Smells like Team Spirit
By: Zadien
Chapter Seven: Gnomes
"Hey Kai!"
Kai glanced over his shoulder and smirked inwardly as Mariam said goodbye to a group of her friends and quickened her pace to fall into step beside him.
"So..."
He raised a brow. "So?"
"Where are you heading to?"
"Practice." he replied shortly, letting his gaze roam over her. He slowed his pace casually to catch a glimpse of those long white legs which had been playing in his mind for the past couple of days. Smooth as white satin, long and slim.
"Oh practice, I didn't know you had practice on Fridays?"
"My Dad." he said it apologetically; figuring that would get him some reaction.
"Aw that sucks. Friday nights are great because there's no study hall, and we all head to the pool hall or the senior mess to watch a film. I guess that means the others won't be there either." she said the last part to herself and Kai knew who she was thinking about. For some god known reason Mariam seemed to like the Imp and more mind boggling was that she liked spending time with her, for Kai it was impossible to fathom how any one could stand to be in the same room as her for any length of time. She was a pest.
"Probably." he said non-committedly.
"Well," she continued brightly. "I guess we'll only be watching one film then, no biggie. It'll be fun, I think Rei's choosing it and he's really good with coming up with ones. We watched some scary film Saturday much to Amber's chagrin." at his questioning look, she quickly filled him in. "Ams hates horror films. She cowers, she'll smother herself with a pillow in order to avoid watching one. I know for a fact that Ian and Kane choose horror films for the sole purpose of torturing her. Sometimes the girls get into the act, except for Miyami since Amber almost crushed her hand in Psycho, I think." she chuckled.
Kai smirked. "I'll have to go to this tonight. Will they turn the lights off and pretend it's a cinema?" he asked watching Mariam's laughing jade eyes as she nodded. "Then maybe we can pretend we're in the back row."
His smirk widened at her reaction, as her eyes rounded and her mouth fell open before her eyes glazed and a blush tinged her cheeks. Oh yes, he would definitely be going to the mess tonight.
"Kai!" she gasped, slapping his forearm but he caught her hand amused to watch the blush grow.
"Don't you want to sit in the back row with me?"
"I-I," she struggled to find a cool answer. Of course she wanted to, the guy was a god. But still she didn't want him to think she was a bimbo. Every other guy she could handle, but Kai Hiwatari unnerved her and she always felt as though she was off step with him and unable to regain her footing. She swallowed and watched as his eyes darkened as they focused on her mouth. She knew that look, knew it so well. Instinct had her eyes closing, and her head tilting as she felt him close in, her heart galloping-
"Yo loves young dream!" a voice called out and broke the spell.
Kai cursed recognizing it immediately. His gaze snapped up to see the Imp striding towards them with Ian and Arista flanking her. Mariam stumbled back from him gulping in air to steady herself as her gaze flicked to Ambers' both cursing and thanking her mentally.
"Problem Benson?" he sneered.
"Only with your face, but no ones perfect. Actually I was just going to tell you both to get a room, preferably one with monster that'll eat him, or a vortex, actually go for the vortex, don't want the monster to get indigestion."
Ian snickered at Hiwatari's face. Benson was really playing with fire with him. Unlike Kane and himself who she regularly annoyed, Hiwatari had no real past or any reason to not hurt her or make her life a misery.
"You're such a kind person, thinking of the monster, Ams." Arista congratulated.
"I didn't think you'd like monsters, Benson, aren't they scary?" Kai drawled, folding his arms and gauging her reaction. He saw the confusion clear to understanding, as those ochre eyes widened then narrowed and the petulant mouth thinned.
"If I can cope with the Devils spawn, I think I can deal with a monster." she snapped then pushed her way past them to head to the Gym.
"Amber!" Mariam called out; her eyes flicked to Kai and there was anger there because he'd used something she'd told him in confidence to hurt her friends and it didn't seem to register with him at all.
Amber sighed turning to regard her supposed friend. "What?"
"I- You going to the mess tonight?"
Amber thought about it then nodded with a slight smile. "Sure, you want to throw popcorn and annoy Aspin and Kane?"
"Well actually..." the bluenette trailed off awkwardly and it didn't take long for Amber to comprehend especially with Kai's smug look.
She nodded somberly. "Right, you've got lover boy. Well maybe I'll see you, I've got practice." she turned and walked to catch up with Arista and Ian the pain.
As soon as she disappeared out the swing doors, Mariam rounded on Kai. "What was that?" she hissed.
"What?"
"Oh you know fine well what? I know you and Amber don't like each other, you make it blooming obvious, but Ams is my friend and that was horrible to take something I told you and use it against her."
"I just mentioned monsters, it was up to her to take it whatever way she wanted."
Mariam took a deep cleansing breath and closed her eyes, when her temper was under control she opened them again. "Am I going to have to watch what I say around you from now on? I mean since Amber's my friend, she's going to turn up in conversation, so just tell me now if you're going to use everything I mention in casual conversation against her? Because if you do then either I'll have to divulge information to her or stop this friendship altogether."
Kai cursed Benson mentally for fucking things up without even saying anything. That girl was just out to annoy him. "Fine, I won't use anything you happen to tell me about her against her." he'd just use whatever he found out himself. "And secondly, I think we should stop this friendship, friends don't do what I want to do."
Mariam sighed but couldn't help the way her lips curved. "I'll talk to you later, you're late for practice." she stated and with that headed back up the corridor while Kai admired her legs again. Christ they reached all the way up to her ears, he was almost sure of it.
Sonia scribbled furiously, her mouth moving silently to the words echoing in her head. The bell had gone a while ago but she was still sitting in her seat working on a math problem which wasn't going to solve itself. She'd told Salima and Mariam to come get her when they wanted to go into town. Aspin had wanted her to come to the practice but Sonia had declined. She'd been declining a lot recently, and everyone knew why.
Why the hell had she kissed him? Exactly a week ago she'd gotten herself drunk stupid and plastered herself against her long time crush and good friend. Why?! She was an idiot. She was a great big fat idiot. She needed electrotherapy. That's what she needed. A good jolt to the system every time she thought of that green eyed god. The problem was that she always got a jolt to the system every time she thought of him already
God why did it have to happen now? She'd resisted the temptation to kiss that perfect mouth for almost two years and now with only a year left she'd succumbed. It would have been alright if it'd been at the end of the year but no, she had to kiss him within the first term.
She let out a frustrated whimpered sigh of frustration. Why? Why? Why? Life was so unfair. And what was worse was that he now knew she had some feelings for him. He was never going to let it go and he'd keep wearing her down until she gave into him and got hurt. And she wouldn't be able to bear it if she got hurt by him. He was far too important to her.
So, she decided, she'd just avoid him till all this had died down and if she to, she'd deny everything.
She stopped writing as she felt a presence in the room and thinking it was Salima or Mariam, she turned off her discman. The welcoming smile on her pretty face faded then fixed itself in place. It seemed Ozuma had other ideas.
"Salima said you'd be down here."
"Did she?" You're dead Salima. "Don't you have practice?" She wondered tightly; trying to keep herself busy by gathering her pens and calculator.
"Yeah, but Coach has given me some time to find my sports bag."
"Well, uh, shouldn't you be looking for it?" And why did he have to look so good in that uniform? It was unfair!
"I lied." He confided mildly. "I know where my sports kit is."
Sonia's insides began to squirm unpleasantly as he began to approach her, his hands dipped in his pockets, a deceptively deceiving image of harmlessness. "Oh well then shouldn't you get it?"
"Nope." he answered easily, moving close enough to her to see those amazingly blue eyes dart nervously around the room. He quite liked the idea that he made her nervous, and she looked good when she was. Her skin was flushed underneath the tan, blue, blue eyes were large and wary, her ample chest rose with every shallow breath which feathered out of her parted lips. He was having very interesting fantasies about her lips and when sitting behind her, the nape of her golden neck.
"Well, um, I have to go meet Salima and Mariam." She stated getting to her feet, but when she rose from retrieving her bag from the floor, he moved in and her body bumped with his. Nerves sizzled. Her eyes widened then she stumbled back bracing her body and folding her arms, while her lips pouted unconsciously. After a few agonizingly long seconds passed, her insides began to dance the rumba. "I have to..."
"Go. You said." She wasn't leaving, he noted almost giddily. He was so close that he could smell the peaches scent she wore and it made his pulse scramble with anticipation. This was the closest she'd let him get since the kiss and the taste of her which lingered on his lips was driving him crazy.
"Yeah well I have to." she tried to put some authority in her tone but it was pointless. She couldn't think straight when he was looking at her like that. Like he wanted to devour her from the mouth down. Guys just didn't look at her like that, especially guys who'd seen her as a friend just weeks ago. A kiss shouldn't change someone's' opinion so drastically. Though it had been one heck of a kiss. Christ almighty Sonia, get a bloody grip! She scolded herself then gasped as Ozuma shifted closer so their bodies brushed again and heat spiraled through her.
"You're not going." he pointed out, his eyes hungrily taking in every aspect of her.
"I'm not." she sighed as his hand reached up and caressed her jaw, then blinking she retreated back a step, so she could look at him without hurting her neck.
"I mean I am, I should be."
His hand caught her wrist and he was smug to feel her pulse race under his touch. "Your pulse is racing as though you've just ran a marathon. But you've been sitting here since our last class began, so either that Math problem you've been doing is very exhilarating." he paused to rub the pad of his thumb over the smooth inside of her wrist, enjoying how her pulse fluttered and her eyelids lowered. "Or I make you nervous."
Her pulse jerked and her eyes snapped open to focus on his and made his own heart jolt.
"You do not!" she snapped aggravated; wrenching her wrist from his grip. "Look I have enough to deal with without having to add you and your hormones to the mix."
"Then if I don't make you nervous then prove it by talking to me the odd time."
"I'll talk to you if and when I feel like it!" with that she grabbed her books and stormed off.
Ozuma stood alone in the empty classroom staring at the door she'd just vacated. "Me and my hormones? Me and my hormones? Goddamn frustrating girl's going to be the end of me, I just know it."
To understand one unreasonable female, you had to talk to the Queen of unreasonable; in other words his cousin. And, to Ozuma's mind, there was no time like the present. So with those thoughts, Ozuma turned to Kai.
"We need to catch Amber."
Kai frowned at the dark haired vice captain over the head of Ruin, whose hand he was currently holding. "No we don't."
"Look, I need to talk to her."
"Talk to her later."
"You're being unreasonable."
"You're being a pain."
"Look do you want this team to accept you?" taking Kai's grunt as affirmation, Ozuma quickly continued, "Then do this for me."
Kai groaned and decided he was going soft. "Fine but I'm not holding her hand."
"You don't have to. Swap with me."
The other three members of the chain looked on bemused as Kai released Ruins' hand and took Ozuma's place holding her other one and Ian's much to the Russian midgets distaste.
"So where is she?" Kai asked.
Ozuma scanned the scattered team mates who were fleeing the two chains of people chasing them. This was one of Hiwatari's team building exercises. A version of chain tag, which meant the two chains had to work together in order to collect the most members. In Ozuma's mind it was also to see who the team took orders from which was why Tala and Ray had been paired and he and Kai for the other team. So that was why there was such a power struggle when it came to Ozuma giving Kai orders, because Kai was use to giving orders while Ozuma was use to taking and giving them.
"Ams is over there hiding behind Spencer." Arista commented then sighed, breaking off from Ian's grip to wipe her hand. "Your palm's all sweaty Ian."
"Well you shouldn't be holding it so tightly."
Arista raised a silver brow, then quoted one of Amber's favorite phrases of the month. "Kiss Ass."
Ozuma chuckled when he caught sight of his cousin peeking out from underneath Spencer's arm. The blond enforcers body almost hid hers completely from view. He heard a yelp and glanced round to see Shahero jump onto Johnny's back to avoid Rei's hands, but unluckily for Johnny or maybe fortunately, Miyami's hand snagged his and he got pulled into that chain. Shahero, of course, got away. The girl had the luck of the devil.
"We going to get her then?" Ian demanded.
"Hold your horses half pint." Kai snapped, his gaze counting the amount of people on Tala's chain versus his. Tala had one more than he and he intended to rectify that immediately. No one could say that Kai Hiwatari didn't have a healthy competitive streak, you didn't get so involved in a sport if you didn't have one and he was damned if he was going to let Tala Valkov beat him, best friend or no best friend.
"Tala's going for her." Ruin suddenly commented.
Kai followed the Goth girls gaze and realized she was right. Tala's chain was closing in on her position and she wouldn't see it until too late. Crap, he frowned. He didn't much care if Tala took her onto his chain, but it was more the fact that Tala already had more in his chain than Kai, and he couldn't afford to lose another.
"The hell he is."
Amber grinned, as she held onto Spencer. Who would have thought that the bulky enforcer could hide her so effectively? No one had even noticed her yet. She snickered as Kane had to do some very quick maneuvering to avoid Johnny's hand. Shahero was going around risking her own neck to annoy the various members of the two chains. She continuously charged them and broke through their links and since the chain was broken, she couldn't be claimed. She noted with a slight bit of glee that Miyami had captured Johnny and so she had to hold his hand as they made their way round the ice. Arista had been caught, as had Ian, and Ruin. Bryan was on Tala's team which sucked but he wasn't very fast at skating so he'd been one of the first caught. So the only ones left were Michael, herself, Spencer, Kane and Shahero. Mariah had quit the team so Arista was back up to number one goalie. Their team was severely depleting, she thought sourly.
Sighing, she turned her gaze up to the stands, releasing her grip on Spencer when she noticed Hitoshi up there watching them or Shahero to be exact. So far he'd kept out of Shahero's way, or so she claimed, and Amber wondered if her friend was just a little disappointed because he had. Aspin and Emily sat discussing various topics in the bleachers. Aspin had once been a member of the team before she injured her leg. On the doctors orders she had to give up strenuous exercise or risk losing motion in that leg. She'd been so heartbroken over it, and Kane had been the only one to get through to her and make her see that she didn't have to be depressed. For all of Kane's bad points, and there were a few; he cared about Aspin more than anything.
Aspin caught her eye and motioned for her to look behind her. Frowning Amber turned round and saw that Spencer had moved and now she was almost face to face with Tala.
"Fuck." she squeaked moving back to give herself more room to maneuver. How the fuck could she be cornered in an oval? Ovals didn't have corners!
Her ochre eyes darted nervously round as she felt the laughter bubble up her throat. Giggling breathlessly, she backed up. "Oh shite."
"Give up Ams, you're finished."
"No." She stated defiantly as Miyami shook her head.
"Come on Ams, you'll like it on our chain."
"No I won't."
"You're caught."
"No I'm not." but she wasn't moving, then she noted that since Bryan and Tala were both quite tall, their hands weren't as low, she grinned. "I'm outtie."
With that she waited till they closed in, then biding her time, she ducked under their linked hands, and whirled round to laugh at Tala's annoyed expression. "Nice try shit-head."
She did a happy dance then turned to skate off to tell Shahero, that idea burst when her gaze lifted and locked with the amused brown of Ruin's and then a hand locked round her wrist. She tugged at it like a frightened animal, not willing to admit defeat. It wasn't fair; she never won this game.
"You're caught Ams."
Pouting like a child, she nodded and linked her fingers with Ozuma's. "Why does everyone chase after me?!"
"I need to talk to you." Ozuma stated as the chain began to move again.
"About what?" Amber asked as she snickered at Shahero who was scrambling to her feet as she tried to avoid Johnny's hand and since Tala was trying to catch Kane on the other side, their chain broke and both Shahero and Kane got away scot-free.
"Sonia."
"What about her?"
"I cornered her today."
"That's where you made your first mistake then. You don't corner Sonia Anne Martini. You coax her into coming to you or you grovel and make her pity you."
Ozuma's eyes narrowed. "I don't want her pity."
"Then- shoot." she cursed as Michael scooted out of her grasp. "What do you want?"
He gave her a level look but when Amber still didn't comprehend, he explained to her. "Her. I want Sonia and if she doesn't want me like that, then I'll settle for the way things were."
"You'll never be able to be her friend." Kai suddenly spoke up.
"Bullshit." Amber snapped.
Ozuma blinked. "What's your opinion, Hiwatari?"
"Why can't a guy be friends with a girl?" Amber directed the question to Kai.
"I never said that, I just said Ozuma and Sonia won't be able to be friends because there'll be sexual tension between them if he wants her. It's impossible."
"It's not. If both of them have will power then they won't act on those emotions." She stated tilting her head and would have folded her arms if Ozuma wasn't holding one of her hand, so instead she placed one of her hands on her hip and braced herself on the ice. The rest of the chain had come to a halt and were watching the whole scene as it unfolded. Ian and Arista exchanged glances with the other chain who kept tossing them bemused glances as they skated round gathering the remaining team mates.
"Typical female."
"Typical male who has to think with his dick. Ozuma you and Sonia can be friends, you respect her don't you?"
"Of course I do." Ozuma growled, wondering how the hell this conversation had turned into a fight between his cousin and the new boy.
"See." feeling childish Amber stuck her tongue out, but Kai merely ignored her and looked at Ozuma.
"Would you honestly be happy with that?"
"Well if that-"
"I said be honest."
"Fine, no."
"Need I say anymore." Kai smirked at his nemesis's frustrated features.
"If you two are quite finished, maybe you can continue practice." Coach Hiwatari commented skating on to the ice. "By the way, Rei and Tala won that exercise because they kept their team together and focused on the goal."
"I didn't want her on my team anyway." Kai muttered while Amber snarled at him turning her back and slinging her arm around Miyami and resting her head on the silver haired girls shoulder.
Ozuma shook his head bewildered. He didn't even get anything from Amber, sighing he decided to make a note of talking to his cousin when there were no distractions around.
Shahero growled as Hitoshi came on to the ice, his gaze flickering to her before back to the Coach who he began to talk to in hushed tones. For the past couple of days Hitoshi had kept his word and kept out of her way but she was wondering how long that would last. He had never been good at keeping his word. 'Oh it'll be a fair game, don't worry.' he'd said, and then when she was winning and going for that last goal, he'd kissed her. That had been unfair! Of course he then stated that there was no where in the rule book that said that a player wasn't allowed to kiss another. But it was bloody common sense; she fumed. You don't kiss your opponent senseless. Her cheeks heated at the memory. Who knew the arrogant jerk could kiss like that, but if he tried that again she'd shove her hockey stick where the sun doesn't shine.
With another growl she turned away abruptly and crossed over to where Bryan sat talking to Spencer and Ian.
The mess had been completely renovated in honor of the film night. Due to the fact that last week they'd watched a scary film, this week they'd gone for an action film. Because of it the mess was a hive of activity. Grimaces, gasps and exclamations punctuated the normal silence needed to hear the dialogue. Every so often someone got irritated enough to shush everyone up but it was very rare since the group seemed so comfortable with each other, that everyone had something to say.
"Aw my God!"
The hoarse cry corresponded with Mariam's gulp as she buried into Kai's chest, not that he minded. In fact this torture scene was proving to be a pure favorite of his. The Imp was smothering herself with a cushion while telling Ian to shut up since he kept hitting her leg swearing the scene was over. Petrovich was definitely growing on him, though the kid did have his annoying traits which were revealed to Kai since they shared the same dorm. He smirked as Bryan Malkovich, a very quiet teen, reached over and clipped Ian round the ear.
"Rewind that!" Shahero ordered someone near the front.
The figure who was lying on his stomach, chin propped on the heels of his palm frowned. "Why?"
"'Cos I want to see it again?!" The Asian girl deadpanned.
"Fine!"
"Don't get shirty with me Kevin!"
"I'm not getting shirty, but I'm not rewinding."
"Hush the fuck up!" Someone cried out from the back making Shahero sneer and lob popcorn kernel in that direction feeling innately satisfied when someone yelped and cursed her name.
"Rewind it Kevin."
"Why do you plan to use it on him?" Miyami inquired pinching some of Daichi's popcorn since Tyson's was all gone. She never saw the glare Johnny aimed in the red heads direction.
"Well it's an idea."
"As much as I hate rats." Amber's muffled voice intervened. "That would be cruelty to animals."
"She makes a point." Johnny stated.
"Who are you talking about?" Tala wondered, idly stroking the back of Ruin's neck enjoying how she purred under his touch.
"None of your bees wax." Miyami growled.
Kai lifted a brow. Usually Miyami was easy going and intriguing to talk to. He'd conversed with her numerous times when they were in History together, and Art. Unfortunately she seemed to dislike Tala, but it seemed to have always been the case. Tala's misdemeanor against Amber only heightened that hostility.
"Is it over yet?"
Arista laughed. "Yeah Amber it's over, but if Shahero has her way you'll have to hide all over again."
Amber re-emerged from under the cushion, shoving her silk pelt of black hair out of her face and sneering at Ian who was grinning like a cheshire cat. "Oh shut up midget, beware I'll find out what you have a fear of, and I'll get you."
"Gnomes."
"Huh?"
Kane grinned. "Ian has a fear of cute little garden gnomes."
"They're not cute, they're evil creatures with all their eyes that look at you." Ian shot back.
"What else are they supposed to do with their eyes?" Rei wondered to a bemused Ozuma who merely chuckled, his gaze was solely on Sonia who was giggling at Ian's expression.
"He has nightmares about them." Kane also confided; his periwinkle blue eyes sparkling when Ian glowered at him.
"True, he fell out of bed last night screaming about them." Bryan confirmed, only joining in because it was to aid his cousin.
"From the top bunk?" Amber asked eagerly.
"Nah, he sleeps on the bottom." Spencer drawled muffling a yawn. "But all the same, he fell hard enough to wake the rest of us from our sleeps."
"Hey!" Ian exclaimed indignantly while Tyson almost rolled off his chair laughing at the midget.
"Oh really? Aspin, what're your thoughts on Gnomes?" Amber wondered; expression filled with malicious glee.
"Cute aren't they?" Aspin grinned wickedly, then turned to Kane. "Alright Aqua, who are you and what have you done with my... Kane?"
"You never call me your boyfriend, why not?" Kane suddenly demanded.
"Have a domestic later." Shahero commanded. "Now rewind it Kevin."
"I don't want to see it again." Amber moaned.
"Too bad." her friend retorted.
"Grow up!"
"Kaeto, you've seen it already. Benson, grow a spine!"
Amber's anger flared at how the bluenette captain of the sharks spoke to her as though he was talking to a small child. "Oh, I'll grow a spine, and then I'll shove it up your hole."
"He's probably enjoy that." someone murmured from the front making the group snicker Kai tried to spot who spoke but couldn't in the dim lighting all he could see was Benson's smug smirk and her chortling cronies.
He felt Mariam stiffen then she sat up rigid staring at Amber. "It was you, wasn't it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't you?"
"Not a clue."
Kai frowned. "What's up, Riam?"
"There's a rumor going round the school that the reason you and Tala are here is because you both were kicked out of Clonmel because you're gay." Kai blinked surprised. Him? Tala? Gay? Oh that was wrong, oh so very wrong. But that would explain the lack of female interest in him. Fuck was that what Mariam thought? "Of course I didn't believe it but it doesn't take a genius to work out who thought it up." Mariam glared accusingly at Amber. The girl shrugged but the look she shot Kai was filled with menace.
"I can't claim to be the genius who thought it up." se declared breezily then frowned. "Unfortunately. But it's a pretty damn good idea, besides how do we know it isn't true?"
Kai gaped at her, completely speechless. The girl was unbelievable and not in a good sense.
"Well." Mariam began haughtily. "I can assure you that I know and I have proof he isn't." as though to back herself, Mariam shifted her snug butt and Kai felt his eyes cross.
Amber lifted a black brow. "So what if he has a hard-on, that doesn't mean dick." Shahero snickered at the phrase. "He just might like having someone wriggling about on his lap. Hell I bet if I did it, he'd probably have the same reaction."
'I wouldn't bet on it.' Kai thought, but said nothing as the girl continued on.
"He may even be imagining you're Tala!"
"Jesus Christ Benz!" Tala choked out.
"The words going and too far spring to mind." Miyami muttered while Daichi nodded.
No one was watching the film anymore but the conversation between the two supposed friends.
"Kai glared darkly at the petite Irish girl promising revenge. Amber met his gaze and saluted him with her bottle of fanta, a smirk curving her lips which faded when she caught sight of Mariam's expression. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly.
"Look I'm sorry Mariam. If I'd known you had a..." she trailed off her words dying in her throat. She didn't actually know what was going on between Kai and Mariam and she wasn't going to endanger their friendship by putting Mariam on the spot and making her vulnerable to the Shark captain. "Listen, if I'd know you too were going to be friends then I wouldn't have done it, please forgive me."
"Why did you do it? What's Kai ever done to you."
"I-" Amber frowned, knowing the captain hadn't done anything to her physically or mentally, but he'd done something and it annoyed her, what ever it was. "Look I'll admit it. I'm an immature, selfish, brat. All right? Y'all know that anyway. And I'm sorry I hurt you, Riam. I never meant to do that. I actually forgot that I'd done it. I promise I won't spread any rumors about him, again. As long as he's your friend. All right?"
The sincerity in Amber's voice shocked Kai and melted Mariam. You couldn't stay mad at someone who could apologize like that. "I'm not mad at you Ams. It's far too hard."
Amber smiled warmly but her eyes glittered when they locked with Kai's knowing gaze. He stroked Mariam's blue hair idly and wondered if Mariam knew she'd been manipulated. It seemed that Tala and the minx had more in common than previously thought.
"Ugh, too much emotional shit." Shahero decided as Arista threw some popcorn in Amber's general direction. "Back to the film."
Half an hour later they were still watching the film. Somewhere during the middle of the film, Mariam had intertwined her hand through Kai's and her head was now nestled on his broad shoulder. She liked the way they fit and the way they looked when she caught their reflection in the glass around the school. Even now she could feel envious glances from her class mates and from senior girls. It made her feel good, though it annoyed her how he always set out to make a comment to Amber. Every time Amber opened her mouth, he would say something back, almost as though he was trying to get her attention. But that was ridiculous. She was being paranoid. She knew that. But Kai was so… amazing. He was caring and intelligent and had a great body. A really great body.
He was so different to all the other guys in the school. More mature than the guys in her year and available. None of the senior guys were currently available, apart from Ozuma. She sighed, and smiled slightly when Kai glanced at her with concerned filled eyes.
She'd always had a soft spot for Ozuma. He'd been so great to her when she first arrived, and she had thought something might happen between them. Especially when he turned to her after his break up with Kennedie, but then this year he'd returned and confessed that his interest in Sonia was more than friendly. It had broken her, but Sonia was her friend and a good one too, so Mariam had stepped back to let things run their course. Of course she hadn't betted on Sonia having such a stubborn streak.
Lazily, she let her gaze roam over to where Ozuma was sitting beside Rei and Mariah. He was laughing quietly at something the lead male had said, but his eyes would flick to where Sonia sat beside Salima and Emily. He must have felt her watching him, as his eyes locked with hers and he smiled that seductive lopsided smile that all Benson's seemed to acquire. She smiled back then averted her gaze to the screen.
"Pass me the Pringles, please."
"Nu-uh, Ams. You've reached your limit."
Amber blinked at Ruin. "Huh? Since when do I have a limit?"
"Since the time you got really hyper and wouldn't stop talking the whole night." Miyami answered.
"It was more gibbering than actual talking." Aspin commented without removing her gaze from the screen.
"And you have had Fanta tonight, we can't let you have anymore." Sonia added.
Amber blinked twice as she slowly processed what her friends had said. "That is so not fair, and I wasn't that bad."
"You had to be exiled from our room. You had to kip down here." Arista informed her.
Mariam grinned. "Oh yeah, that's right."
"Yeah you weren't much better, Riam. As I remember, Amber had a partner in crime, in other words you."
Kai looked intrigued at the girl on his lap, who blushed sheepishly. "Yeah I kinda remember a sore back the next morning."
"Why was that?" he wondered.
"Because Amber got the long couch. Which was unfair."
"Ah quit your bellyaching."
"Excuse me, my legs are longer than yours. I should have had the long couch." Mariam stated unconsciously crossing her legs.
They were damn fine legs, Kai agreed. And smirked as Amber scowled down at her own. "Hey no fair, my legs aren't short, it's just the rest of me is."
Her friends snickered at the comment. And finally the group settled down to watch the end of the film.
It was still dark outside when he heard the frantic whispers and breathless giggles that pierced his dream. For the life of him he couldn't remember it so instead if returning to his sleep, he opened an eye and then the other snapped open to see if what he was seeing was true.
There were four dark figures standing in his room by Kane and Ian's bunk. He frowned bewildered and rolled over making his mattress groan. The figures froze and looked at him but his eyes were closed.
"Ssh, you'll wake him up." the voice was female and familiar.
"How about I give Hiwatari a Hitler mustache while I'm here." said another voice. Amber, he'd know that voice anywhere.
"I thought we were here to pay Ian back."
"We are Aspin, but Hiwatari has it in for me. By rights I should get him back before he gets me."
"Huh, Ian's actually cute when he's asleep."
"I think everyone is, Ari." Aspin replied to her friends shocked exclamation. She smiled softly at her boyfriend who was sleeping in the bunk above. She knew she'd hurt him last night and she hadn't meant to. It was just all so new. She and Kane had fought like cats and dogs and now suddenly they were together. It had changed so fast, or maybe not. In between the taunts and insults, he'd always expressed an interest in her. And through it all, he'd grown on her till her heart started beating erratically when he was around, there would be butterflies in her stomach when their eyes locked and her skin would tingle when his brushed it.
Then she'd damaged her knee in a match. It had changed everything. As though to remind her, she felt a pang in her knee. She hissed then glowered as her friends shushed her. Kane had been raging at the injustice of her injury and he'd snapped her out of her depression. During the whole time he'd never taken advantage of her and he'd waited until she was steady on her feet before he'd made his move.
Her emerald eyes softened as she played with the silky tips of his blue hair. "Where did you get it?" Ari wondered cocking her head slightly to observe the undoubtedly ugly Gnome Amber cradled.
"From the garden."
Shahero frowned. "We don't have Gnomes in the school garden. Come to think of it, we don't have any flowers, just a whole bunch of trees and shrubs and stuff."
"We have daffodils." Aspin informed them. "And wall crawling roses."
"Hmm." Shahero murmured absently running her fingers of the Gnomes face. The painted on black eyes, the eerily cheerful smile, the red button nose that matched his pointed hat. "So where did you get it?"
Amber smirked secretively. "You know the garden across the road-"
"You didn't." Arista gasped.
Shahero grinned. "You did."
"What are the owners going to think?"
"I don't know. That it migrated." Amber shrugged aiming a glare at Kai's bed as he snorted and rolled over; but he continued to sleep.
"Migrating Gnomes." The silver haired Russian snickered. "Can Gnomes migrate?" she suddenly wondered.
"They're inanimate objects, so you tell me?!" Aspin deadpanned.
"There are Gnome-nappers in France." Amber reasoned as she laid the Gnome on the bed and looped Ian's arm over it.
"Last time I checked, Ams, we didn't live in France."
"Oh who cares Ian's vengeance is over, let's get to bed." Aspin snapped earning a glare from Shahero.
"No wait!" Amber's whispered order made them all jump. Smirking she withdrew a camera from her pocket.
"It's dark Ams, it won't come out unless the flash is on and that'll wake him." Aspin rolled her eyes at Amber's pout.
Arista shook her head. "Leave it to me." She reached into her own pocket and pulled out her cell phone smirking. She retreated a few steps, wincing as she stumbled over a shoe. Amber made a comment about men and mess to which Aspin replied with one about pot, kettle, and black and Shahero pouted because she was going to say it.
Kai watched them then glanced across to see Tala was awake and grinning at the four girls on the floor. Kai struggled with a sigh. This never happened in Clonmel and he had to admit, Clonmel was definitely losing its shine in Kai's eyes. Had they ever sneaked out after curfew to play pranks? No. Had they ever had movie nights? Not really. Did his team hang out after practice? Hell no. He froze. Shit, he was picking up phrases from the minx. Oh dear God. He shook his head. He was picking them up from Mariam and Miyami, probably from his dorm mates as well.
"Ok done it."
"Ssshhh!"
"Oops. He's still sleeping, isn't he?"
"He's not the one I'm worried about." Amber grumbled as she crept over to Bryans' bunk. "Tala's the lightest sleeper I know."
Above her head, Tala smiled softly, wishing he could just talk to his best friend. There was no one quite like Amber, and the past couple of days had outlined that more than ever. There were jokes that no one but she would get. Memories he could only share with her. But she still pushed him away every time he attempted to get close. Someday she'd come round to him; he knew she would. Using his first name was a step.
"You called him Tala." Aspin pointed out quietly.
Amber shrugged glumly. "Slip of the tongue."
"Why'd you leave the camera by Bryans' cabinet?"
"Because Arista, Bryan will know who did this and with the camera there, he'll know to capture Ian's reaction." Shahero explained.
"Ok girls, our mission has been a success, let's go."
Shahero, Arista and Amber filtered out, pausing at the door for Aspin.
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up."
"Ok, but watch out for Maye. Which reminds me, I have the perfect revenge for her." Shahero cackled quietly.
Aspin listened to them leave, then stepped onto the bottom rung of Kane's ladder. Slowly she raised a hand and ran her fingers over the outlines of his smooth and gorgeous face.
"I'm sorry." she whispered, moving her hand to his to place her lips against his. She pulled back and looked down to figure out where to put her feet. His hand gripping hers had her gaze snapping back to his enigmatic blue ones. He blinked groggily at her twice before releasing her hand to sit up and rub the sleep out of his eyes.
"Aspin? What time is it?" he wondered groping for his small square alarm clock with the luminous LCD screen.
"Ssh, it's late." she whispered, hoping he wouldn't wake Ian.
"Damn right it's late. It's 4:30. Wanna explain why you're here at 4:30 in the morning?"
"Shut up." she hissed. "We were just getting Ian back. God I wish I never stayed round."
"Why did you?" he wondered moving over and patting the spot next to him for her to sit. Which she did, feeling only slightly hurt when he never pulled her closer as he usually did.
"I wanted to...ugh." Apologizing, she figured, was like taking bad medicine. It was good for you but it tasted bad so it was best to get it over with quickly.
"Yes?" Kane felt a grin curve his lips as his girlfriend stalled.
"Hold on, I'm getting to it." she snapped.
"Get to it faster." he mumbled against her neck as he gathered her closer. He couldn't resist her for long.
"All right, I'm sorry, ok?"
"You can do better than that Aspirin."
"Fine." she growled hunching her shoulders to prevent them from quivering as he nibbled on them. He was enjoying this, she could tell. "I'm truly sorry that I wounded your amazingly huge ego! There is that better?"
"I think I liked the other one better."
"Tough."
"Hmm, you are. Very tough. But I know a way to soften you up." he murmured turning her to him.
"Do you really?"
"Yeah." he whispered before covering her mouth with his. He never got bored of the taste of her. It never failed to entice and excite. He'd known it would the first time they'd bumped into each other in the corridor on the way to the try outs for the JV team. She'd been prickly as a rose with him but she was irresistible. He'd had to have her and he vowed he would. Falling for her had been a curve ball in the plan, but having her fall for him was a bonus.
She made a sound of greed as her pliable body strained against his and her hands dove into his hair. His arms banded around her as his tongue stroked hers, slowing the kiss to torment them both.
They parted breathless, his brow resting against hers. "You'd better head back to your dorm."
"Hmm." she agreed but made no move to go, she liked the fact that he needed her as much as she needed him.
"C'mon, Aspin. You have to go."
"In a minute." she affirmed, leaning back to look him in the eye. God she was crazy about this boy, though she didn't know why. "What I said earlier was careless and cruel. I didn't mean it to be, that wasn't my intention."
"What was your intention?" he asked; eyes narrowing.
"I didn't have one. But it certainly wasn't to hurt you. And I'm sorry I did."
"You've been hanging around the Queen of Bullshit apologize for too long." he muttered, then grinned when Aspin's emerald green eyes flashed indignantly.
She slapped his arm, and moved down the ladder of out his reach. When her feet were back on the floor, she stopped and looked up. "We're ok, aren't we?"
"After that kiss, I'd say we're more than ok."
She smiled warmly before leaving the room. Kane sighed then looked down at Ian's sleeping form, and the garden Gnome stared lifelessly back at him. He grinned. Another success for the Octopussy's. Tomorrow should be good. He looked around the dorm and saw the others were fast asleep. He turned back to his clock. He now had a couple of uncomfortable hours ahead thanks to his girlfriend. He made a mental note to pay her back.
Miyami bounced down the stairs on her own for a change. The girls in her dorm were sleeping after their late night excursion, except for Amber who'd been dragged off by Mariam while Miyami had been getting changed much to her amusement. Amber was not a happy bunny first thing in the morning, especially if she hadn't been awake. She wouldn't leave the bed, unlike Shahero who actually had to be dragged from sleep, Amber woke up wide awake, she just liked to daydream and pretend she was sleeping which in Miyami's opinion was worse. There was only so long you could listen 'I'll be up in a minute' or 'yeah, yeah I'm up' before it got on your nerves and you just left her to her own devices.
It was weird heading down to breakfast on her own, and into town. Usually Johnny would be there to keep her company, but her decision last Monday had changed that. She sighed heavily. She'd been battling the depression of that decision for the past couple of days, not allowing herself to wallow because her friends would pick up on it, and if they showed her compassion she'd break down. She knew herself so well. She preferred to attack something head on but this was something she couldn't use that tactic for. Johnny was ignoring her, and though she would have liked to just make him talk to her, she knew he was hurting. That was her fault, she knew. But it had been for the best.
If she hadn't broke up with him then he would have done something stupid like give up the sport because he would have felt that, that was what she wanted. It wasn't. He loved Hockey, he was really good at it. To sacrifice it was something she couldn't, wouldn't let him do. So she sacrificed them. It was for the best. That way they both got to play and maybe some day the stupid rule would be broken. Besides, they would be heading off to college, him off to Scotland her to LA or where ever. Long distance relationships were grand and dandy but not when the distance was hours away.
She hugged herself against the cold that chilled her to the bone. God she missed him, she missed the way his arms would come round her and the way a look from him could have her skin tingling, her heart doing cartwheels and pleasure bubbling inside her. She just missed him so much. And friendship wouldn't replace what she missed so much. She wiggled her fingers in a slight wave to a group of students who passed by and greeted her.
She suddenly yelped as she was grabbed from behind and dragged roughly into a near by classroom. Her angry exclamation was muffled by a large, warm, callused hand. The burning in her cheeks had already started before her bewildered mind processed who it was. The hand was removed and she turned to face him warily.
"What now Johnny?"
Johnny ran his gaze over his woman possessively. Her silver hair was parted and tisted into two buns on each side of her head. Her silver eyes, not tinged with crimson, which he had been hoping for, because an angry Miyami might be easier to deal with than a mildly annoyed one, were heavily lined with black mascara. Her lips were tinted crimson and there was a stain of pink along her very pale Russian skin. She wore a scarlet rancid shirt with the sleeves ripped off and frayed and a strip taken from the bottom. She wore a black skirt and boots with a black and scarlet belt. It was very unique and very Miyami and quite revealing which he could enjoy as long as no one else did. Miyami with all her subtle curves and petite stature was his, no one elses but his.
And seeing her last night with that shit head baby Benson brat was doing his head in. Why couldn't she see Daichi was completely and utterly obsessed with her. And if she did, why did she continue to hang round him. Was it to annoy the fuck out of him? Was it to torture him? If it was, then she was succeeding.
Didn't she see how crazy he was about her? Or maybe that was just crazy, Johnny thought sourly. He'd never believed in love at first sight, Miyami was the exception; but then again in every matter she was the exception. She was talented, fiery, opinionated, stunningly beautiful and completely oblivious to his desiring of her.
He still couldn't get over her just dumping him like that. He would have gladly given up hockey to stay with her, but she just had to ruin that gesture by getting rid of him so coldly. Well she wouldn't get rid of him that easily. He was a McGregor; they never gave up easily. He let her have her few days of freedom and he'd waited and waited and now he was going to reclaim what was rightfully his.
"Do you think I'd stand by and watch that maggot put his paws on you?"
"Maggots don't have paws, Johnny. Last time I checked, though biology isn't my strongest suit." she added as an after thought. The best way to deal with an angry Johnny was to keep a cool head and make him feel like an idiot until he regained it, and saw he was being an ass.
Johnny scowled, amethyst eyes flashing. "You know what I'm talking about."
"No, I don't. Johnny, what's going on with you, you're acting, scarily enough, like a jerk!"
He shrugged confused. He was acting like a jerk. And a big one at that. He generally wasn't a jerk, well not so much of one. Sure he'd been a sarcastic know it all twat when he'd been younger but he'd outgrown that stage and mainly because Miyami hadn't looked at him twice when he'd been showing off and making an idiot of himself.
"Look, I'm sorry I went off at you like that, but Mim's... did you have to-"
"Did I have to what?" she interrupted as he sat wearily on a table.
"Last night, I had to sit through that film watching you flirt with that kid." And that torture was still ripe within him.
"Who? Daichi? I wasn't flirting with Daichi."
"Then what would you call it?" he demanded taking a step back, feeling his gut clench when she didn't back down.
"Talking. I'd say I was talking to my best friends cousin. Johnny... I never had you down as the possessive sort."
"Of course I'm going to be possessive of someone I care about, especially when I don't know why we're not together."
She sighed running a hand over her face, before crossing her arms, a gesture to warn him to keep his distance. "Johnny..." she trailed off unsure what to say. If she told him the truth, his ego would get bruised because she'd been protective of him and not the other way round. And she didn't want to lie to him. She still loved him, and she was the one who would live with the consequences of her actions, but she wouldn't expect him to. She would live with the desire to just touch him, the need to run her fingers through that red hair that had attracted her from the start, or how she craved his mouth. There was something about Johnny McGregors mouth that got to her every time, the way it curved in a smirk, the way his whole face brightened a room when he genuinely smiled, as though the sun was only shining on her, no where else. Then again there was the way he spoke, there was just something compelling about the words he spoke, like you had to listen, it always captured your interest and his eyes would blaze with passion for the subject. Johnny McGregor had been perfect for her, but for the both of them, she had to forget that and move on.
"I gotta go, breakfast won't wait forever." with a slight smile, which she'd barely managed, she turned away and left him, feeling something inside her wring painfully.
Johnny watched her leave, and cursed viciously as his foot shot out and kicked the table closest to him. Damn her.
Amber stared at the door to the boys dorm and wondered how the hell she'd ended up here. Someone shifting beside her, reminded her exactly how. Mariam. The girl had stormed into her room this morning, woke her up and dragged her off to her room before bringing her here.
"You know, Riam, this is called returning to the scene of the crime, and it's generally frowned upon by all the greatest pranksters."
"Look Amber, I really need you to do this."
"Do what? You like the guy, ask him out. Why do I, the girl he hates, have to be here?"
"Moral support."
"You could have got that from Salima or Mariah, or Kirby or someone who he actually doesn't hate, or more importantly doesn't hate him, as I do." Amber pointed out logically staring at the door.
"Look, we can use you as an excuse, you could say your visiting Bryan."
"No one is going to buy that, and what are you going to do, casually ask Kai to go into town with you?" when Mariam nodded, chewing her lip, Amber groaned. "They're so not gonna buy this."
"Please Amber."
"Fine, but this just shows how great a friend I am, by entering the enemies lair, risking Ian's wrath and probably making dear old cousin Bryan hate me. Hate me, Mariam, how can you stand to break such an unbreakable bond?!"
"Your over reacting Ams, and if it's so unbreakable, it won't break, will it?" she asked smirking lightly at her friends downcast expression. "Now do it."
Amber inhaled deeply and let her shoulders slump. There was no use arguing with her when she had her mind made up. She exhaled quickly and loudly, then gripped the handle, then twisting it, she yanked the door open and strode in. One scan of the room told her that her blue haired nemesis wasn't there, thank god. Bryan was lying in his bunk, Tala was staring at her bemused while he messed with his hair. Kane was sitting up in the bed scowling down at her and Ian... Ian wasn't there. God, could the day get any better. Smiling brightly, and not faltering in her step she crossed to Bryan's bunk.
"BENSON!"
She jerked around at Kane's yell. "What?"
"This is a boys dorm, now I know you're having trouble with your gender identity but you shouldn't be here."
"I'll remember that the next time you come to visit Aspin, pain! Besides, it not like you guys have anything I haven't seen before, at least I don't think you do." she added as an after thought. "Maybe you're the one with gender identity crisis, for all I know."
Kane gaped then shook his head, his gaze snapping to Mariam who he finally noticed had followed Amber in and was looking disappointed. "Kai's gone for a shower."
Mariam's eyes widened slightly, then she blushed as Kane grinned at her. She was being very obvious which was completely unlike her. She was never obvious when it came to guys, she was always cool and sometimes a little mean. Oh this wasn't good.
"Oh goodie." Amber muttered dryly, kneeling down to observe her cousin's slumbering body. "So he'll come back half naked and send her into la la land, great!"
Tala choked back a laugh. "You always did have a way with words Benz."
"They come out of my mouth, what can I do?! It's not like my brains' connected to it." she said simply, frowning as Bryan showed no signs of waking up. She glanced over her shoulder as Spencer groaned and sat up blinking the sleep out of his eyes. She smiled and waved as he finally noticed her presence and he waved back slightly. "So where's Ian?"
"Burying the Gnome, no doubt." Tala answered flicking his fingers through his hair, and squinting at his reflection in the mirror sitting on the wall.
"Really?" she asked grinning gleefully, then her face fell. "I must ask him where he buried it, I'll have to return it today."
Kane snorted. "Good luck getting any answer from him, he wants your blood. He woke up screaming and then hurled the thing across the room almost smashing it against the wall. Instead it fell on Bryan. It's a good thing that your cousins so burly, he'd be knocked out cold otherwise."
The Irish teen started alarmed and her gaze whipped to her cousin who was sleeping peacefully. "How do you know he's not?"
"Because he jumped out of bed and half dragged, half carried Ian out of the room by the scruff of his neck." Spencer replied amused, rubbing a hand over his chin and decided it needed a shave. Shoving off the quilt, he was just about to get up and walk out when he remembered that there were females present, no matter how much Amber acted like she wasn't one. "Hey, Valkov, toss me that pair of pants."
Amber looked up and shook her head. Like she hadn't seen half naked guys before, christ sake. Shrugging, as Spencer pulled on a pair of jeans and left the room, she turned back to her peacefully sleeping cousin and brushed his lavender hair out of his face. He was in need of a trim, and a shave. Unlike Tala, Bryan actually did have to shave. He didn't have girly skin like Tala did but it was still soft. But him having to shave in the morning meant he occupied the bathroom at home which plain annoyed her. When she woke up, she had to pee. She couldn't just wait for Bryan to get out, that's not the way she worked. So she got her body use to waking up late so that she wouldn't have to wait for him to get out.
She couldn't remember a time when her cousin Bryan didn't live with her. He was more of a brother than a cousin, she decided. When his parents split up, and his mother returned to Ireland, Bryan had come to stay with her even though her father, his blood uncle wasn't living with them. She'd been the only one who could really relate to the quiet introverted boy and besides, she could babble away all she wanted and he never told her to shut up. He was more likely to toss her out of his room when she was getting annoying. They'd formed such a bond during those months, the thought of being without Bryan was just wrong. He was everything to her. No man would be more important, not even Ozuma, though he came pretty close. Tala had once shared the same position in her heart as Bryan, but he betrayed that. He'd destroyed that.
She glanced up at him, then quickly away as he looked down. Scrunching up her nose, she studied Bryan. Why wasn't he waking up yet. She wondered vaguely if he'd taken that picture before he'd sent Ian out of the room, she hoped so. She glanced round as the door opened and there he... All words and thoughts rushed out of her brain leaving it for a few blissful moments, completely and utterly empty.
Kai sighed and rubbed a hand over his wet face. He hated the senior showers, there wasn't much privacy. Sure there were screens, but what was to stop some fag coming along for a peep show? With that thought in his head, he'd made his showers brief and he'd gotten out of there as soon as possible. He could dry himself off in the dorm. Despite the fact that there were five other guys in that dorm, he knew each one of them was as straight as a die. But all the same he'd pulled on a pair of boxers and jeans, forgetting to hook them up and headed back to the dorm.
Now standing in the doorway to the dorm, he wondered how the hell he was going to get dressed when Mariam was sitting in the swivel chair by the study desk. She was staring at him as though... Now that did his ego good, he thought, to have a girl like Mariam look at him as though she wanted to eat him alive. His gaze flicked as another figure shifted and a small smirk played on his lips. Seemed Benson wasn't immune to his looks either. Her eyes were large, dark and almost liquid but her brows were furrowed and her mouth was in a thin line. She was interested and not happy about it, was his opinion. And not one to give up a chance to rile the Imp, he took advantage of the moment.
"Problem Benson?" he asked, halting her gaze from running down any farther and had it snapping back to his gaze. Meeting it directly had an affect Kai wasn't prepared for. A internal liquid tug that was gone almost as soon as he felt it. Out of the uniform, she didn't look as small. That was probably since the clothes she was wearing actually fitted her. A Irish green t-shirt which ended just above her navel and a pair of faded jeans which almost hid her scuffed sneakers which she never seemed to remove. Maybe she slept with them on. It was an amusing thought. Her hair fell in a sleek wave down her back. Something about the whole innocence of the picture tugged at him, he couldn't understand it. There were so many faces to the girl, it was hard to understand.
Her gaze turned cool and measuring, looking more adult than it usually would. "Put some clothes on before you send Mariam into a frenzy."
"She wasn't the only one staring." he muttered but caught sight of how her eyes blazed abruptly. She scowled and turned back to Bryan.
He crossed to Mariam who blinked out of her trance and frowned. "Hey, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you." her embarrassment sharpened her tone and had his brow shooting up. She sighed heavily, what was going on with her. "I'm sorry, I just came to-" she broke off when she realized that he wasn't paying attention but was staring off in the opposite direction. Following his gaze she blinked as she saw Amber poking Bryan's chin and tilting her head in such an innocently child like manner that had her lips twitching.
"Benson, what are you doing?"
She made a face before she turned to him and kept that patient yet annoyed expression on her face. "What does it look like I'm doing?"
"You're poking your cousin, kind of how those baby chimpanzees do to their mothers." Kai replied grinning lazily as she snarled and Kane laughed.
"She's trying to wake him up." Tala informed them with a hint of warmth coating his voice. Amber had done the same to him when they were younger. She'd come into his room, settle herself on the ground, lay her head on the pillow opposite him and patiently poke him till he woke up.
Mariam sighed heavily lazily let her gaze linger on Kai's frame. "So anyway I was here to ask you if-"
"I'm gonna kill that witch!" Ian announced as he opened the door and stepped into the room. "I've got a detention now because Maye caught me digging...YOU!"
Amber yelped and scrambled to her feet. "Hiya Ian. How're you?"
Mariam chuckled at her friends tone, all nice and polite, all the while her eyes jittered nervously for an escape route. "Yeah Ian, how're the gnomes?"
He snarled at her. Goddamn women thought they were so smart. If Kane hadn't let that little piece of information slip then everything would be all right; of course Kane could never keep his mouth shut. He should have expected it. It was something so typically Amber and he should have known the girl would have wanted revenge immediately. But he had second guessed himself so many times; that he'd figured that she'd know that he'd know that she'd make a move that night so she'd postpone it. That was his mistake.
"You're a dead woman, Benson."
Amber looked herself up and down. "Hey for a dead person I look pretty good!"
Growling he lunged towards her and she quickly ducked behind Tala and scurried up the closest stairs which led, unfortunately to...
"Get off my bed, Ember."
"Fuck off Hiwatari!" she snapped, unable to concentrate fully on her nemesis when Ian was following her over the steps and worst still his mattress was all soft and the quilt was tangling round her feet making her stumble. "Shit, Ian, it wasn't all my fault."
Ian grunted. He'd only get distracted if she responded, but he hadn't a fucking clue what he was going to do to the girl when he caught up. He'd could tie her to the banisters again. That was always fun but her friends would only rescue her. So that was no good, it only helped if all the guys were against the girls, that way they could divide their forces between the girls.
"If Kane hadn't told you..." Amber trailed off realizing that she'd run out of places to go. She glanced over her shoulder. "You guys could be helping you know."
"You'd never accept our help." Tala said truthfully watching the slight flicker of sorrow in her eyes.
"Ah, shit. Fuck off Ian, I didn't..."
"I'm going to tie you by your feet and hang you up in the gym."
"Gee, how thoughtful. But first you'll have to catch me."
Dropping to her ass, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and jumped. She landed neatly on the ground and quickly got to her feet, then snagging Mariam's wrist, raced for the door. Mariam tugged her hand back as Amber closed the door and leant against it to catch her breath.
"I never got to ask him."
"Ask him later." Amber hissed, her pulse still tripping with nerves and adrenaline.
"I can't. What if he has plans."
Amber growled, then rolled her eyes. "Fine." Opening the door, she popped her head back in the door and got a nice look of Kai's back as he stretched. His skin was all smooth and subtle muscles rippled, including one under a tattoo of a phoenix. Her eyes were so focused on it, she didn't even realize that the boys were looking at her, until Kai turned. The look of amusement and smugness made blood rush to her cheeks, because she'd been caught staring, but that tat was pretty damn cool. Who'd have thought Mr. Posh-Private-School would have a tat.
"Problem Benson?" he asked again and the smug tone made her bristle.
"Uh, no. OW!" she gasped as Mariam poked her in the ribs. "Uh, yeah you've got a date- fuck! with Mariam, so meet her- would you please piss off?!" she hissed over her shoulder much to the boys amusement. "Meet her in the dining hall in like a few minutes. Got it?!"
He nodded surprised. "Sure."
She rolled her eyes then grinned at Ian. "Bye-bye Ian. Hope the gnomes don't get you. Yikes!" she slammed the door closed as Ian rushed for it, only to be grabbed from behind by Bryan.
"Go near my cousin again, Ian, and you'll not be wearing those boxers much longer!"
Ian gulped. "Uh, yeah. Um ok, fine."
He'd get his revenge later and it would be sweet.
