That afternoon's training had been as stormy as the rain outside. Soon the qualifiers would begin, and the team needed grit to secure their spot in the main competition. Not only were the players anxious, the coach had also made sure not to soften up in training.
Their focus needed to be victory.
However, two athletes did not share that same energy.
For the other players, the captain was in his normal way to make their lives hell during training. Always making it difficult, always shouting, always forcing them to be fierce in court. But for a certain transferred student that attitude was a frame.
Nicolas was scoring Gabriel from the beginning of the training match.
Placed in opposite teams, it was clear that the captain threw the ball so that Gabriel did not have time to catch it. And when the two of them were on the net taking care of the blockade, well the alpha made good use of his height to get points back.
There came a time when everyone realized the individual dispute of those two.
When the whistle rang to start the break, Milles threw a towel at his friend and sat next to him on the woody floor.
― What is it? Did you just wake the little guy up while he was sleeping to make them look like that?
Gabriel faced his friend fiercely, but Milles did not seem intimidated. Lowering his head to wipe the neck wet with sweat, the swarthy snorted.
― I'm just tired. He's been marking me for a long time.
― Of course, you went to mess with his wife.
For the second time Gabriel aimed his angry eyes at Milles, only now more fierce than before. The tall blonde had raised his hands in surrender, without undoing the singing smile.
― Calm down, man. My sister's brat told me she saw you two very close before, and that the jailer in the cage was nearby.
Leaving the towel around his neck, Gabriel pulled his bag taking the bottle of water. He drank a large sip, drying his lips with the back of his hand.
― We were listening to music, that's all. The guy is my friend, if I want to sit next to him and enjoy a sound I can.
― Wow... are you really mad?
― Are you gonna fuck with me?
Milles denied with his head several times, also taking a bottle of water to drink. The two boys remained silent for a while, watching the captain talk to some other team-mates.
Gabriel knew very well that the reason for his anger was not just Nicolas trying to drive him away from Theodore. From the moment he felt his anger go up his throat as they lay their foreheads so close in the classroom, Gabriel simply became enraged.
Sadie was happy to calm him down, pulling him to walk the halls before the second class began. Although she was chattering about the party that night, Gabriel was able to calm down and regain his composure.
He and Theodore were also good friends. They could talk whenever they wanted. Wasn't competing with the captain's omega friendship.
He'd still be bothered.
― You know my sister likes you, don't you?
Milles' question had awakened the brunette from his thoughts.
― That's not what she told me.
— As if she would confess so quickly. ― Milles laugh stretching his legs on the floor, massaging thighs slightly sore. ― Are you really going to the party tonight?
― I will, why?
― What do you think about stay with her?
— Are you fixing me up for your sister? What a strange guy! ― Laugh Gabriel poking his friend with his elbow, trying to disperse that strange feeling of conversation.
― It's just that if you two stay, the short one and his wife will leave you alone. You won't be the target of the giant's rage there anymore.
— I'm not staying with your sister just to get rid of other people. That's my problem, I'll handle it myself. Besides, if Sadie really likes me, it would be wrong for me to be with her without returning her feelings.
— I admire that, man. ― Confessed Milles, hugging his friend by the shoulder. ― Seriously, I think it's really cool that you have consideration for her. But I only see advantages if you two stick together.
― What do you mean?
— You're lucky it was the captain and my sister who saw you two so close. But if it was someone else, rumours that you're gay would spread through the school.
― But it wouldn't be true. I'm not gay.
― That's not what others would think. When I tell you to stay away from Theodore, it's for your own good. Gossip isn't always pleasant.
Patting his friend on the shoulder, Milles stood up to return to training.
Staying behind, Gabriel felt his head go a thousand turns. Once again he found himself at a crossroads with people asking to do this and that. But no one giving him the opportunity to do what he really wanted.
And even if given such an opportunity, Gabriel wondered: What would he do?