Thursday was sunny despite the cold wind typical of autumn. Even with Lilian's advice about avoiding the so-called sweatshirts, Theodore had taken the youngest from his wardrobe to wear to school. However, his lightly messy hair and sloth seemed to earn him extra points in his popularity.
Some students greeted him shyly, or even wished him good luck in the said contest. There were also those who ignored it or avoided it, throwing not very discreet looks. Certainly an effect caused by the story, which the night before won more chapters in the Orkut community.
Sitting on the lawn beneath the Tabebuia as usual, Theodore took the time to read a book while waiting for his best friend. It's been a while since he was into a good novel. The time was a recommendation of the librarian, advising him to read some classic to venture into love. Pride and prejudice had been borrowed from the library to occupy Theodore's fantasies.
He never read regency novels in his life, as the ornate and formal words were difficult to interpret. Especially when the reader was sleepy. However, Theodore was enchanted by the words of Jane Austen, entering the high percentages of readers who fell in love with the male protagonist.
Everyone wanted a Lord Darcy to call his.
Although Theodore already had someone to call his own.
A certain alpha, a volleyball player, a smart, handsome new student. Whose name was Gabriel.
Theodore had immediately shunned the book's eyes to the fountain, where Sadie's popular friends chatted excitedly as usual. Milles was together, acting normally without looking in his direction. It seemed that nothing much had happened in the last days.
Well... Gabriel had said the day before that the alpha blonde had acted normally in training. The omega believed that this would be the merit of Nicolas having spent, without lie, all day sleeping. At least that was what his best friend's mother had warned him about when he called earlier.
Sighing heavy, Theodore imagined that Thursday would be as calm as the day before. Professor Marcos assured him that he could return to his assistant job, that the team had already been warned that nothing would happen.
That afternoon, then, the omega could watch the workout.
― Good morning Theodore!
Raising his head to face Lucas waving beside his younger brother, Theodore smiled back.
― What's up!
― Look how handsome he is, brother. ― Said the youngest, smiling snobbishly while crossing his arms. ― Surely we will beat his class.
― We have Mckenzie, is a fierce dispute see?
The younger brother grumbled grimacing, jumping to Theodore's side hugging him by the shoulder. Listening to the conversation between them, the omega suppresses laughter. If he had a younger brother, would they fight like that? It looked so familiar...
― Our representative has full confidence that we will win, so we will.
Lucas had opened a playful smile, turning to Theodore and confided in her a secret.
― He's like your friend.
― Hey! Shut up!
Theodore was surprised to see the boy blush up to his ears.
― Do you really like Lilian? ― Asked the curious omega.
The boy looked away scratching the back of his neck and was evidently embarrassed. He was so used to seeing the boys be so discreet about their taste in girls, it was shocking to see someone blush and try to keep an attraction a secret.
― She's beautiful and smart, what's wrong with admiring that?
― Admire? Sam, I saw you writing her name in your notebook...
― Wow, this is getting serious.
― Were you spying on me? ― Growled the youngest to the brother.
― If I run away now... Can I escape this wild beast?
― It's good to try, Lilian already told me that some classmates of hers are well... stubborn. ― Advised Theodore, entering the joke.
Lucas had to run away when his brother had advanced toward him, eager to choke him. Theodore laughed at the interaction between them, nodding when Lucas had to go inside the building in order to save his life.
Being alone again, Theodore would read the book again. It didn't feel better than greeting friends before class. By heaven, how could he have survived a whole year without it? It was so good to laugh like that, without having to worry about not being discreet and full of malice.
― It's look like you're having fun without me.
Raising his head once again, Theodore opened a wide smile to Nicolas, who threw his backpack on the lawn and sat next to his friend.
― Nico! How are you feeling?
― Renovated. Incredibly well. Although I got scolded by my mother for fainting at school.
― She cared a lot, pamper her mother a little as an apology.
― Should I spoil you too then? I heard you went home.
Theodore had closed the book after marking the page with his index finger, and supported his elbows on his knees looking at his best friend directly. Nicolas seemed fine, as usual. Purple dark circles under your eyes, hunched shoulders as if carrying the world on your back, and messy dark hair. Theodore even extended his hand and fixed his friend's hair, hearing him sigh heavy.
― Compared to other times, you slept little. Usually sleep longer, waking up just to eat.
― Oh, something was bothering me. I don't know. I didn't want to lie down.
Theodore arched his brow as he heard Nicolas's stomach growl loudly.
― Did you eat before you came?
― I had nothing to eat at home, and I'm broke.
― How come you didn't have any? There's the soup I made you on Tuesday. Or did your mother eat it?
— Did you cook for me? ― Nicolas had stared surprised his friend, having agreed with his head. ― Are you sure? I don't remember eating anything.
It was Theodore's turn to widen his eyes.
― Don't you remember? I made a big pot of soup and you ate it.
― I don't!
It could only be a lie, imagined Theodore.
He faced his best friend for a long time, analysing every suspicious reaction that could expose his lie. However, Nicolas was still as serious as he used to be. He had not shown nervousness, let alone a playful smile. He was serious.
Did he really forget what a mess he was in?
Come on, Nicolas bites Milles!
― Listen, you feel nothing strange, right?
― I am sleepy.
― I said weird. That's already yours, Nico.
Nicolas sighed heavy scratching the nape, fixing the hoodie.
― No, nothing.
The euphoric screams at the source interrupted the conversation between friends. Theodore realized that Gabriel had arrived and was already captured by Sadie's arms.
It seemed until the first day of school, when he first saw Gabriel at school. When they exchanged looks, but Theodore did not give much ball until he found out that the boy was his newest classmate. Probably if Gabriel wasn't in his class, Theodore would never have fallen in love with him.
At least that's what he believed.
― How's it going with the junior turd?
Theodore looked at his hand and remembered his conversation with Sadie. He had not yet found the perfect opportunity to touch on the subject with Gabriel, and question about him being with the omega. However, he needed to talk to someone. And Nicolas was at his side now.
― We are doing well for now. But some things have happened.
― What things Theo?
Theodore had begun to tell the events of the week, the story published on the social network generating a repercussion among students. Nicolas had even looked around them, noting that some students were actually closer to them.
Before no one dared approach. It was as if Theodore emitted a toxic gas instead of a sweet aroma? How could things have changed so quickly?
Nicolas had made no comment as Theodore told Sadie about the conversation. Do not uncouple the eyes of the omega, noticing the change in it too. Sadie usually frightened Theodore, probably for living trapped in the shadow of what happened the year before. Now, the blonde transpired calm when telling the conversation.
― And you believe her?
― Not at all, so I challenged her.
A proud smile appeared on the lips of Nicolas, who had extended his right hand to stroke his blonde hair.
― Managed to survive without me. I'm proud of you, Theo.
Blushing heavily in shame, Theodore felt his chest fill with happiness. Delighting in the joy of being praised by his best friend, Theodore had felt a weight on his shoulders that had stolen his attention. When he looked towards the fountain, he found the eyes of Milles and Gabriel.
Right. This was no time to brag about your maturity. There was a bigger problem to be solved, and apparently your best friend was playing dumb for now.
― So, Nico. Don't you remember anything about Tuesday?
― No, why? Did I do something?
Theodore denied with his head smiling dullly, not having the courage to speak the truth. Nicolas had noticed Milles' gaze, and had shot him with his routine sulking, lifting his middle finger at him and opening a smile in sheer scorn. Milles, on the other hand, peeked his eyes and showed his teeth looking growling in response.
― Um, let's eat, wasn't that what you wanted? I paid something for you.
― Come on.
Not really remembering the chaos of Tuesday, Nicolas had accompanied Theodore to a newsstand outside the school where they bought a snack and two chocolates, as he should share one with Theodore. He had not spoken of Milles, nor of the burning desires or anything else related to him.
Returning to school and entering the building to follow to his classroom, the boys talked as usual. Theodore recounting the cuteness of his younger sister when watching the second High School Musical film, and Nicolas complaining that he would not see the film.
It was the usual scene that Theodore experienced even before the arrival of Gabriel in school, bringing nostalgia warming his chest. When they arrived at the classroom door, Gabriel said goodbye to his small group of friends. Theodore felt, this time, a chill rising in his belly.
Again Milles stared at Nicolas, having the captain completely ignore him to focus on the snack he had just eaten. The short one had still had the audacity to walk through the door, look at Sadie from top to bottom and give her a smile when she heard her annoy him.
― The captain finally showed up. You've stopped giving the team a hard time, haven't you?
Turning by the heels, Nicolas turned to Sadie as he always did when she tried to piss him off.
― Did they happen to be able to manage without their captain? Putz... I think I left them all dependent.
Sadie rolled her almond-shaped eyes and crossed her arms impatiently.
― They managed well, since the captain was Milles.
― Sadie, shut up. ― Asked Milles further back, getting a peek of Nicolas's eyes.
Looking at the beginning of that discussion, Theodore had looked away from Nicolas when he looked at him. Did he notice anything different? By heaven, He hope not. He was not ready for the possible outbreak that Nicolas might have to know the chaos he had caused himself.
Approaching Sadie Mckenzie, crossing her arms and gazing at him with that look, Nicolas had not hidden the small tip of anger that sprang up. Especially knowing that she had taken advantage of his absence to try to provoke Theodore.
— You're not on the team, so keep your bullshit opinion to yourself. Otherwise, it will be your beloved brother who will suffer the consequences, because I have no balls to endure his family's tantrum. ― Growled Nicolas.
The girl swallowed hard trying to regain her composure. She certainly did not want to show fear of Nicolas, while it was impossible not to tremble with those dark eyes focusing on her without blinking. Was he looking at his soul? Was he the devil himself?
— Your little boyfriend's not on the team either... oh, right. You're hypocritical enough to pretend he's doing something on the team just to have your fuck on your side.
Theodore automatically stretched his arm in front of Nicolas to prevent him from advancing on Sadie. But it was Gabriel's arm that interceded there pushing the omega girl forcing her to step back.
― Sadie, Theodore is the team's assistant.
― Don't fall for it, Gabi. I told you those two have something.
The mess was beginning.
Thunder was nearby, staring angrily at his captain. Gabriel tried to make room and fend off the two brawlers. Theodore was already prepared to push Nicolas over his shoulders and into his seats, while Milles remained strangely silent.
The tension of the discussion grew. The students who arrived slowly, stood at the door only to follow the discussion and eagerly await a fight. Even with the prying eyes and the whispers of the supposed reason for the fight, Nicolas did not seem to bother.
― What if we had? Any problems? Would it be your ass I would eat?
― Thank God we didn't!
― So don't meddle where you're not called, bitch.
― Hey, hey, hey, don't talk to her like that, Nicolas.
Within seconds the fiery eyes in fury were on Thunder, who had not backed down from trying to protect Sadie.
― Oh, so the bitch already has a male and now she's trying to grab another? Wow, she doesn't even hide her claws.
Sadie's cheeks gained a pinkish tinge, and when she popped her hand on Nicolas's face. The students around held their breath, and the wisest retreated a few steps when Nicolas threw the backpack at Theodore hard.
― You won't hit a woman, Captain. ― Intercede Thunder pushing Nicolas's shoulders.
Taking a deep breath, Nicolas rolled his eyes and smiled.
― Great. Let's just get it over with then, I'll make sure I break your faces.
In a quick movement, Nicolas punched Thunder's nose. Crouching to escape a possible blow, which had not come, he punched his belly pushing him against the door. The athlete grumbled in pain, but wasted no time in trying to hit the captain.
Nicolas was too agile, perhaps more than ever before. The kick in the belly he had given Thunder had pushed him between the students making him fall on his ass in the hallway. Another boy from Sadie's group had bought the fight and tried to hit the short guy, wrapping his arm around his neck.
Nicolas's elbow had hit the boy's stomach, and his hand had gone straight to his face. Thunder was already standing furiously longing to fight. Still with two boys, Nicolas had control of the fight, remaining unharmed to the horror of the small popular group.
Finally he could hit a punch in their mouths. Nicolas had held such a grudge against those brats, had swallowed both his thirst in punching them... What a pleasure it was to be able to take that thing off his chest and finally settle the score.
The pleasure was growing.
Nicolas smiles, amused to see the two panting boys trying to hit him and fall pathetically on the floor or go against the wall. His body moved so lightly, it was addictive to adrenaline. The feet rose to the top to kick, and barely felt the burning in the knuckles when punches and more punches were given.
Imagining that he had finally won that fight, Nicolas shook his head by adjusting the dark hair that fell into his eyes, and turned his back to enter the room again. Theodore looked at him surprised, and worried, holding his backpack extending it to his friend.
At that measly second, Thunder had stood up taking advantage of his captain's low guard to finally hit him. It would be a well-held armbar, enough to suffocate Nicolas...
If someone hadn't stepped in.
It was not Theodore.
Neither Gabriel.
Turning to find out what was happening, as Theodore stared something horrified, he himself came across the unprecedented scene of Milles holding Thunder's arms tightly.
― Ouch, come on bro, you're hurting me!
Unanswered, Milles dragged Thunder out of the classroom and hurled him hard against the wall. The students gathered there gasped in surprise at the sudden attitude of one of the Mckenzie.
― Milles! What are you doing? ― Sadie screamed, about to face his brother.
The body of the blond alpha was all tense, and its smell was starting to get strong. Theodore nudged Gabriel, pointing in the direction of the brothers in a silent and desperate request for him to intervene. And, by heaven, he had stood among the brethren speaking quietly.
― Sadie, don't incite a fight between the captain and the team players. Do you want us to be disqualified?
Seeming to understand the gravity of the situation, or at least Gabriel had made her understand, Sadie widened her eyes going to Thunder and the other boy to help them get up. Gabriel had asked other students to help, as long as he was the only one around Milles.
When the alpha looked toward Nicolas, the short omega looked at him seriously until he turned his back and entered the classroom, completely ignoring his little act.
― Let's go to the courtyard, kill the first class with me. ― Asked Gabriel for Milles, squeezing his shoulders to force him out of the building.
Before they separated, Gabriel had cast a look at Theodore looking worried. The omega could only smile lightly, as if to say that everything would be fine.
But he was also afraid now.