Just Friends

Never Knew I Needed Him

Derek's POV
I paw through the contents of my dresser frustratedly. Stiles and his cousin, the real Miguel, are going to be here in ten minutes, and I still don't know what to wear!
I generally don't care what my clothes look like, but I do want to look good for Stiles. And I realize that I REALLY shouldn't care about that.
Sighing, I pull on a dark green henley and jeans, and try to be satisfied with that. I hear the tires of Stiles' jeep crunch over dead leaves outside, and, grabbing my phone, exit my house through the front door (if it were just Stiles, I'd use the window.)
Stiles is at the wheel, and Miguel is in the back seat. "Hey, Sourwolf! You get shotgun!" Stiles hollers, smiling adorably.
As I get into my seat, Stiles winks at me. "Happy Monday." I roll my eyes at that.
I nod to Miguel in the rearview window. "Hey, Miguel. How are you doing?" Miguel smiles at me. "Oh, I'm good. A little embarrassed. I don't want to seem stuck-up or conceited, taking you to my Kickboxing VIP event."
I bite back a reaction as I remember Stiles staggering into the pack meeting on Friday, decorated with bruises and bandages. He had "learned self defense from Miguel". Scott had used his powers to heal Stiles, and I felt a surge of jealousy at that. I don't know why. Regardless, Stiles was determined to show off his newly learned techniques, and he was admittedly much less vulnerable and defenseless now. That didn't mean I had approved of him fighting in his condition.
Realizing I have been silent for much too long, I grunt in discomfort. Social skills have never developed within me. It's one of the few things Stiles and I have in common, actually.
Thankfully, Stiles rescues me from humiliation as he says, "Not stuck-up, Miguel. Proud! There's a difference."
Miguel laughs, and I bite my lip. Strange emotions are roiling around in my stomach, and I don't know what they mean. All I know is I just want to learn what his hair feels like in my fingers, what his body feels like when it's pressed against mine, what his lips taste like...
Wait. No. I am NOT developing feelings for my best friend. NO. That would ruin our relationship. We're just friends.
Stiles glances at me, looking concerned. "You okay? That's more of a scowly silence than normal."
I fake a smile to reassure him. "Yeah, Stiles. I'm great."
Fuck. I am not okay.