It had been three weeks. Three weeks of Stiles ignoring everyone at school. Three weeks of missed texts and calls from Scott and Isaac. Three weeks of staying in and playing games by himself. Of watching movies by himself. Of being by himself.
Three weeks of Lacrosse practice being tense because Scott and Isaac keep trying to talk to him but he just ignores them.
Three weeks of silence.
He and his father had made plans to out to eat for his birthday. He was turning 18. His father took that day off work and said they would spend the whole day together. Stiles was doing well in school. Even if the chemistry teacher was a complete douche bag that had it out for him. He had most of his classes at a high B or A.
That morning Stiles woke up and heard his father already knocking on his door and telling him to get up.
Stiles smiled as he pulled on his clothes. He went down the stairs and saw his father in his civilian clothes and grinned wide.
Stiles told his Dad all about his grades and classes and lacrosse. He was a non stop fountain. They walked into the diner for their birthday breakfast and sat at a booth.
Stiles ordered waffles with the works and didn't even whine when his father ordered bacon and sausage and biscuits and gravy.
They talked and ate and Stiles couldn't stop smiling. He asked his dad about work and listened as his father went on a long rant about kids joy riding and property damage and some thefts and noise complaints.
Stiles just smiled around his waffles and ate happily. He felt like this could be one of the better birthdays hed had in a while.
He smiled up after finishing his waffles only to see his father looking at him sadly.
Stiles knew that look. His own smile faltered. He suddenly felt the dark weight on his shoulders slowly sink back down onto him.
That's when it happened. John looked at him and sadly said, "You look so much like your mother... She would have been so proud of you. She loved you so much."
Stiles felt like a cold knife had just been slowly plunged into his chest. "Yeah. I know Dad. Thanks..."
"You just keep looking more like her every day... You have her nose... and her eyes... I feel like I see her every time I look at you..." John said as he looked to Stiles with tears in his eyes sounding tired.
Stiles was silent. His dad had never admitted that to him. But it made sense. Stiles reminded him of the woman he loved and had had to watch waste away from cancer. Stiles realized then why his father barely spent any time with him.
It hurt. It hurt so damn much that Stiles shut down and went numb. He put on a smile and reached over and touched his fathers hand and told him. "I love you Dad."
John nodded and blinked back tears as he stood up pulling his hand away from his son. "Im gonna go hit the head. Ill be back in a minute." Then John was walking back towards the bathroom.
Stiles watched him go and then something caught his eyes. Derek and Peter were sitting in a booth eating breakfast as well.
Stiles felt too numb to react to the way Dereks eyes were already trained on him.
Stiles sat there for a second just staring back at Derek. Then he notice Peters gaze move over to him and the little smirk on the mans face as he waived made Stiles give a silent snarl.
Stiles was up and walking away from them towards the bathroom to get away from them. God he hated that infuriating man.
Stiles was about to push the door to the bathroom open when he heard his fathers voice.
"I know I said I needed the day off. But the case on the Argents needs everyone. I should be in today to make sure nothing is getting looked over... Okay good. I'll be in within the hour. And don't forget-"
Stiles didn't wait by the door to hear anymore. He slowly made his way back to the table and sat down. He stared at his plate and felt dead inside. He felt so damn empty. At first he didn't even notice his father had sat back down and put money on the counter.
He looked up and knew that his father was speaking. Knew that his father was making some excuse about work calling him in and that they needed him on a very important case.
Stiles just smiled that empty smile and nodded. "It sounds really important. It's cool. I was going to go and hang with some friends anyway."
John nodded and handed Stiles 100 bucks for his birthday then told him. "I got you some new parts for your Jeep. I even got you a cd player for it."
Stiles found the strength to smile and say "Thanks Dad. That's awesome"
Stiles didn't really pay attention as he followed his father out the dinner. He knew that he bumped into someone but he wasn't really there anymore. He was just gone. He was so hollow. He didn't really remember the drive home. He just remembered his father dropping him off infront of the house and he watched his Dad drive off.
He had no idea how long he stood out on the curb looking down the street to where his dad had left him alone on his birthday.
"I cant do this anymore." Stiles whispered to himself. He turned back to his house and stopped as he saw a few boxes on the porch. They were in front of the door. Wrapped up.
They were birthday gifts.
He was still too numb to feel anything. They must be the gifts his dad was talking about.
He picked them up and brought them into the house.
Then he started opening them on the table.
The top one was a video game. Confusion lit his eyes before he saw the Card.
-to stiles from scott-
Happy birthday Stiles. Miss you man.
Stiles realized it was the game hed told Scott he was wanting weeks ago.
He hesitated then opened the others.
The next one was from Isaac.
It was a big box of Jackets. Leather and other types.
-to Styless Stiles from Isaac-
Please wear these. Then your name will make sense... miss you.
Ps danny helped me get them.
Stiles touched the jackets and saw they were all new.
The next box was small he opened it and saw it was a bracelet. Leather almost like a cuff. On it was a silver triskelion. It was really nice. He opened the card.
Dear Stiles Stilinski,
Happy Birthday. Turning 18 is a big event. Some say that this is the day you get turn into a man. It is obvious that you are already a strong and loyal man. On to be proud of.
The symbol on the cuff is a Triskelion. It symbolizes many things to many different people. Some see it as Past Present and Future.
The past brought you to the man you are today. Today is the start of your life as an adult. Make the future what you want it.
D.H.
Stiles looked down at the cuff and felt his numbness crack just a little. But then he remembered what his father had said and he knew he couldn't stay here anymore.
Not if just looking at him was hurting his father.
Stiles brought the gifts up to his room and started packing. He put his gifts in a bag and then packed whatever else he needed. It took him about an hour and then he started hefting them down the stairs.
He left the door open and then he started loading his jeep up. He had no idea where he was going but it didn't matter. He just couldn't stay here anymore. He just couldn't live with hurting his father with his mere presence anymore.
No wonder his father wan never around. Stiles was making his third trip with two more bags when he saw Scott on the phone running down the sidewalk towards him. He threw the last two bags in the back of his Jeep and then closed it.
Suddenly he felt himself grabbed. "Stiles What are you doing?!" Scott was turning him around and looking panicked.
Stiles just shook his head. "I cant do this anymore." His voice sounded so tired.
Scott held him there against the jeep and asked him "What do you mean? Do what?"
Stiles just shook his head. "I can't stay here anymore..."
"Stiles what the hell are you talking about!?" Scott was saying as he gripped Stiles shoulders.
Stiles felt so hollow. " My father cant even be around me... I look like my mother... today... he called in to go back to work... I heard the call... He can't stand to be around me... I can't stay here anymore..." Stiles climbed into his jeep and sat in the drivers seat.
His arm was gripped before he could close the door. Scott was holding him. "Where will you go? Please don't go like this Stiles. Come spend the night over at my house. You can at least calm down before you go. Please Stiles. Please don't go like this." Scott was holding him tight and wasn't going to let him go any time soon.
Stiles just shook his head. "I can't stay here..." he felt cold inside. So cold.
Scott pushed him over into the passenger seat and took the keys from him and started the jeep. "Im sorry man but I cant just let you bail like this." Scott drove off and passed his house.
Stiles just looked out the window without seeing anything. He didn't even notice the Camero that was suddenly blocking the path of the jeep by taking up both lanes and the man that was walking out of the parked car.
Scott and someone were talking but Stiles was just staring out the window and not moving. Stiles just kept remembering what his father had said. And the call. And the lie. How many times had he lied to him just to get away from him. How many times had he wondered if he could be a better son and maybe his father would want to be around him more. If he just tried harder. If he could just be better.
But no...it was just him... just him... he was the reason hed been so alone for so long.