Please, Stay- A Stydia AU

Combinations

"So who is she?"

Stiles took a bite of his hamburger and leaned back into the car seat. "Who?"

"I'm not stupid." Sheriff smiled and shot his son a glance. "There's a girl."

"Nah."

"Nah? You gonna ask her out?"

"Hell no."

"Language." Sheriff reached for a fry only to have Stiles bat his hand away. "Why not?"

"Because I like this girl." He looked at his dad as if that should explain it.

"In my days," Sheriff began.

"The time of the dinosaurs," Stiles put in.

"Exactly. We used to actually ask girls out when we liked them," Sheriff said.

"What? What a brand new concept! Tell me more!" Stiles swatted his dad's hand away as he reached for another fry.

"Well you see we would take the girls out and give them flowers and chocolates."

"Wow! No way!" Another reach. Another swat.

"Oh just give me a fry."

"No way dinosaur." Stiles popped one in his mouth. "Also I do know what dates are. But I don't think she's available."

"Ah. Boyfriend?"

"No."

"Girlfriend?"

"No. I'm not sure what it is. Just a feeling." Stiles took a handful of fries and put them in his mouth. "Honestly I'd be happy just being her friend."

"What's her name?"

"Lydia."

~-~-

Lydia leaned against the tree trunk and closed her eyes, enjoying the breeze pushing her hair back. With a contented sigh, she climbed back in her window, finally feeling ready to handle dinner. As she made her way downstairs, she could hear it already, making her stop in her tracks.

"I don't know what you want from me Natalie! I'm trying!"

"All I'm asking for is a little understanding."

"Understanding? She used to be the star of the school and now she has no friends. We've been here for weeks. I'm allowed to be concerned."

"I'm not saying that you're not. You just need to let her adjust Tom."

They were arguing. And not only were they arguing but it was about her. Lydia took a deep breath and turned into the room. She held her head high, walked to the kitchen, and started setting the table. Pretend you didn't hear, she told herself

"Hey Lydia. How'd homework go?" Tom asked, pretending like he hadn't just been talking about her.

"Fine." She sat at her seat and put her chin in her hand, looking at him. "What's for dinner?"

"Lasagna." Natalie set it on the table.

"Oh, great," Lydia said. "Turner loves-" She stopped talking. Silence hit the table like a brick. "Loved. Turner..." She bit her lip and got up. "Sorry." She couldn't look at them, especially her dad. "I'm sorry." She ran upstairs. No one stopped her. No one called after her.

My fault. My fault. I'm sorry.

Lydia was out the window before she could think about it. She was barefoot but didn't care. All she wanted was to be out of the house, away from the lasagna, away from her father's sorrow and the sad attempt that he and her mom were making.