#cannedibal

Chapter 1

Summary: You and Stan have to deal with constantly being around each other after Stan has made it very clear he wants nothing to do with you anymore. Will you guys work it out, or will the relationship between you be forever broken?

Warnings: None I believe?? It is x fem!reader though!!

Notes: I honestly don’t even know how to work this app so like if you got some tips let me know LOL. I’m also sorry if this is terrible like I said it’s my first fanfic 💔

Words: 4K+

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You remember the first time you met Stan. Little you was mesmerized by him, watching him walk through the front door right behind his dad. It was your first time being introduced to him after officially living with Robby for two weeks.

Robby had adopted you after deciding he needed someone else in his life—someone he could look after, raise, and love unconditionally. You got to be the lucky one he picked.

Robby was truly an amazing man loving, caring, and always concerned over every little thing. Maybe it was the doctor in him, or maybe he just feared he'd mess this up like so many other things he felt he'd messed up in his life.

So when Robby came to you and told you that you'd be meeting his friend, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. He was about to introduce you to Jack, one of the most important people in his life, and by introducing you, it made everything feel real. He really did this. He adopted a kid. He had a child of his own now someone to raise, protect, and love.

You were six when you met Stan, and he was seven. To say he was shy would be an understatement. He walked in like someone had just told him he was going skydiving for the first time.

Of course, Jack was the first to introduce himself to you, as confident and smug as ever.

“Hey there, kiddo. I’m Jack, but between you and me, I’m really just Robby the cooler version of him.”

That made you break out into a fit of giggles, along with Jack, who was chuckling at his own joke.

A joke that Robby most definitely heard.

“Hey, stop feeding her nonsense, Jack!” Robby yelled from the kitchen, followed by, “Trust me, his charm eventually wears off!”

“No, it doesn’t,” he said with a smirk on his face.

“I like Robby he’s super cool, and he reads me stories before bed every night!” you said with full enthusiasm.

“Yeah?” he said, clearly amused by the fact Robby read bedtime stories every night. Suddenly, Jack remembered the presence standing quietly behind him. “Stan, don’t be rude. Introduce yourself.”

Stan mumbled a quiet “hello” that you’d almost miss if you weren’t paying attention—but you don’t miss it. You make sure you don’t. After that small greeting, you’re all over him, asking if he wants to play out in the yard or maybe watch his favorite shows on TV since you don’t know many shows, because foster care really only had two DVDs you could watch.

Jack watched the whole scene unfold, you practically shaking with excitement from being around his shy son who’s afraid to even play on the playground if other kids are present. Robby eventually stepped out of the kitchen to stand next to Jack, both of them watching the sweet scene unfold in front of them. They stayed silent for a minute until Jack finally turned to face Robby and spoke.

“You’re doing amazing, just like I said you would. She clearly loves it here and is comfortable enough to act like an actual kid.”

Robby stayed silent, afraid that if he spoke, this suddenly wouldn’t be real anymore and he’d wake up and realize none of it was real.

And as if Jack read his mind, he spoke again.

“Hey, this is real. It’s going to be okay. This is a good thing.”

“This is good for you.”

Robby turned to Jack, his face full of emotion, looking like he wanted to cry and laugh at the same time.

“Thank you, Jack.”

“Anytime, brother.”

________________________________________

Ever since that day, you and Stan had been completely inseparable—practically connected at the hip. You were to blame for that because you would not leave Stan alone if your life depended on it. He did eventually warm up to being around you so much, and with you guys being over each other’s houses, it really was unavoidable.

You guys were best friends and did everything together. Everyone knew that wherever one of you was, the other would also be there. Everything was so good for so long, and there was no doubting that you were in love with Stan Abbot you had been since the very beginning. Of course, you never mentioned anything; it was just a silly crush you always tried to brush off, and over the years it seemed Stan just saw you as a best friend, so you never let yourself want more.

Eventually, you guys got to middle school, and that’s when things started to change more specifically, seventh grade. Stan started to become distant. Like, very distant. He started hanging out with new people, stopped eating lunch with you, and didn’t wait up for you after school anymore.

Of course that hurt you. It hurt you so much. He was your best friend, and really the only person you hung out with, so watching him slowly leave you behind as if you didn’t matter was killing you on the inside.

Things started to get really awkward at home too because Jack was always over, or vice versa, and obviously Stan would come along. Robby and Jack noticed the change, how couldn’t they? One day you all went from having to be pulled apart when leaving each other’s sides to sitting on opposite ends of the couch, scrolling on your phones and acting as if the other wasn’t there.

They thought you were just going through a phase. Every teenager did. It was no big deal.

You tried really hard not to dwell on the

situation. It wasn’t like he was dead he was very alive and well. So you were just mourning someone who was still alive. Instead, it felt like you were the dead one. Dead to him.

This goes on for years. By senior year, he continues to act like you don’t exist. He joins the football team as head captain and gets together with Delilah, who thinks she’s hot shit

He only ever acts somewhat decent toward you when he’s at your house or you’re at his, and even then it’s obvious from the look on his face that he wants nothing to do with you. Truthfully, you know he only continues to stay around you to make his dad happy, because he knows how much you and Robby mean to him.

Over the years, you tried talking to him trying to figure out if you did something wrong, or if someone said something to him. You bugged him about it for so long that it wasn’t until freshman year that he finally snapped.

“Look, the only reason I continue putting up with you is for my dad. I don’t want to mess shit up for him just because I can’t stand you,” he said angrily, whispering, after you tried again to figure out what you did wrong.

Yeah… you took that as your sign to move on.

After all those years of thinking you were best friends, it all just crumbled, and you were so fed up with even trying with him. You eventually did make a new friend, Zeke Tyler. He was extremely smart, yet never actually used that to his advantage instead he sold homemade drugs to junkie teens and would hardly show up to class.

If someone had told younger you that he would eventually take Stan’s spot as your best friend, you would’ve laughed in their face and asked if they were crazy. Yet here you are, sitting at lunch waiting for him to show up.

That’s when you hear someone call your name from behind, so you turn around and see Zeke.

“Yo, my fault I hadn’t realized it was so late into lunch already,” he said a bit lazily, trying to seem like he hadn’t tried out his own stash in the storage room.

“Yeah, okay, Zeke. You look like you wouldn’t even know your own name if someone asked you.”

“Well, tell me what is my name? You can make me remember. Just give me five minutes, tops.”

You roll your eyes at his obnoxious joke while he sits there with the biggest smirk, already reaching over to take the chips Robby had packed for you.

It’s normal for Zeke to make flirtatious jokes like that. You knew he didn’t really mean it— he saw you as family. Plus, you knew he was secretly hooking up with that one teacher you cannot be bothered to remember the name of, because frankly, the situation was… weird.

“I’m no expert or anything, but I think your little boyfriend Stanley is staring extremely hard over here.”

You look up from your tray and follow his gaze. Sure enough, Stan is staring in your direction with a look of distaste and annoyance. He’s clearly not listening to whatever Delilah is bitching about.

It makes your chest ache. You still love Stan—you don’t know if you’ll ever stop. So seeing him stare at you after years of pretending you don’t exist makes you feel sick.

He doesn’t look away until Delilah clearly snaps at him for not paying attention.

“He was staring over here so intensely it was kind of freaky. But hey, what would I know? I don’t even know my own name, apparently.”

“Shut up, he’s not my boyfriend—and would you stop calling him that ridiculous nickname? This is why I can’t tell you things, you jerk,” you say, but there’s no real malice behind your words.

You had told Zeke pretty early on in your friendship the history behind you and Stan. You knew you could trust Zeke. He had become your best friend when you unfortunately had to sit next to each other in freshman-year science class. He never really left you alone despite not talking to many people, he for some reason took a liking to you and decided he wasn’t going to leave you alone.

Not that it bothered you, even if you acted like it did. You needed the change after what happened with Stan, and you didn’t really have anyone else, so you made do with what you had.

“We’re still on for later, right? Because I already asked my dad and told him you’re going to be my ride home.”

“Yeah, as long as your dad’s cool with me staying over.”

“I mean, he said yes to you staying over, but is he ecstatic about it? Probably not.”

Robby had met Zeke a while ago and had made it very clear he wasn’t his biggest fan. Not that he would interfere in your life just that you should be careful.

Even now, it still made you want to cry how much Robby still worried about you, the same way he had when you were younger. You were scared he would get distant as you got older, especially with his crazy shift hours, because you’d heard a lot of dads do.

But he hadn’t. He still loved you exactly the same as the day he brought you in. You had never been more grateful for him, and everything he’d done for you. You’d never do anything to jeopardize the relationship you built with him, so if that meant keeping Zeke in check so you could stay friends, you’d do that.

“Ughhh, why can’t your old man just love me already? I’m so sweet. He’s going to be there, right?”

“Hahaha, aren’t you just so funny,” you said sarcastically. “You really think my dad would let you stay over with no adult around? Of course he’ll be home.”

The bell for lunch rang, signaling your time together was over.

“Whatever. I’ll see you in the parking lot by my car. If I get there before you, I’m leaving your ass,” he said as he got up and started walking away.

“Yeah, yeah, I love you too! I’ll see you later!” you shouted after him.

A couple people turned to stared at you because, let’s be real, nobody loves anyone yelling in a hallway, especially right next to them.

You headed off toward class, ready for the day to just end already.

________________________________________

Luckily, you get to Zeke’s car before he does, so by the time he gets there, you’re both ready to go.

You’re exhausted. You had Mr. Tate for your last class, and he was being extra irritating today. Of course, you have to complain to Zeke all about it while he laughs at your misery.

“Just because you’re never in class doesn’t mean you can laugh at me. If you actually went, you’d experience exactly what I went through. It. Was. Torture.”

“Next time, skip class with me. I’ve offered to take you somewhere.”

“So my dad can see I wasn’t in class? No thanks, I’ll pass.”

“You’d survive. Anyways, I’m getting McDonald’s first. I’m starving, then we’ll head to your place.”

“Of course you want to get McDonald’s. You should’ve eaten at lunch.”

Zeke just scoffs and heads toward the drive-thru to get his food.

________________________________________

As you guys pull in, you see a very, very familiar car in the driveway.

There was no sign of Robby's car. Where was he? Why was Jack here? Does that mean Stan is here too?

God, you were spiraling.

It’s not like you aren’t around Stan all the time when he’s at your house, but Zeke is never there when Stan is over you make sure of it. It would be extremely awkward. More awkward than it usually is between just you and Stan.

Fuck, you are so fucked.

“When did your dad get a new car?”

“He didn’t...” you sighed. “It’s Jack.”

“Jack?”

“Stan’s dad.”

“Oh shit, no way.”

It’s silent for a few seconds until Zeke suddenly bursts into a fit of laughter, smacking the steering wheel as he laughs his ass off.

“What the hell is so funny?”

“Nothing. Just the fact that the guy who was staring us down is probably sitting on your couch as we speak.”

You get out of the car without saying anything and slam the door shut. You start walking toward the front door, and Zeke follows, his laughter dying down into quiet giggles.

When you reach the door, you freeze for a second, really taking in the gravity of the situation. Part of you wishes you’d just drop dead right there.

You feel a slight nudge against your shoulder.

You know it’s Zeke’s way of comforting you, silently telling you it’s okay to go in.

Taking a deep breath, you open the door.

The first thing you notice is the smell of food. Jack is probably cooking dinner now that you’ve gotten home.

As you walk in, your eyes immediately drift toward the couch.

Sure enough, Stan is sitting there, focused on whatever’s on his phone, seemingly unaware that you and Zeke just walked in.

He doesn’t look up until he hears a quiet snort from behind you.

You whip your head around so fast you’re sure you got whiplash, shooting daggers at Zeke with your glare.

“My bad,” he mutters.

Now Stan’s staring between the two of you with an expression you can’t quite place, but one thing is obvious he’s not happy.

You decide not to greet him. It’s easier that way.

Instead, you grab Zeke’s free hand and drag him toward the kitchen to ask Jack where Robby is and why he’s here.

Jack hears your footsteps and is already facing you by the time you walk into the kitchen. He’s stopped chopping the garlic, clearly waiting to give you a hug.

It’s sweet.

Jack has always treated you with so much love, as if you were one of his own.

You walk over and hug him before stepping back, leaving Zeke standing awkwardly at the kitchen entrance.

“Hey, kid. How’ve you been? Life treating you right?”

“I’m good, thanks. Life’s the same, you know? It’s like living the same day over and over again.”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “Don’t I know that feeling.”

Then he smiled.

“You seen Stan yet? He should be on the couch.”

Your body immediately stiffens.

“Uh... yeah, I saw him. I didn’t really want to bother him, though, so I came to see you.”

Jack just gives you a Really? look.

He knows that isn’t the real reason.

“Soooo...” you say, trying to change the subject. “Where’s my dad? He was supposed to be here since I have a friend over.”

“Oh yeah. They called him into work today. He didn’t want you to cancel your plans, so he asked me to come over and keep an eye on you since I’m off today.”

“You didn’t have to do that. I would've just canceled. I don’t want to be a burden, and Zeke would've been fine.”

You frown, feeling guilty for taking up Jack’s free time.

“Nah, don’t worry about it, kid. It’s not a burden at all. I’m here most of the time anyway.”

As he says that, his eyes drift past you, presumably trying to get a look at your friend.

Of course, Zeke has already set his McDonald’s on the counter and started eating.

Jack looks back at you with one eyebrow slightly raised.

This is the first time he’s ever met Zeke.

You can only hope he likes him more than Robby does.

Then again...

That probably isn’t going to happen.

You’re already zoning out, trying to think of every possible way to make Zeke seem like a decent person, when you hear Jack start speaking again

“Boyfriend?” he asked, with a questioning tone.

“I’m sorry?”

“That your boyfriend? It’s rude not to introduce me to him.”

“WHAT?!” you and Zeke both yelled in unison.

“No, no, no— you’ve got it all wrong, I swear! He’s just my friend. I wouldn’t even look his way if my life depended on it!” Because you really wouldn’t. You love him, but definitely not like that.

“Hey, what the hell?” you heard Zeke say from where he was still perched at the counter, mouth full of food.

Jack just stood there watching, clearly enjoying you defending yourself that Zeke was absolutely not your boyfriend, and Zeke being mildly offended that you wouldn’t get with him even if your life depended on it.

Jack took your distraction as an invitation to introduce himself to Zeke.

“Hey, I’m Abbot,” he said, holding out his hand for a handshake. Jack didn’t really let people call him Jack unless you were close to him. It was probably the military in him or the attending in him. Probably both, to be honest.

“Zeke. Nice to meet you,” he said, firmly shaking his hand.

“Likewise. Well, I should finish cooking. You guys should go see what Stan’s doing lord knows he needs the distraction from his phone.”

Zeke mumbled something about it probably being Delilah bitching about school headings no one’s even going to read. You glared at him because he had never been quiet when mumbling little comments like that. Either that, or he just didn’t care.

You were almost certain Jack heard him and if he did, he was clearly pretending he didn’t. You knew he didn’t like Delilah he just never voiced it out loud. He didn’t want to upset Stan about his girlfriend, and she hadn’t really done anything directly to upset him. It was just the fact that she was extremely snarky and bratty.

You knew this because you had overheard Robby and Jack talking about it once over the phone. Robby always had his phone on speaker, so he could multitask. So yeah… sometimes you listened.

With that, you took Zeke with you to the dining room, internally panicking.

What exactly were you supposed to do?

“Hey Stan, want to hang out with us and watch all these shitty movies we were planning on watching all night?” Absolutely not you were not about to ask him that.

How were you going to pull this off without Jack realizing you and Stan weren’t interacting? Because from what you knew friends talk when they hang out. So what would Jack think when he saw none of you interacting? He would definitely sense the tension.

“Just ask him if he wants to watch movies with us. No big deal. You’re always around him anyway.”

Wow. What a bright idea.

What a brilliant smart idea. How could someone so smart be so stupid?

“So smart, Zeke. And what will his dad think when he sees none of us talking and acting like friends?”

“You got hot air instead of a brain in that pretty head of yours or what? Listen think about it. We’re going to be too focused on the movies to even talk.”

Wait.

Maybe he was a genius.

And to think you thought he had some dumbness to him… no, well, he definitely did, but that didn’t matter right now. Right now, he was a genius.

“You’re a genius. Oh my God, I could kiss you.”

“I wouldn’t even look your way if my life

depended on it,” he shot back playfully. “Come on, let’s get this over with and ask him.”

You roll your eyes and follow him toward the living room. With each step, the closer you got, the more nervous you became.

He could completely reject the idea of hanging out. This might be one of the first times in years that Stan would actually agree to plans.

It made your heart thump with anticipation.

You were so caught up in your head you didn’t realize you’d reached the living room until you heard Zeke speak.

“Hey man, want to watch some movies with us since you’re already in here?”

Stan just stared at you both with the same expression from earlier only now more annoyed that you were even talking to him.

“Look, I don’t even want to hang out with you, trust me you’d be the last person. I just don’t want to look like a total ass in front of your dad by not including his son. And if it concerns you so much, I won’t tell anyone. Frankly, I don’t want people knowing I was around you either,” Zeke said toward Stan.

Stan scoffed and let out a quiet, “Yeah, sure. Whatever.”

“Perfect.”

Well… that went a lot better than expected.

No it didn’t. You wanted Stan to say yes happily. That was foolish even to dream about.

Zeke took the middle of the couch so there would be a gap between you and Stan. He knew you well enough to know you’d want that.

It was little things like that that made him your best friend. He didn’t always show it, but he acted on it.

Like that one time you cried to him about how hard it was to be around Stan at home and act like everything was fine. You sat there sobbing, tear stained face, repeating the same thing over and over, and all he did was sit with you and hold you, knowing words wouldn’t help.

You sat on the opposite end of the couch, away from Stan. The movie started.

Halfway through, you pulled your feet up onto the couch to get comfortable. Zeke did the same, eventually leaning against you, and without thinking, you started running your fingers through his hair. It was normal for you both something you always did when hanging out. Nothing weird. Just comforting.

At the end of the shitty movie, Jack called out that dinner was ready, and Stan shot up so fast it startled you.

“Jesus, he has some serious issues,” Zeke muttered as he sat up and held his hand out for you to take so he could help you up too.

Dinner went as smoothly as expected, with Jack doing most of the talking and trying to get to know Zeke better. Zeke answered every question with the most bullshit responses.

You chimed in occasionally, but mostly just listened.

Stan barely spoke at all only answering when Jack directly asked him something. Jack thought he was just being shy like he used to be around new people when he was younger.

You, on the other hand, could tell he wanted nothing to do with this situation.

Honestly, you wanted the night to be over just as much as he did.

You could tell Zeke noticed too by the look on your face, because near the end of dinner he decided it was time to go.

“So soon? You guys only got through one movie. I thought you had more planned,” Jack said.

“My mom’s going to want me home soon. She texted earlier during the movie I just told her I’d finish it first,” Zeke said smoothly.

You knew that was a lie. He didn’t even know where she was. He didn’t know where either of his parents were. They barely respond when he’d send a text. He joked sometimes that they might as well be dead.

You felt for him. Truly.

You had been alone for the first six years of your life you couldn’t imagine being older and still feeling that same kind of abandonment.

“Here, let me walk you out so I can say goodbye,” you said.

“Thanks. Well, again, it was nice meeting you, Dr. Abbot. Hopefully we can meet again. I’ll see you guys later.”

You walked Zeke out to his car.

You guys silently walked to the car. The silence on the way wasn’t uncomfortable it was just… heavy, letting everything that happened settle between you.

When you guys reached his car, he unlocked it and looked at you.

A few seconds passed before you both suddenly burst out laughing.

“Oh my God, that was horrible you should’ve seen how stiff Stan was.”

“I think I’d rather not,” you laughed breathlessly. Then you remembered. “I’m so sorry this got cut short. If I’d known, I would’ve rescheduled.”

“Nah, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. But I do have to say… how is Dr. Abbot so handsome and Stan so… baby-like?”

That made you laugh again.

“What do you mean baby-like?”

“You know, he’s got such a baby face. ‘Handsome’ is not a word I’d use for him. Maybe for his father,” he paused. “Not that I’d use any of those words for Stan at all.”

“Jeez, I really can’t stand you.”

“Yeah, yeah. I love you too. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“If you even show up to school. But yeah.”

“Bye.”

“Bye, Zeke.”

You hug him goodbye, then step back so he can leave.

You wait until his car disappears before going back inside.

The second you open the door, you stop dead in your tracks.

Stan is standing there, waiting for you.

Same expression. Same annoyance he’s had all day.

You open your mouth to speak but he beats you to it.