Stiles is walking back across campus, with his spade still slung over his shoulder when he bumps into Erica coming out the coffee shop with Isaac. He kisses her on the check waves to Stiles and heads off in the opposite direction.

Erica beams when she sees Stiles. "Did you finally kill Jackson... wait don't tell me I don't want to be an accessory!" Erica jokes.

"Ha Ha" Stiles laughs sarcastically "Look at you all loved up!"

Erica goes bright red but has a wide smile.

"Where have you been?" said Erica trying to change the subject.

"With Derek." Seeing Erica raise her eyebrows in a 'not a good enough explanation, continue expression', Stiles carries on "We planted a tree together."

Erica crosses her arms "Spill the whole story now!"

When Stiles has finished the full story complete with the 'Was it or wasn't it nearly a kiss' analysis, Erica gives Stiles a sympathetic look "Stiles you're going to get hurt, Derek is in a relationship...with a girl."

"I do know everything you're saying but I feel like we connect, there's just this chemistry I can't fight." Stiles sighed.

"Then maybe you should talk to him more, you said he seems to open up to you, try to find out what's going on...he can't just string you along."

"Hmm... easier said than done, I know you're just trying to protect me, and thanks."

"Love you silly." She bumped his shoulder playfully and they walked back to the Beta house.

"So your turn, tell me everything about you and Isaac." Stiles asks.

"We're taking it slow." She replies

"I bet it's killing you!" Stiles laughs out.

"Hell you know me so well!" she laughs back.

Over the next couple of days Stiles can't stop worrying about what Erica said and wondering had this gone from a long distance crush to unrequited love? After a couple of drinks one night for Dutch courage Stiles decides to bite the bullet and text Derek.

xxx

DPOV

Derek had never intended to tell Stiles anything that day on the bleachers but just seeing him had made the weight on Derek's shoulders a little bit lighter. Despite the fact that he had trouble trusting anybody straight away he felt compelled to open to Stiles. Even Cora had noticed a change in him when they talked on the phone; she said he seemed more optimistic. Derek thought to himself it's impossible to hang around with Stiles and not have some of his boundless enthusiasm rub off on you.

He was so touched that Stiles had gone to the effort of getting his memorial tree and he found it was helping him already. He had visited it several times and it gave him a place to focus his thoughts and remember the happy times he spent growing up. He had desperately wanted to put into words how much it meant to him but the words just escaped him. With so many emotions running through his head he forgot himself for just a split second and the overwhelming urge to kiss Stiles hit him like a ton of bricks. He saw the flicker of confusion and something else Derek couldn't place flicker across Stiles face before he stepped back and hurriedly made his exit. He really needed to keep away from Stiles but he felt drawn to him, he couldn't help it if he tried.

Derek was alone in his bedroom, with his phone in his hand, he wanted to text Stiles to tell him he had visited his tree but he didn't know if it was a good idea. He was so prone to over thinking everything, he had typed a message so many times and deleted it. Finally he said to himself "Fuck it." And hit send then threw his phone down on the desk and flopped on the bed.

xxx

Before Stiles can type a message his phone beeps, he squees when he sees it's from Derek.

'Just wanted you to know I went to the tree today, I felt better about everything, just wanted to thank you again.'

Stiles beamed as he read Derek's text, he was so happy it had helped Derek deal with his emotions.

Stiles replied 'You're very welcome, so glad it helps'

Beep beep, Derek replies 'How did you get the idea to do that?'

'Well I go talk to my mum a lot when I'm back home, thought you could use an outlet.'

Stiles pressed send, and before he can back out he sends another message before Derek replies.

'What did you mean when you said I get inside your head?'

Stiles started to panic when Derek didn't text back instantaneously. Pacing the room frantically he gets a reply.

'I feel like I can talk to you, I don't feel like that with anyone else.'

'Wow thanks, have you not talked about this stuff with your girlfriend? ' Stiles texted back worried he might be overstepping the mark a bit.

'We don't really talk much' Derek replies.

'To be honest if I had a hot girlfriend (well boyfriend in my case) we probably wouldn't be doing much talking!' Stiles replies cheekily.

Then Derek drops the bombshell...

'I haven't had sex for over a year.'

Stiles jaw literally hits the floor, what!?

'Why aren't you doing it all the time!' Stiles asks knowing Derek needs to be encouraged to talk. He can't just drop that into conversation and not explain himself!

'Things between us are complicated'

'Are you happy?'

'Not really'

'That's just not right; I want you to be happy.'

Stiles starts to worry he's gone too far when he doesn't get a reply straight away.

'What about you, is there nobody you have your eye on?' Derek asks after a pause.

'I'm unlucky in love plus my dad's the sheriff of my hometown so he scares them all off by threatening to run police checks on them!'

'That must suck but on the bright side you must have easy access to handcuffs ;)'

Stiles smirks when he reads the cheeky text from Derek and shoots back a quick flirty reply.

'What is your obsession with me and handcuffs?'

'Well you put the thought in my head in the first place; maybe we should end this before I have to take a cold shower! Can we meet next week to discuss the next event?'

After they arrange to meet at the Alpha house on Tuesday evening Stiles' mind is reeling and he can't keep still; surely he hadn't imagined it that was definite flirting! He can't believe Derek admitted to him he's not happy with Kate, does he have a shot? He needs Erica's conformation on this, so rushes out the house to her dorm. After Erica reads all the texts and they have spent a good hour analysing the situation, she is convinced that maybe just maybe Derek is crushing on Stiles.