control • theo raeken [1]

ten. required reading and strange frequencies

Luna

MY TRUCK'S NATURAL HUM is hushed once I turn the engine off.  I'm parked in my usual spot near the bike racks, and I've arrived around my usual time.  Exiting my truck, I tuck my keys in one of the many pockets of my bag and pull a wedgie out of my shorts.

It's the first time this year I have worn anything without sleeves.  The breeze feels nice against my skin as I walk over to an empty picnic table and place the copy of The Dread Doctors on the surface of it.  I wasn't able to finish it last night.

When I finally woke up, it was getting late and the rest of the night was spent talking with Theo at my house.  Our conversations ranged past memories to future memories.  We talked about our hopes and our dreams.  I told him I wanted to become a writer and publish a book.  He told me he wanted to settle down with a pack because since he left Beacon Hills, all his family did was travel.  He wanted to finally stay in one place.  That disappointed me a bit since all I've wanted to do is travel once I got my shifting under control.

I flip to the page in my copy that I left off on and prop my head up on my hand.  I'm almost halfway through the book, and I know if I keep reading, I'll finish before school ends.  Someone wraps their arm around my shoulders, pulling me away from the book.  I don't even need to look over to know who it is.  I can tell by their cologne.

"Good book?"  Theo asks since I haven't looked up from it.  I nod and keep reading.  "Too good you can't even say hello?"  I shake my head.

"No, but you can remove your arm from me.  People are talking."  I turn a page to seem nonchalant.  He shrugs his shoulder, moving my upper body with him, and glances around at everyone.  The people around seem to be paying attention to their own business, and I would've believed they were if I didn't have the power to hear their conversations.

"Eh, who cares?  Once you stop caring, they do."  I give him a pointed look.

"Believe it or not, Theo, I'm actually antisocial.  I don't like talking to people."  It's his turn to give me a pointed look.

"You talk to me, and Scott, and Stiles, and Lydia, and-"

"You're different.  They're different.  I've always liked them, so I'm not against talking to them.  Although, I don't think Malia likes me much and I haven't really been able to talk to Liam, but I know he likes me."

"How do you know?"  His fingers brush against my upper arm, goosebumps rise as a result of the light touch.  Then, I feel his legs touching mine, and I notice he's sort of straddling the bench with each leg on either side.  His other hand is flat on the table, but I'm hoping he'll move it soon.  Maybe to hold my hand.  Or my thigh.

"Chemo signals.  Plus, he kept smiling like he had just passed gas and, not to mention, he called me pretty."  I chuckle at the memory of Liam's adorable smile and Stiles scolding him for complimenting me.  "His little crush was really obvious."