Well won't this chapter be interesting...

Sorry but I needed a break from Kai and Julia's intensity... XD And apparently so do you guys... So we'll steer away from Kai and Julia for aa while so people will be happy m'kays? (Don't worry, Julia'll be back and ready for more Kai next chapter MWAHAHAHAHA)

well enjoy!

Tyson Granger stood facing the converted freight elevator that would take him up the four floors to Hilary's loft. He took one last on the cigarette he didn't want, dropped the butt to the concrete walkway and crushed it beneath his boot. He'd taken up smoking after their break-up as a way to forget her, but it wasn't helping in the least.

Briefly, she flashed in his mind, then the picture of his brother sitting next to her forced her out. What the hell did Hilary think she was doing with Hitoshi Granger?

She'd left him three months earlier, claiming he was a control freak, that he couldn't deal with her intelligence, or her past, that he was too lazy, too laid back, and had never made an effort to get to know her the way he would have if he'd truely loved her.

Tyson could've thrown similar accusations into Hilary's face. She was a neat freek, she couldn't deal with his eat habbits, she was too bossy, too dramatic, and had pushed him too hard. But he hadn't said a word to her... Because they'd both been guilty as charged. He was man enough to take what was coming to him, but he was stubborn too. He wasn't going to ask her to come back! No matter how much he loved the difficult woman.

He had been going to suggest that they sat the beginning, that they take things easy and slow, that they forget they'd ever tumbled head over heels. He'd been going to suggest all of those things because he couldn't believe Hilary had just thrown away the year they'd been inseparable like it was nothing.

But now he wasn't going to suggest anything... Not when she was seeing his brother...

Tyson shoved his hands in the pockets of his baggy suit pants of dark brown corduroy. He'd left his jacket in his Jaguar (and his tie a trash can) when he'd parked in the garage adjacent to the loft.

After the gAL-gEAR gLOWING gIRL ceremony, he'd dropped Emily at her place, and had been on his way home. He'd enjoyed her company, and was quite sure she would've been happy to make sure he ended the evening a very satisfied man. But he wasn't in any frame of mind for a new involvement... Not when he hadn't yet given up on the old.

He hadn't been aware of any conscious decision to stop and see Hilary. But old habbits were hard to break, and now that he was here, he didn't know whether to leave or to take the ride to the fourth floor, and see if she want to-

He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the memory that popped into his mind. Remembering Hilary's naked body wasn't going to help anything right now. He'd just go see if she wanted to get a coffee -or tea in her case with extra milk if he remember correctly- and talk.

The thought of finding Hilary with another man finally turned him away from the elevator and back towards the garage. The last thing he wanted to see was Hitoshi with his hands all over the woman he loved. So he walked away. Except two steps down the hallway, he heard the elevator motor engage.

He hesitated, and waited for his heart to regain its usual rhythem. He stopped, turned back, listened to the mechanical bellow and groan as the car made its way to the ground floor. He had his hands in his pockets, and his feet spread wide, prepared to come face-to-face with the laughing couple, and ready with the excuse of having stopped by of a DVD he was certain he'd left here, and had promised to drop off to his grandpa in the morning.

But when the door creaked open, it was Hilary alone, and she was taking out the trash. She wore thick white socks, and had shoved her feet into her red crocks. Her sweatpants were purple, worn and baggy. Her hair still tumbled to her shoulders in the same big curles he'd wanted to get his hands into all night. She hadn't yet scrubbed the make-up from her face. Her eyes glittered, and her skin glowed. Damn, she was incredibly beautiful, and the long sleeved shirt she wore was the yellow one she'd given him for his birthday.

He took the black plastic bag from her hands because he wasn't sure he'd be able to find his voice. Hilary fell into step at his side, and walked with him down the hallway to the back door, and the building's dumpster. His feet made a shuffling, scraping sound that echoed off the high brick walls.

'Did you have a good time this evening?' She finally asked, and her voice echoed too, breaking the uncomfortably awkward silence.

Pretending his sudden appearance wasn't unusal suited him. 'I did, thanks. Did you?'

She nodded, and gave a slight smile. 'It was fun to finally see the program come together after all the work we put into it.'

'That was a good thing gAL-gEAR did... awarding those scholarships. And you picked the perfect girl for the job.' He grinned at her like an idiot. 'Er... I kinda forgot her name...'

'Queen Royal.'

'Queen, right...' He hesitated for a second, then went ahead with what he wanted to say, even though the issue had long been a bone of contention. 'She seemed as passionate about fashion as you've always been about art, Hilary.'

'Are you dating Em, Tyson?' The ruby eyed brunette asked, exchanging one bone for another.

'We've been out, but we're not dating.' He pushed open the heavy steel door that opened the dumpster. A lone streetlight illuminated the big asphalt square. The night was cool and misty. Tyson tossed the bag in with the rest of the trash, and returned to the door Hilary held open. 'What about you and Hitoshi? Are you and him serious?'

Hilary released the heavy door angrily. It slammed shut, the reverberating echo ringing in his ears. 'He's nice to me!' She snapped.

'He's my brother!' He shouted in her face.

'So what? It's none of you're business who either of us date!' She turned, and started her shuffle and scrape back down the hallway to the elevator.

Tyson wasn't going to let her go so easily. 'It is if the woman I love's going to be my sister-in-law!'

She halted with her back to him. She shoulders shook, but if that was from fury or anxiety he couldn't tell. 'Does it really matter, Tyson?' Her voice wavered. 'We're not together any more. If I decided to fall in love with someone else, that's my decision. Not yours.'

'Is that what my brother is? You're new love?' Tyson hated the weakness that caused him to ask.

Hilary wrapped her arms around her middle. 'Hitoshi is a friend... A supportive friend that shares my love for art.'

Tyson kept himself from asking what other of her passions his brother shared. He hadn't come here to get into a sniping match, and he didn't really want to know. But still, he couldn't stop the next comment from fall off his lips. 'Right... A supportive friend that enjoys his time in your pants.'

The smack was so sudden, he didn't even have time to grab her hand. Clutching his burning cheek, Tyson stared at her with his mouth gaping as his brain tried to grasp what'd just happened. She hit me... He blinked, repeating the thought over and over in his mind.

She exploded, unable to hold back the pain he's droven into her like a knife. 'What do you think I am? A slutty whore? I'd never sleep with your brother! He's just a friend who, unlike you, listens to me, and doesn't jump to stupid conclu-'

Tyson's lips crashing down on hers cut her off. Hilary was too shocked to move. Apologize! Tyson ordered himself. Tell her how sorry you are before it's too late! But his emotions were a jumbled mess, inexplicable to even himself. So instead, he gathered her trembling body tenderly in his arms, and kiss her like he was dying. Becuase without her, he really would die.

Hilary pushed him away and slammed her hand onto the elevator button. She turned her back to him, refusing to meet his chocolate eyes. 'I think you better leave now Tyson.' She said shakily, and stepped through the elevator door.

When the elevator door close, he would've kicked the damn thing, but he didn't want Hilary to hear the sound of his frustration echo up the shaft. Instead, he turned slowly, shoved his hands into his pockets, and headed to the parking garage, his steps heavy.

For the first time, the sight of his gleaming black Jaguar failed to give him a rush. He unlocked the driver's side, and slid behind the wheel, wondering if it was too late to pay a return visit to Emily Tompson. Her reception would be warm... She would probably banish the cold emptiness inside his chest... But she wouldn't be Hilary...

Acknowledging defeat, Tyson fired up the engine, and screeched out of the garage. Hell... who needs a woman anyway? He certainly didn't!

Hilary watched him drive away from the safety of her loft. She was sure he wouldn't be coming back anytime soon. She revelled in that thought, but even when she should be happy, she couldn't stop herself from sinking to the floor, and crying until she had no tears left to shed.

Man that chapter was long, and harder to write than I thought it would be...

Oh well it turned out good in the end... though kind of sad...

Dong-Chun-Mei