Derek Hale had always been a closed book. He wasn't one to share anything about himself. With anyone. So when Derek leaves Beacon Hills with Braeden, Stiles thought that the weird friendship they had formed (if you could even call it that) would slowly disappear also. He couldn't have been more wrong.

AN: Because I still miss Derek and this helps. Set a week or so into the summer between seasons 4 and 5

The first time it happens, Stiles is in the shower. He comes back into his room, shaking water droplets out of his freshly washed hair and his gray Beacon Hills Cyclones shirt sticking to his skin cause he can never be bothered to take the time to dry off completely. Malia had crawled through his bedroom window at some point, and was laying on his bed flipping through a copy of some book about supernatural creatures he had checked out of the library a few months ago and really needed to return.

"You got a text." She says, without looking up. "From someone called SourWolf. Do I even want to know what that means?"

"Crap. Crap crap crap crap!" Stiles mutters, moving stacks of books, pushing papers off his desk and onto the floor in the search for his phone.

"Stiles." Malia interrupts, holding up the phone that had been on his nightstand the whole time. "What's wrong?"

"It's Derek. Something must have happened, he doesn't text. Like, ever." he replied, snatching the phone from her hand. He held his breath as he unlocked the screen and opened the new message, awaiting the bad news.

Hey. Just checking in. How's everything going back home?

That was it. Stiles reread the words multiple times, looking for some sort of hidden message, a coded cry for help, but found nothing.

"Is he dead?" Malia asked, not seeming too concerned.

"No, says he's just checking in..." Stiles answered, still skeptical.

"Then shouldn't you answer him? So he knows YOU'RE not dead?" She asked. From any other person this response would have been a sarcastic joke, but from Malia, she meant it seriously.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm working on it." He had opened a blank message, fingers ready to compose a reply to the older man's text but he didn't know what to say. Finally he typed a response and hit send.

If ur bng held hostage and can't talk call and hang up after 1 ring. Ill send help.

He walked over to the bed and flopped down beside Malia to keep himself from pacing the length of his room nervously and waited on a response.

Seconds later, his phone beeped alerting him of a new message. I'm not being held hostage. I don't need you to send help. We're fine. I really was just checking in on you guys.

"Huh." Stiles said aloud. "I'm having a texting conversation with Derek Hale."

"3 texts is considered a conversation?" Malia asked, confused.

"From Derek? That has to be some kind of record. We've known him for years and I don't think he has ever texted any of us. Ever."

"Well I can't blame him. You just talk about his texts instead of answering them. You're really bad at this. It's no wonder he doesn't text you often." Malia stated, again in words that should be heard sarcastically, but she meant seriously.

Stiles rolled his eyes at his girlfriend but didn't bother answering her, choosing instead to hit reply on his phone.

All good here. No new crazy just same old stuff. Where r u anyway? Send.

Seconds later his phone chimed again. Driving through Kansas.

At this point Stiles had stopped relaying the content of the messages to Malia and she got bored, getting up from her spot on the bed, she went downstairs to raid the Stillinski fridge.

Stiles didn't hesitate on responding this time. PLS tell me ur not txtng and driving. I better not get a reply. Weve all been thru 2 much 2 loose u over something that stupid.

Calm down. Brae is driving. I was just bored so I thought I would text you and see how everything was going.

Stiles breathed a sigh of relief. Woah, a nicname AND ur letting her drive?! U must REALLY like her. And i didnt kno u could be bored, what with all the brooding looks and pensive eyebrows. Figured you laways had 2 many thoughts to be bored. He considered adding a tounge out emoji, but decided against it. It was still too weird to be texting Derek freaking Hale to use emojis.

Yes. I like her. That's beside the point. It's nighttime and I'm stuck in a car, driving through Kansas. The scenery consists entirely of wheat fields, barns, cattle, and more wheat fields. Of course I'm bored. And right after that another text comes through. And have you ever heard of proper grammar? Spellcheck? You text like a 5 year old. And that's coming from someone who was literally raised by wolves.

"Holy hell," Stiles whispered, rereading the text. "Derek Hale just made a joke. And sent it to me. In a text." He stared at his phone in shock.

"Stop staring at the phone and answer him, you dummy!" Malia's voice carried up from the kitchen along with the sound of the refrigerator door slamming shut.

Answer him. What were you supposed to say in that situation? So he typed what he thought. Holy Hell. Derek Hale just made a joke and sent it 2 me. N a txt.

The beep signaling a new message was almost instantaneous. I'm not sure if I should be shocked or offended that you think I'm incapable of humor. What would you do if I sent an LOL?

Brain annyurism. Definitely.

Ok. Seriously. You HAVE to have a Spell Check option somewhere on your phone. This is ridiculous.

Spellng things correctly takes 2 much time

No. It really doesn't.

Says the man trapped in a car in the middle of nowhere with nothing else to do.

Malia came back into Stiles's room then, two pieces of leftover pepperoni pizza in her hand. "Are you still texting Derek?" She asked, sitting down in his desk chair and eating her pizza.

"Yeah. You don't understand how crazy this is. I think this is the longest conversation we have ever had without him threatening to kill me!"

As if Derek could hear him thousands of miles away, Stiles's phone chimed. What time is it there, Stiles? I know it's late, I should probably let you get some rest.

Its not that l8. Its summr.

But you should get all the rest you can while you can. You never know when things are going to go crazy again. It is Beacon Hills.

Thats tru. Hey ur not gonna go another 4 yrs without txtng me r u?

Depends on if you can learn how to spell or not.

You dont have ny issus nderstanding it

I'll text you, Stiles.

K. If u find out nything bout M's mom let us kno asap?

Of course. If you, or the rest of the pack, need me I'm just a phone call away. When things get bad again just let me know and I'll come back home.

U got it. And Der? Nxt time ur bored, txt me. 20 questions wiht Derek and Stiles? That has epic writtn all ovr it.

Lol, it's a deal. Yes, that was an lol, don't have a brain aneurysm (see how easy it is to spell things correctly?) Good night, Stiles.

Nite SourWolf.

That had better not be my name in your contact list Stiles...

This time, Stiles actually sent the smiley face emoji sticking out it's tounge, and Braeden swore Derek's smile was brighter than their headlights speeding down the highway.

In one of my earlier Teen Wolf stories I received a comment saying that my interpretation of Malia and her relationship with Stiles was very OOC so I tried really hard to make sure their interactions were realistic and she was in character. Hope I was successful. I also got a comment thanking me for writing Sterek bromance instead of romance. I'm not opposed to either and I read both but when it comes to writing I try to make sure that you can read it as whichever you prefer.

As always, I hope you enjoyed and feel free to leave a review letting me know what you thought!