Help me save my balls? (Sterek)

Chapter 8

Derek's POV

"Why?" That catches me off guard. Usually, people look at Stiles, and assume he's one of the most happy, carefree people you could ever meet. But every now and then, that facade cracks, just slightly, and his insecurities come seeping through. Stiles doesn't like to depend on people, that's why he's always so set on helping, even though he is very likely to get hurt.

He's so set on proving himself, that he doesn't care what the cost is. And to be reminded of that, makes my heart break. I hate seeing him so sad, feeling so worthless, and I wish there was something I could do. There is something I could do. I could show him the love he deserves.

But to do that, I'd have to man up and confess my feelings, and pray he's willing to give me a chance. And I don't like rejection. Recently, I've been thinking, it would be better to just tell him... It could only go one of three ways, each progressively less likely. The first, and most likely, he will laugh in my face and I'll get rejected. We'd probably never speak again. At least then I would know it's never going to happen. The second, is he could just politely say no, and we would go back to how it was before, just more awkward. And the third, the least likely, is that he would return my feelings, or accept them and try to build up his own for me. I've been thinking: the reward would be worth the risk and either way, knowing is better than being in this limbo of questioning, doubt and flirting.

I'm going to tell him.

I turn to look at him, beside me. In my time thinking, I've taken him out the tree and we're walking the short distance back to the house. It looks like we're nearly there. Just on time. I can't tell him now. This needs to not be rushed. But I will tell him before this trip is through. I will. I WILL. For now, I just have to endure the torture of a fake relationship.

Stiles' POV

Derek is pretty quiet on the walk back to the house, which is not surprising. I mean, it is Derek Hale, Beacon Hills' very own Creepy Recluse No.2. Peter being No.1, obviously... The thing that is surprising though is that the silence isn't awkward. It's just comfortable walking through the woods, not having to say anything, yet feeling... Close? I don't know. What I mean is, I do not feel the urge to fill this silence with my pointless chatter, I'm completely content with just... Walking.

That, of course is shattered when Ma sees us.

"Oh, darlings, just on time, come in, come in, sit!" She pushes us to sit next to each other on the sofa and we sit there while she calls my dad down.

He walks down the stairs and nods to Derek, as a form of greeting. I have a feeling my dad doesn't like me being this close to Derek, probably something to do with the law breaking and the fact he's a few years older than me.

Derek nods back. "Sheriff" he says, as a form of greeting. Wow. This is pretty stiff.

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, just excuse me while I finish it off."

"Ok Ma, thanks." I say and Derek tells her it smells delicious, to which she thanks him and walks off mumbling about how nice it is I got myself such a proper, polite boyfriend, to which my dad practically snorts. I ignore that.

"So, dad, how was the trip? Did you finish all the work you needed to?"

"It was fine, son, there was just a little traffic. And yes, I won't be needed for the next few days of our little holiday." He says. Then he moves on to the matter he sees more important. He glances at Derek, then looks back at me. "So you really did it, huh?"

"Yup. You know how much I suck at baking." I reply. I'd never say anything, but I'm rather proud I got the mighty Derek Hale to be my boyfriend, even if it is pretend.