AN: GOMEN! Sorry guys… I couldn't type with my sticky keyboard.. and when I got a new one I had some writers block! But oh well, here is chapter 9! Nice and long for ya =) I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Jade-55 –especially the first part as it was inspired and requested by her, Leina who encouraged me and gave me some idea's for Robert romance (which I'll add is HARD to write!) and lastly Zero.. who will hurt me for doing this wahaha but she drew me yet another picture.. this time for this chapter! http://fate.xantonium.com/LR_coloured.jpg
Here are some replies to reviews I got =) I don't do this very often:
Skya – LOL well there's a bit Enrique/Tala in this chapter… but there won't be any yaoi in this fic… I don't like Beyblade yaoi sorry..
Nana – I don't hate Kai, I actually quite love him.. but he's so much fun when he's an ass! I know hes not a jerk and that he got better in the end.
As with the Friday before the tension in the car was palpable. Neither teenager could think of anything to say, both too shy or nervous to try. Robert fidgeted with the steering wheel and frowned out at the road. He had never been so nervous in his life, actually he hadn't really ever been nervous; his calm and composed personality never let him, but this time it was different.
He was about to do something he had never done before: ask a girl out. The only other girlfriend he had had –some girl back in eighth grade, it lasted a week and he didn't even remember her name– asked him out herself. So he was a bit slow when it came to girls… what guy wasn't? Robert mentally scowled, Enrique wasn't. But Robert wasn't Enrique, and he certainly didn't hit on everything in a skirt. No, flirting with every girl he met just wasn't his style.
Robert took a deep breath and decided that directness was his best option. If he was clear, concise and direct, there could be no misunderstandings and no one could get hurt; after all he was absolutely positive she liked him back. There had been so many clues over the last few weeks, last few days especially, that he had been blind to miss them up until now.
Liika's house was approaching quickly, they were just down the street from it now, and his time was running out. It was now or never, he knew that, because he doubted he would have the courage again any time soon. It sickened him that he was so weak when it came to romance and relationships, and that his courage lacked in that particular department. Trifle things did not usually bother him.
"Um… well, thanks for the ride Robert." Liika said quietly, as Robert brought the car to a stop.
It was now clear that whatever hard feelings she had about being removed from the Beyblade team still lingered. She was generally not this quiet and withdrawn, and it brought a scowl to Robert's face. Hiwatari had made a very large mistake in making an enemy of them. They would show him that discrimination based on gender was foolish and stupid. Robert didn't like to see his friends treated badly, and that was exactly how Hiwatari had treated them.
Robert blinked out of his thoughts as the passenger door to his Grand Am shut behind Liika when she exited the car. Cursing quickly he jumped out of the car, slamming the door behind him. "Liika, wait."
"Hmm…?" Liika paused, turning around slightly and tilting her head to the side.
Her eyes were dead and little like they were when they had left the school, it made him wonder what she had thought about the entire trip back to her house. It was obvious she was more upset about the whole situation than she let the others know. Striding around the car, Robert stopped in front of her, hesitating as he searched his mind for what to say. "Hiwatari…it's still bothering you isn't it?" He said finally, looking down at her.
Liika stared at her feet and shrugged her shoulders. "I shouldn't have been so hot headed Robert, then you wouldn't be off the team. You would have made the team for sure in that ranking tournament…" She replied softly, her voice laced with guilt.
Robert's scowl grew and he further cursed the new boy. "We went over this, it was not your fault. I made a choice, as it was my choice to make. And I believe that it was the right one, do you not?"
"I don't know… I mean you could have-"
"Look," He sighed, he had almost forgotten his whole purpose. "I must be honest with you Liika, I have an ulterior motive for driving you home."
This caught her attention and she looked up, blinking rapidly with confusion, her nose scrunching. "Ulterior motive?"
Robert allowed a small smile to spread across his lips, Adorable. "Yes, ulterior motive."
The guilt seemed to leave her expression as her eyebrows furrowed over her turquoise eyes. "Well? Out with it!"
Seeing her confusion and impatience was worth drawing it out, he decided. It got her mind off that jackass, which was part of the reason he had chosen this particular time to ask her. He hoped maybe he could make her happy again, Liika wasn't Liika with out her flaring temper and laughing eyes. So with a smile tilting the corner of his mouth he said, "I have a question for you."
Her eyebrow arched and lips twitched. "Really."
He let out a laugh at her flat tone, he was getting on her nerves. "Yes."
Liika sighed, the gloomy look once more crossing her face. "Well… could you please hurry it up, I have some sulking as well as some plotting to do."
Robert took a deep breath to steady himself, directness, that was his goal. Just come out and ask her. "Would you," he paused for a second, "do me the honor of being my girlfriend?"
Liika's jaw dropped and her eyes widened, did Robert…just ask her out? A sudden happy feeling bubbled up inside her. A kind of excitement that made her want to dance around in circles and yell at the top of her lungs. All thought's of Kai and his nasty deeds cleared from her mind in the instant the words left Robert's mouth.
He had asked her out.
The guy she had been secretly in 'love' with for three years wanted her to be his girlfriend; she could hardly believe it! "Really?" she whispered in awe.
"Yes."
"Eee!" She squealed jumping up and throwing her arms around his neck.
Robert reeled a bit in shock and had to catch his balance when she threw herself at him. A pleasant reaction, he thought, apparently his suspicions were correct. She recovered quickly though, and pulled away swiftly, turning her face away in embarrassment as she blushed bright red. "Ahh…I mean… I would love to." She murmured; her face tilted down towards her feet.
Robert smiled, his eyes softening as he watched her fidget in awkwardness. The awkwardness would eventually leave them, or at least he hoped it would; he didn't have much experience when it came to girls. He thought, however, that he might help it along a touch. She looked so adorable, her hips swaying back and forth and she moved from foot to foot, studying those same feet. Taking a step forward so he was directly in front of her again, Robert brought his hand up under her chin and raised it so she was looking in his eyes. Then, slowly, allowing her enough time to pull away if she wanted, he brought his lips down to meet hers, in a gentle first kiss. Their first kiss anyway, Robert had suspicious it was not hers, for all that she was a tomboy and it wasn't really his first either.
"Ahem… did we interrupt something?" a boyish voice broke into their own little world, jolting them back to reality.
Liika jumped back from Robert in a flash, her whole face crimson as she whirled to see her cousin and his best friend Kenny standing there, huge grins on their faces –well more like a huge grin on Tyson's face, while Kenny just smiled and looked abashed. Liika quivered with embarrassment, and also the need to kill her sophomore cousin, he just had to show up when Robert was kissing her! Stupid little brat…
Robert rolled his eyes and placed a hand on the small of Liika's back to calm her. "As a matter of fact you did."
Tyson's grin grew and he pranced over to where his cousin and Robert were standing –which was right in the middle of the walk way that lead to the front door of their dojo. "Well, ex-cuuuse me! You two are kinda in the middle of the side walk ya know, that's not exactly a private place!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms behind his head and winking at Liika, who wanted to die from embarrassment by now.
"You may be right." Robert replied. "I will leave now, as it seems the moment is lost." He nodded slowly at Liika and smiled, "See you tomorrow Liika." And started to walk back to his car.
"Wait!" Liika said, catching his hand as he passed her. "Um…here." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. She would have blushed more if it was humanly possible. "Thank you." She whispered.
Robert said nothing but sent her a smile before continuing on his way, getting into his car and driving away. Liika watched his car disappear down she sighed wistfully. This horribly crappy day had turned out pretty good, if she did say so herself. She was once again jolted out of her reverie as Tyson's piercing voice began to sing, "Liika and Robert sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
"Oh that's it! You are so dead you little brat!" She screeched whirling and taking after him at a run.
Tyson eeped and started his escape towards the front door, however he never stopped his song for a moment. "First comes love! Then comes marriage! Then comes the baby in the baby carriage! AHAHAHAH!"
"DIE!"
Kenny sighed and shook his head, Tyson would never learn to keep his big mouth shut and just walk discreetly away from situations like this. Now he was going to end up with several bruises to show for his efforts at 'subtleness'.
"Max's mom said yes!" exclaimed an excited Mariah, as she plunked down in the seat beside Liika the next morning in Family Management.
"Huh?" Liika said intelligently, blinking at Mariah.
Mariah frowned, raising a pink eyebrow. Liika was so out of it, when she had come in the blue haired girl was just sitting at the table, staring into space; she had obviously been there for a while –she didn't show up at the study room during break.
"New team…Max's mom sponsoring… said yes? What's with you? You seem so out of it. You were late for school this morning –Enrique told me, and you didn't come to the study room at break." Mariah questioned curiously.
Liika flushed slightly and laughed nervously. "Oh nothing… I just slept in is all!"
Mariah didn't believe a word of it. Something was going on, and she wanted to know what. Then suddenly she remembered that Robert had driven her home yesterday, that was it! Grinning slyly, Mariah nudged Liika with her elbow. "It has something to do with Robert doesn't it?"
"Huh? N-no way!" Liika stammered, covering her face with her hands to hide her blush.
"I don't believe you! What happened? Did he ask you out?? Did he kiss you??" Mariah leaned forward, eager to know what was going on.
"Er…yes." Liika answered, knowing full well that Mariah would not give up until Liika had answered her questions.
"Yes to what?"
"Both."
"OH MY GOD! AHH!" Mariah yelled jumping up and throwing her arms around her friend. "He kissed you?! I'm so happy for you! Way to go Ika!"
Liika's face was bright red, but she still laughed along with Mariah, hugging her with joyous excitement. The two girls giggled girlishly, celebrating the new arrival to the dating world.
"So tomboy found a boyfriend, tell me Tomoda, did you have to pay him to kiss you?" A voice sneered from beside them.
The two girls broke a part and glared at the new arrival. Kai stood there, binder under his arm, smirking at them, eyes roaming over Liika with malicious distaste. Liika clenched her teeth in effort not to retort anything rude enough to get her kicked out of class; after all in this class she was married to the ass. "Get bent you moronic asshole." She finally retorted turning her head.
"Leave her alone Hiwatari." A low voice that bordered on angry growled from the next table.
Kai smirked over at Robert, who was glowering at him, while his baby lay on the table crying. Taking the seat on the other side of Liika –putting him just in front of Robert, Kai said arrogantly, "You're forgetting that in this class, she's my wife, and therefore I can say what I want. So get lost Jagen, you're neglecting your child."
Liika's fists tightened, and once again she felt the overwhelming need to hit his haughty face. At least his eye was still black and blue, reminding her that she did in fact get one good hit in. When ever she was around him she felt the need to hit him. "Can't I file for spousal abuse?" She complained loudly, causing the rest at their table to laugh.
"Look at it this way Iki, at least your not married to a person of the same sex." Enrique consoled lightly.
"Yeah well, I would rather be married to a girl than this… it." Liika snorted.
Kai's slate eyebrow rose as he lounged low in his seat. "It? That hurt my love. That kind of language doesn't fit a couple as much in love as we are." He cooed, flicking a strand of hair out of Liika's face in a seemingly tender way.
Liika was getting more and more annoyed by the minute. Not only did the ass take her place, kick her off the team, and make fun of her… now her mocked her, acting as if he actually was a loving caring husband. She was about to say screw the 15% and just take the B. Instead she slapped his hand away and started to reply when Miss G came in, sparkly and bubbly, chirping like a bird in full song.
"Alright class let's get started! Today we will start our first exercise for our married couples! But first I would like for some of you to read your journals from last night. Who wants to start?" The teacher asked smiling at her class.
The first and only hand that shot up was that of Mariah who stood elegantly and shot a glare at Rei. Apparently she was still upset about the day before. Rei looked sheepish and sunk lower in his seat.
"Ahem.
Dear Journal, September 23, 2002
My wonderful new life has just begun. Oliver is a wonderful husband, and I'm so happy I married him, and not that other boy." She paused, sending another meaningful look at Rei. "Our honeymoon went exceptionally well, and I had an excellent time in France –that's where we decided to go, with my loving and ever so handsome husband Oliver. I am most pleased about my last name change, Du Bois adds so much culture to my name, much more so than that other name. I feel that this marriage will last a long time!" She finished, huffing and sitting back down.
Oliver was blushing hotly by this point and trying to duck his head from the now glaring Rei. Mariah stuck her nose up in the air and grabbed Oliver's hand, making sure Rei could see it.
Rei bit his tongue, he knew she was angry at his choosing Kai's side yesterday, but she didn't have to flaunt herself with another guy! Even if it was only for a school project. He could have done the same thing with his partner, but he was already in enough trouble with his girlfriend and he didn't need to add anymore, besides, he didn't particularly care for Jenny Silverton and did not want to encourage any unwanted attentions.
"Um… alright then, thank you for that Mrs. Du Bois, it was very….passionate." The teacher shook her head, "Now who else would like to read?" When no one volunteered Miss G. picked someone at random, well not really random as she was curious to what the girl she picked had to say. "Liika, I would like you to read you entry if you please. I am interested because you seemed so against your pairing yesterday."
"I'm even more against it today," Liika muttered under her breath so only Mariah and Kai could hear it. Kai's face became voice of emotion, his chestnut eyes glinting flatly at her. Liika shot him a glare and started to read.
" Dear Journal, September 23, 2002
I think I have made the biggest mistake of my life. Marrying that oof of a boy was surely the worst choice I could have ever made. For our honeymoon, he took me to Las Vegas…Las Vegas, can we get any less romantic? And on top of that, he spent most of the time gambling –losing all of our money and forcing us to return home two days early. He doesn't have a job and he drinks entirely too much. I'm starting to think I shouldn't have gotten drunk at that party…How did we end up at that chapel anyway? Oh well, I can't even get an annulment…I'm sure you can guess why. Oh and I will mention –he's a lousy lay." The last sentence she add-libbed on pure impulse –it felt good to burn him like that and it sent the class into hysterical laughter.
Kai's face turned a mottled purple with rage as those around him laughed, Liika smirked and plunked down in her seat, sending him a triumphantly smug look. Kai glowered, he couldn't believe she would write something like that. It made him wish he had actually done the assignment, so he could write something equally nasty about here. Alcoholic indeed!
"Miss Tomoda –or should I say Mrs. Hiwatari as that's who you are in this class, that last part was entirely not needed." The teacher scolded, but Liika just shrugged; it was well worth the scolding to see the look it brought to Kai's snotty face. "Mr. Hiwatari, I know I'm probably going to regret this, but will you please read yours?" The teacher asked, addressing Kai.
Kai shrugged and said in an indifferent voice that masked his anger perfectly, "Didn't do it."
Miss G. sighed and rubbed her temple. "I'll let you go this once, but please do the homework in the future, I'll expect two from you tomorrow. And remember it affects both your grades."
Liika sneered at Kai who smirked back. So there was away to get back at her, unfortunately it back-lashed on him, too bad, it was obvious she cared about her grades. "Anyway, moving on. I think its time to start the first exercise, remember I expect logical interaction between spouses." While she said this she stared directly at Kai and Liika who huffed and turned away from each other. "I think we'll start with our homosexual marriage, Tala, Enrique please step up here."
Tala and Enrique brought themselves to their feet avoiding touching or even looking at each other at all costs. Miss G had cleared a little area at the front of the class and added a couch and small coffee table to represent the living room of a house or an apartment. "Alright gentleman, have you decided who was going to take who's name?" Miss G. asked stepping back into the group as the boys stepped into the set.
"He's taking Valkov." Tala stated, crossing his arms.
"No way! I'm not going to be the bitch! You be the bitch!" Enrique protested loudly.
Tala glared then growled, "No ones taking a name, we're keeping our own."
The teacher nodded then pulled out a card from a group of cards she held in her hand. "Alright then boys this is your scenario, Tala has lost his job because his employer found he was gay. Enrique you are your relationship's version of a housewife, and the two of you depend completely on Tala's income for your survival. Now, act as if this happened to you."
"See, you are the bitch." Tala smirked.
"It's not fair!" wailed Enrique before sitting on the couch and pouting.
"That's enough you two, and I don't want to hear that word again. Start." The teacher cut in before taking a seat in the middle of the aisle.
Tala left the room for a moment then came strutting in, an angry look on his face. Enrique had since picked up a newspaper that he was now holding up in front of his face, thumbing the pages in boredom. When Tala came and dropped himself beside Enrique, Enrique looked up mildly surprised –the act was on. It was an unspoken challenge between the two of them.
Ever since they were children Enrique and Tala had always tried to out do each other in everything that they did together, be it mini-league baseball or drama, only one could be better than the other. And so, like all other things this project turned into a competition.
"Whatever is the matter pumpkin? You look so angry and your home hours early!" Enrique exclaimed, setting down the newspaper and frowning in deep concern, his voice taking on the attributes of a stereotypical gay male. If he was going to be the bitch, he was going to do it well.
Tala resisted the urge to shudder, oh it was on now! "My ass of a boss fired me because I am gay!" He muttered back, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Oh no!" Enrique wailed, bringing his hands to his cheeks. "Whatever will we do now?"
This caused Tala to jump to his feet and glower down at Enrique, who blinked innocently. "I lost my job due to discrimination and all you're worried about is money?!" Tala demanded.
"I didn't mean it like that sweety! Please calm down! You know I'm always behind you! I-" Enrique faultered in his next words then took a big breath and just said them, "I love you!" He glomped onto Tala, hugging him tightly. "We'll get through this together! ^-^"
The class broke out into giggles as face turned scarlet and he stuttered not knowing what to say. Enrique had won the round. "Alright, stop. Good start boys, I'm proud. Please sit down."
Enrique let go of the mortified Tala and gratefully returned to his seat plunking down in his seat. Tala followed slower, glaring at Enrique as he did so. Liika and Mariah grinned at Enrique and gave him the thumbs up, which he returned with a wink. Kai raised his eyebrow at Tala who rolled his eyes and shrugged.
"Ok next up, Kai and Liika."
Both teens stood, their eyes meeting for a split second. It was on.