New Beginnings

5: Bad Memories

"Liam."

"Mmf," grumbled Liam blearily, curling into his warm, soft pillow. He liked his pillow, he'd just stay here, thank you very much, he didn't want to wake up.

"Liam." His pillow moved, and Liam's head abruptly fell into Theo's lap.

"Asshole," he grumbled at Theo.

"Don't blame me, you've got school." Theo pointed at Mason and Corey.

"You do too, or have you forgotten?" demanded Liam. "The deal with my dad - and how could you let me sleep? Nolan's literally in there unconscious!"

"Actually, he's awake," chimed in Mason. "And he's got Argent with him. Apparently Argent's got a spare room for Nolan."

"I did not see that coming," admitted Liam.

"Come on, we're going to be late," said Corey, earning a death glare from Liam. "Someone had to say it!" protested Corey.

"I'll drive Liam," Theo yawned, and Liam frowned at him. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Not really, considering a certain little wolf woke me up at four in the morning to try and drive my truck - you're a terrible thief, by the way - and then fell asleep on the crook of my neck," Theo said, cracking his neck to prove his point. "But I'm fine."

"I'm sorry," muttered Liam. "Fine, let's go."

Mason nodded. "Now, chop, chop, everybody!"

"Shut up, Mason."

Everyone stared at Theo as he emerged from his pickup truck, likely because there were plenty of people who remembered what he had done. And also, Liam thought, because everyone knew Liam Dunbar was a werewolf, and so the ones who didn't know what Theo had done assumed he was, too.

That, of course, and he was hot.

Shut up, Liam, he cursed himself.

Natalie Martin frowned at Theo as he walked into the office. "You are extremely lucky," Lydia's mother informed the nineteen-year-old, briefly taking off her glasses to glare at Theo. "You've got all your old classes, just try not to kill anyone this time."

Theo rolled his eyes and walked back out to meet Liam. "Well, Natalie still hates me," he informed Liam.

"Sorry," muttered Liam as they walked into AP Biology together.

"Mr. Dunbar," the teacher called on him, and Liam blinked. Shit. "Um, four?" he tried, exhausted, before realizing that that was Calculus.

Dammit.

"Sorry," he muttered to the teacher, who frowned at him disapprovingly.

Lunch was hardly any better. All Liam could think about was Nolan's empty chair, and he spent the entirety of lunch staring at it. Theo sat beside him, studying Liam intensely.

"You weren't paying attention in Biology or Spanish," Theo informed Liam finally.

"I know," Liam sighed.

"Nolan's going to be okay."

"Yeah, but it's my fault he got hurt in the first place!" Liam was about to shift, and Theo seemed to sense it. Quickly, he grabbed onto Liam's hand, which was curling into itself in preparation for his claws coming out.

And Liam stopped, and Mason watched in shock.

"Theo," mumbled Liam. "I don't wanna go to school."

"Yeah, but your dad will kill you if you don't," Theo reminded him. "And more importantly, he'll kill me."

Liam raised an eyebrow. "So your life is more important than mine?"