I really like the idea of Hilary and Tyson together, and actually growing up Max was my least favorite out of the Blade Breakers. I don't know why. I don't' know when he started to be less of my least favorites. But now I like him just as much as any of the others. I mean he's sweet and nice and all that bubble gum goodness. The ending is kind of fast but what else do you do when you've ran out of motivation?
Give Me A Sign
She lives a normal life, she did everything she was supposed to do. She finished High School and went to University, she now has a career as a Grade School Teacher. She stuck hard to her studies to get her career; and now that's her life. She has no social life, everything revolves around her work.
She gave up on a social life years ago.
That's what you do when you work. Besides, she didn't have much of a life anyways. All she did before was school and Tournaments, and after the Blade Breakers split up-after that Tyson quit going to Tournaments. She didn't blade, and if Tyson wasn't there or any of her other friends there was no reason for her to go.
It wasn't a bad thing.
To her surprise Tyson got serious about his studies and got into a great school, just like her. And before she knew it he held her hand and kissed her. She kissed him back and that was it. But only for a little while. After only a year they decided she worked too much and he wasn't serious enough. They stayed friends, though.
And now here she is in New York.
She is actually 1/4th American, she found out, her Mother told her when she won this fabulous all expense trip to America's busy city. It's a lot like Tokyo but at the same time it's so much different. And even though she is an English Teacher, understands and speaks perfectly, she is still as lost as if she didn't know any English besides 'Hello'.
The people in America are different than Tokyo, too. She's heard that Japanese are rude, not wanting to talk to foreigners or offer directions but America takes the cake. She heard New York was a harsh place but to her it's like being in a city populated by Kai.
"I just need a sign!"
She screams out. That's all she needs. No one bothers to stop and help. She doesn't blame them fully, she probably looks crazy; standing in the middle of the sidewalk shouting out and throwing her map away. She wishes she had a cell phone, or a smart phone like everyone else. But just as she is about to give up hope there is a light voice.
"Where are you trying to go?"
She spins around, overjoyed but half expecting that she misheard or that even there is no one there and she has lost more than her way. But there is a person there, smiling so big it takes her back years in time. She is dumbfounded but can't help but leap onto this man. And just like she expected, the man catches her.
Max would never let her fall.
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Under The Rain
Just like a cheap romantic novel or an under budget movie it starts to rain. It isn't as dramatic, more subtle. But those few drops start to come down harder and quicker as she stares into his eyes. His eyes are the same; just as big and blue and full of kindness.
She gets it together and realizes she is staring. She jumps back to her feet and apologizes for being weird.
"Not at all.", he smiles. "What are you doing here in New York?"
She can barely hear him over the rain. He grabs her hand and pulls her along the streets; not too far from where they were he stops in front of a building. He greets the man at the door and pulls her in. He shakes himself off and ruffles her hair dry on the elevator. Once the elevator stops and he pulls a key out it's obvious that it's his home.
"What are you doing in New York?"
"I won a trip.", she laughs.
"Where are you staying? How long are you here?"
"A hotel not too far from here." She smiles. "I'm only staying for-"
"Max, Honey, I thought you were-"
Both Max and Hilary turn; there is a woman walking towards them. She's beautiful, just like a model. The look she is giving Hilary….this woman wants answers.
"This is my girlfriend.", Max smiles. "This is Hilary, a friend from Japan. She's going to stay here for a little bit while she vacations."
Hilary is shocked, that wasn't mentioned! She does her best to reassure the woman it isn't necessary, she has a hotel for her stay.
"Well, in that case you still have to change out of those wet clothes or you'll catch a cold." He tells her and leads her to the bedroom.
He pulls out a shirt, pants, and socks and hands it to her.
"You can shower to get warm if you want and change into that." He smiles. "I'll be in the living room, I'll make you some coffee."
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Screaming
She gets out of the shower and hears a woman shouting. She recognizes it as the woman she saw, his girlfriend. Hilary can't make out what she is shouting about, but by her voice being raised and the look she got as a welcoming she assumes it's about her.
She does her best to mind her business and puts on the clothes Max handed her. They are all his, the shirt is green and baggy on her and it smells like him-just how she remembers. She hears shouting again and creeps to the door, listening just a little.
"She's just a friend.", she hears Max say. "She's my best friends' girl."
Hilary hears the door slam and Max sigh.
She peaks around the corner of the doorframe and see's him standing in the kitchen; he's got his hand on his head and looking at the front door. She doesn't want to go out but she wants to, so she takes a deep breath and opens the door.
"I'm sorry.", she tells him.
"It's not you.", he says and walks to the couch and sits down. He drops his head in hands and his words are muffled. "How much did you hear?"
"Not a lot." She walks to the couch across from him and sits down. "But enough. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause trouble."
The sound he makes is almost a laugh.
"Don't worry about it. We've been having some troubles…."
"I can go back to my hotel as soon as my clothing are dry."
"No.", he says looking up. "Stay as long as you need."
The smile on his face is enough to make her heart flutter and her stomach to do back flips.
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So Sick
Before she knows it it's been a weeks.
A week has passed since Hilary met Max by chance in the street while screaming for a sign. They've spent every day together sightseeing or going to one of his favorite places. Or for a few days they did nothing but stay at his home, order pizza, and watch their favorite movies.
For an entire week she spends the days with Max. The woman from the first day….his fiancé….hasn't come back. She hears him on the phone with her, she assumes. When she hears him on the phone he sounds so easily frustrated and he after the call is done he seems exhausted.
For a week, it's the best week of her life. And then the week is done and over. And it's time for her to go back. It's time for her to go back home. Go back home to her life, her life with her friends, back to her job. And back to Tyson and that mess….
But she doesn't think about that when they lean into each other and their lips touch and the world gets so quiet that she can hear her heartbeat. She doesn't pull away.
Max drives her to the airport and their goodbye is short but feels so long. She feels so sick turning her back to him and walking to her plane. She thinks it's the sandwich she got from the convince store on their way to the airport.
Once she gets back to Japan Tyson is there to greet her. It's nice to see him, it is.
"Did you do anything interesting?"
"No, not really.", she tells him.
She feels sick for some reason.
"It would have been cool if you could have ran into Max or something."
It's all behind her, even though there's nothing.
There's nothing to be sick over.
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Dance Dance
Max is at her doorstep. She stands there in shock, her mouth hitting the floor. It's been two months since she came back from America, and she hasn't spoken to Max since. She's completely speechless.
"Who is it?", Tyson calls out.
That's when she closes her mouth. She can hear Tyson's footsteps getting closer and before he enters the room she blurts out the first thing she can think that is the most important.
"I didn't tell Tyson I saw you in New York.", she says.
Max doesn't flinch as Tyson comes into the room, it's then she notices how casual Tyson is about seeing their old friend. She is confused and unsure of what to do, so she just stares at the two.
"Since you didn't get to see Max in New York I called him up, and luckily his number was the same, and caught up over the phone.", Tyson smiles. "We were talking about old times and how great it would be to hang out. So I invited him over to stay for a week. Isn't it going to be fun?!"
"Yeah, totally."
"I know, let's go to karaoke!"
"Is the one with the dance rooms still around?"
"Yeah! Let's go there!"
Hilary follows along as Max grabs her hand and they head out for their night.
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Shooting Stars
How the tables have turned.
Now Max is in need of a place to stay. But before Hilary opens her mouth to offer a very drunk and very loud offers Max a bed for the week.
"But you two betta not be fool 'round.", Tyson laughs in between the two. "Unless you grew out of your crush of Hil, Max."
Hilary looks around at Max, his face red as can be.
"Not to worry, Tyson."
Once home and with Tyson in bed sleeping soundly (snoring loudly), Hilary met Max on the couch, a blanket and pillow in her arms. After what feels like a much too long silence Max speaks first.
"Tyson had fun, huh?", he laughs.
"Yeah.", Hilary laughs.
Both of their laughs are strained.
"I kind of figured you didn't tell Tyson….", Max sighs. "When he called me….I didn't say you stayed with me. And he didn't say you told him….And he said some other things…."
"What did he say."
"That you guys….you two….were having problems."
"It's true.", Hilary says. "One day we just noticed."
"Noticed what?"
"That slowly over time we just….drifted apart."
The room is silent for a long time. It's so quiet that they can hear Tyson snoring in the back room.
"I'm sorry.", Max finally said.
"It's okay.", Hilary smiles. "You know, the thing that won me over for Tyson, do you know what it is? He told me that he wished on a star that I would go out with him. And you know….when we realized one day, that we weren't as close, I wished upon a star, too."
They both laugh and say goodnight.
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Knock Me Down
The next few days aren't nearly as awkward as Hilary thought they would be. It's so normal and comfortable; just like when they were kids. Tyson and Max go out and have fun and then when Tyson comes home, they've both been drinking. And once Tyson is long passed out in bed, when Hilary brings Max a new blanket and pillow. That they talk more.
They talk about their past, and what it was like when everyone went their separate ways.
Max tells her about the woman from the apartment. She can't remember her name and really the only details she's focusing on are that they broke up. And then Max shares something else.
"Tyson says he cheated."
"Yeah.", Hilary confirms. "It's okay. It was after everything. We were on a break. We still should be."
"It's true you know. That I always had a crush on you."
"But…."
"But Tyson liked you, too, and everyone told me to stand down.", Max laughs. "Even Kai said so."
"Once the new year comes Tyson and I are going our separate ways."
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Ominous
It's the last day of the year, Hilary and Tyson haven't spoken all day. They are both avoiding each other. It's their last day staying together. Most of their belongings are moved out of the small rental house they've been in. It's been almost ten years since they moved in; and Hilary won't lie; it hurts her to leave.
But it hurts to stay.
Her phone rings and she is glad, it's a great distraction from crying. It's Tyson, he asks if she is still going to his company party tonight. He reminds her that she doesn't have to go, given the circumstances and all.
"No.", she tells him. "It will be good, a good way to leave things."
She hangs up and takes a breath. She continues to separate her things and Tyson's and whatever they don't want. And then she hears a slapping sound. She goes into the kitchen and sees the broom on the floor. It's only after she picks it up that she gets hit with a feeling of anxiety. She remembers what her Grandmother would say.
Company is coming.
Then she laughs it off and thinks so what if company is coming, and what a silly superstition that is.
When she leaves for Tyson's work party the sky is dark and the wind is blowing hard; everything is enough to creep her out. The anxiety returns and she would rather stay home….but then she remembers this isn't her home for very much longer….
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Thief
This will be the last time Tyson and her hold hands, she thinks. It will also be the last time she see's any of his coworkers, probably. That means no more getting dressed up to go somewhere she doesn't want to go, to have to choose to hang off of Tyson's arm and pretend they have feelings for each other, or having to sit with the other woman and pretend that they are friends.
She doesn't know why but to her surprise she has no negative feelings about any of it.
She thought that she would. But she guesses over time any feelings she has had have just disappeared. She has no feelings towards Tyson anymore. Except anger….to this day she still feels angry that he lied to her, that he cheated on her with someone else.
She is most upset that Tyson stole her time, all her effort into fixing things….he stole her heart to begin with….
When the party is over and they are walking to the train station she plans on telling him all this.
"I'm sorry, Hil'.", he says. "I'm so sorry."
"What?"
She is caught off guard.
"I'm so sorry we wasted so much time together. If I could go back, I would change a lot about myself."
She is almost as angry as the day she found out about his actions. And now here he is, beating her to saying her peace before they avoid each other.
"You should be. I loved you.", she says, it's all she can say.
"Anyways….don't hate me too much.", he says with a smile as the train arrives. "I got you a farewell gift. Because 'I'm sorry so please take me back' gift is never going to happen."
The train doors open and standing there is Max.
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What Have We Here?
She smiles and jumps into Max's arms. He picks her up by her hips and spins her around in the air like she is some kind of princess. When he puts her down he brings her in for another hug. She asks how, what, why, when, and everything else. All she hears is that Tyson called him back out…
By this time the train is gone and Tyson probably left on it.
"I'm so glad you came.", she says, surprised her voice was found.
"I am, too.", he smiles. "Hey, Hilary…."
She watches as Max gets down on one knee and reach into his pocket. The world around her goes silent again as he pulls out a small black box with a ribbon tied around it. He holds it up to her and smiles, that smile she fell in love with.
"What is it?"
"Open it and see."
Her hand shakes just a bit. She opens the box and sees it's a necklace. She can't help but laugh.
"Ahh.", she smiles.
"Let's start this way."
