Perfect Combinations~ Stydia One Shots

She Will Be Loved

•Inspired by She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5•

Stiles POV

Lydia Martin was a beauty queen of only eighteen. But she had some trouble with herself. No matter how many times I told her she was beautiful, she never seemed to believe me. I blamed her lack of confidence on her boyfriend, Jackson. Whenever she felt proud of herself or was actually happy for once, Jackson would be sure to knock her down a peg. She had come crying to me countless times after he'd hurt her. I was always there to help her. I was in love with Lydia, but she always belonged to someone else.

Why couldn't she just leave Jackson? I didn't have much to offer, but I was certainly better than he was. I would never hurt Lydia they way he did. She tells me she loves him, but I don't believe her. She doesn't even believe herself when she says it. And I know he doesn't love her. You don't treat the people you love like they're some kind of burden. Lydia deserves so much better. And I will see to it that she gets out of that awful relationship and finds someone who is worthy of her. She will be loved. I will make sure of it.

Third Person POV five years later

"I should get going. Jackson will be angry if I'm late." Lydia said, wiping her cheeks. She had come to Stiles house after she and Jackson got in a fight. Lydia broke a dish while unloading the dishwasher and Jackson threw a tantrum. He never hit Lydia, but grabbing her by the shoulders and screaming in her face stung more than his fists ever could.

"Don't you want to stay awhile? I can see you're still upset. Calm down a little, then go home." Stiles bartered. Lydia checked her watch.

"If I'm not home by six, we'll get into another fight. I just don't have the strength to do that again Stiles. Not tonight." Lydia sighed.

"You know, Jackson is your boyfriend. Not your father. He can't control you. He doesn't own you." Stiles said to her.

"I know that." Lydia said quietly.

"But does Jackson know that? Because from what I've seen, he doesn't." Stiles suddenly raised his voice. Lydia winced a little and looked at her hands. Stiles immediately felt bad.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. But look at you Lydia. You used to be one of the strongest people I know. He's changed you." Stiles said softly.

"I don't know how to leave him. We live together. Where would I go?" Lydia said, crying again.

"Here. You can come here, Lydia. You always have home with me." Stiles stated. For a moment, Lydia looked like she might say yes. But she inevitably shook her head.

"I can't. He needs me. I'm sorry." She said. Stiles sighed and watched her leave.

Once she was gone, he angrily punched his desk. Every time he heard a tap on his window or a knock on his door, he knew it was Lydia in need of consolation. And of course, he was always there to give it to her. To fix her broken smile. But this has been going on for years.

It was always the same cycle. Lydia and Jackson would fight, Lydia would come to Stiles for comfort, Stiles would cheer her up, and then Lydia would go rushing back to Jackson. Stiles was sick of it. He was a better boyfriend to Lydia than Jackson was, and they weren't even together.

Stiles got in his car. He drove for miles and miles and wound up at Lydia's door. He knocked on it and waited. Lydia opened the door. She was surprised to see Stiles there.

"Stiles? What's wrong?" Lydia asked.

"Is Jackson here?" He asked, ignoring her question.

"No. He wasn't here when I got home. I think he's at a bar or something." Lydia said.

"Do you realize that this has been going on for six years?" Stiles blurted.

"What?" Lydia asked.

"You've let him hurt you for six years. And for six years, I was there to put you back together after he broke you. But I can't do this forever Lydia. I don't want to only be your boyfriend when it's convenient for you." Stiles shouted.

"My boyfriend? What are you taking about?" She stammered.

"I'm in love with you Lydia." Stiles yelled at her. "And I have been for years. But Jackson warped your perception of love so badly that you couldn't even figure it out. I have always been there for you and you always go running back to him. I'm sick of it.
I've had you so many times but somehow, I want more. I know you hate him. I know where you hide, alone in your car. I know you want nothing more than to leave him. In fact, I know all of the things that make you who you are. He doesn't. And he doesn't care enough to learn them. With you, "goodbye" means nothing at all. You always go back to him, even when you've promised me you wouldn't.  Then you come back and beg me to catch you every time you fall. Every damn time, Lydia. Can't you see? I want to be with you. I can't keep pretending I don't. So I'm done Lydia. I'm not doing this anymore." Stiles said. He turned and left her standing there, gaping at her best friend of six years. Stiles drove away. Drops of rain hit his windshield as he drove home. He began to cry. He just ruined his relationship with the only person that really mattered to him.

Stiles laid in his bed and started at his ceiling for what felt like hours, listening to the downpour outside. He should go apologize to Lydia. But he should also stand his ground. Suddenly, Stiles heard a knock at his door.

Stiles opened the door and found Lydia. She was drenched from the rain. Her mascara was running and her lipstick was smudged, but she looked as beautiful as ever. Stiles figured Jackson saw him leaving Lydia's house and yelled at her. And now Lydia was here to be comforted. But that wasn't gonna happen this time. Before Stiles could send her away, Lydia spoke.

"I'm so sorry. I tend to get so insecure, but that doesn't matter anymore. I love you and I want to be with you, no matter how hard it is. I know it's not always going to be rainbows and butterflies. It's compromise that moves us along. My heart is full and my door's always open. I kicked Jackson out. The second he got home I just kicked him out. I threw all his stuff out the windows and onto the lawn. He never carries a key so he can't get in. You come anytime you want. I can be there for you, like you've been there for me. I'm not expecting you to forgive me right away and be my boyfriend, but I want us to at least be friends again. We can work out way up to a relationship. If that's what you want." Lydia said.

"Its pouring Lydia. You're gonna catch a cold." Stiles said. He was trying to process what she was saying.

"I don't mind spending every day out on your corner in the pouring rain. If this is what it takes for you to forgive me, then this is what I'll do." She cried. Stiles was quiet.

"Please don't try so hard to say goodbye."  Lydia whispered.

Stiles remained silent. Lydia got the message. She turned her back and walked away. She was halfway down the street, almost to her car when he heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and was immediately engulfed in a kiss. Stiles held her tightly. They were freezing from the rain, but in that moment, Lydia had never felt warmer. In that moment, she was loved.