Probably the hardest part was that I didn't tell anyone. Despite that, I cleaned up in the next while and turned my phone off after a long time of calls and texts from Stiles. I officially realized I had to turn it off when I got worried texts from Lydia and Scott and everyone else about my sudden disappearance and Stiles' sudden teary eyes and more-than-usual sarcasm. He was even snapping at people, which was unusual for the lighthearted banter that made up Stiles' usual interactions.

Well if he loved me that much, why was he hiding things from me? Why was he lying to me, straight to my face? Without even hesitating or seeming to feel guilty about it? Whatever. He had Malia.

Yes, I'm sure that's what it really was. He was cheating on me with Malia. It just made sense. He felt guilty and maybe was just used to having me around. He felt bad for betraying the one person who had been by his side since childhood. With Scott as well, of course, by still. His mood swings and his constant lying and the way she was so easily all over him. Everyone in the group knew I had feelings for Stiles but Isaac still flirted with me. It must have been because Stiles and Malia were a thing si Isaac assumes I was available. That I knew.

After the classroom incident with Stiles I had meant to go so completely different, I didn't go to school the next day. Or the day after. I locked my door and would only come out to eat when everyone else was gone. My mom and brother had officially decided that I needed to be left alone after I viciously ripped into them after they tried to pry. If feel bad for it later - my mom least of all people deserves such nastiness - but for now I wasn't in the mood to feel guilty and they were understanding enough to know when a teenage girl needed space. My door was locked and my family and friends were worried. Stiles never came by.

With all my time alone, I avoided mind paths leading to Stiles and thought about Allison. I don't know how she popped up but once she had it was far too easy to distract myself with her when Stiles was on the brain.

They'd said she'd died, but gave no reason to what happened. Except the usual bullshit. I knew all their ticks and they were all lying. Lying to me. Lying to the police. Lying to everyone. It's like they had this little group. It was their group against everyone else. I, apparently, was part of everyone else. They decided I wasn't important enough far before I'd cut it off. My own brother had taken Stiles' approach over being honest with me. My family. All I had done was make it official. I'm done with all of them.

After my sudden disappearance and two day break, I went back to school. I still felt numb and broken, but I was done letting people know I was. I felt a lot stronger now that I had finalized the idea that none of them mattered to me in my head. It wasn't complicated anymore. I was done and I didn't have to deal with the drama anymore. In a way, it was kind of a relief.

When Lydia saw me, she rushed over. I booked it the opposite way, making it obvious she was not welcomed. Scott waved and I ignored him. The fact that I was rebuffing even my brother seemed to catch a oof it hen off guard. Isacc hit on me and I bluntly disregarded him. His eyes went wide and he backed off at my silent treatment. Malia tried to talk to me and, after ignoring her didn't work, I walked away. She followed me and I finally yelled at her to go away. She, also not used to my coldness and mean attitude, backed off with eyes wide. When Stiles saw me, everyone was talking to him. Then they all saw me. I went to my locker and got out my things. I was so focused on my crumbling heart and ignoring the boy I loved the most, I jumped when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

"Y/N?" It was Stiles. Knowing I wouldn't be able to resist him or brush him off as I had everyone else, I just ignored him. Now he would understand the pain I went through when he suddenly became an ass out of no where, then went back and expected that I would be okay with how shitty he'd treated me. "Y/N..." Stiles' finger touched my shoulder, but instead of tapping me, his finger lightly traced down my arm. I fought the feelings in my stomach and barely ignored the electricity of his touch. "I... I have to tell you something. We all do."

That was just what I needed. I spun around, pushing his hand away. "What?" I snarled. I had more, but my words froze on my tongue. Stiles was a mess. I hadn't seen the full extent from far away, but he really was.

His hair was sloppy to the point it didn't look good - which I thought was impossible, because Stiles always looked good. Always. His eyes were blood shot and puffy, like someone had punched him. His nose was as red as his eyes and his face was slack. My heart shattered even more, though I thought that impossible too. He looked dead.

How is he still walking?

Is he okay?

Did I do this to him?!

Maybe I hadn't been a at peace with leaving all the people I cared for most. Thinking about it later, I would recognize the pang in my gut at the thought of not ever having Isaac to talk to about things, when he wasn't flirting with me. Not having Lydia to study with. Not having Scott to get support from and bounce ideas off of. Not having Stiles... god how long had my feelings for him been apart of me? Middle school? Old habits die hard, especially when someone you love comes to you in pieces begging for help. I couldn't help it. I immediately broke. My hand went to his face. His dull eyes sparked at my touch and his eyes focused. "Stiles... What's wrong with you?" I pleaded.

His clearer gaze turned sad and heavy and muddy. "I lost you. I lost you, because I know I can't protect you. It's all my fault..." Tears fell down his face and I brought him to me. His arms wrapped around me as he shook. He'd only ever been this bad once - when his mom had died. "I keep losing everyone. Allison. You. My mom... Everyone keeps leaving! I thought if you... If you didn't know, I could keep safe..." Stiles sobbed, unable to continue. Shushing him softly, soothingly, I ran my hand up and down his back. I held him tight and he squeezed back in response. It was really hard to breathe but I didn't mind. I'd slice myself open if it meant that Stiles was okay. I'd do that for any of my friends. Maybe that would be my downfall. "Please don't leave me. You're all I have. All I want."

Without even thinking, I responded. "I won't. I'll never leave again."

I hated it. He still hadn't told me anything to answer all my questions but I was destroying myself and Stiles was just letting me. But how could I say no? Where was the ability? The strength I'd had this morning and the last two days was suddenly gone.

Stiles leaned away from me, eyes wide and so full of hope it hurt to look at. "So... We're...?" Stiles didn't dare ask in case he was wrong.

Already regretting my life choices and how fast I cracked under pressure after so many hours of preparing myself for a moment such as this, I said the one thing I'd sworn over and over again I wouldn't. "Yes. We're back together." The words doomed me to more pain, I know. More torture. More lies. More suffering. But I knew I couldn't get away from my own heart. Not when it best solely to make the lives of those I cared about better. Happy. I couldn't hurt them when it was in my blood and bones to protect them from any and all pain I could.

Immediately, life was into Stiles. He beamed and ran a hand through his hair, fixing it. It was a hot messy now. He wiped his eyes, drying them. He looked at me for a second and then his lips met mine. My eyes went wide, then I melted into the kiss. We were in the middle of the hallway, out in the open. Kissing. "I'm so sorry I forgot our month anniversary," Stiles said against my lips. "I know we were so excited for it when we first got together. Mile stones. I'm a total ass. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Man this boy had me smiling already. It wasn't fair. "You have another chance. Something just as important is coming up..."

Stiles laughed. "I would never forget your birthday," he said seriously. Stiles and I went back to the group, hand in hand.

Lydia and Scott shared a look. "I KNEW IT!" They yelled, happy dancing. Stiles and I laughed. They were such dorks.

While everyone buzzed and relaxed and reenergized now that I was back and happy and everything was smoothed over again, Stiles tugged on my hand, pulling my attention to him. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too." I smiled. When Stiles looked away, I looked around. My smile faltered. Malia was not happy. I smiled weakly at her and she tightly smiled back. Thoughts came back to me, familiar thoughts.

He still hadn't answered any questions... What if him and Malia HAD been cheating? He said he had something to tell me then said nothing... How many of my friends know? I looked around. Everyone had a guilty look under their smiles. They are still hiding something from me. All of them. If Malia and Stiles are together behind my back, they all know.

Well maybe not all of them. They wouldn't ALL lie to me about something important...

Would they?