Thanks to Lamanth (yes, you are twisted for liking it, what does that make me for writing it, hey?) for reviewing the last chapter!

I love this. Tis cute.


Smile

Salima cowered inwardly as she stepped into the hall. Instantly, the whispers began, the pointing fingers rose.

"That's her, look …"

"Why her, I mean, come on …"

"She can't even 'blade! Well, not like us …"

"What is she wearing?"

Something that doesn't make me look like I stand on street corners and get paid to fuck middle-aged men. It took a bitten and bruised tongue to stop that comment from emerging as Salima turned her head very slightly and took in the whisper's high-rise, low-cut "dress". Feeling very small in her plain green dress, her face reddening under the glare of every female in the room, she made her way through the huddled groups.

Why did I have to come? she thought miserably. Insecurity nibbled away at her composure, and by the time that she had crossed the length of the room she was biting her lip to fight back a sob. Nothing ever made her feel quite as bad as being the centre of unwanted attention.

Why was she here? She tipped her head back momentarily to deflect oncoming tears. Did Kai want to show her off? She smiled bitterly and her gaze found Kai's back, turned from her as he talked with Ray. No, it didn't look like it. Melancholy washed over her as she paid attention to the frigid atmosphere. Why would he want to show her off when she was compared to confident, stunning girls like Ming-Ming, Hilary and Mariah? Why had he chosen her over them, anyway?

Kai watched Ray's face with a small smile. His friend was as easy to read as a book, and right now Ray's slightly glazed expression, inability to listen as Kai deliberately struck up a conversation about 'blading, and sudden interest in the other side of the room meant one thing; Salima had arrived.

Ray's entire body twitched. Forewarned, Kai turned and caught Salima's outstretched hand smoothly. He frowned as he saw tears glittering like broken glass in the corner of her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked. She shook her head and gave a little, dismissive laugh as the tears brimmed until it seemed that only sheer willpower kept them from falling. Ray nudged him.

"The other girls are bitching about her," he whispered into Kai's ear. Kai regarded him with a look of frank puzzlement.

"Why the hell are they doing that?" He swept the room at large with an angry look.

"Because I'm with you, you idiot!" Salima snapped, a flash of grey fire bringing life back to her eyes as she expressed her frustration at his stupidity.

"Oh, right." Kai allowed himself a small smirk of superiority. "Well, that's understandable. Why are you upset over that?"

There was no other word for it; Salima squirmed with discomfort.

"Because … maybe they're right," she mumbled at last, her face crimson, tears threatening again. "Maybe I don't deserve you."

"And maybe you're the idiot, not me." Kai regarded her with disdain and she shrank back.

Now, Ray decided, was the time to step in, before Kai's thoughtlessness caused a problem.

There was an easy way to make Kai take control of any given situation; threaten to take control of it instead.

"I don't think Kai deserves you, personally." He flashed her a grin laden with charm, and she smiled uncertainly back. Kai's eyes narrowed and, after a calculating glance, he placed himself between the two, and swept Salima into a kiss that made Ray wonder whether he should avert his eyes to prevent unpleasant images burning his retinas.

"Don't you dare ever think that again," Kai muttered, exerting a large amount of self-control to pull back long enough to speak. She nodded mutely, eyes hot and bright with lust.

Moving back against the wall, Ray waited until every eye was on the happy couple. Quietly, he sidled away to ask Mariah for a dance before she got ideas about Salima and him that just weren't true – much to his disappointment.

But, he thought as he cast a quick look behind him, no-one sane would ever try to take something that was Kai's.


(cuddles cuteness)

Review, please? It'd be great to get two reviews this chapter ...

x Mha x