"So..." Theo was never good at awkward silences. "How did you sleep?" He leaned down and gave Liam his coffee.
"I didn't" Liam laughed lightly.
Theo didn't want to, but he had to ask, "Is it my fault?" He couldn't be responsible for someone else's lack of sleep. Not when he knows what it's like to not get sleep.
"Absolutely. It had nothing to do with my drunkenness or my relationship ending right after my birthday. Definitely nothing to do with being in a strange place with a stranger" Liam joked.
"Right. Sorry about that, dude. That sucks" Theo was sincerely sorry for the younger man, but he didn't know what to say. It had been a while since he had been in a relationship, and his own experiences were enough to keep him from it for good.
"Honestly, I think it was for the best. I mean, I loved her... but we've been drifting for a while" Liam said taking a sip of his coffee. The coffee at Theo's was better than any coffee shop. It was the perfect blend of sweet and savory with notes of something he couldn't place. Then the smell. It reminded him of some part of himself he'd lost. It was familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it. It was something that reminded him of his childhood. He savored another warm sip, closing his eyes.
"How long was it?"
"What?"
"Your relationship with this girl" Theo wasn't a great conversationalist, but he wasn't a total prick. He knew this bothered Liam more than he'd tried to let on and while he wasn't one for small talk or emotions, he was a great listener.
"It's been five years. We've been together since we were fifteen. She was the only one I'd ever been with" Liam stared somberly into his coffee cup while Theo tried to hide his guilt.
"Only as in only?" Theo asked him against his better judgement.
"Well, I've had other girlfriends. We broke up a few times in high school, but it was never serious. She was the only one. My first everything" Liam said the last part quietly, as if it would make it go away.
"Wow. I am so sorry. We do not have to talk about this if-"
"No" Liam interrupted "It's ok. Really. Mason will have me talking through my issues anyway and probably going back to Halefire and getting me drunk until I do. It's better if I can at least talk a little bit sober." Liam hoped that a small part of Theo was genuinely interested about his relationship with Hayden. At least since he was virtually impartial. He didn't know Liam enough to choose sides. "I'm sure my problems pale in comparison to what you must hear as a bartender, though"
"It's not quite as much as what I hear at my other jobs, but your problems are of equal importance" Theo replied too casually. Liam tried not to bring up Theo's being a prostitute. It wasn't easy to think of his... acquaintance? like that... Not just because this was someone, he sort of knew... knew of? But just the way the guy is in general. His apartment wasn't like someone who he'd expected to do that sort of thing. It was clean, in a way that was plain and simple. There were very few things on the walls, no pictures that he could see.
Liam couldn't understand it. Theo didn't do drugs... or at least he didn't look like it. He looked extremely healthy. Liam couldn't wrap his mind around it. What made him choose this life?
All of a sudden, his phone buzzes letting Liam know it was at fifteen percent charge. Great. Forgot to plug it in. "Hey, do you have a charger so I can plug in my phone?"
"Yeah here" Theo goes to hand Liam the cord and when their fingers touch, they both jolted at the shock.
"Sorry dude" Theo laughed. "It's a nice enough place for what I pay, as far as looks go, but I've complained about the wiring for months. Some plugs work, some plugs don't and some apparently have Pokémon living in them" Theo huffed a laugh. He knew Liam was judging his home and his sex-working. It's part of why people didn't get invited home. He'd been through this. Even Corey hasn't seen his place.
"It's ok. Just surprised me" Liam tried not to make Theo feel bad. It really wasn't a big deal. He didn't want Theo to feel judged.
Theo knew Liam was being passive. He knew Liam didn't want him to feel like he thought he was inferior "well it isn't supposed to happen so why would you expect it?"
Liam was starting to feel embarrassed and a little awkward. He didn't want to be there. He felt like he was saying the wrong thing even when he wasn't saying anything. Feeling useless and embarrassed. That was all he was going to do. Another buzz from his phone answered his prayers, but not in the best way. It was a text from his manager asking if he'd come in on his day off since they were short-staffed. I sooo don't wanna do that bullshit... Liam sighed, and Theo asked him if he was ok.
"Yeah, they are just asking me if I can come in today and I'm supposed to be off."
"Man, you're high-demand" Theo laughed lightly at his comment while Liam is debating.
"I'm honestly not wanting to. I need the money for books when the term starts, and my parents' house isn't free, contrary to popular belief. I still pay them rent and I still have to pay bills. Like I
said when you stayed over, it's a pretty big house for just one person"
"Why don't you get a roommate?" Theo wasn't wrong in asking. Liam had asked Hayden and Mason, but it made things weird. It made him not really want a roommate after that. He was still skeptical about rooming with Mason when the term starts, but he had to get out from under his parents.
"It's... complicated. I lived with Hayden and Mason at one point, but they stopped getting along for some reason." Liam couldn't figure the exact moment when, but he knew it was after they all moved in together. He didn't want to feel any of that towards someone he would be sharing a home with.
"Mason moved out to be on campus with Scott and Stiles and Hayden..." Liam didn't know what to say about her moving out. He didn't know why. She wanted them to have space from each other sometimes, and he would give her that. Then... she wanted to live together and then suddenly she didn't... "Hayden didn't know what she wanted... at least... she couldn't make it clear to me." Liam sighed but he wasn't that upset. Maybe it would happen later. When he was alone.
"I get it. Women are complicated. People in general. That's why I don't date... or have many friends" This got Liam's interest piqued. This was new. Theo had told him personal things, his biggest secret, but it was basically only because he thought he'd already been introduced into a situation. He hadn't told him information on his own accord. He didn't see why Theo didn't date, however. Especially didn't see how he didn't have friends. He didn't buy into Theo's tough guy act.
He wasn't super hard to get along with or anything. He was appealing. Liam had pretty much clicked with Theo automatically, even though both times they hung out Liam happened to be inebriated. It still counts. He thought Theo should have a girlfriend and definitely should have more friends. That didn't make sense to him either. The girlfriend thing made sense to some extent because he was a prostitute. It would be hard to have a relationship with that. But friends?
"How is that even possible? I mean, you're-" Liam gestured his arms up and down Theo's body as if to say he was an Adonis before he continued his thought "my friend Mason is in love with your-" Liam tried not to be cringey, but it was happening "everything. How could you not have women lining up? And I KNOW you have friends. I've been informed that Corey is in fact your best friend."
Theo cracked a smirk and huffed a small laugh "I never said I didn't have friends." Theo knew it was a lie. That was exactly what he said to Liam before. He'd never discussed his dating, however. "And lots of people want to date me, as I'm sure they do with you... and your friend Mason... BUT... I'm just not interested. The only desire I have, is the desire to keep my bills paid."
"My door doesn't swing that way, in case you wanted to know" Theo said with a wink. A cocky smirk on his face as he walked back to the kitchen to put his mug in the sink and then walked to his room, Liam sitting dumbfounded and red-faced. Liam trailed behind Theo as he was walking all over the room picking his clothes out for the day; mouth gaping open.
"Wait. You're GAY?!"
"Umm... yes...?"
"HOW?! and what do you mean in case I wanted to know?!"
"Excuse me?" Theo was completely lost because to his knowledge, Liam's best friend was dating (or at least sleeping with) Corey.
"How are you gay?"
Theo sighed and rolled his eyes. He turned to Liam and looked him dead in the face "Well, when a man and a man love each other-"
"Oh my god NOT what I meant! I've heard enough from Mason to understand ALL the ins and outs of that" Liam cut him off because 1. he already knew and 2. his face was turning red again... and it was embarrassing. "What I mean is... you don't... seem gay..."
"I've literally told you I've had sex with men" Theo was pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"Yeah but-" Liam didn't want to continue, but he wanted to explain "I thought it was just... you know, because you were getting paid to." Liam looked at the floor.
Theo squinted with a raised eyebrow "First of all, I'm definitely going to comment about your 'ins and outs' comment at a later date. Second of all, just because I don't eat glitter and rainbows doesn't mean you're allowed to stereotype me. You'd be surprised how many people that come across as wholesome yet will shell out thousands of dollars for a prostitute. Some of most 'straight and narrow' of men, even homophobic in the public eye, want a big hard co-"
"I get it thanks" Liam interrupted, slightly flushed.
Theo smirked "Like I told you before, don't judge a book."
"Why did you say, 'in case you wanted to know'?"
"What"
"When you told me you were gay, you said in case I wanted to know. Why?"
"In case you wanted to know" Theo eyed Liam with a cocky grin "obviously."
"I told you already. I'm not gay."
"You sure aren't" Theo laughed walking out the room.
Liam asked if Theo would take him to work but he still felt like he had put his foot in his mouth again. Theo was being nice, but Liam tried not to talk about his prostituting. He really hadn't known Theo was gay. He and Mason were so different about. So was anyone else he'd ever known. It's not as bad now as it used to be. People could be proud and out openly. Even in places like Alabama or Texas, where they seem behind the times (if Facebook memes are anything to go by anyway). The ride to the hotel was silent as Liam thought about how he's possibly offended his new friend.
Liam didn't mean to upset Theo. He didn't judge. He honestly just agreed that there was more to Theo than meets the eye. He went to work that afternoon and felt sick. It was a budding something-ship that Liam definitely ruined. The worst part was that he was feeling so sorry and guilty over it that he completely forgot about his phone at Theo's and this night was ridiculous.
He barely had time to go to the bathroom, let alone call his phone and see if Theo could bring it to him. Hopefully he'll just happen upon it and bring it to him. Maybe he had plans. Liam didn't even consider that. Theo works two jobs. Maybe even more.
"Hey gorgeous" a voice broke him out of his thoughts. Liam stood there stunned. He was used to men and woman drunkenly flirting with him at his job. It was pretty much a guarantee. Never had it been anyone so... pretty? Was that the right word? The man smiled at him, the same cocky smile that Theo had, but it was also different. This had a devilish undertone to it.
The man cleared his throat and Liam was brought out of his thoughts yet again. "Look, I'd love to just stand here and look at you all night, but I am going to need a room eventually" the man winked, and Liam blushed and turned to the computer, suddenly remembering what he was supposed to be doing.
"How long will you be staying sir" Liam swallowed hard. He was determined not to look at the man. It was very confusing for him.
"Oh god I don't look old do I?"
"Oh- I just-"
"It's ok" he laughed it off causing Liam to laugh a nervous laugh in response. " Anyway. That's undetermined, but at least three weeks."
"Alright. Will you have company here with you?" The man laughed, but it was more in the way of trying to get Liam's attention. It didn't work.
He leaned in toward Liam and spoke low, making Liam have to focus when he heard him say "Why? Are you offering?"
Liam's head snapped up at the man. Why did he say it like that? The man looked at him with this intense desire and it was strange to Liam. Dangerous even. What's this guy's deal? Why is he trying so hard to flirt?
Liam had only thought about it once; being with another man. It was something Mason brought up about the time he and Hayden started fighting a lot. He, being Mason. It wasn't a serious conversation. It was just when they were watching Magic Mike and Liam got lost with the plot. It was actually deeper than Liam gave it credit for, but at the same time, he was a little sad about it. That's when Mason had mentioned the idea of Liam ever being with a guy. Celebrities. No one they knew because that would be weird.
His logic being that he shouldn't tie himself down to Hayden when they were so young. Mason thought that Liam hadn't had enough experiences to truly know who he was because all he's ever known was who he was with her. Now, looking back on it, Mason was right. He only knew himself with Hayden. They were never 'Liam' or 'Hayden... They were always 'LiamandHayden'. Like it was one word and not like they were a couple.
Now, however, this- "Brett Talbot" the man said.
"I'm sorry?" Liam seriously needed a break, and his manager Erica was nowhere to be found.
"My name. Brett Talbot" he pointed to the screen; Liam felt like an idiot "right".
Brett just looked at him with the same intense gaze as the one he had when he got there. Smiling hungrily, he just states "You must be under sooome kind of stress" he eyed him up and down. Well... at least he understood. Liam just nodded. The man known as Brett finally got through his check-in and Liam finally got his break.
He started roaming the hotel lobby when a familiar voice called out to him "Liam!" the voice said,
and as he turned, he saw Theo bringing his cell phone.
"Oh my god! THANK YOU!" He said very much dramatically, as if he'd literally been seconds away from dying without it.
"Yeah, I thought you might need it. It's been blowing up by the way. You're still a high demand man" Theo said with a laugh. Small, but genuine.
"I didn't read your messages, don't worry" Theo laughed, which made Liam feel like that was suspicious.
"Well, I wasn't worried until you said that". Interesting. He actually didn't. Liam thought as he chatted with Theo during his break. It had been so long before he was able to get a break that now was his lunch. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier" Liam said. "I don't want you to feel like I was judging you in any way or-"
"Liam, it's ok. I don't. Your best friend and my best friend are doing it like 24/7. I know you're not homophobic" Theo raised an eyebrow at him and patted his arm reassuringly.
"Yes but-"
"Hey gorgeous" the man known as Brett interrupted them. He eyed Liam up and down and then Theo, who visibly tensed. "Beautiful night, isn't it?" The man looked at the sky and then at Theo.
Theo clenched his jaw then answered, "I'm more of a morning person, myself." Theo then turned to Liam "I'd better be going. Don't want to keep you from work. Call me if you need anything" and he left. There was an intense aura about Theo tonight. He said he wasn't mad, but he seemed like something was bothering him. That was weird. Call him if I need anything? Well, it was normal among friends, he'd guessed.
"Who was that guy" the nice voice broke him from his musings.
"That's my friend, Tyler" he remembered that Theo said to use his alias around people.
"Huh. Doesn't look like a Tyler to me" the man laughed and then Liam defended him in the only way he knew how "Yeah, well... You can't judge a book." Liam walked off from Brett and Brett grinned widely, looking at the space Theo had occupied. So, he's going with Tyler now? What a basic bitch. Brett laughed under his breath and went back towards his room.