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Stiles had been nervously rehearsing his lines for days, preparing to ask Lydia out on a movie date. Finally, with sweaty palms and a racing heart, he approached her and managed to stammer out the invitation. To his delight, Lydia agreed, and they set a date to meet at the local movie theater.
The day of the date arrived, and Stiles was a bundle of nerves as he walked into the theater lobby. He spotted Lydia waiting for him, looking effortlessly stunning, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement mixed with anxiety.
“You look amazing. Thanks for coming,” Stiles said, trying to keep his composure.
Lydia took a quick glance up from her phone to look at Stiles. “Well, me and Jackson are on a break at the moment. So might as well occupy my free time,” she explained nonchalantly.
Disheartened just a bit, Stiles decided to grab snacks to hopefully pick up the mood.
As Stiles made his way to the concession stand, he couldn't help but notice Derek, the grumpy movie clerk, shooting annoyed glances at the long line of customers.
"You okay there, buddy?" Stiles asked, trying to break the tension.
Derek grunted in response, not bothering to look up from the register.
Stiles hesitated, trying to decide what to order to impress Lydia. In a moment of bravado, he attempted to order a glass of white wine, hoping to appear mature and sophisticated.
"ID," Derek demanded, holding out his hand.
Stiles felt the heat rise to his cheeks as he handed over his fake ID, knowing full well that Derek could see right through it.
Derek scrutinized the ID for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief. "Nice try, kid. But I'm gonna need something a little more convincing than this."
Stiles mumbled an apology, feeling utterly embarrassed and exposed.
Desperate to salvage the situation, Stiles spun a tale about being stood up by his date and wanting to drown his sorrows away. To his surprise, Derek's gruff exterior softened slightly, and he offered to fill in as Stiles's date for the evening since his shift was just about to end.
Stiles was taken aback by Derek's unexpected kindness. "Uh, really? You don't have to do that."
Derek shrugged. "Eh, why not? I’ve got nothing better to do tonight."
Stiles glanced over at Lydia, but she seemed preoccupied, standing to the side and tapping away on her phone, seemingly bored by the whole ordeal. A knot of disappointment formed in Stiles's stomach, but he pushed it aside, focusing on Derek's offer.
With no other choice, Stiles reluctantly agreed, then hastily went to explain the situation to Lydia. He apologized profusely and made promises to reschedule, then ran off into the theater to wait for Derek. To his surprise and embarrassment, she decided to stay, taking a seat right behind them in the dimly lit theater.
As Stiles and Derek settled into their seats, the initial awkwardness between them began to fade away. They found themselves sharing small jokes and observations about the movie, their laughter blending in with the soundtrack as they bonded over their unexpected predicament.
Midway through the movie, Derek slyly put his arm over Stiles's shoulders, a small, comforting gesture that sent a warm shiver down Stiles's spine. Surprised but pleased, Stiles leaned into the touch, feeling a newfound sense of closeness with Derek.
"So, uh, you fill in for missing dates often?" Stiles asked.
Derek chuckled. "Actually, this is my first time, believe it or not."
Meanwhile, Lydia watched quietly from behind, her initial boredom turning into mild interest as she observed the chemistry between Stiles and Derek.
As the movie progressed, Stiles couldn't help but steal glances at Lydia, trying to gauge her reaction. To his surprise, she seemed to be enjoying herself, a small smile playing at her lips as she watched them interact.
At the end of the night, after the credits rolled and the lights came up, she approached them in the lobby with mirth on her face.
"Well, this was certainly an interesting turn of events," Lydia remarked, a hint of amusement in her tone.
Stiles couldn't help but look sheepishly at a confused Derek. "I can explain—"
But Lydia cut him off. "He likes you, the both of you should go out again. As a proper date.” Then she walked off, leaving them alone.
As Stiles and Derek exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passed between them. With a surge of courage, Stiles leaned in and pressed his lips against Derek's, the touch soft and tentative. And to his surprise, Derek responded in kind, his lips meeting Stiles's in a gentle, lingering kiss.
As they pulled away, Stiles and Derek shared a shy smile, their hands finding each other's as they stood together in the warm glow of the theater lobby.