Altea High

Chapter 2: Diplomacy (9/7/17)

Takashi woke up to a loud beeping noise coming from his phone. He didn't want to get up to check his email at four in the morning, especially because Matt let him be the little spoon that night and he didn't want to get out of his warm patch to get to his phone. But he did. And groaned.

The email was from the vice principal at Altea High, where Takashi worked, and told him that he had been selected for the annual Altea High vs Galra High teacher trivia contest. Thankfully, it was being held at Altea High this year, so Takashi did not have to travel any extra than his normal commute with his boyfriend.

There was then a loud buzzing noise from the other nightstand that jolted Matt awake with a slight squeal. Takashi heard a groan from the room next door, then footsteps. There was a knock on the door.

"Could you try and keep it down? It's four. Some people who have school in a few hours are trying to sleep as long as possible."

"Sorry, Katie. I just got an email from the vice principal, and I assume Takashi got the same one. We'll go downstairs so you won't be bothered."

Takashi got out of bed first, as Matt was still stretching his arms, and opened the door to find a small, fourteen year old girl in the doorway.

"Go back to bed, Katie."

"I want to know what's going on. Why would Vice Principal Smythe email you at four in the morning?"

"We'll explain later. Just go back to bed."

"Fine."

As Katie walked off, frowning, back to her bedroom, Takashi noticed how much she'd changed in the three years he'd been living with her and her brother. Matt had changed his life for the better, and then Katie and changed it even more. He always wanted a younger sibling, and Katie was the perfect opportunity to give some of that brotherly love. Then he remembered what he had told her yesterday. All the guilt of giving away confidential information flowed back for a second, but Takashi brushed it off, knowing that Lance was her friend and probably wanted her to know, even though Takashi had sworn Katie to secrecy after telling her. Not even Matt knew.

As Takashi walked down the stairs, he heard both an angry teenager flop down on her bed and a curious man close the door to his room and follow his boyfriend down the stairs.

"Did you read it yet?" whispered Takashi. Matt nodded, but shrugged. He didn't know what the email meant. "Do you remember last year, during the first week of school, when a few of the teachers just weren't there for a day?"

"Yeah," replied Matt, whispering, as he continued down the stairs and made his way into the kitchen, "Principal King said they went to Galra High?"

Takashi nodded. "Galra High is Altea High's rival school. Every year, we have an annual trivia competition between the vice principals and four teachers of their selection. We were both chosen, and thankfully Altea High is the venue that we'll be using this year."

"I'll tell Katie."

Takashi grabbed Matt's arm. "Not now. Let her sleep." Matt relaxed and the two embraced. Takashi ran his hands through Matt's hair. Matt chuckled.

"I still can't believe she cut her hair like me. She and I look almost exactly the same now. So much for people not thinking we're related."

"Don't worry, I won't ever tell her you said that."

Matt snorted. "I'm going to get ready for work. I won't be able to go back to sleep after hearing news that I'll be in a trivia contest today."

Takashi nodded. Both took turns utilizing different parts of the bathroom so that they could both be ready by the time Katie needed to be up. Matt always had the first shower. He said it woke him up in the morning, but Takashi had always sworn by coffee and had let Matt have his shower. It gave him more time to sleep, anyway.