KH: Have lunch with me. The guys are driving me crazy.
AN: It's only 10 AM, you should all be practicing. Silently.
KH: Lunch. Yes or no?
AN: Maybe. How's the beyblade?
KH: Won 2/3 so far.
AN: My hero. Yes to lunch, it'll give me some time to look over it.
KH: Do you have to talk about work every time I want to take you out?
AN: I like work more than I like you.
KH: Saying that every day won't make it true.
AN: You're so annoying. Is this what my life is going to be like when I'm your assistant?
KH: I'll go easy on you. You're really good at checking my emails.
AN: What was that meeting about anyway?
KH: I'll tell you at lunch. See you at 1.
Anastasia smiled slightly and put her phone back onto the table. Idly, she flipped through the radio as she straightened the bed, towel-dried her hair, and tried not to daydream about Kai.
Her date last night had been, for lack of a better word, perfect. It hadn't hit her until much later on in the night, when she was trying to fall asleep but couldn't, that she was happy. Kai had made her happy, when all she had been for years with her dysfunctional family and a job that took up all her time was simply… content. Now, she was smiling and humming and already thinking about what to wear for her lunch date. Was this what it felt like, to be in a relationship with someone? She hadn't expected being with Kai to feel this easy. At the same time, with all his texts and his random displays of affection, it was everything she had expected. His behavior had shown her, again, that he wasn't as bad at being with someone as he wanted her to believe.
"Anna!" Alice's loud voice floated in through the closed door, and Anastasia groaned. There was a loud knock on the door. "Are you awake?"
"Unfortunately," mumbled Anastasia. Picking up her phone, she wrenched open the door and glared sourly at the perky blonde outside. "What is it, Alice?"
"Hilary is here, and I made cookies," Alice grabbed her arm and began to pull her towards the front room, an evil smile on her face. "Come on, we want to know everything!"
Anastasia flopped down onto the sofa and reached for a cookie, frowning when Hilary pushed the plate out of her reach. "Hey!"
"No cookies until you spill," said Hilary firmly. And then she raised an eyebrow when she saw what Anastasia was wearing. "Wow, what happened to you?"
"Thanks, Hilary," Anastasia sniffed. Her hair was thrown up into a messy bun, she was wearing her glasses, and she had changed into baggy sweatpants after her shower when she had woken up. Self-consciously, she tugged at the hem of her oversized sweatshirt. The material was comfortable, which was the reason Anastasia continued to wear it, despite the hot pink letters emblazoned across the chest that read Techie Of Your Dreams. "It was a birthday present, and I'm not going out until later."
"Good, so you're free to tell us about your date," impatiently, Alice practically shoved a mug of coffee into her hands. "Well?" she demanded.
Anastasia bit her lip. "I don't –"
Hilary interrupted her, pushing her phone into Anastasia's face and taking a picture of her. "Tell us everything or I'm texting this picture to Tala," said Hilary flatly.
"And then you know it'll reach the whole world before it reaches Kai," added Alice.
Anastasia groaned. "Fine. Give me a damn cookie."
Almost an hour later, both girls were crowded around her with looks of wonderment on their faces.
"I did not expect this," said Hilary dazedly.
Anastasia gave her a look over her mug of coffee. "Really? That's all you can say?"
"What do you want me to say?" she demanded. "Kai's a romantic? Kai? The guy who I've known for years and only seen smile three times?"
"I bet all three times were with Anna too," snickered Alice. Anastasia threw a cookie at her, and the blonde caught it, giving her a dirty look. "You want to start cleaning the kitchen, Nikol?"
"Shut up, both of you," Anastasia rolled her eyes. "I didn't tell you so you could make fun of him."
"Make fun of him?" asked Hilary in amazement. "Are you crazy? He's a genius, I want him to teach a class or something!"
Alice snorted. "I think Tyson would rather have you give him dating advice, Hilary."
"I didn't mean Tyson," the brunette blushed.
"Yes, you did," Alice rolled her eyes.
Anastasia chuckled and watched the two girls bicker for a few moments before excusing herself, heading back to the counter to make more coffee.
"You haven't stopped smiling since yesterday," commented Alice when she came back, and Hilary nodded in agreement. "So, I take it Kai's okay with long-distance?"
Anastasia froze, a cookie halfway to her mouth, and gave both girls incredulous looks. "What?"
"You're leaving as soon as his beyblade is fixed," said Alice slowly. "And I'm assuming you guys have discussed what will happen when you go?"
"It's been two days, Alice, I don't think they're ready for that conversation yet," said Hilary hastily, but Anastasia was already staring at her feet, a small frown on her face. "Don't freak out, Anna," said Hilary reassuringly. "Kai doesn't want to talk about that, believe me."
"I don't think I want to either," Anastasia sighed. "Raincheck on that conversation, Alice. Maybe in a few weeks."
But Alice was persistent. "So this isn't a fling?" she asked. Hilary glared at her, but she didn't seem fazed. "Look, you two are cute and all, but you need to be smart about this. If this blows up in your face, you won't have a job for longer than just a season's probation, you could have to leave the All Starz team. Kai can help, but he won't be a beyblader forever. You'd have to travel to see each other, or one of you would have to make a major life adjustment if you wanted to get serious. I just think you need to think about all this stuff before you jump into a proper commitment."
Anastasia didn't reply, and Hilary turned to Alice with a scowl, hissing at her to keep quiet. The blonde girl didn't seem to understand the edge in her voice, but Anastasia did. Hilary wanted it to work between her and Kai, because she knew what he was like, and she knew if he was in this, it was serious. But Alice didn't know Kai that well – she only knew Anastasia, and she knew that Anastasia didn't like to leave things uncertain.
The two girls were busy arguing amongst themselves, and Anastasia quietly left them to it, heading back to her room. She felt faintly nauseous, and she sank onto the edge of her bed, chewing at her thumbnail anxiously. Alice was getting ahead of herself, but she wasn't wrong. Anastasia hadn't allowed herself to think about anything – the long-distance relationship, the travelling, how her relationship would affect her job – because she didn't want to think about it. Because she was happy.
She didn't even realize she was typing until she pressed send, and the faint sound alerted her to the fact that she had just texted Kai.
AN: Tell me this isn't a mistake?
KH: I don't make mistakes.
Anastasia groaned. Why couldn't he be helpful, for once?
Her phone buzzed again.
KH: But if I did, you're the best mistake I could ever make.
Anastasia bit her lip to stop herself from smiling.
AN: You're being sappy again.
KH: I'm being honest.
AN: So you're not saying this so I don't freak out?
KH: Why are you freaking out?
AN: Because this could backfire.
KH: What if it doesn't?
Anastasia hesitated. What could she say to that? There was always a chance nothing bad would happen, of course, but that chance was so low that she didn't know what to think. So, naturally, she focused on the negative.
AN: Then I wouldn't know what to do. And neither would you.
KH: We'd figure it out.
AN: Would we? Or would we end up hating each other?
Kai didn't reply immediately, and Anastasia sighed. She didn't know if she was pushing her luck or if Kai was annoyed that she was freaking out when she had just agreed to see him again, but she didn't know what to do anymore. Talking to Hilary and Alice had only been reassuring for a few moments, when they were gushing about how sweet Kai was. As soon as they had started asking the questions Anastasia had been ignoring herself, she had panicked. The last time she had felt this anxious – like there was a weight on her chest that nothing could lift – talking to Kai had instantly made her feel better. She had already spoken to her sister the day before, but there was no one else who could understand just how complicated this was. It was a no-brainer that she would text him now, even if he was the reason she was freaking out in the first place. Still, she couldn't help but think that maybe, she shouldn't have talked to him about this right now.
His reply a few minutes later only made her feel worse.
KH: Anna, I have practice. Can we talk about this later?
AN: I'm so sorry, I know you need to practice but I don't know what to do.
AN: You said I should talk to you if I freak out again. This counts as a freak out.
KH: Did Hilary say something to you?
AN: It was Alice, but all she did was say everything I'd been ignoring.
KH: Stop letting your friends tell you what you should do.
AN: It's not about them. You're not taking me seriously!
KH: I am. Open your front door.
Anastasia frowned. What?
She jumped up and flew to the door, ignoring the questioning looks Alice and Hilary threw her from the sofa. When she wrenched open the door, her mouth fell open in surprise at who she saw leaning against the wall opposite her.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded.
"You freaked out, and the drive here is only ten minutes," said Kai casually. He pushed himself off the wall and closed the distance between them, reaching behind her to shut the door. Anastasia continued to stare owlishly at him, slowly comprehending what he had done. She had texted him and expressed her anxiety about their relationship working, like he'd asked her to. In response, Kai had ditched his practice, gotten into his car and driven to her apartment to reassure her.
"You're not allowed to say you're bad at being a boyfriend ever again," she said finally.
Kai smiled a little and touched her cheek, caressing her skin softly. "Okay."
"And you're officially the romantic one in this relationship."
"That's a big responsibility."
"You're better at this than I am," Anastasia sighed and leaned her forehead against his chest. She felt Kai wrap his arms around her waist, resting his chin on top of her head. "Sorry I freaked out on you again," she mumbled.
"It's okay," he said quietly. "I'm glad you told me."
"And I'm sorry you had to miss your practice."
"I was wiping the floor with them, they were glad when I left."
"Then I'm sorry you have to see me when I look like this," groaning, Anastasia buried her face further into his shirt. "Any chance you can erase this image forever?"
"Can't. Hilary sent me a picture of you."
"She said she wouldn't!"
"She did," he laughed quietly and tugged on a stray curl. "I like the glasses."
"I hate them," Anastasia grumbled. "Don't try and be cute right now.'
"Sorry," he rested his chin on top of her head and rocked them back and forth slowly. "You feel better?"
"A little, but I shouldn't get used to this."
"Why?" frowned Kai.
Anastasia shook her head. "You're not going to run across town every time I want reassurance, Kai."
"I can."
Anastasia desperately wantedto say the words that flitted through her mind – And how do you plan to do that when I leave? – but she couldn't bring herself to. Not yet, anyway. Not when he was clearly being so sweet and doing so much more than she expected.
"Well, anyway, now that you're here…" she sneaked a glance up at him. "Early lunch?"
Kai scowled. "Tala wants to come."
"So?" Anastasia raised an eyebrow.
"Is Tala a part of this relationship that I didn't know about?"
"He wishes," teased Anastasia. Kai didn't look amused, which only made her grin wider. "Lighten up. Tell him he can meet us there."
Kai rolled his eyes. "Fine. Can you hurry up and get ready now?"
"Why, you don't think I can pull off this look in public?" demanded Anastasia.
"I don't think you'd want to," said Kai slowly. "Do you?"
He looked genuinely uncertain, as if she might actually want to go out in public, with him of all people, in what were basically her pajamas. Anastasia snorted and turned to open the door. "Yeah, no. I was kidding."
Kai shrugged and followed her back into the apartment, where Anastasia was only slightly satisfied to see Alice's do a double-take when she saw who had joined them. Fortunately, Hilary looked smug enough for both of them, easily engaging Kai in conversation about some team statistics that even Anastasia was impressed that she knew. Making a mental note to ask the brunette where she got all her facts from, she headed to her room quickly to change.
It took her longer than it should have to get ready, and she was more than a little anxious about leaving Kai with the two girls, who had only moments ago been interrogating her about their relationship and simultaneously gushing about how romantic he was. Even though he was friends with Hilary and she knew Alice wouldn't do anything to deliberately embarrass her, she nevertheless forewent brushing her hair, leaving it up in its messy bun to save time, and practically ran out of her bedroom.
"You look rushed," commented Hilary as she came skidding into the room. Anastasia tried to subtly gauge the atmosphere even as she leaned against the doorway and pretended to pay attention to the brunette. Kai was seated on the sofa next to Hilary, his phone in his hand as he read through something on it. He was looking at her now, his face in its usual mask of disinterest. Alice was looking at them both, her expression unreadable. There wasn't any awkwardness in the room, per se, but Anastasia decided that there was enough tension for them to make a quick exit.
"Well, we have to go," she jerked her head towards the door apologetically as Kai stood up. "We have an annoying redhead to deal with."
Hilary snorted. "Enjoy your day. And don't worry, I'll head to the beach and keep the practice going," she added to Kai, who merely nodded wordlessly. In Kai's language, of course, that was an expression of gratitude, but that didn't mean everyone knew that. Anastasia rolled her eyes.
"Thanks, Hilary," she said pointedly. She thought she saw Kai smirk faintly as he brushed past her to the door, and made a face at his retreating back.
Hilary giggled. "It's fine," she assured Anastasia. "I speak Kai pretty well by now. You want to stop by the dojo after you guys are free?"
"I'd love to, but I have tons of work to catch up on," said Anastasia apologetically. "I really should have done it all today, but, you know…"
"No problem," Hilary looked slightly disappointed, and Anastasia immediately felt guilty.
"How about we have lunch tomorrow?" she offered. "I'll probably be at the BBA office in the morning but we can meet up after?"
Hilary brightened immediately. "Sounds good!"
Anastasia smiled, said a quick goodbye to both girls, and headed out the door. Kai was nowhere to be seen, which told her he had already gone to his car. And sure enough, after she raced down the stairs and staggered out to the parking-lot, she was out of breath and her hair was even messier than before, but Kai was leaning against his car door casually.
"You don't have to keep running after me," he said, as she came to stand in front of him. "I've been dealing with worse people than Hilary and Alice since before I met you."
Anastasia grimaced. "I'm not worried about Hilary, but Alice is a handful. And she –" abruptly, she cut herself off, not wanting to discuss what exactly Alice had said before he had arrived.
Kai noticed, but fortunately didn't say anything. He opened the passenger door for her, and Anastasia smiled at the action. She started frowning, though, when she sat down and he flicked her fingers away from the radio button.
"I don't like your music," she scowled as he played one of his CDs, beginning to back out of the parking lot. In response, he tossed her his beyblade, which she caught automatically. She frowned again. "Are you trying to distract me?"
Kai sighed. "We listened to your music last time, Anna."
"Because it's better!"
"It's crap."
"You're crap."
"You're being childish."
"Don't be all condescending with me!"
"Shut up."
"Or what?"
"I'll throw you out of the car."
"I'd like to see you try."
Kai groaned. "Do you ever stop talking?"
Anastasia grinned wickedly. "Let me play my music and I will."
"Fine," he spat. Cackling, Anastasia quickly flipped to the Top 40 radio station and gave Kai a smug look. He looked like he wanted to punch her. She cheered silently.
The rest of the drive was silent. Anastasia was content to examine his beyblade, occasionally humming along to a song she knew on the radio. She didn't know where they were going; she hadn't asked before they'd left, and since Kai was sulking, she didn't think she'd ask him now or he'd deliberately take her somewhere she'd hate. She was too engrossed in his beyblade, which she had painstakingly taken apart in her lap, to notice anyway. And, despite his annoyance, Kai could feel himself grow curious at her silence.
"What?" he said finally. Anastasia glanced up at him, raising an eyebrow. He scowled. "You look interested."
"I am," she said quietly. "I don't think you're going to be able to break this one, Kai."
Kai frowned. "Really?"
"Mmhmm," her tone was different now. She wasn't teasing him anymore.
"How can you tell?" asked Kai. For some reason, the fact that she wasn't saying much was causing alarm bells to go off in his head.
"The attack ring is significantly less damaged than the last two prototypes', and the defense ring is completely intact," she said immediately. "I'll need to run a few more tests, I can't tell just by looking at it like this, but this might be it."
"It?"
"When did you become so oblivious?" she asked, but her tone was light again; she was teasing him. "It means I did it. Either this prototype or the next is enough to take Dranzer's power. Which means…" she trailed off pointedly.
Kai didn't answer immediately. They stopped at a red light and he turned to face her, eyes expressionless. "I know what it means," he said flatly. Anastasia would have been slightly hurt by his tone, if he hadn't reached for her free hand as soon as he began speaking. "It means you have to go," he said quietly.
A million thoughts raced through Anastasia's mind at that, the first and most important being Alice's words: So, I take it Kai's okay with long-distance? It was the perfect time to broach the subject, and if it had been anyone else and any other situation Anastasia knew she would have. But this wasn't just anyone. This was Kai. She liked him, of course, but she loved being his friend. The two emotions had bled into each other within a few weeks of them meeting, and she hadn't even tried to differentiate them until now. As much as she liked him, and as much as she wanted this to work, she didn't want to risk losing him entirely. And a big, emotional conversation this early in the day, and this early in their relationship, would only land them in trouble.
So, Anastasia merely smiled and squeezed his hand. "How about we talk about that later?" she suggested lightly.
The relief in Kai's eyes was obvious. He kissed the back of her hand, clearly grateful. The traffic light turned green, the car started moving again, and Anastasia tried not to think about the fact that, in doing her job, she had just set a timer on her relationship.
