I know it's been a while and I hate myself for not updating sooner, but here it is. The next chapter.

I won't say much because I know your going to want to read…..I think I've kept you waiting long enough.

Disclaimer: I don't own beyblade nor do I own Toby Keith


Rodeo Team

Kai slammed the alarm clack violently to the floor as the annoying machine continued to disrupt him. He slowly got out of bed in a pair of swimming trunks and a tank top wondering when he'd gotten home last night and when he'd changed. Getting up he went into the kitchen to make some strong black coffee to wake him up.

"Can I have some of that?"

Kai swung around dropping the coffee pot on the counter and his pulse began rising. "Damn Tala," the male growled. "What the hell are you doing here?" He turned to find a rag in the drawer at his thigh.

"Sorry man," the red head chucked slightly. "Thought I'd let myself in." He took out a stool from the middle of the table.

Kai raised an eyebrow at his little annoying visitor this morning.

"You gave me a key remember?" Tala jingled the metal in his hands.

Kai sighed, he remembered. That had been about four years ago when he'd popped over had his house at midnight because Taylor kicked him out for saying the most stupid things and getting into ridicules arguments. He was over so often disturbing the blunettes sleep and daily routine that that the man just gave him a key. It was a happy day when he woke up in the morning not to find Tala on the couch with one of his vodka bottles empty beside him.

"Remind me to get it back," Kai huffed handing over a cup of brew to his friend.

"Sorry," Tala sighed. Black coffee of course, he got up and went to the fridge for some milk. "I didn't plan to but Taylor wouldn't shut up when Ray called her about Crystal riding with you and insisted that I ask you if everything was okay and if you behaved yourself. Ah," Tala threw the now empty cartoon away. "I told her to ask the woman herself but she didn't' want to upset her just in case and told me to tell you and I quote, "If he hurt her emotionally or physically at all I will rip off his balls with a pair of pliers and sell them on e-bay." End quote."

Kai looked at him and blinked. "Ouch."

"Exactly," Tala sipped leaning on the counter.

"Well you can tell Mrs. Balls snatcher that absolutely nothing happened." The blunnte stood up to go to his room. "I took her to the hotel, end of story."

"Glad to hear," Tala got up the to leave. "I'll see you later then. I do have to go to work today."

"Tala!" Kai called from the top of the stairs. "Leave the EMPTY cup in the dishwasher." He sighed when he heard the door close and went through his closet puling out a suit for the day. He looked into the mirror before jumping in the shower. He looked like shit.

Dressed and ready to leave for work Kai was gone in the blink of an eye. A certain female still ringing in his head.


"Momma," Kelly looked at Crystal. "Can I go Ray's today?" the girl looked up at her mother with hopeful eyes, Crystal thought about what she had planned for the day. She really had nothing they needed to be there with her for. In fact all she had planned was going the post office and run a few errands. She needed to call Gus and then Taylor wanted to have lunch together and she could use a few minutes alone to handle and get herself together.

She couldn't remember when she'd had a day with no kids.

After the eerie ride with Kai last night it might not be a bad idea.

"Sure, tell them you and your brother will be coming over if it's alright. Make sure it is before you make demands," She watched her daughter rush for the cell phone in her mother's pocket. Lying on his bed, Jason sat up on his elbows staring at his mother dead panned. The rock music blared from the ear phones he tore out of his ears.

"Excuse me?" His eyes bore into hers and she rolled her own. "You're a little late to be scaring me with that look hun," she thought as he gave her the Hiwatari death glare. She was convinced now it was genetic.

Surprised that he'd heard her at all she decided to play dumb with her son as she ran a brush through her hair. "What is it?"

"Why are you sending me to Ray's place too?" His voice was hard as he stared at her. His face was almost expressionless.

"Do you honestly want to run around town with me to pay bills and be around a bunch of old women and we ooh and ah at wedding dresses and everything. That's up to you though, I thought you might want to hang around with Toby," she gave up on doing anything with her hair and put it up in a ponytail. She wore simple jeans and a rolling stone t-shirt. Nothing to flattering.

"Hnn," he put his ear phones back on and she knew the discussion was over. She'd won; he'd go just to get away from any chance that he might have to live through that kind of stuff.

"Mom," Kelly came into the room. "Samantha said it was okay. She said drop us off at nine o'clock and she'll watch us til about seven if that's alright to you. Since Jason's coming with us she said he can go with Ray to help out with the High school rodeo team that's supposed to be coming today to practice and all."

Crystal grinned at her frowning son, "You see that, people your own age." The boy rolled his eyes and pushed himself to stand up as he headed for the door. It was eight-thirty and by the time they got some breakfast and to Ray's it would be nine o'clock.


Stopping at the drive in Crystal stayed in the car as her kids got out. "Tell them thank you and that I'll come by at six. I know they said seven Kelly," she cut her daughter off as she began to protest. "but I want to come by and talk a while with them so you'll still get to stay a little while."

The girl nodded as her mother drove off and walked into the house with Jason behind her. "Come on In!" Ray's voice could be heard from the kitchen and the two walked in.

"Hey now," Ray got up and folded his newspaper. "City slickers here." Toby snorted at the comment, but Kevin frowned. "Jeez dad chill, come on Kelly I got that game you wanted to play yesterday." The boy jumped up from the table leaving his half eaten breakfast on the plate and grabbed the girls hand before running off.

Kelly didn't get a chance to protest.

"That boy I swear," Samantha chuckled putting the plate in the fridge. "He'll be back in fifteen minutes wanting to finish this. Did you eat Jason?" she looked at the boy.

Jason nodded politely, but stayed mute. Samantha didn't push it, but stretched and loaded up the dishwasher. "Today's my only day off until the wedding from work so I'll be watching chick flicks." She kissed Ray on the cheek.

"Jason if there's anything you want or need help you. I can make you whatever for lunch, just let me know if you're hungry. Until then if you want a snake grab it." She moved to the living room and turned on the t.v. true to her word finding a movie channel.

"Well lets go," Ray put on his hat and started out the door with Jason and Toby at his heels. "The Rodeo group from the school should be here now at the blue barn. That's where we keep them because some of the owners can't afford to keep them or don't have a place too. Some of the bulls are in the corral around the corner too, practice bulls that is and calves with their momma's further down. I'm not much into cattle."

He walked to the edge of the yard and to a shed. He opened the door and showed five four wheelers. "We'll need these to get over there. It's through a small trail down the woods out of site. A couple dogs and Gary live down there. Gary's my second mate at that place. He lives content in a small cottage by himself watching that portion of the place for me. The dogs are all his and they're a bunch of help. You know how to ride one of these things?"

He looked down at Jason and handed him a key. Jason just took it, got on the other black one beside the one red one Toby was sitting on and started it. Ray blinked slightly at his choice, technically it was Kai's. The male bought it so he wouldn't have to walk around the entire place on foot. It was easier and faster than he could, but he'd made it clear to Ray to let other visitors use it. Besides it was nice to have a back up if one broke down or something. Ray finally agreed after both his and Toby's broke down for a while a couple years back.

It still surprised him that it was the one he picked, after all Sam's grey one was closer to the door and Kevin's dark blue was beside it.

"Oh well to each his own," Ray thought feeling a little unnerved. He got on his simple black and white one, the same color scheme from his yin-yang fanatic fit in highschool and led the way towards the wooded trail.

His son was behind him the entire way, but Jason wasn't far behind. Ray noticed Toby look back several times and give his four wheeler a little more gas. Jason would do the same. He smirked slightly at their antics.

Finally Toby shook his head and passed his father, Jason did as well. Ray would have yelled at them for doing it without the proper gear. Racing without a helmet or anything was like asking for a death warrant, but he let it go. They were so close to their destination anyway and Jason didn't know any better.

He'd talk to Toby that night.

After getting off the four wheelers they made their way around the barn where the rodeo team waited with their respected horses saddled and ready to go. Their cars parked off to the side.

Jason scowled the teenagers as Ray and Toby walked off to get them a horse to ride. He was shocked however, to find Tina standing beside a chestnut mare talking with a female friend. He felt himself slightly flush as she glanced his way before controlling himself and looking away.

"Well, well, well what do we have here?" Jason stared at one of the boys and narrowed his eyes as the larger male placed his foot on an over turned bucket and leaned over it to point him out to his friends. A white horse was behind the male. "City boy still in town and can ride horses I see?"

Jason frowned and narrowed his eyes. He didn't recognize the figure in front of him, how did he know him?

"See what you mean," A female behind him snickered. "He doesn't look so smart."

"Lay off Tom," Tina took a step between Jason and the other male. Jason found his eyes drifting towards her butt before his head snapped up as he remembered the male from the hotel.

He shook his head and put his hand in his pocket, he watched amused as some of them looked at him in shock like he was going to pull out a gun and shoot them all. Kinda like a big city school shooting.

He almost laughed as he pulled out a piece of gum, unwrapped it and stuck it in his mouth.

Tom snorted and Jason felt himself filled with humor knowing it had been caused by his relief that it wasn't a dagger or something.

"Come on city slicker," Tom started to walk towards him. "Whatcha doing here? Why don't you go back to the city?" The other large male walked behind him and Jason figured he was Tom's right hand man. Tom did all the talking while the big guy completed all the threats when they were ignored. He didn't look so tough.

"The last I checked you don't own Texas hick," Jason spat out matter of factly glaring. "You and Lone Ranger behind you can kiss my ass."

Tom grinned when Jason took the bait. He knew that it was what the male was looking for, a fight and a reason to throw some punches. Oh well as far as Jason was concerned he could. There was a blade in his back pocket that he kept for when he snuck out at night to see the city nightlife without his mother knowing and it wouldn't bother him one bit to pull it out and rearrange the male's face.

Like he said Jason was from the city and in the city if you fought fair you died.

"You got a mouth on you boy," Tom smirked some more coming fore ward. "Maybe we should change that." He clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes. "I'll crush you like I've crushed every quarter back this side of the line."

Jason chuckled, "You play football? I never would have guessed. Texas has found a way to use their over grown gorillas productively haven't they?" His voice reeked of sarcasm and Tom threw up his fist.

"Tom that's enough," Tina came out of nowhere and wedged herself between the two males. The female that had made fun of Jason earlier came as well. "She's right you guys lay off. Ray's going to be here in a minute and he doesn't like fighting. He'll kick your ass if he finds out you've raised your fists at each other."

Jason snorted, but Tom put his hand down and scoffed. "Got girls standing up and fighting for you Pretty boy?"

"No I think you've got it wrong, they wanted to make sure I didn't kill you," Jason smirked knowingly. "Just cause I'm a city slicker doesn't mean I don't know how to hold my own at the masses Ape. Even in the city every cop knows my name."

Tom chuckled in disbelief. "Right." He stared at the male and Jason stared back unflinching and unblinking.

"Hey guys do you have anything to eat I'm hungry?" the smallest male spoke up as his stomach growled. The staring contest stopped.

"Jeez Daichi we just had breakfast a while ago." Tina growled. "I know, but it was just eggs, bacon, sausage, pop tarts, and a ham biscuit. I'm a growing boy."

Jason raised an eyebrow at the large amount of food mentioned and stared at the male. He was obviously foreign with wild red hair and a surprisingly skinny agile looking body. He briefly wondered how he kept all the weight off if he actually ate that much.

"Alright," With a horse's whine both Toby and Ray appeared out of the barn. Ray had a dark coated Morgan that he handed off to Jason. Toby had a black horse with a white mark on her forehead.

"You can take Mudd here and ride her with the others. Tom, Daichi, and Brandon are here to practice. Mary and Tina are just here to ride. Toby and them are going on a trail, you can go with them if you want or you can stay with me and help these guys condition themselves. It's up to you."

Jason felt Tom's glare on the back of his head at the idea of riding off with Tina and chose the first option. If it got on the mammoth's nerves he was all for it. If it got him close to a pretty girl like Tina it was a pretty good bonus.

He gripped the saddle and preyed he could get on from what he learned the other day. To his surprise and relief he could. Toby led them on his black horse, followed by Mary on her brown, and then Tina.

Tom glared at Jason until they were out of sight as he took the rear.

"So," Tina spoke up as they were completely swallowed by the wooded area. "How's my hero been lately?"

"Fine," Jason looked at her knowing the other two were curious. "I don' t see you at the hotel anymore."

"Yeah," I work weekends well," she sighed patting her horse affectionately. "I work there every other weekend."

"So he's the guy who told Tom all but to fuck off huh?" The female, Mary, spoke looking behind her. "You're brave." She laughed. "Not many will stand up to Tom."

"That's just because Tom doesn't know his place," Toby spoke lowly from the lead.

Tina sighed. "He is an arrogant son of a dog," she didn't curse. "I made the mistake of dating him a while back before calling it off not long after it started. Really big mistake. Really, really big mistake. Seems like he can't take a no for an answer."

She sighed staring out into the sky. "So Jason right?" He nodded. "Where are you guys from exactly?"

"Southern California."

She laughed, "That's not really a specific answer, but okay Southern California. So was it true what you said back there?"

Jason frowned through the slight blush that she'd caused to flow to his cheeks. He had to fight to keep himself in control and not sputter off. "What do mean about the cop? Kinda." He figured that telling the truth was a little much. It was a good enough lie, but not everybody had to know that. Especially Mary and Toby.

"I got in trouble a while back while dating the deputy sheriffs daughter. He flipped out on me when I was out on curfew with her making out and he happened to be on patrol. You add that with my previous charges of disturbing the peace and the guys at the department got a good laugh."

Tina shook her head smirking. "That is so not dramatic."

He smirked back. Mary rolled her eyes.

Toby seemed to have lost interest as he watched the sky and his horse led the way. They continued on the trail with Tina asking a couple of questions about what it was like in a Southern California city. It wasn't really what Jason wanted to talk about, but she didn't seem that interested in what he was like or what he liked.

He didn't let it bother him too much though and soon they fell into a comfortable silence. It wasn't long until Toby pulled out his harmonica and began to play a Toby Keith or what Jason remembered to be a Toby Keith song. It was a little funny really. The girls nodded to it and Mary began to whisper it in a sing song voice.

Jason snorted. He pulled out his i-pod and sorted through the music. "You don't like this kind of music? I mean California is California, but you're still from the south." Tina looked at him with a smirk.

Jason smirked back, "Country music is alright, but that thing," he referred to the harmonica, "isn't an instrument worth playing."

Toby stopped and looked back over his shoulder. "Whatever man," the eldest Kon son had learned yesterday to let Jason have his say. The boy was just going to do it his way and there was nothing that could be done about it. "You just don't know good music when you hear it. Not that rapping or pop crap."

"I listen to rock thank you," The low mummer of an electric guitar came from his head phones. He smirked at the Kon male slightly and Toby just rolled his eyes before looking back at the sky line in front of him.


Crystal sighed as she finally stopped running to sit on a park bench. It was one in the afternoon and the weather was wonderful. It was still hot as all get out, but the sky was slightly overcast giving her mild relief from the sun. A breeze was nice too.

She pulled out a water bottle and drank a few sips before she leaned her head back and closed her eyes enjoying the quiet park. There wasn't many people out today from the small town despite it being a Saturday. The park used to be the local hang out for kids and teens. She guessed it must have changed in the past few years.

A couple minutes later she was aware of two men running by her. One with grey hair that ran down his back about as long as Ray's and the other with spiky orange hair. "No way," her mind thought as she recognized the two boys. Getting up she pushed herself into a jog to catch up with the two.

As she got closer there was no mistaking them.

"Garland, Brooklyn," she voiced gaining speed to come beside them. The two males almost stopped simultaneously and turned around. Garland looked confused, but Brooklyn stared back at her with a lazy smile.

She was taken aback by how good the male looked. Brooklyn was still in top form, his white cloak from their childhood years was replaced with a white t-shirt and jogging shorts. His white legs were shaped nicely and from the way he was looking at her she found herself blushing slightly. It was as if he was taking in everything from her. Her looks, her thoughts, her hopes and whishes. She felt exposed.

Focusing on Garland Crystal smirked, "You don't remember me do you?"

"It's good to see you again Crystal." Brooklyn's voice was smooth and she found herself thankful for the fact that she'd run so her cheeks were already slightly pink.

"Crystal? The Crystal?" She laughed slightly as Garland looked at her in shock. "I haven't seen you in ages." The male shook his head. He wore a grey tank top and black sweats. "It's been a while." He placed his hands on his hips to look at her.

Old southern qualities were lost on Crystal as her thoughts went right to what a southern California girl would think. He was queer, but she knew better than that. Raised by his grandmother, aunt and mother Garland was slightly feminine, but he was anything other than gay.

"Yes Garland I'm here," she smirked back at him while he smirked in acknowledgment. "I saw you two running and thought I'd catch up."

"How have you been?"Garland looked at her.

"Good, pretty good been living in Southern California with my kids."

"Kids?" Garland raised an eyebrow. "That mean girl is a mother?" He joked, "The same one who pushed me in the girls locker room my first day as a transfer student?"

Crystal nodded feeling Brooklyn's gaze stay on her. His eyes never strayed as they continued to talk small talk, "I've got a son and daughter. No husband though," she sighed. "Still looking in that department." She didn't know what made her say it, but she was glad she went ahead and did it.

By tomorrow it would be around town that she was back with no husband anyway, better that some of them heard it from her own mouth instead of gossip like all the other well to do southern boys and girls.

"Oh well I'm married, and got a five year old." Garland spoke with a dreamy look in her eye. "Some girl," thought Crystal.

Crystal's phone alarm went off and she pulled it out to turn it off. "Oh man, look guys I got to go. I'm suppose to meet Taylor so we can go order the cake. If I don't make her do it when might just be eating ice cream at the wedding."

"Right your back for the wedding," Garland nodded. "Are we going to see you at the Reunion too?"

Crystal paused, "I…I haven't really decided." The hesitation in her voice made Garland look like he'd wished he'd never asked. The male excused himself promptly to finish his jog, but Brooklyn stayed behind. He was planning on leaving too and offered to walk with her to her car.

When they reached her car she didn't know if she should feel relieved or not. She'd been so uncomfortable that she'd started babbling about work, her kids, and everything. To her surprise Brooklyn seemed to listen to every word, but made no comment.

She felt embarrassed, he probably thought she was a loon.

"I've got a son too," Brooklyn sighed. "He's about the same age as your boy. His mom and I split up about four years ago, she lives in Tennessee now."

"Oh," Crystal looked at him with pity. Taylor had never mentioned that in their weekly phone calls. "I'm so-"

He cut her off. "Don't be. She was a slush and we kept things together for our sons sake. It wasn't until three years ago I realized we were doing more damage than not by staying together."

Crystal nodded, "That decision can be tough." She opened her car door.

"I don't regret though," Brooklyn put a hand on her car's hood in front of her. She thought he meant the marriage, but his next words proved it was false. "If we hadn't I wouldn't have had the chance to see you again. Would you accompany me to the movies tomorrow night?"

Crystal blinked until the words he'd spoken finally registered. She looked into his green eyes feeling childish. He'd asked her out on a date.

Thoughts of what had been going on for years rolled over in her mind over the past relationships she'd had before. With a nod she decided to take a chance. It'd been a while since she'd found someone who could make her blush.

"Um… Sure…your car or mine?"

"I'll pick you up around eight. If you're staying at the hotel on eighth street that is?"

"Yeah." She held her purse closer to her. She thought suddenly and jolted. "Oh…um let me give you my cell just in case." She reached for a pen and pad she kept in her purse. The pen fell on the ground and both of them reached to pick it up at the same time. She blushed as they both kneeled again. His cool and confident face staring back at her.

She thought it was completely overused, but she still felt a flutter in her stomach as she handed him the number and drove off.


Taylor was more than enthusiastic to hear the news. She demanded to be able to baby sit the kids even though Jason was old enough to take care of the two of them and then to know everything. She gave Crystal the opportunity to stay out as long as she wanted to with the guy and if need be all night.

Crystal didn't' think she needed that option. It was the first date and even though Brooklyn was just about perfect in looks they hadn't seen each other in years. She wasn't that desperate to get laid.

Taylor insisted.


On their way back Jason noticed it was only twelve-thirty and he briefly wondered what other fun plans they had set up at the Kon Ranch. He was overjoyed and up for anything.

The trail had led to a small lake where they'd dismounted for about an hour and chilled while the horses grazed. Jason found out that all of them went to the same small High school as his mother and that they were all juniors. Mary was also Lone Ranger (Davis) girlfriend. It was something she seemed to take pride in.

He also learned that Daichi was a foreign kid from some place in Brazil that was too hard to even speak. Apparently he was a good athlete and could form more tricks on a horse than many gymnast could on a mat. That was something that he wouldn't mind seeing the younger male do.

Tina was a cheerleader, not head, but about fourth in line. He wasn't sure what that meant, but by all standards she should have been head cheerleader. She played in the band and sang in the choir at her church too. While they were sitting around the lake she'd sung a few verses lowly and he was sure that she had the best voice then he'd heard in a female singer in a while.

"You're crushing," he thought. Jason sighed, but he didn't mind that fact. So what if King Kong still thought she was his? The fact was she didn't feel that way and if he had to go through the other male to get to her than he would. She wasn't some piece of property to be owned.

The rest of the ride back seemed to revolve around Gary. Jason made the mistake of pointing out the house, or really small cottage and the girls couldn't help but put in their two senses.

"That guy is plan nuts," Mary said. She looked at Toby, "No offense to your dad, but I wouldn't trust him not to burn water let alone carry a gun and look after my horses."

"I mean we've never really seen him or anything," Tina looked to her left staring at Jason. "It's a little unnerving."

"Gary is just Gary," Toby spoke up stopping the conversation. "He's not some psycho serial killer from an R-rated Halloween movie."

"How do you know he's not?" Mary challenged.

"Because unlike you I've actually met the guy."

"I heard he's disfigured and stupid."

Toby pulled the reins on his horse bringing him to a halt. "There is nothing wrong with Gary. He's fine. A little slow, but he's completely normal."

"Whatever."

And the subject was dropped. When they got back to the others Jason was surprised to see the boys sweaty and covered in dust. Ray just smiled looking pretty clean. "Alright why don't you just leave the horses in the corral tonight? They could use the treat. Lock up your saddles though."

The teens nodded. When Ray walked off to see something with Daichi Tom came up to the returning group. Jason had just got off of his horse and was trying not to walk around bow legged. His entire lower region hurt from the riding, but he noticed that Toby wasn't affected so he tried to hid it.

"Looks like the horse didn't buck you off after all." Tom stared at the male. His horse was already taken care off and within the fence.

"It looks like yours did though," Jason muttered before turning around and bending to find the latch to the saddle. He found it, but it wound' t budge. He tried for what must've been a few minutes with Tom laughing at him.

Tina decided to take pity on him. Jason was going to tell her to back off, but he let the girl do what she wanted and knew how to do. He had no hope of getting it off himself. Before the teens left Tina came up to him and hugged him much to the annoyance of Tom.

Jason was surprised, the girl had seemed aloft in the woods, but he didn't mind as he wrapped his arms loosely around her waste for a split second. Her hair smelled like honey in his face. He was tempted not to let her go, but she went anyway hopping into her baby blue car and driving off.

Tom slammed his car door with more force than he needed too. Jason smirked slightly as they rode back on the four wheelers to the house.

"Alright look," Ray stared at the two boys. "I have to go to work. There some shoveling in stalls ten through sixteen that needs to be done. That's not your chore Jason, you don't have to do it, but Toby does. You can have full range of the entire ranch, but you must stay in holler distance from the house. And what I mean by that is if my wife came outside and hollered for both of you, you better be able to hear. Okay?"

Jason nodded and it wasn't long until both he and Toby were shoveling crap out of stalls again. Jason glared at Kai's black Arabian when they entered the barn. He was just happy that they didn't have to do that horses stall.

"You should be careful with Tina."

Jason looked up slightly as Toby spoke. They'd been silently doing their work for about half an hour before the male spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Jason asked shoveling another pile of shit and trying to hid his disgust.

"I think she still likes Tom," Toby stopped to look at him. "She likes to mess with people." Jason heard the second tone of the voice. It was one of speaking from personal experience. Was he jealous?

"Whatever," Jason's voice was curt as he shoveled another pile into the wheelbarrow. After he was done with that stall he disappeared leaving Toby to finish the rest. He was no one's slave. He spent the rest of the day in the surrounding forest within distance of the house listening to music, watching the sky, and smoking. What did an obvious social outcast like Toby know anyway?


Kai sighed into the phone. "Tala do you mind coming with me to a dinner thing with a client tomorrow." The blue haired male was still in his office as the sun began to sit on the horizon. He had a potential investor interested in the Biovault company. If he hadn't been such an important and influential man Kai wound' t have bothered whining and dinning him but would have left it to a lower class manager.

The President of a company was not the one to be doing this, but because the man was Mr. Dickenson, the President of the BBA company over electronics he figured he didn't have much of a choice.

He wanted Tala to come because the male was better with people.

Unfortunately Tala replied with his own sigh. "Sorry Kai, but apparently I have to learn how to be a father tomorrow."

"What?"

"Crystal got a date with Brooklyn tomorrow and we're going to watch the kids." His voice was light, but slightly irritated at the idea of being tied down. "Taylor says it'll be a good learning experience for the both of us so I can't have any plans."

Kai felt his blood run cold. Brooklyn Kingston still lived in town as one of the most influential members. He had even more leverage than Kai, the resident rich man. Brooklyn came from old money and his family had plenty of roots with in Texas. Governors for Uncles, Mayors for cousins, Aunts in the Daughters of the American Revolution and so on. There was even a Kingston in the Supreme Court.

Brooklyn himself was the Principal of the High School and a regular at Town Hall to discuss things with every other free time member of several small communities.

And he was going out with Crystal. He told Tala alright with little emotion and quickly ended the conversation putting down the phone. He knew that the woman was beyond what had happened between the two of them and he was relieved that she was.

That still didn't stop a lead weight from entering his gut at the thought of them to getting together. Since High School Kai couldn't stand the other male. There was something off about him, always staring outside the window and talking to nature like it was living and breathing.

The guy was a fruit loop. Missing a few screws in the head. That didn't stop the fact that he was still more perfect in everything he did than Kai was.

The only mistake that the bluenette knew the orange haired male had ever made was marrying that drunk, but she was gone now.

And both Crystal and Brooklyn had a small broken family. Maybe it was for the best. She could live a happy life as she wanted with a man that could take care of her. There wouldn't be mean nasty Kai in the background anymore. She could have a family she deserved.

Besides she didn't love him and he didn't love her.

So why did he feel sick as he grabbed his suit jacket and headed towards the parking lot.


So am I genius or what? That Brooklyn thing so just came to me as I was typing it out and so did the whole Tala take care of the kids deal with Taylor. Taylor knows Crystals secret, but Tala knows Kai.

Can Jason remain a mystery to the red head or will he figure it out??

I am evil. Promise not to let it be so long before I update. I want to update all my stories at least once before I start picking and choosing. Expect another update as soon as possible.

Please Review. I really want to know what you thought or any ideas that you have. I'm open to suggestions. Thankx again!!