"Oh come on, Lydia," Kira cried into the phone, "A girls day would be fun!"

"A girls day equalling me and you?"

"...and Malia... and Cora..."

Lydia tried not to laugh like a mad woman, "That doesn't sound like a day of fun to me, it sounds more like a day of 'let's get to know you so when we leave you out you'll only be slightly mad at us'. Seriously Kira, I would hang with you but today is not a good day."

"Why don't you want to get to know them? They're practically in the pack as it is! And Derek's been helping Malia for months now. The past week or so, since school let out, Scott's been doing nothing but helping her too!" Kira pleaded, "We need a day of normalcy."

"Normalcy is what I am getting and won't with them. I hope I'm not coming off too mean here, Kira, but I just want a day to myself. I'm sorry. I want to get to know them, but when it's not forced. You know? Like with you, Scott or even Stiles."

Kira hesitated, "Are you sure you're not just ditching me to go hang out with said guy?"

Lydia scuffed, "What? No. Why would you say that?"

"Oh, nothing. Nevermind then."

"Why would you think that?"

"Have you seen the way you guys act? You're always together and now neither one of you have hung out with anyone else since school let out. Yes, it's a good thing we haven't had any supernatural issues but still," Kira explained, "You need a break."

"Well, I don't think I do," Lydia slipped her green purse across her chest, pulled her brown backpack on to her shoulders, and dragged her suitcase behind her as she walked out her front doors, "I'll see you sometime next week okay? I've got to go."

"Lydia.."

"I'm about to drive, Kira. I've got to go! Tell me about today later, okay?" Lydia spoke.

"Fine. Talk to you later."

And with that Lydia closed her phone and fit it into her simple purse.

She then opened her car's trunk and put her two bags in there, leaving a suitable amount of room for more suitcases as needed. Climbing into her seat, she started the engine and pulled out her phone again. The tone dialed three times before he answered; he sounded out of breath.

"Hey."

"How goes it?" Lydia backed out of her drive way.

Stiles chuckled, "Peachy. Just dragged my suitcase down the stairs and am starting to reconsider my life's choices."

"Why in the world would you do that?" Her voice was filled with affection.

"Oh, I don't know. I've just got this feeling that I'm out of shape and a certain 5'3'' strawberry blonde is going to make me carry all the bags, anywhere we go," He teased, finally sitting on his front porch.

"You might be right," Lydia smiled to herself, turning on to his street. She hung up the phone.

Stiles saw her and quickly took his suitcase and track bag to the curb.

"You look like a stoned hitchhiker!" Lydia laughed, she had rolled down the passenger's side window to get a better look at the bags under his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. You're the funniest, Lyd," She popped the trunk for him and waited until he sat next to her in the car to drive away from his house.

Stiles looked at her with a know-it-all expression, "Lydia."

"I'm going to the store. Gosh, you're worse than my mom. I know we need snacks and drinks and gum and this and that. So hush," Lydia presumed.

He laughed, "I was going to say you took nice."

She wore her white sandals with a pair of pink floral shorts and a matching pink shirt on top of a white tank top. The shirt fell over one of her shoulders eloquently. Lydia shook her head at the boy's comment and kept on driving to the store, "Shut up."

"I won't."

"But still."

"Whatever," Stiles couldn't hide the boyish smile creeping on to his face.

Lydia saw, "Whatever then."

Stiles was taking his sweet time looking over the candies. They had entered the little gas station five minutes before and he had stood in that isle for most of it. Lydia had gone around and gotten them waters, him a soda and herself an iced tea. She also got them two different kinds of Pringle's and grabbed some Slim Jim's. She threw some gum on to her pile on the counter and politely asked the cashier to wait for her friend. Stiles finally decided on his last piece of candy and met her at the counter. Lydia went to pay, only to have Stiles hold her arm down and hand the guy some cash.

"Stiles, you can't."

"You'll be getting the gas, so the least I can do is get these."

Lydia gave up and sent him a look of gratitude.

Once they had jumped back into the car, Lydia reached for her tea before having a MilkyWay and a bag of M&M's fall on to her lap. She looked over at Stiles and he was already digging through their selection. He then pulled out a Reese's and smiled like at idiot up at her. Lydia rolled her eyes and stuck out her hand for her half.

"I know you too well," Stiles gloated.

Lydia bit into her piece, sitting her now opened tea between them, "Oh really now? Look at your drink. Then tell me who knows who better."

"How'd you know I like cream soda?" Stiles looked at her bewildered. She was putting her candies in the space between them and trying to put her seat belt on too.

"I know you."

He put his seat belt on and they were off, "Seriously. Like no one has noticed that.. well my dad has but I told him to buy it."

"You always get it. Or bring it to school," Lydia pulled on to the highway, "It's really not that hard to figure out. You have one like every day. Which is not good for you by the way."

"I know but they're so good."

"I beg to differ."

Stiles glanced at her, "You don't like them and you still got me one? You are awesome, Lydia, pure awesome."

"I try," She laughed, looking in the rear view mirror.

Stiles sipped his soda, "You succeed."

The strawberry blonde glanced at him with a smile on her face. She was utterly glad they were so close now. She might even go as far as to say they're best friends.

"How awesome does that look?!" Stiles exclaimed as Lydia drove on the closest road to the beach. It was a good four hours later.

She kept on going until they got to a decently sized house with a white exterior and a great amount of windows. Lydia parked the car under a tree in front and started gathering their uneaten treats. Stiles got out and opened the trunk. Lydia soon joined him and took the two lighter bags while he took the two suitcases. They made their way into the house and Lydia showed him to his room up the stairs.

Walking into the house, their immediately is a staircase on the right wall. A bridge with railings expands to the other side and a hallway shoots out to the right. Downstairs, to the left is a rather large living room and sitting area. To the right is the dining room and through there is the very modern kitchen. Back through the main hallway, past the stairs, is a little bathroom on the right and all the way back is a sliding glass door. There is another set just like them in the sitting room and a kitchen door leading out back as well. There's a deck out back and not much else between it and the tide.

"So this is you," Lydia nodded her head towards the first door on the right. Then she walked to the other side of the bridge, "And this is me. There's another bedroom downstairs in the basement too. Your bathroom is the only other door on your side."

"I take it you took the master bedroom?" He sat his bag by his door before joining her on her side.

"Of course," She sent him a smirk and sat her bag on the bed. They swapped the two remaining bags and he left to unpack.

Lydia had just finished throwing her clothes into drawers when her phone buzzed. Her hand reached for the device while the other unzipped her backpack and stacked her books and accessories, "Hello?"

"Lydia Belle Martin, you so lied to me!" Kira's voice rang through the phone. Lydia froze, even though the Kitsune couldn't see her.

She stuttered, "What? Uh, no."

"Lydia, you are horrible at lying."

"That is not true! I once made everyone in the school think that I was a complete idiot and a bubble-head. So I think I'm-"

Kira cut her off, "Stiles didn't fall for it."

"That's different," Lydia practically pouted.

"Whatever," Kira redirected the conversation, "Go unlock the door."

"Wait? What?" Lydia's mind raced.

Kira chuckled, "Being the lame best friend's that we are, Scott and I kind of found you...and started trailing you. We just found you're car after he couldn't lock on to your guys' scent."

"You did what?!" Lydia almost screamed, but it was enough for Stiles to come running into the room with his lucky baseball bat. It was bad enough that they had followed the pair but the fact that Kira thought it was okay for her to say they were best friends was just out of Lydia's comprehension. She couldn't think straight.

Stiles slowly approached her, "What's going on?"

"We're going to have guests."

Stiles knit his eyebrows together before sitting the bat down on the bed.

"Did we mention we brought Cora and Malia?" Kira tried to laugh but it just came out as a nervous huff.

Lydia's face turned to one of utter shock and disappointment, "What?"

"We-" Lydia handed the phone to Stiles and plopped down next to the bat.

Stiles looked at the caller I.D. before speaking, "Kira?"

"Oh, Stiles. How're ya?"

Lydia didn't care to listen to the rest of the conversation before she got up to finish her unpacking. Nothing was going to ruin this weekend for her. Stiles and Lydia had hoped for five days to just hang out by the beach, as the best friends they had slowly become. They would have came back Monday night and hung out with everyone else. They just had wanted a weekend alone and away from the craziness of Beacon Hills. Their parents were completely okay with it, granite Lydia's mother just threw her the keys but Sheriff Stillenski had grown to like Lydia. She eventually zipped her bag up and threw it under the bed with her empty suitcase. She then realized she was alone in the room and her phone was next to his bat, on the bed.

"Wow. This place is awesome," Lydia heard Kira say, her voice echoing up the stairs. The Banshee tried not to roll her eyes.

"I know, right," Stiles could be heard grabbing someone's bags.

Lydia pulled herself together and walked on to the balcony. The others saw her and she sent a small smile.

"Okay, I just have to say this was all Kira's idea," Scott raised his hands in defense.

Cora walked into the sitting room and Malia spoke next, "We were dragged along."

Lydia tried to hide her discomfort of the Werecoyote's presence, "It's fine. There's plenty of room. We'll just have to share."

"Thank god you're not upset," Scott sighed out of relief. Lydia couldn't help but smile at his behavior.

Stiles held one of the newbie's bags and moved his head towards the basement door, "There's a room down there. Who wants it?"

"I don't mind," Cora said, walking back into the room, "We aren't staying long, are we? I didn't really bring anything."

"We were just planning on staying the night," Kira said.

Stiles countered, "We actually were going to stay all weekend.."

"Oh.." Kira muttered.

Scott shook it off, "Well, we can get out of here sooner. It's fine."

"You guys can stay here longer, I can call Derek," Cora suggested.

Malia nodded her head, "Derek would come get us."

"You sure?" Scott is as concerned as always.

Malia nods her head and reaches for Cora's phone, "We'll give him a call."

"What did I say about taking..." Cora's voice trailed off as the two walked toward the basement, having grabbed the backpack from Stiles.

Lydia pursed her lips awkwardly, "So.."

The other three looked up at the strawberry blonde.

"So?" Scott asked, climbing the stairs with a track bag thrown over his shoulders.

Lydia leaned against the railing, "There's only two bedrooms up here."

"Oh," Scott stopped at the last step, unsure of how or where to proceed.

Stiles cleared his throat, "That's an easy fix."

"Yep," Kira followed the human up the staircase. Scott joined Lydia by the rail, watching the other two while trying to figure out how it was going to work.

Lydia spoke, "How's that?"

"Genders," Stiles said matter-of-factly before seeing Lydia's expression of utter disbelief. She made sure no one else could see the look she was sending his way. What was he thinking?

Stiles sent her one right back.

"I'm fine with that," Kira said too quickly.

Lydia sighed and pushed Stiles into his room, "Come on."

He looked at her confused while she stuffed half of his clothes back into the suitcase. The boy had barely unpacked.

"Lydia, what are you doing?" Stiles tried not to fret over her handling his possessions.

She rolled her eyes, "It's obvious something is going on between them and we need to push them into the right direction."

"By having them sleep in the same room together?" Stiles said.

"Well, yeah. It's the best we can do," Lydia threw his bag at him.

He tilted his head at her, "And what about us? You know.. in the same room."

"Oh, come on, Stiles. It's not like we haven't done it before. Besides, this is for our friends. No matter how much they might irk me, I love them and they deserve to be over this phase already!" Lydia spoke, secretly hoping he didn't realize she was also talking about the two of them.

Stiles sighed, "Fine."

A minute later they were passing the couple on the balcony and throwing Stiles' stuff on her bed. Scott followed suit, with Kira on his heels.

"What's going on?" He asked.

Lydia sighed, "I'm making Stiles sleep in here. Now go on and get your stuff into the other room."

"Wait? Why?" Kira's eyes grew.

Stiles rubbed the back of his neck, "Yeah, why?"

Lydia glared at him before looking back at the soon-to-be couple, "Because this is my house and if you don't like it, go sleep in the car. I honestly don't care which."

Stiles just shook his head at her ridiculous explanation and turned to unpack again. The couple slowly walked out of the room.

Lydia's hands were soon next to Stiles', unloading his bags.

"Woah, woah. What're you doing?" Stiles stood straight.

Lydia carefully folded his t-shirts and put them into a drawer, "You obviously take forever and have horrible organizational skills when it comes to your clothes. So I'll do these and you do whatever is in your track bag."

"Lydia," Stiles wined, "Stop."

She did, her hands outstretched toward his bag but still inches away from it, "What?"

"Why're you acting like this?" He still wasn't used to this side of her. The side that wanted to be around him so much, wanted to organize his clothes, and even sleep with him. In the same bed. For several nights.

"Stiles, I am just trying to help."

He moved towards her and placed his hands on her shoulders, "You don't need to. I'm a big boy and I can put my big boy pants away."

"So, what's a little help gunna do?" She protested.

Stiles bent down a bit so she looked him in the eye, "Is there something else going on here, Lyd?"

"What? No. There is not."

Stiles didn't believe her but knew if she was hiding it from him, of all people, he was just going to have to get over it.

"Fine, but just the clothes," He gave in, "And don't touch the underwear, okay? That's just weird."

"Will do," She fake saluted him and returned to her job. They worked in comfortable silence for another half hour or so.

The pair was finally deciding on an afternoon activity when their conversation was interrupted by their Alpha friend.

"Stiles," Scott hesitantly walked into the room, only to see the two lounging on the bed talking, "I need a pair of swimming trunks.."

"Oh, I've got you," Stiles walked over to the dresser and threw his friend a pair of light blue ones.

Lydia spoke, "Does Kira need a bathing suit? I brought three.."

"I'll send her in," Scott scurried out of the room.

Stiles pulled out his own black pair, "So I guess they chose for us."

"Apparently," Lydia went to pick one out for Kira.

Stiles headed for the bathroom, "I'll just be a minute."

"Take your time."

Stiles disappeared into the en suite.

Lydia pulled out a simple, bright yellow, two piece for her Kitsune friend. She then debated her other options before sitting her own suit on the dresser. It had a rainbow floral pattern, focusing on blue and red, with a forties-like top and high-waist bottoms. Lydia could practically feel the heat steaming off of her cheeks at the thought of Stiles' reaction to her bathing suit choice. She so needed to get a handle on her thoughts.

"You are a life saver," Kira beamed as she accepted Lydia's swimming suit, "I owe you."

"No you don't," Lydia grabbed her own and sat on the bed to wait for the bathroom.

Kira turned back towards the other girl before leaving completely, "Lydia, is there something going on between you and Stiles?"

"What do you mean?" Lydia put on a poker face. Of course something was going on, she just had no idea what it was. Was she attracted to Stiles? More importantly, did she want to be attracted to him?

"Nevermind," And with that Kira left the Banshee to roll around with her feelings alone.

Stiles entered the room, no shirt on, "It's all yours."

"Thanks," She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to keep her eyes away from his ever-present happy trail.

Stiles tried not to notice her behavior. She couldn't possibly be blushing, could she?

An hour later the gang was splashing, running and diving in the ocean, well at least Stiles, Lydia, Scott and Kira were. Malia and Cora were in tank tops and shorts, lounging on the beach. Too cool for the water, even though they didn't necessarily have to wear bathing suits. But Lydia tried not to think about the way Malia's eyes fell to Stiles every few minutes. Lydia also tried not to notice the way Stiles seemed to be showing off, she had no idea who for. It could have been either one of them. All Lydia did focus on was the splashing war that Stiles had oh-so-rudely started by dunking her under the water. Her long hair was up in a bun, thankfully.

"Come on, Lyd! It wasn't too bad!" Stiles was yelling over the incoming waves. Lydia wouldn't have any of it and pulled her legs up so she could kick water at him instead of pitifully splashing at him.

Scott called from a few feet away, "Woah! I'm even getting some of that! What did you do, man?"

"I just dunked her!" Stiles pleaded to no one in particular, trying not to get water in his mouth or eyes.

Lydia let up and she now was staring at Stiles while he wiped his eyes, "And now we are even."

"Oh, are we?" Stiles quickly swooped under the water and soon had a kicking Lydia thrown over his shoulder. Lydia wondered when he had gotten so strong.

It took all of her might not to do her Banshee scream, "Stiles! Come on! It's not funny!"

"I think it's kinda funny," He spoke as though he wasn't carrying around a girl on his shoulder. He was still a gentleman and took the waves head on, so she wouldn't get hit in the face with them.

Lydia kicked more violently, "There's no point to this, Stillenski!"

"Yes there is; Payback."

Lydia stopped moving and let out a defeated sigh.

"Giving up already, Martin?" Stiles voice held nothing but cockiness.

Lydia smacked the back of his head, "I'm just tired."

"So am I, and I've still got you."

Lydia tried to kick him in the groin.

"Hey, hey! Okay! Gosh, Lydia," He finally slipped her off his shoulder. This just made her slide down him until they were face to face and in each others arms. Lydia didn't think she was breathing and the sudden heat she felt on her face only meant one thing. Stiles had his stronger than previously thought hands gently placed on her waist and her own petite ones were resting on his chest. Neither one of them really wanted to move.

But then life jumped in and made the biggest wave imaginable come tumbling down on top of them.

"Woah, you alright?" Stiles asked when he finally caught his footing.

Lydia was coughing about a foot away from him, "Yeah. Just swallowed some water."

"We should probably head in, anyways. The sun's setting," Stiles said, guiding her still coughing form with a hand on her back.

Lydia complied and let him lead the way. Her throat hurt.

"Goodnight," Stiles said to every one once the pair had dried off and wrapped the towels around themselves.

Cora questioned, "This early?"

"Yeah, her throat is getting worse."

Malia spoke up, not meeting his gaze though, "That doesn't mean you have to go in too."

Lydia heard and continued her way into the house. She needed a drink and some crackers.

"I'm a good best friend and I would never leave her alone," Stiles sent over his shoulder, annoyed at the Werecoyote for even suggesting he leave Lydia's side. They all knew this was just how Malia saw the world, she didn't get most things or behaviors. But that didn't mean she didn't get on their nerves, Lydia's more than the others. The fact that Malia hadn't picked a thing or two up in the few months she had stayed with Derek was a shock to them all. Then again, she had stayed with Derek of all people. The most mysterious, stalker-like and anti-social person of the pack.

A few minutes later Stiles handed Lydia a water bottle and a box of crackers, "Here, Princess."

"Oh, shut up," Her voice was giving way and her threat was not taken seriously. Stiles just laughed.

"How did you do that? Loose your voice over salt water," Stiles asked sitting next to her.

Lydia eyed the crackers suspiciously, "I was yelling for a long time before that. Can you go get some cheese slices? Oh, see if we have the canned cheese!"

"You make a point," Stiles stood to do as asked, "You sure you'll be okay?"

"Hey, if being a Banshee means screaming people's heads off, I think a little human screaming will be fixed in no time!"

"Alright," He left the room. Lydia scooted back on the bed and leaned against the headboard as she waited. The water helped her throat for the few seconds it was there.

Stiles reemerged, "WE'VE GOT SQUIRT CHEESE!"

"YES!" Lydia whisper yelled, trying not to hurt her throat even more. She reached eagerly for the can.

Stiles crawled on to the bed to lay down on his stomach and turned his head towards her, "Are you going to share?"

"Of course," Lydia made a face, directed towards her voice. She then cheesed-up a cracker and held it out to him.

Being the Stiles he was, he just bit into it. This got crumbs everywhere.

"Stiles!" She motioned towards the crumb pile between the two of them. She playfully huffed and finished off his cracker.

He noticed but decided not to elaborate on it. If she was comfortable enough to share food, that meant they were getting somewhere, right?

Stiles brushed the crumbs but only made them scatter all around the bed.

Lydia rolled her eyes and handed him another cracker, "You are such a guy, sometimes."

"What? When am I ever not a guy?" Stiles looked offended, he stuffed his whole cracker into his mouth and continued to speak with his mouth full, "Seriously, Lyd. I've always been like this."

"Ew. Okay I get it. Just, stop," Lydia fake covered her face and turned away from him. Luckily the food and water were on the side-table or else her legs kicking up into a bent position would have sent them flying.

Stiles did as he was told with a big smile upon his face, "You're voice is sounding less froggy."

"See, I told you," Lydia tapped his forehead, lazily.

They both were visibly tired. And as the night drew on, the pair fell asleep. Stiles in the same position and Lydia ended up laying on her back next to him. They didn't rest until the first hours of the next day and when they did, neither one of them realized. They had continued laughing and chatting.

Stiles and Lydia spent the weekend with their two closest friends, Scott and Kira, once the other girls were taken back to Beacon Hills by Derek. The weekend went on as a lighthearted outing and the pair got to know each other better than before. And even though it would take both couples the rest of the summer to finally get together while all parties wanted it, that summer was going to be the best one yet. And none of them would change a minute of it. ϟ