(Characters based on the hit T.V show Teen Wolf)
There are no secrets in Beacon Hills. Especially not in high school.
Malia Tate stared out blankly as she watched from her seat in the crowded cafeteria, waiting for her friends to join her. It was another typical day where nothing really exciting happened. Actually, to say that life in small town California was pretty dull would be absolutely, one hundred percent correct.
Really the only source for entertainment was watching Stiles Stilinski make a fool of himself in front of Lydia Martin. Yet again.
She blinked slowly at the scene unfolding before her eyes, waiting for the inevitable. At least once a day Stiles would try to capture the social queen’s attention. And at least once a day, Stiles would fall flat on his ass. Sometimes literally. Today, Stiles was standing behind the ‘strawberry blonde’ girl in the cafeteria line, trying to pluck up the courage to say something. Malia watched as he raised his hand several times, attempting to gain Lydia’s attention, before hesitating, occasionally biting his fist between his teeth, nervously.
When Stiles did finally manage to tap Lydia on the shoulder, the completely blank look she have him as he spoke was one Malia had seen often. She watched as Lydia’s mouth formed words that looked suspiciously like “And who are you?” before Stiles’ face fell dejectedly.
Sighing Malia shook her head, not really understanding what he saw in the Martin girl. She obviously had no clue who he was - despite his daily attempts to get her to notice him - and yet he still fell ass over face trying to talk to her.
“How’d he do today?” Scott McCall interrupted Malia’s thoughts as he set his lunch tray down opposite her, his gaze following her line of sight. Despite his question, Scott’s voice was devoid of any real hope for his best friend.
“Same as always,” Malia returned in a dull-set monotone, leaning on her palm as her gaze shifted to her friend. “I’m sure we’ll hear about it in a sec.”
Another tray landed beside her and Malia didn’t need to turn to know that their other friend, Kira Yukimura, had also joined their little table. “I kind of feel sorry for him,” Kira chimed in, cringing as they watched Stiles approach. “He tries so hard and yet…”
Malia sighed again, shaking her head. As troubling as it was to watch their friend fail day after day, Malia couldn’t really bring herself to feel sorry for the boy. They had been friends for years, since the sandbox days, and she had been there every step of the way for this little crush of his. Honestly, she was a little tired of listening to how 'perfect’ Lydia Martin was, and being privy to all the crazy schemes Stiles tried to come up with just so that they could talk.
“Shhhh, he’s coming,” she hushed, sitting up a little straighter as Stiles slumped into the seat next to Scott.
“Well, that was a big waste of nothing,” Stiles grumbled as he sat, looking over his shoulder to where Lydia sat with her boyfriend. He turned around and faced the group. Kira and Scott were watching him with apprehensive looks, but Malia just looked bored. “One of these days…” he began. “I’m gonna get her to remember my name.” Scott and Kira immediately jumped in with agreement, but Malia remained silent, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes.
Instead she returned to her food, munching silently on a cold slice of pizza.
Suffice to say, it was no secret in Beacon Hills that Stiles Stilinski has been in love with Lydia Martin since forever. To everyone but Lydia, that is. Malia could barely remember a conversation with Stiles that didn’t involve the girl of his dreams. He had even tried to recruit Malia’s help on more than one occasion. It was just too bad that they ran in very different circles. Very, very different circles. Malia suspected that Lydia didn’t even know her name as well. They had barely spoken, even after growing up in the same small town.
“I’m gonna try out for the lacrosse team,” Stiles announced suddenly. Malia immediately groaned.
“Stiles, you don’t even know how to play lacrosse,” she reminded him. That was the nice way of putting it. Stiles was kind of lacking in the sports department. He could never run for very long during gym class, let alone while juggling a stick in his hands. Malia foresaw a lot of embarrassing times headed Stiles’ way in the near future. Even more embarrassment, that is, and honestly Malia didn’t know if she had the stomach to watch from the sidelines. Not that Stiles ever let that perturb him from his goal of winning 'the fair maiden’s heart’. (Yes, he had actually used those exact words before.)
To Stiles, Lydia was the perfect girl, and Malia, Scott and Kira had to hear about it day in and day out.
“Ah, but I will, once I try out for the team, that is. And when my dearest and closest friends agree to help train me.” He gave them all pointed looks. Malia remained deadpanned.
“Don’t look at me, I’m not the one on the lacrosse team,” she argued, her gaze shifting to Scott, who sheepishly kept his eyes fixated on his plate. Only Kira was nice enough to nod in agreement.
“Great! Kira, I knew I could count on you!” Stiles exclaimed enthusiastically before swinging an arm around Scott’s shoulders. “And of course my best friend will help me. Of course. Besides the coach likes you, so like, that increases my chances… Right?”
Everyone remained silent. Malia was the only one not too scared to meet Stiles’ gaze. To say she wasn’t impressed would be an understatement.
Stiles, however, just continued to look at her, a knowing smile on his lips. He had used that smile on multiple times, knowing that Malia would break down and help him eventually, no matter how loud she voiced her reluctance. Somehow, he always seemed to get his way. “Come on, Malia…” He pleaded, throwing in a patented pout. “You know I can’t do it without you.”
“You can’t do it with me either, Stiles,” she replied, completely unswayed. “How many schemes have you talked me into over the years? Promising it would be the last one? And none of them ever worked out like you said they would. Nope, sorry, I’m not doing it.”
For good measure, Malia turned her head away, deliberately not looking at Stiles’ half-smile, half-pout.
Really the only source for entertainment was watching Stiles Stilinski make a fool of himself in front of Lydia Martin. Yet again.
She blinked slowly at the scene unfolding before her eyes, waiting for the inevitable. At least once a day Stiles would try to capture the social queen’s attention. And at least once a day, Stiles would fall flat on his ass. Sometimes literally. Today, Stiles was standing behind the ‘strawberry blonde’ girl in the cafeteria line, trying to pluck up the courage to say something. Malia watched as he raised his hand several times, attempting to gain Lydia’s attention, before hesitating, occasionally biting his fist between his teeth, nervously.
When Stiles did finally manage to tap Lydia on the shoulder, the completely blank look she have him as he spoke was one Malia had seen often. She watched as Lydia’s mouth formed words that looked suspiciously like “And who are you?” before Stiles’ face fell dejectedly.
Sighing Malia shook her head, not really understanding what he saw in the Martin girl. She obviously had no clue who he was - despite his daily attempts to get her to notice him - and yet he still fell ass over face trying to talk to her.
“How’d he do today?” Scott McCall interrupted Malia’s thoughts as he set his lunch tray down opposite her, his gaze following her line of sight. Despite his question, Scott’s voice was devoid of any real hope for his best friend.
“Same as always,” Malia returned in a dull-set monotone, leaning on her palm as her gaze shifted to her friend. “I’m sure we’ll hear about it in a sec.”
Another tray landed beside her and Malia didn’t need to turn to know that their other friend, Kira Yukimura, had also joined their little table. “I kind of feel sorry for him,” Kira chimed in, cringing as they watched Stiles approach. “He tries so hard and yet…”
Malia sighed again, shaking her head. As troubling as it was to watch their friend fail day after day, Malia couldn’t really bring herself to feel sorry for the boy. They had been friends for years, since the sandbox days, and she had been there every step of the way for this little crush of his. Honestly, she was a little tired of listening to how 'perfect’ Lydia Martin was, and being privy to all the crazy schemes Stiles tried to come up with just so that they could talk.
“Shhhh, he’s coming,” she hushed, sitting up a little straighter as Stiles slumped into the seat next to Scott.
“Well, that was a big waste of nothing,” Stiles grumbled as he sat, looking over his shoulder to where Lydia sat with her boyfriend. He turned around and faced the group. Kira and Scott were watching him with apprehensive looks, but Malia just looked bored. “One of these days…” he began. “I’m gonna get her to remember my name.” Scott and Kira immediately jumped in with agreement, but Malia remained silent, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes.
Instead she returned to her food, munching silently on a cold slice of pizza.
Suffice to say, it was no secret in Beacon Hills that Stiles Stilinski has been in love with Lydia Martin since forever. To everyone but Lydia, that is. Malia could barely remember a conversation with Stiles that didn’t involve the girl of his dreams. He had even tried to recruit Malia’s help on more than one occasion. It was just too bad that they ran in very different circles. Very, very different circles. Malia suspected that Lydia didn’t even know her name as well. They had barely spoken, even after growing up in the same small town.
“I’m gonna try out for the lacrosse team,” Stiles announced suddenly. Malia immediately groaned.
“Stiles, you don’t even know how to play lacrosse,” she reminded him. That was the nice way of putting it. Stiles was kind of lacking in the sports department. He could never run for very long during gym class, let alone while juggling a stick in his hands. Malia foresaw a lot of embarrassing times headed Stiles’ way in the near future. Even more embarrassment, that is, and honestly Malia didn’t know if she had the stomach to watch from the sidelines. Not that Stiles ever let that perturb him from his goal of winning 'the fair maiden’s heart’. (Yes, he had actually used those exact words before.)
To Stiles, Lydia was the perfect girl, and Malia, Scott and Kira had to hear about it day in and day out.
“Ah, but I will, once I try out for the team, that is. And when my dearest and closest friends agree to help train me.” He gave them all pointed looks. Malia remained deadpanned.
“Don’t look at me, I’m not the one on the lacrosse team,” she argued, her gaze shifting to Scott, who sheepishly kept his eyes fixated on his plate. Only Kira was nice enough to nod in agreement.
“Great! Kira, I knew I could count on you!” Stiles exclaimed enthusiastically before swinging an arm around Scott’s shoulders. “And of course my best friend will help me. Of course. Besides the coach likes you, so like, that increases my chances… Right?”
Everyone remained silent. Malia was the only one not too scared to meet Stiles’ gaze. To say she wasn’t impressed would be an understatement.
Stiles, however, just continued to look at her, a knowing smile on his lips. He had used that smile on multiple times, knowing that Malia would break down and help him eventually, no matter how loud she voiced her reluctance. Somehow, he always seemed to get his way. “Come on, Malia…” He pleaded, throwing in a patented pout. “You know I can’t do it without you.”
“You can’t do it with me either, Stiles,” she replied, completely unswayed. “How many schemes have you talked me into over the years? Promising it would be the last one? And none of them ever worked out like you said they would. Nope, sorry, I’m not doing it.”
For good measure, Malia turned her head away, deliberately not looking at Stiles’ half-smile, half-pout.
Unfortunately, Stiles was smarter than that.
He shifted, rounding the table so he was sitting next to her, directly in her line of sight. Once again, Malia turned away, only to be met by the amused faces of Scott and Kira. They knew as well as he did that she was going to fold. She always did.
There was too much pressure with all three of them watching her like they were now.
“Okay, fine!” she finally relented, turning on Stiles once again. “But you better be ready to work your ass off. Getting on the lacrosse team isn’t exactly easy. Scott’s been on since freshman year and he has never even played!” As always, Malia was brutally honest when it came to the truth, unflinchingly so. Scott knew she meant nothing by it, and he rarely took offence. That was just how Malia was, and he accepted that.
“Great! This is gonna be great!” Stiles exclaimed triumphantly, pumping both fists in the air. “Just you wait and see.”
-
“Malia…”
Stiles’ whiny voice sounded from behind her as she ran, jogging at barely half the speed she usually did every morning.
“Keep up, Stiles,” she called over her shoulder, ignoring his petulant groan. “If you wanna make the team this year then you’ve got to work hard.”
The next few seconds were filled with nothing but the sound of Stiles’ laboured breaths before he called her name out again. Sighing, Malia stopped, circling around to jog back to her friend who was, right now, doubled over in pain, clutching his side.
“You’re a freak, you know that?” Stiles somehow managed to gasp out between deep rasping breaths. “A complete freak.” His body wobbled slightly and Malia’s arm automatically came out to support him. Stiles took the opportunity to slump his body against hers. “Freak,” he mumbled again. “How do you even do that?”
Malia loved to run. She had always loved to run. It was a peaceful solo act that allowed her to stay in shape and get school credit at the same time. She had been the star athlete on the cross-country team since the beginning, which was good since she basically sucked at everything else that was academically related. She just didn’t get school.
Running, on the other hand, was like stepping into another world; a world where all that existed was her and the sound of her feet hitting the pavement.
“Because I’m part coyote,” she replied in a sardonic monotone, tightening her grip on Stiles when it felt like he was about to fall.
Most casual observers wouldn’t get their friendship. Heck, Malia barely understood it, herself. But no matter what, they were both there to support each other. Malia followed Stiles crazy plans to 'catch’ Lydia, and Stiles basically tutored her in everything. However, it was also more than that. Beneath everything there was nothing one wouldn’t do for the other. It worked for them. Even if no one understood it.
“That’d be right,” he coughed harshly, still panting for breath. “That’d explain everything. There’s no way what you can do is human.”
“Right…Come on, Stiles,” Malia replied impatiently, hoisting his body up a little higher as she checked her watch. “We still have two miles left, and if we don’t get a move on, we’re gonna be late for school. You know I can’t afford anymore tardies in Mr. Yukimura’s class.”
“Okay, okay,” he gasped again. “Just let me…” Stiles collapsed to the ground dramatically, dragging Malia down with him.
Now it was her turn to whine as her side hit a patch of soft grass along the nature strip.
“You’re so bad at this,” she chuckled a little, marvelling at his patheticness. “This is so not going to work.”
“Yes, it is!” he interjected, his breathing still uneven. “You’ll see. I join the team and then Lydia will realise she loves me.”
Malia rolled her eyes, turning on her back to look up the clear blue sky above them. “Just because Jackson’s on the team doesn’t automatically mean she’s gonna wanna date you too if, and that’s a very big if, you make the team,” she rebuffed.
“Shhh,” he silenced her, placing his finger to his lips. “You’re ruining my masterful plan with your logic.”
Malia laughed. “Idiot,” she said, flinging out her arm to hit him. She was aiming for his head but from this angle the blow landed somewhere in the middle of his chest.
“And I don’t deny that. As long as I get on the team, I don’t care.”
He shifted, rounding the table so he was sitting next to her, directly in her line of sight. Once again, Malia turned away, only to be met by the amused faces of Scott and Kira. They knew as well as he did that she was going to fold. She always did.
There was too much pressure with all three of them watching her like they were now.
“Okay, fine!” she finally relented, turning on Stiles once again. “But you better be ready to work your ass off. Getting on the lacrosse team isn’t exactly easy. Scott’s been on since freshman year and he has never even played!” As always, Malia was brutally honest when it came to the truth, unflinchingly so. Scott knew she meant nothing by it, and he rarely took offence. That was just how Malia was, and he accepted that.
“Great! This is gonna be great!” Stiles exclaimed triumphantly, pumping both fists in the air. “Just you wait and see.”
-
“Malia…”
Stiles’ whiny voice sounded from behind her as she ran, jogging at barely half the speed she usually did every morning.
“Keep up, Stiles,” she called over her shoulder, ignoring his petulant groan. “If you wanna make the team this year then you’ve got to work hard.”
The next few seconds were filled with nothing but the sound of Stiles’ laboured breaths before he called her name out again. Sighing, Malia stopped, circling around to jog back to her friend who was, right now, doubled over in pain, clutching his side.
“You’re a freak, you know that?” Stiles somehow managed to gasp out between deep rasping breaths. “A complete freak.” His body wobbled slightly and Malia’s arm automatically came out to support him. Stiles took the opportunity to slump his body against hers. “Freak,” he mumbled again. “How do you even do that?”
Malia loved to run. She had always loved to run. It was a peaceful solo act that allowed her to stay in shape and get school credit at the same time. She had been the star athlete on the cross-country team since the beginning, which was good since she basically sucked at everything else that was academically related. She just didn’t get school.
Running, on the other hand, was like stepping into another world; a world where all that existed was her and the sound of her feet hitting the pavement.
“Because I’m part coyote,” she replied in a sardonic monotone, tightening her grip on Stiles when it felt like he was about to fall.
Most casual observers wouldn’t get their friendship. Heck, Malia barely understood it, herself. But no matter what, they were both there to support each other. Malia followed Stiles crazy plans to 'catch’ Lydia, and Stiles basically tutored her in everything. However, it was also more than that. Beneath everything there was nothing one wouldn’t do for the other. It worked for them. Even if no one understood it.
“That’d be right,” he coughed harshly, still panting for breath. “That’d explain everything. There’s no way what you can do is human.”
“Right…Come on, Stiles,” Malia replied impatiently, hoisting his body up a little higher as she checked her watch. “We still have two miles left, and if we don’t get a move on, we’re gonna be late for school. You know I can’t afford anymore tardies in Mr. Yukimura’s class.”
“Okay, okay,” he gasped again. “Just let me…” Stiles collapsed to the ground dramatically, dragging Malia down with him.
Now it was her turn to whine as her side hit a patch of soft grass along the nature strip.
“You’re so bad at this,” she chuckled a little, marvelling at his patheticness. “This is so not going to work.”
“Yes, it is!” he interjected, his breathing still uneven. “You’ll see. I join the team and then Lydia will realise she loves me.”
Malia rolled her eyes, turning on her back to look up the clear blue sky above them. “Just because Jackson’s on the team doesn’t automatically mean she’s gonna wanna date you too if, and that’s a very big if, you make the team,” she rebuffed.
“Shhh,” he silenced her, placing his finger to his lips. “You’re ruining my masterful plan with your logic.”
Malia laughed. “Idiot,” she said, flinging out her arm to hit him. She was aiming for his head but from this angle the blow landed somewhere in the middle of his chest.
“And I don’t deny that. As long as I get on the team, I don’t care.”
She laughed again, shaking her head at how silly her friend could be. Honestly, she didn’t get it. She didn’t get how Stiles could go so crazy over a person, one that didn’t even seem to know his name. It had been years – years – of him trailing after her, and she had barely noticed. Was that what being in love was supposed to be like?
Malia just… didn’t get it.
“Well, you’re never gonna make the team if you can’t run to save your life,” she replied assertively, getting to her feet. “So, come on.” Malia held out a hand to Stiles, lifting her eyebrows expectantly.
The look of begrudged loathing he shot her only made Malia’s smile widen.
“Fine, fine,” Stiles huffed, straining to stand again. “But if I die-”
“Then you would have died for love,” she cut him off midsentence with a laugh, rolling her eyes. “Now, run, Stilinski. Run!”
Stiles looked at Malia, a little surprised by her light hearted tone.
“Right,” he replied with an enthusiastic nod, clapping his hands together like the dork that he was. “Now you’re getting it!”
Laughing again, Malia shook her head as she began pushing Stiles along, making him run. She wanted to tell him, but she knew it would fall on deaf ears. Malia was a hundred percent sure she would never get ‘it’ at all.
“Right,” he replied with an enthusiastic nod, clapping his hands together like the dork that he was. “Now you’re getting it!”
Laughing again, Malia shook her head as she began pushing Stiles along, making him run. She wanted to tell him, but she knew it would fall on deaf ears. Malia was a hundred percent sure she would never get ‘it’ at all.
-
Exhausted and sweaty, Malia ambled over to the lacrosse field after her own training session had finished for the day. It was the first day of tryouts and most of the boys looked embarrassingly out of shape as Coach drilled them up and down the field. Kira was one of the only few who looked comfortable as she ran, easily juggling the lacrosse stick in her hands. She was a complete natural, according to the Coach, and was already regarded as a star player despite the fact that she had barely even played a game.
Slumping down on the bleachers, Malia dug into her bag and took a long gulp from her water bottle, quenching her thirst in this late afternoon heat. Her eyes scanned the field and instantly zoned in on Stiles, wondering how he had fared so far. He didn’t look so bad right now. At least he was still holding his stick as he ran, but that was about as far as they’d gotten in their brief week of training for tryouts. Malia didn’t have high hopes for his chances of making the team, but well, she wanted him to get it purely because he wanted it. No matter what the reason, Stiles had worked hard, and this time she had 'tutored’ him for a change. It was a nice change.
Tryouts only lasted a little while longer before the Coach called it quits, shouting his frustration as a band of dejected boys and Kira trudged off the field.
“How’d it go?” Malia asked as Kira, Stiles and Scott made their way over, trying her best to keep the doubt from her tone. She wasn’t succeeding.
When neither boy spoke, Kira piped up. “They did well!” She replied automatically, before her face fell a little. “Well… They did better than most of the other guys, so that’s saying something. Only Jackson seemed to really know what he was doing.”
All four of them turned their gaze towards the other star of the team. Jackson had been the best player and lacrosse captain for two years straight. He basically carried the team during game, and during practice wasn’t much different. Everyone loved him. And he loved every second of the fame. Right now he had girls fawning over him, but none more so than Lydia. Of course, you would expect it to be that way. She was his girlfriend, after all.
Stiles groaned pathetically at the sight, falling to the bench next to Malia. “Kill me now,” he murmured, exhaustion lining his voice.
“McCall! Stilinski!” A loud booming voice called from a few feet away. The Coach was heading straight for them, the usual intimidating expression wired into his features.
“Yeah, Coach?” Scott replied when Stiles couldn’t pluck up the nerve.
“If you two are going to be training here at all hours of day, make sure you actually improve. The display you did today was disappointing. Profoundly disappointing. I expect better if you’re both going to start next week.” With that the Coach turned on his heels and left.
“Did he just…?” Stiles asked, squinting his eyes at the Coach’s back.
“He couldn’t have…” Scott chimed in.
“It’s not possible…” Malia added.
“But he did!” Kira exclaimed excitedly, bouncing on her toes as she did. “Well, kind of. And you guys still have almost 2 whole weeks to improve, so it is possible. You just have to work harder.”
The momentary elation at the prospect of actually getting to play left Stiles as soon as it came. He groaned and slumped against Malia’s shoulder. “I don’t think that’s possible. I ache all over….” he moaned in emphasis. “I ache in places I didn’t even know existed!”
“You know, Stiles, for a guy, you really are a drama queen,” Malia intoned, bracing herself against the bleachers so she could support Stiles’ weight.
“Shush, I’m trying to sleep,” he replied without hesitation, eyes already closed as his cheek pressed against her upper arm.
Shaking her head at Stiles’ antics Malia shot Scott and Kira an amused look, rolling her eyes at their friend. Both of them looked equally amused.
“Just think Stiles,” Kira began to taunt in a soft sing-song voice. “If you work hard enough, by the end of next week, Lydia might even know your name.”
That certainly got Stiles’ attention. He opened one eye and peeked at Kira’s optimistic face. “Ugh,” he groaned again. “Fine, Scott do you want to run drills with me tomorrow morning?”
“Hey, I thought we had a jogging thing in the morning,” Malia interjected, barely holding back a laugh.
“Yeah… We do,” he replied, almost dejectedly. “I was talking about after…”
All three of them laughed. Scott reached out and patted his best friend on the shoulder. “Sure thing, Stiles,” he replied with a gentle smile. With that, both Kira and Scott moved to collect their belongings, heading towards the locker rooms. However, when Malia moved to do the same, Stiles held her in place.
“Five more minutes,” he mumbled. His eyes had closed again, and he had that drifting sleepy voice he often got before he fell asleep. She was half tempted to push him over just to watch the shock on his face as he realised he was falling asleep, but for whatever reason, Malia couldn’t bring herself to do it.
To his credit, Stiles had worked incredibly hard ever since school had started. Perhaps five minutes of rest wouldn’t hurt.
Slumping down on the bleachers, Malia dug into her bag and took a long gulp from her water bottle, quenching her thirst in this late afternoon heat. Her eyes scanned the field and instantly zoned in on Stiles, wondering how he had fared so far. He didn’t look so bad right now. At least he was still holding his stick as he ran, but that was about as far as they’d gotten in their brief week of training for tryouts. Malia didn’t have high hopes for his chances of making the team, but well, she wanted him to get it purely because he wanted it. No matter what the reason, Stiles had worked hard, and this time she had 'tutored’ him for a change. It was a nice change.
Tryouts only lasted a little while longer before the Coach called it quits, shouting his frustration as a band of dejected boys and Kira trudged off the field.
“How’d it go?” Malia asked as Kira, Stiles and Scott made their way over, trying her best to keep the doubt from her tone. She wasn’t succeeding.
When neither boy spoke, Kira piped up. “They did well!” She replied automatically, before her face fell a little. “Well… They did better than most of the other guys, so that’s saying something. Only Jackson seemed to really know what he was doing.”
All four of them turned their gaze towards the other star of the team. Jackson had been the best player and lacrosse captain for two years straight. He basically carried the team during game, and during practice wasn’t much different. Everyone loved him. And he loved every second of the fame. Right now he had girls fawning over him, but none more so than Lydia. Of course, you would expect it to be that way. She was his girlfriend, after all.
Stiles groaned pathetically at the sight, falling to the bench next to Malia. “Kill me now,” he murmured, exhaustion lining his voice.
“McCall! Stilinski!” A loud booming voice called from a few feet away. The Coach was heading straight for them, the usual intimidating expression wired into his features.
“Yeah, Coach?” Scott replied when Stiles couldn’t pluck up the nerve.
“If you two are going to be training here at all hours of day, make sure you actually improve. The display you did today was disappointing. Profoundly disappointing. I expect better if you’re both going to start next week.” With that the Coach turned on his heels and left.
“Did he just…?” Stiles asked, squinting his eyes at the Coach’s back.
“He couldn’t have…” Scott chimed in.
“It’s not possible…” Malia added.
“But he did!” Kira exclaimed excitedly, bouncing on her toes as she did. “Well, kind of. And you guys still have almost 2 whole weeks to improve, so it is possible. You just have to work harder.”
The momentary elation at the prospect of actually getting to play left Stiles as soon as it came. He groaned and slumped against Malia’s shoulder. “I don’t think that’s possible. I ache all over….” he moaned in emphasis. “I ache in places I didn’t even know existed!”
“You know, Stiles, for a guy, you really are a drama queen,” Malia intoned, bracing herself against the bleachers so she could support Stiles’ weight.
“Shush, I’m trying to sleep,” he replied without hesitation, eyes already closed as his cheek pressed against her upper arm.
Shaking her head at Stiles’ antics Malia shot Scott and Kira an amused look, rolling her eyes at their friend. Both of them looked equally amused.
“Just think Stiles,” Kira began to taunt in a soft sing-song voice. “If you work hard enough, by the end of next week, Lydia might even know your name.”
That certainly got Stiles’ attention. He opened one eye and peeked at Kira’s optimistic face. “Ugh,” he groaned again. “Fine, Scott do you want to run drills with me tomorrow morning?”
“Hey, I thought we had a jogging thing in the morning,” Malia interjected, barely holding back a laugh.
“Yeah… We do,” he replied, almost dejectedly. “I was talking about after…”
All three of them laughed. Scott reached out and patted his best friend on the shoulder. “Sure thing, Stiles,” he replied with a gentle smile. With that, both Kira and Scott moved to collect their belongings, heading towards the locker rooms. However, when Malia moved to do the same, Stiles held her in place.
“Five more minutes,” he mumbled. His eyes had closed again, and he had that drifting sleepy voice he often got before he fell asleep. She was half tempted to push him over just to watch the shock on his face as he realised he was falling asleep, but for whatever reason, Malia couldn’t bring herself to do it.
To his credit, Stiles had worked incredibly hard ever since school had started. Perhaps five minutes of rest wouldn’t hurt.
- N x
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