Chapter 10: Security

                                    

                                          


                          
Theo got up, getting ready for work. Liam hadn't texted him yet, but it wasn't unusual for him not to text right away. He helped Tate get everything organized for the day as a few of the morning usuals came in for their morning workouts. He heard his phone ringing and saw it was Nolan. It caught him off guard. He just got Nolan's number the other day, basically just if he needed him. It wasn't like they were close friends, but he knew he had been picking up Liam. He was worried.
                          
"Nolan?"
                          
"Theo, is Liam with you?"
                          
"No, why would he be? Don't you pick him up for school?"
                          
"That's the problem; I'm outside his house. He's not answering the door; I tried calling his phone. I left him with various messages. There's no movement; have you talked to him today?"
                          
"No," Theo looked at Tate, "do I have any clients this morning?"
                          
"Not until this afternoon."
                          
"I'll be right there; Nolan go to school. I'll make sure he is okay."
                          
"I can wait; I don't mind being late."
                          
"Go to school; I'll get it handled. He probably just slept in; you know how exhausted he's been."
                          
"I know, okay," Nolan hung up reluctantly, but he didn't want to argue with the chimera.
                          
"Uh, we can't find Liam; I think he slept in, but do you mind if I go check on him?"
                          
"No, take your time; I don't need you until one," Tate said looking at the worried chimera.
                          
Theo quickly ran out to his truck; he thought about calling the hospital to see if his dad was working, but he figured he shouldn't create extra panic if he was just sleeping in. He would be fine; the chimera tried to convince himself.
                          
He pulled in front of Liam's house; he grabbed the key out from under a rock where he saw Liam grab it last week. He listened to see if he could Liam's heartbeat. He sighed in relief when he heard it; he was just sleeping. He quietly went upstairs and knocked on his bedroom door after hearing no movement. He slowly opened the doorknob then sat down on the bed, shaking the beta's shoulder gently. Liam slowly opened his eyes.
                          
"Theo? What are you doing here?"
                          
"Making sure you were alive," Theo brushed his hair out of his face.
                          
"What?" Liam looked at him, then realized it was way too bright outside.
                          
"You have been nonresponsive to multiple calls, texts, Nolan pounding on your door, and him probably trying to scale to your window."
                          
"What time is it?"
                          
"8."
                          
"I'm really late for school," Liam sat up suddenly, ignoring the dizziness in his head.
                          
"It's okay; I'll drive you if you want to go. If not, I think you could take a day off."
                          
"I'll go I need to go this week; we have a game on Friday."
                          
"Okay, come on then," Theo helped him up. He leaned against the wall as Liam found sweatpants and a sweatshirt, throwing Theo's jacket over it. He watched him run around and brush his teeth, trying to find his bag.
                          
"I have it, Little Wolf," Theo grabbed his bag from his desk chair.
                          
'Thanks," Liam nodded, rushing around more.
                          
Theo went downstairs and made him coffee, waiting for Liam to finish packing his lacrosse bag.
                          
He finally dashed down the stairs and grabbed a note from a jar on the table.