Chapter 5

That night was long. He had jumped in a shower, trying to make though as fast as he could but hot water unknotted his stiff muscles after heavy workout and all the dried blood was washed from his knuckles. The bruised had not covered with thick blood yet but he could work with it. He barely felt the stinging. In the end, he got out of shower, in defeat and after changing in his normal, casual clothes he went down to have dinner with his mother.

There she was, smiling as if Christmas had come early. Her son had finally opened up and told her something, whereas Thomas felt that was just the easiest part of his mind he could share. Everything was in one huge ball in his mind, unable to dissolve it in manageable threads on connection. It all was way too much; too much he could scream on top of his lungs and yet, it would just deepen his frustration.

- 'Honestly I am surprised it took you THIS LONG to tell me.' She chuckled. Thomas just rolled his eyes and yet small chuckle escaped his own lips. He was surprised how easy she took the news in, as if she was just expecting that to happen. Then again, if she truly was a hunter as Chris had told him, then her senses were sharp and deduction was a strong suit. Thomas had never said anything about girls, nor did he ever have any over. That alone was enough of reason to suspect. Thomas sighed – he had changed and yet stayed the same.

Tea cup he held in his arm slowly has begun to cool off. He liked his tea warm but right now his mind was elsewhere. What would Allison say if I told her I had said the truth to my mom? The answer would be easy – she would be proud. Gradually, Thomas was becoming stronger, after all these years and yet he wanted to know the truth behind Allison's death but he had to look past his hatred towards McCall & co. Thomas groaned loudly and his head dropped on the counter.

- 'Ow.' Thomas said and laughed.

Roughly month passed since that day. Thomas walked about, did jogging in mornings, now rarely since autumn evidently had come and it was cooler. It was alright since he had now his own personal gym to use. If Roger was here, even he would be jealous of the setup I have. At the thought he chuckled and brushed it off in instant. He had thought of visiting San Francisco on his break but highly doubted would be allowed. His life had become the centre of supernatural but his parents did not know he knew.

His father had called few times, just to basically ask about him, checking up if he was still alive. He knew this from casual sneak-listening from upstairs home line phone as the second was installed purely for his needs. There was no one to call to and no one would call him.

Often his thoughts would return to Jonathan and the day he completely had lost it. Just a second day in new school and everyone probably thought he was a whacko of sorts with some mental disorder. Maybe that would keep everyone off his back. Just maybe.

At school he went about as usual; greetings here and there, conversations about sports events, casual lacrosse practice visit to look how everyone prepared, including Scott and his friends. Somehow his reason had broken through him and told him Scott used to be normal teenager and Scott didn't choose to become a werewolf. He dragged Allison with him, as he feel in love with her but then again her family would've eventually brought her up to speed and turned into a hunter. Even after her mother's death, she chose to come back because as they say: 'Once you are in, you are in. It's hard to say no afterwards and walk out with it leaving a mark on you mentally. It's just as it is, you are branded and there is nothing you can do about it.' You could try to walk out as many times as you could but supernatural would just become daily basis. Small part of Thomas still wanted to blame Scott. He and Scott or any of his friends had not talked to him. There still was Lydia's warning:

'If you keep going down the pathway you have chosen, you will end up dead, like… like… someone close to you. I can't put a finger on it but there is something familiar about the aura you carry, like I have felt it somewhere…'

He understood she was talking about Allison but 'the pathway you have chosen' still eluded him. He was supposed to die by his own choice. What choice? It irked him even more. And then again, in the end, Allison chose to stay by Scott because she loved Scott and Scott most probably tried to keep Allison safe.

Thomas had watched the past month Scott from afar. He was dating his girlfriend, talking with his friends, sometimes serious, sometimes laughing but he could still see part of him missing Allison. Scott missed her in his own way, lover's way and his girlfriend was fine with it. She understood he had lost someone dear to him. He had heard few conversations between them all..

Thomas was walking to the next class when someone rushed into him. Thomas fell down, his books scattering about him.

- 'Damn, I am so sorry!' Scott said and ducked down to help Thomas up and gather his books. Thomas got up on his own but gladly accepted Scott's help on getting books.

- 'It's alright, it was my own fault.'

- 'No I should've watched where I was going.' Scott apologized. Thomas sighed.

- 'Scott, we have to-' Thomas began but another set of running footsteps interrupted.

- 'Scott, come on, they found another body!' A guy Thomas remembered from class exclaimed as showed up from behind the corner ahead of him and Scott. Thomas took a wild guess him being Stiles and he was right.

- 'Stiles, just give me a second.' Scott replied and turned back to Thomas.

- 'Go.' Was all Thomas said. He knew this was important, supernatural important. Scott opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind mid way and closed it, quickly turning around and following Stiles. Thomas stood there rooted to his place until bell took his attention. It rang beginning of lesson and he was late.

When Jonathan received slight nudge on his shoulder from Lydia behind him, he was surprised. She handed him a crumpled note, while teacher had back to them and was explaining the new Math theory they were beginning with the lesson while writing on blackboard. Jonathan opened the note:

Can I come over tonight? I need help with Math.

Lydia smirked. She had read the note already, obviously. Jonathan remembered the handwriting. He smiled slightly.

Dude, this pick-up line is such a cliché!

He handed the note back to Lydia and swiftly turned back around, paying attention to teacher as he turned around just about at the same time as Jonathan did and his eyes fell upon Jonathan as he kept on explaining. Jonathan didn't give away any emotion nor muscle twitch and took down the notes. Teacher had turned back to blackboard but there was no response from the note. He turned towards Lydia but she just shrugged and was already half-way solving the given example on blackboard. Jonathan frowned and took pre-prepared sheet of small paper from his Math book and quickly scribbled on it:

I'm sorry, that was stupid of me. I'll give you directions. Come around about 8 pm. I have lacrosse practice after lessons.

Underneath, he scribbled his address and quickly handed the note to Lydia. She quickly passed the note further and Jonathan waited, while was solving the example himself. It didn't take him long to feel another slight tap on his shoulder. He snatched the note out of Lydia's hand and heard her quickly masking snort with a slight cough. Way to go Lydia. He quickly managed to stuff the note between his thighs.

- 'Is everything okay miss Martin?' Teacher asked.

- 'Yeah, just dry throat, sorry mister Rendell.' She replied quickly. Jonathan had leaned over his notes, trying to ignore teacher but he could feel his eyes on back of his head. He quickly finished solving the example and straightened back up.

When the bell rang, he quickly disappeared out of class, going to his locker. He opened it, put the books in and finally read the note:

See you later.

He raised his head just in time to notice Thomas disappear out through school doors.