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“Thank you for coming, Sheriff Stilinski, Stiles.” Ms. Morrell said with a polite smile, letting them into her office. The school was open since there was a basketball and cross country camp both going on.
“No problem. At least I hope there isn’t one?” His dad said hesitantly. Stiles sat down, not sure what exactly was going on.
“School’s not even in session so I know I haven’t done anything to irritate any teachers yet.” Stiles defended preemptively.
“No problem to worry about at the moment, I assure you. I wanted to discuss your upcoming year, is all. If you manage to keep up with your classes, with passing grades, you could actually graduate this year. I wanted to speak with you and see if that was something you would be interested in?”
“Wait, what?” Stiles looked at his dad, feeling a little confused. “Look, I know I’m pretty ahead in a lot of my classes and everything, but I’m only going to be a junior. Surely there’s some senior level class that I can’t take until then, right?”
“Au contraire, Stiles. You can easily graduate this year, as well as Ms. Martin. She, however, has elected to save one class so she can graduate with her current classmates. Since you are both in the same boat, perhaps you would like to do the same?”
“Do you need an answer right now?” His dad asked, sensing Stiles’ discomfort. “Or is this something we can discuss and get back to you with?”
“You’re welcome to discuss it, but I would need an answer by the end of next week so we can finalize your upcoming schedule.” She said easily.
“Thanks. Do you have a copy of what he will be taking? Maybe a couple different options for if he does choose to graduate this year and one for next year similar to Lydia’s? He does better with more information than necessary.” His dad asked, putting a steady hand on Stiles’ shoulder. It helped ease his anxiety and nerves that he felt bubbling just below his skin.
“Of course. I’ve preprinted a few, the one on top is for if he chooses to graduate this year, and the copies beneath are if he decides to defer and stay with his classmates. That being said, it is entirely your choice, Stiles.” She turned to him and gave him a reassuring look. “I know it can be hard to leave your friends, people you’ve been with for all or most of your school years, but you will be graduating eventually. I hear you’ve already completed, essentially, a semester through BU over the summer.”
“Yeah, well, you should know about that since you set it up.” Stiles countered, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Were you not happy with the decision or choice?” She asked, her face was open, but it only made him more anxious.
“No, it was a good idea.” He grumbled. “I got, what, nine credit hours out of it?”
“Yes. They sent over a record of your final grades this morning since your final was just a few days ago. Straight A’s, as I’m confident you already knew.”
“They were gen ed classes, so they weren’t particularly difficult or anything. I expect once I start digging more into the criminology courses they’ll get more challenging.” He said, looking over at his dad who smiled proudly.
“Since the school year is starting shortly, you’ll need to remember to keep your classes at the university to three days a week at most, though I think it would be best if you only did two. If you choose to do night classes, those will be up to you.”
“We’ll keep that in mind when we meet with his advisor Monday.” His dad said pleasantly.
“If you get overwhelmed at any time during the school year, I will encourage you to take a break and focus on your high school classes first. We can meet this same time next week to go over what we discussed today, if that works for you, Sheriff?”
“I’ll make sure it does. Thank you, Ms. Morrell.” His dad and his counselor shook hands and then they were back in the cruiser, stopping at a diner.
“You think I should do it, don’t you?” Stiles asked, once they had their food and shakes.
“While I’m not thrilled at the idea of you graduating after only three years in high school, especially since you already ended up skipping a grade in elementary school, it could be good for you. But I also know that you aren’t going to be willing to leave Scott just yet. So it doesn’t really matter. The question is if you want to hold off and do one credit next year, or split this year and next year up more evenly. It’ll give us a little more time to look into scholarships, you’ll be able to get most, if not all of your gen ed’s done, maybe even have your BA when you graduate high school.”
“I can’t graduate this year, dad.” Stiles grumbled around a mouthful of fries. “I mean, we haven’t even had time to figure out a routine for you for when I’m gone, plan out food prep so you aren’t killing yourself with burgers, look at colleges, inspect dorms to make sure they’re up to code-”
“I know, Stiles, breathe, alright? We’re not deciding all of that just yet. We’ll need to, soon, but not yet. We have time. Couldn’t hurt to visit a few colleges this fall or spring, though.”
“Maybe.” Stiles reluctantly agreed. He just hoped there wasn’t some werewolf or hunter nonsense to deal with this year.
“Do you want to call Lydia and talk to her? She’s in the same boat as you.”
“Nah, she probably already knows. She’s got her strengths in any math class, which she practically teaches, and chem. I didn’t really even know that I was tied with her for top spot, being completely honest. I thought everyone was just saying it as a joke or something. Which, in hindsight, is not something people would typically joke around about. I know my test scores are usually high, but still. It’s weird, right?”
“It’s not weird, son.” His dad chuckled. “It’s unusual, I guess, more than anything, but kids these days are smarter than they were in my day.”
“You’re smart too, dad.” Stiles rolled his eyes.
“You’re only saying that because I always know when you’re lying when none of your other friends do. I’ve got a lot of practical knowledge, kid, but you’ve got the universe in your head. That’s what your mom always said.”
“I forgot she said that.” Stiles hummed, finishing his food and wiping his hands on a napkin. “After all those appointments and meetings, I’m still good to spend the weekend with Scott, right?”
“Of course. It’s his birthday, and I know better than to separate you two on either or your days. Just be smart, and try to keep him from making too much of an impulsive decision?”
“No can do, dad. He’s finally 17, and we’re gonna make it a good one. I can promise there won’t be alcohol, but that’s about it.”
“Well, that’s better than nothin’.” His dad sighed, getting up and driving them home from the diner.
“I’m gonna sort through these and think through my options. Holler if you need anything or if you're going to the station.” Stiles called after his dad as he headed for his room.
“Try to use tape instead of those pins on my walls.” He called back, but Stiles was already taping up his schedule options on the wall and bringing out his erase board his dad had gotten to keep him from covering his walls when he was in a research binge. A few of the deputies had pitched in, thinking it was funny to give him essentially a murder board for a present for getting through his first semester at college.
“Graduating at 17?” Stiles jumped when the voice spoke, startling him, but not enough for him to yelp this time. He turned a glare at the intruder who was lounging back in his chair.
“No. I mean, it’s an option. Ms. Morrell wants us to consider it. What are you doing here, Peter?”
“Just wondering where my dear nephew keeps disappearing a few days a week. I’ve caught your scent on him and his beta more over the summer than I did right after my resurrection.”
“He’s taking classes, creeper wolf, not hanging out with the weird friend of the wolf you made.” Stiles rolled his eyes and started writing out different variations and options he could do with his schedule for the next two years. “I see him on campus sometimes and he says I make good white noise while he studies so he does some of his homework here. Or he did. Classes ended last week.”
“I still hold to it that you would have made an excellent wolf.”
“Pass.” Stiles said, not looking at him. “Besides, you have no room to judge. I know you graduated at 17 and got your degree in networking in two years.”
“I’m flattered you looked into me.”
“Don’t be. It was a rabbit hole I fell in looking into all the Hale’s at one point that could have survived the fire or were caught in it. Because I couldn’t understand what actually brought them here in the first place. The hunters.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, there weren’t any weird animal attacks, nothing strange or supernaturally related occurring at the time. The only creatures here had been here living peacefully for years; your family. So. What brought the Argent’s here? Something in particular? Or was Kate just left unsupervised, given vague information about a pack here, was the code being manipulated back then to incite a war between hunters and creatures, or what?”
“That’s … an interesting point.”
“I have those from time to time.”
“Did you find anything?”
“Not really. From dealing with Gerard, I have some theories. One, a year or so before the fire he finds out he’s dying, incurable, no matter how much the doctors say there are treatments that can fight back or even repress the cancer; two, he happens to know of a potential cure that could exist if he were willing to abandon his family code. They’re a matriarchal society, but if his wife was already gone, then there wasn’t a matriarch to take that place aside from Kate or Allison’s mom. So who was he feeding his ideas into? Who was he manipulating, teaching to manipulate as easily as he did? Kate. So he moves to his next step. Three; he sends her on a ‘test’ to investigate the pack he’s heard of here to see just how powerful they are and perhaps hints that if something happened to them, it would be what they deserved since they could heal and didn’t have to worry about pesky things like cancer, in his mind.
“Four, Kate finds her way in by manipulating and taking advantage of a 15 or 16 year old boy, to weasel out anything and everything she can about his family. She spends months grooming him before setting a date and not showing. Either she grew a conscience or actually cared about him by sending him somewhere else, but whichever, she went through with making sure no one could escape the house before setting the fire. All while making sure she was miles away when it was discovered. Five, he knew you were in intensive care, knew you would eventually heal. You weren’t under an alias, so anyone could have found you. Your wolf healed before you did, and it wanted vengeance on the family it thought abandoned it.
“Six, being a sociopath helped you separate and rationalize the shit you did. Which in turn, brought the attention of the Argents once more. Seven, I’m quite sure that Gerard never intended Kate to actually be killed, but it helped fuel his plan that was already in motion, leading to the events that you’re already aware of happening when he got here. So, like I said, no proof, just a theory. Since the bastard disappeared, there’s no way to get answers. And I honestly never want to see his face again. I might just use Derek’s usual threat to rip his throat out with my teeth, even if they are dull.”
“You think he sent her here all those years ago to destroy my family and incite a war between hunters and the supernatural?”
“I think it’s probable. Most hunters are families who pass on their traditions to their kids. But say normal people were made aware of things that go bump in the night? If wolves can take people and change them, then why not the hunters? They bring in more people, people who were scared and scarred, mentally or physically, by something; increasing their ranks, preparing for a bigger standoff of some kind. Like the eradication of the supernatural. Except then it would leave them without a purpose, right? Except if Gerard could be turned, then they could train and make new wolves that were controlled. Eliminating the free will of those bitten. If they took out all the born wolves, and enough time passes that it’s seen as a disease instead of an inherited biological trait, then all the better for the hunters to take over and get away with even more bullshit.”
Stiles finished writing on his board as he talked and made X’s on the two schedules he was vetoing, prepared to show his dad what he chose. He turned and found Peter watching him with a creepy intense gaze.
“Never become a super villain, Stiles. You’ll put the rest of us to shame.” Peter finally sighed standing up.
“No plans to, currently, but I like to keep my options open.” Stiles shrugged.
“Has Derek been by recently?”
“Not for at least a week. He seemed pretty stressed, though. Didn’t seem like normal finals stress.”
“Stiles? I’m heading by the station for a minute.” His dad called.
“Yeah, dad.” Stiles replied.
“No research papers longer than 20 pages by the time I return. Go outside or watch a movie or something.”
“No promises.” Stiles replied, grinning when his dad huffed and left.
“If you go outside,” Peter says, walking to the window, “stay out of the woods.”
“I’m not Little Red Riding Hood, I’ve got my fill of meeting wolves in the woods. And finding them in my room.” Stiles huffed, opening his computer. “Peter? Don’t tell anyone.”
“Tell anyone that you’re a genius?” Peter asked, one eyebrow raised skeptically. “I’m afraid that cat has been out of the bag for a while. But I won’t blab about this. I also don’t anticipate it coming up in conversation.”
“Cool.” Stiles nodded, ignoring the wolf as he paused at the window, looking as if he wanted to say more, before leaving. “Thank god school starts in two weeks. This summer has been too freaking weird.”