Malia was leaving the lecture hall, when the sandy haired boy with the aesthetically pleasing face, caught up and began walking with her, matching her stride easily.

"Hey there." Malia turned and smiled at him but continued to walk. "I know this is the first time we are actually talking, but I was wondering if it was possible to get your notes for the next class? I'm going to be away so…and well, I know you take good notes."

At his statement, Malia stopped in her tracks, causing the person behind her to slam into her shoulder. They swore loudly, maneuvering around her but Malia took no notice, much to the amusement of her companion. "How do you know I take good notes?"

"I've been sitting beside you in class since the semester started. They are really detailed," he said looking impressed.

"Oh. Okay, you can have my notes. Just give them back after copying them."

"Thanks," the guy smiled, "I'm Todd by the way."

"Malia." Malia replied continuing on her way. He walked alongside her.

"Malia...That's a nice name,"

"Thanks."

"Uh. So where are you heading?"

"My place is just at the edge of campus. I'm meeting my friends to go study at the library now though."

"Oh wow. You mean you live in one of those apartments that's for independent living? Like doing your own groceries and cooking? That's so grown up!"

Malia turned to him, wrapping her cardigan around her as they stepped outside, "It's nothing that I didn't do at home, only the company's different."

"And the late classes, coffee breaks, sleepless nights, and endless homework for miles that never seems to stop?" Todd grinned. "Admit it. What you're doing is pretty dope."

Malia grinned knowing he was complementing her. She figured that 'dope' meant something cool by Todd's expression. They walked and talked about day to day things as Todd accompanied her across campus. He seemed nice, though she didn't get why he was still walking with her.

She spotted Stiles outside waiting by his jeep for her, frowning while looking at his phone. She brought out her own cheap one that he had forced her to buy recently. Stiles had been appalled to find out she didn't own a cellphone. They had their, 'how do you get a hold of anyone' conversation and 'to get with the times' conversation, until she caved. Malia made a face while texting him. What was she saying? She always caved. Stiles should have been studying to become a lawyer, instead of his current major.

"Oh hey. Are we here?" Todd asked when Malia stopped in front of a building. She nodded about to say bye and thank him for walking her home, when he said, "Maybe we could hang out sometime…after class."

Malia glanced in Stiles' direction quickly and turned back to Todd, "I go to the library after class like I told you."

"Well, I didn't mean today. Just… here take my number, and let me know if you want to meet for coffee when you're taking a break from studies." At Malia's hesitation, he added, "Or we could just be note partners. I still need your number to contact you?"

"Right." That she could do. Malia took down his number as he recited it. She called the number quickly so he would have hers too. "Okay, text me next week when you would like the notes."

"Okay, yeah thanks." Todd pursued his lips, but smiled nonetheless before heading back. Malia let out a sigh of relief watching him walk away. Talking to people was so challenging. She could smell the disappointment on him and felt bad, but she didn't even know him. Wasn't he expecting too much too soon?

She turned and headed towards the parking lot, where Stiles was leaning against her side of the door, arms folded and watching her with a smirk that told her right away that he had seen her with Todd. Great.

"Got a date tonight?" Stiles cocked an eyebrow at her, "Wow. You work fast."

"Shut up." Malia nudged him so she could get in. "He wanted my notes."

Stiles leaned his arm against the window still blocking her, "I'm sure that wasn't the only thing he wanted," his voice teasing.

"Don't make me punch you Stiles." Malia said with no real threat in her voice. Malia was used to this by now. She knew when Stiles looked at her that way, he was being a jerk.

Stiles laughed as he went around and got into the driver's side, Malia sitting beside him. It was a bit chilly that day and the campus was huge, which is why they were driving to the library. Malia suspected the real reason was because Stiles was lazy.

She turned to him when he spoke, "Figures you would be a jock type. Pretty people always find each other,"

There it was again. A word she didn't know but was crucial to understand what Stiles meant. "What's a jock?"

Stiles sighed inwardly. He felt like talking to Malia would be similar to talking to his grandma or something. "A jock is a type of guy in high school. You know, the athletic guy, attractive, good with the girls and sometimes even smart?"

Malia thought about this. She turned to Stiles and said, "You are three of the four things. Does that make you a jock?"

Stiles bit his tongue, stopping himself from asking which one he wasn't. He shook his head, realizing he really didn't want to know the answer to that as he parked in the lot right in front of the library. "Uh, no. I'm not a jock."

Malia got out of the jeep, and continued their conversation as they headed in, "But you're part of a sports team. You must have been or you wouldn't have these," she said as she squeezed his upper arm gently.

"I was, yeah. Lacrosse. I was bad at it though." Stiles answered as he slung his backpack on his shoulder. The touch unfazed him, because he had learned earlier on that Malia was naturally a touchy feely person. She wasn't flirting, it's just how she was. "I could pass just fine. A 'pass' is when you throw the ball to another, better player so they can get a point for your team." he added automatically.

"But that doesn't make me a jock. It's like they have a superior air about them," he sighed. "I don't know, okay. I just know I myself don't identify as one." Stiles stopped walking and looked at her. "I'm just…Stiles."

Malia was right though. He did fit the persona. The whole premise of a jock was someone who played sports and was a jerk, and Stiles knew himself well enough to know he wasn't the nicest person on the block.

Malia watched as Stiles looked down at his shoes, the vulnerability showing on his face, making his features softer. She could see in that moment how someone could find Stiles attractive. Objectively of course. She also sensed that the topic was what was making him unsure of himself.

She took hold of his wrist to make him look up. Stiles met her eyes to see Malia smiling at him, "Okay. Stiles it is." she said with finality.

Stiles smiled back, somehow feeling better. Despite Malia's odd behaviorism, he liked her straightforward no nonsense approach. Everything was at face value, with no guess work. He needed more of that uncomplicated aspect in his life. Stiles led the way to their table at the back feeling much lighter.

"What took you guys so long?" Andy who was holding their table, whispered loudly, earning a couple dirty looks. Malia sent Stiles a warning glance, so he kept quiet while she gave some excuse for their tardiness, followed by more exasperated noises from Andy.

—

Later that night, Stiles came out of his room, grabbed a bowl of spaghetti from the fridge and sat in front of the TV. He noticed Malia was sitting at the kitchen table, looking at her phone periodically. "Lover boy texting you already?"

"It's Andy." Malia said, ignoring the dig. "She wants me to join her at a party she's at. Who has a party on a Wednesday?"

Stiles swallowed the morsel he was chewing, eyes still on the sports game he was watching. "Are you going to go?"

"Maybe. I think she might already be drunk. Half of this is barely legible. Do you want to come?" Malia looked at him hopeful but Stiles shook his head.

"I have a paper to write, that's due tomorrow. Just taking a brain break right now," he grinned.

"Good luck with that." Malia shook her head. Stiles was always doing things last minute, but it seemed to work for him because he would literally power through it until he was done. "Okay, I'll be back soon. See you in a bit."

Stiles waved as she headed out the door.

—

It was two o'clock in the morning when Stiles finally stepped out of his room. He rubbed his face with his hands tiredly and checked to see if Malia was back yet, but her bed was empty.

Getting slightly worried, Stiles grabbed his phone and checked to see if there were any missed calls. There was one, but that was two hours ago. Where was she? He quickly dialed her number, and Malia picked up on the fourth ring.

"Malia? Where are you?! It's two in the morning! Don't you have early class tomorrow?…Malia?" Stiles checked to see if the call had been cut off, but the phone was still connected. In a much softer voice he tried again, "Malia?"

"I'm outside," came a muffled voice from the receiver. "Our apartment door. I'm outside," there was a pause, and Stiles listened carefully sensing she was upset about something. "I'm coming in, just…go to bed, Stiles."

The phone clicked and Stiles hung up, really worried now. But it was clear Malia didn't want to talk about it, so he unlocked the front door and quietly went to his room, shutting the door. He lay in bed straining to hear if she had come in, until he dozed off.

—