Work Text:
tamara had felt weird since the start of her shift.
not sick, exactly.
just... off.
at first, she blamed the building.
the air conditioning had been struggling all week, and the kitchen in the back always turned the entire building into an oven.
she'd spent most of the shift carrying empty glasses back to the bar, wiping down tables and pretending not to hear a group of college students arguing over the stupidest shit imaginable.
the heat settled under her skin gradually.
a little uncomfortable at first, then distracting and impossible to ignore.
by the time she finished entering an order into the register, she could feel sweat at the back of her neck and her shirt stuck unpleasantly to her skin.
tamara frowned and pulled at the collar in irritation.
and for a second, the room seemed to tilt.
not enough to actually lose her balance, but enough to stop her from moving and notice how fast her heart was beating.
"you okay?"
tamara looked up.
joan was standing behind the counter, staring directly at her.
an omega, the only other one working with tamara.
it was one of the first things everyone learned about each other when they got hired. the management liked to keep records. emergency procedures and workplace accommodations depended on it.
there wasn't really any way around it.
another wave of heat crawled under her skin, stronger this time. it made her jaw clench automatically.
she hated this.
she hated every part of it.
the medications had worked for years.
they'd never completely stopped her heats, but they'd dulled them enough that no one could tell she was lying to their faces. enough that she could keep pretending.
but apparently her body had finally gotten tired of cooperating.
joan stared at her for another second, then lowered her voice. "are you in heat?"
the question hit harder than it should have and tamara's entire body tensed immediately. defensively, like she'd been caught doing something wrong.
"what?"
"are you in heat?"
"no," the answer came way too sharply.
joan didn't react and kept staring at tamara with her small dot eyes.
and suddenly tamara remembered.
right, joan knew.
the whole workplace knew.
she didn't have to lie here — it was pointless and stupid.
"tamara," joan crossed her arms.
tamara groaned, dragging her hand across her face.
"sorry," she murmured, like the effort of talking felt weirdly exhausting.
joan’s expression softened slightly.
"i just... i don't know. maybe."
"you don't know?" joan frowned slightly.
tamara shook her head, because she genuinely didn't. not since starting suppressants and figuring out exactly how much medication she needed to keep everything buried deep enough that she could pretend it wasn't there.
the memories were fuzzy now, and heat had become something distant.
something that happened to other omegas.
not her.
"i take suppressants," tamara added. "i don't know… maybe they stopped working?”
joan watched her for a moment, clearly trying to piece things together.
the noise of the bowling alley carried on around them. normally, tamara would've been able to tune all of it out, but right now it felt overwhelming. every sound scraped against her nerves.
"okay... how long have you been on them?" joan asked.
tamara shifted her weight against the counter.
"a long time," tamara sighed, "years."
"same medication?"
"yeah."
"did you take your medication today?"
"yeah"
"and yesterday?"
"joan, i take them every day," tamara gave her a look.
another pause.
"maybe your body got used to them...?"
"what?" tamara blinked.
"it happens," joan said softly, shrugging. "i mean, not over night or anything. but sometimes medications stop working as well as they used to. maybe they need adjusting or different dosage ooor different prescription."
tamara stared at her as the possibility settled heavily in her stomach.
after years of medication and years of making sure nobody ever found out, she'd gotten used to pretending. used to being a beta.
sometimes she could almost forget she was lying.
and now the thing she'd spent years carefully controlling was suddenly slipping through her fingers.
and she had absolutely no plan for that.
for a moment neither of them spoke.
if the suppressants weren't working anymore, what was the solution? take more?
that seemed pointless.
if her body had already pushed through the medication once, there was no reason to think it would suddenly start working again. she couldn't exactly keep swallowing pills and hoping her body suddenly changed its mind.
and honestly, she wasn't even sure how much more she could safely take.
the dosage had already been increased.
that thought made her stomach sink.
"okay, so— i don't know what to do." for the first time since this had started, a small knot of panic twisted somewhere in her chest. "if this is actually happening, then what am i supposed to do? pills clearly aren't doing much."
tamara dragged her hands through her hair, realizing how damp it had become.
"how are you feeling right now?" joan asked suddenly.
"i'm standing," tamara murmured, pressing her lips together.
the truth was she felt awful.
not enough to collapse or make a scene, just... too warm, too aware of everything around her.
joan studied her for another second, before letting out a soft huff. "okay."
"...okay?"
"we're not figuring this out while you're standing at the counter looking miserable," joan said, looking around.
and before tamara could argue, she lifted her hand. "LAU!"
a few seconds later, a boy with bright blue hair poked his head around the corner. “yeah?” he instinctively looked from joan to tamara and immediately frowned.
as a beta, he wasn't reacting to anything scent-related, but he didn't need to — tamara looked awful.
joan pointed toward the front desk. “can you cover the counter for a bit?”
“obviously,” there wasn't even a hint of hesitation. he abandoned the broom against the wall and stepped behind the register without a question.
tamara felt a brief flash of embarrassment.
before tamara could come up with another argument, joan was already steering her toward the employee hallway.
normally she would've argued, but today she followed joan without much resistance.
the further they walked from the front of the building, the quieter everything became, and by the time joan pushed open the door to the employee break room, tamara felt unexpectedly relieved.
the couch sagged beneath her weight the moment she dropped onto it.
joan sat across from her.
"so, what's the plan?"
tamara frowned, defensively crossing her arms over her chest.
going home alone sounded miserable, but staying here sounded even worse.
she could already feel the familiar warning signs creeping in around the edges. the overheating. the ache settling into her muscles. the strange restless feeling underneath her skin.
not a full heat yet but definitely heading there.
joan watched her, waiting patiently.
"maybe... someone can pick you up?" she asked softly.
tamara immediately thought of tori.
then immediately discarded the idea.
an alpha was the last thing she wanted around her right now, especially the annoying kind.
and she wasn't even sure she wanted tori to know about this, which was ridiculous, because they'd been living together for a while now and it seemed like a basic thing to know about your own friend.
ell appeared in her head next.
she was reliable, and most importantly... she was a beta.
tamara groaned, pulling her phone out and unlocking it clumsily. the contact list blurred for a moment before she found ell's name.
pressing the call button felt harder than it should have — because making the call meant admitting there was a problem. and that she needed help.
the phone rang once.
twice.
then ell answered.
and tamara immediately regretted calling, because now she actually had to explain herself or at least attempt to.
"uh," tamara rubbed at her forehead, "hi. are you home?"
"yeah? you need something?"
tamara stared at the floor.
"...can you come get me?"
the silence on the other end lasted long enough to make tamara uneasy.
she never really asked for help, not seriously. not unless she'd gotten stranded somewhere at two in the morning after making several questionable decisions involving alcohol.
and even then she'd usually complain about needing help the entire time.
"....from work?" ell finally asked.
"yeah, but like — now."
there was another pause.
"you okay?"
"no," the answer came immediately.
"what happened?" ell asked softly. "you're supposed to be at work for like... another four hours."
tamara squeezed her eyes shut.
god— she hated needing help.
across the room, joan pretended to look at her phone.
"i'll explain later," she mumbled, pressing her free hand against her forehead.
"tamara—"
"i'm serious."
"are you hurt?" the concern in ell's voice only got worse.
"no."
"sick?"
"maybe?"
"what does that mean?"
tamara groaned in frustration, gently slapping her forehead with an open palm.
"i just—" the words got stuck.
because she had no idea how to explain it.
not when she was still trying to convince herself this was actually happening.
"i really need you to come get me. and— ...don't tell the others. okay?"
the silence stretched between them.
then ell spoke again.
"okay," something about hearing her say that made tamara's chest tighten. there was a brief rustling sound on the other end. "i'm putting my shoes on right now."
tamara closed her eyes.
the relief was immediate, embarrassingly so.
"i'll be there as fast as i can. just... sit down and don't do anything stupid for twenty minutes."
despite everything, a weak laugh escaped tamara. "hey, that's kind of insulting."
"you are insulting," tamara could practically hear the smile in ell's voice.
the call ended a second later.
for a moment tamara just stared at the dark screen.
the knot in her chest hadn't disappeared, but at least now there was a plan. or something close enough to one.
across the room, joan lowered her own phone. "someone's coming?"
tamara nodded, visibly relaxed.
"good," joan casually waved her phone in the air. "i already texted manager. told him you're leaving early due to... an emergency," joan grinned. "a heat emergency."
tamara let out a whimper and sank further into the couch.
"he said it was fine, by the way," joan was still smiling, completely unbothered.
that managed to take some of the tension out of tamara's shoulders.
just a little.
"thanks."
joan's expression softened. "you're welcome."
for a moment neither of them spoke, then joan pushed herself out of the chair with a quiet sigh. "okay, i should probably go back to work before somebody notices we've disappeared."
she pointed at tamara. "and you're staying here."
"what? no— i'm not five."
"no, but you currently look like you're dying."
"i'm not dying."
joan stared. the silence lasted long enough for both of them to realize joan was winning.
"fine," tamara scoffed.
"if anything gets worse, call me." joan shoved her phone into her pocket.
"i’ll survive."
"if anything gets worse," joan repeated.
"yeah. okay."
only then did joan seem satisfied.
she gave her one last look before heading for the door, then she disappeared, leaving tamara alone.
tamara stretched out across the small couch, pulling one leg up slightly and pressing her forearm over her eyes.
everything ached.
not enough to be unbearable, but enough to make everything irritating.
the worst part was the heat spreading beneath her skin. it felt like somebody had turned the thermostat up ten degrees and forgotten to tell anybody else.
the break room wasn't warm, she knew it.
the ache between her legs was somehow worse.
a low, persistent throb that kept pulling her attention back no matter how hard she tried to ignore it.
this was stupid.
everything about this was stupid.
the medication was supposed to prevent exactly this, and instead she was sprawled across a bowling alley couch trying not to think about the fact that her entire body seemed to be malfunctioning.
the next twenty minutes crawled by, and when the door eventually opened, tamara sat up so quickly she almost got dizzy.
ell stood there, like a hero she was.
and suddenly everything felt a little less terrible.
a few minutes later they were sitting in ell's car. the engine hummed quietly beneath them. neither of them spoke for almost a full minute.
"so…" ell started finally, staring at the road, while tamara looked out of the passenger window. "what's... wrong?"
the question sounded careful, like ell already knew she wasn't going to like the answer.
"it's stupid."
"okay."
"really, really stupid."
"tamara," ell glanced at her briefly before looking back at the road.
"i'm trying."
tamara stared out the window again.
"okay," a pause. "so— i'm not a beta."
ell blinked.
"wh— you're not a beta?”
"no."
ell blinked again, staring at the road.
then she looked at tamara.
then back at the road.
the silence stretched.
"what?"
tamara groaned loudly, letting her head fall against the seat with audible thump.
"i've known you for YEARS."
"i know."
"you've been telling people you're a beta for YEARS."
"i know."
"...so what are you?"
tamara wanted to jump out of the moving car.
"omega," the word came out so quietly it was almost embarrassing.
"oh... okay," ell looked genuinely stunned now.
not upset, just confused — trying to reorganize several years of information in real time.
so tamara started talking again, mostly because silence felt too awkward.
"i took suppressants," words started spilling out faster now. messier and less organized. "i— i thought i was getting sick at work but apparently i'm— not sick. and joan thinks my body's gotten used to the medication. and she might be right because it's not working anymore and i definitely took it. and i haven't had a proper heat in forever so i didn't even recognize it and— and—"
she finally stopped to breathe.
"...so i'm having a heat."
"wow," ell let out a slow breath.
ell was quiet for another few seconds, processing years of conversations, memories, tamara scoffing every time somebody mentioned secondary genders.
"...tori is going to be unbearable."
tamara immediately groaned. "don't."
"i'm serious. tamara— you lied to us for years. but you kind of… really lied to tori."
"i lied to everybody."
"yes, but tori takes things personally."
"matilda too."
ell let out a frustrated sigh. she knew tamara wasn't that dense.
"okay. yeah, but matilda— ...she'll just... be excited."
tamara let her head fall back against the seat.
she could already imagine tori's expression. that stupid grin and endless teasing. the fact that tori would somehow find a way to bring it up in a completely unrelated conversation for the next ten years.
"she's never letting this go," she complained, closing her eyes.
"wouldn't count on it."
"god, i hate her."
"you don't."
tamara chose not to answer.
mostly because they both knew it wasn't true.
the car hummed quietly around them and for a moment neither spoke.
"...you know," ell glanced at her again.
tamara immediately didn't like that tone.
"she could... probably help. if you ask nicely."
tamara's entire body tensed and her cheeks flushed suddenly. "what? no!"
"she could!"
"no."
"tam—"
"NO."
"you're having a heat," ell sighed. "and she's an alpha."
"i'm aware."
"and she's home."
"i'm aware."
"and she likes you."
tamara slowly covered her face with her hands and sank lower into her seat.
tori would absolutely say yes if she asked for help.
but if tamara accepted help during a heat, then eventually tori would except the same thing when her next rut rolled around. she gave people pieces of herself and quietly expected them to do the same. equal exchange. mutual trust.
and tori liked possessing things.
not even consciously, most of the time.
she collected people the same way she collected old tools and half-broken junk she swore she'd fix one day. tori got attached to things with frightening intensity. once she decided something mattered, she held onto it with both hands and refused to let go.
the more she thought about it, the easier it became to imagine tori grinning and saying something along the lines of, 'well, obviously i'd claim you, stupid."
if tori ever wanted to claim anyone, it wouldn't even be a question who it would be.
and tamara hated the idea.
everyone else talked about claiming like it was romantic.
every omega she knew seemed to treat it like some inevitable milestone.
all tamara saw was ownership wrapped in prettier language.
a mark that said this belongs to someone.
"matilda would help if she was home," ell pointed out suddenly.
"matilda's in love with you."
"fair enough," ell smiled immediately. "which means tori is kind of the only available alpha around."
tamara looked genuinely horrified. "you're not helping."
ell let out a short laugh, shaking her head.
"you're overthinking it," she said, tapping her fingers against the steering wheel. "sex with alphas is fun. like, stupid fun. matilda once—"
"i don't need details," tamara hissed.
ell sighed, but not in a serious way — more like she was trying not to laugh again.
"fine. but my point stands— it's not some... tragic sacrifice. taking a knot isn't even that bad—"
"ELL—"
ell laughed immediately. "sorry.”
tamara pressed her palms against her burning cheeks. this was officially the worst conversation she'd had all year.
for a little while neither of them spoke.
tamara watched the passing streetlights blur together outside the window and tried very hard not to think about anything.
unfortunately, thinking about nothing mostly meant thinking about tori — which was arguably worse.
"i don't want her finding out," the words slipped out before she could stop them.
"yeah," ell's amusement faded slightly. "i figured as much.”
tamara picked at a loose thread on her blue sleeve.
"she'll look at me differently."
"i really don't think she will," ell glanced at her. "you know tori's been in love with you since forever. if anything, the only thing she's gonna be upset about is the fact you didn't tell her."
"i can avoid her," tamara scoffed.
"for how long?"
tamara opened her mouth.
and closed it again.
because honestly? not long.
their house wasn't exactly huge, and tori had the survival instincts of a raccoon — if she noticed something strange, she'd investigate. usually while making things worse.
the conversation fizzled out naturally after that.
for the next few minutes, only the hum of the engine filled the car.
tamara rested her head against the window.
everything felt too warm, and every bump in the road sent an irritating pulse through her entire body.
she felt restless.
uncomfortable.
the worst part was that she couldn't even distract herself anymore. every attempt to think about something else circled back to the same problem.
tori. heat. tori. heat. tori.
and by the time ell turned onto their street, tamara felt exhausted. not physically, just... overwhelmed.
"we're here," ell said quietly.
tamara stared at the house with a small wince and after a moment of silence, she groaned and pushed herself upright.
a minute later they were walking up to the front steps together.
tamara was still trying to think of a way to survive this.
unfortunately, she ran out of time.
the door swung open before ell could turn the key.
tori stood in the doorway, blinking at them. “what the hell happened?"
her nose wrinkled before tamara could even step inside.
"what—" for a brief moment the confusion crossed her face before her attention locked entirely onto tamara.
tamara shrunk behind ell like she could disappear into her shadow.
"what?" tamara snapped.
tori, completely unbothered, blinked and leaned closer to sniff the air again.
for a second tori looked genuinely stunned.
then her eyes lit up slightly and a stupid grin started spread across her face.
she looked way too pleased.
and tamara immediately knew she was fucked. she hated that expression. it always meant tori was about to become unbearable.
"oh," tori's eyes moved slowly from tamara's flushed face to the damp hair sticking to her forehead. "no way."
"don't," tamara hissed.
she wanted to die.
immediately.
and preferably before tori opened her mouth again.
"no fucking way," tori repeated, laughing now. "you're an omega?"
tamara clenched her jaw.
ell closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"move," she grunted, shoving the door wider with her shoulder. "and stop antagonizing her."
"i'm not—"
"you are."
"i'm celebrating."
tamara looked ready to commit a felony.
she brushed past tori and instantly regretted it.
tori's scent hit her harder up close: pine needles, maple syrup. familiar enough that she could have identified it anywhere, but right now it felt overwhelming in a way it never had before. it made her skin crawl with irritation.
or nerves.
or both.
the front door shut behind them and unfortunately for tamara, tori didn't stop following her all the way to the living room.
“seriously though,” tori continued, “how the hell did you keep this secret for so long?”
tamara groaned immediately.
“medication,” she grumbled.
“that's not enough.”
“it literally was.”
“no, because i've known you for years—”
“unfortunately,” tamara interrupted.
tori ignored that.
“nobody noticed anything? that's insane.”
“or maybe you're all just stupid,” tamara muttered.
ell snorted from somewhere behind them.
tori stared at her for a second.
"you know what's killing me?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"i'm not interested."
"you spent years acting like you were somehow above secondary gender bullshit."
"because i am."
"no, you're not."
"yes, i am."
ell pinched the bridge of her nose.
"okay, can we maybe not do this right now?" she asked, but neither of them acknowledged her. the argument was escalating so quickly, she wasn't sure where to interrupt anymore.
she looked between them.
then immediately looked away, like she wanted no part in whatever conversation this was becoming.
tori, unfortunately, looked fascinated.
"you're literally going through a heat," she pointed at tamara.
tamara's face immediately flushed darker. whether from embarrassment, anger, or the heat itself, she wasn't even sure anymore.
"fuck you," tamara spat, flopping on the couch and immediately covering herself with a discarded blanket. she could feel her patience slipping awayp.
this wasn't new.
they'd been arguing since they were teenagers.
normally it was almost fun, but today it wasn't.
because tamara's head hurt, her skin felt like it was on fire, and tori's scent kept drifting through the room every time she moved.
and it was way too strong and way too distracting.
tamara hated it.
ell exhaled, running a hand through their hair.
"tam," she murmured, crouching beside the couch. "you okay?"
tamara groaned, pressing her forehead against the armrest. "no. i'm not." the heat pulsed low in her stomach, insistent.
"what are we supposed to do?" tori scoffed.
ell shot a glare over her shoulder. "not laugh at her would be a start."
tamara winced, tugging the blanket tighter around herself. she wanted to crawl out of her own body.
"fine," she muttered, crossing her arms. "but she needs—" she gestured vaguely, "supplies."
ell nodded, already pulling out their phone. "i'll run to the pharmacy."
tamara's head snapped up. "no—"
ell paused. "tam—"
"if you leave," tamara hissed, "i will murder you."
ell blinked.
tori exhaled through her nose. "matilda's shift ends in an hour. she can grab the—" she waved a hand again.
ell nodded.
"i'll call her," she murmured, immediately heading to the kitchen, already scrolling through her contacts.
without thinking, tamara pulled the blanket higher and shoved her face into it. the thick fabric muffled the room, and most importantly dulled the scent lingering in the air.
not completely, but enough for her to finally breathe freely.
unfortunately, tori immediately noticed what she was doing.
of course she did.
there wasn't a single embarrassing thing tamara had ever done that tori hadn't managed to notice.
"you like it?" tori asked suddenly, absolutely delighted by the sight, like she'd been handed the greatest gift imaginable.
for a second, tamara genuinely didn't understand what she meant.
then she did, and her stomach dropped.
"my scent," tori added teasingly.
"fuck off," tamara groaned weakly into the blanket.
"that's not an answer. come on, i'm curious."
"it's the only answer you're getting," tamara mumbled.
"interesting," tori hummed thoughtfully.
tamara slowly looked up, squinting her eyes at tori and her wide grin.
"that's got to suck,"
tamara's jaw tightened. "what?"
"you spending years pretending none of this matters and then finding out your body doesn't have a give a shit what you think." tori spread her arms. "look at you!"
the words hit harder than they should have.
not because they were particularly cruel, but because tori sounded amused, like this was funny. like tamara was something to laugh at, something ridiculous, predictable, pathetic.
an omega having a heat, reacting to an alpha, slowly losing control.
and it was every stupid stereotype she'd spent years running away from.
the irritation suddenly felt different — less angry, more hurt.
tamara didn't snap back, and for the first time all evening, tori's grin faltered slightly.
"i didn't lie because i was embarrassed to be an omega," the words came out sharper than tamara intended. "you don't know what it's like.” tamara's body started trembling — part heat, part fury. "every movie, every joke— omegas are either victims or walking sex toys. and i didn't want to be either."
"so congratulations," she laughed humorlessly, "you found out i have a secondary gender." her voice cracked slightly, "i guess that's the most interesting thing about me now."
the silence that followed felt different, much heavier.
and for the first time since they'd walked through the front door, tori didn't have a joke ready.
"tamara," tori took a step closer, "this whole time, we could've helped each other—" she cut herself off, shaking her head when she suddenly remembered tamara laughing awkwardly and saying, 'sorry, i don't really do alpha-beta relationships.'
all this time, she'd thought tamara simply wasn't interested.
she'd spent most of her ruts with strangers, biting into pillows, pretending their whimpers were hers.
tamara's head snapped up.
"i'm not just some hole for you to—" her knees clamped tighter together as the damp spot on her uniform pants was spreading slowly.
"that's not what i— tam, you knew i liked you! you rejected me—"
"i rejected you because you smell like a wet dog when you're horny," tamara shot back, but the insult lacked its usual bite. "you think i wanted to spend every fucking heat alone in my room with a vibrator and a bottle of suppressant? you think i liked lying?"
"you didn't have to!" tori took a slow step back.
"you really thought i'd—" the anger slowly drained from her face, "we've known each other since we were kids! you really thought i'd turn into some fucking animal the second i smelled you?"
the silence stretched thin between them for a few seconds.
"you don't get it," she scoffed, finally looking away from tori.
"yeah, i don't. you really never trusted us enough to tell us?” the question slipped out before she could stop it.
tamara looked up.
"easy for you to say. you're an alpha."
tori blinked.
"and?"
"and nobody makes movies about alphas getting trapped with creeps twice their size,” the answer came out sharper than she intended. "nobody tells little alphas they're going to belong to somebody one day, like they're an object.”
she looked away.
she hated talking about this — it sounded so defensive and ridiculous, especially when she said it out loud.
for a moment tori just watched her.
then she frowned slightly.
"but why are you acting like i'm the only alpha in this house?"
tamara blinked.
"matilda lives here too,” tori spread her arms.
"...matilda's weird."
"that's not an answer."
"she is obsessed with ell."
"exactly."
"your point?"
"well— she's civil about it, and somehow you're only talking about me like i'm gonna lose my mind and start chasing you around the house.”
tamara opened her mouth.
closed it again.
because unfortunately, she didn't have a good response.
tori noticed immediately.
"wow."
"tori—”
"that is incredibly insulting."
tamara groaned and buried her face in the blanket.
"look," she said more quietly. "i've spent years around other omegas."
tamara didn't look up.
"and?"
"and nothing."
when tamara still didn't respond, tori continued.
"nothing happened. i've never forced anything. i've never claimed anybody. i've never even wanted to," she let out a short sigh. "honestly, i don't even know where you got this idea of me.”
there was no teasing left in her voice now.
just frustration.
and something that sounded suspiciously like hurt.
tamara's fingers tightened slightly around the blanket.
tori's expression softened a little.
she exhaled slowly and her shoulders dropped as she crouched in front of the couch — not too close, but enough that tamara couldn't avoid her eyes.
the scent of burnt sugar and pineapple hung thick enough to taste in the air.
"let me help you," she said, voice softer than it had been all night. "tell me how you want it. you say stop, we stop. i'll follow your lead— hell, i'll tie myself to the bed if that's what you need to feel safe."
tamara wanted to laugh.
she wanted to sneer and call tori out for thinking this was some grand romantic gesture.
but the heat coiled tighter in her gut and the scent of alpha right in front of her was making her head spin. she dug her nails into her palms, focusing on the sting.
"look— i'm not gonna pretend i don't want this," tori continued, relentless, like she'd decided honesty was the only thing left. "you think i didn't fantasize about fucking you before? when i thought you were a beta?"
tamara wanted to claw her skin off. her pulse was hammering under her nails.
"you're disgusting," she muttered, but her face was burning. "you don't get to be smug about this," she added, pressing her thighs together tighter. "if you even fucking smirk—"
tori exhaled slowly, "tamara, just tell me what you need."
the words lodged in tamara's throat.
she wanted to shove tori away and lock herself in her room like she had every other heat. but her scent — pine needles, something sweet, stupidly
cmmforting — was curling around her, and her body was betraying her faster than her pride could keep up.
tamara's nails dug deeper into her palms, but the sting was no longer enough to distract from the throbbing between her legs. she exhaled sharply through her nose before gritting out, "fine. shut up and help me to my room."
tori nodded once with a little smile and stood up, offering a hand that tamara ignored as she pushed herself off the couch.
the walk down the hallway was agonizingly slow.
tori's gaze flicked downward, taking in the dark stain spreading across the denim.
"wow," she muttered, more awed than mocking. "you're soaked."
tamara jerked away instantly.
"shut your mouth," she hissed, feeling completely humiliated.
when they reached tamara's room, tori pushed the door open first.
then stopped.
tamara immediately knew what she'd noticed.
the bed.
or more specifically, everything piled on top of it.
tamara's bed was barely visible beneath the layers of stuff piled on top of it.
tangled blankets, several plushies wedged between the pillows, and a collection of oversized shirts and hoodies created what looked suspiciously like walls around the entire thing.
the silence lasted exactly three seconds before tori started laughing.
"this makes so much sense now," she said, pointing dramatically at the bed.
tamara opened her mouth.
then closed it again.
because unfortunately, from this angle, it looked exactly like what it was.
an omega's nest.
tori's eyes suddenly narrowed.
"no fucking way," she gasped, stepping closer to the bed.
tamara immediately felt dread. "what?"
tori reached toward a familiar white shirt buried beneath two blankets.
"tamara."
"what?"
"that's mine."
tamara's face went red instantly.
"no, it isn't."
"tamara!"
"it isn't!"
"i lost this like four months ago," tori grabbed the sleeve.
tamara reacted immediately.
"don't touch it," the answer came so fast both of them froze.
tori slowly looked up. "i can't take it back?"
tamara stared at her.
tori stared back.
neither moved.
"...no," tamara murmured quietly, wincing at tori's growing grin. "it's mine. i need it."
tori's smile was so wide it looked painful, she looked like she just got confronted with something so unexpectedly adorable that her brain stopped functioning properly.
the expression wasn't teasing. if anything, it looked dangerously affectionate — which was somehow worse.
tamara could handle being mocked, but she could not handle whatever this was.
the heat burning beneath her skin was nothing compared to the embarrassment.
tori looked seconds away from exploding. she dragged both hands down her face like she was physically trying to contain herself. "this is the cutest thing you've ever done."
tamara looked horrified.
tori was still smiling stupidly.
the kind of smile she usually got after winning an argument.
or finding something she'd been looking for.
or apparently discovering that the girl she'd been in love with had been hoarding her clothes.
tamara opened her mouth to argue, but tori chose that exact moment to grab her wrist to pull her out of the room.
tamara dug her heels into the carpet, yanking her wrist back. "what are you doing?" she snapped, frowning slightly.
tori turned, blinking as if the answer was obvious.
"we need condoms. i have some in my room," she shrugged casually. "unless you've got some stashed— honestly, it would be impressive given the whole celibate beta act."
the words landed like a brick.
tamara looked mortified, but her knees buckled a little.
"wait—" her breath hitched. the slick was already slowly trailing down her inner thighs. the humiliation of standing here, dripping, while tori stared at her with those stupidly wide, amused eyes made her want to scream. "we don't need them. just— ...help me. now."
tori's gaze dropped to tamara's mouth, then lower, lingering where tamara's thighs pressed together.
she moved before tamara could blink, sliding her hands under her thighs and lifting her up like she weighed nothing.
the door clicked shut behind them. the world tilted, the ceiling spun, and then tamara's back hit the mattress with a soft bounce.
tamara's gaze slowly dropped downward. the sight of tori's straining bulge sent a fresh wave of slick gushing between her thighs.
her mouth went completely dry.
something inside her snapped and her rational thoughts evaporated.
fear twisted into desperation and the dizzying realization that there was no going back now as tori loomed over her.
her fingers trembled as she fumbled with the laces of her checkered sneakers. she kicked them off with a clumsy urgency that sent one skidding across the room. her jeans were next — she practically clawed at the button, while her breath came in short, ragged bursts. she took them off with a frustrated noise.
tori didn't move.
she couldn't, really — she was too busy staring at the way tamara's panties clung obscenely to her cunt. the white fabric was almost transparent from slick, revealing more with every frustrated tug, and tamara's scent was thick enough to choke on now.
tori's mouth watered.
it was stupid how beautiful she looked like this.
"stop staring," tamara hissed, as she kicked at the tangled underwear still caught around her ankle. she flung them somewhere to the side, where they landed with a damp slap against the floorboards. her cheeks burned. "take your damn clothes off."
tori's fingers curled into the waistband of her sweatpants, but she didn't pull them down.
"i'll eat you out first," she said bluntly.
tamara's breath stuttered. "what? no—"
"you think you're ready for me?" tori interrupted. "you'll tear if i just shove it in."
tamara's protest died in her throat.
she hadn't even considered that.
"turn around," tori murmured, "on your knees."
tamara hesitated, just for a second, before she shifted awkwardly. her thighs trembled as she pushed herself onto all fours and buried her face in the pillows.
tori didn't hesitate.
the moment tamara's knees hit the mattress, she was already moving, climbing up behind her. her hands slid up tamara's thighs before she spread them open without ceremony.
tamara jolted, but tori didn't give her time to process it.
she leaned in, slowly dragging her tongue up her slit.
tamara's entire body jerked like she'd been electrocuted. the sound that escaped her was something between a gasp and a sob. her fingers twisted into the sheets as tori giggled against her.
"you taste so sweet," tori murmured, dragging her tongue to catch the trickle of slick before it could drip onto the sheets. "exactly like you smell," her fingers dug into the soft flesh to keep tamara still.
tamara whimpered into the pillow, while her hips jerked when tori's tongue started circling her clit.
it was too much, too fast — her body wasn't used to this sensation.
"t-tori—" she gasped as tori flattened her tongue to lick broad stripes through her folds, savoring the way tamara clenched around nothing, and how her thighs shook when tori sucked her clit into her mouth.
"you like it?" tori's words vibrated against tamara's clit, sending a jolt up her spine again.
tamara couldn't answer.
her voice had dissolved into a high, keening whine the moment tori's tongue flicked over her clit.
every flick sent sparks up her spine, and the slick was dripping slowly down her inner thighs, pooling beneath her in a glistening mess.
the wet sounds between her thighs were obscene, louder than her own ragged breathing and the creak of the mattress as her hips twitched, chasing tori's mouth.
tori watched tamara in awe while the slick dripped down her own chin.
she could listen to those sounds every day.
it was way better than she'd imagined, and she'd imagined this a lot.
one of her hands stayed firmly on tamara's ass, while the other slid down so she could palm herself through the sweatpants. the friction was almost painful, but the choked little noises spilling from tamara's mouth made it impossible to stop.
"don't—" tamara's voice was raw, half-muffled by the pillow. "don't stop—" she whimpered as her fingers scrambled back to spread herself wider again.
her words turned into a gasp when tori's tongue plunged into her without warning.
tori twisted her fingers into the waistband, shoving her pants down just enough to free her cock, already leaking at the tip.
the relief was immediate.
precum smeared across her fingers as she stroked herself in time with the thrusts of her tongue. her hips were weakly rolling into her own grip.
tori's tongue worked deeper, curling inside tamara. every ragged breath tamara took only made the ache in tori's gut twist tighter.
she could feel tamara's wall fluttering around her tongue.
she pulled back just to swirl her tongue around tamara's clit again, smiling at the way her whole body seized up at the contact and another gush of slick spilled out of her.
"you should ride my face next time," tori murmured playfully against her folds, slowly stroking her cock. "bet you'd love that— getting to grind down on me," she teased, dragging a finger through tamara's soaked entrance.
tamara sobbed out suddenly, rocking her hips uselessly against tori's hand. "f-fuck me—"
tori couldn't help but grin when tamara begged her desperately.
her hands left her own cock and tamara's ass in one jerky movement. her fingers dug into the omega's hips, flipping her onto her back before she could protest.
the mattress bounced again as tamara landed with legs splayed open and heaving chest.
tori stared down at her for a few seconds and couldn't help herself, letting out a breathless laugh.
tamara was a wreck.
lips parted, cheeks flushed, hair tangled against the sheets, thighs glistening with slick, and a thin line of drool trailing from the corner of her mouth down to the pillowcase.
tori's chest tightened at the sight.
none of her fantasies compared to the reality.
"fuck," she murmured, dragging her thumb across tamara's lower tip, smearing the spit. "you're gorgeous."
"stop— stop talking," tamara whimpered, lifting her hips off the mattress. her hands fluttered at her sides before finally gripping tori's shoulders, digging her nails into the skin.
tori leaned over her, cooing softly against her neck. "not so bad, is it?"
her teeth grazed tamara's scent gland, and tamara went rigid, letting out a panicked noise.
tori pulled back instantly, pressing an apologetic kiss to her cheek instead. "easy," she soothed. "i won't bite, i promise."
her lips trailed downward with deliberate slowness, pressing featherlight kisses over the thin fabric of tamara's rumpled shirt.
she could feel tamara's heart hammering against her ribs.
her fingertips slowly traced tamara's thigh. she watched tamara's breath hitch as she pressed one finger flat against her entrance — not pushing in yet, just letting her feel the pressure.
tamara's hips jerked instinctively.
tori leaned down to press another firm kiss to tamara's cheek.
the first two knuckles slipped inside effortlessly.
"slower, slower—" tamara's words dissolved into a whimper as tori curled her finger to drag it against her sensitive walls.
"good?" tori watched her face intently — the way her eyelids fluttered, how her mouth went slack.
tamara nodded frantically.
a second finger joined the first, even slower this time. tamara's thighs trembled when tori crooked her fingers again.
tori's fingers moved inside, stretching her with a patience she didn't know she had. every gasp, every little twitch was a reward in itself, but the ache between her own thighs was becoming unbearable.
she could feel her cock throbbing against tamara's thigh, begging for friction.
still, she held back.
tamara deserved to be prepared properly.
then, unexpectedly, tamara's hands slid up from tori's shoulders to her face, gently cupping her cheeks with trembling fingers. her thumbs brushed along tori's cheekbones, hesitantly.
"kiss me?" tamara's voice cracked halfway through.
the sudden tenderness made tori's breath catch. she froze for a second before she surged forward, capturing tamara's lips with desperate hunger.
the kiss was desperate. their teeth clanked together before tamara sighed, softening beneath tori.
"you smell so good," tori murmured against her mouth, dragging her tongue along tamara's bottom lip. "like a dessert."
her fingers pressed deeper, grinding the heel of her palm against tamara's clit with each thrust.
the kiss broke for just a second — long enough for tamara to suck in a shuddering breath — before tori recaptured her lips, swallowing every whimper that spilled out.
she tangled her free hand in tamara's hair, holding her close while her hips rocked absently against the air. her cock twitched with every muffled noise tamara made against her mouth.
the rhythm of tori's fingers was relentless now, slow and deep, and every time she pulled back, tamara's body followed, lifting her hips off the bed.
a particularly rough thrust had tamara tearing her mouth away with a sob. "fuck! tori—"
one of her hands slid down from tori's cheek with trembling hesitation, and after a second, she finally gathered the nerve to wrap her shaking hand around tori's cock pressed against her thigh. she could feel the thick vein pulsing beneath her fingertips.
tori's hips jerked forward instinctively with a gasp. her fingers stilled inside tamara, who clenched around them.
tori exhaled sharply through her nose, pressing her forehead against tamara's shoulder.
her fingers slid out slowly, while tamara clumsily swiped her thumb over the slick head of tori's cock.
"just— just fuck me already," tamara's voice cracked.
she couldn't look tori in the eyes.
she couldn't bear the thought of what her own face must look like now.
tori's gaze dropped to tamara's trembling hand still gripping her cock. her lips curled slowly into a grin, before she wrapped her own fingers over tamara's, dragging her slick-coated fingers along the length with a quiet groan.
tamara's hand fell away. she watched as tori grabbed the base of her dick and pressed the tip against tamara's soaked entrance.
"come on," tamara whimpered breathlessly, "move—"
tori didn't answer.
she dragged the tip through the wet folds before slowly pushing in.
tamara gasped, arching her back instantly.
her mouth fell open in a soundless cry as tori filled her inch by inch.
every muscle in her body tensed as tori slowly bottomed out, pressing her hips flush against tamara's ass.
she stayed still for a minute, letting her adjust to the feeling.
the stretch burned — not unpleasantly, but overwhelmingly — and tamara clenched around her involuntarily, squeezing a gasp from tori's throat.
"you good?" tori murmured, digging her fingers into tamara's hips to steady her.
tamara nodded, swallowing hard.
"yeah. just— just give me a second.” her voice was wrecked already.
"take your time, tammy," tori chuckled softly.
she leaned down to press a kiss to her shoulder, then nipped at the skin there, grinning when tamara jerked beneath her.
"tell me how you want it," she nuzzled softly against the side of her neck, where her scent gland was. the head of her cock nudged deeper, just barely, and tamara whimpered.
"i don't— fuck, i don't know," tamara exhaled shakily, rolling her hips experimentally.
tori pulled back just enough to watch her face. the way her brow knit together, the way her lips parted in silent gasps.
"you're so fucking pretty like this," she cooed, dragging her cock out tortuously slow before sliding back in until tamara's thighs trembled around her hips.
tamara keened, tipping her head back against the pillows. her fingers twisted in the sheets. every movement sent sparks up her spine.
"you— ah— you talk too much," she managed, though the words dissolved into a moan as tori thrust harder.
tori's hands slid up tamara's side.
the rhythm of her hips was steady, deep and unhurried, drawing little moans from tamara's throat. she could feel the way tamara clenched around her when her cock slid deeper into the wet heat.
"i can't believe you lied," tori sighed.
her movements faltered for half a second — just long enough for tamara to whine in protest.
the sound unraveled something in tori's gut.
a sharp, possessive thrill.
tamara's nails scraped down her arms. "tori—"
the sound of her own name, broken and desperate, snapped tori's focus back.
she suddenly slammed her hips forward, much harder than she'd intended, making tamara cry out loudly. each thrust harder and deeper, until the bed frame rattled against the wall.
the slick gushed out again, while tamara's moans turned slowly into broken, hiccupping gasps. "fuck, fuck, fuck—"
tori leaned down, pressing her forehead against tamara's and dragging her closer by the hips.
tamara tilted her head up, catching tori's lips in a messy kiss. their teeth clacked again, but neither of them cared — too lost in the heat of the moment.
tori's rhythm stuttered as she felt the familiar pressure building at the base of her cock, her knot beginning to swell. she groaned against tamara's mouth, pulling back just enough to mutter with a breathless self-deprecating laugh, "i swear i usually last longer than this."
her laugh quickly tapered off as tamara nuzzled her nose against her cheek.
"you smell good," she murmured, brushing her lips against tori's jaw. the scent made her stomach flutter. "like a forest after rain."
"i knew you liked it," tori smiled cheekily.
tamara's face burned, but she couldn't deny it.
not now.
not when tori's scent was all over her skin, her sheets, and the air between them.
she turned her head to the side, but tori caught her chin, forcing her to meet those smug, gleaming eyes. "all this time pretending you weren’t affected, and here you are— nosing at me like some lovesick pup.”
"stop laughing at me," she gritted out, digging her nails into tori's biceps. her voice was a mess, half-growl, half-plea. "it's not funny."
tori's smirk softened, but the teasing glint didn't leave her eyes. "you're right. it's adorable."
tamara groaned, tipping her head back against the pillows. but when she felt tori's knot pressing against her entrance, she tensed immediately.
tori stilled when she felt it. it wasn't the usual shudder of pleasure, but the stiffening of muscles that meant hesitation, fear.
she exhaled through her nose, forcing her hips to stay still even as her knot throbbed impatiently against tamara's slick slit.
"i want to cum," she murmured, pressing her face against tamara's neck. "you're thinking too hard. you need to relax."
tamara arched, torn between the instinct to press closer and the unfamiliar sting of resistance. tori's breath was warm against her and her grip on tamara's hips impossibly gentle for someone who'd been fucking her into the mattress moments ago.
"breathe," tori pressed her lips against her shoulder.
tamara exhaled shakily. "you're being— ah— weirdly patient."
tori chuckled uncontrollably. "first time i've ever been accused of that." her thumbs rubbed slow circles into tamara's hip bones. "it's not fully swelled yet. we can wait if you want— let it get bigger before it goes in. or i can push in now and let it grow inside."
tamara blinked up at her, caught off guard by the offer. "you're— ...asking?" the words came out breathless.
tori's grin widened, and the corners of her eyes crinkled with amusement. "yeah, i'm asking," she drawled, dragging her fingertips down tamara's ribs just to feel her squirm. "shocking, right? turns out i can be considerate."
she leaned in, pressing a kiss to tamara's jaw. "judging by the way you're looking at me, you didn't think i had it in me."
tamara's cheeks burned. the sincerity in tori's voice made her chest tighten.
she'd spent years building walls, rehearsing lies, expecting every alpha to be all teeth and demands. but tori just— disarmed her.
"i, uh—" she swallowed. "now?"
"alright," tori exhaled softly, giving tamara a quick peck on the lips.
she slowly pressed forward while the thick base of her knot stretched tamara inch by inch. tamara's fingers scrabbled at the sheets. her pussy was fluttering around tori's cock in protest before relaxing.
it burned — not unbearably, but enough to make her whine.
tori sank deeper until their hips met.
she whimpered, dropping her forehead against tamara's. "fuck, you—" her words dissolved into a whine as her knot swelled further inside her, locking them together.
tamara’s breath came in short, sharp pants.
she'd braced for roughness, for the kind of frenzied coupling she'd overheard other omegas whisper about — alpha instincts taking over, knotting without preamble.
not... this.
tori's fingers tracing idle patterns over her ribs and hips, her warm breath against tamara's collarbone as she waited for her to adjust like they had all the time in the world.
tori shifted her weight slightly, rolling her hips in a lazy, deliberate grind that sent sparks up tamara's spine. the movement was subtle, enough to drag the swollen ridge of her cock against tamara's inner walls without dislodging the knot.
"feels... good," tamara breathed out, closing her eyes.
tori didn't speed up.
instead, she bent her head, catching her parted lips in a kiss so slow it made tamara's toes curl. there was no urgency in it, just sweetness that contradicted everything tamara had ever believed about alphas.
tori's tongue traced her bottom lip before slipping inside, tasting her in unhurried licks that matched the lazy grind of her hips.
the kiss was grounding, anchoring her even when her body trembled under the relentless stimulation.
tori's hands slid up to cradle her face, brushing the dampness gathering at the corners of her eyes with thumbs.
her hips kept moving slowly, making the knot inside shift just enough to make tamara shudder.
tamara's fingers twitched between them, desperate for more friction.
she reached down to rub gentle at the swollen clit in time with tori's movements. the added sensation made her hips jerk even more.
the knot inside her kept her full, the pressure was unrelenting, but it was the way tori was moving — unhurried, controlled — that undid her. no frenzy, no brutality, just the relentless, arching pleasure that coiled tighter and tighter with every grind.
she pressed her fingers harder, working in quick desperate circles.
a few seconds later, her breath stuttered as the pressure inside her crested without warning. one moment she was writhing under tori's gentle rhythm, the next, her body seized as her pussy clenched around tori's cock in helpless pulses.
a broken sound tore from her throat — half-sob, half-moan.
the orgasm rolled through her in waves.
tori groaned against her neck and her hips paused as tamara's contractions milked her. “fuck, tam—” her voice was ragged.
the controlled rhythm finally fractured as she thrust shallowly into the tight clench while her knot swelled impossibly fuller.
tamara shivered at the sensation, oversensitive but still riding the aftershocks. her pussy pulsed around tori's cock as warmth spilled inside her in slow bursts. she shuddered at each thick pulse sent fresh tremors through her body.
tori's release dragged on and the knot kept them locked together.
tamara gasped when tori's arms tightened around her, before rolling them into their sides without pulling out.
the angle pressed tori's knot even deeper, but the discomfort faded into something softer as tori tucked tamara's head under her chin.
“okay?” tori exhaled, closing her eyes and relaxing. her fingers drifted lazily over tamara's back like she couldn't stop touching her.
tamara swallowed with a dry throat. “yeah,” she breathed out, nuzzling against tori's neck. she had one hand curled loosely against tori's chest while tori's arm rested around her middle.
the knot hadn't softened yet, still snug inside her. the weight of it was grounding, even when everything seemed hazy.
for a little while neither of them spoke.
the room felt quieter now.
not completely silent, but calm in a way it hadn't been all day.
“how long?” her voice came out hoarse, quieter than she meant it to. “before it goes down?”
tori's lips quirked and her fingers stilled for just a second before resuming their lazy path along tamara's back. “ten, twenty minutes,” she murmured. “depends,” she shifted slightly, making tamara bite back a whimper.
they lay on their sides facing each other, tangled together mostly because neither of them could comfortably move away yet.
it should have felt awkward.
somehow, it didn't.
"this is embarrassing," tamara muttered and buried her face against tori's shoulder for a second.
she felt a little stupid now. somehow none of the disasters she'd imagined had actually happened.
years of hiding for nothing.
tori let out a content hum and immediately pulled tamara a little closer, rubbing her cheek against her hair affectionately.
tamara stared at the fabric of her shirt and tried not to think too hard about any of this.
unfortunately, that had never been one of her strengths.
“if this happens again, you can just come to me,” tori said eventually.
tamara immediately made a face. admitting she might have been wrong this whole time felt worse than everything else.
"thanks," the word came out so quietly that tori almost missed it.
"...was that a thank you?" tori looked entirely too pleased with herself.
"don't make me take it back."
"too late.”
and despite everything — despite the embarrassment, exhaustion, and the fact that her entire life had apparently exploded in a single afternoon, tamara found herself smiling.
a little.
which was unfortunately the exact moment the bedroom door burst open so hard it slammed into the wall.
“I GOT HERE AS FAST AS I COULD—”
tamara nearly jumped out of her skin. for half a second, her brain didn't even register who it was. beside her, tori made a sound somewhere between a curse and a yelp before immediately grabbing the blanket and hauling it over both of them.
“WHAT THE FUCK?” tamara shouted.
matilda froze, noticing the state they were in.
but only for a second.
“you're okay!” she exhaled suddenly, sounding genuinely relieved.
“GET OUT!” tamara grabbed the nearest pillow and launched it across the room.
matilda dodged it effortlessly and suddenly held up a pharmacy bag. “i left work early! ell told me everything!”
“what?” tamara croaked.
“i didn't know what suppressants you took—” she shook the bag enthusiastically with a bright smile “—so i bought several.”
she sounded absurdly proud of herself.
“oh!” she shook the balloon in her other hand, making it bump harmlessly against the ceiling. “and this!”
that was when tamara and tori finally noticed the balloon floating above matilda's head.
for a second tamara didn't understand what she was looking at, while tori absolutely lost it, letting out a loud, helpless laugh.
it was one of those stupid “IT'S A GIRL” balloons for gender reveals.
except someone had carefully added an N after the A, and GIRL had been crossed out with a thick black marker. underneath it, written in ridiculously neat handwriting, was OMEGA.
IT'S A𝑁 GIRL
𝑂𝑀𝐸𝐺𝐴
“WHY WOULD YOU BRING THAT?”
“because it's exciting!”
matilda looked at the balloon.
then at tamara.
then back at the balloon.
“and i thought it would be funny. i drew the letters myself!”
“i can tell,” tamara responded dryly, considering whether it was physically possible for her to get up now and choke her to death.
and matilda beamed, like it was a compliment.
for a long, painful second, nobody spoke.
"matilda," tamara said finally, with the exhausted patience of someone seconds away from committing a crime. "do you have any idea how bad your timing is?"
matilda looked genuinely confused. “pretty good, actually. i got here reeeeaally fast."
"that's— that's not what she means," tori wheezed.
"i left work early!" matilda defended herself immediately. "i was worried!"
"you brought a balloon."
"i brought medicine too."
"you brought a balloon."
"i thought it would help the atmosphere."
"the atmosphere is actively worse."
matilda glanced between them, clearly unconvinced.
a door opened somewhere down the hallway, and a second later, ell's voice echoed through the house.
“MATILDA!”
the footsteps that followed were fast enough to suggest ell had instantly realized something had gone terribly wrong.
"oh!" matilda brightened. "hi, ellie!”
ell appeared in the doorway, took one look at the room, the balloon, the pharmacy bag, matilda's proud expression, and immediately covered her face with one hand.
she looked like she'd sprinted here straight from a natural disaster.
her hair was soaking wet, water still dripping from the ends and running down her shoulders. she had a towel wrapped around herself in a way that suggested she'd thrown it on in approximately three seconds, and there were actual wet footprints trailing behind her from the hallway.
"oh my god.”
"look what i made," matilda said, lifting the balloon.
"you're leaving."
"what?"
“right now."
and before matilda could protest, ell grabbed her by the sleeve and started physically dragging her out of the room.
"ell, i bought medicine!”
"you can leave it in the bathroom—”
"i skipped the rest of my shift!"
"very noble. OUT!”
matilda looked deeply offended and, grumbling under her breath, finally allowed herself to be herded out.
before following, ell glanced back over her shoulder.
her eyes landed on tamara.
and a slow knowing grin spread across her face.
“told you she'd be happy to help,” ell winked at her.
tamara stared at her in horror.
“okay,” she called cheerfully. “bye!”
the door started closing.
“WAIT!” tori shouted suddenly.
ell paused, glancing at her.
“tell matilda i want the balloon!”
the door shut to the sound of matilda yelling a triumphant “I KNEW IT!"