Ch. 2
"I really want to talk to Ray. I'll have to make sure Lee isn't around though." Said Mariah quietly to herself.
"Mariah, remember, we make no interaction to the opponent. Got that clear?" asked Lee.
"I think I got it kind of clear. Why no interaction?" asked Mariah.
"We might not be able to control ourselves and end up blurting out our strategy." Answered Lee.
"What about after the battle? There won't be anymore strategy then." Commented Mariah.
"That's an exception. We can't however make friends with them since Ray is a traitor!" said Lee angrily.
"Ray, well…" started Mariah.
"Ray what?" asked Lee suspiciously.
"Nothing." Said Mariah quickly.
"Are you sure?" asked Lee.
"I'm sure." Said Mariah nervously.
"Hmm. I'm going to go practice some more." Said Lee.
'I really hate this rivalry between Ray and Lee. They used to be great buds. I still don't understand what happened.' Thought Mariah.
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'Why is Lee so protective of Mariah? Could it be he has feelings for her?' asked Ray mentally.
"Hey Ray, what are you thinking about?" asked Max.
"Nothing really." Said Ray.
"Okay. Time to go to the tournament and win!" exclaimed Max.
"You sound like Tyson." Said Ray.
"Ray! Can I talk to you for a minute?" asked Tyson.
"Sure." Said Ray.
"I'll try to keep Lee away when you talk to Mariah. Okay?" asked Tyson in a whisper.
"How do you know?" asked Ray.
"That day on the cliff. I know you 2 are friends who can rarely talk because of Lee. I'll keep him busy." Said Tyson.
"Thanks. I owe you one Tyson." Said Ray.
"What are friends for? You're always there for me, it's the least I can do." Said Tyson.
Ray smiled one of his rare, happy smiles.
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'I wish there was someone I could talk to. Lee hates Ray, period. Kevin won't understand. Gary probably will be thinking about food. There's got to be one person I could talk to.' Thought Mariah. 'I know, I'll visit Ray. I just hope Lee won't notice I'm gone.'
"Mariah! Lunch time!" called Gary.
"Be there in a minute!" called Mariah.
"It's really good!" called Kevin.
'There goes my plan of visiting Ray. I'll just have to do it after lunch.' Thought Mariah.
Mariah went to the dining room.
"Finally you came! I was restraining Gary from eating your meal!" exclaimed Kevin.
"Thanks. This is pretty good." Said Mariah.
"We have a victory lunch early." Said Lee. "We got the best cook here to prepare it."
"How do you know we're going to win? The other team is pretty good." Said Mariah.
"Of course we will win! We're the White Tigers!" yelled Lee.
"Just asking." Mumbled Mariah.
'That's it! If Lee doesn't smart up, I'll join the Bladebreakers as well!' thought Mariah.
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"This is going to be great! We'll have a worthy opponent to beyblade!" exclaimed Tyson.
"You sound like Kai gone hyper Tyson." Said Max.
"I'd never be that immature." Said Kai.
"Don't you have fun? Ever?" asked Tyson.
"There's no time for fun. That's what makes me the champ here. I take beyblading seriously." Said Kai.
"Whatever." Said Tyson.
"Ray!" called a female voice.
"Huh?" asked Ray when out of nowhere appeared Mariah.
"Ray, I need to talk to you!" said Mariah like there was an emergency.
"Why are you here?" asked Kai coldly.
"Who's talking to you!?" snapped Mariah.
"What do you need?" asked Ray.
"Mariah! What are you doing here?" asked Lee angrily.
"Lee?" was all Mariah could say.
"I figured you would be here. You weren't anywhere where you should have been." Said Lee.
"I was just…" said Mariah cut off.
"You were just going to betray your team by being with the enemy?" asked Lee with a piercingly cold voice.
"Why do you call them the enemy anyways? Opponents and enemies aren't the same thing!" shouted Mariah before she ran off crying. (I know Mariah fans might not think she'd cry, but wouldn't you in this situation?)
"Mariah!" called Ray and Lee before they glared at each other.
"What just happened here?" asked Kenny since he was away.
"Long story." answered Tyson. "A very long story."
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"What was I thinking? Thinking I could see Ray without Lee knowing." Said Mariah sitting in an alleyway. "I'm pretty sure I love Ray. Lee would never understand that. I know Ray is the only person I can talk to. The White Tigers either wouldn't pay attention or would snap in my face." Mariah was now sobbing like a water fountain.
"Mariah?" asked a male voice.
"Ray?" asked Mariah.
"Yeah, it's me." Answered Ray.
"I've been trying to talk to you for such a long time, but Lee just wouldn't let me leave." Said Mariah.
"Well now I'm here with no Lee to interfere. For the time being." Said Ray in a kind voice.
"Thanks Ray. What I've been meaning to say is…" said Mariah cut off.
"Mariah! Why'd you run off and what is he doing here?" asked Lee about to snap.
"I came here because I see that Mariah has something to say before you came 2 times and rudely interrupted!" yelled Ray.
"You're a traitor Ray. I don't know why Mariah even wants to speak to you! You stole the very bit-beast which the White Tigers revolve around! Now it's time you paid!" shouted Lee.
"I don't think I want to be a White Tiger anymore Lee." Said Mariah before she ran off again.
"Mariah!" called Lee and Ray.
Oh my. What's going to happen now? Does Mariah really want to quit the White Tigers? Will Ray ever get to talk to her without interruptions? Find out next time on Is It Love? Please R+R. Thanks!
