Gabriel was anxious on Monday morning. From the moment he sat in the fountain before class began, and had not seen the figure of the blonde omega sitting under the Tabebuia, he had felt something was wrong.
Generally speaking, he was not a boy who used to worry about misunderstandings. This time was different.
On Friday night Gabriel went out to the party together with his new group of friends. As expected from a bunch of crazy teenagers, the alcohol and the hookup were running around the rich girl's house. The moment he stepped on the lawn of the townhouse and realized the atmosphere of the party, Gabriel twisted his nose.
He'd like to go to parties, but prefer something measured. Loud music, drunk people bumping into each other and couples swallowing in the hallways was not something appreciative for the boy. Still he had made a great effort to have fun, since he was accompanied by new friends.
And it was fun, in fact, to see how your friends acted at the party.
Only Gabriel and Sadie remained sober, having to drag the others into the car and leave them in their respective homes. The arduous mission was funny for both of them, as Sadie seemed so clumsy in holding her older brother much taller than her.
However, what would leave Gabriel immersed in concern would be a certain game of truth and challenge in which he participated, where when appointed as the next victim had chosen to answer a truth. The question asked made him laugh at the time.
― You're very close to Moss... Do you happen to like him? Are you a fag too?
Having him softened the expression on his face and given laughter caused the whole circle of friends also laughed. And then Gabriel denied it with his head.
― He's my friend, that's all.
― Eeeh... But you're always smiling with him there and here...
― Are you jealous? ― Gabriel had joked.
― I think I am! Pay attention to me too, Gabriel.
The drunken player's sly speech had resulted in more laughter before the bottle was spun on the table and another round of play continued. After a while she had fallen again on Gabriel, and Milles had been chosen to question him. However, the alpha had chosen a challenge rather than a truth.
The moment that the smile of a laughing Miles had gained a hint of malice, Gabriel realized that it was a bad idea to choose that.
― I'm going to go easy on you, because I like you Biel. Show these motherfuckers how alpha you are, and give my sister the biggest kiss!
He was right about regretting choosing a challenge when his opponent was Milles. Because on Saturday the photos of the party had already been published, and many people sent friend request to the alpha. Gabriel checked every photo he could, getting a point of peace by realizing there was none of him.
And his peace increased when a certain blond boy finally accepted him on the social network, spending the whole morning talking.
Talking to Theodore was fun, especially when he found that provoking him caused the most fun reactions. Besides, it was just the two of them talking, with no irritated captain or a third-time bully to get in the way.
His saviour was simply someone incomparable. He wouldn't mind Theodore being omega and gay as long as he didn't walk away.
Yes, for Gabriel that was all that mattered.
Until he remembers why accepted Milles' challenge and kissed Sadie.
Gabriel swallowed hard every time the knot formed in his throat and the confusion seemed to come softly in his mind. On Friday morning, when he had shared the headset with Theodore, Gabriel had not only wanted to kiss him but almost did.
He had told himself that it was a will created by the moment, since the two listened to a romantic song.
Gabriel still liked girls, didn't he?
At least he didn't think Sadie's kiss was so bad.
The sign of the beginning of the class had awakened Gabriel from his torpor, realizing himself alone in the school fountain. Squeezing the strap over his shoulder, he had quietly gone to the classroom where he had sat in his wallet.
As other students arrived in the class, Gabriel waved and greeted them gently as always. And out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Theodore with his head down like he was sleeping on his wallet.
Strangely the blonde omega was wearing the hood of his blouse, seeming to hide from the world.
― Good morning Gabi!
Turning his head to the charming and smiling omega standing in front of him, Gabriel also offered her a gentle smile.
― Hi Sadie.
― Did you survive that weekend? My arms are aching from carrying Milles.
Gabriel's mere imagination had been fun enough to make him giggle.
― I could have helped, but you wouldn't.
Forming a sly beak, Sadie laughed right away.
― I really thought I could handle it. Besides, carrying my drunk brother puts me at an advantage over him.
― Advantage?
― A younger sister should always be ready to negotiate with her older brother.
― All right, let's sit in their seats! ― Announced the teacher entering the class.
The students dispersed and silenced while the teacher prepared the call book.
Unfortunately he had not had the chance to go to his friend and talk to him, because the tests began so immediately. Gabriel had struggled to concentrate on the math questions, but it was impossible not to try to spy on Theodore.
Theodore had lowered his hood and looked tired. Gabriel could only see him in profile, having the impression that Theodore might be ill. When he planned to use the break between classes to go to the blonde, Sadie appeared next to him asking about the ratings. While Theodore hid again in his hood lowering his head.
The last hour would be the physical education evaluation, being the last chance he could have. However, while the students went to the locker room to change their uniforms, Theodore had stayed behind to talk to the teacher.
Gabriel even pondered the idea of staying to wait for him, if his arm was not grabbed by Sadie who had accompanied him to the dressing room and still waited for him to leave the same after changing. Arm in arm the two went to the outer courtyard, without any gap for him look for the target of their concern.
Watching his eyes because of the clarity of the day, Gabriel noticed the third-year class scattered in the outer courtyard. As soon as the couple was spotted, Milles ran to them with his contagious charismatic smile, embracing Gabriel's shoulder.
― What's up Biel! I see you're in bad company with a brat.
Sadie rolled her eyes in a grimace, pulling a laugh out of Gabriel.
― What are you doing out here?
― Teacher missed, class was vacant.
― Your stick, the teacher is calling you.
The three students turned to the short captain of the volleyball team, who seemed as grumpy as usual.
― What did you call me?
― Stick piece. Or prefer giant? Tower? Godzilla?
Before Milles picked a fight with Nicolas, Gabriel had passed his arm around his colleague's neck.
― The teacher is waiting for you, go there before it goes to shit.
Calming down, Milles nodded and passed Nicolas facing him fiercely. Neither of them had looked away, not even when their shoulders ran into each other and went their separate ways. And then, the short Captain snitch before moving on to his gang looking for his best friend.
― What's wrong with him? Weird kid.
The teacher had gathered the second year class inside the indoor gym where they would do the volleyball test. A match where the winner would earn the full grade of the evaluation. Gabriel had looked at his team or at the opponent without finding Theodore, only Nicolas.
The whistle had sounded and the match had begun. Gabriel had nodded his head, forcing himself to focus on his practical assessment at a certain cost. Once again Nicolas was on the other side of the net, with those empty eyes staring at him dedicating a transcendental rage.
He knew very well the reason for that anger.
Even if Gabriel had taken all the care in the world so that Friday night did not cause strange rumours, and that he had turned his Orkut behind photos, a slip of his radar.
It was just a picture of him fulfilling his challenge.
It was published just after noon on the Saturday.
Since then Theodore had not entered the MSN.
Probably the blonde would think that Gabriel and Sadie would be dating, as would the rest of the school since the girl wouldn't let go of him all morning. The misunderstanding could be even greater because Gabriel knew that he had almost kissed Theodore, and that his saving friend might think something wrong.
Oh, god.
If Nicolas had not intervened they would have kissed each other. Of course the captain had reason enough to hate him.
The confusion in Gabriel's mind only increased as he tried to understand what was going on. And the only answer he was offered was that Theodore could have seen the photo on Orkut and imagined that he would not have a chance with Gabriel...
Wouldn't that be nice? They were just friends, huh?
So you had no reason to worry about what Theodore would think of you, did you?
Your captain's fury was clear. Yeah, he would have seen the damn picture, and now seemed to want Gabriel's hide to give as a present to Theodore. The alpha, however, had not fled from his fury.
He had done nothing wrong to escape. He had raised his chin and accepted the challenge of blocking all of Nicolas's looting, increasing his fury and making the match even closer. For the rest of the students it was a reason to rejoice, because they would get a good grade certainly.
So the party was interrupted so that the exchange of players was made, giving all students the chance to play and be evaluated. Nicolas and Gabriel went to the banks.
Wiping the sweat with the back of his hand, Gabriel looked around noticing the tall, hooded figure coming out of the gym. Immediately recognizing the person he had longed to meet, he took advantage of his teacher's distraction to follow Theodore.