Feels like falling

Chapter 10

Not wanting to talk to Derek, Stiles tried to leave the building. He'd tried, he really had, to sort things with Derek but now he just wanted to go home, get warm and watch some Firefly. Of course that was easier said than done as Derek's muscular body easily blocked his way. There was no way out; whichever way he stepped the alpha followed, quickly matching him step for step.

Eventually Stiles gave in and choose to avoid eye contact and remain silent for as long as he could instead. It turned out he couldn't stay silent for long, no surprises there, and soon the urge to break the painful silence beat his self-preservation away. He knew that this would probably end painfully for him, either physical pain or emotional pain, but he took a deep breath and went for it. The silence was quickly becoming unbearable.

"So congrats dude, she's hot. You should have said something. All it would have taken was you telling me you had a girlfriend and none of this would have happened. Well actually most of it probably would have, 'cause I can't help...well yeah, whatever, you should have just told me. Told us, the pack should know, in fact I think I should go catch them up now." Stiles attempted another run for the exit but was, again, blocked.

"Oh wow would you look at the time," he raised his arm between them and looked at his bare wrist "I really should get going, big plans and all, really shouldn't be late." Stiles was becoming desperate. The situation was already agonisingly uncomfortable and he knew he was only making it worse with his constant ramblings. Then again Derek's continued silence really wasn't helping either.

"Shouldn't you be getting back to your girlfriend? She might think you've forgotten about her and that probably wouldn't end well. Jackson once forgot about Lydia and she dyed his hair pink in his sleep and shaved his eyebrows off. It was hilarious for us, not so much for him." He seemed unable to stop speaking no matter how much he regretted each word that came out of his mouth. Luckily Derek seemed to have snapped out of whatever daze he was in.

"Stiles... shut up." Derek half spoke, half snarled saving Stiles from further embarrassment.

"Why would you think Alex was... that she was my girlfriend? Especially when I've told you time and time again that I do not date?" he finished with a growl.

"Well there was a stranger in your apartment, a hot stranger, who seemed to know you very well. What was I supposed to think when she looks like that and you look like...well, you know what you look like," Stiles snapped back with the last of his courage before letting out an unmanly squeak as Derek took a step towards him.

"And what do I look like Stiles." Derek whispered his breath tickling the younger boy's flushed cheek.

"Don't be an asshole Derek; you know how hot you are. Everything about you is hot from your chiselled abs to your stubble that I just want to rub my face against and your arms, god your arms!" Stiles spoke openly, his brain to mouth filter giving up for the day. Realising what he had said Stiles flushed a brilliant red and awkwardly cleared his throat.

"And anyway it wouldn't be the first time that you've lied to me or kept me out of the loop with something like this. Remember Kate?" As they were still standing pressed chest to chest Stiles felt Derek's involuntary twitch at his ex's name.

The alpha took a second step forward and pinned the smaller boy to the now closed doors of the elevator.

"You remember what I said the day you left?" Derek growled out as he pressed his face in to Stiles neck and took a deep breath.

"How could I forget?" Stiles replied nodding numbly

~Flashback~

He knew he shouldn't be doing this but the pack had persisted. Once they got an idea in their collective heads there was no letting it go. So here he was, delaying leaving for college so he could embarrass himself one last time whilst proving the pack wrong once and for all.

Taking a deep breath he reached out an unsteady hand and knocked on the door sharply three times. There was no way that Derek didn't know he was here by now but somehow something as mundane as knocking calmed him down somewhat. It took less than a second for the door to be jerked open.

"Stiles" Derek spoke his voice heavy with sleep, and Stiles knew it was the only greeting he would get.

"Hey Derek, how's it hanging?" Stiles spoke quickly as his nerves grew. "Sorry to wake you but I had to say something before we left. Well actually I'm kind of being forced to do this so don't hurt me too much. Blame them." Derek quickly glanced at the over full car parked in his drive before returning his gaze to Stiles expectantly.

"Right well here goes." Stiles began speaking even quicker in a rush to get everything out before he could back out. "I know we didn't really get along to start with. You were kind of an asshole dude, no offense, but I like to think we are friends now right? Well anyway you can probably tell that I'm attracted to you, wolfy sense and all, but it's more than that. God, I can't believe I'm doing this, you're gonna kill me. Derek I...I... I lo-love you." Stiles stammered the last part of his speech out after several attempts. Refusing to look at Derek Stiles kept his eyes pinned to the ground.

After several long and painful minutes Derek cleared his throat to get Stiles attention. The younger boy's head snapped up quickly in surprise. He anxiously waited for Derek to say something, to say anything.

"I don't do relationships Stiles and I would never date you. Ever." Derek finished before harshly slamming the door closed.

Stiles remained where he was for a long moment before silently turning and walking back to his trusty Jeep. Avoiding looking at anyone he started the engine and set off out of town. He was leaving behind his home, his family and the one person he had ever truly loved.

~Flashback~

Derek watched closely as multiple emotions flickered across the face in front of him as Stiles remembered their conversation. Once the boy's eyes cleared and focused on the wolf Derek began speaking.