February 21st 2021

Chapter 52
Our Plans For Competition

Just the next morning after their trip up to the Orlando house, to prepare the nursery with their friends, Lucas went off to the grocery store and brought Marianne along with him. He got to spend some one-on-one time with his girl, even if her contribution could hardly go much further than staring up at him the way she did. It made weekends even better than they had already been. He had never been so speedy about making the circuit around the store, but he definitely took his time when he had Marianne with him. She really seemed to like it out here, he wasn't sure why. All he did care about, as ever, was that she was happy and that he would do everything in his power to keep her that way.

They were driving back up the road, passing the Sanderson farm, when he spotted them walking in the same direction he was headed. They could have been anyone, going anywhere, but then he spotted a patch on one of their bags, showing they went or had gone to his old high school, the school where Maya now taught. From there all he had to think was 'that kind of looks like Stella Buckley' before he realized it was Stella, and he realized who the others had to be. He honked his horn and they stopped and turned. Yeah, that was them. He advanced until he could roll down his window and talk to them.

"Morning…" he nodded to Stella, Ariel, Rochelle, and a boy he guessed had to be Bodhi. "What are you guys doing out here?" he asked them. Alright, he knew part of it, clearly, they would not have been out here for any other reason than to go up to the house, but the big question remained 'why?' Bodhi looked mildly concerned, like he hadn't been completely on board with this plan and didn't know what was happening.

"Hey, Mr. Friar," Ariel greeted him, dropping his name almost like she wanted to give Bodhi some context at the same time. He definitely looked a breath relieved to hear it. "We were hoping maybe we could talk to Mrs. Friar for a couple minutes? We were going to call, but then we thought… maybe she wouldn't mind us dropping in either."

One look to where Stella stood suggested she hadn't meant to reveal the fact that she knew where they lived and had been there before and now reconsidered whether she actually thought this had been a good idea. He could also see Rochelle, and she definitely looked like she was certain Maya wouldn't mind at all. Lucky for all of them, she was right.

"I can get you the rest of the way. Wouldn't say no to extra hands to take the groceries in."

So, the quiz team hopped in the minivan, and they drove the rest of the way – which was barely anything anymore – up to the house. As promised, the students helped Lucas with the bags. Stella found herself entrusted with bringing Marianne from the car. The baby had really taken to her, and she was really good with her.

"Hello?" Lucas called as they walked in. Cara wouldn't be here, she was working today, and Elizabeth could be here, or she could have gone out, but Maya for sure would be here, either in the house or the Hex…

"Attic!" her voice reached him from above. Lucas turned back to see that Stella had set Marianne in her bassinet, and now she and the others were carrying the bags into the kitchen.

"I've got those," he told them. "You go on ahead," he nodded, pointing toward the second floor. As they disappeared up the stairs, he had to smile. It would be a nice surprise.

Maya had been in the attic since before Lucas went off with Marianne to the store. Granny Lizzie's birthday was coming up, and whenever she would leave the house and there was time, Maya would go up to the attic and work on her present for her. It was a painting, to put in her room down in the basement, one she hoped would make her feel that much more at home. There was really something about being up here, with the sun coming through the windows, her feet bare against the wooden floor and sometimes feeling the warmth of those rays… She had her brushes, and her paints, and everything was coming together.

Even for having heard Lucas' call and acknowledged it, she was still focused on her painting enough that it didn't register how many feet could be heard coming up to meet her. She heard someone clear their throat, likely to announce themselves without startling her and causing her hand and brush to slip, and she turned.

"Hey!" she laughed at once, finding her quiz team there. "What are you…" she started to ask, then looked to her brush and moved to set it down before advancing to meet them, checking her hands and her shirt as she went, in the event that there might have been wet paint anywhere. "Hi," she looked at all of them, and she must have appeared so wired. Honestly, she could have hugged them all for how much she missed being at school with each one of them. "What's going on? You guys okay?"

"Oh, yeah, we just…" Ariel started, looking to her teammates. "We have that friendly against the Think Tank coming up, and…"

"It's not the same practicing when you're not there," Rochelle declared, filling in the words Ariel had been seeking. Maya couldn't keep from smiling.

"Mr. Matthews and Mr. Brett, they're good, too," Stella pitched in, not wanting it to sound like any of them were speaking against the two teachers. "But…" she added, quietly, with a look toward Rochelle that said she felt the same.

"We know you're supposed to be on leave, and we don't want to intrude…" Ariel went on, these words being her very own entry into agreement with the two girls.

"No, hey, it's fine," Maya reassured her and the others at once. "Just let me clean up here," she moved to pick up after her supplies, putting everything away.

As she did this, she could see the quartet observing her canvas, and it pleased her to see how they all had their own way of taking it in. There were Bodhi and Stella, of course, artists through and through the pair of them, and then Ariel, who may not have been as dedicated of an artist as them but still had such an appreciation for expression, by any means available. Then there was Rochelle, and with the various books she'd explored in her… alternative course load… She could probably break down her teacher's work with so much awareness of techniques, and influences, but maybe more important to Maya, she would actually just take the time, and take it in, and find a personal bit of appreciation.

The painting was hard to miss as they'd come in, but once they'd seen that the next and biggest thing for them to find, and unavoidably so, was the trophy case. Ariel was the first to spot it and she gasped before moving across the attic floor. The others saw her go and followed. Maya had to admit, it was an impressive sight now, the seven awards laid out on their shelves. There was also a picture frame with a still of Maya and Ree up on stage together, and another with Maya alone, for her solo win. She had her basketball trophies in there, too, and Lucas had his own, all just as proudly displayed, along with team photos.

"You're coming back, right?" Rochelle asked Maya, after they'd all scanned the trophies and photos long enough.

"To school? Of course, I am, this fall. Why wouldn't I?" Maya asked, even as the sophomore girl flicked a look back at the case. "Hey," she tapped her arm, and Rochelle looked at her. Maya made sure to get the message across to all four of her students here. "Teacher, first. All of that, second," she gestured to the music awards. "And that's not changing. Okay? Okay?" she looked to each of them until they'd nodded. "Now, let's get started, yeah?"

They stayed up in the attic for the span of their session, which lasted until mid-afternoon and involved the addition of Marianne when Lucas had to head to Sullivan Stables. At lunch time, take-out was called in for the five of them, and they carried on. As unexpected and unplanned as this day had been, the more of it she got, Maya really felt like she'd needed it. She'd missed it, so much, and she was reminded of how deeply she believed in her team, in what it achieved academically, yes, but underneath all that… It created this, these four kids who got so much more from being a team together.

"You're coming to the friendly, yeah?" Stella asked when they were packing up books, and notes, and cards.

"You bet I am," Maya grinned.

"Hey, did you get the…" Ariel asked, adding a pointed look in place of the words she wouldn't say. Maya looked at her for a second, then…

"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot. I was going to send it over with the diaries, just… come on," she waved for them to follow.

She led the way down the attic steps, taking the sleeping Marianne into the master bedroom and laying her down in her crib. Turning around, she found the quiz team bunched up outside the door, in the hallway.

"It's okay," she chuckled. "You won't get zapped."

So, they walked in, while Maya went to her diary cart, with the four boxes waiting to be picked up. Sitting over her freshman box was another slender box. She walked back to the others, cleared her throat, and stood up straight.

"Ariel, would you care to do the honors?" she asked. It was clear who did and didn't know what this was about, as the girls smirked and laughed, while Bodhi stood looking at all of them with confusion.

Maya pulled back the top of the box, and Ariel reached in, nudging the tissue paper aside until she could take hold of the item within and bring it out in a great unfolding flourish. The way Bodhi blinked and then realized what this was… Maya was so glad this had happened here, today, where she could be involved.

"Sir, if I may," Ariel grinned as she moved to help slip the team jacket on to her teammate and new friend. Bodhi received it and turned to face them all again, straightening up the jacket.

"It looks so good on you," Stella beamed.

"I don't know about you, but I always feel like ten percent more powerful when I wear mine," Rochelle informed him.

"Yeah, I think I'm getting it, too," Bodhi slowly nodded, and his posture definitely felt that extra bit of empowered, much to his teacher's pride.

"We don't usually wear them for friendlies, just our t-shirts, but I think we need to wear them this time. That way we're all wearing them together. We can take pictures," Ariel suggested.

"Oh, I am bringing my camera, don't worry," Maya pitched in. "You ready for that? Bringing your picture day best?" The team was absolutely ready for that.

"That Think Tank won't know what hit it," Rochelle firmly promised. They were all of a single mind on that.

The jacket was put back neatly folded in its box and handed to Bodhi before the team went on its way home. Before they went, Maya told them that they were always welcome for more of these sessions. Next time, they would call or write ahead, they swore on it.

TO BE CONTINUED

See you tomorrow! - mooners