Third Quarter : April to June 2013

Theo Raeken didn't think his life could be any better.

Even as child, he didn't have much hope with his life. Sure, he befriended Scott and Stiles and Scott was the best thing ever happened in his life, Stiles was there for the comic relief, and Theo shared a lot of thing with them. Till his parents, of the people that gave him life but forgot his existence, chose to move out because Tara needed a better environment for her future.

Great, so once Tara graduated, it was like Theo was living alone but under the roof of the Raekens couple.

He said at Lydia Martin's after party that he was interested in sciences because his once asthma spoilt his life, it was true and he got rid of it once in junior high, so maybe living in Beacon Hills wasn't that good. Then, as no one ever cared about him, he developed his own passion and future career. Maybe something with engineering, maybe some sciences research but something that could make him feel alive and not dying at the lack of love from his once family. So while still living with the Raekens, and using their money, he passed his driver lisence and the SATs at the start of his sophomore year, then dropped out of school when having sixteen. He walked out of their life and nobody noticed.

Not even Tara who used to take care of him.

Now that she was in some formation, he had no tie to hold him back and he embraced the hacker life. He didn't use the skills to do carding or steal people's money (he's not a thief and if a teenager like him knew about financial problem, others would know too and probably struggle more as they had family to provide), but he tried to use it as job. He would do services to people and they paid him (because they're too lazy to learn how to use a computer, or because they had the money), hence if he got caught he could be sure to have someone on his back, but he's cautious so he never came across any problem.

Usually not, and when his victim wasn't a former rogue too.

The day Ennis broke into his motel room was one he would never forget ever, and the session of torture by the twin in the back of Kali's bar afterward. Just because he send a virus on Deucalion's blog.

Moral of the story, always do some research on your victim, in case they got some past that you can't fight against (or, alternatively, never accept job from an internee, like he learned with Gerard Argent and later, Gabriel Valack, it always bit you back).

At least, it changed his life.

(He got a foster family and a group of friend after both cases.)

Since he lived with the ex-dealers, he felt like being a normal teenager again. His day were filled of classes (and interaction with other kids whose thought are all about passing grades) and work (like any others teens who wanted to have extra money, but in his case he had to participate to pay the rent). He can think about what teenagers usually think, study and homeworks.

Of course, at first, it wasn't that easy as he had to work freely for any of his foster care (Ennis' construction site, the twin's mechanics' shop and Kali's bar, fortunately Deucalion didn't ask him to assist him at the bank, he's not sure the accounting job would suit him), but after he went back to school, it was like he never actually left being a child. Although this time, he's like an actual kid, with friends and eating with people at lunch, and playing sport.

In the evening, after his shift in the dinner, he would eat a light supper and do his homeworks if he didn't have the time between practice and work. Sometime, one of his flatmates would be still awake too. It could either be Deucalion's silent presence that would manifest when he turn a page of the book he's reading, it could be Ennis trying to build another furniture because he can, or it could be one of the twin complaining about the stupid customers who didn't know thing about cars and then, Kali would add her comment about stupid customers as she did deal a lot, especially at night.

Tonight, the gang was all present for the dinner. That surprised him but he joined them.

"What's that?"

They rarely ate together.

"Dinner."

He arched his brow at the obvious but as nobody wanted to answer him, he went along. Though, he wondered who cooked, because none of them were much of a chef.

"So, what do you want for you birthday?"

Theo blinked. "My birthday?"

"Yes, tomorrow."

It's true, it would be tomorrow.

"How did you know?"

"You told us."

"I did?"

Now they talk about it, he did have mention it once at the start of the year, when the twins gifted him the renovated truck. He didn't think they would remember.

"So that's tonight dinner for?"

"Of course not, but we had to content the child."

Well, if they want to considere as child...

"I want to go to Disneyland."

"Tomorrow? After school?"

"No, not tomorrow, I'll had the night out with friends."

"Ah, to be young. Don't drink too much and don't drive after drinking."

"Wouldn't even think about it."

It's a lie. Well, the night out part, not the friends part (because he did admit it, not that long ago), because his friends didn't even know his birthday like he thought the gang wouldn't know. And he panicked after saying wanting to go to Disneyland so he had to make up an excuse to not show his disappoitment. Not that he's disappointed.

Who did he thought he was to request this kind of present?

"Happy birthday, Theo."

He's starting to think that he actually told everyone when his birthday would be when Nolan wished him the next day.

"How did you know?"

"I asked Danny to hack on your profil on the school's file."

"You're kidding..."

Nolan didn't seem to be kidding. The conversation lowered to whispering tone.

"Why didn't you just ask me?"

"I didn't want to embarrass you."

"And asking that kind of favor to the school's hacker wasn't?"

"No. Anyway, did you planned something?"

Theo blinked confusedly and it was back to normal voice again.

"Do you want us to spend the night with you?" Erica suggested.

Now they're eating outside of the school cafeteria, they got a longer table to fit them all.

"No, it's just a day like others."

"So, you're planning to work after training?" Kylie gasped.

"Don't say nonsense, I'll cover your shift, this is my gift," Hayden reassured him.

"Yeah, it's your eighteen birthday, it's worth celebrating."

Theo gave Tracy an ironic look because the girl didn't tell them about her birthday either.

"Be happy it's during a period where you could celebrate it with people, because some of us had to pass it alone due to the date," Malia huffed.

As a late bloomer, Malia celebrated her brithday somewhere in November, when most of her friends already got the age while she's stuck in the same age with kids younger than her.

"I know, we're going to have guy's night! Except Corey because he's too young."

As the group seemed to get it, they stopped trying to understand Nolan's logic.

And Corey didn't suffer from it as he already got plan.

"We wonder what," Tracy taunted him.

Since the dread doctors' case, the group noticed the boy didn't stay at home and neither was he in Sinema. But the blush was giving enough answer. He seemed to find another partner and it went better than with Lucas.

Jiang couldn't either having to do chores for his foyer. Josh and Gabe shrugged, consenting at the improvised night plan.

"Yeah, OK, but where do we stay?" Josh spoke up.

"Not at mine," Theo quickly said.

Not only he didn't want the guys to meet his foster care, but it would also give out his lie about night out. Which became a night in.

"We could do it at mine! My parents are out of town till sunday night."

"Thanks god you didn't say some fast food name," Gabe mumbled.

Theo had to admit that he feared it for a while too. It's someting Nolan was capable of.

So, it was just Theo, Josh, Gabe and Nolan at the latter's house.

They played video game most of the evening and did eat takeaway but it was fun and Theo had fun for one of his birthday, with friends. It was already good, when Nolan had to pull out beer to have more fun. Theo didn't know why he didn't refuse. Probably because of Deucalion's word about young one's fun night. In any case, he will certainy not drive after that.

"I don't know why I go along with that. You guys aren't even seventeen, right?"

"In a month," Nolan slurred.

"Two," Josh mumbled.

Gabe seemed passed out but Nolan said it was somewhere during August. The TV was still on but neither of them was sober enough to pay attention at what channel and what was currently playing. None of the boys seemed aware at the number of empty bottle on the floor either.

"And to say I stopped drugs to drink."

"Don't be an alcoholic, dying of alcohol is way worse than drugs."

"Both are bad. Besides we aren't going to die from drinking beer."

"You don't know, it's my first time drinking."

Which confirmed to be a bad idea.

After another row of bottle, Theo stopped in the middle of the one he was drinking and Nolan started to be clingy while sitting next to him on the couch (or was he actually on the carpet floor?)

"I heard that you gave Erica her first kiss while drunk."

"Did she tell you or did you ask someone who stalked us?"

This was an awful thought and Theo was surprised it didn't sober him up.

"She told me. She said that alcohol would open you up."

"Really? Wasn't it the other way around? She must be drunker than she let appear..."

"What about giving me my first kiss as birthday gift?"

"Shouldn't you be the one to give me a present?"

"Yeah, I'm not force-kissing you. And you had to be the one who deliver the kiss as the birthday boy and because you like me!"

"I do like you." Because it's true, he never got why people just don't say it when they like someone, he didn't have anyone who like him and state it freely (not even Tara) so now he had friends he liked and loved, he'll make sure to tell them. "But I'm not that drunk..."

He was. But the idea of kissing Nolan didn't sit right even drunk so he declined.

"Well, I am. And I'd like my first gay kiss to be you."

Then he felt his head be yanked on the side before being pulled in a passionate kiss. Nolan's whiny voice came up in a "not fair" that dragged on the end and he lost his marks. He guessed he let go of his beer unless it was Nolan who took it from him to drown his disappointment in it while seeing him kiss someone else.

He didn't know and he probably passed out after that.

He jerked awake later in the middle of the night to be cuddled against Nolan (and they were indeed on the couch) while noting Josh and Gabe sprawled on the floor. But feeling too tired by the beers, he let sleep fell on him again.

Next time he gained conscious again, it was morning and the sound of flush was whelming his eardrums. He recoiled against the warm body next to him and felt like being stabbed several time by the parasite sounds and the engulfing light of the day.

"What...?" Josh groaned at his side.

"That was Nolan, hangover didn't go well on him," Gabe explained.

"You didn't seem concerned at all," Theo mutteres pathetically.

"I wasn't the one who kept drinking so I could regret it in the morning..."

And truth to be told, Theo regretted his pride to keep drinking when Nolan told him he had a duty as it's his birthday (he must be already drunk to accept it).

"But we had fun," Nolan whiny-insisted while dragging himself in the armchair across the couch.

"I think some of you did," Gabe agreed. "I heard making out."

Prick.

"Really? I don't."

Josh grunted, not totally awaken.

"I think I heard that too..." Nolan chanced a glance at him.

Traitor. Well, Theo was drunk so he could use this excuse and pretend he didn't remember kissing Josh (and it's true, he didn't remember, just they were closer than normal) and deny till his death.

Finally, hangover got the best on him and Theo rushed to the toilet.

"Never I drink to this point again," he promised himself.

"Sure."

He's friend with a bunch of douche.

And his family was one of the best.

He did get his day at Disneyland. Fortunately it was way after his hangover, he would have regret to spoil the event because he was irresponsible to be that drunk.

 

Jordan Parrish was a young deputy with promising future as Sheriff's right arm.

And he was transferred there only two months after leaving the army along with his army mate Camden Lahey, who changed vocation to pursue a more teaching career. He's now coach of the R.O.T.C program (because he can't really leave it) and the football team caoch too starting this year of BHHS. They lived together and Camdem took custody of his young brother Isaac Lahey a high schooler, because of their father abusive character.

At first he wasn't used to live in a town, being raised in a city and being a deputy wasn't his first choice, but after quitting the army, he realized he didn't have anything left from his old life and decided to keep going on with a friend who still had a family somewhere.

It was a good decision as everything changed once there. Being a deputy remided him his time during war in Afghanistan but differently.

And he found love.

That was what he was telling Camden tonight when the young coach ask him to hang out. They were in this bar, Alpha Pact but just left because they didn't feel like going home drunk while Isaac would be sleeping (or playing video game as the brat would have those moment).

But being guys, and young men now, they weren't used to talk about feeling. Just, they were flatmate so it could be good to warn if they ever take someone home.

Like this cute florist Camden was flirting with.

"You don't even like flower," Jordan said once leaving the shop.

"I do now that Carrie was selling them."

He even got her name, since when it was going on? He didn't even notice it, maybe he was too wrapped up by his own romantic relationship.

"And even her name matched my past."

Carrie comes from Charles, and the name have 'army' meaning. Jordan scoffed, because the man's was deep into it.

"Alright, I'll stop talking about me. You were saying you find the woman of your life?"

"Yeah, but I'm not going to act like you."

"Because she's taken?"

"Last I check, she said she had no one."

"Then, why not? You're free, she's free, unless she's not interested, I don't see why you're not a couple!"

"Are you saying that Carrie isn't interested."

"Shut up. By your smug face, the girl's interested, why don't you guys date?"

"I'm just waiting when she finished her studies, I'm not very pro of long distance relationship."

"Study? How old is she?"

"Eighteen."

"She's a high schooler? What's her name?"

"Lydia."

Camden stopped in his track and Jordan had to turn to check on him. Would he come to know her? From what he knew, there's no reason as she wasn't in the R.O.T.C program nor in the football team. He just wasn't aware that his brother has something with her, of course it ended this winter (and Camden knew as he bought him the bike so he could impress the girl), but well, this story was a little awkward to Cam's vision.

"Yeah, what if she chose to apply in a abroad university? Better wait."

"Hm... You're not judging because she just got eighteen?"

"Nah, dude, you guys got the age and didn't do anything yet, if you know where you're stepping, I'm supporting you."

Jordan nodded. They didn't do anything but there's definitly a bond between them.

 

Mason Hewitt was what the society call a proud and straight gay.

If he didn't show his interest in guys like the sterotype gay who was represented in media, he's certainly thristy for handsome guy in his entourage.

Like his best friend Liam's rival, Brett Talbot.

Because the boy of the private school got the dream body. An eight pack that cease to make him drool. Internally, he's well raised thank you.

Speaking of, his parents were really supportives and proud when he came out, but he guessed it had something to do about their constant absence in the house. He learned to be used to that but he's still somewhat lonely. Even now that Liam was now on the same school, he still had lacrosse training.

It change at Valentine day.

He met Corey and they started to know each other and they barely going on the base when Corey was target by some deranged human traffickers. It was now past story and Liam got to know his boyfriend and they were happily dating when the end of the year was coming.

The senior of his boyfriend's group of friend ended their class and were just waiting for their college application's answer and they didn't went to school for side project (Corey suspected it's about going to party), so their table was sort of freed of member and Corey invited Mason to eat with them.

Most of them were future senior and those who Mason shared the same class were Hayden (Liam's another rival but from grade school) and her friend Kylie in history. As Mason didn't want to let his best friend eat alone, he proposed him to come along.

Hayden didn't appreciate his presence and made it clear by the way she glared at him whenever she happened to look at his side (which happened as Liam's sit next to Mason, who's next to Corey).

"Aw, what a bummer, even though the team reached national, we lose at the third place, and Theo who's the one who created the team will graduate," Nolan said with a pout.

"I don't see the point if he's not there anymore," Josh shrugged.

"Yeah, right," Gabe agreed.

But Mason thought it got kind of ironic by the way he said it.

"Right? I kind of want to withdraw."

"If you do, I'll fucking kill you," Gabe threatened.

"Geez, I was kidding! No need to be so rude," his friend shot quicky, taken aback.

Gabe glared at the other member, promising them the same treatment if they ever think about it. Josh and Jiang (and Corey) raised their hands in attempt to calm him, but they probably wouldn't consider it.

"But you do need to do tryout as most of the player would graduate," Kylie Tate commented.

"And that some wouldn't stay for other reason," Nolan mumbled while glancing at Corey.

They must referencing his ex, Lucas, who was also forced to play for the team.

"I think I know someone who'd be interested," Jiang said suddenly. "I knew this girl, Tierney, she's tough."

"Did you know her back when you're..."

Nolan didn't keep on but with the movement of his hand, he was talking about something only the guys knew.

"Yeah, but she didn't do something like I did," Jiang rolled his eyes.

"But the team is far from having its presence. We don't even have a captain," Josh sighed.

"And neither letterman jacket, I mean, wasn't it the point of sport team?"

"Not for Beacon Hills, it seems," Hayden coughed.

"There isn't even a cheer team, like we need some cheers to encourage us!"

"If you need cheers to win, maybe you shouldn't play," Liam muttered.

Kylie chose to interven before Hayden did. "Well, I guess having a cheer team could change Beacon Hills a little. I could gather a team! First, I'll ask Sydney to assist me!"

"Wasn't she a senior? Won't she be graduating?"

"There is... some complication." Kyie leaned in, urging them to do the same and whispered the last part, like a secret. "It stay between us, but she failed most of her courses, so..."

The others juniors winced because it did hurt to fail class, especially when they will be concerned too.

"But that is? You only got one candidate as fellow cheer?"

"I'm sure people could be interested! Nothing ever happen in Beacon Hills!"

Mason agreed and was considerably interested by the future club. He could use some sport too. And if that meant cheering for his best friend in a more noticeable way, why not?

 

Isaac Lahey was having a good time.

The end of the year was approaching and with every senior having put their application wish, they got most of their time free. With his brother, they talked about his future.

As he didn't have best choice of career, he choose to study animal, liking the idea to help other beings that were less confusing than human. He applied to the community college with scholarship thanks to lacrosse and will lived in the dorm most of the year, returning for break and holidays.

Now, all the seniors were enjoying themselves in the rave-up set up for them in some gym ran by Kate Argent (Allison's aunt, they said).

Isaac didn't see Lydia anywhere but it wasn't like it concerned him much now, as he was being in the agreeable compagny of Erica. He heard that the ginger (strawberry blonde would have Stiles corrected him) was going to Stanford and the blonde in his arm in the same community college than him (studying healthcare).

When he tried to have a look where his friends where, he noted that Danny and Matt were chatting lightly before being bothered by Stiles, which made him low-key chuckle. If the first was accepted in the Ivy League, the second one was going to study photography at USF and the Sheriff's son would study criminology in some college. Though Isaac suspected it would be in the community college.

Speaking of, he was dragged away by Harley and Danielle who wanted to chat him up in some way rather hotly. Both of them also applied to the community college, Harley studying to be caregiver and Danielle in litterature.

He knew that Scott and Allison woud go to Davis because Scott want to be vet and Allison want to be with him and study history. And he aslo knew that they wanted Kira to join them, but the rest didn't concerned him, so he didn't got much info.

When the music changed to something slower, he wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist and checked her reaction. She had her eyes closed and wzd moving along the rhythm. He lift his gaze again and met an unexpected couple.

Theo and Malia were slow dancing, really closely. But what surprised him most was how calm the girl was, which didn't actually match her character. But guess everyone could change. And they were kind of cute. He didn't hear much about their project, just that with Theo's whole year performance he would have received some fee waiver of high University.

His eyes came across with other people he knew from sight. Boyd and Kyle from the R.O.T.C program with Boyd enlisting probably, the Stewart shy girl Tracy who was victim of aggression not lately this year and would study law to follow her father's step.

Which reminded Isaac of someone else, Jackson.

If he was looking for his friend, he was surprise to find him walking to their way and even more taken aback that he started dancing agaisnt them. Erica didn't seem to mind so he didn't say anything. But it was an unexpecting turn of the evening and he wondered if Jackson drank before that.

Later, though, he didn't even think about questioning it as he got a very good time.

 

Liam Dunbar sighed at his nemesis' smirk.

Brett used his one foot taller to mock him, but it won't last because Liam's going to end him. Even if he never manage it the last two years playing against him. Now, that Jackson was graduating, he will be the captain (Jackson suggested it to coach and even Kira, sort of advisor and trainer, backed it up, and coach did appreciate his vigor).

And OK, Brett was already a captain on his own team and would be again next year, when they will play again (but for the last time), but leave him have his moment.

Having I.E.D was difficult for him and it's only being at Beacon Hills (playing with more tough and deranged guys than him) that he managed to keep it under control, so to be nominated captain was a huge step for him.

Especially when there was a great player like Gwen. And playing with a girl as good as her was a honor to Liam who hope he wouldn't ruin it with his fricking illness.

He wanted to announce it to her mother so she could be proud of him and not worry that his problem would be an issue for the rest of his life. But he wouldn't because it may crush Jenna Geyer if he lose temper during his next year as captain. Which would be worse, something even his step-dad couldn't do anything to help him...

And he just didn't want to disappoint his parents.

So, he ignored the boiling feeling that were trying to raise inside him and made sure to wipe the smug smirk and Brett's face by winning on him.

 

Brett Talbot couldn't help but tease the little ball of anger.

He admitted that he had some bad feeling toward Liam Dunbar when the kid ruined coach's car, because he worked hard to impress the man and the principal of Davenford Prep so his sister Lori and him could enroll the private school without fee and he didn't want all his work be ruined by some bratty prick that couldn't deal with his anger issue.

But once he transferred to the public school of Beacon Hills, he saw how the lad was struggling with his illness and how he was lighting up with his teammates, who were something, Brett had to admit.

Especially their coach.

So, now, he's mostly picking on him to see how well he could keep his anger under control, trying not to go too far. Besides, he liked playing against the boy, they would have made a great team if they ever happen to be put together and trying to get along.

Not that would be a project in the near future with coach Finstock's weirdness.

 

Bobby Finstock liked lacrosse.

Scratch that, he loved lacrosse and the boys who played it, but god how the team could sucks sometime!

And with the best players graduating, he felt his nerves going nuts.

Thanks god there was Dunbar, but oh, god, Dunbar's going to be captain.

The kid's anger issue was problematic but he didn't got any bad return for the year and half he was coaching him and he wished to keep it that way, but he couldn't help to keep his whistle with him whenener the boy was boiling rage.

Especially when the team was playing against Davenford and their captain's such prick to taunt his player.

He kept Dunbar on his sight but can't help and frown when one player caught his attention. He breathed deeply and blown in his whistle, then with a disgusted tone, he yelled :

"Greenberg!"

How come that all the great one get out but the one he wanted to was held back.

Ugh, man, he hated bullying but the kid was killing him.

 

Part 3

Part 5