able to make out her features, so he wasn’t quite sure.

scott’s a little concerned – WORRIED, to be honest, but doesn’t push because it’ll only cause stiles to become more anxious than he already is. “let’s … let’s just go to class, okay?”

“ . . class,” he repeats, lips twisting in a grimace. “yeah . . yeah, let’s.” he pauses after speaking, brows furrowing. “i-- can you . . take me there? i don’t--” it’s hard to admit, but he’s not quite sure where his class is.

Kellin heaved a sigh, leaning against the wall behind the school. She brought her cigarette to her lips, taking a long drag, closing her eyes. It was nice. The silence was nice, and almost rare, especially in Beacon Hills of all places. At the sound of footsteps, she opened them once again, cerulean irises staring upon the individual that had just approached. “Yeah, yeah– I know I should quit. I’m working on it, m'kay?” Kellin muttered, dropping the cigarette, putting it out with the toe of her Vans.

Stiles follows the smell of smoke. It isn’t strong, but it’s enough for him to head after. He doesn’t mean to disturb her, but apparently his presence is enough to throw her off, or something of the sort. “I wasn’t going to say anything,” he states, digging his hands into his pockets, “except that you might want to smoke downwind from now on. I could smell it around the front, and I’m guessing you don’t want to get caught.”

“class started ages ago – i just left for a bathroom break because you weren’t there,” scott replies. “it’s just me and lydia – we would’ve called the others if i hadn’t found you.” first and second period had just been a cycle between the two trying to find him. “dude, are you OKAY?”

“ . . did it?” he’s worried now, how long it’s been only just registering. “it’s-- i’m fine. don’t worry.” stiles averts his gaze, digging his hands into his pockets. “just . . having trouble sleeping. it’ll get better; it happens sometimes.” he thinks it’s stress; it’s just a short bout of insomnia. he’ll get over it soon, he hopes.

finally able to tune in onto the smell of his friend, the alpha hastens his pace as he tries not to break out into a run. all he knows is that the place is an accumulation of so many emotions he has trouble finding a distinct one, his own mood influenced by the surrounding signals. when he spots the figure of stiles ahead of him, scott jogs forward, a hand clasping on the familiar shoulder. “there you are – we’ve been looking EVERYWHERE for you.”

he turns around quickly, surprise colouring his features. “--you have? wait--” he looks down at his phone, trying to see what time it is. “shit, when did class start?” he’s pretty sure he’s missing a chunk of time in his memories - there’s no way he’s wandered around for half an hour after second period started. “and . . how many people is we?”

“There. Now let me take care of that wound.” It was all the wolf said as he moved to retrieve the first aid kit he left on the bedside table. Derek hadn’t exactly thought about it before, but now he considered this night and what happened during the months he was way, it made him realised that evolving and being able to turn him into a full wolf also made him more resilient. He was able to take more pain without feeling weak.

Despite his words, he made no attempt to avoid what seemed to be his fate, instead turning to glance towards his bed. “Do whatever, but I’m sitting down for this.” No need to be standing while someone wiped his wound with liquid fire. “It doesn’t need stitches, does it? You’re not allowed to stick needles in my skin - now or ever. We’ll never be good enough friends for that.” Hell, he wouldn’t have let Scott do that, back when they’d still been as close as ever.

“Yeah, well, I don’t want your shirt. I’ll just-- I dunno, I’ll go somewhere warmer than this.” Drier, too, and less Jackson-filled. “No thanks; I’m good. Water’s not gonna help hypothermia or whatever.”

“Yeah, my hypothermia, caused by you. Normal people don’t press their soaking wet, half naked bodies against other people . . and YES, it was that bad. You were NAKED.” Yeah, definitely terrible.