~OK before you start reading, I would like to say thank you to the people who take the time out to read/review my story. T_T I love you man xD
And I hope that you're enjoying it so far because if it isn't all the blood sweat an tears I'm shedding into this is all for nothing.
Again thank you and I promise things will get juicier from here on out!~
Today's matches will decide what two teams will face off tomorrow.
"So how is it working again?" L asked.
"Well since there is an uneven amount of teams there will have to be an elimination game. So each team has to play each of the other 2 teams, the one that loses both games is eliminated and the two remaining play tomorrow." Watari said.
"So what if two teams win at least once?"
"Well they will have to just keep playing until one of them wins."
"Very competitive."
"...You're going to match up with the Winters twins in the end. I just know it."
"You seem pretty confident, how do you know that?"
"Well the other two, Jason Clark and Hadiya Osei, are good but in comparison to you two or the Winters, they are not as good. This is an endurance tournament however, so I could be shocked. I mean getting here does mean something. Now if this was a tournament based on wins, they wouldn't have been paired up with any of you guys."
"Don't underestimate them getting as far as they did is proof enough that they will be a formidable team, having said that I know I won't win. It's up to the Winters to decide whether they go ahead or not." L casually said.
Watari smiled at L's overconfidence. He knew he had nothing to worry about when it came to him and Klaire. The two of them had this fire that burned in them that made them that much better, he was proud to call L his own, glad that he had an amazing partner like Klaire. Out of nowhere last night's events came back in his head. L. He still hadn't said anything about the situation but he knew it was still bothering him. And that it was most likely to do with Klaire. He remembered the look in his eyes at dinner. During dessert. And of course when it was time for her to leave. Afterwards L came over and put his head in his lap...that was his powerless signal. He only did that when something happened that he felt he had no control over, no matter how much he tired to gain control. He most certainly hasn't done that in a long time. Watari didn't miss it either. L could definitely bring your mood down when he's like that. He makes you feel what hes feeling with eyes so saddened...
Hopefully he would, sometime soon, be ready to tell him. He needed to lift the stress. The worry.
At around 7:40 am a car arrived for L and Watari to take them to The Cipriani's house.
Klaire thought it would be nice for them to have breakfast at her place and then they could all leave to go to today's match together. L was a little shaky, Watari had noticed, but he knew that once he got around Klaire he would settle down, even if its just a little.
"How was the ride?" she asked once they arrived.
"Fine, thank you." Watari said.
"Thanks for having us by the way." L said.
"Its no problem at all."
A man at the door took their coats and they followed Klaire into the kitchen. Inside her mother was helping a man with the food. "Smells good in here." L said. It smelled good when they walked in the door actually but he wanted to know what the heaven he was smelling really was first. The first thing he saw was a plate of cinnamon rolls and next to it a stack of waffles. Blueberry and regular. He knew he would have his fair share of those. He also saw eggs and sausage but he didn't want and wouldn't eat any of those.
"This is quite a spread. You didn't have to prepare all of this just for us."
"Well originally we were just going to have the waffles, eggs, sausage, and toast but Klaire told us that Lucas has a huge sweet tooth-"
"Amazing how she got that information so quick-"
"Shut it Dad."
"Anyway as I was saying, she said that Lucas has a sweet tooth so I made some cinnamon rolls and banana crumb muffins. How does that sound Lucas."
She smiled when she looked at him. He was practically drooling, she handed him a napkin to wipe his mouth.
"I guess that means you're ready to eat?" Adriano laughed.
"Yes, I am. Where are the crumb muffins?"
"They're still in the oven. They'll be ready in about 10 minutes. They are cooling now. I know you're ready now but please be a little more patient." she laughed again.
L saw Klaire smile at him and her mother. He smiled back at her.
"So...Lucas. Are you ready for the game today? I hope you're good and focused. Eyes on the ball instead of Klaire OK?"
"Dad..."
"OK I can do that."
"Don't encourage him." Klaire said. Her pout was cute, to L.
"Klaire tells me that you've already graduated college. That's amazing."
"Thank you."
"Are you serious? How old are you again?" Bethany asked. She wasn't in the house when Klaire got back so she didn't hear the information.
"20, but I graduated before my 20th birthday."
"My God thats beyond amazing. Are going to grad school?"
"Architectural School at Cambridge."
"That's where you graduated from right?"
"Yes."
"Well good luck. I had this friend back in college who was going the architect route. That was a smart guy, but any way I wish you all the best. Its nice to see a kid out there making the most of himself." Adriano said.
"What inspired you?" Bethany asked, clearly intrigued by the young man.
"My father mostly, but as I told Klaire the passion is much more profound now."
"Smart and dedicated. I see now why Klaire is so taken by you."
"WHAT?" Klaire and Adriano said at the same time.
Watari and Bethany laughed. L blushed, dramatically.
"I wish my mom would shut up sometimes." Klaire said after breakfast. She was obviously embarrassed about the statement her mother mad earlier. She tried to hide her face from Lucas, but he saw right through her.
"You don't have to hide it you know. I already knew you liked me. Well only a little. I didn't know it was that intense."
"...I feel like a school girl again."
"You are, Klaire."
"Do me a favor."
"Yes, Klaire? What is it?"
"Stop teasing me."
"I didn't think you'd notice, Klaire" L laughed.
"Its obvious and stop saying my name."
"Why can't I say your name Klaire?"
She just gave him a knowing look, but then it turned sad.
"I shouldn't feel this way about you. I don't know you."
"I don't know you either."
"But you...like me?"
"Isn't it obvious, I thought that dance in my room signed that note. I'm attracted to you, you can't imagine anyone not being able to, after getting to know you. You're an amazing person and I feel relaxed when I'm with you. Or maybe we are reading this wrong. Maybe its just the openness we have between each other that makes us think we like each other."
"Yea, maybe that's it. Good point. Oh well no reason to get all worked up about it." Klaire faked laughed. Maybe Lucas was right she thought. He had to be right she corrected. She had to believe in what he said to make herself feel better. She wasn't understanding why she felt this way about him, so she held onto his theory. And prayed she wouldn't fall for him so quickly. In honest truth she was scared. She had never fallen in love before.
L didn't know how long it took him last night to come up with that excuse. He knew well enough what he felt for Klaire was anything but simple like. He knew he went, even just a little, deeper than that. If he just liked her he wouldn't think about her every moment of the day. If he just liked her he wouldn't loose all of his nerve when she was around. These emotion where getting the best of him and it scared him to be so open to her. He didn't know how she really felt about him but he knew something was there. As he said the bedroom scene was proof enough that there was something between them. At one point this made him a little happy but it didn't last long. What if she began to feel the way he does and wanted more? He couldn't be there for her. After this tournament he would never see her again. Face to Face. He could never be more than an acquaintance to anyone because of his title and position. It was the first time he hated it, but if it wasn't for said title he would have never known Klaire. If he could go back he wondered what he would have traded. He could do without the heartache but thinking about not knowing her was scary to say the least.
Watari's prediction was right on. Clark and Osei were out of the running. Final scores were Klaire and L won both of their games, The Winters won 1, leaving the other two the losers. Tomorrow the final match would begin, L was actually excited. It took him 4 days but he finally got it.
"Great job out there today you two. Now you know the other team will be working overtime to try their best to cream you tomorrow." Bethany said, her competitive juices flowing.
"Yea we know. I was just about to ask if we could practiced back at our house."
"Yes. I don't have a problem with that."
"Mr. Gunter, you're coming too?"
"I don't see why not." he smiled.
"OK, good. Oh and the guys are coming over. Is that OK mom?"
"Yes as long as they don't get in the way of your training. Tomorrow's match is-"
"Yes, my dear mother I understand."
"I'm done then."
"Thank you." Klaire said as he mother playfully pushed her.
Back at Klaire's house, while she and L were practicing, Watari got better acquainted with her parents. Whether L knew it or not he would try as hard as he could to get him in with Klaire. Its what they both wanted but again he needs to push things a little more. Surprisingly he found he had a lot to talk about with Adriano, he seemed to be a man who knew about a lot of things. And knew them well.
Just before dinner L and Klaire came back in from practicing, Klaire asked what was for dinner.
"You sure love to eat." Watari said. She smiled sweetly. He imagined that very smile got her anything she wanted form her father. He chuckled to himself.
"You would've never guessed though, given her size." Her father said.
"All that food is going right to her breasts." Her mother began."Mine weren't like that when I was her age. She gets that from her grandmother."
Klaire sat looking at her mother, mouth hanging open. Watari took noticed to Adriano's eyes watching L to seeing if he would look at them or make a comment. He didn't and he didn't expect him to, not in front of everyone so boldly. L is a sneaky pervert.
"Are you feeling OK, Beth?" Adriano asked, hiding his anger. He didn't like people paying attention to Klaire's physical assets. Although she is almost 20 years old, Adriano had never seen her older than 12 years old. His mind wouldn't let him, only a father's ,of course is capable of this.
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
"I'm going to take a shower, Lucas your bag is in my room." Klaire said as her parents went back and forth. Watari sat back and laughed at the interaction but he did see Klaire and L sneak off.
Upstairs L went into his bag and made sure everything he needed was in there.
"Klaire where is your guest bathroom?" he asked, though he knew exactly where it was.
"Oh through this door and right ahead of you."
L stared blankly at her. He didn't know what she was trying to pull but...
"That's your bathroom, Klaire."
"I know that."
"Where will you take a bath?"
"Same place." she said nonchalantly.
L swallowed hard. She was teasing him he just knew it. He asked again and she gave him the same response.
"Is there something wrong with that?"
"Yes, we can't shower together."
"Ooo, listen to Mr. Nasty I didn't say we would shower together. I said we would be in the same bathroom. Its nice to know what you wanted."
Just then Allison and the others came into her room. They had went back to their places
to get their overnight bags to stay the night. Allison didn't need to, she always kept clothes at Klaire's house but she went along for the ride.
"What's going on in here?" Stacy asked.
"Nothing about to get into the shower."
"Oh yea, I'm coming." Bryan said.
L was upset again.
"Nope, Lucas is coming with me."
"We leave you two alone for what, 1 hour, and look what happens." Allison said smiling for ear to ear.
L's mood had changed once again. "um..."
"You really don't want to come with me?"
"..."
She laughed and pulled him with her into the bathroom. "How do you want it?"
"Huh? What?" L said snapping his eyes up from her behind.
"Hot, cold, or warm?"
"Hot, please."
She smiled flirtatiously at him and adjusted the knobs. She then walked over to her linen area and gave him a towel and a loofah. "Body wash is inside." She smiled and walked to the far side of the room to get her bath water started. "It would be good to get undressed while my back is turned Mr. Nasty." she said sitting on the side of her tub.
He looked at her for a minute then started undressing, never taking his eyes off of her.
Once he finished he started getting in the shower. He looked back at Klaire just as he was half way in.
She was looking at him, with a shocked look on her face. He wondered if his butt was the only thing she saw.
The dinner table was loaded with food and healthy conversation. L was enjoying all the company, it most definitely has been a while since he was around this many people.
When dessert came, L almost did just that on himself. Bethany Cipriani was soon becoming his best friend, and he told her this as he hugged her.
Watari was shocked at the gesture, but smiled widely. He was the last person L hugged and that was 7 years ago. L looked at the table and trays coming over to him and couldn't contain himself. She had prepared strawberry cheesecake, white chocolate and key lime cookies, and little vanilla cupcakes. He didn't know which ones to eat first.
"Wow look at him. He looks like a kid on Christmas morning." Bryan said.
"I would be too. Look at all this. Mrs. B you really out did yourself." Stacy said.
"If its one thing you're sure to get at the Cipriani household, its a good meal." Allison said.
L finally decided on the cookies and took three of them to put on his plate. Immediately after that he plopped one in his mouth. Next he put a few of the cupcakes on his plate, and put one of those in his mouth as well.
"You gonna save some for us, Luke?"
"Yes, please help yourselves."
"We'd love to. You gotta leave some for that to happen though."
L stopped himself after he put more cookies on his plate and 2 slices of cake.
"I need to make more I guess."
"Oh, yes you will. He'll need it through out the night." Watari laughed.
"Looks like I'm babysitting a 20 year old tonight."
L smiled. "What can I say? I'm still a kid."
Klaire smiled. Him spending the night tonight will surely be a blast.
A/N: Poor L and Klaire, battling with their emotions. Don't you just want to jump in here in and shove them together so they (finally) kiss?
xD
