puppy love } { of brawling brothers and uncomfortable silences

[impetere]

Scott: What, you thought he was going to just let it go?

Cora: I didn't expect him to actually punch my brother.

Scott: He was really upset.

Cora: Upset enough to get suspended?

Scott: He won't get suspended. Detention for a week.

Cora: There's zero tolerance for fighting, Scott, it's an automatic two week suspension.

Scott: Yeah, but it wasn't really a fight. It was one punch. Derek didn't fight back.

Cora: Yeah, but will the principal see it that way?

Sheriff: [talking down the hall]

Scott: Not sure.

Cora: [sighs and buries her face in her hands, letting her back slide down against the wall]

Allison: [makes her way over because guess who has first period with Derek] You're Derek's sister right? What's going on?

Scott: Stiles punched Derek.

Allison: Yeah. I saw it. Who's Stiles and why did he do it?

Scott: Stiles is my best friend. And Derek said something that pissed him off.

Allison: So he just punched him?

Scott: Yeah, but he did kinda deserve it. It was a dick move.

Allison: I don't understand.

Scott: [looks at Cora] You want to tell her?

Allison: [looks to Cora]

Cora: [glances up and then shakes her head] Not really.

Allison: [sighs] Is Derek okay?

Scott: Yeah, he looked fine. I think Stiles' pride took the worst beating.

Allison: [she nods, but she's sensing she's not wanted so she's going to take a step back] Tell Derek I'll see him at lunch?

Scott: Sure. I can do that.

Allison: Thanks. [and with that, she's going to go]

Scott: [watches a moment, and then looks at Cora] You don't like her do you?

Cora: It's not her.

Scott: Then what is it?

Cora: Talking about her is the reason why Derek threw that in my face in the first place.

Scott: Oh.

Cora: My mom doesn't want him to date her, and I was trying to see what the big deal was, because it's not like she was telling him he couldn't hang out with her at all, and he threw it back in my face with "You wouldn't get it, Cora. You've been oblivious to Stiles since the third grade, apparently."

Scott: No, Stiles was right. That was a dick move.

Cora: [she shifts a little more against the wall, sitting on the floor and pulling her knees into her chest] I don't know what to do with any of it.

Scott: [leans back a bit] I can't tell you what to do. And honestly, Paige has been telling Stiles for a while just to tell you, so he's not totally innocent in all this. But... I know him better than more, and he may be obnoxious, but he gets shy and scared just like anyone else.

Cora: And I get that. That's not what bothers me. It's the fact that everyone seemed to know but me.

Scott: Well, someone always has to be the last to know?

Cora: [and there's a look because that doesn't make her feel better] It's not that I was intentionally ignoring it or ignoring him. And I don't like it making me seem ... deficient.

Scott: Stiles never thought that. Stiles just figured that when it was the right time, you'd notice.

Cora: And what if I never did? What if I just kept being dumb forever and he just kept waiting? That's not fair, Scott.

Scott: No, it's not. But who is he hurting then but himself. If you don't notice, then it's not something you really want.

Cora: I don't want him to hurt himself. I don't want to hurt him. [it's not like Stiles is her best friend, but she doesn't go about looking to do harm, intentionally or unintentionally]

Scott: It's his choice though, Cora.

Cora: [that isn't really her point, Scott, but she doesn't really understand emotional masochism. she can't deal with her own emotions most of the time, so she doesn't want other people to suffer]

Derek: [and he will come out now, rubbing at his cheek that's bruised but healing]

Cora: [glances up] You okay?

Derek: Yeah. I just have detention for the rest of the week.

Cora: What about Stiles?

Derek: Rest of the month. And a very angry father.

Sheriff: [is yelling at Stiles about what was he thinking and that he could be arresting him for assault if Derek hadn't apologized and was not wanting to press charges and he was grounded forever.]

Cora: [follows the sound of the yelling and her face softens a bit, before glances back down at her knees again]

Derek: [looks at his sister] Listen, I'm sorry I did that, Cora. I shouldn't have said that.

Cora: It doesn't matter. [and she'll grab her bag and start to get up to head back to class]

Derek: [goes to chase after her] Cora wait!

Cora: [not slowing down but not speeding up either]

Derek: [catching up to her and putting a hand on her shoulder] Cora, please. I'm sorry. I was an ass saying that to you.

Cora: [she turns when he touches her before shrugging in return] You said that already.

Derek: But you're still hurting. I hate that you're hurting.

Cora: Well, repeating it isn't going to help that.

Derek: Then what can I do?

Cora: Just ... leave me alone for a while.

Derek: [and he will let her go, pouting puppy face]

Cora: [and she will continue on her way to class and continue to avoid both boys because that's clearly the way to deal with her problems]

Derek: [and he will be returning to his regularly scheduled classes until lunch?]

Allison: [pretty much, where Allison will be looking for him]

Derek: [and he is going to be a sad puppy, but his face will be healed at this point as he goes to sit across from her with his tray] Hey.

Allison: Hey. Are you okay?

Derek: You ever say something in anger and really, really wish you could take it back?

Allison: I think everyone has.

Derek: That's what I'm currently dealing with. [he's going to just pick at his food]

Allison: I'm sorry.

Derek: That's why I'm not mad at Stiles. He wasn't wrong in hitting me.

Allison: Did you say it to him?

Derek: No, to Cora. But it was about him.

Allison: What did you say to her?

Derek: I probably shouldn't repeat it since she's mad at me enough as it is.

Allison: Maybe I can help.

Derek: [sighs] Stiles has had a crush on her since we were in elementary school. She's never noticed. I threw it in her face in that she was oblivious to anything relationship wise.

Allison: And she took it out on him?

Derek: Yeah.

Allison: Well, how she handles things isn't your fault, Derek.

Derek: But I still shouldn't have said it.

Allison: Maybe not, but that shouldn't be a reason for Stiles to punch you.

Derek: I'm actually kinda shocked he did it myself.

Allison: He doesn't really seem the type.

Derek: He isn't.

Allison: He must really care about her.

Derek: He does. At least there's that.

Allison: Maybe she'll come around and see that too.

Derek: I hope so. Cause as guys go... he can be annoying, but he's a good, loyal person.

Allison: Fingers crossed.

Derek: Yeah. [still stabbing at his food.]

Allison: [watches him for a moment, before reaching over and resting her hand on his]

Derek: [he will look at their hands, and then looked up at her with a small smile] Thank you.

Allison: Of course. What are friends for?

Derek: [his smile grows a bit more] Anyone tell you that you're a good friend to have?

Allison: Sometimes.

Derek: Well, you are.

Allison: Thank you.

Derek: So how was your day so far?

Allison: The usual. Class, class and more class.

Derek: Well, at least you have a lot of class. [smirks]

Allison: [she laughs] Guess I do.

Derek: [and he will finally take a bite of his food] Your dad seemed cool, by the way.

Allison: Yeah, he is.

Derek: Did he enjoy the game?

Allison: He did. He loves basketball.

Derek: Good to know. Will he be joining you at the finals Saturday?

Allison: Maybe. It depends on work stuff.

Derek: Well, if he can't, I can probably walk you home.

Allison: I have a car.

Derek: That's right.

Allison: So I could drive you home.

Derek: [he would say yes, but yeah, his family would flip] Or we could just hang out. I actually live on the preserve so it's faster to walk out through the football field to the house than drive all the way around to the paths.

Allison: Hang out where?

Derek: Grab a milkshake or something?

Allison: Sure. That could be fun.

Derek: Awesome. Cool. [nods, and he's going to focus on his food]

Allison: [and she's going to do the same until the bell rings]

Derek: [and he will sigh] And off to Chem I go.

Allison: I'll see you later?

Derek: Yup. See you.

Allison: [and off she goes to class]