The students formed Indian lines in the courtyard, separated according to class looking like an army troop. On a stage set up, the school coordinator was giving a speech about the purpose behind the beauty pageant. Theodore felt anxious somehow glancing over to the first year's row where he could see Lilian. The girl was waving sweetly from afar, adding to Theodore's nervousness.
The purpose of the contest was to promote the volleyball team during the qualifiers, showing the public how much fun it was to study in Montreal. A free advertisement basically. When Lilian had talked about a festival that would follow the contest, he had imagined something completely different than the June party open to the neighbourhood.
In any case, the objectives were achieved. The first year the cheerleaders had drawn the attention of students from other classes, and when the finals took place, Montreal dominated the stands. The coordinator made a long speech of thanks, since the school had a long waiting list.
― Okay, I know you want to know the results instead of listening to me. ― Laughed the coordinator, shaking the sealed envelope with the name of the winner. Creating an atmosphere of suspense, she opened the envelope and read the name, smiling broadly. ― And the male winner is... Third year, Miles Mckenzie!
The sigh of relief that Theodore had let out was drowned out by the clapping and cheering that the students gave to the winner. The omega laughed softly joining the others in clapping, watching the alpha walk up to the stage and receive a plastic crown on his head. When Milles turned celebrating exploding from his charismatic aura, his fan club had soon responded with euphoric shouts.
In that respect, nothing had changed.
Despite Milles walking alongside Nicolas, the alpha was still popular and the girls remained loyal cheerleaders. They completely ignored the presence of the team captain, until some volleyball slipped in their direction.
The only thing that had changed was... Sadie and Miles didn't speak to each other. The punishment the school had given her was to leave the organizational committee of the June party to give tutoring to some first-year students. There could be more punishments given to her and Thunder, but Theodore hadn't been able to find out for more.
Besides, the girl's popularity had gone downhill after that day. Many people who used to be gathering at the fountain before school to fawn over the younger Mckenzie girl barely paid her any attention. In compensation, they remained the same with Milles. It was rather sad to see Sadie alone at recess, disappearing into some hidden corner of the school.
It seemed that even Thunder had moved away from her because of a fight. The player had been a bit down in recent days during practice.
But it was a relief to know that for Nicolas and Milles things didn't seem to have gone wrong. Life went on.
After the female winner had been announced, the coordinator had announced the prize, which was a television in the classroom and a computer course for the whole class they represented. It was a pity that his class wasn't honoured too, but Theodore hadn't been shaken by the result.
After the students were free to rehearse the quadrille dance, Theodore watched from afar, leaning against a wall with Lilian.
― Sorry I didn't win.
― It's ok, I got what I wanted. ― Smiled the girl watching her own class rehearsal. ― When I came in here I was very happy to meet you again, but I immediately felt that something was wrong. Then I found out that a classmate was an omega. The problem the school had with the class... I couldn't keep quiet.
Theodore let out a low laugh. That girl was full of miraculous plans, of which she tried her best to fulfill them. It was even impressive how Lilian created strategies to get the result she wanted.
― If you had told me this before, I would have helped you more.
― Nah... You probably would have refused. To be honest I was expecting something like a protest. But that girl changed my plans.
― Did you take advantage of Nicolas being exposed?
Lilian raised her index finger over her lips in a request for silence, and Theodore was even more shocked. She was right about one thing, if she had said from the start that she wanted to change the school's culture about how omegas were treated, he wouldn't have accepted it. He would think it wouldn't work, effort thrown away added to the fear of being ridiculed even more. But Lilian had been sneaky, taking the opportunity of the pranks to create an organized crowd and watch closely how Theodore related to other people.
In the end, the best chance to cause a school revolution had fallen on her hands.
Certainly a girl worthy of being in the American FBI.
― So that's how it ends?
― It was nice while it lasted. ― The girl stretched. ― Now we can only watch how the band will play from now on.
Theodore listened to the quadrille music playing through the loudspeakers. He watched the students follow the choreography and wondered if he would be able to come to the June Festival next year. I mean, not that he was going to die or anything like that. He was wondering what company he could count on.
Would he still be with Gabriel?
Would he be with a child?
Moistening his lips, Theodore shook his head, looking down at his feet. The last thing he would want to think about was something scary like that.
― Cherub, you've been acting strange lately.
― It's tiredness. ― He had told the lie he had grown accustomed to telling over the past few days.
Lilian had stared at him intently and then crossed her arms as she turned to the omega. A peek of eyes worthy of a feline, passing the feeling that he was being judged by Lilian.
― You can trust me, you know that. I promise I won't judge you.
The boy smiled slightly as he heard her say those words. He knew very well that she would never judge him. Lilian had listened to his complaints and dreams about Gabriel ever since they had met. Or rather, ever since she realized that Theodore had a crush on Gabriel.
Wouldn't that be proof that he wasn't capable of lying to Lilian?
In a huff, Theodore had soon started to tell about the pregnancy. Lilian's eyes widened despite not saying a word. Just listening, once again, to the omega's complaints about the sudden changes in his body, of his fears and fears, of his insecurities... But mostly of the fear of Gabriel losing interest in him.
― Why would he let himself love you?
― I'm going to get fat, I'm already too sensitive, it's annoying even for me... And when our parents find out about it, they're sure to fight with us.
― Of course they will, they're your parents. Their concern is genuine. You should be worried if they clap their hands and say amen.
Theodore chuckles and nods his head in agreement.
― That's true. My mother treats me well, but when I start complaining she tells me I have to deal with it. It's a scolding, right?
― If it was up to the adults they would live for us, avoiding the problems they must have faced at our age. At least that's what my mother once said. ― Smiled Lilian kicking a pebble. ― I think getting too anxious about it is a waste of time. The only thing you're guaranteed is a no. Is there anything worse than that?
Theodore shook his head unable to think of anything. Really, the most he would get is a negative. Just like the time he had first talked about his sexual orientation. He had received a no, in aggressive form to be sure, but still a negative. Regardless of the answer he got, Theodore remained himself and had even reached that point. A gay omega.
How were Nicolas' words the other day? I'm an omega gay with pride, so what? Theodore had worn that shirt long ago. Still the problem was something else.
― Sometimes I think when others look at me they already know I'm pregnant. I feel the weight of their judgment making me want to run away, you know? Like, I'm throwing my life away, that I was hasty. I didn't know how to take care of myself. That I should be ashamed.
― Hm... The fear of judgment. For someone who spent a year being judged, you're still afraid.
― Precisely because I know how horrible it is.
― You know Theo, doesn't that mean you agree with the judgement of others?
Theodore raised his clear eyes to the girl, noticing her serenity without any trace of malice or even a sermon. For an instant he had the flash of a wound being nudged. Something that bothered him about to become conscious.
― What do you mean?
― There's no way for you to know what others think. So if you fear the judgment coming from others, wouldn't that be a sign that you agree with it? ― Having the girl's clear eyes on his, Theodore felt a shiver run down his spine ― Wouldn't you be the one who finds your situation shameful?
His heart had even started to race. Astonishment was visible on the omega's face, who swallowed dryly feeling the knot forming in his throat.
Was he ashamed?
Did he find that situation shameful?
Well... He was trying to keep his pregnancy a secret. And the blouses he borrowed from Gabriel were big enough to keep his belly from being noticed. Since then he feared the stares, wanting to keep himself hidden.
Of shame.
Opening a nervous smile, Theodore scratched the back of his neck as he realised that Lilian was right. He was afraid of what people would think, being that he was the one who was thinking about it. He was the one who was recriminating himself the whole time.
― I guess you're right... It's confusing.
― People will talk about you whether they want to or not. It's out of your control. The only advice I can give you is, do what you won't regret in the future.
― Hey Moss, I finally found you,― shouted Professor Marcos, waving at the boy from afar. ― I've got some information about the team we're playing next week, can you come here with me for a moment?
Lilian pushed the omega towards the professor, nodding sweetly when Theodore looked over her shoulder. Despite all her work to get that omega out of its hiding place, it seemed that pregnancy had been enough to destroy all her efforts to ponder it. Which was a shame, because he was about to become a glorious person.
As vibrant as his best friend.
― Hey Lilian, what were you guys talking about? ― Sam questioned as he approached the girl looking in Theodore's direction.
― Our cherub was sad that he didn't win the contest. I must have put too much pressure on him.
― Ah, but the point is to participate.
― Well, then I'll boost your morale. ― Said Lilian about to meet the rest of her class. But Sam held her wrist, preventing her from continuing.
When the girl's clear eyes turned to the boy, she could see his reddened face.
― Ahn... I didn't have a date for the dance. Don't you want to be my partner?
Lilian looked at the students who rehearsed the quadrille, then looked at her wrist which was still held by Sam, then she stared at his face. Smiling, she nodded her head in agreement.
― Of course, the important thing is to participate, isn't it?