Initiate // Sterek

// six //

We ran. We ran and ran and ran. I had absolutely no idea where we were going and I was certain I would probably have some sort of heart failure if I didn't stop running soon. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said I felt like I was dying, it had been so long since I drank something I was so dehydrated that I was struggling to see.

As we were running I noticed a small pond to the left of the direction we were going. "You guys!" I shouted to the other two who were still running up ahead. They stopped and turned around to face me. They looked tired, but nowhere near as tired as I felt. "Can we stop here for a while? There's water and some trees we can rest up on." I suggested. The two came back to where I was standing and Derek looked briefly around the area before nodding in approval.

I sighed in relief before rushing over to the small pond. I dropped to my knees and examined the water it wasn't the cleanest water I'd ever seen but it was still water. I cupped some in my my hands and brought it to my mouth contentedly I kept doing it until I started to feel better. When I as done I went over to one of the nearby trees and sat against it. I looked up at the dull sky and tried to sort through the days events.

Whatever happened with Jackson...I really didn't know what to think of it. It was just a dream right? I didn't want to think of my conversation with Scott, he was pissing me off. Derek got shot. I got kidnapped. Malia tried to kill me. I did something with magical dust that somehow saved our asses.

Normal day.

My eyes were closed when I heard a body slump down on one of the trees near me. "He cares about you you know." Malia said, her voice sounding slightly distant. I didn't want to sugarcoat or cover things up around her, so instead of avoiding it I just went with it.

"You think so?" I wondered. It was hard to read Derek. One second I could read him like an open book, the next, nothing. "Definitely. He wouldn't have tried so hard to stop me if he didn't, and he wouldn't have stopped me the way he did." She explained, her voice getting quieter as she got to the end.

"Well, I don't know..." I said meekly. I was never good with relationships. Lydia had proved that by ignoring all the signs I gave her throughout most of high school. We were fine now though. I was starting to get over her, I figured after Jackson I'd benefit more from being her friend.

"Listen, all I'm saying is know what you're getting yourself into. Derek can be hard to bare at times. And also, you have to be the one to make the first move, he's useless at that." She laughed weakly. I smiled at the thought of Derek asking me to go out with him but ending up stumbling on his words and cursing at himself before running away in embarrassment.

"I would have thought Derek was a real smooth talker, you know with that smile anyone could fall," I joked sarcastically. She laughed loudly, causing me to laugh at how funny her laugh was.

"You know you have me when we get back there, right?" I said, making sure she knew I was there for her. "I tried to kill you, viciously." Malia replied, her tone getting less cheerful. "All my friends have tried to kill me at some point, I'll just add you to the list." I laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "But seriously, I'm okay with it. I know you couldn't do anything about it." I told her reassuringly.

"Friends?" I asked. "Friends." She smiled.

~

"What the hell is up with you lately Stiles?" Dad asked as he sat down at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. "You've been more distant than usual... Is everything okay?" He asked. I could hear the concern in his voice.

I didn't answer, instead I just stared down and my fingers and played with them.

"Is it about that Jackson guy? How he died?" He said, making me slightly nervous. He was sort of right. Ever since the night I thought I heard Jackson being killed in the old Hale house I've gotten edgy, ticked off. Scared.

"Look Stiles I get that you feel like it's none of my business but I want to know how to help you." He said reaching his hand out to my arm, making me look up at him. We weren't much for affectionate gestures so this was sort or weird.

It wasn't just Jackson though, I had another thing on my mind. And it almost scared me as much as Jackson being killed did. I liked boys. I liked girls too, but I liked boys. And I think maybe even a little more than I like girls. I needed to tell my Dad. I've known for a while now but I just couldn't muster up the courage to tell him. What if he hated me for it?

Here goes nothing.

"Dad, I think I might be gay." I told him, trying desperately to avoid eye contact.

His hand twitched away slightly for a second in shock, but it didn't last. "You sure?" Was all he said, an unsure look on his face. "I think so..." I replied awkwardly. "Maybe bisexual I guess.." I said, sounding slightly more sure.

He sat back and crossed one arm over his stomach while using the other to take a sip of his coffee. "That's not what's bugging you Stiles and you know it." He deadpanned. "I always had a feeling about you being gay and so did you so this wasn't too huge a surprise for me, but thank you for telling me." He said putting down his coffee and standing up.

"You don't have to tell me what's really wrong but I just want you to know you can tell me anything." He told me, giving an awkward pat on the shoulder. "I love ya, kid." He said before leaving to drive off the the station.