Page 54 of The Omega Archives: Part One

“I have everything I need,” she argued, though her voice was quiet as she kicked off her shoes. They tumbled along the cold, wood floorboards.

“I didn’t mean anything by it." I watched her flop down on the edge of her mattress, swaying. It looked like it was the only place to sit down. All around her underneath the small window behind her was a wall of bent paperbacks. “You have books.”

“I love books.”

My lips quirked. “I expected you to have more clothes.”

“I have enough for work.”

“You’re right.” I moved towards the kitchen and unwrapped our food, leaving her to get comfortable. It was also small, but workable. However, she definitely wasn’t hosting dinner parties any time soon unless she was serving saltine crackers and what appeared to be two different kinds of generic cereals which made me want to cringe.

They probably tasted like cardboard.

“I have plenty enough to get by. It’s not much, but it's mine.” Ella smirked as she looked around, keeping her head up high. “And Rita’s, of course.”

“I’ll get plates if you tell me where they are.”

“In the cabinet over there by the sink.”

Grabbing the only two plates out of the cabinet with a floral design, I laid out our feast before bringing it back to her room since it didn’t seem like she was moving.

No. The place wasn't much, but it was clear she was proud. “And you have a bed.”

She moved back further on her bed until she was almost tucked up against the corner. Out of the entire place, that was where the most stuff seemed to collate in the form of pillows and different patterned blankets curled up around everything.

If I wasn’t mistaken, I’d say a certain beta had a few omega tendencies.

“You know, it’s an omega habit to make things cozy like that.” I pointed towards her bed, light-hearted.

Maybe it was just how she was raised depending on what her parents' designations were. It wouldn’t be the first time betas adapted to their surroundings.

“What?” Her eyes popped up from where she looked into the bag, taking the plate I offered. “Oh, yeah? I um, I didn’t know that.”

“You’re kidding. Didn’t you take designation classes growing up?” I asked.

She pushed her pillow back again as if to be more comfortable. I sat down in front of her on the other side of the bed, not wanting to get in her space once she put a taco on her plate, dipping it into the lime crema.

Already she looked a bit better as she took a bite.

“Uh, no." She hesitated. "I was homeschooled when I was young.”

“Not even in college? I know that some schools have that nearly mandatory these days.”

“Optional for betas,” she said.

Huh.I guessed that was probably true, though I remember the class being already on my schedule pretty well. Without designation in college, I wouldn’t have met Liam.

Though I swore Prestford made it mandatory for all first years ever since it became more mainstream to come in contact with all designations in the everyday. But that was also right. Ella never went to college. Not formally.

Somehow I kept forgetting that.

I dipped my chin in a nod.

Grabbing a taco, I ate one myself. This place was definitely on the list for top take-out spots when Marko wasn't home.

By the time Ella finished her meal, I watched as her eyes started to close again in small blinks.

I smiled, watching it happen. When they popped open to look at me and then the bed, a nervousness was back and on full display that I hadn’t seen in a few days.

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