Hey guys, I know this chapter is a day late, but I had a really crazy week. Sorry about that. Hope you like it.

Hilary woke up the next morning, a dull pain throbbing at the back of her head. She rubbed her eyes and sat up slowly as the events from last night came rushing back to her. Her and Tala had kissed...And then he had pushed her away.

Last night she sat in her room a long time, just thinking. She mostly regretted doing it. Tala was her only friend here in Russia and she just had to go and ruin it by kissing him. When he pushed her away she had felt that same sting of rejection as when she had hugged him after he told her about his family. He had pushed her away then, too. Apparently, she couldn't take a hint.

But when they were kissing, she thought she had felt something. Something different. Something she had only ever felt for Kai...

Her sadness from last night turned into anger this morning. How could Tala think she was just using him as a rebound? He should know her better than that. And if he was just going to push her away, why had he kissed her back?

As she stood she glanced at the calendar she had hung on the wall. It was Christmas Eve. That meant it was the night of the reunion. Hilary sighed and walked over to her closet. She had nothing absolutely nothing to wear.

She pulled her clothes to the side, trying to get to the back of the tiny wardrobe. When she had moved in, she hadn't really paid much attention to what she was doing, mainly because she was so depressed. Suddenly, something at the back caught her eye. She pulled more clothes away to reveal a small white chiffon gown. It had been her mothers. Gently, she removed the article from her closet and held it before her eyes. It was a knee-length, strapless dress that her grandmother had made her mother. Hilary liked it. It was simple, modest, and fashionable. Around the waist was a black ribbon that was tied at the hip. It had vertical shirring and a flared a line skirt. It was perfect. Hilary laid the dress on her bed.

She tried not to think about how miserable the party would be.

XXX

Tala dragged himself out of his room before collapsing at the kitchen table. Bryan looked up from his breakfast with a raised eyebrow.

"Rough night?" He questioned.

"You could say that," Tala muttered.

"Do I even want to know?" Tala groaned and rubbed his temples.

"Probably not."

"Let me guess...Kai troubles?" Tala merely nodded. Bryan sighed and stabbed his omelet. "What'd he do now?"

"It's not what he did...So much as what I did." Bryan observed the redhead carefully.

"I'm assuming Hilary's involved." Tala sat back in his chair.

"We kind of...well, kissed last night." Tala glanced at the silver-haired blader who appeared unfazed.

"And your point is?" Tala gaped.

"Are you serious? I kissed Hilary, Kai's girlfriend-"

"Hey, last I checked, they were on a break," Bryan pointed out.

"Regardless, they just separated. I don't want to be someone she uses to get over him." Bryan sighed.

"She doesn't seem like the type to do that, Tal." Tala stiffened as a creaking noise met his ears. Hilary opened the door to her room and walked into the kitchen. She glanced at the table.

"Morning," She said brightly as she walked over to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup.

"Morning," Bryan replied.

"Hey," Tala said to her, watching her carefully. Without saying anything else, she grabbed a piece of fruit from the counter and walked back into her room.

"Well, that wasn't awkward at all," Bryan said with a smirk. Tala groaned.

"I wasn't trying to make her mad at me. I just..."

"You just what?" Bryan questioned. Tala didn't say anything. "Listen Tal. You and I both know Kai hasn't been treating her right. You like her. I can tell," He said to him. "Stop trying to be all noble and let her know how you feel." He took a sip of his juice. "Tell anyone I said that and I'll kill you."

"That's not the only thing, Bry. I don't want to be someone's rebound."

"Well, you won't know until you talk to her." And with that said, the silver-haired blader left for his room, leaving Tala with his thoughts.

XXX

"Hilary, are you almost ready?" Bryan questioned as he knocked on her door.

"Yeah. I'll be out in a second," She said with one last glance in the mirror. She slipped on her shoes and grabbed her shawl. When she opened the door, she noticed Bryan, Spencer, Ian, and Tala all standing in the living room clad in black tuxes.

"Well you guys look dashing," She said to them with a smile. Bryan wolf-whistled.

"You don't look half bad yourself." She grinned. In honor of the occasion, she had curled her hair and put it in a low, loose bun and did her make-up.

"You guys ready?"

"Almost," Spencer said. He picked up a gift bag on the stand by the door and held it out to her. "This is for you. It's from me, Bryan, and Ian." Hilary took the bag with a confused look on her face. "Merry Christmas."

"You guys didn't have to get me anything," She said, secretly thankful she had changed her mind last minute about buying them presents.

"It goes with Tala's gift," Bryan said. Hilary glanced at said redhead who smiled softly at her. She tore the paper out to reveal a medium sized black box. It opened, exposing a white launcher.

"Thank you so much you guys," She said with a small smile. "But you clearly have never seen me beyblade before." They all laughed.

"Well, you're living with two had to learn at one point." Tala suddenly appeared beside her, taking the launcher and handing her a different box, this one square with a red ribbon.

"They ruined the surprise, but here." She took the box. Inside was a small white beyblade she had recognized as the one Tala was looking at when they had gone shopping. "I figured maybe me and Bry could teach you sometime." She smiled, momentarily forgetting about last night's events.

"Thank you, Tala," She said with a smile as she hugged him. Surprisingly, he hugged her back.

"Your guys's gift are under the tree," She said to the group as she pulled away.

"Let's open them later. We're gonna be late." Everyone nodded. Once they reached the parking lot, Tala whispered something in Bryan's ear. He nodded and accompanied Spencer and Ian to the blonde's Range Rover.

"Hil, ride with me," Tala said to her. She nodded and got into the passenger side of his car. The first few minutes of the drive started off silent, both teens musing quietly. "You know...You really look beautiful."

"Thanks," She said shortly. Tala resisted a groan.

"Hil...I don't want to fight."

"Neither do I, Tala," She said. He glanced at her.

"Really?" She nodded.

"Let's just forget about it, okay?" Tala grinned.

"Thanks Hil. Um, about the kiss..."

"Tal, I just told you, you can forget about it. It's fine." Tala looked over at her. She was staring calmly out the window.

"Hil...I don't want to forget about it." She turned to look at him, a genuinely confused look present upon her face.

"...What?"

"Listen...Ever since you moved in, and I think a little before that...I've been having these feelings for you and I think I really-" Hilary sighed deeply, interrupting Tala's monologue.

"I don't get you, Tala." Tala was caught off guard. "I hug you, and you push me away. For some reason, I think you like me, so I kiss you, and you push me away. What are you trying to tell me? I don't understand," Her voice broke on the last word.

"Hil-"

"No Tala. It isn't fair for you to keep playing this game with me. I can't do this anymore."

"Hilary, It's not like that. I swear. I thought you just liked me because..." Tala drifted off. He realized his mistake a fraction of a second too late.

"Because what? Because me and Kai just separated and you think you're a rebound?" Her tone was harsh. "I can't believe you would even think I would use you like that, Tala. I thought you knew me better than that." With that said, Hilary turned towards the window, staring heatedly out into the frozen night. Tala sighed and went back to looking out the windshield.

This is gonna be a long night.

Listen guys, once again I'm really sorry about updating late. I'll try and get the next chapter up early to make it up to you.