Stackson Week 2022

Day Three: Never Really Alone

Theme: Fake Dating/Project Partners

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Ms. Lawson stands at the front of the classroom after everyone is seated. "All right, class. It's time for your final projects. I've already paired you up. So here are the pairs: Isaac Lahey and Scott McCall, Lydia Martin and Erica Reyes, Kira Yukimura and Allison Argent, Stiles Stilinski and Jackson Whittemore."

Stiles bites his lip and glances at Jackson, his knee bouncing anxiously. He sighs and collects his things as the bell rings, stopping at Jackson's seat. "So do you want to get together after school to start on our project?"

Jackson shrugs. "Sure. I guess."

Stiles barely refrains from rolling his eyes. "Well, my dad has a shift. So, we'll have–"

"No. I mean can we do my house?" he asks.

"Uh okay. I'll see you there then." He pulls out his phone and shoots his dad a text about going to Jackson's before heading to his next class.

Jackson sighs, collects his things and heads to his next class. He's grateful Stiles is willing to come to his house. Stiles's dad may be working a late shift, but Jackson's parents are never home. It'll be nice not to be alone even if it's only for a few hours.

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When Stiles gets to Jackson's house they head up to his room and start in on their project.

"Okay. So, she gave us some parameters, but we really only have to stick to a few points. The rest are optional."

Jackson looks over Stiles's notes and nods. "Okay. So out of the topics she gave, did you have a favorite?"

Stiles chews on his pen and shrugs. "I mean I like the idea of writing about unreliable narrators in literature."

"That's a narrator whose credibility is compromised. Right?"

Stiles nods. "Yeah. So, like if two people are telling the events that occurred but one of them has a reason to alter it in their favor, then that one would be considered unreliable because instead of telling the story exactly as it happened, they are altering it to fit the narrative they want." He glances up and realizes how close their faces are. He flails backward and clears his throat looking back at his notes.

Jackson clears his throat, his cheeks twinging pink. "A-And the other idea?"

"Well, we could look at the reason or reasons behind ambiguous endings throughout literature."

"Hm. Well I personally like the unreliable narrator idea."

Stiles nods. "Me too," he agrees softly.

They spend another hour choosing various examples of unreliable narrators covered in class and found in their research. Then Stiles glances at the clock noticing it's almost 8 pm. "Oh shit. I gotta go, Jackson."

Jackson's eyes widen and he scrambles for anything to get Stiles to stay a bit longer. "Oh. Well maybe we could order pizza. We didn't eat."

Stiles tilts his head and smiles. "Sure. I'll never turn down pizza."

Jackson breathes out relieved and orders a pizza, the two of them chatting more about their project as they eat. Stiles finds himself wondering why Jackson was so insistent on him not leaving yet but decides it's best not to push.

At 11 pm Stiles gets a text from his dad telling him he needs to come home. He smiles apologetically at Jackson as he heads downstairs and then goes home.

Jackson feels his heart pound as he watches Stiles drive away but doesn't object. Then he's alone again.

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They keep meeting after school at Jackson's house and Stiles eats with Jackson before heading home around 11 pm. Then when Friday rolls around, Stiles suggests they have a guy's night with a movie, video games and pizza.

Stiles has chores to do Saturday morning, but he invites Jackson to go out with him and Isaac on Saturday afternoon. Jackson agrees to meet Stiles and Isaac at the ice-skating rink. He leans on the side of the rink and admires Stiles as he is unapologetically himself.

After about ten minutes a girl walks up to Jackson trying to flirt with him which makes Jackson extremely uncomfortable. Stiles skates over and smiles. "Hey babe."

Jackson smiles relieved and goes along with it. "Hey."

"You gonna skate with me?" He pouts and Jackson blushes, internally smirking at the girl's disappointment.

"You know I suck at it."

Stiles smiles. "I'll teach you. We both know you're a fast learner. Plus, I missed your hands on my hips."

He skates backwards and Jackson's cheeks flush. He joins Stiles on the ice completely forgetting about the girl. When they get far enough away so as not to be overheard, Stiles looks at Jackson nervously chewing his lip. "Look. I'm sorry if that was—I just—you looked so—here's the thing..."

Jackson could tell Stiles was nervous, but he couldn't make out what exactly the other boy was saying too focused on the slight pink tinge to Stiles's nose and cheeks. Too enamored with the plush Cupid's bow lips and honey golden eyes. Too lost in connecting the moles on his cheeks.

"Jackson?"

He blinks. "Hm? I'm sorry I um spaced."

Stiles tilts his head. "S'okay. Did you want to skate some more?"

"Actually, yes but then can we go to the diner? I'm hungry."

His pupils dilate when Stiles licks his lips. "S-Sure. Wait."

Jackson raises an eyebrow. "For what?"

Stiles's cheeks turn a darker shade of pink. "Well, the whole babe thing with that girl wasn't rea–I mean I kinda wanted it to be, but it wasn't but like when we go eat is it fake too or is it–"

Jackson brushes his fingers against Stiles's cheek before lacing their fingers together and gently pulling him further out onto the ice. "I'd rather everything with you be real. If that's cool with you."

"Are you ser–hell yes. I mean yeah pssshhh that's cool with me dude."

"Good." He pecks Stiles's cheek and moves behind him placing his hands on Stiles's hips and whispers in his ear. "So, what were you going to teach me?"

Stiles gulps and shivers. "Oh, I have so many things to teach you. Several of which require a bed but for now..." He twists his head back to place a chaste kiss on Jackson's lips and then starts skating forward grinning when Jackson tightens his grip on Stiles's hips.

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The two guys end up closing out their junior year of high school with a boyfriend and an A+ on their project.