The final week of school was nothing short of bliss for Kosi or Rue could have anticipated. For obvious reasons they were the talk of their class and the envy of some classmates.
Everyone was also in great spirits because they were officially graduating soon. Due to their current situation there were understandably not many children when they were forced underground. Due to this a unique schooling system was implemented.
Children were divided by their ages. The original plan was for children born in consecutive years to attend classes together and provide them with a practical education teaching them all basics to survive, then after completing the syllabus they'd usually work with their parents.
This plan worked until they realized there were two kids who were younger than everyone else and therefore had no one to eventually attend school with. These kids were Kosi and Rue and with them now graduating it put into stark focus that life down here was unsustainable.
There was talk that this was the catalyst for reinstating the Exploration Project. So how fitting that one of the caverns youngest was to become a digger, that if not for the age minimum.
"Soooo, Rue can you maybe I don't know emotionally manipulate your dad into letting K do the trails" Jude asked unashamedly at the lunch table. "No" she replied bemused. "Told you so" Willow added staring at Judes best attempt at begging as he now tried to make himself appear sad and pitiable.
"Where is Kosi anyway" Willow asked looking around. "Oh he and Brodie went to try to get him in the trails" Jude answered. "So why aren't you going with them?" Elise asked secretly happy he was sat next to her. "Well asking Rue is less work" he replied winking at Rue before looking at Elise for just a second as butterflies paraded in his stomach due to sitting with Elise.
Rue rolled her eyes. "..Who's Brodie?" Willow asked. "Big bro" was all that Jude said in response. "This guy who used to walk Kosi to school I think, he loves him like a brother" Rue added. "Wait so Kosi just goes off with this random guy and you don't mind" Elise pried. "I mean not really, kinda like Jude said he's their big bro he's basically family to Kosi" Rue replied with a tinge of sadness.
"Yeah I don't know how K copes with everything without him, but it's alright he's going to come back later" Jude said as he bites into a sandwich. "Yeah he can't not come walk his girl home" Willow looking at Rue with glee. "Oh that and the fight" Jude added.
"A fight?!" Rue asked, her face unable to settle on an expression as she failed to comprehend what was happening. "Yeah...how didn't you guys find out about this, on Day 1 Kosi said he'd kick Dell's head in and they agreed to fight after end of school today" he said nervously, unsure if he was helping or not.
Much to the chagrin of the girls he continued by now unsure himself why he couldn't stop "Dell got really mad when he saw you two kiss so he's been at gone all week...I saw him flipping tires one day...he looked mad.." "Just" Elise interrupted him covering his mouth with her hand.
The four sat in awkward silence for the rest of lunch.
Meanwhile a nervous Kosi sat in a waiting area with an ever confident Brodie. "Nope that wont work but what if I..no never mind" Kosi said muttering to himself. Brodie stopped pacing back and forth, looking at Kosis frazzled demeanor in confusion and asked "Bro, you alright?" with a concerned tone in his voice.
"Yeah I just..we need an angle, right?" Kosi asked looking up at Brodie. As quickly as Brodie pondered that thought they heard a familiar gruff voice. A tall man in dark blue formal wear came around the corner to see the two. Much to his visible annoyance he invited them into his office.
Once they were all inside he let out a deep sigh. "So let me guess, he wants to be a digger" he said pointing a finger to Kosi. "Age minimum is 16 have a nice day" he dismissed them with a hand and set about his paperwork.
"No" Kosi said firmly. "What?" the man said looking up from his desk. "Why 16, I'm old enough to graduate and get a job but I'm not old enough to run an obstacle course or something?" he asked rhetorically. "He doesn't want to be a digger he just wants the chance to try" Brodie added.
"The two of you clearly didn't learn anything in school. Simply put no means..no, you can't climb up because you're too young to do so!" he said raising his voice. "It's nothing personal against you kid but with him" he continued now pointing to Brodie "he's a delinquent, wish I could bar you but there aren't exactly swarms of people trying to go" he continued in a tired tone.
At that moment Kosi found his angle, unbeknownst to him however Brodie had the same idea. Looking back at Kosi he nodded. "Lieutenant Williams.." "it's Captain Williams now" he said interrupting Brodie. "Alright, Captain Williams you want rid of me right? You don't want to see me ever again" Brodie asked. "Yes" the captain replied growing even more tired of this conversation.
Brodie looked back at Kosi and mouthed "gottem". "Alright captain, a bet. You think Kosi is too young to do the trails then prove it. Let him do them and if he doesn't complete them faster than at least half the other participants he doesn't get to go and neither do I" Brodie said leaning over the captain.
A smirk came across the distinguished captains face as he stood up. "Kid you backed the wrong horse on this I don't know if he's brave or stupid but your friend here just flushed both your dreams down the toilet" he said looking to Kosi before extending a hand out to Brodie.
"Deal" was all he said as him and Brodie shook hands all while Kosi was filled with mixed emotions. Grateful his brother would go to bat for him like that but dreading that he now had both their futures riding on him.