This May Hurt (Teen Wolf)

Chapter 50

-Stiles P.O.V-

It's been over a week since Deucalion's visit. Vanessa's practices her powers every single night, keeping us up for longer hours to get more time in. I always take her home after and sleep with her as usual because by the end of it she is too exhausted to even move a finger.

But she hasn't been the same at all lately. That little spark in her eyes has been fading day after day. She looks so dull, so weary, but most of all terrified. At first I thought it was just the long hours and small amount of sleep she was getting, but I was only deluding myself from the real problem. She's scared. She can't seem to walk down the halls without her eyes switching from left to right in fear of something coming after her. And when she's not desperately watching every side of her, she's almost collapsing on the spot because she can't keep herself up. I don't even know what to do. Between all the late night practices, school, lacrosse, she's turning into a rag doll. I've tried almost every way possible to calm her and get her to reduce the load she's put on herself but it's always "No, I have to keep practicing. I'm putting people in danger if I don't. I'm fine. I'm ok. Don't worry about me." But that's all I can do is worry. I'm supposed to be helping her, protecting her, but at this point I almost feel useless.

I look down at her as I drive her home after school Thursday afternoon. She's leaning on the window, a deep furrow running across her eyebrows as she tries to sleep. I want to badly wipe away the frustration off of her face; it kills me to see her like this. As I pull up and park in front of her house, I gently shake her to wake her.

"Vanessa? Vanessa, baby, we're here." She gives me am aggravated grunt and continues to sleep. Dammit. I really don't want to wake her, but I can't just sit here in her driveway.

I take a deep breath, get out of the car, walking over to her side, gather her into my arms with her bag and walk up to her door. I struggle as I reach and ring the door bell than patiently wait.

The door opens and I find a man behind it. He's tall, maybe six feet, with dark brown hair in quiff. His figure is massive; broad shoulders and very noticeable muscles that looks like they are trying to fight their way from his white button down and a face that looks like it could turn you into stone. He very intimidating looking that I almost want to cry. This must be her father.

He stands there staring at me until his eyes travel down to his daughter in my arms. I watch his eyes grow wide and his gaze returns back to me, so fierce I almost want to drop Vanessa and run.

I clear my throat and finally speak. "Umm, hello sir. I'm Stiles. I was just dropping Vanessa off from school and she fell asleep in my car. I didn't want to wake her, so I was just bringing her up." My voice is so small and sheepless I must sound like a five year old to this man.

"Honey, who's at the-" As if God had heard my desperate prayers, Mrs. Martin appears at the door. "Oh, Stiles! Hi! How are you?"

"Hello ma'am. I'm doing well, thank you. I just came to drop off your daughter. She kinda fell asleep in my car."

"Oh, well than, you can just take her up to her room and-"

"No.", her father interrupts. The glare he's giving me once again makes me want to run away with my tail between my legs.

"Jack, stop that. This young man drove her all the way home and was even gentleman enough to carry her all the way to the door so he wouldn't have to wake her.", her mother rebuts.

"And that is far enough. I can take my daughter to her room and he may leave."

"Jack, I said to stop." Mrs. Martin gives Mr. Martin a glare of her own and he seems to slightly back down. She than turns to me. "Now Stiles, you can take Vanessa up to her room. It's the last door all the way down the hall." She gives me a small smile and makes room, while pushing Mr. Martin out of the way, for me to squeeze through the door.