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Milkshakes and Matchsticks #1-12

Milkshakes and Matchsticks

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12 part series - Teen Wolf TV Fanfic - Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski

Part 1 - This is like the pre-credits sequence of every horror movie, he's probably going to be eaten before the main character is even introduced.

Part 2 - "Look, I know I got very drunk last night, and if at any point I threw up on you I would like to apologise, and possibly offer to buy you new shoes."

Part 3 - It takes Stiles exactly a day to decide that his tentative conclusion has to be wrong.

Part 4 - Derek doesn't know how to do this like a person. He's never been good with words.

Part 5 - Stiles doesn't want to look like he's trying if Derek's just going to turn up in the last clothes he got stabbed in.

Part 6 - Stiles gets an angry text from Derek, an hour later. 'I'm not avoiding you. I have five broken ribs.'

Part 7 - "I'm not asking for nice restaurants, just for there to not be any dead bodies."

Part 8 - Because it's weird to date someone for a month and not kiss them, right?

Part 9 - This emergency is surprisingly fluffy, as emergencies go.

Part 10 - Kate had liked his possessiveness, she'd reveled in it, pushed it, treated it like a fire to stoke and encourage.

Part 11 - "Are you asking me for Sharktopus's motivation? Because if you are, I think you're wildly overestimating how much thought the writers put into this movie."

Part 12 - Stiles has spent a lot of this relationship convinced that he's just a handful of words away from being unceremoniously dumped.

Word Count: 52,917 Complete

160 pages, ebook

First published July 19, 2012

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51 people want to read

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entanglednow

33 books17 followers

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5 stars
16 (17%)
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44 (47%)
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25 (27%)
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Kat.
939 reviews
January 6, 2018
In Milkshakes and Matchsticks Stiles and Derek never manage to make it past that sweet first crush phase of awkwardness and insecurities. For a while, this is the most hilarious and adorable thing. The writer’s Stiles is wonderful! The scenes in which he obsesses over his accidental date with Derek and what to text him, are priceless!

Do you want to go see a movie with me?

Stiles types it out and then stares at it for a second, before deleting the 'with me' because it sounds too desperate and pleading.

Do you want to go see a movie?

That doesn't look right any more, it's just a question that hangs, awkwardly, forcing Derek to have some sort of opinion on movies. Stiles might as well not be involved at all. He's pretty much just encouraging Derek to go and see a movie without him. He's going for a mutual movie-seeing thing here. So that isn't going to work.

Hey, we should go see a movie

Stiles can't decide if that sounds too casual or too demanding. He doesn't want to give Derek the impression that he feels entitled to a second date. Maybe he should put a question mark on the end?

Hey, we should go see a movie?

Now it just looks like he can't make up his mind about whether he wants to see a movie or not. Immature and indecisive, perfect.

This is only a snippet of the actual scene. I laughed so hard, because.. we’ve all been there, haven't we? Maybe some of us are still like that?;) Anyway, if anxious texting to your object of infatuation is a concept that’s alien to you, and you don’t think it’s particularly funny when people are like that either, then this fic really isn’t for you.

So Stiles and Derek blunder their way through something that vaguely resembles dating. For a good while, all of this is terribly funny. But at some point the story begins to drag, the relational drama starts piling up whereas it still completely lacks UST and chemistry. I think in this fic, Derek is so emotionally stunted that it gets in the way of the plot and in the way of him being attractive to me as a reader. He is supposed to be 23, yet when it comes to dating the 16 year old Stiles, it’s completely unclear what’s in it for him. He’s written like a non-threatening, fantasy boy for young teens who --like 13 year old me did -- dream of a first kiss.

Ultimately, this fic loses all momentum when the writer can’t find a way to bridge the gap she’s created between the characters. I’d tag this as pre-YA. So read Milkshakes and Matchsticks for the lulz, not for the incredible chemistry that made Sterek huge in the first place.
Profile Image for * A Reader Obsessed *.
2,687 reviews576 followers
December 28, 2014
5 Stars

I have to say that with a title and cover like that how could one not think this was going to be fluffy? Because in reality?? It wasn't. Nope - not really at all.

This would be more appropriate…

description

What I will say about this series of "chapters" was that the overall theme was insecurity and doubt and it was pervasive throughout. Sometimes this manifested as funny, as awkward, and many times very embarrassing. At other points, it was heartbreaking and desperate and painful and so, so sad.

"But no one has ever asked Derek to go anywhere. No one has ever wanted to spend time with him for no reason at all. No one has ever known who he is, and what he is - what he's done - and still wanted him... Derek just wants to stop thinking about that for awhile. He wants something - he wants something else."

I would also say this is very close to canon - it seems to start just right at the end of season 2. This makes it very realistic in their relationship development and the "voice" rings so true.

These two want each other so bad, they try so hard - each taking it step by step - both not thinking it will come to anything - not wanting to get their hopes up or invest too far lest they be hurt even more. But these two need each other, are made for each other whether brought together by their unique supernatural circumstances or divine intervention.

"The fact that they sort of fit together - and they shouldn't, they probably shouldn't - and it feels huge to have gotten to this place… where it's okay to just be whatever you are."

Extremely poignant, emotionally satisfying and another beautiful experience.
Profile Image for Irina Elena.
724 reviews167 followers
December 28, 2021
This is very different from a lot of Sterek fics I've read. Mostly because it is so painfully awkward I was physically cringing while I read, and then I was giggling and grinning like an idiot because it was all so cute. So you have the whole teenage crush aspect of the story, which is absolutely delightful and very well rendered.
But then you also have the hurt, and the vulnerability, and the fear and the grudging hopefulness against all hope and logic, and those make for a whole different kind of heartache.

entanglednow got Stiles's rambling, loopy thought process just right, drawing me in completely, and did the same with Derek's desperate, broken self, and it shows sides of them that aren't necessarily the sexiest, with the chemistry and the aggression and the boners and all, but their honesty and willingness to try and genuine care for each other made this more emotional and hard-hitting than a good portion of the angstier, more densely plotted stories I've read.
Profile Image for Jennifer☠Pher☠.
2,970 reviews272 followers
October 1, 2014
So you know, I decided to have some beers last night, shocking, I know. So, I took myself and my beer out back and decided to dig in to these 12 stories. I also decided I should take notes. So, I guess my review will be my notes. Notes which will tell you nothing I am sure except I seem to really love Stiles and exclamation marks!!

I am going to give this 5 ★’s because really, it was good. It hurt me but I loved this Stiles and really, this probably was what Derek is really like even if it isn’t my favorite kind of Derek. I just pretend my Derek has grown. I also have to remember this is really early, cutsey Stiles is only 16 at the beginning.

1. The Man Who Wasn't There – My favorite kind of Stiles! This is going to be fun! 5★’s

2. Don't Tell Me, I Know This One – Yeah, yeah, yeah! Maybe this will all be 5★’s, I am totally digging this Stiles. 5★’s

3. I'm Just Making This Complicated – Stiles! You silly boy. Yeah! 5★’s

4. It All Comes Down To You – Poor, poor Derek. Gah! The texts are killing me! 5★’s

5. One Step Forward – Oh boys! My poor, poor boys. 4★’s

6. Two Steps Sideways – Ok, this shit is starting to piss me off. Come on! 4★’s

7. Run That Past Me Again – Ok, ok. Grrr…4★’s

8. A Work In Progress – Can we just call this weird? Come the fuck on. Ok, a kiss and fucking Scott. I don’t need Scott thank you. 5★’s

9. And Then There Are Days Like This – Aww, puppies! 5★’s

10. In Glittering Pieces – So much angst. It is killing me. So very broken Derek. Sad! 5★’s

Finished these this morning. Beer or no beer I still seem to love Stiles and exclamation marks.

11. It's The Sudden Stop – I feel like crying! Poor Stiles. I would have stayed with you. Derek! Stop! 4★’s

12. Words and Choices – Well, so much talk. So many feels. I could use a few more stories. I am sad for the end and sad about the end. 5★’s

description
Profile Image for Jenni Lea.
801 reviews301 followers
January 27, 2015

Bonus points for Part Eleven.

Cutie patootie of a 12 part story in which Stiles is flaily and awkward but also kind of amazing



And Derek is growly and broody but sensitive and vulnerable



Put them together and you get



perfection (or Sterek, whatevs)
Profile Image for Catherine.
1,610 reviews271 followers
April 19, 2015
*** 4.5 Stars ***

Stiles' signature brand of snark? Nailed it!

A wounded, emotionally-stunted Derek with an only-Stiles-can-make-me-whole-again shtick? Check. And mate. (Ha! You see what I did there? Mate. Werewolf story. Yeah... I know you feel me.)

Puppies? Yup. It's got that too.

Basically a story about how much fucking WORK relationships are, but how the effort you put into it is so fucking worth it when you find the right person. <3
Profile Image for Meags.
2,476 reviews697 followers
February 7, 2017
3.5 Stars

This 12 part series chronicles the initial stages of Stiles and Derek's newly blossoming relationship. It's canon divergent, kind of (possibly post-season two), and I really enjoyed the characterisations reflected here.

This story wasn't dark per se, but the general tone was definitely more of the sombre and melancholy variety than of the fluffy/fun variety. Based on the cover and the title, I guess I was anticipating something a little lighter, but I'm glad my expectations were proved wrong.

This story was awkward, honest, quirky, charming and poignant, which gave it a realistic quality that I very much appreciated.
Profile Image for Alice.
289 reviews63 followers
January 27, 2015
With the effortless awkwardness of conversations reminiscent of a Wes Anderson movie and inner monologues too honest and uncomfortably relatable, Entanglednow depicts Davis's characters budding romance with a realistic ease, simple and complex in the same breath.

Stiles and Derek are too interesting of characters for a MTV drama to host so they couldn't possibly be bothered to even explore them more, and unfortunately, it is a travesty that Davis has let them languish the past couple of seasons (as he has done with the plot the show once had). But for some reason with fan fictions like this one, I am stuck captivated to these characters and this 'ship.

Written in twelve installments - two from Derek (and a well portrayed Derek at that) and ten from Stiles, each work is well written and an easy read. This work sneaks up on you at first, seemingly innocuous … until you are laughing with them, crying for them and triggered to reflect on your own dating nightmares and successful loves by them.

There is no action subplot and the focus of each installment is solely on an exchange or encounter between Derek and Stiles that nudges their relationship forward. Their actions and words all make sense for these characters as uncomfortable and sometimes unfortunate as that may be at times. I felt this to be true especially for Derek. And I know that for all that we would like to keep Davis’s polished MTV teen marketable bad boy image of him in our heads, that the fact of the matter is that a fifteen year old boy who was manipulated into having an affair with a far older woman who would later burn his entire family to death, is going to be much more wounded - than is fit for MTV’s angsty underwear model projection of him.

Entanglednow weaves their attraction from its initial awkwardness, to its giddy stomach butterflies, the excitement of first love and the disappointment of how mundane that can be at times. The harsh realities of what it means to really know someone and love them all the same and the discovery of the rewards for staying during times you would rather leave. To the realization that lusting for someone lies in the shadow of understanding them and is just as fulfilling all the same. The moment you willingly accept the simple joy sharing a milkshake provides and how such a luxury can ease the pain a single matchstick can cause.

Milkshakes and Matchsticks will not be everyone’s Sterek. There are far sexier Sterek’s. Far glossier ones. Ones where Stiles is so appealingly awkward and Derek is everything you projected him to be. But when you want the laughs to be real, the cries to be heartfelt and the depth to be too honest, this is your Sterek. This is the Sterek that gets real for a lanky, hyperactive teenager and his emotionally victimized werewolf.

Initial musings

And Entanglednow is now one of my favorite Sterek authors. I would give this more than five stars. Does anyone know if "Entanglednow" is a pen name for a published author. The writing is pretty exceptional to be amateur. More thoughts to come once I absorb what I read a bit more.
Profile Image for Dalia.
280 reviews96 followers
August 27, 2015
Stiles and Derek start to date and it's a new thing for the both of them. Derek tries really hard and Stiles usually says things that doesn't sound right, which makes Derek feel sad and frustrated.

Their first date includes an oral fixation.


Stiles pulls his straw out and licks it clean, and Derek gives him a look like maybe he's weird for doing that in public.
The last time he saw Stiles he was pressed into red leather, elbows balanced on the shiny surface of the table, smear of milkshake on his lover lip.
You're a tease, Stiles.

Derek takes Stiles on a "date" to a cementry, where they make sure if a dead girl, who was killed by a witch, won't come out of the grave as a zombie. And why Derek takes Stiles there? Well, because Stiles likes zombie movies. How cute is that? The man is trying, give him some points for that.

Their relationship develops slowly. They start to kiss or briefy touch each other over after a month. Derek is unsure of himself and he's not good with words, but Stiles is patient and loving.

I would say the story was more cute and a little angsty than heartbreaking, but my angst levels are messed up.
Profile Image for Meep.
2,167 reviews228 followers
May 20, 2018
Ahhh Sterek.

This one is about negotiating a relationship, the boys actually talk! there's some real emotion there along with the chuckles.
Stiles is flaily and unsure but has great heart and Derek is ever so vulnerable under his taciturn alpha-werewolf persona slowly opening up.
Profile Image for Borderstar.
912 reviews17 followers
February 20, 2015
This one surprised me - at times it was incredibly funny (for instance in the first couple of parts from Stiles' POV) but at others kind of bittersweet - the guys were all kinds of endearingly awkward throughout most of it and you couldn't help but root for them. I definitely enjoyed it, even though it turned out to be different to what I expected. Stiles seemed just spot-on in this one - his rambling drunkenness in Part 1 was so funny and I loved it when in Part 3 he is agonising for ages over how to compose a text to Derek and he changes it about 10 times, over-analysing each wording choice.

Up until Part 4 I actually thought this was just going to be one big laugh, but then we hear from Derek's POV and its really quite sad - its more serious and you feel the weight on his shoulders from everything, getting a glimpse of what he is dealing with. Although I hadn't been expecting it, this kind of balanced it out for me and made it a more interesting read.

I like entanglednow's writing and have read quite a few things by them already and I definitely enjoyed this one too. I would have maybe liked to see something about how they told the Sheriff or the pack's response or something...and an epilogue chapter maybe into the future a little bit, but then again, I want that for a lot of the stories I read. This was still satisfying with the ending it has.

I wish there was a way to download the entire series in one go from AO3 so I could read it on my kindle, as you have to download every instalment when its a series, so I had to read this one online as I couldn't be bothered to download 12 files! Grrr
Profile Image for Angela.
335 reviews39 followers
tbr-fanfic-teen-wolf
April 6, 2017
12 part series-Sterek
Summary:
220 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2017
Oh, yes. I LOVE it when they have to actually work at their relationship! Also, this is full of the sweetest awkwardness and uncertainties and am-I-good-enough-why-would-he-want-me and being so careful with the fragility of their relationship and of each other. And Derek is just. So much work, but also trying so very hard. Very different from other Stereks, but still with the beautiful rambling-flailing-pushing weirdness that makes up the best Stiles and the loomy-creeper-stoic Derek-awesomeness. And then when they're making the effort to actually be honest with each other? Makes me swoony and sweaty-eyed. And the writing is just as good as can be expected of entanglednow. Great read!
Profile Image for E.
207 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2015
It was cute.
Profile Image for Aaron G.
239 reviews33 followers
January 13, 2016
4.5 stars.

This was a softer Derek, one that I enjoyed in this story. And it was great to see flailing Stiles as usual being his fun funny self. May they have a great future together.

Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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