Ash swallowed thickly.
"I think I like an Alpha..."
May and Drew exchanged bewildered looks, slowly processing Ash's words as they gaped in astonishment.
"Well it's not like I exactly planned on it," Ash added with a pathetic mumble as his friends gazes remained fixated on him with such intensity, they could burn a hole through his skull.
May shifted cautiously as she mustered the brain cells needed to respond to such a bold statement. Ash... Liking an Alpha? Did he want to commit social suicide? Not to mention a beating from Gary? May shook her head as a look of concern flashed across her face, not going without being noticed.
Ash winced in embarrassment, maybe he should have kept his mouth shut, but the words had gone tumbling out of his mouth before even HE could make out what he said. It didn't take a genius to know the implied Alpha Ash had began harboring feelings for, so he wasn't even sure why he hadn't just said Misty, but deep down Ash knew it was simply because even he couldn't say her name in that context without feeling as though he committed a heinous crime.
Of course, Alphas and Omegas were allowed to date and socialize freely among each other, but the taboo was impenetrable at this point.
"Okay so you like Waterflower," Drew reiterated, tipping his head back in contemplation as he continued, "that doesn't mean anything, I mean anyone that is anyone knows she's insanely popular and she is one of the most sought after Alphas. What's the big deal?" Drew reasoned.
May scoffed in disbelief, sometimes Drew's sheer obliviousness amazed even her.
"Drew, keyword ALPHA. If any of them found out Ash has even socialized with her, they would come for his ass, let alone know that he's interacted enough to say that he likes her. Besides, everyone in the Alpha domain has been giving Ash the dirty look ever since the cafeteria incident."
Ash groaned in response to the reminder of utter humiliation, ever since he crashed into Misty that Friday he's been given the evil eye by every athlete in the school, so essentially every Alpha. It was a miracle Gary only lashed out at him during Ursula's party once, but then again, Gary wasn't exactly sober and Ash had fled with May in less than an hour.
The Omegas, on the other hand, had either watched on in pity after the whole ordeal, or whispered behind his back during class. Melody even had the audacity to approach him on the subject to ask what had gotten into him, which only resulted with her angry and Ash extremely irritated.
"Sorry for bringing it up," May quickly added as she saw Ash's face scrunch with embarrassment. "But, it's the truth. And now that I'm thinking about it, so long as this remains between the three of us and Ash doesn't doing anything more stupid-"
"Hey!"
"Then I guess there isn't a problem, but Ash you have to promise you won't tell anyone and you'll leave Waterflower alone, don't need to stir the pot more than you already have," May shot Ash a warning look to which Ash simply nodded in agreement. He could keep it to himself, and besides, the crush would probably fade anyways since he wasn't planning on running into Misty ever again anyways. He's avoided her for the past 3 years, what's one more?
As Drew was about to add to May's point, the trio simultaneously pause to look back at Ash's door as someone suddenly knocked from the outside.
Hesitantly, Ash approached the door with caution hoping whoever was on the other side hadn't been listening in on their conversation.
Gripping the door handle firmly, Ash pulled the door back and his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, Drew and May not looking any better as their jaws dropped.
"Master Lance!?"
Dangling her legs lopsidedly off the side of the bleachers, Dawn Berlitz rapidly glided her fingers effortlessly across her phone screen. Ever since the infamous party held at Ursula's mansion, the Alpha page had been running ramped with hundreds of posts regarding the appearance of two Omegas; none of them very appreciative.
Dawn's eyes scanned over each post, completely brushing over the Omega posts as her fingers subconsciously scrolled to any image that contained a flash of lavender hair. Dawn had deduced that sometime before Paul had reached her and Misty at the party, he had been hanging out with his team mates as numerous pictures included him in the background of the line backer's posts.
One post, in particular, held Dawn's gaze a fraction of a second longer than the others. The shot was simple enough as it captured some rowdy guys wrestling for, what appeared to be, Barry's phone, but that's not what Dawn had become so fixated on. Instead, Dawn's gaze had locked on Paul's reaction as he nonchalantly hung in the background of the photo, signature deadpan expression on his face with a slight glimmer of amusement. There was no use in Dawn denying that Paul's effortless ability to seem all so attractive wasn't making her heart flutter even just slightly, but hell would have frozen over, thawed, then froze over again for her to have admitted that to him.
Not to mention, but she had already agreed on a date with Kenney, not that she didn't like the boy, he was nice enough... Or at least that's what Dawn had convinced herself long enough to distract herself from the purple-haired Alpha. Which, meant Dawn had to be resourceful and continue her unhealthy social media stalking for the time being.
"What are you doing?" Misty suddenly asked as she looped behind Dawn, just having finished her routine warm up laps around the track.
With the sports festival rapidly approaching within the next few weeks, Misty's training regiment escalated with it, especially as it was her senior year, meaning she was going to be scouted. Within the past three years, Misty had cinched second place on a 400 meter dash as a Freshmen, which was essentially unheard of. From there Misty's running times quickened exponentially, landing her first place the next two track meets and partnered relays, motivating Misty to push herself tenfold.
Which, is why a majority of her time in the fall was spent on the track field, and since Dawn's cheerleading practice happened to fall at the same time, the eccentric cheerleading captain would wait patiently for Misty to finish and the two would head to lunch together.
"Well, um, I'm just uh, scrolling on my feed," Dawn sheepishly stuttered as she fumbled to exit out of the post she had been glued to for the past three minutes. Misty smirked in acknowledgement but said nothing as she knew better than to press Dawn since she could be pretty stubborn when it came to the quarter back of Woodland Creek.
"Well, if you're not busy online stalking, do you want to head up to the dinning hall? I want to catch a bite to eat before I discuss the altered plans Head Lance wished to directly give me." As head Alpha and coordinator of the school events, Misty had been well aware of the change in tradition Lance had been preparing for the past month, and that was well before Dawn had practically threw it at her face the first chance she got after the incident with Ash in the cafeteria.
Apparently Misty had already tracked down the rumour. She was still linearly tracing the chains of gossip back to the source, but she had dismissed it all the same. Misty assumed that perhaps Lance just wished to make the Alpha and Omega competitions all in the same week as opposed to separating the events as he always had years prior.
"Haha very funny," Dawn replied dryly before slinging her cheerleading bag over her shoulder. "Alright, let's get out of here," Dawn finished as she steadied herself on her feet and started following Misty up the bleachers.
"Hello?? Master Lance?" Misty's voice filled the once occupied area, typically crammed to maximum capacity with commotion. Misty would usually catch secretaries rushing back and forth, and professors lounging around the open space. However, the office was oddly barren as Misty hesitantly cracked the door open.
"Uh, anyone in here?" Misty tried again a bit more confidently, her voice rising as she approached the reception desk that led to Lance's office.
"Hey Misty!" A masculine voice called from the back room as he shifted the stacks of papers from one arm to another.
"Brock!" Misty beamed pleasantly surprised, usually he didn't work shifts during the weekend.
"What are you doing here?"
Brock hefted the papers nearly into a pile of old documents before answering, wiping off the accumulated dust clinging to the sides of his hands against his cargo pants.
"Master Lance requested I help fill in an extra shift at the office today, most of the professors had a board meeting this afternoon about the sports festival." Brock shrugged of nonchalantly, leaning against the front of the desk in order to get a better view of Misty's face. Brock then inquired, "What brings you here today? Don't you usually run yourself to the ground on the track on Sundays?" which was only met with a smirk from Misty.
Brock and Misty had become quite familiar with one another ever since Misty became a student at Woodland Creek. The star pupil that she attained to be, she was constantly coming into Lance's office daily, whether it be as study body president, sports and academic achievements, or sports festival preparations, which is what brought her there today.
Brock, on the other hand, began working at Woodland Creek as an intern under one of the nurse joys (much to his delight) as he aspired to become a doctor, specifically a sports injury physician, and what better place to do that than an academy essentially running on athletic potential.
"Well," Misty began, shifting her weight from one foot to the other in order to appear a bit more confident, "Master Lancerequested to see me in order to discuss the pre-scheduled events for the sports festivals, and the new arrangements that he's been entertaining the thought of lately, but I doubt they'll ever come into fruition."
Brock nodded in slight agreement, though the furrowing of his brow told Misty another story.
With trepidation laced in her voice Misty asks, "what's that look for?"
"Hmmm, well I believe I just saw Lance walk into his other office with another student," Brock replied uncertainly, gesturing to Lance's office. The doctor-to-be wasn't as familiar with the social hierarchy as the students of Woodland Creek, but he wasn't immune to them either. So, he hesitated as to whether or not to inform Misty that the boy that Lance ushered into his office was unmistakenly wearing an Omega uniform.
Misty tipped her head peculiarly. What other student could Lance possibly want to discuss about the organization of the sports festival with aside from her? Not to sound cocky or impolite, but Misty always took pride in her job as student body president, and though she appreciated other's help, she knew she was just too stubborn to truly be able to work with another person without wanting to control the situation, hence why Lance always assigned most of the duties to her.
Not to mention, but the position put her in high regard for future universities and she was determined not to let the opportunities slip away from her fingers like they did for her sisters who, though famous for their modeling gigs and not lacking in the financial department, didn't quite have the rewarding life Misty sought to have. That she deserved.
Misty just hummed in silent acknowledgement before replying, "Well I know I scheduled the meeting with him for noon, so do you mind if I knock on his door? Did the matter look urgent?"
Brock paused before answering, "I wouldn't say urgent, but...uh" Brock wasn't quite sure how to word it so he simply finished, "just be ready for anything just in case."
Brock's response only confused Misty further. With a puzzled look and a nod of acknowledgment Misty hurriedly stepped around the front desk.
With an encouraging smile from Brock, Misty patiently knocked on Lance's door.
Without a moment of silence Lance's voice pieced through the other side of the door as he replied calmly "Come in Misty."
Misty inhaled sharply as her grip on the doorknob tightened, a flutter of ambivalence settled into her stomach as she forced open the aged wooden door.
Lance's office was anything but grand, nothing notable in it aside from a few scattered picture frames and books that lined his back cabinets. Not quite tidy enough to be considered meticulously kept, but instead worn down with time and functionality. It's a room that Misty ensured she became well acquainted with, if not so much for the responsibilities that came with being associated with the man who just so happened to be the headmaster himself.
Master Lance sat poised in his leather seat with an air of comfort and certainty. A countenance over his face that asserted the composure of a remarkable man who had nothing to prove.
Misty had become all too familiar with the particular gaze of amusement the headmaster was throwing her way. It was typically adorned with a task or request that left her cramming her schedule and shoving aside plans. However, Misty took pride in her achievements and time management skills as those were the qualities that had gotten her to where she stood today.
Unfortunately, despite her stubborn pride and self-assurance, Misty fumbled forward with hesitancy and shock plastered all across expression, much to her own embarrassment.
"Ah, Miss Waterflower, so honored to have you join us. Please, take a seat," Lance gestured politely, a concealed twinkle of interest flashing across his eyes as he hadn't failed to observe his star pupil's disbelief, because of course, he noticed.
Collecting herself with a steady breath, Misty slipped into the chair not so subtly shoved up against the only other chair in the room. A chair that sat a fidgeting Ash Ketchum who couldn't quite bring himself to tear his attention away from the souls of his shoes.
"Right then," Lance began, not wanting the two teens to endure any more awkward tensions than necessary.
"I shall get right on with it as I'm sure you two have other things to attend."
Misty eased a bit at this.
"As you are both more than aware, our school's annual sports festival is rapidly approaching," at this Ash cringed at where this conversation was inevitably going.
"And like previous years, I am honored to have our district host each competition, especially, the track races."
Misty's stomach fluttered with unease at the mention of her respected sport.
"Fortunately, this year, I have the pleasure to say that both Alphas and Omegas are expected to participate together in the same competitions this year. Now, don't look so alarmed," Lance noted as Ash and Misty's faces ashen with clear displeasure.
"I admit this came as quite a shock to me as well, but our sponsors have been extremely persistent on the matter. And, truth be told, I'm a bit eager to see how this folds as well," Lance admitted with amusement.
"But.. but sir," Misty began in protest, something extraordinarily out of her character as she wouldn't have dared question the headmaster, less she wanted to risk all the effort she had made to get into his good graces in the first place. Though, Lance had already raised his hand before the redhead could argue, her infamous temper flaring before him.
"Now Mrs. Waterflower," Lance dismissed her, "I know this isn't what you had planned for your last year here, but there is more I must tell you and I don't want these minute altercations to affect your outstanding performances thus far."
Misty clamped her mouth shut, her headmaster's stern tone draining her revere.
"In addition to Alphas and Omegas from our school having to race together, I have selected yet another four students to sponsor for the final event of the sports festivals. Gary Oak, Misty Waterflower, Serena Gabena, and Ash Ketchum."
Misty and Ash's jaws dropped.
"That's.. that's" Misty started, unable to finish the sentence with pure disbelief washing over her. If she had heard Lance correctly, he had just listed two other runners that weren't Alphas, one of them sitting just as confused beside her. Though, said Omega had been remarkably quiet as he fixated his gaze on anywhere but the pretty and slightly enraged Alpha sitting next to him. "Excuse my question headmaster, but... wouldn't this be self-sabotage? Why have Omegas run alongside Gary and I when they haven't ever ran in Alpha level tournaments?"
Ash felt himself nodding along in agreement to Misty's valid question, more so confused as to why he in particular was chosen.
"Well aside from many of the sponsors of the festival wishing for something new, I want to expand our sports programs, and this, I believe, is the best way to begin incorporating and accepting Omegas who could just very well be talented."
Misty had a hard time arguing with her teacher this time, yet she still couldn't fathom why Lance was acting so irrationally, didn't he want them to win? There were a total of five different races for the final event: the relay race against each school for the qualifying rounds, one amongst all the girls, then the boys, with the best two of each advancing to the semi-finals.
"But what about the opening relay race?"
Both Misty and Lance turned toward Ash, one in shock and the former with bemusement.
"Well Ash," Lance begun, "I believe the opening relay race will remain quite traditional, the only foreseeable difference is our four sponsored students not all being Alphas."
The sheer causality in which Lance addressed the issue completely flabbergasted Misty and effectively stunned her into silence.
The opening relay race is reserved for the top 4 sponsored students of each institution, usually who were the most promising of their districts. The opening relays were always the crowd favorites since they were the central way of hyping up all the schools and attracting more sponsors. However, aside from the exhilarating races, these four were also guaranteed to be scouted and granted scholarships if they all demonstrated promising outcomes by the end of the tournament.
So, with all the significance these races held, even though they were only the beginning of the competitions, Misty still couldnt quite make sense of just one thing...
"But, why me?" Ash asked once again, astonishing both the Alpha and headmaster with his sudden verbosity.
Lance's conviction wavered slightly, but he responded with certainty all the same.
"To be quite honest young man, a certain sponsor took quite the shine to you, and became quite adamant that you possess quite the potential."
The double take Ash took was expected as his eyebrows shot up to his hairline.
Who in their right mind thought he had Alpha level running potential? Sure he thought himself fit and enjoyed a good run every now and then, but never did he attempt to race. Nor had he even shown this interest to anybody before. Not even May and Drew knew of his hidden hobby.
A simple glance towards Misty would mean she held the same sentiment in regards to his athletic abilities. Although her demeanor remained studious, her clear distaste of all the changes and the questioning of his own talents were evident enough.
'Oh, Mater Lance,' Ash breathed inwardly, 'just what have you gotten me into?'