The next afternoon after school, Derek sat on Stiles' bed, reading a book. Stiles had been sitting at his desk using his computer, but then he turned around and sat backwards in his desk chair, his arms crossed and resting on top of it. Derek came over almost every day now while his pack hung out with their friends. He just wasn't much like them. But Stiles, there was something about him… Even though it seemed like they didn't get along sometimes. Derek would never admit that he actually liked Stiles and wanted to be around him sometimes. He was just… not good at showing affection since the fire, since he was betrayed lost everything, and especially since he was turned—learning to block everything out, for his sake and for others'... But he was learning how to have friends again now with Stiles.

Derek stared into the book he was reading, studying it thoroughly. He glanced up, one eyebrow raised, as he noticed Stiles hadn't spoken or moved in a while. Very unusual for him. "What?" Derek asked, looking back down at his book.

Stiles was staring down at the floor, thinking—one of his many talents, though many people never realized—mostly due to his ADHD. "Just something I've been thinking about for a while… nothing really." He sat quietly for a moment, and Derek looked up at him, pausing from his book this time. Stiles looked back at him. Derek had this power… it was in his eyes—when he looked at you, it was like he was staring through your soul… A quote he'd heard once came to mind… "The gaze of a wolf reaches into our souls…" (Barry Lopez). Derek's gaze suddenly compelled him to share now, "It's just… Everyone's special now…" Stiles murmured, "And I'm just normal. I'm boring and plain and… simple. And next to you guys, I'm weak and pathetic…" he explained, looking down at the ground, resting his head on his arms.

Derek sat quietly, and then after a moment, he shrugged, "I don't think you're boring," he said simply. "Normal among a group of special makes you special after all, right?" he asked, turning his head sideways to look at Stiles. Stiles gave a small laugh, and Derek gave him a half smile in return.

Stiles' smile slowly faded though, and he looked down at the ground again. After a moment, Derek shrugged, "Look… I would've told you this sooner, but I thought it was obvious… You're always welcome in my pack." Stiles looked up at him, "But… I'm not a werewolf." Derek shrugged, "So? You don't have to be like us to fit in with us."

"But… I'm in Scott's pack right?" It was more of a question than a comment. Derek gave him a half smirk, "I meant a real pack," he commented in the usual tone he had when he was being sassy, obviously joking, but Stiles knew he was also kind of serious. Stiles smiled back, "I mean… I can't leave Scott's group. I'm his best friend. I already have somewhere to belong…" Derek put his hands up, "Hey, you're the one who said you wanted to be special…"

Stiles sighed, "I don't know what I'm saying…" he murmured. Derek raised his eyebrow, "Well okay then," he said, shutting the book closed and placing his hands on his knees, standing up off the bed. "Speaking of my pack, I told them to meet me so I gotta go."

Stiles watched him go, lifting his chin from where it rested on his folded arms, but as Derek opened the window, Stiles said, "Wait." Derek turned around, looking at him. "Can we just… Can we stop pretending like this isn't here? I mean I know you're this big sexy, strong man that women would, and do, stand in line for, and I'm sure you don't want to ruin that impression but… I just wish you'd stop pretending you didn't feel something for me and make a move or something…" he murmured, trailing off. He had no idea what he was getting himself in to.

Derek stood still for a moment, but his expression did not change. He slid his hands into his pockets. Stiles didn't look up at him. He just tapped his foot in the restless way he did. "You think I have feelings for you?" Derek finally asked, quietly and simply. Stiles still couldn't look up at him. He was always one to push boundaries and ignore social norms, but this made even him a little nervous. He'd been feeling things around Derek for the past few days, but never thought too much of, but after the previous day, they were really brought to his attention—and now he'd acted on an impulse, not too uncommon for him. "Well yeah…" He put a hand behind his head, rubbing his neck doubtfully.

"Well I don't," Derek said after a pause. Stiles looked up at him now, not expecting that answer. Though he really wasn't sure what he was supposed to expect… "What… do you mean?" he asked. He just couldn't be wrong. Suddenly, he was desperately hoping he was right… Derek lifted his eyebrows simply, "I mean I don't. And neither do you. So now that you got that out of the way… We never have to mention it again." He began to turn around before Stiles interrupted again, "Wait," he said again, and Derek stopped reluctantly, sighing. "Are you sure…? I mean… I know I'm not the best looking guy in the world, or the smartest, or the coolest…"

Derek interrupted him, "Stiles. I'm not attracted to you—not because you're not attractive. Because I can't." Stiles furrowed his eyebrows, "What…?" he asked, suddenly very curious. Derek was silent for a moment, trying to decide if he should explain himself. But then he reminded himself it was Stiles—he could always trust Stiles (who couldn't?) and he deserved an explanation anyways. Derek looked down, "I was trying to avoid this because it's really… weird and it's hard to explain... I know this sounds silly, but that would make you the 'alpha female', so to speak… And I don't want to put you in that position… All that responsibility. You'd have to devote your life to it… Not to mention… you'd have to be one of us."

Stiles was quiet for a moment. Inside, he wasn't even sure if he believed Derek at first, all this "alpha" stuff… Everyone around him now was talking about wolves and packs and stuff that sounded crazy to him—he had human things to worry about… But he saw the seriousness on Derek's face, and heard it in his voice… So he sat still, giving himself a moment to take it all in. But finally, he sighed deeply, running his fingers through his hair like he did when he was thinking or stressed. Whatever he was expecting, he definitely wasn't expecting that answer… "Well… Who said I don't want that responsibility? Isn't that my decision?"

Derek was quick to answer. "No." It was simple and definitive. His mind was made up. "Wait a minute, doesn't this sound like the perfect opportunity for me to be like you…?" he asked, looking up into Derek's eyes. Derek stared back, complete sternness in his eyes. "Stiles, have you honestly never thought about this? Don't you realize that I don't want you to change? I don't want you to be like me. I like you the way you are… human and simple and plain. You're perfect…" Stiles' heart skipped a beat. He never thought he'd hear Derek say this—and definitely not to him. He thought Derek was perfect and beautiful…

After a long moment of slightly uncomfortable silence, Stiles looked down at the ground, "But… What if I wanna be with you?" he murmured quietly. Derek looked up at Stiles slowly, not expecting Stiles' response, "You know Scott would hate that…" he said simply. Stiles shrugged, "I dunno. He may not mind." But deep down, he knew Scott would be unhappy. Still, Scott was his best friend, and he knew he'd understand. "Look, Derek, you may not be Scott's alpha, but that doesn't mean you're not mine…"

Derek sighed. "Are you sure…?" he asked, secretly delighted inside that Stiles felt that way, but also sounding a bit annoyed that Stiles was being so stubborn and didn't understand what Derek was trying to say. "Yeah… I think so," Stiles answered exasperatedly, staring at Derek, "Do you want me to be with you?" he asked unsurely. "Uh…" Derek wasn't sure how to answer. It wasn't like he'd ever thought about this before. "I think so too," Derek answered quietly. Stiles sat still, and Derek stood still, neither sure what to do from here.

"I gotta go…" Derek said quietly.

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow I guess… If you wanna come by I mean…"

"Yeah, sure," Derek answered, turning to leap gracefully out the window, landing perfectly. Stiles stared out the window at him. "See ya…" he muttered to himself.