Elisabeth Lawery sat in the principal's office and wept her way through a description of the events that led her to going into the quiet room where it was believed to be Eric Nichols, senior, student athlete and all around funny guy had had the life sucked out of him. Liam sat outside the office with Mason, both waiting their turn to give a statement. Liam was in shock, Mason was in pain.
Liam absent-mindedly rubbed Mason's shoulder whose head was buried in Liam's neck. Liam's neck was wet with tears and saliva as Mason silently cried for the boy he had the biggest crush on. Liam couldn't help but think what he would be like if Scott had ever been killed or what Scott would be like if Liam died. Mason just thought Eric was hot, but Liam and Scott loved each other, truly, madly, deeply. Liam could finally understand Scott's unwillingness to have Liam involved in the world of monsters, but it was now certainly too late. Liam was out of Scott's world and it still affected Liam.
Eric had become a great friend over the last few weeks. He was not only fun to be around, but also so accepting. Being friends with two gay sophomores wasn't a problem for him. But he was friendly with everyone. It was cliché to say that Eric never met a stranger or that everyone loved him, but it was true. The whole school was in mourning.
Classes let out early that day and school would be cancelled for the next week. It wasn't unusual, but had become protocol whenever there was a serious disturbance on school grounds. After giving their statements Mason's mom came to pick Mason and Liam up. The school was so quiet it felt strange to be there. As they walked out of the building Liam saw Scott standing next to his bike.
"Mrs. Fields, I'm going to get a ride home from my….my friend if that's okay," Liam asked. Then he looked at Mason, who had finally stopped crying but was still very visibly upset.
"It's okay," Mason answered for his mother. "Go be with him." Liam gave Mason a long hug before running off to Scott. Without a word Scott and Liam got onto the motorcycle and sped off. Liam didn't know where Scott was taking him, but he was just happy to be with Scott in that moment. He squeezed him tightly and wished he could smell Scott's scent through the bike helmet. After what seemed like eternity they arrived at the entrance to the national park, a wooded area.
Holding hands Scott lead Liam into the woods. They were still quiet, which was fine with Liam because he was still trying to figure out what to say. He didn't want to take everything he said back about their relationship, but he didn't want to lose Scott. He was fine with Scott keeping him at a distance from all the crazy stuff, but he didn't want to be kept completely out. He had to know what had gone on since they found the body in the warehouse. He needed to know what killed his friend. He wanted to help, but knew that would take time for Scott to come around to, but Liam was willing to put in the work to prove to Scott he could handle things this time. They didn't even need to get back together. Liam was perfectly fine with being friends.
Liam thought this, until Scott finally stopped, grabbed Liam and kissed him deeply. Liam's thoughts were replaced with completely new ones. Of course he and Scott had to be together. There was no other way Liam could live his life. He had just spent the last several hours with his best friend who was so distraught over having never told the boy he really liked he liked him, there was no way Liam was going to be around Scott and not be able to express how much he loved him.
"I love you," Liam said breathlessly as he broke the kiss. "I love you so much."
"I know," Scott replied and pressed his lips roughly against Liam's. "I love you too. So much," he said in between kisses.
"We have to be together," Liam stressed as he pulled away again. "I don't want to be broken up." Scott's eyebrows furrowed.
"What are you talking about," he asked. "When did we break up?" Liam looked at Scott in confusion.
"In the janitor's closet, Scott," Liam said. "After we fought."
"You broke up with me," Scott snapped. "I didn't realize you were breaking up with me."
"How could you have not realized that," Liam shouted back. "We didn't speak to each other all weekend."
"Stiles said, you said you just needed some space," Scott replied.
"I did need space that why I broke up with you, you moron," Liam proclaimed.
"I'm the moron. You dragged me into a dusty, smelling janitor's closet to have sex, than blow up at me when I'm not into it and now I'm the moron," Scott exclaimed. He voice dropped, a sign that he was turning.
"We've been together for over a month Scott, and I've barely had two minutes of alone time with you," Liam screamed. "I just wanted to be with you."
"I want to be with you too," Scott said. His eyes were bright red. "You have no idea how much I want to be with you. But I'm scared every single day that something's going to happen to you. I can't eat, I can't sleep. I just want to protect you, and I'm driving myself crazy." Liam began to cry as he listened to Scott. "I want you to be a part of everything, but I know that if something happens to you, I might have to turn you and I can't bare you living this life. I just want to give you a normal life."
"I don't want a normal life, Scott I want you," Liam shouted back through his tears. The two stopped talking. Scott was seething and Liam was crying, eventually they became silent. Scott was back to normal and Liam's crying stopped. The day was turning darker and bit colder. It had to be at least 6 or 6:30.
"Now what," Liam asked quietly. His eyes kept darting back between Scott and the ground.
"I don't know," Scott answered. "Are we still broken up?" there was still a bit of anger in his tone. Liam sighed and rolled his eyes.
"No," he replied. "Not unless you want to be."
"I don't," Scott snapped. His bitterness made Liam giggle, but then he thought about Eric and how Eric made everyone laugh. Tears welled up in his eyes again. Scott closed the gap between them, giving Liam a hug. "I'm sorry, of course I don't want to break up. Don't be upset."
"I'm upset about Eric," Liam sobbed. "What did this to him? Do you guys still not have any leads?"
"No, and we've tried everything," Scott said. Liam could tell he was frustrated. "We've even reached out to hunters trying to figure out what this thing could be, but even they don't have a clue. The whole thing just doesn't fit any monster's M.O."
"What do you mean," Liam asked. Scott pulled away and Liam immediately regretted asking the question.
"Like serial killers, most monsters have a pattern of how they kill," Scott explained. "For instances they kill the same type of people, in the same area, using the same method."
"This thing been killing in Beacon Hills for weeks," Liam said.
"But not just in Beacon Hills, all over the county for months," Scott said. "And even though they've all been men, none of the victims are alike or have anything in common. It's as if it's random but not random at all."
"I don't understand," Liam replied.
"I don't either, that's just what Stiles said," Scott confessed. Liam smirked because it did sound like something Stiles would say. "And now Eric. Which means whatever killed Eric isn't just in our school, but fits into our school. It can move around completely unnoticed."
"Something Stiles said," Liam asked.
"Yep," Scott replied. He sighed deeply and put his hands to his head. Liam walked over and wrapped his arms around Scott's waist.
"We'll find it," Liam said assuring. "And Derek will kill it." Scott smiled down at Liam and then his face grew very serious. He traced Liam's face with his fingers.
"That could have been you," Scott said, his voice was low. He closed his eyes and put his head against Liam's. "I can't lose you," he said sternly.
"Then don't."
When Liam got home his parents were in a panic. They had heard the news about Eric once they got back in town and could get a hold of Liam once they came home to find he wasn't there. Liam explained he was Scott and where they were didn't have service. But that rolled into another fight about Liam being out with Scott, who he was supposed to have broken up with, without telling them. In short Liam was ground for a week without really understanding why.
He was allowed the phone, but couldn't leave the house unless he was with one of his parents. He called Mason every day who'd been mourning with the Nichols almost every day. They weren't allowed Eric's body until a full autopsy was done, which was hard because the state of Eric's remains kept changing. Scott called every day and night to update Liam on the pack's progress, which wasn't going anywhere.
According to Stiles' dad library has two surveillance cameras but none face the quiet room. No one saw anybody go into or leave the quiet room, not even Eric, and Eric was the only one who had checked out a key. The librarian said he had always used the quiet room Monday at third period since the beginning of the year, and it was rare for anyone to join him. His other friends corroborated that story as well. Mason said Eric's mom told him that Eric started the school year with a pretty low g.p.a, and if he wanted a scholarship to State he had to change.
His mother said he stopped hanging out with a lot of his old friends because they were too much of a distraction. He began spending time with Liam and Mason, and few other students because they always studied. He realized they were a good influence on him. This made Liam both happy and sad. He just thought Eric was being nice, he didn't realize how much of an impact he had on Eric.
"So you guys really think it's someone in school," Liam asked talking to Scott on the phone that following Friday night.
"That's usually the case," Scott said. "Plus if anyone out of the ordinary had been there, someone would have noticed. The school gets pretty weird about new people."
"Okay well how do you find out who it is," Liam asked. "Is there some kind of spell or something?"
"This isn't Hogwart's," Scott said with a laugh. "There's no revealing poison."
"Well I don't know," Liam protested. "There got to be some way you can figure out who the killer is."
"Usually the killer messes up," Scott said with a sigh. "Or Lydia stumbles across them."
"Hey why didn't Lydia find Eric's body," Liam asked, knowing her skills as a Banshee includes finding dead bodies."
"Remember what she said in the warehouse. These deaths are too spontaneous," Scott explained. "Lydia can usually sense someone is going to die before they do. She didn't have any indication that someone was going to die and she hasn't for a while. Deaton thinks you're right and that the killer may not know what they're doing."
"You told him I said that," Liam asked surprised.
"It's a good theory, but Stiles degrees since most of the other victims have been found in quiet and secluded places. He and the sheriff think those men were either lured or taken out there where they'd be hard to find," Scott explained.
"But what about the guy in the coffee shop?"
"Another reason why the pattern doesn't make sense," Scott said. "In all ten of the cases of this year so far six were found in secluded areas, four were more public."
"Well maybe that fits the idea that there are two people," Liam said remember one of the original theories. "The one that Derek killed could have killed the ones before Beacon Hills."
"No all the bite or suck marks are from one person," Scott said. "Deaton said they're like finger prints, exactly the same. If there were two of these things the marks would be slightly different."
"You know when you called I didn't think this was the type of goodnight bedroom chatting we'd be having," Liam mused. Scott laughed.
"Well what would you like to talk about," Scott said seductively.
"What are you wearing," Liam replied which garnered another laugh from Scott.
"Those red boxer-briefs," Scott answered.
"They tight ones I like," Liam asked with a groan. "Where you can see everything."
"And you can definitely see everything tonight," Scott answered with a moan.
"How much," Liam asked.
"Liam are you still on the phone," Liam's mother busted into the room, sending Liam in a panic to hide his phone and his boner.
"Mom can you knock," he shouted.
"Liam its 11:30 and you need to be sleeping. Tomorrow is the funeral," Sheila reminded him. Liam sighed. "You don't want to be yawning at the memory of your friend do you?" Shelia said as she tidy up Liam's room. She turned to Liam with a warm smile. "I know tomorrow will be hard, but remember we never really lose those we love. I get to see your father every day in your eyes." Liam smiled back at his mom. She walked over and gave him a sweet kiss on the forehead. As she did Liam caught the scent of her perfume.
"Mom are you wearing perfume," Liam asked. Shelia grimaced.
"Yes, I always wear perfume," She answered.
"What is it," Liam questioned. Shelia still looking confused crossed her arms.
"It's called Jardin d'Eden, it's French. I bought it Healdsburg a couple of year back."
"Okay, but what's it made out of," Liam asked. "Like what's the smell called?"
"Liam,"
"Mom please, just tell me," Liam begged. Shelia sighed and paused in thought.
"I think the main ingredient is jasmine," she said. "It's been awhile since I've worn it. It's my last bottle." Shelia said as she walked out the door.
"You last bottle," Liam called out.
"They no longer make it," Shelia yelled back. "Goodnight Liam." Liam thought for a moment, then remember Scott was still on the phone.
"Scott, come pick me up from the corner in 15 minutes."
"It's perfume," Liam proclaimed to the group of tired and annoyed looking people staring at him at Derek's loft.
"Okay, so what the guy had perfume on him," Stiles said about the body in the warehouse. "He was married."
"Yeah but I smelled it in the quiet room too," Liam explained. "I smelled the exact same perfume in the warehouse and the quiet room."
"Did you smell it the night you were attacked," Kira asked. Liam's excited face, went flat.
"No, but I don't really remember much from that night," he pointed out.
"Well you didn't mention it when you were high," Malia said.
"Why the fuck are we talking about perfume at midnight on a Saturday," Derek growled.
"Because they don't make it anymore," Liam said excitedly ignoring Derek's rudeness. "If we can figure out where the perfume came from it could help us in the search."
"No it can't, because the supernaturals here, can't smell it," Stiles argued. "If they can't smell it we can't find it."
"Maybe that's another indicator has to what it could be," Liam suggested.
"A creature that wears perfume only humans can smell," Stiles mocked.
"Stiles, come on man Liam's trying to help," Scott interjected. Stiles sighed.
"I know I'm sorry," Stiles offered. "I'm tired, and horny which is a frustrating combination."
"Okay how did you figure out it was perfume," Kira asked Liam.
"My mom wears it," Liam said proudly. "She bought it from a boutique in Healdsburg up north." Everyone glared at him.
"Great, its Liam's mother. Case solved. I'll go rip her throat out with my teeth," Derek said dryly.
"What," Liam asked panicked. "My mom isn't the killer. She wasn't even in town when Eric died."
"He's just being a dick, Liam," Scott assured. Derek tighten the cross of his arms in frustration.
"Oh, well maybe it isn't perfume but the jasmine smell definitely has something to do with the bodies," Liam stated.
"Couldn't that have been put in a fucking text message," Malia groaned.
"Sweetheart, language," Stiles said.
"I'm tired and hungry," she replied. "and horny."
"Okay tomorrow after Eric's funeral we'll work on the jasmine scent thing," Scott announced.
Standing on the corner a few houses away from Liam's house, he and Scott were feverishly making out.
"I'm sorry, what I had to say could have waited tell later," Liam said when he pulled away from the kiss.
"It's okay, and everyone is fine," Scott assured. "It's definitely a good lead."
"You really think so," Liam asked bashfully. Scott smiled and leaned in to continue to kiss the younger teen. The air was crisp and all Liam could hear were the insects. "I really should get back before my parents realize I'm gone."
"Maybe I could sneak back in with you," Scott offered. "I'm still wearing the red underwear and be happy for you to take them off." Liam chuckled.
"I don't think that's such a good idea," Liam said in an almost whine. "Besides didn't you want to wait until this case is solved before we, you know."
"I haven't touched you in a week," Scott said. "I really don't care about the case right now." He pulled Liam close and kissed him deeply. Liam regrettably pulled away.
"Scott, we have to do this right," Liam said. "Case first." Scott looked pained, but nodded his head in agreement. Liam pursed his lips in a kissing motion, fearing that getting to close to the older teen would cause him to lose his will. "I love you, good night," he whispered as he ran back to his house feeling awesome.
Chapter 8: a road trip reveals a lot about a lot.