The friendly match ended with the victory of the home team that received great praise from the other coach. The last set had turned the court into a real battlefield, forcing players to sweat their shirt not to give up the tight score.
For a certain dark-haired alpha, that match had lasted forever. His team-mates were agitated with the good performance of the boy, but no one imagined that he would be just discounting that feeling so strange and angry on the ball.
"Don't look. Why do you want so much to know how close they are?". Gabriel's thoughts were another battlefield, and more agonizing than the court. He was always scolding for looking away at the woody bench where those two guys were.
Even if Theodore kept all his attention on the game and made some note in a notebook, what seemed to bother Gabriel was the sleeping team captain. How could I sleep with that cricket?
His mind had only rested when he had switched places with the libero for a moment, and could see Theodore get up from the bench carefully not to wake his friend. And then he went out until the coaches talked about something, leaving the gym then.
"Why care so much?" thought the player, forcing himself to turn his attention on the court.
Theodore was a nice, kind guy, and he seemed smart. Even though Sadie and Milles made a point of talking about the rumours of the blonde, Gabriel didn't care about that. Gabriel wanted to be his friend.
Gabriel wanted to become close to Theodore.
But something was off.
The problem was with yourself.
Gabriel had already noticed that he did not feel comfortable in seeing the blond boy so close to the captain of the volleyball team. He had imagined that he felt a certain selfishness, because Theodore was afraid of him sometimes. He had to say he didn't care that was omega to be friends. While with Nicolas... they hugged in front of the other students, without caring about the whispers.
All right, they were long-time friends, Theodore had commented this before, but... what if they had something else?
He couldn't say it was impossible.
After all... there was that Theodore thing with that guy Jake. So, he already had some experience with relationships with other guys...
What the hell were you thinking? Did you really need to ponder this sort of thing? It was Theodore's personal life, it was none of his business, right?
Snorting angry at his own thoughts, Gabriel had left the gym as soon as the whistle had gone off. He cared little for the cheers and calls of his coach, just wanted to get out of that gym as soon as possible.
With the towel wrapped around his neck he went down the steps of the gym sitting in a corner alone. He pulled the cotton cloth over sweaty hair, pathetically hiding from his crazed thoughts.
Not that it would work.
"Why do I seem to be the only one who can't get close?".
The gym had gotten noisy moments later, yet Gabriel had not raised his head. He did not know how long he had been sitting on the staircase lost in his questioning. He was only frightened when something cold touched the nape of his neck.
Suddenly turning his head back, he found Theodore holding a bag and a can of coke.
― You must be hungry after that game. I ordered some burgers for the team, I don't know if it's to your taste...
Taking the soda can and the bag with the snack, Gabriel only agreed with his head in a mute response. Taking the burger out of the plastic bag the smell made his stomach complain of hunger. He had bitten a large piece, almost rolling his eyes with pleasure from eating something.
Hearing a slight laugh coming from his side, Gabriel remembered that Theodore was still there. He had sat next to him and also ate a snack similar to his own. But what really caught his attention was the distance between them. One person could sit between the two with ease.
Depending on how lucky he was, the only person who would make a point of staying between them was a certain shorty.
― I thought you were with the captain...
The cursed words escaped his lips without his permission. Gabriel rebuked himself in mind, trying to stick the snack in his mouth to occupy it before another nonsense was uttered. Still, he had looked around at Theodore curious about his reaction.
Theodore had remained silent and then looked at him directly. The alpha had not looked back at him in any way, for he wanted to know the answer. From which it came soon after.
― When he smells food, he'll wake up alone. It'll be enough to calm things down.
Gabriel had shaken his head while still eating the snack. He wanted to ask so many questions, but didn't even have the courage to organize them in his head. For a moment he realized that just sitting there on the stairs, eating hamburger in silence on Theodore's side was already comfortable for him. It was a good thing. Even with the distance between them.
But this moment was soon pushed with violence when he remembered Nicolas throwing his blouse to get rid of Theodore's lap. Even though he had been impeccably folded and warmed in the lap of the omega, those details fell apart when they fell into her arms.
— Was the game so tiring for you? ― Hearing the voice sound curious Gabriel awakened from his thoughts. Raising his face, he saw Theodore staring at him while drinking a sip of coke. ― It's pretty quiet now.
― Yeah? ― Theodore agreed with the head quickly, and Gabriel can only give you a mischievous smile to hide the shame ― It must be the fatigue.
― I saw you left the gym as soon as the game was over. If I'm being nosy, I'm sorry, but you seem to be bothered by something.
Gabriel had to look away, for felt he could open the dumbest smile on his face. Theodore had noticed him, and also seemed concerned now. Wasn't that a sign that they had already become good friends?
― No big deal... just some annoying thoughts.
― Oh... is the new student already angry about something?
Gabriel had a nasal laugh, snapping the end of his snack before kneading the napkins. Sipping a sip of the coca, he remained silent trying to find a suitable answer.
― I'm not angry, just bothered. ― Laughs Gabriel disguising shame by lowering his head.
The towel had concealed the boy's embarrassed expression, but the gentle, refreshing breeze had created a gap for Theodore. Gabriel was then surprised when the blond's hands touched his head, rubbing the towel in his hair.
― You're all sweaty. If you catch wind you'll get sick.
He had hardly heard those words clearly. Gabriel could only hear the sound of his heart beating as fast as a locomotive. His ears ceased to hear any other sound, for all his senses were turned to that touch in his head.
Theodore's hand was large, his fingers thin and delicate. He rubbed his hair gently and delicately, as if taking all the care in the world not to hurt him. And his clear eyes were focused on task, even if his expression was soft.
Paying attention to Theodore had made Gabriel's heart race ever faster. It was as close as he had been since had embraced him...
Oh.
Heavens.
That time he had embraced Theodore.
The memories of that afternoon had been forgotten for the well-being of his heart. Gabriel had come to dream of the embrace, how hot Theodore's body was, and how fast his heart was. But what ended up taking away his reason was the desire to press him against himself more and more by feeling his smell intensify.
Now that heat was over your head, close enough to him. Gabriel could break the distance between them just by pulling your wrist. The mere idea increased his nervousness, making him close his fingers to restrain himself.
Gabriel wanted to hug him.
Gabriel didn't want to be the only one who wasn't able to touch him.
Swallowing hard, Gabriel lowered his eyes repressing those desires.
― Can I ask you something, Theodore?
Hearing his own voice had made Gabriel reproach himself. He had sounded so low and strange to his own ears, that he even wanted to escape from Theodore. For the damn second time your mouth spoke what it shouldn't.
― Yeah, what is it?
Closing his eyes and clenching his fist, Gabriel tried to contain himself. But Theodore's warm touch was still over his head, wiping his hair on the back of his head. That touch simply pulled the memories of that afternoon, where they were so close and close behind a palm tree.
Cursed was the moment your eyes sought the blue pearls. For from that moment, seeing the curiosity so genuine in that blond boy was enough to hear something break within Gabriel.
A red rope.
It had broken apart.
The tall boy had held Theodore's wrist with some force and urgency, pulling him to himself until his shoulders touched his pectoral. Even if the free arm wrapped the blonde in a hug, Gabriel had not let go of his wrist fearing his escape.
Approaching his lips to the lobe, he had allowed that strange voice to be shown to the world.
― Could you not let the captain so close to you?
Slowly he felt Theodore's body stiffen in his arms, and a sweet aroma slowly becoming present. He had remained in that position being sensitive to his every move. His free hand flattened on his back had pressed him more against himself, giving him the wonderful perception of a beating heart against his.
― Why?
Theodore's short, fearful voice increasingly shattered Gabriel's sanity. He felt that at any moment would find the strength to regain consciousness and push the blonde away. So their desires fought bravely for control of consciousness. They would not give up until they got what they wanted.
― Because it bothers me.
Hearing voices inside the gym rising, the break time would probably come to an end. Theodore immediately flattened his hands on Gabriel's chest, pushing him to let go of the hug.
He had let go just to see his face. And the sight he had the pleasure of gracing had been of Theodore with rosy cheeks and eyes wide with surprise. Something that Gabriel had marked deep in his soul not to forget.
The confusion was clear in Theodore. The blond hid the shame by looking away and covering his mouth with the back of his hand. Even if he tried to escape, he questioned him once again.
― Why?
Gabriel could not tell if the question was for the hug or for his reasons, nor did he care. Those measly seconds in which he could feel the warmth of Theodore in his arms, and still feel his beating heart were enough for the bad mood to go away.
Then he had outlined a knight smile for the blond.
― Because you said I could do whatever I wanted.
Without a word being said, Gabriel had to get up to hear the coach's call to begin training. And unlike the last set where something bothered him, it was now light.
Theodore really saved him, now even from uncomfortable sensations.