new york wolves } { of valentine's day and worried friends

[impetere]

Stiles: Hey... Hey, you look..... amazing.

Cora: [grins a bit at that, before nodding] You look pretty good too.

Stiles: Thanks. Alexis told me to put on a tie and this was all... all I had. Come in! [he opened the door and the room was lit with electric candles instead of the overhead fluorescent lights, and there was a card table near the bed with a red sheet on it, and there was a pizza box and a thing of cupcakes on it]

Cora: No, I like it. [makes her way inside, shedding her coat and hanging it on one of the hooks] This looks great.

Stiles: Glad you like it. Tried to impress.

Cora: It's perfect. [she nods as she moves closer] It's very you. [which is why she loves it]

Stiles: [grins, and he goes to open the pizza. it's a meatlovers where the other meats are under the cheese, and the pepperoni was in the shape of a heart] Ta-dah.

Cora: [she laughs] How did you get them to do that?

Stiles: My secret. [he handed her a plate] Do you want.... liquid?

Cora: [she frowns slightly at the word before tipping her head to the side] You mean a drink?

Stiles: Yes, sorry, yes. Drink. Do you want one?

Cora: [she nods] What have you got?

Stiles: [goes to open the mini fridge] I got coke, water, and grape.

Cora: Coke.

Stiles: [and he pulls one out, going to carry it to her. He has a grape soda] Your soda, my dear.

Cora: [takes it with a nod] Why thank you.

Stiles: And for our movie... [he holds up the Princess Bride]

Cora: [and that makes her smile] I haven't seen this in years.

Stiles: Well, we can enjoy it together, but I can't promise that I won't speak the words as we watch

Cora: [smiles as she shakes her head] I think I can live with that. [she glances around] Where am I sitting?

Stiles: On the bed. [he had rolled a blanket with a bunch of clothes to make his bed more like a couch with a back "bump" to lean back against]

Cora: [nods, handing him her plate so that she can hop up on the bed, before reaching over to take his so he can get up there with her]

Stiles: [which he will, and going to eat his pizza as the movie starts]

Cora: [will do the same, curling up against him so they can get nice and snuggly]

Stiles: [and he will enjoy that, but after a bit, he will just be sitting there, lost in his head as he stares at the screen, his hand holding a slice just inches off the plate but he's not moving to eat it]

Cora: [she lifts her head a bit when she notices he isn't moving, before shifting up a bit and placing a hand on his leg gently] Stiles?

Stiles: [it takes a moment, and he blinks rapidly a few times before he snaps out of it, looking at her for a moment, lost] Huh?

Cora: [she looks a little concerned, before shifting to sit up more] You seemed ... distracted.

Stiles: Sorry, sorry I guess I just... I just drifted off. Long day. [nods, not all that convincing]

Cora: [she watches him for a moment, worried, before nodding her agreement] Okay. We can do this another day if you want.

Stiles: NO. I mean, no... no I don't want you to go...

Cora: Okay. [then she nods and settled back against him again] Just want to make sure.

Stiles: I'm sure. [and he will do his best to keep his focus this time]

Cora: [she'll finish off her pizza and just settle in for the movie, tucking herself under his arm so that she's more of a presence to see if that helps]

Stiles: [it is, and he finishes his quickly so that he can wrap his arms more around her. he also mouths the lines to try and focus]

Cora: [which she just thinks is him reciting the movie which is adorable. She curls into his arms, just happy to be there with him and spending time with him]

Stiles: [and his fingers will start to just tap along her skin after a while. Nothing hard, just like twitching]

Cora: [glances down at his hand, before shifting to take his hand in hers, playing with his fingers]

Stiles: [he will smile, squeezing her hand]

Cora: [squeezes it back, before tipping her head back against his shoulder] Happy Valentine's Day.

Stiles: Happy Valentine’s Day.

Cora: I wasn't lying when I said this was perfect. I don't really need anything fancy. I just need you.

Stiles: [he smiles, but there is something sad in that, something he knows that him being him is a limited time deal] That's all I wanted too.

Cora: [she can see that, and she's not entirely sure what it means, but she squeezes his hand again before pulling in closer] Good.

Stiles: [and he is going to smile and lean down and kiss her]

Cora: [hums as she kisses him back, moving her free hand up to brush against the side of his face]

Stiles: [and he will kiss her deeper, and makeout times are a go]

Cora: [mmmm makeout times. And if it goes further than make out times, Malia helped her with a few surprises for him there too.]

Stiles: [he would like to. He knows it's a bit selfish, but he wants these good memories while he can still make them]

Cora: [she doesn't have a problem with it if he does. She likes being with him when she has the opportunity]

Stiles: [but yeah, totally going there. however, tis my bedtime]

Cora: [that's fine, we can say they got nice hot and sweaty and we can pick them up with the afterglow tomorrow?]

Stiles: [yup, just laying on bed, holding her gently and smiling before kissing her shoulder]

Cora: [smiles as she curls back into him] For a first Valentine's Day, this was pretty awesome.

Stiles: Yeah, yeah I think it's pretty high up there on best day ever.

Cora: [she laughs as she looks up at him] Best day ever, huh?

Stiles: [just smiles, running a hand along her cheek] Yeah, totally.

Cora: [tips her head towards his hand] So this is the day that all other great days are going to be measured against?

Stiles: Until we have a day that beats it, and then it'll be that day. [smirks. totally playing with her now]

Cora: [she laughs] Okay then. Just keep me posted if that changes.

Stiles: Oh, I'm sure you'll be the first to..... first to know.

Cora: [she nods and that hitch in his words worries her, though she's not sure how to say it. So she just tips her head slightly, trying to check his scent under the guise of pressing a kiss to the inside of his wrist] Good.

Stiles: [it is a scent that has always been a part of him. But it's shifting to becoming a bit stronger. Something missing in his balance making the wrongness smell just a bit less subtle]

Cora: [which is what she had been worried about. but she doesn't say anything for now, just leans in to kiss him softly] I think we'll have lots of good ones.

Stiles: I hope so. [kisses her back, pulling her closer]

Cora: [leans into the kiss, sliding her arms around his neck to pull him closer as though the effort will force the nagging thoughts away. tonight was supposed to be about them and she wants it to stay a good night]

Stiles: [and he's just holding onto each moment like it could be his last. And making sure she knows how much he loves her, and wanting to ignore the inevitable because he knows it's going to break both their hearts]

Cora: [she loves him too. now would probably be the time to say it, but she won't. It won't come up until he comes back and starts avoiding her]

Stiles: [speaking of] So do you have any spring break plans yet?

Cora: [she takes a deep breath, before shaking her head] Not that I know of.

Stiles: Well, my Dad's wanting me to come home. So I um.... I'd ask you to go but... figure you don't want to.

Cora: [her face softens a bit before shaking her head. this is pre-Kate so Beacon Hills isn't even a place she will entertain setting foot in] Laura would never let me go.

Stiles: Yeah...... [he drifts off a moment, just nodding] Yeah, no. No I get it.

Cora: [nods slowly as she watches him] But maybe another time?

Stiles: [blinks, then he's back, nodding] Yeah, another time.

Cora: [nods as she brushes her hand against the side of his face gently before asking, tentatively] Are you okay?

Stiles: Yeah. [probably a bit too quickly] Yeah, just... tired. You wore me out.

Cora: [she nods, not quite believing it, but she's willing to let it go for now] Then maybe we should get dressed and get some sleep.

Stiles: Probably a good idea. [and he will kiss her one last time, and move to sit up]

Cora: [closes her eyes into the kiss before getting up to pull on her underwear before glancing around] Mind if I borrow something? [the nice clothes she came in are going to be a pain to sleep in]

Stiles: Yeah, sure. Here, this is warm. [he reached for his oversized sweatshirt and tossed it to her]

Cora: [catches it easily and slips it on, and it covers her like a dress. yay for tall boyfriends]

Stiles: [he goes to get dressed, but his hand is not cooperating. His back is turned to her, but she will see him try and shake out his hand to get it to unflex, muttering softly to himself a 'not now, please not now']

Cora: [frowns at that, because wolf ears can hear everything, and turns to face him] Stiles?

Stiles: I'm okay. [he grabs his shirt, having figured out already how to do it one handed, and turns around, arms crossed easily, his clenched fist hidden in his armpit.] You ready for bed?

Cora: [watches him quietly for a moment, knowing that there's a lie somewhere but not wanting to find it badly enough to bring it up now] Yeah. Let's get some sleep.

Stiles: [nods and he will get in bed, snuggling up behind her. His good hand will wrap around her waist, the other, will be buried under his head pillow] Night.

Cora: [nods as she curls into him and drifts off, trying to let the worries float away] Night.

Stiles: [and he will sleep, but there will be soft whimpering around 2am.]

Cora: [wakes easily, glancing over her shoulder at him with a frown] Stiles?

Stiles: [he doesn't stir right away, but it's a typical someone is having a nightmare feel]

Cora: [shifts around to face him again before trying to shake him awake] Stiles.

Stiles: he jerks awake at the shake, breathing hard and looking around, his brain trying to figure out where he was in the low light]

Cora: Hey, hey. [she brings his hand up gently, brushing against the side of his face as she brought his eyes to hers] It's okay. You're in your dorm.

Stiles: [he jerks a moment at the touch, afraid, but then he hears her voice and blinks a few times, finally catching up] Sorry... sorry... um…bad dream.

Cora: [brushes her thumb against his cheekbone] Wanna talk about it?

Stiles: [blinking a few times, biting on his lip] I.... I don't remember... there was a....um, a... a dark hole. [cave] I was walking and... screaming and hands.

Cora: [frowns as she brushes her hand through his hair] That sounds awful.

Stiles: [nods] Yeah. [rubs at his nose and sniffs] It freaks me out.

Cora: It was just a dream, though. You're right here with me. And you're safe.

Stiles: Yeah. Yeah. [lays back down on the pillow again]

Cora: [lays down with him, her fingers continuing to stroke through his hair to try and ease him back to sleep]

Stiles: [drifting off again] I like falling asleep with you next to me.

Cora: [smiles softly] I like it too.

Stiles: You have a nice face to wake up to.

Cora: [she grins] So do you. [the grin fades to a smirk] And you talk in your sleep.

Stiles: I do?

Cora: [she nods] It's adorable.

Stiles: [snorts] As long as you think so.

Cora: I do. Gives me hints about what you're dreaming about.

Stiles: Well, I'll admit. I like your face being the last thing I see so that, you know, if I don't wake up, you're the last thing I remember.

Cora: [grins a bit] Yeah?

Stiles: Yeah.

Cora: I appreciate that, but I'd rather you wake up and see me.

Stiles: Me too.

Cora: Good.

Stiles: [snuggles closer] So back to sleep, so I can wake up again.

Cora: [smiles before nodding and curling up in his arms again] Night, Stiles.

Stiles: Night, Cora. [and off to bed, no nightmares this time]

Cora: [same here and none for her either]

Stiles: [and he will wake up to her and smile, watching her sleep for a moment]

Cora: [will just stay all curled up and comfortable against him, not rousing right away]

Stiles: [and he will just enjoy the moment before leaning in to gently kiss her awake]

Cora: [that wakes her up, stirring a bit into the kiss with a soft hum]

Stiles: Good morning.

Cora: Morning. [and will shift to curl into him a bit] Part of me really wishes I could just stay here all day.

Stiles: Part of me would be very happy with that. But we have classes.

Cora: [sighs] I know. But here is warm and comfy.

Stiles: We could just skip. Claim we were snowed in.

Cora: [hums again] I just have a 101 class. I could totally email the professor and tell them I'm sick.

Stiles: And I needed to go, like, run get you medicine.

Cora: [she nods] What's something really bad that's not contagious?

Stiles: Food poisoning.

Cora: Perfect. And you're being a good boyfriend and holding my hair.

Stiles: You're my girl. Even in times where it's completely disgusting to be around you, I'm there.

Cora: [she laughs] Well, I appreciate it.

Stiles: So what should we do while you're sick?

Cora: I don't know. I've never really played hooky before.

Stiles: Well, first rule is to avoid any place your professors may find you.

Cora: That is good, as I intend to stay right here.

Stiles: Same here. So... we could play video games?

Cora: [she nods] Sure. What kind do you have?

Stiles: Fantasy games. Going off fighting monsters.

Cora: I've never really played one before.

Stiles: Well, you can watch me, and I'll teach you.

Cora: Sounds good.

Stiles: But first - cupcakes for breakfast?

Cora: That sounds delicious.

Stiles: [and then it's cupcakes and Zelda all morning]

Hal: [coming back before lunch] You two are still at it?

Cora: [at least Cora has pants at this point, though she's still in Stiles' sweatshirt. deadpan] I have food poisoning.

Hal: Seriously?

Cora: [she shakes her head] No, but that's what Olinski thinks.

Hal: I walked in and she was bent over a trashcan, sir.

Cora: You are a good friend.

Stiles: So where were you last night anyway?

Hal: Slept on the couch. Seems her dad's plans fell through.

Cora: [winces] That sucks.

Stiles: Sorry, dude.

Hal: Hey, wasn't all bad. Still had a good time at the restaurant.

Cora: That's the part that matters.

Hal: Totally. So, what are we playing? [goes to sit on the floor by the bed]

Stiles: Ocarina of Time.

Hal: Zelda. Nice!

Cora: [smirks at that] I've never played before.

Hal: You've never played Zelda before?

Stiles: You already missed this conversation. [and he gives him side eyes about 'you know, you're interrupting' but Hal is oblivious]

Cora: I wasn't really into video games. My family was made of outdoor athletic people.

Hal: Yeah, I have two little brothers. Video games are my life.

Stiles: Only child. It was what I did when I finished my homework.

Cora: I lived in the middle of the woods so I would just go outside and then we moved to New York and I started volunteering at an animal shelter. [she shrugs] It just never stuck, I guess.

Hal: You lived in the middle of the woods? Were you raised by wolves or something?

Cora: [fights the smirk] My family had lived in Beacon Hills for a really long time. We actually owned most of the land in the town once, but we sold it off when the town was being built. We still own a big chunk of the nature preserve though. We liked the quiet.

Hal: [nods]

Stiles: Dude, the preserve is awesome. I'll take you if you ever come home with me for a break.

Cora: [smiles softly as she nods] It's probably the only part of Beacon Hills I actually miss.

Stiles: Maybe one day you can go back and visit just for a little bit.

Cora: Maybe. [but probably not until the Argents are gone and they're sure no one there knows what the name "Hale" means anymore.]

Stiles: So, Hal. Don't you have like, a study session or something you can go to?

Hal: [looks over, and then nods] Yeah... yeah I do. Thanks for reminding me.

Cora: [and she'll glance at Stiles at that because that totally isn't obvious trying to get rid of your roommate]

Stiles: [bright grin]

Hal: Want me to bring you guys back anything? Soup for your delicate stomach?

Cora: Sure. Or burgers. I think red meat really may be what's best for me right now. [bright grin of her own]

Hal: Alright, I will swing by and grab you guys McDonalds first, and then I will go to my study group.

Stiles: You already know my order.

Hal: Yeah, I do.

Cora: [McDonalds McDonalds McDonalds ...] Two quarter pounders and a french fry. [a beat] And a Sprite.

Hal: [laughs] Yeah, you two are made for each other. [and he will grab his jacket and go]

Stiles: [looking at Cora, just a stupid grin on his face]

Cora: [looks back at him laughs slightly] What?

Stiles: That's my order. Except I get a Coke.

Cora: Really?

Stiles: Yup.

Cora: Huh. [though that makes her grin too] Funny coincidence.

Stiles: [he laughs, and then nods back to the TV] Shall we get back to this?

Cora: [nods] Sure. [and they play video games for a while, only pausing to inhale their greasy fast food. Cora isn't perfect at it, but she catches on quick and has pretty good reflexes for someone who's never played video games before]

Stiles: [and he will be suitably impressed and they can keep doing this all day because what is college anyway]

Cora: [yep, no one needs to do that. But eventually she will need to return home so that the rest of her family doesn't think she was swallowed into a Stiles-shaped black hole.]

Stiles: [and he will eventually let her go, because he also does have homework to do but not before he gives her a kiss goodbye] See you tomorrow for lunch?

Cora: [nods as she hums into the kiss] Yep. See you tomorrow.

Stiles: [and he will watch her get in the elevator, and then watch her out the window until she disappears out of sight in the snow]

Cora: [and she will go home and hope she can avoid the male members of her family long enough to shower]

Peter: [looks up as she is coming in, and lucky for her he knows better] And so she returns.

Cora: [and freezes] Hi. I told Laura I was staying at the dorms last night. [because Valentine's Day, which she doesn't actually say]

Peter: Oh, I know. But you have been gone all day as well.

Cora: I had class.

Peter: Oh? I thought you were sick.

Cora: [her brow furrows because she only emailed her professors that, and she was pretty sure that Hal knew she wasn't actually sick]

Peter: [is amused] Alexis was concerned when you didn't show up to class and was told you were sick. She had lunch with her father and Richard texted me to see how you were feeling.

Cora: [.......] Oh. [her head ducks a bit] Yes. I was very sick. [Peter at least gets the real butt of the joke because they're werewolves. They don't get sick. Hal and Stiles didn't appreciate that as much]

Peter: [chuckles] Well, I'm glad to see you are feeling better.

Cora: [she nods] Much. Thanks.

Peter: Did you have a good night at least?

Cora: I did. It was really good.

Peter: Good. [smiles] You don't know how nice it is seeing you smile all the time now.

Cora: [her head ducks a bit because she can't say that she doesn't feel different, but it's still a little embarrassing] It feels good. [that at least is safe enough to admit]

Peter: It should. It wouldn't be a good thing if it didn't at least feel good.

Cora: [nods because it's been a while since she's actually felt good, and she doesn't want this feeling to go away]

Peter: Alright, go on upstairs. You still have homework to do.

Cora: [nods and up the stairs she goes]

Stiles: [and then a few days later is Stiles' normal study afternoon in the library. It's one where he and Cora usually grabbed a table together and studied across from each other. When she gets there, his bag is there, notebook open and pencil left in the crease. But he's not. And she can follow the trail and eventually will find him in the stacks, his eyes staring up at the shelves and his lips are moving but he's not audibly speaking. His hand is fisted and curled into his chest, and he is very obviously not there mentally]

Cora: [and she will follow the trail, hanging back just a bit when she sees him, because the more she sees him like this, the more worried she gets. It's easy to distract her when he's fine, but that part of his scent isn't going away, and she doesn't know how to broach the subject. All she can do is wait for a moment that seems like a break in conversation to reach for his arm gently] Stiles?

Stiles: [he doesn't look at her, his eyes looking at the books] So you know it only takes a small amount of force from a falling book over five pounds to be able to crush in a skull when falling from a shelf that is three feet above the head of the person below it?

Cora: [her eyebrows go up a bit] Are you tempting fate?

Stiles: Just... sometimes you don't know what’s going to kill you until it's there. You can't prepare. You can't.... [and he drifts off]

Cora: [takes another step closer, turning him to face her] I've got pretty fast reflexes. I promise I'll save you from any falling books.

Stiles: [he turns to her, his eyes trying to watch those books before he blinks and just looks at her] Yeah, I bet you could.

Cora: [she holds his gaze for a moment before taking a step closer to rub his arms] Everything okay?

Stiles: [he just shook his head a bit] Just tired... Can't really focus.

Cora: [nods a bit] We can skip today. You can go home and take a nap.

Stiles: [licks his lips, and then nods] Yeah... I should go home. Bed sounds good.

Cora: Want me to come with you?

Stiles: No, I can do it. [and he will head back with her to the table and he will go to try and pack his bag... one handed]

Cora: [watches him for a moment before reaching forward and flipping one of the notebooks closed to hand it to him] Here.

Stiles: [he gives her a grateful small smile and takes it from her] Thanks. I'm sorry... I'm.... I'm sorry I can't do this... thing today.

Cora: It's okay. We can do it another day. It's probably just pre-Spring Break burn out.

Stiles: Yeah. I leave for home Friday night.

Cora: [she nods] Just have to make it a few more days and you're home free.

Stiles: You... you're staying here right?

Cora: [she nods] But you can Skype me.

Stiles: Oh yeah. Or call. It's only.... [he squints his eyes, trying to remember a word]

Cora: [she waits for him to finish and when he doesn't, she pauses as she tries to fill it in] Only?

Stiles: [he bites his lip, a bit of anxiety coming as he can't remember the word 'week'] Eight days.

Cora: Oh. Only a week?

Stiles: [nods] Yeah, a week.

Cora: Exactly. Only a week, and then you can kiss me in person.

Stiles: [he smiles at that] Something to look forward to.

Cora: Yep. [and once he's all packed she'll swing her bag over her shoulder] You sure you don't want me to come back with you? I just have to read some stuff for my lit class. [she can hang out and make sure he gets good sleep]

Stiles: [he goes to struggle with his jacket] Only if you want.

Cora: [she nods as she moves to help him] I don't mind.

Stiles: Okay then [he wants to tell her not to help, that he could do it, but he just sighed and went to drape the other side of the jacket over his shoulder and started to catch the zipper] Thanks.

Cora: [she lets him finish the rest, trying not to let the worry show in her gaze] C'mon. Let's get you into bed.

Stiles: So that was your end goal, huh? [trying to lighten the mood as he puts his bag over his good shoulder]

Cora: [she smirks] You got me.

Stiles: Shoulda known.

Cora: [links her arm in his gently, before turning to lead the way out of the library] Fortunately, you don't mind my taking advantage of you.

Stiles: No, I don't mind. I enjoy it, actually.

Cora: Good. [and with that she will take him back to the dorms]

Stiles: [and he will let her in]

Hal: [at his computer working on a paper] Hey guys.

Cora: Hey. [lets her bag drop near his bed before toeing off her shoes] Working on homework?

Stiles: [goes to get his jacket off, kicking off his sneakers as well] I'm going to grab a nap. You guys can talk.

Hal: [seeing his arm, and then nodding] Yeah, we'll keep it down. [looks at Cora] I got a paper in economics due before break.

Cora: [cringes] Good luck. I won't bother you.

Hal: Thanks. [and he will put his earbuds in and get back to typing]

Stiles: [and he's going to curl up on his side, giving Cora enough room to relax on the bed if she wanted to, and he is exhausted, eyes already drooping]

Cora: [and she will hop up to do just that, grabbing the novel she has to read and curling up under his arm]

Stiles: [and he will be out after a bit. She will notice as he sleeps, every now and then, one of his limbs will twitch. He's not dreaming, so there's no visible reason for it, he just does]

Cora: [as long as it's not too jarring, she won't disturb him, just make note of it for later]

Stiles: [Nope, not jarring. Just twitchy]

Hal: [after a bit he takes a break, turning the seat around to look at them a moment.] Whatcha reading?

Cora: The Sun Also Rises. Contemporary lit class.

Hal: I remember that book. It was interesting.

Cora: It's pretty good so far.

Hal: Cool. [sees Stiles' arm twitch] He's still twitching, huh?

Cora: [glances back at him before nodding] Yeah, he is. [a beat] Have you noticed anything else weird with him lately?

Hal: He's been a bit forgetful. More than usual.

Cora: Have you noticed him having trouble with his hand?

Hal: Yeah. He says it's a side effect of a pill he's taking.

Cora: What pill?

Hal: [looking to make sure stiles is asleep, then gets up and opens his desk and pulls out a bottle] Aripiprazole.

Cora: [frowns and shifts just enough to get out her phone and google the name] How do you spell it?

Hal: [he spells it out] And there is also a bottle of Adderall in here too, but that's ADHD stuff. My little brother has that.

Cora: [waits for the results to pop up annnnnnnnnd ....] It's for depression. [there's a beat] Has he seemed depressed?

Hal: Sometimes. Mostly frustrated.

Cora: [she nods] He doesn't with me. Or ... I don't know. Maybe I don't pay attention enough.

Hal: Or he tries harder around you not to show it so you don't worry.

Cora: [yeah, well, that doesn't work because she worries anyway] Maybe.

Hal: He's been having more nightmares too. Another side effect, he says.

Cora: [she nods a bit] Maybe going home will help.

Hal: I hope so. Maybe he can see his doctor and get something better.

Cora: Fingers crossed.

Hal: Hope so. He won't be able to play lacrosse like that, and he'll lose his scholarship.

Cora: [sighs softly, before shifting onto her back so that she can face him more] I just wish he would talk to me.

Hal: You're not the only one.

Cora: [she nods, before looking back at Hal] If you manage to get anything out of him, just ... let me know?

Hal: Sure. Same with you?

Cora: [she nods. then there's a pause] Have you met his friend Scott?

Hal: Over Skype a few times.

Cora: Do you think he might have a better idea?

Hal: Maybe?

Cora: I don't want to go behind his back, but if he won't talk to us ... Scott is going to be with him for a week.

Hal: You have his number?

Cora: [shakes her head. Then there's a pause] But it's probably in Stiles' phone.

Hal: [looks over at Stiles] He still out?

Cora: [she turns and focuses on his heartbeat and breathing, checking to make sure he's still super asleep]

Stiles: [still out]

Cora: [she nods] Yeah, he's asleep.

Hal: [pulls Stiles' phone out of his jacket and goes to the contacts, writing Scott's number on a post it] I didn't do this.

Cora: [she shakes her head] Your secret is safe with me.

Hal: [and he reads off Scott's number]

Cora: [and she plugs it into her phone] I'll call later.

Hal: [goes to hide the phone and pills again, and heads for his bed] I should get back at this.

Cora: [she nods, and just goes back to her book as Stiles sleeps]

Stiles: [and he will be out for about another hour before his phone starts to beep, and he groans]

Cora: [may have started dozing a bit, novel resting on her arm as she rests on her side]

Hal: [has his earbuds in, can't hear anything]

Stiles: [waking up to turn off the alarm, and he is going to shift] Cora... Cora I need to.... get up.

Cora: Hmm? [she shifts a bit before getting up and moving] Oh. Sorry.

Stiles: No, fine. Need to just... I'll be right back. [and he will get up and go to his desk, reaching in to get his pills and going to the bathroom]

Cora: [goes to put her bookmark in her book before checking the time on her phone and wincing. She should have been home a while ago. There's a text to Laura saying that she fell asleep at Stiles' and she'll be home soon before starting to pack up her stuff while she waits for him to come back]

Stiles: [and he comes back, pills hidden in his pocket] Sorry, I didn't mean to... crash.

Cora: [she shakes her head] It's fine. I didn't either. But I have to go home. [she takes a step closer and rests a hand against his chest as she leans in to kiss him] I'll see you before you go home?

Stiles: [kisses her back] Yeah... yeah lunch Friday? My flight is in.... seven.

Cora: Perfect. I get out of class around one. We can get pizza?

Stiles: Pizza good. Meet you at the student center?

Cora: [she nods] It's a date. [and then she'll lean in to kiss him again, this time a little longer and softer]

Stiles: [he kisses her back, melting a bit. He pressed his forehead to hers, smiling a bit as he pulled away] Text me when you get home.

Cora: [she smiles in return and nods] I will. [she'll then go and tap Hal lightly on the shoulder to wave a goodbye before heading out]

Hal: [pulls his earbuds out and smiles, wishing her goodbye, and then he and Stiles will debate and decide to order Chinese for dinner]

Cora: [and Cora will head home and head up to her room after stealing some of the pizza that the rest of them got for dinner. She will text Stiles that she's home, before sitting on her bed and staring at Scott's number while she eats]

Scott: [and out in California, he's sitting in a biology class, working on dissecting a cat because future vet for the win!]

Cora: [she'll stare a bit longer, before finally giving in and hitting send and hopefully that will coincide with Scott leaving his class!]

Scott: [it will, and he's on his way to find Allison as he hitches the bag on his shoulder. of course, he doesn't recognize the number] Hello?

Cora: Hi. [there's a pause as she tries to figure out what to say] You don't know me, but I'm Stiles' girlfriend? Cora?

Scott: [blinks] Oh, hi. Yeah, Stiles talks my ear off about you. Hey... is something wrong? Stiles okay?

Cora: That's the thing I ... I don't know. He doesn't know I'm calling you or that I even have your number but I'm worried about him and he won't ... talk to me.

Scott: Well, welcome to the club. [winces] Sorry, that came out wrong. But Stiles... he tends to not want to share things sometimes. He's been that way a long time.

Cora: I know. And normally I don't press but ... he's on this anti-depressant, and he's been having really bad nightmares. Sometimes he'll just ... space out, or behave like he's talking to someone who isn't there? There are also moments where it seems like he has a hard time finding words. I ... I don't mean to pry or try to force things out of him before he's ready to tell me but ... [there's a breath] He's flying home on Friday, so I wanted to see if you would just ... keep an eye on him?

Scott: [he sighs, stopping as he listened] He's been distant with me. I don't have break next week, but I can try and see if I can get something out of him.

Cora: Thanks. And you don't have to tell me just ... try and get him to talk to me?

Scott: I'll see what I can do. That's about all I can promise.

Cora: That's all I ask. Thank you.

Scott: No problem. This your number? I can save it in my phone.

Cora: Yeah, this is my cell.

Scott: Awesome. I got it.

Cora: Thank you. Again. And I'm sorry this is how we're talking for the first time. [it should have been Stiles introducing them but that's something they can sort out later]

Scott: Don't worry, we can make a better impression next time.

Cora: Sounds like a plan.

Scott: Alright, my date's here and she may be a jealous type, But text me if you need anything, kay?

Cora: Will do. Enjoy your date.

Scott: [and he will be off to grab dinner with Allison]

Cora: [and she will go back to her homework and try not to worry about Stiles]