― What is this bad mood?
Gabriel had looked at Milles from the corner, but soon returning to look at the damned Tabebuia that was without the omega. Growling low, the alpha messed up his own hair by rising from the fountain to leave the circle of friends.
It had been a week since he could talk to Theodore.
A week that couldn't see his shadow, his smile or even smell him. When an opportunity arose, omega disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Staying away from him was simply painful and unbearable. Pretending they didn't have anything was horrible because he had to keep his mouth shut when people were talking about Theodore. It was even worse to see him near other alphas and betas, as if they were great friends.
Maybe they were, Gabriel always remembered that the first year girl could have made a bridge for Theodore to meet new people. The alpha reproached its instincts to act possessively with that omega, just because it wasn't glued to its skin as it would like to be.
Kicking a rock hard, Gabriel growled loudly as he leaned against the wall behind the school. In front of him Milles looked at him curious with his hands in his pocket.
― What is it?
― I ask. Lately can not even look at you that is already thick this way. What's going on? Fought with the blonde bathroom?
Milles had raised his hands in a silent apology as Gabriel looked into his eyes. That reaction was more exasperated than usual, Milles realized. Gabriel always quarrelled with him when he nicknamed Theodore in some way, although there was not the same malice as before and it was more of a habit. However that week their reprisals seemed more crude.
Leaning his head against the wall, Gabriel threw his hair back trying to push away the black cloud that hovered his mind. If only things could be resolved so easily.
― We didn't fight, actually we didn't even talk this week.
―Why?
— Things happened, and Theo thought it best we stay quiet, at least here at school. But I have a feeling he's running from me.
― Theodore running away from you? Aren't you thinking too much?
The alpha laughs at the disinformation of his best friend. Milles seemed busier in running out after training to go to Nicolas's house, who was still serving his suspension. He wouldn't even know what was going on right, since he had to take care of his omega.
Sympathizing with his situation, Gabriel had taken a deep breath trying to calm down. He wouldn't take your frustration out on Milles when he was worried about him. And as a good friend, he did be the ideal person to help him.
And then Gabriel finally told about his conversation with Sadie and Theodore. The warning he received, the story of the infamous Jake and the omega reaction to all that. Milles had listened to him attentively without interrupting him, but saw him become serious as he had never seen before. Without being scary, just weird when he were used to his charismatic aura of alpha blonde. As he finished telling of the warning he had received, he heard Milles sigh loudly and relax his shoulders.
― So it was my sister's thing? That sucks.
— Theo seems worried about something, I don't know. I don't understand what's going on. Like, I'm very grateful that your family gave my parents a chance, but... interfere with my personal life?
— My family is fucking boring, that's not even new. My sister must be desperate to be using our parents like that. Don't even worry about it.
— I just need some time to talk to him. The boys on the team have surrounded me that I can't get close to Theo during practice. In the class room, is your sister.
― Get the hell out of her.
— I already gave! ― Screamed Gabriel exasperated, soon covering his mouth apologizing to his friend. ― Why the hell are they are trying to take my omega away from me, Milles?
The blond crossed his arms arching his eyebrow for his friend, without hiding the rogue smile.
— Hide who? It was bad, I think I coughed at the time and did not hear right. ― Receiving a disapproving look, Milles then let out a low laugh. ― Are you pissed off because you're so far from your date?
― It's my omega! ― Growled Gabriel.
― How do you know?
— Because in his heat we created a bond. ― Unburden Gabriel, relaxing his shoulders defeated by leaning against the wall again. Hanged down, closed his fingers in fist. ― He is my soul mate, Milles.
Receiving a caress on his shoulder, Gabriel raised his head having the comfort of his friend. In that infamous exchange of glances, the brunette had released a laugh.
― We're in deep shit, aren't we?
— Totally. ― Laugh Milles in response. ― My omega is the devil himself pretending to be human, and yours... is a mouse who loves to hide. But tell me, did you ever bite Theodore?
— Of course not! It was a great effort, I admit, because he was very... Aah, he was fucking beautiful and I wanted to mark him as mine. But it wouldn't be fair. I don't know, Theodore doesn't seem to know that we're...
— Of us, Theodore is the best solved. I doubt very much that he has not noticed that you are soul mates. Or he did, so he's avoiding you.
Would that be the case? Well... If so, it was understandable. After all, you discover that you are a person born to be your partner, to share life. There would be no better person in the world than your soulmate. Finding one was rare.
And Gabriel had found his.
Out at that moment he was in his home and heard Theodore call him his alpha. It was at that moment that Gabriel knew why that omega was always before his eyes, always present in his life.
All the time he had known Theodore was rid of the warnings to stay away. He said he did not care about the rumours surrounding his name, much less what they would say if they were friendly. All those moments when he believed he was just seeking a friendship would be his instincts making him approach his own soul mate.
Realizing all that was scary.
Very scary.
The signs were clear.
Obvious, to be exact.
― Look let's make the situation clear then. What do you want to do?
― I don't know. ― Gabriel murmured calmer ― I just can't stand being away, it kills me.
― And what's holding you back?
Raising his brown eyes to Milles, the alpha pondered silently. He had respected Theodore's request that they be less close during school, although he did not know it would result in a complete separation. He was only doing it because he believed it was the omega's will.
Honestly... what would he want to do?
― Maybe I don't want him to leave, and that's why I accepted all this. If I go after him, do I not jeopardize our relationship?
— Look, the Gabriel I know ignores all warnings and does what he wants without caring about others. ― Milles said leaning against the wall next to his friend. ― He is so sincere with himself that even inspires me from time to time. But only once in a while.
― Should I be that Gabriel again then?
Tilting his head, Milles opened a playful smile to his friend.
― He's your omega after all. You can't hide who you are from him.
Talking to Milles was always pleasant, he never had a friendship where he could be sincere and receive sincerity back. It was a relief that the blond alpha said that, and even proposed to help him in whatever way possible. It could be because he also had problems with Nicolas, or just sympathized with each other, fact was that the friendship was true. And at times like those Gabriel was sure of.
When the signal for the beginning of classes touched, Gabriel had gone to the locker room where he could change the uniform for physical education class. As always, Theodore was the only one not to enter the locker room until all the boys had changed.
The moment he picked up his gym uniform, the alpha would smell it. Certainly not yours. A sweet aroma exhaled from the fabric, completely ignoring the mixed odours of his classmates.
It was the smell of Theodore.
Why was his gym uniform smelling like him? Would he have reached the level of madness by having an olfactory hallucination?
Gabriel discreetly approached the face of his shirt and felt the typical smell of omega.
He wanted to look for him at that very moment.
He needed to smell Theodore.
The longing was already driving him crazy.
It took a long time to calm down and regain your composure. Keep pretending to your classmates and watching Theodore from afar without being able to touch him. What was that torture? Why the hell did you have to go through that?
Your friend was right, he had never listened to the rumours about Theodore, and that was not the reason he separated from his omega. Especially now that he knew Theodore was your soul mate.
He were a fool to accept that silly idea.
Foolish enough to let the omega get away from him.
Precisely because he longed to find time to talk with Theodore, Gabriel was tortured by the delay. Classes dragged on, the first-year boys surrounded the omega during the break just as Sadie had been chattering about parties, and was once again punished by boring classes.
Could he wait until after practice?
He was too impatient.
His conscience had pressed the red button, turning off the conventional rules.
The signal from the exit rang to end the classes, the students dispersed and Theodore was about to leave the room to follow to the gym. Gabriel mingled among the other students in his class without letting his presence or smell denounce his escape. Among them, he had followed Theodore to the gym without drawing attention while hiding.
He watched Theodore enter the gym, passing by the players who were already getting ready to start training. Still hidden, Gabriel sneaks around the covered gym reaching the window of a hallway where he can pass by. Only in that way he can enter without being seen.
Taking advantage of the whistle at the beginning of training, the Alpha snuck in squatting until he reached the locker room and locked the door. He did have at least three hours to talk to Theodore and make sure things went back to the way they were.
Turning on his heels about to look for the omega, Gabriel felt his whole body shiver when a characteristic aroma stood out in that room. Sniffing the air he had been in the dark in search of the origin of that aroma, and can finally find Theodore in front of his closet holding his shirt physical education.
The sight of that blond holding his shirt so tightly and smelling it off enough for the blood to pulse and focus on a single point. Gabriel had been able to see a slight flushing on Theodore's cheeks when he pushed his shirt away for a second.
A tender smile had dawned from his lips.
In the end, he wasn't the only one suffering from the distance.
Standing before his feet, Gabriel approached the back of Theodore without leaving to glimpse him so busy feeling his smell. The joy of finally being able to touch him barely fit within him.
Approaching the lips of his lobe, he whispered as low as he could.
― Missing your alpha, Theo?
The omega gave a jump in fright, hugging his shirt tightly as he turned against the cabinets and stared at the alpha. Crossing his arms, Gabriel tilted his head childishly while admiring that exciting scene. Theodore was even more embarrassed, having even his ears reddened. But in no way had he loosened his blouse.
― Gabriel! Y-You are n-not in training?
― I'm here, as you can see.
Leaning one of his arms against Theodore's head, Gabriel approached the omega opening a sly smile, which only increased as he saw him tighten his shirt against his chest.
― What were you doing with my shirt, Theo?
Lowering his eyes to the shirt, Theodore bit his lips unable to return the look. Without massaging the shirt, the omega had been trying to recover.
― I was seeing if you needed any patches. I was just about to return them.
— That was not the impression I had. ― Passing the tip of his nose through the omega's neck, Gabriel inhaled its aroma ― It's all flushed, and your smell it escaping.
― Gabriel someone might see us here.
Holding Theodore's chin, Gabriel had forced him to look back. He would not allow his escape, even if he thought of something other than him. At least not now.
― I'm sorry, Theo, but I'm already at my limit. And seeing you holding my shirt like that doesn't help me to hold on.
Before hearing an answer, Gabriel kissed Theodore gently. Still holding him up against the closet, and still smelling him escape, that alpha would heal the longing he felt for the blonde and make it clear that absolutely nothing would keep him away from his omega.