Confusion
Kai stood leaning against the brick wall of Coral Academy for girls. He had his head slightly bent downward, his eyes closed, and his arms crossed. When the bell sounded off, he didn't seem fazed by it. But when Avalon's laughter filled the air, he straightened up; his eyes gliding pass the rest of the girls until it rested on the one that mattered most to him.
Avalon came out of the building, unaware of his presence, a bandage on her right knee. Kai let out a sigh, that wasn't there that morning.
Once Avalon had descended the last step she glanced up, making direct eye contact with Kai who stood towering over the heads of the other girls. A huge smile slowly spread across her lips as she ran towards him, engulfing him in a friendly hug.
"Kai! I missed you!"
Kai rolled his eyes but tightened his hold on her nonetheless. "What are you talking about? We saw each other this morning."
Avalon pulled away, her smile still plastered on her face, "I know…but…I still missed you!" She tried reasoning. Kai smirked, shaking his head.
"Yeah, yeah…come on."
Avalon took hold of his offering hand as he began walking away, "Where are we going?"
She was received with a small grunt. Avalon narrowed her eyes, "Kai! Come on! You can tell me! I'm your friend!"
Kai glanced back at her, "It's nothing too important Avalon…trust me."
Avalon's eyes softened, "I do trust you Kai…I always trust you…" She whispered. Kai turned back, coming to a slow halt. He let out a sigh; how was it she always won?
"Fine, I'll tell you. We're going to the carnival on the other side of town."
When the words sunk in, Avalon's eyes widened, "A carnival?!" She asked in an excited tone, "You're taking me to a carnival?!"
Kai held down the amused smirk, "Yes, Avalon, I'm taking you to a carnival."
Avalon couldn't hold in her excitement, so she released her hold on his hand and tackled him with a hug that would have caused any normal human to topple over—but of course, Kai was no normal human.
"Thank you! Thank you! You're amazing Kai!"
Kai smirked, "I know."
Avalon released her hold on him and began bouncing excitedly on the balls of her feet, "Well, what are we waiting for?! Let's go!"
Kai shook his head slightly before taking hold of her hand and dragging her once more towards their destination, pretending to ignore her excited chatter when in reality he was absorbing every word that escaped her lips.
--
Max sighed as he plopped himself down on the bench located at the park.
"Man!" he started, stretching himself, "there's nothing to do here! And there haven't been any attacks recently that even indicate that we're in the right town!" Max ruffled the hair on his head in an agitated manner, "Maybe Conner's lost his touch! He is old…"
Max trailed off as a flyer floated by him, landing in front of his feet. He furrowed his brows before bending down and picking up the orange paper. He scanned it before reading the heading aloud: "COME JOIN US AT THE ANNUAL CARNIVAL! LOCATED AT…" Max trailed off as he recognized the name of the town that the carnival was being held at. He laughed aloud while slapping the paper, "Hey! I know this place! That's near my school! Man, I just got saved from a boring day!"
Max grinned as he stood up and ran towards the train station.
--
"Gah! What about that one Kai?! Or maybe that one over there! Or over there! What about—mmffhh!"
Kai's brow twitched in agitation as he held a clasped hand over Avalon's mouth, who knew she could be so talkative when she was excited? Avalon stopped struggling against Kai's strong hold and contented herself to just stare up at him. Kai let out a sigh, "Will you stay calm once I let go?" He asked, watching as she nodded her head. Slowly, at the same time cautiously, he released his hand watching as she inhaled the air around her.
"Okay! Let's go on that one!" She exclaimed, pointing at the red roller coaster a distance away. Kai raised a brow, "Whatever" he mumbled as he shoved his hands in his pant pockets and began walking towards it, leaving Avalon to chase after him.
--
"Man! This place sure is packed!" Max noted, glancing at all the people present, some were in groups while others were in pairs, Max sighed; "It sure isn't much fun without friends…" He trailed off, staring at the ground.
"This way!"
Max's ears perked up as the familiar voice penetrated his ears. He looked around spotting a trail of pink. He shook his head before taking a better look. There, a few feet away from him was Avalon, waving towards someone in the crowd. A smile lit his face, it had been a few days since he last saw her. When he was about to call out to her, she ran off. Max let out a sigh, "Oh well, hopefully I'll bump into her later."
--
Kai had his lips pursed as he stubbornly stood rooted to the spot, glaring at Avalon's feeble attempt to get him to falter.
"Give up Avalon, you don't have the strength to move me."
Avalon stuck out her tongue, "It doesn't hurt to try!" She argued, pulling on his hand with all her might. But no matter how hard she pulled Kai didn't even budge. She stomped her foot, "Kai! Come on! Please?!" She begged, clasping her hands together and jutting out her bottom lip. Kai scowled, turning away, "Hn"
"Does that mean 'yes'?"
"Hn"
"No?"
"Hn"
"Maybe?"
Kai felt a migraine coming on, "Fine!" He growled out, shoving pass Avalon and towards the 'House of Mirrors' that she wanted to go into. Avalon grinned as she skipped in after him.
She glanced at all the mirrors around them, laughing once she saw the fat, pudgy version of Kai. "Hahaha! Kai! You're like the Pillsbury-dough-boy!" Kai pursed his lips in silent anger, cursing himself for even taking her to the Carnival in the first place. But when he got over the wave of anger, he couldn't help but let out a small smile as he watched Avalon laugh at every reflection of her self, and at the fact that she walked into one of the mirrors.
Kai shook his head; this was going to be a long day.
--
Max laughed aloud as he got off the roller coaster, the whole thing was so hilarious! The girls that were sitting in front of him didn't help the matter either; they just kept screaming at the fake decorations, thinking it was going to jump at them or something. Max shook his head and glanced around, spotting the huge Ferris wheel that stood in the middle of the whole place.
With a final nod, Max began to make his way over there. But while turning the corner he bumped into something, hard, cold, and wet. Staggering back, Max glanced up only to be met with piercing violet orbs. The male in front of him glared hotly—contradicting the wet predicament he was in.
"Hey! What's going on Kai?"
Max blinked, Avalon's voice echoing in his ears, and just like that, Avalon poked her head from behind the male. She stared at the blonde teen in front of her for a few seconds before realization hit her.
"Max! What are you doing here?!"
Max let a one second pause lapse between her exclamation and his silence before responding, with a shake of the head, "Uh…umm…just checking the place out! You?"
Avalon chuckled, jumping out from behind the soaking Kai, "Me too! Well…Kai took me here because he was being nice!"
"Kai…?" Max echoed, glancing at the stoic male. He didn't recognize him and he definitely wasn't the male teen he saw with Avalon the other day…Brooklyn wasn't it? He eyed the teen that glared back; he was just as pale as Brooklyn, but instead of a welcoming air he had a cold crisp kind of wind that could probably slice one down if they got too close.
Max turned back to Avalon who was watching him with a calm expression, "…What happened to the other guy? Did you two break up?" He asked, letting curiosity get the better of him. He noticed how the wet male tensed up at the mention of the 'other male' and came to a theory that Avalon could be cheating with the wet one.
Avalon tilted her head, "You mean Brooklyn?"
Max nodded his head, "Yeah…Brooklyn."
Avalon giggled, "Brooklyn is somewhere back in the other town. And we didn't break up, it's just Kai's turn today!"
Max furrowed his brows, Kai's turn? What did that mean? He glanced at the male known as Kai and back towards Avalon. Was Avalon hopping between two guys at once?
"I'm so confused." Max stated bluntly. Avalon knitted her brows, "Confused about what?"
"About the whole Brooklyn-Kai, Kai-Brooklyn thing."
"You don't need to understand, it's none of your business." Kai stated, eyeing the male indifferently. Max turned towards him but didn't say anything.
Avalon glanced at either male before she remembered something, "Oh! I forgot to introduce you Kai!"
Kai rolled his eyes, "It doesn't—"
"Max, this is Kai, Kai, this is Max!"
Max smiled in greeting while Kai grunted while folding his arms across his soaked chest, peeved that Avalon spoke over him. Max stared at the antisocial teen for a while before turning towards Avalon, grinning, "So, what happened to him?"
Kai felt a brow twitch, if he was curious about his state of being then ask him himself.
Avalon let out an amused chuckle, glancing at Kai smugly before turning to Max, an amused grin on her face.
Max raised his brow, curiosity boiling inside him. Avalon gave Kai a sheepish look before speaking aloud.
"Well…you see…there was this man—a big man—he was telling people to participate in his game—you know the one where they throw balls at the dart with the person sitting on top of the bench over the huge container of water and when the person hits the bulls-eye the person falls in?"
Max nodded his head, understanding what Avalon was describing. He began to slowly piece the puzzle together.
"Well…Kai over here—" She jerked her thumb at the irritated male, "—was being cocky and said I couldn't hit the bulls-eye even if it was right in front of my face!"
Max smiled slightly at the agitated look that came over Avalon's face as she said that. Kai grunted but didn't say anything else.
"So anyway…the man heard him say that and taunted him to test his theory out—"
"Hn. You don't need to tell the whole world the stupid—"
"It's not stupid! It's funny! Now shush! Let me finish! At first Kai was all 'hn-I'm-too-cool-to-fall-for-that-trick' until the man goes and says: 'Heh, you scared that miss girly o'er there will prove ye' wrong?" Avalon took a deep breath, "That's when Kai starts to act macho, glancing at me in a 'yeah-right' before accepting. I told him he didn't have to do it and that he couldn't be mad at me if I made him fall!"
Max began chuckling slightly, seeing the image play out. He glanced at the stoic teen that glared murderously at nothing.
"So Kai goes and sits on the bench thing. I told him he should take his clothes off but he goes and tells me: 'I don't need to because you'd just end up hitting the man'!" Avalon turned and glared at Kai, who ignored her completely. "I was really mad at that point, so I got the ball and readied myself to throw it—"
"And you hit him." Max finished, grinning. Avalon blinked before shaking her head, "Nope! I missed and ended up hitting the man like Kai said."
Max furrowed his brows in confusion, "Then what happened?"
Avalon placed her hands on her hips in a mock scolding manner, "If you let me finish you'll find out! Okay! Back to the story, so I missed, and Kai goes and gives his know-it-all smirk—"
"Just get to the point already Avalon, no one cares about every minor detail." Kai voiced, irritation lacing his tone.
Avalon ignored him and continued with the story as if he never spoke, "And I just rolled my eyes. So as Kai was getting ready to get out, I started walking towards the bulls-eye, and as I was making my way over there I tripped!"
"And you caught yourself by holding onto the dart-board thing right?" Max asked, taking another guess.
Avalon smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head, "Actually…no…"
Max blinked, "No?"
Avalon shook her head, "Nope! But that would have sounded better than what I did!"
Max stared, transfixed at Avalon, "What…uh…did you do?"
"She did nothing." Kai answered. Max turned towards Kai, completely confused. Kai sighed, "She fell, she didn't even bother to try and break it. If the board wasn't there she would have fallen face flat on the ground."
Max turned towards the flustered Avalon, "So…you face-planted on the board?"
Avalon chuckled, "Uh…no…more like forehead planted…right on the bulls-eye"
Max blinked a few times, allowing his mind to wander off into his imagination where he pictured an animated Avalon walking towards the bulls-eye, tripping on something and falling towards the board, her forehead stopping her from falling because it landed on the board.
Max snorted his way into fits of laughter. He turned to Kai, "She couldn't get you with a ball, but I guess she has good aim when she falls."
Kai's brow twitched, "Hn. More like she has an enormous forehead."
"Hey!"
Kai smirked, feeling better all of a sudden. Avalon fumed, "I still got you though!"
Kai's mood suddenly switched; he glowered at Avalon, "Yeah you did! And if it wasn't for your fall and big forehead, I wouldn't be soaked!"
"It's called karma" Avalon stated, folding her arms across her chest. Kai pinched the bridge of his nose, "It's not karma it's just you."
"Nuh-uh! It's karma!"
"Hn"
Max watched the pair in amusement, "Uh…guys? Umm…people are staring…" Kai and Avalon turned towards Max before glancing around at the staring people. Avalon blushed, lowering her eyes towards the ground while Kai grunted, straightening himself out and ignoring everyone around him.
Max looked between the two, "So, um…where were you two headed?"
Avalon's head lifted up, "Oh! We were going to go on the Ferris wheel! You wanna come?"
Max side-glanced at Kai, "Uh…I don't know…I mean…I don't want to…intrude…"
"Intrude? Don't be silly! Kai won't mind, right Kai?"
Kai glared at Avalon, but before he could protest, Avalon had already took hold of his and Max's hand and began dragging them towards the Ferris wheel, rambling about how much they could see when they were high up.
--
Brooklyn glanced at the setting sun, his hands in his pockets, his look sorrowful.
"Seems like you're all set."
Brooklyn didn't even seemed fazed by the new addition, "Hmmm…yes, Avalon's with Kai today…I had plenty of time to finish."
Renée nodded slightly, leaning on the doorframe of the balcony, "So…what are you going to do?"
Brooklyn's eyes saddened a bit, "The right thing. I'm going to tell her."
"You'll crush her."
"I know…"
"You're willing to do that?"
Brooklyn sighed, "…What other choice do I have? I can't just leave her in the dark…it'll hurt her more."
Renée sighed, glancing at the setting sun, "…It's not too late to turn back."
Brooklyn smiled, "I know…but I've made up my mind, besides…she'll be alright." Brooklyn glanced at Renée, giving her a soft smile before turning back to the setting sun.
--
Max fidgeted awkwardly on the other side of the Ferris wheel seat, glancing at the couple opposite him. He had insisted on riding in a different cubicle, wanting to leave the pair alone but Avalon insisted fervently that they all three rode in the same one because she didn't want him to be alone. Plus they would be able to get to know each other even more.
"Okay! Kai give us a random fact about you."
Kai remained silent. Avalon continued to stare at him, "Don't rush Kai; take your time."
Still, Kai remained silent. Avalon turned to Max and smiled at him, "Kai takes awhile to respond, right Kai?" She asked, turning towards him and staring at him hard.
Still, he ignored them.
Avalon sighed; "I give up!" She threw her arms in the air, while slumping back in her seat. Max shook his head and glanced at the silent teen.
"You don't like to talk much huh?"
Max sighed when Kai didn't even blink, but he expected as much.
"What are you doing here?"
Max jumped slightly when the ever-silent male addressed him. Max had to blink a few times before answering, "Uh…well…" Max stopped, he hadn't really thought of that. One of his reasons for coming was something he couldn't tell his friends…but was that it?
Avalon turned towards Max, interested in his answer.
Max stared back at the two, not sure what to say except, "I…I don't know…"
CC: Yes, I know, I know what the heck took me so long?! right? Yeah...I've just been EXTREMELY busy, like so extreme that sleep is like a godsend when I get the chance. School's been hectic and work just doesn't relieve the stress, I practically have exams every week it's INSANE!! I think I'M going insane!!
But on the other note, I'll let you know that I haven't forgotten my fics, I just don't have one sitting to write fully you know? I have to break it up. Sometimes I get like five minutes to write, or maybe fifteen, and that's not enough time to actually write. I'm really sorry about the EXTREMELY long awaited updates! I feel ya, but patience is a virtue--even if it's a pain to wait.
I do plan on finishing this fic, I'd like to say soon but how things are going...I highly doubt that, so updates will most likely be how it is now, maybe when Christmas break comes I'll be able to update more...MAYBE!
And thank-you for those of you who continued to remind to update, you have no idea how awful I felt when I read your PMs. I just wanted to sit and finish all my fics but I couldn't! But thank you for constantly reminding me to take sometime and set it aside to write a bit. I really appreciate it.
And thank-you all who are still reading this fic, I really appreciate your faithfulness. And to those who asked about my other fics, 'That Girl' is almost done, but I don't know when I'll get that up, and as for LOBC...I actually haven't even written anything for the upcoming chapter. I have an idea of what I want to write, I just didn't get a chance to do so, I was focusing on 'That Girl' and this fic since I haven't updated them in over like what? Three...four...maybe more or less months? Heh...yeeeeaaaaahhhh...
So anyway, thanks!
Don't forget to review!
CC
P.S: Here's a preview for the next chapter that will not be updated very soon, but will be eventually...
-A Troubled Heart-
"Why?" Avalon whispered, her hands clenching into tight fists at her sides. The male in front of her turned away, his bangs shadowing his eyes, hiding the pain. "Because...it's for the best..."