AN: SORRY! Gomen Nasai for the long wait.. I got side tracked with my other two fics! XD Anyway here is chapter 6… ^-^ It goes out to Aquarius Tenchi who threatened me with bodily harm if I didn't get it done by tomorrow. Well here it is, tonight! Wahaha
Oh and it has come to my attention that some of you may not know how to pronounce Liika's name. Well its Lee-kah, hope that cleared things up a bit. R+R!
Just before dinner Kai got a call from one of the guys on the beyblade team he was now captain of. Kai wasn't quite sure how he had gotten his number but shrugged it off; it didn't really matter anyway. The guy –Valkov… Tala Valkov, he remembered, asked him if he wanted to meet him and a few of his friends at the small diner in the middle of town. He agreed out of sheer boredom, there was nothing better to do and it would get his mother off his back about making friends. So after a rather tedious, and tense meal with his family Kai got into his black Mercedes and drove to the appointed meeting place. When he got there, he stepped out of the car into the dark parking lot and studied the lit up diner front.
It was a fairly small building made of brick, the windows were old, but perfectly clean and the chipped sign that ran from one end of the building to the other, read in clear painted green letter: "DUBOIS' FAMILY DINER". He resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the obvious dive and instead settled for a shake of his blue haired head. What could he expect from a backwater town like Bakuten? Not much apparently.
Smothering a groan, he caught sight of Tala and three of his friends congregating towards the side of the building. Tala nodded at him as he approached and then they all made for the door.
Kai wasn't really paying attention to what they were saying, just politely returned their greetings with a nod of his head and opened the front door first. The other four had lagged and Kai was not one to dilly dally outside, it was the middle of September and it was 8:15 at night; it was too chilly in his opinion, to be outside. It didn't help him any that he had changed from his white dress shirt and green trouser uniform into a pair of dark gray, slightly baggy jeans and a black sleeveless shirt. He had neglected to grab his jacket from his car.
Stepping through the door, he wasn't watching where he was going and collided with someone shorter and obviously more feminine then himself –he could smell her perfume. Catching hold of the girl's arms before she could fall, he found himself staring into large turquoise eyes.
His stare quickly turned into a glare as he released her arms and exclaimed at the same time as she did, "You!"
The two stood glaring at each other, faces maybe a foot a part, ignoring the world around them. It was only when the other four pushed in behind Kai that their attention was diverted elsewhere.
"What are you doing here?" Liika demanded, placing her hands on her hips. Her gaze did however waver toward his left eye, where the skin underneath it was starting to turn a blackish-bluish sort of color.
Kai crossed his arms over his chest and prepared to answer when another voice volunteered sarcastically, "I do believe this is still a free country Tomoda."
Liika's eyes darted to a shorter boy that stood just behind and off to the side of Kai. Beside him were Michael and Johnny and in front of, off to the side almost standing between herself and the tall blue haired boy was Tala, who was looking a bit too amused for her tastes. He was smirking at her, his eyes running up and down her body assessing her appearance. Scowling at him briefly she replied to the shorter boy, "Shut your trap Mitchell, I don't believe I asked you."
Ian shrugged and tossed his head, apparently not caring for anything she had to say. Kai turned his head slightly and studied the other members of his 'group'. None of them seemed to hold too much like for the blue spit fire, except for maybe Michael who was smiling in pure amusement, rather than the almost malicious amusement that graced the faces of Ian, Tala and Johnny. In turn the blue haired wench, didn't seem to care for them either. Hm, the interesting relationships that sprung up in small towns, Kai mused silently, observing the whole situation. True, it revolved around him, but for the moment her attention was elsewhere, and what better way to learn about his new found enemy than to study her as she interacted with people she didn't like, yet had grown up with?
Tala began to chuckle low in the back of his throat and then started to circle her like a vulture. "My, my, my. What do we have here? Bakuten Highschool's very own little tomboy wearing make up?" His eyes widened in mock surprise and his hand flew to his mouth in over exaggerated drama. "Whatever could have caused this drastic change in appearance?" A slow grin began to creep over his face. "Have you and Sattiay finally stopped your foreplay and gone for it?"
"What?" Liika asked incredulously, although secretly she was confused. What did the red headed havoc causer mean?
Mariah meanwhile, surveyed the situation with extreme dislike. First off, she didn't care for how Tala was circling her best friend, hell she didn't like him period. Their relationship had ended badly the year before and they ended up hating each other, or she hated him at least. She herself had known Tala since kindergarten, Ian since grade one, Johnny, since almost birth and Michael since grade two. And then there was the blue haired boy that was also watching the situation unfold with a keen interest. Mariah narrowed her eyes, he was studying, learning… but why? She decided to watch him closely, she didn't trust something about this young man.
Tala laughed and was soon joined by Ian and Johnny, Michael smiled a bit but didn't make a sound. Liika's confusion began to show and she stamped her foot petulantly. "What are you laughing at? What do you mean "gone for it"? Gone for what?"
This caused the three boys to laugh even harder, Michael now chuckling a bit and even Kai allowed a large smirk to cross his face. For a girl who professed to be tough she sure was naïve. Mariah, not being able to stand her friends confusion, glared at the boys and leaned over to whisper in her friend's ear.
"They are insinuating that you and Enrique are in a physical relationship… a…sexual one." As she leaned back she caught sight of the transformation of emotions on Liika's face.
The confusion turned into shock at first, then disbelief and finally anger. Her face scrunching into a dark scowl and she turned her now smoldering turquoise eyes onto the still chuckling Tala. Growling she poked him in the chest. "You, are a sick and demented pervert."
Tala smirked and turned his eyes to the now approaching group, as well as the frowning restaurant patron. The short green haired woman frowned and clucked her tongue in reprimand. "Tala and Liika please take this outside."
Bowing his head in apology, Tala spoke with respect. "I'm sorry Mrs. Dubois for causing such a disturbance. We'll go outside and finish our discussion." His own turquoise eyes flashed towards Liika clearly stating, You want me, come and get me, and with that he stepped out the door, followed closely by Johnny, Ian and Michael.
Kai took it all in, not missing a single emotion that flickered over her face, or a word she said. Eventually he would learn something he could use against her, it was only a matter of time. Quickly he followed his 'friends' out the door, noticing also that Liika and the pink haired girl followed as well and that the rest of their group were not far behind.
Mariah grabbed her friend's arm after they had exited the building and were now standing under one of the streetlights. "What are you doing? You know you should just ignore him when he starts. He delights in tormenting you!" Mariah exclaimed in a loud whisper.
Liika opened her mouth to complain when Enrique's arm slid around her waist and his confused voice asked, "What's going? What did that moron say that has you and Mariah so worked up?"
Liika's face scrunched into a scowl. Noticing her other friends crowd around her she said in a very pissed off voice, "He was insinuating things he shouldn't have been."
Enrique blinked in further confusion, but Tala's voice cut in on their conversation.
"So it is true then, you have finally sealed the little game you call a friendship." Tala snickered, leering at Enrique's arm that was wrapped protectively around his friend's waist, a habit he had picked up in eight grade to scare away any guys he felt weren't good enough for his best friend.
Enrique's eyes widened as he pieced together just what exactly Tala had been insinuating and dropped his arm immediately. What the hell? Tala had known them as long as they had known each other! What could possibly make him believe that they were… intimate? The very thought disturbed him. "Tala, how long have you known us? What could possibly make you think that me and Liika are…er have sealed anything?" He asked scratching his blond head in confusion.
Tala switched his piercing aqua stare from the flustered girl to the blond skater, his smirk slowly turning into a lazy, insinuating grin. "Well then if the make up's not for you…. I wonder who its for?" He sing songed, turning his eyes to the rest of her group, eyeing each guy in turn. "One of them maybe? Or have you turned the other way my dear Liika?" His eyes finally resting on Mariah, who bristled beside Liika.
"WHAT?" The two girls screeched at once all but pouncing on the now laughing Tala.
Tala howled in laughter, grasping his sides in mirth at the looks on the two girls' faces. It was priceless! He heard his friend laugh and chuckle behind him, including the newest member of his group Kai. Tala smirked internally, so the icy captain could laugh, good. He knew Kai was trying to learn how to best get on Liika's nerves, well who better to learn from the master himself? He had been torturing her for seventeen years, and was damn good at it, if he did say so himself. Tala knew very well that Liika and Enrique hadn't started sleeping together or that she had turned gay all of a sudden, but he was curious as to why she was all of a sudden where make up when it was so out of character for her to do so.
Liika's left eye was twitching intensely and her fists were clenched. Breathe Liika, breathe. He's purposely trying to get to you, don't let him know your angry. She thought, trying desperately to reign in her feeling, failing miserably. "You see his black eye," she gritted out pointing at Kai, "Well you can have one to match if you don't shut the hell up!"
Tala laughed harder, wiping tears out of the corner of his eyes. Kai looked less than pleased at the mention of his eye, but never the less was still smirking. Johnny, Ian and Michael laughed right along with Tala, all clutching their sides with amusement.
Liika's group watched with growing annoyance and fury. Rei and Lee were scowling at the boys that were laughing so hard, and Oliver frowned, he didn't like to see anyone made fun of, least of all his friends. Enrique and Mariah stood protectively at Liika's side glaring. Robert, finally having enough of the whole situation, stepped forward he pushed Enrique out of the way to stand beside Liika, placing his hand on the small over her back and narrowed his eyes at Tala. "You're sick insinuations disgust me Valkov, I'm sure you have better things to do than intimate lewd things about Liika's life outside of a diner, like working on your blading skills. And as for the rest of you, I expected as much from Mitchell and McGregor, but you Parker? I held higher than that." Robert sniffed in abhorrence.
Michael looked down and refused to meet the other boys eyes, a small tinge of red crossing his cheeks.
Moving on Robert's crimson eyes fell on the new boy, who was smirking almost as if he knew something. "You, you don't even know her, how can you judge her so?" He said, distain clear in his voice.
Kai closed his eyes for a second and crossed his arms over his chest. Opening his eyes again his own chestnut eyes met the slightly lighter eyes of the other boy. "She hasn't exactly given me any reason not to judge her." He said with a sneer, his eyes shifting towards Liika to make sure she knew that he was referring to his eye, she, however, just sneered back.
Kai was inwardly smirking as he studied how fast the tall lavender haired boy came to the little tomboys rescue, how he was standing and where his hand was placed. He noticed as well that since his injection in the 'conversation' her face had turned from the purplish red of anger to the rosy pink of embarrassment. So… that's whom the make up was for. He would bet money that Robert had picked her up from her house, other wise why bother with the make up? Heh. Little towns were so easy to figure out.
"Oh my god, is that a Mercedes?!" A loud voice from behind Robert exclaimed before someone took off running to a nearby black car.
The entire group looked over to see a blond in baggy cloths ooing and awing over the brand new black Mercedes that was parked under a light some fifteen feet away. Kai snorted and strode over to the car as well, the rest trickling along as well, the argument apparently forgotten in Enrique's outburst.
"Yes, it is a Mercedes." Kai stated calmly, looking at his car with pride, there was not a scratch on it.
"Wow cool!" Enrique continued to ogle the car as the rest of the guys, save Oliver and Robert, did the same.
They all shot questions at Kai, looking the beautiful machine over thoroughly. Kai for the most part smirked and answered the questions calmly, pleased that his car could stir such a reaction, from even her best friend.
Liika seethed as she watched the boys fawn over the car. It was just a stupid car! She didn't see what the big deal was. Even being a tomboy she had no interest in cars, least of all cars owned by snobby, private school rejects. And Enrique! He started it! The traitor! She continued to brood until she felt a hand land on her shoulder. Looking up she smiled when she saw Robert frowning in the direction of the ogling boys. "Let's go, we can meet the others at the ally. We'll hang out there until it starts." He said removing his hand to fish in his pocket for his keys.
Mariah caught Liika's hand and stuck her tongue out at Ian who just happened to look over to see what they were doing. "We'll leave boys to their toys. Hey guys, when finish your little drooling session, meet us at the ally. Oh and ditch your pals somewhere along the way k?" She said with a cutesy tweak at the end.
The guys barely even acknowledged her, and continued their inspection of the fancy car. Mariah squeezed Liika's hand again and led her to Robert's car where Oliver was already seated in the back seat. Pushing her towards the passenger's side, Mariah opened the back door and got in. Liika sent one last glare in the direction of Kai's car before she too got in the car. With out pause, Robert put the car into reverse, backed out of the parking spot and drove away, leaving the drooling boys behind.