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Tuesday's schedule sets gym class just before lunch, so by the time the bell rings and Stiles showers, he's starving. He's 93.6% sure he may actually die of hunger before he reaches the cafeteria, which would be a damn shame since he has plans with Scott and Allison tonight that he definitely doesn't want to miss.
Fortunately, since he's a little late getting there, there's not much of a line at the lunch station.
Unfortunately, that also means all the fries are gone.
With a resigned sigh, Stiles grabs his tray in one hand, sans fries, and picks up his chicken sandwich with the other before he's even left the lunch counter. He takes a huge bite as he walks, munching happily as he weaves through his fellow students to get to their table.
Their table.
Back when Stiles was a freshman, he never would’ve dreamed he'd be part of a group — a pack — who’d have a spot in the cafeteria that everyone knew was theirs.
But then, he kind of never thought he'd have a girlfriend, either.
And he definitely never thought he'd have a boyfriend.
But here he is, with a mouthful of chicken sandwich, a lamentable lack of french fries, and a whole ass pack — including the hottest, kindest boyfriend and girlfriend he could ask for — waiting for him.
And they even saved him a seat.
"Mmfmrmmfm," Stiles greets, last to arrive and hastily chewing his food.
He passes Boyd and Erica first, settled in at one end of the table. Erica is leaned back with her feet up on Boyd's lap and both of them look over to Stiles with a quick smile before they go back to eye-fucking each other like usual.
It's sickeningly adorable.
With his tray raised, Stiles skirts behind Kira and Malia next. They're sitting across from Isaac and Aiden, all four absorbed in a card game that involves slamming cards down on two growing decks between them. Stiles gets grunts of greeting or quick waves from them all, but none of them can afford to look up without losing and Stiles can only snicker at the competitive streak between them as he walks by.
He won't say it out loud, but his money is on the girls. Kira may be quiet, but she's a ruthless card player.
Ethan and Danny are next to Isaac, cheering on the game and pressed so close together they may as well be sharing a chair, but they both look up at Stiles' muffled greeting.
"Hey man. You killed it in dodgeball today," Danny says with a smile.
Killed it is probably an exaggeration but Stiles lasted way longer than usual before getting smashed in the side of the head, so he happily accepts the accolades with a nod, just as Kira slams down her last card and lets out a quiet but triumphant, “Ha!”
Stiles manages to swallow his food and offer congratulations only seconds before Aiden starts shuffling again, calling for a rematch.
“You want to lose again? Okay. Deal ‘em up.” Malia taunts. Her grin is nearly feral but Aiden matches it easily.
“Bring it on, coyote girl.”
Next to Malia and ignoring the game entirely, Jackson begrudgingly holds up a small pocket mirror for Lydia as she reapplies her lipstick. Jackson gives Stiles a half-shrug/half-nod as he cautiously moves past, careful not to bump into Lydia.
"Nice colour," Stiles says honestly. It's the kind of natural pink that makes her lips pop without looking painted. The compliment earns him a smile and an over-the-shoulder wave from Lydia as she swipes it over her bottom lip with a flourish.
Which brings Stiles to the last free spot at the table. He sets down his tray but then walks around Scott at the far end to where Allison is already waiting for him with one of those dazzling smiles that makes her dimples really pop.
God, she's beautiful.
"Hi," she whispers as Stiles leans down, lightly running a thumb along her jaw before they press their lips together.
"Hey." Since he's there anyways, Stiles steals another kiss, this one just a little longer, before he pulls back. She tastes like strawberries and he darts his tongue out to lick his lips before he asks, "How was the History test?"
"Good, I think." Their hands fit together perfectly when she reaches out, briefly connecting them with a light squeeze. Stiles never knew how much he liked holding hands until he started dating Scott and Allison. "Your mnemonics really came in handy. Thank you."
"You would have aced it either way." There isn't a doubt in Stiles' mind about that.
His confidence in her is rewarded with a sweep of pink over her cheeks that's truly lovely, but as Stiles releases her hand and makes his way back to his seat, his attention shifts to Scott. It's funny how natural it is to run his fingers along the back of his Alpha's neck as he passes, delighting in the way Scott's entire body relaxes at the touch.
But he's still way too tense.
As Stiles plops down in his chair, he casts a questioning glance to Allison, who offers a sad sort of smile and a shrug. Stiles nods in return, but Scott doesn't notice any of that, because he's texting up a storm, completely unaware of the world around him.
The thing is, Stiles knows it's important. Brokering an alliance with the wolves a few towns over is his first real act as the pack's Alpha and Scott wants to get it right. No, scratch that, he wants to get it perfect. But it worries Stiles seeing him so stressed. Not for the first time this week, Scott hasn't even touched his lunch. It's just sitting in front of him, completely forgotten.
Which...gives Stiles an idea.
An awful idea.
It gives Stiles a wonderful, awful idea.
Because he knows wolves. He knows how territorial they can get, especially when they're acting on instinct rather than actually thinking about their actions. But more than that, Stiles knows Scott. So with a wink to Allison, he leans in and swipes a french fry from Scott's plate.
And the thing is, Stiles loves Scott in all his Alpha glory. He really does. But usually he could do without the flash of red eyes every time he tries to grab a bite of his food.
Today, it's what he's hoping for.
And Scott doesn't disappoint.
Stiles doesn't get the fry more than a few inches from the plate before Scott grabs his wrist and his head whips up, eyes that vibrant red that sets off little tingles beneath Stiles' skin, like one of those sparkler candles him and Scott used to love on their birthday cakes when they were kids.
Stiles likes it more than he probably should.
But more importantly, after the low rumble in Scott's chest and the glow in his eyes fades away, Scott finally looks a little more like himself.
All the wolves at the table are suddenly looking their way, obviously having heard the almost inaudible growl, and Scott lets go of Stiles' wrist with a sheepish, "Sorry, babe."
"It's fine," Stiles says just as quietly. He doesn't care if the others are listening are not. This is just for Scott, him, and Ali. "But maybe you could take a little break from brokering that peace treaty to have lunch with us?"
Scott's face scrunches up in that adorable way it does when he's just a step behind. "It's hardly a peace treaty. We were already friendly with them."
But Allison is already on board and plucks Scott's cell phone right out of his hand. "Then it can wait until after school. Come eat with us."
Unsurprisingly, Scott isn't convinced right away, but when he opens his mouth to argue, Allison and Stiles team up to hit him with the best pleading-pouty-puppydog looks they can manage.
Even before Scott surrenders with a sigh that ends in a soft laugh, Stiles can pinpoint the exact second he gives in. It's almost like he can feel the weight lift from Scott's shoulders, even if it's only temporary.
Leadership is a heavy burden to bear.
"Okay." Scott's smile is small but it reaches his eyes and Stiles' heart soars at the sight.
"Okay," Stiles says.
And then, because he can, he hooks his foot around the leg of Scott's chair and pulls him closer. It doesn't matter that the chair legs screech over the laminate floor, because now they're close enough that he can lean in for a kiss, which Scott is kind enough to meet him halfway on. Stiles lets it linger, just long enough that someone throws a piece of bun at his head and mutters, "Get a room.”
Feeling a little warmer than he was a moment ago, Stiles leans back in his chair and finds a dopey kind of love-sick smile on Scott's face. It makes him wonder if he looks like that, too. Either way, it's a good look on Scott.
There's something especially sexy about Scott McCall when he smiles.
"Well, that's better." Allison laughs lightly, her gaze darting back and forth between Stiles and Scott. "You both look happier now. It's very cute."
Allison has a tendency to make Stiles blush more than anyone else ever has, and what's more, she seems to take immense joy in doing it, too. So even if he didn't feel the heat rising in his cheeks, Stiles would know he's blushing just by the impish grin on her face.
In retaliation, he grabs one of Scott's fries and lightly tosses it at her. With all her hunter training, he's only moderately surprised when she catches it in her mouth, but her laughter still makes him melt, filling the room with the sweetest music.
And since he's already stealing food anyways, Stiles also grabs a handful of fries from Scott's plate and drops them on his own.
"Hey!" Even through Scott's huff, his smile only grows.
With a giggle, Allison leans in to join the thievery, stealing a fry from Scott's plate and another from Stiles'. She takes an exaggerated bite from each and chews daintily before she speaks. "You think you two would have learned how to share by now."
"Excuse you." Never one to be outdone, Stiles shoves four fries from Scott's plate in his mouth and talks around them as best he can. "I think I do a pretty good job sharing the two of you."
Without ever looking away from her mirror — where she now seems to be applying a layer of varnish to her lips — Lydia's voice floats to them all.
"Eww."
Stiles chuckles and turns around to blow a kiss over her shoulder, only to find her reflection smirking right back at him. And there, at the side of the mirror, he can just make out the very edge of Scott's reflection, too, his eyes once again flashing that stunning red.
"Hey there, mister, no need to get all possessive. I only have eyes for you and Ali," Stiles laughs, turning back to Scott. "So save the glowing eyes for the bedroom." A waggle of the eyebrows accompanies the words, scandalizing Scott enough that the glow disappears and his jaw drops down, all while the rest of the table unleashes a volley of reactions.
"Extra eww."
"Way to go, Stilinski."
"That’s so much more than I needed to know."
"Rawr."
It all devolves into laughter, which then settles into conversations about whether they should go see a movie on the weekend or hit the bowling alley, but Stiles just smiles and digs into his sandwich and stolen fries.
Frankly, it doesn't matter whether they go see the latest Marvel movie or set up a bracket for a bowling tournament. Because Stiles knows that whatever they decide, he'll be there with Scott and Allison.
And so long as he has them, life is good.