Changed

In the Moment

I sit on Stiles's bed, still in my ripped pants and my blood covered shirt from yesterday.

It's now five in the morning and I couldn't get myself to go home with Derek when everyone parted ways after the hospital.

Stiles had seen it in my eyes and had offered for me to stay at his place. He's in the bathroom, doing what he's gotta do and when he comes out, his hair is wet and he has a towel wrapped low around his waist.

My mind screams for me to look away, but my eyes disagree. The force themselves to his beautiful v-line and then back up to his face.

"You wanna shower?" He asks, bending down to grab a sweatshirt and a pair of boxers from a drawer. "Here. You can wear these."

I smile kindly at him and take the clothes, making my way into the bathroom.

I let the cold water run down my hot body, my cuts and bruises sizzling with relief.

I step out and dry off, then slip into his oversized sweatshirt and his large boxers.

I immediately am filled with a warm, cozy feeling of homeyness.

I can't get enough.

I walk out of the bathroom, to find him lying on his bed, in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. He looks up when he hears me and smiles. "Nice look for ya."

I force a small grin at him, but I don't respond.

I don't have the energy.

Too much work in two days.

Too much stress.

Too much pain.

I need some relief.

Some sleep.

And as if that thought had floated into Stiles's head, he says, "I think we both need some rest. You can take the bed. I'll get floor."

Such a gentlemen.

I find myself crawling under the covers, his fluffy pillow softening the fall of my head.

I turn over onto my stomach and bury my face in his pillow, taking in his familiar scent.

A seriously unique cologne that smells like spring and soap mixed together.

It's wonderful.

Stiles's entire room smells like it to me, as if he's somehow implanted himself into my memory.

His smell.

His smirk.

His sarcasm.

And with a perfect picture lodged in my brain, I fall straight to sleep.

*****

"Do you want me to take you home, Cora?" Stiles's voice rings out throughout the silent room.

I look up from my math book. I shrug unenthusiastically. "Yea, I guess."

Stokes raises his eyebrows. "What's wrong?"

I just look at him, and stand up to leave. "Nothing."

Stiles just looks at me with a weird expression.

I cross my arms and round on him. "You have this look on your face that really makes me want to punch you in the face."

Stiles smirks. "Definitely a Hale we have here."

I make a face at him and whirl around, but he grabs my arm.

"Hey," he says gently, "talk to me, Cora. What is bothering you?"

I huff and sit on his bed, tears starting to pour down my cheeks.

How can I let myself cry?

In front of him?

And for the only boy in my life who cares about me?

Because he said that horrible thing to me?

Because I can't trust him?

Stiles looks at me sympathetically, drawing circles on my palm with his thumb.

"I can't do it." I sob, wiping away my tears. "I was supposed to be coming back for the powerful alpha. For the werewolf who everyone talks about, who everyone praises.

"But I wasn't coming back for that. I was coming back for my brother. My only relative left alive. My only source of family, of life, of happiness. I wanted to join Derek's pack and become just like him.

"I wanted to learn from the best. But when I came back for him, he didn't even seems to appreciate it. Didn't seem to even want to get to know me. Didn't seem happy that I was alive. That he wasn't alone.

"And I just don't think I can do it. And then add math on top of that and I'm screwed."

Stiles hadn't said a single thing the entire time I blurted out my life problems, and at the end, I thought he'd say something to make me feel better.

But instead.

He scooped me into his arms and held me tightly to his chest.

I immediately felt as if the world was spinning, as if everything was rearranging itself in a way that would help me.

In a way that would make me feel better.

But just sitting there, wrapped in Stiles's arms, crying into his shoulder, I knew this was what I really needed.

Not for someone to try to talk to me and make me feel better.

But for some love.

And maybe, just maybe, this was where I could come to find just that.