Last chapter! :) I haven't got much else to say... xD I hope you enjoy it!
The Taming of the Wolf
The glare of the sun caused Tala's eyes to slowly slide shut, much to his annoyance, as he sat on his porch trying to read. It really wasn't one of those days where you could just sit and relax with a good book. The weather was glorious and just pestered him to go make the most of it, only he definitely wasn't in the mood.
Right now it felt like he never would be. It felt like a part of him was missing, that his heart had been ripped in two. Worst of all he couldn't stop thinking about Kai- even though he was aching with hurt and he knew he was better off without him, he couldn't help but question why it still hurt so much.
"Hey," Tala looked around to see Tyson coming towards him with a cup of something. Tyson slumped himself down beside Tala and handed him the cup. "It's er... hot chocolate. Sorry, I know it's kinda hot and all but me and Hilary are taking some with us sailing and it does actually get kinda cold out there-"
Tala stopped him there, raising his hand. "Really, it's fine," He smiled sadly, taking the cup and resting it on his lap. "Thanks."
Despite the awkward sensitive frame Tala was now, it didn't stop Tyson wanting to explain himself a little further, into much deeper and sensitive things. "Did I ever thank you for going to the prom? Well if I didn't.. I'm doing it now. So thanks, it meant so much."
The red head simply nodded and smiled. "No problem." He bowed his head, his dull eyes flickering lightly under the yellow sun. Tyson hated seeing his brother so down, after everything he had done for him. It just made him want to pour out the truth, to show Tala that Kai really wasn't a bad person. "At least you have Hilary now, for good, now that annoying ginger is out of the way."
Tyson bit his bottom lip, hard. "B-But.. you do have Kai. You still do, if you wanted."
Tala shook his head, like there was no other alternative. "No I don't. What he's done.. is unforgivable. End of."
"No, not end of!" Tala looked at him surprised. "Kai... Kai is not to blame. Don't blame him. I think the lesson we can all learn is that we've all been bitches at some point- so forgiveness is okay. You see... before me and Hil got together, we devised a plan to get you a boyfriend, and I led her to believe it was so we could date," Tala's face didn't shift. He looked blank. "But.. actually I thought I wanted Brooklyn, you know, to get in with the popular crew. Well, now I've realised I don't need them. Fortunately, Kai happened to be the chosen one, and Hilary set upon getting you and Kai together. Trust me, it was not in spite, but for our own selfish needs. We all acted like jerks. But Hilary forgave me, so the least you could do is forgive Kai."
"..." Tala was silent. Looking in his blue eyes, Tyson couldn't tell what his reaction would be yet- his pale face was still pale, his lips remained still and clasped together. Then slowly, he opened them, looking away from Tyson.
"You don't seem surprised?" Tyson asked suddenly.
"I'm not," Tala answered, not sounding angry or annoyed, but more relieved.
"I'm not sure you know the full extent Kai has gone for you. He always told Hilary and Mariah he was straight, we think it was because he was scared to come out," Tala didn't bother to put his brother right, too surprised by what he was hearing. "But, he's come out now, and he's realised it's all okay. He isn't getting the attention homosexual people usually get, because he's Kai, and most people know what'd happen if they hit on him. He'll set them on fire with his eyes."
Tala couldn't help but giggle. Tyson smirked, happy to finally see a genuine smile come from his brother's mouth.
"Hi," The two boys looked around and their eyes met Hilary, who was wearing a cute summery dress and her brown hair was tied up in a small pony-tail. "You ready?"
Tyson threw her a smile. "Hey. Yeah." He turned back to Tala. "So, I just thought you should know that... You wanna come sailing?"
Tala laughed at the prospect of going sailing with Tyson and Hilary. "No thanks. You two have fun."
Tyson sighed and stood up, giving Tala a slight wave along with Hilary, then the two wandered off together.
"Hey hey, where are those two off to?" Just when Tala thought he was rid of annoyances, Grandpa came from no where and stood beside him, and eyebrow raised as Tyson and Hilary skipped off down the street together.
Tala sighed. "Oh, Tyson's just off for an abortion."
Grandpa stared at him for a second, eyes wide. Then he quickly realised the obvious. "Ha. Ha. You're funny," He sang sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"You asked."
The old man sat down next to Tala. "How was the dance?"
"Gee, the questions are just flooding my way huh?" Tala rolled his eyes back, but gave in to Grandpa's stern look. "Only good part was when Tyson beat up Brooklyn."
"Tyson did what!?" The man jumped up suddenly and appeared frantic, but then he quickly sat back down and ran a hand casually through Tala's hair. "Cool."
Tala snorted. "Please don't say that."
"What, 'cool'? You don't think I'm cool? You should do, after this..." He began to mumble into his hand towards the end, catching Tala's attention for real, now.
"Why's that?" He asked curiously, putting down his book. Not that he'd even been reading it anyway, he'd read the first line about a hundred times, and he was sick of hearing about where the Dursleys lived.
Grandpa looked unusually shifty, making Tala suspect he'd been up to no good... but perhaps a good he may actually like. "I've done it. That's it. I've sent off the money to your new school. Come September when you leave this place, you'll be hiking off to that pish posh school."
Tala's blue eyes stared. He looked like he was about to faint, about to burst out into sudden hysterics, but instead, to the old man's surprise, he simply sprang forward and flung his arms around him. Never in his years of bringing Tala up had he ever received a hug from him. Well, besides his first visit to Disney Land, but that aside, Grandpa couldn't help but smile. He slowly wrapped his two arms around the boy, unfortunately for him, just as Tala pulled away, but his reaction most definitely wasn't a disappointment.
"Grandpa..." Tala looked truly blessed. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means. I really do need this, thank you."
The old man half-smiled and nodded, appearing unsure as to whether he regretted his actions. "I can tell. But.. uh. I don't know how to say this." The man got more comfortable, wrapped a fuller arm around Tala this time and pulled him towards him, whether he liked it or not. There was a slight hesitation but no struggle. "I can't believe how fast you've grown up. I just can't bear to think in two years, Tyson will be heading off to a new school too, with new hopes, new opportunities.."
"New infectious dirty teenagers..."
Grandpa's eyes rose open.
Tala smirked. "Joking."
"Well don't, 'cos I'm serious dude. You're no longer my young, innocent lad. You're free," The man sighed. "Now you can rumble around with as many guys as you want."
The red head gasped but then snorted in laughter upon seeing Grandpa finally crack a cheeky smile. "I'll bear that in mind."
Grandpa's smile faded slightly. "Seriously though, you know where I'm coming from? Parents, guardians, whatever, find it hard to take in that their offspring are growing up. And I can see that you have..."
Tala wriggled away from Grandpa's grip in slight embarrassment, but he reassured him he knew where he was coming from. "Yeah I understand. Thanks again Gramps. You are cool." He swallowed as he said that.
Grandpa stared at Tala, then smiled. He had the feeling Tala didn't quite understand yet, and probably wouldn't for a long time, not until at least he had kids of his own.
---
It was the first day back at school since the events of the prom. In the classroom, all people talked about was how awesome it was, especially seeing as Brooklyn had wandered into class with a bandage over his nose. Max did too, but attention was mainly focused on Brooklyn. It was like watching the most popular guy in the world fall through his own fingers.
Tala loved the fact that he'd be the laughing stock for weeks. But hated the fact Kai was in his class, and though how much he tried, he couldn't help thinking about him, and worst of all, looking at him. The slate-haired teen sat twiddling his thumbs at the back of the class, looking like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The red head scowled and turned back to face the front of the class. As far as he was concerned, he didn't deserve any sympathy.
"Right, class, I hope you've all finished that poem I assigned for you all. Oh..." Mr. Morgan stopped and glanced over at Brooklyn with a smirk. "Except Brooklyn over there..." He cracked up into laughter. "..Who has an excuse. Hahaha." The ginger-haired teen growled in annoyance and buried his head into his arms, obviously ashamed of the bandage wrapped around his nose. "I always knew one day some girl would beat the crap out of you. And here we are. Man, I should have put a bet on."
The whole class started to snigger, but not for long. "All right, quieten down! I want a volunteer to read their poem out loud." The class fell into silence. "Anyone?"
Everyone looked around, seeing no hands immediately shoot into the air. But then one did, one that surprised everyone- especially Kai.
"I will Mr. Morgan," Tala said, standing up with his English book.
Kai looked over, suddenly getting a dark feeling in the pit of his stomach. He could hardly stand the pain, hearing Tala's voice was like wanting something you couldn't have. But he didn't dare run out of the class, despite how much he wanted to, and watched attentively as Tala made his way up to the front of the class.
Mr. Morgan sighed. "Damn, I'm gonna need anti-depressants after this..." He went and sat down at his desk, leaving Tala to face everyone alone. He stood there for a moment, almost as though he was enduring stage fright, but Kai knew that wasn't it- he was looking directly at him, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Then he began to read.
"I hate the way you strut around, and the way you think you're always right. I hate the way you help me when I'm pissed, I hate it when you care. I hate your stupid sexy vests, and the way you have your hair. I hate you so much it makes me sick... that's what makes me tick."
He paused, and looked away from Kai's shocked face. He ignored it and continued.
"I hate the way you're so untamed, I hate the way you're so unblamed. I hate that we're so mismatched... but even worse that we're so well matched," Tala took a deep breath.
"I hate it when you lie, and the fact that it makes me cry," Inevitably, the class stared stunned when Tala actually began to produce tears. Real life, watery tears, flowing from his diamond eyes and draining down his bright red cheeks. Tala looked back up at Kai.
Kai felt nothing but shock and guilt clog in his throat, as Tala's tears continued to fall, his failed attempts to stop causing greater concern among the class. Tala never cried. He never showed emotion. He had changed, and Kai couldn't help but clasp the feeling it was all his fault. "But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you; Not then, not now, not even at all."
Tala's watery eyes finally fell from Kai's distraught gaze, and snapped shut his English book. The tension between them was clear and emotional, Kai could almost feel Tala's tears in his own eyes. The class, even Mr. Morgan, felt something was not right between them, and before anyone could say a word, Tala covered his face with his trembling hand and walked out of the class.
There was a long silence. Kai clasped his two hands together, trying to squeeze away the pain. But it wouldn't go. The pressure on his eyes was becoming harder to contain; he was welling up, and now that all eyes were on him, it didn't feel right if he just sat there emotionless.
A single tear slid down his cheek.
---
The school bell called to signal the end of the day. After Mr. Morgan's class, Tala had spent his time in the school gardens, where him and Kai sometimes hung out. He wasn't sure what lured him there, or perhaps he did, and it was the fact he'd heard from Bryan that Kai had went home early.
The whole thing made him feel sick. And as he wandered over to his car, keys in hands, he felt a greater sickness against the rim of his stomach.
Something inside his car caught his eye, and weirdly, the car window was open... but it didn't take a genius or a non-musical instrument fan to work out what it was. Tala's clueless eyes burst open in surprise, and it appeared that a reoccurring sparkle re-entered his pupils, as he pulled out a long, smart white guitar, one that he'd had his eye on for some time.
A million questions sped through his head- What? Who? Why?
As he stroked the shiny white paint with a half-grin on his face, all his questions (well, most) were suddenly answered all at once- with one simple word.
"Hey," Kai's voice.
The wolf looked up and stood over his shoulder, surprisingly, was Kai, dressed in his usual tight vest and had his hair the way Tala had always secretly disliked. But for some reason he didn't hate him. He didn't feel any sort of hate, just the need to hug him and thank him.
"This guitar.. is it for me?" Tala asked, almost gaping.
Kai looked down, a little bashful, then nodded. "Yeah, all for you."
Tala was almost speechless. "B-But.. h...how did you know?"
Kai smiled at him then patted his nose. Tala bit his bottom lip, and what looked to be a vain smile of force, turned into a natural and happy smile. "I thought you'd like it."
"I love it!" Tala exclaimed, placing it back through his car window. "I won't even ask how you got the window open."
Kai rubbed the back of his head awkwardly before talking slowly. "I thought you deserved it, too. Because, well... some bastard bribed me for his own needs into taking out this really great guy..." Tala listened attentively, his mouth open in awe a little. "But, I.. uhm..." He blushed, again. He really was having a field day of turning red. "...I screwed it all up, because I.. fell for him. Big time."
The red head was even blushing himself now. "You know... since I've met you, I've felt myself changing. I've never shed a tear in front of anyone before, that was the first time in front of a class full of morons. I feel... strange."
"Tamed?" Kai asked.
Tala raised an eyebrow. "Yeah... kind of. So... do you really....?"
Kai let out a nervous sigh and nodded. "It's not everyday you find someone who'll flash the teacher to get you out of detention... and a gay teacher, too."
Tala's jaw dropped open and the two of them started to giggle, Tala's radiant red cheeks coming through even stronger now. "Oh, God.. that's harsh."
The slate-haired teen grinned. He wasn't sure, but the moment seemed to stay still for a while like a photograph, and if he believed correctly, he only had one shot at this.. so he decided to take this as a sign of Tala's forgiveness. Without hesitating, he leapt forward with his hand and placed it against Tala's cheek.
Tala didn't struggle and even grew closer to him, running his hand across Kai's shoulder. As though it was like two long-lost lovers being reunited, Kai's lips crashed against Tala's, the passion between them rekindling like it had once been lost. The red head hugged into the kiss, allowing Kai to run his lips all over his, but before he had the chance to enter his mouth, Tala quickly pulled back, much to his confusion.
"Hey, you can't just buy me stuff every time you act like a jerk, though. I mean one guitar is cool, but you can't use it as a guilt trip."
Kai winced and ran a hand through Tala's thick, devilish hair. "Yeah, I know... but there won't be a next time. I'll be a good boy from now on," He grinned. "Oh, and there is always tickets to go see your favourite band..."
Tala laughed. "I'll take it!" Kai pulled him in again, this time kissing him harder and with so much passion it was almost like steam was emerging from between them. Tala opened his mouth, allowing Kai to slide in his tongue, and as the two remained uncaring for the people who passed and saw the scene, the more involved they became.
"Oh-" Tala once again broke it off, much to Kai's demise. "And I don't appreciate you- MM-" Kai pulled Tala back into the kiss, muffling his voice and disallowing him from complaining any more. Tala smirked against him and sighed as Kai's murderous grip pulled him closer and the entwined two set off into a little world of their own.
---
Unfortunately for them both, Tala was still off to his new school in September, making it inevitable that they'd both have to go their separate ways. Even so, after everything they'd been through together, the sadness, happiness, kissing, crude insults, sexual tension, jokes, laughs, and tears, it seemed a shame to give it all up now. That's why they'd still find a way to be together. Because it was worth it, even if it was only 5-minute quickies at the weekend.
And long, romantic trips paint balling.
The End
J'AI FINI !!!!! This story actually took me longer than I expected, lol! Well I had much fun writing this, and I really hope you liked reading it. I thank you all for your kind reviews. They were all read and very much appreciated! I shall send you all personally baked Kai cookies if you review for a final time xD Haha, well... kinda.
Much love!
R.I.P Heath Ledger.
