The Hale Orphanage

Ch. 3

~A YEAR LATER~

So time had went on. Derek found himself losing grip of Stiles with every passing day. He'd tell himself he was being ridiculous trying to put space between them. Then he'd feel the urge to kiss him and suddenly he was bailing on the young kid with some made up excuse. That's when sports came in to play. He figured Stiles couldn't hate him if he truly had to give all his time to sports. He had Basketball in the fall, Soccer in the winter, and year round lacrosse practice.

He was currently standing on a frosted field watching the bleachers fill with fans. He was shuffling from foot to foot. It was the first game of the season and Derek was sure it would be promising. He knew his parents couldn't make this game and that was fine he knew they'd make the ones they could. He was stretching waiting for the referee to get on to the field when he caught glimpse of Stiles in the stands. He was sitting beside a boy maybe the same age as him. Derek let his mind wonder to their relationship, maybe this was his new bestfriend, maybe they were more. And soon he stared right back. They lived in the same house and yet Stiles looked afraid to even say hello.

The whistle blew and Derek took off onto the field.

Later that night Derek was waltzing into his mothers office. She was fumbling around papers under a dim table lamp "Hey mom can you sign my report card? It's due tomorrow"

"Of course sweetie" She smiled, looking around her sea of paperwork " Actually, It's just in my room I'll be right back"

He stayed put, patiently waiting for her to return when he saw Stiles' file laying idly by on his mothers grand desk. Derek knew the rules, he wasn't supposed to touch any files pertaining to any orphan, no exception. But this was Stiles, his Stiles, and he couldn't help his curiosity. Giving a final look over his shoulder Derek was picking up the manila folder. The first form was just general information; everything Derek already knew.

Birthday: February 26, 1998

Birth Name: Mieczyslaw Stilinski

Eye color: Brown Hair Color: Brown Weight:124lbs

Interests: Writing, movies, outdoors, comic books

Derek smiled going down the list, he knew all those things and more. Like that Stiles hated his first name. His favorite thing to write was romance but he didn't like to share that. His favorite color was green, he told Derek proudly that it was because of his eyes. He was going through all of this in his head when he turned the page and seen another form. This one was for a potential family. They were from Nevada and had come to see multiple kids, and had seen Stiles twice before. They would be back the next day to make a decision before heading back home. Derek hadn't been exactly involved with Stiles as of lately but he still allowed himself to be shocked at the news. This was a real family, with real potential that wanted to take Stiles away.

Derek's chest heaved up and down on the verge of a panic attack just as he heard the loud echoing of his mothers heels as she strode back into her office. He threw the file down in the knick of time and plastered a fake smile to his face.

The next day Derek awoke early into the day, got dressed and set off with a plan. He told himself not to do it, that he needed to get a grip and turn around. But his heart constantly outweighed everything else. Then he was knocking on Stiles' and so came the point of no return.

"D-Derek?" He was sitting in the middle of his bedroom floor.

"Hey Stiles. What are you doing?"

His eyes lingered a while, surprised to see the older teen "Homework"

"Let's get out of here yeah?" Derek spoke, not really as a question.

"I really don't know. Your mom-"

"-Is busy. C'mon lets hang out"

"Why?" Stiles asked, dropping his pencil. Derek's face fell, and perhaps Stiles seen it. Derek remembered when he didn't even need to ask Stiles to come along the young boy would just appear behind him. He ran a hand through his hair "Let me get some shoes on"

Derek walked closely beside Stiles as they strode through the woods. Neither had spoken the entire drive. It only made Derek think back to when Stiles would share every thought that came to his head with him. He had no one to blame but himself, because as dumb as it sounded Derek had hope that he could leave and their friendship would stay intact.

The sun was slowly reaching it's peak but it was still pretty cold out causing Stiles to shiver a bit. He thought to offer him his jacket but then his phone was pinging.

Mom: 10:52 am

Have you seen Stiles?

Mom: 11:00 am

Derek Hale where is he!

Derek silence his phone returning it to his pocket. This was one of the most selfish things Derek could have done. The family would be back today and Stiles wouldn't be there and Derek could hold on to him a little bit longer.

"Everything okay?" Stiles asked, stopping to plop on a rock.

"Hmm? Oh yeah just my coach"

"You have to go?"

Derek shook his head, squeezing next to him on the large boulder "Nope"

"So what's going on?" Derek scrunched his face up to show his confusion "It doesn't take a genius to know you and I aren't really... you know... we're not friends anymore. So why'd you bring me out here?"

And if it were possible Derek felt his heart actually break, because he had yet to hear it aloud. But here Stiles was, not afraid to spew out the truth "What do you mean?"

"C'mon Derek, when was the last time you spoke to me? That wasn't over text or to tell me you didn't have time for me?"

"I've been slacking I know. But here is my redemption, a walk in the woods and I will buy you any snack you want" He offered Derek a skeptical look "Hey, I'm trying here. C'mon I'll buy you some curly fries" he actually got a smile from Stiles and he started on the path back to the Camaro. He fished his keys and cell phone from his pocket, and took a quick look at the screen.

Mom: 11:25 am

Be fair to him Derek

In the few shot hours Derek spent with Stiles that day he realized just how much he missed in the last few months they'd been apart. Stiles finished a story, he had gotten straight A's for the first time ever. He found out his suspicions were right about the kid from the soccer game, Stiles had confided in Derek that the two shared a kiss that night but hadn't spoken to each other since, he didn't know how he felt about that.

They were walking up the steps of the Hale manor later that night, and Derek couldn't remember the last time he had smiled so much.

"This was fun" Stiles admitted.

"It was. You're always great company" And they left it there. Stiles ascended the steps leaving Derek there to come to the realization that those feelings for Stiles were still there, he didn't think they'd ever go away. And he was back to the stage where he thought it was best that they weren't friends.