Derek hadn't seen Stiles since the hospital. He'd wanted to, god did he want to, but he knew Stiles didn't want to see him. So instead he'd sat in his new apartment and stared at the boxes he needed to unpack. It was probably a bad idea to get a new apartment but he just figured that if Stiles gave him another chance he wouldn't want to be in the old one. He knows it sounds stupid and this apartment isn't the best he's ever been in. There's only one bedroom and it's an extra ten minute drive to college but it might help him with Stiles. Not that he's actually going to tell Stiles that he bought a new apartment for him. Oh god he is so pathetic. Look at him in his holey sweatpants and his too small for him hoody, even his hair is flat against his forehead, he looks fucking ridiculous. He stares at his reflection in the TV and thinks about what Erica would say.

"You're literally the most pathetic man I've ever seen." Wow he must really miss her because it sounds like she's here.

"Hey dumbass!" Derek jumped up from his couch and spun round to Erica standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing here?"

"Isaac talked to me. What are you doing Derek?"

"I'm just hanging out in my apartment."

"Derek I've been your best since high school and I have never seen you look like this. Why don't you just go get him?"

"He doesn't want me. He told me that himself. He doesn't trust me."

"Well boofuckinghoo Derek. Why would he? You think it's all just gonna be magically fixed after a fucking week. If you don't love him then get out of those stupid clothes and go outside, but considering the mess you are I'm gonna say you do. So get of your ass, stop feeling sorry for yourself and go prove to him that you're worth his trust."

"What if he still doesn't want me?"

"Then I'll be here with ice-cream."

"I'm sorry about before and you were right and I love you."

"I know. Now go before I'm forced to kick your ass." Derek pressed a kiss to her cheek and hugged her before grabbing his keys and rushing out of the apartment. He didn't think about the clothes he was wearing or the face that he was still kind of wearing the slippers Erica had gotten him for Christmas. He jumped in his car and he knew Stiles didn't have a class now so he should be at his dorm. Derek hoped he was at his dorm.

The parking lot was pretty full so Derek had to park down the street but in its usual spot was Stiles' jeep. That was a good sign, Stiles barely went anywhere without his jeep. Derek headed inside the building and was instantly stopped by two women.

"Can we help you?"

"No I'm just here to see someone."

"You mean Stiles."

"Yeah."

"Sorry you're not on the list."

"There's never been a list."

"There is now and you're not on it."

"Well can you tell him I was here?"

"No."

"Look I don't know who you think you are but…"

"We're people that care about him. And we've been told to not let you in."

"By who?"

"Heather. We believe you've met her before."

"Look I just need a few seconds to talk to him."

"And we're saying no. We're not gonna let you hurt Stiles again."

"Fine. I'll just find another way to talk to him."

"You can try." Derek turned around and pretended to walk out then quickly tried to rush around the women but they stood their ground and he gave them a tight smile before going outside. Okay he was going to need help.

This may not be is greatest plan. There's actually a good chance that this is the stupidest idea he's ever had. Okay no second stupidest, the first was definitely making the bet with Erica. He pushed through the coffee shop door and recognised Stiles' group of friends straight away. He berated himself for being afraid of them and forced himself to walk over. They looked him up and down when he stopped beside the table.

"Whaddya know Stiles isn't the most pathetic person around here."

"Excuse me?"

"Well he's currently sitting on his bed marathoning marvel and crying, so it's pretty pathetic. But you actually ventured outside dressed like this so I think you take the cake."

"Right. I need your help."

"With what?"

"Proving to Stiles that I'm totally worthy of his trust."

"You actually want him back?"

"I know you all hate me but making that bet was the biggest mistake of my life. I should have just asked him out like a normal person and I'm sorry I didn't because the last thing I ever wanted was to hurt him and please I just need your help."

"First things first you need to take a shower and change your clothes because I guarantee Hobo Derek isn't gonna win anyone over. And we don't hate you; we just think you're a jerk."

"For the record I do hate you."

"Scott." Scott rolled his eyes at Lydia but sat back in his seat and stared out the window, ignoring anything Derek had to say.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Well I did actually try and go to his dorm to talk to him but these girls stopped me."

"Yeah that would be by my order."

"No they said it came from Heather?"

"Yeah and she got it from my blog. You might have heard of it. Onehaleofanightstand."

"That was you?"

"Yeah. Right after I found out about this whole thing."

"Okay I totally deserved that. Did you really have to rate me though?"

"Yeah you really did and yeah I really did. But I do want Stiles to be happy and even when he knew this was a bet he was happy. So if you seriously want to make him happy then we will help."

"I just need to know a time when I can talk to him."

"He comes in here every day at 2."

"What about your minions?"

"We'll be here so they won't stop you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. But if you screw this up again Danny and I will destroy you from our laptops."

"Noted." Derek smiled at them, thanked them then ducked out of the coffee shop. All he had to do now was get back to regular Derek and then work out what he was actually going to say to Stiles. He really had a long night ahead of him.

13:45pm.

13:46pm.

13:47pm.

13:48pm.

13:49pm.

He couldn't stop counting down the minutes. Stiles was going to walk through those doors and either he was going to hate Derek or he was going to give him a chance. Of course Derek had spent the entire night preparing for the worst so no matter what Stiles said he could totally handle it. Especially since Erica was at his apartment with ice-cream and the entire box set of Law and Order: SVU.

Derek sees him as soon as he walks in, of course it would be hard to miss him when Stiles' friends are all pointing at the door. Subtly clearly isn't their best skill. He looks good, amazing even but Derek can still see the bags under his eyes and the way he drags his feet as he walks. His plan might be terrible but he had to try so he pushed up from the chair and crossed the room till he was behind Stiles.

"Excuse me?" Stiles turned to face him and his eyes widened as he recognized him. His eyes darted round as though he was looking for an escape but he relaxed as he spotted his friends.

"Hi, I'm Derek and I saw you from my seat and I just had to come over here and see if you would join me for coffee?"

"Erm…yeah Derek I know who you are. Oh my god is this because of the car accident! Do you have amnesia?" Derek huffed a laugh and shook his head.

"I'm doing what I should I have done in the first place."

"Asking me out doesn't change anything."

"I know it doesn't. It doesn't change the fact that I made a bet. Or that I destroyed any trust you had in me. But at the hospital you talked and I listened. But I've been thinking about what you said and what I said. And there was something I was wrong about. I am not falling in love with you. I am head over heels, fallen hard in love with you. I have been a mess, I'm sure plenty of the women on campus have already posted a picture of me to onehaleofanightstand."

"You know about that?"

"I do. And I deserved it because I hurt you and I promise you I never wanted to do that. I should never have asked you out for the bet I should have just asked you out because you are so amazing. I know it sounds cheesy and cliché but you have had my attention since I first saw you. You are so incredibly beautiful and I will never be more sorry that I didn't do this the right way."

"I don't know if I will ever get past this Derek."

"I got a new apartment."

"What?"

"I moved out, I live in this one bedroom now. I wanted to make sure that if you ever gave me another chance that you would be somewhere that wouldn't remind you of all of this. I know it's kind of stupid but I couldn't think of any other way to show you how much you mean to me. That apartment would never be worth as much as you. I know how much I'm asking of you but please just coffee."

"Coffee? As friends?"

"Just coffee. And however you want to be." Stiles flicked his eyes between Derek and his friends, quiet as he contemplated the proposal. He bit his lip and looked at Derek from under his lashes before nodding. Derek smiled at him and had to force himself to not hug Stiles.

"I have class now but tomorrow 3 o'clock."

"I'll be here." Stiles raised his arms as though to hug him but seemed to re-think his decision and patted his arm. Derek sucked his bottom lip in to his mouth to stop himself smiling and patted Stiles on his arm. They both stood there staring at each other until Jackson shouted at them to stop eye-fucking with children present. He was the only child there. Stiles left him and Derek headed back to his table to grab his jacket because he had a date to get ready for. A friend date. He didn't even care, Stiles was giving him a chance and they were going to take this as slow as he wanted.