Chapter 55: Make it count

'Hey hey hey, meet me in my room,' I read through the darkness of the morning hours.

I'm already ready for morning practice, just was waiting around for Mya to say it's time to head down. She said if you go to the gym too early. You get stuck putting up the net. Which isn't something I mind.

But the way she muttered, "We ain't they slaves." Made me feel like I should mind.

Still when Bokuto's text came through, I hopped up quickly saying, "See you down in the gym Mya." I snatched my bag and left the room before she could say anything back.

I went down the hall and there he was standing outside the door, making sure I knew where he was. But his head was down in his phone so he didn't see me coming down.

"Hey hey hey," I smile, quickening my steps to reach him. I'm excited to be near him again.

He looks up from his phone and places it into his pocket. He smiles wide as he steps closer to me, swinging his bag over his shoulder, "Hey," he opens his arm to me and I fall into them letting him wrap his strong arms around me.

It feels good to be here with him. To feel his touch. It's becoming too much almost. The desire to be close to him. It's not that we sleep together every night, but we do at least hang out I think every night. Every morning. Every afternoon, and it's starting to feel like, not enough.

"You know,"  he says pulling back slightly and lifting my chin with his finger. "I think it's sexier when you say my catchphrase."

"Of course it is," I smile, leaning in to kiss him. His lips fall to mine, too sweet. He's missed me. I can feel it.

Feel the way he doesn't want to pull away, but does anyways. He kisses me for only what is publicly acceptable. Which doesn't feel acceptable at all to me. He's becoming addicting. What if he makes it here and I don't. Then we'll be apart for way more than a few hours.

I have to show I belong here.

"You ready to head down?" Bokuto asked, taking my hand in his. I nod and follow his lead as he goes on, "Coach said he wanted to talk to me before practice, something about working on my flexibility. Guess we gonna be stretching or whatever."

I laugh saying, "or Mayne working on your mental flexibility. You're very used to working with your team. When you jump onto a court without them, it takes you a while to adjust, and they don't know how to hold you together when you fall apart."

"I do not fall apart," he protest.

With a small shrug I sat, "You do. And nows probably a good time to learn to pick yourself up when you get that low." I rolled my eyes saying, "And I'm pretty sure your new captain won't be giving you much praise."

"Monty," Bokuto grunted, "Probably like me more if I broke up with you. So he can get his chance with you."

"Ew, not happening." I shake my head, "I'm with you. I'd like it to stay that way. Besides, if I can put up with a captain that hates me, then you can put up with a captain kinda doesn't like you."

"Gotta make the team first," he says looking down. Doubt. So rare for him.

"You will," I reassure him, "and I will. And we'll be here for real. Actually students at this college. Really staying in this dorm right down the hall from each other."

He moves closer to me as we make our way down the stairs. He stops, looking around before pulling my body his, he whispers, "It'd be better if you were my roommate."

I smile, heart racing as I look up at him. " I don't think they do it like that."

He shrugs and brings his lips to mine, until we hear the sound of a door opening.

He pulls back and we start down the stairs again. "Oh," he said, as we step outside into the cool winter. "I lost my roommate this morning!"

"Like you can't find him?"

"No, turns out he was gay. His boyfriend is on the distance running team. He came down to meet me and just happened to come in while I was changing. He didn't see much, but I guess it was enough for him to yell his boyfriend that he was uncomfortable with him sharing a room with me."

"Must be insecure," I shrug, but jealousy is common. I forget that sometimes. Forget that Bokuto has claimed himself to be the jealous sort.

Though for now, he seems well managed. Monty hasn't done anything really. Talked a little too politely and a little too close. But nothing truthfully.

We walk over to the large building filled with gyms and before Bokuto steps into his own gym, he kisses me one last time. "Good luck," he whispers.

"Good luck," I say back and head to my own gym.

Two nets was already up and a group of girls were in a circle passing two balls around. One ball with red stripes, the other with blue.

The girls called out, "red mine," or "blue mine," as the balls came to them. A difficult task I can imagine. At least for my team which falls mute whenever I step onto the court.

Quickly I put my court shoes on and rushed over joining the circle. "I'm in." I voice.

Right away someone calls out, "here."

I watch, watch everything. "Blue mine!"

And the game goes on. Practiced, controlled, like the goal is only to keep these two balls up. We aren't fighting against each other. We have a common challenge, don't let these balls fall.

We go, even after I hear the shouted words, "Who are you," the power and authority of the shout could only come from a coach.

"Zara Mac, red mine!" I pass the ball and keep my eyes up, "From Fukurōdani Academy, Japan."

"You're not what I expected."

"I get that a lot. I can speak Japanese if that's better?" I say, eyes on the balls, "Watashi no, Aoi," I call as the blue ball comes towards me.

A couple of the girls laugh and a smile pulls to my face. I forgot that I can be funny around girls. I forgot I can smile around girls. My team has brainwashed me and it sucks. But already, things are starting to feel more okay.

"That won't be necessary. I hear you on the same level as the high school boys."

"I practice like I am. But I'm sure your girls would give them a run for their money."

"Of course," one of the girls standing across from me said as the ball drifted towards her. She jumped for it, spiking it down towards me. It's high, I pull my shoulder back and stumble off balance to get my platform below it, dipping back just in time to get the ball up. It's low, I was not prepared. But it's up and someone got to it.

It wasn't as powerful as a murder spike from Bokuto. But it does knock me even more off balance.

"Always be ready for anything," Coach shouts.

"Yes coach," I nod.

I recover, catch my balance and move to get the next ball coming towards me.

"Alright ladies, enough. Start stretching."

"Yes coach," we all say. More voices coming from all around the gym, everyone must have made it down. And so practice starts.

At the end of practice Coach tells us, "You're in luck. The basketball team is facing off tonight. This game determines if they go to the championship, so get cleaned up, rest and cheer on our basketball team. Back to two a days tomorrow. Go," She waves us off.

But the team doesn't scatter like my team normally does. No, they all gather in a circle. As do I. They put their hands in. As do I. On three they all say, "Team."

And I feel like I'm one of them.I want to be one of them.

I change my shoes and head to the hall with Mya, who's been helping me aim my serves today. She talked me through some other strategies as stepped into the hall, which is already flooding g with athletes talking excitedly.

I feel an arm drop around my shoulder and assume it's Bokuto. I turn up smiling to see, not him, but Monty asking, "So you going to the game tonight, right?"

"Um, probably," I shrug, honestly trying to shrug his arms away, but he doesn't get the message.

"I'll save you a seat. If the team wins, party on their floor tonight," he winked at me with a smug smile on his face, "Then I can show you the full college experience."

I draw the line with him flicking a finger beneath my chin, like his little play thing. I shove him away from me, while he laughs.

Mya steps in saying, "Monty, quit playing with her. You know she got a man."

"I don't know if I'd use the word man," Monty laughs.

I just roll my eyes asking, "Where is Bokuto."

"Coach givin' him some notes. He'll meet us in the Athletics dining hall. Come on ya'll, I'm starving." He nods his head towards the exit and steps ahead of us.

We follow with Mya muttering, "Girl, don't worry bout him. He always playin'. Just tell him you ain't 18 yet."

"I'm not," I say, "Still got a few more weeks."

"Perfect," She shrugs, "Then you'll be safe. Until you're here for real."

"I got to make the team first."

"Trust me, you will. No body on our team got hops like you."

I guess she's right. I guess Bokuto was right. Practicing constantly on such a high net, makes the girls net look like child's play. I've been expected to jump 8 inches higher than any girl around the world, and it shows.

"You just gotta worry about your little boyfriend."