Chapter 20: Unspoken Words

The cafeteria buzzed with the usual noise of students chatting and the clatter of trays, but today, the energy felt different to Dorian. Walking side by side with Lila, their presence together had already sparked curious glances from the moment they entered. Every step he took felt like he was on display, every move scrutinized by the eyes of his peers. He wasn't used to this kind of attention, at least not in this way, and having Lila beside him, with her robotic composure, only added to the discomfort.

After they grabbed their food, Dorian hesitated at the entrance, unsure where they should sit. His usual spot was with the student council members, but having Lila with him now felt like bringing a stranger into a close circle. As his eyes scanned the cafeteria, trying to figure out what to do, he was grateful when a familiar voice called out to him.

"Dorian!"

He turned to see Talia approaching, her face lighting up with a warm smile. She must have sensed the awkwardness in the air because without missing a beat, she gestured toward an open table near the windows.

"Why don't you two come sit with me?" She offered brightly, her eyes flicking toward Lila with a quick but curious glance.

Dorian exhaled a small sigh of relief. "Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks."

They made their way over to the table, and once they sat down, Dorian could feel the weight of the morning still pressing down on him. Lila was as composed as ever, sitting straight with her hands resting neatly on her tray, but Dorian didn't know how to fill the silence between them.

Luckily, Talia seemed to pick up on that immediately. She launched into conversation, asking Lila questions about her background, how she was finding her first day, and whether she had any hobbies. Dorian watched gratefully as Talia worked her magic, effortlessly pulling Lila into the conversation while he quietly ate, feeling slightly more at ease.

Still, his mind wasn't fully present.

Out of the corner of his eye, Dorian saw the doors to the cafeteria swing open, and his heart gave a small jolt when he spotted Rhys walking in. The Omega was laughing at something, his easy grin lighting up his face in a way that made Dorian's chest tighten. But it wasn't just Rhys—walking beside him was Alex, along with a few other students who seemed to be part of Rhys' circle.

They moved to a table not far from where Dorian sat, and though Rhys didn't seem to notice him right away, Dorian couldn't help but feel the weight of the distance between them. It was as if a line had been drawn, separating the world Dorian was stuck in from the one Rhys had built in his absence.

His gaze flicked toward Alex, watching the way he leaned in close to Rhys, making him laugh with that same easy charm that Dorian had once thought was exclusive to their friendship. The sight of it gnawed at him, a bitter mix of jealousy and confusion swirling in his chest.

"Dorian?" Talia's voice broke through his thoughts, and he blinked, realizing she had been talking to him.

"Yeah?" He asked, quickly trying to refocus on the conversation at hand.

"I was just asking if you're okay," Talia said softly, her brow furrowed in concern. "You seem a little... distracted."

Dorian forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a lot on my mind."

Before Talia could press him further, Dorian stood up, feeling the need to escape, if only for a moment. "I'm going to head to the washroom. I'll be right back."

Talia gave him a small nod, her concern evident, but she didn't push. As Dorian turned to leave, he couldn't help but steal one last glance at Rhys, who was too wrapped up in conversation with Alex and the others to notice.

The washroom was quiet when Dorian stepped inside, the cool air a welcome contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the cafeteria. He splashed water on his face, hoping the cold shock would clear his head, but his mind was still spinning. Everything felt off-balance—Lila, his parents, Rhys. Nothing was the way it was supposed to be.

As he leaned over the sink, staring at his reflection in the mirror, the door to the washroom creaked open behind him. Dorian straightened, glancing up just in time to see Alex walk in.

For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the tension thickening in the air.

Alex gave him a small nod, his expression calm but unreadable. "Dorian, right?"

Dorian frowned slightly, not sure what to make of the sudden encounter. "Yeah. And you're... Alex, right?"

Alex nodded, stepping over to one of the sinks as he casually ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah. We've never really talked before, have we?"

"No," Dorian replied, his voice wary. He hadn't expected this—hadn't expected to find himself alone with the Beta who had suddenly become so close to Rhys.

Alex gave a small, easy smile as he washed his hands, his hazel eyes flicking toward Dorian's reflection in the mirror. "Rhys has told me a lot about you."

Dorian's chest tightened at the mention of Rhys' name. He kept his voice calm, but the tension was clear in his tone. "Has he?"

"Yeah," Alex said lightly, turning off the water and drying his hands. "He talks about you a lot. Seems like you two are pretty close."

Dorian wasn't sure what to say to that. His mind raced, trying to decipher whether Alex was being friendly or if there was something more to his words. The Beta's tone was casual, but there was something in his eyes that made Dorian uneasy.

"We are," Dorian said slowly, watching Alex carefully. "We've been through a lot together."

Alex leaned against the sink, crossing his arms as he studied Dorian with a thoughtful expression. "I figured. I mean, I get why Rhys likes you. You're... important to him."

Dorian's heart skipped a beat at that, but before he could respond, Alex gave him a small, knowing smile.

"But, you know, things change," Alex continued, his voice still calm and casual. "People change. It's just how life goes."

Dorian's jaw tightened, a flash of irritation sparking in his chest. He didn't like the way Alex was talking, as if Rhys had moved on—as if he had taken Dorian's place in Rhys' life.

"Maybe," Dorian said quietly, his voice laced with tension. "But some things don't change that easily."

Alex's eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he didn't push further. Instead, he shrugged, pushing himself away from the sink.

"Well, it was nice talking to you," Alex said, his voice light again. "I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of each other."

With that, he turned and walked out of the washroom, leaving Dorian standing there, his mind spinning with the weight of the conversation.

As the door swung shut behind Alex, Dorian let out a slow breath, gripping the edge of the sink tightly. Whatever was happening between Rhys and Alex, it wasn't as simple as it seemed. And the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

_

Dorian took a moment longer in the washroom, gripping the edge of the sink as he tried to steady his breathing. The tension from his conversation with Alex lingered, filling his chest with unease. He wasn't sure what Alex's true intentions were, but one thing was clear: Rhys had found comfort in Alex's presence during Dorian's absence, and that alone made him feel even more distanced from the person who once felt like his only real connection.

He shook his head, splashing his face with cold water one more time before heading toward the door. But as soon as he stepped outside, he nearly collided with someone coming the other way.

It was Rhys.

They both froze for a moment, the awkwardness between them heavy in the air. Dorian's heart raced, his mind scrambling for what to say, but for a second, neither of them spoke. Rhys was the first to break the silence, his gray eyes flicking up to meet Dorian's, though there was an unease in his gaze that hadn't been there before.

"Dorian," Rhys said, his voice quieter than usual. "I didn't realize—"

"Rhys, wait," Dorian interrupted, his voice sharper than he intended. He took a deep breath, trying to rein in his emotions. "I... I wanted to talk to you."

Rhys raised an eyebrow, his body tensing slightly. "Now?"

"Yeah. Now," Dorian said firmly. The cafeteria was too crowded, and they needed privacy. "Let's go somewhere else."

Rhys hesitated, but after a moment, he nodded. "Okay."

They made their way through the hallways, neither of them speaking as they walked in silence. Dorian led them to a small, quiet alcove near the back of the school, a spot he sometimes used when he needed to escape the chaos of his responsibilities. It wasn't far from the washrooms, but it was secluded enough that no one would overhear them.

Once they were alone, Dorian turned to face Rhys, his chest tightening with the weight of everything he wanted to say.

"I... I wanted to ask how your arm is," Dorian began, his voice quieter now. "From... you know, everything that happened."

Rhys glanced down at the arm Dorian was talking about, the one that had been injured during the storm. He gave a small shrug, though his expression was guarded. "It's fine now. Healing up. Not a big deal."

Dorian nodded, though the tension between them didn't ease. There was so much more he wanted to say, but the words were stuck in his throat, tangled up in the mess of emotions that had been building since their last real conversation.

Rhys shifted his weight, leaning against the wall as he studied Dorian. His voice softened as he asked, "What's really going on, Dorian?"

Dorian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I... I don't know where to start. It's been—" He paused, struggling to find the right words. "I miss you. I miss... everything. Ever since I got back, it's just been—"

"Different?" Rhys finished for him, his tone a little sharper than before.

Dorian nodded, his chest aching. "Yeah. Different. I feel like everything's changed, and I don't know how to fix it."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words and lingering tension. Dorian could feel the weight of Rhys' gaze on him, and it made him feel exposed in a way he wasn't used to.

Finally, Rhys let out a long breath, his shoulders slumping slightly as he looked away. "When I found out that Lila was your fiancée, I... panicked."

Dorian's heart skipped a beat at the admission. He hadn't expected Rhys to say that—hadn't expected him to admit to feeling anything about it at all.

"Panic?" Dorian echoed, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Why?"

Rhys gave a small, humorless laugh, shaking his head. "I don't know. I mean, I guess I wasn't really expecting it. I didn't know you were engaged to anyone, let alone someone like her. And when I saw the two of you together..." His voice trailed off, and he clenched his fists at his sides. "I just thought, 'Well, I guess that's it, then.'"

Dorian frowned, stepping closer, his heart pounding in his chest. "That's it? What do you mean?"

Rhys hesitated, biting his lower lip as he struggled to find the words. "I guess I thought... that you and I—" He stopped again, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Look, I know it sounds stupid, but I started avoiding you because I didn't know how to deal with it. I thought that maybe it was better if I just... stayed away."

The words hit Dorian like a punch to the gut, and he felt his breath catch in his throat. Rhys had been avoiding him—not because he was angry or upset, but because he had panicked. Because he hadn't known how to handle what he was feeling.

And now, standing here, hearing Rhys admit to something so vulnerable, Dorian felt the same emotions he had been trying to bury rise to the surface.

"I'm sorry," Dorian said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "I should have told you about Lila. I didn't want you to find out like that, and I know it's... a lot. But I don't want things to be different between us. I miss you, Rhys. I miss how things were before."

Rhys' gray eyes softened as he looked at Dorian, the tension between them starting to ease. "I miss you too. But... things are complicated now, aren't they?"

Dorian nodded, his chest tightening. "Yeah. They are. But that doesn't mean we have to let it change everything."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of their words hanging in the air. Dorian could feel the fragile connection between them starting to rebuild, but there was still so much left unsaid, so many things that hadn't been addressed.

Rhys let out a slow breath, his eyes locking onto Dorian's with a quiet intensity. "I don't want to lose you, Dorian. I don't care about Lila or whatever your parents want. I just want... us."

Dorian's heart raced, his chest tightening with the raw honesty of Rhys' words. He didn't know what to say—didn't know how to make sense of the emotions that were swirling inside him. But one thing was clear: despite everything that had happened, despite Lila, despite his parents, Rhys was still the person he couldn't stop thinking about. The person he wanted by his side.

"Then let's figure it out," Dorian said quietly, his voice steady. "Together."

Rhys gave him a small, hesitant smile, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Dorian felt like they were finally on the same page again.

But just as they stood there, on the verge of something real, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, and they both froze.

They weren't alone anymore.

_

The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway, and Dorian's heart skipped a beat as he instinctively tensed, turning toward the noise. He half expected to see a teacher or a passing student, but instead, a familiar figure came into view.

Alex.

A small grin spread across Alex's face as he approached them, his eyes flicking between Dorian and Rhys with a knowing look. There was a casual ease to the way he carried himself, like he was walking in on two old friends having a casual chat.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Alex teased, his voice light and playful as he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "Did you two kiss and make up already?"

Dorian stiffened at the comment, his jaw clenching slightly as a surge of irritation shot through him. He wasn't used to people—especially people like Alex—being so casually familiar with him, and the remark struck a nerve. Before he could respond, though, Rhys let out a soft chuckle, clearly more relaxed in Alex's presence.

"Shut up, Alex," Rhys said with a laugh, nudging him playfully in the ribs. "You always know how to ruin the moment."

Alex smirked, shrugging casually. "Hey, I just call it like I see it."

Dorian, however, wasn't laughing. His eyes flicked between Rhys and Alex, feeling a pang of jealousy twist in his chest. The ease with which Rhys interacted with Alex—the way they seemed so comfortable around each other—only made Dorian more aware of how distant he had been from Rhys lately. And now, Alex was stepping into a space that had once been his alone.

Before Dorian could say anything, Alex took it one step further. He slung an arm around Dorian's shoulder in a casual, overly friendly gesture that immediately set Dorian on edge. It was the kind of gesture that implied closeness, as if they were best friends—but Dorian didn't feel close to Alex at all.

"So," Alex began, his grin widening, "You need any tips on how to win Rhys over? I'm pretty good at this whole matchmaking thing, you know."

Dorian's body went rigid under Alex's arm, his discomfort clear as his jaw tightened. He could feel the heat rising in his chest, a mix of irritation and unease bubbling beneath the surface. Normally, he would have shrugged Alex off immediately, but something held him back—the fact that this was Rhys' friend. He didn't want to make a scene or cause tension, but Alex's playful teasing was grating on him more than he wanted to admit.

Dorian forced himself to remain calm, his voice low but firm as he glanced at Alex. "We're not that close, Alex," He said, his tone laced with a warning. "You might want to watch your attitude."

For a moment, the playful grin on Alex's face faltered, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his hazel eyes. He quickly recovered, though, raising his hands in mock surrender as he stepped back, his arm slipping from Dorian's shoulder.

"Whoa, easy there," Alex said with a light chuckle, though there was an edge to his voice now. "Just trying to lighten the mood."

Dorian gave him a pointed look, the tension between them crackling in the air. He didn't care for the way Alex had inserted himself into the conversation or the way he had acted like they were already friends. It wasn't just the casual touch—it was the fact that Alex had acted like he belonged in a space that felt too personal for Dorian's liking.

But before Dorian could say anything more, he caught the look on Rhys' face. Rhys' easygoing smile had faded slightly, his gray eyes narrowing just a bit as he glanced between them. There was a hint of displeasure in his gaze, as if Dorian's response to Alex had rubbed him the wrong way.

"Come on, Dorian," Rhys said, his tone still light but tinged with something more serious. "Alex was just messing around. No need to get so defensive."

Dorian's chest tightened at Rhys' words, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He wanted to explain himself, to tell Rhys that Alex's teasing and overly familiar behavior had made him uncomfortable, but the words caught in his throat. The last thing he wanted was to come off as jealous or possessive, especially when Rhys seemed so at ease with Alex.

"I know," Dorian said after a beat, his voice quieter now. "I just... I don't know."

Rhys gave him a long look, his expression softening slightly, though there was still a hint of tension between them. "It's fine," Rhys said, his voice gentler now. "Let's not make a big deal out of it."

Alex, sensing the shift in mood, gave a small, awkward laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, sorry if I overstepped. Just thought I'd tease you guys a bit." He flashed a quick grin, though it didn't quite reach his eyes this time. "I'll catch you later, Rhys."

With that, Alex turned and walked away, leaving Dorian and Rhys standing in the quiet hallway.

The tension between them remained, unspoken but heavy, and Dorian found himself struggling to find the right words to say. He hadn't wanted to make things awkward, but the jealousy and unease he had felt around Alex had bubbled to the surface, and now it was hanging between him and Rhys.

"Sorry about that," Dorian muttered, glancing away. "I didn't mean to..."

Rhys let out a soft sigh, his gray eyes flicking toward Dorian. "It's fine. I get it. Things have been weird lately."

Dorian nodded, though the tightness in his chest didn't ease. He wanted to explain himself, to tell Rhys that it wasn't just about Alex—it was about everything that had changed between them. But the words felt too heavy, too complicated to untangle in this moment.

"Yeah," Dorian said quietly. "Weird."

They stood there for a moment longer, the silence stretching between them. Dorian could still feel the weight of Rhys' gaze on him, but the easy connection they had shared earlier was slipping away, replaced by a quiet tension that neither of them seemed to know how to fix.

"I should probably get back," Rhys said after a beat, his voice low. "But... we'll talk later, yeah?"

Dorian nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling of something unfinished lingering in the air.

"Yeah," He echoed. "Later."

As Rhys turned to leave, Dorian watched him go, the distance between them feeling wider than ever.