Tala's apartment was small, cold, dark and smelled of smoke. Sora liked it right away. As she sat down on the couch, Tala pulled out a box of cigarettes from his pocket. He threw a chaste glance at the girl.
"You want one?" he asked, earning a nod from Sora. The redhead sat down on the couch, giving the girl a cigarette. She instantly placed it between her lips, letting Tala light it, before lighting his own. Sora inhaled deeply, before forming her lips like an o, blowing three smoke rings, then exhaling the rest of the smoke in a slight fog before her face.
Tala smiled. "Damn. It took me more than a year to learn how to do that."
"What can I say? I'm talented," Sora replied with a slight-smile on her lips. She jumped slightly when the redhead put an arm around her shoulder.
"I sorry," he whispered. "I never wanted you to get hurt, but… I swear, I could've killed that bastard."
"It's okay, Tala." Sora's smile had vanished, and she was staring emptily into the still smoky air in front of her face. "It's not your fault. Those two are the only ones to be blamed. You can't be blamed for wanting me to know the truth."
Tala's lips twisted into a sad smile, his hand giving Sora's shoulder a tight squeeze. "I'll protect you," he whispered. "Whatever happens, I'll definitely protect you."
---
Max hadn't seen Sora for days. His dad had called the police, but they still hadn't found her. It's strange, he thought, that she disappeared after that night. Not to mention that Tala hasn't been to school since it happened. He felt a hand giving his own a slight squeeze, and looked up at the ginger he had been dating for the past five days.
"You're worried about her, aren't you?" Brooklyn asked. The blonde just nodded, staring down at the carpeted floor in his bedroom. Then the older one placed a hand under his chin, lifting the freckled face to meet his own, before their lips once again united in a blissful kiss.
"I'm worried too," he said when they pulled away. "But I'm sure she'll be fine. Sora is a strong person, and she's able to take care of herself."
"At least we have time to think about how we're going to break the news to her," Max mumbled, earning a sad smile from his boyfriend.
"It's too bad… I really care about her," Brooklyn whispered. "I wish we could have remained friends after this. It's just too bad that she's going to hate me."
"What? You don't know that!" Max protested. There it was again. That cheerless smile, that heartbreaking look in his lover's emerald eyes. How it broke him to see the ginger like that.
"It's obvious, my precious Max. I used her. Pretended that I loved her, just so that I could get to you. You know Sora better than anyone. You know she'll never forgive me for this."
"I… know," Max whispered. Just then the door opened, and Max's mom entered the room.
"I just finished baking some cookies," the woman said quietly. "Do you boys want some?" To be quite honest, Max wasn't in the mood to be eating chocolate chip cookies with his mom and his boyfriend while his dad was out looking for Sora. But he didn't want to hurt his mom's feelings, so he accepted, and, accompanied by Brooklyn, followed the blonde woman downstairs.
They sat in silence for a while, the three of them, gathered around the kitchen table. Max and Brooklyn were holding hands over the table, while taking small bites of their cookies every once in a while.
"You know," Judy started, "even though this thing with Sora disappearing is terrible… I'm really glad you two found each other. And I am truly grateful that you are here to help Max through this difficult period, Brooklyn."
"That's… the least I can do," the ginger mumbled, blushing.
Max's mom smiled. "I know. But that doesn't mean you have to. I'm grateful because you want to support my son, not because it's the least you can do."
Brooklyn nodded. "I guess you're right. I would do anything for Max," he said, looking lovingly at his boyfriend.
"Well, I better go help looking for Sora," Judy smiled as she got up from the chair. As she was about to walk out the door, she turned around, looking directly at Brooklyn. "Take care of my son for me, will you?"
Brooklyn smiled slightly, promising that he would. Judy nodded approvingly. Then the door closed behind her, and Max was left alone with Brooklyn, feeling sick at the thought of having to explain to Sora that he was dating the ginger.
---
Everything was going to hell. He was falling for the girl that he had planned on using, crushing, just to get his revenge. He was falling in love with the only one that he never wanted to be with.
Tala had always believed that he was gay. Now, however, he wasn't so sure anymore. Not when his heart started beating rapidly every time he saw Sora.
It hurt. It hurt that he could never manage to tell her. It hurt that she would never return his feelings. It hurt that the only thing on the girl's mind was Brooklyn. That ginger-haired whore of a deceiving fag.
What's with this Tate-family? Tala thought. First Max. Now Sora. That blonde left me heartbroken, and now his sister is going to do the same thing.
"Tala? Is something wrong?" a voice sounded from the bedroom. The teenage girl was soon standing in the doorway, looking worriedly at him with those blue eyes of hers.
"I'm fine," Tala assured her, avoiding to look into her eyes. "I was just thinking… maybe you should go home soon. I bet your family is worried."
"They're not my family," Sora hissed. "Besides, if I go back, I'm going to have to face Max. And… I can't do that, Tala. I just can't."
Tears started running down her cheeks, and Tala walked towards her, holding protectively around her fragile body. "It's going to be alright," he whispered into her ear. "Everything's going to be alright. Brooklyn doesn't deserve a girl like you. He never did."
And neither do I, his mind added.
Sora nodded. "You're right, Tala," she sobbed. "I shouldn't have taken that tone. I'm not… I'm not angry with you. I could never be. I just… I… You're the only one I have, Tala…"
The redhead kept whispering soothing words into the girl's ear, wiping her tears away. She was beautiful. Even with messy hair, no make-up and eyes that were red and swollen from crying, she was beautiful.
"It's okay," he mumbled. "You can stay as long as you want to…"
Sora sniffed loudly, her hands gripping the fabric in Tala's shirt. "I'm sorry for being such a bother," she muttered. "You must be tired of having me around."
As if I could ever get tired of you, a voice within Tala's mind whispered, and the sentence almost slipped past his lips. But he couldn't let Sora know how he felt about her. It would only make her feel more broken.
"It's fine," he said instead, letting go of the girl's body. He walked over to the couch, sitting down. "At least I have someone to talk to. Usually I just sit here alone and smoke. Gets kind of boring in the long run."
Sora laughed as she sat down next to him. "I believe you."
Tala avoided looking at Sora's face. "You want a drink?" he asked, getting up and walking over to a cupboard. He pulled out a bottle of whisky and two glasses, sending Sora a suggestive glance.
"Sure," the raven-haired girl replied, smiling slightly. Tala returned the smile as he filled the two glasses, giving one to Sora.
He poured the liquid down his throat in one swift movement before filling the glass again, consuming it in the same way.
"Why do you hate Max?" Sora asked suddenly, startling Tala. "And don't try to tell me that you don't. I've seen the poisonous glares you send him. What did he ever do to you?"
Tala sighed, turning to look at Sora. "It's kind of a long story," he started. "But don't worry, I'll tell you. It's not like we're in a lack of time here, anyway."
He glanced longingly at the bottle of whisky before looking back at Sora's face. "You see, Max and I used to date. It was a long time ago; I was fourteen and he was thirteen. For a while, I really thought he was the one. You know, the one that I was meant to be with, and that I was going to be with for the rest of my life." He laughed bitterly. "I suppose I was foolish. I should have known that it wouldn't last forever. Max was always the popular type, and I was the lone wolf. The only thing that allowed us to be together was that we went to different schools."
Sora was staring over Tala's shoulder. "But then he started high school, right?"
Tala nodded. "He started high school. Of course, he was instantly the most popular guy in his grade. And when his friends found out he was dating me, the lone wolf of the school, they advised him to get rid of me. I believe their exact words were, He's holding you back, man! If he really loves you, he will know that what's best for you is to let him go."
A slight smile played over Sora's lips. "Were you spying on him?" she asked.
"Yeah," Tala laughed. "I mean, he was already starting to act differently around me. He was constantly looking around, obviously afraid to be seen with me." He fought back a couple of tears that threatened to escape from his eyes. "Of course, he dumped me. All Max has ever wanted is to be popular. And he couldn't have both me and the popularity. So he chose popularity over me."
"I never thought Max would do such a thing," Sora mumbled, clutching her hands into fists. "That bastard."
"He's been quite the player," Tala said quietly. "Dated almost every guy at our school. But you know what, I could probably live with that. I could totally pull off not caring that he dumped me to be popular, and then trying to replace me with a popular guy." One single tear ran down his cheek, and Tala squeezed his eyes shut for a brief moment. "But you know what the worst part is? He did all that, and he still claims to love me."
"I'm sorry, Tal," Sora said in a whispering voice. She placed a hand on his, squeezing it gently.
It was strange how that touch could break his heart at the same time as it was comforting him endlessly.
Two hours later, Tala was completely drunk, while Sora was taking a shower. Not that alcohol was the only thing he had been taking. One the floor next to the couch, there was a needle that had previously contained heroin.
Tala was drunk and high, and he had never felt better.
He had no idea how long it had been when Sora entered the room, wearing one of Tala's T-shirts and her own black jeans. Her hair was still wet from the shower, so Tala figured not too much time could have passed.
"Stupid junkie," she muttered, laughing half-heartedly as she looked at the form that was sitting on the couch. "You could have told me you were going to mess up your brain. I would've joined you."
Tala shook his head. "Nah. I wouldn't want that pretty face of yours to get addicted to drugs."
Sora laughed at this. "Why?" she questioned. "Your pretty face did it, and it seems to be just fine."
"Believe me, my 'pretty face' is anything but fine," Tala snorted. "Unless fantasizing about fucking you is fine, that is."
The raven-haired girl frowned. "Seriously, Tal, now you're just being stupid."
"Not really." Tala rubbed the back of his neck flaccidly. "I'm just being honest for the first time."
Sora slumped down on the couch. "Really?" she muttered, a disbelieving tone lacing her beautiful voice. "I thought you were gay."
Tala chuckled, throwing his head back over the couch. "So did I," he said, grinning. "So how about it?"
"How about what?" Sora replied tonelessly.
"Are you going to let me fuck you or what?"
Sora stood up, shaking her head lightly. A short laugh slipped past her lips. "No," she said softly, kissing the top of Tala's head.
---
There was no use in denying it. He felt lonely without the occasional glances from Sora. Even though it never meant anything, something within Kai felt cold and lifeless without having seen those bright blue eyes for so long.
Am I really falling in love with her? he thought to himself, a frown forming on his forehead.
Maybe he was. Maybe, for the first time, Kai Hiwatari was starting to open up to someone, even if she didn't know it.
But there was no use anyway. She was Tala's toy now, and even if she did get out of it alive… she wouldn't be trusting anyone anytime soon.
Tala wanted his revenge over Max, Kai understood that. The blonde was a bastard and a whore, and he deserved everything that was coming his way. But why did Sora have to be pulled into it?
---
Sora walked into the bedroom, lying down on the bed. What had gotten into Tala? Was it just the heroin, or had he actually told the truth?
The second option didn't make any sense, though. Tala was gay. People didn't just switch sexuality like that. He could possibly be bi-sexual. But how did that explain the fact that he had never been in love with a girl before?
"Oh, come on, babe!" Tala's pleading voice sounded from the living room. "Don't you think I deserve this? Just think about everything that I've done for you!"
The Russian's slender frame appeared in the doorway, leaning against the wall. The heroin didn't exactly make him the most coordinated person in the world.
"I am thinking of it," Sora muttered. "And if I have sex with you, it's going to tear all of that down! Why don't you just go out and find some random guy at a gay bar?"
"I don't want some random guy," Tala said firmly, stumbling over to the bed. "I want you."
Sora was really getting annoyed by now, and when Tala leaned over her, pinning her down, that didn't make it any better. "Well, I don't want you!" she hissed. "We're supposed to be friends, Tala. Friends don't do this kind of thing."
"You know," Tala mumbled emptily, digging his fingernails into Sora's shoulders, "if you don't give me what I want… I could just take it."
"Now, that's definitely the heroin talking," Sora ascertained.
Tala laughed; a horrible, cold and malicious laughter. "I really don't care," he whispered into Sora's ear, licking her earlobe sensually. "I want you… just this one time." He moved his lips down to caress the girl's neck, and she had a silent fight with herself to keep from moaning.
"Stop it," she demanded, but she was ignored. Tala kept kissing and licking her neck, his hands sliding under her T-shirt.
"I don't want to! Tala, please," she begged. When Tala still didn't react to her voice, she started squirming around, desperate to get out of this grip.
Sora was scared. She was terrified of what was going to happen. Of course, she had thought about having sex before. But not with Tala. Not her best – no, her only – friend. This wasn't supposed to happen.
Tala looked up at her face, a terrifying look in his aqua eyes. He pulled something out of the top drawer in the bedside table, and it wasn't until it was right in front of her face that Sora realized it was a knife.
"Please don't make me use this," he whispered, holding the sharp blade to her throat demonstratively. "After all, what I want isn't so bad. You'll enjoy it too."
"I thought we were friends," Sora cried, but she didn't struggle. He could she, when Tala held a knife to her throat?
"We are," Tala replied. "And that's why you are going to do this for me. Consider it a favor." He smirked as he started undressing both of them, always keeping Sora effectively pinned down with the knife. Sora didn't fight. She wasn't sure if Tala would really kill her, but she was sure that whatever he was capable of doing would be utterly painful.
Who was this person? What had happened to the Tala that joked, laughed and took care of her? Where was her best friend?
But she knew that at this moment, the boy she knew was too far gone for her to be able to reach him. He was drowned in the influence by alcohol and drugs, and the Tala that now came to the surface would do anything to get what he wanted.
Sora knew what she had to do.
Now only in her underwear, Sora felt a chill running down her spine as Tala's hand ran over her body, feeling every line and curve.
A few quick moves, and she was completely naked.
She was desperate and terrified, but she didn't move as much as a finger.
It seemed to calm Tala down that the girl didn't struggle. His hand loosened slightly around the knife.
That, Sora thought, is the biggest mistake he ever made.
Before Tala even had the chance to react, Sora had managed to bend the knife out of his grip.
She missed the first time; the knife barely stroke the redhead's arm. The second time, it stabbed him in the shoulder. And the third time. And the fourth time.
There was no mistaking the shocked expression on Tala's face.
"I'm so sorry, Tala," Sora cried as she once again buried the weapon in Tala's shoulder. Crimson blood dripped down on her, and from the shivering body over her, Sora realized that Tala wouldn't be able to keep himself up for much longer.
She pulled the knife out of his body, quickly crawling off the bed. She hastily pulled on her clothes, watching as Tala's body collapsed on the bed, crimson blood staining the sheets.
She picked up Tala's cell phone from the bedside table, calling the 911, quickly telling the person that a boy had been stabbed, then following up with the address. She hung up before the person on the other end had the chance to ask any questions.
She gave Tala's body a swift glance. There was no telling if he was dead or alive.
Then she ran.
Oh my god, am I actually updating this? Sure it's not a dream? Lol, well I've actually been working on this chapter for a while. It's been killing me, really. I had no idea how to make Tala such a bastard, since he suddenly ended up caring about Sora o.O Anyway, I hope that it turned out okay. It was the best I could do, at least.
To all the Tala fans out there (including me); don't worry! Tala's not dead. As if I'd have the heart to kill one of my favourite characters. And he's going to be off the drugs for the rest of the story, just to make him a little bit nicer. And he will have his happy ending too, just like Sora and Maxie.
And, of course, please review!