Things hadn't seemed the same since that night in his bedroom. She'd barely spoken to him, and Jackson had avoided them both like the plague. He wondered if he really had upset her that night when he'd pushed her away and maybe she was just too good at hiding it. Though she couldn't stay upset for long over such a small thing, especially when he'd done the right thing.

But it had been two weeks, and there had been no word from her other than the occasional hi. He was determined to get to the bottom of it, though he did not want to push her. It was almost half past eight in the morning, and he was standing outside the school in the freezing cold, just waiting for her to make an entrance. If he could catch her before she went to class, he wouldn't have to worry.

Time passed by and students piled through the door; Scott stopped to chat to him for a minute or so, before going to wait for Allison by her locker. A few minutes later, Allison walked by, greeting him with a friendly smile. She was followed shortly after by Isaac, Erica, Boyd, and even coach Finstock. But there was still no sign of Lydia.

He knew that he should turn around and start heading to class, the bell was due to ring any second, but there was no way that he wouldn't be able to concentrate if she didn't turn up to class either. Weighing up his options, he descended the few steps and hurried back to his jeep before anyone could question him.

The roads were almost completely clear and it wasn't long after he left the school that he pulled up outside the Martin household. He didn't hesitate to get out of the jeep and run up to the door, knocking almost too hard because of his desperation. Silence followed the knock, then the shuffling of feet and finally, the door being unlocked and opened.

Stiles' jaw dropped and his eyes widened. Lydia stood before him, her strawberry blonde hair dishevelled, her green eyes dark from lack of sleep, and her skin almost pale. Many questions flooded his mind and he had to fight the urge not to bombard her with them all. Instead, he stuck with only one.

"I uh- I didn't see you arrive at school. Everything okay?"

Lydia swallowed and glanced around before pulling him inside by his t-shirt. She closed the door quickly and turned to him. He raised an eyebrow, confused by her strange behaviour.

"What's going on?"

"Jackson keeps stopping by. He won't leave me alone and- and I'm afraid that he followed you here."

"He didn't. No one was behind me the whole ride here, I swear."

"Good."

"Now, what's going on? Why aren't you in school and why have you been avoiding me for two weeks?"

Stiles knew just from the way her eyes fell to the floor that there was something that he was missing. He wanted to ask if it were to do with that night, but he bit his tongue, not wanting to come to conclusions. She didn't say a word, and motioned for him to follow her upstairs to her bedroom; he hesitated for a brief moment before giving in to his curiosity and following her anyway. Once they got to her bedroom, she sat down on the end of the bed and he came and sat next to her, leaving a little  distance in between them.

"Well?"

"Huh?"

"Aren't you going to answer my questions?"

Lydia sighed, knowing that he deserved the truth. "I already told you what's going on; Jackson won't leave me alone and it's really clouding the space I need to be able to think properly."

"Okay, is that why you weren't in school?"

"No. I'm not in school because I don't feel good."

"What? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm just dizzy, my stomach hurts and I have a headache."

"That's not fine, Lydia. What's up with you?"

"It's nothing..."

"Have you eaten?"

"Not for a few days. I've been too...."

"Too what?"

"Upset. Too upset... to...eat."

"Oh boy. Is it because of me? Is that why you've been avoiding me?"

"No. It's not you, I'm upset with myself." She admitted. "And I haven't been avoiding you."

"Then, why have you been distant?"

"I just needed to get my head straight... but it hasn't been going too well, and I realise that I need you, Stiles."

"I'm here. Always. Every second of every day, Lydia. I am here."

"I know, but I don't want you to keep wasting your time with me."

"Woah, woah, woah, hold up! Lydia, I am not wasting my time with you. I've never felt like that for even a second."

"I know." She repeated.

"Alright, we're going to talk and I mean really talk, but before we do, I am taking you out to get something to eat."

"I don't know-"

"It wasn't a question."

"But I'm a mess right now, I can't go out."

Stiles thought hard for a minute, unsure of what to say, then he clicked his fingers together as an idea came to him. Without a word, he walked over to her closet and pulled out her blue, pink and white t-shirt, a pair of blue jeans, a denim jacket and her ankle boots. He carried them in his arms and placed them on the bed beside her.

"I'm going to give you thirty minutes to straighten yourself up, then we're going to lunch."

"O- okay."

"Please, Lydia. I am begging you. Don't do this to yourself, I can help you."

Lydia stood up from the bed and picked up the clothes he'd laid beside her. She gave him a small smile, and he smiled back before turning and exiting the room to give her some privacy. She changed quickly, dragging a brush through her tangled hair and applying a minimal amount of makeup. Finally, she slipped on the denim jacket and made her way out of the bedroom, surprised to find Stiles leaning on the wall just outside.