A Question Of Roomates

Ch. 18

"So this is what you did during your spare time? Ice cream and book stores" Stiles asked incredulously. He had picked up three books in the span of a minute and slammed them all closed then proceeded to sneeze from residual dust.

"Yeah but I did it without the left over chocolate stains around my mouth" In his subtle attempt he wiped off what he could with the back of his shirt. Shaking my head I tried not to take it too hard. No, bookstores weren't ideal for usual teens, but I was okay not being 'usual'. God knows Laura had let me know it enough times "What? Don't you like it?"

"No, no I do. It's very...young-adult-main-character-esque. I just thought hot kids did hot kid things in high school" There wasn't much I could do but continue to laugh at his antics as I scanned the shelves for new arrivals.

"Like what? Partying every weekend, getting sloppy drunk, and skipping class"

"Exactly like that. At least that's what our California cool kids did"

"Well, you're not in Cali anymore Dorothy" I whispered, before pressing him up against a nearby shelf. Just as it had been in high school the shop was half way to deserted so there was no shame as I placed a sudden kiss to his lips tasting the double fudge chocolate ice-cream still lingering. At first taken back, Stiles slowly smiled into it, letting his body go limp.

Only inches he pulled back, far enough for our eyes to meet as he hummed "Making out in a bookstore. Very main-character-esque indeed" He stayed pliant beneath me letting every action grow deeper by the second, tenderly kneading our lips together as he slowly rested his entire body weight against the bookcase behind him. All it did was rock in the process and case the nimble boy to jump into my arms.

Suddenly his head was against my chest as he doubled over laughing. I chuckled with him, kissing at the brown locks beneath me, I never quite laughed with anyone like I did with him "Let's get back"

Two hours later my bare feet found their way out of bed. It seemed as though every light in the house was on. The last thing I remembered before dozing off was winding my arms around Stiles promising not to fall asleep while he quickly read the emails on his phone. But now he was gone, the bed empty and only me in the room.

Laughter and chatter was floating from the living room filling up the halls of the house. I made it to the source downstairs, rubbing the sleep from my eyes letting the picture adjust. Mom was in the corner watching in joy as Cora was arm wrestling dad. Playful slurs were leaving my fathers mouth as he held back his strength to let her win.

"Honey! You're up" mom announced with a grin.

Dad was quickly beckoning me over as he rolled up his sleeves "C'mon Der, you wanna try to beat your old man"

"I'm sure mom would prefer to not take you to the hospital tonight big guy" a laughed followed as he waved me off. I was readying to get comfortable on the couch when I realized a large piece of the picture was missing "Where's Stiles?"

"Out with Laura" Cora answered nonchalantly.

"What?! For how long?" I was frantic searching for my phone.

"They left not long after you fell asleep"

"And you let them?"

Mom snatched the device from my hands forcing eye contact. Her green eyes that resembled my own bore into me as she spoke with warning "Honey, don't be dramatic"

"Yeah, son. What's the worse she could do?"

"My entire high school experience is chalked full of answers to that question"

"Derek—breathe. If you're serious about Stiles then you've gotta accept that he's going to be close to your family—Laura included"

I didn't like the idea. And I learned a new lesson: put a lock on my room door. Stiles seemed to like wandering when I was asleep.

It was another forty-five minutes before they both came stumbling through the door. Laura had a loose arm slug around Stiles' skinny shoulders while the one he had on her waist was more to keep her standing.

"You know dude-You...You are just so awesome. I mean- and the way you told that guy off-"

Unashamed I didn't even let the front door close before I met the two of them at the entrance "Guy? There was a guy? What guy?"

"Awe Der-bear. Don't be such a tight ass" she sighed slapping a slobbery kiss to Stiles' cheek leaving a blushing red mark from her lipstick on his alabaster skin "I'm gonna go shower, I'll be right back. And don't-don't you go anywhere"

Stiles followed her with a smile until the clicking of her shoes completely silenced. He turned back to me with a grin only to be met with a scowl "What?"

"Didn't think about texting me back?"

"My phone died" he replied with a shrug. From the look of things he seemed to be entirely intact. Stiles still had his footing and wasn't sporting any black eyes or bodily harm. If anything he was still his beautiful self.

"You and your phone" I unintentionally groaned.

"Hey I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd be so pissed. Laura came looking for you and when she found you snoring my ear off she invited me out. Excuse me for wanting to get close to my boyfriends family"

He went to walk past me in a huff. It didn't take but a split second to realize I had been over reacting and the last thing I wanted was Stiles upset the rest of the trip. I gripped his arm, quickly turning him and stopping his escape "N-No hey, I'm sorry. I was just worried. O-Okay I'm not mad I was worried. I didn't like waking up and you weren't there"

"Well, it may not look like it, but I am a big boy babe. I was taking care of my self long before you came along"

"It wasn't just you I was worried about. Laura's the the fourteen year old parading around in an adults clothing"

"She was fine. We grabbed drinks, bonded, she was very persuasive in getting a round of karaoke out of me then we came home"

I felt like a child, kicking aimlessly at the rug beneath my feet. It was elementary of me to ask so I couldn't find it in myself to look him directly in the eyes as I sputtered out "And um...she said something about-about a uh...a guy"

"Drunk asshole hitting on me at the bar. Tempting offer, but I uh I think I'll stick with the asshole I have now"

"Oh you know I love it when you talk oh so sweetly to me baby" he laughed cynically before we kissed, migrating with the rest of the family to the dining room for the night.