Title: Shake on It

Pairing: Stiles/Derek – Slash, m/m

Show: Teen Wolf

Author's Note: This story doesn't fall anywhere specifically in the storyline.

**ANNOUNCEMENT! AfterElton is currently having an ultimate slash madness tournament and our boys are in it! They are in the final 8 out of 32 and they need your votes! Anyone can go to and vote for our boys to make it to the next round! GO STEREK!

To Stiles' dismay Derek did not show up after his first class. Nor any other class that day. Nor was he waiting at Stiles' jeep after school.

How the hell was Stiles supposed to survive through an entire day of school without seeing Derek? Especially since he was expecting him. The guy was the master of popping up in places unexpectedly, so why was it when Stiles expected him, he wasn't there?

Technically, they hadn't exactly agreed to meet up, but still. Stiles had suggested it… heavily.

Regardless, school was over now and the evening was open for whatever mischief Stiles wanted to get into to.

And he knew exactly what he wanted to get into.

Two Hours Later

Stiles sat at his desk, flicking a clothespin that he had clipped to his bottom lip. He had been doing this for… oh, about thirty minutes. Waiting and waiting. He had homework to do, but yeah right. There was nothing dire that needed to be researched at the moment and his father was about to leave for his shift. He unpinned the clothespin and studied it a moment before clipping it to the end of his eyebrow… kind of like an eyebrow piercing. But that hurt more than expected and he quickly took it off. He rubbed his eyebrow before picking the clothespin back up. He open and closed it a couple times before it snapped in half, flinging halfway across the room.

Startled, he jumped as the two pieces soared through the air. He sat motionless for a second before finally jumping to his feet.

"Where the f are you Derek?" he asked to the air. "I'm booooored." He belly flopped onto his bed, letting his face stay buried in his pillow until he just couldn't breath anymore. He rolled over onto his back, sighing heavily.

Soft footsteps were coming down the hallway, and Stiles sat up and listened. A smile grew on his face as he went to his door.

Grabbing the doorknob, he opened the door even before the knock.

"Where have you been?" he asked… Lydia.

Lydia stood in the hallway looking surprised. "I had to stay late at school and then I decided to come over here. Your dad let me in before he left for work."

"Oh," Stiles said. "I was—"

"Expecting someone else?" Lydia asked.

"…Yes."

"What's wrong with your face?"

"Why? What's wrong with my face?" Stiles asked.

"There are red marks." She pointed to specific places on his face.

He paused. "Really?" he said. "I have no idea why."

"Can I come in?"

"Yes," Stiles said immediately, moving aside. He held the doorknob for a significant moment longer, trying to decide whether he should leave the door open or closed. He opted for open. Less threaten-y. Once he turned around he found Lydia perched on the end of his bed. He perfect appearance flawless as ever. She wore high heels and a mini skirt and Stiles couldn't help but allow his eyes to travel up her legs. Lydia was currently on his bed.

Holy hell.

Moving up, he decided to sit next to her, but not right next to her.

He cocked his head too far to the side and asked, "What's up? What is up?" He cleared his throat and thought about crossing his legs, but decided against it halfway through.

"Stop fidgeting," Lydia said.

Stiles stopped moving completely, unsure of how to act exactly. He was always kind of… fidgety.

"I thought we could hang out," Lydia said. "One on one."

"Really?" Stiles said. "Okay."

"I just feel like I haven't really given an effort to get to know you," Lydia said. "And I think that might've been a mistake."

"Why now?"

Lydia shifted, facing Stiles more. "When I saw you today you seemed different. Confident. Like you were very sure of yourself suddenly. I'm not sure why it was today rather than any other day…"

It was Derek. Derek had made Stiles act that way.

"But all I know is that… I liked it."

"Liked it?" Stiles repeated.

"Yes," Lydia said. "And I wanted to pursue it."

"Pursue it?" Stiles repeated again.

Lydia seemed slightly annoyed. "I'm not sure how to preface this, so I'm just going to do it."

"Do i—" Stiles was going to repeat her words again, when instead she leaned in and brushed her lips against Stiles'.

Stiles didn't react at all. He was frozen as she pulled away.

Had Lydia just done what he think Lydia had just done? He remained stunned.

"Hmm," she hummed, thinking the kiss over in her head. "Interesting." She stood and began walking to the door.

"Interesting?" Stiles asked.

"You're going to have to stop repeating me if this is going to work," she said. "And stop acting like the old Stiles. I need the one I saw earlier today." She opened his bedroom door. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"What?" Stiles said. A minute of pure silence passed. "What?"

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO XO

Stiles didn't know why it hadn't dawned on him immediately that Derek probably knew about the kiss with Lydia. The man could sense everything that Stiles did or felt. He was always just… there. And that sense, that comfort, was gone. He knew Derek wasn't watching him, hadn't been for the past day. There had been no sign of Derek last night and none the next morning. After managing half a day of school, Stiles had bailed. All he thought about was Derek. He wanted to evade Scott, because he just didn't want to talk about all of this right now. He didn't even know what the heck was going on his life and he didn't need all of Scott's (loving but freaking annoying) questions. And when it came to how he felt… he was at a loss. Avoiding Lydia was actually fairly simple. She treated him exactly the same as she did before. Cold and uncaring.

Whatever that meant these days.

After third period, he was out. He had to leave. He left his jeep in the parking lot and just started walking. If he took his car, the parking lot Nazi would stop him and force him back to school. So when the little non-cop drove by in his little golf cart, Stiles ran the other direction, through the lacrosse field and into the woods.

Before he realized what direction he was going, he knew. He was heading to Derek's house. By foot it would take him forever. But right now, he needed time. Time to just think and figure things out.

In what felt like half a day, Stiles broached the line of woods that held Derek's decrepit mansion. From walking, Stiles had figured out that he was fairly out of shape, needed better walking shoes and really, really wanted to see Derek. Every thought, no matter what issue it was he was thinking of, always somehow led to Derek. And so, that is what Stiles had figured out on his walk.

Derek was important. He meant a lot to Stiles.

He came upon the opening in the woods where Derek's house was rooted.

"I know you can sense me… hear me," Stiles said. "You have been sensing me coming for hours now." He walked onto the porch. "Don't make me knock on your—"

Derek's front door flew open and Derek stood there.

"Good," Stiles said. "So you did sense me coming?"

Derek didn't respond.

"Well, thanks for the ride," Stiles said.

Derek smirked, but it held no sincerity. "Good ole Stiles. Always the jokester."

"And what about you?" Stiles said, outstretching his hands. "Good ole Derek. Forever the cynic."

"What are you doing here?" Derek asked.

"You didn't come around last night so I knew you were angry," Stiles said.

"So you decided to come all the way here," Derek said. "Well, you should've gotten the idea last night. I don't want to see you." He took a step back as if he were about to shut the door.

Stiles took a sharp step forward and forcibly slammed his hand onto the front door. "You are not going to shut this door in my face. Not after I walked all the way here. Obviously I have something that I need to say. And you're going to hear it."

"What?" Derek asked.

The spotlight was on Stiles.

"Okay," Stiles said, trying to calm himself down. "I know you saw, or sensed, or felt or whatever what happened between Lydia and me. Just so you know I had no idea she was even coming over, nor did I ever think she would…"

Derek listened, not easing up in any manner. "It doesn't matter."

"What?" Stiles asked. "What do you mean, it doesn't matter. Obviously it does."

"No, it doesn't," Derek said. "I should've known from the beginning."

"Known what?"

"Should've ruled you out," Derek said.

"What are you talking about?" Stiles asked, frustrated.

"You, Stiles," Derek said, taking a step forward and forcing Stiles to step back. "Stiles… you were a choice. An option. Out of many."

Stiles nodded, realizing Derek's words. "Just an option." He turned his eyes away, feeling irritation rise within him. He angrily placed his hands on his hips and sighed, bringing his eyes back up to Derek.

"Yes," Derek stressed. "I chose you because you were the most sensible. The most logical choice. Not for anything deeper than that. The fact that we… connected for a brief moment was extra. Beneficial but not necessary."

"You chose me because I was practical," Stiles said.

"You knew this," Derek said. "I told you this when we first spoke of our arrangement. You were alone. You were unsought by anyone. You were inexperienced. You were—"

"Pathetic," Stiles finished for him. "Just say it. It's obviously what you think."

"You were easy," Derek said. "Easy to manipulate. Like I had been in my younger years."

Stiles looked up, not being able to look Derek in the eyes anymore. "Huh." He shook his head and crossed his arms across his chest. "So, you've been manipulating me all this time?"

"It's been simple."

"Must've been," Stiles said with a sour laugh. "Because I had no idea I was your puppet this whole time. Your toy to be played with and thrown away when through with."

"The truth is that all I need is your body. Not your mind," Derek said.

Stiles opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He tried to hold Derek's eyes again but turned away. "Really?"

"Technically," Derek said, shrugging slightly, as if he were attempting to apologize for the harsh truth. His voice remained cold as he continued, "In fact, you often times annoyed me and I almost decided that your flamboyant nature wasn't worth the payout."

Stiles turned away completely, looking out at the woods. He bowed his head, closing his eyes.

"And now I have decided that it isn't worth it," Derek finished. "Go home."

Stiles heard the door being closed and before he even thought about it, he turned and punched Derek in the face.

Blood dribbled down Derek's chin as he stood upright again. He moved his jaw tenderly.

Stiles watched him, feeling nothing but rage surging back up. He reared back again and punched Derek a second time.

This time Derek reacted, lunging forward and taking Stiles out. They landed roughly just beyond the porch steps, sliding through the dead leaves. Derek sat up, straddling Stiles. He looked furious. His teeth and nails were out.

"Hit me," Stiles said. "Kill me, if I mean so little to you. If I'm such an annoyance to your life why don't you just kill me now?"

"You're free, Stiles," Derek said, still baring his teeth. "All your life you have sought after Lydia and now you can be with her, so why don't you just go and be with her?"

Stiles breathed heavily beneath Derek. "So that's it? Go be with Lydia? That's your parting words for me?"

"I have nothing else left to say," Derek said, pulling away and standing up.

"You've said enough," Stiles said, sitting up. "I realize now why I was chosen and that your first option has failed. I have no doubt that you have another person lined up to take my place. Someone else to manipulate into your bed."

Derek began walking to his porch. "A replacement will be necessary."

"So that's it?" Stiles asked.

Derek turned once he reached his door. "I'm done with you, Stiles."

Stiles closed his eyes, hearing the door shut firmly closed. He fell onto his back and just stared up at the trees above him. Afternoon was turning to evening and the forest was darkening around him.

He managed to retrieve his phone from his pocket and absently dialed a number he knew by heart. He brought it weakly to his ear. He listened to it ring four times before Scott finally answered.

"Hey, man. What's up? Where were you at school?" Scott asked, sounding concerned.

"Scott," Stiles said, his voice sounded strained and unfamiliar.

"Stiles?" Scott definitely sounded worried now.

"Scott," Stiles said again. "I need help."

**Author's note: Sorry guys... (but don't worry too much :) )