The gang crowded back into the hotel lobby, cheering and causing a
whole riot. Moby and
Psymon were both carrying Zoe by Psymon holding her arms and Moby holding
her legs. Eddie was giving Elise a piggy-back ride and JP was smashed
between Marisol and Seeiah, both having their arms linked into his. Luther
was falling behind, but not as far as Kaori and Mac who's fingers were
laced into each other, Kaori's head resting against his arm. She was
practically falling asleep in his arms.
Moby gently put Zoe's feet down and pressed the button to go upstairs. At this point, the people that were in the lobby were staring at them with blank expressions painted upon their face. Except Brodi, who sat, flipping the channels on the TV, obviously not paying attention to whatever was on.
"I . . . uh . . . I'll be right up. Just saw someone I knew. I mean, know." Moby corrected himself, half-drunk. He stumbled over his own feet and sat across from Brodi. He could see that he wasn't in the move to talk. But, still, he persisted. "Hey, Brodi. What's wrong?"
He didn't look up, still flipping through stations. He remained on HBO for about three seconds and proceeded some more. Moby's face turned to one of concern. Brodi never acted like this. He was the optimist of them.
Still not getting any response, Moby sighed and walked off. He followed his routine of getting on the elevator, going to his floor, and going to his room. When he opened the door, there was nothing but silence, except for the soft beat of a techno song from the speakers of the radio in their bedroom. It came to an abrupt stop and Mac came, almost floating, out into the main room. He fell backwards onto the couch and held his head up with his hands.
"Have you ever had such a perfect night?" he muttered to himself, but in a way, talking to the Englishman who was standing, puzzled.
"How many drinks did you have?" he took off his gloves and tossed them behind him.
"I just kissed the best girl I could have ever in a lifetime."
"You didn't answer my question! What's going on?"
Mac seemed to snap from his trance and sat up quickly, rage reflecting from his eyes. "Just because you're my roommate, doesn't mean you're going to find every detail of my life. I know you're dying to put it to good use too."
Moby stumbled back a little, shocked. "I don't know what you mean. What are you talking about, mate?" he faked.
Mac jumped up from the couch and held a single finger to Moby's face. "Just because I'm younger and better than you, doesn't make me exactly stupid. I know what you're up to and I know you hate me. So, let's just stay away from each other for the rest of the time here, and we'll be able to enjoy it. Got me?" the young boy seethed. Moby was at a loss for words, his mouth opening and closing a few times to find just the words he needed to get back at him. Nothing formed and Mac turned away.
For a moment, Moby almost felt sorry for the lad. He was, after all, younger than him by two to three years, and Mac was quite alright for a newbie. But that still didn't change what he had in mind. When he looked at Mac again, he saw the same goofy look that he saw when he first walked in the room. Suddenly, it hit him. Brodi being all upset; Mac being so happy, as well as Kaori. Moby reached behind him and dashed downstairs, hoping Brodi would still be flipping through channels on the TV. Sure enough, he was still sitting there, but now a group of ten-year-old's were arguing on whether MTV or Nickelodeon should be on. Brodi watched them intently, but still remaining out of their way.
"Kaori's going out with Mac, is she not?" Moby whispered. Brodi didn't even seemed fazed. Instead, he continued to watch the squabble. But, he still managed to nod. Moby rested a hand on his ally's shoulder and leaned a little closer to him.
"I saw them kissing outside the club. They didn't know I was there, though."
"How much do you hate Mac right now?" the Englishman leered.
"Enough to get revenge."
"Excellent. Then you won't mind joining Psymon, Luther, and I in a little punishment? He lied to all of us at the club, and I'm sure when you were talking with him, he was trying to play victim. Well, it won't work. How 'bout it? That git will get what's coming to him."
Brodi heaved a heavy sigh and narrowed his eyes while biting his lower lip nervously. It would surely ruin his reputation, but what else did he have to lose? His girl was gone now. "Sure, why not."
They shook hands on it and Moby walked off, feeling happier than he'd ever felt before.
~*~*~
Mac knocked on Kaori's room door and waited for her to answer. Instead, Elise pulled it open and stared at him blankly. He didn't know whether she was mad at him, or whatnot.
"Yeah, I am at Kaori's room, right? I mean, this is the number she gave me." he checked the small scrap of paper that she handed him earlier, and confirmed the number.
"She's in the bathroom, fixing her hair. But if you want, you can come in until she's done. I must warn you, it looks like a twister came through."
A twister wasn't exactly strong enough to cause how messy it was in there. More like an earthquake, combined with a hurricane, strong thunderstorm mixed with hail and three twisters. Clothes were everywhere, dishes piled around the big room, and photos of family members scattered around the coffee table. It was a disaster area.
Mac cleared away some clothes that lay on the couch and sat down, clasping something in his hands, tossing it back and forth. Elise kept taking glances at just what could be in his hands and saw a quick gleam before it disappeared into his right hand.
Kaori skipped out, dressed in a jean skirt and a red turtleneck. Her hair was pulled back into a single ponytail. Her makeup was light, but still noticeable. To get to the point, she looked stunning.
Mac stood up, shoving whatever it was he was holding into his pocket. Kaori didn't notice and slipped her hand into his. Elise watched, almost sick. It was too perfect. They left, but not before the phone rang.
The blonde picked it up and waited until the couple left before she spoke into it. "Yeah, this is Elise. What'dya want?"
A short pause. "Elise? Yeah, it's Moby. Just thought you might wanna stop by. I've got something about Mac you might wanna see. Pass it on to Marisol."his English accent wasn't so strong at the moment. In a way, he sounded American.
"WHAT? No way! I wouldn't talk to her if she was the last person on earth!"
"Don't argue please. I don't need this right now. Just do it!" he rasped. The line went dead and Elise gritted her teeth angrily.
She called up Marisol and forced out what she was going to say. "Yeah, Marisol. Well, Moby wants you to meet him in his room. Now." and she hung up.
~*~*~
Kaori and Mac sat across from each other at a local restaurant. Mac kept his hand in his pocket, playing with what he had put in it earlier. It was hard for him to figure out the right time to give it to her. Kaori had managed to notice he was a bit fidgety, but couldn't place just why.
The whole time was spent in either silence, or a quick word and back to silence. Although they found each other's company rather exhilarating, there just wasn't much to say that night. Soon, it just got to the point where they got so irritated and decided to leave.
They walked outside and Mac stopped. Kaori also stopped, a quizzical look on her face. "Mac, what's wrong? Everything alright?"
He exhaled and pulled out a small, gold chain with a small heart placed in the middle. It twirled and sparkled. Mac moved towards her and placed it around her small neck, hooking the clasp and admiring it. "It was my mom's. I always bring it everywhere I go because we usually got along great. And when I found this at the bottom of my suitcase, I figured you'd want it."
Kaori played with it in her hand delicately. She looked back at him, not smiling. "I shouldn't be wearing this. I shouldn't have this. I mean, this is your mom's. It should stay in your family."
He shrugged. "I don't have any family. Go ahead. Have it. I'd lose it anyway, sooner or later."
She hugged Mac, smiling. "You have no idea how much this means to me."
They made the long walk home, both wanting to enjoy the evening without a stuffy cab. When they arrived at the hotel, there was a sort of eerie sense to it that made Mac want to run. He ignored his feelings and headed inside, his arm around Kaori's shoulder. When they reached the door of Mac's room, he heard a few voiced inside. Almost like a lecture was going on, or something along those lines.
He shoved the card into the lock and pushed it open. Both stepped inside and all the attention was drawn to them. Everyone from the SSX was sitting on a couch, Moby, Psymon, Luther and Brodi standing before them.
"What's going on?" said Mac.
Seeiah was the first to speak. "Why did you lie about who you were? About everything?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." he covered quickly. Moby handed him a piece of paper that was in his hand. It was a snippet of the e-mail he sent out to Kyle on his first day. And in Luther's hand was Mac's journal over the past year or so.
Mac looked from the four standing at the front, to those sitting, over to Kaori, and back to the e-mail letter. His heart raced and he stared at Brodi, his eyes almost pleading.
"I can't believe I actually . . . believed you were a celebrity. How stupid could I get?" Zoe muttered.
"Face it, mate. You were a nobody from the beginning. And lying won't solve anything. Didn't yer mum ever teach you that? Why Rahzell let you join, I'll never know. But we all know for sure, it's to never trust you."
Suddenly, Moby took out a lighter from his pocket and the picture of Mac and his parents. A flame sparked from the lighter and he held it to the picture, careful not to burn himself. The fire reflected in Mac's eyes and, adrenaline racing through his body, watched as his picture disintegrated from the red flame. As it ate away his past. When it was finished burning, Moby replaced his lighter and scattered the black ashes on the ground, not one ounce of sympathy within himself.
Luther began to read a small portion of Mac's journal aloud and Kaori ran, snatching it right out of his hand. Psymon came over and took it back, patting her on the head. "Don't worry, babe. Leave everything to me."
"Please stop . . ." Mac hoarsely growled. Voices seemed to laugh at him, mock him. Kaori watched him, so upset she couldn't do more. Rage built up in his chest and he lunged at Moby, knocking him over and started to punch him. Slap him. Anything to get him to feel as much physical hurt as he was feeling emotionally. Everyone jumped up but did nothing.
Brodi stepped over and pulled Mac off of him, throwing him at a wall and slapped him once across the face. He held him by his collar, his lips pursed and his eyes glazed over with tears. Brodi dropped him and kicked him once.
There was a stunned silence. Brodi began to stutter a quick apology. Instead Mac held his side, scrambled up and ran from the room. Kaori felt the after breeze of Mac's rush and held Brodi's glare angrily. Her hand flung to her new necklace and she chased after her new boyfriend.
Brodi narrowed his eyes in sadness while everyone else helped Moby up to the bathroom to fix him up a little.
Moby gently put Zoe's feet down and pressed the button to go upstairs. At this point, the people that were in the lobby were staring at them with blank expressions painted upon their face. Except Brodi, who sat, flipping the channels on the TV, obviously not paying attention to whatever was on.
"I . . . uh . . . I'll be right up. Just saw someone I knew. I mean, know." Moby corrected himself, half-drunk. He stumbled over his own feet and sat across from Brodi. He could see that he wasn't in the move to talk. But, still, he persisted. "Hey, Brodi. What's wrong?"
He didn't look up, still flipping through stations. He remained on HBO for about three seconds and proceeded some more. Moby's face turned to one of concern. Brodi never acted like this. He was the optimist of them.
Still not getting any response, Moby sighed and walked off. He followed his routine of getting on the elevator, going to his floor, and going to his room. When he opened the door, there was nothing but silence, except for the soft beat of a techno song from the speakers of the radio in their bedroom. It came to an abrupt stop and Mac came, almost floating, out into the main room. He fell backwards onto the couch and held his head up with his hands.
"Have you ever had such a perfect night?" he muttered to himself, but in a way, talking to the Englishman who was standing, puzzled.
"How many drinks did you have?" he took off his gloves and tossed them behind him.
"I just kissed the best girl I could have ever in a lifetime."
"You didn't answer my question! What's going on?"
Mac seemed to snap from his trance and sat up quickly, rage reflecting from his eyes. "Just because you're my roommate, doesn't mean you're going to find every detail of my life. I know you're dying to put it to good use too."
Moby stumbled back a little, shocked. "I don't know what you mean. What are you talking about, mate?" he faked.
Mac jumped up from the couch and held a single finger to Moby's face. "Just because I'm younger and better than you, doesn't make me exactly stupid. I know what you're up to and I know you hate me. So, let's just stay away from each other for the rest of the time here, and we'll be able to enjoy it. Got me?" the young boy seethed. Moby was at a loss for words, his mouth opening and closing a few times to find just the words he needed to get back at him. Nothing formed and Mac turned away.
For a moment, Moby almost felt sorry for the lad. He was, after all, younger than him by two to three years, and Mac was quite alright for a newbie. But that still didn't change what he had in mind. When he looked at Mac again, he saw the same goofy look that he saw when he first walked in the room. Suddenly, it hit him. Brodi being all upset; Mac being so happy, as well as Kaori. Moby reached behind him and dashed downstairs, hoping Brodi would still be flipping through channels on the TV. Sure enough, he was still sitting there, but now a group of ten-year-old's were arguing on whether MTV or Nickelodeon should be on. Brodi watched them intently, but still remaining out of their way.
"Kaori's going out with Mac, is she not?" Moby whispered. Brodi didn't even seemed fazed. Instead, he continued to watch the squabble. But, he still managed to nod. Moby rested a hand on his ally's shoulder and leaned a little closer to him.
"I saw them kissing outside the club. They didn't know I was there, though."
"How much do you hate Mac right now?" the Englishman leered.
"Enough to get revenge."
"Excellent. Then you won't mind joining Psymon, Luther, and I in a little punishment? He lied to all of us at the club, and I'm sure when you were talking with him, he was trying to play victim. Well, it won't work. How 'bout it? That git will get what's coming to him."
Brodi heaved a heavy sigh and narrowed his eyes while biting his lower lip nervously. It would surely ruin his reputation, but what else did he have to lose? His girl was gone now. "Sure, why not."
They shook hands on it and Moby walked off, feeling happier than he'd ever felt before.
~*~*~
Mac knocked on Kaori's room door and waited for her to answer. Instead, Elise pulled it open and stared at him blankly. He didn't know whether she was mad at him, or whatnot.
"Yeah, I am at Kaori's room, right? I mean, this is the number she gave me." he checked the small scrap of paper that she handed him earlier, and confirmed the number.
"She's in the bathroom, fixing her hair. But if you want, you can come in until she's done. I must warn you, it looks like a twister came through."
A twister wasn't exactly strong enough to cause how messy it was in there. More like an earthquake, combined with a hurricane, strong thunderstorm mixed with hail and three twisters. Clothes were everywhere, dishes piled around the big room, and photos of family members scattered around the coffee table. It was a disaster area.
Mac cleared away some clothes that lay on the couch and sat down, clasping something in his hands, tossing it back and forth. Elise kept taking glances at just what could be in his hands and saw a quick gleam before it disappeared into his right hand.
Kaori skipped out, dressed in a jean skirt and a red turtleneck. Her hair was pulled back into a single ponytail. Her makeup was light, but still noticeable. To get to the point, she looked stunning.
Mac stood up, shoving whatever it was he was holding into his pocket. Kaori didn't notice and slipped her hand into his. Elise watched, almost sick. It was too perfect. They left, but not before the phone rang.
The blonde picked it up and waited until the couple left before she spoke into it. "Yeah, this is Elise. What'dya want?"
A short pause. "Elise? Yeah, it's Moby. Just thought you might wanna stop by. I've got something about Mac you might wanna see. Pass it on to Marisol."his English accent wasn't so strong at the moment. In a way, he sounded American.
"WHAT? No way! I wouldn't talk to her if she was the last person on earth!"
"Don't argue please. I don't need this right now. Just do it!" he rasped. The line went dead and Elise gritted her teeth angrily.
She called up Marisol and forced out what she was going to say. "Yeah, Marisol. Well, Moby wants you to meet him in his room. Now." and she hung up.
~*~*~
Kaori and Mac sat across from each other at a local restaurant. Mac kept his hand in his pocket, playing with what he had put in it earlier. It was hard for him to figure out the right time to give it to her. Kaori had managed to notice he was a bit fidgety, but couldn't place just why.
The whole time was spent in either silence, or a quick word and back to silence. Although they found each other's company rather exhilarating, there just wasn't much to say that night. Soon, it just got to the point where they got so irritated and decided to leave.
They walked outside and Mac stopped. Kaori also stopped, a quizzical look on her face. "Mac, what's wrong? Everything alright?"
He exhaled and pulled out a small, gold chain with a small heart placed in the middle. It twirled and sparkled. Mac moved towards her and placed it around her small neck, hooking the clasp and admiring it. "It was my mom's. I always bring it everywhere I go because we usually got along great. And when I found this at the bottom of my suitcase, I figured you'd want it."
Kaori played with it in her hand delicately. She looked back at him, not smiling. "I shouldn't be wearing this. I shouldn't have this. I mean, this is your mom's. It should stay in your family."
He shrugged. "I don't have any family. Go ahead. Have it. I'd lose it anyway, sooner or later."
She hugged Mac, smiling. "You have no idea how much this means to me."
They made the long walk home, both wanting to enjoy the evening without a stuffy cab. When they arrived at the hotel, there was a sort of eerie sense to it that made Mac want to run. He ignored his feelings and headed inside, his arm around Kaori's shoulder. When they reached the door of Mac's room, he heard a few voiced inside. Almost like a lecture was going on, or something along those lines.
He shoved the card into the lock and pushed it open. Both stepped inside and all the attention was drawn to them. Everyone from the SSX was sitting on a couch, Moby, Psymon, Luther and Brodi standing before them.
"What's going on?" said Mac.
Seeiah was the first to speak. "Why did you lie about who you were? About everything?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." he covered quickly. Moby handed him a piece of paper that was in his hand. It was a snippet of the e-mail he sent out to Kyle on his first day. And in Luther's hand was Mac's journal over the past year or so.
Mac looked from the four standing at the front, to those sitting, over to Kaori, and back to the e-mail letter. His heart raced and he stared at Brodi, his eyes almost pleading.
"I can't believe I actually . . . believed you were a celebrity. How stupid could I get?" Zoe muttered.
"Face it, mate. You were a nobody from the beginning. And lying won't solve anything. Didn't yer mum ever teach you that? Why Rahzell let you join, I'll never know. But we all know for sure, it's to never trust you."
Suddenly, Moby took out a lighter from his pocket and the picture of Mac and his parents. A flame sparked from the lighter and he held it to the picture, careful not to burn himself. The fire reflected in Mac's eyes and, adrenaline racing through his body, watched as his picture disintegrated from the red flame. As it ate away his past. When it was finished burning, Moby replaced his lighter and scattered the black ashes on the ground, not one ounce of sympathy within himself.
Luther began to read a small portion of Mac's journal aloud and Kaori ran, snatching it right out of his hand. Psymon came over and took it back, patting her on the head. "Don't worry, babe. Leave everything to me."
"Please stop . . ." Mac hoarsely growled. Voices seemed to laugh at him, mock him. Kaori watched him, so upset she couldn't do more. Rage built up in his chest and he lunged at Moby, knocking him over and started to punch him. Slap him. Anything to get him to feel as much physical hurt as he was feeling emotionally. Everyone jumped up but did nothing.
Brodi stepped over and pulled Mac off of him, throwing him at a wall and slapped him once across the face. He held him by his collar, his lips pursed and his eyes glazed over with tears. Brodi dropped him and kicked him once.
There was a stunned silence. Brodi began to stutter a quick apology. Instead Mac held his side, scrambled up and ran from the room. Kaori felt the after breeze of Mac's rush and held Brodi's glare angrily. Her hand flung to her new necklace and she chased after her new boyfriend.
Brodi narrowed his eyes in sadness while everyone else helped Moby up to the bathroom to fix him up a little.