A/N: I really needed a fic where I can get Stiles and Stuart to bicker and if it's over Lydia, the better. Stuart will only resemble the character from 'The Internship' in looks and sass – this is not a crossover of any sort. His background story will be related to TW and our characters.

Post S4, mostly canon aside from Allison being alive because I'm still in denial and Isaac also being back. There will be lots of angst and jealousy and Stydia feelings. It's a slow burn, so you're warned.

Chapter 1

It's almost ten in the morning when Lydia arrives to Beacon Hills from her trip to France where she spent the summer, ready to start senior year. By now, she already parted ways with Allison, Isaac and Mr. Argent, who went straight to see their friends. As for Lydia, she decided to stop by the grocery store on her way home to get a slice of her favorite pie so that she can kill that homesick feeling that she had for those two months when she was away. Meet the pack right away? No, thank you. She'll avoid it for as long as she can. She'll get her pie, drive home and make herself comfortable, relax, enjoy the silence…

Not. Of course the first person she'd see when she got back would be him. Karma's a bitch, right?

Lydia freezes as soon as she hears his voice. It's been two whole months since she saw him last and heard the voice of her former best friend. Stiles must be about 20 feet away from her and he's arguing with someone. Figures. She tries to walk in a slow pace to reach the end of the aisle she's currently in but her nerves get the best of her and she finds herself almost running. As soon as she lays eyes on him, she feels the need to shorten the distance between them and hug him even if it might hurt her further. She missed him to death. Her heart became both heavier and lighter with each passing day she was away from him. She knew it was for the best that she left, but she couldn't help the feeling that she was throwing her life away somehow. Yet, Stiles was the one asking her to leave, so she did.

She had taken the offer from Allison to visit France along with the girl's boyfriend and her dad. The brunette knew that Lydia could use the distraction and they ended up staying all summer on one of the Argents' properties. It was hard for Lydia to leave but she had to make a decision. If she had stayed, it would have been harder on both her and Stiles and the boy had pulled her strings, making it easier for her to choose to leave. He only talked to her once for the entirety of those two months, right when the group landed in Paris and just to make sure they (and not Lydia specifically) got there okay. All she heard about him for the rest of her vacation she was told by the others.

Lydia doesn't know what hurt her the most: knowing that she had to leave or that Stiles was the one who asked her to. But she got herself together and she's better now; she doesn't need him. Or does she? Because she's looking at him right now and she's not so sure. Bad as it was when they argued the last time they were together – yelling and crying swiftly cross her mind -, she's willing to forgive him just so she can talk to him again. Hell, he's forgiven already.

She gets closer cautiously. His back is facing her so he hasn't seen her yet. She first notices how tall he looks. He was already tall, of course, and probably didn't grow that much in the last two months; maybe she just missed how much taller he is in comparison to her. And he's wearing glasses, she notices, which is odd. No one in the pack mentioned that. Also, his hair looks a little different but he still looks good; he always looks good to her. Phone in his hand, he's disagreeing with a woman. If she hadn't heard the sound of her own voice, even if barely, Lydia wouldn't acknowledge that she actually spoke. "Stiles?"

The boy turns around quickly, looking at her from head to toe. "You too?" He looks confused between Lydia and the cashier. "What the hell is a Stiles?"

She furrows her brows. "What?"

Ms. Jones, an incredibly nice, middle aged woman who had owned that store ever since Lydia can remember and even before that, looks at the strawberry blonde in disbelief. "Ms. Martin," she says, "I don't know what's going on but Mr. Stilinski here says he's neither himself nor the Sheriff's son. Also, I apparently am a man and don't work here, according to him. Is he on something? Because if he is, I'm calling the Sheriff right now..."

Lydia can feel that something is different; Stiles is looking at her like he's never seen her before. She steps closer, trying to reach for him. "Stiles, are you okay? Where's Malia?" Thankfully, the bitter tone on Lydia's voice at the mention of that name is disguised by concern. She wouldn't want to fight with him, not when she just got back.

"I'm fine," he replies while stepping away from her. "I don't know what a Stiles is or who the hell is Malia. Nor you. Who are you again?"

Lydia's stomach drops and her voice comes out hoarse. "Is this some sort of joke? Because this is not funny in the slightest, Stiles." He can't be doing this to her, he just can't.

The boy seems to notice how heavy Lydia's features suddenly turned and looks at her apologetic. "There's got to be some misunderstanding here because whoever that Stiles is – such a weird name, by the way -, is not me. And I'm sure if I knew who you were, I wouldn't forget it," he murmurs addressing Lydia, blushing slightly.

Lydia tries to think of something fast because the older woman is already reaching for her phone, probably to talk to the Sheriff. Whatever is going on, Stiles probably doesn't need to get in any more trouble with his dad. "Uh, I got this, Ms. Jones. I'll take him home." Lydia reaches for his arm and glances at him briefly, but he doesn't understand what she's trying to do and lets go of her grip. Lydia feels embarrassed at his rejection.

"I just came here to buy some water. I don't know what's going on here but I really just needed something to drink, so I'm gonna go. Thanks, have a nice day," he says, glancing at the cashier, his tone a little annoyed. Placing the money on the counter and grabbing the bottle of water, the boy walks out of the store, leaving the two women openmouthed behind him.

"I'm gonna call the Sheriff," the woman says.

"Oh," Lydia tries to turn the situation around, "you know Stiles, always pulling pranks and being funny. I'm sure he was just joking. I'll make sure he gets home safe," Lydia says, smiling warmly.

The woman frowns but lets Lydia have her way. "I'm glad you're back, Ms. Martin. Has been crazy around here."

xxxxxxxxxx

Lydia runs out of the store as fast as she can to catch up with the boy until she's right in front of him, making him come to a halt abruptly not to bump into her, almost dropping his phone on the ground.

"What the hell was that?" she almost yells. Almost; the memories of their last argument still echo in her mind.

"I should ask you that," he retorts. "Whoever you're looking for, I'm not the guy. I already told that to the lady over there, I don't know why she didn't believe me."

"Are you serious?" She's trying, Lydia's really trying not to lose it because how the hell does he keep hurting her when they haven't talked for two months?

"Okay, just so we're clear, something's wrong because last night I was home and today I don't remember waking up, let alone how I got here. And I'm also pretty sure that that grocery store only had one owner in the last forty years and it's Mr. Thompson and he's not a woman, at least last I checked, so I'm not really sure what to tell you." The boy's cheeks turned red as he rambled, gesturing excessively, a sarcastic tone on his voice. It has to be Stiles, Lydia is sure. It's such a Stiles thing to do, right? At least it looks like it's him but Lydia is inclined to agree with the boy because something does seem off. "You still haven't told me your name," he ventures, smiling shyly. He holds out his hand. "I'm Stuart."

Lydia's breath catches in her throat and she doesn't know what to do, except stare at the boy and whisper. "Stiles, I know we are not talking but if this is some sort of payback or a joke, I-" Lydia gasps. "Stiles, I don't know if I can handle that."

The boy is selfless even if he usually hides it away, but he finds himself reaching out for Lydia's hand to comfort the girl who's now teary - which is actually weird because he doesn't trust people like that, specially someone he has never met before. "Hey, are you okay? You're not gonna cry, are you? Because I can't watch a girl cry without crying too."

Not only does he sounds and looks like Stiles, but he feels like him. And still, even when he holds her hand just like Stiles used to do, she knows that something is different, even if she can't quite put her finger on it. She shakes her head slowly. "No, sorry." Lydia takes her hand away slowly, as to keep the memory of his touch at bay, and stands straighter. "So, you're Stuart? Not Stiles?"

"Who the hell is this Stiles guy, anyway? I'm Stuart, have always been Stuart as far as I'm aware. Pretty sure I've lived here all my life and I've never heard of that guy."

Something has to be up. "What's the last thing you remember before this morning?"

"I- I don't know. I went to sleep like always but as I've said, I don't remember waking up. I was just here, walking down the road when I saw the grocery store so I went in. The woman…"

"Ms. Jones."

"Yeah. She asked me how I was doing and asked about my dad, which I just hope was a joke because that's what's not funny here, and she called me Stiles so I told her that…"

"You're not him." It comes out as a realization. She doesn't know how or why but this is not Stiles, her Stiles. Lydia's mind is spinning.

"Yes! And I'm freaking out a little and she wasn't being very helpful so I just wanted to leave. That's when you came in."

She takes a minute to think, rearrange her thoughts. "So you got here on foot?" The boy nods. "And is there somewhere you need to be?"

"I don't even know what I'm doing here, so I'd say no," the boy chuckles nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

"I think I might be able to help you, or at least try and find some answers, but you'd have to trust me."

He laughs, grinning at her with his cheeks bright red. "Wow, now that's not suspicious. A beautiful girl asking me to trust her? Either it's a hell of a compliment and a huge vote of confidence or a trap."

Lydia blushes. Can he sound more like Stiles? "Not a trap, I promise. The thing is that you are the exact copy of someone I know. That's why both I and Ms. Jones mistook you for him. I don't think it's a good idea for you to roam around town looking like someone you're not. At least not until we figure it out." She regrets her choice of words immediately.

"That Stiles guy? How did you get to know someone with a name like that?" he asks amused.

She purses her lips. "Long story. So uh, think you can trust me?"

"As long as you don't murder me or something like that, I think it'll be okay."

"I have my car parked right over there," Lydia points in its direction. "Would you mind if I took you somewhere? There are people who need to know about you." It has to sound weird to the boy, the way she's laying out her cards but what's she supposed to do? The pack has to know about him. That's all she can think of and it's not like she knows what she's doing. "I mean, you just showed up here. There has to be something going on and I don't know what happened or why you're here, but there might be some things you'll also need to hear about."

She looks serious, so he starts walking in the direction she said her car was. He can't really tell why but he feels like he can trust her. And okay, she's gorgeous and he's not used to get attention from pretty girls which is why this might be a terrible idea, but it's not like he has anything better to do so whatever. "Who are we meeting?"

"My friends. We call our group a pack."

"Oh." The boy pauses his speech, looking down as he walks. "Are there too many of them? Because my interpersonal communication skills are not that great. Just, you know, FYI."

He looks flushed and avoids looking at her. "It's not a small group, but it'll be fine," she smiles, trying to reassure him.

"Is he uh… Is the guy gonna be there?"

Lydia purses her lips, nodding almost imperceptibly. "Probably."

He noticed how uptight she was about him. Not Stuart; Stiles, the guy with the weird name. Still, he chooses not to say anything for now. She seemed sad about it. "Should be fun."