When Liam woke up it was with a jolt, his back sore and the sound of his phone shrieking. He sat up, eyes flickering out the window his head spinning in confusion as he was met with the site of tree's and a long empty road. For a few moments he had no clue where he was, his heart rate spiking as questions filled his head, where's the anuk-ite, where are the hunters, where am I? Is everyone else safe? Before he remembered the night before, the way Theo had drove them out of Beacon hills when only the moon was watching.

Liam shifted in his seat, digging his phone out of his pocket. He blinked at it, hand scrubbing across his eyes as he looked at the bright screen. Five missed calls, four from his parents and one from Scott.

He'd left beacon hills in the middle of the night. He was going to be in some much trouble. Scott would be disappointed, his parents would be-

"Rise and shine sleeping beauty." Liam jumped as a fist rapped against the window, his head slamming against the roof with a metallic clang. He let out a groan as footsteps crunched round the side of the car, the driver side door flying open. Theo ducked down a smirk on his face. "That sounded like it hurt." He said, entirely unsympathetic. Liam shot him a glare that evened out as Theo held out a cup holder with two to go cups in it. "Hope you like coffee and Mcmuffins." Liam took the tray when Theo climbed into the car, slamming the door behind him and tossing a bag of warm food into Liam's lap.

"I got one of each." Theo said. "So choose what you want." Liam peered into the bag and saw four neatly wrapped breakfast muffins.

"You got me breakfast?" Liam asked.

"I got me breakfast." Theo said.

"What and you just happened to order an extra three breakfasts?" Liam snorted.

"Math never was my strongest subject." Theo hummed. "Hurry up and pick I'm starving." Liam grabbed the first one he got his hand on before tossing the bag back to Theo and reaching for one of the coffee's.

"Where'd you even get these?"

"Mcdonalds."

"And you just left me at the side of the road?"

"Preserving gas." Theo hummed, tapping the meter that showed the car was running on less than half a tank.

"What if something had-" Liam's phone buzzed, ringing again. Liam winced when he saw Scott's photo flash up on screen. What was he meant to tell him?

Hey Scott, yeah I'm fine, just eloping with your enemy no big deal, I'll be back for finals.

"We could always go back." Theo said when the call finally faded away, another missed call notification flashing on the screen. "It would only take a few hours. You can say you were doing one last check for hunters. They'd believe you."

"Do you want to go back?" Liam asked, twisting the food wrapping in his hands.

"Do I have a choice? You're the one who decided we were going on a road trip."

"It's not like I dragged you." Liam said stiffly.

"No you just expected me to be fine leaving with you." Theo replied.

"Well it's not like you have anywhere else to go." Liam snapped. Theo's eyes narrowed.

"Do you want me to leave you here? Because I will."

"I just meant-"

"I know what you meant." Theo huffed, he wrapped his food back up, tossing it into the bag with a scowl. "I was trying to be nice you dumb ass. Telling you it wasn't too late to run home with your tail between your legs if you're too chicken to-"

"I don't want to go back yet."

"Fine. We won't." Theo said.

"Fine." Liam echoed with a roll of his eyes, he turned back to his phone, jabbing it as the screen went dark to stare at the missed calls.

"Well. This is going to be fun." Theo snorted.

"Shut up Theo."

"As you wish your highness." Theo said stiffly, kicking the car into gear and peeling away from the cold shoulder fast enough for Liam to slap himself in the face with his food.

Despite the surly attitude Theo was quiet, tearing down the roads with a scowl his food going cold in the bag nestled by his feet. Liam watched his phone, sipping at his coffee while missed calls came in every five minutes on the dot.

"Answer it." Theo grunted after half an hour. "If you don't he'll just go looking for you." Liam hated that he was right.

"I don't know what to say."

"Tell him you're on holiday."

"But-"

"He's your alpha. You're the one with people who give a shit if you're not there so you figure it out." Theo growled. "Just do it. I don't want them thinking I've kidnapped you." Liam spent another five minutes watching the scenery pass morosely before the next call came in. He looked to Theo for help but Theo's eyes stayed firmly on the road. With a sigh Liam answered it.

"Liam? Liam man is that you are you o-"

"Hey Scott." Liam said voice quiet as he picked at the fold on his paper coffee mug.

"Liam where are you? You haven't answered any of my calls and-"

"I'm uh..I'm just leaving Beacon County actually."

"What?"

"So here's the thing." Liam said quickly. "I uh..I wanted a break and then you know, last night I was going to go home but then I didn't and now..well..I'm going to the grand canyon."

"The grand canyon?"

"Yes." Liam said slowly. "I'll come back!" I think "I just..I need a few days. That's okay right? I mean Derek and Stiles are back so you have the whole pack and-"

"Liam if you want to go away that's fine." Scott said softly. "I get it but you can't just up and leave, we were worried."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine..You are okay right?"

"Yeah." Liam said, poking at one of the tears in his top.

"So..the grand canyon?"

"Yeah."

"Nice." Scott said, Liam could practically hear his smile. "You need company? We could meet you. We've got the jeep and everyone's here. We could bring snacks. Might be more fun than going alone."

"Uh..." Liam hummed, eyes flickering to Theo. "I kinda..don't want company if that's okay? A few days away from the supernatural what I was going for, not a 'the pack goes to Arizona' kinda thing if that's-"

"Liam it's fine." Scott said softly. "It was just a suggestion. You sure you'll be alright alone though?"

"I'll be fine." Liam promised. "Look, I have to call my parents so I'll talk to you later."

"Bye Liam."

"Bye Scott."

"Send photo's!" Came a yelp from what Liam was sure was Mason as he hung up.

"There a reason you didn't mention I was with you?"

"You said you didn't want them thinking you'd kidnapped me." Liam said lamely. Theo finally took his eyes off the road, eyebrow lifting leaving Liam deflating. "I don't know, he'd worry more. He might not let me go if I'm with you. I couldn't exactly turn him down and then say 'oh by the way, I'm with Theo.' Could I?"

"You should have told him."

"It doesn't matter."

"If this bites me in the ass-"

"It'll be fine." Liam said hotly, scrolling through the missed calls for his Mom's number.

*

The call to his parents went no where near as well as the call to Scott. First there was his Mom crying, then she was shouting and his step dad was panicking in the background talking about 'dead in a ditch' and then his Mom was crying again and Theo was laughing in the seat next to him until Liam had been ordered to come home 'right this instant' and he'd swerved off onto the cold shoulder and waving for the phone.

"No." Liam hissed.

"I know how to-"

"Theo sto-"

"Give me the damn pho-"

"I swear I will punch you if you don-OW!" Liam cradled his nose as Theo 'accidentally' smacked his elbow against it and ripped the phone from his hands.

"Hi! Mrs Dunbar?" Theo said, voice silky sweet like he hadn't been attacking her son moments later.

"It's Geyer dumbass, just give me my phone back!" Liam hissed, trying to reach for the phone. Theo keeping him at bay with one arm.

"Mrs Geyer." Mrs Geyer corrected.

"Of course, sorry. Well Mrs Geyer my names Theo. Liam get off-" Liam yelped as he was shoved back into his seat none to gently and Theo was diving out of the car. "Sorry, My names Theo. I'm friends with your son." Liam scoffed, Theo stuck his middle finger up through the open window. "It's my fault Liam didn't call you back sooner and I get that you want him to come home but-"

"But nothing he's coming-"

"It's the anniversary of my sister's death tomorrow." Theo said. Liam knew it was a lie but it still managed to stop him from where he was trying to scramble across the console so he could get outside and take the phone back from Theo. "We always talked about going to the grand canyon together, I thought I could finally go see it and Liam offered to come with me." Liam heard his mother pause. "If we turn around so I can take him home I won't make it in time. I'll have him back in a few days, we'll send three photo's for every day we're away but I just, I really need a friend with me right now and I need to do this, for Tara."

"Is he safe?"

"Not to be rude but I'm pretty sure the further we get away from beacon hills the safer he'll be."

"Pass me back to Liam."

"Of course." Theo stuck the phone through the window. Liam ignored his raised eyebrow of smugness and snatched the phone back.

"Hey Mom-"

"You can go but you be safe. No drinking, you drive ten miles under the speed limit at all times, eat some vegetables. Text me this Theo boys number, I want to make sure I can get a hold of both of you. If you even think about going near Las Vegas then I'll-"

"We won't."

"Okay..Then, be safe and come home soon."

"Will do."

"I love you pumpkin."

"I love you too." Liam mumbled, he hung up with a flourish dropping his phone to the floor with a dramatic sigh. He heard Theo shuffling around as he got back into the car.

"Do you ever tell the truth? Or is everything that comes out of your mouth total bull-"

"I tell the truth when it helps." Theo said easily turning the key in the ignition. "You ready to leave Pumpkin?"

"I hate you."

*

The day passed in relative silence, Theo turned the radio on and let the music filter softly between them while Liam sent his Mom two selfies and one photo of Theo scowling at the road along with the older boys number.

"Why are we stopping?" Liam asked as Theo slowed down, pulling off at a gas station.

"I need more gas." Theo said. "You need the bathroom use it now."

"I can't go in there like this." Liam said.

"Like what?" Theo asked, parking the truck by a pump.

"We look like we just walked off a zombie movie." Liam hissed. Theo blinked down at himself, picking at his ripped shirt with two fingers before he looked back at the station.

"The bathrooms out here. See-" he pointed over to the side of the building, a small sign pointing behind it to where the bathroom was hidden. "You can change in there and get some coffee while I-"

"Uh..Theo..I didn't bring any clothes."

"What?" Theo asked slowly.

"This is all I have."

"You..You decided we were going on a road trip without clothes?"

"It was spontaneous!"

"It was stupid." Theo scoffed. "You do at least have money right?"

"I have my wallet, there's probably a bit of money in-"

"Probably?" Theo asked.

"Well I don't know! I didn't plan this!"

"What the hell do you plan on eating while we're gone?"

"Um-"

"Or wearing?"

"See-" Theo huffed, jumping out of the truck and slamming the door, Liam followed him, scampering around the side as Theo angrily shoved the nozzle into the fuel tank. "What do we do?" Liam asked quietly.

"Nothing." Theo snapped. "I'm filling the tank and we're going back. Thanks for making me waste all my money on petrol so we could go and see a dirty highway. Really appreciate it Liam."

"What? No! We can't go back now!" Liam said, stomach dropping. He was free. Beacon hills was far behind them, everyone had agreed. Despite Theo pissing him off most of the day with his stony silence Liam felt more at peace than he had in weeks. He wasn't checking out the rear view mirror for someone following them or thinking of plans and strategies. He didn't want to give that up after less than twenty four hours.

"We can." Theo said. "And we are-"

"No!" Liam growled, feeling the anger spike in him. Theo raised an eyebrow at the rumble that came from Liam's chest, a smirk painting his lips.

"What? You going to beat me up until I agree to drive you round?"

"This was your idea! You said I needed a break! You convinced my Mom we're not turning back now!"

"We have no money! You have no clothes, no toothbrush, no food. Carrying on would be-"

"I have-" Liam dug his wallet out of his pocket, flicking it open and counting out his change. The meter ticked passed as the tank continued to fill. "Eighteen dollars and twenty cents. We can do this!"

"You can. While you buy yourself a happy meal I'm going to be going back that dire-"

"Fine. Leave."

"What?"

"Go. I'll walk."

"You're going to walk to Arizona?"

"We're almost there."

"Liam you can't walk-"

"I'm not going back until I've seen the grand canyon so you can either come with me and hope for the best or you can drive back and explain that the reason your car smells of me is that you drove me to the middle of no where, convinced my mom you'd take care of me, and then left me for dead."

"Are you really trying to blackmail me into coming with you?" Theo asked.

"Is it working?"

"No." Theo said lips twisting into a small smile. Liam deflated, his chest constricting as he thought of driving back towards beacon hills. "You really want to do this don't you?" Theo asked with a sigh.

"Obviously. Don't you want a break from everything too?"

"I'm not sure if it counts as a break when the biggest pain in my ass is inhabiting my passenger seat." Theo drawled.

The pump clicked when the tank finally filled up, Theo pulled the nozzle out, slipping it back into it's holder, his lips pursed. Finally he gave a nod. "Fine." he gruffed, shoving past Liam and opening the back door. Liam peered over his shoulder as he reached behind Liam's seat, yanking out a folded blanket and then a small duffel bag. He moved, swinging it into the bed of the truck as he shifted things around.

A moment later and he had everything he wanted. Liam stood bemused when Theo loaded a change of clothes and a fresh toothbrush, still in its packet, and a tube of toothpaste into his arms.

"You ruin my clothes you have to pay for them." Theo said stiffly. "Go get cleaned up."

"Why the hell do you have a toothbrush in your car?" Liam blurted, looking down to the small assortment of things in his arms. His eyes flickered over to the blanket now sitting on the back seat. "And a bl-"

"Liam, go get changed before I knock you out and drag you back to beacon hills." Theo sighed. Liam nodded rushing off towards the hidden bathroom leaving Theo rolling his eyes in his wake.

It took almost half an hour for the two of them to take turns scrubbing themselves clean in the dingy bathroom. When Theo reappeared, fresh faced and somehow looking more like he'd rolled out of a magazine than a gas station bathroom after taking a tramp bath in the sink.

Liam was too busy tugging at his own clothes. They stunk of Theo, which, really shouldn't have been surprising since they were his, but it was still strange, having the scent cling to his skin and waft towards him every time he moved. Not that it was a bad smell, Liam stood by what he said forever ago, Theo smelt good. Whatever soap he used hadn't changed and Liam was happy for that. He loved Mason but if he had to be stuck in a car with him, wearing his clothes he'd probably have cried. Mason smelt good too, to a human nose, to a werewolf nose it was more..overwhelming. his cologne tickling all the wrong parts of Liam's sense of smell and although he was usually fine suppressing it, he was sure if he was this masked in the scent it would have left him wanting to rip off his own nose.

"You ready to go?" Theo asked, stomping round to the drivers side without waiting for an answer. Liam jumped into the car before Theo could start it and drive off without him.