Stiles was so nervous to meet up with Derek to discuss the Alpha's event but Derek just acted his normal emotionally cut off self, perfectly polite and friendly to Stiles but with no hint of their earlier flirting. This annoyed Stiles greatly he was now so confused about the whole situation, had he imaging that was Derek flirting or just in desperation read way too much into things?
Thanks to Derek's irritatingly professional manner they manage to hash out a plan for a barbecue to be hosted at the Alpha house proceeded by an Alpha's versus Beta's Lacrosse match.
Scott had given the Beta brothers a stern pep talk about practicing for the impending match. Privately Stiles thought they stood no chance of winning but never the less encouraged Scott to put together a team that would at least give the Alphas a run for their money.
Isaac, Danny and Scott talked about Lacrosse incessantly for the next couple of days. They had multiple conversations about positions, tactics and previous match analysis. Stiles was starting to get dangerously bored with it all, so jumped at the chance when Scott suggested they actually went out to practice.
They had only been out on the field about fifteen minutes when Derek and a few other Alphas came to join them on the field.
"Betas huddle!" Yelled Scott, who had seemingly taken on the role of team Captain.
Stiles rolled his eyes at how dramatic Scott was being for a quick practice session, he smiled and waved to Derek as he ran over to the rest of the team.
"Stiles, that's the enemy you shouldn't be waving!" Scott said looking scandalised.
"Sorry." Said Stiles looking sheepish.
They talked tactics for a while, but Stiles had zoned out; content to surreptitiously check Derek out who was now in goal. The Alphas were taking it in turns to fire shots at the goal and Derek was saving most of them. After a little while Derek jogged over to the Beta team.
"Hey guys, you look on top form." Derek said.
"Ah ha, I knew you came down here to spy on us." Scott eyed Derek suspiciously.
"Scott, we're normally on the same team! I don't need to spy on you." Derek said exasperated. "Could you use some practice shooting at goal?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Scott snapped back.
"Scott! Derek is trying to help us, yes please that would be great." Stiles said before Jogging off with Derek towards goal.
Stiles tried a few times to get past Derek in goal with no success. He becomes more frustrated as Derek smiles widely at him whenever he runs towards goal.
"You're putting me off my game!" Stiles moaned to Derek while taking a quick rest to get his breath back.
Derek laughed, "Let me help you, you need to make it less obvious which side of the net you're trying to get the ball in, try flicking your wrist more."
"Like this?" Asks Stiles, while demonstrating to Derek.
"Kinda, err... let me show you." He walks behind Stiles and takes his hand in his to demonstrate the move.
Stiles had never been more distracted in his life with Derek so close he breaks out in goosebumps at his touch.
"Thanks." Stiles utters dreamily as Derek returns to goal.
They play for about an hour more, Stiles is dripping in sweat and exhausted when he trudges back to the locker room.
He takes a shower and is just drying off, his mind replaying the last time he was in the locker room with Derek. Derek pressed up against him, his lips only inches away. Just at that moment the Alphas return to the locker room to get changed breaking Stiles out of his daydream. Derek grabs his stuff from a locker near to where Stiles is changing and starts to remove his shirt whilst chatting to Danny and Isaac about the upcoming game. Stiles tries so hard not to stare at his muscled arms and imagine them wrapped around him. He notices Derek has a tattoo between his shoulder blades and suddenly has an overwhelming desire to lick it. As if Derek could feel Stiles' gaze he turns to look at him. Stiles blushes deep red as he catches Derek's eye. Feeling mortified, he beings to stuff his clothes into his bag wildly, whilst mumbling a hasty goodbye and hopping out the locker room with only one shoe on.
Derek takes his time under the warm spray of the shower, his team mates had long since left the locker room to return to the house. A million thoughts we're racing through his head but there was one thing he knew for sure, he wanted Stiles. When they had touched out on the field it was like electricity running between them, the air so think with tension it was almost unbearable to not act upon it. He had never experienced anything like that before, a desire so strong he has to make Stiles his, whatever it takes.
Before he could talk to Stiles he had to do the right thing and break up with Kate. Although their relationship was a facade he wouldn't cheat on her, even though he knows she's been cheating on him. He thought he didn't really care what she did or with who but she clearly thought he didn't have a clue about any of it. He couldn't stand to see her smug knowing look as she 'studied' with one of his house mates again. He knocked on the Sorority house door and was lead into the living room by one of the girls and told to wait there for Kate.
"Derek? Why are you here?" Kate asked surprised that Derek had come to see her. He would never seek her out; they only conversed through text most of the time.
"We need to talk..." Derek started.
"Oh no, don't you dare break up with me!" Kate interrupted her anger visible.
"I can't carry on like this, we both know this relationship ended months ago, I don't want to use you." Derek tried to explain.
"What is this really about? We have an arrangement, you need me!" Kate raged. "Is this about sex, because we can right now if that's what you want?"
"It has nothing to do with that!" Derek replied trying to keep his cool but struggling.
"You've met someone else? Oh I see now...you can't Derek. Do they know how damaged you are? I can cope with it but don't think for a second anyone else would put up with your little mood swings!" Kate spat out.
"Goodbye Kate." Derek said, heading to the door.
"I won't be here waiting for you, when it all goes wrong!" Kate yelled after him. But he just slammed the door on his way out without a second look back.
As Derek walks the long way back to the Alpha house his mind replays the conversation with Kate, he wasn't expecting her to give up easily but he hoped she would see reason more readily than she did. He knew she was right about one thing though, he was so badly damaged from everything that had happened to him; he couldn't hold together a relationship. It wasn't fair on Stiles to start something that was doomed to fail. Instead of walking back to the house his feet carried him to the memorial tree, he sat down on the floor beside it.
"Mum help me, what am I going to do?" Derek asked.
He leans his head against the trunk and closes his eyes. Images of Stiles smiling swim through his mind but then all he can hear were Kate's words, 'You're damaged Derek and nobody could put up with you.'