She didn't know if she was describing her feelings well. She was just drawn to Theo and she did rather enjoy his prescence. She continued to rub his back as she thought about the things she enjoyed about Theo. It was easier to list small things she enjoyed about the man rather than big things. He had a great smile, he cared for everyone equally, he managed looking over the whole gang, he approached everything with an open mind...he never judged and he never rejected anyone from the gang, not even scrawny her that didn't know a single thing about fighting.

So she just stayed quiet, thinking about him. She knew that he was untouchable, unreachable along the relationship status. There was something he was hiding, something about relationships. She wasn't exactly what but that was okay. She just wanted to be friends, she didn't want a relationship. Not after hers went so horribly last time. She just wasn't ready. It was the same reason why she had been so upset with Taurus kissing her. She wasn't ready.

"There's one more thing..."

She paused, hearing Nike's mumble. He sounded almost asleep.

"He's also hot."

Now that was the last thing she expected to hear from Nike. Her cheeks instantly became inflamed and she sort of just paused in everything she was thinking and doing. She was sort of frozen with how shocked she had been to hear that.

"Nike," She hissed in a low tone, feeling extremely embarrassed. She hadn't noticed the leader's attractiveness before. She had been way too invested in his personality and characteristics instead. Attractiveness was something she hardly acknowledged. She was driven more by personality.

Once, she had calmed down, she sighed and returned back to rubbing his back.

"It's not like it matters anyway. He doesn't like me like that and I don't think I'll ever be ready to date another guy again," She shook her head as she spoke,"You'd have more of a chance with him than I would."

Alleya was making a valid point, Theo and Nike were more likely to have a fling than her and Theo. She wasn't ready to date, sure a couple of make out sessions were okay but they didn't feel right. The only time she had ever made out with somebody was to try to prove to herself that was she was over ex. That was horrible but true. She had also been drunk at the time, if her actions were forgiveable for the toxins of alcohol.

She simply avoided alcohol these days. She didn't want to lose control of herself regardless of her just being a flirt. She didn't want to end up with some guy's lips on hers or in somebody's bed. She was more in control of herself than what she had been during the time she left her ex. She had changed quite a bit.

"Shut up...I doubt he’s into guys anyways. And even if that was the case I couldn’t have anything with him…”

She arched an eyebrow, grinning. So she wasn't the only one that had hots for the leader. She actually didn't mind that Nike did like him. After all, she wasn't the jealous type and if Nike wanted to shoot his shot that would be okay with her. Theo was single and attractive, it made sense for other people to like him as well.

"Well, just for the record...I've never seen Theo give a woman a second look," She commented, smirking lightly. It was true, she had been to the bar with Theo many times. Even drunk Theo didn't look at women in lustful ways. He didn't look at anyone in that sense though, but she had seen him glance toward a few men with an intrigued expression.

"You never know until you shoot your shot," She told him more quietly and serious,"Just give it a try, sometime. Worst case scenario, he says no. Best case scenario, you have yourself a hot leader to flex about."

"As for me, I'll only taser you and leave you bare ass naked tied to a flagpole," She teased with a laugh and then added with a more serious tone,"In all honesty, I'll be fine."

Of course it would hurt a little at first but she wasn't the jealous type. Theo deserves to date somebody who is nice and worthy of him. Nike was a great example of who would be best fit. She knew Nike would make the leader happy and they would compliment each other. Besides, the two would make a rather cute couple.

Alleya was just trying to help Nike. Even if her love life was pointless, his wasn't. She would honestly be fine if he and Theo would become an item. She knew her and Theo was an idea meant for fantasy books.So she would be okay. Besides Nike deserved to be happy.

"I can't Alleya, it wouldn't work out."

She frowned a little at his statement. The man didn't even want to try. As tempting as it was to pressure Nike into a relationship, she decided against it. She wouldn't mention anything to Theo about it and she wouldn't try to mingle in their relationship.

"Alleya? Don't mention this to Theo…"

She heard him say sleepily and gave a nod. She realized that her friend wouldn't be able to see the nod so she sighed,"I promise...as long as you give it a chance sometime."

She gave his shoulder a squeeze and then stood up once he had been silent for awhile. She figured Nike was asleep which meant she was free to have her normal evening talk with Theo. Of course, at this point she was getting pretty tired herself. The cold bath had faded, leaving her with the familiar exhaustion state as before.

"Goodnight, Nike. Don't let the bed bugs bite," She whispered as she snuck off to Theo's room.

_______

Theo and Alleya had talked for about an hour or two until she had drifted asleep in his bed. The gang leader did enjoy the company of an old friend but Alleya wasn't always the best company. She could be rather annoying at times and way too touchy. But of course, he knew this came from a caring nature.

The whole time while she was with him, Theo couldn't help but wish that her presence had been Nike's instead. He couldn't help but be slightlly curious about the newbie and want to get him more. Besides, Nike had a calming nature to his presence while Alleya's was always a bit much. He found himself longing for the quiet, calming company instead.

Before Alleya fell asleep she kept on mentioning how great a friend Nike was and hearing about that side of the man dd make Theo crave to spend more time with him. Alleya also mentioned the importance of waking Nike up in three hours. Checking the clock, the gang leader gave a sigh. It was about three hours since Alleya had come into the room. Should he wake her up to go wake Nike? What should he do?

After thinking it over, Theo had to admit that he wanted to check up on his gang anyway. He wanted to make sure chores were done and maybe get a few hours of shut eye. The Tylenol was really making him drousy and with Alleya stretched out on his bed, he had nowhere to sleep but with the gang.

So he snuck out the room quietly and closed his door so Alleya wouldn't be disturbed. He made his way to the gang, discovering that a majority of them were asleep. There was a few awake and talking amongst themselves in a whisper. And of course, the night guards keeping watch inside and outside. All the chores were done too even with two members not being assigned a chore. The gang did alway know how to adapt quickly to things like that.

With everything checked on, the gang leader moved to sit down on Alleya's empty sleeping spot. He leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms and closing his eyes. For a moment, he was brought back to his first memories of the gang and his first night. It had been memorable, all the energy and fun. The gang had partied and celebrated the arrival of a new member the whole night.

"Hey, Nike," He opened his eyes and turned to the sleeping man beside him. He reached out and nudged his shoulder,"You wanted somebody to wake you up?"

Theo was still not sure why Nike would want to wake up so early. Especially after his long journey. But still, he respected Aleta's and Nikes wishes. Alleya had been pretty desperate to tell him that Nike needed to be woken up so he respected that, not that he wouldn't question why in his head.

The man's hand suddenly flashed out. For a moment, he thought Nike was going to hit him but instead the hand just held onto his wrist. He gasped a little, biting his bottom lip and squeezing his eyes shut. Where Nike grabbed had been exactly on an area that has been burned. All the gang leader could do was sit there, frozen in the intense amount of pain he was in.

Suddenly, the hand on his wrist let go and he quickly jerked his hand away, rubbing the area that had been grabbed. Pain was pulsing from his wrist into his hand and elbow. He looked away from the gray-haired man to hide the pain he was in. He heard the apology and gave a curt nod, not trusting himself to say anything. He didn't want the gang or Theo to realize how much his burns hurt him. If he did that, it would make himself appear weak.

"Um… Do you need my help with anything? I’ve slept now so I'm good to go."

Theo took a couple of deep breaths as the pulsing pain faded enough where he could turn to look at the newbie. He studied the man's expression with mild curiosity. How could he be thinking about doing anything with only three hours of sleep? Not that Theo got much sleep himself, but at least the gang leader had a good excuse not to.

"Nope there isn't anything to be done at this time," He told the man with a shake of his head,"I'd rather see you rest before you start seeing three of me."

This was true, there was nothing left to do in the gang. Everything had been done on time despite less gang members. He didn't want to tell Nike to get a head start on tomorrow's things because he was a firm believer that the man needed rest.

"Alleya ranted herself to sleep in my bed," He said with a small chuckle,"She was going off on a tangent about what a great guy you are so I supposed everything is okay between you."

Theo was a little concerned with why the gray-haired man wasn't fast asleep at this time but more concerned with how Nike had grabbed him. This behavior was all the signs of a troubling sleep pattern, which was something he was well familiar with. It did spark concern and curiosity with what was going on but it could be anything. For Theo, it was memories of his past. Of his father taking a whip to him. That's what kept him awake. With that, he also knew better than to push Nike to tell him so instead he decided to let it go.

He gave a disbelieving snort toward the man when he said he was fine. A normal fine person wouldn't be able awake after a long journey. They also wouldn't have asked to be woken up precisely three hours later. Everything Nike was doing wasn't seeming fine behavior.

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself that," He muttered, not really wanting him to hear. He wasn't falling for whatever Nike was trying to pull. He watched as the man leaned back against the wall beside him. He still looked rather exhausted.

"I can't seem to stay mad at her, and I quite like her even if she can be a bit much."

Theo would agree on that statement That described Alleya well. She was sort of like a magnet, once you got to know her it was easy to be drawn into her. Besides she was funny, friendly, and despite liking to talk a lot she could be a really good friend. Just a friend though.

"If there's nothing to do, can I go out and get cigarettes?”

Now cigarettes was something that Theo didn't keep around. He didn't encourage substances like that because some members came from an addictive past or household Cigarettes and booze was something a gang had to buy on their own. Flynn had kept it that way too but she did that because she didn't support smoking or drinking in gangs.

As for him, he didn't really care. It was a personal choice to do those things and as long as it was done responsibly, he didn't mind. He had never smoked before so he personally didn't get the hype. He could understand having a little adult beverage time to time more.

Giving a nod toward Nike, he stood up and offered the man his hand.

"I'll go with you. I haven't been out for some fresh air...well for the longest time...not on gang duties that is," He gave a small smile and waited for his hand to be taken.

He wasn't about to let Nike go out on his own. Not since the Rebels and surely not in his exhausted state. He doubted the man could even through a punch much less one to actually defend himself. Besides, at this point he had given up on trying to make the man sleep. Eventually he would wear himself out.

"Since I obviously can't make you sleep without a good punch," He teased lightly, letting a smirk slide onto his face.