𝟏𝟕. ❙𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰?

❛ 𝑮𝑯𝑶𝑺𝑻𝑭𝑨𝑪𝑬 ❜

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•☆.⭒✻❙ 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐈 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖? ❙✻⭒.☆•

❝ 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧. ❞

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

𝑹𝑯𝒀𝑻𝑯𝑴 𝑵𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵

𝒋𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒕 𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒐𝒏

❛ let's work together to improve our way of life ❜

𝐽𝑂𝐿𝐸𝑁𝐸 𝑊𝐴𝑆 𝑆𝐿𝐸𝐸𝑃𝐼𝑁𝐺 𝐼𝑁 Stiles' bed despite the fact that she protested against it. She only felt like more of a burden taking over his room, but Stiles would have locked her in that room if he had to.

Jolene was having trouble sleeping, but that wasn't new. It didn't help that she was crying again. Jolene had no idea how to help herself, how to handle what was going on with her father or how to even deal with her emotions. She just wanted to go home and make sure Mick was sober and safe, but instead, she was taking up space in another person's life. Jolene hates that.

Jolene really didn't know how to deal with all of her emotions flooding out at once and it was two in the morning. She assumed Stiles wouldn't be awake, but she had no clue what else to do and was far too tired to make rational decisions. It was an instinct to reach out to him. All Jolene did was text him his name with a question mark. There was no answer, as she expected, not for about a minute, not until the door suddenly opened and Stiles walked inside.

Stiles moved over to the side of his bed and crouched down, leaning his forearms on the mattress as Jolene was laying on her side to face him. "You okay?"

"I can't sleep."

"No shit." Stiles laughed out as he rubbed his tired eyes. He was clearly exhausted, but he had just woken up. He forgot to silence his phone, but was glad he didn't. When he saw Jolene asking for him, Stiles didn't hesitate to make sure everything was okay.

"I'm sorry if I woke you up." Jolene couldn't look him in the eye. She was a little embarrassed and mostly feeling guilty about the fact she disturbed him. She regretted sending that text as soon as she did it, which seemed ridiculous since Stiles didn't think much of helping her. It was the easiest decision for him to make.

"You're worth it." Stiles put his hand on her arm and stroked her skin with his thumb, hoping to bring her comfort. He matched Jolene's gaze and sent her a small smile, reaffirming, "You're sure you're okay?"

"I don't know." Jolene shrugged, barely able to look him in the eye. "I'm worried about my dad."

"He's at a friend's place, right? I mean, he's safe at least." Stiles reminded, wanting to bring the positive to light.

"Yeah..." Jolene knew Mick well, she knew that he was safe at his friends house, but he'd be happier at home. Jolene took care of her dad all the time because she loves him, more than anything, even though it kills her mentally.

Jolene couldn't look Stiles in the eye despite the fact she always felt like she could be lost in them forever. Stiles could see there was something more to this. Jolene wanted to talk to him, be honest with Stiles, but her heart wouldn't open up. Stiles was not asked to come see her, but he cared so much that he rushed to her as soon as possible. Jolene didn't want to be a burden, but she needed his comfort. Stiles was willing to do that.

"Could..." Jolene stopped herself, to which Stiles moved to put his hand over hers, showing she was safe, she was alright, and that she could ask him anything. Jolene had never immediately felt so comfortable around another person. "Could you stay here?"

"Like sleep on the floor?"

"No, you don't have to do that. I just...I want you here." Jolene hesitated. She needed this, she needed him, but it was difficult for her to admit. Stiles bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from smiling, that comment from the girl of his dreams being something that healed part of his soul.

Jolene shifted back a little bit so that Stiles had room and he actually caught on to what she meant. Stiles heart skipped a beat, but he was able to get up from the floor and crawl into his bed next to her. Stiles laid down on his stomach and had his head turned to her. He let out a small breath, far more comfortable here than on the couch. "Did you want to talk about it?"

Jolene shook her head. "Sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry about." Jolene smiled at him, it being so contagious that Stiles matched it. "But just so you know, I will be sleeping here 'cause I don't think I'm awake enough to walk back down those stairs. I might wipe out."

Jolene let out a small laugh and closed her eyes, the exhaustion settling in, but also her nerves were starting to get to her. She may have been in an emotional spot, but she too was laying in a bed next to a guy she's liked for years.

Stiles moved onto his side, still facing her. He held his hand out, laying it down between the two pillows for her to hold. Jolene didn't catch on at first. Stiles twitched his fingers a little, which helped her, so she interlocked their fingers. Stiles let out a calmed breath as he closed his eyes. "If you need me, just wake me up."

"I don't want to bother you."

"Jo, you will never bother me. I have all the time in the world for you."

Jolene smiled at him as Stiles shifted, starting to get comfortable. Jolene stared longingly at him just a moment longer, unable to stop her admiration. His chest rising up and down was calming, his lips seemed soft, the moles scattered around his face looked like constellations, and his long eyelashes were the most breathtaking she had ever seen. Stiles is the most beautiful, peaceful person she had ever seen; it healed her soul.

Jolene closed her eyes and squeezed his hand a little, trying to go back to bed while she silently thanked him. Stiles opened his eyes at the gesture. His lips turned to a smile, seeing that she was started to become more comfortable around him, feeling more safe. Stiles wanted nothing more than to give that to her.

•☆.⭒✻════◅∘≼↜.◦◦.↝≽∘▻════✻⭒.☆•

Lydia and Jolene were standing by her locker. Since she had stayed at Stiles' house last night, she didn't have her makeup this morning. Lydia has a small care package for Jolene in case she might unexpectedly need a place to stay, so she had brought her friend the small makeup bag. Jolene was using the mirror on her locker door to do a simple routine, not feeling too extravagant today.

Jolene didn't exactly look extravagant either. She was wearing a pair of Stiles' gray sweatpants that she had rolled up at the waist to fit her better, the same shoes she had on last night, and a dark shirt with a red, blue, and white target on it. Jolene utilised a hair-tie she had to tie the shirt around her back, making it tight on her waist since eh shirt was a bit big while her long hair was actually down for once.

"When did you get these clothes? I've never seen you wear them." Lydia acknowledged, from the beginning having noticed Jolene's style change. Lydia isn't proud of her friend's choice in clothing, but it is no secret that Jolene has good taste in her own right, which she shows off everyday. Today was decently lazy.

"That's 'cause they're not mine. I got them from Stiles." Jolene explained before she tinted her lips a light red. Lydia's jaw dropped and nudged her friend's arm, proud. She teased, "So that's where you two went."

"It's not like that." Jolene breathed out as she began to put the makeup away.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, really." Jolene was not entertained by this at all or even so much as affected by the fact that Lydia was teasing her. Normally, the mere mention of Stiles' name would sent her into this flustered state of admiration where she felt like she was floating on a cloud, but she was far too upset.

Lydia was really starting to see that something was wrong. "Hey. Jolene, what's going on?"

"It's just my dad." Jolene sighed. "I couldn't get into my house last night 'cause he passed out drunk somewhere, so Stiles let me stay over. I just kinda freaked out and he followed me. My dad was just having such a good day, you know? And then...well, you've met my dad."

Lydia is familiar with all of the issues Mick and Jolene have been through, they've been friends their whole lives. Lydia knows that Jolene would do anything for her dad, but it does take a tole, a noticeable one that the girl herself never seems to see. Lydia put her hand on her friend's arm and Jolene looked up at her. "I'm glad Stiles was there for you."

Jolene smiled as Lydia dropped her arm. There was some silence before Jolene leaned her back against the locker next to hers. Jolene let out a breath and glanced over at her ginger friend. "Oh my god, Lydia...his tired voice made me ascent to heaven."

"There's the Jolene I know and love." Lydia teased, happy she was able to make Jolene feel a little better.

"I felt my soul instantly heal." Lydia smiled and rolled her eyes at her friend, seeing as how Jolene was back to her usual, infatuated self. Lydia has never been able to understand what was so special about Stiles or how Jolene could feel so deeply for someone she barely knows, but Jolene has huge emotions. Her heart knows no bounds.

"I'll see you in math, Jolene. Don't faint when you see him." Lydia taunted as she began to walk away. Jolene flipped her friend off just before she turned around. Jolene put the makeup bag back in her locker since she didn't need it anymore and closed the door. However, just as she took a step to head to her next class, she saw Scott peaking out around the corner of where the locker rooms were. Scott motioned for her to come towards him, but she wasn't sure if it had anything to do with her since there were other students walking around.

Jolene pointed at herself and raised her eyebrows, which earned a nod from Scott. The brunette girl made her way through the crowd of students walking, only to find Stiles with him standing in the small hallway. The halls were beginning to clear up since everyone was heading to their next class, but Jolene was confused by the secrecy, "So, are we just having Pentagon, secret meetings in random corners now? This is what we do?"

"Derek's not the alpha that bit me." Scott informed without any warning or build up whatsoever. Jolene let out a breath as he bag dropped from her one shoulder to her hand. Dramatically, she put her back to the wall and leaned her head against it, looking up. She pointed to the sky as if she was speaking to god- or scolding god. "Why are you fucking me over?"

"If Derek's not the alpha...who is?"

❝ 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 - 𝐰𝐡𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟! ❞

:𝒑𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒐

❘ ❙ ❚ ❚ ❙ ❘