As Theo walked in to school, he almost could not believe how much of his life has changed so recently. He and Liam were now friends, well more than that actually, not to mention Theo had met his real father. However, despite these changes, the rest of the school seemed to be going on with business as usual, as if nothing had changed at all. In fact, everything was so normal that Theo himself almost forgot anything had changed. He went to class, no one spoke to him, and he aced his tests. Business as usual. Even Liam and Hayden were walking together, amicably in the hallway, just like normal. Theo tried not to be bitter about it, because he knew this was just Liam's act, but still, it hurt Theo to know that he could't be the one to walk with Liam in the hallway.
It wasn't until lunch time that Theo was reminded that things, were in fact, very different than before. After getting his tray of food, Theo went to go join Corey at their usual table but when he arrived, he was shocked to see that Cora, Stiles, and Lydia were all sitting there with Corey. Theo took his seat, next to Corey and across from Cora. Oddly enough, things did not feel awkward between them, because they both were genuine when they said they wanted to remain friends, Theo just wished she could find someone, like he had found Liam. "What a nice little reunion," Theo said to the group of people, who usually did not sit with him at lunch.
"Well this is the best time to get the team together, sans Liam, to discuss operation Thiam," Lydia replied with a small smile, "Yes, Corey filled us all in on your little ship name."
"How kind of him," Theo said sarcastically, but he could not help and smile a bit. "But operation Thiam? What is operation Thiam?"
"Stiles came up with the name," Cora answered as she looked back at Liam and Hayden's normal table, to see the couple together. "Its whatever plan we have to break those two up, and get you and Liam together. Liam told us you have a plan to confront Nolan?"
Theo nodded before he started eating his lunch. "Yeah, we want to see how much he knows. Liam and I don't think he would let Hayden lie about the baby's father if he suspected it was his, so if he doesn't know, Liam and I are going to tell him," Theo explained, realizing their plan sounded stupid out loud, "Perhaps he will be our new recruit for operation Thiam."
"That could be helpful, if he believes you, which, I suppose, is where i come in," Lydia announced as she stood up from her seat, "If Nolan hears this rumor before you confront him, then maybe he will feel like it is more believable. If the whole school believes the rumor, then he finds out Liam believes it to, Nolan will at least want to know the truth. I am off to go spread the word."
Theo understood Lydia's point. The power of rumors and word of mouth was more powerful than more people were willing to admit. Theo knew that first hand due to the rumors spreading about him being Mr. Talbot's son. Of course, these rumors were true, which proved, where there was smoke, theres almost always fire. Theo prayed that perhaps Nolan would realize that as well.
Theo had gotten off work today, thanks to Mrs. Dunbar's kindness, but he suspected it was more than just kindness. Mrs. Dunbar knew, or at least suspected, more than she let on, so she had to know that Theo was off work to help Liam in some way. As Theo watched the lacrosse team practice, he could not help but feel anxious. Not just about the Nolan situation. Even if that failed, their plans to expose Hayden weren't doomed. Instead, Theo was nervous about tonight, because today would be the first night that Theo spent at the Talbot's. With the help of Mrs. Dunbar's lawyer, Attorney Hewitt, Theo sent a letter to the Talbot explaining that before he decided to sue for child support money, he wanted to get to know the Talbot's first, and the Talbot family accepted. Theo was not really sure what he wanted out this deal, of course he wanted his mother to get the money she deserved, but perhaps Theo wanted to get to know his new family. After all, Brett and Lori were his half-siblings, and Mr. Talbot was his father. Maybe Theo wanted to get to know them before the drama of a court case ruined that possibility forever.
Theo had to banish those thoughts from his head, because as lacrosse practice was wrapping up, he knew that he and Liam would need to confront Nolan, and Theo wanted to be on his A game. As the players walked off the field, Liam pulled Nolan aside, and Theo went down to join them. When he arrived, it was clear that Nolan was nervous and shaken up. Clearly he heard the rumor and thought Liam was mad at him. "Calm down, we aren't going to hurt you," Theo said as he joined the lacrosse players.
"Listen, I have no idea how those rumors started but there is no way that child is mine, Hayden and i only had a short fling when you two broke up," Nolan replied, keeping a safe distance between him and Liam.
"This will be easier if you don't lie to us," Liam responded angrily. Theo knew that Liam already did not like Nolan, since they were both going to be in competition for Captain after Scott McCall graduated, not to mention the affair with Hayden. However, Theo himself could not judge Nolan to much, after all, he and Liam were technically doing the same thing that Hayden and Nolan did. "I know what you did that night at the party, and maybe even more times after that."
Nolan was clearly guilty, that much Theo knew, but he wandered how much he would protest in order to defend Hayden's reputation. After all, if he cared about her, he may want to protect her, but on the other hand, breaking up Liam and Hayden would allow him to be with Hayden. "We are not here to cause trouble with you. We just want you to be honest and to think. How do you know this child isn't yours?" Theo asked.
Nolan sighed and looked down, contemplating his next move. "Hayden and I have been sleeping together for over a year." He admitted, with a clear expression of guilt. However, Theo only cared about Liam, so he looked over and could see Liam turn pale with shock and sadness. Liam was not in love with Hayden, but being cheated on still had to hurt. "It started as just a one night stand at a party, she did not want to do it again. However, things just kind of spiraled from there. I knew it was wrong, but I-i began to fall for her."
Theo could not imagine how anyone could fall for Hayden, after all he had heard, she seemed horrible, but perhaps her horrid personality stemmed from the fact that she was guilty, and in love with someone else. "Why didn't she just break up with Liam? She wasn't pregnant then, there was nothing forcing her to stay with him."
"Are you joking? The Dunbars and the Romeros practically arranged their marriage, even then she was stuck with Liam, no offense, she could not break it off, thus the secrecy," Nolan explained and in the moment Theo felt pity for both of them. It seemed like Hayden and Nolan were in the same position and he and Liam this whole time. "But I don't see how this baby could be mine, we almost always used protection."
"Almost? It only takes once, dumbass," Liam snapped back and crossed hims arms. Theo could tell Liam was feeling a lot of different emotions, including anger, but also self loathing. "Hayden and i only did it once and we did use protection. This child is yours Nolan, and she wants me to raise it, without you ever getting to know your own kid."
"What do you want me to do? There is no way to prove anything until the child is born anyway, but thanks for the heads up," Nolan answered, clearly unsure about how he was supposed to respond.
"Talk to her, appeal to whatever relationship you two had," Theo replied, hoping Nolan would agree to at least try. If she felt the same way for him as he clearly felt for her, she may actually listen to him. "Liam and I are betting that she knows the baby is yours, if you can convince her, maybe she will come clean and you two can be together."
Nolan thought for a moment, and then nodded, "I will try, but i can make no promises. Thank you, I guess, for talking to me. I have to go." Neither Theo nor Liam stopped Nolan from leaving. Even if he was lying, there was no way to know, so they had to trust he would keep his word.
Later that day, it was time. Theo was going to spend his first night at the Talbot home. He had packed a bag of somethings he would need, before getting on the bus and taking it to the richer part of town. After getting off the bus, he walked to the Talbot estate, trying to prepare himself for going in and seeing Mr. Talbot again, something he had not done since the night of the gala. He took a deep breathe and knocked on the door. The door was answered by a young blonde housekeeper, typical of Mr. Talbot, but then Theo realized he recognized her. "Erica Reyes?" he asked in shock. Erica had gone to school with Theo, and was in his grade, but when her boyfriend Boyd was found dead, she dropped out not to long after. No one knew why or what happened, but here she was, working at the Talbots.
She nodded somberly, without any sort of emotion. Of course, she and Theo had not been friends at school, but they shared a silent bond as part of the weird crowd, and they had even been lab partners Freshman year. Also, Erica had been kind of acquaintances with Cora, both were on the soccer team together, and when Cora would pick fights with the sexists guys at school, Erica usually backed her up. "Right this way Mr. Theo." She replied, without any since of familiarity. Theo promised himself he would get her story from her later. He was also shocked to be called Mr. Theo, but he had to remember in this house, he wasn't the help, he was the son of the head of the household. She led him upstairs down a large hall of rooms, and Theo tried to memorize how he got here, knowing he would get lost in the palace that the Talbot's called home. She stopped and led him in a nicely furnished large room, "This is your bedroom, the bedroom across from you is Ms. Lori's and the one next to you is Mr. Brett's. After getting settled in, Mrs. Talbot would like to see you out in the patio."
Theo was astounded to see the once feisty Erica act to tame. This was the same girl who who knocked Gabe flat on his ass when he called Cora a slut. However now, she was acting to emotionless, almost robotic. As Erica turned to leave, Theo called out of her, "Wait, Erica. What happened? Where did you go, and why are you working here?" He needed to know, even if he did not know why.
Without turning around, Erica replied, "There is a lot about this world you don't understand. Now, do not keep Mrs. Talbot waiting for to long." She then walked out and made her way down the hall.
As Theo made his way down to the patio, his mind raced about Erica. Her family was not part of the rich, but they were not poor either. They owned a small restaurant chain that was popular in this area of the state, so they were in Beacon Hills' small middle class. The Reyes were respectable in the city, so if they would have played their cards right, they could have made their way in to the upper class. So there appeared to be no reason why Erica would have to drop out and become a live in maid for the Talbot's, which reinforced Theo's theory thats something more happening.
Regardless of Erica's situation, Theo had his own family issues to deal with. He made his way to the patio to see Mrs. Talbot sitting there, drinking, what appeared to be some sort of alcohol. The contrast between Mrs. Talbot and Mrs. Dunbar was amazing. Mrs. Talbot was wearing a dark blue dress, with her her blonde hair pulled back tightly in a bun. She turned to see Theo, and she smiled ever so slightly, "Theo, please sit."
I know this chapter is kind of boring, but its setting some stuff up! Also, I know the Erica thing seems random and i have a plan but i am unsure if i am going to go through with it, so some feedback on that would be appreciated! Lastly, my sincerest apologies for waiting so long to update, school is killing me!
