How to be Cool

Lesson #8: Learn how to apologize

I waited in the car while Derek ran into the store for the ice cream. I was pretty sure it didn't take long to get ice cream, but I was glad he left the heat on anyways. While I was sitting there listening to Derek's Spotify playlist, my phone started buzzing. I dug it out of my pocket and turned the music down before answering. 

"Scott, what's up?" I answered, a little guilty. He asked me to hang out tonight, but I had to tell him no. Derek made plans with me first, so it would have been rude to ditch him. Even if I did miss hanging out with Scott so much, I was having fun hanging with Derek. And it wasn't that I didn't want Scott hanging out with me and Derek, but I had a feeling Scott didn't approve of what Derek and I were up to. 

"I know you're not really hanging out with your dad tonight," he accused, his tone more sad than angry. It made my chest tight. I was being a horrible best friend, wasn't I? Maybe more like a horrible person. "He's on patrol. Allison told me."

"You're hanging out with Allison now?" I asked, unintentionally changing the subject. I had no idea they were even talking in the first place, which only made me feel worse. How could I not know Scott was talking to a girl?

Scott sighed, now sounding a little angry. "Not the point Stiles. Why did you lie to me? We agreed, no more hiding things. Or did you forget about that conversation because it's been so long since we've even talked to each other?" 

"I'm sorry, Scott," was all I could think of to say. There was nothing else. No excuses. I was just a dick. "I already had plans with Derek, but for some reason, I didn't want to tell you. I don't know what's gotten into me lately. I promise, we can hang out tomorrow. I'm really sorry."

"It sounds like Derek has you on a leash," Scott nearly growled. "You said you two were helping each other, not that you were friends. I don't care if you are friends, but you can't just drop me like I'm nothing. I've been there for you since day one, Stiles. When it comes down to it, Derek would rather have his popularity than your friendship. Just remember that." As soon as he hung up on me, Derek opened his door and slid into his seat, dropping a grocery bag full of ice cream in my lap.

"I couldn't pick one flavor, so I grabbed three," he explained, looking away with an embarrassed look. 

I smiled a little, shaking my head. I couldn't get Scott's words out of my head, but I didn't want Derek to think anything was wrong. "That's alright. We'll eat it," I assured him. We drove back to my house in silence. I used those few minutes to think about what I was going to say to Derek tonight. Scott was right. Derek would always choose his popularity over me, and I knew that. I was using him for his popularity anyways, right? So why did Scott's words hurt so much? I already knew how Derek felt about me. He said we were friends, but we weren't. Not really. Not even close. 

Once we were at my house, we displayed our ice cream flavors out in front of us on the coffee table. We each had a spoon and once Fight Club started playing, we started digging in. I wasn't paying much attention to the movie. I was lost in thought, worrying about how this night was going to end. 

"Stiles, you stopped stuffing your face. What's wrong?" Derek asked, licking the chocolate ice cream off his spoon before setting it down on the table. He turned his entire body to face me, giving me his full attention. I was already nervous, but now he was pushing me to talk before I was ready. "You alright? Still thinking about what happened earlier?" he guessed, raising an eyebrow.