A Question Of Roomates

Ch. 16

Dinner had come just in time for Laura and Cora to show up. It was just like them to make an appearance when food was out.

Undoubtedly it was done to annoy me but somehow both sisters had had taken up residence on either side of Stiles, both tucked a little too close. Laura simply stuck her tongue out at me while Cora had her eyes glued to Stiles, analyzing ever part of him.

Dad must have noticed it as well because had cleared his throat two bites into his green beans "So Stiles. What are you going to school for?"

Quick to swallow the macaroni in his mouth, Stiles wiped away the excess and spoke "I'm getting an art degree. I know I sound very typical but I really enjoy it"

"I'm actually interested in how you chose that"

Stiles' eyes lit up, which wasn't a surprise since he was just given permission to talk about the one thing he enjoyed more than anything. I even found myself being jealous of art sometimes "It's the simplest story actually. I was on a trip to the California art exhibit. There was a painter there by the name Maxwell Haddist. And he had painted what he called "abstract art" me being a 13 year old who was known to speak his mind, I called him out because it was far from it. I mean I shouldn't have to question if something is abstract but I was questioning whatever the hell it was that he painted. And when he argued that I hadn't had a clue what I was talking about I-" he abruptly ended his story and when I looked up his amber eyes were focused on his peas. I hadn't known what happened or why he had a sudden change of heart but he did.

"Stiles?" mother questioned, looking a bit worried herself "What happened after that?"

"Oh I just showed him up with something I sketched in pencil"

A hearty chuckle came from the end of the table, and dads raspy bellowed out  "Wow. 13 and already kicking ass I like it Stilinski" laughs came from throughout the table as everyone drifted into new conversations. It took a minute but I finally got him to look up across at me.

"You okay?" I mouthed.

He answered with a dismissive nod, letting Cora pull his attention again.

******

I found Stiles after dinner rummaging through his few bags of luggage "Hey you, moms got dessert ready"

"Alright I'll be right down"

"Looking for something?" I wanted to trust him, I wanted to maybe not be so skeptical, but I had been a little too worried he was looking for the pills he supposedly tossed.

He turned with knowing eyes, like he had read my mind "Phone charger" the object was held up as evidence before he was plugging it into the wall "Phone died, Scott will go crazy if I don't check in"

"Right right...Is that what's going on? Home sick already?"

"What do you mean?" he asked coming to a stop right at my feet.

"I just feel like you've been-I don't know different, since we got here"

Leisurely he twined his arms around my neck pressing our bodies together "I promise I'm okay. Just trying to tame myself, I didn't want to go on a rant at the dinner table and scare your family. You're used to me, they are not"

"My family loved you" gently I rubbed at Stiles' clothed thigh, emotionally gearing up for the answer to what I was going to ask next. It scared me at what his reaction might be, but selfishly I need to know and to hear the answer from him "You're not still taking adderall are you?"

"No, of course not. Not after everything we went through. It's only medicinal shit now, I promise" watching my eyes go wide his skinny fingers were quickly on my chest in an attempt to be calming "I'm kidding! I'm kidding. It's like I told you, I'm just lost in my head, I really wanna make a good impression"

"You think too much. You're already doing great"

"I guess you know your family better than I do. I have no choice but to believe you sweet poo" he pecked my lips before racing away and down the stairs before I could even register a thing.