The Hale Orphanage

Ch. 2

Stiles: 13 Derek:15

Derek had come back in from his run, it had become a new thing he did. It was mainly as a distraction from other things going on in his life. His middle school teachers had taught him about puberty which led Derek to a conclusion. He had realized his feelings towards Stiles were leaning away from the best friend type and more towards the wanting to kiss him silly type.

"Bear! You're back" he heard the shout before he could even make it to the fridge for a water bottle.

"I was just on a run Stiles" he laughed

"Yes I know. Big bad soon to be ninth grader has to work out now" he smiled following Derek to his room. The orphans weren't really allowed in the Hale wing of the house, but Derek had disregarded that a week after he met Stiles, inviting him to play cards.

Stiles plopped onto the freshmens bed watching him move about to get ready to shower "Did you need something?" he laughed, watching his friend sprawled across his bed absentmindedly looking through his things.

"Hmm? Oh yeah I uh, I wanted to talk to you about something. But you can shower, I'll be here when you're done"

Derek offered an uneasy smile before disappearing into the bathroom. He opted not resort to his usual private time to think about Stiles in his shower tonight.

He washed off the sweat, did a quick wash on his hair then was out. He didn't do so well toweling off when he seen his t-shirt clinging slightly to his wet body.

"Hey, that was quick" Stiles grinned sitting down what ever nick knack he was playing with.

"Yeah" Derek responded tossing his dirty clothes into the hamper, then found a spot on the mattress pulling the lanky boy down beside himself "So, what did you wanna talk about?"

"I uh. I don't know. We're friends right? I mean you're my best friend" he asked, suddenly nervous.

"Of course" Derek sat a warm hand on his bouncing leg Stiles was already an anxious person, but Derek could tell it was a different kind today "What's going on?"

"I... W-Well um- I wanna tell you something, and I don't know how to even- I mean I just figured this out but I feel like someone should know you know?"

"Stiles, you know you can tell me anyth-"

"Derek I'm gay. I-I think I like boys"

He didn't know whether to be happy or scared, he could feel his heart raging against his rib cage as his mind raced with thoughts, with questions but all he managed was "Okay"

"Okay?"

"Yeah. You're still my best friend, I-I mean I like boys and girls" Derek said without really thinking.

"What! Why didn't you tell me?" Stiles said with no heat behind his voice just shock and playfulness.

I chuckled and shoved him "It never came up"

The laughs settled and Stiles looked at Derek with a glint in his eyes like he was waiting for something to happen next "Thank you for telling me" he whispered.

"Thank you also" he whispered back, and without helping it his eyes glanced down at his pink lips then back up to his eyes. This could have been his chance. All he had to do was lean forward, just a few inches Derek you could do it he though, but all that came out was "You uh, you wanna play some Call of Duty?"

"Uh sure" Derek didn't miss the way Stiles' mood seemed to falter, but he let it slide.

High school was starting the next day and for the first time Derek and Stiles would not be conquering the educational system together. But they promised to spend the end of the days trash talking school together. It was weird to not see Stiles in the halls or have lunch with him, but after discovering his new found feelings he thought that just maybe it was for the best.

Two weeks later Stiles rolled around his mattress with a sigh, Derek was supposed to be home by now. This had been a regular thing since they started school. He would stay after class or find a reason not to come home right away.

It hit the two hour mark and Stiles shamelessly pulled out his phone to text the other teen.

To Bear: 4:15pm

Hey doofus where are you???

To Bear: 4:45pm

I swear I will play COD without you

To Bear: 5:22pm

Fine see if I care

To bear: 5:25

JK You know I do

To Bear: 6:02pm

Okay Bear. Just wanna know you're safe

It was eight o'clock when Derek came bounding into the room scaring his friend from the comic book between his fingers "Sti I'm sorry. Some guys invited me to play catch after school and I shut off my phone"

He fell back onto his bed reading his comic again "Hey it's cool no harm no foul"

"You're not upset are you?"

"No" it was a simple word that held a very big lie.

"Sti I swe-"

"It's cool Derek" it almost made Derek do a double take, it had practically been unheard of for Stiles to call him anything but Bear "I get it you're making friends and memories, I'm happy for you really" Derek refused to let himself accept the sadness in his voice, especially knowing he caused it.

He left the room retreating down the hallway. He didn't let himself actually tell Stiles the sad truth which was that he went to see a movie.

Ever since Stiles confided in him Derek understood more and more what it was he felt for Stiles.

It was love.

Love for the boy who would stay up and talk his ear off, love for the boy who could beat him in any game what so ever, love for the boy who at five years old swindled his way into his heart.

Derek was a coward, he could admit. He couldn't tell Stiles how he felt and face the possibility of rejection.  Or a ruined friendship. So he tried to make things better, but he was sure he made them worse.