allboxedup | New York State of Mind

The thing about New York that was probably the most annoying was the price of apartments. While the Hale's had money after the fire, most of it was sunk into education and Laura's restaurant. So, they all lived together in a big multi-unit. It was nice for the wolves in them but not so much for being siblings.

"Come on, Derek, please." Cora sounded really pathetic through the phone. "I've got to go to this class and I'm going to be late if I stop and if I don't go someone's going to steal all my clothes."

Derek wished his sister could see his glare through the phone but sadly they weren't video chatting at the moment. "Why don't you ask Jackson?"

"He's actually in class right now. Don't you know his schedule? Come on, you're going right by the laundromat. Pleeeeease."

"Fine, fine, which drier?" He asked with a heavy sigh.

This was typical of his sister. She couldn't schedule her way out of a paper bag. It was a wonder she actually could make it to class on time at all or remember when she had to beat what time. He shouldn't be the one she took advantage of just because he was done with classes for the day. He still had work to do.

Yet, here he was with a bag borrowed from the laundromat, emptying a drier of his sister's clothes. This was his life.

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Next time was a bit presumptuous but Derek wasn't going to argue right now. "Sure, that's fair."

He could scent the caution in Stiles and the suspicion. It had a very unique scent he was familiar with.

"I hope you like this place. It's my older sister's," he said, hoping that would ease some of her worries.

"Your sister's place, huh?" Stiles gave him an even look from across the table. The place seemed nice enough -- nicer than most places that she ate at when she decided to forgo instant ramen, or whatever -- but... a place he technically didn't need to "pay" at. That was sneaky.

"Yeah, Laura worked hard to open it. She used to cook with our mom." Derek trailed off, frowning a little. He had never mentioned his family so quickly with someone before.

He kept that to himself, usually, until a later date if he ever made it to later dates.

"Pretty much everything here is great," he said, trying to move past it. "And she makes everything fresh."

Stiles knew that look. That was the same look that Stiles got on her face whenever anyone mentioned her Mom, or she decided to talk about her. It was that far off look, like it hurt a little just to mention her. She didn't want to press for information, they weren't close enough for that, but she touched her foot gently against his ankle, like an anchor. Sometimes the barest touch helped to ground her when her emotions started to well up.

"Well. I haven't had a decently cooked meal in three weeks, so. Y'know," she said, flashing him a smile. "Anything is a step up from ramen. Or frozen pizza. Oh, also hot pockets."

The idea of living off that sort of processed food made Derek turn his nose up. That was a horrible way to live.

"Then you should definitely have something good for you," he said, trying not to sound like he's preaching but damn.

"I thought I already was," Stiles said, holding back a chuckle. What could she say? Terrible flirting was a go.

But really, she couldn't afford much more than she was already eating. Keeping as much stuff frozen as possible, or dried food, mean it would last longer -- and she bought it all on the cheap when it was on offer. She also had milk and cereal. That was a thing.

"Maybe something like a salad with dinner, I mean. You should have something that's not one hundred percent salt."

God, he sounded so controlling. Derek winced at himself because that was really not how he wanted to be.

"Okay, I'm not usually an asshole. I'm sorry."

"Yikes. I just heard myself talking to my Dad," Stiles said, pulling a bit of a face. She realised, of course, how hypocritical she sounded every time she checked in on what her Dad was eating. But hey, poor student. She took what she could get.

"But if you think I'm wasting myself on a salad when I don't have to pay?"

"I mean, you should try the banana chocolate pie with chocolate ice cream." He glanced over to the counter where she kept the desserts for the day on display in an old fashioned refrigerated case. "If you're not worried about being healthy."

Derek could eat whatever he wanted thanks to being a werewolf but he wasn't going to mention that.

"It's just a suggestion."

"Trying to get me to think about desert before dinner? You just went from trying to be a good influence to-- well. The worst." Stiles laughed, looking over the menu for something she wanted to eat.

"Also, chocolate is the magic word."

Derek chuckled, "Well, you didn't seem to be too picky about what you ate for dinner so I'm making suggestions."

Cora was heading their way, still looking smug as hell. Derek would get his revenge later.

"Better make it quick. Our waitress is coming."

"Listen. If I could eat dessert for dinner and get away with it? I probably would..."

She laughed, folding the menu back up and putting it to one side. "But I won't. The California club burger looks pretty good."

"Good choice."

Cora made her way over when Derek signaled her. He kicked her foot lightly when she stood next to the table which only got him a glare in return.

She was smiling when she looked at Stiles for her order.

Stiles ordered her burger, and contemplated trying for a rum and coke but she'd seen Cora around campus and she probably knew she wasn't 21 yet. She opted instead to stick with a virgin drink and a side of fries. Because, hey, she was hungry.

"So," she said, turning back to Derek once their food was ordered. "What are you studying? Because every time I see you you've got your nose in a pretty complicated looking book."

"I'm in law school," he explained, "I'm hoping to go into child law."

After what Kate did to him he wanted to help kids. He hadn't recognized the signs of what Kate was doing to him and he needed somewhere to go if they had been able to prove anything.

"I'm taking a lot of supplementary courses on child behavior and child psychology."

"That's-- my Dad's the Sheriff, back where I'm from. Helping people, kids, y'know. There's so many of them that need it," Stiles said, thinking about everyone her Dad had, and hadn't been able to help. After her Mom died, she'd spent a lot of time at the station, which meant she'd seen so many of them come and go.

"So, uh. That's kinda awesome. That you're doing that. It's probably hard as hell too."

He shrugged, a little embarrassed by all the praise. "Law school was never meant to be easy. Then everyone would be lawyers. What a miserable world that would be."

For now he would keep his reasons for why to himself. There were parts of him that were still guarded over what happened. He was better, yes, but what happened was not something one got over quickly.

"What are you doing in school?"

New York State of Mind

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