Aloof and lonely

Turning the pen between his fingers, Theodore was not interested in paying attention in physics class. His light eyes were resting on the window, watching the blue sky and the swaying of the trees. Even if you were interested in the class, your concentration would be unlikely.

The Montreal team had won the morning and afternoon, qualifying for the finals of the qualifiers that would take place a week later. They would face the team that Theodore had watched the match and analysed his moves. The papers full of observations were in his bag, needing to deliver them to the physical education teacher later.

Except Theodore was too eager to step foot in the gym.

Actually, he did like to avoid stepping in there.

As Lilian had predicted, the school was in real chaos thanks to rumours about the possible love triangle. Because Nicolas was suspended, the omega no longer had all that security preventing the disgusting behaviour of prejudiced students. Although there was now a support network giving account as far as possible.

The entire first-year class had split into groups to remain with Theodore during the entry, break, and exit. In public, he would be accompanied by Lilian and her friends who would not let the omega be shaken or alone. Those boys were fun and told good stories, making time pass quietly.

Already during training it was Milles who protected him, even discreetly. When some troublemaker tried to make a joke, Milles called his attentions to train by showing himself to be as strict a captain as his predecessor. Theodore believed that alpha friends would not suspect his attempts to protect omega since his intellectual abilities were doubtful.

Despite all that, protection always came from people other than Gabriel. And it was no wonder, since the omega had asked the alpha to stay close just outside the school.

After all, Sadie was around Gabriel monopolizing him whenever she could.

Theodore sighed heavily just remembering the conversation he had with Gabriel on Monday after training. The omega girl had been quick to be clear and direct with the alpha that it would help him if the rumours of the two boys being together were false.

― But they are not ― Theodore complained frowning to the alpha. ― We are together, so what?

— She told me what happened with her cousin again. ― Gabriel sighed caressing his own forehead that evening. ― She said the family withdrew all sponsorship he gave to your parents or something. Is that true?

Theodore had swallowed it dry at the time. Yes, it was true despite the omega not knowing about it at the time. The Mckenzie family withdrew all sponsorship culminating in problems in their father's work at the cooperative. Theodore still felt guilty about something affecting other people.

― Why did she tell you this? It's nobody's business what happens with my family's work.

― Theo, I came here because my parents were promoted to the Mckenzie family hotel. We met because of them.

Only in that sentence did Theodore imagine what was to come and his world soon began to collapse.

― Are you worried that they're firing your parents because of us?

― That's what she implied, since they did something like that to that guy who was family.

― That's out of place, Gabriel. She's just saying that because she doesn't want you to be with me!

Watching the alpha clench his fingers in fist, Theodore closed his eyes for a moment calming down. There should be something else worrying the alpha, right? What he hated most in the romance films were the characters being impatient and drawing wrong conclusions. It would be hypocritical of him to do the same to the guy he fell in love with.

― Are you afraid of what your parents will think about you being with another boy?

― My mother already knows.

Gabriel shook his head, holding the hands of the approaching omega. Theodore swallowed hard upon noticing that he had not mentioned his father. And he knew very well that sometimes being himself was not acceptable to others. How many times had he cried after that terrible day of storm? Today he could be grateful that he have finally resolved with his father, only after facing the problems.

― What about your father?

― Probably won't take it.

He had to stay calm. Unlike him, Gabriel had never had a relationship with another boy and was probably discovering new things with him. He had to put himself in their shoes to make their relationship work.

― All right, then we can meet outside of school. And when we're here at school, we'll just be friends.

Since that conversation on Monday, the omega avoided talking to Gabriel even if he felt a great need to be by his side. Unbearable was the idea of being away from each other now that they proven how good he felt around him. He had discovered that if Gabriel came to talk to him, he would like to kiss him and be touched by him no matter where they were.

He had come to the conclusion that it would be better to avoid it altogether until he knew how to behave properly.

Even if Gabriel tried to approach, wave from afar or at least direct his gaze, Theodore ran away from him cowardly. For much of the week the blond had come to fear the rumours about him, turning him into a mouse that sneaks through the corridors trying not to be caught.

All so Gabriel wouldn't have problems at home.

Later during the break, Theodore was further removed from the first-year group by telling Lilian about the conversation he had with Gabriel the other day. The girl insisted on knowing the details, since it was unbearable to see the omega so flat.

In addition, Theodore simply needed to vent.

— I said she'd do something. ― Said the girl finally stretching her legs ― But did this sponsorship thing happen?

Theodore had agreed with the head, which throbbed incessantly for the hundredth time that week.

— My stepmother told me a while back. Even I didn't know something like that happened. Like... Does it make sense? Because I slept with a Mckenzie and they acted like that?

― Should we look into it a little bit more? I think I can get something out of the volleyball team.

― You really think you're into "Three too many spies," don't you?

Lilian had opened her sweet smile agreeing with her head.

— I called my class Woohp inclusive. ― Laughed the girl ― But seriously now, it would be good to try to understand what is the play of this girl. I don't want to think that she was a cliché about threatening Gabriel with his parents' job, that's so...bleh.

— Gabriel said it was more of a warning to him to be careful not to get caught. Since her family has a lot of influence around here, they should know about the rumours.

― And you simply agreed to be discreet?

— What else can I do? ― Theodore opened a sad smile, looking at his own hands. ― Let's just say I fuck off and stay with Gabriel, take over for the whole school. His father doesn't know about us, and that could hurt Gabriel. And the worst-case scenario would be for the McKenzies to fire his parents for having... a gay son?

― It would be kind of ridiculous for them to do that. Like, you and Gabriel have nothing to do with them.

— It doesn't change the fact that I feel guilty if something happened. So I'd rather be cautious. I asked Gabriel to meet us outside of school.

Receiving a comforting hug from Lilian, Theodore had let out a low, shy laugh. Was he being too pathetic? Especially when he received so much incentive to be strong and not hide anymore, he wished to be invisible at that moment.

— You talk about meeting outside of school, but it's not like you have time for that. ― Theodore had agreed with his head, biting his lower lip. ― You're feeling lonely without him, aren't you?

Ah, so that strange feeling was loneliness? He never imagined it would be like that. He loved Gabriel, that was right. But he didn't expect him to be addicted to his presence so quickly. Was it something that came up in his heat?

It had been three days since they had spoken badly. The only time they could talk would be after training, but Theodore ran away from Gabriel like a scared cat. He hated himself for acting like that, trying to swallow his feelings and longing just to avoid trouble.

That his friends would forgive him, but Theodore still didn't feel strong enough. There were a lot of emotions and feelings inside his head that were suffocating. He had no idea what to think, what to do or how to solve that situation.

And so the most obvious answer was to run.

Later that day, shortly after the volleyball team closed practice, Theodore was alone in the locker room. He needed to collect the uniforms and towels, but that particular closet looked like a magnet that kept Theodore from opening it.

The hand trembled to open that damn door, because just being leaning against the omega felt the characteristic smell of the alpha. Swallowing hard, he had taken the courage to open and hold the impeccably folded team uniform.

He just needed to throw it in the bag with the others and his task would end there.

That.

Why didn't your hand move?

His fingers squeezed around the dark uniform, lifting enough so that more of the characteristic smell reached his nostrils. Inhaling deeply, Theodore felt his head hurt even more with the kicks, along with his heart beating so fast.

Gasping, the omega rested in the closet breathing deeply through the mouth.

What the hell was going on with him? Why did his body act so strangely since he walked away from Gabriel?

Propped up in the cupboards until he sat on the floor, he had sunk his face in that shirt where he could smell the alpha. A strong and intense smell, woody and seductive. It was not the smell that Gabriel used to exude, it seemed more... More... Sexy.

Rolling his eyes, Theodore exploded in sensations. Could staying away from Gabriel have made him forget his smell to the point of considering it so good? His whole body reacted to that aroma, being able to feel the beats of his heart in each member of his body.

It was hot every time he vacuumed that shirt. His limb awoke in a sore erection with every breath he gave, and his hand had touched the covered limb pouring a groaning from his mouth.

How could he react that way only with his shirt? Why was his smell so different? How agonizing.

Opening the zipper of the pants and passing the elastic of the boxer, Theodore had touched the limb itself already feeling it pulsate painfully. He had touched his head in the closet sinking his face in the shirt, increasingly needing that smell to satisfy the longing he felt.

His hand slipped deliriously in a slow coming and going. Theodore could remember the week before when he was in heat and was touched by Gabriel. He had explored his body in so many ways that the memories were clear and vivid in his mind. It was they who eluded that omega by making him believe it was his alpha touching him instead of himself.

Shrinking his body against the ground, when he finally enjoyed Theodore felt good. Not excellent, but minimally good.

― Gabriel...