Chapter 26: I'll be fine

I lingered outside of our gyms as the boys loaded onto their bus. I wasn't even trying to hide the fact that I was going to miss him. I knew I would. 

I actually did try to see if Aimi wanted to hangout but she told me that before every tournament the girls all have a sleepover. I think it's safe to assume that I will not be invited. That will be Sunday night, and as of Saturday. Well… KJ is taking her out, on an actual date.His first.

I'll probably be there to see it. I have nothing else to do but go home this weekend. De-stress from the increased harassment I'm about to get now that my looming owl is gone.

"I'm just saying, I'll probably be dead by the time you get back," I said dramatically as I stood beside Bokuto. He was looking over everything and everyone as the captain should yet still talking to me. 

If only he could multi-task this much in the classroom.

"You'll be fine Baby Bird." He chuckled, "Look if your that worried I can have a friend from class look after you would I'm gone."

"You say it like I need a babysitter." I pouted, crossing my arms.

He laughed even more now, "We'll you're acting like you do. Hey, don't forget our water bottles!" He shouted to one of their managers.

"Their girls and they get to go!" 

"They are apart of our team and need to spend this time with the team to prepare for the tournaments." He kept laughing, truly enjoying, "Like you should be doing. Being with your team. Preparing for the tournament."

"They're not my team," I huffed, "Just people on the same side of the court."

"Team enough," Bokuto said, "Alright. Everything looks good, let's head out."

He wrapped an arm around my shoulders pulling me into him, "come here," he pulled me into a tight hug, lowering his arms to my waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck. Tightly, taking in as much of him as I could. I would miss this. The smell of his hair gel mixed with his peppermint bodywash. The tightness of his muscles, as his arms wrap around me. His strong beating heart that moved through his chest. And his warmth. I will miss so much of this warmth. It's only a few days. And to think, I've only known him so such a short time. I don't like that I'll miss him this much. I shouldn't be so attached to someone. But he makes it seem as though, there was no other way.

"Bokuto. Get your ass on the bus!" He couch shouted. 

"Alright, I'm coming." He let go, but grabbed my face leaving a kiss on my forehead, "You'll be fine." A smile creeper to his face as he said, "And I'll miss you too."

He let go, taking his warmth with him. He jogged towards the bus and waved, "See you soon, Baby Bird!"

I waved back, and waved to the rest of the guys. But their attention was on Bokuto, they were smiling and laughing and shoving at him as he got onto the bus. 

And here I was, feeling the crisp autumn breeze, already missing my warmth.

"Skyscraper, get in here!" 

And suddenly, the chill set in more, sending goosebumps to my skin.

I ran into the gym for practice. Lately the first half hour has been workouts, then the next individual drills, then the last hour, team practice.

So by the time we got to team practice and were dripping in sweat, a boy walked into the gym.

Hina saw him first shouting, "Hiro! About time you joined us."

The boy smiled wide saying, "I had to check out my team before the tournament. Gotta know who to bet on."

"You always bet on us," said one of the third years.

"You have to," said the other, "We're your team."

"Alright, then show me what this team has." He grinned wide with perfect teeth. And our coach got us ready. Everyone seemed to play with and extra step. More speed, more power, more motive. It could be because he was here, or maybe the harder practices are working. Either way, I'm okay with taking this to the tournaments. Even if most the people on the floor don't like me. Aimi likes me, she controls the floor and if she feels safe with the ball in my hand, then that's good enough for me.

"Center!" I shouted, Aimi set me up for a quick and I was in it with a straight down. Even our own girls have a hard time telling when I'll do a straight down or a cross court. The other teams will become me play things if I can keep this up.

Practice wrapped up. We stretch out and grouped together around the coach."Alright," she said, "Tournaments are almost here. We have one more practice. Tomorrow we'll be spending all of our time on the court. Be ready for that. We played well today, I am sure we will do great in the tournaments! Now for those who don't know Hiro here, he is our team manager, who doesn't like to show up."

He smiled charmingly saying, "Coach, you and the captain do such a great job. You don't need me here everyday."

The coach rolled her eyes and turned back to us, "leave the net up. Clean up the balls and head home."

And so we did. 

And so starts my first night without Bokuto. Great.

"Hey, Zara," I heard Hiro shout as I mounted my bike. 

"Yeah?"

"Bokuto texted me, told me to walk you home."

I was slightly shocked. But only slightly. Bokuto would call someone to keep an eye on me. 

"I don't need a babysitter." I said, starting to pedal, but he grabbed my bike, stopping me.

His voice was lower as he said, "From the way he put it. Seemed like more of a bodyguard than a babysitter."

"Don't need that either," I said, pedaling harder to push past him.

He let go, throwing his hands up and letting me ride off. 

I'll be fine. Just like Bokuto said I would.