"I'm just saying," Malia says in between bites of steak. "You wouldn't be so bored."
"I'm not bored," Stiles says with a frown. "I work. I work from home."
Malia sighs. "Well when you're not working, you won't be 'accidentally' visiting me."
His mouth hangs open. "I thought you like it when I visit!"
"Not really," she says coolly. "It stresses me out."
"What?" Stiles says. "Why didn't you tell me? Why wouldn't you tell me such a thing?"
Malia rolls her eyes. "Because I was trying to avoid this."
"Fine." He says, picking at the mashed potatoes with his fork.
Malia lets out a loud sigh. "C'mon, why would you not want a dog?"
"Because I have enough on my hands with one wild animal."
She snorts. "That's offensive."
"Well maybe," He says. "Maybe I don't care."
The loud ring of the doorbell interrupts their staring contest. Malia gets up, moves her hips from one side to the other dramatically as she walks away. Stiles' eyes stray on her behind.
She unlocks the door, swings it open. "Yes?"
"Special delivery for Malia Tate and Stiles Sti-"
"Yeah." Malia says, looking at the small box curiously. It's wooden, has small holes on the sides.
"Sign here please."
"Hey Stiles," she yells from the hallway, slamming the door shut after the mailman. "We got something from Kira."
She places the box on the dining room table. "What's this?"
Stiles shrugs. "Open it."
Malia's eyes narrow. Her fingers work around the seal on the box. Just as the box is opened, three monarch butterflies escape through the broken seal, ambushing her.
She moans, watching them flutter around the room before landing on the curtains.
"That was nuts," Stiles says, taking a sip of orange juice, eyes glued to the curtains. Some of the liquid dribbles on his chin.
Malia rolls her eyes at him, picks out a card from the box. She throws her head back dramatically.
"What does it say?"
Malia reads out loud, "You are invited to Kira and Scott's engagement party, to celebrate their love and upcoming nuptials."
"You didn't know about this?" Stiles asks.
"No," she shakes her head. "I guess Lydia planned it."
"And didn't tell you?"
Malia chuckles, "Thankfully not."
Except she's not chuckling nearly as much when they're at the event. Stiles is having a drink with Derek, who has been living in New York for the past five years, and came out here for Scott. She sees him gesticulating wildly, sighs. Stiles hasn't so much as said a word with her all evening, running from one old friend to another. He should be here with her, abhorring the whole thing just as much as she is.
"You're awfully unhappy," Lydia says from behind her, "for such a happy occasion."
Malia whips her head back. "Hey, sit."
"I'm busy," she says. "I have to keep this thing running."
"You hired people to keep this thing running." Malia says, pointing out a couple of waiters carrying around beverages.
"Kira and Scott did," Lydia specifies, thinks for a moment. "Actually I probably should sit down."
"Had too much champagne?" Malia asks.
Lydia gives her a fake smile. "No, we need to talk about the bachelorette party."
"Why? I thought you're planning everything."
"I am," she says. "but I need to get the bridesmaids' approval."
"The cousins are talking with some of Scott's work friends." Kira's cousins, that is.
Lydia sighs, "I already talked with them. You're the only one left."
"If you insist." Malia says, "But first, I need more champagne."
"You can't get drunk."
"Don't remind me." Malia frowns.
She locates a tipsy Stiles talking with Danny, slurring a very bad joke. She's tired from the conversation on party venues, wants nothing but her boyfriend back and a soft, comforting bed.
"Hey," she says, dragging him away. "let's go home."
"It's too early," Stiles says. "They're only now setting up for the dancing."
"But I wanna go home," Malia says, unbuttoning his dress shirt with a mischievous grin.
Stiles gulps, considers for a moment. She looks amazing in her silk curve hugging dress. He'd love to slip it off her, have it pool around her legs. "You love dancing." He says cautiously.
"But not as much as I love you." She bites her lip, the lighting in the room dimming and music growing louder.
"Um," Kira says into the microphone in front of the makeshift dance floor. "The dance floor is open!" She looks uncomfortable, but Scott leads her to the dance floor, and soon enough, they are gently swaying to the music.
Malia looks at the scene wistfully, unable to decide whether she wants to dance or go back home with Stiles. Before she can make up her mind, he grabs her hand, leads her to the dance floor.
"One dance," he says, smiling.
Somehow, the one dance turns into a couple, and Stiles is humming as they get through the front door of their house. He's extremely hyper from the dancing and drinking, and so touchy that Malia almost finds it adorable. Almost.
"Do you need help unzipping the dress?" He says, stripping off his shirt in one move.
Malia grins. "There's no zipper to unzip." She toys with one of the straps on her dress. Stiles' lips part, eyes locked onto her fingers, gently pushing the strap off her shoulder.
A/N: Thank you for reading! Leave a review if you enjoyed it. Are you all as excited for all the Stalia in Season 4 as I am?