Author's note: Heyyyy... so long hiatus, huh? Long story short, life can get in the way of the creative flow, and I just haven't found the time to stay active. But, now that I've been more recently getting back into writing, I figured I should continue on woth this story. I never like leaving things undone. So, with that being said, thank you for waiting and sticking around! Hope you enjoy!
"What the actual hell is going on over here!?" A drunken screech bellowed from across the foyer, a dolled up Ursula fuming as she staggered tipsily towards the commotion of Alphas and Omegas alike.
Misty felt her muscles tense in apprehension. This was not how she thought the night would go. She should have known there was no was Omegas would be able to keep a low profile with Alphas like Gary in the room.
Meanwhile, Ursula's cheeks were flushed in a crimson scarlet, and her eyes appeared glazed over, Ursula merrily brushed the tingling buzz off as her own rage. She would set what's what. Well, at least until she got her balance that was. She couldn't tell if the spinning was the room or her; she was starting to ponder how much she really drank that night, the thoughts rushing to the front of her mind.
"Hmph," Gary scoffed, rolling his eyes exasperatedly as he turned his attention towards the rich Alpha foolishly stagger from one side to the other. He could easily see Ash's face of shock as he snapped his hand behind his back, erasing all violent actions he planned to unleash, like when a child freezes in place waiting to be chastised. Though, Gary still knew he could have easily evaded the blow without Ursula's interference, even if he had more than just a cup of that mystery punch.
"Ursula, uh, enjoying your party?" Dawn greeted in her (distractingly) bubbly fashion, the pink floral dress she had slipped on early (totally not just for flattering a particular purple haired Alpha), was hiked well above her ankles, flaring out to cascade like a waterfall over her waist. Dawn was infamous for her fashion trends and she had quite the reputation to keep after all.
"I was enjoying it until some bumbling freak," Ursula motioned wildly behind them to the blond boy indolently leaning to the side of the room, "told me t-there were some hot shot Omegas who were trying to crash my party!" Ursula finished with a shrill, mustering the most menacing, glacial glare she could. Meanwhile, a figure had stealthily made his way through the gathering crowd of teens, his gaze piercing the back of Dawn's dress.
"Hey, I'm not a freak-"
"Zip it Barry!" Ursula snapped, earning herself a smugly satisfied Dawn as she watched the infamously chatty blond become speechless.
"Look, we all just need to take a step back and breath. Why don't I take the Omegas outside to diffuse the situation," Misty offered confidently, asserting her position on the social Alpha hierarchy.
This forced Ursula into having to weigh her options carefully. On the one hand, she could permit the Alpha leader her wish to handle the situation on her own, or she could take matters into her own hands and give the Omegas the public shaming and humiliation they rightfully deserved by kicking them out in a flourish. Though however tempting the second scenario was, Ursula had to eye Misty wearily. There was no doubt in the forefront of her, undoubtedly drunken mind, that Misty was the last person she would want to aggravate. Misty's sheer influence alone could have her socially out casted before she could even fathom how much money she had spent just this week alone. Suspicion clouding her next judgment was evident, but Ursula felt her head grimly nod Misty request in approval.
Misty smiled broadly, thanking her fellow Alpha and hurtling herself, May and Ash towards the backyard, Paul and Dawn following dangerously close behind. But, even as Misty's iron grip dug achingly into Ash's shoulder blades, that didn't stop Ash from catching the low chuckle that escaped from Gary's Cheshire grin, his amber eyes flashing mockingly in triumphant.
The audible thud of the glass sliding doors crashing into one another was barely noticeable as the sound was drowned out by the bass of the music pounding out into the night, its source coming from the luxurious Soundsystem engulfing the backyard. This made Misty begin reassessing her choice to go through the pool entrance at all, her heartbeat racing as she internally had to calm her nerves. With May and Ash still in tow, Misty quickened her pace past the bizare stares of the Alphas dancing around her. Misty thought, the quicker the two Omegas got out of sight of her peers, the easier it would be to persuade them to go home as she already felt the naw of guilt claw it's way up to her throat.
Scanning the yard for some kind of back entrance, Misty felt the slightest pressure on the left side of her back, which she recognized sluggishly was Paul. Following his gesture, Misty finally understood his silent proposition and started making a beeline to the gate latch. Dawn had beaten her to it as she ran ahead and clumsily unlatched the elagently carved handle.
Misty, Ash, May, Dawn, and Paul all took a collective sigh of relief as they were brought to a dimly lit, open field, most likely a garden area as the sound of rushing water and nature replaced the booming sounds of Ursula's party. An almost pleasing, tranquil pease rolled over the teens, lulling them into taking the breaths of fresh air they all desperately needed.
But, eventually, the peace had transcended into an awkward silence that was even more suffocating than the banging of the party. With hesitantly roaming eyes, the last person any of them thought would address the silence spoke up.
"How much longer are we going to continue looking stupidly at each other until one of us starts talking and explains what the hell just happened?" Paul boldly proclaimed in his usual fashion as he was not one to beat around the bush. Paul was usually the calm and collected type, but he wasn't immune to the glaringly obvious belligerent tension that has somehow gripped the silence.
This time, Misty took the initiative, her jarring hold was no longer pressed on Ash and Mays shoulders, but instead she felt her hand clutch the hems of her cerulean romper. She hadn't realized she was doing until she felt Dawn soothingly rub her back.
"I'm just going to get this over with now," Misty sighed with exhaustion, a dull ache creeping it's way through her body as she felt her adrenaline high diminish. Finally gaining the courage, she faced the two Omegas.
"I owe you both an apology. I'm sorry I let Gary escalate the situation like that, he was immature, drunk and stupid, but I should be held accountable becuase I let the situation spiral in the first place. If I hadn't interfered with you both, you guys could have enjoyed the night," Misty, albeit shakily, stated sincerely, her pride was resilient enough to take this blow.
Ash, on the other hand, couldn't even comprehend why Misty was apologizing in the first place.
"What could you possibly be apologizing for?" He caught himself wondering aloud, but his mind seemed to be reeling his cognitive thoughts to the frontal lobes of his brian (which May usually swore were nonexistent). For once Ash was actually contemplating the right choice of words that were best able to form the sentence that could convey his sentiments. His usual impulsive behavior was jerked back as warning sirens blared in his head. Ash had to be sure he didn't do or say something stupid.
"Uh, I uh," Ash was fumbling already, 'great start,' he mentally berated himself. His whole body was starting to perspire in a nervous sweat and he felt his hands start to claim up. Luckily, May caught on quickly and gave him a swift bump to his arm, which somehow miraculously propelled him into the right direction.
"Misty, I don't understand why you are apologizing, we," he gestured to himself and May, "should be apologizing to you. We used your status as a leverage and put you into a tough position with your own friends," Ash took a steady breath, his eyes interlocked with Misty's, "we had no right to be there, but you still let us come. In my books, that's pretty damn considerate," Ash retaliated, May's respected nod of approval the only indication that she agreed.
"Awwww," Dawn gushed from behind, startling Ash from his revere and successfully shattering the intensity of their heated moment. Although she could easily identify when the atmosphere was becoming damper and melancholic, Dawn wasn't exactly a fan of ardency and holy Arceus was the situation tense. Not that she couldn't be serious when needs be, but Dawn couldn't help her impulsive reaction, desperately attempting to shift the mood back to tits jolly nature before Gary had annihilated it with his pompous attitude.
"That is the most adorable thing I've ever seen!" She continued to squeal, making both Ash's and Misty's faces flush crimson with embarrassment. Then, she turned fiercely towards Paul, "Why don't you ever sound sincere like that," Dawn pouted, gazing accusingly at the stoic, purple haired Alpha.
"Because, princess, my life isn't another one of your feminine reality shows that you can gush over," Paul growled indignantly, his voice dropping to a low hiss.
"Look, at me, I'm Paul and I'm too masculine for those girly things called feelings," Dawn marked sarcastically, mockingly dropping her voice to an unattractive gravelly sound that was a pathetic mimic of Paul's lower octave tone of speech.
"Berlitz, you are going to regret that I swear to Moltres I'll-"
"You'll what?" Dawn challenged baitingly, prancing further away from the scowling Alpha. But, what she had not expected was Paul's beeline towards her at break neck speeds. Dawn shrieked in laughter and shock as she flew herself down the field, hurtling towards the stream on the other side with Paul sprinting not far behind.
"Are they always like that?" May finally interjected, giving Misty a perplexing look.
"Yeah, and unfortunately I'm the one who has to go clambering after them," Misty chuckled lightly, the flush on her face finally retiring from a fire truck red to a pink blush.
"Yeah, uh, good luck with that," Ash smiled boyishly as he watched on amusingly as Dawn had somehow managed to wind up straddling Paul's back and began pounding relentlessly, but Ash remained oblivious to Misty's knees go a bit weak from the sheer smile plastered broadly on his face. Her blush was back in full force.
"Well, I guess I should probably detatch Dawn from Paul's back," Misty sighed exasperatedly, grinning at the comedic relief that had resolved the intensity of her and Ash's... Apologies? Confessions? Humiliation? She didn't know, but she welcomed the distraction. Bidding the two Omegas a light-hearted good night, Misty raced after her two wrestling friends.
"Well, we drank strong alcohol," May began ticking on her fingers, "got into a fight with one Gary Oak, angered one of the richest kids in our school, and I got to watch you make a fool out of yourself in front of Misty Waterflower. This was a great success," May teased lightly, resting her arm on Ash's shoulder.
Ash could feel his eyes rolling at May's sheer satisfaction with their eventful night. "Yeah, well I'm glad one of us got to have fun at the others expense."
"Please Ash, you're not subtle, I saw the way your eyes glossed over in affection when Misty stood up for you, you ain't fooling me, you had a great time! Admit it," May smirked pleasingly.
"Sure I did May," Ash's voice dropped with sarcasm. His sight still glued on Misty's silhouette, watching as her breathtakingly gorgeous scarlet red hair began falling messily out of its own delicate curls as she continued prying Dawn off of Paul's back. Ash's smile remained glued to his face the whole ride back to the dorms, despite the odd sinking feeling that was hallowing out in his stomach.
"Hey, Drew?"
Silence. . .Followed by a heavy sigh...
Then, yet another agonizingly long pause, its only interruption ever being the occasional hollars and yelps of Omegas clamoring outside in the early September humidity. The teens most likely playing an aggressive version of kick the can against May's basement level flat.
Though, this was a pretty usual regularity, seeing as how many of the popular Omegas seemed to flock to that particular concrete patch outside of May's window.
While the female Omegas usually lounged against the iron gated fence, the guys predictably invested themselves into some silly little competition, because what else are a bunch of activity deprived, penniless Omegas gonna do? They couldn't shop in the higher districts like the Alphas as most were practically living off loans, and they couldn't leave campus unless advised by one of the deans, which only resulted in a new sport of who could create the most elaborate get away plan.
In fact, that's how May and Ash had formulated their little escape to Ursula's party. The deteriorating building provided immensely convenient exits from the main campus, most going under the radar of the Alphas and teachers.
But in spite of all its faults, May thanked the constellations above that she called the rickety old structure to be her house, considering her ground level dorm was one of the larger varieties of housing units available for Omegas.
"What is it now?" Drew rasped exasperatedly, finally acknowledging May's baiting question as she turned her fixated gaze from out the window back to the lazy boy resting in her couch.
"Do you think I can pull this off?" May asked dubiously, twirling in place to and fro as she took yet another glance in the full length mirror that obnoxiously hung from the bathroom door. Her accentuated legs were only highlighted by the contrastingly platinum dark red of the article of clothing. May rarely had any new clothing choices, so when she eventually did add onto her precariously formed wardrobe, she made sure to flaunt the new addition until it was out of style.
"Uh, yeah, I'm not answering that," Drew replied protestingly, not even peering up from his phone.
"And why the hell not? Just tell me if I should wear the damn skirt or not," May fumed, becoming frustrated with Drew's one line responses and uncharacteristic evasion of her questions.
Ever since May had met him back in secondary schooling, Drew was a boy of many words, eagerly chatting up an earful about any, and every, thing. From genuinely interesting topics that she could easily immerse herself in, such as the rankings of the sport festival announcements (which Drew had an almost obsessive fascination with) to the more dreary and excruciatingly painful subjects, like when the ever so dreamy Casanova was boasting about whichever Alpha or Omega girl had lamely asked him out.
Either way, May had her fair share of snooze fests with the narcissistic Omega. Heck, if he had the time, he would lecture her and Ash's ears off. And that, May subconsciously declared Freshmen year, is why their friendship was a damn miracle.
"Because..." Drew drawled nonchalantly, scrolling further and further down his Omegagram feed, crossing his legs to shift comfortably into May's ancient leather couch. Until he came across another startling image...Wait was that professor Oak? Since when did he have a grandson...?
"Whenever I tell you the outfit looks fine, you blame me for not being honest, and when I tell you one outfit looked better than another, you accuse me of not having any real fashion sense. I think silence is my best option," Drew dismissed, finally peering up at the stubborn girl in front of him. Drew smirked in sadistic satisfaction as he watched May's face take on a violet hue of anger, successfully slamming the few buttons it took to get her absolutely boiling.
"Well you jerk, I'm sorry I even bothered asking. If you didn't want to help me, then why did you agree to come, genius?" May barked indignantly, whipping her head to look back into the mirror, only to be greeted by Drew's stupid smug face reflecting back at her.
"If you must know," Drew's mirrored counterpart chuckled, "I came because Ash was supposed to be here too, but..." Drew peered down to look at his silver wrist watch that hung loosely on his arm, "He said that over 43 minutes ago."
"Well, what else did you expect? Ash isn't exactly known for his punctuality," May laughed lightly, going back to ignoring Drew and playing with the strands of auburn hair that had fallen into her face.
"Besides, I think last night did a real number on the poor guy," May sympathized, her eyes softening a bit as she recalled how he practically threw her out of the car before speeding away in a clear disorientation. She was just glad he was sober enough to get himself safely home, to which she texted him just to make sure he hadn't gotten himself killed by derailing into a ravine or something. He had replied with a 'Im home, don't worry about me,' as soon as she sent the text. They were hollow words, she knew, but at least he wasn't sulking and in a ditch.
"No, I know, but I'm beginning to really regret my choice in staying. All I've received is hostility and glares from your reflection. Not even so much as an offer of a drink of water or something."
"Huh yeah, you're right, my bad. Here let me get you your precious water," May huffed, grinning aggressively in Drew's direction as she sauntered to the bathroom sink. May then proceeded to, not so subtly, yank the mirrored cabinet open with a thud. Slamming the innocent glass onto the countertop, and then began to fill the cup until the water sloshed dangerously close to the rim.
Drew merely watched in amusement as May childishly fidgeted her way back to him. However, his grin evaporated into thin air upon what the Omega did next.
Treading back to Drew's seated form, May crashed the drink into his chest, effortlessly soaking the upper part of Drew's shirt as the water poured out of the glass like a small burst of Niagra falls, earning a startled yelp from the green-haired teen. The water began pooling at his feet as it dripped and seeped into May's rug.
"Now that," May cackled menacingly, "was definetaly worth entertaining your pretentious ass."
"I would say fuck you, but you really aren't my type," Drew chuffed, hopelessly twisting the damp fabric of his shirt in order to properly ring it out before the water could do any more damage. He was full of bullshit with that remark, but he would never ever admit it. Not even to himself.
"Haha good one. I would be offended, but that would mean I care," May bit back, still watching victoriously as Drew shuffled uncomfortably in his once purple shirt, now clad with a blaringly obvious dark spot, making May's grin spread even wider, if that were even possible. But just as Drew was about to retort a snark remark about seeking revenge, but the rattling of May's door gravitated the two back down to the present, putting their old rival bickering to a holt. Their placid inspection of the entrance was soon replaced with Ash's sheepishly looking face as he nonchalantly poked his head in.
"Well look who finally showed up," May greeted sarcastically, smirking at the evident flustered blush dispersing across the boy's face.
"Sorry guys, I over slept," Ash dismissed quickly. Though, truthfully, as soon as he had dropped May off last night, Ash had ceremoniously thrown himself on his matress, instantly passing out due to not only being drunker than he cared to admit, but still reeling about the events that transpired at the lavish Alpha party. Shame crept into his thoughts as Ash scrutinized his own stupidity. He shouldn't have let Gary rile up his emotions. He shouldn't have been so desperate as to grab Misty's attention, fully aware of the hell he would unleash once he did.
He shouldn't have let May trick him into drinking that punch, oh what an idiot he was.
Those petruding drunken thoughts are what lulled him into a guilt infested sleep. In other words, the miserable kind.
Which, lead Ash to the present. He had woken up at 12:26 with a dull headache. To which he gulped down an aspirin and a granola bar before realizing his appearance probably resembled the internal purgatory of his own mind working in overdrive. He had agreed to meet Drew at one o'clock in May's dorm.
It was 1:38 by the time he deemed himself presentable enough to walk out of his apartment without scaring his neighbors.
Finally after standing aloofly behind the wooden door for longer than he should have been, Ash softly closed the door behind him as he joined Drew on the couch, finally noticing the evident water stained shirt Drew was cladding.
"What happened to you?" Ash asked bemused, for once noticing the scowl on Drew's face clearly rivaled his own suffering.
"May," Drew curtly snapped back, a sharp look of annoyance flashing in front of his face.
"Well, I wouldn't have done that if you weren't whining like a child," May scolded, chucking a fresh towel from the bathroom linen closet at Drew, like a violent peace offering. Drew begrudgingly snatched the fluffy towel and then proceeded to furiously scrub at the eye-sore of a water mark left on his V-neck shirt. Ash only looked on in exasperation, sighing as he sank deeper and deeper into the couch, legs sprawled out haphazardly in front of him. The usual humorous bickering of his friends not providing the usual source of comedic relief.
"Uh oh," May quipped, her eyes falling on the disheveled Ash whose expression unintentionally gave away his turmoil. "What's up with the pouty face?" May smiled.
Ash huffed childishly, "I'm not pouting," he mumbled. "I'm glowering... There's a difference."
May stole a glance in Drew's direction, the Omega's shrewd eyes only serving as a confirmation to her suspicions. Ash was neglecting to tell them something.
May decided to tread the subject carefully, not wanting to alert the teen of her and Drew's mutual revelation. Ash could be a great confident for the two of them, enthusiastically complying to listen about their petty arguments or provide advice about whatever feminine issue she was dealing with, but Ash always seemed to masterly evade their own gestures of benevolence, hesitant for them to return the favor.
"So..." May promoted, "you want to tell us why your eyes are burning holes through my carpet..." She inquired as she eased herself on the opposite side of Ash, Drew leaning idly to the boy's left. The towel that he had used to cleanse his shirt now laid abandoned on the small coffee table sitting across the trio. Fortunately, the stain had morphed into just a pathetic looking blotch of shading.
"I-screwed-up," Ash proclaimed embarrassingly.
"You wanna specify which screw up we're talking about?" Drew asked sardonically, earning himself a well deserved whack on the back of the head, courtesy of May who had stretched behind Ash in order to shush the egotistical bush head up. Drew merely rolled his eyes.
"Go on Ash," May soothed, her voice imperceptibly resembling that of a mother's. May was the least maternal girl Ash and Drew have ever known, but she was much more lenient with the both of them, ironically. She had convinced herself it was because of their history.
Ash swallowed thickly.
"I think I like an Alpha..."
...Stale silence filtrated the room once again.