Chapter Text
The school was not very impressive when he looked outside the window of his mom's new car. He could hear the exact moment Stormy raised her head and took her first look at it.
"Fuck."
Their mom took a deep breath and looked back at the backseat. Nyx rolled her eyes and gave a very loud smack to the back of Stormy's head. But with one sharp look from their mother, Nyx looked the other way, murmuring a sheepish, "Sorry..."
Stormy was rubbing the affected area, looking thoroughly put out at their older sister.
"Try to control that mouth. Both of you," their mom said, shifting her gaze to Stiles in the front seat. "Your father will be very mad if you guys badmouth a teacher."
Stiles looked out the window again. Through the glass, he could see a few people from the crowded parking lot in front of the school looking back at their car.
"Didn't you guys think about like..." Stiles started, looking outside with clear disdain.
Stormy finished the thought for him. "New York?"
Stiles's eyebrow rose. As he scanned the crowd, he noticed a guy in a black Camaro looking at him—staring, actually, with an intense, unblinking focus. Contemplating his sister's option at that exact moment, Stiles muttered, "Well, I guess it would be better than this..."
Nyx snorted from the backseat and looked pointedly at their mother, who took another heavy breath.
"We already talked about this. You guys will get used to it. Your father needs this, and there was an opening..."
Dejected, Stiles closed his eyes for a brief second before turning around to look at his mom. "I'm sorry. You also had to give up a lot for us. I don't like this place, but it's not your fault, so I'll try. As I promised."
His mom smiled kindly at him. He leaned over the center console and kissed her forehead, waiting patiently for her to kiss his cheek back.
She smiled warmly at him. "Can you make her do that too?"
Stiles snorted, saying mockingly, "And get in between the star-crossed lovers' piece of bad drama over there? No, thanks. You're on your own with that one. Good luck. Come on, brat!"
He opened the door, and Stormy hurried to kiss her mom's cheek too. Meanwhile, Nyx got out of the car and headed around to the passenger side. Stiles held the door for her, but she stopped right in front of him, wrapping her arms around him and sighing heavily. He let go of the door and hugged her back, squeezing a little tighter as he whispered in her ear, "Please..."
She sighed again, backing away slightly from the hug to look up at him. "I'm trying..." Her eyes were brimming with tears.
"I know. Thank you. But you need to try harder," he said, offering a small smile.
Stormy leaned in on top of both of them, kissing Nyx's cheek. "You'll meet someone else. You'll see."
Nyx rolled her eyes, “In this place?”, but she rose up on the tips of her toes to kiss Stiles's cheek. "Only a year, crybaby," she said, smirking.
Stiles let out a small, almost subvocal growl, flipping her off playfully.
He turned and headed toward the school, watching his mom's car disappear around the corner. "Who's taking my car? Dad?"
Stormy was already looking down at her phone again, walking distractedly while Stiles guided her by the arm. "Jordan, I think. Do you think Dad will give me my own car now?"
Stiles snorted, adjusting his sunglasses as he pushed open the double doors. "You wish."
Stiles held the door while Stormy passed through it and walked along with her, looking around for the office so they could take their schedules and head to their first class.
"I think I already learned my lesson."
Stiles smiled at her. "And what lesson was that?"
She finally put her phone in her pocket and concentrated on looking around, her brother letting go of her arm. "I will not drive while I'm half-asleep."
Stiles snorted. "I didn't even need to hear the lie to know you're lying."
She let out a heavy breath. "Jordan is helping me. I have permission to drive with him, and I'm better already. I should totally have a car."
Stiles looked at her, stopping in front of the office door and putting his hand on the doorknob. "As long as the car you drive stays the fuck away from my beautiful car, I don't give a shit. Just make sure to park the hell away from me."
Stormy smiled wolfishly at him while he turned the doorknob and entered the office, trailing right behind him. "So you'll vouch for me?"
Stiles turned back to her. "If Jordan vouches for you, I'll say once that he must know what he's talking about. If you ever get yourself in another car crash, I'll personally take your keys away."
She hugged him, forcing him to walk while half-carrying her up to the counter to talk to the school secretary.
"Hi, we're the new transfer students. Surname Stilinski."
The old lady smiled kindly at him and grabbed two folders. Looking at the first one, she frowned. "It's, uh..."
"Stiles. You can put a note that I wish to be called Stiles. The name is Polish. There's no need for it."
She smiled at him and nodded, opening the file and making the annotation. "Of course, sweetie." She finished and gave him his timetable, then confirmed his sister's name and gave her hers. "I'm sorry for asking, but... Stilinski as in Sheriff Stilinski? The one who was in a coma?"
Stiles smiled kindly at her. "Yeah, that would be our dad."
She looked at Stormy with her brows furrowed. "I thought he had only one kid... The little one with ADHD?"
Stiles rubbed his neck and smiled sheepishly at her. "That would be me. I got treated, though. No more ADHD, I promise."
She looked at him, surprised. "Oh my God, you're so big now!"
Stiles let out a small laugh. "I hear that a lot..."
She smiled kindly at him. "Welcome back, sweetie!"
He gave her a genuine smile. "Thank you!"
They both left the office, and Stormy hooked an arm through his. She opened her mouth to say something to him, a mischievous look on her face, when a guy appeared right in front of them.
"Stiles?"
Stiles looked up, an inquisitive eyebrow raised. The guy in front of them had a slightly crooked jaw and thick, dark hair. He was smiling brilliantly at him. Stiles and Stormy inclined to either side of the boy, catching sight of a whole bunch of other people standing behind him, all looking at Stiles expectantly.
Stormy whispered to him, "Do you know these people?"
Stiles looked back at his sister and shrugged, whispering back, "No."
In his peripheral vision, he saw the guy take a step back. When Stiles looked at him again, the boy looked as though Stiles had just slapped him across the face.
"Do I know you?" Stiles asked the guy.
One of the girls behind the boy took a step forward. She was beautiful, with long black hair and killer dimples. "Stiles... You don't remember us?"
Stiles shook his head slowly. "Look, I just got here... I don't know anyone?"
The guy in the front spoke again, his voice cracking slightly. "But I am your best friend..."
Stiles's eyebrows shot up to his hairline, a small, skeptical smile forming on his lips. "Right..." He grabbed his sister's arm and took a step back.
Stormy held onto his hand tightly. "I told you," she whispered. "Nyx was right. A bunch of crazy people in a motherfucking out-of-nowhere town."
Stiles looked at her urgently. "Shut up. That was rude," he scream-whispered back.
She rolled her eyes at him, but her face suddenly lit up as she looked over his shoulder. Stiles turned around to see their dad walking toward them in full sheriff's uniform. Stormy let go of Stiles's hand to clap silently for the man.
Their dad rolled his eyes at her antics, but he smiled when he saw the big grins on his kids' faces. "How is it going?"
Stiles turned toward his dad, completely forgetting the other teenagers standing around them.
"Great. Everything is great, Dad!" He pinched his sister's side, and she quickly forced a smile too.
"Everything is... great!"
Their dad snorted. "You're going to college soon. It's just a year."
Stiles let out a breath. "I think the boarding school was a good idea after all..."
His father let out a small laugh.
"Dad, the lady in the office remembered you," Stormy chimed in. "And she asked about your 'small boy with ADHD.'"
His father smiled down at Stiles. "What did you tell her?"
Stormy laughed. "That he grew up and got better."
His father's smile softened. "Maybe a few more people than I thought will recognize us... It's happening a lot with me too..."
Stiles sighed heavily. "It's okay, Dad. It's just a year for now."
His dad looked at him, deep concern written all over his face. "Son..."
"Stop," Stiles said firmly. "I already know. I'll put in an effort, and if something brings up memories, I'll call Mom. I'm not mad at you for wanting to come back and find out what happened. I just..."
Stormy looked at her dad, cutting in. "Daddy, can I have—"
He cut her off instantly. "No."
"What? You decided to ship his car from the other side of the country! You bought a new car for Nyx, and Jordan has a new one too! And you and Mom! I want one too!"
Her dad ignored the tantrum, approaching Stiles and kissing his forehead. His hand gently brushed the side of Stiles's neck, and Stiles sighed happily, leaning comfortingly into the touch.
"Jordan brought his car with his own money," the Sheriff explained. "Nyx is working to pay for hers right now. Stiles takes care of his car. You totaled yours. You're not getting another one."
"Dad, maybe..." Stiles started.
"Stiles. She doesn't get a car."
Stormy approached her father, who was still half-hugging Stiles. She leaned in close, looking up at him with big, pathetic puppy eyes. Stiles snorted, watching his dad clearly and obviously avoid her gaze. She backed away, pouting heavily, while Stiles kept right on smiling.
"Where's my car?" Stiles asked his father.
"It just got delivered to the station. Jordan will bring it to you at the end of the day. Can you take him back to the station?"
Stiles nodded. The man kissed both of his kids' foreheads and started to turn away, but the boy who had been talking to Stiles earlier called out after him.
"Sheriff!"
Stiles's dad paused and looked back at the boy. Both Stiles and Stormy could see the desperate, expectant look on the teen's face, as if he was praying the man would recognize him in some way.
"Yes? Do you need something, kid?"
The boy visibly deflated, his shoulders sinking when the Sheriff didn't immediately recognize him. He mumbled a sheepish, "It was nothing... Sorry."
Stiles and Stormy shared a wary, suspicious look before glancing back at the group. Their father gave a suspicious nod and turned around, heading toward the exit.
Stiles called out loudly after him, "Dinner is at seven!"
The man just waved a hand over his head without turning around.
Stiles and Stormy started walking away slowly, pretending they weren't blatantly running from the freaks.
Stormy leaned in and told Stiles very quietly, "Do you think you knew these people... you know... before?"
Stiles stopped and took a very deep breath, checking the air. "I haven't seen anything since we left Miami. And I don't recognize their scents, so... I don't think so."
Stormy nodded. "Well, let's see how this hellhole of a small fucking town turns out to be. If someone tries to bully me, you have to kill them."
Stiles raised an eyebrow at her. "I won't kill on demand for you. I'll have to see it and think they deserve to die. At least."
Stormy let out an annoyed breath. "Such a bad big brother..."
Stiles smiled evilly at her. "Now you wish you had made a better effort to be born five minutes earlier, don't you? Lazy bitch..."
Stormy narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm not lazy. As I’ve said before, I have my own pace," she said very calmly. "And besides, I know you wish you were the youngest. If you had just lazed around and waited six more minutes, you would have a lot of advantages. Before you had to take any responsibility in life... everyone else has to. If anything happens, Dad fixes it. If he can't, then Mom will do it. Then Jordan, then Nyx, then you, and theeeen it's me. I feel pretty awesome not having to be responsible for anything, because there are people who do it for me." She gave a very satisfied sigh at the end, smiling brilliantly at him.
Stiles rolled his eyes. "You're not coming to college with me, so I don’t know how you’ll survive with that way of thinking," he said, walking away, but she let out a loud laugh, making him stop and look back at her.
"We already talked about this. I want freedom from you."
She caught up and took his arm again, leaning into his side. "You talked. I never agreed to it. I'll leave the apartment for you to fuck your boys when you bring them over, I swear."
Stiles took a deep breath, staring ahead. "No."
She laughed, completely unfazed. "It's so sweet that you think you have a say in this."