This was their debut match, as partners anyway. L surprisingly had abandoned the fuzzy feelings he had for Klaire, at least until after the match, so he can focus better.

The other team finally came onto the court, and both teams were again introduced.

After that L and Klaire both walked over to them for the "toss" to see which side of they court they would be on. They took left and their opponents took right.

"Good luck, Klaire said to them, I'll take top." she replied as she walked away.

"OK." L said. She was so serious all of a sudden. That's better.

She nodded and got a little closer to the net, for any possible drop shots. During practice L took notice to how she responded to them so, he didn't object.

The match was going up to 3, too short for L's taste but...

He prepared himself in a readied stance and waited for Isabelle to serve. He had a feeling she would send it Klaire's way.

He was right. She must have thought Klaire wouldn't be ready for it but she was on it a half of a second after it hit the ground, knocking it back to Isabelle.

This is going to be interesting. L thought.

"How does your 1st win feel?" Bryan said while Bethany hugged L and Klaire.

"Feels good, but I know what doesn't feel good." she said wiggling out of her mother's embrace then pulling L away too. He panted and heaved trying to get his breath back, Bethany Cipriani is a very strong woman. He never would have guessed.

"Sorry guys, I'm just so happy. You won!"

"Is it that much of a surprise?" Klaire asked.

"Well no, it's just...never mind. Couldn't you just let me be happy?"

They all snickered at her.

"So Luke how do you feel?"

"Good. It was a very interesting match as I predicted."

It really was. Their opponents, although they aren't champions, certainly gave L a run for his money. That was the 1st and last time he underestimated his enemy, or in this case opponent. They tied with them in the 2nd set when Klaire missed a shot from Daisuke.

"I'm sorry I missed that, she moped, I promise to make up for it in the next set. I won't let you down."

It wasn't a huge deal to L because he knew she would make a nice comeback, and she did, ending the match with a powerful hit that even he wasn't expecting.

"As you predicted?" Stacy asked.

"Um-yea. I sometimes predict the outcome of my games based on my opponents 1st and 2nd serves." That was a half lie. He ALWAYS predicts the game that way but he was a little too shy to say so.

"That's an interesting gift you have there Lucas." Bryan said.

"..."

"Yea, Its cool. If I could tell whether I would win or lose a game just by my opponents moves that would help me a lot in terms of if I needed to step my game up or not." Allison said. L smiled at her.

"Yea, so are you guys ready to go?"

"Nope. Me and Lucas are going to stay here to watch the next game. We can meet you at your place if you're ready to leave."

"Yea I am. If your not playing I really don't care for tennis."

"Um...OK. Well we can meet you guys there. Don't worry I remember how to get there." Klaire said.

"OK. See you there."

When they left, The Cipriani's and Watari had walked back over to them.

"Are you going to stay and watch the next match?" Watari asked.

" Yea, is that OK?"

"Yes it's fine."

"Oh and by the way W-Dad, after this match can I go over to Bryan's house with Klaire."

"Sure-"

"Well Klaire didn't ask us 1st." Adriano butted in, eyeballing Klaire again.

"What did we say about partying during tennis time?" Bethany added.

"We're not partying we're just going to chill out. I promise to be home early. Come on guys please?" Klaire said to her parents, although most of the googly eyes were directed to her father. He turned away, he didn't want to get soaked up in Klaire's 'spoiled brat' mess. It was hard to simply ignore however. L looked on with a smile on his face. It was clear they couldn't say no to their only child. Their family moment was very loving. It brought back memories that he didn't want to remember, however.

"Are you OK?" Watari said from behind him as he placed a hand on his shoulder. L jumped out of his walking dream.

"Yes. I'm fine."

Watari knew where L had drifted off to but he most definitely didn't want to go into that, not right now. Not ever. A pass experience had him staring at a frantic and scared L, screaming for him to stop something he couldn't possibly have done.

"Is it alright with you Mr Gunter?"

"Y-Yes. I don't mind at all. As long as they come back within a reasonable time of course."

"Well I guess, Its alright then. And I mean it Klaire, If you try me pass 6 I will come looking for you..both of you."

"OK OK relax lady."

Relax indeed. L was slightly scared of her. She went from a quiet woman to a hyper woman to a crazy eyed woman in such a short time.

"Hey would it be alright if I change my clothes at my place before we go. I don't like wearing this short skirt when I'm not playing." Klaire said after they watched the 2nd match.

I like it. "Sure, it's no problem. I could imagine how that could be uncomfortable for you."

"Could you? Have you ever worn one of these?" she said then smiled back at him.

"You're embarrassing me again, Klaire."

"...The way you say that."

"What?"

"My name...The way you say it is like you've been saying it for a while. It rolls off your tongue."

L inwardly felt nervous, for what he didn't know. It's not as if she could even possibly know even though it was the truth.

"Maybe it's just the way you talk. Everything seems to roll off your tongue. It was really shallow of me to think it was only my name."

"Maybe it's just the way you heard it at that specific time." he smiled.

"Yea. Well let's go."

"Wanna come upstairs and wait or will you stay downstairs?"

L didn't know what to do with himself. It's not like he hasn't seen her room, let alone the whole house before this just seemed a little weird for him.

"L?"

"Huh? What?"

"I said Well what is it gonna be?"

He sighed. "I'll come up." Why not he asked himself. This was probably the only time he would be able to. He climbed the huge staircase leading to her room and watched as she pushed her French doors open.

"Kick those shoes off first...OK now, welcome to my room. I hope Its not too girly in here for you."

"No, no it's just fine. Now if were too masculine I'd wonder about you."

She laughed, hard. "Never knew you had jokes. I'll be right back. Make yourself comfortable, I promise it won't take long."

Take as long as you'd like. "Sure. I'll be waiting." L said aloud.

She smiled and bounced away to her...dressing area. He could vividly remember the area where her clothes were...but something else in that area caught his attention.

He paused his perverted thoughts and actually took a more thorough look around her room. Her walls were a nice shade of lavender matching nicely with her silver canopy bed frame. The carpet was a sparkling gray color, it was soft and thick between his toes. It felt good. There were also stuffed animals all over the place, especially her bed. Bears, Bunnies, cats, almost every animal that could ever be made into a stuffed toy was there. L looked at the center of the bunch and noticed the bear he gave her. She had put the note he left her in the Bear's hands to make it look like he was holding it. He picked him up and stared at it for a while, not noticing Klaire coming back into the room.

"You like him?"

"Uh-yes. I mean no. I mean-"

"It's OK. You don't have to admit it out loud. But don't get too chummy with him."

"Is he your favorite?"

"Yes, he is."

"Did a family member give him to you?"

"No. No he was from...a friend."

L smiled at her turned back. He didn't expect her to say who she really got it from but it was something he had to try.

"I usually carry him everywhere, all day. But I didn't want him to get dirty at the tournament, nor did I want anyone else to hold him for me."

"Wow, this must be a special friend you have there. You seem really protective of it."

She smiled at him.

"He must be a secret admirer."

"No I don't think that's remotely the case. I'm not anywhere near this guys level...So are you ready to go?"

L let the topic go, He got all the info he needed.

When they pulled up to Bryan's place, they saw him and Stacy outside on the steps.

"Hey where's Alli?" Klaire asked as she got out of the car.

"Inside getting something to drink and a snack...want anything?" Bryan said to L and Klaire. They said no and they all moved into the house.

"Were you guys out here the whole time waiting on us?"

"No, we came out here a little while before you got here...I don't really know why." Stacy said.

They ran into Allison coming out of the kitchen with a plate of cupcakes.

"You know, you're going to be fat before we know it."

"Will you still be my friend?"

"...Well..." Bryan said as he and Stacy tumbled into laughter.

"Aw that's horrible! I'd still love you guys if you were fat."

"Oh Alli, they were just kidding. We will love you regardless." Klaire said.

"Thanks Klaire. It's nice to know who's my real friend, and who's not."

"Don't be that way. You know we were kidding. It's hard not to love you." Stacy added as she came over to hug Allison.

L smiled at the situation but took more notice to the cupcakes Allison seemed to have forgotten about. He retrained himself from stealing a few.

"So what do you guys want to do?"

"I don't know about you guys but I'm in the mood for a swim...anyone joining me?"

"Sure, Luke, Klaire? What about you guys?"

"Well, since Lucas didn't bring his trunks, I think I'll stay with him."

Stacy and Allison shrugged and started towards the indoor pool area.

"You know I can let him borrow a pair of mine if that's OK." Bryan said.

"No thank you. I'm not really in a swimming mood after that game earlier." L said then ran up to Allison to steal a few of her cupcakes.

"Hey!"

"I'm sorry. I tried to restrain myself." he said with a mouth full of food.

Everyone laughed at him and Allison handed him the plate. "It's not good to eat before you get in the pool anyway."

L smiled and sat down on a lounge chair to continue eating.

"You and your sweets, I bet Mr. Gunter has a hard time with you."

"Not really. I think he's happy to give it to me. When I don't get my sweets I get a little, crazy." He smiled.

"How so?"

"I break stuff and throw tantrums."

"Seems kind of childish."

"Yep, that's me. I've always been this way. I guess I will never grow out of it."

"Well then I don't want you to. If its a part of who you are then I don't want you to change."

"..."

They turned their heads in the direction of the others as they played around in the pool.

"Sure you don't want those trunks?"

"Very sure. I'd much rather stay dry and sit here with you."

That was much too forward he thought.

"Yea, I'm not that much in the mood to splash around in the pool...I'm kind of getting hungry. Want to come with me to the kitchen?"

"Yea. Did I have a choice?"

"No, not really."