Summer 2007
An alpha must find a good omega girl
The yellow Tabebuia was in bloom that summer, and as the former principal had decided to plant several in the entrance of the school creating a real catwalk, nature welcomed a student.
Theodore stood in front of the entrance, his head held high admiring the flowers as he realized for the first time what his colour would be. He had been studying there for years, but he would never have attempted such a detail. Now that he had done so, it was simply impossible not to admire such beauty. The yellowish flowers that covered the branches swayed with the fresh wind of that morning, worthy of admiration.
Checking the hours on his cell phone, the boy smiled satisfied to find a little free time before class. He had passed through the gates of the school and followed the courtyard until he found the garden with the most planted and flowering tables. The perfect shade was waiting for him, and there he threw his backpack on the lawn and lay down.
The wind had also come to welcome him, gently caressing his face and messing up the blonde strands on his forehead. A refreshing shadow was all he wanted. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment.
All in peace.
In peace...
Until I smell a sweet smell. Smell that made Theodore open his eyes searching around for the origin of his restlessness. Even without raising his head, just out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Sadie Mckenzie with her group of friends talking loudly in full euphoria in front of the fountain. An exclusive space for those considered popular.
The girl with long straight hair and brown followed the fashion of the time. The new uniform had already been adapted to her peculiar tastes, Theodore realized. The black skirt was on the thigh, above the average requested by the new director. The social shirt was tight and with the first buttons open, showing the curves of the full breasts.
He suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at the girl. It was six in the morning and Sadie was already brushing her teeth in a smile while screaming. Theodore wanted to disappear so he wouldn't have to hear that girl's voice. Not in the early hours of the day.
However the euphoria of the small group of girls had a target... or it would be better to say a reason. Theodore had noticed when they turned to the other side of the fountain and then rushed towards someone.
A boy.
Theodore did not recognize the tall, dark-haired figure who was surrounded by the girls. But he liked his Zac Efron's haircut, he had good taste.
The target of euphoria distributed cordial smiles and talked amicably with the girls. And what a beautiful smile, he realized. Theodore even bullied at seeing Sadie shake her straight hair and smile pretending to be shy.
― It's already showing its claws, it doesn't waste time.
Arranging the backpack under his head, and taking last look at the euphoric group, Theodore lost the rhythm of his breath when realized that the sweet and tasty smell came from that guy. So intoxicating that it dulled his senses like a delicious drug.
How he supposed to do it again?
Breathe out? Breathe in?
Wait, was there air in his lungs?
What did it matter? Why the hell was that weird guy pretending to be Zac Efron staring at him? The last thing he wanted was to get caught looking at the group of girls hitting on the first handsome guy they saw.
Theodore quickly looked away, or rather, closed his eyes pretending to sleep. Maybe it was better to pretend dead or that it was invisible, but his visualization and imagination were not steaming that morning. Just knowing that he would have looked at himself made his cheeks warm considerably, and the heat had become uncomfortable.
Where was the damn gentle breeze seconds ago? Gosh...
― I found you!
Opening his eyes in surprise, Theodore tilted his head back seeing the smile, at least thought it was a smile, gloomy of his friend.
― You're early, Nico.
Nicolas was a boy shorter than Theodore, but adorably gloomy. He even had purple circles under his eyes, saying he'd been up all night throwing something. Sitting in the shade and hugging his legs, Nicolas laid his head on his knees and could look at the blonde.
― I didn't sleep, actually. I had nightmares that night.
― What did you dream about? ― Theodore asked worried.
― I dreamed that I was coming to school and suddenly a song began to play, and colourful things coming from beyond along with a basketball star and a newly arrived nerd...
Immediately Theodore sat down on the grass, propping his hands between his legs as he leaned excitedly towards his friend.
― Did you watch High School Musical? I can't believe it!
― I'd love to say I did it for our friendship, but I'm tempted to kill you for making me watch this thing.
— Nha, don't talk like that, the movie is great. And I promised you I'd give you a birthday game. I'm even saving up. ― He bargained the blonde with his kind smile ― But now tell me, what did you think?
Nicolas had made a grimace and let out a groan. He even rolled his eyes, even if he heard his friend laugh at him.
― I prefer not to comment, I want to keep my brain intact.
― That's mean, Nico. The songs are good, and I enjoyed the choreography too.
― You liked the cliché of popular and nerdy falling in love by sharing the charms of the spring musical.
― That's too...
Leaning his chin in the palm of his hand, Nicolas looked at his best friend with that calm, sleepiness, typical of a teenager.
― Will you tell me that after seeing this movie your dream is to be bitten by an athlete?
Theodore gave only a smile as he scratched his neck. He would not be able to lie to his best friend, especially if he stared at him with all the gothic aura surrounding him seeming to aim at his soul.
At least it was a relief to be himself with someone. He could tell Nicolas that he thought some other boy was handsome, and he wouldn't care or judge him. Still needed a good deal of patience to withstand Theodore's little crushes.
It wasn't his fault that Disney movies have shown such beautiful artists acting in cute novels. He just wanted a story like that for him... Preferably with another kid. And his last movie had become the favorite when a basketball team seemed unexpectedly interesting.
Finally, Nicolas just sighed.
― Athletics isn't the same as in the movie, Theo. You're just gonna get hurt.
— Don't talk like that... It's just... An idea? Pure imagination. I won't go into the players' locker rooms and ask them out. ― Stretching his legs and supporting his arms back, Theodore looked up at the sky distractedly reminiscing about the gentle breeze from earlier. ― It's just a dream.
Again under the watchful eyes of his friend, Theodore had noticed that he had entered the red area of conversation. It would be those moments when Nicolas might be starting to worry about him, which would yield in hours of sermon about being more grounded and less dreamy.
He had to be content with such sermons, after all the reality was hard indeed. Not only had Theodore assumed to be gay, everyone at school knew his little secret about him being an omega. There would be no chance of genuinely falling in love with a basketball star.
Unfortunately hearing his best friend's sermons was like an anchor that brought him back to reality.
About to give him an answer that would calm his spirits, he was surprised to receive a caress in his hair and see the singing smile of the gloomy friend.
― It's summer, right? It's okay to dream then.
― Ahn? Wait... you really said that?
― Said.
― Are you sick?
— I'm a little sleepy! I hope this damn movie gets out of people's minds, or they're really going to start singing and dancing, and I can assure you that most people are out of tune!
― I already memorized the choreography for "We all in this Together" and prepared a basketball uniform for you to wear with me.
In a jump Theodore took his backpack and ran out when he noticed something being thrown at him. He had to flee to the classroom, for Nicolas stormed out with a grudge, or perhaps drowsiness, behind him.
Of course, a teenager would find the film boring, childish and aimed at silly girls, which made Nicolas's reaction expected and fun. Theodore just couldn't help liking the movie. And like every self-respecting friend, he should share his tastes with Nicolas, right?
Walking on his back while laughing at his friend, who was panting and leaning on his own knees without being able to run anymore, Theodore had felt his back hit something. Something hard, but not as hard as a wall, and warm. The startle he had taken with the thud undid his immediate smile as he felt a pair of hands hold his arms carefully.
God, had he hit someone? Would his torment start so soon? Wait... What was that smell? Naively tilted his head back, blinking his bluish eyes at the strange fellow who also stared at him.
He had recognized the boy who had been the cause of the female euphoria earlier. Seeing him more closely, Theodore had not failed to blush in noticing such beauty of the subject. His hair was repainted and fell on his face with elegance. Dark brown eyes that looked at him with a certain surprise. Even his arm burned where he felt his long, warm fingers hold.
Inevitably his heart accelerated.
― You're gonna be stalling for how long, huh?
Turning his head behind the strange boy, Theodore suppressed the eye roll for the second time when he found Sadie with arms crossing his eyes.
― Sorry, I accidentally hit you, didn't I?
Facing the boy again, realized he was taller than himself. Theodore quickly moved away from the warm touch and put his backpack on his back. With his eyes low without the courage to face both, he tried to hide the blush that took his face with despair.
He had not been able to answer him, he had felt his throat become dry at the time.
― Don't listen to him...
— Finally I caught up with you ― Nicolas sighed, leaning on his friend's shoulder. Raising his face to notice the two figures in front of Theodore, he quickly squinted his eyes menacingly. ― What was, some problem here?
Sadie did not respond, but rolled her eyes crossing her arms. Theodore immediately grabbed his best friend's wrist and pulled him into the room.
― Come on, Nico. Excuse me.
He had not paid attention to what the other two had answered, but had only pulled his friend to the back of the classroom where they used to sit. When he had raised his eyes to the door, he had noticed that both had already gone out and could sigh with relief.
― How unlucky to run into her early in the day.
― Who was that with her?
— Did you spend the entire class writing High School Musical songs and not pay attention? ― He questioned Nicolas, soon regretting noticing the embarrassed smile of the other. Sighing and denying with his head, he began to take his material ― It is the student transferred to our room. That's all.
― Do we have a transfer student?
He had not stopped seeing the similarities with the favorite movie of the moment. A boy had been transferred to school, but unfortunately Theodore himself was not captain of the basketball team and much less popular.
The little compatibility with his newest fantasy had made him shrug. For now.