chapter 38: the number 4s

I sat beside Aimi in front of the whole school. The fall pep rally, where we all sit in our uniforms as the principal talks about how we make this a powerhouse school.

The boys sat behind us, Bokuto sitting right behind me, leaning forward making jokes. Making me laugh and not pay attention to anything the principal said, at least until he said, "Our very own volleyball team has a member who's made the top five in the nation. Give it up for our number 4 who has made number 4 in the nation!"

Everyone began to clap. I turned around seeing Bokuto standing on his chair taking it all in. Number 4 in the nation. Such strong arms, cannons really. Of course he's in the top 5. 

"Ah ah ah," the principal said, calming down the crowd, "Yes, yes we should be celebrating Bokuto, but we have another number 4 on the charts. Ms. Mac, congratulations on making number 4 in the nation."

"What?" I shouted.

Bokuto hopped down from his chair, ran around the bench and grabbed me by the hand pulling me up to my feet, "Baby Bird! You're the 4th best blocker in the nation."

He threw an arm around me and turned towards the crowd, "Hey, hey, hey!" He shouted and the crowd cheered. Cheered for us. For me. Number 4's we were, together at the top of the nation. 

"Next is nationals," he said pulling me in front of him and wrapping his arms around my waist, in front of the whole school. He planted a kiss on my cheek causing the principal to finally say, "Alright, that's enough celebration you two. Now students, your afternoon classes have been canceled so you can finish up your work for tonight's fall festival. The whole community will be out to see what you've all put together so make it good. You are dismissed."

People stood and began to leave the stands. I took a step away from Bokuto but he just pulled me back spinning me around now, "We're national level players!" He shouted before putting me down.

"Weren't you already a national level player?" 

"Yeah but now we are, we're like a power couple Baby Bird!"

A camera flashed making us both look over at a student grinning behind his camera, "Power couple indeed," he grinned, "Bokuto, Mac, the school newspaper club calls dibs on the first interview with you two. The sports magazines will be calling in no time and I want to get a jump on it."

"Sports magazines?" I questioned, not realizing just how major high school sports are around here.

Bokuto threw an arm around my shoulder saying, "Make it quick and we can get it done now."

"Yes!" He said excitedly, rushing closer to us. He let his camera hang from his neck and reached into his back pocket for a notepad and pen.

"Okay, Bokuto we know all about you already, so let's start with Mac. Where are you from?"

And I stood there dumb founded as the questions began to roll out. 

This interview ended with a few quick shots of the two of us before Bokuto called it, "Alright, our class is probably waiting for us." He took my hand and pulled me away as the camera still flashed. 

"Now the whole school knows we're together." I muttered, walking beside him hand in hand. 

He shrugged, "Is that a bad thing," as we arrived at our classroom. Our empty classroom. 

Everyone must already be outside getting ready for tonight. Bokuto and I went into the room, grabbing the our jackets. 

"Come on, let's go help," he said pulling on his jacket and heading towards the towards the door.

With a laugh I said, "I'm shocked that you didn’t want to stay in here."

He smiled, leaning down to kiss me, just one soft kiss before saying, "The news club president is a bit of a stalker. He's probably outside this room now."

I laughed through on my jacket, "Such a headline. The new power couple, caught alone in an empty room. What secrets lay behind closed doors?"

He opened the door and poked his head out laughing, "I don't think he needs to know what happens behind closed doors."

It's only been two days since Mrs. Ito caught us in my room, but since then I've learned that both Mrs. Ito and Mrs. Bokuto prefers closed doors.

Mrs. Bokuto said she'd rather not watch us making out, and with that closed the door. My mom wouldn't have an ounce of this trust, or whatever this is.

Just letting us be undisturbed and trusting that we have limits. Which, I'm not sure if we do.

As we went outside, Bokuto asked, "What time is KJ coming?"

I checked my phone, "He should be here soon, he has a half day since he's helping out here. He gets community service points for this so the school, AKA Uncle Tamaki is letting him leave."

A text message was sent to me from KJ, me and Hana almost there.

"They'll be pulling up soon," I as we walked through the school's campus. All the classes were setting up their stands. Bake offs, bobbing for apples and a haunted house and more.All ideas we had, but Bokuto said he wanted a dance party, so my cousin was on his way with his DJ equipment ready to rock some commoners.

When we got to our section of the festival, we saw some of the guys hanging string lights above the area of concrete that we're designating as the dance floor.

Power cords were pulled from through a school window to power KJ’s equipment and everyone else just stood around. This option was an easy one, with very little work.

Other than carrying KJ's things.A black SUV drove slowly through the festival, honking its horn.

"That'll be them," I said pointing to the SUV.

"I'll help him unload," Bokuto said.

The SUV stopped near us and KJ popped out first, smiling wide as he greeted, "Hey you guys."

He moved to the back of the SUV and lifted the trunk saying, "Help me out."

Bokuto and I rounded the SUV to see a stack of black cases. Kj pointed to the trunks saying, "those in are pretty heavy," he patted Bokuto on the shoulder saying, "He might need some help."

He grabbed his laptop bag and one of his speakers and started over for the power cords while Bokuto shouted, "I can lift them just fine!"

I laughed, knowing that KJ was simply trying to get Bokuto to carry the big stuff on his own. And it worked.

I grabbed another speaker from the trunk and a folding table and followed KJ. I set the stuff down and stood beside my cousin as he watched Bokuto climb into the back of the SUV and began to drag one of the big trunks to the end of the SUV.

"How heavy are those things?" I questioned.

"He can handle it. I can lift them, I just don't like to," he admitted.

He looked at me and I looked at him, our eyes locking for a moment before we both burst into laughter.

He put an arm out to me and I went to him, hugging him tight. It's always nice to be with my cousins. I just wonder how it will be putting them in my other world.

Hana leaned against the SUV taking pictures on her phone. "So much help," I called out to her.

Finally she looked up and walked over, "I'm marketing! Managing KJ's DJ company. And beside, I need my rest time. I'm KJ's second. Since he can't trust anyone but his own twin."

KJ smirked, "It's not like you’re doing much, I have a few playlists set up for when I'm away."

"Away for what?" Bokuto asked as he dragged over the second trunk.

KJ only laughed, "I like to dance to you know."

"And trying to sneak around with Aimi," I laughed.

"If she'd let me," he laughed but it was a broken laugh, a hidden disappointment.

He bent down, opening up the trunk. He began setting up what seemed like his platform for his equipment. To be honest, I'm shocked he didn't come with help to do all this. Perhaps he didn't want to be too fancy. Yeah, my team knows my cousins are rich, but all my class knows is that he's DJing tonight and praying he's good.

We set up for the evening and I helped as much as KJ would allow. Doesn't really like people touching his things.

And by nightfall, we were ready. Lanterns hung, and speakers turned up, ready to gather the crowd.

KJ had three tables sitting up on a platform that stood about three feet high. He sat at the back of the platform now, hidden behind his black table cloths,  eating a snack. Hina took a picture of him to post to social media, #pregamesnack.

Our class rep came running behind the DJ booth in a panic, "People are showing up, shouldn't you start. I don't know, rapping or something?"

KJ laughed politely. I did not. And neither did Hina. Unintentional, maybe, but still.

KJ stood up saying, "Let them enjoy the festival. We're all the way in the back, once people start gravitating towards us, I’ll start. Because once we get them back here, they're not going anywhere," KJ grinned and high fived his twin.