" So Marky, how's school?" His mother asked while he stabbed at the pancakes in his plate tiredly.
" You know that I hate that nickname mom." He muttered with a playful smile." School is great, nothing to really worry about for now."
" Oh? And how about your brother?" She asked, this time there was worry clear in her voice.
" I don't know, I think he's struggling on some subjects but other than that, I don't know anything." He told her and he wasn't even lying.
He didn't pay his brother any attention unless needed, even before he took over this body he hadn't been that close to his twin.
It only got worse when he took over though, they would fight for the littlest things.
Mostly it being Scott who was jealous at his grades, lacrosse position and even being the one who had the most attention from their mother.
The last one though was kind of stupid in his opinion, he didn't get more attention, it was just that he spent the most amount of time with his mother and they had built a closer bond than Scott had.
So he could see where Scott's anger came from, even though it would have been rectified if he ever tried connecting with his mother than always being dragged on to whatever trouble Stiles got them in on a daily.
" Oh come on Mark, baby, you should help out your brother if you can." She said looking at him with a sad smile." I know that you two haven't been getting along lately for some reason, but he's still your brother."
Hearing that he felt like groaning, on occasion she would give him advice similar to this concerning his and Scott's dwindling relationship. He knew that she meant well but it became stale after a while.
" It's not like I'm doing anything wrong mom, he just gets triggered over the stupidest things and he blames everything that goes bad with his life on me!" He told her, his voice growing with each word as frustration seeped out.
" He gets jealous over things that I have no control over, then has the gall to make it as if I'm the bad guy?" As soon as he finished saying that he realised something.
The frustration and anger that he was feeling wasn't so much directed to Scott as much as that he was simply letting some pent up emotions free, him being extremely tired due to yesterday's 'experiments' was also another factor though.
" Mark." His mother said, a smile on her face as she lay a hand on his.
He felt the weight and stress ease off for a moment.
That was one of the reasons he had become so close to her, the way that she always seemed to make him destress.
It was probably a mother thing, even though he knew that she wasn't truly his mother.
The person that he considered his mother was not of this world, heck, he didn't even want to think of the woman.
" Don't stress yourself too much baby, I'm sure everything will get better." Saying that she then gave him a hug that lasted for a moment.
Then she let go and looked at her watch.
" We should probably be going, I'll drop you off at school." She stood up, grabbed her coat and keys and made way to her car while he followed, his mind a lot more clearer than before but still dead tired.
At least he felt himself getting better, months of worrying and stressing finally having an outlet.
Afterall, he wasn't as powerless as he had been anymore.
_______________________________________________________
" So, what's up with you today?" A voice startled him awake, his senses bombarding him with sensory information like a hammer causing a wince before his eyes settled on her.
" Oh please, not today Allison." He muttered, a groan escaping his lips before his head fell back on his arms on his desk.
"*Scoff* You make it as if I annoy everyday." She said, rolling her eyes." But if I recall, we haven't even had conversations that lasted more than five times."
Sighing to himself he looked back at her, she sat at a desk besides him, looking at him with that hint of mischief that she always carried.
" Yeah and for good reason, I've been avoiding you afterall." He told her, probably not the smartest thing to tell her but he was just simply tired.
Staying up for the most part of the night and expanding his mana having done more of a toll on him than he thought.
He watched as she raised an eyebrow, the hint of mischief turning into sudden understanding.
" So I wasn't imaging things, you really are avoiding me?" She asked leaning forward enough that he could see her cleavage from down where he lay.
" Well, for one you've been stalking me for whatever reason and you seem to have an unhealthy interest towards me even when you didn't even know me." He told her blandly, all subtle having left the room.
" T-that....I can explain." She stuttered, her cheeks reddening in embarassment.
Seeing the slight crack on her facade he couldn't help but want to crack it even more, so he didn't let her speak further as he devised a plan.
" What? Are you inlove with me or something?" He asked her as nonchalantly as possible, as if the very thought of a girl liking him didn't phase him.
" What! No! Don't be absurd, I just met you!" She shouted, flustered enough to stand up straight as she looked down on him.
" Then that's even more weird, why would you stalk me if you weren't interested in me?" He asked luring her into a trap.
" I-i...I w-was ju-just curious! Yeah, just curious."She told him, her eyes roaming the floor all of a sudden.
" You're a bad liar, you know that right?" He said with an amused smirk before looking at the clock.
It was time for lacrosse practice. He didn't want to go though, so he'd make a straight line home instead.
It was the eliminations today but he was sure that he would get in on any match that he wanted with his reputation in lacrosse and yesterday's match showing just how good he was.
So he'd go home and deal with more important stuff.
" Shut up." She said with a pout that was uncharacteristically cute in her face." Anyway, I wanted to ask whether you were going to the party."
" Lydia's party?" He looked back at her with a brow raised.
" Y-yeah." She stammered.
He simply snorted at the display. " You know, if I didn't know better I'd say that you liked me."
" Just answer the question!" She groaned out, holding her head in probable annoyance.
Shaking his head, he grabbed his bag and stood up before looking her in the eyes. " We'll see."
He didn't want to deny or accept; that way she wouldn't nag him or try to rope him into going. So keeping it vague and letting some semblance of hope stir inside would keep her off his back.... probably.
" Are you going to practice?" She asked grabbing her own bag.
" Nah, I thought I'd just go home." He told her a with a shrug." I have some stuff I need to do."
" Oh? Then can I walk with you?" She asked, hope in her eyes which made his brow raise for a moment.
He was about to decline, citing that he liked being alone but then he remembered that one of his mission's was to find out more about her so he sighed and nodded.
" Sure, you can come." He told her before making his terms." I'll get you home and then I'll go home, deal?"
She paused, seemingly contemplating before nodding.
" It's a deal then." She said grinning.
' The things I do for power.....'