A/N: Like I said before, consistent updates can't be promised with this story. Writing muse in general has been fluctuating, especially with the things I've been using to try and fill up my life, including the absurd amount of movies I watch, my career as a background actor, and a pending job at Target for more money.

I just hope you'll all stay with me on this as it comes.

"Glad you could come." Stiles still had trust issues but it was supposed to be a happy day, and it's not like anything was going to go wrong.

Jackson had everyone else huddled together and they all split up when Theo entered the backyard.

"Mate?!" Once Peter had left and they were left alone once more, Stiles sunk onto the stairs and looked up at Derek. "B-but we've barely started going out and you're talking about mates?"

Derek sat down beside him. "Would you rather he eviscerate you? If I didn't lay some claim over you, you'd be dead right now... or wish you were." Stiles' bottom lip was sticking out in a pout. "You don't want to spend the rest of your life with me?"

"I dunno! I mean, I appreciate what you've done for me and, right now, you're the only one I want to spend all my time with. But in the long run—" And then he remembered. "And what was it that your uncle said about Argents in the midst?"

Derek sighed. "They stalk out the nearby woods. Allison's not that major of an issue yet. It's the rest of them we worry about, especially her father and aunt. Kate—" He took a breath. "I lost my virginity to her."

Theo kept to himself for most of the party. He watched quietly as everyone played party games. He'd tried to interact with a couple people but they acted like he wasn't there. It only shut him out more.

Stiles, meanwhile, was completely oblivious to how Theo was being treated. He tried to pull the other over during the piñata but figured his shyness had to do with the amount of their classmates were there.

It was when Theo caught a glimpse of Jackson saying something to Scott and them glancing at him that he realized that it was all a giant prank. But he didn't show any response. He didn't know Stiles wasn't a part of it, but since it was his birthday, he'd pay for this too.

Theo had departed, leaving Scott with his thoughts. It didn't make sense. Things like that didn't happen in real life. If there was anything before bullying Stiles... Maybe his mom might know something... unless Theo got to everyone in Beacon Hills.

"Scott!" He turned to see Liam and Brett. "You alright? Who was that guy?"

"Theo. He used to go to school with us, y-years ago." He didn't want to tell them what Theo said. Scott knew people thought he was stupid, and he didn't want them to think he was crazy too. "We haven't seen him in like ten years."

Liam and Brett shared a glance. Whatever happened visibly shook Scott but they didn't pry. Brett stepped forward. "We were gonna go get food if you wanna come?" Scott seemed to hesitate for a second before nodding. "C'mon, man. Car's out front."

Derek didn't like the look on Stiles' face. It was that sympathetic, I-wish-I-could-help-you look that everyone seemed to use, but on Stiles, it was tugging at his heart. "There's nothing you could have done," he said, putting an arm around the dark-haired boy. "It was a few years ago."

Stiles could sense the finality of the matter and let it go. "Dere?" The other looked up. "Thanks for keeping me from getting killed."

"No problem. Besides, if he disemboweled you, who am I going to cuddle with? I'm not really into necrophilia." Stiles punched him in the shoulder. "Hey!"

Everything seemed fine for a few days, until the peace was finally broken Friday morning.

"What is your problem?" Kelvin was getting up off the floor after being violently knocked into by Garrett. "I don't know what kind of shit you have to compensate for by being a fucking prick all the time but leave me out of it!"

The blond only smirked and grabbed the boy by the shirt, pinning him to a locker. "You've always had quite a mouth on you. Let's see if we can shut it." He raised his fist but it was caught from behind. "You want to do the honors, Daehler? This little bitch thinks he's immune because his brother got blown—" He was interrupted when Matt flung him backwards into the opposite wall. "Dude, what the fuck?"

"You don't talk about him." Matt's voice was low. "Kelvin's my friend." Kelvin could only blink. It was the first time Matt publicly acknowledged their friendship. No one had called him their friend like this before. "Get the fuck out of here."

Rubbing his lower back, Garrett looked ready to attack but then his gaze landed elsewhere, and the familiar smug look returned. "Can't protect everyone, Daehler." He walked off and, moments later, there was a bang.

Kelvin watched after him. "Did he get dropped on his head or something? It's like watching Groundhog Day, except it's not funny."

"Rough home life," Matt murmured. "Dad drinks every night and hits him, mom's not very confrontational. Takes out his anger on the rest of us instead of going to therapy like a reasonable person."

"You passed." Matt spun around to see his test quiz in front of his face. "Ninety-eight percent. You are smarter than you think." Behind it was a grinning Stiles.

Matt still couldn't believe Stilinski was being so cool. A small smile appeared on his face. "Thanks, Stiles." It was weird how things could change so quickly. A week ago, he was Jackson's lapdog and still having trouble processing Justin's death, and now he was friends (?) with Stiles Stilinski and hanging out with Kelvin like old times. "I owe you big time."

Stiles waved a hand dismissively. "It's no problem." He let out a characteristic yelp as Derek slid his arms around his waist from behind. "Dude!"

"I love it when you do that." Derek smirked, then turned to Isaac and nodded.

The curly-haired boy looked sheepish, shuffling over beside Derek. "I'm sorry I stabbed you," he mumbled. "But it's not like you—" A look from both Derek and Stiles silenced him.

Matt put a hand on his side. Forgive and forget, he thought, even for shit like this. "It's okay. I deserved it."

"This is cute and all, but, y'know, homeroom?" Liam piped up from the rear. "Get off!" He unlatched himself from Brett, who had taken to physically teasing him more than usual. "What is he—" He saw Garrett holding up a kid for money. "One day, he's going to mess with someone who will fuck him up. Hopefully, sooner rather than later." Isaac's eyes flashed yellow and Liam put a hand on his arm. "Down, boy. I think the guy's got— Nope."

The kid in question had gotten the hallway laughing with his sarcastic retorts, only to get punched in the stomach. "Someone's watched one too many high school movies," he groaned, slumping against the locker. Isaac had gone over to help him up. "Thanks, Isaac."

"Made a new friend without telling us?" Derek was interested. Isaac was more easygoing and it was easier for him to befriend new people. A quick examination of the boy had the conclusion that he got bullied a lot for his small stature and inability to shut his mouth.

"This is Louis." Said boy put up his hand in a wave. "He's in my Chem period. He's really smart."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Lahey. Remember, doesn't work on me." He contemplated the group. "'Zac told me about you guys. Derek." He nodded to each of them in turn. "Liam. Brett." He gave Stiles a smile. "I know Stiles, and..." His expression hardened when he saw Matt. "Matt Daehler."

Everyone looked between Matt and Louis. "Hey, I... I'm sorry." Louis was skeptical, and it showed. "I never stopped Jackson, and I should have."

The bell rang but no one moved. Louis seemed to be deliberating the whole thing. "Fine. Whatever." He walked away without a second glance.

"Guess not everyone can be as magnanimous."

"You're hysterical, y'know that? I never would have thought that you and your sulky werewolf self had a sense of humor." Stiles sat with his arms crossed in the cafeteria. "Where is everyone?"

Derek sat stoically to his right, his left hand in Stiles' lap. "You don't like being alone with me? Afraid I'll swallow you wh—" He was punched in the arm again. "You need to lighten up."

Stiles' face was bright red, just as Boyd, Erica and Isaac joined them. "Trouble in paradise?" Erica grinned wickedly, earning herself a death glare from Stiles. "I think we should have Derek around more often, especially if it keeps Stiles quiet." Boyd nodded.

He chucked a tater tot in their direction. "Traitors!" The blonde gasped dramatically and fired back.

"Seriously, behaving like children over here." Kelvin rolled his eyes, only to duck as one of Stiles' ammo narrowly missed his head. Matt caught it and threw it back. "I'm surrounded by fucking children."

"What about children?" Brett ruffled his hair from behind, making him complain and try to fix it. "Dude, your hair is beyond fixable. Chill."

Kelvin muttered something under his breath and took a spot between Erica and Matt. "Where's Laurel and Hardy anyway?"

"Liam's around somewhere. Isaac's in line. He texted me saying Louis got detention for sassing Harris."

"Of all the people he had to talk back to..." Stiles shook his head and moved Derek's hand, which he received a pout. "Stop."

Theo walked the corridor, observing his surroundings. Chances were, he was coming up with ways to upend the way things are. Tracy and Josh were in class, although Theo had made it very clear that they weren't there to blend n.

"God, will you stay?" He saw a boy, probably a freshman, trying to shove his bag into a locker. "Stupid homework overload."

"Need some help?" Theo stepped in and packed the bag inside.

The boy blew bangs out of his eyes and looked at him curiously. "Thanks. Not many people around here are, well, helpful."

It was in that moment Theo decided to use this kid to help him fulfill his revenge. Appeared innocent enough, and could get into Stiles' friend group. He'd seen the people who hung out with Stilinski. Scott seemed friendly with him now. "I'm Theo."

"Louis."

"You should come with us!" Isaac had to pried off of Stiles once more. "I mean, since you know!" Derek, Isaac and Liam were to go on some sabbatical thing that weekend.

Stiles ran his fingers through Isaac's hair. "I wish I could but I think Peter might kill me and make it look like an accident. Besides, I already promised Scott we'd work on our science project tonight." Scott had been keeping his distance for some reason, and Stiles wanted to know why. "And Jordan has some free time. He's teaching me how to defend myself." Derek opened his mouth. "Let me take some lessons from a mortal, huh? He's an army kid."

"Okay. You better be careful though. If one hair on your head is hurt, I'll—"

"Use your teeth to rip out his throat. Yeah, I got it. Jordan's not going to hurt me. At least, not like others." Jackson hadn't started anything in a few days, which was suspicious. Garrett seemed to take up the mantle of violent psychopath school bully. "I'll be fine. Promise."

Scott had a hard time dealing with everything, and he only agreed to meet with Stiles on Friday night for the sake of their project. Maybe he could figure out a way to talk to Stiles that brought up something from their past. However, Scott also knew that he'd likely make Stiles think he was crazy.

"Don't think too hard. Might hurt yourself." Theo seemed to materialize right beside him. "You're not going to tell anyone, right, Scotty? Don't want Stilinski telling everyone you're delusional. You know he would." Scott wasn't sure what to believe. "I'm your friend, Scott. We were always friends. Trust me." He held out his hand.

Scott swallowed and accepted the gesture. "Okay."