Chapter Text
Liam let his arm dangle from the window. As the truck picked up speed, he waved it through the air resistance. He caught the driver’s eye in the rearview and grinned.
Theo smiled back, shaking his head.
Inadvertently, Liam’s grin grew wider. Months ago even small moments like this would’ve been unheard of. It took weeks to thaw from the terror the Anuk-ite that sank into the town’s bones. Even now, each smile felt like a hard-won victory. Let alone from Theo of all people.
“That’ll be fifteen dollars,” Theo remarked as he parked. He grabbed both their backpacks while Liam grabbed his lacrosse bag from the backseat.
“Put it on my tab, Mr. Chauffeur.” Liam shoved him. They crossed the parking lot together into the school until they paused at Liam’s locker.
“Okay, Bigshot.” Theo nudged him back. “Should I wait for you back here after Chemistry, sir?”
Liam shut the door and leaned against the other lockers. “I’ve got lacrosse. I’ll catch a ride with Corey or Brett.”
The other boy didn’t say anything. He was close enough Liam had to tilt his head back to see him raise an eyebrow - something that would’ve irked Liam more had it been someone else.
“Don’t worry, I should be back before Scott and everyone else get here. Should have plenty of time to help set up, unless you want to decorate for their welcome back party all by yourself?” Liam grabbed his backpack from Theo and their fingers brushed.
“Decorating and parties are my favorite things. You know me so well.” Theo sounded dead serious, making Liam laugh. “See you in Chem.”
Slinging his backpack on, Theo bumped Liam’s shoulder as he passed behind him. The bell rang a moment later and Liam’s heart pounded for more than one reason.
During lunch, Liam caught up with Mason. They shared the next two classes together and the last one of the day with Corey and Theo.
The latter was a very popular subject with his best friend.
“So did you ask him to be your date to the Welcome Home party?” Mason probed.
Liam made a face - partly at his friend and at the gray sludge the lunch lady scooped on his tray. “Dude, tonight’s about our reunion. It’s been a while since all of us have been together, even Derek’s coming back."
His best friend looked unimpressed. “There’s always going to be a good excuse to not say anything. Bro, just tell Theo you’re nuts about him. You guys can go from being miserable pining idiots to being cute together and making everyone else miserable. And so Corey can owe me $20.”
Mason kept up his needling through lunch, and with hushed whispers and pointed expressions in AP History.
Liam pulled him aside before their next class. “Listen, tonight’s for the pack. Nothing else, ok?” Mason rolled his eyes but said nothing as they walked into lab together. They sat at their lab table and immediately spun around to talk to Corey. His tablemate smiled briefly and continued doodling in her notebook.
“Hey babe,” Corey smiled warmly. He leaned forward to kiss his boyfriend until the annoyance melted off Mason’s face. “Hi, Liam.”
“You ready for practice?”
“Dude, you know Coach will still probably take us on a run through the forest in this rain.” Corey groaned.
A hand curled around the back of his neck. Liam leaned into the familiar touch and looked up at Theo. “Don’t worry boys. Just imagine me and Mason safe and dry with the pack, that’ll keep you warm.”
“We’ve still got to set up,” Liam reminded him.
Theo’s thumb rubbed his nape in slow circles. “Right.”
Liam beamed. “This weekend will be so epic.” Mason and Corey nodded in agreement just before the teacher Mrs. Strucker entered the room. Theo’s hand dropped away from Liam as he headed to his own lab table.
The desk Liam shared with Mason was right in the center of the room. Theo’s was two rows ahead and to the left, closer to the window. No more than fifteen feet away, within human hearing distance. Not that it mattered.
Liam’s small fraction of the pack spent many a lecture whispering, lips barely moving as they concocted plans to save the very people sitting right next to them. Corey, Theo and Liam’s enhanced hearing made it easy; Liam jotting important notes for Mason while never taking his eyes off the board. During long stretches of peace like this, the stories on their lips buzzed with less urgency.
“Have you guys heard more about the mysterious date Derek’s bringing tonight?” Mason questioned.
“Still can’t believe everyone’s bringing a date to this thing,” Liam whined.
“Good evening, everyone. I hope you all remember the experiment I mentioned before we let out yesterday.” Mrs. Strucker said. “I want us to start researching Monday, but I’ll be giving you time at the end of class today to pick your partners.”
Liam dramatically dropped his head against the table. A few people over to him at the sound, including Nolan who sat by Theo.
“Relax,” Mason said. “Just go with Theo.”
“Yea, right. That’d never work.” While Liam did well in english and history, Theo’s strengths were math and science. They were both content to coast by in subjects outside of their interests, and didn’t do well picking up the other’s slack. It didn’t translate well in partnering together.
Corey snorted. “They nearly killed each other last time.” Liam barely heard, distracted by a glance from Theo. They barely made eye contact before the other boy snapped his focus back to the front.
Despite everything, Liam half-expected Theo to come join him by the end of class anyway. Instead, he walked out the door without looking back at Liam again.
All through practice Theo stayed on Liam’s mind. That wasn’t new, except for the worry shadowing his thoughts. He and Corey finished their run first and showered quickly. They changed and climbed in Corey’s car and were on their way to Scott’s in no time at all.
Luckily only one of their guests had arrived so far. Lydia was perched on a chair as she directed Theo and Mason’s decorating attempts. Liam and Corey immediately joined in to make sure she didn’t have to lift a finger.
It was an entire hour later that Liam was able to catch up with Theo as they were sent to the kitchen to bring out sodas.
“How was practice?” Theo asked. Nothing seemed off, as far as Liam could tell. He must have misread the tension earlier.
Liam let out a heavy sigh. “Hell.”
“I can tell, you and Corey looked like drowned rats when you came in here.”
“We cleaned up before we came!” Liam argued.
With exaggerated movements, Theo leaned in as if to sniff him. It put them very close together. Liam started shaking his hair out but Theo just playfully ruffled the still damp strands.
“Jerk.”
Someone’s shout interrupted them. The front door slammed shut and there were more cries of surprise. Theo and Liam walked out to find Scott had shown up.
From that point there was a steady stream of people arriving. Excited chatter filled the whole house. Liam didn’t stray far from Theo as they greeted everyone. So many friends clapped a hand against Liam’s shoulder and a few of the girls kissed his cheek. Erica gave him such a tight hug it felt like she was squeezing his ribs. She just latched onto Theo when Stiles’ voice rose above the noise.
“Where’s your mysterious date, Derek?” He waggled his eyebrows.
The beta had an arm around Malia. “She’s not here yet. Her flight was delayed.” He looked at Scott apologetically.
The alpha nodded easily. “Good thing the real party is tomorrow. She’d kill us if we really got started without her.”
Liam shot a questioning look at Mason, who seemed just as confused as he did as to who they were talking about.
“Let’s met back here for an early lunch.” Allison and Boyd did a quick cleanup of the living room.
“Oh thank God, I’m exhausted.” Isaac muttered. A laugh and several agreements rippled through the pack.
Lydia once again took charge, inquiring to make sure everyone had sleeping arrangements. There was room for half the pack to simply crash at Scott’s, while the other half could stay with Derek and ride back over again in the morning.
Given his proximity to Scott’s house, Mason volunteered Liam to host the youngest pack members.
“And you, Theo?” Lydia asked. “Do you have a place to stay tonight?”
Liam paused, already halfway out the door. He’d assumed Theo had stayed close to his side. Instead he turned to see the other boy standing with the Hale cousins.
“Derek’s.” He said easily. “I’ve got my own room and a real bed.”
Okay technically, technically Theo did live with Derek. The few shirts and books that migrated to a drawer in Liam’s room absolutely did not say otherwise.
He didn’t move as Derek’s group pushed past him and watched Theo walk away.