The weekend had finally arrived and as promised by his mother, Theodore was left in the high school where the friendly volleyball team would take place. After taking the huge cooler bag and the other bag containing clean towels, the blond boy just bent down on the window to wave goodbye.
― Call me when you're done, I'll come get you.
― It's okay, I'll probably walk.
― You always bring more stuff in the finals. Just let me help you, hm?
Pete with his friendly smile made it hard to reject his offer. Squeezing the strap on his shoulder the blond boy only agreed with his head nodding again, not forgetting to send a kiss in the air to Lisa.
As soon as the grey car had turned the corner out of his sight, Theodore took a deep breath checking the time on his watch on his wrist. He had arrived an hour and a half before the agreement. Looking around had not found any other student there.
He should be the first.
Following the path to the gym quietly, Theodore went over all his tasks in mind. Despite being a friendly match, their tasks were equal to official matches. The water bottles of all the players were cold in the cooler. The towels had washed the day before were ironed and folded in the second bag he carried. In addition, he had also brought a first aid kit and notebooks to do evaluations ‒ certainly Nico would take care of it.
What he needed to take care of was to order the afternoon snacks for the athletes, but he would wait for the coach of the other team to arrive to see if they would also want something. And then at the end of the day would help in cleaning the court guarding the balls and the net.
Taking a pack of pills out of his sweatpants, he removed a pill and shoved it in his mouth, swallowing it dry as he went on his way. Stepping on the door of the gym soon found his physical education teacher, who opened the door.
‒ Hey, Moss, you're early today.
‒ Good afternoon teacher. I came early to help with the court.
‒ Always ready, aren't you boy? Come, come, I'll help you with the net.
Open doors and the woody smell welcomed him. Student and teacher soon left their belongings in a corner of the gym, heading to the warehouse where the sports instruments were stored. The network was large and somewhat heavy, but Theodore could handle his work very well.
Lucky for him Professor Marcus was someone with a sporting spirit who only cared about games. Even though rumours about blond sexuality circulated among athletes, Marcus had only taken care of the matter so as not to interfere with the team.
If it wasn't about games, it didn't matter to him.
Theodore then felt comfortable beside his teacher.
After setting up the net and the cart with the balls positioned next to the court, the first players came to the court. As usual, Theodore would sit quietly on the wooden bench removing the towels from his bag and leaving them stacked at the end of the other bench as far away from him as possible.
If someone started making dirty jokes just for handing over a towel, Theodore imagined it would yield in a big discussion later. The less contact with the players, the better.
― Theodore, you came!
Raising his bright eyes high, he found the boy whose smile was kind. He who had mastered his thoughts from the moment he felt a warm embrace and a breath close to him. Blinking a few times to wake up from his daydreams, the blonde raised his hand waving.
― What's up!
― I thought you weren't coming.
Gabriel had thrown the sports bag on the floor and sat next to Theodore, removing the sweatshirt he was wearing.
― Nico asked me to do a new analysis of the team, since it will be your first match.
― Yeah? Did he really ask for that?
Gabriel's surprise had caused the blonde to give off a nasal laugh.
― He's your captain, of course he'll want to take your best performance on the court.
― Let's just say I haven't found a way to get along with that captain yet.
Theodore agreed with his head, swallowing the little tip of guilt that arose. Of course the two could get along, but because the omega has made so clear his interest in the new student, Nicolas would be protective. They probably never would have talked about what had happened in the cafeteria weeks before.
If Theodore wasn't Nicolas's friend, they'd probably be good friends.
Noticing the silence of the blonde, Gabriel stretched his legs lazily.
― So, how do these friendlies usually work?
Taking a deep breath to abandon the uncomfortable thoughts, for the second time, Theodore raised his face to the court.
— It's a practice match. In two weeks, the intercollegiate qualifiers begin. You can view this as a way to get used to playing against other people.
― I think I'm a little anxious now.
Laughing low, Theodore turned his face to the handsome friend giving a light shoulder to his arm.
― Be cool. You're good, so you're on the team.
Realizing he had praised the boy, Theodore had felt his ears burn. Immediately he looked away, pulling the bag closer to his feet trying to focus on something other than the boy next to him.
However, Gabriel gave him a grip on the shoulder, increasing the boy's nervousness.
― Thanks Theodore.
― You can take your paws off my assistant.
The grumbling had gained the attention of the two boys, who came across the most sleepy figure seen on the face of the earth. Nicolas was wearing a cap and sweatshirt, carrying a bag and a grape Kapo. The huge purple dark circles already alerted Theodore that his best friend was in a bad mood.
Contrary to the low warning, but full of murderous intent, Gabriel had not let go of Theodore's shoulder. Quite the contrary, he had supported his arm there, facing the captain.
― Good afternoon to you too, Captain.
Nicolas looked at his eyes.
— Good afternoon my ass. ― Grumbled the boy holding Gabriel's wrist forcing him to take his arm on Theodore. ― If you're ready, go warm up.
― There's no point in trying to kick me out of here, Captain.
Theodore sighed passing his hand over the blonde strands, and then stared at his friend.
― Didn't sleep last night? You look more tired than usual.
― I just woke up.
― Now? ― Surprised Theodore, looking at the wristwatch, realizing it was almost two in the afternoon. ― And what time did you go to sleep?
Nicolas drank his grape juice, blinking as slowly as a sloth. And then he raised six fingers.
— Are you kidding me, right? ― Theodore questioned indignantly, receiving a negative from his friend. ― Nico! You should have gone to bed early so you wouldn't get all sleepy at the start.
― You want me to sleep now, then?
Theodore snitch in response. With a mocking smile on his face, the alpha leaned on the bench facing Nicolas.
― That's not very healthy, Captain. It might end up playing badly...
― Again, do you want me to sleep now?
Nicolas's sleepy gaze soon became angry. Gabriel and Theodore looked at each other and refused with their heads. The conversation was interrupted by the group of girls who entered the gym with their shouting and side conversations spreading pheromones everywhere. The three boys, as well as all the players who had arrived, accompanied that huge group of girls to enter and climb to the stands.
The few places there were completely filled. Banners and cardboard with the name of Milles predominated the gym.
― But what is happening here?
― It seems that my booty already has a target. ― Snarled Nicolas with the straw in his mouth.
Ignoring his friend, Theodore approached Gabriel to whisper to him.
― It's the Milles fan club. Even if we try to keep these training matches a secret, they do find out and come watch.
― The guy has a fan club?
— It wouldn't surprise me if he was on the cover of Caprice magazine as popular as he is. ― Replied Theodore, who averted his gaze to the team captain. ― The problem is another...
Following the blond's gaze, Gabriel perceived the murderous aura of a person who seemed sleepy. Standing drinking the grape juice, a little guy stared at the stands with a look so empty that it looked like a hole ready to suffocate someone in his abyss.
A shiver had passed through the spine of the new student.
― He wouldn't have the courage to throw balls at girls on purpose, would he?
The euphoric screams gained strength and echoed until outside the gym when the main reason for the hormones had stepped on court coming down from his skateboard. Milles in his sweatpants and tank top shirt waved to the bleachers, spreading his beautiful smile in thanks to the sweet girls who sighed at his feet.
Angelically also greeted the other players of his team and the coach, looking around the court with a smile satisfied with his fame.
― Let's warm up ― Nicolas commanded by pressing the already empty juice box.
Nicolas had left his backpack next to Theodore and soon removed his cap and sweatshirt, leaving only dark shorts and gray shirt. He completely ignored all the sweetness that radiated a certain blonde alpha athlete, going to the coach to discuss some training plans.
Gabriel, who tied the sneakers, looked at that scenario with curiosity.
― I feel that if I step on the court I will die.
― Not you, but your friend is not so sure anymore. ― Laugh Theodore folding Nicolas's blouse carefully.
Noticing size careful with his friend's blouse, Gabriel swallowed dry looking at his own jacket thrown on the bench next to him.
― Will you stay here all the time?
― Yes, why is that?
Gabriel had pulled out his own bag for Theodore's feet, and then stretched out his blouse when he arrived at the gym.
― Can you take care of it for me?
The fragrant aroma of that blouse was a real slap in the face of Theodore. Facing the dark-haired boy ahead, he did not respond immediately as he would like. Perhaps it was his silence that made Gabriel approach even more the fragrant blouse towards him.
Clearing his throat to force his voice to come out clear, Theodore had found the courage to respond directly.
― Are you sure? I mean... The others can understand I'm going through your stuff.
― I'm handing you over in front of everyone. It's just a request to take care of my stuff while I train.
Biting his lower lip, Theodore stretched out his hands holding the blouse and leaving it in his lap. Gabriel widened a stunning smile on his lips, messing up his classmate's blonde hair. And then, as if it was nothing, he would go to the court with his team-mates.