DEAD MAN!
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO.
i love you.

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EVERYONE HAD GATHERED ROUND IN THE BOYS' LOCKER ROOM JUST AS NOAH STILINSKI GOT OFF HIS PHONE, ALL EAGER TO HEAR THE NEWS ON THE MISSING TEEN. The man sighed in defeat, looking towards Scott, Adrian and Isaac. "I got to meet with the medical examiner and try to figure out what happened with Jackson. I've got an APB out on Stiles. His jeep is still in the parking lot, so that means . . ."

Adrian frowned as he watched the parent become too overwhelmed, unable to finish his sentence as he blinked away tears. The boy couldn't even imagine the horrible thoughts he must be thinking in a time like this. "Well, I don't know what that means. Umm . . ." Noah took a deep breath. "Look, is he answers his phone, if he answers his emails, if any of you three see him-"

"We'll call you." Isaac gave a reassuring nod to the man.

Scott, sensing the Sheriff's stress, spoke up. "Look, he's probably just freaked out from all the attention or something. We'll find him."

Noah pursed his lips together, silent for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. I'll see you, okay?" He turned to his son's boyfriend, the two sharing looks of sympathy between one another in understanding. "I'll find some way to reach you if he comes home."

Adrian nodded. "Thank you, Noah." The man nodded, wandering away from the three teens who watched him leave the busy locker rooms.

Police officers interviewed the lacrosse team around them as boys got changed, trying to comprehend what had just happened. It seemed everyone was lost on what went down when the lights shut off.

"McCall, Martin." Coach addressed them as he marched over, a gentle look the two had never seen before in his eyes. "We need you both on the team, okay? You know I can't put you on the field next season if you two don't get your grades up."

The two boys gave a short nod in understanding, Scott replying for himself and Adrian. "Yeah, we know, Coach."

"All right." The man turned to walk away, hesitating before facing them again. "I mean, I-I know I yell a lot, but it's not like I hate you guys. Well, I kind of hate Greenberg, but, you know, that's different. It's Greenberg. I'm just saying we . . . I need you both on the team. Get your grades back up."

Adrian tried his best to manage a smile in that moment. "We will, Coach." he promised.

"I know." And with that quiet mutter, the man walked off for good this time.

"Is that everyone?" Scott curiously asked when the teacher had gone and everyone piled out, the locker room looking completely empty.

Isaac sighed against the lockers, leaning forwards so he could scope the place out. "I think so." He nodded.

The sound of twisting metal made the two boys jump, turning round at the source. Stiles' locker door was now on the floor, Scott rummaging through it. Adrian gave a 'was that really necessary' look behind his back, muttering about how Coach won't be happy to find this.

All of a sudden, Adrian's phone buzzed in his pocket. The redhead frantically whipped it out from his jeans, frowning when he saw it was a text from his sister and not Stiles. "My mum is waiting in the car park to take me and Lydia home. I gotta go, guys."

Isaac and Scott nodded, understanding as they talked about tracking Stiles down by scent. Adrian let them be as he made his way out of the locker room . . . not even noticing Derek round the corner with a very much alive Peter Hale.

❚ ❚ ❚

Adrian had been pacing around in his room non-stop for a good hour and a half now, the suspense eating away at him like a disease. The Martin hated how whilst Stiles was missing and could quite possibly be hurt, he was just sitting around in his room waiting for something to happen.

He cursed at his worthless abilities. Sure, being a werewolf did have its downsides but Scott and Isaac could find Stiles . . . Adrian couldn't. All he could do was sense when another person was going to die and feel their pain if he was close enough.

When his phone dinged for the second time that night, Adrian trudged to it less eagerly than he had before. He didn't want to build up any false hope. It was from an unknown number when he picked it up.

UNKOWN: it's noah. stiles is home.

Those were the only five words the young boy needed to see before he was limping down the stairs and to the door. He passed his mother on the way in the kitchen, hearing her call frantically behind him. "Adrian! Where are you going?!"

"They found Stiles!" Was all the boy shouted back, unable to allow himself to stop as he ran as fast as he could with his good leg.

The Martin boy was panting like an asthmatic by the time he reached the Stilinksi household, unable to allow himself time to stop. He couldn't. Not when he knew the boy that had been missing was finally found and within his grasp. Noah was the one to let him in, giving the boy a slight smile in welcome. "He's upstairs in his room. He's been quite quiet since coming home."

"Thank you." The teen gave one respectful nod to the man before he broke for the stairs, tripping over his own two feet numerous times with how fast he attempted to get up them while cursing.

Adrian almost ripped the poor boy's bedroom door off its hinges as he burst through. Stiles had been lounging on his bed when the door slammed open, him releasing a small noise of surprise. He jumped in panic at first, setting a calming hand on his chest when he recognised the frozen redhead. "Adrian."

For once, Adrian Martin was lost for words. His whole face fell when he took in the appearance of his boyfriend. Stiles had changed into a grey Adidas shirt paired with jogging bottoms, his face marked with a bruised cheek and cut lip. It was obvious someone had given him a bad beaten.

Noticing the boy's silent reaction that couldn't mean anything good, Stiles' eyes softened as he held his hands up in an attempt to calm him. "Adrian, it's fine. I swear, I'm fine. It doesn't hurt."

The teen zoned out and didn't listen to the boy's attempts at reassuring him. All the harmonious emotions within him had vanished as soon as his green eyes fell on the boy.

Instead, Adrian slowly walked closer with his fists clenched tightly beside him. No anger was aimed towards Stiles though. No. It was all for the culprit who dared to cause him pain. "It was Gerard, wasn't it? I swear, next time I see him, I'm forgetting the whole 'respect your elders' deal and killing him."

"Hey," Stiles' pale hands reached out to caress the boy's face, giving him a soft look. "I'm fine. Gerard just beat me up a little after the game, that's all."

"You're a horrible liar, Stiles." Adrian shook his head sadly, his eyes defeated. The beaten and bruised boy in front of him made himself feel like he was in physical pain . . . and Adrian hated it.

He hated how deeply in love he was with Stiles Stilinski.

"Please, just let it go, Adrian." Stiles sighed, shaking his head as his hands dropped from the boy's face to grasp tightly onto his hands. "I-I don't want to talk and think about it ever again. I-I don't want to remember being scared that I'd-" his voice cracked with emotion, cutting himself off as his eyes glistened.

"Scared of what?" The Martin boy gently pried while he eyed the emotion around his face, frowning in concern.

Stiles gulped after a beat of heavy silence, his thumb rubbing over each of the redhead's knuckles. "Scared that I'd never see you again." He inaudibly confessed, looking down at his carpet.

Adrian knew how he felt. He really did . . . because it was the exact same fear he had felt the night that Matt shot him. The redhead remembered all his mind could focus on was Stiles. Not his family, or even himself . . . it was only Stiles.

Unfortunately, Adrian Martin was the only one in the pair too scared to admit that.

"Y-You were scared . . . of not seeing me again?" The redhead stumbled, shifting on his feet as he rubbed his arm.

"Yes! All my head could wrap around was what if Gerard would get you too? What if he wanted to capture you just like he did with Boyd and Erica? What if it was you taken instead of me?" The boy with the buzzcut spilled out, running his hands through his short hair.

"I wish I was taken instead of you." The Martin boy mumbled, his sentence meant to have gone unheard by the teen across from him.

Stiles had obviously heard it, staring at him in disbelief. "Don't say that. Don't you ever say anything like that again, Adrian."

"I don't want you to get hurt, Stiles!" Adrian snapped, looking up so they were eye-to-eye now. "This night was supposed to be your night! This night was supposed to be spent by you celebrating your amazing goals in the lacrosse game! It wasn't supposed to go like this!"

"Tiger," Stiles' nickname for his boyfriend rolled off the tongue easily, his eyes filled with admiration for the care the closed off boy was showing. "It's okay." He leaned forwards, their faces inches apart.

Adrian's gaze tore between his lips and eyes. "I . . . I was really worried about you."

"You're here now," Stiles smiled, moving closer so their noses brushed. "So I'm okay."

Their lips rested against one another's, brushing together as Adrian's hands traveled to Stiles' face; being mindful of his bruised cheekbone.

The kiss was sweet while it lasted, being broken by Adrian's phone yet again. The Stilinski boy groaned, his head tucking into the redhead's neck. "Ignore it. Let me kiss you." He whined.

"It's could be important." Adrian held his phone in hands, unable to open it due to the flustered feeling he got when kisses were planted on his neck. "Umm . . . Stiles?" His face flushed a deep red.

"It's probably Scott. He hasn't stopped texting and calling me since I got back home." The boy mumbled back in response.

Adrian rolled his eyes. "Well, aren't you a great best friend." He sarcastically chuckled, unlocking his phone when Scott texted him.

"Stiles . . ."

"Yeah?"

"You're gonna want to read this." He gave the confused boy his phone, reading the message the werewolf had sent.

SCOTT: jackson isn't dead. we need to bring him back by a special connection before he goes psycho.

"Special connection? With who?" The door to Stiles' bedroom opened just as Adrian finished speaking, both boys turning at the sound.

Lydia bit her lip as she sniffled, her eyes and nose red from crying. "M-Mum said you would be here." She told her brother, holding up her phone to signal the werewolf had also texted her. "I know how to save Jackson. I need you to take me to him."

"So, wait, hold on." The other Martin sibling blinked, pointing a slow finger at his sister. "You know?"

Lydia rolled her eyes with a scoff. "I know enough. I need to get to Jackson. Now!"

The fellow redhead sighed with a groan. "Alright, fine!" He turned to face his boyfriend. "Stiles, grab your keys. We've got a Jackson to save."

Stiles was silent as Adrian turned him with a curious look, wondering what could be wrong. When they finally met eyes, the sheriff's son sighed. "You're not coming, Adrian."

The Martin blinked three times, tilting his head in confusion. "I'm waiting for the punchline."

"There is no punchline." Stiles ran a stressed hand through his buzzcut. "You're not coming with us."

Looking over his shoulder, Adrian saw his sister nod in a silent agreement. The boy scoffed at this. "You two are ridiculous. I'm going."

Noticing this conversation may lead into something she shouldn't be here for, Lydia mumbled something about waiting by the jeep outside. She shut the door behind her, leaving the two boys to carry on.

When Lydia's footsteps faded away, Stiles sighed. "I-I just don't want you to get hurt, Adrian. I mean, last time we were in a situation like this; you got shot!"

"In the leg!" The Martin defended, pointing down at the injury. "I lived! I'm fine! You're not making a good argument here, Stiles!"

The Stilinski boy groaned at his boyfriend's stubbornness. "Why can't you just stay behind?! A few months ago, you would've jumped at the chance to not come with us!"

". . . Things are different now."

That answer obviously wasn't enough for the hazel eyed boy as he flung his arms around. "How?! How are things different?! Why are you now so keen to come along with me and Scott into situations that could cost you your own life?!"

"It's because I love you!" Adrian Martin's mind finally broke, the words rolling off his tongue before he could even think to hold them back.

Both boy's eyes widened at the said words, realisation hitting them like a rock to the face. After so long of telepathically saying it to one another secretly . . . it was finally said. The ice was finally broken.

Unable to stand the silence on his boyfriend's part, the Martin boy continued to ramble on. "I-I don't want to see you get hurt either, Stiles. I don't think you understand just how much hell I would be put through if you died. A friend may be able to let go of a lost loved one . . . but a lover cannot."

"Adrian,"

"Do you even realise what would happen if you were to die? I'd be able to feel your pain and share it with you. Even after you're gone," The redhead's throat got all chocked up as his eyes began to water. "I'd still be in pain from your death."

Stiles didn't move his eyes up to meet his green ones, all the words Adrian had just said hitting him all at once. The Martin feared he had said too much to the boy. Was this a mistake?

Adrian didn't even want the answer to his own question as he cleared his throat, looking around at Stiles' old baseball posters hung on his wall. "L-Lydia will be waiting in the car, lets go."

Stiles watched as he left, his heart still thudding by his words. It amazed the boy how three simple words could make him feel like he was the king of the world. Yet, Stiles didn't say anything back to the boy and he couldn't picture why.

He had dreamed for this to happen for so, so long. It was pictured and acted out clearly in his head with what he would've said back . . . so why didn't he?

Why, out of all the dreams Stiles had had of the redheaded Martin boy . . . did this real moment feel like a fantasy dream?

❚ ❚ ❚

Stiles and the two Martin siblings all screamed as the boy drove his jeep through the wall in front of them, closing their eyes as they waited for a massive impact. Surprisingly enough, everyone felt fine in the car as bricks fell and breaks screeched.

Stiles breathed heavily in the driver's seat, hesitating before cracking one eye open. "Did I get him?"

Adrian ran a stressed hand through his ginger hair, letting out a breath as he adjusted in his seat. "I-I think so."

The Martin's words were quickly proven false when the Kanima jumped onto the hood of the car, hissing at them. Lydia let out a shriek as Adrian grabbed his girly screaming boyfriend by the shirt and dragged him out of the car.

As soon as the strawberry blonde was out of the car, she called out to her boyfriend. "Jackson!" She yelled at the creature. "Jackson!"

"Lydia!" Adrian's eyes widened in fear as he stepped forward, only to be pushed back by Stiles so he was behind him and Scott.

The Martin took in the scene before him, wondering what the hell had happened whilst he visited his bruised boyfriend. Gerard was on the floor, blood surrounding him as Allison stood a few meters away with her dad while bloody daggers lay by their feet.

Isaac and Derek were also nearby, looking like they had had their own battle with the Kanima as well. Adrian didn't have time to worry about if they were okay, however, as his sister approached Jackson.

The strawberry blonde reached into her pocket and held up a key- her key to the Whittemore house that he wanted back. The Kanima paused at the item, it's reptilian eyes scanning over the female.

Please don't kill her. Adrian begged every spiritual being from above, his hands shaking beside him. Please don't kill her.

Lydia broke into tears when the Kanima slowly turned back into her ex-boyfriend, Adrian smiling in relief. Jackson's clawed hand reaches out and took the key from her light hold, his eyes turning back to normal as he stared at the popular girl and his key.

The moment was ruined when Peter Hale came out behind some wooden crates, Derek also springing into action. The two werewolves dug their claws into the boy's back and stomach, making Jackson cough from the pain as he was lifted in the air for a few seconds.

Adrian gaped in shock as Lydia rushed forward the second he was dropped, grabbing him before he could land on the ground harshly. She sobbed as she lowered him gently to the ground, Jackson's breathing becoming scratchy and more laboured.

"Do you-" Jackson fought through a whisper, eyes never leaving the strawberry blonde's.

"I do." Lydia cut him off as she cried, nodding tearfully. "I do still love you. I do, I do still love you. I do."

Jackson nodding was the last thing Adrian saw him do before he closed his eyes and leaned against the female Martin, holding her tight. Lydia held onto him tightly too, gently caressing his hair.

Adrian sadly smiled at what he thought would be the last moments of Jackson Whittemore. It was a shame that this was the tragic end the boy was getting, and Adrian would forever miss him. He may have been an asshole, but so was he.

A tear escaped the Martin's eye when Jackson's hand dropped the key, his body going limp. The sobs coming from his sister didn't make it any easier as Lydia hid her face in the boy's bare chest.

"Where's Gerard?" Allison appeared by Scott's side, pointing to where his body had been. Now, all that remained was a jacket and black blood.

"He can't be far." Her dad reminded her as everyone turned their attention to Lydia, who stood up and rushed to her brother.

Adrian clung onto her dearly, running his fingers through her strawberry blonde locks in comfort as the two Martin's cried over the loss of Jackson Whittemore.

Nails scraping on the floor made the brother and sister pull away, both of their eyes widening at the unbelievable sight.

Jackson awoke with a gasp, his eyes shooting open to not reveal his regular green eyes . . . but his electric blue ones that resembled Derek's.

After standing up and releasing a dramatic werewolf roar, Lydia ran forward before Adrian could stop her. The ex couple hugged in one of the tightest hugs Adrian had ever witnessed, both their body languages reading relief.

It was over. It was all finally over.

❚ ❚ ❚

Adrian Martin was quick to decline Stiles' offer of a ride home after they had saved Jackson, wanting to give the boy some space. After much debate- although it would torture him until he got his answer- the teen decided to give his boyfriend the time to think over his words.

Adrian wanted an answer. He wanted to hear the three words back so desperately, but he wouldn't push it. Besides, a good walk to clear his mind of all the supernatural stuff that had occurred these past few months did him good . . . until he reached his street.

Adrian's eyes quickly widened at the red and blue police lights that surrounded the area as fear struck through him. There were officers, photographers and even detectives on the scene as they stalked around.

Everyone who lived on the street were out of their doors, looking lost as the police seemed to be asking them some questions. Out of the corner of his eye, Adrian noticed his mother talking to an officer.

"Mum!" The boy called, gaining both her and the officer's attention as he jogged to the front of his house worriedly. "What's going on?"

The tears in his mother's eyes struck him as odd as the female police officer turned to him, observing him slowly. "I'm sorry, but are you Adrian Martin?"

The boy's stomach flipped at the mention of his name as he stiffly nodded, gulping before his breathing picked up. "Y-Yeah. W-Why?"

The woman's eyes soon washed over with a sad look, a deep frown appearing for the boy. "I'm sorry." her voice was that of sadness and devastation, making the redhead furrow his ginger brows.

Adrian was lost, shaking his head as he blinked. "What? Wait, what's going on?" He saw his mother's bottom lip tremble as he turned to face her for answers. "Mum?" The teen pressed, stepping forward slightly to show off an eagerness to know. What had happened?

The officer looked between the family sadly as she nodded. "I'll leave you two alone for a little while." She walked off to one of her colleagues, nodding in their direction as she spoke.

"Adrian, honey," his mother tearfully started, slowly taking her son's hands in her warm ones as she struggled to speak to her boy. ". . . Toby is dead."

All feeling in Adrian's body vanished into thin air as his legs felt like jelly, his eyes clearing over. "W-What?" His voice slowly cracked in shock.

The one word from her son only made Natalie Martin cry more as she sniffled and shook her head. "There was a break-in when Toby was in, Adrian . . . the police found his body when inspecting the house."

"W-What happened?" The only part in his body Adrian felt like was working was his mouth, and even that had its limitations as he searched for the words that were escaping him.

"He-He was murdered, Adrian." Natalie sobbed as her hands went to cover her mouth, tearfully looking at her broken down son. "Adrian, honey, I'm so sorry."

That was all it took for Adrian's legs to give in, the boy landing on his knees with a thump. His hands limply rested by his sides as his eyes became blinded by the tears that began to fall.

Scream. All Adrian felt like he was capable of doing was scream as he threw his head back and cried in agony. Officers turned around at the sound as everyone held a moment of silence for the dead teen and his crying best friend.

They knew that Toby Valack was a quiet yet nice kid, who only ever had a real bond with Adrian Martin. However . . . they didn't know the truth like Adrian did.

Toby Valack was dead. He confided in Adrian Martin, who shut a blind eye to him and ignored his cries for help.

His best friend, Toby Valack, was gone . . . and it was all his fault.

A U T H O R. N O T E
ok, that ending physically hurt me. only the epilogue to go now before that's this book finished!

would you guys want me to do season three? i mean, i am very keen to do so but i am just wondering what you all think.
side note, thanks for getting this book to 10k reads!!!

GIF MADE BY ME !
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