Liam was going to sleep on the thought of calling Hayden. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he broke up with her on a whim over a case of misunderstanding. He did love her. It was just a matter of whether or not she loved him back or still. People grow apart; especially when they're physically apart from each other for as long as they have been. Liam tried to talk himself down from his nerves and emotions. He tried not to think about the fact that he hadn't heard from Hayden in over a month, but she had been actively posting on social media. She wasn't taking summer classes in college, so it was all beaches and road trips.

At first, he had worried something was wrong. At this point, though, it felt pointed. We could have done something like that for my birthday. Liam scrolls through his social media seeing only Hayden. He shuts his phone off and tries to rest from the weekend he had. Tomorrow he'll have to be up bright and early so he can make it to the hotel by 8 and start the boozy shift, or that's what they call the early vacation/late checkout overlap. Just about every single person is beyond wasted checking in and out of the hotel on Monday mornings and Friday nights. Most of the time they were pretty much under control, but some people could get out of hand to the point the hotel had to call the cops. Beacon Hills was a small town, so calling the cops was basically just a formality and pretty much just a minor inconvenience. The cops knew everyone personally so there would just be paperwork if it got out of hand and maybe someone would spend the night in jail. That was when he decided to text Theo. He needed a distraction.

Theo rested in his bed, trying to think about anything except the out of sorts type of day he'd had. He looks down at his phone. What is this kid's deal? He reads Liam's message again and ponders the whole situation. This was insanely fast for someone to just take someone's number. And why do it secretively? Maybe he felt sorry for Theo? Maybe he lied about being gay? That's stupid. I was completely, one hundred percent telling him my deepest secret. Why lie about something so unnecessary? Theo couldn't figure out why this kid would even want his number, let alone just take it upon himself to put it in his phone. The kid's fuckin weird. That's the only excuse. He wanted to stop thinking about it, but he's never met anyone who just blindly trusted people. It was something he never saw growing up, but especially didn't see as an adult. It was a little intriguing.

Fuck it.

What's your deal, kid? -Theo

Liam heard his phone buzz. Maybe she didn't forget after all. No such luck. It was the stranger/stripper/etc. guy from earlier. The fuck does he mean what's my deal? I didn't do anything to that guy! Liam was officially offended. He'd been nothing but nice, unless Theo was lying about not having to pay him back for a ride home. In which case, that was a bullshit move.

I don't have a deal!

Wait! Not like that!

UGH! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN?!

And I'm not a kid! -Liam

I just wanted to know why you felt the need to save my number?

And you're a kid who does kid things

Like saving a stranger's number without permission

Why'd you do it? -Theo

Oh... I honestly don't even know... -Liam

Liam was telling the truth. He got Theo's number and didn't have a logical reason for it. Not one that would justify breeching his privacy. He knew Theo was a complete stranger. He knew he could possibly come back to his house and murder him, since Theo knew where he lived. They only knew where each other worked and they barely knew each other's names. Liam had absolutely no idea what had possessed him to actually steal Theo's number at the time. No idea why he needed it. He just knew he did. Pretty much his reasoning was simply this. In that moment, Liam needed to know that he could have some sort of access to Theo.

Maybe it was the fact that he couldn't believe Theo couldn't tell people what he did for a living. It was a hard burden to bear and the man was too okay with doing it alone. Maybe they just instantly clicked. Despite the fact Theo kept thinking Liam was trying to hit, they seemed to get along instantly. Maybe he was just still drunk that morning when he'd done it. He'd answered as best as he could.

There's not really one reason. It was just something I did. You know, I was still kinda drunk this morning. I can delete it if you want? -Liam

Theo had debated this. He doesn't know this kid. Why does he need his number? Of course. Still drunk. Makes sense. Yet... still. Theo still felt something about the fact that this kid's not exactly judging the fact he's selling himself. He asked questions, but no rude comments, exactly or even disgusted looks. Maybe he'll be a true friend to Theo? Maybe it would be worth letting him have his number?

Nah. Don't worry about it. Just don't let people know you have it. I don't exactly give out my number. -Theo

Got it. I'm gonna sleep tho bc it's the middle of the night and I work early -Liam

Theo felt weird about giving a stranger his number, but really, what's the worst that would happen?

Theo got his answer in the form of a nightmare.

His ex-boyfriend, Brett, showed up in his dream out of nowhere. Theo hadn't thought or dreamt of Brett since right after he turned 21. They had been dating for a solid 6 months when Brett moved in with Theo, then dated for a few years afterward. On their last anniversary, Derek invited them to the bar for a few free celebratory drinks. Naturally, they were happy to oblige. It was low-key for several reasons, one of which being that Malia wasn't old enough to serve alcohol yet.

This brought on the conversation of needing more help in the bar. Theo was close to being 21, and so was Malia. However, Theo couldn't risk anything by being underage serving drinks, and neither could Derek. He just waited tables for now. However, as soon as Theo was to turn 21, he would become Derek's number one bartender. Their anniversary celebration was also a promotion celebration. Theo was going to get paid more so he could be able to afford his and Brett's needs while Brett finished high school. Derek asked Brett if he knew anyone who was at least 18 who could take over Theo's shifts when he tended bar. Basically, trying to give him an unofficial interview. It was against his better judgement, but he did it for Theo.

Derek let Brett in the bar once during Theo's shift, under very strict supervision, to see if it would work; him working with Theo. Normally, Derek didn't mix work with relationships. It caused drama in a bar. Theo had become bartender at this point, so this would be Brett's trial run. Neither Brett, nor Theo was aware of it at the time. Theo just knew Derek and Peter had agreed to set up an interview with no word on when.

When Theo started getting big tips from bartending, Brett felt a need to attend Theo's shifts more regularly, causing Theo's tips to be in the negative, as Brett started causing problems with other patrons. It wasn't all at once, but within the first few weeks, Brett started making the other customers feel uncomfortable. It got where he'd started getting hostile towards anyone who approached Theo and it even got to violence. Theo was having to pay for the damages and Derek and Peter had decided Brett was a liability and banned him. He was still technically a minor, so what was the big deal?

One night Theo found that the big deal was Brett's jealous rage issue. Brett was drunk and when Theo came home from his shift, he was excited to tell his boyfriend about the big tips he'd gotten that night. His boyfriend wasn't on the same level of excitement. Brett had asked what he did to earn them. What he did to make these people pay to feel so damn special. He accused Theo of prostituting himself. Then he threw things and tried to hit Theo and when Theo thought Brett was finally calming down, it was like it was a trick.

By the end of it, Brett had abused and raped Theo. He wanted Theo to feel ugly and damaged and ultimately to quit his job. Two nights went by, and Theo wasn't at work. He wasn't at home either. Derek had tried to check in on him after the third missed night. Brett apologized the morning after Theo left, but it was the apology that made Theo understand that he'd let Brett get away with far too many things over the past years. Theo did things he didn't agree with for the sake of keeping Brett happy. He stopped even caring what made himself happy for the sake of Brett. It only took three years to completely lose himself. Three years was a very short, yet very long time for people become versions of themselves that they never wanted to become. Versions they are strongly against. All it takes is for someone to lie beautifully enough, and it will turn an absolute saint into a monster. After all, we all have a story with someone's pretty promises.

He no longer wanted to be a prisoner in his relationship.