Chapter 2: Unwanted Duty

Dorian stepped into the student council room, letting the heavy door close behind him with a quiet thud. He released a slow, measured breath, his hand instinctively rising to smooth the front of his jacket, which still bore traces of dirt from his unexpected encounter with Rhys Everen.

Rhys Everen. The name rattled in his mind, sparking irritation. The Omega had been nothing short of obnoxious, acting as though jumping the fence and tackling Dorian to the ground was just another normal school morning. And the worst part? Rhys hadn't even seemed bothered by it—had barely apologized before sauntering off like he didn't have a care in the world.

Dorian frowned, stepping in front of the large wall mirror that hung beside the rows of polished bookshelves. His usually immaculate appearance had been slightly disrupted. His hair, which he had carefully styled before leaving the house, was now tousled in a way that, while still neat by most standards, felt annoyingly out of place to him. The faint smudge of dirt on the hem of his jacket was another reminder of the brief chaos he'd endured.

His fingers moved quickly, adjusting his tie and smoothing down his platinum blonde hair once again. Order restored. He glanced at his reflection, ensuring that the president's badge on his jacket still shone brightly. It was important to look the part. Always.

The brief flicker of rebellion he had felt earlier, that whisper of curiosity about what it might feel like to let go, had disappeared the moment Rhys had collided with him. That Omega represented everything Dorian tried to avoid—unpredictability, carelessness, chaos.

He couldn't afford to dwell on it.

Just as Dorian straightened his posture, ready to head to class, the sharp crackle of the speaker box on the wall interrupted the quiet of the room.

"Dorian Vaelis, please report to the teacher's room immediately." The voice, clear and formal, echoed through the small space.

Dorian's frown deepened. Now what?

He grabbed his satchel, already mentally preparing himself for whatever task awaited him. There wasn't time for distractions, not today. He had a full schedule, and his patrol duty had already delayed him.

As he left the council room and made his way down the main hallway, Dorian's mind buzzed with possibilities. It wasn't often that he was called to the teacher's room unexpectedly. Usually, any school-related concerns were handled through the student council office or by his own initiative. Something about this felt... off.

The hallways were beginning to clear as students shuffled into their first classes of the day. Dorian's polished shoes clicked against the floor as he approached the teacher's room door, his hand resting briefly on the handle before he pushed it open.

Inside, the room was busy with faculty members going over lesson plans and school documents, but one voice rose above the rest.

"Ah, Vaelis. Good timing."

Dorian's gaze shifted to the front of the room, where Mr. Grayford, the head of student affairs, stood waiting. Dorian gave a respectful nod, stepping forward with his usual composed demeanor.

"Good morning, sir. You asked for me?"

Mr. Grayford offered a brief smile, though there was a slight gleam in his eye that Dorian didn't quite like. "Yes, we have a small... assignment for you."

Before Dorian could ask what he meant, the door behind him opened again, and the familiar sound of careless footsteps filled the room.

Dorian didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Late again, I see," Mr. Grayford said, raising an eyebrow at the new arrival.

"I was only a little late," Rhys Everen's voice cut through the room, casual and unbothered. "I'm here, aren't I?"

Dorian's jaw tightened, and he turned just in time to see Rhys, his auburn hair still messy, strolling into the room with that same relaxed smirk. The Omega was unfazed by the roomful of teachers, completely ignoring the slight frown Mr. Grayford shot his way.

Dorian's patience was already wearing thin.

"Now that you're both here," Mr. Grayford continued, addressing them both, "I wanted to introduce you properly. Vaelis, this is Rhys Everen, our new transfer student. As you know, Haleworth expects its students to maintain certain standards of behavior, and we find that having a peer guide can help with the transition."

Dorian's heart sank as Mr. Grayford's eyes shifted toward him, his next words delivered with an almost amused tone.

"We'd like you, Dorian, to be Rhys' guide for his first few days at the academy. Show him around, make sure he knows where he needs to be, and help him settle into the routine. Since you two share most of the same classes, this shouldn't be too difficult."

For a split second, Dorian's carefully composed exterior almost cracked. His mind raced, resisting the urge to immediately object. Guide him? Dorian could barely tolerate Rhys' presence for two minutes, let alone spend the entire day ensuring the Omega followed school rules he clearly had no intention of respecting.

But before Dorian could even attempt to protest, Rhys leaned against the doorway with that same smirk, crossing his arms as he glanced over at Dorian. "Guess we'll be seeing a lot of each other, huh, President?"

Dorian's eyes narrowed. "I'll make sure you know where you need to be," He replied, his voice clipped with barely hidden frustration. "But I expect you to follow the rules. This isn't the academy you came from."

Mr. Grayford, clearly amused by the tension between them, interjected, "Good. I'll leave it to you, Vaelis. I trust you'll handle this with the same diligence you apply to everything else."

Dorian forced a tight-lipped smile, nodding stiffly. "Of course, sir."

Rhys, however, looked more amused than ever. He gave Mr. Grayford a casual wave. "No problem. I'll behave, promise."

Mr. Grayford raised an eyebrow but said nothing more as he dismissed them both with a nod.

Dorian turned sharply, striding toward the door, his mind already racing with how he would handle this. The last thing he needed was for Rhys Everen to disrupt his carefully structured life any more than he already had. The Omega was unpredictable, messy—everything Dorian wasn't.

As they stepped out into the hallway, Rhys fell into step beside him, walking with an easy, almost lazy gait. He didn't seem fazed by the tension radiating off Dorian, which only irritated Dorian further.

"So," Rhys began, glancing at Dorian with a grin, "Are you always this uptight, or is it just me?"

Dorian's jaw clenched, his voice cool and measured. "I take my responsibilities seriously."

Rhys chuckled. "Yeah, I got that impression. You and your perfect little jacket badge."

Dorian ignored the comment, keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead as they walked toward their first class. "We'll be sharing most of our classes. You'll follow my lead and do what's expected of you. No skipping class. No sneaking in through fences."

Rhys shrugged, completely unbothered. "Sure, sure. But I've got to admit, your rules don't make this place sound very fun."

"This isn't about fun," Dorian snapped, the words coming out sharper than he intended. He caught himself, forcing his tone back into something resembling control. "It's about excellence."

Rhys' grin widened. "Yeah? We'll see."

_

The halls of Haleworth Academy were already filled with students, the low hum of conversation and the soft shuffling of feet echoing through the building as everyone made their way to class. As Dorian and Rhys stepped into the corridor that led to their first lesson, Dorian could feel the familiar weight of eyes on him. It wasn't unusual—Dorian was used to the attention that came with his position as student council president. Most of the students at Haleworth regarded him with respect, some with admiration, and occasionally, a touch of intimidation.

But today felt different.

With Rhys walking beside him, their presence together seemed to draw more attention than usual. Dorian could feel the curious stares, hear the whispers that followed in their wake as they passed groups of students. He could practically sense the questions forming behind their glances: Who is this Omega? Why is he walking with Dorian Vaelis?

Dorian forced himself to ignore it. He wasn't interested in gossip or idle chatter—he had more important things to focus on. Namely, keeping Rhys in check.

They arrived at their classroom, the door already open as students settled into their seats. The moment Dorian stepped inside, the lingering looks began—subtle but unmistakable. He knew his appearance was always noticed, but today, it was clear that most of the attention was on Rhys.

Whispers spread quickly, eyes darting between the two of them as they crossed the room. Dorian could feel the tension growing, a strange undercurrent of curiosity and surprise. His reputation as the perfect, composed Alpha clashed sharply with Rhys' relaxed, carefree demeanor.

Rhys, however, seemed completely unfazed. If he noticed the looks, he didn't show it. Instead, he sauntered into the room with that same casual, confident stride, as if he belonged there—and maybe as if he was enjoying the attention. His light gray eyes scanned the room, taking in the curious stares with nothing more than mild amusement.

Dorian made his way to his usual seat near the center of the room, where he could keep an eye on everything without being too close to the front. His movements were precise, calculated. Orderly.

He had just settled into his chair, preparing to mentally distance himself from Rhys for the remainder of the class, when he sensed movement beside him.

He looked up, only to see Rhys slide into the empty seat directly next to him.

Dorian blinked, his irritation flaring. There were plenty of open seats. Rhys could have chosen any spot in the room. Why here?

He turned to face Rhys, his expression carefully controlled, though the annoyance simmered just beneath the surface. "There are other seats," Dorian said quietly, his voice sharp but measured.

Rhys leaned back in his chair, completely unconcerned. "Yeah, but I figured I'd stick with you. Y'know, since you're my guide and all. Gotta stay close, right?"

Dorian's jaw clenched. He didn't appreciate the casual way Rhys seemed to dismiss everything, especially his role as guide. There was no reason for them to sit together. In fact, it would have been better if they didn't.

He opened his mouth to argue, but before he could say anything, he noticed the growing attention from the other students in the room.

The entire class seemed to be watching them now—Dorian Vaelis, the composed, authoritative student council president, and Rhys Everen, the rebellious new Omega transfer. They were an odd pair, no doubt, and the tension between them only seemed to make it more obvious.

Whispers buzzed through the room, quiet but persistent.

"Isn't that the new transfer? The Omega?"

"Why's he sitting with Dorian?"

"Do you think they know each other?"

Rhys, clearly aware of the attention, glanced around the room, his lips curling into a lazy, amused smile. Instead of brushing off the stares, he leaned into them. His gaze flicked toward a group of girls sitting near the back of the room, who were whispering excitedly to one another, their eyes darting between him and Dorian.

With an exaggerated wink and a charming smile, Rhys gave them a playful wave.

The girls immediately burst into soft giggles, their cheeks flushing pink. They covered their mouths, whispering even more animatedly as they watched him with wide eyes, clearly taken by Rhys' effortless charm.

Dorian's irritation deepened, his fingers curling into tight fists under the desk. This wasn't a game. Rhys was turning the classroom into a spectacle, drawing attention when all Dorian wanted was for the day to go by quietly, without any further disruptions.

But, of course, Rhys seemed to thrive on disruption.

Dorian shot him a sharp glare. "Are you done?"

Rhys turned to him with a grin, completely ignoring the anger in Dorian's voice. "What? Just being friendly."

Dorian's jaw tightened further, his voice low and cold. "You're supposed to be here to focus on class, not... flirt with half the room."

Rhys raised an eyebrow, his smirk never fading. "Relax, President. No harm in having a little fun, is there?"

Dorian didn't respond, biting back the sharp retort that threatened to slip from his mouth. He needed to keep control—of his emotions, of the situation. Rhys wasn't worth losing his composure over.

As their teacher entered the room, the whispers began to die down, though the lingering stares continued. Dorian forced himself to focus on the lesson, pushing away the irritation that still simmered beneath the surface.

But out of the corner of his eye, he could see Rhys leaning back in his chair, utterly relaxed, with that same infuriating smile on his face. The Omega wasn't taking anything seriously—not the attention, not the rules, not the expectations.

And for some reason, it bothered Dorian more than it should have.

_

The bell rang, signaling the end of their first class, and Dorian wasted no time gathering his things. He was focused, determined to get through the rest of the day without further disruptions from Rhys Everen. So far, the Omega hadn't caused any major issues, but Dorian wasn't about to let his guard down. He could feel the eyes of the other students still lingering on them as they exited the classroom, and it only added to his mounting frustration.

"Come on," Dorian said stiffly as he led Rhys out of the classroom and toward the lockers. "We'll stop by your assigned locker so you can grab your materials for the next class."

Rhys followed behind him with an easy stride, hands in his pockets, completely unbothered by Dorian's brisk, no-nonsense pace. "Lead the way, President."

Dorian ignored the remark, his thoughts already focused on getting through the next class without incident. He had been assigned this task of guiding Rhys, but that didn't mean he had to enjoy it.

When they reached the row of lockers, Dorian handed Rhys a slip of paper with his locker number on it. "This is yours. You'll find your textbooks and any other necessary materials already inside."

Rhys took the paper, glancing at the number before stepping up to the locker. He spun the combination lock with surprising ease, the click of the metal sounding louder than usual in the quiet hallway. As he opened the door, Dorian waited, watching closely. He had expected Rhys to make some sarcastic comment about the school's organization or the pristine condition of the lockers, but for once, Rhys seemed content to stay quiet.

After retrieving his books, Rhys closed the locker door with a soft click. "All set. Where to next?"

Dorian turned without answering, already heading toward their next class. He didn't see the point in making small talk with Rhys—there was enough going on inside his mind without the added distraction. He just wanted to make it through the day without any more chaos.

But as they entered the next classroom, Dorian's heart sank when Rhys, once again, slid into the seat beside him. Dorian stared at him for a brief moment, frustration flaring again. There were other seats, yet again Rhys chose to sit next to him. Why?

Rhys caught Dorian's look and shrugged, his lips twitching into that infuriating smirk. "Like I said, sticking close to my guide."

Dorian didn't respond, opting instead to focus on the front of the room. His eyes followed the teacher as she entered, shuffling a stack of papers in her hands.

"Good morning, class," She began, her voice firm but pleasant. "Before we get into today's lesson, I thought we'd start with a quick test. Just to see where everyone stands after the summer break."

A murmur of mild groans swept through the room, but Dorian didn't flinch. He had anticipated this. The first few weeks of term always included these kinds of evaluations. He was more than prepared.

The teacher's eyes swept over the class, and when they landed on Rhys, she hesitated for a moment. "Ah, and we have a new student with us today. Rhys Everen, correct?"

Rhys gave a lazy wave, his body language completely at ease.

The teacher smiled kindly, though there was a subtle note of condescension in her tone. "Since you're new and here on scholarship, don't worry too much about the test. It's okay if you make mistakes. Just do your best."

Dorian felt a flicker of irritation at the teacher's assumption that Rhys would struggle. While he found Rhys' attitude difficult to tolerate, it was clear to him that Rhys wasn't as careless or clueless as others seemed to assume.

Rhys, however, didn't appear offended. Instead, he smiled brightly, leaning back in his chair with an amused glint in his eyes. "No problem, ma'am. I'll give it a shot."

The test papers were handed out, and Dorian's mind immediately switched gears, focusing on the task at hand. He glanced over the questions and, as expected, found them straightforward. He moved through the test with ease, his pen gliding smoothly over the paper as he filled in the answers with his usual precision.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Rhys working quietly beside him. For a moment, Dorian wondered if Rhys really knew what he was doing or if he was just pretending. He couldn't help but be curious.

Twenty minutes passed, and the teacher called for the tests to be turned in. As Dorian stood to hand his paper over, he noticed Rhys had already finished and was leaning back in his chair, looking completely at ease. Dorian's frown deepened. No way he finished that fast.

When all the tests were collected, the teacher scanned through them quickly, marking and grading on the spot.

It wasn't long before she reached Rhys' paper. Her eyes widened slightly, and she paused for a moment, clearly surprised. She glanced back at Rhys, who sat there, smiling as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Rhys," She began, her tone cautious, "You... scored perfectly."

A ripple of surprise swept through the classroom, the students exchanging curious glances. Dorian felt his heart skip a beat, though he kept his expression carefully neutral. Perfect?

But it didn't end there. The teacher's eyebrows furrowed as she continued reading through the test, her lips forming a thin line. "You also... wrote something at the bottom."

Rhys raised an eyebrow, that familiar smirk dancing across his lips. "Oh, right. I suggested a few harder questions. The test was... a little easy."

The room fell into a stunned silence.

A few seconds passed before whispers began spreading through the class like wildfire. Dorian could feel the growing attention, the way eyes flickered between him and Rhys. How could this Omega, a transfer student from a public school, score perfectly?

And the fact that Rhys had added his own suggestions for harder questions? It was as if Rhys had just deliberately thrown down a gauntlet.

The teacher blinked, clearly unsure how to respond. "Well... yes, I see that." She glanced at the paper again before moving on to grade the rest of the tests.

Dorian sat in silence, his hands tightening around the edge of the desk. He had also scored perfectly—it wasn't a surprise to him. He always did. But now... now Rhys had matched him. And worse, Rhys had mocked the test, as though it hadn't been challenging at all.

Out of the corner of his eye, Dorian saw Rhys glance over at him with that same smirk. "Told you it'd be easy."

Dorian didn't respond, though his irritation was rising by the second. Rhys wasn't just careless—he was arrogant. And worse, he had the intelligence to back it up.

For the first time in a long while, Dorian felt the faint stirrings of competition. He wasn't used to being challenged, especially not by someone as unpredictable as Rhys. But now, with Rhys seated beside him, it was clear that the Omega wasn't just going to be a nuisance.

He might actually be a rival.

_

The classroom settled into a strained silence as the teacher continued the lesson, her voice steady as she moved through the material on the board. But the tension from Rhys' earlier antics lingered, and Dorian could feel the ripple of unease that spread through the room.

He kept his gaze fixed on his notebook, diligently taking notes in his clean, precise handwriting, but his mind was only half-focused. The rest of his attention was drawn to Rhys, who sat beside him, tapping his pen idly against the desk.

Dorian couldn't shake the feeling that Rhys was up to something. The Omega's smug expression, the way he leaned back casually in his chair as if the class was nothing more than background noise—it all grated on Dorian's nerves. Rhys wasn't here to learn. He was here to stir things up.

And it didn't take long for him to make his next move.

The teacher was in the middle of explaining a mathematical formula when Rhys' voice suddenly cut through the quiet.

"Actually," Rhys said, his tone almost too casual, "You missed a step in that equation."

The teacher paused, turning toward Rhys with a frown. "Excuse me?"

Rhys nodded toward the board, completely unbothered by the sudden attention he had drawn. "That step you just skipped? It's important. If you don't include it, you'll end up with a rounding error later on."

The teacher's expression tightened. "I assure you, the method I'm teaching is correct."

Rhys shrugged, leaning back in his chair with that infuriating smirk. "Sure, if you want to do it the long way. But there's a more efficient method. I can show you, if you'd like."

A few quiet giggles rippled through the classroom, and Dorian felt his grip on his pen tighten. He could sense the teacher's growing frustration, and it mirrored his own. Rhys wasn't just correcting her—he was deliberately trying to undermine her authority.

Beside him, Rhys continued to smile, his expression casual but sharp. Dorian had seen this kind of behavior before, but never in Haleworth. The students here were raised to follow rules, to respect authority. Rhys, however, didn't seem to care about any of that.

"Rhys," The teacher said, her voice now clipped with annoyance, "While I appreciate your... enthusiasm, I would ask that you refrain from interrupting the lesson."

Rhys held up his hands in mock surrender. "No problem, ma'am. Just thought I'd help out."

Dorian couldn't take it anymore. He turned his head slightly, muttering under his breath so only Rhys could hear. "Stop it. This is unnecessary."

Rhys glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, his smirk widening. "Unnecessary? I'm just trying to help."

Dorian shot him a sharp look. "You're disrupting the class."

Rhys gave a quiet chuckle, the sound low enough that only Dorian could hear it. "Come on, President. You can't tell me you haven't noticed how wrong she is. You're too smart to just sit there and let it slide."

Dorian's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. Of course, he had noticed the mistake. But that wasn't the point. Rhys wasn't correcting the teacher out of genuine concern—he was doing it to make a point. To challenge the system.

Rhys, apparently satisfied with Dorian's silence, turned his attention back to the front of the room, where the teacher was now struggling to regain control of the lesson. She had resumed her explanation, though her voice was more strained than before, clearly rattled by Rhys' constant interruptions.

But it didn't stop there.

Only a few minutes had passed before Rhys spoke up again, this time during an explanation of a historical event.

"Actually, that date is off by a couple of months," Rhys said casually, tapping his pen against his notebook. "The treaty wasn't signed until early spring, not winter."

The teacher's patience was visibly fraying. "Rhys, this is not the time for corrections. Please let me continue with the lesson."

Rhys shrugged again, as if her irritation didn't bother him in the slightest. "Just trying to keep things accurate."

More whispers and giggles passed through the room, and Dorian could feel the tension rising like a wave. He clenched his jaw, his mind racing with frustration. How was he supposed to keep Rhys in line when the Omega seemed determined to push every boundary?

The teacher shot Dorian a glance, as if expecting him to rein Rhys in. After all, Dorian was the one assigned to guide him. He was responsible for keeping Rhys in check.

Dorian leaned slightly toward Rhys again, his voice low and stern. "This is going to stop now. You're making it worse."

Rhys didn't look at him, but his smirk remained. "Worse for who? She's making mistakes. I'm just pointing them out. Isn't that what we're here for? To learn?"

Dorian exhaled sharply, forcing himself to remain calm. He had to stay in control. Losing his temper wouldn't help—especially not with someone like Rhys, who seemed to enjoy pushing his buttons.

But Rhys wasn't done yet.

When the teacher moved on to the next topic, Rhys raised his hand lazily, a look of faux innocence on his face. "Just a quick question..."

The teacher's shoulders visibly tensed, but she didn't acknowledge him this time, choosing instead to ignore the interruption and continue the lesson.

Rhys leaned back, amused, and muttered under his breath, "Guess not."

Dorian's irritation finally boiled over. He turned to Rhys, his voice barely audible but filled with restrained anger. "If you can't sit through a lesson without causing a scene, then maybe this isn't the place for you."

Rhys met Dorian's gaze, his eyes flashing with a mix of amusement and challenge. "Relax, President. I'm just keeping things interesting."

"Interesting isn't the point," Dorian hissed. "You're undermining the teacher and disrupting the entire class."

Rhys tilted his head, his smirk softening into something more thoughtful. "Maybe. But then again, you're the only one who seems really bothered by it. Why is that, Dorian?"

Dorian's name on Rhys' lips felt like a direct challenge, and for a moment, Dorian struggled to come up with a response. It wasn't just about following rules—it was about respect, about order, about maintaining the standards that Haleworth Academy was built on.

But for Rhys, those things clearly didn't matter.

Before Dorian could say anything more, the bell rang, signaling the end of the class. The tension in the room broke, and the students began to gather their things, murmuring amongst themselves as they filtered out into the hallway.

Rhys stood, stretching lazily as if the entire class had been nothing more than an amusing distraction. He glanced at Dorian, still grinning. "Guess that's it for now."

Dorian remained seated, watching as Rhys sauntered toward the door, unbothered by the chaos he had just created.

But as Rhys disappeared into the hallway, Dorian couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning—and that Rhys was going to be a far bigger problem than he had anticipated.