Chapter Text
“Get in the car.”
Stiles halted. He wasn’t completely sure but the bark seemed directed at him. The gruff voice, dripping with malice, emanated from a sleek Porsche. Everyone knew the car belonged to the Jackson Whittemore. It had been one of the first pieces of information Scott disdainfully gave him when Stiles first moved to Beacon Hills. Only, he’d been here for a month and today was the first anyone besides Scott and the goalie of their lacrosse team talked to him. Before this, Jackson barely thought him worthy of a simple glance.
“I didn't know you two were friends.” Scott, his new best bud, said, fiddling with the lock of his bike. Stiles shrugged, noting the sharp daggers Scott tossed Jackson as the guy glared back at him. For a small moment, Jackson shifted his gaze over to Stiles, giving him that same wrinkle of disgust with a hint of intrigue.
“He’s Jackson Whittemore and I’m Stiles Stilinski.” He blurted. Scott stared up at him, clearly confused by what he meant. “That would be a no, Scott. No, we are 140% not friends." As if he could hear his words, Jackson blared his horn, making them both jump.
Scott chuckled, his odd anger towards Jackson evaporating. “I feel sorry for you, bro. He’s an asshole but, people don’t say no to him.” Stiles gathered that much. “Call me later or something. See ya.” He cycled away from the school before Stiles could protest. Now that he's standing in front of the school by himself, he's forced to acknowledge his presence. It would be so easy to make a run for his Jeep but, like Scott said, you don't say no to Jackson Whittemore. Cautiously, he strolled over to the car. Without speaking to him, Jackson gestured for him to walk around to the passenger side. Most of the tension fled from his shoulders when Danny slipped out the passenger seat to allow him access. Danny he could deal with. Even though, they never speak unless he's complimenting his lacrosse skills, Stiles got good vibes from Danny.
“Hey man. Hop in.” Danny grinned at him, beckoning him to enter the car. Dimples blinded his judgment, since he willingly dived clumsily into the plush backseat. At least, that’s what he’s going to tell Scott when they talk later on. It’s more acceptable than his real reason. He’s curious about the infamous Jackson Whittemore. Everyone knows of him but very few people know him.
Once Danny returned comfortably to his seat, Jackson peeled away from the crowded lot. A few of his classmates stared as they went.
“So, where are we going exactly…?” He asked after they’d been driving for what felt like ten minutes. The silence was unnerving. If they knew him, they’d be happy he’d stayed quiet for this long. Jackson’s irritated eyes stared at him through the rear-view. Was that supposed to scare him quiet? They must really know nothing of him. When he grew nervous, he talked more. “Cause, if this is a welcome tour of Beacon Hills, you’re about a month too late.”
“Oh My God.” Jackson groaned, gripping the wheel. “Danny! Shut him up.” Rude. Stiles opened his mouth to retaliate but Danny cut him off.
“We’re almost there.” At his warm smile, Stiles held his tongue. Even though, Danny’s words did nothing for his worries. For all he knows, his words are another way of saying "we're almost to your death." He told them as much. “Don’t be so dramatic." Danny said, rolling his eyes. "He's about worst than you, Jacks.” He chuckled, gesturing between both he and Jackson. Danny doesn't give him the opportunity to protest.“We’re going to the mall.”
“Oh. Alright.” This whole situation screams Mean Girls but, Stiles is beyond relieved he's not being axed in the middle of nowhere. He caught the death glares Jackson gave him at yesterday's practice when Coach said Stiles was the best thing to ever happen to them. Stiles found himself actually relaxing against the backseat. He kept entertained to avoid hearing his captain's mouth again. Only the only form of entertainment came in the form of watching Danny and Jackson interact. The two of them engaged in a non-verbal argument. Jackson lost. After a long sigh, the impossible happened. Jackson actually talked to him.
“Danny thinks you’re cool so, I’m taking a chance on you.” Stiles rolled his eyes. The last thing he needed was Jackson taking a chance on him. Danny, on the other hand, was awesome and officially Stiles’s favorite friend, after Scotty, of course.
“Aww, Danny. You’re too sweet.” He put a smile on Danny's face.
Jackson interrupted Danny before he could reciprocate the love. “If I'm gonna be seen with you, we need to change your entire…everything. I mean, Captain America really?” Stiles felt personally insulted. He clutched his shirt, protecting it from Jackson's harsh words. What horrible person speaks Captain America’s name with such disdain? Like Batman, Captain America is one of the superhero gods. He felt a livid rant coming on. No one disrespects the Captain.
"Captain America is sexy, thank you very much and who the hell doesn't want to be him? He's the CAPTAIN of freaking AMERICA!” Jackson scoffed, giving him the slightest of amused glances in the rear-view. It disappeared quickly but, Stiles knows what he saw.
"Not everyone wants to be Captain America, Stilinski." He sneered. It's the first time Jackson's shown any indication that he knows his name. It's also when he recognizes he's having a superhero debate with the "most popular" guy in school. "Iron Man doesn't want to be Captain America." He had a point there. If he was having this debate with Scott, Stiles would have made an off-handed comment about how Iron Man's too busy wanting to be in Captain America to want to be him. He's with Jackson and Danny, though. They need to build up to those kind of innuendos. Instead, he settles for agreeing with him.
“True but Iron Man's a jackass." He decided to add, "Sort of like you.” Jackson shrugged his shoulders, with a smug smirk plastered all over his face. Danny, who up until this point was casually following their argument, twisted fully into the backseat. He was happy to turn his attention towards the one person who actually wanted him here.
“See Jacks, he hates Stark too. Friendship at first car ride.” Stiles appreciated Danny’s attempt to cut through the tension. Being the best friend he was, Jackson smacked lightly on the shoulder.
“I’m a Stark reincarnate, Stilinski. I take offense to that.” His tone is almost playful.
“Stark would probably pull the whole Mean Girls thing too. It’s a perfect fit.” Stiles winked at the rearview mirror, knowing Jackson could see him. Even if, his eyes were trained on the road.
“Jacks loves that movie. You're probably fulfilling one of his fantasies.” Danny seemed unconcerned that his words forced both Stiles and Jackson into an uncontrollable coughing fit. You can’t say ‘Jackson’ and ‘fantasy’ in the same sentence and expect his imagination not to roam. A flood of images hit him. Danny waited patiently for them both to settle down.
“The fuck-Danny!” Jackson bellowed, after he got a hold of himself. “I’m not telling you anything anymore if you’re going to just blabber it to reasonably attractive strangers!” That started a bickering war between them. He’s too busy stuttering over Jackson’s words to care that they’re arguing about him as if he’s not sitting in the car. Jackson called him attractive. Well, reasonably attractive but, that insinuates he’s some kind of attractive. Coming from Adonis himself, it’s a big deal.
Stiles felt a sudden urge to share this news. He sends Scott a message.
(Stiles) Jackson said I’m attractive. Should I be proud?
(Scott) U sure he meant u? If he was talkin thru the rearview, he probs talkin bout himself.
He barked a laugh, gaining the attention of the bickering best friends. They turned to face him, now that the car sat parked outside of the mall.
(Stiles) lol he def meant me though.
(Scott) interesting. At work ttyl!!!
“Your girlfriend say something funny?” Jackson arched one of his professionally carved eyebrows. Stiles hated that he thought it was a good look on him.
“You mean, Scott?” Stiles corrected him, reminding himself to ask Scott later about the animosity floating between them two.
“That’s who I was talking about.” Jackson smirked, before stretching out the car. Now that he knows more about Jackson, he’s starting to get most of his offensive words are actually badly delivered jokes. Stiles cackled, letting the comment roll off him. He fell in line with them, walking into the entrance of Nordstrom’s. He felt lost in a store like this. Mostly because, he can’t even afford the miscellaneous items they place near the register. Danny and Jackson, though, you’d think this was their home. Staring at him and then looking to each other, they nodded. Without speaking a word to each other, they moved in the direction for jeans, expecting Stiles to follow.
He wanted to hate Jackson and his cool exterior and his clichéd leather jacket. Then, he saw how loose he was around Danny. There was even a moment where that looseness extended to him. He decided. Stiles was going to stick it out and pretend to have a good time. Five stores and eight large shopping bags later, his brain forgot about the ‘pretend’ part.