Chapter 25: Poison Luck

The morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows of Haleworth Academy, casting long shadows across the pristine halls as Dorian made his way to the student council room. His mind was still buzzing from the conversation he had with Alex during the ride to school, but now, his focus shifted back to the responsibilities of being the council president.

As he pushed open the door to the familiar room, the first thing he noticed was Talia standing near the window, deep in conversation with Lila, who sat across from her at the large conference table. The sight of them together was surprising, to say the least—Lila, with her quiet, reserved demeanor, seemed almost out of place in the council room. But there was something in her expression—an eagerness, maybe—that made Dorian pause.

"Morning," Dorian greeted, closing the door behind him as he approached the table.

Talia looked up, offering him a warm smile. "Hey, Dorian. Lila and I were just talking."

Dorian's gaze flicked to Lila, who gave a small, almost shy smile in return. "Talking about what?"

"Lila's thinking about joining the student council," Talia explained, leaning back in her chair with a casual shrug. "We could definitely use more members, especially with all the upcoming events."

Dorian blinked, surprised by the revelation. He hadn't expected Lila to take an interest in the council, especially given her relatively quiet presence at the academy. But as he looked at her, he could see the determination in her eyes—a kind of quiet resolve that reminded him, in some ways, of himself when he first took on the role of president.

"I... thought it might be a good opportunity," Lila said softly, her voice steady despite her reserved demeanor. "I'd like to help out, if you think there's a place for me."

Dorian considered her for a moment before nodding. "We could always use more hands, especially for the bigger events. If you're serious about it, I'm sure we can find a role for you."

Lila's expression brightened slightly at that, though she kept her composure. "I am."

"Great," Dorian said with a small smile, feeling a bit of the earlier tension ease. "We can talk more about it during the next meeting."

The three of them chatted briefly about upcoming events and council responsibilities before checking the time. Soon, it was time to head to their first class of the day. Together, they made their way out of the council room and toward the classroom, the halls of Haleworth buzzing with the usual morning energy.

As they approached the classroom door, Rhys appeared seemingly out of nowhere, his familiar presence sending a ripple of awareness through Dorian. The Omega's gaze immediately settled on Dorian, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he completely ignored both Talia and Lila.

"Well, well," Rhys said, his tone light but teasing. "Look who's finally here. Have a good night with Alex, Dorian?"

Dorian could feel the tension ripple through him at Rhys's words, though he managed to keep his expression neutral. Rhys's voice was casual, but there was a hint of curiosity—maybe even something more—that lingered beneath the surface.

"Why do you care?" Dorian shot back, though his voice lacked any real bite.

Rhys shrugged, his smile widening. "Just curious. Alex wouldn't tell me anything, no matter how much I tried to get it out of him."

Dorian huffed softly, shaking his head as he felt his cheeks heat ever so slightly. Alex had been his usual teasing self about the night, refusing to give Rhys any of the details of their conversation. And now, it seemed that Rhys's curiosity had only grown as a result.

"Well, if Alex didn't tell you, then I'm not going to either," Dorian replied, stepping past Rhys and toward the classroom door.

Rhys let out a low laugh, clearly enjoying the banter. "Fair enough. I'll get it out of you eventually."

Dorian rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. Rhys always knew how to push his buttons, but today, there was something different in the way they interacted—something almost playful, despite the lingering tension between them.

As they entered the classroom, Talia and Lila had already found their seats, and Rhys slipped into a seat near Dorian, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Dorian, however, felt a small jolt of nerves settle in his chest as he sat down, Rhys's presence close enough to stir something deeper.

But before Dorian could dwell on it, the bell rang, and the teacher stepped into the room, officially beginning the day.

_

The first class of the day had been surprisingly quiet. Rhys, for all his usual antics, had remained uncharacteristically well-behaved. Dorian glanced at him from time to time, half-expecting him to pull some prank or make a comment to disrupt the lesson, but nothing came. Instead, Rhys seemed unusually focused, scribbling notes in his usual messy handwriting and occasionally shooting Dorian a sideways glance.

Despite the calm, Dorian found it difficult to concentrate. Rhys's presence next to him, so familiar yet charged with a tension that hadn't been there before, grounded him in a way he hadn't expected. It was strange how much he had missed this—missed sitting beside Rhys, feeling the Omega's subtle energy next to him, even when Rhys wasn't causing trouble.

The moments of silence between them felt almost... comfortable. And though Dorian wouldn't admit it aloud, there was something about Rhys's presence that made him feel more at ease, even as his heart raced slightly faster than usual.

Before Dorian could dwell too much on those thoughts, the bell rang, signaling the end of the first class. The students began packing up their things, the usual chatter filling the room as they prepared to move to their next destination: the gym for physical education.

Dorian and Rhys exchanged a quick glance before standing up and heading toward the door. As they moved through the crowded halls, Dorian's mind shifted toward the next class—gym was never his favorite, but today would be different. Alex would be joining them, and somehow, Dorian knew the dynamic between the three of them would make things... interesting.

Once they reached the locker room, Dorian immediately began changing into his gym outfit, pulling off his school jacket and unbuttoning his shirt. He focused on the task at hand, trying not to let his mind wander too much, but then he caught a glimpse of Rhys out of the corner of his eye.

The Omega had already started changing, tugging his shirt over his head and tossing it carelessly into the locker. As he did so, Rhys glanced over at Dorian, his lips quirking into a mischievous smile. His eyes—bright and playful—drifted over Dorian's body with an exaggerated ogling expression, and he let out a low, teasing whistle.

"Well, well," Rhys drawled, his tone teasing. "Look at you, Vaelis. Didn't know you were hiding all that under your uniform."

Dorian felt a flush creep up his neck, his cheeks burning as he quickly turned away. "Focus, Rhys," He muttered, doing his best to sound stern. "We're here to work out, not to—"

"Not to admire your muscles?" Rhys interrupted, smirking as he continued changing, entirely unfazed by Dorian's attempt at a reprimand. "Don't be so modest. You know I'm just messing with you."

Dorian huffed, pulling on his gym shirt and trying to ignore the way his pulse quickened at Rhys's words. It wasn't the first time Rhys had teased him like this, but it felt different now—more charged, more intense. And though Dorian tried to focus on getting dressed, he couldn't help the fleeting glance he stole in Rhys's direction, his eyes skimming over the Omega's lean, toned frame as he finished changing.

Rhys caught him looking, of course, and shot him a knowing grin. "See something you like, Dorian?"

Dorian's flush deepened, and he quickly turned back to his locker, pulling on his gym shoes with a hasty motion. "Just hurry up and change," He muttered.

Rhys, ever the playful one, let out a mock sigh of disappointment before finishing changing. "You're no fun sometimes, you know that?"

Dorian ignored the comment, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he finished lacing up his shoes. Despite the teasing, there was something... comforting about the way Rhys acted around him. It was familiar, and even if it flustered him, it made Dorian feel more at ease in a way he couldn't quite explain.

Once they were both ready, they left the locker room and made their way to the gymnasium, where Alex was already waiting for them. The Beta was casually leaning against one of the walls, arms crossed, a lazy grin on his face as he spotted them approaching.

"Well, if it isn't the dynamic duo," Alex called out as they entered, his grin widening. "You two took your sweet time getting here."

Dorian rolled his eyes, though his mood lightened at the sight of Alex's playful demeanor. "We were getting changed," He replied simply.

Alex gave a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, you ready for a little competition today? I've got a feeling gym class is going to be a lot more interesting now that I'm here."

Rhys smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh? You think you can keep up with us?"

Alex raised an eyebrow, his grin turning competitive. "You'll just have to wait and see."

The gym was already buzzing with energy, students gathering in groups as they prepared for the day's activities. Dorian, standing between Rhys and Alex, couldn't help but feel the shift in the dynamic now that all three of them were together. Alex was his usual charming self, full of energy and competitive spirit, while Rhys maintained his playful edge, though there was an undeniable spark of challenge in his eyes.

Whatever happened next, Dorian had a feeling this class would be anything but ordinary.

_

The gymnasium buzzed with the usual pre-class energy, students stretching and preparing for the activities ahead. After a brief round of warm-ups, the gym teacher instructed the students to start with two laps around the perimeter of the gym. It was a light warm-up, meant to get their blood flowing before the real action started.

Dorian ran alongside Rhys, their strides in sync as they circled the gym, the air between them comfortable yet charged with the same playful tension that had lingered throughout the day. Rhys, as usual, found ways to make even a simple run feel competitive, darting ahead slightly before slowing down just enough to let Dorian catch up, a teasing grin on his face.

"Come on, Dorian," Rhys called out, his tone light and challenging. "You're not going to let me beat you, are you?"

Dorian rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. "We're supposed to be warming up, not racing, Rhys."

"Where's the fun in that?" Rhys shot back with a wink, his pace quickening just enough to keep Dorian on his toes.

They completed their two laps in no time, their breathing steady but hearts pumping as they returned to the center of the gym, where the next activity had already been set up. Poison Ball, a high-energy game where agility and teamwork were key, was the main event of the day. The gym teacher divided the class into two teams, placing Dorian and Rhys together on one side, while Alex ended up on the opposing team.

The rules were simple: if you got hit with the ball, you were out, and the last team standing won.

As the game started, the gym filled with shouts and laughter, the rubber balls flying through the air with speed and precision. Dorian and Rhys quickly found their rhythm, dodging the incoming balls with ease and working together to eliminate members of the opposing team one by one.

At first, Dorian was focused solely on the game—on the rush of adrenaline that came with each close call, each successful throw. But as the minutes ticked by, he couldn't help but notice the way he and Rhys moved in sync, almost as if they had been playing together for years. Every dodge, every throw, every quick decision was made without a second thought, their teamwork effortless.

"You're a pretty good partner," Rhys called out, a grin flashing across his face as he dodged a ball and launched one back in return, eliminating another player from Alex's team.

Dorian smirked, his competitive side rising to the surface. "You too. Let's see if we can take out the rest of them."

The game intensified as both teams lost players, the remaining students narrowing down to just a few. Soon, it was Dorian, Rhys, and two others against Alex, who was the last player standing on his team. The atmosphere in the gym shifted as the remaining players focused on the Beta, whose grin had only grown wider now that the odds were stacked against him.

"Think you can take me down?" Alex called out, his voice playful but with a hint of challenge. "You're going to have to try harder than that."

Rhys and Dorian exchanged a quick glance, a silent agreement passing between them. Together, they rushed toward opposite sides of the court, trying to corner Alex and force him into a vulnerable position. Their movements were quick and precise, the tension building as they worked together, inching closer to victory.

But Alex was nothing if not unpredictable. With a sudden burst of speed, he dodged one of Rhys's throws and grabbed a ball from the ground. Dorian moved in for the next attack, his eyes focused on Alex, anticipating the Beta's next move.

Then, without warning, Alex wound up and threw the ball with unexpected force—directly at Dorian.

The rubber ball hurtled through the air, and for a split second, Dorian thought he could dodge it. He started to sidestep, but his foot slid against the smooth gym floor, sending him off balance. His body twisted as he tried to regain his footing, but it was too late. The ball slammed into his face with a sickening thud, knocking him backward.

Pain exploded in Dorian's head, sharp and disorienting. His vision blurred, and he stumbled, his hands instinctively flying up to his face as he felt the warm trickle of blood dripping from his nose.

"Dorian!" Rhys's voice cut through the haze, sharp with concern.

The game stopped immediately, the gym falling into a stunned silence as Dorian sank to his knees, his head spinning. The impact had left him momentarily dazed, the world around him tilting as he struggled to stay upright.

In an instant, Rhys was at his side, kneeling next to him with wide, worried eyes. "Hey, you okay?"

Dorian winced, pressing a hand to his nose as he tried to blink away the dizziness. "Yeah, I'm... fine," He mumbled, though the pounding in his head suggested otherwise.

Alex was there a moment later, his grin fading as he crouched down beside them, his expression apologetic. "Dorian, I'm so sorry, man. I didn't mean to—"

Dorian waved him off, still trying to get his bearings. "It's... okay," He managed, though his voice sounded far more strained than he intended.

A teacher rushed over, her face etched with concern as she knelt beside Dorian, inspecting the damage. "He's bleeding," She muttered, grabbing a towel from one of the nearby benches. "We need to get him to the nurse's office. He might have a concussion."

With the help of Rhys and the teacher, Dorian slowly got to his feet, though his vision still swam slightly as he stood. He leaned on Rhys for support, the warmth of the Omega's hand steadying him as they made their way toward the door.

"Sorry," Alex muttered again, trailing behind them, his usual confidence replaced with genuine guilt.

Rhys shot him a glare, but said nothing as they carefully guided Dorian toward the nurse's office. The game, it seemed, was over—but the lingering tension between them was far from settled.

_

The walk to the nurse's office felt longer than it should have, each step weighed down by the awkward silence between the trio. Rhys kept his arm firmly around Dorian's shoulders, supporting him as they made their way down the hallway. Dorian still felt slightly disoriented, the sharp throbbing in his head only worsened by the steady trickle of blood from his nose. His vision was blurry, and his body felt heavy, but Rhys's presence beside him kept him grounded.

Trailing a few steps behind, Alex followed with his shoulders slumped, guilt practically radiating off him. He muttered apologies under his breath every few seconds, clearly regretting the intensity of his throw. But Rhys, his patience wearing thin, finally turned to him with an irritated sigh.

"Alex, go ahead and stop apologizing for now," Rhys snapped, his voice low but firm. "You can say sorry once his nose stops bleeding. You're not helping by repeating it every five seconds."

Alex stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening at the sharpness in Rhys's voice. He opened his mouth to respond but quickly shut it again, looking more like a kicked puppy than the confident Beta he usually was. With a defeated sigh, he nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Yeah... okay, I'll just... go on ahead," Alex mumbled, sounding dejected as he turned on his heel and headed down the hall, leaving the two of them behind.

Rhys shook his head in exasperation, muttering under his breath as they continued walking. "He really doesn't know when to quit."

But as soon as Alex was out of sight, Rhys's attention shifted back to Dorian, his grip tightening just slightly on the Alpha's shoulder. "You hanging in there?" He asked, his tone softening as they approached the nurse's office.

Dorian nodded weakly, though he didn't trust himself to speak just yet. His head was still spinning, and his thoughts were muddled. But even through the haze of pain, he couldn't help but notice the way Rhys's voice—usually full of teasing and mischief—had softened with concern.

Finally, they reached the nurse's office, and Rhys gently pushed the door open, guiding Dorian inside. The sterile scent of the room filled the air, and the soft hum of medical equipment buzzed in the background. But none of that registered for Dorian as his gaze fell on the nurse standing at the far end of the room, organizing a tray of medical supplies.

Lyrian.

The nurse, who had just transferred to Haleworth Academy last week, turned at the sound of the door opening. His eyes widened the moment they landed on Dorian, a look of shock flickering across his face as he froze in place, the tray slipping slightly in his hands. His pale blue eyes, filled with a mix of surprise and something deeper, locked onto Dorian's face as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

And for Dorian, time seemed to slow.

He froze in place, his body going rigid as his gaze met Lyrian's. There was something about the nurse—something unsettlingly familiar. It wasn't just his appearance, though the gentle features and the calm, wise presence stirred something deep in Dorian's chest. It was a feeling—an odd sense of recognition that he couldn't place. As if, somehow, he had known this man before. As if their lives had crossed paths in a way he couldn't yet understand.

But that was impossible.

Lyrian's lips parted slightly, as though he wanted to speak, but no words came. For a brief moment, the room was filled with nothing but silence and the heavy weight of the unspoken connection that hung between them.

"Dorian, you okay?" Rhys's voice, laced with concern, broke the momentary stillness.

Dorian blinked, his mind snapping back to the present as the dizziness returned. He nodded quickly, though his gaze lingered on Lyrian, who was still watching him with wide eyes.

"I'm... fine," Dorian mumbled, though the words felt empty. He wasn't sure if he was fine. He wasn't sure of anything at all.