Thinking of You
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Summary: It's been four years since Tala the car accident. A view on how Julia feels as she watch the days of her life got spent on waiting for him to wake up from his coma.
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CHAPTER 1 – Reminisce
/ February 12, 2009 /
I never thought it would get this far... After retiring from the Beyblade Industry and hanging the Clown's costume, and decided to go to college, I landed myself a Job inside the BBA office. I only started to work as a Computer Analyst at the IT department of the BBA four months ago. Yes... Ironic isn't it? From a goofy clown to computer geek. Everyone thought I was going to be a great dancer and singer one of these days but... Here I am.
Currently, I am sitting right in front of the computer screen developing yet another program for the upcoming new event for the BBA. I admit, I miss beyblading as much as I miss having coffee refills in the BBA cafeteria but life isn't just with me now. Damn it... Syntax Errors.
If you ask if I had any regrets...Hmmm... I don't regret giving up beyblade, never regret to stop entertaining the crowd that once cheered for me, and never regret to have this job. If there was one thing I regret... was wasting my life at not having to regret anything.
I pulled out my thin glasses and rubbed my eyes for a bit, never know why I need it in the first place but it sure was helping out. I pulled out some papers from the drawer and began reading it, until I glanced up and saw my co-worker coming in from the door.
(Normal POV)
"You all right?" said the oranged haired man, hesitant as if embarrassed to be caught in this moment of concern.
Julia blew air through her teeth. "Oh, of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
Brooklyn smiled and went to her, he glanced down at her desk at the pile of paper works on it. "I brought you some lunch..." he said as he settled a blue plastic down. Julia put down the paper, stretched her back a little and stood up. She needed a break...
"God... You're a life saver. I'm hungry.
Brooklyn cleared his throat. "And I hate seeing you suffering like this."
Julia turned her head and looked at him. "Please, Brooklyn. Don't go all Tyson on me right now."
Brooklyn smiled broadly as he held out a plastic topper ware that contained four slices of ham, chicken and cheese sandwhiches. Julia took it and went to seat down at her favourite coach.
"It may seem strange but right now... I would really want Hilary here. Sorry about all this drama... Stupid me." She blurted out at and quickly bit her sandwich to piped it down.
"I'm way ahead of you..." Brooklyn said as he went to the door and opened it. At once, the brunette woman who was standing outside had finally came in.
"God! Took you long enough to get the Queue! This heels are killing me!" Hilary said as she went in, grab a sandwich from the table and went to Julia's side. As she sat, she kicked off the Hell Heels and bit the sandwich.
"Hello to you to Hils..." Julia laughed at her actions as she leaned on the couch more comfortably.
Brooklyn shook his head at the two, "I'll leave you two ladies alone..." then he left them in a flash.
Julia then glared at her brunette friend, "Please tell me he didn't—"
"Julia..." Hilary said as she finish the sandwich, "He really like you and he's a great guy and he cares about you and—"
"Hilary..." Julia warned.
Hilary sighed, "Alright... He called me, told me to come up here and told me to pursue you to – you know – "
Julia mentally slapped herself, of course...The I'm-here- and –I-care-and-move-on Technique.
"Forget it Hilary...Not gonna happen. Not interested, OK?" she told her.
"Fine..." Hilary said as she stood up. "But you know, he has his mind set for helping you...And I want to help you as well."
Julia exhaled and closed the topper ware. "Isn't Kai looking for you?"
"Don't change the subject! Kai can wait..."
"Kai isn't the type of guy to –"
"Julia....." Hilary warned
"Fine..."
Hilary couldn't stop glaring at her bestfriend. Four years ago, she was the rough and funny person she used to be...now she's just like a mannequin with a life that seems to be seeping out from it.
"Julia... I'm your best friend right?" she said, "And as your friend, I love you very much. But this.." Hilary raised her hands up and wave around her, "has got to stop... Your torturing yourself and I hate seeing you suffer."
Julia looked away from her, "Easy for you to say..." she whispered.
Hilary bit her lip and approached her slowly, "Forgive me but I have to do this..."
SLAPPPPP
Julia gaped at her friend as she touched her face.
"Julia...Wake up...Please" Hilary said as she hug her friend. Then silence was the only thing that kept them attached... Julia hugged her back tightly to show that her friend was right.
"You know...you don't have to do that..." Julia pointed out angrily. "But...I guess I needed that..."
Hilary pulled away and sat back beside her, "Now... Let's have a real talk. Four years isn't getting us closer to each other...We can start from the beginning and all I'm gonna do is listen and try to help you "
Silence....
She sighed. "I keep thinking back to that morning."
"What morning?"
"The last time I saw him."
"What about it?"
"I wish I could go back and change it. Even if I could change nothing else, I'd change my own words. Every time I think about it I feel sick to my stomach that the last words we spoke to each other before... whatever... were angry ones."
Flashback...
November 13, 2005
"Do you really have to go in? It's Sunday."
"I'm afraid so," Tala said, his back to her as he stood at the sink peeling an orange. "I really need to be there when Garland and his team report in from Europe. They'll need new orders depending on what they tell me."
"Do you know when you'll be home?"
"Not too late, I should think. Six or seven." He turned and sat down at the table next to her, popping an orange section into his mouth. "What are you going to do today?"
"I'm going shopping with Romero. Dress shopping."
Tala stared at his orange. "You know, I really wish you wouldn't do that."
"Tala, we've been through this. I can't cut her out of everything."
"Every time Romero gets near any sort of shopping plans he turns into some sort of Satanic demon that's impossible to kill and doesn't understand reason."
"I know."
"It'll only upset you. He'll just do what he always does and try to dictate everything to you and you'll end up having a huge fight with him and I'll come home and find you crying about it...again. You know, this is supposed to be fun for us, but your father figure, fond as I am of him, keeps turning it into a grueling ordeal resembling the Spanish Inquisition."
"Maybe he won't."
"Yes, and maybe Tyson will show up with a basket of cookies and cocoa."
"Why are you being so mean about it?" she said, irritated.
"Because I hate seeing you upset, and anyone who intentionally makes you upset brings out Mean Tala!"
"He's my coach!"
"What he wants is for you to do everything the way he wants it done. This is our life, not hers. If he can't be civil about it then I think you should just keep him away from the planning, for your own sake and mine."
Julia was torn. He was right about it making her upset but why couldn't he understand that? How could he even suggest that she cut her coach out of this important life event completely? "It's not that simple," she said. "It's...complicated."
"Maybe your relationship with your father-figure isn't supposed to be that complicated."
"And how would you know anything about that?" she snapped. Tala sat back, sucking in a short breath, his eyes filling with hurt and anger. Julia's eyes widened. What she'd meant to say was that being a man, he couldn't really comprehend a woman's relationship to her mother, but she suddenly realized that the way it came out it had sounded as if she were referring to his lack of a mother of his own. "Oh, that's not..." He stood up, shoving the chair away from the table before she could finish.
"I'll see you later," he said shortly, heading for the door.
"Tala..." she began, annoyed that he wouldn't stop to listen to her.
"Do me a favor, all right? Don't talk to me right now." He walked out and after a few seconds she heard the front door slam, making her wince. She let her head fall to the table. This wasn't the first time they'd fought about her coach (or a bewildering assortment of other topics), but this was the first time they'd parted for the day without a kiss, without saying 'I love you.'
She got up from the table and went upstairs to shower, the argument leaving her feeling saddened. They'd make up when he got home, they always did. They'd talk about it and she'd apologize and he'd apologize and it would all be fine. When he got home.
End of Flashback...
"Except he never came home," she finished hoarsely. "Sometimes while I lie awake at night and stare at the ceiling I curse myself for letting him leave like that. We promised each other we'd never do that."
"Do what?"
"Part angry. It was sort of a pact we made, early on. We knew we'd fight, everyone does. But with our jobs being what they are, something could happen to one of us at any time...so we swore we'd never part with angry words, in case we never saw each other again." Her voice quavered and she swiped her hand across her eyes.
"I'm sorry," Hilary said quietly, not knowing what else to say.
"I just wish I could have that one moment back so I could think before I spoke, and so he'd leave knowing I love him."
"He knows that."
"I often wonder what he was thinking about while he was at work that day. I hope he realized later that I would never say anything so hurtful to him, and what it was I meant to say."
"I'm sure he did." He tilted his head and examined her profile. "Why does this one thing trouble you so much."
She sighed. "Because I can't stand the thought that whatever happened to him, it happened while he was angry with me."
Flashback ....
"Julia! Dinner!"
She trotted down the stairs, smiling at the scent of Rei's cooking. Her four roommates were seated in their customary places. She frowned, looking about. "Tala's not home yet?"
"No, I guess not. You haven't seen him?"
"No."
"Probably just working and lost track of the time," Tyson said as he sat down at the table.
Dinner over, the household adjourned to the living room. It was a large and comfortable room near the front of the house outfitted with a telly and video player and stereo equipment, a big plushy pit sofa and reclining chairs. Tyson, Rei, Hilary and Mariah sat down to watch a film while Julia settled in her favorite rocker with a book.
The minutes ticked on. Julia's mind drifted further and further away from her book and closer to concern at Tala's lateness. She stood up and went to the window, looking out at the drive.
"Tala..."
Ring...ring...ring...
"I'll get it..." Tyson said as he picked up the phone... "Hey Kai!!! Wait Hilar—what?"
Julia kept glancing outside, she was filling nervous as if a cold wind was passing right trough her.
"Oh God...We'll get there...Oh right, alright" Tyson said as he put down the receiver and glanced at his friends.
"Guys...Kai needs us at the hospital."
"Huh? Tyson?" Hilary asked, Julia turned her head towards him.
"Now...Let's not get ahead of ourselves..." Tyson said looking paler at the moment.
"Tyson?" Rei asked as he stood up, looking concerned.
"Julia... "Tyson looked at her, his eyes looking all weird. Julia swallowed, knowing nothing but feeling tense.
"Tala had an accident, he's currently being treated now. Kai needs us there so please don't faint on me..."Tyson whispered.
Julia stared blankly at him, not knowing how to react... She backed away further till she hit the window...
My fault....
That was all she thought before her world fainted to balck...
End of Flashback...
Julia thought back to that awful night as she sat in her tiny shared office with her ignored reports texts open before her. Her memories of what had happened were fuzzy and incoherent. She remembered being in the war room as reports came in, all negative. She remembered growing more and more desperate to hear something, anything. When morning had come and there still had been no word, she had retreated into a corner by herself and wept her first tears of fear and frustration.
"I'll never forget that day..." she whispered as tears kept flowing freely.
As the days passed, Julia's grim determination and dogged pursuit of the search drew uneasy praise from those around her, who remarked upon how well she was holding up. In truth, this face of stoicism was a mask she wore to mask her blank terror and the black despair that welled up in her heart with each passing minute.
Until those days turned into months, then years...Years of death sentence for both of them. "I'm so tired Hilary...I'm tired of everything...I just want it all to end..."
"Tala is a strong man. He'll come out of it..." Hilary said as she hugged her friend. "Kai's been suffering too, in fact I've never seen him this way as well. And it's killing us all... And I hate seeing you mourn for him everyday."
Julia sniffed and wiped her tears off. "I wanted to tell you something... But promise me you won't tell this to anyone. Kai knew but the incident made things complicated..."Julia said as she stood up and went to her desk.
"I've been wanting to tell you this, but Tala said it would be best to surprise everyone at the ball. Remember the ball?"
"Yeah...But it got cancelled due to- you know-"
Julia rampaged in her bag until she found a small velvet box. Hilary gasped as she went to her.
"He..."
"We planned to announced it but everything fell out of place and now...Things aren't getting back to normal. " Julia said as she gave the box to her. Hilary opened it and she stared down at the diamond engagement ring.
"Four years..." Hilary whispered.
"Four years..." Julia repeated as she went back to the couch and lay down. "It was dream...all of it...And how I wish I never dreamt it..."
"God...." Hilary whispered as she closed the box.
"You guys kept telling me to move on... But where do I go? Now you know why I don't want Brooklyn getting his hopes up..."
Julia sat up and inhaled deeply. "Wow...This is one of the long conversations I had in years... I'm glad you came in..I guess I owe Brooklyn this one."
Hilary turned to her friend, tears running down her cheeks. "I missed you Julia...We all do..."
Julia smiled sadly and lay back down. "How I wish... Everything....was.... just a nightmare..." her voice fading as her heart kept reaching out for death.
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A/N: This is just a story I came up with. I don't own beyblade. READ AND REVIEW!
Blitzkrieg Brotherhood is currently on hold, until I can retrieve the data from my old broken Laptop... So enjoy this for a while....