The mess had yielded much of the way, for it had been ceased by the teacher asking them to save their energies for the games. And then an hour later finally the bus parked in front of a busy gym.
The students sprang down looking around with high expectations. The feeling of having returned to the big city already left Gabriel distressed. Even the noisy streets bothered his ears.
And just like before, his eyes were looking for a certain messy blonde hair that would account for fifty percent of his nervousness.
Now that, the other fifty percent were caused by the other teams that got off their respective buses. Unlike his school that looked like a bunch of tourists who never saw large buildings, the other teams walked with their nose up.
They emanated a completely different energy.
― So, how does it feel to be back in the big city?
― Heat from hell, I already want to go home. I wonder who will be our opponent?
― An irrelevant team, of course.
― Well, if it isn't the great Mckenzie.
Gabriel and Milles turned to the tall guy with a sarcastic smile. It looked like a beta whatever if it wasn't for the splendours aura that emanated. The white and gold uniform seemed to increase the nobility of the subject.
― We meet again, Maicon.
― I see the team has new faces this year. Will it be enough to finally beat us?
Milles crossed his arms over his chest, getting close to the other player. Making use of his usual implicit, exhale his smell showing the predominance of an alpha who is thirsty to conquer a territory. Maicon, in turn, had only shaken his hand away from the smell.
— Looks like you missed the key this year. You'll have to beat a few opponents before you declare war on us. Can you? Your team looks... A bunch of born losers.
― It's barking early, Milles.
The fourth presence had caught the attention of the two fighting athletes. The bad mood and tired look that stood next to the alpha blonde analysed Maicon from top to bottom.
― Who is the figure?
― If they win, they can fight us in the finals. What was the name of your team again? Oh, it doesn't matter.
Maicon rolled his eyes at Milles, focusing on the little man staring at him.
― Are you still with this feet shaved? I thought you had gained consciousness and leaked to another team.
Gabriel had noticed his friend straining his muscles and his smile turning into a bad mask. On the other hand, the captain had not outlined any obvious reaction.
― When the teams in the big city become good enough to deserve my presence, who knows. Until then, I stay where I have control.
― So you're with them just to manipulate them? How hard is your life, Howard.
Nicolas opened a sly smile as he approached Maicon. Slowly a killer aura seemed to envelop the lowest, causing the three other hybrids to shiver.
― As captain I make my boys real guns on the court. You should remember that, since your school lost to ours last year.
― Tsk, and they didn't even go to the state championship.
― Much less you. ― Smile Nicolas feebly. ― If you want to threaten us, at least win the matches to face us.
The coach of the other team called Maicon to gather, and the boy walked away without saying a word. Undoing the malicious smile, Nicolas sighed heavily lowering his eyes to the papers he held before turning to the two alphas.
― Are you done picking up unnecessary fights?
― If it were me who started it, I would even answer your question.
Nicolas rolled his eyes and read the coach's instructions.
— Going over our schedule, the first departure will be at 10 am and the second at 3 pm. Now in the morning we'll be together, and then you can watch the other matches.
― Hey, I thought your wife was responsible for our schedule. You're single today?
Gabriel had bitten his lips suppressing the will to fight with his friend, because he knew that Milles just wanted to provoke Nicolas. What would have been right, since the captain shot the alpha with his eyes.
― Even if he were here I wouldn't let him breathe the same air as you.
― You're very jealous.
— Are you surprised? ― Would say the lowest ― After all... Not even the cocoons that admire you so much are capable of being jealous on the same level as me. In fact... I don't think any person in your social circle should be jealous of you because they know it's a waste of energy.
Arching his eyebrow, Gabriel looked at his friend from the corner of his eyes. He never really saw anyone being jealous with Milles. Not even the girls who cheered for him in practice matches. How strange and quirky, since Milles was very popular.
― I never gave them reason to be jealous.
― I don't care. I'm just going over the coach's instructions. So if you're wasting your time flirting, you're on the bench.
A smile appeared on the lips of Milles.
― Would it bother you to see me flirting?
Laughing his nose and rolling his eyes, Nicolas turned his face away from the mockery of Milles. However, he had recognized the car parked near the school bus.
― Theo has arrived.
Nicolas's whisper should go unnoticed, but the two alphas immediately followed his eyes watching the silver car. Gabriel swallowed dry when he realized the anxiety that began to appear in his chest.
Theodore would come.
The rear door was open and a short blonde-haired girl jumped out of it. The three hybrids were surprised by that figure leaving the Moss family car. Gabriel recognized her immediately, being the girl who was with the omega on the day of the fight in the hallway.
What was she doing getting out of that car?
Would Nicolas have confused the cars, thinking he was Theodore's family?
Watching the reaction of his captain, Gabriel realized that the little guy had looked at the car confused. The same countenance that Milles, and himself, would be making.
And then another person came out of the car elegantly, the three of them gaping before a different figure than usual. Carrying two bags, he wore dark jeans, a red and black checkered button-top over a white shirt. The blond hair was shorter and tidy being able to notice the smooth roots and the subtly curly ends. The dark earrings he wore stood out, giving a stripped and youthful look to the blonde boy.
That one was Theodore.
The boy who used to get no attention was the true splendour when he got out of that vehicle.
It was beautiful. Was that word enough to describe that omega? Not for Gabriel. He was completely numb to see Theodore like that, so cool and beautiful. His anxiety of yore had not even been inside him, had been pushed by the instincts that were attracted to that subject.
The girl who accompanied him smiled cheerfully, and the two turned to say goodbye to whoever else was in the car. Then the omega looked around at the three hybrids farther away, staring him in amazement.
Gabriel had been bothered when the blond had talked something to the girl and they both came to him. Why did she get out of the car with him? Since when were they are close? And since when did Theodore wear earrings?
― Uou...
Milles's simple remark had made Gabriel shoot him with his gaze. But he said nothing as the two strangers approached the trio.
― Theo... What is this? And who is she? ― Nicolas arched his eyebrow to the girl, who smiled tenderly.
― I'm Lilian, from the first year. I'll be helping the cherub during game days.
― Cherubim?
The three looked at Theodore, who swung his shoulders carelessly holding the soul of the cooler bag.
— A joke from us. ― Explained the girl, who had started to face Gabriel with an enigmatic smile before turning to the blonde. ― Then we should go in and announce that our team has arrived, right?
― Seek the organizing committee. The technician must go along.
― I'll go ahead then, cherub.
Lilian waved between Nicolas and Gabriel going towards the coach. About to follow the girl, Theodore was stopped by the best friend who stood in front of him.
― Come on, cherub, what's going on? Since when are you... emo?
― I'm not emo, Nico. And nothing is happening. Lilian offered to help me today as we will be in a very... full place.
— Are you telling me that a girl who's never seen you in your life cares that you're sick because of the smell of the boys here? And yet, a girl from our school?
― The wife is getting bold.
Nicolas gave a punch in the belly of Milles, having the other bending with the strength of that little one. Theodore only squeezed his lips into a thin smile, keeping his shoulders up without getting carried away by the offences of the athlete.
― She's a good girl, there's nothing to worry about.
― Do you like girls now? ― Laugh Milles crossing his arms over his belly making it impossible for the captain to strike again.
— Of course not, I still prefer men. ― Theodore answered with such naturalness, surprising Gabriel. ― If you'll excuse me, I need to fulfil my duties as an assistant to the team.
Theodore seemed to act indifferently. Passing by Gabriel without giving him a hello, or even giving him a smile, the alpha held his wrist preventing him from leaving. The blonde turned to the brunette, arching his eyebrow.
Being closer, Gabriel noticed even more the beauty of that omega. Certainly the accessories were the only changes Theodore had, but they were enough to leave him bewitched.
Clearing his throat to wake up from his own thoughts, Gabriel pulled the blonde away from the other two boys. And then he could ask the question that had bothered him so much that weekend.
― You're not avoiding me, are you?
— Why would I be? ― Theodore seriously asked. Gabriel glanced at the other's strange behaviour, and looked at him as if the answer was obvious. The omega then nodded smiling broadly. ― Ah, that. If anyone should feel weird it would be you and not me. I'm pretty settled with my sexual orientation.
Blinking, Gabriel released Theodore's wrist.
― I was just wondering if you're feeling weird about me enough to want to avoid me, since we haven't talked since Friday.
― It's all right Gabriel. I've been taking care of things all day for today, so I didn't join MSN.
Those words looked like nails that turned their tips to the heart of the alpha. To the extent that he held those blue pearls, his questioning of how important that kiss would have been to Theodore was greater.
Would he have felt the same way he did?
Would Gabriel be the only one to burn for wanting more?
Swallowing the knot that formed in his throat, Gabriel nodded with his head conformed.
― As long as we're still friends, right?
Theodore then patted Gabriel on the shoulder.
― We're still friends. Don't think shit, today you need to focus on the game. I won't get in the way then.
About to answer that did not disturb, Gabriel had not been able to release his voice. It was as if his throat was suddenly dry. And then Theodore slipped through his fingers to the coach and the girl he was talking to.
Observing the interaction between these two annoyed him on the same level that it bothered him to see Nicolas near Theodore. In the end the coldness had pushed away the sadness of being treated like a friend.
Having a comfort in his shoulders, Gabriel had not averted his eyes from that pair even when he heard the voice of Milles in his ear.
― Take it, Biel. You're in love with Theodore.
― Stop talking and get in the gym!
Being pushed by the captain, Gabriel ran his thin fingers between the dark strands of his hair. He needed to pull himself together to play. Theodore was right about needing to concentrate that day.
When they finished the game, he would draw the conclusion if he really wanted something more than friendship with Theodore.