The Absence of Truth | S. Stilinski

XX. | the kiss

XX. | the kiss 

                   DANNY'S HOUSE WAS neat and tidy, and I found myself looking around at the expanse of his modern living room later that evening. I was an outsider tonight, eating pizza while he and Presley worked on an English assignment. I'd been forced to come along because of my knowledge with Shakespeare, but they weren't in need of much help.

Pictures lined the white walls, mainly of Danny at lacrosse games and practices, while school pictures of him filled the gaps. I made my way into the kitchen and started to pour myself another drink of soda, when my phone buzzed in my back pocket. I answered.

"Hello?"

Stiles was out of breath when he spoke. "Okay, really bad things are happening. Can't really explain it all that well."

I dropped my voice low. "Well, go ahead and try."

"Detention went bad. Jackson went rogue and the kanima told us he'd kill us. Derek knows that Jackson's the kanima. Scott agreed to join the pack, but made Derek promise we wouldn't kill Jackson, just trap him."

A long breath fell from my mouth. "I mean, not all of that's bad, right? Derek being on our side is important. We have more allies, which means more of an ability to get him."

"Get who?" Danny asked, walking into the kitchen.

I covered the mouthpiece of the cell and smiled as he got himself another slice of pizza. "Oh, nothing," I explained. "It's for history class."

Danny laughed and leaned on the counter. "History?" He asked. "Who are you talking to?" There was a glint in his eye, like he wanted to catch me doing something bad. I liked Danny, but I didn't think he was this nosy.

"Stiles," I said honestly. I'd learned that my lies sounded more believable when there was a pearl of truth to them.

The grin that formed on Danny's face was almost impish. "Oh," he drawled, pulling himself from the counter and ambling back towards the living room. "Didn't know Stilinski cared so much about his grades. You should ask him if he's going to that party on Friday. I might be able to get you an extra ticket."

"Uh-huh," I agreed just so he would leave, glaring at him until he gave me a wink and disappeared around a corner. Then I lowered my voice and uncovered the phone. "Is there anything else I need to know?"

When Stiles answered, it sounded like he had food in his mouth. "Nope. Just that."

"Okay. See you in class."

-

Danny's wink and impish grin followed me around at school the next day. Apparently Isaac had been right. People knew I'd stayed a night at the Stilinski residence. How? I didn't know. But the sly smirks Isaac sent my way throughout math class made me wonder if he was to blame. It wouldn't surprise me.

The next night, I found myself eating dinner at Sarah's work desk. Mom had a late shift, and Presley was out with most of the lacrosse team. I'd heard that they were out trying to find tickets for the party on Friday. In my head, the word party sounded too adolescent. I knew it was meant to be a rave, complete with an underground DJ and blacklights. I'd decided to stay with Sarah, because I wasn't too keen on partying, especially if they all knew where I'd spent the night last week.

So I sat and ate a hamburger while she worked on the Lahey case. It was a similar scene to the last time I was here, except I didn't think a fake deputy would try to kill me this time. Across the room, Stevens the deputy popped fries into his mouth. He'd been the one to get us dinner, and even though Sarah said it was just a kind gesture, I could see the sly glances he sent her every once and awhile. It was easy to see that Stevens had a crush on my Sarah.