Teen Wolf: All Grown Up

8. Escaping

Shards of artic breath ragged across my olive skin as I ran. I kept running. I couldn't tell how long it was. I had to escape. It was chasing me. It wanted me, it wanted answers. Such answers I wasn't ready to give. The person I was running from was myself.

My thoughts, my emotions. I needed to escape them.

What happened with Stiles, I felt something. Just couldn't tell if it's a good feeling or not.

So I ran. I've been doing so since the early hours of the morning and I haven't stopped since.

It wasn't until people started entering school that I took it as a sign to distract myself with other matters. Life as a regular teenager.

My reflection, it looked different. I've been sleep deprived before sure. Sleep deprived and physically exhausted? Not like this. Fractures and splits in my appearance were prevalent to me: the dull patches forming under my eyes, the aridity of my lips and my silvery-blue eyes looked as if they were bothered.

My devil dancing around in my mind was muted by the sound of voices. Jackson's. Talking to a tanned boy about something; apparently Jackson's not his type.

Walking over pulling a top over my exposed torso Jackson notices me and greets me. Exchanging eyebrow raises at the other, Jackson spoke.

"Atticus, this is Danny. Danny, this is Atticus. I'll catch you guys later," and Jackson walked away from us.

Danny smiled at me and offered his hand. I shook it analysing the teenager. "Danny. You like guys right?" I enquired neutrally.

Chuckling at my odd choice of opening statement. He replied "good news sure does travel fast. Yes, I like guys."

"I overheard you and Jackson. Simple deduction. Not one for high school rumours." Atticus added. "Can I ask you a question?" Atticus sat down on a bench not looking at Danny.

Without a care in the world, the stranger waltzed over like I was normal. Like somehow I'm not trained killer. If only he knew.

"Shoot," Danny said sitting next to me. Just looking forward, not needing to look at me. Just a side smirk.

The words choked up in my throat the first time. It felt like a natural reflex. Something that wasn't meant to be spoke about being forced back to the depths of my unconscious mind.

After a deep breath to compose myself, finally responded. "How did you know?"

Danny glanced at me. Guess he knew what I was trying to say.

"Well, how do you think it would be different than liking girls?" Danny proposed a question, very plainly. The simplicity hit me like a bullet to the skull.

He has a point. There's one simple difference, their gender. My own demon merely twisting the situation to bring forth my own insecurities.

"Their gender, some people aren't as accepting on homosexuality. What if the person who is homosexual is ashamed?" I vocalised, attempting to keep some sort of secrecy about who I was speaking about. Danny knew though.

Danny stood from the bench. "They'd only be ashamed if they believed in the older way of thinking. My words of advice, Atticus. There's no point hating who you are, as there's no escaping it, no matter how far you may attempt to push it down."

And with that, he smiled and walked off to class. Leaving me alone with myself.