Allison and Stiles were already home and sleeping when Scott eased the door open to their apartment. Stiles had crashed in the bed, and Allison had opted for the beanbag, which meant they more than likely had a fight. He wondered if it was about him. He hadn't come home, and he hadn't exactly told them he was spending the night on the rooftop with a woman whose name he didn't even know.

The door quietly clicked shut and Scott locked it. He hung his keys up on the hook by the door, trying to keep them from jangling too loudly lest he wake his roommates. The walk to the kitchen was quieter than he expected after kicking off his shoes. His socks muffled the sound of his feet on the concrete floor. Allison had mentioned more than once that they should get rugs, but Stiles countered that rugs needed to be vacuumed. Scott didn't care either way, since Stiles was the one that kept the place clean.

All Scott cared about was coffee and climbing into bed. Neither of his roommates had thought to make coffee when they got home the night before, so bit back a groan as he filled the percolator. It would definitely wake up one of them, possibly both, but it was almost eight in the morning and some of them had to work. Thankfully, Scott had called in to work at a payphone as he walked home and they told him not to come in.

While the percolator loudly began making the coffee, Scott settled himself at the small dining table in what passed for a kitchenette with a glass of milk. He needed something to drink, whether it had caffeine or not.

The first one to rise was Allison. She stretched, looking uncomfortable, and looked at the bed and saw Stiles was still its lone occupant. Scott raised his glass of milk to her as the coffee maker popped loudly. Groaning and clearly still half-asleep, Allison dragged herself off the beanbag and slumped into the chair at the table opposite Scott. Her hair was a mess, and he made a point of not mentioning it.

"When did you get home?" Allison moaned as she looked lovingly at the coffee machine. "Please tell me that ready."

"It's not. I got here a little bit before you woke up," Scott answered as he took a drink from his glass. He was sore from sleeping on the stone, but at least he'd gotten sleep. Allison looked like she had managed to scraped out maybe two or three hours of rest. The fight must have been ugly. "You're the one who insisted on getting this."

"It tastes better, asshole," she groused before burying her face in the table and covering her head with her arms. Scott knew not to take it personally. He'd had years to learn that Allison was not a morning person. When her head did pop back up, she looked him in the eyes. "Where were you? We waited at the club until it closed, and you didn't come, then you never called."

"I called Stiles, actually," Scott corrected as he stood up and walked to the mini-fridge that sat on the counter. "You want something? We have milk, Stiles' vanilla almond milk, and this jar of whatever concoction you bought at the health food store this week."

"No water?" Allison grumbled, eyes locked on the percolator and lips pursed. "I could have sworn I filled the jug and put it in there yesterday."

"The glass jug that Stiles dropped while you were working and then disposed of before you got home?" Scott asked even though she knew nothing about it. "Yeah, we don't have a replacement for it yet, so if you want water it's going to be lukewarm."

"We have to start buying bottled again. To hell with your BPA ban," Allison complained as she ran both hands through her tangled mane. She grunted when her left one caught a rat's nest. Scott closed the fridge and fetched her brush from the nightstand before she started killing people. "I'll take almond milk. I'm not in the mood for lactose right now."

"You're never in the mood for lactose," Scott argued as he fetched a glass and filled it halfway for Allison. He didn't want to risk her spilling it in her sluggish state. "We should just drop dairy like Stiles keeps telling us."

"That little asshole still takes creamer in his coffee, Scott. And we're not switching to soy milk. The body treats soy as Oestrogen, and I like being the only one here with boobs." Allison took the glass from Scott and glared at him as he sat down. She blinked once before opening her mouth again. "And just where the hell were you, and why do you look well rested while I feel like shit?"

"Language, Ma'am," Scott chastised playfully, though he stopped chuckling when he saw the murder in Allison's eyes. "I guess you could say I did some urban camping."

Allison took a small sip of her almond milk and threw a look of loathing at her roommate. "It is far too early for your damned wordplay, Scott McCall. Tell me what happened. And I don't need details that are better spent in a letter to Penthouse."

Pulling out his phone, Scott took the back off and set it on the table with the screen down. "You see that lack of a battery? I think it played a significant role in my lack of calling you last night."

"I think it's too early for you to use your damned word-of-the-day, Scott. Stop trying to impress me and just tell me what a missing battery has to do with you blowing us off last night."

"I told you, remember answering your phone last night? I told you I was working over. And when I finally got off, the buses had finished running. So I took a cab, and the driver scammed me by taking me to the wrong part of town and then driving off without giving me my change."

"You didn't notice the lack of familiar landmarks when he came to a stop?" Allison wondered as consciousness slowly crept into her eyes. Said eyes continued to flick back and forth between Scott and the percolator.

"It was dark and I was tired," he offered as a defence. With a sigh, he took another drink of milk. The glass was already beginning to accumulate condensation, a sign it was going to be another hot and humid day. It was going to be miserable. "When are we going to get an air conditioner?"

"Stop whining. It's not that hot, and people lived without them for centuries. Also, who is going to pay for one, and the accompanying electric bill? Because it's not me," Allison grumbled as she slammed her glass down. It was a good thing Scott hadn't filled it any further than he had. "You're still not telling me where you were, just for the damned record."

"I was with a girl. An amazing girl that I did not have sex with, mind you. We fell asleep on a roof together, and when I woke up she was gone, but my wallet was still in my pocket and so was my money." Scott wasn't sure if he was bragging or complaining. He wasn't sure if he cared.

"Does this amazing mystery girl have a name?" Allison sounded intrigued, which was not the reaction Scott expected. Neither of them really dated after the coming out and breaking up. He didn't expect a discussion with Allison about a possible romantic encounter to be so comfortable, let alone cordial. "Are you meeting her again? Or is she just gone? You know, like, 'poof!'?"

"I think she's gone, and she never did tell me her name. She just called me Scrubs and made me do lots of weird things with her, like throwing food in streets and stuff. It was weird, but fun."

Allison rolled her eyes and made a disgusted face. "Ugh. Manic Pixie Dream Girls are the worst. Scott, listen to me, stay away from people like that. She'll have you eating from dumpsters and singing songs on street corners before you know it."

"Aren't you the one who spent half of last year with a dumpster diving crew?" Scott questioned as he began to think of what to eat. He needed food, and they didn't have much of it. He needed to go shopping.

"That was Stiles, and it was a couple years ago. And while I'm thinking about it, no, I didn't get you that CD. Sorry."

Even though Allison didn't sound sorry, Scott shrugged and let it go. The last thing he was worried about was some CD from an unsigned group. Besides, he'd probably be at their next show and he could get it himself.

"It's fine," he assured her. "And I liked her. I hope I do see her again, but even if I don't I at least have a great story to tell when I finally make some friends that aren't the two of you."

"So your mom is going to hear about this?" Allison teased with a smile as she picked her almond milk back up and stared longingly at the percolator. "Why does that thing take so long?"

"Why are you asking me?" Scott asked Allison as he ran his index finger around the rim of his glass. "You bought it. You wanted it. You said you'd make the coffee the night before so we'd have something to drink every morning."

"And now I'm saying I want caffeine, you dick," Allison snarled loudly.

Stiles awoke with snort, a jerk, and fell from the bed to the floor. A laugh at the action was held back by Scott. Not because he was worried about hurting Stiles' feelings, but because he was worried about Allison stabbing him. She didn't like laughter until she'd have at least half a cup of coffee.

"What'd I miss?" Stiles called as pulled himself up from the floor and stood with his hands on the bed to support himself. "Hey, Scott, you're home."

"And you're more awake than the person I've been talking to for the last ten minutes," Scott observed with a smile at Allison. She glared at him, the hate radiating off of her in waves. His smile faltered.

"Scott was telling me about this random chick he hooked up with last night, but he's too much of a pussy to stick it in," Allison groused hatefully.

"No coffee?" Stiles asked as he slowly walked to the table, waiting for his equilibrium to catch up with his movements.

"Not for another half hour," Scott pointed to the percolator. "You guys forgot to make it last night."

"I'll keep that in mind," Stiles noted as he moved the free chair out of Allison's reach and sat beside Scott. While ignoring her evil looks, Stiles turned to Scott. "So, you met some sexy chica?"

"We hung out. Played in dumpsters and fell asleep on a roof," Scott explained simply. "It was a weird night, but it was fun. I haven't done anything fun in way too long."

"I'm fun, you bitch," Allison growled. "Are you saying you don't have fun when we hang out?"

Stiles interjected himself into the conversation before Scott could reply. "So, Allison, that guy from last night? It's a date."

"You're dating guys again?" Scott looked at Stiles with a touch of surprise. "After that guy from Virginia, you said that you were done with dudes. What changed?"

"He's super hot. That's what changed," Allison snorted. "Scott, this guy could probably have made me jump back into the straight pool if he tried. Hell, you'd probably wanna sex him up. He is hella fine."

Rolling his eyes, Stiles ignored Allison and decided to look at Scott. "Look, I don't get asked out often by anyone, man or woman. And yes, he's hot, but he's also interesting. He's the barista at that coffee joint you never told us about."

"Derek? Dude, I had no idea he was gay," Scott whistled before laughing. He noted that Allison chose to laugh with him. "Yeah, I'm comfortable saying that he's a hot piece of ass. How did you manage to snag him? He never once hit on me."

"Scott, no offence, but he could've grabbed your ass and licked your face and you wouldn't know he was hitting on you," Allison stated with a shrug as she finished off her almond milk. "I mean, you know no idea I was a lesbian."

"Neither did you!" Scott argued as he pointed a finger at Allison. She reached across the table and twisted it. Not enough to break the digit, but enough to make Scott wince and beg for freedom.

Allison released him and stormed away from the table. She lifted the tab on the percolator's spout and let her glass fill with brown-tinged hot water.

"You know that's nowhere near being ready," Scott said as he nursed his finger.

"All I know is that I need caffeine and I need it now," Allison replied as she flipped the tab on the spout back down. She looked at the glass with disgust, but took a drink anyway. "So gross."

Allison didn't dump the glass, but instead took another gulp and returned to her seat.

"Can we get back to me?" Stiles stood up and walked to the cupboard. He rifled through the contents and emerged with a box of cereal. He reached in and pulled out a handful. "Like, I have two hot dudes who want me, and y'all are all alone."

"Two dudes? What, did Derek's uncle hit on you, too?" Scott smirked as he snatched the box of cereal when Stiles sat down. "That guys hits on everything that moves, but he's damned creepy."

"Scott, how long have you been hanging out at that coffee place and why did you wait so long to tell us?" Allison wondered as she ignored Stiles' self-absorbed protests.

"Not that long, and I told you guys about it because I thought you'd like that jazz group. Was I wrong?"

"No," Stiles grinned as he looked at Allison. "Allison really liked them. A lot."

"Shut up," she snapped as she took another drink of her coffee-coloured water.

Scott laughed lightly as he watched his roommates bicker. When he woke up and Elise or whatever she called herself was gone, he had been disappointed. More than that, he'd been angry. But as he walked home, observing the people who frequented Beacon Hill when the sun shined walking past him, absorbed in their own lives, he realized that he had been just like them. Hell, he probably was still just like them.

"So, who is mystery man number two?" Scott asked Stiles, interrupting the barbs being thrown between his two best friends. "You never did tell us."

"Oh!" Stiles turned a bit red but held his head up. "I completely forgot. His name is Danny, and he just moved into the building. I helped him move his stuff into his apartment last night. We're getting ice cream tonight."

"Ice cream? What are you, fourteen?" Allison snorted before taking another drink and scowling. It may have been gross to watch, but Scott was glad it seemed to be waking her up and improving her mood.

"Oh ha. And what did you and the violin player do last night? Huh?" Stiles shot back, causing Scott's head to bob as his attention shifted between the two of them.

"Did we all socialize last night with people who aren't each other or something?" Scott exclaimed in a louder voice than he had intended. He then dropped it several decibels for the followup question. "And by violinist, do you mean the hot blonde chick from the jazz group?"

"Yes, Scott, I went out last night. With a woman. Because, you know, that's what we lesbians do." Allison looked pleased with herself as she leaned back in her chair. She smiled at her two roommates, as if daring either one of them to challenge her claim. They were both smart enough not to.

With a sincere smile, Scott reached across the table and laid his hand on hers. "Good for you. I've been hoping you'd meet someone, and this is a great first start. Are you seeing her again?"

"I don't know. I haven't called her," Allison shrugged, trying to use nonchalant body language to mask her insecure voice. "We'll see how it goes. I just can't believe this one snagged two guys. What are the odds?"

"Meh, I say. Meh!" Stiles stuck his tongue out at Allison and leaned back and laughed as she tried to hit him. Her fist sailed harmlessly through the air.

"So, which one is more promising? Cute guy down the hall or hot barista Derek?" Scott asked Stiles as he stuck his hand into the box of cereal. He pulled out another handful and popped it into his mouth.

"Yeah, come on, Stiles," Allison pressed as she took another drink. Her face went sour and Scott wondered why she didn't just give it up. There couldn't have been that much caffeine.

Scratching at the back of his head, Stiles shrugged. "I don't know. Derek and I talked, and he gave me some awesome music to check out, and he is really hot, but he's thirty. But I liked him. A lot. I didn't spend enough time with Danny to get much of a read on him. He seemed cool enough. But we were too busy moving him in to engage in much more than small talk. He has awesome dimples, though."

"I'm still shocked you're giving two dudes a go. I thought you were back on the pussy bandwagon for good," Allison said with a cheesy grin before leaning over the table and ripping the cereal box from Scott with a violent jerk. He started to protest, but she shut him down with a glare. Then she turned her attention back to Stiles. "I mean, whatever makes you happy makes you happy."

"Allison, Derek gave his number to you to give to me. You pushed me to talk to him. Why would you be surprised?" Stiles stood up and went back to the cabinet. He pulled out another box of cereal. "Besides, it could work out with neither of them and I'll try women again."

"Do most bisexual people go back and forth like him?" Scott asked Allison as he jerked his thumb at his best friend. Stiles waved one hand at them incredulously as the other snagged a bowl from the drying rack by the sink. "I could have sworn they didn't."

"How should I know? He's the only bisexual person I know. Hell, he's the only other non-straight person I know. And Erica doesn't count, because I don't really know her," Allison argued even though Scott hadn't even thought of bringing her up.

"Erica? The violinist is named 'Erica'?" Stiles grabbed his carton of almond milk and set it on the counter before filling the bowl with shredded wheat. "I guess it kind of suits her, but that's such a common name. Huh."

"Do you really want to talk about names, Stiles?" Allison placed emphasis on his name, causing him to wince and spill a bit of his almond milk on the counter as he poured it over the cereal. He looked at his friends and shook his head pleadingly. "I thought not."

"Hey, Stiles, do you wanna go with me to get a new battery for my phone?" Scott asked in an attempt to change the topic. Allison and Stiles both stared at him oddly. "I lost mine last night."

"Is that why you didn't answer when I was trying to call and see why you hadn't come home?" Stiles asked as he carefully walked over to the table with his breakfast. When he set it down, he looked around and grumbled. "I don't have a spoon? How could I forget to grab a spoon?"

"Speaking of spoons, you said you fell asleep with your mystery girl last night, Scott. How did that happen?" Allison inquired as Stiles quirked an eyebrow while sifting through the unorganized silverware container. It had been Allison's idea to reuse the disposable food containers from the food she got after her mother's funeral. Several were scattered across the apartment, holding various trinkets

Suddenly finding himself shy, Scott looked down at the table and played with the dirt under his fingernails. He closed his eyes and breathed, remembering the feel of Elise's hand in his hair. He ran his own hand through his locks, trying to see if he could recreate the sensation.

"It wasn't supposed to be an all night thing. She was just showing me where she would go camping. There's a pirated radio station in town, did you know that? I didn't. But she was nice."

Allison snorted into her glass, but didn't drink. "Dude, you sound like the clueless guy lead in a chick flick. Did she take your balls when you weren't looking?"

The comment rolled off of Scott's back as he sighed. It wasn't an inaccurate description. He was in puppy love and he knew it. It would fade after a couple days. Or he hoped it would. It had taken a year for him to get over Allison after they split. But that had been much more serious.

"Dude, you're all mopey," Stiles pointed out as he sat beside Scott and put a hand on his shoulder. "You have it bad for this random girl."

"He doesn't even know her name," Allison told Stiles as she looked at Scott with a teasing wink before reaching into the cereal box. "How does that even happen?"

"It's probably because we're hipsters," Stiles shrugged casually. "I mean, we're counterculture types. We do weird things for the sake of doing weird things. Like going to a coffee house that is also a jazz club at ten at night. Or stealing posters from the garbage bins of theatres."

"I took two posters, and you liked them both!" Allison argued as she pointed to the framed images hanging on the wall above the bed. "So don't you even start. Besides you started the dumpster diving thing."

"I remember you eating the pastries without guilt."

"Guys!" Scott slammed his hands on the table to get their attention. Stiles quieted down and resumed eating his cereal. Allison glared at Scott. "Allison, the coffee should be done, or close enough. And don't you work today?"

"Crap! I forgot," she yelled as she ran to her dresser, grabbed an outfit, and disappeared behind the dressing screen.

"Yeah, Scott, I'll go with you." Stiles smiled at his best friend as Allison loudly swore on the other side of the apartment. "Do you have any other plans for today?"

"Besides showering and putting on actual clothes? Not really," Scott admitted as he laid his head on the table and looked up at Stiles. "Dude, when is this ice cream thing?"

"This afternoon. Why?" Stiles eyes Scott oddly.

"Because I need to meet him to see if I approve. I've already met Derek. Heck, we've chatted a few times. Like actual conversations. So I'm fairly certain you'll be okay there. But I don't know this Danny guy. He could be another Jackson or something."

Stiles' eyes darkened at the mention of Lydia's ex-boyfriend, and Scott found himself wishing he hadn't said anything. He was so sure that topic was so dead that Stiles wouldn't have any kind of reaction.

"You did not just said that abusive arsehole's name!" Allison shouted as she emerged from behind the changing screen, pulling her shirt down over her stomach and tucking it into her slacks. "Didn't we agree that we would never talk about him unless it was how we were going to crash his funeral and piss on the headstone?"

"I believe we did," Stiles said as he glared down at Scott.

For his part, Scott just groaned and covered his head with his arms.