Chapter 25: Too Fast

The weekend ended too fast. Before we knew it, Jay was pulling up in front of our homes and bidding us goodnight. We were both pretty tired, dozing off in the car on the ride back.

"Goodnight," I yawned to Bokuto, shuffling my feet towards the house. My fingers fumbled over the keys, trying to find the right one.

"Night Baby Bird," He said, his voice low and serious. He walked slowly towards his own home, but not out of sleepiness. He didn't know what to expect behind that door. And he wasn't eager to find out.

I went into the house and went straight to my room. I didn't even turn on the lights. I dropped my bags down and flopped onto my bed. Me and Bokuto already showered and changed into PJ's before we left so we could just go straight to bed. That was a wonderful idea. I began to tuck myself under my blanket, when I heard a tapping at my window.

I sat up, hesitant at first, but once hearing the hooting, I knew it was Bokuto. I got up, went over to the window and opened it. "What is it?" I asked in a hushed tone. His dad was supposed to be gone already.

He started climbing through the window saying, "Stupid drunk missed his flight." He closed the window behind him and locked it as he went on, "He'll be catching the next one tomorrow. Should be done by the time you get home from school." He flopped down on my bed, pulling himself under the cover, "Mom wants you to come over for dinner tomorrow." He smiled a little now saying, "I think she's missed you."

"Is she okay," I asked as I sat down on the edge of my bed. I want to kick him out of my bed but now doesn't seem like the time.

"She's been worse," He breathed. He lifted the blanket inviting me in saying, "Come on, I'm tired."

"Me too, so get out of my bed."

He began to pout saying, "Come on Baby Bird, just tonight." He grabbed my arm pulling saying, "I just want something to be how it should."

I let out a small huff, "You saying we should be together."

"Feels like it," He sat up, and wrapped his arm around me. He pulled me down to the bed saying, "Come on, go to sleep Baby Bird."

I didn't fight him, I laid down beside him crawling under the covers. I didn't try to move away from his closeness. I stayed, I let him kiss me and hold me tight and whisper goodnight.

And felt like this was something that should be.

...

When the knocking sounded at my door a shout up from my pillow shouting, "I'm up!"

Then the door cracked open. Quickly I pulled the covers over the sleeping owl as she stepped into the room.

"Hurry along now," Mrs. Ito smiled, "And be sure to call Bokuto. Let him know breakfast is waiting."

"Yes, Mrs. Ito." I nodded nervously. It was so obvious that he was here. If she were taller than she would be able to see over me and see the lengthy lump beside me.

She smiled, and the moment the door closed, Bokuto shot up laughing softly.

"Shut up," I said quickly, pushing him back. But the push did nothing. He was so much stronger than me. He pushed himself forward, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me back to the bed.

"You are going to get me on the next plane to America."

"Told you. I'm going to college in America so I'll see you again."

"You do know America is pretty big," I chuckled, prying myself from him and going over to my closet.

"I'll find you," He smiled, stretching out on my bed, "I'm sure of it."

And there he was, the confidence, grinning, contagious, Bokuto I know. With a smile that spread from his lips to mine.

"Go home Bokuto," I tried to keep my voice down.

He finally got out of my bed, but he did not go to the window. He came to me, placing a kiss on my cheek.

"See you soon," he smiled, before backing away to the window.

He ducked out and I closed it and locked it. Quickly I changed. I went to the bathroom to handle my business.

By the time I came out, there was a knock at the door. "I got it," I said, hurrying over to the door.

Mrs. Ito was in the kitchen as usual, Mr. Ito in front of the TV. As usual. Both of their eyes away from the door, allowing Bokuto the opportunity to take a quick glance into the house before grabbing my hand and pulling me to him.

He grinned so boldly, eyes eager as he lifted my chin, for my eyes to meet his. He kissed me, soft, but deep and as usual, too brief.

He pulled away saying, "Thanks for this weekend."

He stepped around me and into the house booming, "Good morning Mr. And Mrs. Ito."

After the whispers of this morning and last night, I forgot how loud he could be.

I closed door and sat beside Bokuto at the table. Mrs. Ito smiled good morning before handing over plates of eggs and toast.

"I packed some food for the both of you but Bokuto's mother insists that you have dinner over there tonight, so save room after practice."

"I'm sure I'll be plenty hungry after practice. Weight lifting day." I huffed, my least favorite day. Yeah, I have a powerful swing, but I'm not a lifter. My muscles only work when they need to, and repeatedly lifting heavy things is not something they like to do.

"Nothing wrong with getting a little stronger Baby Bird," said before digging in.

Mrs. Ito only grinned and left us to our meal with our lunches packed and set on the table. We ate in silence, with small glances flicking between us. We finished, and Mrs. Ito took our dishes and we were gone. A more quiet morning, but a comfortable silence. Nothing felt wrong, there was no tension. Just, feeling as how it should.

And the feeling moved with us throughout the day. At least until we went to our own separate practices. We girls sat in a circle stretching when Hina said, "Hey Aimi, you know I called you a few times this weekend. Me and some of the girls wanted to hang out, but you seemed so busy."

Her head was down again, and her voice was low as she said, "I was with a friend." And there she went again, turning a shade of pink. I couldn't help but smile a bit at her blushing. It happens everytime she thinks of KJ, everytime!

"Ooo," said one of the other third years, "Was this a boyfriend?"

"Out with Bokuto again, huh?" Said another girl.

"No," Aimi shook her head, blushing even more now, making me laugh a little. I stopped immediately, remembering where I was. After a weekend of freedom and smiles, I'm back to my entrapment of misery. I can't smile here. I can't be happy without them trying to break me down.

Hina eyes snapped to me then back to the blushing Aimi, "Or with a girlfriend? My my my, no wonder you and Big Mac are always whispering off in the corner together. Better keep an eye on these two in the locker room."

"You got it wrong," I said, more for Aimi's behalf than mine. I could care less what they think I'm into. But still the girls laughed, and Aimi's head dropped so low that I couldn't see her face. And this is my fault. I wanted her in my corner, and now I have her and she faces the same battle I do. I feel bad, yes. But this weekend, all the smiles and free spoken joy, that's my fault too. And I do not feel bad for that. Not at all.

Now she must play the same game as me. Saving all the good in her life for outside these walls.

Though once practice was coming to a close, I couldn't bear to see her looking so down. Not after seeing the smiles she was capable of.

As we put the net up I asked her to help me with one of the poles. As we lifted it a smile, whispering, "I guess we're lovers now, how will I break it to Kaoru."

She started to giggle, and I went on, "I suppose I am prettier than KJ. Then again, he is quite pretty for a boy."

She still went on laughing so I kept it going saying, "But you know we have a saying in America, the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice. And I think it's safe to say that I am fairly darker than my cousin so you might be trading up in that since. Though, he is rich and I am not. Perhaps you should reconsider this choice."

"Z, will you stop!" She laughed in hush tones in the storage closet. It was nice to see her smile again. "Besides, I'd hate to steal you away from Bokuto."

I shook my head, leaning back on a stack of mats saying, "Oh no, you see me and Bokuto have a deal going on. If I don't fall for someone by the end of fall tournaments then it's me and him, but if I do fall. Well... he wishes me happiness."

"Z!"

"Yes my love?" I laughed, poking my head out the door to make sure none of the girls were around. She kept laughing and I just said, "Well sorry to leave you my dear, but I must be on my way."

I rushed out of the closet and towards the gym doors. Snickering from some of the girls on the team, but whatever. Now that I've seen Aimi smile freely, I hate to see that taken away from her.

I slid my jacket on and rushed over to the boys gym, knowing they were waiting on me to go to the weight room. We made our way there and broke up to do our own things. And since I don't know what I'm doing, Bokuto sticks with me, pushing my lazy little arms to the max.

I was relieved when he sent me to do leg presses. My legs are strong, they can take it. Although the bike ride home might be a little painful after jumping so much today on top of the leg presses. But I can take it... Or at least I thought.

A sharp pain fell to my left thigh. I tried to push through it to finish my set, but a soft groan left my lips. I was trying to be quiet. To not seem like a girly wimp amongst guys. But Bokuto noticed, he always notices. He was working with some dumbbells near me. He let them hang at his side as he looked to me, slightly smiling as he said, "If it hurts just stop."

I let my legs bend, letting loose the weight, but bending my leg so much just made my thigh ache more. I couldn't help but let out a groan of pain.

"Woah," Bokuto said, setting his weights down and rushing over to me, "Baby Bird, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine," I lied, swinging my legs off my machine. I began to stand but the pain pushed its way deeper into my thigh. My left leg lifted from the floor, taking my weight off of it, "Ah," I cried.

Before I could even manage a second hop on one leg, Bokuto had already grabbed me. He threw one of my arms around his neck and scooped me into him at the waist. He was practically carrying me over to a bench in the center of the hot weight room. He sat me down with my left leg extended. He sat beside me saying, "You probably pulled a muscle. Where does it hurt?" He was already pulling my left leg onto his lap.

I rubbed the outside of my left thigh, where the pain was set.

He moved closer to me, until my thigh rested on his lap. His hands made his way to the skin of my outer thigh. Rubbing it deeply with his warm hands. "You can't push yourself too hard," he smiled, "Then you'll be no good to any of us."

"Yeah, well you owe me a ride home," I said, trying to be as casual as him, trying to my no mind to the warming sensation that tingled within me at the touch of his hands.

He smiled deeper now saying, "I think I can manage that."

One of his teammates looked over to us, a few of them did honestly. I tried not to notice them, but one of them called out, "Hey captain, think I pulled a muscle too. Think you can help me out?"

"Ah shut up," Said another, "You know he's just doing that to get some cheap feels on Z. Perv."

"Hey! I am not a perv!" Bokuto shouted, he tensed up a bit when he did so. I don't think he noticed that his hand crept upward on my thigh. I had to fight the urge to pull back. Then, I had to fight the urge to move closer.

"Practice is over, go home," Bokuto announced with a pouting face.

"Classic perv move, trying to get alone with the lady. Honestly Bokuto, you could at least try to be more subtle."

"So what I'm hearing is you want practice to continue then? I'm sure you can stay, while we all head home." I took my leg off Bokuto's lap and stood. Now able to put a little more weight on it than before, "Be sure to lock up," I held my hand out towards Bokuto but kept my eyes on the last one to speak, "Bokuto the keys?"

The boy put his hands up in a surrender and left the weight room. As did the rest of the team.

Bokuto stood at my side asking, "Can you walk?"

"Stings a little but yeah," I admitted.

"Well you gotta keep using it so it doesn't go stiff." We grabbed our stuff. I put my bookbag on but before I could grab my volleyball bag, he grabbed it, throwing it over his shoulder saying, "I got it."

After locking up the weight room, we went back to our bikes and when I started to unlock mine he said, "Oh no you don't. I owe you a ride, remember?"

"I was joking."

"I'm not," he said as he mounted his bike, "Get on."

"This means we have to walk tomorrow," I said, getting on to the back rack of his bike.

"Or I could just give you a ride to school tomorrow too."

"Yeah, while everyone's watching," I rolled my eyes, "Next thing you know you'll be trying to kiss me in the hall."

He shrugged as I grabbed onto him, "Maybe. You know fall tournaments are only a week away."

I do know this. But I've been trying not to think about it. This will be my first time playing in the tournaments with a real team. The first time I get to prove that I actually belong here, and I pray I don't screw this up.

Bokuto got us back home and stopped the bike in front of the Ito home saying, "Why don't you take a shower then come over. Wait for me to text you though, make sure the guys actually gone this time."

"Got it," I said as I turned to the house. I did exactly what he said. I took a hot shower, letting the water ease the rest of the tension out of my muscles. I threw on a casual dress that dropped down to just above my knee, with sleeves.

When I went back to my room I grabbed my phone off my bed seeing a thumbs up emoji sent from Bokuto. I'm guessing that means it's all clear for me to come over. I grabbed my bookbag and went out the door ensuring Mrs. Ito that I'd be back. As if she actually worried. She felt that nothing could go wrong as long as I was with Bokuto.

I walked next door, thinking about the homework our teacher had assigned us. We just did that big presentation and already he gives us homework. Can't let us get a break.

I knocked gently, and the door opened immediately. Bokuto smiled when seeing me, but his smile dropped a bit when his mom called out, "Is that Zara?"

"Don't stare," he said quietly to me and only me, before grinning wide again, "Yeah!" He stepped aside, allowing me to step into the house. I slid my shoes off and Mrs. Bokuto stepped out into the hall to greet me. She rushed in so quickly I wasn't even able to take in what I was supposed to be not staring at.

She pulled me into a hug saying, "Oh it's so good to have you over again."

"It's nice to be welcomed back," I said cheerfully, and it was nice to be back in the Bokuto household.

She pulled back, smiling still as she said to me and Bokuto, "Dinner is almost ready," and then I saw it. The way her face swelled up, the bruising on her arms. It was clear by looking at her, what kind of man she's married to. But I just smiled and said, "Come on Bokuto, let's get started on some of this homework while we wait."

I took his hand and pulled him towards his bedroom. He let out a groan saying, "We just got out of school," but followed me into the room anyway.

Once in his room, I set my bag down on the floor and sat down beside it. Bokuto dragged his bag over and stretched out on the floor saying, "Do we have to do homework?"

"You wanna go to school in America?"

"Yes."

"Then yes."

He groaned, unzipping his bag and pulling out his math folder, "Aren't American school corrupt and stuff. Lying for athletes."

He does have a point. But I just pulled out my math folder and we got to work, finishing math and English work before dinner was done. All that was left was to review some Japanese vocabulary and we'd be done for the night.

"Kōtarō, Zara, come eat," His mom called out from the kitchen.

"Coming," we both said. We started out of Bokuto's room, but he stopped at the door, turning back to grab something. He pulled a piece of paper from his bag and went with me to the table.

He sat beside me, across from his mother and set the paper down saying, "Mom, I need you to sign this. I have a training camp this weekend. We're leaving Thursday night and coming back Sunday."

"Then tournaments on Monday," His mother smiled, taking the paper from him, "You two ready to bring home the win?"

"You know it," Bokuto boomed.

Shyly, I just said, "I'll try." Don't wanna make any promises I can't keep. Then it hit me. Bokuto would be gone, the weekend before the tournament!

"Wait! If you're gonna be gone before the tournament, then what am I supposed to do?"

Him and his mother laughed at this, but I am so serious. I guess, I'll just have to go to aunt Bri's house this weekend or something.

"Miss me," Bokuto laughed.

"Well that's a given," I rolled my eyes, stabbing my spoon into my bowl of stew.

"Maybe hang out with your team," His mother suggested.

I shrugged, knowing that's probably not the best idea. They'll probably tie me up and lock me in a closet until the tournaments are over, just to prove that they don't need me.

Though, now more than ever, we could probably use some team bonding.