Chapter 2: Next Door

My finger tips are already over the net just from standing here. It doesn't take much to block these girls, but they can't all be perfect can they.

I jumped a moment too late, the ball gracing my fingers, pulling them back a bit.

"Touch," I shout getting back ready to make my approach, "Here, center!" I shout loudly.

As if shouting would make the setter actually set to me more. She only does not because the couch tells her she must.

"Fine," I hear her grunt as the ball came to her.

Good too, because she never seems to move her feet to get to it.

I wait for the ball to leave her fingers before making my approach. Her sets haven't really been very consistent. I can't just predict where it's going to be and jump and she sure as hell not gonna send the ball to where I am.

But once it left her hand I made my move, 1, 2, 3, jump!

And...

Dang it!

The balls to short, by the time I reached my highest point, the ball is already at eye level.

Maybe if I could have started my approach sooner I would have gotten here while the ball was higher, but no time for that now.

Quickly I pulled my hand down, adjusting to the height of the ball. I didn't have room to swing, but I didn't need to.

All I needed to do was give flick of the wrist, and down the ball dropped on the other side of the net, right between the single blocker and the net.

The other two girls in the 3 on 3 were on the ground. Wishing that could have been there sooner, but no. The ball got there first, and that's enough.

But I wish I could have hit it, nice and clear. I haven't gotten any good hits today.

I turned to the setter asking kindly, "do you think you can set it a little higher for me?"

I know what I like. High, close to the net, to hit those straight downs I love so much.

But the setter didn't even bother looking at me. She was checking her nails saying, "Why don't you try jumping a little low?"

"That doesn't make any sense," I blurted out.

The wing spider laughed saying, "Well maybe if you come down to Earth miss skyscraper, then you might be able to hit the ball."

I rolled my eyes getting back to the serve line. Waiting for the ball to be rolled over, but no one made a move to even grab it.

What is their deal?

I let out a sigh, jogging to go get the ball from the other side of the net and back to the serve line.

I check the score board before making the choice to try my jump serve.

My team was ahead but 6 points. I can risk it, besides this is just practice anyway.

I move back further and someone shouted, "The court is this way?"

I ignored her, taking my steps back and turning to the net. I just want it over, over and in.

I bend my knees getting low. With both hands I bounce the ball twice, before tossing it up high, taking my 3 steps and jumping to my highest height. I haven't been about to get up here all practice. Haven't been able to swing like this.

I fill myself with air as I watch the ball falling towards me. Yes, this is it this one will be perfect.

And swing with all my power going through my right arm. Smacking the ball making a loud sound, flying over the net, over the court, and crashing into the wall.

Dang it!

My landing wasn't that great either, dropping to my knee as I came back to the ground.

I dropped my head, hearing another girl laugh, "Looks like Skyscraper's got a temper."

I stood up shouting, "You know what-"

Before being stopped by the whistle of the coach.

Oh now you do something.

"Okay ladies that's enough for today. I got to head out, don't forget to stretch and get the net put away." She started to head for the door, jotting things down excitedly on her clipboard.

"Okay ladies you heard the coach, let's stretch it out and head home." Said the captain cheerfully.

"And the net?" I questioned?

She smiled sweetly saying, "You got it. Newbies always get the net."

I don't have to strength to argue with these girls. I stretch with them, counting to 10 along with them as if we were actually a team then waited for them to leave.

I'd rather be by myself, just me and the court. Like almost all my practices at Ouran.

This practice wasn't necessarily draining. The coach really just wanted to see what I could do up close.

She was there for my game last year. I guess it was a tournament, but if you only play one game and lose can you really call it that.

But she's the one that invited me to this school. Nice to see that she's sticking up for me...

Not.

I practice a few more of my jump serves. Bokuto said that his team practices later than mine anyways so I figured a few would be alright.

I have to get this down. To get everything right, the toss, the approach, the jump, the swing, the timing, the power. It all has to add up.

Then after that I'll worry about landing on my feet more often.

I go until I get one that I really liked, then put everything away. Grabbed my things, hit the lights, and went to the gym next door.

It's just now hitting 10. I guess coach let us go a little early today.

But if we do three hour practices, how long do they practice?

I enter the gym to see they were in a 3 on 3 match as well. Guess this is a good way to end a practice.

I searched the gym for a quiet corner to sit and wait. One that I have little chance of getting plowed in the face in.

The was served up. The boys on the court, focused and in motion. So I make my way across the back of the court trudging to the other side where I saw a nice spot to sit. I kept my eyes on the game, looking out for stray balls.

But stopped at the end of the court, mesmerized but this... this power.

The ball was slammed by a player on the other side. I saw Owl Head jump up for it but he couldn't even kill it. Jumped late, like I did.

"One touch," he shouted moving back to approach, "send it here" he shouted but no one was going to send it anywhere. The ball sprung up from his fingers, flying for the back of the court. One person was darting for it but he wasn't going to make it, there's no way he's getting that.

But, the ball should never hit the floor.

I tossed my bag down, dropping to make the pass towards the setter position. My body jerks back as it hits my arms. I jump a little to regain my balance, staring at the ball.

Dang it, it's short. But it's high and he's moving for it. Moving way more than our setter.

"Nice receive!"

But the ball is the least of my concerns now. The boy who was going for the ball was still coming towards me, finding it difficult to stop.

I dove out of his way, desperately wanting to avoid being run over. He tripped over my bag and stumbled to a fall.

I rolled out of my dive, to see the was already set and heading straight for Bokuto.

He jumped, his whole body curving back before...

Oh man, a double block!

He swung, and it went straight through them. It hit them, hit them for sure, I heard it. I saw it, it blasted straight through and went deep in the court, cross shout, near the end corner.

"How the hell?" I whispered to myself.

This, this is power. I didn't think you could do that. Didn't think it could be done.

What the hell was that?!

I was still there on the ground, on my hands and knees from my roll, just staring at Bokuto as he shouts, "Hey, hey, hey!" Throwing his hands into the air.

So this is their captain. This is their ace.

This my neighbor!

I wonder if he can teach me to hit like that.

"That makes this set ours," Bokuto shouted.

But someone from the other side of the court said, "Not exactly."

"What?" Bokuto said, finally putting his arms down.

"Onaga didn't make that pass. So it's not your point."

"Well who-" He started to ask before turning to see me.

He raised his arm high waving to me, "Hi Zara! Did you see that spike? Cool, uh, wasn't it?"

"What the hell was that?" I asked louder, voicing turning high from fear.

I've never seen such power.

He laughed saying, "Oh that was nothing. Just keep watching."

I got up nodding foolishly. I Grabbed my bag that Onaga tripped over and went to my little corner to watch. And I'm not even sure if I binked. Look away for a moment and you'll miss it all. You'll miss him, and his next crazy, power move.

This guy is scary. Note to self, don't get on his bad side.

I'm so sure that the palm of his hand can swish my skull if he hits it like he hits that ball.

Bokuto was up to sever. He went back pretty far, like me, then with his right hand, he tossed the ball, flicking his wrist to give it a lot of spin. He took more than my three steps, and jumped high to reach the ball. His whole body curled back, I saw his chest rise as he filled with air, then he swung. Everything went forward, his whole body arched forward, including his legs that got kicked out in front of him, ready to be there for when he lands.

The ball went flying across the court. Slamming onto the body of a boy, rikashing off of him and spinning off to the side of the court. This guy isn't even human.

He doesn't look particularly strong. His musicals are lean, not bulky but there. How much power can he hold in that body of his?

The guy across the court who took the ball to the chest shouted, "Bokuto! Stop showing out for your girlfriend."

I sighed leaning back against the wall. Should have seen this coming.

Bokuto took the ball back, stumping his way to the end line huffing, "She's my neighbor."

He turned and I saw a shift in his eyes. In his everything. He seemed so light. As gravity had no effect on him or his personality. But now, every movement, every expression, seemed heavy. He didn't jump as high now, but that power was still there. All of it, waisted into the net.

"Oh come on," he cried out.

I guess I'm not the only one who messes that up still.

I smiled to myself. Watching them practice for the next hour and a half because each time a match ended someone shouted, "one more time." And they almost alway agreed.

The girls were just about running from the gym when the coach left and here they are begging to stay.

Then Bokuto looked to me sitting a lone there and said, "Hey guys let's give it a rest. Practice again tomorrow."

They grunted and pouted but they stretched together then cleaned the gym together and reviewed what to work on tomorrow. Then it was time to go and still they lingered about, talking with one another just being a team.

It must be nice.

I stood up, wiping my butt incase any dust was there from the floor and walked over to Bokuto who was talking to this guy who has to be the official setter. He played on the opposite side of Bokuto today, but his sets were spot on, consistent and clean and high. Ugh, I wish I could hit one of those sets.

Then again, he was the one that made the stupid girlfriend comment though.

School hasn't even started yet and this already.

"Bokuto," I said softly, "You ready to go?"

"Oh yeah, let me just introduce you to my bestie here Akaashi." He looped his arm around the black haired boy who seemed so calm and cool now. Like a pond and a still summer afternoon.

"Hi Akaashi, I'm Zara." I greeted kindly.

"That was a nice receive back there."

"Thanks," I smiled. Honestly I worked really hard on that. Losing to games against the wall back in Ouran's gym, until I finally found my form.

Akaashi pinched the back of Bokuto's hand causing him to remove his arm from around Akaashi's shoulders. He shook his hand, blowing on it as if it were a burn and Akaashi went on straight faced asked, "What position do you play?"

"Middle blocker." I answered, he was ignoring Bokuto so I assumed it was safe for me to do the same.

"With your height it makes sense."

"Yeah," I shrugged before carefully saying, "I wish our setter was as adaptable as you are though. She just can't seem to get the ball high enough. Or I guess she just won't. At least not for me."

This is when Bokuto pulled himself back into the conversation, "They're just jealous that the new girls gonna come in taking all the spotlight."

"Love the confidence," laughed, "Flattering, from someone who hasn't seen me play yet."

"Oh don't worry. If you're not the best now you will be," he pointed to himself saying, "You are now under my guidance baby bird!"

"Baby bird?" I crooked.

Akaashi rolled his eyes but still said, "He may be a goofball but he is one of the top 5 spikers in the nation."

"The nation?"

"Not to mention, he always want to play and now that he has someone literally steps away to play with. I wish you luck Zara. When school starts back make sure the fool actually does his homework and doesn't just drag you outside to play everyday." He left, with that he just walked away and leaving me here with this guy.

Top 5 spikers?

This man could kill me with his bare hands.

I looked over to him and seen one of those large hands coming for me. I flinched at first, but it just landed gentle as a butterfly on my shoulder. Such control. Who the hell is this guy?

"Come on Zara, let's go home."

I nodded and walked alongside him, out of the gym and back towards home. Walking, as requested.

It was too hot to run now anyways. The sun was pretty high right now, and my stomach could definitely go for some lunch.

"So baby bird, where are you coming from?" He asked on our walk home. He was still sweating. Honestly I was pretty hot too, longing for that breeze we had this morning.

"Well I was born in Ohio in the States,, but I moved to Japan with my aunt Bri, when I started high school. Went to her old school Ouran for my first two years before the girls coach cornered me at a game asking me to come here."

"Wait. Isn't Ouran that school with all the snobby rich kids?" He gasped looking down to me, "Wait! Are you a snobby rich kid?"

I gave a small chuckle, "I'm not a snobby rich kid." My face scrunched up a bit as I tried to explain, "My aunt and uncle are rich. I and the rest of my family are just... well taken care of."

"That sounds like something rich people say." He said throwing his arms up behind his head.

"I guess," I shrug. He's not all the way wrong. If I call my aunt Bri right now and ask her for a new cell phone she'll likely get it. Eventually. She still believes in earning things and stuff. So would probably have to wait until my first report card.

"So how was the volleyball club? Any good?"

"Ha, they never practiced and never did anything that could damage their hair, or their nails or their porcelain skin. They were so annoying, wouldn't even touch a ball if it wasn't moving slow enough to lose a race against a snail. And the coaches. Three of them and all of them big babies scared to tell these rich kids to get off their butts and do something or even show up. It was a waste of time. I haven't played with a real team since middle school."

It was quiet for a while. I probably shouldn't rant to people I just met but he seems easy enough to talk to.

But maybe I just cost myself an actual friend. Dang it. I need one. I don't think I'm gonna be getting any friends for my team any time soon.

I was starting to pull my phone out. Distract myself from this silence but before I could reach into my bag for it, he spoke.

"Couldn't be that much of a waste."

"What?"

"You're good right? I mean you have to be, otherwise why would they want to move a 3rd year here. You did something with your time there. You'll have to show me later."

He seemed so calm about it. So sure about me and he just met me. What's with this owl head? So much faith.

"Hey, my mom always makes some floor for after practice. Wanna come over for lunch?" He offered as we turned the corner to our street.

"Um, sure. I'll let Mrs. Ito know first before going over."

"Cool, I'll tell mom to make you a plate."

He kept walking as I turned off to my new home for the year. This kid is for real. I guess kindness is new to me, but he is as Mrs. Ito said. Kind and loud.