A/N: Okay. So in this chapter we are going to have plot :) how great is that? So proud. Thanks again for all of you wonderful people who took their time to read this, I love you all so much :)

Chapters will be updated weekly. Special warnings would be at the bottom notes of the chapters when needed.

Summary: 'Derek glanced at Stiles, who's smile dissolved into a light frown. He moved his hands again, and Derek flicked his eyes back to Sheriff Stilinski, silently asking for help. The Sheriff took a few steps forwards. "Stiles is mute." He said.'

I own nothing.

Chapter 4

Now you do it on your own,

But you find you're all alone,

What can you do?

"...ant to tell me what the sun might represent in this story?" Mrs. Collins stopped pacing in front of her desk and smiled when her favorite student's hand shot up, as usual. "Mr. Stilinski."

"I think it can represent the shallow view of everything that surrounding the hero," Erica Reyes answered slowly as she followed the fast and eager movements of Stiles' hands. "The yellow is everywhere, in Muriel's hair, the sun, the sand, the Banana fish. Everything that Sybil isn't, that Seymour hates, that he's afraid of- Stiles, please slow down...!" The blonde sighed, and Scott chuckled from the seat behind them, playing with his pen and doodling tiny hearts on his notebook around the name, 'Allison.'

Sorry... Stiles rubbed his chest quickly and sheepishly before continuing, slower this time, as Erica interpreted. "It's everything that Seymour is afraid of, that the lack of humanity and emotion that the yellow and therefore the sun represent will swallow him." Stiles stopped, his hands resting back on his desk as Erica finished voicing his answer. Mrs. Collins hummed for a second, then flashed him a pleased and wide smile, and Stiles relaxed.

"Very good, Mr. Stilinski," She said, returning to her pacing across the room. "I hope you were listening there, Greenberg. Because you will be tested about that." She said and paused again, watching the snoring student. All eyes were turning to the poor kid who jumped awake at the back of the class. A few chuckled, a few sighed, and Mrs. Collins looked downright exhausted.

"Alright. For next week-" The bell rang suddenly, shrill and loud, cutting the teacher off as everyone started happily shoving their notes back into their bags. "For next week, everyone write a two paged essay about the symbolic meaning of the colors in the story!" She yelled above the noise, watching her students bolt outside one by one.

Stiles got up slowly, casually pushing his books back into his bag as he waited for Scott to stop doodling all over his papers. He placed a hand on top of the page, smirking when Scott's brown eyes shot up to look at him in surprise, as if he forgot where he was.

You okay there, C-A-S-A-N-O-V-A? Stiles flicked quickly, making Erica chuckle and Scott blush a little. Come on, class is over and I'm starving.

They left the classroom quickly after that, Erica following Stiles like a pretty, tall and busty shadow with flowing blond hair. Everyone at school were already used to Stilinski's gorgeous interpreter by now, but still there were always the occasional stares at her breasts when they crossed the halls.

At the cafeteria, Lydia and Allison were already saving them seats as a tired looking Isaac slid his tray across the table, sitting smugly next to Allison and lazily shoving a fry in his mouth. Scott sighed gloomily and placed his own tray across from them, sitting next to Lydia in disappointment and leaving Stiles to grab a chair at the head of the table as Erica lingered next to the desserts. Allison flashed him a smile, nudging him lightly.

"How was the party?" She asked him, winking at the strawberry-blonde in front of her. "Lydia told me you all hooked up last night, and as much as I'm not surprised about Lyds and Isaac..." Allison trailed off, nodding suggestively at Stiles, a goofy grin on her lips. The boy coughed.

Yes, I met someone. And yes, we danced a bit. No big deal. His gestures were nervous and shy, and he dared not look at anyone's eyes as they were all smirking smugly at him.

"Looked more than just dancing from where I was standing," Lydia said in a sing-song voice, lightly nibbling on a piece of carrot.

"Wait, really?!" Allison's eyes lit up and she watched Stiles eagerly, who started choking on his pasta. "Gimme the details."

Guys, just let it go...! He motioned back, coughing. He banged his forehead on the table and ran a hand over his face with a sigh.

"He was pretty hot," It was Isaac's turn to contribute to the conversation. Stiles blushed.

"Did you kiss?"

"What's his name?"

"Did you get his number?"

"Was he really that hot?"

A loud groan shut them up and Stiles shook his head in irritation, hands shooting up quickly and annoyingly as he tried really hard to get rid of the pink on his cheeks. We met. We danced. We kissed. I left. That's all there is to tell. Silence followed the pissed off speech, until Scott was the first one brave enough to break it.

"So..." He said slowly, putting down his fork and leaning forwards, carefully watching his flustered best friend. "You're telling me you basically just pulled a Cinderella on him? With the glass shoe and running away at midnight and everything?"

He had to duck to avoid the forkful of pasta that flew at his direction.

"So, you have no experience in sales?"

"No." Derek leaned back in his chair, leg bouncing ever so slightly. This has apparently become a habit, him sitting in front of a desk and a serious face. "I was recently a psychology student, but I left my studies because of private reasons. Before that I used to work in a garage and a library. I'm responsible and hard working and I am not afraid to get my hands dirty." He answered flatly, no hint of emotion in his voice as he leaned a bit forwards, looking the manager straight in the eye. "I lack the experience you are looking for, but I'm willing to work hard."

"You do realize this is a record shop and that this requires some knowledge and social skills?"

For the first time today, a small smirk flashed across Derek's face. "Are you kidding me? I love music." He said. Sid Richards, the manager, arched an eyebrow in interest.

"Really?" He asked. "Are you playing on anything?" Derek shook his head and chuckled, feeling more at ease now that the conversation shifted into more comfortable matters.

"I had a phase when I was younger where I taught myself guitar, and another where I thought I might try and be a pianist," He admitted with a smirk, his leg drumming lightly against the tiles. "Now, I'm actually more of a shower-singer." Sid barked out a laugh.

"You and me both, kid." He said with a smile. His face then turned somewhat more serious, even though he still had a hint of a smile ghosting over his thin lips. He fumbled his fingers together on his desk, straightening a few documents. "Look." He started. "You seem like a serious guy, and we are in a need of more workers. I'm willing to give you a shot despite your background." He gave Derek another smile. "Don't let me down."

"Thank you, sir. I won't." Derek replied, returning the smile.

"Oh, please." Mr. Richards said and got up. "Everyone call me Sid." He waved him off lightly, walking towards the door of his stuffy office. "Come on, son. Let's introduce you to the gang."

They left the small room, Derek following Sid out to the much larger space of the record shop. He heard low music and laughing and a shrill voice exclaiming something he didn't catch, and Sid turned to him and flashed him a smile. "These are the twins, Ethan and Aiden." He gestured towards two identical tall boys who stood by the cashiers, waving at Derek as they heard their names. He waved back.

"No need to introduce me," A toxic female voice suddenly said and Derek's eyes shot up to see tall woman appearing from behind one of the shelves. She had a sharp smirk on, and her hair and skin were dark and exotic. She wore a loose black tank top and tight dark jeans, and Derek could feel bits and pieces of something like power and edge radiating from her. "I'm Kali." She said and offered her hand for Derek to shake. He took it firmly, staring at her with a blank expression.

"Derek." He said shortly, before Sid cleared his throat and interrupted their hard staring contest.

"That lovely lady over there is Jennifer," Derek looked away from

Kali with relief and withdrew his hand, following Sid's gaze that fell on a young, pretty brunette, who slightly blushed when she noticed Derek's stare. She flashed him a bright smile, waving shyly.

"Hi," She said, and her blush darkened when Derek smiled back at her politely. She was cute and pretty, Derek thought. But she was no match to the boy he met at the party. For some reason, Derek couldn't get him out of his head. He sighed, turning around when he noticed someone was talking to him.

"I'm Matt." A short teen with a gloomy expression said as he glanced at them from his place by the headphones station. Derek gave him a nod, waving two fingers in a somewhat forced greeting. He didn't think he'd grow to like this kid much. He was good-looking, blue-eyed and quite attractive, but something about him seemed... off, even though Derek couldn't exactly point out what.

"That's about it," Sid said nonchalantly and took out a small and over-used handkerchief and wiped at his sweaty forehead, smiling at the group. "You'd probably meet Jackson later," He told Derek. "He's out on a delivery right now. He and Matt are working part-time, since they both are still high-schoolers. Which reminds me," He turned to Matt with a frown. "What are you still doing here, son?"

Matt shrugged, eyes flicking to Sid for a brief moment. "Free period. I need the money."

"You see, Matt here is a photographer," One of the twins - Derek wasn't sure which one, but if he had to guess he'd have said Aiden - leaned forwards on the counter and gave Derek a wide smirk, eyes flicking to Matt, who ignored them with squared shoulders and chin held high. "And spends most of his salary on new lens and cameras and stuff."

"We are just here until we start college," His twin said with a slightly kinder smile. "Jen's been here since probably forever, and honestly I'm too scared to ask Kali anything."

"Oh, don't be scared, big boy." Kali hummed with the weird, hypnotizing smirk still on, and Ethan - yeah, it was probably Ethan, Derek thought - faked a shudder, winking at her.

Derek watched the interaction carefully, not sure where things were being said as a joke and where it was serious. He never had that many friends, never had to deal with that kind of relationship. After his mother died he lost touch with his childhood friends and focused solely on his little brother. Then, during college he sort of became a lone wolf, not interacting with anyone longer than necessary - the boy he kissed at the spring party was an exception Derek did not foresee. College was a pretty bad time for him, after all. He was glad to leave.

But maybe, this small group of strange and unique people was just what he needed to open up again. Maybe, if he could just find that boy again...

Maybe there was still hope for him yet.

I can't really say

Why everybody wishes they were somewhere else.

But in the end, the only steps that matter

Are the ones you take all by yourself.

A/N: Song used: "Can't Go Back Now" / The Weepies.

Plus, in case you were wondering, the short story Stiles referenced to was "A Perfect Day For Bananafish." by J. D. Salinger. It was my all-times favorite story growing up.

Don't forget to leave a review and tell me what you think.