GUYS! HI! T.T

I've missed you! How are you all doing in this mental year of viruses and insanity so far?

I can't believe the last time I updated this was Christmas! Where has the time gone?!

Thanks so much to those who have left reviews and keep coming back, despite the long gaps! Appreciate it so much!

As always...I can only apologize for the big delay in updates, for this and all my other stories. Just when I think my job can't get any more tiring and stressful, it laughs and says 'hold my beer'.

I do my best to write when I can, but that isn't often and inspiration and motivation isn't something easily scheduled! I'm sorry! I'm doing my best! T.T

For anyone who happens to be reading anything else of mine, rest assured they're ALL in the works. Have at least half a chapter for them all, just a case of finishing!

Anyway, enough whining! We're back and I'm thrilled to have this ready for you!

I know we went on a detour last chapter with the Christmas special thing, but now we're back at St. Tristan's!

That also means it has been a loooooooooong time since the last relevant chapter, but worry not, this chapter includes a lot of memory joggers, I hope at least!

On that note, I really hope you enjoy this!


In Through the Nose...

Just as Kai finished messing around with his hair in his bathroom mirror, a musical knock came on his dorm door.

He checked his phone for the time and raised a surprised brow.

Wow...he was early for once.

Thank God Rei had the good foresight to go down to the teacher's room a tiny bit earlier. Last thing they needed was to be caught.

Dressed in jeans and a sweater, despite being a Thursday, Kai went to open the door.

He was met by the standard chirpy smile.

"Morning buddy! Ready?"

He nodded, grabbing his jacket before following him out.

Thursday morning meant his weekly trip to see the doctor. And for once he was relieved to be going.

With the little burn out he'd had the other day, and the contest a mere 24 hours away looming over him, he definitely needed some advice on how to keep his shit together.

He was really feeling the pressure now, and the nerves for tomorrow kept smashing in to him like a brick wall...

"You feel like some Car-eoke?" Dan asked finally and hopefully as he drove out the gates, disliking the silence as always.

Kai shook his head frantically.

He had to save his voice...

Dan glanced over, not liking the paler complexion and look on his face.

"Alrighty..." he nodded, deciding today it wasn't a good idea to push him. Not after this week...

It seemed he was adding his fair share of woe to his little Fireball.

For one, forcing him in to the choir in the first place.

For another, upsetting him with this whole transfer business, from what Rei had told him after he'd laid in to him.

And he felt horrible about it...

Just a little longer...that's all it would be. And then he would have a solid answer to give him.

But first things first, he felt the main reason for the look on his face this morning was prroooobbbabbbllly due to the fact that he was just a day away from getting on a stage in front of a lot of people and singing.

Well. He was sure the good doctor would have something for him. Somehow, his own offering of 'it'll be fine, don't worry' didn't seem to be cutting it...

Quietly making it to the clinic, they both made their way inside and to the waiting room, and like always sit in silence while they waited for Dr. Freeman to call him in...

Meanwhile, Scotty and Reuben sat at their desks in the class of 1-4 pretending to read over the French worksheet they were supposed to be doing. But both of them kept making occasional glances at the empty seat at the back...

Where was he?

Was he sick?

He seemed fine at the library yesterday...and at choir practice.

Did he get in trouble?

Seemed unlikely. He hadn't even been in home room...

Neither of them could shake their worry. Not after Tuesday when they'd seen what they had.

Had it happened again? Was that why he wasn't in class?

They half-assed the worksheet in time for the bell, which gave them a ten minute break before their next class started.

It would be on the close side, but they took the chance to dash to the teacher's room.

Rapping his knuckles on the door, Scotty pushed it open, stepping in with Reuben beside him and following the protocol Kai never bothered to.

They stood with their hands at their sides.

"Class 1-4. Reuben Vos ..."

"And Scotty Donahue. Here to see Mr. Harris?"

Mr. Simmons looked up from his desk.

"Morning boys. I'm afraid Mr. Harris is off campus right now."

The boys exchanged worrying glances.

Mr Harris not here?!

Kai not here?!

That could only be bad! Something must have happened to him!

Mr. Simmons lifted a brow.

"Was...was something the matter?" he asked, noting the expressions on their faces.

His question went ignored as Reuben's hazel eyes caught sight of a red headband.

Of course! Rei was a teacher...

Kept forgetting that...

"REI!" he exclaimed as he lunged himself in to the room and over to his desk, "Have you seen Kai?!"

Rei blinked, setting down his green tea.

Why yes. He had. Had made out with him as well. And was dying to tell someone about it.

But not here and not now.

"Why?" he asked, head getting pulled out the smoochy gutter and clicking that Scotty and Reu would have no clue where Kai actually was...

And he could only assume Kai would want to keep it that way...

"He isn't in class!" Reu shot out at him, "Do you know where he is? Is he all right? He didn't have another...you know...did he?" he asked 'subtly' as he glanced around at the other teachers hoping they weren't listening.

He had promised Mr. Harris they would be discreet about his panic attack.

Scotty cringed.

Way to make it sound like he pissed himself, Reu...

"No. He's uh...he's uh..." Rei stuttered, trying and failing to come up with any kind of excuse or plausible story.

Mr. Simmons cleared his throat.

"Kai is currently off campus on a private matter. Mr. Harris is with him. I appreciate your concern, boys. Its good to see classmates looking out for one another, but rest assured he will be back later on. Now, back to class. The bell is about to go."

Rei turned his head to Mr. Simmons and gave him a small, appreciative smile for helping him out.

The two uniformed boys glanced back at Rei and took the hint.

Figured. Kai was a mystery at the best of times. Made sense this wouldn't be answered simply either.

"Oh...ok." Reuben let out, a little disappointed he hadn't gotten to the bottom of it, but doing as he was told and leaving it there...

He'd find out from his newfound best friend later...

"Morning Kai, ready when you are!" A familiar voice announced as peered around the doorway of the office.

Kai jumped up from his seat, instinctively looking to Dan for some reason, who lifted both his brows and gave him an encouraging smile.

"See you in a bit."

Kai nodded back, taking himself through to office he'd sat in only a week before.

Wow...only a week ago?

This time last week, he'd been riddled with woe about his accidental elevator kiss with Rei. About Reu, Scotty and Dan blanking him.

This week he'd had something of a melt down. Was on the edge of his seat about the contest. About managing his anxiety.

...This guy had his work cut out for him. He was a mess.

Dr. Freeman cracked a smirk as Kai settled in to the couch opposite his desk. Like the last two times, he sat the exact same way. Rigid and straight with his hands on his lap like he was about to be interviewed.

"How are you today?" he asked.

"Fine." he lied back flatly.

Freeman waited to see if anything would follow. Of course nothing did.

"I see...and how was your week? Were you able to make amends with Trey?"

Kai frowned.

Trey? Who the hell-

OH!

The brilliant alias he had given Rei when he had explained that shit show to him.

The doctor marveled as the boy's demeanor swung completely, going from stiff and stony and on guard to loose and somewhat bashful and coy.

"Uh...yeh...could say that..." Kai let out as pink flushed his nose and the stupid smile spread without him able to stop it.

If you could call becoming official boyfriends as making amends then...yes, they sure as hell had.

Freeman smiled back. The certificates and qualifications that hung on his wall weren't needed to figure this one out.

"Oh?" he asked with a telling tone, "Care to share?"

Kai huffed out a still smiling but embarrassed chuckle.

"Not much to say, really..." he lied. Hard. "We went on our school trip. As is the standard with Mr. Harris, he interfered and invited...Trey...on the trip with us. Was awkward as all hell to start with, since Harris decided it would be great to group me up with him and the two classmates that were blanking me..."

Freeman arched a brow.

"Oh...that does sound awkward."

"Mmhmm. Pretty rocky. Went to this museum at first..."

He regaled him about every detail he could think of.

The horrible atmosphere at the museum. Feeling bad. Slipping in casually he knew basically all the stuff they had to walk around and find out without even looking for good measure before telling him about the amethyst and tiger eye bracelet he bought Rei after seeing him looking at it in the gift shop. He moved on to the camp. Dragging Rei in to the woods and giving him his jacket while he tried to apologize which somehow turned in to another argument. His chat with Harris that made him realize the bracelet was in the jacket. Their reconciliation and presentation of the bracelet. Which lead to them noticing they beads resembled their own eye colors. Which lead to...

"An intentional kiss?!" Freeman jumped in, finding himself terribly invested in the sweet little high-school love story.

Kai tilted his head and stayed quiet. But his face had it written all over.

"Aww, congratulations!" the doctor smirked harder, feeling all warm and fuzzy. It was nice when patients had some good news to share.

"Were you able to make things up with your classmates?" he asked, wanting to know how all that disaster panned out.

Kai nodded, stupid grin simmering down as the topic came off the beautiful Trey.

"Yeh. Seems so..."

He went on to tell him all about the second day of the trip. The hike, games of capture the flag, Giles being a dick and the four of them painting their faces... the game of tug-of-war and how Harris had interfered yet again, which made him go in to the mud.

The doctor chuckled.

"Sounds like it was a good time. And sounds like you were able to patch things up with Mr. Harris as well! A royal flush! I'm so pleased to hear that all is well again!" he smiled as he jotted on his clipboard.

Kai's small smile vanished.

Now the good stuff was discussed, time to jump right back in to the bad.

"Well...yes and no..."

The doctor looked up again.

"Oh?"

Kai shifted and sighed.

May as well just...spit it out.

"Well...everything was great until Monday night. I had this bad dream. About the contest. I woke up and was all wired. Ended up not sleeping the whole night..."

The doctor relaxed back in to his seat.

"What was the dream?"

Kai chewed on the inside of his cheek, staying quiet a moment.

That hadn't been what he'd wanted to talk about. He had another priority right now.

But...

"I was on stage...I opened my mouth to start singing and nothing came out. Everything went quiet. The choir, the audience, Da-I mean Mr. Harris...he looked so disappointed in me..." he let out hurt as he sank, "He turned and started to walk out of the hall. I-I tried to go after him, but couldn't move! Eventually my legs started working, the crowds were laughing at me, I ran as fast as I could but I couldn't get to him!" he spewed out quickly.

The doctor listened, nodding as he held the pen in his hand with a sympathetic expression.

"You really care for Mr. Harris, don't you...?" he asked in a soft tone.

Kai shifted in his seat, straightening up and narrowing eyes getting a little more moist.

"Look, there's a lot of other stuff to this story and I actually need some help before our time is up. So can I just...get it out!?" he dodged.

The doctor jotted on his clipboard, nodding for him to continue.

"Anyway! After not sleeping and blanking on the lyrics of the song we're performing, I went to school as usual, sat through classes and then the bell for lunch went. Rei had arranged for me, him, Scotty and Reuben, the guys that we were on the school trip with, to have lunch together. I've never done that before. I usually just go to the library...but anyway, we went to the cafeteria and it was...it was loud and busy...and people were talking about me, I could hear it...and then out of nowhere I had another panic attack..." he told him, getting embarrassed.

The doctor scribbled some more notes.

"Go on..."

Kai frowned. Did he need to say more?

"So what I'm trying to say is...the contest is tomorrow. But after the blanking and the attack and stuff...well, how do I stop that happening tomorrow?!"

He put down his pen shifted in his chair.

"You want me to tell you how not to be nervous going on stage?"

"Yes!"

Freeman gave him a look.

"Do you think there are many people who walk out on stage to perform who don't get nervous?"

Kai rolled his eyes.

He wasn't in the mood to be patronized.

He didn't have time to be patronized!

"Not many, but there's a difference between butterflies in your belly and what happens to me!" he raised his voice angrily.

The doctor raised a brow.

"Why are you lashing out?"

Kai glared.

"Because I'm asking for help and you're brushing me off!"

"I'm doing no such thing. I haven't finished yet. Take a breath." he ordered nicely but firmly.

Kai felt the growl in his belly, but did as he was told.

The doctor watched, making sure he was doing as he was asked properly before he continued.

"Now, as I was saying. Everyone gets nervous and anxious in situations like this. There's no magic thing I can tell you to stop you getting nervous altogether. But what I can tell you is the more you set your mind in a certain way, the less anxious you will be."

Kai blew out the deep breath out his mouth.

"Which is...?"

"Tell me, what is it you're worried about?"

"Forgetting the words! Screwing up! Having a panic attack on stage in front of hundreds of people and ruining it for the whole group!" he listed off.

"Understandable concerns..." the doctor nodded, "But by focussing so much on what could go wrong, you're only exacerbating your anxiety more. Try looking at what could go right! You and your friends have worked hard and could give a marvellous performance! You could move the people in the audience to tears! It's a beautiful song. You could even win...and even if you don't, as long as you give it your all, that's all that matters, isn't it?"

The doctor didn't appreciate the eye roll he got in response.

The joy of teenage patients...

His watch beeped.

Time up...

"I'm afraid that's our time for today."

Kai's face paled yet again as he snapped his head to the clock.

The hell!?

Oh no...shit! What was he meant to do now!?

"P-please!" he stuttered, "What should I do?! I know there's no magic wand, but there has to be something better than 'think positive'! Thinking positive isn't going to help if-"

"Breathe."

Kai growled a little yet again and sucked in as much air as he could through his nose down to his lungs.

The doctor rest his chin on his hand.

"I meant that's the other thing you can do. But, I guess it applies right now too." he chuckled.

"Pay close attention to your breathing. You might not notice yourself holding your breath or starting to hyperventilate, both of which make the panic worse. Nice, deep breaths like I've been showing you will make a big difference."

Kai's breath came out as a defeated sigh.

Well. So much for the hope of getting handed a magic wand after all...

"Thank you..."

Dr. Freeman smiled.

"I bet you guys will knock their socks off. Good luck! I can't wait to hear about it next week!" he said brightly as he stood himself to show him out.

Dan looked up from his phone as he heard footsteps.

Wow, an hour had passed already?!

He stood, slipping his phone in to his jacket pocket and taking in his Fireball's face looking like a wet Saturday.

"Hey, everything okay?"

Kai gave a curt nod.

"Yeh...fine. Should probably get back."

Dan followed behind him, waiting til they were in the privacy of the car.

"What's up? Didn't go well?" he asked, backing the car out.

Kai shrugged lazily, leaning his head against his arm, propped up on the window.

"Was fine..."

"Then what's with the face?"

Kai let out a deep, exacerbated groan and scowled.

"God, it's just my face, okay!? It went fine! Everything is fine! Stop poking!"

It was Dan's turn to roll his eyes.

Ooofffff course...

"All right, all right...glad it was fine."

Kai huffed, folding his arms and feeling bad for snapping at him.

But what was the point in saying the same crap again?

Dan already gave his pearls of wisdom and anecdotes about that time he froze during a recital.

The standard 'practice but don't overdo it' spiel.

It wasn't that he thought Dan was wrong. Or even that Dr. Freeman was entirely wrong.

Just...did not really help.

Didn't look like there was any help for this. Just a case of hoping for the best and pray the next 24 hours went quickly so this whole thing would be over with.

They arrived back at the school with about half an hour to go before the lunch bell, which gave Kai plenty of time to slip up to his room to change back in to his uniform and get his things for the afternoon.

And Dan plenty of time for a coffee and some organising for the afternoon.

"All right. I'll see you sixth!" the older waved off, parting ways at the stairs.

Kai gave a half assed wave back, trudging his way up the stairs to his room.

He wasn't going to waste time getting dressed. He wanted the extra free time to work on that stupid English essay he'd tried to do yesterday.

Not long after he shut his door, it opened again, stepping out in his blue jacket and purple tie like a prep school Clark Kent, bag slung over his shoulder as he bolted back down to his safe space.

The one that had been so rudely violated the day before...

He shuddered as he walked.

They'd said they'd be there today as well...but they were probably just bluffing. They didn't seem serious about studying, so why would they waste their time spending their precious social time in the library?

Was fine...

As the lunch bell rang, Kai was already well settled at the library, pen tapping frantically against the table, burning a hole in to his notebook with his eyes.

Sadly, no matter how hard he tried to concentrate, The Great Gatsby was the last thing on his mind.

He shot a frustrated sigh out his nose.

Breathe, he'd said...

That was the nugget of wisdom bestowed to him by the good doctor. The tool to not fucking tomorrow up. As well as every other problem he was there for, it seemed.

...Do the thing he'd been doing naturally since birth.

Because that was working soooo well for him!

But really? Medical science had reached a point where robotic arms were performing procedures, limbs were being grown and regenerated...

But the best help he could get for his array of mental bullshit was to breathe deeply?!

Years of college, masters degrees and doctorates for the grand skill of telling people breathing will make it all better?!

Was some bullshit...

"Kai!"

He felt his soul leave him.

OHHHH what fresh hell was this?!

Damnit! It wasn't fine!

WHY were they here?!

These guys were the last thing he needed right now! How was he supposed to wallow, sulk and study with them there?

His head turned sharply and snarled as them.

"What?!"

Reuben and Scotty moved to the chairs on either side of him, hands on their bag straps.

"There you are! We've been wondering where you were! Mr. Simmons said you'd be back later on." Reuben said enthusiastically but quietly as he pulled out a chair.

Kai scowled.

"The hell are you talking to Simmons about where I am for!?"

Scotty shrugged, getting comfy in his seat.

"You weren't in class. We were worried. Went to the teacher's room to ask Harris but he was with you, wherever you went. So Simmons told us."

Kai shifted.

At least they didn't know where he was...

"Hn...Well, here I am..." he said with a sarcastic bite to his tone.

Scotty let out a cheeky smile.

"And lovely as ever..."

Kai gave him 'the look'.

Scotty leaned in yet again in awe.

"Seriously dude, teach me!"

Kai's eyes got ever narrower.

"Teach you what?!"

"How to kill a man with your eyes!"

And he didn't mean with beauty...his could never match up to Kai's...

Kai scoffed.

"You just have to reaaaaaaaaaally feel the hate..."

Scotty touched his chest, offended.

"Rude..."

Reuben let out an uncomfortable laugh.

"He's just joking! He doesn't hate us! Right Kai?!" he asked, the fear dripping from his tone.

Kai lifted a brow and turned his hard stare to the mouse.

"That depends."

"On what?!" Reu cowered.

"On if you two can shut the hell up and let me get to work!" he bit, "Seriously, why are you still here? You wanted to know where I am for whatever reason, I'm here! Aren't you done here?!"

Scotty frowned at him, the desired power in his eyes not quite having the same potency as he was hoping for in his mind.

He reached in to his bag, rooting around before he slowly and pointedly pulled out his pencil case, notebook and far less worn, read and marked copy of Great Gatsby, dropping them on the table with a thud that echoed through the empty library.

"I believe we arranged to come study here with you yesterday."

Reuben glanced between them, quickly throwing himself to lean over to his bag and get his own books out to back Scotty up.

Kai felt the riling in his chest. The yelling to get lost on the tip of his tongue.

He just didn't need the grief of another argument with anyone.

As long as they shut up so he could work...

So. Dr. Freeman's way it was.

In through the nose...hold it...out through the mouth...

By his fourth one, both Reuben and Scotty were quiet, books open and settled.

...Huh. The urge to smack 'em with his book wasn't so strong.

Maybe Dr. Freeman could come off the list sooner than he thought.

Now. Finally...

Gatsby...

….

Okay, it worked to stop him snapping at these two over a mild annoyance! But still! That hardly was the same level as calming hideous stage fright, did it?!

Seriously, what the hell would he do if an attack hit him on stage!? Dan said they'd just take him off. But that would stop the entire performance! Everyone would suffer over it!

Not to mention, people's parents would probably be recording it all on their phones! What if someone recognised him and put it all over the internet or something?!

Scotty lifted his bored head at the sound of a pen smacking the side of the table at a million beats per second.

Pff. So much for Mr. Studious. He was up in what seemed like some dark clouds somewhere, eyes up staring off.

But then...so was he...

"You okay?" he dared to ask.

His violet eyes snapped out of their daze and shot to him.

"Hn?! Yes!"

Scotty laughed a little at the wired response.

"You nervous about tomorrow too?"

Kai's breath caught in his throat.

"No...not-not really!"

Scotty arched a brow and called bullshit.

"Well, lucky for you. I'm shitting a brick." he chuckled.

Kai blinked at him.

"You are?"

"Of course! Tomorrow's the day!" Scotty let out, nerves finally apparent in his voice.

Reuben finally lifted his head and painted on a smile.

"Ah, you guys will be great! I know it!"

Both Scotty and Kai rolled their eyes.

"Easy for you to say! Isn't you getting up there and singing center stage!" Scotty argued back a little.

Kai did a double take.

...Exactly!

"I know...but still. You guys have been working so hard for months now. I'm sure you're going to do great!" Reuben did his best to comfort.

"Thanks..." Scotty sighed, leaving a moment of silence hanging over the table before suddenly out of nowhere he gently slapped Kai's arm.

...His beautiful...sadly covered up arm...

"Dude, that's one of the reasons I was so panicked you weren't in class this morning! What if you got sick!? I don't want to have to stand at the front without you!"

Kai did another double take, mind switching rapidly between incredibly confused and enraged at the touch.

"Huh?"

Scotty shook his head, getting paler.

"James is great and all, and has a really good voice...but still, if you were out...that bit in the last verse with just two of us rather than three..."

Kai slammed his pen down, swivelling in his seat a little to face him better.

"YES! That fucking part at the last verse! We're going to be in some auditorium, not the music room! We have to make it project! But its so hard to keep those notes clean!"

Scotty mirrored his swivelling.

"I know!" he whimpered loudly, "And it's like the 'punch 'em in the nuts' part of the song! If we fuck it up it's going to lose all impact and fall flat!"

Kai's pupils shrank.

He...he hadn't thought of that...

He let out a deep and irritable groan.

"Whose bright idea was it to put three people in the front again!? More specifically the two of us?!"

He asked, but he knew...

Dan. Frickin'. Harrriiss...

Scotty blinked before frowning and slapping his arm again.

"Yours!"

Kai frowned back, jumping a little at the unexpected, but not exactly hard slap.

"The hell it was! I didn't suggest that!"

"It was you who suggested we changed our arrangement! Then you skulked off and left it to the group!"

"Yeh! You guys all got your skirts in a twist because some other school was singing the same song! So I said change the arrangement! I don't know on what planet you all thought that meant shove the new guy up front!?"

Reuben hit the table.

He'd already tried to get their attention, but it had seemed to go completely unnoticed.

The two others snapped their heads to him.

"Uh...guys? Does it matter? That's the way the choir decided and that's what you've been practising. So why don't you both just take a breath, huh?"

Kai's eye twitched hard at the last part.

Oh fuuuuuuuuuuck yooooooooou...

Scotty let out a deep sigh and slumped back in his chair.

"Yeh...I guess...sorry. Just want it to be over and done with..."

Kai slumped too.

"Mmhmm..." he nodded in agreement.

"Just being at the front means any mistakes I make are more obvious..."

"Mmhmm..."

"If I forget the words, or come in late or something...everyone is gonna see."

"Mmhmm..."

"Or what if I get stage fright and freeze up or something! Going to be right in view!"

"Mmm-hn?!"

Scotty was worried about that too?

Reuben looked between them.

"Look, you always got like this before performances in Junior High choir...but you've never frozen and forgotten words before, right?" he reassured his best friend.

Scotty sank and shook his head.

No...was usually all right on the night...

"Exactly. The lead up is probably way worse than the actual performance. So just...look at it that way? And Kai, you've been in huge, spectator filled stadiums battling live to the entire planet. If you can do that, you've definitely got this!"

Kai shook his head.

"That's a little different..."

Reuben tilted his head.

"I don't see how? Like, I know beyblading isn't singing, but aren't the some similar principles there? If you slip up, can't everybody see? In fact, you have people commentating and pointing it out! If you freeze up, or lose, doesn't it affect your whole team?"

Kai stuttered.

"Well...yeh, but-"

"But what? You always look cool as a cucumber to me when you fight in tournaments."

Somehow...somewhere in the cosmos, something must have aligned to cause something this bizarre to happen.

Reuben had shot at Kai.

And Kai couldn't think of anything to shoot back with.

Reuben's 'stern' face turned back to a smile.

"And anyway. You're both going to be stood at the front together. Nerds of a Feather, remember! Rei and I are rooting from you, win or lose!"

Kai cringed.

That stupid 'group name'...

He was not a nerd!

But still...

"So...you done many of these competitions?" he asked Scotty.

It was Scotty's turn to do a double take.

Had Heaven's Biceps actually asked him a question about himself!?

"Uh...a few. Always got through to the Regionals in Junior High. Made it to Nationals our final year but...didn't place."

"Oh...that's too bad?" Kai offered, feeling that was maybe the appropriate response.

Scotty snorted.

He was cute when he tried...

"Yeh, was a shame. But it wasn't like we expected to win anyway. Was nice getting that far though..."

Kai shifted in his seat.

"So...how do these things usually go? Like what does it look like?"

"Well. If its the same kind of set up, which I'm sure it will be, the order is picked at random and shown on the morning..."

Reuben sat and watched him explaining his little tidbits of information about how tomorrow might look, with Kai nodding and soaking it all in.

"So...how do you keep so cool and composed during your beyblade tournaments?" Scotty asked right back after he'd given his pearls of wisdom.

Kai sighed.

"I really don't know what to tell you...I guess all that was drilled in to me from a young age. I do get nervous before I go up, but once you step up to the dish, all that turns in to focus." he explained before his face got stronger as his beybladers spirit revved up .

"Nothing matters from that point, not the matches before, not the tournament as a whole, just that match there and then. Its just you and your opponent. Your mind has to try and be one step ahead them. You have to study them quick and anticipate their next move, figure out how you can one up them and make their blade stop spinning. You don't have time to panic."

Scotty blushed, subtly loosening his tie a little.

Reuben went starry eyed.

He and Rei were so awesome!

"So...just do the same thing tomorrow, huh?! Minus the one step ahead and..some other stuff that doesn't apply..." Reu rambled.

Scotty chuckled.

"Guess there's nothing else for it..."

"Nope..." Kai agreed.

Although, somehow he felt better.

Nerves still raging, but better.

Scotty and Reuben hadn't even said anything that Dan, Rei or Dr. Freeman hadn't already said about it.

But, like Scotty had said to Reu, it was easy for them to say. They weren't the ones about to get up and do it.

That didn't make them wrong. Just...

Knowing Scotty felt like he did, that he had the same worries, same reservations about the same parts of the song, that being up front was daunting for him as well made it all feel somewhat shared. That he wasn't alone.

Reuben was right about that, too. They were going to be stood together...

Not that that was a comfort at all...nope.

Not one bit...

All three of them jumped as the ten minute bell went.

Already?!

What was it with hours going by so quickly today?!

...No wait, that was exactly what he wanted. For this all to hurry up and be over.

Woo!

The other two groaned, shoving their untouched notebooks back in their bags and getting ready to head back off.

"What have you got this afternoon?" Scotty asked.

"Ancient History then music...you guys?"

They both were caught off guard.

Wow...he was finally getting the hang of conversation. Good for him!

"Thrilling...we both have IT and then art."

Kai cocked a brow.

"...You two really are joint at the hip, huh?"

Scotty shrugged.

"I just followed him. None of the electives really interested me. Rather be bored with him than without him."

"Hn. Touching." Kai smirked back.

Scotty smirked back.

"Don't you judge me! As if you didn't take Chinese so you and Rei couldn't hang out more..."

Kai jolted like a cattle prod had been rammed up his ass.

"No, he was already doing Chinese before Rei got here, remember?" Reuben corrected.

Scotty went in to thought.

"Oooohhh yeh! Man. I keep forgetting Rei's only been here a couple of months. He feels like part of the furniture now..." he rambled as they started to walk. "So, why did you choose Chinese? Kinda hard isn't it? As are all your electives...you a glutton for punishment or something?"

Kai stuttered and spluttered, feeling his face get hot and his brain turn to fog.

The only explanation it was giving him was the truth.

He'd wanted to feel closer to Rei.

He couldn't tell them that though! What would he say!?

Uh oh...response time was closing in on him.

In through the noooseeee...out through the mooouuuutthhh...

"I uh...just thought it would be good on the resume, ya know? It is the most widely spoken language on the planet..."

...All right, Freeman...you're off the list for now.

Scotty nodded.

"Smart. Much smarter than us." he laughed, "Anyway, we're going this way. See you for practice, hey?"

"Yeh...ha-have a good afternoon?"

He kicked himself again.

The hell was that?!

Scotty bit his cheek.

Aww...

Reuben on the other hand felt like a unicorn had offered his hoof to him.

"Thanks! You too!" he waved before Scotty dragged him off.

Kai cringed as he turned and walked off. Yet again.

Oh well...at least he had an hour of badass Egyptian pharaohs to entertain him and keep his mind occupied.

Then an hour of playing classics on his beloved violin.

Even after taking Tuesday afternoon off and missing the last class, he knew he was still going to play better than the other two 'violinists'.

His feet stopped for a moment as he heard himself. Or his internal monologue at least.

...Nah, that didn't make him a nerd.

Like his trip to the doctor and his lunch hour, the hands of the clock flew at an almost dizzying speed.

The bells chimed.

No more would he be able to enjoy the beautiful distraction of Ramses the third or Schubert's Erlkönig...

Instead, back to the troubled waters.

And singing about a supposed bridge that went over them.

Dan dismissed his home room, Kai and Scotty getting up from their seats slowly like the undead rising while the other boys dashed off to enjoy their evenings and sleep carefree.

Reuben stayed behind to wish them luck before he too skipped off.

Dan smiled as he waited at the front, arms folded.

"Shall we, boys?"

They nodded and followed him to the music room.

That would soon be replaced by a big hall...

As Dan pushed the doors open, the rest of the choir were already there.

It was quiet.

The air filled with dread and unease.

As always, he lit the room up with his Cheshire cat grin.

"Afternoon fellas! Sorry to keep you. Home room ran over! Let's get ourselves in our places and warm up, shall we?"

With yet more quiet and dreary shuffling, the boys arranged themselves from first and second tenors to baritone and bass.

Dan felt for 'em. Like he did every year he'd done it.

He got them and their voice boxes warmed up like he always did. But the nerves were ringing out in their voices.

Again, like every year he'd conducted.

"Good job, boys...now get in performance places." he instructed.

Kai and Scotty reluctantly stepped forward, as well as James. The rest of them behind shuffling a little to form the almost semi-circle behind them as their knees started to wobble a little.

Dan scanned them all and smirked.

"If you're getting nervous about tomorrow, give me a 'dooo, reeee, miiii'!" he sang.

The boys tittered, looking around each other before an uneven eruption of "Dooo, reee, miii!" and some more chuckles filled the room.

Dan smirked harder.

"All right...If you're absolutely shitting your pants about tomorrow, give me a 'fa, so, la, si, do!'"

"Fa, So, La, Si, DO!"

The perfect harmony and timing between all of them was sadly broken by giggling.

To Dan's delight, even from his Fireball.

"I know. It is nerve-wracking. The big day has finally crept its way here. So everyone listen up..." he ordered softly before he moved a little closer.

"Tomorrow morning, we are all going to meet after home room. Please make your way to the school entrance after the bell. Our carriage will be waiting..." he informed.

"Also. I want you all to remember that you are representing your school. Your choir. I expect your uniform to be clean and tidy. No mud covered shoes, buttons done up, and no loose ties. Not only that, but it goes without saying that when we arrive I expect nothing but your best behaviour. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Mr. Harris."

He nodded. Now that boring shit was done with...

"All right. Here is what's going to happen. We have a ninety minute practice scheduled. But we're going to go through it one more time and one more time only..."

Kai and Scotty froze, feeling their throats clam up.

What did he mean just one more time?!

"The higher grades know the drill." Dan waved off, "We will do one run through. And then you're to go to your dorms...you are to watch a movie, listen to your favorite music, draw, read, take a bath, whittle if that's what you're in to. You are to make sure you eat dinner at a decent time and that you get your butts in to bed at a decent time. The weekend is coming, so give your homework a pass for the night and just relax and unwind...is that clear?"

"Yes, Mr. Harris..."

Kai's heart slammed in his chest.

He didn't want to listen to music!

He wanted to practice! To prepare!

Scotty's too.

That...that last verse!

Once more wasn't enough!

Dan shifted his weight.

"Some of you don't look pleased. But listen, we have been going over and over this for weeks and weeks now. You've got it! It is as good as it is going to get. There is zero point in straining your voices the night before...and just remember, each and every one of you has worked your butt off, put in hours of practice! No matter where we place tomorrow, I am exceptionally proud of you, your school is proud of you and you need to be proud of yourselves and each other. M'kay?"

He didn't get the militant 'Yes, Mr. Harris' he loved so much this time. Just some nods.

That was his teacher speech done.

Now for the final run through before he went and cracked a beer himself...

"Okay then. Let's do this..."

The boys stood in position, legs slightly parted with their hands behind their backs.

The piano came in. The same intro that they'd heard umpteen million times by now.

As the intro got ever closer to their cue, Scotty and Kai's fingers dug harder in to the hands behind their backs, feeling their hearts start to slam a little harder and faster.

The piano pushed their cue ever closer...mere moments away.

Unintentionally in unison, they both inhaled air deep down in to their chests, getting ready.

This was the last time...the last practice.

The next time they sang this, it would be for real...


End of Chapter!

I'm sorry Rei didn't really make an appearance this time! I couldn't think of a good reason to shove him in! I'll be sure to make up for that later, don't you worry!

I really hope you enjoyed this! Any comments, of course, are always so appreciated and welcomed!

I'll do my best to have another update for you faster than this one!

But until then, please take care of yourselves in these truly shitty times! Much love!

Byeeee!