5

                                    

                                          
My eyes and his father's met.  
His face seemed to drop as he turned pale.  
"Hey, Sheriff..." I mumbled out.  
"Was it him?" His dad asked me.  
I looked back at him, I didn't move a muscle.  
I didn't say anything.  
But, that was all the conformation he needed.  
"Where is he?" His dad spoke again.  
This time he didn't look pale.  
His face now was bright red. 
"Home." I mumbled out.  
Without saying a word, His dad grabbed his keys and walkie talkie from the counter, and walked out the front door.  
As the door slammed shut loudly, I tuned back to Stiles.  
Stiles looked at me up and down for a moment, his eyes were filled with emotion.  
Without saying anything, he turned and walked into the kitchen.  
He grabbed a rag, rinsing it with cold water, before walking back over to me.  
He sat down next to me on the couch.  
Stiles held the rag up to the side of my face, as he leaned in closely.  
Stiles, with a gentle hand, started cleaning the blood off of the side of my face.  
His caring eyes locked with mine for a moment, his soft lips pressed together, as he was focused in.  
I felt differently about Stiles now.  
My heart raced at his touch.  
Having him see me in such a vulnerable state and helping me, caring for me... 
I guess Scott was right, maybe I did like Stiles more than I knew.  
"Your dad, I didn't know he was the Sheriff." I mumbled out.  
"Yeah, well... based on that look he gave you.  I'm assuming you two have already met." Stiles spoke softly. 
His eyes met my gaze again, as he waited for my answer.  
"Yeah, we have.  I see him about once a week, if not more... he picks my dad up from the bar a lot, you know.  When he gets too drunk and rowdy, or passes out.  Your dad brings him back home." I admitted.  
Stiles let the rag drop from my face, as realization set in.  
"Your dad did this, didn't he?" Stiles spoke out softly.  
I let out a shaky breath, which confirmed Stiles suspicions.  
"Why didn't you say anything?" Stiles seemed more upset than I even was. 
"Stiles, it's not that simple." I said back to him, "I mean, my mother left and we moved here.  I have no one else, I have no where else to go." 
Stiles bit the insides of his cheeks, as he thought for a moment.  
The look of worry, frustration, anger, and everything in-between swirled on his face.  
"You can come here.  You can always come here." Stiles muttered, as he stood up.  
Stiles extended both of his arms out to me. 
I took his hands softly, as he helped me up to my feet.  
"Here, let's get you some different clothes. Follow me." Stiles spoke louder now.  
I nodded, as I followed him through the house.  
Stiles lead me up to his bedroom and I awkwardly stood there, as he dug through his dresser and closet.  
"Here," He said, as he handed me a t-shirt and sweatpants, "put these on, and I'll wash the clothes you're wearing." 
"I guess this makes up for the coffee you spilt, huh?" I jokingly asked him.  
The corners of Stiles lips curled up into a smile.  
"Yeah, I guess so." He let out a soft chuckle, as he stepped out of the room, closing the door behind himself.  
I quickly changed into the clothes that he had given me, which were huge on me.  
I was practically swimming in them. 
As I opened Stiles bedroom door, with my old clothes in hand, he stood in the hallway waiting for me.  
"I'll go wash these, um... go sit on the couch.  My dad just called.  He said they've gotta come ask you some questions, and you've gotta make a statement." Stiles spoke, as he took the clothes from my arms.  
"Okay." I said back.  
I went back and sat down on the couch, nervously waiting.  
Stiles dad and a few other officers came back to the house.  
I told them everything that had happened, they asked Stiles questions too, and they took pictures of my face where I had been hit.   
"What's going to happen to him? What's going to happen to me?" I asked Stiles dad, as the other officers left.   
"Well, your father has been arrested and has to go through that whole process.  For you, where not too sure yet.   You're staying here for the time being until they figure that out.  So tomorrow, I'll take you to your house to grab some of your things.  We will clean up the spare bedroom for you tomorrow, and that's where you will stay." His dad told me.  
"Thank you." Is all I managed to say.  
His dad gave me a slow nod, as he looked over at the doorway where Stiles stood.  
Stiles leaned his shoulder against the door frame, as he stood there waiting.  
"But for now, I've gotta head back to work.  I've got paperwork and all that fun stuff to do. I won't be back home for a few hours." Stiles dad said, as he walked towards Stiles.  
"Keep an eye on her, alright.  Make sure she's okay.  Call me if you need to." His dad whispered to Stiles, before he walked away.  
Stiles walked over to the couch and sat down next to me.  
"You wanna watch some TV or something?" Stiles asked me.  
"Sure." I nodded back.   
Stiles leaned back into the couch, as he turned the TV on.  
He rested his arm on the back of the couch behind me, as we both watched the TV screen in silence.  
Though I was pretty shaken up today, Stiles presence was... comforting.  
Soon enough, I felt a wave of calmness flow over my body.  
My head seemed to lean, as my eyes fluttered shut.