—(Mark)—
Waking up to an empty home is something that I don't think I will get used to anytime soon. Even though I felt alone when I lived with my family, I knew they were physically there, if not emotionally. I could not let myself focus on negative thoughts today. This is the first day in my new life in Beacon Hills.
I checked my phone and saw that I received a text from James last night.
–(MSG)–
James: Hey Mark, glad to hear that you got the space you needed. I know it must be tough being thrown into the Para world. Just know that the pack will always have your back. Don't forget to check in with me often.
I know that you haven't fully accepted us because you feel robbed of your normal life. But if you need to blame anyone, blame me. I am the one who decided that for you. The rest of the pack can feel the rejection you have for them.
Mark: You're right, the pack is doing its best to help me. I'll keep in touch.
James: Alright, as long as you know that.
[A/N Para world = Paranormal world]
–(End of MSG)–
I wanted to send a snarky message back to him, but I knew that he did what he thought was best for me that night. I don't remember anything from that night; at most, I get glimpses in my nightmares.
The following month after being turned, I knew the pack did their best to get me integrated with them, but I was unstable and would snap at those who were trying to help me. I decided I would send a neutral response since he was the only reason I was allowed to move.
I got up from my bed, went through my morning routine, and drank my coffee. I changed into my running clothes and left my house early in the morning to begin my day. However, before I started to run, I thought about inviting Scott, so I went over to his house. As I was about to knock on the door, it opened, and I felt someone bump into my chest and take a step back.
"Ow. What are you made of?" she asked me.
"I haven't been taught that yet, so I wouldn't know," I snapped at her.
"Well, someone's a bit feisty today. How may I help you this early in the morning?" she said as she fixed her nurse uniform.
"I was about to go for a run and wanted to ask Scott if he wanted to join me. I just moved into the house next to you. I met him yesterday," I said in an annoyed tone.
"Oh, you must be Markus, right? Scott told me about you. Well, nice to meet you. But I don't think Scott will join you on that run," she responded.
"Why not?" I said with a bit of an edge in my voice.
"Well, first, he's probably still sleeping. It's 7 in the morning, and it's summer break. Second, he's asthmatic, and I think a run would literally kill him." I quickly tried to relax; she wasn't being confrontational. I was the instigator here. I had completely forgotten that I saw him use his inhaler yesterday.
"Sorry, I'm being rude to you," I apologized.
"It's fine, you're a teen with hormones. Trust me, I understand; I'm raising a teen, you know," she said with a slight smile.
"MOOM," I heard Scott yell from the top of the stairs.
"Speak of the devil. Alright, I gotta get running or else I'm going to be late for my shift. It was nice meeting you, Markus," she said as she walked to her car and drove off.
"Hey Scott, I just wanted to ask if you want to go out for a run, but your mom reminded me that you have asthma," I explained my reason for being at his door so early in the morning.
"It's cool. I may not be able to run with you, but we could go for a walk or something," he suggested.
"Sorry, I need to keep my routine of running, but are we still on for the park in the afternoon?" I excused myself because these runs were really important for burning off energy, or else I'd be itching with it all day.
"Yeah, we're still on for the park," he responded.
—(Scott)—
Who's at the door so early? Mom sounds annoyed. Wait, Mark? Oh, the new guy next door. He wants to go for a run? That's nice, but I hope Mom isn't being too harsh on him. She doesn't back down from anyone no matter their size.
I can't help but internally chuckle when I hear Mark's snappy response. This guy has some spunk. But then, Mom mentions my asthma, and I feel a bit embarrassed. I hope she doesn't scare him off.
Hearing Mark apologize makes me feel relieved. Nice, Markus. Good move. Mom's understanding; she gets it.
"MOOM," I shout from the top of the stairs, hoping to defuse any remaining tension.
When Mom leaves, I focus on Markus's words. A run? Man, I wish I could. It sounds fun. But hey, at least he still wants to hang out later.
Mark is dedicated to his routine. I respect that. Looks like we're still on for the park, and maybe we can figure out other ways to hang out that don't involve me dying from an asthma attack.
As Markus leaves, I feel a mix of excitement. This guy seems genuinely nice if not a bit prickly , and maybe we'll become good friends. I should text Stiles about all this. He's excited to meet with Mark.
–(Mark)–
I nodded, giving him a quick wave before heading off. The run was invigorating; the cool morning air and the rhythmic pounding of my feet on the ground helped clear my head. By the time I returned home, I felt more centered and ready to face the day.
After a quick shower and breakfast, I found myself with some free time. I decided to explore the woods a bit more, feeling a strong pull toward nature. The forest was dense and full of life, the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling creating a symphony that was both calming and invigorating.
As I walked, I thought about my conversation with Scott's mom. She seemed nice, understanding even. It was a relief to know that not everyone here would be wary of me. I hoped that Scott and I could become good friends; it would be nice to have someone to talk to, someone who might understand what it's like to go through tough changes.
The afternoon came quickly, and before I knew it, it was time to meet Scott. I made my way over to his house, knocking on the door and waiting for him to answer. When he did, he had a big smile on his face.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"Yeah, let's do this," I replied, feeling a sense of excitement.
[A/N I've changed Noah's age to 12 from 10 this won't affect the story in the short term but in the long term]