Tether ⌲ Stiles Stilinski [2]

eighteen

I was choosing not to sleep again. Only, this time, instead of going out on a search for a missing girl that would end in that same girl turning human and being brought back under the care and custody of her father, I was standing on the sidewalk of a darkened street with a carton of eggs in my hand.

"You're certain that this is his house?" My hands were getting fidgety, partially because I was nervous and partially because I was going off of an unhealthy amount of caffeine. My exhaustion put me somewhere near delirium, positively giddy next to my boyfriend doing one of the stupidest things I had ever done.

Stiles was beaming and grabbing a couple of eggs from the carton in my hands. "Positive."

"This is ridiculous," I said. But I was laughing.

"It's tradition," Stiles corrected me. Winding up his arm behind him, he hurled his first egg towards the quiet suburban home in front of us. The shell of it cracked and splattered against the garage door. He let out a whoop of celebration before I jumped to press my hand over his mouth.

"Shhh," I giggled. "You're gonna wake up the whole damn neighbourhood."

"Okay, okay," he smiled, bouncing up and down on his toes. "You go next. Come on, let's see that Argent aim."

I grinned, biting my lip. There was something freeing about launching an egg through the air at a target as big as a garage door. It also wasn't a matter of life or death, so the shaking in my hands from the coffee - or the post-traumatic stress - didn't matter. My shoulders relaxed at that thought. For once, I didn't have to worry about Bardo or my nightmares or the noise in my ears. And it was a break I desperately needed.

"You know, I don't really have anything against Coach. I'm not sure he really deserves this from me," I shook my head, putting the carton on the pavement and picking up an egg myself. "Feels a bit evil."

"And yet you're smiling," Stiles teased. "Come on he lives for this stuff, I think if we didn't do this, deep down he would miss it."

"He would miss you turning his home into an omelette?"

"Yes, yes he would."

I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"It's Mischief Day!" Stiles grabbed onto each of my shoulders and shook me. "The day before Halloween. The day of pranks. I mean, it was literally made for me. And I want to share this day I cherish so much with the girl I love."

"Isn't it his birthday?"

"Yes, by some perfectly awesome coincidence, it is."

"You're the worst," I shook my head laughing.

"Hey, you know when lacrosse season starts in the new year he's gonna be just as horrible as he always is and you'll regret not taking this sweet opportunity to give him such a special birthday surprise."

"How is it a surprise if you do it every year?"

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm creative. Last year it was toilet paper."

"Good lord."

"Try to remember that last year when I tried to get out of running the mile to call you, this man made me do the whole circuit twice."

"Oh, well then he deserves it."

"I know, that's what I'm saying! Go on, throw it."

With one last look at Stiles' devious smile, I stepped forward and launched the egg out of my hand.

"That's my girl!" he cheered just a little too loudly.

Suddenly, a light on the porch flicked on.