Subtletys

Chapter 5: Try As I Might

Notes: How are we all feeling? This fic is closing in on its end! Next week, we will get the FINALE! The bonus chapters will come after that xxx

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Louis could feel the pain in his shoulder settling in, but still, he jumped, pulling his arm back to land a spike. The blow of Coach Vines' whistle announced his winning point as he slammed back onto the ground, hands falling to his knees, watching as droplets of his sweat dripped onto the floor.

"Ace spike there, Tommo!" Liam slapped him heartily on the back as Niall bounded over to land a slap as well, causing Louis to hack out a cough, elbowing his friends away.

"Enough with the scowling! You won't get omegas if you keep doing that with your face." Louis' scowl deepened. "We're headed for a bite after practice, come with?"

He perked up, clearing his throat as his eyes flicked to the sidelines where Harry was tending to Michael's knees (the bloke still refused to wear kneepads).

"Haz's coming?" He asked, flushing when Liam raised a brow at him.

"Don't think so. He's got plans with Sarah, I think."

Louis nodded weakly as he trudged towards the locker room.

Ever since that night, Harry hadn't been acting the same around Louis. The alpha had apologized time and again for scenting him without consent, but Harry had waved him off, stating that Louis did nothing wrong for wanting to comfort a distressed omega.

"You did it coz you're my friend." Harry had said, without so much as making eye contact, fiddling with the tiny keychain on his baby blue handbag. Louis had given him that keychain when he had flown to Chicago last summer. "Thank you for trying to help me. You don't have to say sorry..."

"Still." Louis had insisted. "It wasn't right for me to do that. Without at least asking you first. I'm in the wrong."

Harry's dimples were faint, almost invisible as the omega nodded. "'Kay."

"So we're good?" Louis wished he could reach out to tuck Harry's curls back so he could get a glimpse of the omega's expression.

The omega nodded, quicker this time. "I have to go... Sarah's waiting for me."

Louis could only watch as Harry fast walked towards the gym entrance where his omega friend was stood, arms crossed as she shot a murderous glare in Louis' direction.

The alpha never understood why Sarah disliked him and even though he had pointed this fact out to Harry before, the omega had laughed, saying, "Sarah doesn't trust most alphas." However, Louis had an inkling that most alphas meant him in particular because he swore he had seen her embracing Mitch in front of Bluebells on countless occasions, not to mention she was friendly with the volleyball team in general.

"Chicken?"

Louis startled out of his thoughts as he felt Liam's arm slinging around him.

"KFC! KFC! KFC!" Niall and Isaac's chants could be heard from down the hallway.

He let himself be tugged out of the locker room. He could only lament in silence when he passed the gym and saw some freshmen cleaning up with Harry supervising them.

Maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow everything would go back to normal.

▲▽▲▽▲

Except it didn't.

Louis stared down at his towel which was propped neatly next to his water bottle. He glanced at the other benches where his teammates were also reaching for their bottles and towels.