It was 3 PM. 

Leo gathered his things fast and got out. Miss the bus and he'd be stuck there for another twenty minutes, and he was done with this place for the day. The cicadas were going and the sun caught him full in the face the second he hit the street. He thought of Jared's exclamation from that morning. Yeah, it really was disgustingly hot. He was reaching for his headphones when a familiar weight landed on his shoulders and Jared pressed his cheek against the side of his face.

"Where are you gooooing?" he asked, dragging the vowel out like a five-year-old.

Leo tried to shake him off. It didn't work.

"Let go of me. I have to go home." His tone was too calm, which was apparently an invitation, because Jared immediately tried to climb on his back. Leo shoved him with his shoulder, hard enough that Jared almost went sideways. "Jared. I'm serious. I have to go home."

The blonde whined.

"It's so early. You're just going to study and the last exam isn't even until next week!"

Leo turned to face him.

"Jared. For the thousandth time. I cannot waste time the way you do. My family isn't rich and I'm not an ultra-dominant alpha. I actually have to perform well, including on the last exam."

"Boring," Jared said, in a cheerful tone.

"Hey, wait up!"

North, jogging to catch them. Jared greeted him like he hadn't seen him in months, then turned straight back to Leo and threw his arm around his shoulders again.

"Are you coming to the party? It's tomorrow!"

North fell into step on the other side, equally enthusiastic.

"Yeah, are you coming, Leo?"

Leo looked at them both. He sometimes genuinely wondered if either of them had functioning brain cells.

"No."

They both looked surprised. Which somehow made it worse. Hadn't he said this, multiple times? Jared tilted his head, eyebrow raised.

"Leo's saving himself for someone special."

Leo smiled and nodded without missing a beat.

"Virgin Leo," North added.

"Yes," Leo confirmed, completely unbothered.

Jared and North exchanged a look.

"How do you just — say that?"

Leo shrugged.

"At least I don't need pheromones to get someone into bed."

North looked offended.

"The omegas at those parties go there for that."

Leo's eyes narrowed.

"You know damn well I'm not talking about the parties. Don't play dumb."

He turned and kept walking. He heard Jared shove North and tell him to drop it. Both of them had history with Leo on this exact subject and Leo's position as Junior Supervisor meant it wasn't just personal. Monitoring student conduct, especially from those with enough power to make life difficult for weaker students, was technically part of the job.

Jared caught up and put his arm back around Leo's shoulders. His hand settled at the back of his neck. His lips brushed Leo's ear.

"You should come at least once. We could spend the rut together."

A shiver moved through Leo's body. He glanced sideways. Jared was laughing. Leo felt something twist in his stomach, something familiar.

Jared meant it differently. Leo knew that. But somewhere underneath everything, he would have loved nothing more than to spend the rut with Jared, even though he hadn't experienced one yet.

The truth was, Leo had been hopelessly in love with Jared for years. Since that first day in fifth grade.

It had been love at first sight.