Chapter 12: Jungle Pool S.O.S

The moment we were inside, it was like we were transported to a tropical island. I've been here several times, but it always feels nice. Feeling the heat on my skin, smelling the salt water in the air. The sounds of tropical birds in the trees all around us. It's not like the real thing, but it's close enough.

Everyone else was filled with ooo's and ahhh's and looking around taking in the surroundings. "What is this place?" One of the girls from my team asked.

"My aunt's friend owns the place. He should he around here somewhere," I said stepping into the park, "Mr. Ootori?" I called out.

He was a hut near the door that he came out of, smiling as he pushed up his glasses, "Zara, you made it. How was the game?"

"We won of course," I smiled.

"Well keep it up, if you and your friends enjoy yourselves I'd be happy to invite you back. Perhaps as a victory celebration."

"You're on!" Bokuro said loudly, his eyes looking around in wonder.

Kyoya nodded smiling, "I'm looking forward to it. Now, we've added a beach volleyball section just for you all to enjoy yourselves. Please keep an eye on the time, there are schedules posted throughout the place stating the times for scheduled tide waves. I wouldn't recommend being in deep waters when they happen. Final thing, have some renovations going on. I would recommend staying out in the open, close to the pools. Wouldn't want any of you wondering off into the trees and landing in some trouble. With that being saying, go have fun." He turned with a wave, walking back into his hut.

"Thank you," We all muttered.

Then the second Kyoya closed the door, the boys took off running towards the pools, tugging their shirts off and tossing them on chairs and tables they passed before jumping into one of the pools, each of them making a splash.

So easy for them, just rip their shirts off and jump in, while us girls have to actually put on swimsuits. "Come on, the changing room is this way," I said, walking down a small path towards another hut. I didn't really check to make sure they followed, sort of just assumed they were there, if not, their fault, I was pretty clear.

I walked into the changing room and went straight for a stoll. I heard the other girls shuffling in, but paid no mind to them. Just changed into my yellow two piece, grabbed my towel and went out to join the guys, trying to be quick enough that no one would say anything about anything to me.

I made it out, realizing that I had been holding my breath while I was in there. Those girls are literally suffocating to be around. But I just head out into the open, searching for the pool Bokuto has found himself in. I didn't find him though, at least not at first. First I was the squirming Akaashi in his arms, being lifted from the ground and carried over to a pool. He was thrown over Bokuto's shoulder. Bokuto was already dripping wet, yet Akaashi was bone dry. Well besides the parts of him that touched Bokuto's wet skin.

"Put me down you dumbass!" Akaashi called out, even when flustered he still looked so calm.

Bokuto smiled wide saying, "Oh, I'ma put you down," as he marched closer to the pool.

"Put him down, Bokuto," I called out in a laugh. Quickly I moved over to them and Bokuto turned towards me and wooo...

I didn't know a highschooler could be this cut. He was lean, his waist was tight but shoulder broad and every muscle so defineded. From his chest, to his abs, to the V line that showed at the brim of his dripping shorts.

"Come on Baby Bird," My eyes shout up from that V line to his beaming face, "He's the only one still dry."

"Well," I heard Akaashi say, "Zara is still dry."

Bokuto's eyelids lowered as he looked at me. His grin shifted to a side smile as his wet hair flopped around his face. "Oh yeah." He said in a low voice. He released Akaashi, who stood the with his arms crossed showing no regret for what he has done. He just watch as Bokuto clear the gap between us in to quick steps and scooped me over his shoulder the way he carried Akaashi.

"Bokuto," I grunted.

He sort of bounded me on his shoulder saying, "Wow, you're light." He turned walking back toward the pool. Akaashi stood there with a smug grin waving. I stuck my middle finger up, and plugged my nose, just waiting for the plunge. There was no use in fighting him. I didn't have enough time, strength, or allies to win this.

I felt him jump from the edge of the pool, and I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the water.

We plunged under. Once fully submerged he let me go, allowing me to swim back to the top on my own. I popped up first, waiting for Bokuto to pop up, giving him no time to catch his breath before splashing him in the face.

"Hey," He shouted, trying to block the splashes with his hands, "Cut it out."

"Great, I'm wet now. Satisfied?"

From the grin that showed on his face, I realized that I probably should have gone with better wording.

"Well you know I have that effect on girls sometimes," he said, trying to keep his voice low but he ended up chuckling through it anyways, with a stupid side smile on his face that desevered another splash.

He spit the water from his mouth saying, "Stop doing that."

But I didn't. I just did it again. He dragged his hand across his face to wipe the water off and it looked like he was going to say something else, so I did it again. His eyes were still closed as he said, "I didn't even say anything!" Then I splashed him again. This time allowing myself to chuckle.

"You done?" He asked, peeking just one eye at me, hands still up covering most of his face.

I thought about it, went for one more splash before saying, "Now I'm done."

"I didn't even do anything," he laughed.

"Nope, bad owl. You're not allowed to make jokes like that."

"Bad owl?" He questioned, still with a grin on his face.

"Yes," I nodded, "very bad birdy."

He swam closer smiling, "Well your birdy is sorry."

I back paddled, putting some distance between us. This guy has no boundaries and I suddenly wish I had picked a one piece suit to wear. I hadn't thought about how touchy he is before exposing so much skin. Hadn't thought about his hands on my bare skin, those strong arms around wrapping around me.

Nope. Hadn't thought about it at all, until now. And now, it's a little hard to decide if I want that or not. I keep telling people that there's nothing between Bokuto and I but...

People don't look at people like this, if there's nothing.

His smile was slightly pushed to one said and his eyes were low. At least for a moment, before his eyes crept up to my hair.

His eyes then widened in excitement again asking, "Hey what's up with your hair? It was like cotton candy before, now it's like, curly."

I huffed, "My hair is curly. Just very tiny curls. More like coils really. So I just pick it out all the time and wear a puff."

I noticed the floppiness of my water filled hair. The only time it every really goes down is when it's drenched with water or heavy creams. So I don't even bother try to get it to go down. My hair wants to be up, I let it be up. But now it wants to be down, so I reached up, freeing it from its shoelace entrapment.

Still it didn't fall, so I plugged my nose and plunged my head under the water. Letting the water just soak in, weighing down my hair.

I popped back up from the water, with my hair falling down my back. The ends of it still floating at the top of the water.

His face shifted to confusion now. He titled his head to one side saying, "Wait, I thought you had short hair."

"Not really," I shrugged, "It's just this annoying little thing called shrinkage. Regardless of how long my hair is, it always looks the same length. Unless it's like, soaking wet."

He stared for a while before coming to the conclusion of, "Your hair is weird."

"Your hair is weird," I snapped back, but still taking it lightly. My hair is weird, I'm still trying to figure it out myself and I've had this hair all my life.

Bokuto just laughed and started to swim around. And I tried to figure out what to do with my shoelace now that it's not holding my hair. I took it and began wrapping it around my wrist until I got to the ends of it, then struggled to try and tie the ends into a knot with just one hand.

Bokuto noticed my struggle and swam over, taking my hand saying, "Let me." He tied the shoelace around my wrist, but while doing so asked, "You hold your hair with a shoelace?"

I shrugged saying, "Normal hair ties break in my hair."

Shaking his head he just said, "weird."

I couldn't help but laugh as I said, "Says the boy with the frosted tips. Didn't somebody tell you that went out in the early 2000's?"

Again he got closer. This time I didn't move, "You still like my hair." He shook it a little, letting water droplets fly from his frosted tips, everywhere.

I raised my hands to shield my face until he stopped with a big laugh. Seeing him now, his black and white hair stuck to his face as he laughed with his eyes closed. Just pure joy. Contagious, like everything else about him. Of course I had to laugh with him.

I let my hands do what they wanted, which was to push the wet hair from his face, pushing back, feeling the soft strands on my fingers.

His eyes opened at my touch. Seeming both excited, yet soft as his eyes met mine. He didn't shy away, but I did. Pulling my hands away from him, looking down to the water and I pushed back away from him slightly. There are people all around us in other pools, yet it seems like it's just us. And I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

"Hey, Bokuto!" I heard a girl someone call from behind me.

I quickly put more space between me and Bokuto before turning around. Seeing two girls from my team calling him at the edge of the pool. They seemed to look straight through me, only looking at Bokuto.

"Hey, we were gonna start up a game of volleyball, you in?"

"Oh yeah," Bokuto said excitedly. He swam towards the end of the pool saying, "Come on Z."

I clearly didn't get an invite. I hear it. He heard it too. But he called me along as if he didn't care, as if we were a package deal. So I followed him to the edge of the pool, and ignored the looks of the girls as they stared me down.

He climbed out first, then reached down for my hand. I grabbed the edge of the pool and reached for his hand. He pretty much pulled me from the pool on his own with just one hand. How strong is this guy?

And how long are his eyes going to stay on me? As he pulled me from the water, his eyes seemed to catch every bit of me. His smile spread across his face as his eyes trailed everywhere but my face.

It's not like I wasn't checking him out earlier, but still. This is weird. I crossed my arms across my chest and started walking towards the court.

As I passed by the girls, they giggled, one saying, "Should have called her Big Mac."

"Yeah, look at those thighs." The other giggled.

These are the other two 3rd years on the team. Our captain, me, and these two. Making up the four 3rd years. Though it seems like the 3 of them are teaming up against me.

Yeah, they've been playing together all this time so I guess I'm throwing off their groove. Still. It's not like I'm trying to be their friend or break them up or whatever. It would just be nice if they could not be total dicks.

I'm not even big. I'm just not a toothpick like a lot of these girls.

As we approached the court, Bokuto walked straight up to Hina saying, "Captains pick." He waved an arm out to the everyone standing around the court, "Ladies first?"

"Awe man, I was hoping we can be on a team together." She said flirtatiously. "But if I can't have you, then a girl gotta have her setter."

Aimi joined Hina, moving to one side of the net. Hina stared me down, knowing it's Bokuto's first pick. She probably thinks it will be me, but she if she does. Then she doesn't know him at all.

"Akaashi!" He shouted loudly. Akaashi was nowhere near us. He seemed to have no interest in joining this game but Bokuto wasn't really giving him a choice. Akaashi sunk deeper into his lounge chair but Bokuto just screamed louder, "Akaashi, get over here!"

Aimi laughed a little saying so softly, "I don't think he wants to play."

"Oh he'll play," Bokuto said crossing his arm, staring into the back of Akaashi's head, "Your pick Hina."

"I'll take your middle blocker." She said, beckoning the tallest person in this place to join her.

"That's fine," he shrugged, still staring at Akaashi, "I'm taking yours. Z, go get Akaashi, will ya?"

"Got it," I said, gladly walking away from Hina's glare.

I walked over to Akaashi's lounge chair and seated myself at the foot of it. He sat with his head back and his arms folding across his chest. Content in his spot. I wouldn't have a problem with this, but Bokuto does.

"Come on Akaashi. You know Bokuto's not gonna shut up until you play. Besides, you owe me for taking that plunge for you." I said, reminding him of the sabotage he set me up for.

"You didn't seem to show much protest." He said, in his matter-a-fact tone.

I rolled my eyes and said, "because it's no use fighting him. He's way too strong and he's a cry baby, now let's go." I stood up, slapping his legs.

He grunted sitting up, his dark eyes finally looking at me. Coldly, but I didn't flinch. I've seen worse. "You owe me." I said, crossing my arms now. "Fair is fair."

He huffed, as he threw his legs over the edge of the chair, placing his feet on the floor. "You really are his baby bird. Growing to be just like him."

"Is that a bad thing," I questioned.

He stood up, grunting, "Guess we'll find out."

He's on his feet. Great! I smiled, turning back to the courts. By the time we got there, the teams were made. Three boys and three girls on each team to make it fair.

One of the 3rd years from my team was with us, playing back center. Where she typically is. She is the libro after all. It would be easier to dislike these girls if they weren't so good at their jobs. A first year from my team was also in the back row. She was training to become a setter. And a second year from the boys team. Bokuto pulled together a pretty good group. Not to say Hina didn't have a good one either. For all of her boy picks, she went with the biggest guys on the team. She placed two of them up front with Aimi, and went to her comfort zone in the back.

I saw a grin form on Bokuto's face as he locked eyes with her. "Ready, Hina?"

"Ready," she smiled back.

She must have seen Bokuto's grin as a flirtatious one. But me, I see it as the grin of a challenge. He wasn't planning on holding back this game. To be honest. I fear for my teammates who say I play too aggressively. If Bokuto here gets too excited, he might take their arms off.

Would be nice to see. But I do need these girls. Guess I'll have to keep an eye on him. Though, it might be hard for me to keep my eyes off of him. How is this guy so toned? Is there even an oz of fat on him?

"Go head, serve first," He encouraged them, backing away from the net to receive. I did the same, ready for the first serve.

My feet sunk into the sand pit and I remembered now, that I'm not the biggest fan of sand volleyball. It makes jumping so difficult. I can never get as high as I want. And running in sand is not as easy as Baywatch makes it look. It's straining on the muscles to move on such unstead ground. But, it's a lot softer to dive in. But... a big pain to get out of my hair. My kinks seem to wrap themselves around anything that touches it.

But none of that matters now. I'm on the court, the ball is coming and my team is ready.

The serve was up, the ball received beautifully and the first hit went to Bokuto, the great old himself. Who knocks it out the court.

"Damn it," he snarled, eyes so eager, yet a smile still on his face. He didn't even put 70% into that one. He wasn't even trying at all, and still out, zooming past one of the girls, makes her flinch out of the way.

This guy.

"The net is lower than you're used to," Akaashi pointed out, "I'll have to adjust."

"I know, I know," he said backing up to receive, "Next points ours!"

Servers up, Akaashi sent the next one to me for a quick. The block was slow, I was able to hit a straight down before the boys club middle blocker could stop me. 6'2, he's got an inch on Bokuto but he's not as fast as him, and not as fast as me.

Hina dived for it. Hitting the sand along with the ball. She looked so pissed as she looked up at me. Naturally I want to go to the blank stares I give at practice. Showing no emotion at all but. Bokuto does not allow for that, "Hey, hey, hey," he shouted, holding his hands up for a double five.

I hit his hands grinning, "Next time, get your own point back."

"Oh. I will," he smiled, before turning to the other side of the net, "Our serve!"

...

Bokuto did not get back every point he missed. It was taking him longer to adjust to both the new height and the sand. His timing was off on most of his hits and he was getting more and more agitated with each hit.

It was his sever now. I had already given up on trying to jump serve in sand, but he's still trying. He's not jumping as high in the sand so he's trying to adjust his toss, but this one was too low. He jumped up, having to swing close to his ear because the ball was too low.

Netball.

Bokuto was flipping out now. Pulling at his hair grunting. While Hina stood tall. Well as tall as her 5'1 body would allow.

"Don't worry," I said to Bokuto, but my eyes stayed on Hina, "We'll take the next set."

That just seemed to make Bokuto grunt even louder.

"We serve first," Hina said cheerfully.

"Of course," I shrugged, with the blank face she always gets from me.

I looked back to the pouting owl and huffed, "Come on," grabbing him by the wrist and pulling him back up to the net.

I rolled the ball back to Hina. She was up to serve first. As she went to the back line, Bokuto said in what felt like a whispered, "Akaashi."

Akaashi looked past me at Bokuto. Face looking as though he's been through this 100 times.

"Akaashi," Bokuto said softly again, "Don't toss to me anymore." His head was down and his lips were poked out. His hair flopped in front of him, covering the tops of his low eyelids.

"Fine," Akaashi said plainly.

Bokuto flinched as though he had just taken a hit.

Akaashi looked to me now saying only, "Z?"

"Got it," I said, giving a thumbs up.

Serves up, nice receive, and the ball sent to me. The substitute ace. And I can get the job done. Sending the ball for a cross court shot. It was difficult to receive but they got it, it sending it to the setter but low. Aimi had to underhand pass it to the middle blocker. They've been using him a lot. I've been coming close to the timing on his blocks. Managed to get a hand on most of them in the last set. This time, I'm ready.

I jump, getting my hand on the ball this, shutting it down.

"Nice block," Akaashi said.

"Thanks," I said.

He put a hand out and I slapped it, moving to the defence. Saying,"Our serve."

Akaashi and I held it down. Keeping a solid lead with help from our back row players and no help from Bokuto. He sorta just lingered back, always a step or two behind me every time I make a move. He seemed like a lost child.

But now, now he seemed eager, and antsy. I had just rotated into the front row. Bokuto was still back row but before, he'd be pushed to the back corner avoiding everything. Now, he was creeping up on the court. Was he ready to be back in the game?

Akaashi sent another ball to me. A quick. I managed to get to it before the block came in, giving me an open line short for Hina, who stood middle back. I took it, giving it everything I had. Her receive was unsuccessful. It spun off her arms and her teammates didn't do much to help.

"Nice kill," Said the second year from Bokuto's team.

"Thanks," I smiled, before looking back to check on Bokuto's status. His eyes were still dead, but his smooth lips turned upward in one corner, just slightly. As if he were still deciding if he wanted to be pleased or not. He returned to the front row and our original placements were here.

He was almost ready to get back in the game. Just a little more of a push. Akaashi told me this typically comes from praising him somehow. But not this time. This time someone pissed him off, on my account.

Despite her failure at receiving my last hit, she still felt bold enough to open her mouth.

"That's Skyscraper for you, built like a man, play like a man. Am I right?" She laughed, high fiving the other third year girl on her side. Both of them laughing, yet with cold eyes on me.

I gave off nothing. Not a smile or a frown. Just nothing. I've been bullied before in the past, this is nothing. But this made Bokuto's eyes narrow. His mouth sent straight as he stood tall. "Akaashi," he said, his voice sounding more serious than I've ever heard before, "Send the next one to me."

He didn't even move up for a block, he was ready for this ball. Ready to kill it and I saw his target. I saw his eyes locked on Hina. She just struggled with my hit. What will she do with a newly charged Bokuto?

Akaashi set the ball up for him, sending it high, giving Bokuto plenty of time to find his footing in the sand. The palm of his hand connected and the ball drilled into the sand right where Hina was standing a moment ago. She had moved from fright. As she should have. The ball had so much force that it dug a hole in the sand rather than bouncing off like normal. Almost half the ball was below the sand. She twisted it to get it out, looking nervously at the hole. Then at Bokuto. His face was still so serious as he stared back. "Akaashi. Another one."

"Bokuto?" I said. But he ignored me, still looking at Hina, saying, "You know captain, you really shouldn't run from those."

"Bokuto?" I tried again.

Hina sent the ball back over, and Bokuto still watched her saing, "Don't worry Baby Bird, I got this."

"Bokuto don't," I said quietly, just as the serve went up.

The boys on the team were fine. This is everyday for them. But the girls on the team seemed almost scared to send the ball back over. Aimi sent it left, hoping it would be strong enough to get past the receive. The third year libro on my team wasn't much help. Letting a fall. She knew what was to come. She was protecting Hina. And Honestly. I'm trying to as well.

Their serve went up and over, received by our back right, going straight to Akaashi, who sent it to Bokuto, just as he asked. Yet, my feet moved towards the ball too. I saw Bokuto jump, so his whole body arch back, saw him inhale, filling himself with energy, ready to release. And thankfully, he saw me, jumping between him and the net, getting my hands on the ball first, tipping it backwards, over the net behind me. I didn't even turn to see if we got the point or not. But I didn't hear the ball moving anymore.

"Z, what the hell are you doing? I could have hit you!" He seemed genuinely concerned. If he had hit me with the force he meant to put on that ball, I'd definitely be sore and bruised for days. Yet, I didn't fear that he would. I feared more, what would happen to Hina if I didn't jump in.

"You weren't going to hit me," I was actually confident of that, I watched him play enough to know, "You see everything when you're in the air and you have a ridiculous amount of control. I'm fine, but you can't go around trying to kill my teammates. It's not cool. They're not strong like you guys."

He almost laughed now, looking down to me. I didn't realize how close I was to him until now. I was trapped between him and the net.

"You receive my hits just fine."

I looked him dead in the eyes, taking away any hint of playfulness as I stated, "You don't hit like that when you hit at me."

His smile fell but his eyes stayed on me, looking more serious now. He said nothing for a while. Long enough for Akaashi to say, "I think we should call. Take a dip, cool down."

People muttered their agreements and began to shuffle off the court. I felt eyes landing on me and Bokuto as they left, but my eyes stayed on Bokuto as he said, "So you want me to do nothing?"

"When it comes to her, yes." I nodded, "Just trust me. I can handle this."

He was quiet for a long while. His amber eyes fell from mine, glancing to the sand at our feet. His frosted tips blocked his eyes as he said softly, "Fine."

"Fine what?" I asked, feeling like my mom.

He looked up grunting, "Fine, I'll let you handle it." He crossed his arms saying, "I still don't like it."

"I don't either," I shrugged, "Just got to deal with it." I turned sharply to Akaashi who was still standing there, "And you! Why would you set him up. You know him better than anyone, you knew he was trying to kill her."

Akaashi was still straight faced as he said, "You're exaggerating when you say kill. I was sort of hoping he'd just give her a fat lip. That probably would have shut her up for a while."

I sighed deeply, dropping my own head, "What am I going to do with you two?"

It was silent for a while before Akaashi said, "I'm going to cool off in the lazy river."

"Ooo, I want to go," Bokuto said excitedly, as if he didn't just try to take a girl's head off two minutes ago.

He latched his hand around mine pulling me with him. I slipped my hand out of his palm. Too many eyes and mouths around here for Boktuo's touchiness. He noticed, looking sad for a moment, but pleased that I still followed him to the lazy river, where we relaxed until it was time to go.

It was dark as we were leaving. The bus driver had a list of our addresses to drop us all off. Kyoya gave him a pretty large tip to ensure we all make it safely. He was instructed to drop me off last. Though I was tired. I slid into the seat by the window, where I had sat before. My hair was drying and shrinking up to my chin and people noticed a giggled. Though I didn't really care. My hair is one of the first things I learned to accept when it came to bullies. It's different, it's big, it's weird. That's fine. It's still mine.

Bokuto sat beside me, but the moment he sat down, he grabbed me by my waist, lifting me from my seat. First placing me onto his lap, plopping me down on the aisle side of the seat. "I call window," he grumbled, leaning back on the window, closing his eyes.

"That's all you had to say," I laughed softly.

With his eyes closed, his hand grabbed through the air, as if searching for something. I figured I knew what he wanted. With everything on the bus being so dark, I didn't mind. So, I placed my hand in his. He wrapped his hand around mine, but I guess that wasn't enough. He pulled me closer to him, wrapping an arm around my shoulder, pulling my head to his chest. I wanted to move. But it was so nice to finally lay my head down, I decided to give myself just a moment of rest. Little did I know, that a moment of rest would lead to me waking up in my bed in the middle of the night.

I fell asleep on the bus. He must have carried me in before going home. I turned sinking deeper into my pillow, falling back to sleep with thoughts of Bokuto's strong arms carrying me to bed.

Not the best thought to fall asleep to, because it could lead to dreams that I don't need to be having.