How to be Cool

Lesson #7: Act Like it Doesn't Hurt

"Today is the day," Derek reminded me with one of his proud smiles. I wasn't sure why he was so proud, or why he was in my room at seven in the morning, but here he was, wide awake and full of freaking joy. "Try outs for lacrosse are after school. Are you ready?" 

I yawned, still tired from just having woken up thirty minutes ago. "How did you even get in my house?" I complained, changing my shirt as I turned away from him. I hadn't forgotten about try outs, nor was I any happier about them today than I was last week when Derek told me about them. 

"Your dad let me in," he answered nonchalantly. "I just told him I was a friend of yours and he sent me up here." Great, now my dad was letting just anyone into my room. What if Derek had been a freaking murderer? I'd be dead. I almost would have rather been dead at that point. "Stiles, why do you seem so depressed? The plan is running smoothly."

I shrugged, putting all of my things into my backpack as Derek crossed his arms. "I'm just a little nervous about today. And maybe the plan is running smoothly, but how do we know it's working? I haven't even gotten a glance from Lydia in the hallway."

Derek rolled his eyes, which were still glued to me when I turned around to face him again. "You're doing everything right," he assured me. "If this plan doesn't go accordingly, I'll owe you. Whatever you want. A different girlfriend, a hundred bucks, whatever you want."

"If it doesn't work out with Lydia, I want to publicly be your friend," I said, though I probably should have put more thought into what I wanted. He had already given me so much and spent so much time and money on me, what else was there? If we were friends in public, I'd be popular too. "Not just to get Lydia, but so people don't just see me as a loser anymore."

Derek grinned, shaking his head. "So you want to use me for my popularity, huh?"

I was clearly joking, and Derek knew that, so I went with it. "What else are you good for?" I teased, trying not to fall over while putting on my socks standing up. Derek came to my rescue, offering his side to hold me up, despite me having just insulted him. "What would I do without you?"

Derek laughed as I put on my shoes, still holding me up. "Still be a loser, that's for sure."

"Not cool yet," I reminded him, shoving him to the side after getting my shoes on. Apparently, he didn't appreciate that, because he tried tackling me to the ground. I was getting real tired of him using his multi-sport thing to one-up me and knock me over. Luckily, I held my ground this time, so we just ended up pushing each other. In reality, Derek was stronger, but I had a feeling he was going easy on me. What finally got him off my ass was my dad flinging the door open, breaking us apart. "Dad, what's up?"

He stared at us for a moment, as if deciding what was going on. "I was going to see if you boys had time for breakfast before you left for school?"

"Actually," Derek interrupted, before I could say yes. I was always down for food. "I've got breakfast in the car for both of us. But maybe another time? I appreciate the offer, Sheriff." He was so damn polite, it made me want to roll my eyes. 

Dad smiled, but he still seemed to be confused about something. Maybe because Derek was a new friend and who would have thought I'd ever make new friends? I couldn't blame him for the confusion. "Next time, then," he agreed, giving Derek a head nod before closing the door behind him to leave.