Warning: Not a happy chapter.

ooOoo

"Stiles what are you doing here?" Scott asked him.

His best friend was standing on the porch, not looking too happy, and Scott actually did feel a little guilty.

"Wanna come in?"

Stiles scowled at him, but marched past, seeming slightly pissed. He hadn't forgotten Scott's new status now either. His friend closed the door and turned to face him.

"Scott do you mind telling me something?"

Scott could hear the displeasure in his friend's voice, the accusation.

"Haven't I always been a good friend to you?"

"Its not that dude," Scott said, sounding truly apologetic. "Its her... "

Stiles felt a wave of sympathy, but then the fact that Scott had practically ignored his existence for three months now came back.

"Dude we haven't hardly hung out for three months," Stiles point out, still frowning. "Its summer. People expect to spend their summers with their best friends. Is that even what we still are?"

"Of course it is!" Scott insisted, his expression remorseful. "I'm sorry dude... "

Stiles felt himself give into that little pout, his expression softening. He still wanted to ask Scott about that other thing...

"Stiles? What is it?"

He'd picked up on it. Damn those super werewolf senses!

"Yeah," Stiles said. "Its just... why me? Earlier at Derek's... why did you want to change me?"

"Well you heard Xaiu," Scott replied, something in his voice becoming a little resentful.

He knew that Derek was Stiles' reason for still hesitating. Xaiu had said he had to be turned. He didn't want a human in the pack. If he didn't turn Stiles...

"Do you want it to be him?" Scott asked suddenly, his voice a little hurt.

Stiles' eyes widened with anxiety. He knew what his friend was calling him out on. Did he want Derek to be the one to change him? Honestly, he still wasn't sure he wanted to be changed at all.

"I'm not sure I want it," Stiles said.

"Well unfortunately that's no longer anyone's choice," Scott pointed out. "Not even Derek's. You heard Xaiu. You have to be turned."

Stiles knew Scott was right. He'd ended up getting in deeper with this werewolf stuff than he'd ever wanted to go. Now he was trapped. His days as a human were numbered no matter what. He couldn't run from an alpha like Xaiu. He'd said he would turn Stiles himself if he had to.

"This is just so fucked up," Stiles said finally, his voice heavy with emotion. "I don't... "

Was Stiles about to cry? No! He wasn't going to let anyone see him doing that. He'd have to make a choice- Scott or Derek, and someone was going to get hurt. Why couldn't he just see sense and make himself choose Scott? They'd been friends forever. Yet he couldn't get Derek out of his head. Why did he suddenly care about the Hale alpha? Yet he was going to have to choose between one of them. He'd better go see Derek after this, so he could weigh his options better. This ought to be pretty easy, since his mere presence usually annoyed Derek. Except, part of Stiles didn't want to turn against Derek. That part of him was telling him the opposite... choose Derek.

"I can't believe you have to even think about it," Scott said suddenly, his voice angry. "Its me dude. Your best friend, or do you need reminding?"

"That's not fair Scott. I feel the same way you do, but its not fair of you to try to pressure me with that. Not that I'm surprised though. That's all you ever seem to do these days... use our friendship when you need something out of it."

Scott's eyes flashed red, and yes he was pissed.

"Like Derek doesn't use you Stiles?"

"No he doesn't actually," Stiles shot back. "When has Derek ever actually made me do anything? I saved him because I wanted to. I help him because I want to."

Scott eyed him in slight disbelief, like he didn't know this Stiles.

"I can't believe it," he muttered in a low voice. "He's done it to you too. Gotten inside of your head Stiles. That's what he does to everyone."

Now it was Stiles turn to be angry. That was quite an accusation.

"No one's gotten inside of my head Scott! I just told you. Derek's never made me do anything I wasn't willing to do."

He continued looking at the Scott in front of him. Where was the Scott he knew? The boy he'd grown up with?

"You know what man?" Stiles asked him, his facial expression still angry. "I find myself not even knowing you anymore. You've hardly said two words to me in three months. Now you accuse me of being what... brainwashed by Derek? Christ!"

He shook his head, his expression becoming sad.

"At least Derek has cared Scott. At least he has called... has hung out with me. Where have you been all summer?"

Scott looked away, not wanting to look at his friend right now. His words said everything he hated to hear. It was more than just his being a bad friend. Derek was slowly replacing him. Stiles was actually in not so many words calling Derek a better friend.

"You know what Stiles?" Scott whispered, his facial expression dejected. "Just go... "

Stiles wiped his hand over his eyes, setting his face with determination.

"Fine Scott. I'll go."

He shook his head, smirking snidely.

"You know its funny," he laughed bitterly. "It wasn't just this summer. All last year you put her before me Scott. You put everyone before me. Its actually Lydia who's been my closest friend this last year. No time for me until you need me, right Scott?"

Stiles turned, walking toward the front door, and tears stung in his eyes. Scott watched him go, and then let his own tears fall. What had he done?