Stiles listened to everything Erica was telling him with rapt attention. They were both seated on the love seat that Scott and Allison had occupied not long ago. Speaking of those two love birds, they were currently showing the new counselors the grand tour of the place as Jackson and Lydia sat on the other couch, talking quietly among themselves. Not that it really mattered, the whole house was full of werewolves now. Goodbye privacy.
"So…no more bacon dance?" Erica gave him a look. "Don't be rude, that shit hurt like you wouldn't know. But yes, no more seizures. Getting the bite was honestly the best thing that could have ever happened to me." A serene smile flitted itself across her face, as if reliving the day that her whole life changed for the better.
"Well that's just- that's amazing Erica! I'm really happy for you!" He could feel a hug coming on. Yup, there's the hug. Hello arms, just go ahead and wrap yourself around Erica, it's not like she can chew his head off now or anything. Erica took it all in good cheer and the euphoria of meeting an old friend again, so, lucky for him. Erica rocked them both from side to side, soft cheerful laughter escaping her. If anyone accused Stiles of giggling, well, he was. He couldn't help himself, he was just so happy for Erica and that he was able to meet her again after eleven years.
"Honestly Stiles, real talk, I never thought you were anything but a human?" She cocked her head to the side, throwing in a little sniff for emphasis. Stiles rolled his eyes at her as he slouched against the couch.
"Well, technically speaking I am still human. I'm just a magical human." He did a little wiggle with his fingers. Erica slapped his hands playfully. "I'm a spark." A confused look passed across her face as she pondered what he meant. Stiles chuckled as he continued explaining. "It's honestly no surprise you haven't heard of sparks. We're a pretty rare breed. I'm basically a conduit for magic. I can produce magic of my own which is actually pretty awesome, but in retrospect, my main ability lies with strengthening the magic and abilities of others. As an example, if I was in a pack my ability would solidify the bond between pack mates. I would also make the pack much stronger and enhance all of your abilities. One of me is basically a pack full of wolves. Pretty neat, huh?" He did more wiggling with his fingers as Erica nodded along, realization dawning on her face.
"That's actually pretty useful, I can imagine many packs or super's are really interested in you?" Erica asked, curiosity lining her words. Stiles shrugged as he started tapping his feet on the floor.
"Well, they would be if they knew. It's not really something I go broadcasting, even after the coming out. Besides, it might not be a proper pack, but with Scott and everyone, I'm pretty happy. No need to rush into anything, bind myself to a pack so to speak. Stiles is a free spark!" Stiles laughed at his own joke. Erica giggled, which made Stiles beyond ecstatic. Finally, someone who understood his pop culture references that wasn't Scott.
Just then, the rest of the group came walking down the stairs, Scott and Allison at the head of the operation. Erica bounced herself off of her seat and sashayed her way over to Boyd where she casually wrung her arm around his waist and gave him a soft kiss. Well, that was an unexpected turn of events. More of a shock than anything. He was definitely happy for her though, Erica deserved happiness with someone after all the shit she's been through. He just didn't think it would have been somewhat that exceed indifference and was so…quiet.
"So, what do you think?" Stiles said, bringing his hands up in the air as if the house itself was a masterpiece.
"It's alright, the house is better than most cabin's I've seen at camps." Isaac said, nodding his head as he glanced across the living room and attached kitchen.
"It'll be pretty cramp in here with all of us." Lydia clicked her tongue, displeased.
"Well, you're going to be here for the whole summer, so might as well get used to it." Allison interjected, walking over towards a card board box that was sitting on the counter top. The sound of tape being ripped offed could be heard. It was quite funny seeing the rippling effect of all the wolves, and Jackson, cringing as the sound traveled on. Tape ripping was a delightful sound, Stiles didn't know what was wrong with all of them.
"Oh awesome, our shirts are in!" Allison stated delightfully, bringing the box over to the coffee table resting in the center between all the couches. Once she set it down, left and right hands went inside to grab their shirts. The color was a very soft shade of teal. The BH Super Summer Camp logo on the front left breast section. The white name was surrounding an empty circle with a white Nemeton in the center. Their names were printed in bold white lettering on the back. Teal wasn't really his colour, but he'd find a way to make it work. They each got two pairs, four shirts in total.
"You only really need to wear these shirts when we go off camp site or for big group activities as well as for the first two weeks. Other than that you can wear whatever you like. There's a washing machine just down the road, all the stuff you'd need is already stocked. Only downside is that you have to hang your clothes." Scott stated, seeing the look of disgust on the new counselors faces.
"No need to look so dejected, I'm sure you all will look absolutely fine in this nice shade of teal." Stiles brought his own shirt up, waving his left hand up and down as if trying to sell something. He wiggled his eyebrows just for the hell of it.
"Don't mind Stiles, he doesn't know anything about style. Just look at him." Jackson sneered out. Stiles in retaliation puffed his cheeks and glared.
"Shut up Jackson, not everyone can pull off the asshole look like you can." He snickered to himself, Scott eyeballing him and Jackson, waiting to interfere if the Kanima wanted to show its face.
"Bite me, Stilinksi!"
"Sorry, I'm not into scallies." And that was a hard cushion that just got thrown at his face. He hit the back of his head on the hard part of the couch, a grunt escaping him as he threw the pillow back where it came from before messaging his aching head. He would have been more satisfied if the pillow had even made contact, but alas today was not his day as the pillow just kept soaring until it came to a halt in front of the stairs.
"Shitty aim as always, Stilinksi." Jackson laughed at him. Stiles just rolled his eyes and huffed out, annoyed. The room was quiet, the newbies didn't know what just happened and the regulars just busied themselves with other things, clearly used to this type of treatment between the two.
Laura, who had been quiet until now decided to interject the tense atmosphere. "Mr. Stilinksi had said we had things to prepare, what would that be?" She was currently perched against the arm rest of the couch that Isaac, Boyd and Erica had decided to sit down on.
"We just need to go around the grounds and make sure nothing of dangerous matter is littered around the floor as well as set up banners around the camp. We also need to make sure that the cabins for the campers are clean and in proper order and check the other buildings to make sure they as well are good." Lydia stated, filling her nails, clearly bored. Stiles never did figure why Lydia decided to start becoming a counselor. The best bet would have been because of her best friend Allison. Stiles nodded to himself that must be it.
"That seems easy enough." Isaac stated, a small smile on his face. Stiles didn't know what to think of Isaac yet, but so far he seemed nice enough.
"It's easy, but it's long. We'll probably only get done once the sun sets, that how long it usually takes, though with the extra hands we might be faster. We might as well get started now. There are gloves in the shed, I can show you where it is." Scott offered, walking over towards the door and opening it. Soon, everyone started getting up and heading out, throwing their shirts on chairs or on the couch cushions. Stiles bounced up onto his feet, folded his shirts and set them nicely onto the table, a small smile on his face.
The gang was already a few ways away in front of him before he noticed that someone was walking slowly next to him, a few paces behind. He chanced a glance and noticed that Derek was in no rush and if he looked closely enough, was giving him a sort of scowled look, sizing him up with his arms crossed over his nicely defined pectoral muscles.
Stiles cocked his eyebrows at the other which made Derek huff out and avert his eyes, staring straight ahead of them instead. Stiles simply shrugged his shoulders as he kept walking. Stiles took in the fresh air and listened to the sound of nature, letting the effects calm him, which of course was interrupted with the sound of snuffling. Cool air washed over the back of his neck which made him squawk in the most dignified way he could muster, spinning around with shocked eyes and flailing arms that almost hit Derek in the face. Derek quickly sprung himself away from Stiles, as if caught red handed with his hand in a cookie jar.
"Did you just sniff me?" He squeaked out, face heating up in most likely the most unattractive shade of red known to man. The others laughed in front of him, damn them and their super hearing. Derek didn't even grace him with a straight answer. He simply shrugged his shoulders, no ounce of remorse littered his posture as he huffed out a simple indication. "You smell different."
"Uh…okay?" He sniffed himself idly. He didn't think he smelled too bad, he did take a shower that morning. Sure he might of sweated with all the running he did, but that shouldn't be a cause for him smelling different. "Either way, keep your super sniffer to yourself, Sourwolf." He huffed out, looking at Derek with a glint of a challenge in his eyes. He once again heard them laugh, but this time Erica's laugh was loud and obnoxious.
Derek's extremely expressive eyebrows seem to have disappeared into his hair line. "Sourwolf?" He stated, a small chuckle leaving him before he corrected himself, masking his face into that all too familiar scowl.
"Yes, Sourwolf. You've had a scowl on your face since you came here. It makes me wonder how you'll be with the kids. I know they need discipline, but are you just going to bore them into submission with your extremely impressive eyebrows and your glower. Because I hate to tell you buddy, but it's not going to work that way." Stiles stated, pointing to his eyebrows and mouth as he explained his nickname.
If it were possible, Derek looked as if his scowl became even more pronounced. With a last withering look, Derek upped his pace and was soon walking next to Laura, who by now Stiles had come to the conclusion must be his sister. If the way they carried themselves and their similar facial structure were anything to go by.
He exhaled a breath as he shook his head. He could feel a headache coming on and his body felt even more agitated which no amount of Adderall could fix. Once he arrived at the shed that contained all the things needed to care for the outdoors, everyone was already waiting outside with plastic garbage bags and gardening gloves. Scott chucked a pair at him which he promptly put on before accepting a bag from Lydia, smiling at her and saying thanks which she promptly rolled her eyes at. Rude. Stiles just shrugged his shoulders, they both had a strange relationship but hey, it worked. She was sassier than he was, and that was a trait he cherished in a friendship.
"Alright, so how do we do this?" Laura questioned happily, glancing around the group before looking out at the camp grounds.
"We divide the site into sections. There's the main area, the forest, the lake, the parking area, around the buildings and then the trail further in the forest. That area is usually the one that gets the most traffic, people using it when the camp isn't running." Stiles states as he pulled his gloves further down on his hands.
"Greenberg would usually help us but he's helping Finstock with inventory in the cafeteria because of all the extra campers. Not to mention we now have even more people to help us, I'd say one person could handle the lake, parking and around the building while pairs can go through the forest and on the trail. Any volunteer's for the trail, Stiles?" Scott was giving him a look.
"What? Why me! I do the trail every year." Stiles groans out, throwing his head back and slouching his shoulders backwards in a dejected fashion. "I really wanted to do the lake, splash around and see the fishies." He pouted at Scott. He didn't use the kicked puppy look all that often, Scott having told him once that it almost rivaled his own. It was all about the eyebrows and how far you can push your bottom lip out. He heard Erica go 'aw' in his general direction and he wanted to snicker though refrained unless he wanted to break the spell he currently had on his best friend who was currently trying to look anywhere but at him.
Ah ha! Bullseye, Scott's eyes briefly ghosted across his face before his whole posture screamed defeat. Stiles had him in his grasp, all he needed to do was his finishing blow and he'd be the winner. Shuffling closer to Scott without breaking eye contact, he brought his right hand up, closed his fist and started pawing at his friend's chest like a cat, throwing in a soft whimper in the process.
"Oh my god, Stiles!" Scott whined out, falling in on himself as if he was in great pain. "You're not being fair at all! Fine, you can have the lake this time. I suppose I'll take the trail, Allison?" Scott grumbled out, smacking Stiles hand away in the process. He fisted his hand in the air and jumped up and down for a little before he dove into the shed and came out with a pick-up stick. Stiles started manhandling it and clipping Scott's heels in thank, grinning. Scott just glared at him. Oh well, a small price to pay.
"You guys can figure out where you're all going, I'm going to go see the snapping turtles!" Stiles exclaimed happily, waving his stick in the air as he bolted in the general direction of the lake. The garbage bag wiping in the air behind him, clutched in his hand.
"I have no idea what just happened…?" Isaac uttered, a look of complete confusion swimming in his baby blue eyes. Erica just grinned and patter her friend on the shoulder. "Don't even question it. Stiles has not changed at all even after all these years, huh" She said as she looked at Scott for confirmation. Scott in question just smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
They each talked about who was going where and once they each grabbed what they need, they headed to their respective destination and started cleaning up the camp site. The campers were going to arrive tomorrow in the afternoon, a clean camp equaled happy campers and that was what BH Super Summer Camp was all about.
"Come here fishy fishies, come and swim to me." Stiles cooed out, poking at the water with his index finger. He was currently crouched over looking at the small minnows swimming around. The lake area was fairly big, it ran across the side of the camp, taking up most of the terrain. You could see various cottages lining the other side of the lake. The dock was not one of those that were fixed to the ground. They were floaters, and sometimes it was difficult to stand on them if you didn't have good balance. Also if you ran, which was something Stiles tended to do a lot which always resulted in him tripping over himself and into the water.
His garbage bag was only half full of rubbish when he finally came to the docks. Stiles had cleaned all along the lines before coming to rest and look at the aquatic life, it spite of how small it might be. Stiles was feeling quite content, a small smile flitted across his face as he simply enjoyed the sun on his back, the soft summer wind blowing through his short brown hair, ruffling it up more than it already was. If he was paying more attention to his surroundings he would have noticed the person walking up behind him. Said person went and tapped him on the shoulder and in the split second for his brain to tell him not to freak out, his body went and freaked out on its own.
Stiles suddenly sprung up and turned around, eyes wide open and breath caught in his throat. He could feel his heart beating at a rabbits pace as he gazed at Derek, who in turned seemed awfully surprised. What happened next was in no way his fault, and damn it he should not be blamed for it. In all of this excitement, Stiles not only slipped on his own shoes, but the abruptness of his movement caused the dock to jerk slightly which made him start falling backwards. In a panic, he quickly grabbed onto the closest thing which, oh look, was obviously Derek himself. The most unmanly shriek left Stiles as they both tumbled into the water, the waves were crashing all around them, engulfing them in the cold liquid.
Just as suddenly they hit the water, Stiles felt himself get grabbed and brought up to the surface. He spluttered for a little bit as his lungs started getting filled with air once more. He shook his head before whipping at his eyes, his clothing were all soggy and heavily drooping at the weight of the water it now carried. Stiles took his chance to glance at the person responsible for all of this, a glare already finding its way onto his face, and he would have kept glaring, if he wasn't having a hard time breathing.
Derek could pull off the wet t-shirt, one hundred percent, yes. His grey Henley hugged beautifully to every crevice and curve of his muscles. He also took notice of the hands still firmly gripping his arms, as if the other thought that Stiles couldn't hold himself up without a hand- or two in this case. Stiles glanced at the water droplets slowly sliding down the side of his face, slowly and effortlessly trickling down his collar bone in such an innocent way that Stiles couldn't help but feel his face heat up as the droplet finally disappeared behind the other man's shirt. Stiles coughed indignantly into his gist and looked the other way, suddenly feeling self-cautious about how he might look. Most likely like a drowned cat, let's be honest.
"This is your fault, you know." Really Stiles, really. Oh good, Derek's face went from one of concern to one of annoyance and bafflement, the familiar scowl finding its way to that handsome face of his once more.
"My fault? You were the one that grabbed onto me, you know." Derek huffed out, finally taking notice that his hands were still wrapped in a soft yet firm hold around Stiles's arms. He let go in such a slow way that Stiles might even imagine that Derek wanted to keep touching him, which hey, awesome. Though in another sense Stiles knew that couldn't be the case and simply chalked it up to Derek being confused. Stiles just had that sort of power on people.
"I wouldn't have had to grab on if you didn't show up out of nowhere!" Stiles exclaimed, his annoyance so overpowering, he was honestly wondering why he was getting himself so worked up over something as small as this. If it had been Scott, they both would have been doubling over in laughter the moment they broke the water.
"Maybe if you stopped fooling around and paid better attention to your surroundings you would have known I was there. What would have happened if I was somebody that wanted to hurt you? God, are you able to think at all?" Derek all but growled out, his eyes briefly flashing blue before returning to their normal colour, which ever they were. Seriously, what the hell was the other guy's eye colour? It was like they were a mix of a little bit of everything, he saw green, some grey. Derek's eyes were honestly just a swirl of magic and so ungodly beautiful and Stiles somewhat resented him for that.
"Why would I have to worry about anyone wanting to hurt me here? Besides, you have no right to speak to me that way, you've known me for what, an hour at best. Instead of making assumptions about me, how about you work on not being such a dick, you dick!" Stiles could play this game too. His glare game was nowhere as strong as Derek's scowl, but it sure got his point across as Derek crossed his arm and turned his gaze to the side, trying to calm his breathing.
Stiles sighed out, uncrossing his arms and flailing them in exasperation. Without another word, Stiles shuffled over to the side of the dock where he promptly pulled his way up, water dripping all over the dock. He angrily grabbed at his garbage bag and picking stick, walking across the dock, shoes squeaking and squelching, not bothering to give a look back. He could stew all he wanted, Stiles was not going to be a bystander of the man's internal battle with himself. Fuck Derek. Seriously. He had enough things to worry about, like whether or not he should bother changing, or continue cleaning. His question was answered when a soft wind pulled at him, resulting in a shiver. Fuck Derek. Fuck him. Just. Fuck everything. He was done with today.