Chapter Text
Stiles had moved into his apartment building about a year ago and he knew about a total of 2 people in it. Louise, the little old lady at the end of the hall, who had probably lived there since the building was built. And Charlie, his next door neighbor, who he only knew based on the amount of times Stiles had banged on his door and raised hell because of the noise coming from his apartment. Now Stiles was fine with this, he wasn’t super outgoing and didn’t care for most people. So he was surprised when he literally ran into someone in the hallway on his way to work. And the someone he ran into…
Stiles backed away from his door and ran straight into another guy. And the guy was a sight to see. Stiles had a couple of inches on the guy, but Stiles had always been lithe and lanky for his height. And the guy, wow. He had styled blonde hair, was strongly built, and had piercing blue eyes.
“Whoa, sorry,” the other guy apologized.
“No I’m sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going,” Stiles responded.
“No, it’s my fault, I wasn’t paying attention. Actually, I was looking for my apartment,” the guy insisted.
“Your apartment?” Stiles questioned.
“Yeah, I’m new to the building, and I’m apartment 6C?” the guy said.
“Oh well you must be close, I’m 6D,” Stiles replied.
“Well, thanks. I’m Theo by the way. Looks like we’re gonna be neighbors.” Extending his hand.
“Stiles. Nice to meet you,” Stiles returned.
“Likewise. Well, I’ll let you go. See you around,” Theo said.
“Yeah, see you,” Stiles replied.
With that, Stiles turned and walked down the hall towards the elevator. As he reached it, he turned to see Theo going into the apartment across the hall from his. A new neighbor, he thought, well, he seems better than Charlie.
Much to his disappointment, Stiles didn’t see Theo again for the rest of the week. He watched for him every time he left his apartment, but to no avail. It was weird, most people didn’t matter that much to Stiles other than his best friends. But he couldn’t stop thinking about Theo. On Friday night, he went to Elevate with Scott, Kira, Lydia, Malia, Liam, and Mason, hoping it would take his mind off things. After a few drinks, the girls had gone dancing and Liam was in the bathroom for the third time that night. He had just gotten over being sick, Stiles didn’t know why the kid had come out so Mason was looking out for him. So it was Stiles and Scott left to keep the booth they had in the crowded bar.
“What’s with you, Stiles? You’ve been quiet tonight,” Scott questioned.
“What? Nothing. I’m fine,” Stiles answered.
“Come on Stiles, I can tell. You’re off,” Scott countered.
Stiles sighed. “Well, to be honest, it’s my new neighbor,” Stiles revealed.
“Oh no, not another Charlie,” Scott groaned.
“No, no, it’s nothing like that. It’s weird, I don’t usually care that much about someone I don’t know that well, but I can’t get the guy out of my head. I don’t know what’s up,” Stiles retorted.
“Really, Stiles? I think I know what it is,” Scott said, smirking.
“What? Really? What is it?” Stiles asked.
“You like him,” Scott stated.
“What! No I don’t. I barely know the guy, I just met him,” Stiles replied.
“Okay, maybe not yet, but I think you may have a crush on him,” Scott taunted.
“But how? No, that can’t be,” Stiles puzzled.
“Why don’t you ask him out? Go to coffee or something,” Scott suggested.
“How? I haven’t seen the guy since we met,” Stiles exclaimed, exasperated.
“Stiles, seriously. It’s not rocket science,” Scott said.
Stiles stared at Scott in confusion.
“He’s your neighbor, just knock on the door,” Scott responded.
With that, the girls returned from the dance floor, and Mason and Liam returned from the bathroom. The group finished their drinks and left the bar. But Scott’s words rang in Stiles head. Did he like Theo? Since realizing that he was bi, Stiles had looked into the dating scene after he got over Lydia. He didn’t really know how it worked, it had been so long. Maybe he should try talking to Theo. Who knows where it could lead?
Stiles sat at his kitchen table a couple of days later still trying to decide what to do with the Theo situation. Stiles had spent way too much time overanalyzing everything that could happen the last few days. But the biggest worry he had was what if Theo didn’t feel the same way? Hell, he didn’t even know if Theo was gay or bi or anything. Finally, Stiles decided that he might as well get it over with and stop torturing himself. His plan was that he would knock on Theo’s door when he came back from getting his mail. That way it wouldn’t look like he had come out of his apartment for the express purpose of knocking on Theo’s door. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, Stiles ran into Theo picking up his mail.
“Stiles! I was hoping we’d run into each other again. At least, I was hoping you hadn’t moved out,” he said chuckling.
“Nope, not yet anyway. I was hoping we would too. Well, not run into each other, we’ve already done that,” Stiles retorted.
Theo laughed again and God Stiles could melt into a puddle.
“Um, actually, I was wondering if… Well, if you wanted to grab coffee sometime? I could show you around the neighborhood, or…? I mean only if you wanted to,” Stiles offered.
“Yeah, I’d like that. That’d be really nice,” Theo replied.
Theo flashed a smile at Stiles and his eyes sparkled. And that was it, Stiles knew that he had fallen for Theo. Hard.
“How about Thursday afternoon? I get off work early on Thursday and always need coffee by the afternoon,” Theo suggested.
“Sure, that sounds good,” Stiles replied.
“Great, I’ll see you later then,” Theo said.
“Alrighty,” Stiles responded.
Stiles grabbed his mail and rushed back to his apartment wanting to hide the blush that was rising on his cheeks.