today i saw the whole world, teen wolf

𝟎𝟑𝟐 carpe diem.

carpe diem.

___

THE LAST PLACE SHE EXPECTED to take Stiles and Scott is a place they all know well. Her home. It had a nostalgic smell, of linen and lavender. The walls carried their shared memories in its flaws. The sandbox days, all shared amongst their houses.

Parked in the driveway, they stare off at the house, to its roof, to the window of Paxton's room. The tree in the front yard they used to climb.

There's too many memories to recall, but the first that comes to Paxton's mind—especially now—is that of her thirteenth birthday.

It was her thirteenth birthday, what an exciting year for her. She had hoped to spend her teenage years like the movies or books she had read. Now, three years later, she wonders how her younger self would react to her reckless way of living.

Her brother had decorated the dining room with Stiles and Scott, who picked out every small detail to match her favorite color. They even bought cone hats to match.

She had spent the day with her father, a few towns over, at a zoo. Her mother said she'd be arriving late—at least that's what she told Charlie. When she talked to Daniel, he knew immediately that she'd simply never show for reasons she wouldn't disclose. He didn't have the courage to ruin Paxton's surprise party, he wanted her day to be special.

It wasn't until they had come home that Paxton had realized that her father hadn't just distracted her with a trip to the zoo for the party, but also for the lack of her mother's presence. She knew, yet she never let the anger surface. Just pushed it away for the sake of saving everyone else's fun. No one mentioned Emily, Charlie and Daniel acted as if she were never supposed to come.

Paxton had cried herself to sleep over her mother for the last time that night. Vowing to never give the woman enough power over her emotions again.

Her twelfth birthday was the last celebrated with Emily around, until now.

"Are you coming?" Stiles broke the thoughts she had been lost in, opening the passenger door for her.

Scott's already by his side and eager to go inside the home so he can see Charlie. He hasn't talked to him in while. Not since Paxton's party.

"Yeah— yeah, I'm coming," she shook her head to free her mind of the head aching thoughts.

They follow her to the front door, where she stops moving altogether. She doesn't reach for her keys, just stares at the handle.

She spins around suddenly. "I need to warn you about some—"

Before she could confess that her mother hates them, the front door swings open.

"Hey," Charlie smiled. "Come in."

Stunned, Paxton stands still, eyeing her brother wildly. Scott pushes past her, Stiles too. Charlie watches her, still smiling as he opens the door wider for her.

"She's not here," he told her with a whisper. "Something about work."

"Oh," is all she could respond with. She exhales a strangled breath before plastering on a fake smile. "Great, we wouldn't be able to do this if she were here."

She pushes Charlie out of the way and makes a b-line to her father's bedroom, where Emily had been taking up space every night. Scott stays back, talking to Charlie, while Stiles chases after Paxton.