Why Would You Ever Kiss Me?

Celebrate

Stassis POV
The weekend went by and I didn't really have time to talk. I had so many business calls and emails to answer to that I neglected to spend time with Stiles, Scott and Will. Also kind of Derek I guess.
But I didn't regret it.
I had been glued to my office and pulling all nighters or going to bed at 4-5 am. The Expo was getting closer and closer and I needed to make sure the participants had their spots and inventions secured.
My parents came back just in time for parent teacher conferences this Wednesday. They were gone longer than they promised us but what can you do.

School seemed to be a nice break from work, when I was there it's like I didn't have this dark cloud of responsibilities hanging over me waiting for me to do them. I wasn't haunted by my office taunting me to get back to work.

"So.." My brother Newt asked, "what do you want for your birthday?"
Oh God. I was turning 18.
"I would like all my unresponded emails to be responded." I said jokingly.
"Uh how about a Chanel bag?" My brother Hero teased.
"I'll never say no to Chanel." I said and it's the truth.
"Alright well send you what we find tell us what you like." Newt said pulling up to the curb.
"What? No! It has to be a surprise! You two know what I like."
I'm not picking out my own birthday present.
"Well it's kind of hard to shop for someone who already has everything." He said in defense.
"Ha ha." I said sarcastically.

I hopped out of the car and began my every weekday walk into the school. I looked around nonchalantly for Stiles because I hadn't seen him in his regular spot, but unfortunately I did see Jackson.
"Looking for someone Stark?" He said walking next to me.
I crossed my arms over my chest knowing he's a peeper.
"No." I replied trying to walk faster than him. "Hey.." He said grabbing my arm and turning me to face him. "I'm not a bad guy. I just been through some shit and have some walls up, but when you break them down, I'm not a bad guy."
I didn't buy it.
"You're arrogant. And you're selfish." I said back to him. "Everyone goes through shit, it doesn't give you an excuse to be rude."
He squeezed harder on my arm and it really began to hurt and kind of triggered me. God Stiles where the hell are you?
"Yeah. Easy for you to say. Perfect little Stassi. Big brain big bank account. Must be nice to have no problems."
"You don't know shit about what I've been through. If moneys the answer how the fuck do explain a bunch of millionaires that kill themselves."
Nice things are whatever. Money doesn't mean a thing if you're alone at the end of the day.
"I met evil before, you don't have his smile." I said getting under his skin.

"What the hell are you doing?" Scott said coming up to us. "Let go of her arm dude what's the matter with you?"
Jackson did one last squeeze on my arm before letting go. That's definitely going to bruise.
"You good?" Scott asked as Jackson left.
"Yeah he definitely bruised my arm." I said twisting my arm to look at his imprint.
"I heard what he said. I came as quick as I could." Scott said. Oh yeah, werewolf hearing.
"Thanks." I said walking with him to English.

I didn't want to ask where Stiles was because I didn't want to seem to needy. But come on, your best friend has to come to the rescue?

We walked in silence and turned into English and turned right back out. Scott caught me and turned me back around and pushed me lightly into the classroom.
"Happy Birthday!" Stiles, Will, and Charlie said in sync.
My desk had balloons attached to it, with bags and wrapped presents and flowers.
"Oh my God you guys!" I said in absolute shock. "How did you even know-"
"TMZ." They said together. I should've known.
"This ones mine!" Will said handing me a poka dot bag with pink tissue paper.
It had an avengers card in it that said 'Hero Up' and I giggled at it.
He got me a perfume, lotion, and candle bundle from Bath and Body Works.
"Thank you!" I said hugging him and smelling the candle. Pumpkin waffles yum.
"Here's mine." Charlie said handing me a small wrapped box. I unwrapped it and it was a small silver bracket with a smooth plate attached that read, "We'll be alright." Which was what he told me on the first day of school.
I nearly tested up and hugged him thanking him.
"My turn!" Scott said handing me a bag with a card in it that had Disney Princess on it that said 'Have a Fabulous Birthday'. I read the card and I was so overwhelmed but I kept it together.
I looked in the bag and there was a mini makeup pallete and a few bags of candy as well as a really pretty pink blush.
"My mom helped pick those out." He said as I opened the pallete.
"Thank you thank you!" I said grateful and hugged him as well.
"Best for last." Stiles said handing me a bag. I unwrapped the tissue paper to a framed picture  of the two of us from when he brought me home.
It was a selfie he took with me in the passenger seat with my feet up on the dash and he had a goofy smile with his eyes looking up. There was also a small box with a silver ring in it. It was a thick banded smooth ring with S.S. engraved on the outside. And on the inside it said 'Mon chéri'. And all the way at the bottom was a maroon hoodie that said 'Beacon Hills Lacrosse' on the front with 'Stilinski' and the number 24 on the back.
"There's a card too." Stiles said bouncing his leg pointing to the bag and I dug until I felt it at the bottom.

I was a simple card that said 'For a special person on their special day' I opened the card and two sentences in I started to cry. Like a baby. I hid my face with the card.
"Aww don't cry!" Will said rubbing my shoulders. I wiped my eyes and continued reading.

"To Stassi,
  Happy Birthday!
I don't think I can ever find the words to tell you how much you mean to me. I knew from the first day that I met you that I wanted to mean something to you. I just wish I had known you sooner. I want to be the one who's arms you fall into whether it's for rejoice or to collapse. Through your victories and defeats. I'll always be here. And whatever happens, I'm happy that the universe made you stop by for a while. I'm who I am today because I knew you. You've made me a better me. However the story ends, you have rewritten mine by being my friend. I've been changed for the better, because I knew you.
Just Stiles (:

I wiped my eyes again and wrapped my arms around me and choked on a sob.
"You are so special to me." I said to him. "Thank you for letting me be apart of your life. Thank you for never getting tired of saving me from my own chaos. I'll never be able to repay you." I said still hanging on and his hand held my head and his fingers rustled in my hair.

I leaned back and looked at him and laughed as he smiled with tears in his eyes. He wiped the tears I still had.
"Thank you. All of you." I said fanning myself drying whatever else was going fall from my eyes.

I didn't deserve this. I didn't deserve any of this. I don't think I'll ever forgive the universe for treating them so badly. But for now, it's my turn to payback all they've done for me. And I have no regrets agreeing to help Derek, for their sake.

It's good to have friends that are proud of you for learning a new thing, or how to bake, or getting a new job. But it's also important to have friends that are proud of you for taking a shower or getting out of bed in the morning. This was that type of friendship.