A/N: OK, so I lied ^_^; I said in the last chapter's A/N that that one would be the last drama-induced chapter... well it kinda was, but I also said that something interesting was going to happen in this chapter. Well, it kinda did lol.. but not what I thought *sweatdrop* lol. Anyways, my point is, I realize that (again!) this chapter is really short and sort of void of any real action. Again, I apologise. However, chapter 15 is well under-way and I'm hoping that it will be out later today. That one I know for sure has more action in because I am currently writing it :P Spoiler: There's a beybattle! ^_^ lol. And for those of you who are worried about the whole Maxie/Mandy thing, no worries! Things will turn up, I promise! And remember, things aren't always what they seem :P So! (now that the longest A/N in history is finished) on with the story!

Disclaimer: Still do not own BB or the characters. *snaps fingers*. Darn.

It was inevitable. Whenever I had excessive emotion, positive or negative, I always found my way back to my baby.

My eyes were closed in a peaceful nirvana as she trembled beneath my finger tips. With a little encouragement her voice rang out through the room with a peaceful brilliance.

"Hey, awful lonely in here by yourself."

I opened my eyes and smiled at the girl now sitting next to me.

"Nah. It's never lonely when I've got Van with me."

Hilary laughed lightly and glanced down at my guitar.

"The boys are back. Why don't you come out for a while?"

I gave her a small, lop-sided smile.

"No, thanks. I think I'd rather stay here."

Hilary sighed and gave me a small smile.

"Amanda... the tournament starts again tomorrow. You've gotta face us sometime."

I bit my cheek. There was more to that statement then the brunette realized. Finally, after a long time, I sighed too and forced a smile of my own.

"Yea, you're right. Guess I could grace you with my presence for a little while."

"That's the spirit!"

I stood up and grabbed my amp and guitar and headed for the door.

"Need anything else?"

I took a quick glance around the room before turning back to the door.

"Yea, my sanity!" I thought with mild amusement. Aloud I said;

"No, I'm good."

You know, it's funny. Something that usually comes so easy to you when you're alone, is often so much harder when you have an audience.

I could tell the people in the room were getting a little bored with my random picking and strumming, and to be honest, I couldn't blame them. Eventually, just about right on cue, Tyson spoke up, unable to contain himself any longer.

"Sing something for us Mandy!"

I looked up at the blunette, my fingers still absently picking at the strings below them, and gave the champ a smile.

"Not tonight, Ty. I'm not really in the mood."

"Awe! Come on! We've got all these guests here to entertain!"

I glanced around at the multiple people sitting around the living room and took a deep breath.

"That's exactly why I'm not in the mood." I thought bluntly.

But the blunette was persistent.

"Come ooooon! You know you wanna. Pretty pleaseeee! With sugar and icing and candy and honey on tooop!!"

I raised my eyebrow at this and grinned.

"I gotta admit, Ty." I said with amusement. "That sounds pretty good."

The blunette grinned and I took a deep breath before ceasing my aimless picking and following into the beginning of a song I really liked, repeating it a few times in order to clarify something.

"I didn't write this song." I said truthfully. "It was written by... someone from where I used to live. I'm sure you don't know her so her name wouldn't mean anything to you."

I got an idea then and decided to spice things up a bit. They didn't know the song, or the artist, because they were both from my world. So why not change it a little? They'd never know the difference.

"I need a single syllable name."

I looked around for a moment, considering and discarding names and faces until my eyes fell on Max.

"Perfect." I thought with resolve. And that decided, I lead myself into the first verse.

"Max looks at me. I fake a smile so he won't see. That I want, and I'm needing, everything that we should be. I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl he talks about. She's got everything that I've had to live without."

The spark that had originally appeared in Max's eyes when I'd started singing faded, and the beginnings of a small frown creased his face. Still I continued.

"Max talks to me. I laugh cause it's so damn funny. That I can't even see, anyone when he's with me. He says he's so in love, he's finally got it right. I wonder if he knows he's all I think about at night."

At that moment Max's usually brilliant eyes misted over and the shine of the glossy orbs was enough to make my heart wrench. I looked away from him and that was the last I saw of his face until well after the song was over.

"He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar. The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star. He's the song in my car I keep singing, dunno why I do."

I looked around as I sang and I could tell that I had captivated every soul in the room with the song. Even Kai seemed to be mildly interested. From what I could tell, it didn't really click in anyone's mind that there might actually be a reason Max's name was in the song. But glancing at Mariah and Hilary, I could tell from the looks in their eyes and on their faces that they were suspicious.

I looked away from everyone and starred down at the amplifier on the floor as I finished up the song, choosing to watch it rather then the dazed faces of those around me.

"So I drive home alone. As I turn out the lights, I put his picture down and maybe get some sleep tonight. Cause he's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar. The only one who's got enough of me to break my heart. He's the song in the car I keep singing dunno why I do. He's the time taken up, but there's never enough and he's all that I need to fall into....."

I Took a deep breath and looked up at the others, smiling at them before singing the last lines of the song.

"Max looks at me. I fake a smile so won't... see."

There was a silence in the room as my strumming came to a stop and with every face looking at me, all with different expressions and different emotions flashing in their eyes, I felt the awkwardness setting in. Finally I reached up and absently rubbed the back of my head.

"Uh... it's just a song." I said awkwardly. "It's nothing personal, just... happens to be how it was written..."

OK, so that was a major lie. But what was I supposed to say? It just happened to fit the situation perfectly and so I decided to replace the real name with Max's. Yea! That would have went over well!

Still, even with my reassurance, the tension in the room didn't ease so I sighed heavily and forced a big smile.

"Anyway! I need two-syllable name now! Any suggestions?"

At this, there were many suggestions but as everyone was speaking at the same time, meaning I couldn't understand any of them, I decided to look around for myself. This time my eyes fell on Tala and a huge grin took a hold of my face.

"No." Tala said bluntly.

Ignoring him however, I started playing again. Hearing that this song was much more upbeat and fun-sounding, everyone seemed to relax and some even smiled as they swayed or tapped their feet to the music.

"Tala's eyes are like a jungle he smiles it's like the radio. He whispers songs into my window in words that nobody knows."

This line got a few chuckles all around and looking at Tala I saw his eyebrow raised but there was a very faint hint of amusement on his face as well.

"There's pretty girls on every corner, they watch him as he's walking home saying, does he know? Will you ever know?"

I grinned wide as I fell into the chorus and some of the girls even cheered a little while the more playful of the boys whooped and cat-called, no-doubt for the purely devilish attempt to embarrass Tala.

"You're beautiful, every little piece love. Don't you know, you're really gonna be someone? Ask anyone. And when you find everything you look for, I hope your life, leads you back to my door. Oh, but if it don't, stay beautiful."

The cat calls went on for a while so I strummed the chorus over again a few times until they calmed down a bit. Eventually I laughed and continued on with the next verse.

"Tala finds another way to be the highlight of my day. I'm taking pictures in my mind so I can save 'em for a rainy day. It's hard to make a conversation when he's taking my breath away. I should say; hey, by the way."

I looked at Tala now and I could see a whisper of a smile on his face as he raised an eyebrow and lightly shook his head. This made me grin wider then ever.

"You're beautiful, every little piece love. Don't you know, you're really gonna be someone. Ask anyone. And when you find everything you look for. I hope your life, leads you back to my door. Oh, but if it don't stay beautiful."

I got up from my place on the couch then and walked over to where Tala was sitting alone on an arm chair. Sitting on the arm I leaned close to the redhead and sang directly to him, ignoring the laughing and woots around me lest I too laugh and screw up.

"If you and I are a story, that never gets told. If what you are is a daydream I'll never get to hold, at least you'll know."

I could tell Tala was fighting a full-fledged smile and the urge to reach out and poke his cheeks was over-whelming. However, I unfortunately only had two hands and at the moment I needed both so I was forced to resist the temptation.

"You're beautiful, every little piece love. Don't you know you're really gonna be someone. Ask anyone. And when you find everything you looked for, I hope your life, leads you back to my front door. Oh but if it don't, will you stay;"

Some of the others sang along with me now and I grinned wider then ever as I gently nudged Tala and he finally laughed lightly, the sound the most foreign and yet entrancing sound I could ever remember hearing.

"Woah, oh, oh, oh... Stay beautiful!"

I laughed as I stopped playing and unlike the end of the last song, everyone in the room cheered loudly. They whooped and called louder then ever as I leaned in and pressed a teasing kiss to Tala's cheek.

"Stay beautiful!" I said playfully.

Tala smiled and wrapped an arm around my waist. He gently pulled me close to him and leaned up to whisper in my ear.

"I could say the same for you." He said softly, loud enough so only I could hear it over the noise still in the room. Then, to stun me all together, he subtly pressed a quick kiss to my cheek, one I was sure no one else even saw.

Greatly surprised by Tala's reaction, I smiled at him and pulled away to walk back over to my previous seat.

Looking around, I could tell that no one indeed had seen the surprise kiss from the redhead, otherwise they would have been all over it. At least, almost no one. As my eyes fell on the place where a certain blonde used to be, I had to fight back a frown. For all I know, Max could have slipped out long ago, but I had a feeling that, unnoticed by anyone else, he had chose that exact moment to make himself scarce.

Forcing myself to appear indifferent, I turned away form the place the blonde had just been and pretended to not have noticed his absence.

"I think you got the names mixed up." Lee teased. Beside him Emily spoke up.

"No, I think she got them right." She replied playfully.

Everyone laughed and I looked at Tyson when I hear his voice.

"Now you just need one about Kai!" He said with a laugh.

I laughed too and looked at Kai, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

"That's not necessary." The blunette said warningly. "Seriously."

I laughed again and began randomly strumming once more. I tried to take requests but it seemed that no matter what song they asked for, I either didn't know it or couldn't play it. In the end they all agreed for me to just play whatever and thay'd catch on.

I played for the large group for a long time until eventually I could feel the numbness in my fingers and the strain in my voice.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, I need a break."

There was a chorus of disapproval and I had to laugh.

"I'll be back OK! Just gimme five minutes!"

The others laughed and teasingly agreed and I smiled and shook my head at them. Placing my baby back into her case, I closed the top and stood up.

"Gimme a few." I told everyone in general.

They all agreed and I walked away from them and into the kitchen.

After getting a drink from the kitchen, I found myself sipping it out on the balcony on the back of the apartment. The stars were out and shining with all their brilliance. Even the moon was high and starring down at me with an almighty glow.

As I starred out into the night, thoroughtly enjoying the buzz of the city night life, I heard the glass doors behind me slide open and shut. I couldn't help but wonder who it was but wasn't inclined to turn and see. So, deciding to wait until they made their presence known, I continued to stare off into the distance.

An icy blend of some chilling, earthy scent. Tantalizingly intoxicating.

Though the scent was unfamiliar, I didn't have to turn to know whom it belonged to.

The newcomer approached me and mimicked my position against the railing, starring out like I was over the city scene. Looking out the corner of my eye, I smiled slightly to find that my guess had been correct.

"You're good."

I smiled fully now but didn't look at the redhead beside me.

"Thanks." I said simply.

Tala didn't respond and there was a silence between us for a while until eventually he spoke again.

"So was there a reason you chose those songs? Cause I get the feeling that mine and Max's names aren't the ones that were written into them."

I smiled at Tala's intelligence.

"Yes and no." I replied cryptically.

Tala looked at me with a questioning expression but seeing that I was unwilling to elaborate he turned back to look out over the city again.

"I see." He said simply.

There was a long silence this time and I sighed silently, grateful that it wasn't awkward. I had almost forgotten the redhead was there until I eventually heard his voice again.

"Does he know?"

A little startled, I turned my head to look at Tala and blinked at him for a moment.

"Um... does who know what?" I replied, confused by his question.

"Max." Tala said simply. "Does he know how you feel?"

I blinked at the redhead for a moment before turning away and looking back out over the scenery.

"He should." I replied quietly. "I don't think I was exactly subtle about anything... but if you're asking did I actually tell him... then no, I didn't."

"You should."

I sighed and closed my eyes, unable to understand where this new opinion had come from. Were these words really coming from Tala Ivanov? The Tala Ivanov? Whatever had changed in him, it made me uncomfortable and a little irritable and simply put; I didn't like it.

"No, I shouldn't." I finally replied firmly. "And anyway, what would be the point now? After what happened?"

"What is it you think actually happened Amanda?"

I opened my eyes again and turned back to Tala, a little offended by his sudden demand.

"Excuse me?" I replied a little indignantly. "There's no think about it! I saw her on top of him and she certainly wasn't forcing herself on him! They were completely consumed in each other Tala, I saw it with my own eyes!"

Tala starred into my eyes and for a moment I watched his jaw work, appearing as if he was debating on continuing or not. Apparently deciding to, he spoke again.

"Couldn't it have been something else? Couldn't you have thought you saw something you really didn't?"

A deep frown creased my face then.

"No." I said simply. "That was the steamiest make-out sesh I'd ever seen in my life and God only knows what happened after I left. I saw his hands, I heard the sounds. Max wanted her right where she was and she wanted to be there. And that's that."

I turned away from the redhead again and tried my damnedest to block out the storm of emotions now whirling in my head and heart. It was harder to breath now and I couldn't pin point exactly which emotion was reigning because they were all warring against each other and there was a different one in control from one second to the next.

"So what?" Tala said eventually. "He made out with some chick who wasn't you. Big deal. He's young and it was his birthday. Besides you two weren't together and it's obvious he really likes you."

I snorted humorlessly at that. I thought so once upon a time too. What Tala said was true.. but that wasn't the point!

"I don't wanna talk about it anymore." I said firmly, making sure the air of finality was clearly audible in my voice. Still Tala continued.

"You never know unless you try."

To my own surprise, that comment made me smile.

"That doesn't count for this situation." I said quietly, still starring out over the city.

Beside me I felt Tala shift and looking out the corner of my eye I could see him looking forward again too. I looked straight again and there was a long silence between us. Normally I would relish in these moments, but right then to be left alone with my dark thoughts was the last thing I wanted. As if reading my mind, Tala spoke again. But what he said was the last thing I expected.

"Well, you've stil got lots of friends and people who care about you."

I looked back at the redhead in surprise and starred at him for a minute until finally a small smile lit my face.

"Even you?" I asked playfully.

"Yea, sure. If that's what you want."

I tipped my head to one side slightly.

"Really?"

"Yea."

Unfortunately, both of those statements were far too short and blunt to be legit, but the fact that the cold Russian had said them meant more to me then anything he could ever imagine. I was sure Tala either didn't know what he was saying, or figured it was what I wanted to hear so he simply said it. In the end however, I decided it really didn't matter; the words had still come from his mouth.

With a happy smile, I turned forward again and looked without seeing over the scene before me. My thoughts ran wild again but this time they weren't as dark and I felt my breathing ease once again. Not afraid of them anymore, I let my thoughts consume me once more. Beside me I could tell Tala had dome the same but I was sure his were quite a bit different then mine.

A/N: OK, so for those of you Tala fans, like moi, I'm sorry if you feel that Tala is becoming more OOC as the story goes on. But please consider this; the characters are much older and Tala's character would have grown some over the years right? I believe so. Plus, how would he act do you think, if he were put in a situation where he was beginning to care about someome? Friend or more? Hmmm... lol. Think about it?. :) Personally, I believe I'm doing OK but if you disagree, you're more then welcome to comment :) Please R&R and hopefully the next one will be out real soon! Wishe me luck! *crosses fingers*

Oh! and BTW, in case you didn't know both of those songs were by Taylor Swift; I unfortunately, do not own them. I really like her and all but I like pretty much everything else too. Those two just happened to fit this really well so thas why there are 2 songs by the same artist :P