"Something is up with you," André told Jaxon as he cornered him in the bathroom.

The omega in question didn't spare a glance André's way. Rubbing his hands together, he ran the gel-soaked fingers through his freshly washed hair.

"Dré, I don't have the time for this. We are going to be late for class." Jaxon responded. He doesn't flinch when the bathroom door is closed. Pressing his body closer to the porcelain, his eyes squinted.

"Can you stop focusing on your hair and listen to me?" André groaned.

Jaxon glanced towards him. "You still here?"

André sometimes wanted to strangle this man. If he wasn't his friend. He pushed himself between Jaxon and his own reflection. Hand pressed firmly to his broad chest. Before his hand could linger on his firm and defined chest, he remembered that he was supposed to be interrogating him.

"All week, you've been out of it. Outside of class, I don't see a hair on your gelled head. Sorry if I'm concerned." André said.

Jaxon looked away. André knew that look. Hands fighting to stay still to his sides down to the bending of his lower lip. The smaller male's hand falls to his side. He relaxed his shoulders as he kept his eyes on his friend.

"If something is up, just tell me. It's not like I'm going to get mad."

Jaxon scoffed. "You not get mad? So what was that yesterday when Hassan took your last pack of SuperTwos?"

André bristled. "He knows better, that's why. I don't go around drinking all of his Ovaltine!"

"You hate Ovaltine."

André rolled his eyes. "That's besides the point. My best man here is hiding stuff from me."

Jaxon quirks an eyebrow. "Alright cool. That means you are finally telling me about you and that huge Chinese man."

André stilled for a moment before cracking a tentative smile. "How do you know about that?"

"I have seen you and he walk out of the school together more than once." Jaxon pushed.

"He's my boss. Kind of. "

"I didn't know you did that sort of thing." Jaxon chuckled. "Tell me, though, does it match the rest of him?"

"Fuck off." André cursed and pushed the laughing boy back against the wall. "Fine! Keep your secrets."

Jaxon rubbed his gelled hands through André's hair. "Fine by me. Just don't go bringing any half-Asian babies for your mother to mind."

The shorter male pushed the hands from his hair and scoffed. "Like, I would leave her alone with my kids."

Strong arms wrapped around André, keeping the protesting male in place. "Though I'm not surprised by the man, you need a strong man to keep you under control."

André glanced away. Jaxon's smile was dazzling. Perfectly straight teeth with pink plump lips. Arms that flexed the hours of work he poured into them. He has seen Jaxon workout before, when André managed to wake himself up at five in the morning . It used to put alpha's back home to shame seeing the omega being able to lift twice the weight they could. Bigger, stronger, and far smarter than those alpha's ever hoped to be. André wished he could be.

"Are you finished in there?" Charlez asked. "Hassan's holding up in ours, and I really have to go."

Jaxon's arms dropped from around him. "Coming out now," he replied. He moved past André to the sink. The sound of running water filled the now-stretching silence between the two boys. Plucking his glasses from the counter, he fixed them onto his face. "Let's start trekking. The sooner we get through the cold, the better."

André snickered. "Maybe the cold might loosen your tongue."

"Cold, my ass."

"I know an ass I wouldn't mind seeing." André ran a slow hand down from his mouth to his chest. "Oh La'toya, whine up on me, and bend over," he moaned in an exasperated manner.

Jaxon growled and pushed open the door, almost hitting Charlez. "You don't hear me moaning your mother's name."

"What is there to moan for?" André snickered.

~~~~

The class, Economics, was boring as can be. Jaxon was glad it was over. Even more glad he didn't have to listen to André whine about how boring it was.

"Why do I need economics in any way? When will I ever need it." André complained.

"You are an accounting major. I hope no one heard you say that stupidity." Jaxon replied. "If anything, this class is going to be the reason I have back problems." These 600-page, hard-cover books are no joke to be pulling around.

"Maybe if you became a doctor like your folks wanted, you could fix your own back. But you settled for finance."

"Once you score at the top of the region, you can get away with a few things." Jaxon smirked. "It still amazes me you got tenth on the list."

"What can I say? I got it like that." André grinned.

The man shakes his head. Jaxon tugged André close. The smell of Jaxon's cologne was heavy in his lungs. Even through the heavy layers, the smell continued to make its presence known. It had a spicy, alluring odour that made André want to wrap up closer to it. To Jaxon. His nose bridge poked the back of his head gently. No one batted an eye at the pair as they walked through the snow-laden campus. From the outside, it looked like any other couple huddling together. Plus, many people have stopped looking there way after André's explosive tirade on a poor girl who asked him if he knew Bob Marley.

"André...Don't you have business now?" Jaxon spoke.

André's eyes widen. "And you have me walking around like a Mumu!"

Jaxon didn't get a chance to rebut. The eccentric omega was dashing down the pathway, barely missing the ice patches as he went.

"That damn fool." He muttered with more heart than grit. "Wonder if the canteen has cheesecake today?" He mused, letting his feet guide him.

'Whoever Mr Donald hired on deserts puts their foot in it.' Jaxon's mind wondered. "I hope there's Blueberry or Oreo. Ooo, strawberry cheesecake. Now that would be so delicious. Just a little whipped cream on top and a caramel drizzle." He knows it's probably a problem because of the way his mind hyper-fixates on cheesecake. Or any kind of pastry, for that matter. He couldn't help it. His former fat kid had to be appeased sometimes.

Getting the cheesecake was a breeze. Short line: fresh cake right out of the fridge and no seeing Sidney—it was great! All he had to do was not pry open the plastic container and eat it like a madman in the middle of the courtyard. And he didn't want to eat it back at the dorm, so he decided to give the indoor green room another chance. At least in there, it will be warm.

When Jaxon arrived, it was fairly full towards the front. Mostly third and fourth years, by the looks of it. It's better that Jaxon doesn't recognise the students. He found a bench near the back, close to the Nature Observatory, where most of the chatter was a dull mutter in the background. Gloves off and stomach ready. Now he could eat his cake.

"You are dead, you little Russian pig!"

Or maybe not.

Jaxon closed the container and glanced towards the observatory's entrance. Barely holding his spine straight, Elliott struggled to keep eye contact with the tall male in front of him. Jaxon vaguely remembers seeing this man around. If he thinks hard enough, he's sure he's glimpsed a picture of him in Sidney's phone case.

'So this is Hunter Jefferson.' Jaxon thought.

Hunter Jefferson, when not referenced by being Sidney Pels boyfriend, is also the top football player in the school. Rumour around campus is that he has deals to sign with a major league following his graduation. Another rumour that floats around is that Hunter Jefferson is a real fucker. The buzz-cut, tattooed male has the manners of a spoiled brat.

He's half-American. At least on his father's side.

"You went yapping to the dean, didn't you? Now he's breathing down my fucking neck!" Hunter went off.

Elliott's forehead was creased with worry. "I don't know what you are talking about, Hunter."

The larger man's hands gripped his shoulders. "Did you cry to him about the bathroom incident? I wasn't even the one to start that!"

"You know it's my job to report those types of things." Elliot countered.

Hunter's nostrils flared. Elliott let out a soft whimper at the nails digging into his skin. "He wants to suspend me from the team! Now... I'm taking it out on your ass."

"Wouldn't this make things worse? Honestly Hunter. Think this through."

Hunter looked away, like he was honestly giving it some thought. "Nah...But don't worry. I'm not going to hit you where they can't see."

Cheesecake forgotten, put aside really, Jaxon sprang towards the fighting alphas. Before Hunter's fist could form, his body was abruptly pulled away. He struggled to keep his balance as his mind tried to wrap around what just happened.

"Don't fucking touch him." Jaxon warned.

Hunter looked the male up and down. A scowl formed on the man's face. "What's this? You hired a bodyguard or something?"

Elliott looked between Hunter and Jaxon. "Jaxon, what are you doing here?"

"Saving you from getting beat up?" Jaxon replied.

The strongly built alpha rushed Jaxon before Elliott could reply. His fist is ready to collide with the omega's face. Jaxon did it with ease. Hands up and fists flying, Jaxon landed three well-formed and aimed blows to his chest. Hunter reeled back at the force.

"Shouldn't have done that, bitch?" Hunter cursed.

He charged again at the man, landing a blow to his right cheek. Jaxon staggered back, but his footing remained firm. He flung another punch straight between the man's eyes. Hunter reeled back. A groan of pain filled him as he held the now-bleeding nose. Taking the moment, Jaxon's footing changed in an instant. Elliott didn't think the omega could of moved that fast. One moment he was a pro boxer, next he was flying a kick right in the middle of the alpha's chest. Hunter's back hit the ground with a thud. His whole body was quaked with the weight of his breathing.

Now, here's a small titbit about alphas. The more you piss one off, the stronger they get. Hunter wiped the blood with the sleeve of his shirt, smearing the crimson blood on the white threads. The sudden shift in the air sent a chill down Jaxon's spine. Before he could shake it off, he found his back colliding with the unforgiving ground. Glasses flying off to god knows where as a blow connects to his mouth. The familiar taste of metal filled his mouth. Hunter towered over him, fist aimed to give another unforgiving blow—then his nostrils flared. His eyes narrowed. A low growl escaped his throat. His fist fell into a grip around his neck. Jaxon twisted and struggled, but the Alpha had him pinned tightly. Tugging down his coat collar and delving past the padding of fabric, he exposed his neck to the air. Jaxon hissed at the exposure.

"You! You're omega?" Hunter questioned. Rage was no longer in his voice—confusion, if anything.

Suddenly, Hunter was ripped off of Jaxon. The young first-year's eyes widened. Dean Iman yanked Hunter by his collar and pushed him to the side. Jaxon scrambled to his feet. Elliott moved to touch the omega but Jaxon brushed him off. His ears were ringing and he could barely hear the tirade Dean Iman went on in his emotionless voice. He spits, the red saliva staining the green grass at his feet.

In the end, they were all dragged to the dean's office. It looked exactly like what he thought the dean's office would look like. Intimating, cold, and filled with books. Again, the printing press really must love this school. Hunter sat at one end of the dean's desk, while Jaxon sat at the other. Elliott, his facial expression schooled, tried not to show how awkward it felt to be wedged between the tense boys.

"Mr. Jefferson, I thought I warned you well enough the last time you were in my office." Dean Iman began, his voice firm and steady. "See that your suspension is extended until the next semester."

Hunter looked ready to protest, but instead gripped his nose and slumped back into his seat. "Yes, sir," he grumbled.

Dean Iman dismissed him with a pointed look. Hunter rose from his seat with a grumble. Just before he left, Jaxon saw him lean and mutter something just low enough that he couldn't pick it up. Elliott's face remained schooled, but the odd twitch of the vein by his temple told Jaxon that it wasn't something nice.

The dean's eyes shifted over to Jaxon. His expression was unreadable behind his thin glasses. "Mr. James. This is second time I have had you my presence. I thought the first time would of been the last." His brown, wrinkled eyes glided towards the blonde alpha. "And Mr. Braginski. Dragging a first-year into a fight? And an omega, none the less. I believed you were more sensible than that."

"Dean Iman, sir. Do not place the blame on Elliott. I take full responsibility for the fight. I stepped in completely of my volition." Jaxon defended.

Dean Iman looked at the omega. "You willingly stepped into a fight between two alphas? And you allowed it."

The latter part of the question was clearly not aimed at Jaxon. He glanced back at Elliott, who stood to his full height. "I take the utmost responsibility for my inaction today and the actions of Jaxon on my behalf. I showed cowerdance, which is unspeakable for a man of my status. I will do my best to rectify this error, sir."

The older beta tapped his fingers against the sturdy desk. It was like all the light was on Elliott. "Very well. I will let you off with a warning. There is no reason to alert the Head Chancellor of this mishap."

Elliott nods firmly. He looks pointedly at Jaxon. "Let's go."

Words so simple yet held so much push within Jaxon. His legs moving before he could even resist. They walked out of the office and down the halls. Elliott's pace was rushed and rigid.

"Elliott, what was that in there?" he questioned. Jaxon eyed Elliott, his head not even turning to look at him. "I'm talking to you." Jaxon continued. There were no students in these halls, as it was mainly administration. Most people who walked by batted no eye at the two students. Jaxon took a step, cutting the blonde alpha's path. "Elliott!"

"What do you want? To further embarrass me."

'Oh...' Jaxon's mind went.

The blonde alpha face was far from the tentative soft alpha he has grown used to seeing. The alpha before him was pissed. Icy blue eyes stared at him with annoyance.

"Really? That's how you are going to be." Jaxon started. "Is it because of what happened in the office? If you wanted to say your speech, speak up next time."

Elliott's scent went sour. "Do you have any idea what you did? Fighting with Hunter?"

"I saved your ass from him turning you inside out." Jaxon countered.

"Who told you I needed saving?" Elliott pushed. "I was handling it."

"Poorly!" Jaxon shot.

"I could have managed. But instead, you jumped in and defended me!" Elliott shot back.

"What's wrong with that? Do you think getting saved by a first year is embarrassing?"

"Perhaps I didn't want an omega to save me."

So that's how it is.

Any fight that Jaxon had instantly fell. A look of hurt crossed his features. He wanted to say something more, but the words got stuck in his throat. Elliott freezes. The words he just spoke are finally being processed in his head. The blonde alpha reached out for Jaxon, but the omega stepped back.

"Jaxon. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

Jaxon scoffed. "Yeah, you did."

The softness of his voice squeezed around the alpha's heart. Jaxon turned. His feet taking lead to walk away. His mind was trying to put whatever he had for Elliott in a box and throw it into a pit of lava.

"Jaxon, please, don't go." Elliott called out.

His feet fall still. The order comes from the alpha. His scent bond. Taking over his own desire to leave.

"Can I go?" Jaxon asked. Voice barely above a whisper.

Elliott took a few steps forward. "What?"

Jaxon turned and looked him in the eyes. Pink, bruised lips curled in disgust. "Can I go alpha, sir?" Jaxon repeated firmly. "Or do I need to beg like a proper omega, sir?"

Elliott gapped. He wanted to say so many things. To explain how sorry he was and how much he wanted his forgiveness. Instead, he took the cowards way out.

"You can go," Elliott replied.

Jaxon didn't spare another minute looking at Elliott. His footsteps faded out into the distance.

~~~~

André was beyond pissed. He makes it to his business class only to find out the professor is out on medical leave. Something about slipping on a patch of ice. André was in his dorm with nothing to do. He could do his accounting homework, but the only thing he wanted to balance was the fine line between sleeping and eating a piece of cheesecake he bought. The door to the dorm opened with a snap. André didn't need to look up to tell that it was Jaxon. His scent was pretty hard to miss.

"Hey Jaxon. I got you a slice of—" André looked over the couch, and the words died on his tongue. His feet moved to stand as he approached his best friend. "Man, what happened to your face?"

André raised a cautious hand to his cheek. The taller omega looked away, unable to meet his friend's gaze. A soft whimper slipped from him as André's thumb grazed the swollen flesh.

"Who was it? You tell me the name and I would fuck him up for you." André spoke. His voice was growing heated with every word.

"No, André. I'm just tired." Jaxon spoke.

André's scent was frazzled. The tone is not at all reminiscent of his usual demeanour. "I don't think you should be lying down. Look like you hit your head too."

"No! I'm just tired of everything. Everyone is looking at me and expecting this from me. I'm tired of knowing that everything I do or how I look will never change who I am."

His body was shaking like a sinner in church. André wrapped his arms around him. They can worry about someone walking in on them some other time. Tears moistened the back of his shirt as André rubbed the quaking back of his friend.

"Whatever it is, Jaxon. We will get through it. Together, like we always do."

"Can't change being an Omega 'Dré. You just can't."