#stariana

Ahhhh bless you I will definitely give you some Stariana! 

Ariana jumped slightly at the sound of a sharp knock at the door. She’d been alone almost all day in the apartment, slowly going through everything as she prepared to leave it for the last time. She’d told Liam and Genevieve she needed to be alone, not wanting anyone to see her grief so shamelessly on display, so the sudden presence of someone else was definitely a little concerning.

Slowly edging towards the door, Ariana took a slow breath in, steadying herself. “Who is it?” she asked loudly, one fist clenching unintentionally as her mind ran through all the possibilities. 

“Ari? It’s me. Uh. Stiles.”

Ariana stared at the door, eyebrows raised in surprise. “Stiles?”

Stiles paused for a moment, probably rolling his eyes. “Yes, that’s what I said.”

“What are you doing here?” Ariana asked suspiciously. Stiles had been to the orphan’s apartment only once before but he’d definitely never come willingly and certainly not alone. 

“I just wanted to come and- do you maybe want to let me in so I don’t look like a weirdo talking to a door?” Stiles asked, exasperation seeping into his tone the way it always seemed to when he talked to her. 

Letting out a huff, Ariana flicked the latch on the lock and swung the door open with one hand, the only hand viciously wiping away any signs of tears from her cheeks. 

“Hi,” Stiles said cheerily as soon as the door was wide open, taking a bold step inside and marching past a stunned Ariana.

“What are you doing here?” Ariana asked again, now satisfied that her face was tear-stain free. She wrapped her arms around her body firmly, frowning uncertainly up at Stiles. “Did Liam send you? Or Genny? I told them I’m fine, I just need to be alone today.”

“Yeah, Liam told me you’d say that. Dumb idea.”  Stiles was blunt as he leaned against the arm of the couch, raising an eyebrow at Ariana. He took in her stance, acknowledging the redness of her eyes and the way she clutched herself a little too tightly to disguise the shakiness of her breath. Finally he softened a little. “Look, I get it, okay? I was home when my dad cleared out our house when my mom died. I know how much it hurts.” 

Ariana froze, staring at Stiles and too afraid of move in case she fell apart right in the middle of the apartment.  

“I know what you’re feeling. The grief. The emptiness. The guilt. I get it,” Stiles said gently and something in his eyes suggested that he really did. He really did understand the waves of emotion flooding through Ariana’s mind today. “So I’m here to help. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to, but if you do, I’m here,” Stiles said with a shrug. “Plus I have nothing else to do today.”

“Why are you doing this?” Ariana asked after a moment, willing the tears prickling behind her eyelids to disappear. “Why are you being all nice?”

Stiles looked at her for a moment, frowning slightly at her, as if he was surprised at the question. “Because today you probably feel a bit lonely and lost. I’ve been there. But I am your friend. You’ve got me.” 

Ariana looked at him for a moment, her mind flooding through all the times he had been there for her lately. She didn’t know exactly when it had happened but somewhere along the line they had definitely become closer, and she’d never been more grateful than right now. “Okay,” she said finally, a small smile slipping up her lips.