Chapter 33
Theo:
"Freedom!" Nolan, Mason's friend from one of his classes, screamed as we left the school. Hayden followed behind him laughing. "Dude, I am so happy that this school year is over. I can't wait to hit the beach." he said, excitedly as he skipped along beside us.
"Is that where you are headed?" Mason asked.
"Nah, not today. I have to pick up my little sister in a few hours. What are you guys up to?"
'We are actually on our way out of town in a few hours. Kind of like an end of the year celebration." I answered.
We were headed to the Lakehouse as soon as Scott and the rest of the gang were done. Seniors and Juniors had an assembly thing for a couple of hours. Kind of like passing the torch to the new seniors from the ones graduating this coming weekend. Underclassmen were allowed to leave early, right after fourth period and before lunch.
"Seriously? That's cool. Wish I could do something like that, but where would I go?" Nolan shrugged. "What about you cutie, where are you headed?" he asked Hayden with a wink. She blushed, ducking her head.
"I'm actually going to head to the arcade, they have a new machine set up, but they've been keeping it a secret. It's supposed to be unveiled today."
"Arcade, yes. That sounds awesome. Can I join you?"
"Uhm, yeah sure if you want. The unveiling isn't for another hour, but they have a food court, so I was going to grab a chili dog and hang out and wait." She shrugged.
"Chili dog, oh that sounds good with a Strawberry shake. Yes please." Nolan moaned. She giggled and nodded. I looked at Liam who was smirking.
"Okay, let's go. see you guys in September. Have a great summer." Hayden told us with a wave.
"Mason, I'll give you call. We should hang out this summer." Nolan said, giving him a fist bump.
"Definitely. Have fun guys." Mason told them. We watched as Nolan casually dropped his arm around Hayden's shoulders as they walked off.
"Oh, now that's a romance waiting to happen." Liam snorted. I chuckled in agreement.
"Right." Mason agreed, his eyes straying over to Corey standing by Liam's car lost in a book waiting for us.
Parrish got Corey signed up for school. he was tested to see if he qualified for sophomore status like Liam and Mason. He was only a couple of classes short on that, so he was taking summer classes that started in a couple of weeks. Today he decided to tag along with us and spend the time we were in classes in the library.
He looked up and smiled when he saw us approach and I swear I heard Mason's breath catch.
"You so already have it bad." I told him. he rolled his eyes and shrugged.
"Hey guys. How was classes?" Corey asked, shutting his book.
"Pointless." Liam sighed. "all we did was spend time talking to our friends while the teachers finished packing up their stuff."
"What book are you reading?" I asked him, nodding to his hand. He shrugged sheepishly.
"Computer Programming for Dummies. Found it in the library and sounded interesting. Thought I would check it out." he said downplaying it.
"You like computers?" Mason asked.
"Yeah, love them. I can do some stuff but wanted to learn more about them." He shrugged again.
"I love computer too, well anything tech related really. You should come over sometime. My computer has these amazing graphics. Maybe I can help you learn some stuff." Mason offered.
"that'd be great, thanks." Corey nodded with a slight hint of red in his ears.
"Let's get out of here. I'm starving. And someone confiscated my candy." Liam said, glaring at me as he opened up the car.
"Your teeth are going to rot out of your head." I told him, rolling my eyes.
"That's why I have fangs." He countered.
Shaking my head, I got in the car.
"Why did I agree to drive this time?" Liam asked, starting the car.
"Because I don't want to spend an hour in the car with you and Theo making out in the backseat." Mason answered.
"That's fair." Liam sighed pulling out of the lot.
"Would they really do that?" Corey asked.
"You mean, have they really done that, and the answer is yes. Multiple times." Mason answered.
"In my defense, Theo usually starts it." Liam stated.
'I would love to argue, but its true." I said.
"Have you tried the spray bottle method?" Corey asked.
"Hey." Liam said. I turned in my seat to look at my brother.
"Whose side are you on?" I asked.
"The funny side." he shrugged.
"I am so doing that next time." Mason laughed.
Corey and Mason fell into their own conversation, and I loved hearing my brother laugh, even if it was at my expense since Mason decided that stories about me and Liam were warranted. I reached over and placed a hand on Liam's leg. He smiled then reached down and clasped it.
These last two weeks, as peaceful as they had been, was full of activity. Liam has been spending a lot of time teaching me different things about being a wolf with some help from the others, but they really did let him take the lead on it. Parrish, Corey, and I sat down and set up ground rules for living together. Parrish said he didn't really want to fill the dad role and would rather be more of a big brother type, but we still had curfew and chores. He took us to get new phones set up then had the others destroyed.
We both finally had ID's. We decided to keep the last name we were given despite where it came from and even though we knew our original last name before we were kidnapped, the first time. The information Peter got from Hardgrove was that he knew who our biological parents were and what happened to them. Phillip and Rachel Turner were killed the same night we were taken, the house was set on fire with them still inside and apparently the bodies of two little boys. Neither of us wanted to know where they came from, fearing it was another family destroyed by Gerard and Simon or Valack or whoever.
Valack, aside from being Alec's parents' doctor was also our parents doctor. Hardgrove was a part of the group that took us from them. He didn't know why he was instructed to do so only that he was, and he followed Gerard's instructions to the letter, never questioning him. There was more learned, but it was something he said he would go over with everyone at some point. Scott said if it wasn't urgent that we hold off on it for a few weeks. Let everyone just relax for a while.
Corey and I decided to just keep Raeken as a last name because it was all we knew and though we wanted to honor our real parents who died needlessly it seemed, we didn't want to change it. we have had enough change as of lately. But Parrish found a way for us to honor them more subtly.
My fingers reached up to pull out the silver dog tags with our parents name and dates of birth and death on them, the other side just simply said 'never forgotten'. He got both Corey and I a set. It was a thoughtful gift, and we were both grateful he did it.
I took, well Scott, Liam, Mason, and I took Corey to meet Derek and Braeden officially. its where Peter told us about our parents. We also told Corey about what I remembered as far as when we were taken, and he panicked at learning what Gerard and Simon- Valack, I really need to remember that, did to Cora and how the same might have happened to him. He ended up disappearing, which made me panic cause I didn't know where he had gone. He hadn't left the loft, but he had moved from his seat next to me on the couch. It was Mason that found him, we still don't know how he did that. He was able to calm Corey down enough to reappear.
That was a tough day. And to end it on a high note we ended up at Liam's place, where we were met with the rest of the group, for a movie night. We were almost talked into watching Star Wars only because Corey had never seen it and said it sounded interesting. But since that whole thing was so long and the order was a bit confusing we promised when we had more time would watch it. Stiles pouted at being thwarted but Malia kissed it out of him.
Allison has been quieter than usual, and she was still clinging to Isaac. I wanted to ask about it because I was worried but didn't think she wanted to talk about it. I think it had something to do with Kate. I did see Scott pull him aside and overheard him asking if she was okay. Isaac said she was just dealing with something right now, but she would be. Scott left it alone and the rest of us followed his lead I think. We had all noticed how she had been.
Liam pulled into the lot of the small diner we went to for our first date. I couldn't help but grin at him. he says I'm the sweet one then he does things like this. I leaned over and kissed him as soon as he parked.
We all hopped out and was greeted as soon as we walked in by our waitress from before.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite couple. I guess that first date worked out real nice for you two." She smiled sweetly at us.
"Yes ma'am it did." I told her.
"none of that ma'am mess. You call me Betsy. And who do we have here, another couple?" she asked.
"uh…" I glanced at a blushing Corey and an embarrassed Mason. "This is my brother Corey and this our friend Mason. We are celebrating the last day of school. thought we would come here for those amazing burgers."
"I see. Well did you want that room again?"
"No, out here is fine, we're waiting for friends." Liam told her.
She nodded, grabbed some menus, and waved to us to follow. She sat us at a table almost in the middle of the room.
"You all take your time. I'll bring some waters while you look over the menu." She said walking away.
"This is where you guys came for your first date?" Corey asked.
"Yeah, it was kind of a double date thing with Stiles and Malia." Liam answered.
"Why a double date for the first date?"
"I wasn't out yet, but I wanted a date. So, Stiles and Malia agreed to double with us. There's a room off in the back that's closed off from the rest of the restaurant so that's where they placed us. It was nice though, having privacy.
"That's cool. I'm glad you guys were able to have that. Mason showed me the video in the car of when you came out. That was awesome. Theo looked like he lost braincells with that kiss." Corey laughed.
"I totally did. it was a hell of a kiss." I said remembering.
"Yeah it was." Liam agreed. I could see the blush creeping up and leaned over to kiss the side of his head.
"Why do you still have that video?" Liam asked Mason.
"To show Corey." He stated matter-of-factly.
"Seriously?" I chuckled.
"yeah, I figured that once we were able to get him out he would want to get caught up on you and what all has been going on. Why did you think I was videoing everything all the time?"
"I honestly had no clue what you were doing." I said shaking my head.
Lunch went fast and was fun. Corey wanted to try so many different things. Being locked away for so long and then pretty much being in hiding the last few months at least he hadn't had a chance to eat many things. Mason offered to split a few items with him so he could try them without committing. I am so living for this romance.
We ended up having story time while we ate. Telling Corey things that have happened over the course of the last year. He cracked up at the Mandy story. Along with the story of Liam threatening Johnson, who still went by Jetson in my head.
I had my arm around Liam, while he leaned into me. I loved when he got cuddly, and this was about as PG as we could get in public. Glancing outside I could see Lydia and Allison pull in. I guess the assembly was over. Just as they were walking up through the door an older couple approached us.
"Excuse me young man." An older couple stopped at our table, looking sternly at me and Liam. Oh boy. I saw the group stop before approaching us. It was a common practice that they wait and see how things played out before interfering.
"Yes sir, how can we help you?" I asked politely.
"You can stop acting inappropriately in public, is what you can do." He scolded.
'I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that we were."
"We saw you kiss him earlier." The man barked.
"You shouldn't be-." The woman started but was cut off by Liam. I could hear Malia growl and Stiles physically grab her to hold her back. Scott and Isaac doing the same to Lydia and Allison who both looked just as pissed.
"I'm sorry. Respectfully, I'm going to ask you to keep your opinions to yourself. Me and my boyfriend have done nothing inappropriate. I'm sorry that you feel bothered but what we do is none of your concern. You two have a nice day." Liam said with a forced smile.
I think our friends all breathed a sigh of relief as they continued to make their way over to us. Everyone knew part of the reason Liam had been so worried about being out in public as a couple was because he wasn't sure if he could handle the looks and comments about us together. But he honestly did an amazing job of politely telling them to f off.
"Well-."
"George, Martha you leave these boys alone. we have told you before we don't support bigotry here. they are not bothering anyone. you get along now. We will see you next week for the lunch special. Tuesday is your favorite, meatloaf." Betsy, my favorite person ever said with a tray in hand. "Go on now. Shoo."
Huffing the old couple left the diner.
"Betsy, you are my new favorite person. If I weren't gay I would court you." I told her. she giggled.
"Well, aren't you a little charmer." She said reaching over and pinching my cheek. "Here, I got you boys a treat, on the house."
Liam's eyes lit up when Betsy brought out two giant sundaes and set them in front of us.
"Oh, you gave him sugar. That's not a good sign." Stiles sighed taking a seat at the table next to ours.
Liam:
Sitting on the dock with Mason, we watched Theo chase his brother around the lake laughing. As soon as we all got settled in our usual rooms, Corey blushed when he realized he and Mason would share the pull-out couch- this was going to be so much fun to watch, we decided to all just wonder off for a while before dinner. Stiles and Malia sitting on the porch making out, of course. Scott and Lydia took a walk with Isaac and Allison, which I think has more to do with whatever was going on with Allison then anything else.
The four of us were supposed to just be sitting on the deck but Corey started teasing his brother and now they were acting like two 10-year-olds and Mason, and I were just watching the show.
Seeing Theo completely relaxed warmed me. The worry that had been there for months for his brother was gone. Mason and I laughed as Theo leaped and tackled Corey and they went rolling down a slope and into the edge of the lake.
"Did you ever think this time last year that our lives would be so completely different?" Mason asked out of the blue. I laughed loudly.
'Dude, I didn't even know this life existed last year. This whole year has been so freaking surreal. All the monster movies we watched as kids, who knew they were actually real. And there was no way I ever thought we would be a part of it." I chuckled.
"You are a part of it. I am still human, remember?"
"No, you're pack. Doesn't matter if you are human or not. You have been involved right along with me almost from the beginning, which makes you a part of it. Besides did you really think I wouldn't drag you along for the ride?"
"True." He snorted. "I don't know though. Sometimes it feels like I am on the outside looking in."
"Never. You really don't know how valuable you are. Not just to me either. It was you that saved Corey, remember? and you helped me learn control, just like Stiles helped Scott. I'm sure he has had the same feelings, and you see how valuable he is, even as a human."
"Yeah, but Stiles has Scott and Malia. He's supernatural by proxy."
"True, but you have me and, if you play your cards right, a curly haired cutie with a wicked grin… that is currently wrestling with my boyfriend and by the looks of it trying to drown him." I snickered. "Corey, he has to breath at some point." I yelled, shaking my head.
"Fine, fine." He yelled back letting Theo up and backed away giggling.
"He is cute, isn't he?" Mason said, grinning and watching as Corey dodged another tackle then disappeared only to reappear behind Theo.
"This is going to be so much fun." I told him, watching him watch them.
"You are so going for payback for when you and Theo first got together, aren't you?" he groaned.
"Absolutely." I nodded.
"Well, you may be waiting a while for that." He sighed.
"Why do you say that?"
"Just a feeling." He shrugged. I raised a brow at him. "Okay, a few feelings. One, I know Theo said he doesn't think Corey is straight, but we don't know that for sure and even if he's not straight, there's nothing saying that I'm his type."
"There's also nothing saying you're not his type."
"True. But also, he spent years locked away and months on the run. He's still adjusting. As cute as I think he is and as sweet and funny. I'm not sure he's ready for that yet. I don't want to push. He should take time to adjust."
"I get it. But I'm going to repeat your words back to you when Theo and I were having issues. Shouldn't that be his decision? He may or may not be ready. But that's something only he can decide. I hope you don't push him away just because of that."
"I knew that would bite me in the ass one day. And yeah you're right. It is his decision."
"I do think he likes you though. All the blushing is a good indicator as you well know." I said bumping his shoulder.
"Yeah, but that's another thing. If he does like me, does he like me for me or because I helped save him."
"Hero worship." I nodded in understanding. "I don't know. I would like to think it's the former. Maybe talk to Stiles and Malia. I mean Stiles helped save Malia from living as a coyote the rest of her life."
"Maybe I will. Either way, for right now we seem to be building a friendship. If something comes from that then great, but I won't push for more unless I get an indication from him that he wants it."
"I think it will happen and it will be spectacular on video." I grinned. He groaned, again, throwing his head back.
"Yeah, I may be regretting some of the things I said or did now." He huffed. "I'm going to go help Corey attack your boyfriend."
I laughed as he got up and ran around the lake to join them.
"Should I be worried about those two attacking a new wolf?" Scott said from behind me.
"Nah, Theo's pretty chill as far as temperament goes. But I'm listening for him just in case." I told him as he sat next to me.
"He really is the most laid-back wolf I have ever seen. I mean the senses thing I get but he hasn't really had any outburst or anything."
"He usually takes things in stride, doesn't let a lot of things ruffle him." I shrugged. "I've been taking him running after school just to burn of some energy. He's nervous about tomorrow night though. You're going to be with me right?"
"Of course. I don't think there will be issues though. You are doing great with him. I knew you could handle this."
I snorted.
"I feel like I'm just winging it." I told him, making him laugh.
"You are. But I did the same with you. There's no manual for this, any of it. A lot of what we do is 'winging it'. I've been doing it since I was first bitten."
"I'm lucky I have you and everyone else to help me. I couldn't imagine trying to navigate any of this alone."
"I made you a promise when I bit you, never alone." he reminded me. I nodded and smiled at him.
"How are you doing, with everything not just helping Theo?" he asked, and I knew what he was referring to too.
"I'm okay. I mean I still think about it but Theo's good at pulling me back. Usually by distracting me and reminding me that he's fine. I might always feel some guilt over it though." I shrugged.
"Yeah, probably. But don't let it consume you." We both looked over to see Mason falling down laughing as Theo held his brother around the waist swinging him in circles. "Let that image remind you that he's okay and he's happy. That's all that matters."
"Yeah I know. And I love that he has this now. That he has his brother back and can breathe easy. I love that he survived, and I love that we can share this, being a wolf, together. I just have to keep telling myself that what happened doesn't matter because it all worked out."
"You'll get there. It's still too new. But soon it will be like a memory." He said with a squeeze of my shoulder.
New voices and laughter had us turning to see Isaac and Stiles walking down to join us.
"We were unceremoniously kicked out of the house." Stiles told us as they took a seat.
"Girl talk?" I asked.
"No, well probably. But mostly they wanted to start cooking." He answered.
"Cooking?" Theo perked up, hearing us from across the lake. I snorted, rolling my eyes when he dropped his brother and took off for the house.
"Uh, can he cook?" Isaac asked as we watched him disappear inside.
"Yeah, he can cook. Well sort of. He's still learning but apparently he, Malia and Allison have a new obsession with cooking shows, so he's been trying out different things." I told him.
"When did that start?"
"Spring break, I think."
"Is that why Malia keeps yelling BAM, when she salts her food?" Stiles asked.
"Why would she yell BAM?" I asked.
"Emeril Lagasse. One of his shows, or old shows he yelled BAM every time he seasoned something." Isaac answered.
"I don't even want to know how you know that." Stiles said, shaking his head.
"I watched a couple of shows with Allison." Isaac shrugged.
"Did my brother just abandon me to go cook?" Corey said walking up with Mason, both of them taking a seat right next to each other, practically touching.
"Yes he did. I just hope he makes those cupcakes he promised me." I told him.
"He promised you cupcakes?" Mason asked.
"He ate my candy." I exclaimed.
"if you were to bleed right now, would it be Skittles or Reese's Pieces?" Stiles asked.
"Neither. it would be Runts." I answered. The guys cracked up.
Later that night, after dinner and all of us sitting around the porch talking and joking, couples paired off to their rooms and Mason and Corey decided to go sit on the dock again. I was still sitting on the porch staring up at the clear sky that was dotted with millions of stars waiting for Theo who went to grab something. I could hear Mason and Corey laughing but was trying not to listen in on what they were saying.
I watched a star shoot across the sky and tried to think of a wish. But honestly I had everything I needed and even things I didn't even let myself want. I had my dad who has been amazing about everything, my mom was getting there but it was still a work in progress. I had my friends who have shown that they were always going to be there for me. Hell, they risked their lives to save me. and I had Theo. He was someone I never saw coming, that I never thought I would ever have.
My life took a 180 turn when I became a wolf. suddenly I found myself a part of this whole other world and it was scary and stressful. Even though I had Scott and everyone, especially Mason, sometimes I still felt lonely sometimes. Then in comes this cocky, cute, sweet, amazing guy and I no longer felt alone. I no longer felt like I had to watch my every step because he was there to always bring me back. I couldn't love him anymore then I do right now if I tried.
"What are you thinking about?' Theo asked sitting behind me. I leaned back against him, getting a kiss to the top of my head.
"you." I told him.
"What about me?"
"Just about how happy I am. I didn't think we would end up here when we first met." I sighed.
"Tell me about it. between being shot, stabbed, and hunted I never thought we would get to this point. I hoped we would, but it seemed more like a fantasy then anything. So glad I walked you home that day."
"Me too." I laughed.
"So, what brought on this train of thought?" he asked.
"I was just sitting here looking at the stars and I saw a shooting star. I was trying to think of something to wish for but couldn't come up with anything. I have everything I could want right here. I have my dad, friends, and you. what more could I ask for." I shrugged.
"Maybe no more drama for a while." He suggested with a snicker.
"yeah, pretty sure that's not gonna happen. But we have each other, and as long as we have that then nothing else matters. We can survive anything as long as we are together."
"True. And as I keep reminding you, I'm not going anywhere. We will always have each other."
I leaned my head up towards him for a quick kiss.
"I love you, Theo."
"I love you too." he responded with a soft smile.
Both of us turned our attention to the dock when we heard Mason and Corey laughing at something neither of us were paying attention too. Both of them were sitting with their legs hanging over the side, leaning into each other as they talked quietly.
"So, what kind of bet do we want to make about them?" Theo asked. I laughed.
"None. Their story is a given. And I'm pretty sure that it's going to be a slow burn for them."
"Why a slow burn?"
"Just a feeling." I told him, not wanting to spill what Mason told me. he hummed in acknowledgement.
"Hey, Speaking on bets, I never did collect on that one we had about Stiles and Malia." I remembered.
"Well, maybe this can be the reward." He said waving a cupcake with M&M's sprinkled over the top.
"My cupcake. Yes, I knew you wouldn't forget." I smiled taking it from him and picking off a candy, popping it in my mouth. He laughed, loudly.
"Of course not. My sugar addict boyfriend asked me to make him cupcakes, so I was going to make him cupcakes."
Peeling the wrapped I took a big bite and moaned then offered him a bit.
"Thank you." I said finishing it with another huge bite and licking the frosting from my fingers.
"Thank you, for giving us a chance." He said, sweetly.
"The best thing I ever did." I looked up at him and gave him a sugary kiss.
And that concludes Liam and Theo's story. I am so sad to see it end. I fell in love with this couple and their story. I am still working on Isaac and Allison's story because it's a bit more angsty and drama filled then the last three. So, it's not quit done yet. And i am going away for a couple weeks for my birthday and I am not bringing my laptop so it will have to wait for me to finish when I get back. But I will post the first two chapters before i leave today. hopefully that will hold those still reading over.
I really hope you enjoyed this story and can't wait to see what you think of the last two in this series. Happy Holidays everyone.
