Cora sauntered up to the bleachers, and looked around. There were mostly parents, and a few students filling the seats. She turned back to her brother.
"Where do you want to sit?" She asked, glancing around. Cora saw Melissa McCall sitting in the front row, and gave her a quick wave. The woman was wearing a heavy sweater and jeans. She had thick, wavy black hair which was tied back in a ponytail. Cora grabbed Derek's sleeve.
"C'mon,"She urged, pulling him along. "That's Melissa McCall, Scott's mom." Cora told him, as they walked over.
"Hey Mrs. McCall." Cora said. "Can we sit with you ?"
"Sure." Melissa told them. "I'm sitting with John Stilinski, he'll be here in a few minutes."
"Oh cool." Cora said, grinning.
Sheriff Stilinski showed up a few minutes later, holding a large cardboard tray full of hot chocolates. He handed a drink to Melissa, then offered one to Derek and Cora.
"Thanks," Derek said. It was blustery cold, and he wished he'd brought a warmer jacket. They sat and watched the boys warm up on the field.
"That's so cool that Stiles is playing this year." Melissa said to John Stilinski, as they blew on their scalding drinks.
"Are you here to watch your friends?" Melissa asked, glancing over at the Hales.
"Actually, his boyfriend is on the team." Cora said, grinning at Melissa.
"Oh, nice. Which one is your boyfriend?" She asked, curious.
"Stiles." Derek said, pointing to jersey number 24.
Sheriff Stilinski leaned forward, and stared at Derek. "What?" He said, surprised.
Derek looked at the Sheriff, confused. "He didn't tell you?" Derek said, looking hurt. Derek sat with Cora, Melissa and John for the remainder of the game. Cora had wedged herself between Melissa and her brother. Everytime the boys from Beacon Hills scored, everyone on the bleachers stood up and cheered loudly to support the team. Derek waved at Scott and Stiles as they passed.
"Cora, are you going to the winter dance?" Melissa asked, turning to the young teenager.
"I'm thinking of asking Isaac Lahey." Cora said, blushing as she watched the lacrosse players on the field. "He's pretty cute."
"What about Stiles and Scott? Are they going?" Cora asked.
"Scott's going with Allison." Melissa said, taking a sip of her drink.
"What about Stiles? Is he planning on going?" Cora asked, elbowing her brother in the ribs to get his attention. John and Melissa laughed.
"You're not very good at being subtle, Cora." The Sheriff said, smiling at Derek. "Is this the Hale way of asking if Derek can go with Stiles to the dance?"
Cora grinned back. "Well? Can he?"
John shrugged. "I have no problem with you guys dating. Derek, have you asked my son to the dance yet?"
Derek shook his head. "Not yet."
As soon as the game was over, Derek walked out onto the field to talk to Stiles.
"Hey, I have to ask you something." Derek said, as Stiles wiped the sweat off his brow. "Do you want to go to the dance with me?" Derek asked.
"Yeah." Stiles said, lighting up. "I'll have to sign you in as a guest."
"Why didn't you tell your dad we were dating?" Derek asked, glancing over his shoulder at Sheriff talking to Cora.
Stiles froze for a second. "I was trying to figure out how to tell him. I didn't want him to get mad at me for dating someone older." Stiles explained, leaning on his lacrosse stick. "Sorry." He said, looking down.
Derek leaned forward and kissed Stiles on the cheek. "It's ok." He said, smiling.
The day of the dance, Stiles called Derek to let him know that he was grounded.
"He won't even listen to reason," Stiles groaned, as he recounted the story for Derek's benefit. Apparently, Scott and Stiles had been caught drinking in the woods. The Sheriff had grounded Stiles for a week.
"Could you talk to him? Maybe he'll let me go to the dance if you convince him." Stiles pleaded. Derek promised Stiles that he would talk to the Sheriff.
Halfway to the Stilinski residence, Derek pulled the car over, and got out. He parked in front of the florist, and ran in to buy a large bouquet of white carnations. When he came back out, Cora had got out of the car to stretch her legs. Derek looked down to his little sister. He was so nervous, as he paced back and forth on the sidewalk. Cora was watching him carefully, as she sat on the curb.
"You gonna go talk to the Sheriff, or what?" She asked. "The dance is starting soon."
Derek stopped pacing, and looked at his watch. They had one hour. Cora stood up, and got back in the car. "Let's go." She said, giving Derek an encouraging smile.
They drove to the Stilinski house, and Derek got out to knock on the door. Sheriff answered, and ushered Derek in.
"Hi." He said, as he watched Derek nervously shuffle his feet into the house. "Just one sec. STILES!" John called up the stairs.
Stiles bounded down the stairs two at a time. He skidded to a stop beside his father. "Oh . . .Hey!" He said, looking at Derek's fancy outfit, and the large bouquet of white carnations in his hands.
"Hey," Derek said, nervously. " , I'd like to take your son to the dance. I know he' s grounded, but – "
The Sheriff looked down at his son, amused. "He's temporarily ungrounded for the night. I know how important this dance is to him. But he has to be back by midnight."
Stiles ran upstairs. "I'm gonna change!" He called over his shoulder, as he ran to put on his button-up shirt and a pair of dress pants.
When Stiles came back downstairs, Derek and John were chatting in the living room. The flowers Derek had brought were in a vase on the bookcase.
"Ready, son?" John asked, picking up his digital camera. "Let me take a picture!" He said, as Derek and Stiles got ready to leave. Derek put an arm around Stiles' shoulder, and grinned.
"Have fun!" the Sheriff called out, watching them get into Derek's car. "Hey Cora." He said, waving at Derek's little sister as she leaned out the window.
"Hey, Mr. Stilinski." She said, waving back.