I'm fine. |stiles stilinski•

Part 12

When I'm finally released from the hospital, I have to keep the cannula. My Dad puts an arm across my back as we walk to the car, Derek behind us.

"Uh, I'll see you guys later." Derek says as he gets to his car.

"Bye." I say.

🍃

When we get home, dad tells me to get some rest.

"I'm fine, Dad, look." I say, gesturing to myself standing up.

He bites his nails anxiously.

"I knew you should've never gone to that party." He mumbles. I roll my eyes.

"Where was Scott anyway?" He asks.

"I don't know, with Kira? I couldn't find him." I say, shrugging. My Dad looks at me in disbelief.

"What?! You mean, he took you to some party and just ditched you?" My dad says, his face getting kinda red.

"No Dad, it was fine!" I assure him.
"You need to stop worrying."

He almost laughs. "Stop worrying? Stiles, I would still worry even if you were in remission! I worry about you all the time." He says.

"Dad..." I begin, but just walk over and hug him.

"I know." He says, hugging me tightly.

🍃🍃

The next day I get Derek to drive me to school. I have to wheel my oxygen tank along next to me, the cannula tickling my nose.

"Have a good day. I'll pick you up at three." He says, holding the door open for me to climb out.

"Thanks." I reply back, "See you later." I say, walking towards Scott.

I forgot to tell Scott about the cannula and he looks with worry when I approach him.

"Dude, what's that for?" He asks, tapping the tube running from behind my ears.

"My blood was 'low oxygenated' after they ran some tests the night I passed out." I say, quoting the nurse.

Scott looks guilty all of a sudden. "I'm so sorry I went off with Kira, I just-"

"It's fine, man." I interrupt him, laying my hand on his hand. He winces when suddenly black veins snake up his arms. I pull away quickly.

"Sorry." I mumble.

"Stiles, how much pain are you actually in? You keep saying you're fine, but you're not." Scott says, placing his hand on me again, sucking up my pain, despite it hurting him.

"Dude, stop! You'll hurt yourself." I say, taking a step back from him.

"Some of us heal, Stiles, better me be in pain than you." He says.

"It doesn't even make a difference anyway, the cancer's stronger than it." I say, looking at the floor.

"I'm sorry." He says quietly, "I just can't stand to see you like this." He says, his voice quivering.

"You sound like my dad." I complain. Scott chuckles, though it's empty and lacks emotion.

Suddenly someone comes up to us.

"Oh my God, Stiles?!" Says a familiar voice, although I can't put a finger on who's.

I turn around and see a girl with blonde  hair and a thin face.

"Lucy!" I say, smiling.

"Scott, this is Lucy, a girl I met at chemo a few weeks ago." I say, introducing them.

"Hey, nice to meet you." Says Scott, smiling.

"Hi." she says cheerfully.

"By the way Stiles, you look like complete shit." She says, pointing at my cannula.

"Well, I try my best." I smirk.

"You should really put some makeup over those eye bags of yours, it's not a good look." She says, laughing.

I laugh awkwardly. "It's always nice to receive a compliment." I say.

"So um, what're you doing here?" I ask.

"My mom wanted us to move closer to the hospital, so I transferred schools." She says, smiling.

"Cool. Okay, well, I gotta go... See you around." I say, turning around and walking away with Scott.

When we're out of earshot of her, Scott leans in closely to me.

"Well, that was kinda rude." He says. I shrug.

"She has a brain tumour- personality changes, irritable, etcetera..." I tell him. He nods. "Sometimes you can completely lose the person behind it, it completely takes over their character." I say glumly.

"I'm glad you're still you." Scott says. I look up at him and realise his eyes are watering.

"I'm glad I'm me, too." I say back.