Corinthians

Love does not Envy

"How long have you known Soren?" Zane asked.

"Since Kindergarten. My grandma took him home with us everyday after school until his mom got off work," Ed explained. He thought back to their childhood adventures. They knew they were alpha and omega. Early DNA testing was standard. No one wanted to be surprised at puberty. But that didn't make them different from each other yet. They did play house sometimes and Ed was always the mommy, but that was expected. Omegas were the best mommies. And alphas were the best providers. Unless they left, but they weren't allowed to leave anymore. Soren provided an awesome tree fort, and pilfered extra snacks. And it was only natural for little boys who played together constantly to fall asleep at nap time snuggled together.

"How about you? You must have Alpha Health together." Ed asked.

"We met freshman year. He's the strong silent type, so I'm not sure I can say I know him even now." Zane slowed his pace a little more and Ed matched it. They were close to the finish.

"He wasn't always silent. He seemed normal right up until I put the collar on in seventh grade. Then, he clammed up and disappeared. He used to beg to be in the same classes as me, but now it's like he avoids it. Honestly, I miss him like that. I've even hated the collar on occasion thinking it caused this. But so what if it did? What was going on in his mind that he'd be upset about me protecting myself?"

"Maybe he took it personally, like you were protecting yourself from him."

"Maybe. But I don't get how he'd hold on to something like that for so long. I was really surprised he came to my rescue. He wasn't fighting to claim me like you were. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, when I regained my senses I realized that. But that was even stranger. Why did I react so strongly and he not at all?"

"He reacted some, when he carried me back to the Health Office," Ed conceded. Zane's nostrils flared again and Ed watched the flush of possessiveness pass over Zane, and then flush back out of him. The alpha was handling his hormones. Seeing this put Ed at ease more than anything else.

"You're not a bad guy Zane. I'm sorry my heat is the reason I'm finally getting to know you."

The final bell rang and Zane replied, "I'm not," before sprinting ahead the final few meters past the coach and straight on back to the locker room.

To cap off this strange day, Soren was waiting for Ed by his locker when he finished changing in the Health Office. "Want a ride home?" He asked.

Soren's ride home was a Mustang. A shiny yellow muscle car convertible that screamed alpha. The first time he'd driven to school Ed had considered throwing all his energy into rebuilding their friendship just for the opportunity to ride in this car. His general shyness prevented it but when offered he could only smile stupidly and say, "sure!"

The stupidity factor of an omega getting into a closed space like a car alone with an alpha was pretty high. The pheromones were flying. Soren must have felt it too because he immediately put the top down even though it wasn't that warm. A few spaces down, Zane paused getting into his shiny black Lexus and stared at them. Soren stared right back as he started the engine and put his car in gear. Ed watched the two, worried about the potential for conflict, but also feeling a bit heady that this dick measuring contest was over him.

Unfortunately, silence prevailed the rest of the ride home. Soren looked to be brooding over something. By the time they pulled up in front of Ed's house he'd had enough. "Just say it," he demanded. I know you offered me a ride because you wanted to talk, so talk."

His eyes stayed fixed on some distant point as Soren finally spoke, "I'm not gay."

This confused Ed. "So?"

"I realized it when you put the collar on." This caught Ed's full attention. It was the question he'd agonized over. He stayed silent hoping for more revelation and Soren obliged. "I knew that putting it on meant you were starting to have those kind of thoughts and emotions and that if I stayed close to you I'd eventually hurt you because, I love boobs." Ed's lips quirked into a lopsided smile just as Soren finally looked at him. "Don't laugh! I'm serious." Ed schooled his face so Soren could go on. "I do. Just saying the word boobs makes me hard. When I get home I'll probably beat one off to the thought of motor boating Missy Carlson."

"You like Missy?" Ed interjected.

Soren made a face that said, "I like her boobs. Her personality is another matter," and they both chuckled at this.

"The point is, I realized that if I stayed close to you I could end up really hurting you because when you go into heat I respond like any alpha, but without some heavenly tits I'd probably never feel completely fulfilled and want a permanent relationship. It would just be hormones and over. And I couldn't do that to you. You're still the best friend I've ever had, so, staying away was my way of being a friend to you."

"I see," and Ed did. He was gay. So very gay. Boobs did absolutely nothing for him, but chiseled abs and a thick cock...it was horrible that his mind went straight to Zane and he stiffened in his seat. If Soren had stayed close to him he'd probably be balls deep in a hopeless unrequited love with his best friend by now and not salivating over an alpha that actually wanted him. Except maybe it was the same for Zane. Maybe it was just hormones and in the end he'd be thinking about one of the many girls that always flocked around him as he fucked Ed senseless. Why was Ed thinking about being fucked by Zane like it was an inevitability? Damn, he was messed up right now.

"I couldn't let you be hurt that way by anyone else either," Soren continued. "What would all my effort staying away from you be worth if some other asshole took advantage of you. That incident created a conundrum for me. I can't protect you if I'm not close to you. I'm not sure what to do here now."

The cool breeze ruffled through Ed's hair as he contemplated the right thing to say. After a lengthy pause he said, "Don't avoid me anymore. I won't mistake your feelings. You've told me. That's all you needed to do. I'm not a masochist. I won't fall in love with you that way. I've missed my best friend. Okay?"

"Okay," Soren agreed, then he got out of the car and went around to open Ed's door for him in a bizarrely chivalrous gesture given the conversation they just had. Ed looked up at him with a raised eyebrow and he realized what he'd just done. "Instinct's a bitch," he grumbled.

"I know I promised I won't fall in love with you, but that might not stop me from being a little jealous of the girl that eventually gets all this attention from you," Ed teased. He glanced down at Soren's discomfort and shooed him back into the car. "Go take care of that before I offer to help you out. Your imaginary Missy awaits."