puppy love } { of semi-finals and hard truths

[arbalete]

Derek: [and he's trying to focus on the game, but he keeps stealing looks into the stands to look at his family or Allison]

Allison: [is just hanging out with her dad, talking about the various shenanigans]

Laura: [follows his eyeline when he glances at Allison and elbows Cora] Is that the Argent girl?

Cora: [glances over and nods] Yeah, that's her.

Laura: His staying away from her is working out well I see.

Chris: [and he's paying attention, not having figured out just yet Derek’s last name]

Stiles: [looking at Cora now and then. It's been weird the last two days and it sucks]

Cora: [yes, it sucks, but she doesn't know what to do. Which is why she hates that people can't just be straight with her. Anyone who knows her should know that she's terrible at reading cues, and when she misses them it makes her feel like an idiot]

Stiles: [and he will wait until he can't any longer and then...] Okay, I'm going to go get something to drink. Do you want something to drink?

Cora: [glances over because is he talking to Scott or her?]

Stiles: [is talking to Scott, because he will stand up and shuffle to the end of the row and then look over at her] Hey, Cora - I'm going to get a drink. Want anything?

Laura: Oh! Can you get me a Coke? [she's talking to her sister and totally being sneaky]

Cora: ... Yeah. Okay. [and she'll get up to follow Stiles]

Stiles: [and when they get to the line, he will look at her] So are you mad at me? I've been trying not to annoy you in lab.

Cora: [glances over and she shakes her head] No. I'm not mad.

Stiles: Okay. Cause I wasn't sure what I needed to apologize for but I would. If I knew.

Cora: [she shakes her head] It's nothing you did.

Stiles: Good. Good. [and he's looking forward a moment] Did someone do something to you? Do you want to talk about it?

Cora: [glances over and she shakes her head again] Just something my brother said.

Stiles: Oh. Well, your brother can be an idiot sometimes. No offense.

Cora: No, I know. But it wasn't ... about him.

Stiles: Was it about me? Because I'm not afraid of him. I'll punch him in his perfectly flawless face and make it not... perfectly flawless...

Cora: [there's a brief look of endearment the way he phrases that, but it's also clear that it is about him with the way she quickly looks away again]

Stiles: Okay, yeah I'm totally going to punch him. What did he say about me?

Cora: [she shifts awkwardly for a moment, before she swallows] It was more like he implied that you ... liked me. Like you were flirting with me.

Stiles: Oh. [and he immediately blushes, looking down at his feet and his fingers get restless] That.

Cora: [she watches his face closely for a moment, scrutinizing his reactions until he gets an answer] So it's true?

Stiles: [running the back of his neck] ..... Yes?

Cora: [her emotions roll from awkward to angry to uncomfortable and she doesn't know exactly how she feels about it. She hates that she can't read these things] Oh.

Stiles: But I mean, I get it. If you aren't into me. I just... yeah.

Cora: Why don't people ever just say something?

Stiles: Because it's hard.

Cora: How long?

Stiles: Have I liked you?

Cora: Yeah.

Stiles: Um... maybe since... third... grade?

Cora: Third grade. So you've liked me that long, but you never really noticed the fact that I'm not that great with the subtle stuff? That some things that people just expect me to notice I don't and when they get shoved in my face as evidence of how much I don't get something it makes me feel like an idiot?

Stiles: Well... sometimes... you're afraid to say it because if you get shot down... then you feel stupid. At least... if you ignored me I was... I could say you would see eventually... when it was right.

Cora: So you put it on me instead. Great. Thanks, Stiles. [they reach the front of the line and she orders her sister's Coke] Just ... forget it.

Stiles: [nods, and he's going to just... walk away and out of the gym, slamming the gym door open and heading out into the hallway]

Cora: [and she heads back into the gym to give Laura her drink, drowning in waves of frustration and upset]

Laura: [frowns as she sips through the straw] That well?

Cora: I don't wanna talk about it.

Scott: [and when he notices Stiles doesn't come back, he will go over] I thought Stiles went with you to get drinks.

Cora: We did. He went for a walk. [she doesn't make eye contact]

Scott: [confused] Oh. Okay. I guess I'll just text him. [and he will start back to his seat]

Cora: [and she'll just try and focus on the game, but that doesn't help because nothing was really resolved]

Derek: [and then the game is over and he didn't score the final shot since they were a few baskets ahead, but YAY Beacon Hills won!!!!!!]

Cora: [whoot! If only his sister could join in his celebratory vibe, but she just says something to Laura about walking home and heads out]

Derek: [and once the rush of people on the court start to wane, he will make his way to find his sisters. Or Allison, if she is in his path naturally]

Allison: [she might just be, since he did awesome] Great game.

Derek: [bright smile] Thanks! And thank you for coming. Did you have fun?

Chris: [making his way through the crowd to find her]

Allison: Yeah, it was great. Way better than the lacrosse stuff.

Derek: Too bad you got here at the end of the season. But you'll at least get to see the finals!

Allison: Yeah! Should be fun.

Derek: Oh, it will be. [all smiles]

Chris: [catches up] So you must be Derek.

Derek: [and yup, stiffening up a bit] Yes sir, that's me. Thanks for coming to the game.

Allison: Derek, this is my dad.

Derek: Nice to meet you.

Chris: Same here. You played a good game.

Derek: I've been playing since I was little with my uncle. It's a thing with us.

Allison: Is your uncle here?

Derek: No, not today. My sisters are though.

Allison: Cool.