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Wishful Thinking II

         Derek inserted his key into the ignition of his FJ Cruiser, pulling out of his loft driveway as swiftly as if he wanted to do this. He didn't, right? There was no way that Derek could want to see Stiles after what he did- no way he could want Stiles. But he did. Derek still dreamt about Stiles almost every week- still felt his palms against all areas of his skin.
         As much as he felt it was impossible at first, Derek had gotten used to the pain- tolerated it and within that, it lessened. In no way had Derek moved on to another person, however. He might have had a couple one-night stands, but they were both with women his age of whom were too drunk to know anything other than the name of their beverage. Both were mistakes that Derek did not necessarily feel guilty for, but knew should not have happened.

Derek's cell phone rang, the even more obnoxious jingle eluding him to the caller identification of Cora. He rolled his eyes, "What?"

"Went for the Cruiser, huh?" Cora asked, clearly aware of which car Derek had taken.

"This is what you're bugging me about?" the brother wolf scorned.

Cora sighed, breath muffling into the receiver, "I just want you to know what you're getting into."

"I'm giving Stiles a book not breaking into Fort Knox." Derek retorted, pressing harder upon the gas pedal.

"If it's no big deal, let me go." Cora suggested smartly, "I'll give him the book seeing as that's all there is to it."

"It is." Derek replied blandly.

"Whatever." she said in minor resign, "Just know that if he asks for something, you don't have to do it. You don't owe him anything, Derek."

The alpha nodded to himself, silently repeating the words again and again. He inhaled, letting slip a rarely grateful tone, "I know."

         He then hung up, wishing he could open up and thank his sister the way he used to share with Stiles. Lately, not even having to do with mere romantic relation, but with his sister as well, Derek never spoke of feelings or appreciation.
        Cora had been furious. She used to think that Derek was too drown in his own alcohol to hear her mumble under her breath. Perhaps he was at the time, whiskey becoming a close friend of Derek's over the first month, but it all came back to him later on. One perk of being a werewolf was, you could get hungover and black out the booze-filled night before, but it would always reemerge. Taking into account some of the things Derek did while under the influence of Jack Daniels, he became uncertain whether it was indeed a perk or disadvantage. Cora would always make snide comments, of which made Derek wonder if she should pursue a career in descriptive writing, about Stiles' selfishness and how badly she wanted to hurt him. About the second week into Derek's bender, he started thinking the same thing.
         Not that Derek would ever hurt Stiles, he could not bring himself to, but anger clouded his judgement and thought processes. Well, during the timespan of about four weeks, that and whiskey. Derek grew to blame Stiles for what happened, and still did, because, whether Stiles knew or would admit it or not, he was the reason Derek was gone. With that and the past few months in mind, Derek could only assume Stiles would be the reason he stayed gone.
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There's a little backstory for you, more will come in the next chapter, which is a flashback.

Sorry in advance.