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The buzz of chatter from the restaurant filtered out into the night as Derek held open the doors for the others. He offered Allison his hand as he helped her down the step out the front of the restaurant. She quietly thanked him as he helped her down, the brick damp from the frosty night air. Scott followed her.
Derek waited as Stiles stepped out into the cold night air. Derek held out his hand to him too, steadying him as he stepped down. He let the door close behind them, the chatter of the restaurant fading.
The bitter cold breeze nipped at their cheeks as they steeped out onto the sidewalk.
Allison paused for a moment and pulled her coat tight around herself, tying off her belt before turning back to the boys. “Ready to go?”
Scott and Derek nodded.
“Huh?” Stiles turned, blinking a few times as his unfocused eyes refocused and he looked at them. His cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue from the alcohol. He hadn’t drunk a lot, but the alcohol was hitting him harder than usual. “Oh, yeah, let’s go.”
The streetlights cast a warm glow, lighting their way as they strolled down the footpath. The walk was peaceful, not many people were out at this time of night. The onyx-black sky hung above them, the scattered stars glistening like the reflections of fireflies over a lake.
Scott looked around. He pulled his hands from his jacket pocket, fidgeting nervously as he tried to act nonchalant and casual. “It’s getting kind of late and it’s pretty dark. Maybe we should hold hands.”
“Okay,” Stiles chirped, reaching out at taking his best friend’s hand.
Allison clapped a hand over her mouth, trying to smother a laugh.
Derek rolled his eyes.
“No, Stiles,” Scott said, trying to keep his voice casual as his plan to flirt with his girlfriend began to unravel. “Hold a different hand.”
“Oh, my bad,” Stiles said apologetically. He let go of Scott’s hand and took his other hand.
“Not my other hand, someone else’s hand!”
“Oh, okay.” He let go of Scott’s hand. He turned to Allison, his chocolate-brown eyes sad and confused, like a lost puppy.
“Hi, Stiles,” she said sweetly, a smile turning up the corners of her mouth as she took his hand
“Hi, Allison,” Stiles beamed in return.
Scott buried his face in his hands. “Not Allison’s hand either.”
“Oh, okay,” Stiles said, shooting her an apologetic look as he let go of her hand. He reached out to took Scott’s hand.
“Now you’re just holding my hand again,” Scott said, fighting his rising frustration.
Derek bowed his head, hiding his smirk as a he let out a quiet chuckle.
Allison snorted, doubling over in laughter.
Stiles let his hand drop from Scott’s.
“No one wants to hold my hand,” Stiles said sadly, tears glistening in his eyes as he sniffed back a sob.
Derek rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he stepped forward. He pulled his hand from the pocket of his leather jacket and slid his hand into Stiles’, interlacing their fingers and giving Stiles’ hand a gentle squeeze.
Stiles looked up at him, his eyes wide and damp with tears. “You wanna hold my hand?”
“I want to hold your hand,” Derek said softly, smiling down at him.
Stiles’ smile lit up his face, he leant against Derek’s arm, nuzzling his face into the sleeve.
Allison straightened, offering Scott her hand.
Scott smiled as he took her hand—happy that his plan had finally worked out.
Allison looked back over her shoulder, catching Derek’s eye. She rolled her eyes dramatically.
Derek let out a low chuckle. He draped his arm over Stiles’ shoulders, keeping their fingers intertwined as he draped his arm across Stiles’s slender frame and pulled him close, letting Stiles curl up against his side and lean into his warmth as they walked home.