Without Incident [Wattys2016]

01.

Beacon Hills was not a sleepy town. It was not picturesque. It was not a place where people came to hang their hats and vacation. I had learned quickly that on a given day you could expect it to be partly cloudy with a chance of nightmares. Like the greatest hits hell could offer. You had to be more than just resilient to survival all that.

Adapt or die. So that's what we all did.

My friends and I had fought and clawed our way through assassins, megalomaniacs, and mad scientists. That fight had eclipsed so much of my life I had almost forgotten what it had felt like before I was given the bite. To just sit and be content with the utter normalcy of everything. The quiet and peace.

I had to admit that I was still paranoid, still glancing over my shoulder for the next worst thing. I didn't sleep well, couldn't sit still for long periods of time. I always had to be moving, always on my feet.

"Liam?"

My head jerked up at the sound of Hayden approaching, the soft patter of her steps on the concrete pulling me out of my trance. I had no idea what this must have looked like to her. Here I was huddled up against my best friend's car, staring up into the night. After catching a movie we had settled at some overcrowded restaurant. Halfway into dinner I had excused myself. Maybe it was because I was sweating; maybe it was because I couldn't breathe. Maybe it was because Mason's boyfriend wouldn't stop going on about reality cooking competitions.

I wasn't ready for normal. Not yet.

"Are we boring you?" she taunted, coming around to meet me as I leaned back against Mason's sedan.

"N-no, not at all."

Hearing the hitch in my voice, she pressed a little harder.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I just needed some air." I sighed, combing a hand through my untamed hair. Glancing into the side mirror of the car I could see that brown tufts of it stuck out in every which direction. I was in desperate need of a haircut.

"You know if you don't want to go on double dates with Mason and Corey anymore you should say something."

"Really, you mean we could actually have some alone time? What a fantastic idea."

She pressed all of her weight against me, wrapping her arms around my rib cage, giving me a gentle squeeze.

"Crazy, right?"

I gave her a weak smile in return.

I was a boy conflicted. As much as the white noise inside my head drew me to detach, I panicked at the thought of my friends not being within arm's reach. I felt the need to keep an eye on Hayden, Mason and Corey at all times. It was just the four of us for now. The older kids were off handling their business, being adults in whatever way they could. Life didn't just end with Beacon Hills-even for the...supernaturally endowed. They had promised that they were just a phone call away but it had been nearly a month since I had seen them at Lydia's graduation party. Scott was hunting down summer scholarships while Stiles accompanied him on college visits out of town. Lydia had jumped head first into an internship with a big name pharmaceutical company on the coast. Kyra had moved back to New York. Malia had been the only one to stick close but she was elusive, doing whatever werecoyotes did in their free time.

"Are you sure nothing's wrong?"

"When I've finally got you to myself? Not a chance."

Spearing my fingers through her hair, I took her by the face, pulling her in closer for a kiss. Hayden fisted her hands in my t-shirt, digging her knuckles into my side. Breaking off the kiss, she guided me away from car.

"Will you come back inside?"

I made a pained noise, pushing her hair out of her face. Rebellious, her dark locks fell out of place, refusing to stay tucked behind her ears.

"Please grace us with your presence."

Giving a stilted nod, I said, "Yeah I think I could do that."

She grinned, her rosy cheeks scrunching up her eyes in the way that I loved. Intertwining our fingers, Hayden led us back to the entrance, only to stop at the sight of a couple arguing, blocking the door. I suggested that we could go around to the entrance on the side of the restaurant but by then it didn't matter.

"Aw, come on, baby, don't--"

"Forget it, Mike!" The woman struggled, pulling away from her boyfriend. He tried to get a hold on her with jerky doll like movements, slurring his words. I could smell the alcohol on him from here.

She pulled free of him, excusing herself as she streaked past us. The guy wasn't so considerate. He ran right through us, nearly knocking Hayden over before she caught herself.

"Hey!" I reached out and grabbed his wrist. He yanked his arm back, pushing me as he stared down his nose. I shoved back.

"Screw you, kid." He laughed, giving me the finger.

"Liam, let him go." Hayden wrapped her arms around my torso, pinning my arms at my side as I lunged forward. There was no use fighting her, she was as strong as me. A low growl pitched in my chest. She spun me round, grabbing me by the face and holding me there. "It's not worth it."

We watched him stumble into the distance, chasing his girlfriend.