spamalot } { of dinner dates and cross-country acceptances

[littlebitscary]

[Fiona is a nosy nosy snoop and when she catches a letter from Georgetown sitting in Derek’s mail, she tries to see what’s inside without actually opening it.]

Derek: You know, they seal those for a reason.

Fiona: Why do you think I haven't opened it? [is totally not going to feel guilty about this, she glances back at him with a smirk] It's against the law to open someone else's mail.

Derek: [smirks and walks over, taking it from her playfully and sliding it into his back pocket] Exactly. Good to see you respect the laws.

Fiona: I do. I think the law is very important. [there's a beat as she slides one arm around his shoulders since he's close enough] I think the better question is why you haven't opened it. [and she'll punctuate that "you" by tapping her finger lightly against his chest]

Derek: [slides an arm around her waist in return] Because I don't know if I want to know what's in there yet. I haven't exactly told my family I was applying yet.

Fiona: But you did. [the finger that tapped him is now playing with his shirt] Georgetown's a good school. You'd probably like it a lot.

Derek: They.... don't offer their English degree online. [and he had only been talking about online schools]

Fiona: Ah. [she nods a bit] So if you wanted to go, you'd have to go to them.

Derek: Yeah. And it's on the other side of the country, not just a few hours to the shore. But it's access to the Foldger's library lecture series and I can cross major my masters into their history program.

Fiona: So if you get in, great opportunity, but you don't know if you want to be away from the pack for that long.

Derek: I mean, it's not like I won't be back during breaks... but I've been also doing more for my mom and.... well, there's us too. [she is a big consideration]

Fiona: Derek, I can work from anywhere. There are packs near there that I've worked with in the past, they can probably give me work. [meaning she will move if she needs to] Besides most of my family is on the east coast anyway.

Derek: [there's a small grin] So if I get accepted and my family is okay with it, you won't feel weirded out if I asked for you to move into a cramped DC apartment with me?

Fiona: [she smirks a bit] If there's two of us, we could probably afford for it to be not-so-cramped. That is, of course, if you are okay with my family showing up with little to no notice whatsoever.

Derek: [chuckles] You already know all of mine, so I don't see it as a problem as long as it's not when I'm crunching for papers or tests.

Fiona: I'll do my best, but I can make no promises, unfortunately.

Derek: Then I'll just be spending a lot of time studying in the library.

Fiona: Good plan. [she then glances back at him, her face softening slightly] But you're never going to know if you have to make a decision until you open it.

Derek: Alright. I'll open it. [he pulls out the letter and takes a deep breath] After I get a beer.

Fiona: [laughs] Want me to do it?

Derek: No, I can do it. [but he's getting two beers and opening them because either celebratory or consolation.]

Fiona: [nods as she goes to sit on the couch, waiting for him to join her with the beer]

Derek: [joins her ad hands the beer, takes a long sip of his, then puts it on the table to open the letter. Deep breaths, then he flips it open to read]

Fiona: [just leans into his shoulder a bit, not because she's trying to read over his shoulder, but just letting him know she's there.]

Derek: [his eyes read the letter twice, then he just looks up at her] I got in. [he's nervous, excited.... but all smiles] I got in.

Fiona: [and her face lights up because he's clearly happy about it so she is too] That's fantastic.

Derek: [licks his lips] And they have a program specifically for teaching writing that I can do as my focus and are excited to see the progression of my novel that I used as my writing sample.

Fiona: [she shifts a bit to rest her chin on his shoulder] All good things.

Derek: Cora is going to be the hardest to talk to about this, I think.

Fiona: I know. But she'll be okay, if she knows that it's what you want.

Derek: And college and Beacon Hills have different year schedules, so I'll be back for her graduation and everything.

Fiona: [she nods] And she gets an easy trip to Georgetown if she wants to check it out for herself.

Derek: Of course, she may follow me.

Fiona: Even if she doesn't go to Georgetown having family on the same coast might make it easier for her to branch out if that's what she wants to do.

Derek: True.

Fiona: And there are these things called phones.

Derek: And mine even has this thing called facetime [solemn nod]

Fiona: [she laughs] I think she'll be fine.

Derek: I do too. We're just close and I've only been out of undergrad for just over a year...

Fiona: Maybe this will be good for both of you. Give you both a little space to ... find yourselves. [there's a beat] Though that might be a little more for her than for you. Get out of her brother's shadow a bit.

Derek: Maybe, but she missed me a lot and I was only 4 hours away. But she's grown up a lot in the last 5 years as well.

Fiona: [nods] It's not like it's the first time you've been gone and you're going this far away.

Derek: I know. Maybe it's more me not sure if I can be that far from my family.

Fiona: You never know until you try. And if it doesn't work, you can always transfer.

Derek: True. [he'll figure it out. He has family dinner on Sunday and will talk to them then] So, in the meantime, I think I should check on our dinner.

Fiona: Yes. Feed your starving date.

Derek: And here I thought I was the insatiable predator.

Fiona: Hey, I was promised food. I get cranky when those kinds of promises are broken.

Derek: There is no broken promises. I'm waiting for the pizza to finish, that's all. [he actually made pizza instead of ordering out]

Fiona: Good. [she smirks a bit before reaching to take another sip of her beer] It definitely smells good.

Derek: [grabs pot holders and opens over] I've gotten a bit better at this whole cooking thing. The community college had a class but it was easier just looking at YouTube videos.

Fiona: I guess all you needed was practice.

Derek: And a reason. [he smiled up at her as he pulled the pizza out of the over and walked it over to the table. fresh garlic, crumbled meat and peppers with lots of cheese]

Fiona: [yes, she wants to shove that in her face now]

Derek: Just give it a minute to set while I get plates [you'll burn yourself, bb]

Fiona: [stupid really hot food. She sits at the table, resting her chin in her hand as she tries her best to wait patiently]

Derek: [watches her as he gets the plates and the brand new pizza cutter because he hadn't owned one]

Fiona: [she just waits, her finger drumming against the table] Was it hard to make?

Derek: Not really. Worst part was getting the crust not to shrink or holes in it as I stretched it.

Fiona: Well, I can't wait to try it.

Derek: [goes to start rolling the cutter over the pizza, and the crust makes some crispy noises, but it's only mostly cooked. The center isn't gooey, but it's not crispy either.]

Fiona: [... probably won't care, all things considered. Her mouth is already watering]

Derek: There, help yourself and tell me what you think. [he will notice, and make note to do better next time]

Fiona: [grins as she reaches forward to grab a slice, wincing a bit as it's still hot and she drops it onto the plate. She waits a minute for it to cool a little more, before tentatively picking it back up again, then leaning forward and taking a bite with a pleased sound as she chews] It's good!

Derek: Then we have a winner!

Fiona: [nods in agreement as she goes back to munching on her pizza slice]

Derek: [and he will try and make it again, especially since she really seems to be enjoying that slice]

Fiona: [to be fair she was hungry enough that she would have enjoyed anything, but that doesn't make it any less good!]

Derek: [never tell him that. he's taking that she really, really likes it over eating because she's starving]

Fiona: [done.] So I think I may have gotten a lead on the alpha pack.

Derek: [blink] Oh. Well, that's good.

Fiona: [nods] I'm gonna go check it out later this week, but they're getting close to your mom's territory. Something's up.