A/N Allison and Kate are not related in this story.

xxx

Stiles' mind kept going back to Derek in the days that followed, but he was seriously snowed under by the amount of assignments he had due in. So much so the turn of the Betas to host the pair party had crept up on him and he was now panicking about how much preparation had to be done.

He needed to give people enough time to get their costumes, so he enlisted the other brothers to help. The pledges were decorating the house, Danny and Isaac were buying supplies and Greenburg had been tasked with asking the other houses for a guest list with their preference for a male or female pair partner. Lastly Scott, but really Allison, Erica and the other Sorority girls; were thinking up costume ideas. They would then send the list back to each house with the costume each person had to wear. All the pairs were people from different houses chosen at random, it was Stiles' idea to get people to mingle and not just stick to people they knew in their house.

When the costume lists were delivered back to the houses they were met with much excitement. Stiles had added a note asking that people keep their costume a secret to make it more fun to find your pair on the night. Some people where delighted with their costume others disappointed. Stiles was totally miffed with his costume, a lion. Your joking Stiles thought to himself, it was my idea and I end up with a rubbish costume. Why couldn't I be Batman or Superman no need to even hire a costume then! How could Stiles make a lion look sexy or cool? And what the hell was he paired with the tin man? He needed help, he needed Erica.

"Did you find out if he's going to be at the party later?" Stiles asked Erica as she was painting his face.

"I heard from the Sorority girls that Derek's definitely coming." Erica replied.

"I'm so nervous I haven't seen him since the dinner, what did he mean by that, lucky he didn't find me naked?" Stiles said desperately.

"Stiles, we have been over this a thousand times he was probably just messing with you, he has a hot girlfriend, get your thoughts out the gutter." Erica said with a knowing smile.

"It's Derek Hale my thoughts are always in the gutter!" Stiles said exasperated.

"Well yeah I 'spose when you put it like that! There done!" She said spinning Stiles to look in the mirror.

"What have you done to me!?" Stiles said pulling at his mane.

"Sweetie you look cute!" Erica said.

"Cute wasn't the look I was going for! I want scary or sexy?" Stiles looked in the mirror appraising Erica's handy work. "Did you girls rig this? Oh god I can't go like this!"

Erica laughed "No we didn't rig it; you look cute and pull yourself together. How do I look?" She adds the final touch bright red lipstick, she is in a sexy cop uniform and looks unbelievable.

"Sorry I'm so nervous and I don't know why, and you look fuck hot, I think I might be turning straight." Stiles spins her round and dips her. She plants a kiss on his lips and they both laugh.

"Lets get this party started!" Erica says downing a shot of liquor and handing one to Stiles.

When they get downstairs the first guests have already begun to arrive, Allison and Scott greeting them at the door. They look odd as Scott is shirtless in a Tarzan outfit and Allison is dressed as a playboy bunny complete with ears and tail, definitely not a pair! Allison is attracting a lot of attention dressed like that much to Scott's annoyance.

Erica spots Isaac from across the room he is dressed as pirate, she turn to Stiles "Cops go with pirates right; I could arrest him for pillaging or something."

"Err sure thing, now help me, I'm sure you will be paired with a robber but what goes with a lion?" Stiles says trying to change the subject.

They look around together; they both burst out laughing when they see Greenburg dressed as a sheep

"Oh my god I thought a lion was bad" Stiles was holding his sides from laughing.

"Looks like Allison is first to find her pair." Erica points at her talking to one of the Alpha twins in a Hugh Hefner style red smoking jacket.

People seem to be having a great time trying to find their pairs; Erica has already tracked down her robber and ditched him in favour of her sexy pirate. As the party went on the place was so crowded and Stiles had still not found his pair despite being very tipsy already.

He stops to chat with Lydia dressed as Cleopatra, she looks distinctly unimpressed by the effort put in by her date who seems to just have a white bed sheet draped around him. Then Stiles spots him across the room, it can't be! Derek Hale dressed as a gladiator looking around uncomfortably; he is flanked by some of the other Alpha brothers. My god Stiles is nearly drooling Derek in leather! Then he thinks, gladiators fight lions right? Derek is his pair? This can't be possible. Filled with over confidence from the alcohol Stiles makes his way over to Derek.

"Are you my pair?" Stiles blurts out without even a greeting. Derek looks confused.

"What even are you?" Derek said disdainfully.

Stiles looks at him dejectedly "A lion! Rahh! Gladiators kill Lions don't they?"

Stiles look alarmed as Derek starts to look like he might kill him. Just at that moment Danny comes bounding up to Stiles dressed as a circus lion tamer complete with bullwhip and playfully swats Stiles on the arse.

"Found you!" Danny said looking around the group. Ahh... the penny drops for Stiles of course he is not paired with Derek! Oh my god can the ground please swallow me up he thinks, as he turns bright red.

Stiles turns to Derek and says "You should be so lucky!" grabbing Dannys arm. Does he imagine a look of jealousy flash across Derek's face? But it's gone in a flash and Stiles drags Danny away no longer able to take the shame.

"Why are we paired up?" Stiles asks.

"Guess we must be the only out guys here, so we're stuck together!" Danny laughs.

"Oh my god, I just accidently came onto Derek Hale." Stiles said desperately tugging at Danny's jacket.

"Shit, accidently? You need a drink." Danny replied.

Stiles spent the rest of the night avoiding Derek but still trying to be a good host. He and Danny were half amused half freaked out to see Greenburg making out with little bo peep.

Stiles didn't know if Derek had met up with his pair, he spent most the night with the other Alphas, he didn't seem to be paying much attention to Kate despite he being dressed as a slutty maid, complete with feather duster. Stiles was feeling humiliated and a good antidote to that was liquor, so Stiles was getting progressively drunker as the evening wore on.

Derek's POV

Derek was also hitting the liquor harder than he normally would, he was usually very strict about what he ate and drank, his body is a temple after all. He needed it after the day he had and he was feeling so self conscious in this stupid gladiator costume. He and Kate had a stupid fight, he had got so annoyed by her flirting with the other Alphas in front of him to try and make him jealous. Derek really didn't care about the flirting but just hated her immature behaviour.

His relationship with Kate was nothing more than one of convenience for Derek. He was Captain of the Lacrosse team; it looked good to have a confident girlfriend that all the other guys lusted after. He had never wanted Kate he just ended up with her; she knew what she wanted and would stop at nothing to get it. She used Derek's status in the team and Frat house to elevate her own popularity, until there was nobody on campus that didn't know who Kate Argent was. Of course she knew Derek could barely tolerate her, these days they would only ever kiss in public for show, behind the bravado he was a closed door. He refused to talk about his past, he had constructed a new life for himself at college, he had it all so why was he not happy?

Derek was sure Stiles was trying to avoid him that night diving behind things whenever he saw him looking at him. Their paths had never really crossed that much until this year, however Derek had noticed Stiles in their first year, he always came to watch them play Lacrosse and his stomach would give a funny little jolt whenever he saw him sitting on the bleachers. Derek tried to ignore that butterflies in the tummy feeling but the more he saw Stiles the worse it was getting.

He had sorely regretted accosting Stiles in nothing more than a towel, he couldn't get the image of the water droplets running along his skin and the towel slung low on his hips out of his thoughts. Derek pushed those thoughts away, burying them deep down; he wouldn't let anyone ruin the life he had now.

The night of the dinner though was when Derek knew he had it bad for Stiles; he couldn't deny the pull towards him any longer. The attraction was instant but the more he got to know Stiles he realised that he was kind, selfless, a good friend, loyal and really funny. He also had this annoying habit of breaking down Derek's carefully constructed barriers, he wouldn't let people in, it hurts too much to lose them. If he couldn't hide the feelings to himself anymore he would have to work harder to make sure it wasn't obvious to anyone else.

Derek was just going into the kitchen for another drink when he spots Stiles driving behind a plant, which is far too small to conceal him.

Creeping up behind Stiles who is looking the other way Derek asks, "Stiles what are you doing?"

Stiles jumps a foot in the air and clutches his chest. "You scared the crap out of me!"

"Sorry, I was wondering why you're hiding behind a plant in your own house at a party you're hosting?"

"Don't judge me! Anyways why are you hiding? You not with your girlfriend?" Stiles flips the question back on Derek not wanting to admit it was him who he was hiding from.

"Uhh don't remind me, I have all that to deal with later, we got into a huge fight and now she's trying to make me jealous."

"Heavy man, are you not jealous? She's all over that hulked up twin!"

"I really don't care right now to be honest." Derek says dejectedly.

"Well let's get you another drink; we shall drink away our troubles!" Stiles said steering Derek toward the drinks table and copping a feel of his muscled arm in the process.

They end up chatting for a while; they laughed together at the pledge initiations, comparing notes on who had the best tasks. Stiles noticed Kate looking towards them angrily, trying to catch Derek's attention but if he noticed he didn't show it content to while away the time with Stiles. Eventually Kate ended up so drunk that she was picking a fight with anyone who passed her by, she was about to go toe to toe with Lydia over a spilt drink when Derek decided to step in.

"I gotta take her home, thanks though you took my mind off this for a while." Derek said lightly squeezing Stiles arm.

"No problem, always here for a friend in need!" Stiles slurred slightly, his arm tingling at Derek's light touch.

Derek grabbed Kate and gently yet forcefully led her out the house before she had a chance to make a scene, apologising on her behalf to Lydia as he left.

Maybe tonight wasn't a total bust after all Stiles thought to himself as he poured another drink.