"Seriously. This is your plan for money?" Liam asked, eyeing the building nervously.

"It's better than acting." Theo said, crossing his arms and daring Liam to argue.

"Is it?" Liam snorted. "At least there wasn't a chance of losing money when-"

"Liam. I can hear when people lie. I can sense their emotions. I can win us some money."

"What if you're wrong?"

"Then you can find us another acting job." Theo said.

"Okay. Okay, lets do it." Liam said, puffing up his chest and taking a step towards the door, at least, he tried to. Theo's hand came up, pressing against his chest and slowly pushing him back.

"Liam. My little pumpkin." Liam rolled his eyes, letting an annoyed huff of breath out at Theo's continued use of 'pumpkin'. "You're too young to go in."

"What?"

"Over eighteen's only I'm afraid." Theo said, looking far from upset with it. Liam narrowed his eyes at Theo's smile.

"So what do you expect me to do while you go and cheat at cards?" Liam snapped. Theo sighed, patting Liam's chest softly before he removed his hand and shoved it in his pocket, pulling out a few coins.

"Get yourself a juice box." Theo said, depositing the change into Liam's hand. "There's a toy shop over there so-"

"You're such a fuc-"

"Language. Don't make me put you in a timeout. Now stay here and be a good boy okay?" Theo didn't wait for a reply just backed away, shoving his ID in the securities face, Liam marched after him. Theo was allowed past.

"ID." The bouncer said.

"I'm with him." Liam said, nodding to Theo, who stood leaning against the doorway looking far too smug.

"Good for you. I still can't let you in without ID."

"I'm not even going to gamble I just want-"

"Sorry kid. If you don't have any ID you can't come in."

"Don't apologise. It's past his bedtime anyway." Theo drawled, Liam opened his mouth ready to retort only for Theo to duck inside, the rattling sound of coins and voices smothering anything he could say. The door swung shut behind him leaving Liam glowering at the door.

"Would you let me in just so I could punch him? I'll leave right after." Liam asked. The bouncer's lips twitched.

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Fine." Liam huffed, he turned, stalking back to the car and yanking at the door with a flourish. It didn't budge. He tipped his head back slowly letting out a groan when he realised Theo would have the keys with him. Of course Theo would lock him out of the truck while he went to try his hand at gambling.

He climbed into the back of the pick-up flopping into the corner with another dramatic groan. He shifted, making sure he could still see the door to the Casino. The bouncer raised an eyebrow at him. Liam brought up his hand in a bitter wave. How long did it take to gamble? Ten minutes? Fifteen? More?

Liam sighed. Theo leaving him locked outside the truck was just another tally on the weirdly normal happenings of the past twelve hours. Listening to Theo talk about his life before the dread doctors, admitting, in a convoluted way that no, he didn't regret bringing Theo back from the dead and then falling asleep next to said chimera while listening to the sound of a far-off thunderstorm and feeling oddly at peace only to be woken up hours later by a police officer, having to drive two hours in the midday sun wasn't exactly the start to a day Liam would call normal, but somehow things were just that.

Theo had punched him in the arm hard enough to leave it dead for five minutes when Liam had got in the car after getting dressed and then he'd turned on the radio and ordered them mcmuffins and coffee at the closest drive through and things were the same as they had been every other day, Theo was a bit of an asshole, Liam was a bit of an asshole back. They bickered over the music and Theo shot down Liam's attempts at eye spy. Like nothing had changed with Theo giving Liam a sneak peek at his life. Like sharing information about themselves was something they just did.

But then, maybe it was. After all Liam had told Theo why he got into history. He'd been the first one Liam had confided in about how tired he was, the one Liam had left town with. Maybe talking was something they already did Liam just hadn't noticed it because so far it had been him talking.

Liam shifted. He thought back to the previous day, somehow it seemed like so long ago when he'd been waiting for sunrise, Theo sat next to him talking about History and Biology and arguing good-naturedly about it. Theo had said he was an open book, that Liam hadn't tried to get to know him, that if Liam wanted to know he just had to ask.

At the time Liam had thought he was lying through his teeth, but then Theo had been answering his questions a lot lately, always really, if Liam didn't cut him off first. Sure the answers weren't always what he wanted to hear but they were there, twisted in a way that was hard to understand but there was still a response.

Why do you keep trying to save me? Liam had cut him off before he could actually answer, throwing out words as if he knew Theo well enough to guess it but maybe he didn't. Maybe if he'd shut up for another few moments Theo would have said something. Maybe it would have been different than what Liam thought, after all, he hadn't expected Theo to want to go to a water park. Or for Theo to tell him about how he use to watch Starwars with Stiles.

Liam was jolted out of his mind by his phone ringing. He answered it quickly.

"So you are alive." Mason greeted.

"Hey Mason."

"You know when you told Scott you were going all little miss sunshine on us I figured you'd at least text your best friend some pictures, or you know, just text."

"Sorry. I've just..been busy." Liam murmured, which really should feel like a lie because it was. Sure at times, he has actually been busy, with the skywalk and the zip wire but most of the time, well most of the time he'd just been sleeping or sitting in various points in or around the truck talking to or being annoyed by Theo. It doesn't though, it feels like the truth because apart from sending his Mom cursory 'we're not dead in a ditch' photos and the occasional game of colour switch he didn't feel like he'd had time to sit and text people. "So, how are you?"

"Screw that, how was the grand canyon? Did you get there yet? You're not like trying to walk it are you?"

"It was great. I'll tell you all about it when I get back." Liam hummed. "How are you? How's Corey?"

"We're good." Mason said. "Literally everyone's good, they're all still in town it's kinda weird, like a werewolf convention. You should hurry back man, you'd love it. Jackson's like, awesome at Lacrosse the pack spent like five hours playing lacrosse yesterday. Everyone was pissed at you for not being here for it. Made the numbers uneven, they tried to get me to play."

"You're terrible at lacrosse."

"I know. I told them that but they needed an extra player, I mean, they sat me down eventually because I was getting in the way-" Liam hid his laugh behind a cough. "-And then there was this whole argument about calling Theo and getting him to come play instead and-"

"Why would you call Theo? He's not even in town." Liam said without thinking.

"He's not?" Mason asked. Liam didn't answer. "Well I guess it explains why he's stopped showing up everywhere. How'd you know he's not in town?"

"He uh..Texted me" Liam hummed, which was true, Mason didn't need to know his texting had consisted of dumb pictures of Liam sent while they were sitting next to one another. "Told me he'd be out of town for a little while."

"He texted you?" Mason inquired, sounding far too shocked. "Voluntarily?"

"What's that suppose to mean?" Liam asked.

"Nothing, it's just Theo doesn't generally actually tell people information, let alone voluntarily." Mason said. Liam's eyes fluttered back to the Casino.

"I guess." He hummed. Theo had told him things, small things, but information about himself none the less, titbits that he was sure the others in the pack didn't have. Hell, the others in the pack didn't even know Theo was out of town yet and it had been over half a week now. He thought back to his train of thought before Mason had phoned, about Theo and questions and the chances of him answering them.

Liam's mind swirled with a sudden list of stupid questions, a small, confusing part of himself wanting to ask them, to prove Mason wrong and show that Theo did volunteer information if you were willing to sit through the snarky bullshit to get to the answers.

Liam grit his teeth turning away from the casino, impotent anger bubbling inside him at the idea that he actually wanted to sit through the snarky bullshit and learn more about Theo.

"So when are you coming back?"

"Not yet." Liam said, voice sounding far off even to himself. He shook his head banishing the thoughts of Theo.

"You get that's not an answer right." Mason said, Liam snorted.

"Yeah, I know. But I'm not sure yet. There's still stuff to do."

"Like what?"

"Water parks."

"Water parks? You're going to a water park?"

"Yeah..Do you know any good water parks near Vegas?"

"You're in Vegas?!" Mason shrieked. "How? Why? When? Why am I not with you?" Mason ranted. Liam felt a bubble of amusement brewing inside him. "Your parents are cool with you being in Vegas." The bubble popped, anxiety swooping in leaving him choking out the next breath.

He still hadn't told them he wasn't heading back to Beacon hills yet.

"I have to go." Liam said.

"What? But-"

"I haven't told them." Liam admitted sheepishly. "I should probably call them? And say I won't be home for a little while."

"You haven't told them yet?"

"You think they'll be mad?"

"If you're not grounded till your thirty I'll risk getting grounded till I'm that old to throw you a 'it's a miracle' party."

"You're really inspiring confidence here." Liam grumbled.

"Go call them." Mason said. "And this time, text me alright? Actually, you know what, I'll add you into the pack group chat."

"there's a pack group chat?"

"Yeah, Stiles made it on Tuesday." Mason said. "it's mainly him and Jackson arguing but whatever, it's funny."

Another few minutes and Liam finally hung up. His eyes fell to the casino again. Maybe he could wait, just until Theo was back to call his parents. If he failed at making the money they needed, which Liam was pretty sure was likely, then they'd have to either come up with another plan for money or make the way back home.

He fumbled with his phone eyeing the flashing lights of the city before giving a small sigh. Even if Theo didn't come back with any money they wouldn't make it back to Beacon hills tonight, he doubted they'd even have enough money left to get the gas they'd need to refill for the journey.

Liam chewed his lip as he eyed his phone, he'd put it off for long enough already, he should have called them the night before, the moment Theo agreed to extend the trip. He clicked ring before he could convince himself he could wait another few hours.

"Hey.." Liam said tentatively when the call was answered.

"Liam." Dr Geyer said, Liam could hear his smile over the phone. "How are you? Are you and Theo almost back? What time should we-"

"No." Liam said quickly.

"No?"

"I...Theo lied."

"Okay." Dr Geyer said slowly. Liam ran a hand through his hair, hopping back out of the truck so he could pace along the pavement. "What exactly does that mean?"

"It wasn't the anniversary of his sister's death. I mean she is dead!" A woman walking past cast him a curious look. Liam turned back to the car, resting a forearm against the rim of the bed and ducking his head. "But that's... not for another few months I think... but I couldn't figure out how to tell Mom that I couldn't come back yet and then he stole the phone and said that and she said we could go so I didn't want her to change her mind but- well.. I'm not coming home yet."

"Liam." Dr Geyer started.

"I'm fine!" Liam said quickly. "I'm not hurt or running away or anything bad. I just..I need a break. After everything that's happened, with Brett and Lori." Liam's breath hitched as he thought about their last moments. "I need this." Liam croaked. "I need to be here or wherever, just not there. Not right now."

"Liam what-"

"Please don't be mad." Liam whispered.

"Hey, I'm not mad." He said softly. "I just wish you'd talk to me about what's-"

"I'm fine." Liam said. "Really. But I just," Liam chewed his lip, trying to figure out a way to explain it. "I need this." He said again. "It's helping. And we're not doing anything illegal."

"I didn't think you would be, now I'm wondering why you felt the need to say you wouldn't be." Dr Geyer said with a soft laugh. "So if you're not on your way home yet when do you think you will be?"

"I don't know."

"Liam. I'm gonna need more than that."

"I'm safe, isn't that enough?"

"No."

"I'm not sure. I'm kinda....We haven't talked about it. We're going to go to a water park at some point and then-" Well, then Theo probably thought he was finally going to be driving them back to Beacon Hills and ridding himself of the angry werewolf living in the shotgun seat. "Then we'll figure it out."

"Well where are you now?"

"Uh..The grand canyon."

"You want to try that again without lying?"

"Not particularly."

"Li-"

"I swear, I will tell you everything when I get back but if I tell you, you might say that I have to come home and-"

"You're in Vegas aren't you?" Dr Geyer sighed.

"What? No!"

"No drinking, no gambling and for the love of god don't come back married."

"I promise that I will not drink, gamble or marry anyone."

"And what about Theo?"

"I don't think he's dating, I doubt he's going to mar-"

"Liam."

"He doesn't drink." Liam said. "And I wouldn't even be allowed into a casino. You really think he'd drive me all this way just to ditch me outside of a casino?"

"I guess not. He'd be a rubbish friend if he did." Liam glared towards the doors of the casino.

"Yes. Yes he would be." Liam agreed. "Do you reckon you could tell Mom?"

"You want me to be the one to face her wrath?" Dr Geyer asked.

"Well-"

"Fine, but you better get me a souvenir. Look, I hate to do this but I have to get back to work so-"

"I get it." Liam hummed. "I'll talk to you later."

"You most certainly will, if your Mom hasn't killed me for letting you go gallivanting. Have fun, be safe. I love you."

"Love you too."

*

Liam was considering taking a nap when he heard the scuffle, his head snapped towards the Casino as the doors were tossed open, slamming hard against the walls as Theo raced from the casino doors. Blood was dripping from his nose a bruise blooming on his face.

"Theo?"

"Get in!" Theo shouted, sprinting to the driver side door. Liam jumped out of the bed of the truck, stumbling to the door and throwing himself in as Theo started the car, peeling out of the parking space.

Liam listened to the squeal of the tires as he span the car and sped down the road. The doors to the casino gave a final clatter behind them, a group of angry men storming out even as they turned the corner. Liam moved his eyes back to Theo.

"What the hell was-"

"So..apparently." Theo begun, hand swiping beneath his bloody nose. Liam dug into the glove box, pulling out the wad of napkins he'd been slowly adding to since the start of this trip, he held them out to Theo who took them without looking away from the road, sticking them beneath his nose, it only took a few moments until the blood stopped and Theo was removing the bloody napkins from his face. "So apparently-" he started again. "If you win enough money from big angry poker players you get invited to a private game with even bigger and angrier poker players who will try to kill you if you win a game." Liam was sure he was meant to ask if Theo was alright, or at least feel a bit worried about the apparent attempted murder but, well, Theo was a Chimera who could take care of himself and had left with little more than a bloody nose and smelt more of excitement that pain or fear so Liam didn't really have it in him to worry.

"Someone wanting to beat you to death is a good sign money wise right? It means we actually won something?"

"It does." Theo said.

"So how much do we have? A hundred? Two hundred?"

"Three grand."

"Three what now?" Liam gasped. A smile overtook Theo's face as he nodded.

"Three thousand dollars." He said, annunciating every word. Liam blinked dumbly at the side of Theo's face. Theo's smile only widened when he shifted, tossing the bloody napkins onto the dash as he put his hand into his pocket pulling out a wad of cash. His eyes left the road, meeting Liam's. "You hungry Liam?"

"If you take us to Mcdonalds I swear I will-"

"Fuck Mcdonalds!" Theo said enthusiastically. "We're eating real food. Fuck black coffee and fuck my stupid truck." Liam reeled back as Theo practically giggled. "We're sleeping in an actual room with actual beds and we're drinking something that tastes good and we're eating food that doesn't leave you hungrier than when you ate it and I'm going to eat an entire damn portion even if I throw up afterwards." Theo ranted.

"Are you okay?" Liam asked as Theo practically vibrated in his seat, like a child who just learned they were going to Disney land.

"I'm great." Theo said honestly. "So come on-" Liam jumped as Theo's hand gave a friendly pat of his thigh, like how Stiles would clap him on the back when he was excited. "What do you want to eat? Anything you want."

"Can we get a lobster? I've always wanted to try lobster." Liam said tentatively.

"You can get five lobsters for all I care." Theo said, grin still stretched across his face. "We're loaded."

"You know money isn't everything right?" Liam joked.

"Said like someone who has money." Theo scoffed the smile never leaving his face. "Let's go eat some lobsters." Theo turned the smile on him again and Liam felt his own joining it, Theo smelt of excitement, he smelt happy.

*

"Okay so that's one middle melt burger, fries and a chocolate shake." The waitress said, placing Liam's food in front of him. "And one sin city burger with fries, a large chocolate shake with extra cream, an onion ring tower, mozzarella sticks and I'll be right back with your chicken strips." The waitress said, hauling Theo's plates onto the table in front of them.

"Thank you." Theo breathed, eyeing the food like a kid on Christmas.

"Anything else?" The waitress asked. Liam snorted at the question, he was sure they already had enough food on the table to feed a small army.

"Not yet?" Theo hummed thoughtfully.

"We're good." Liam assured her. She nodded, leaving the table in a hurry.

"You know you probably just spent more on your meal than we would have on lobster for both of us." Liam said. Theo gestured at him with a fry.

"You were the one who got freaked out the moment you saw the lobsters." Theo reminded him, swinging the fry back towards himself and biting off one end.

"They still had legs! And eyes. I'm not eating something with eyes! I can't even eat prawns." Liam said defensively. "You know it freaked you out too." Theo shrugged noncommittally, flipping the fry and biting off the other end. Liam shook his head fondly at the action.