On Friday of that week the day was completely cloudy. The gray clouds hovered over the small town with thunderstorms, signalling the possible storm that was about to come.
For the newcomer in the classroom those clouds seemed to talk to him warning of the chaos he might experience later. After all, he had an appointment that night.
The class was empty due to physical education in the first hour, but Theodore had arrived late for taking Lisa to school instead of his mother. Already anxious for the night, he had not felt like participating in the class, choosing to be silent enjoying the solitude of his empty room.
Theodore adjusted the material on his wallet and returned to look at the window feeling the nervousness in his belly. He wanted to escape, he could not calm down at all. He had hardly slept that night, as had all the previous ones since the previous Saturday.
Theodore's slender fingers caressed his wrist where a day had been pressed so tightly that it rooted in his memories.
It was the second time Gabriel had embraced him.
For the second time had to close his eyes, trying to control his stupid heart. Second time? Now this... Every night Theodore had woken up at dawn after dreaming of Gabriel. It would not be the second time he needed to calm down. It was the millionth.
It was getting unbearable to control it. Gabriel divided his time between popular friends and volleyball practices, not having so much time to talk with him. But every day he greeted him with a gentle smile on his face.
This greeting that Theodore had been longing for every day.
When a handsome guy paid attention to him, it was impossible not to feel special. When this same guy told him with all the words to want to be his friend regardless of your sexuality, it was impossible not to be happy. And when this same guy, handsome and friendly, hugged him so tightly whispering in his ear a jealous request... It was impossible not to dream.
Putting the headphones and plugging them into the Ipod, he turned on the playlist letting the universe give him some help to ward off those thoughts. The last thing you'd want to realize is that you're slowly falling in love with your new classmate.
But the music that sounded on his headphones made him realize it was too late to worry about it.
"So hard to understand the heart
And so many times I tried
I believe in a love story
A beautiful dream (a beautiful dream)
I know I'll live"
Was Theodore daydreaming? Or was it his desperation to live out his high school romance, which had targeted Gabriel? Wouldn't that be an illusion, then?
Even though it was an illusion of his head for a lonely and needy heart, the omega did not want to get rid of the memories and sensations that his classmate had left in himself. Because was just so good when Gabriel touched him. Just remembering the perfume stuck in his blouse that had been in his lap the previous Saturday, Theodore outlined a shy smile.
It was the smell of Gabriel.
The biggest problem with that was precisely your commitment that night. There's no way Theodore should look like a fool in love in front of his father. Just that thought was enough to remember another stormy night, a year ago, when his heart had been broken and his body had hurt with the reality of a cruel world.
Theodore was supposed to visit that cruel world that night. So the hot feeling of falling in love was easily repressed.
Leaning his wallet against the wall, Theodore sat on the table and could follow the clouds darken letting the first drops fall. Snuggled there, he crossed his legs by touching his forehead against the frosty glass, letting the music speak to him.
Lost in thought he had not noticed when the target of his thoughts had also arrived late in the classroom.
Gabriel had stopped at the door pressing the handle of his backpack when he came across the blonde sitting on the table lost in thoughts. A smile appeared on his lips as he took deaf steps in the back of the room. Wondered if your arrival would be noticed, or if could give your new friend a little scare.
Leaning in front of the blond boy, Gabriel can notice the gloomy tone in those light eyes. The smile that lit up on his face gradually disappeared. Gabriel had pulled the front wallet to get closer to Theodore's, and had not yet gained his attention.
Sitting in the wallet swinging his legs, Gabriel waved in front of his friend's eyes.
― Theodore? Hey... Theodore. ― Unsuccessfully, Gabriel then touched the arm of the blond, who sighed loudly at looking at him surprised. ― What face is that?
― What's up Gabriel, was bad, was lost in thoughts.
― I get it. Did something happen to get so tense?
Theodore smiled nervously, looking out the window.
― Nothing, just thinking about some things. ― Without bearing not to look at him, Theodore had peeked at him from the corner of his eyes ― Arrived now?
― I missed the time, did not hear the alarm clock. And you decided to skip class?
― Something like that. I just wanted to get away for a while.
Realizing how elusive his new friend was, Gabriel decided to put the matter aside. Pointing to the Ipod in his hand, he smiled trying to find another subject.
― What are you listening to?
― A-Ahn... some old songs.
― Old songs? Do you like viola fashion?
― Not that old, Gabriel.
The two boys laughed, but before they plunged into silence, Gabriel leaned into the wallet.
― Can I hear along with you?
It was so close... Gabriel blinked his brown eyes like a child asking to attack a candy. Theodore had not controlled the blush on his cheeks, nor averted his eyes to the side trying to escape the euphoria.
― I don't know if you're gonna enjoy...
Theodore held his breath when Gabriel's perfume wrapped him in a hug. The memories that he had fought so hard to drive away disappeared from his head giving way to record that sweet moment.
Without saying anything in response, Gabriel reached out to take one of the headphones and put it in his ear. Because of the short wire, the brunette came even closer to the blonde, and only then did he realize the music he heard.
It was not as old as he imagined, but remembered the success that the song had made in its release. Many girls from his school sang in love with the phenomenon of the musical group. He was surprised to find that Theodore also liked that song.
"An angel came to tell me
Love has come for me
Came to show me
The dream has no end
And no matter how much time goes by
(I will wait for you)
And it's never been this strong
I heard an angel speak to me"
Gabriel did not look away from Theodore, listening to that song enveloping him as a silent invitation to accept his secret message. Unlike him, the omega did not fail to look at the rain outside exuding tranquility.
Those two boys shared the headset and listened to the romantic music with the lyrics.
He was so close to himself. Listening to the same songs as if he was reading every feeling he hid. Theodore moved his fingers on his lap nervously, remembering that he had told his best friend about not showing what he was beginning to feel for Gabriel.
But it was hard.
Very difficult.
Especially with him being so close.
"How many times have I dreamed of a kiss
A care I never felt
I know one day you'll be here
In a beautiful dream (in a beautiful dream)
In your arms is where I want to be"
That afternoon in the locker room, where he was hugged from behind and had his mouth covered by Gabriel's big, warm hand, Theodore fantasized the ideal moment to be kissed. What would that alpha's kiss be like? Would it be tender or cheeky?
His cheeks were reddened, unconsciously Theodore bit his lower lip. Realizing the fantasies he was having, this time awake, he could not suppress the desire to look away and unravel Gabriel's thoughts.
When his bluish eyes rolled to the side, he found himself with brown eyes attached to him. And without saying a word, those two boys faced each other trapped in the very fantasies that a simple song was able to provide.
"All the love I ever sought
You came to show me
I know you're my angel
The love I always dreamed of
I know you're my angel"
Oh... right. There was a time when Theodore looked at Gabriel thinking he saw an angel reaching out to him. The day they did the work in the library, when your classmate worried about him and presented him with that stunning sight.
Is that why that song sounded like talking to Theodore?
He had awakened from his thoughts when had felt something hot touching his lips. Blinking a few times, even the tips of his ears got hot from having Gabriel's thumb go through his lower lip.
He was biting him unconscious once again. Gabriel had extended his hand and touched his lips gently. Releasing his lip, the omega felt his entire face tingle with the warm touch that was provided. Theodore had no idea what face was doing at the time, and for a moment he wished he wasn't pathetic.
Because he felt that would be kissed.
Gabriel approached his face slowly to Theodore's, staring at his eyes without blinking and without pushing away the hand that had rested on his chin. Slowly the distance between those two was decreasing.
Should he push him away?
What if Gabriel was playing him?
But... Theodore wanted so much...
With that closeness, Theodore did not fail to observe the thin lips of Gabriel. Theodore wanted to kiss him.
By heaven, he've wanted that for a long time.
The anguish made him hold his breath without realizing it, just waiting to see the warm touch on his lips.
But they didn't come.
At the door of the classroom stood two people who watched that proximity with terror. The captain of the volleyball team had just looked over his shoulder, hoping that the omega girl would create some kind of scandalous scene. Unexpectedly she kept quiet behind him.
Sighing heavy, Nicolas then opened the door more making noise, scaring the two boys sitting at the window so close. Gabriel and Theodore walked away looking scared to the door of the room, with the nervousness of having their magical moment attended by someone not invited.
― What are they doing alone in the class?
Theodore swallowed hard, pulling Gabriel's headset to roll it up and put it in the bag along with the Ipod. Then he just smiled at his best friend, hiding the nervousness scratching his head.
― We arrived late, so we stayed here since it started to rain.
Nicolas approached the two boys, facing Gabriel with his typical bad mood. Pointing his head at the door, he grumbled.
― Your girlfriend is waiting at the door.
― Mine a what?
Theodore and Gabriel looked at the door, where Sadie was standing. She smiled and waved at her crush, not daring to enter that classroom. Then with a low sigh Gabriel jumped from the wallet and out to the girl, leaving the omega behind.
If those two hadn't entered the room, would Gabriel have kissed Theodore? The blond man lowered his gaze to his hands while his best friend leaned against the front wallet.
― What's going on, Theo? Your smell is starting to get strong.
Raising his blue eyes to his little friend, Theodore sighed lifting his shoulders.
― There's nothing going on, Nico.
― All I ask of you is sincerity. I know you like him, but remember who he is.
From the corner of his eyes, Theodore looked at the door of the classroom where Gabriel talked to Sadie. The two seemed close and smiled at each other. If they got along, that was obvious.
― Like I said, nothing's happening.
― This guy's getting too close to you, Theo.
― Can't he just be my friend? ― Asked the blonde sincerely ― Why do you have to see some evil in it?
— Because in the end it's you who gets fucked. It is you who creates hope, who plunges head first into feelings for people who will never be able to reciprocate.
Theodore had taken a deep breath looking out the window, hearing the rain increase along with the thunderstorms. Nicolas kept leaning against his wallet, his arms folded over his chest and his angry gaze on his best friend.
― I told you I'd swallow every feeling, that I wouldn't make him notice...
― It didn't seem like it. If I hadn't come in, what would you have done? Would have let him kiss you?
― Nicolas! ― Scolded the blonde ― I know you're worried about me, but it doesn't have to be so exaggerated.
Snorting, Nicolas shook his head. When he lowered his eyes, he turned a bag next to his friend's backpack. Arching her eyebrow, he had pointed to it.
― What's with the bag?
Following his friend's gaze, Theodore sighed low at remembering the reason for his melancholy minutes ago. Relaxing his shoulders, he prepared for the second wave of worry.
― After class I won't be able to help you practice. I'm going to my dad's house.
As expected, Nicolas widened his eyes undoing the whole brown pose from before. Settling on the table, he leaned to his friend staring curiously.
― Did he call you? ― Theodore had nodded his head before sighing. ― What the fuck... I thought they would never speak again.
― He's getting married again, and it looks like she wants to meet me.
― How are you going?
Theodore had not ceased to smile at the concern of his best friend. Even if Nicolas quarrelled with him about Gabriel, he wouldn't stop thinking about your well-being. Especially when the subject involved romances and Theodore's father.
They knew each other so well that the omega couldn't hide any secrets from Nicolas. Not just because they trusted each other, but because they knew when they were hiding something. It would be a waste of time for Theodore to lie and say he's confident of visiting his father.
― I'm scared, but I can't run, right?
― You could ask your mother to have her full custody.
― Until all this roll passes I will be bigger. I just need to last until next year.
― Do you think he'll do anything?
Theodore denied it with his head down. As long as a certain subject is not touched, the blonde could survive a weekend at his father's house. At least that's what he expected.
Nicolas put his forehead to his friend's, caressing his head gently as he always did when he was sad.
― Anything calls me, all right? I'll help you for whatever.
Letting out a low laugh, Theodore whispered.
― You're talking like Pete.
― He's a nice guy just like me. That's why we talk the same way.
Theodore's nasal laugh had dispersed the wave of worry that haunted him. Yet the rain fell stormily on the outside.