The morning of their performance found Stiles obsessively running through every step in his mind as he made his way to meet Scott and Allison for breakfast in the main dining hall. He danced his way along the trails, correcting a step here, adjusting a movement there, and all the while his nerves kept jumping with nervous anticipation.
Finding their table, Stiles made a beeline for Scott and Allison, dropping into one of the two remaining chairs.
"Hey." he greeted, snatching a grape from Allison's plate and popping it into his mouth.
Allison rolled her eyes but smiled all the same. "You seem to be in surprisingly high spirits for someone who has to dance in front of a crowd for the first time in a few hours."
"Yeah." Scott nodded his agreement. "I thought you'd be freaking out by now."
"Oh ye of little faith." Stiles admonished, waving Danny over when he emerged from the kitchen. "I'm totally fine. Cool as a cucumber, my friends."
Danny took Stiles' order for coffee and a bagel with a smile and a nod before drifting away again.
"Have you seen Derek?" Scott asked, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Stiles snorted, mostly because Scott's innocent puppy dog eyes kind of threw off the salacious vibe he was going for. "He texted me before his shift but I haven't seen him since the night before last. I had a family thing I couldn't get out of."
"Oh, we know." Scott chuckled, glancing sideways at Allison who was smiling in that adorable and dimpled way of hers. "He was more scowly last night than he has been lately."
"I think he kind of missed you." Allison's smile edged into a grin and she tried to hide it by nibbling on a strawberry.
Stiles felt the pleased blush tinge his cheeks but couldn't bring himself to fight it. "Of course he did. I'm awesome. Who wouldn't miss this?" He waved a hand to indicate his fine self, grinning at the pair of them.
"Seriously, though." Scott sobered a little, his eyes softening. "Are you ready for tonight?"
Stiles shrugged, fiddling with his napkin just to have something to do with his hands. "I think so. I mean, yeah, I'm nervous, but Derek says I'm ready and he knows dancing better than anyone."
"You'll be great, Stiles." Allison reached a hand across the table to give his hand a supportive squeeze.
"So this is the famous Stiles, then." A husky female voice came from behind Stiles, making him jump and swivel on his seat.
Allison shot to her feet, rushing to put herself between them. "Aunt Kate. What are you doing here?" she asked.
Kate's eyes were trained on Stiles, her gaze intense and assessing as it swept over him. "Getting breakfast, sweetie." she drawled. "Same as you."
Just the sound of her voice made Stiles skin prickle uncomfortably. Sure, she was gorgeous and Stiles could absolutely see why Derek would have been attracted to her. The long curly hair, an ashy shade of blonde. The curvy shape of her, all long tan limbs and round hips. The confident way she held herself, relaxed and cocky in equal doses. But there was something sharp and cold behind her eyes, a glint of steel that spoke of a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and how to go about getting it, regardless of what or who got in her way.
"I've heard a lot about you, Stiles." Kate smirked, not moving any nearer but somehow closing in on him just the same.
"Have you?" Stiles asked, pleasantly surprised that his voice came out steady and even despite the fact that his heart was lurching in his throat.
"Mmhmm." Kate hummed, slipping her hands into the back pockets of her jean shorts. "I also hear that we have a friend in common."
"Kate..." Allison tried to tug on her aunt's arm, to pull her away from the table.
"You know, I heard that too." Stiles responded to the thinly veiled taunt with fire and ice in every syllable. "Although, I also heard that there are aliens in New Mexico. So, maybe you shouldn't believe everything you hear."
Scott snickered behind him and Kate's eyes flashed, her smirk growing wider. "That's a sharp tongue you've got there, kid." She sidestepped Allison and bent into Stiles' space, lowering her voice to nearly a whisper. "Just remember, the next time you're using it on Derek, that mine was there first."
Anger exploded in Stiles' chest and he surged to his feet, forcing Kate to give up ground. Scott flew around the table to grab Stiles' arm at the same time that Allison snapped at a grinning Kate and dragged her away from the table.
Stiles seethed, biting his bottom lip so hard that he drew blood without even feeling the sting.
"Come on." Scott pulled Stiles outside through a door on the opposite side of the dining hall from where Allison had disappeared with Kate.
Stiles fought to get his temper under control, reminding himself that Kate was Derek's past and that was something that he just had to accept. Of course, it would have been easier to accept without Kate flaunting it in Stiles' face, something he did not at all appreciate. It was a low blow and Stiles was relatively sure even Kate could recognize that fact. He briefly wondered if Derek would feel the same kind of jealousy laced anger if he were to be confronted with Stiles' past. He was willing to bet that Derek would have a similar reaction and, oddly enough, that thought helped to settle him a little. He let himself be led by the elbow up the path to the staff cabins where, after over five minutes of silent walking, Scott veered off onto a trail Stiles wasn't familiar with.
"Where are we going?" he asked, shoving down the lingering heat of his anger and trying to retrieve what was left of his good mood.
Scott let go of his arm as if he had only just accepted that Stiles wasn't going to turn around and go after Kate. "My cabin." Scott gestured vaguely toward the end of the path. "Thought you could use a distraction."
"Scott, I like you and everything but there's no way in hell I'm having sex with you." Stiles deadpanned, his eyes lit up with humor.
"Shut up." Scott shoved him, smiling with relief and genuine amusement. "I've got pot and a ps4. I don't need to use my body to distract you."
"Wouldn't work anyway." Stiles shook his head in mock-sadness, heaving an exaggeratedly heavy sigh. "Derek's body has ruined me for life. You might as well be a plank of wood, dude."
"I'd be insulted if I didn't already know that your brother thinks I'm hot." Scott chuckled as he climbed the couple of steps to his cabin.
After a second of being frozen in surprise, Stiles followed him inside and plopped down onto Scott's couch, scrubbing his hands over his face. "I don't even want to know. You know he's fucking around with Aiden right?" he called over his shoulder to where he'd seen Scott duck down a hallway.
"Yeah, I know. It's not serious, though." Scott yelled back, voice muffled by whatever he was doing.
"Wait a minute... Aren't you and Allison a thing?" Stiles asked, voice loud enough to carry.
"Yeah." Scott said from right behind the couch, startling Stiles since he hadn't heard him come out of the hall. "I'd explain but you said you didn't want to know." he shrugged, sitting down on the cushion next to Stiles and setting a small wooden box onto the coffee table.
"Well, now I'm intrigued." Stiles told him, watching as Scott took a bag and a glass bowl out of the box. "Just don't tell me anything about my brother's dick and we'll be fine. Huh. That's a sentence I never thought I'd say."
Scott snorted out a laugh, dropping a bud onto the table and breaking it up with his fingers. "Allison and I have been together since we were in high school." he explained. "Sometimes we have a third, sometimes we don't."
"Is it a sex thing?" Stiles asked out of genuine curiosity, angling his body to face Scott, his back against the arm of the couch and one leg tucked up under him, as Scott packed the bowl.
Scott took a hit then held the bowl out to Stiles before leaning back into the cushions. "Sometimes. I mean, it can be but it isn't always. Just like sometimes our third is a girl and sometimes it's a guy."
"So, it's like a case by case deal?" Stiles asked after he blew smoke out and passed back to Scott. When Scott nodded, Stiles asked, "What about with Isaac?"
"We both really like Isaac." Scott shrugged one shoulder casually but Stiles could hear the change in his tone, the fondness that wound around each word. "It's actually up to him at this point."
"That's way too much power for any one Stilinski." Stiles laughed. After a beat he asked, "Is it weird for cousins to date brothers? Like, is that some kind of societal rule that shouldn't be broken? Not that I care either way, I just like to keep a running tally of rules as I break them."
"Nah, man." Scott shook his head, his product-free hair flopping forward over one eye. "I think it's cool."
Allison chose that moment to burst into the cabin, cheeks flushed and an apology tripping from her lips. "Stiles, I am so sorry about Kate. If I'd have known she would-"
"Allison." Stiles cut her off, patting the space between him and Scott in invitation. When she sat between them, her back against Scott's side, Stiles gave her leg a reassuring pat. "It's not your fault so don't apologize. She was just trying to piss me off and I let her do it."
"I know, but I should have seen it coming. She's been like this ever since she found out about you and Derek. I think she's jealous to be honest." Allison sighed, accepting the bowl when Scott offered it to her.
"Of course she is. She'd be dumb not to be." Stiles grinned wickedly. "Have you seen Derek?" Stiles paused, tilting his head as a thought struck him. "Though, now that I think about it, I wonder if I should be worried about apparently everyone in this resort knowing about me and Derek."
"What do you mean?" Scott frowned. "You don't want people to know?"
"No, dude, that's not it at all. It's just... If everyone knows then eventually it's gonna get back to my parents, who I have yet to hit with that particular bit of knowledge. And then there's Finstock, who will inevitably flip his shit because of his whole 'No Fraternization with the Guests' schtick, which somehow only applies to the entertainment staff." He gnawed on the inside of his cheek, a little annoyed with himself for not thinking of that sooner. He didn't want Derek's job in jeopardy because of their relationship.
Stiles shook his head when Allison tried to hand him the bowl, knowing he had to have a clear head in a few hours and that wasn't going to happen if he spent all morning getting blazed.
"If it makes you feel any better, I don't think the entire resort knows." Allison told him, handing the bowl to Scott instead. "I'm pretty sure it's just us and the twins. And now Kate."
"Maybe you should tell your parents before they find out on their own." Scott suggested, pushing himself up from the sofa and heading for the TV stand.
Stiles watched Scott turn on his gaming console and return with two controllers, handing one to Stiles and dropping the other into Allison's lap.
"I've been considering it." Stiles admitted, recalling the way Derek had reacted the morning of Stiles' epic hangover. "I just... It's going to be a fight no matter what and I hate fighting with them, you know?"
Allison tilted her head, her shoulder-length hair spilling sideways as her eyes roamed over Stiles' face. "Want my two cents?" she asked.
Stiles hesitated but ultimately decided that it couldn't hurt to get another perspective. "Sure." he shrugged.
"Tell them." Allison smiled gently. "If you care about Derek half as much as I think you do, they're going to have to find out eventually anyway. The longer you wait to tell them the more upset they'll be that you hid it from them. Trust me." She laughed, "My dad still hasn't forgiven me for letting him find out about Scott and I having a boyfriend from the woman at the grocery store."
"It's true, man." Scott grimaced.
"Yeah." Stiles sucked his bottom lip between his teeth, forgetting the cut he'd made until the metallic taste of blood hit his tongue. "Yeah, maybe you guys are right."
"Hey, you don't have to do anything this second, right?" Scott pointed to the television, where the home screen of Need for Speed was displayed. "Hang out for a while, get your shit together, and then go dance your ass off."
Stiles laughed heartily, all at once thankful that he'd managed to find such good friends when he hadn't even been looking. Of course, that's how he stumbled across Derek, too, and he'd never been more grateful for anything in his life than he was for that particular development. Even if he hadn't gotten the chance yet to tell everyone and anyone that Derek was his and he was Derek's, it didn't make it any less true. In the weeks Stiles spent at Redwood, learning to dance and figuring himself out, Stiles managed to find a place to belong, people to belong to.
Not bad for a summer vacation he hadn't even wanted to take.
"Yeah, okay." Stiles agreed, sinking back into the couch and letting himself relax. "So, whose ass am I kicking first?"
On his way back to his own cabin just after 2 o'clock, intent on taking a nap before he had to meet up with Derek, Stiles stopped by Lydia's place. She answered the door barefoot, her shoulders tight and drawn back. Stiles knew the sharpness in her expression wasn't for him, that the weight of her decision was pressing down on her so close to the actual procedure.
"How are you feeling?" Stiles asked as he crossed the threshold.
"Anxious, mostly." One side of Lydia's mouth tipped up, a halfhearted attempt at levity. "Really nervous." She wrung her hands together, her fingers tangling and twisting.
Stiles pulled her to his chest, tucking her head beneath his chin and wrapping his arms around her shoulders as hers went around his ribs. "I figured as much. Which is why I'm taking precious minutes away from my much needed nap to come here and remind you of just how strong you are. And to remind you how many people you have in your corner, people who will be here for you every step of the way."
"How could I forget that when I've had a steady parade of visitors and text messages since I got out of bed this morning?" Lydia asked, her voice muffled a little because of the way her face was pressed into Stiles' chest.
"As it should be." He smiled even though she couldn't see it.
Stiles was willing to bet the parade had kicked off with Derek before he started his shift and then slowly filtered through the rest of them. Their friends really were the best.
Lydia stepped back, tilting her head back to look up at Stiles. "Thanks for coming by, Stiles. I know you must be nervous too, about tonight."
"Oh, please." Stiles waved a hand dismissively. "I'm solid, okay? No worrying about me and Derek today, you hear me? Just focus on you and what you need to keep yourself calm. Allison will be down in a few minutes to keep you company until Scott finishes his shift. If you need anything, and I mean anything, call me. Got it?"
Lydia nodded her understanding, a tiny but genuine smile curling her lips. "Got it."
Stiles turned to leave, one foot already out the door before he remembered to ask about his outfit for the performance.
"It's already in Derek's car." Lydia informed him. "Oh, and don't change until you get there or you'll wrinkle your pants."
Stiles didn't miss the commanding tone in her voice, the flare of her usual self letting him know that she would be just fine given the time to get there. He grinned to himself all the way back to his cabin, right up until he collapsed face first into his bed.
The sun was hanging low in the sky, the world cast in soft shades of golden pink and soft burnt orange, by the time Derek finished with his last client and left the dance studio. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, he fired off a text to Stiles.
You ready?
Having finished his prep for the night's performance, Derek had nothing to do but wait. He was too anxious to kill time by screwing around on the internet or watching any of the shows Lydia insisted he catch up on. Instead, he paced the span of his living room, counting steps and running through the routine as he went. His text tone sounded after only a few minutes.
Almost. Meet you at the car in 15?
Derek didn't bother with a response, knowing Stiles didn't expect one. With one last glance around the cabin, Derek patted the pockets of his snug and faded black jeans to make sure he had everything. He snagged his costume from the where it hung on a hook by the front door and then started out for the parking lot.
It was barely sunset when Derek reached the Camaro, the sun less than halfway hidden behind the horizon. He popped the trunk and laid his garment bag over the one that was already there, the one that contained Stiles' costume.
He texted Lydia to let her know that he would see her when they finished and to remind her again that everything was going to turn out alright. She responded immediately, scolding him for fussing over her when he should be focused on the performance ahead of him.
Derek chuckled to himself, leaning against the car while he waited for Stiles to show up. He took a few deep breaths, rolling his shoulders to release some of the tension that had accumulated there throughout the day. He wasn't worried, exactly, about what they were about to do. Stiles had worked hard, had practiced long hours for weeks in order to get the routine right. The only move Stiles was still unsure of was the lift, but he still managed it well enough during practice. Derek was sure that they'd do well, that the performance would be great and he and Lydia would get to keep their jobs for another summer.
Derek wasn't worried about that. A little nervous, sure, but not worried.
He was, however, worried about Lydia. He hated that he couldn't go with her, even though he knew Scott would keep her safe in his absence. It just wasn't the same. Derek had always looked out for Lydia, had always been the one to step in when she needed it. Being unable to do so now left him with a hollow sort of feeling in his chest, even if there wasn't any way around it.
"None of that scowling bullshit tonight, Derek." Stiles' voice startled him out of his own head. "I'll tell knock-knock jokes the entire forty-five minute drive if I have to."
Derek grinned, pleasure at seeing Stiles, whose hands were on his hips and who had one eyebrow cocked in challenge, easily washing out the worst of his anxiety. He pushed away from the Camaro and toward Stiles, leaning in to steal a kiss before he even though about doing so. It was brief, a warm slide of skin against skin, but it packed a punch that caught Derek somewhere behind his navel.
When Derek pulled back Stiles was already smiling, his gloriously sinful mouth stretched into a perfect curve. Stiles winced a little, lifting a hand to his mouth and pushing gently at his lip. Derek's eyes fell to the motion, his eyebrows daring together in concern.
"What happened to your lip?" Derek asked, using the pad of his thumb to tug Stiles' lip down enough to get a look at the small cut on the inside.
Stiles reached up, wrapping his hand around Derek's to pull it away from his mouth. "It's nothing, just a little cut. Don't worry about it, okay?"
Derek was still frowning, his eyes flicking between Stiles mouth and his eyes. Stiles smiled again and leaned in to press another kiss to Derek's lips.
"Are kisses the secret to wiping out a scowl?" Stiles questioned when he moved away, his voice warm and all affection as his fingers stroked across Derek's ribs and his eyes lingered on the gentle smile curling Derek's mouth. "Because I definitely should have been informed of this sooner."
Derek gave a Stiles' hip a firm pinch before releasing him. "I was smiling before I kissed you." he pointed out, though he couldn't argue that the teen was wrong.
"Oh. So it's just seeing me that does it then?" Stiles smirked, his tone cocky.
"Get in the car, Stiles." said Derek, who was already sinking into the driver's seat while trying to ignore the fluttery feeling low in his gut.
Stiles laughed but did as he was told, settling into the passenger side a few seconds later. "Ready?" he asked, turning in his seat to face Derek.
Derek paused, fingers gripping the keys where they sat in the ignition but not turning. He looked over at Stiles, iridescent green eyes catching ones of liquid gold.
"Yeah." Derek smiled again, this time accompanied by a suspicious skip of his pulse. "Yeah, I really am."