AN-

AHHHHH. It has been almost a month since the first chapter! Holy shit, guys, I am so sorry. I just wanted to finish Seven Devils and then I got busy with school and wow, that is a sucky excuse but sorry.

By the way- I don't know if Derek seems a little OOC, but I'm trying to portray him as a teenager and I like to think he wouldn't be quite as broody and mean. Plus, Laura is still alive.

Disclaimer- All I own is a new wicked awesome Doctor Who poster and some really good tea.

I'm not gay. I'm not gay. I'm not-

God dammit.

Derek is looking at me again, interrupting my inner mantra that seems to be on replay these days.

His lips twitch to see me staring so unwaveringly at my paper, like he thinks I'm actually working or something. Ha. Fat chance. I never do any work in this class, especially not with him freaking staring at me like that. Do I have something on my face? Is he fantasizing about fucking my face? Who knows.

I sure as hell don't and I'm getting a little annoyed. Derek Hale is the most bipolar, constantly PMS-ing person I know. One second, he's grinning at me or staring at me or even saying he hopes we can be friends. And then I blink and he has a glare or a scowl or, if I'm lucky, both. It drives me crazy.

And it's not like I only see him in class- no. Apparently, my group has adopted him or something, because he is always around. In the cafeteria. At the game. Out at the store. Scott was even thinking of inviting him to his house Friday night- which, might I add, has always been mine and Scott's night. Just us, some violent video games, and some popcorn. And now a broody teenager, apparently.

Sure, I saw why everyone wanted Derek around. Oh, wait. No, I didn't. The only thing he had going for him was that he was good-looking. Take away his looks and he is just a bipolar, grumpy anti-social ass.

But, alas, he was good-looking, so he had captured the attention of just about everybody. Including me. And Lydia, unfortunately.

It's not that I really thought me and Lydia would ever be something. I don't know if I even love her anymore. I just like the idea of loving her; I had been doing it for so long. She was my fallback, my safety crush. As long as I remind myself that I'm in love with Lydia, then I won't start to question my sexuality. Because why would a gay guy be in love with a fierce redhead female?

Either way, I wasn't going to pull a Disney princess. Just because this guy was attractive, I wasn't going to look at him and fall in love- cough, cough, like some people (see everyone else in this whole freaking school) has. He's boring and plain and seems like a bit of an asshole. No personality whatsoever. Who would want to date someone like that?

I peek up for one moment and see Derek staring at me again. Actually, he's kind of scowling at me. And he doesn't even look embarrassed by being caught. Another one of those beautiful person benefits, I guess.

"Is there something on my face?" I finally snap at him and his face breaks out into a small grin, though his frown lines deepen.

"No," he says simply, offering no more of an explanation. My eyes narrow and I huff, turning around to pay exuberant attention to the boring teacher. He lets out a low chuckle and I hold back a snarl. Jackass.

The class period seems to drone on and on. I finally let out a sigh of relief when the bell rings, signaling lunch. Lunch is my haven, my safe place. Where I can take my breath off autopilot and actually think and talk. Not that I do much thinking. What can I say? Silence makes me uncomfortable. So, I always just kind of dive right in.

I run to my locker as fast as possible and grab my afternoon books and lunch money.

It's pizza day. Which is probably the only silver lining of today- the day where I left my essay in the printer, annoyed two teachers, spilled orange juice all over my textbook, and got stared at like a freak.

I quickly grab my pizza and a milk carton and shove some money down the cashier's throat. She stares at me in amusement and takes about ten minutes to make sure I gave her the right amount. All the authoritative figures at this school are spiteful and bitter.

I finally get into the cafeteria and scramble to my table, but I was too late. I have to sit next to Derek. Again.

Which, hey, wouldn't be a problem. It should actually be the opposite of a problem. But it kinda is one considering he spends the whole time memorizing my face but ignoring me every time I try to talk to him.

Maybe today he'll be normal. Maybe today he will actually answer me when I greet him. I take in a deep breath and sit down next to him.

"Hey, Derek," I say, smiling slightly at him. It isn't really like I needed to get his attention, seeing as he has been watching me since I walked into the room. Which, by the way, is really starting to creep me out.

He grunts back something that might've been a hello and then turns to someone else. But not before he not so subtly sniffs me. Oh, yes, that's right, sniffs me. Apparently, that's his new thing. He is really taking this whole stalker thing to a new level. I'm going to have to ask my dad if I can borrow his gun.

"So, Derek, are you coming to the game tonight?" Scott asks, struggling to open a packet of fruit snacks.

"I don't know," the moody teenager answers, shrugging. "Isn't it supposed to be cold?"

"Dude, you have to come out no matter the weather! Support the team. School spirit, rah rah, and all that," Scott grins at him, his snack finally opening and flying everywhere.

Derek turns to me. "Are you going?" He asks- and wow, his voice still makes it sound like he is grumbling.

"Uh, yeah. I kind of have to; I'm on the team." I say it in my duh voice, which I should probably tone down for people who aren't close enough to me to ignore my sarcasm.

His cheeks color and he turns back to Jackson, suddenly listening intently to the spoiled brat as he talks about crappy valet.

I roll my eyes, turn to Lydia, try to draw her into a conversation, fail miserably, and decide to just eat my food.

High school freaking sucks.

xXx

When the school day is finally over, I am so happy. Today has been exhausting. Of course, I now am obligated to go and freeze my ass off on a frozen field doing absolutely nothing. These sure are the golden years.

I get to the locker room, throw my stuff on, lend Scott an extra shirt- "I want to smell nice for Allison and mine smells like sweat and dirt." "Allison can't smell you from the bleachers and oh, shit, don't give me those puppy eyes."- and run out onto the field.

I had told my dad not to come to this one, because he needed rest and it wasn't like he was going to miss me doing anything amazing. So, I'm not surprised when I don't see his face in the stands. However, I immediately spot Derek and the girls. Allison has a sign with Scott's name on it and Lydia has one with Jackson's. Derek simply just stands there with his hands in his pockets.

I catch his eye and offer him a smile. He replies with a small grin before Lydia tugs on his arm to tell him something.

"Balinski!" Coach yells out, still getting my name wrong even though I've been on this team for two years. "Stop checking out out of your league girls and get your ass over here."

I join the small huddle that has formed and listen to the plan, even though I know I won't be playing. And I'm fine with that. Really. Less bruises for me, right?

The play starts and I sit down on the cold bench, watching intently and making sure to cheer Scott on. I don't know what has been happening with him lately, but he has really stepped up his game. Which is probably why he is suddenly Mr. Popular.

I glance behind me to see the girls up on their feet, screaming their heads off. I grin at them and turn to look at the lump next to them. Derek looks as grumpy as usual, but the tiniest bit interested, too.

Suddenly, his gaze turns to me. His eyes- a beautiful mix of green and gold that I have fondly named 'asshole'- lock on to me and I find it impossible to turn away. I shoot him a small grin and he tries to return it just as I hear my name.

I turn my attention back to the game and see Greenburg- what an idiot- being dragged off the field, limping. Coach is staring at me and I have a terrible feeling that I know what is about to happen.

"Uh, yes, Coach?" I ask quietly.

"Get in the game, Balinski!" He shouts at me. I gape unattractively at him for a minute before stumbling up and onto the field. Scott pats me on the back as soon as I get over there.

As soon as the game started again, any confidence I had disappeared. I fall on my ass more times than I can count and make a total fool out of myself. I'm sure the coach is a second away from pulling me back out.

I look up towards the stand again and my breath catches. There, standing next to the over-excited teenage girls, is Derek, holding a sign that says my name. Sure, his sign is a ripped out piece of notebook paper with my name scribbled on in pencil. But, still.

I can't help the smile that takes up my whole face. He doesn't exactly look thrilled but he doesn't look miserable either. He gives me another one of those tiny smiles.

My heart thumps and I quickly turn around and face the team again. Coach eyes me critically as I cross over to where everyone is. I listen to the plan and nod along.

Okay, Stiles. You can do this. You don't want to disappoint the team. Or the people in the bleachers. Or one person in the bleachers specifically…

I straighten up and take a deep breath. I can do this.

The game starts up again rapidly and intensely, everyone focused on scoring those last few points they can before the game is over.

And, magically, I'm not tripping anymore. Actually, I might even be playing well. I block who I'm supposed to block and even make a goal. It's like that little sign changed everything.

I hear Allison and Lydia scream my name when I make the last goal and I beam. I look up to them and see them jumping. My eyes immediately move to the right of them and I see Derek watching me with amusement as I jump around the field.

Scott tackles me, yelling in my ear. Instead of shoving him off, I just grin, too happy.

So maybe pizza wasn't the only good part of this day.

xXx

I'm in front of the school, waiting for my dad to come pick me up with my Jeep- which is finally out of the shop- when I see Derek next.

He is getting in his car, one of the last to leave after the game. I see him and don't think twice about yelling, "Derek!"

He looks at me like a startled puppy and I grin. I wave at him, but he just keeps staring at me with that wide-eyed look. Seriously, what is up with this guy and his mood swings?

"Um, hi," I say, feeling a bit unsure for the first time. I thought we were cool now that he had acted all nice-ish to me and gifted me with a rare smile.

He says nothing, simply raising his hand slightly, his mouth twisted into a grimace. He turns around and goes to get into his car when I feel some kind of feeling flash up in me. And, like the idiot I was, I open my mouth.

"Okay, what the hell is wrong with you?" I shout out, making Derek freeze. "One second, you're smiling at me or making a sign of my name and the next you're back to being all broody and scowly and shit. I don't know if you're bipolar, but if you aren't, it isn't cute. And I thought we were friends-ish. Or even acquaintances, I'm good with that. But friends and acquaintances don't do that to each other. Okay? So, it'd be really cool if you'd maybe stop."

Derek looks pained as he turns around, like he is holding something back. He takes in a deep breath and his hands are clenched together so tight that his knuckles are white.

"Stiles," he starts and I quickly start talking again, because if I'm going to lose this maybe friendship-ish, then I want to make sure I get everything out first.

"No, you know what, maybe I do understand, kind of. You're better with actions that words, right? You're all good with doing something as 80's movie as what just happened out there, but once I start talking, it all goes down the toilet. But, God, you could make an effort. Ever since you moved here, I have tried so hard to be your friend. I invited you to sit with me, I let you be my lab partner, I introduced you to everybody, I didn't even fucking comment when you very creepily stared at me every day. I have been trying. What's your excuse?"

Derek looks like he is about to throw up and he clutches his car tightly. His eyes close momentarily and when he opens them, I see them flash bright blue. Which is pretty insane, so I chalk it up to the adrenaline and nerves in the air.

"Stiles," he repeats, though it sounds different now, like a warning. I ignore it.

"I hate this, you know. I hate fighting and yelling and all that. I hate it. Because someone can die at any moment. And for the last thing you say to someone to be some mean screams out of a fit of rage is terrible." I am briefly thrown into a memory of my mother and I feel bile in my throat and my heart speed up but I swallow it back. "So, if you could just tell me that you hate me and don't want to try the whole friends thing, fine. Just don't watch me try desperately and not give me any sort of feedback. I can't take-"

"Stiles," Derek says again, but it is way different this time. Different because his voice is harsher now and more of a growl than anything. Different because he has seemed to stop holding himself back and is in an offensive position.

Different because he now has fangs and neon blue eyes and sharp fingernails.

"Ho-holy shit," I stutter, falling to the ground. What the actual fuck is going on? I don't even have a sarcastic comment to defend myself with.

"Stiles," he growls again- God, is that the only thing he can say- and he really shouldn't be saying my name right now. He should be explaining why he has fucking fur sprouting from him.

"Der- Oh, my God. What the fu-"

But my words get cut off as Derek launches himself at me.