DEAD MAN!
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE.
who even invented birthdays?

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LYDIA HAD PRACTICALLY KICKED STILES STILINSKI OUT OF THE HOUSE AFTER HE BRUNG THE BOY HOME LAST NIGHT, SAYING HE HAD HAD SOMETHING FUNNY TO DRINK. Luckily, Lydia didn't pry for any more information; most likely too occupied in hosting her big birthday party to even think about the odd behaviour her brother and friends were displaying.

Stiles, of course, didn't want to leave the boy after what had happened to him at the rave. After Scott was taken to Deaton by Derek, Stiles just sat with the redheaded boy in his arms in the back of his jeep for a few minutes.

He was scared. First his dad had lost his job because of him and now his own secret boyfriend faints from his supernatural abilities. The world seemed so unfair to him all of a sudden.

Regardless of his keenness to stay, the sister of the Martin shoved him away from the boy until he had no choice but to go back home in his jeep; unable to see Adrian until the grand Martin party.

The whole day, Adrian had been slaving away to get the party to Lydia Martin's standards. After all, the Martin parties were meant to be one of the best in all of Beacon Hills. Plus, it was a good distraction after what happened last night.

"Finally. All done." The redhead sighed as he approached his sister already in her newly bought dress for her birthday, a tray of drinks in her hand.

When her brother reached for a red cup, Lydia smacked his hand away. "Not now, idiot! Wait until everyone's here!"

Just then, the first doorbell of the night rang. The strawberry blonde perked up, opening the door to see Stiles smiling politely at the doorstep. "Hey, Lydia. Happy birthday. Is Adrian here?"

"Well, this is my house." The mentioned boy stepped forward so he could be seen behind his sister, a smile bracing his face at the sight of his boyfriend.

Stiles smiled brightly back, glad to see the redhead was looking in much better health compared to last night. "Hey!" He stepped forward, chancing a sweet kiss on the lips.

"Alright, you two." Lydia stepped between them, breaking the kiss after a few seconds. "Now that your boyfriend is here, I'll greet the rest of the guests myself."

Adrian nodded as him and Stiles made their way through the house, Scott joining them in a nice shirt and jacket a few moments later.

"Are you okay after last night?" The werewolf asked the teen as the three of them entered the kitchen, some presents in sight.

Adrian tried his best to shrug it off. He felt fine physically . . . but his mind would never let him forget. This was the first time he had actually experienced someone else's' death outside of his dreams, so it was a big step up.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I mean- it's not like I would've died or anything."

"Adrian," Scott gave him a pointed look. "Mrs Argent was going to kill you right after me."

The Martin boy paused, giving the tanned werewolf his own offended look. ". . . you know I'm really starting to regret hanging around with you guys."

"Have you seen Jackson anywhere?" Stiles changed the subject, glancing around slightly paranoid.

"No. Seen Allison?" Scott asked as Adrian shook his head to both questions, not having seen any of the two.

"No," The Stilinski boy shook his head. "But we should probably tell her what we found."

The Martin boy glanced between the two of them. "Well, I'm expecting you tell me this information before Allison because she wasn't the one who almost died last night!"

His boyfriend turned to him, giving a response. "I was looking over my dad's cases all day and I found something in the yearbook. All of the people who have been killed so far were on the 2006 swim team . . . and Isaac's dad was the coach."

"I'm still kind of not sure what we found." Scott chipped in, eyebrows furrowed in utmost confusion.

"I figured out that it has something to do with water. You know, the fact that all the victims were on the swim team, the way the Kanima reacted around the pool." Stiles explained his discovery to the pair.

"So, whoever's controlling the Kanima really hates the swim team?" The werewolf summarised, looking towards his best friend to see if he was right.

"Hated the swim team. Specifically, the 2006 swim team." Stiles confirmed. "So it could be another teacher. Maybe like a student back then. I mean, who are we missing? Who haven't we thought of?"

The three boys made their way outside, taking in its beautiful state that Adrian himself had been working hard on all day. The pillars were wrapped nicely in fairy lights, the freshly grown ivy accompanying it. Lydia specifically wanted the pool clean and free of leaves, her brother doing the job for her in exchange of not having to get her a birthday present.

Allison came over to them, sending Scott a rather awkward nod which was returned. It was clear the two weren't exactly on the best of terms after the rave. "Uh, Jackson's not here."

"Are you kidding me? No one's here!" Adrian waved his arms around the empty household, the four of them being the only people at Lydia's party. "Gosh, who even invented birthdays?" He grumbled, feeling bitter.

"Maybe people will show up. It's still early hours." Allison tried with the Martin boy, anxiously rubbing her arm at the emptiness of the normally busy party.

The brother of Lydia Martin sighed, his eyes filling with a sadness for his sister. "I know everyone thinks Lydia is the town's whack job, guys." He looked over across the other side of the garden, his sister standing around with many leftover drinks. "No one's coming, so we need to do something."

The Argent nodded at the boy's words in agreement. "Yeah, we have kind of been ignoring her for the past two weeks."

The werewolf of the four shook his head. "We don't owe her a party." He disagreed.

You might as well have told Adrian that the tanned boy threatened to kill his family with the look he sent him. "Oh really? Well, last time I checked, you surely owe me a favour after that incident at the rave!"

"There's nothing we can do!" The Latino boy defended his words.

"What about the chance to get back to normal?" Allison tried, wanting to make it up to the strawberry blonde.

"Normal?" The teen repeated in a confused manner, not getting the point.

"Scott, it's our fault. Don't you understand that?" Adrian exasperated. "The only reason Lydia is even going through all of this is because I was too slow to get to her on the lacrosse field. Her being out by herself in the woods after abandoning the hospital? That was on me too!"

"Adrian," Stiles sighed greatly, laying a gentle hand on the boy's shoulder. "None of this is your fault. You can't blame yourself."

"I'm not just blaming myself here, Stiles." The teen then directed his gaze to Scott. "I'm also blaming you for this, Scott. I know we both agreed on keeping the supernatural a secret from my sister, but that doesn't mean we abandon her. It's her freaking birthday, Scott! So get your werewolf tail out of your ass and do something to solve this."

Unable to stay and stare at the boy much longer, Adrian walked away from the three of them and back into the house to get a drink. His boyfriend tried to go after him, but Allison and Scott shook their heads as a sign he needed space.

The Martin didn't stop his angry mutters under his breath until he entered the kitchen again, stopping in the doorway. Toby heard his footsteps this time and froze, a bag clutched in his hands as he gulped. "A-Adrian, um . . . hi."

"Hey," The boy awkwardly replied back, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he walked closer. He was a bit taken back to see the blonde at the party but definitely wasn't complaining, he was glad he was here.

"L-Lydia let me in." The Valack boy shyly muttered in an explanation, raising the bag he held sheepishly. "I was just going to drop her present off and be on my way."

"What? No, Tobs, you can stay." The redhead stepped closer to him, both boys now by the counter. "I-I know parties aren't really your thing, but you always come to ours. It means a lot to Lydia that you stay . . . and me."

"W-Who else coming to the party?" The blonde bit his lip, shifting on the balls of his feet as he debated it over in his mind.

"So far, I don't think anyone will show up." The Martin sighed, looking down at the marble kitchen floor. It was rather awkward between the pair, and the redhead didn't like it. They'd never been like this around each other.

"Adrian . . . I-I have to-"

The teen cut the boy off, knowing exactly what he was going to say. He was still looking for a Necromancer. Toby was still looking for a Necromancer without knowing one was right under his nose. "Please, Toby. Take a break. I-I know things haven't been great between us but that doesn't mean you should miss out on Lydia's party. Please, stay."

The plead-like tone in his green eyes was what immediately broke the Valack boy, making him sigh. He nodded slowly. "A-Alright. I guess I can stay for a little bit."

The Martin grinned, nudging his shoulder softly. "That's my boy!" His eyes softened with gratefulness. "Thanks, Toby."

A pink hue dusted the Valack boy's cheeks as he looked down. "It's no problem." He raised his head back up, fiddling with his hands. "C-Can I maybe stay with y-you though? I-I don't want to be a-alone right now."

Adrian nodded, glad to be getting somewhere with the boy. After everything that had happened, the teenager felt like he needed a bit of normality in his life . . . and that was Toby. "Sure."

"Look at you two." Lydia smirked as she walked into the kitchen, a plate of drinks in her hand. She took two cups from the tray and smacked them into their hands. "Try the punch. It's divine."

"I-Is there alcohol in this?" Toby stuttered after taking a small whiff of the beverage.

"Who cares?!" Adrian laughed, swinging an arm over the boy's shoulders. He raised his cup for a cheers. "To us."

Toby blushed as he bit his lip, a small smile escaping as he clinked his cup with the other boy's drink. "To us."

And with that, the two friends chugged the whole drink down in one go together.

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Half an hour later, the party was in full swing now. Drag queens and people from school crowded the house as music blasted through the speakers.

Adrian had decked out on the punch, drinking as much as he could. He hated to admit it, but the boy was keen to get drunk. After these past few months, the Martin boy needed something to help him forget . . . and that was the slightly alcoholic punch.

Unfortunately, the Martin had lost Toby amongst the crowd of people; meaning he had no idea where the boy was. The redhead tried his best to look for him, but admittedly that wasn't great giving his state.

He leaned against the walls of his own house, a small groan tearing through his clogged throat as his head pounded. The world around him felt like it was spinning, making it hard to walk.

Maybe I should've went light on the punch. The boy regretted his earlier decisions . . . but at the same time did not. No, I need this. Take the pain, the forgetfulness will kick in soon.

"Please, just take him for the weekend with Lydia." His mother's voice made him freeze, his heart picking up in panic. I thought she was out tonight.

"No, Natalie. I told you, I don't want him in my house. I'm taking Lydia, and leaving." His father's voice also made the teen edge closer to the conversation, wondering why he was here too.

Turning the corner, the redhead's breath caught in his throat when he saw both his parents standing there arguing. For some reason, what most stuck out for the boy was the clothes they wore. A sense of nostalgia washed over him, the situation seeming familiar . . . until it all came together.

It was in the beginning of the Martin's divorce, Adrian only being between the ages of five and six when it happened. He remembered having a bad dream during the night so he went downstairs after hearing his parent's voices, wanting comfort.

But what he got was far from comfort . . .

Adrian could remember younger him secretly watching their argument from the stairs, now experiencing it all over again right in front of his eyes.

Even after all these years, the boy could still remember what the main argument was about. His dad wanted to take Lydia away for the weekend . . . but not Adrian.

"What am I supposed to tell him?" His mother crossed her arms, a stressed out look on her face. "I told him you were going to take him with you."

"I'm not taking that thing with me." His father spat with venom, a harsh look in his eyes as he stepped forwards with his fists gripped tightly.

"That thing, is your son!" Natalie Martin glared right back at him, stomping her foot in fury.

". . . Is he really though?"

In that moment, Adrian remembers his mother noticing him by the stairs. He would never forget the tears that gathered as she tucked him back into bed, never speaking of the conversation with him.

But, something different happened. Collectively, both parents turned to the defenceless teen. They stared at him blankly, his mother slowly shaking her head as a sinister smirk appeared. "Oh, Adrian . . . you don't even know the truth."

"T-This isn't real." The boy was shocked at the grogginess in his scratchy voice as he shook his head, stumbling back.

"Of course it isn't." His father was next to smile in an evil manner, tilting his head. "But that doesn't make it any more true."

"S-Stop."

"Do you really think you're a part of this family?" His mother cocked her head at her son, squinting her eyes at him. "You know it's always going to be Lydia over you, Adrian. Every. Single. Time."

Adrian closes his eyes. "I said stop!" He shouted, opening his eyes only to find the image of his parents gone and a normal party around him.

The Martin stumbled, lost. His eyes looked dazed as he leaned against the wall for support, trying to see through his watery eyes. It's not real. He had to remind himself over and over again. It's not real.

"Adrian!" The young boy jumped when a hand came in contact with his shoulder, spinning him round to meet a rather panicked Danny. "Thank god I found you! I-It's Toby. Something must've happened a-and he's panicking, dude."

Adrian was led by Danny into a spare room upstairs in the Martin house, seeing a very panicky Toby cowering in a corner. His whole body was shaking as he rocked himself back and forth, muttering wildly as tears streamed down his face.

In the moment, Adrian saw a whole new side of his best friend. This wasn't just a paranoid teen who jumped when a jump scare happened in a horror movie. No. This was a young boy who feared for his life.

"Toby!" Adrian slid onto his knees in front of the boy, reaching out to him. The blonde immediately screamed when his hands touched him, crying harder. "Toby, it's me! It's Adrian!"

"A-Adrian." Toby's brown eyes seemed to clear for only a few seconds before they widened with fear yet again. He reached out, grabbing Adrian's shirt collar as he shook him violently. "Adrian! He's going to get me! H-He's coming! You have to help me!"

"Toby! Toby! Calm down!" Adrian's hands gripped at his wrists, trying to get him to let go so they can talk it out calmly. "You're fine. It's okay."

"No! No, you don't understand!" Toby sobbed, his hands now gripping at his friend's shirt as his head dropped to the redhead's clothed chest. "I-I have to find one, Adrian! I-I need to find a Necromancer!"

"Toby," The redhead didn't know what to do. He had never seen anybody in such a state before, let alone his best friend. All he could do was try his best to comfort the teen. "It's okay. You're alright. Nothing's going to happen to you."

"H-He's going to get me." The Valack boy sniffled, tears staining Adrian's light grey shirt. His shouts had by now faded into mutters as the two boys clung onto each other. "H-He'll find me a-and-and once he finds out I-I don't have one, he'll-"

"Hey," When the Valack boy hiccuped from his own tears, Adrian gently raised his face so he could see his friend. He then noticed Toby's eyes were dazed also. He had drank the punch too. "Nothing bad is going to happen, Toby. It isn't real."

"N-No, Adrian." The Valack boy's lip quivered as he shook his head frantically, as if he was running out of time to make his friend understand. "You don't get it. Help me, Adrian, please. I-I need you."

Scott suddenly appeared at the doorway of the spare room, releasing a breath of relief when he saw the familiar redheaded teen. "Adrian, thank god. Stiles and I have been looking all over for you! We need you. Now!"

The Martin could tell by Scott's eyes that a supernatural problem had occurred and something was wrong. They needed him . . . but so did his best friend.

Toby tugged tighter at his shirt, crying in his chest harder as he muttered the same pleads over and over again. "Please, Adrian. Please."

The redhead looked between the two boys, letting a small sigh escape as he made his decision. He raised Toby's head once more, grabbing his wrists to gently pull them away from his shirt. "Stay with Danny. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"No. No, Adrian, please!" Toby's voice got louder as desperation filled his eyes when his friend got up, beginning to leave. "Adrian, I need you." He sobbed.

"Hey," The redhead crouched down in front of him, hands set firmly on his shoulders as his green eyes connected with his brown ones. "Things are going to be okay. I promise you, Toby."

Adrian then let go of his best friend, Danny taking his place as he walked out of the room with Scott. He could still hear Toby's sniffles as he walked away.

"We can't find Lydia anywhere. We think she put something in the punch that's making people see things and go crazy." Scott was first to speak as they quickly walked through the house, heading outside.

Adrian was shocked when he indeed saw people acting strange. People were jumping into the pool while some made out with the plants. It definitely was the punch.

"I'll say. The punch made me and Toby hallucinate too." The Martin answered, looking around at all the dazed guests.

The werewolf frowned in concern. "What did you see?"

Adrian's mind immediately recalled his hallucination, the boy gulping thickly. "N-Nothing important." He shook his head. "It wasn't anything important."

The McCall's eyes then softened, getting the hint that whatever the teenage boy saw; he didn't want to talk about it. "Are you okay?"

Adrian was quick to lie. "I'm fine. Let's just focus on finding my sister and making sure she's okay, yeah?"

Scott nodded, leading the boy near the pillars. Stiles was waiting for them, his whole body perking up when he saw his boyfriend walking beside his best friend. He rushed over to them, immediately pulling the redhead into a tight hug. "Oh thank god, I have been looking everywhere for you, Adrian." His hands pulled himself away to grip at the boy's shoulders, his eyes displaying great concern. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." The Martin told what felt like his fifth lie that night. "Did you manage to find Lydia?" He sighed.

His boyfriend shook his head, making him groan as he threw his head back. Just then, a familiar voice began to scream across the pool.

"I can't swim!" It was Matt. He was being pushed near the pool by some guys on the lacrosse team. "No, no, no, no, stop, guys! I can't swim! I can't swim!"

He continued to yell out in panic when he was thrown into the pool, screaming and thrashing as he tried to come back up for air. Water splashed at the sidelines as Adrian stood there in shock. Does that mean . . .

Jackson was the one to step forward, kneeling down and pulling the drowning boy out of the water to land. Matt coughed and breathed heavily, getting up in his drenched state. Everyone watched as he glared at them all. "What are you looking at?"

He began to walk away, stopping at the three boys across the pool from him. He clenched his jaw, purposely shoving Adrian as he left. After he was gone, the trio just stared at each other with knowing looks. They were all thinking the same thing.

When sirens rang in the distance, one person yelled. "Cops are here! Party's over!" Which made everyone panic as they fled the scene, rushing to their cars to leave.

Adrian and Scott stared at where Matt had left, nodding to each other. Stiles joined them as they ran after the boy, stopping when they spotted him already staring at them on the other side of the road.

The Kanima's tail was wrapped round the boy's leg protectively as it stood on all fours, making the teen's eyes widen. It hissed at them as Matt glared, breathing heavily through his nose.

It was him. Matt was the one controlling Jackson.

A U T H O R. N O T E
i feel writers block catching up to me once again and i am not happy! i am just getting to the parts i have been most excited to write about!

sorry bout that gif, it breaks my heart too! my innocent little bois! i love them.

GIF MADE BY ME !
━ R O S C O E O B R I E N