Barbecue at Mckenzie

What a high school student looks forward to the most in the whole year is not the university entrance exam, but a holiday. Especially if it falls on a Thursday, because Friday becomes recess turning the weekend into four wonderful days of rest.

For the players of the Montreal volleyball team, Wednesday was considered the best day of the week, especially when Milles McKenzie invited them to his house to celebrate the team's victory. Since his parents had travelled with Sadie to Disney, leaving the boy alone at home.

In the end the team would have their barbecue and pool free as promised.

Instead of going to practice as usual, the boys went to the market to buy some meat and drinks and then to Milles' house, who was waiting for them. Theodore was a little uncomfortable being invited too, imagining that the others wouldn't feel comfortable with him, but Milles had hit a crucial point.

― Lately the little shit and Thunder have been getting on each other's nerves a lot, so it would be nice if you were there to help me if things went wrong.

He knew his best friend well enough to know that no matter where he was, if someone bought a fight with him no one would take him out of it. Even if Milles had bitten Nicolas, which had been considered the big surprise of the week, he probably wouldn't know how to break up a fight with the hot-tempered omega.

Yet he had to wonder what kind of thoughts the boys on the team would have when they saw him at Milles' house.

At dusk, most of the team had already left, leaving only the two first-year and two second-year students enjoying the poolside with the music playing on the radio. Nibbling the already cold meat, Theodore looked at Nicolas who was sleeping next to him. As expected, he had gone into hibernation mode and was sleeping curled up on the puff.

― Theo here. ― Milles had thrown a blanket that Theodore had promptly picked up.

Unfolding it, he covered his friend and laid him down next to him. He envied Nicholas's tranquility to sleep anywhere and in any situation.

― He can sleep for how many hours? ― asked Sam, a fellow freshman with Bruno and also the team's reserve stand-up player. ― Every time he finishes a match he sleeps.

― If it depends on him, days. Waking up just to go to the bathroom and eat.

― Lazy bug. I wish I could be like that, but if I went past noon my mother would wake me up.

― Is there some rule that all mothers have to follow to be mothers? That's not possible.

Theodore laughed, spying his sleepy friend. Well, he couldn't say that Nicolas slept so much because he tried so hard not to let his scent escape. Though his exhaustion is more mental than physical, since he had been so preoccupied with Milles over the weekend.

It felt like his best friend was becoming the protagonist of some romantic story. He was happy to see him well, that's all that mattered. At a glance the omega had saw at Milles, he was hammering a nail into the cap of a soda bottle, and sipping thirstily.

Perhaps those two were the most unlikely couple to happen. He never would have imagined they'd be together.

All thanks to...

― Here, Theo.

Turning his head to Gabriel who held out a bottle of soda to him, the omega smiled in thanks. A cheerful smile had opened on that face, not disguising the happiness at smelling him as Gabriel had sat down across from Nicolas, as he had sprawled out on the puff leaving no space near Theodore.

― Ah, I'd be happier if Sadie were here. ― Thunder murmured, looking at the bottle in hand. ― She didn't even come to watch us.

― You creep me out, how attached you are to my sister.

― I can try as hard as I want, she never looks at me.

The glance Thunder had cast at Gabriel was only missed by the alpha himself, who was concentrating on fixing the roasted sausages on the French bread. Theodore had swallowed his jealousy by the soda, not daring to give an opinion over there.

― By the way... Theo, how do you feel coming here again?

Theodore had raised his eyes to Boyle without properly understanding his words. The boy did not seem to contain malice in his words, but stared at the omega with extreme curiosity.

He had never conversed with Boyle and Thunder peacefully. Because they were always sticking to Milles, one would think that trying to explain anything to them would be a waste of time. Now he didn't feel hostility coming from them, probably because Milles had stopped bothering him like he used to.

It would be a good opportunity to show them that he was not a bad person.

― What do you mean? It's the first time I come to Milles' house.

― Well... But isn't this where Jake's thing happened?

A shiver ran down the omega's spine. Gabriel had closed the bun and squeezed it tightly, this time paying attention to the conversation with interest. Swallowing dryly, Theodore had let out a nervous laugh denying with his head.

― Don't you know where your old captain lived?

― Miles was an asshole and he never invited us here before. ― Boyle complained.

― The street door is a service to the house, I'll make use of it soon. ― Milles hummed, reaching for a garlic bread and stuffing it in his mouth.

― I'm so glad you finally let us come here, rich boy. I thought you all lived together anyway.

― Jake's family's house is down the street. ― Theodore had commented occasionally.

― Ah, got it. Is it nice? Which is better, here or there?

― I'll drown you in the pool! ―growled Milles with his mouth full.

― Don't tell me you want to compete with your cousin even in the house? I only ask out of curiosity.

― What do you mean even in the house? ― Bruno asked shyly to Boyle.

― Oh, you weren't in school last year. Milles aaaaaaalways competed with Jake in volleyball. AAAAAAAlways lost.

― And I'm seeeeeeriously gonna kick your ass. Shut your mouth, baby. ― Milles warned in a cynical smile.

― Hm... So your cousin was the former team captain. ― Gabriel muttered before taking a bite of his sandwich, staring at his best friend coolly.

― Even the devil over there loses to Jake. He was a monster, so obviously he would be captain.

― Was he any good? ― Sam turned to Theodore with flashing eyes ― How good, cherub?

Theodore had chosen to remain quiet in that conversation, as he was not very comfortable remembering what had happened to Jake. Besides, he could feel Gabriel's jealous glances from afar, which left him with a chill in his stomach. He didn't want to bring it up for fear of getting into a fight later.

At the same time he wanted to say something, to know how jealous Gabriel was. They could have spent the rut together but they were still just flirts. They were not in a serious relationship and Gabriel had given no sign that he would like to date him.

Should he try to poke the jaguar with a short stick?

No... Well, he could at least answer the question honestly. It would be a technical thing, wouldn't it?

― Hm... Jake can play well in any position, but his serves were the most powerful.

― Seriously, there was one time his serve ended up in a kid's face. His tooth fell out. ― Thunder said in sudden excitement. ― But Jake was so nice, he asked for a break to accompany the kid to the infirmary.

― Wow, I wish I could have seen that.

― Yeah, I'd love to see that too ― Gabriel muttered with a frozen smile. ― How good he must be, right?

― Do you still like him, little Theo? Like, I heard you guys were serious.

Boyle's question had caught Theodore off guard. Maybe not only the omega, but also Gabriel who immediately stared at the blonde in expectation.

Laughing softly, Theodore left the soda bottle on his lap denying with his head.

― After that I never spoke to him again, to be honest. But that's in the past, isn't it? I'm on a different path.

Sam and Bruno smiled widely and looked at each other knowing very well what his words meant.

― Actually, I'm curious about something, ― Thunder suddenly said, pointing at Theodore with a malicious smile. ― Is it real by any chance?

He had already imagined that the subject would be touched, even thought it had come late. He didn't even need to look at the alpha to know his reaction, he'd probably be evaluating the situation as he used to do when he was silent. Despite the bitter taste in his mouth, Theodore had only answered the most obvious.

― I'm not dating Gabriel.

― But you're into him?

― Come on, Thunder. Don't you ever get tired of that? ― complained Miles.

― Man, nothing gets me out of my head that whoever is writing that story must know something. Like, they must have seen you two together or something.

― You don't seem to be bothered by it anymore. ― Joked Boyle elbowed his friend, who laughed softly.

― I've been thinking about it for a while and to be honest, I wish you two were together. Then Sadie would look at me for once. ― Said Thunder lowering his slightly saddened eyes.

Ah, that look. Theodore knew it all too well. The look of a boy who had strong feelings for someone and was unrequited. Love could be painted as the most beautiful feeling in the world, but he forgot that everything would be flowers as long as the person knew how to deal with the loneliness it carries.

Loving a person from afar was lonely and painful.

Theodore knew that very well. Though he no longer felt that way now, thanks to Gabriel seeming to reciprocate his feelings.

Still, he could understand the pain behind that look.

Taking a deep breath, the omega smiled sweetly staring at the empty bottle in his hands. He swung it distractedly when he said in front of the whole team.

― Yeah, I like Gabriel. ― Theodore, leaning his face on the palm of his hand and his elbow on his crossed leg, looked directly at Gabriel, who stared at him in surprise. ― You can't help but fall for that beautiful face.

The boys let out loud laughter at Theodore's declaration, who had winked at Gabriel before returning his gaze to the small bottle in hand.

― Oh Biel, looks like you're the stud of the moment, huh.

― Two omegas wanting you, how hard! ― Boyle laughed. ― Even though the answer was pretty obvious.

― What would be...?

― He's already kissed Sadie. ― reminded Boyle after grabbing a piece of meat and eating it. ― And she's always stuck on him, so they must be getting on, right?

Fucking party photo. Always coming back to haunt the omega. Leaving the empty bottle on the table to get another offered by Miles, Theodore tried to control the sudden jealousy he felt.

Why the hell did they think Gabriel was with Sadie just because of a photo? That was the only time they were together, after that never again. Still the school took the rumour as true.

Gabriel and Sadie together? Was there any couple even more disgusting than them? Theodore didn't think so.

On the other hand, they had been staying together for weeks and even spent the rut together, with a story on the internet, but no one took it seriously. They just looked in his direction and gossiped about him as a shamelessly seductive omega.

Ah... he was tired. He was definitely tired of hiding. The same cycle was starting again, this time more chaotic than before. When Jake had held his hand and was about to take over the relationship, he'd had to leave for another city leaving him alone dealing with the storm.

And now Theodore had the alpha on his side.

Not just anyone.

His soulmate.

Let his values give him poetic license, but Theodore would enter the game tooth and nail.

― I kissed Gabriel too, so what?