Managing the Swans

Chapter 2

As the final bell of the day rings, I get up out of my chair and stretch. About now, there are hundreds of students leaving their classes, some will be going home but the rest will be heading to their afterschool clubs. These clubs are a problem, they are the reason I get up early to work most of the horses before school. The sports teams have their fields near the arena, and they run through the path in the bush area at the back of the school. There were problems over the summer and start of the school year where the players would deliberately kick the balls in my direction while I was working a horse. On one occasion they even hit us, causing the horse to throw me off. So now I avoid doing too much when the students are around, I'm not going to let a horse get hurt for their entertainment.

I step out into the breezeway and start cleaning out the stables from this morning. Picking up the manure and flipping the bedding to remove the urine, refilling the hay, and checking all the waters. The next thing to do are the feeds and putting them into the respective horse's stable.

By this time, it is starting to get late. Most of the other students would be heading home or back to the dorms. I make my way outside to start bringing horses in. Putting the first halter on I see movement on the running track. Glancing over I watch as a team of boys go running past, on closer inspection I see that they include the group that I had passed in the hall.

Well at least that gives a bit more reasoning for the other student's behaviours. They must be some big hot shots in their sport. Whatever that is. By the way they are moving they obviously know what they are doing.

I keep an eye on them as I bring in all the horses. They consistently run the whole time before stepping to the side and meeting up with who appears to be their coach. I can't tell from this distance, but it looks like the olive haired boy might be the captain, he is at least the most stoic. A conversation happens before they seem to be dismissed by the coach, a boy with red spikey hair looks in my direction. Seeming to notice me looking he nudges a few of the others around him, they all turn in my direction as the red-head waves. A few seem to be talking to each other as I look away, bringing my focus back to the horses.

I don't notice the boys when I head back out for the final horse. Assuming they have gone to change and go home I don't think much on it. Conducting my final checks, I turn the main lights off for the barn, the stables each keep their lights on that will automatically shut off later. Locking the office, tack room and feed room I am finally finished for the day and grab my things to head back to my dorm.

Closing the main doors behind me I jump as I hear footsteps approach me from behind. Spinning around I am met with one of the boys from the team I saw earlier.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He says, taking a step back from me, almost shocked at my reaction. The outside lights illuminate him better, his light blond hair casting a shadow over his face momentarily.

"Well don't sneak up on a girl like that. You're lucky I didn't hit you." His eyes widen at my statement. I bet he didn't believe that a person would do that. "Now, can I help you with something? Surely there is a reason you walked all the way down here."

"To be honest, I'm not really sure why I am here. My team and I saw you watching us before and I guess I got curious. Most girls don't act the way you do to us." He pauses, almost thinking over what he is going to say next. "They, um, mainly just scream at us."

Is this guy serious. Does he think they are some sort of celebrity. "So, what, I interest you because I don't fall at your feet out of amazement?" My voice spikes. I don't like him being here. I'm too exposed! "Just leave me alone, please. I already have enough trouble; I don't need your fan club as well."

I bump shoulders with him as I pass, knocking him off balance. It seems to have the right effect, surprising him enough that he doesn't follow me. Quickly walking to the dorms, I keep an ear out for anyone following me. The darkness and lack of lights unnerve me, the feeling that something is hiding in the shadows closing in around me. I need to get back to my room, I'm safe in my room. Close the door and no one can get in.

The living area get lit up by a flick of a switch, a glance around proves that I am alone, that I am safe. Spinning around I check the lock again before moving to close all of the curtains.

"You're ok. You're safe. He didn't touch you. No one will touch you again." The mummering fills the silence of the dorm. Taking a breath, I step into my small kitchen and start to make dinner for myself. As I sit down to eat, I think back to the boy at the stables. Did I go too far? I was quite rude to him, but I really don't know how to handle others since I moved. Japan is so different from home in Australia, and given what I went through before I left, I really don't know what I am doing.

I head off to bed, checking the door one more time, after removing my braces and taking my meds I settle under the covers. Setting my phone with the alarm set on the bedside table I allow the exhaustion of the day take over and drift off to sleep. I just hope I don't have to put up with those boys again tomorrow.

_*_*_*_

I guess my wish came true. Over the next few weeks, I managed to avoid whoever that team is. I know that they watch me on occasion, I can feel their eyes on me when I am with the horses sometimes. But luckily, they don't approach me again. Hopefully I scared the silver haired one enough that they will leave me alone.

But eventually my luck had to run out. 2 weeks after my run in with the sports team I am called to the main school again. Walking through the halls I think that it is just another check in, but as I step through the door into the office, I know that this isn't a regular check in. Sitting in the seats are the coach and olive haired boy from the team, whatever team they are.

Looking up at Mr Hayashi I try to ignore the others in the room, hopefully they aren't here for me.

"Hi, Mr Hayashi. Sorry for just walking in, I didn't know you were in a meeting." Mr Hayashi's eyes flick up to me as a smile spreads on his lips.

"That's ok, Miss Carpenter. They actually wanted to talk to you. It seems you have caught the eye of the volleyball team." So that's what they play. No wonder they are all tall.

"Not to be rude, but why would they want to talk to me. I look after the horses, that's it."

The coach seems taken aback by my bluntness as he responds. "You should learn some respect for your elder young lady. I don't know what is acceptable where you grew up, but that behaviour is not ok here at Shiratorizawa."

I can't help but let my jaw drop at the man's words. Is he for real? Who the hell does he think he is talking to me like that? I am about to retort with my full thoughts when the principle cuts me off.

"Actually, Miss Carpenter is not being rude. I gave her permission to speak her mind at all times." I look back to the coach with a smug smile on my face. "Now Miss Carpenter, they are actually here to ask you something. This is Captain Ushijima."

The olive haired boy stands and turns towards me. Instinctively, I step back as his height makes him tower above me. He is an imposing boy, no man. I can't really call him a boy; his broad shoulder and height are enough to call him a fully grown man.

Seeming to notice my discomfort he also takes a step back before speaking. "My name is Ushijima Wakatoshi. I would like to ask you on behalf of the Shiratorizawa Volleyball team to be our team manager."

...

What the F*CK!