❛ not to sound like a primadonna or anything, and i’ve seen you wear higher end brands — but everyone knows ross sells all the reject items, ❜ she teased back, mood lifted just by being with him despite the universe testing her short fuse. ❛ you had me at latin scripts, ❜ she purred appreciatively, the corners of glossy lips curling with delight at another ability to show off her gift when it came to translating ancient texts. with that ability, she was more than happy to help ( and show off ) — but does stiles ever fall short of ways to surprise her ? lydia’s still not used to getting whatever she wants, despite modelesque looks in her favor, but she knows stiles cares about her more than most people within her orbit & she adores him, pausing to give him one of her sweetest smiles of gratitude. ❛ anything ? ❜ she echoes, beryl hues glinting with infinite ideas of a perfect post study evening. ❛ well … i could go for a sundae, ❜ she hints, nothing more appealing in thought than an ice cream date on the way back. ❛ how does ice cream sound ? ❜
& there it is, the full break of a smile at the off-handed compliment casually thrown his way. “wow, who knew the great lydia martin was even paying a lick of attention to my wardrobe.” he’s laughing now, & any tension that had previously lined the heft of his shoulders, the length of his spine is gone. stiles finds himself at ease for the first time in days sitting here in the jeep with her. absently his whole demeanor lights up beneath that smiles of hers, another laugh catching in the back of his throat, ready to fall. “i thought so, honestly, what would we do without you.” a statement he knows he’s said before. one that doesn’t ever cease to be any less true because without her, they’d be lost —- he’d be lost.
the library’s in sight now, & if he slows down. —- prolongs the inevitable even just a little bit. well, that’s on him, because he’s twisting in his seat. the corner of his eyes crinkling in a moment of excited bliss of what’s to come, the foreboding task ahead momentarily forgotten. “uh —- it sounds great. who doesn’t love ice cream? i’m so ready to drown myself in a gallon of fudge topping. god, i know just the place too.” though, he keeps the comment of spending any amount of time with her to himself as the jeep rattles in it’s decent. finally he pulls into a spot, lets the engine idle briefly before giving in & turning off. he slides out of the car then, feet awkwardly skidding over the expanse of asphalt as he dashes around the vehicle in order to yank her door open.
something about stiles’ exaggeration calms lydia’s snappy mood as she clicks the passenger seat belt in place, glossed lips curving into a hinted smile.
❛ please, ❜ she arched a rose gold brow, amusement coloring her features.
❛ i wouldn’t shop at ross even if it were abandoned and everything was fair game in a zombie apocalypse. you know i’m a macy’s girl, ❜ she teased, intrigued by the mention of ‘ goddess ‘ — indirect or not, she’ll take it. curiosity eclipses any indignation & she blinks, watching him.
❛ where are we going ? ❜
his squirming stops, hands stilling against the worn polyurethane of the wheel as both brows comically shoot up into the high recesses of his fringe. disbelievingly —– jokingly. “what’s wrong with ross —- i shop at ross.…” there’s the beginning tilt of a comfortable smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he throws the wrangler into first & takes off down the road. without realizing it, stiles relaxes beneath the weight of her presence, her proximity effectively soothing his fraying nerves & he leans just a bit further into the seat, & starts tapping out a near-silent tune that doesn’t exactly match the one idly playing in the background.
“oh, you know. i thought we could spend the night in., and by that i mean, we’re making a pit stop at the library to look at these latin scripts —– and then it’s anything you want to do. my treat. honestly, the world’s your oyster.”
❛ a little CONTEXT would have been helpful. but apparently that’s not how things work these days, ❜ she sighs cryptically, skirting around a chasmal riddle in recent events. SHE WANTS AN EXPLANATION — but of course, when does she ever getclosure? an artificial smile paints florid lips, but she knows this is exactly what she should’ve predicted.
he’s not looking —- barely paying attention as he slings himself over the driver’s seat of his jeep; searching for something. “c’mon, lyds. it’s me. what was i supposed to say?oh, hey, so they’re having a blow out sale at ross, and by the way, maybe you shouldn’t wear your best, goddess heels because we’re definitely not going there. it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue…”
“okay——- okay. can we just——LYDIA.” he catches her. fingers carefully steeling over the expanse of her shoulders in some lost attempt to recapture her attention. stiles’ face screws up in a volatile mixture of one part concern and two parts contemplation. “you’re doing that thing. where your cute little face pinches at the corners of your eyes. you know. in that way that undeniably sets me on edge. and while i’m ECSTATIC for this impromptu visit. especially considering. you know. you drove clear across the country. okay. in all honesty, you probably flew out here. WHICH IS NOT THE POINT i’m trying to make here. at all. i’m just —- is this one of those things —- where i should be worried? or are you just waiting to tell me how unappealing my dorm is. and yeah, that’d be a fair assessment too, because. and i don’t actually remember the last time i cleaned it and jesus. i’m going to stop talking. right now. i’m going to stop talking right now. oh god please feel free to say anything at any time——”
