The Hale Orphanage

Ch. 5

The next afternoon Derek had just returned from dropping Erica off at the airport, as suspected he did live to regret confiding in his friend because she didn't let it go the entire trip to the airplane. She even managed to squeeze out a quick text before her plane took off. He couldn't just walk up and spill his guts and that's Erica didn't get. Derek wasn't brave, or confident, or emotionally tough when it came to Stiles, heartbreak would be death and that's why he was a coward. Derek was locking the front door when he heard the hum of music. He followed it curiously, he was sure everyone was out. It was Thursday which was field trip day.

He was following the sound, quickly realizing he was taking a familiar path only to stop at Stiles' door. He was there scribbling away at his desk under the soft light from his lamp "You're here"

He turned in his chair facing the older boy. Derek was leaning against the doorframe "Hey Derek" Stiles responded, reaching for the stereo knob.

"I thought everyone left for the field trip to the zoo. What are you still doing here?"

"I convinced your mom to let me hang back a long time ago, I haven't been on a trip in a while. I like the house when it's quiet" Having never been adopted, Stiles was one of the oldest kids at the orphanage so he was able to get away with a lot more. Derek nodded in understanding, walking all the way into the room.

He hovered just over Stiles' shoulder. He could tell he had been acting different since Derek came from college, maybe this was the new Stiles and Derek just hadn't been around for the change. This wasn't the Stiles he left all that time ago.

"So what are you working on?"

"It's nothing much, just working on a story I've got in my head. I like to write them"

Derek laughed "I know Sti, I didn't forget" Derek thought back remembering the many stories Stiles would write when they were younger. Mainly about the two of them conquering the world.

Derek grinned nervously at his friend. Acquaintance? Stranger? Derek didn't know what to call him, and he hated himself for it. He was readying himself to find something else to talk about, anything that could keep in the room a few minutes more, when something pinned to Stiles' wall caught his eye. It was a plane ticket, one way.

"Stiles?" he asked in a shaky breath.

"Yeah" he answered not yet looking up from his desk.

In fact it wasn't until Derek snatched the ticket from the wall and he heard the pin drop that he even looked up at Derek "What's this?"

"I think that's fairly obvious" he said with a laugh, but Derek didn't know what was funny.

He knew what he had done, pushing Stiles away, he didn't deserve him. But every time the thought of him moving away came into play all his walls were down. Derek studied the piece of paper in his hands closer in disbelief "California? W-What's in California?"

"A new start hopefully. I found this town called Beacon Hills it's quiet and-"

"H-How long have... Why didn't you tell me!"

Stiles was to his feet, coming up just a few inches under the man "When would have have told you Derek? During the many times you called and checked on me?" He said sarcastically, and yeah Derek deserved that "Why should I have?"

"Cause I would have talked you out of it, told you that you need to stay"

"And why should I Derek? I have nothing here; I deserve to start my own life. And you know what you don't get to care all of the sudden, you were all I had. Then out of nowhere you were gone, you went off to college, you made friends you met Erica-you had a new life, and I wasn't apart of it. So tell me what was I supposed to do?"