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Stiles practically smelled him before he even saw him, earthy pine, leather, and that slight undertone of aftershave.He didn’t bother to look up at first, too busy splashing water in his face while trying not to dampen the briskly rolled up sleeves of his too tight prom tuxedo. “You look nice tonight.” Derek’s voice carried itself with a sense of both sarcasm and complete security, and at the moment Stiles wasn’t sure which was frustrating him more. He finally looked up, meeting Derek’s gaze in the mirror, the other boy leaned against the wall next to the bathrooms hand dryers, arms crossed stretching a stupidly perfect tailored tux across his shoulders, eyebrows raised in light amusement: He had never seen Stiles so dressed up, even if his tie was askew and he was wearing converse instead of dress shoes, he didn’t hate to see it on him. Stiles didn’t honor that remark with a verbal response settling on an eye roll instead, splashing a few more drops of water on his face before stepping back from the sink walking next to Derek where the paper towels were. “You ignore me for two weeks and that’s all you have to say?” Stiles grit out between clenched teeth as he snatched a few paper towels drying his hands as quickly as he could- damn cheap school paper towels. Derek stiffened slightly eyes sharpening to near slits “You rushed out on your date, I figured I’d come check on you” his response came through clenched teeth his fists digging into the sleeves of his tux claws peeking out, threatening to extend fully at a moments notice of brash thinking.Stiles balled up the last dirty paper towels drying his chunking it in the trash can next to him, turning to face Derek as he yanked down his rolled sleeves. “As much as I appreciate the beautiful sentiment” he began, sarcasm dripping from his tone. “I seem to recall you saying something about- oh what was it?” He put on a mock thinking expression tapping his chin with faux contemplation. “Ohh that’s right now I remember. Something along the lines of ‘Maybe we should just give each other space for a while” he said deepening his voice to mock Derek’s, whom only stood there head tilted in that furiously attractive-no- frustrating, way. “Because that always works huh. Ignoring the problem until it disappears?”he scoffed taking a step closer into Derek’s bubble, converse and dress shoes coming toe to toe. A puff of air left Derek’s nose, whether it was from amusement or shared frustration, Stiles couldn’t tell. “Stiles I didn’t mean it like that. I wasn’t ready to talk in the moment but I'd like to now” there was a short moment where Derek’s face softened in something almost close to vulnerability, his shoulders falling loose and leaning forward slightly. And if Stiles were any other man or woman in the world, and he were even a fraction less angry and spiteful as he was-he would have caved. But unfortunately, Stiles was no other man or woman and to say he was peeved was an understatement. He wasn’t just mad however, he was hurt. They weren’t close friends before the party and they sure as hell hadn’t been close after, but it was the principle. When you wake up with your lacrosse teammate bare and in your bed, you don’t awkward usher them out of your bedroom window whilst mumbling about ‘Giving each other space’ and ‘I don’t see you like that’- clearly Derek had missed the memo on ‘morning after’ etiquette. “I would love to talk, but I’ve got to run” Stiles grit out, stepping to the side of Derek in attempts to brush past him before he broke down in a gross high school gym bathroom to his- well he didn’t really know what Derek was to him right now. Derek sidestepped Stiles attempt blocking his only escape. “Stiles please, I know you’re mad but-“ “I shouldn’t keep Lydia waiting” the finality with which Stiles said it shocked them both but before Derek could get a word in to express that Stiles was shoving past him, and storming out the bathroom door, leaving Derek alone. He looked to his right where the mirrors were, taking in his own disheveled appearance-still achingly handsome of course, but his wariness that had come with his recent up turmoil was taking its hold. His eyes held slight bags, his hair falling messier than it had in years, stubble just slightly too grown out, even though he had tried to stay on top of it. It had been a long two weeks, and something told him things were about to get a whole lot worse before they got better.
