"Chickens delicious." Stiles said indicating the food Malia made for dinner. They were sitting in the dining room eating. The meal had been silent and awkward.
Malia finished chewing her food and slowly set down her eating utensils. "Stiles, there's something we need to talk about."
"Okay." He wiped his mouth and waited for Malia to speak.
"I applied to law school."
"That's amazing!" Stiles smiled. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"I don't know. Maybe cause I didn't think I could ever get accepted. But I did." Malia handed a paper nearby to Stiles. "I got this today. I got in."
Stiles read over the paper and raised his eyebrows when he saw something. "It-it's... in... Boston." Malia nodded.
"I know things have been weird and hard between us. But maybe a fresh start is what we need. Maybe we've been trying to hard for you to get your old memories back when we should be making new ones. Together."
~~~
"What did you tell her?" Y/N asked as she closed her car door. After dinner, Stiles told Malia he needed to take a walk so he could clear his head. He texted Y/N and told him to meet outside Granny's Diner.
"That I needed to take a walk, clear my head, think about it." Stiles said. They began walking together down the street.
"I'm guessing you didn't tell her that the walk was with me."
Stiles sighed. "No. No, of course not."
Y/N shook her head. "Why is that our default?" Y/N asked, bitterness very clear in her voice. They looked at each other. "Lying."
Since their kiss, Y/N and Stiles had been having an affair. Affair. Y/N hated that word. It made her feel like she was the worst person in the world. The two would meet at the Toll Bridge and really anywhere they didn't have eyes on them the whole time. They'd exchanged multiple kisses, which they both loved. But their time together always left the couple feeling guilty. And the guilt was getting worse.
"Because, I don't--" Stiles was cut off by Y/N.
"We're not being honest, Stiles. We have to tell her about everything. Stiles, we can't hurt her more than we already are." Stiles stopped walking and Y/N turned to look him in the eyes.
"I don't know if I can." Stiles said softly.
"We have to. How is anything supposed to change if we don't make anything happen? How are we supposed to be honest with each other, if we're not honest with other people?" Y/N said. Her tone was soft and sincere. Her breath was visible in the air as she spoke.
"Is it really the best plan?"
"What's your plan then?" Y/N asked. Stiles shrugged and they continued walking. "Moving to Boston? Is that what you want?"
"No." Stiles looked to Y/N. He took her hand in his and laced their fingers. The action pushed some of the stress off of Stiles. Y/N was his clarity. He took comfort in her presence. That was something he didn't have with Malia. And he's never had it with anyone else. Y/N's grip on his hand was just as strong as his was on hers.
"Then we have to stop hiding. We can't leave her in the dark. We have to do something." Stiles' thumb subconsciously rubbed Y/N's cold knuckles. "It's better she hears it from you than from someone else. And I'm sorry to have to say this, but you have to choose. It's either me or her."
Stiles sighed and removed his hand from Y/N's. She felt a twinge of sadness, but kept her composure. Stiles rubbed his hands over his face. Y/N could tell he was frustrated, why wouldn't he be? He was put in a situation where he had to choose between Malia, his wife and Y/N.
