So here's a quick recap:
We won our away fixture against Starfield. Thank you for sticking around.
Recap over. Back to story.
Twenty minutes later****
I won't lie, the hell I went through these past few weeks was worth it. Cause enjoying this moment with Tephnine was the best and only thing I could ever ask for.
We've been playing board games, shit ton of boring conversations with the boys and obviously lots of kisses between Tephnine and I, and then came the time for me to finally end things.
Me: oh wow, would you look at the time
Barry: uhhh
Me: I'll be off now
Tephnine: off?. You just got here
Me: I'm sorry babe. Coach asked us to meet in twenty. I have to head to the cafeteria now.
Justin: why would your coach pick the one place they serve food to do a meeting?.
Me: that's our new meeting place.
Tephnine: hmm. Okay then. Mind if I escort you?.
Me: (smiling) you know I don't
The walk was pretty silent for majority of the journey to the cafeteria but none of us minded. We both felt at peace with the other. Omg, I'm begining to sound like a poet. When we eventually got to the door of the cafeteria.
Tephnine: I guess this is where I leave you
Me: maybe
Tephnine: (smiling) maybe?.
Me: (smiling) yeah maybe.
Tephnine: silly boy. I love you
Me: yeah babe. Me too.
Well, I shouldn't explain to you what happened next. I mean, when you put two Very much in love teenagers together, their hormones tend to do a lot of kissing. So yeah, that's what we did. That is until we accidentally hit the door and it flung open, but here's the crazy part. There was nobody in there, not a single soul.
Tephnine: babe, aren't you guys supposed to be having a meeting?.
Me: we are. I mean, did they change plans
Tephnine: or you were too lazy to hear the original place?.
Me: whatever. You know what this means right?.
Tephnine: I'm gonna have to call my brother to confirm where you guys are meeting?.
Me: what?. No. I mean yes. But it also means we've got this whole place to ourselves.
Tephnine: you naughty boy
Me: awwn, compliments
Tephnine: how did I even fall for you?.
Me: (smiling) I ask myself that all the time
Tephnine: well what're you waiting for, get over here.
Me: you know I will.
Well, there we were, body against body, lips interlocked, hands feeling every part of the other body. But you know what they say, the devil comes at your best time to ruin things.
Unknown; (coughs*) (coughs*)
Me: Jesus.
Coach fuckface: if you'll excuse me miss west. Now wonder kid, aren't we supposed to be having a meeting right now?.
Me: there's no one here coach.
Coach fuckface: didn't you receive the message Matt posted in the group.
Me: he did?.
Coach fuckface: fucking hell, you lazy log.
Tephnine: what am I to do with you?.
Me: ouch babe. But coach, how did you even know I was here?.
Coach fuckface: You've been the only one missing for 10 minutes. I was about to go drag you out of your room, but then I spotted a weirdly familiar head shape heading in here. Sure enough, it was you.
Me: Wow, really Coach?. My head shape?. That's how you recognize me?.
Tephnine: (laughing) I'll be going now babe. You can go on with your meeting.
Me: okay dear. I love you
Tephnine: me too babe.
Almost immediately after she stepped out
Coach fuckface: don't you think you're too young for relationship commitments
Me: nahhhhh coach, from where I stand you're defo the last person who has the right to tell me this
Coach fuckface: I'm just watching out for you
Me: I know coach. Trust me I do.
Coach fuckface: just be careful. That's all I have to say.
At The Basketball Court*****
Coach fuckface: first off, I'd like to kick things off with me addressing something I should have months ago. None of you boys have the right to nick name me just because according to you I refused to smile or live on. That's just plainly disrespectful, and I'm being honest when I say I didn't appreciate learning that the name originated from my own boys. (Looking at Jace)
Jace: I'm sorry uncle. That is something I regret doing.
Coach fuckface: now for your information, Luciana and I have already spoken and she's happy I'm taking a step forward in moving on
Me: (whispering to Jensen) I think coach is slowly losing it. Who speaks to a ghost
Jensen: you don't want him to know you said that.
Coach fuckface: and just so you all know. I've already moved on, as a matter of fact, I'm in a relationship of 3 months now.
Jensen: you are?.
Coach fuckface/John: yes Jensen. I am.
Jace: we don't see that.
Me: wait coach. Lemme guess. It's the head nurse right?.
Coach john: How'd ya know?.
Me: well if we take things back to that time I broke my ankle, you guys literally forgot I existed and just chatted your lives away. Two friends can never do that except they are more than friends.
Coach john: you've always had the best eyes for noticing things.
Me: thanks coach
Jensen: (whispering to me) guess who's slowly becoming coaches favourite
Me: (laughing) fuck you.
Coach John: now to the main reason of this meeting. Mr white has been mad proud about our performance as of late, he's fairly certain that we're already the Western division champions. And he's hoping that we'll not only be that, but also win the kings youth cup. They've been a lot of upset already, upsets that favoured us. Victory academy is out, Starfield is out, Excelsior high is out, light of God is out. These are aches to our teeth from each division and They're already out. Now I'm not writing off those underdogs, but we're Starling. We underestimate nobody which enables us to put our 100.
Me: (whispering to Jensen) we kinda underestimated laurels by not starting two key players though.
Jensen: (chuckling) point that out to coach and he'll call it tactics.
Coach John: I want you all to be at your best. After the kings youth cup, we'll have the best of best to fight for. Now I don't know about you guys, but I wanna be called a 'League Master'. I want the treble.
Matt: coach, please can't y'all tell we're breaking down at this point?. We haven't had any rest.
Coach John: oh I know. And Mr White does as well. So now he assigned me to ask y'all a question, who wanna visit the Zantes?
Jace: no kidding?.
Coach John: no kidding
The way everyone leaped for joy, it was like they were all promised front row seat to the promise land or some shit like that
Me: the fuck is that?.
Jensen: oh yeah, I keep forgetting you're the new boy. There's no need to explain. You just need to experience it for yourself.
Me: you just wasted your breath on saying nothing. How are you even my rival?.
Coach John: keima, like Jensen said, it's better you experience it yourself. And to all the other boys, buckle up. We're going on a basketball pleasure time field trip.
Team: (going mad from excitement)
Coach John: but... That would be happening beginning of the next semester, after we've carried everything and proven to Mr white that we're the best.
James: oh come on coach.
Coach John: We're done with this semester, we have your stupid prom for the month, with matches all around, and then we have nothing but matches for the entirety of June. Tell me team, when do you think we'll have the chance to visit the Zantes?.
Matt: I mean, yeah, we can't argue with logic.
Coach John: thank you. Now we have four matches remaining before the league masters. Al-rafahi this Saturday, your stupid prom on Sunday. Left to me I'd prefer you don't do that. Then we face Jarquin high on Wednesday in the kings youth cup tournament. Finally we play Bristol college the following Saturday as our final game for the western division. Then we receive our medal and officially become the western division champions.
Me: that's three games coach, you said four.
Coach John: yeah, no shit Sherlock.
Jensen: (bursting out a laugh) fucking hell.
Me: ouch coach.
Coach John: sorry. The last game will only happen if we win Jarquin. So please do.
Team: we will coach
Coach John: well until that time. Training. You're going to work your butts till you can't feel it anymore.
Me: fuck
TUESDAY, THE BOYS ROOM****
Barry: so do you all have dates for the prom yet?
Me: why are you guys so excited about this?.
Justin: you don't like prom ?
Me: looking at the fact that I've never participated in it like never in my life. I see no reason to be hyped.
Barry: Kay!. You guys don't do prom here?.
Kayode: not really. We do have social day, or cultural day. Not exactly prom though.
Barry: gosh. That sucks.
Me: but why the fuck are you even hyped about this?. You've been partaking in prom all your life.
Justin: not really. I mean, yeah but not really.
Kayode: you won't confuse me today.
Justin: (laughing) let me explain. Starling has the J-prom and the senior prom. The J-prom is really nothing to write home about. This will be our very first prom, ever. So we have to be hyped of course.
Me: is there really any difference between the two?
Barry: trust me, there is. That aside, do y'all have dates for the dance?.
Kayode: (smiling) yeah, I do
Me: damn. So fast?.
Justin: the lab partner?.
Kayode: yeah.
Justin: ohh. Okay. Barry?.
Barry: nahhh. Not yet
Justin: k?.
Me: Tephnine's my girlfriend sooooo
Justin: have you at least asked her out
Me: (scoffing) she's my girlfriend, is there any need to?.
Barry: I loose hope for you everyday
Me: what?.
Barry: listen. This will be a special day for all year 1's. Don't fuck things up for your girlfriend because you're too stupid to understand how emotion works
Me: ouch
Justin: fucking listen to him, how can you be the wonder kid and still be stupid enough to not understand women. Times like this they love to be asked in a grand way
Me: grand?
Justin: yes. Grand.
Barry: just work out a plan. Use Google or whatever.
Kayode: uhmmm, guys?. There's an update on the school page.
Barry: what?.
Kayode: every one has been asked to take their suit and gown to the school tailor for twitching.
Me: explain twitching.
Kayode: (sighing) twitching is like the act of adjusting the absolute minimum of a variable, shifting just a fraction of a millimeter or a single stitc---..
Me: mahn, shut the fuck up. We know what it means. What I'm asking is what's the school changing?.
Kayode: ohh?.
Me: yeah oh. So much brain and yet so dumb.
Kayode: fuck you.
Me: awwwn.
Barry: children that's enough. Kay?, twitching. Let's go
Kayode: they're stitching our leaderboard stars directly into the lapels of our suits and the bodices of the gowns. The school page says it's 'for easy identification during the Grand March.' Basically, they're turning our Prom outfits into uniforms. If you're an Omega, you're getting three stars stitched onto your chest. If I make the jump to Streak by the deadline, I get five.
Barry: wait, what the fuck. Are they trying to divide us?. Shouldn't this be like the one time we can ask be together?.
Me: aren't we always together?.
Justin: what?, no. The streak have their own dorms and shit. Personal cafeteria, personal everything. They are literally the top dogs of this school with zero social skills.
Barry: your forgetting they are the face of the school. And they are fucking douchebags. Rude Fuckers.
Me: uhh. The one's I know are kinda kinda
Justin: lucky you.
Me: Kay?. Why the fuck would you wanna join them?.
Kayode: cause I wanna be the best? .
Me: You're smarter than the three of us combined. You're pretty smart as is.
Kayode: not to be rude but you guys are pretty dumb to compare.
Me: fuck you
Kayode: awwn
WEDNESDAY, TRAINING LIKE A FOOL****
Me: you know you can be honest with me right?.
Jensen: where's this coming from?.
Me: just answer the question
Jensen: that's a very stupid question.
Me: it's not
Jace: it is. It is kei
Me: no one asked for your opinion. Jensen, is your father a racist.
Jensen: what the fuck bro, he's not, okay?. Where's this even coming from?.
Me: why would he want to sew our ranks on our suits. Come on. Think about it.
Jensen: oh that. Don't blame him.
Me: why won't I ?.
Jensen: the streaks demanded to be different. They wanted to have their own separate party. So he had to compromise.
Me: he's the owner of this institution, what the fuck is he compromising for?.
Jensen: the streak's are the face of this school, there are things you have to compromise for.
Me: and why am I just finding out the streaks are assholes?.
Jensen: beats me. Oh yeah. Have you officially asked Tephnine out?.
Me: not you too.
Jensen: you know I love you right?. For your own good, you better do. My sister sometimes, even I get scared of the things she become.
Me: you're getting me scared
Jensen: you should be
Coach John: Jensen!, keima!. I didn't ask you guys to chat away. Focus!.
Jensen and I: yes coach
Coach John: Laps!, Now!. If I see your mouths moving, your feet better be moving faster!
Me: (Breathing hard, running side-by-side with Jensen) So... she's that bad?, Your sister?.
Jensen: If you treat Prom like just another Tuesday, she will make your life into a nightmare. Trust me. This will be her first senior prom, she'll want It to be special. I remember last year when I forgot her birthday, she deleted my final year project which failed me, taking me from gamma to omega.
Me: two things, how the fuck do you even forget your own twin sister's birthday?. And you were in gamma?.
Jensen: one, I had a lot on my mind then, basketball and academia balance. And two, I'm back in gamma, I can be in streak if I choose. I just don't have the mental strength to keep up with their nonsense.
Me: meaning, you inherited the book smart and Tephnine inherited the business and social smart.
Jensen: yeah, exactly that. Leaving all that aside. Ask her out. I'm serious.
Me: okay Romeo
Jensen: who the fuck are you calling Romeo?.
Coach John: I HEAR WHISPERING WITH NO WORKING!. ENTIRE SQUAD, TWENTY PUSH-UPS!, GO DOWN!.
Jensen: twenty?. Easy peasy.
Coach John: oh really?. FIFTY! . EVERYONE GO! .
Me: (Hitting the turf, groaning) I'm gonna kill you, Jensen.
Jensen: (Already mid-pushup, smirking) Ask Tephnine for permission first. Then you can try.
AROUND 9 PM****
I stood in the hall outside Tephnine's door, taking a second to check the projector one last time. Jensen had been hounding me all day about doing something big, calling me a 'Wonder Kid' and saying I couldn't just half-ass this. He's my friend I know, but his ideas of 'not half-assing' things usually involve a lot of noise. I wanted this to feel real for Tephnine.
I knocked, and a few seconds later, she opened the door. She was just in a loose shirt, looking like she was ready to crash for the night.
Tephnine: Hey (leaning against the frame). You look nervous. What's up?.
Me: Just watch
I tapped the remote in my pocket. The overhead hallway lights flickered and dimmed to a warm, soft glow. At the same time, the projector at my feet hummed to life. Kayode had programmed it to map the walls perfectly. Suddenly, the boring white passage was covered in a projection of a night sky.
It wasn't some over-the-top light show, it just made the hallway feel like it was miles away from the school. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small box. I opened it to show a simple, silver ring. Nothing too flashy, just something I knew she'd actually wear.
Me: I didn't want to just text you or ask you in the cafeteria cause I figured you'd wanna avoid the crowd noise. Look babe, I love you, and I want everyone to know you're with me. So, Will you go to the formal with me?.
She looked at the ring, then at the stars on the walls, and then back at me. She started smiling, but she had that look in her eyes that told me I'd won. She took the ring and slid it on.
Me: It's beautiful.
she smirked, while leaning in closer.
Tephnine: But babe. let's be honest. Jensen helped you with the light mapping, didn't he? This has his 'extra' touch all over it.
I rolled my eyes, feeling my face get a little hot.
Me: I did do the heavy lifting though, I swear
Tephnine: Sure you did (grabbing my shirt and pulling me toward the doorway.) Come here. I was gonna kill you if you hadn't asked by today
Me: oooooouuu. Thank goodness I beat the deadline.
She stepped back into her room, keeping her hand on my collar, and I followed her inside as the door clicked shut behind us.
EARLY THURSDAY MORNING***
Me:(walking out of tephs room) yeah I love you too.
I was barely out of her room, trying to look casual, when I saw a shadow leaning against the lockers down the hall. Jensen was standing there with a stupidly wide grin on his face, holding two coffees. He looked like he'd been waiting for hours.
Jensen: there he is
Gosh, this bastard is way too loud. He walked over and shoved a cup into my hand.
Jensen: our wonder kid had returned from the battlefield. You look like you didn't get much sleep.
Me: (muttering) drop it please. And thanks for yesterday. Everything worked out well.
Jensen: Worked?. That's all I get?. Mahn, I spent three hours helping you calibrate those sensors so they wouldn't trip the school alarm. I'm basically your wingman of the century. So, come on, give me the play-by-play. Did she cry?. I know she's very emotional. Did she love the ring?. We both know I went through hell to get that. Give me something, anything other than 'worked' will do.
Me: well kayode did help with the calibration
Jensen: fuck you. That's not the answer I need now.
Seeing Jensen reaction and hypeness, I tried to keep a straight face, but I couldn't help a small smile.
Me: She loved it. But she also called me out immediately. She knew you had your hands in it. You tend to over do things.
Jensen let out a loud bark of a laugh, looking incredibly proud of himself.
Jensen: Smart girl. That's why she's my sister. But hey, she's wearing the ring, right? And you spent the night in there, so I'm counting that as a win for the team?.
He said this slapping my back hard, making me almost spill my coffee.
Me: we're talking about your sister here, the fuck you mean by win for the team?.
Jensen: okay okay. I won't ask for more details. I'm headed for my class now.
Me: fuck. We have physics this morning.
Jensen: yeah, you're definitely gonna be late.