Red Lights

Chapter 1

Theo left Beacon Hills, he didn't run away, he just went to the next town. He wanted to be around in case Liam needed him, in case his only friend needed him. But he couldn't bear to be there all the time, the memories of what he had done were too real for him there. So he left. He decided to stay in a small town nearby, somewhere where no one would know him. It was 2 in the morning when he arrived, he was starving so he headed towards the first diner he found at the side of the road. The only people there were the waitress and two men. They were being loud, clearly they were drunk too, and didn't seem to want to pay. For a moment Theo thought about doing something, but the girl seemed to have everything under control, she wasn't scared, he could smell it. So he did nothing. Till one of them placed a hand on her thigh getting close to her ass. It was then that Theo smelled her panic, noticed how she stopped being angry and began to feel scared, so scared that she could no longer move or speak. So he knew he had to help her, not that he cared, but it was something Liam would do and lately he tried to do things the way he would. He slowly got up and approached them with an innocent look on his face and told them to let her go. They laughed, of course they laughed. Men like that tended to underestimate people and their only talent was finding those girls who they knew would not defend themselves. Gross, but that was how life worked.
- Let her go. - he said again, this time with an angry expression. Still they didn't took him sirously.
- Get lost kid, we are having fun.
That was all Theo needed to hear, an excuse to beat the shit out of them. He grabbed the man who was touching her by his elbow and broke it. Before the other man could react, Theo went up to him and punched him in the nose, breaking it. They were about to try to fight him, but since he was tired, and Theo just wanted to get this over with, he showed his yellow eyes to them and only them. They ran.
- Are you okay? I hope I didn't scare you. - Theo said turning to face her, she seemed to be about to cry, but she didn't seem scared anymore. - I would offer to pay for them, but I don't have any money for that, sorry.
- It's fine... Thank you. - she said very slowly and quietly. - What's your name?
- I'm Theo, and you?
- I'm Izzie. - She said while looking at his eyes this time. She noticed Theo's appareance, she could tell he didn't have a home, she could tell he was all alone. - Are you new in town?
- Yes, not sure if I'm staying tho. - he said with a smile, something that was weird for him, because since when did he smiled at people he didn't know? Since when did he get involved?
- Okay... I dont know if I should say this or not, but you just saved me so... if you have nowhere to stay, you can stay with me tonight. As a thank you. I dont mind.
Theo knew people tended to feel grateful to others who helped them, but he never felt it before. He couldn't believe that a girl that was about to be abused just asked him to stay with her without knowing him. Was she stupid? Or was she just... good? Both were an option too. Theo knew she was human, so there was no need to control his heartbeat and his chemosignals. When he said yes, he felt his cheeks turn red for the first time in ages and he realized that he couldn't have controlled that even if he wanted to.
She smiled and she seemed relieved that he said yes. Maybe she was scared those men would come back and she would be all alone. Izzie told him her shift ended at 3 am, so he would have to wait for her to be over. Theo didn't mind, it wasn't like he had anything to do. He watched her clean the whole place and by 3 she was done with it. Izzie smiled happily, knowing she could now go to sleep, Saturdays where the days with the longest shift and she hated it so much. But it was over now and she could go. Go home with Theo. That thought made her blush, she tried to pretend she didn't notice how hot he was, she didn't want him to get the wrong idea. Izzie just wanted to do something nice for the guy who helped her. She wasn't thinking about hooking up with him, no, not at all. She kept blushing. And Theo thought that even without his werewolf sense he could tell what was in her mind. But neither of them were going to do something about it, she was too shy and he was tired, ending a war wasn't that easy after all.
- I'm done, so we can go upstairs now. - Izzie blushed even harder and she was hating it so much. - I... I live upstairs, the owners rent it to me.
She closed the diner up and went upstairs to her small apartment. She didn't have much, she had a small bedroom, a small bathroom, a small kitchen, and a living room with a tv and a couch. Sometimes she felt claustrophobic and sometimes she felt ashamed when she had people over, just like now. She went to her room to grab some bed sheets and a blanket, Izzie moved so fast that Theo couldn't follow her with his gaze, she prepared the couch for him to sleep on and when she was done she looked at him, with her hair all over her face and a small sweet smile on her lips. Theo felt something at seeing her like that, he was amazed at how nice she was with him. She asked him if he needed anything else and also told him he could take a shower if he wanted.
- I'm tired so I'm going to sleep now, but if you need anything you can wake me up, I don't mind. For some reason I can always go back to sleep really fast. - Izzie said with a small grin. - Also I wake up at 10, so if you stay you can have breakfast with me and I can show you around town... if you want. You can go too if you want, your choice.
And Izzie left, leaving him alone. For the first time since he got back from hell he had a good night sleep. Something he really needed, tonight more than ever before.
Theo woke up at 9 am, he slept almost six hours, it was a record for him. He knew Izzie was still asleep, he could hear her calm and steady heartbeat. He could still smell the dry blood on him, so he took a shower, after all she said it was okay. He cleaned everything up as well as he could when he was done, he didn't want her to think he was hurt. He was used to it and he had healed already, but how could he explain that to her. Soon after he left the bathroom, Izzie left her room. She was in her pijamas and she looked like she was only half awake. She waved at him and got into the bathroom. He could hear the water running and music playing. He smiled, she liked rock, she had good taste. While she took a shower he checked his phone, Liam texted him, again. He wanted to know where he was, most of the times he didn't answer his texts, but he didn't want to worry him this time. He sent him a text saying he was fine and not that far from Beacon Hills, he wasn't going to tell him where he was, but he still wanted him to know he was near just in case. Why he cared about him, was beyond him at this point. Izzie left the bathroom and she looked beautiful, he tried to hide his reaction and acording to him he wasn't very successful, thankfully, Izzie was very oblivious.
- Do you want to have breakfast? Or are you some of those weird people that dont eat when they wake up? - she asked with a smile. - I have... toasts and... cookies. Coffee or te?
- Coffee. - Theo waited for her to finish serving the Coffee before he said anything else. - Thank you for letting me stay here last night, you didn't have to.
- It's fine, don't thank me. - she smiled once more, before getting serious. - Usually I'm not alone, you know? The cook is always there with me, but last night he called in sick. So I was alone, and those men always come and every time they overstep Jack, the cook, gets them to stop. Tonight he wasn't there and they knew that... usually I know how to handle it, but I was alone and... - she stopped talking and gave him a short sad look before continuing. - Sometimes it's better to not fight, you know? Sometimes it only makes it worse.
Theo wasn't the kind of guy you went to for advice or to listen to you, he wasn't conforting and he wasn't gently with his words. But this time it was different for him, he didn't know what sexual abuse felt like, but he did know abuse in general very well. He understood the feeling of being powerless and alone and scared. So for once, he actually had something to say.
- Believe it or not, I understand. You dont need to fight them if it scares you, there is more than one way of getting rid of people like that, and that is outsmarting them. - Maybe advice still wasn't his strong suit, but he could give her a solution. - Next time they come, if they do, you tape them and show it to the police, they will have to do something about it. - he didn't mention that the police might not be that helpful either, he just didn't want her to be scared of speaking up against those men. - I can go with you if you want. - and just as he finished that sentence he wanted to kill himself, why does he keep getting involved? He couldn't take it back now, he still owed her. And he also couldn't take it back when he saw her smile grow, being honest, he didn't want to take it back anymore.
- Thanks. - she stopped talking while she cleaned everything with Theo's help. - Do you want me to show you around?
Usually he would've said no, but looking at her all excited about it made him change his mind. They went in Theo's truck to the center of town where she showed him where he could go in case he needed anything, told him where the hospital was and a cheap place he could rent if he got a job. He thought it was over because she stopped walking, he almost forgot it was lunch time because he never usually ate at that time. Izzie got inside a small coffee shop without waiting for him and found a table for them. And even with his werewolf senses, he had no idea what she was thinking and what she expected him to do. So he sat down in front of her when the waiter came.
- Hey Lonnie, I want what I always have, I don't feel like trying something new today. What do you want Theo?
- A coffee, I'm not that hungry.
While the guy went to other tables and they waited for their order, Izzie grabbed her notebook looking for a clean page and then looked at him with a small smile.
- So... if you are going to stay in town you need to find a job, I'm set on helping you with anything I can. So... resume.
- Why are you so sweet with me? - Theo asked instead. He wouldn't have asked that normally, but he just couldn't read her. He didn't understand her and her intentions, because if she wanted to help him she must want something in return. For some reason he doubted his insticts for the first time in his life and it scared him. The only reason he wasn't running in the other direction was because she was human and she clearly wasn't a hunter, she couldn't hurt him. There wasn't anything to be afraid of. Or at least that's what he tried to tell himself.
- Oh... well, I trust you I guess. Usually I dont trust men, I get scared easily, I never had very good experiences with them. And you helped me to get that man off of me and you stayed at my apartment and didn't... you know... so I just, want to make sure you are okay here. I'm sorry if I'm overstepping I dont want to make you uncomfortable. If I am I'll back off.
- No, it's fine, I guess I havent met people as nice as you before. 
Izzie smiled, and they started to work on his resume. There wasn't much to write, but for some reason, she was worried. Lonnie came with their order and heard what they were talking about, so he told them that the local bookstore was hiring. That's where the went after lunch, Izzie went with him since he didn't know how to get there.
- Good luck! - Izzie said, while smiling at him happily - Here is a list of adresses that you might need, where to stay and everything, also I wrote down the adress of the diner if you ever want to come by. I hope it goes well for you here Theo and I hope I see you again too. - she quickly hugged him and walked away.
Theo got the job and spent the day figuring out how things worked there and what he had to do. It was easy, so he sat on his ass most of the time. He was about to fall asleep when his phone started to ring. Liam.
- What is it Liam? I'm busy.
- Can we meet? - Liam said sounding worried and stressed.
- Im working, what do you want?
- Just text me an adress and I'll meet you there, please. - and he hung up.
So he did, he texted him the only adress he could think about, the diner. He knew Izzie was going to be working there at the time, and even tho that made him at little uneasy, he felt safer going there, a place he knew, that somewhere new. An hour later he was off work and headed towards the diner. The first thing he saw was Izzie standing infront of Liam's table asking for his order. She looked very pretty, but also tired and didn't seemed to be in the best mood ever. But it changed when he got closer and said hi to her. She smiled deeply to him.
- Hi Theo, how was work? - She asked cheerfully.
- Boring mostly, how was your day? - the moment he said that and looked at Liam he knew it was a mistake, this was very unlike him, and Liam being who he is, he was going to comment on it for sure.
- Ugh, finals, they suck. But well, what can I get you? Jack is thankful for yesterday and said if you came again to make it on the house. - and she smiled again, making him react weirdly, making feel something. Maybe feeling proud.
So she left to the kitchen with their order, leaving an awkward silence in between him and Liam. The younger was about to burst into laughter, he had never once seen Theo look at a girl like that. Never once saw him caring for anyone, well, anyone but him. Anyone but the pack. He would've asked, he wanted to know, but he knew Theo wasn't going to say anything. So he left it be. He came for other reasons, much more present than gossip. They won the war in Beacon Hills, but it wasn't over yet and both of them knew that. So they had to check in, to know each others whereabouts just incase something bad happened. Giving that Theo was starting to live somewhere else, they had to have a system.
- Is anyone hurt? Is Scott alright? - Theo asked quietly and with a worried tone.
- We are all fine... for now. Theo you are alone here, it's dangerous, you need to come back, we are stronger together. - he said when Izzie came back with their food.
- I cant, I'm close by, okay? If you need me I'm here.
- And if something happens to you? We need to have a way of knowing you are okay. - Liam said worried. Izzie left, but not before she heard Liam speak.
- Why do you care Liam? - he asked with a exasperated tone.
- Dont give me that shit and work with me. Every week we have to update each other or else we'll come here to check on you, okay?
Theo agreed angrily, got up with his food and left to his truck, his lunch break was over and he needed to head back. Having Liam infront of him after what happened in the hospital was bittersweet, seeing him was like a constant reminder he wasn't never going to be a good enough person and that he didn't deserved his forgiveness and his friendship.
Liam sighed and stayed to finish his burger. It was hard enough fighting with some of the pack members that Theo was now a good person to also have to fight to him about it. It was beyond tiring.
Izzie was away on the counter pacing. She could tell that guy Liam was worried for Theo and she wanted to help him, but she didn't know them and that scared her. Still, she wanted to let him know that Theo was going to be fine.
- Hey, Liam is it? - Izzie asked with a smile.
- Yeah. - he answered confused as to why she was talking to him.
- I dont know Theo very well, but he's been really nice with me and has helped me when I needed him to. And I can tell you are worried about him being alone here, so dont worry, he'll be fine, but if anything happens, here is my number, I'll check on him. - She said with a nervous tone and a sweet smile. She didn't want to seem creepy at all, but she wanted Liam to know she would take care of Theo. She owed him.
They exchanged numbers and Liam left to Beacon Hills. He felt uneasy, but not enough to stay.
Izzie went upstairs to her apartment when she finished her shift and made herself a cup of tea while studying. She was in her second year of nursing school and things where starting to get harder for her. Izzie was alone and if something happened, she had no parents to go to. No other place to stay. So she studied her ass off and did her absolute best at work. So that night, she barely slept at all. Neither did Theo, for completely different reasons. He was lying down on a bed that wasn't his own, in a room so quiet that anxiety creeped in and his paranoia made it impossible for him to just close his eyes. Now he wandered how did he managed to sleep the night before at Izzie's apartment. What was it about that place that made him feel safe enough to sleep? That scared him more than all the hunters that could be in that town. Scared him almost the same way hell did.