Pairing: Tala x Mariah

Rating: PG-13

Summary: After the world championships, Mariah and Tala have an unexpected meeting...could this meeting change them both?

Disclaimer: I do not own BeyBlades

Rescue Me

By Kaz

Chapter 2

Mariah winced as she quietly opened the door to the hotel room, trying desperately not to wake up her brother or teammates. Slightly dazed from the conversation she had just had with the enigmatic red head, she quickly changed into her nightclothes and was about to crawl into her single bed when a voice rang out.

"Where the hell have you been?"

'Busted,' she thought before turning around and breathing deeply. "Hey Kevin, what are you doing still up?"

"I needed to go to the bath room, but you still haven't answered my question! Where have you been?"

"I went for a walk you know that!"

"You left at 11, it's now nearly 1 am, and you couldn't have just been walking all this time! Are you hiding something Mariah?"

"No Kevin of course not. Now please, I want to go to bed so good night."

"Good night Mariah." Kevin replied but not before thinking, 'I hope you haven't done anything stupid.'

The next day as the White Tigers waked towards the BBA world championship party, Mariah couldn't help but feel slightly afraid. 'What if he comes? What if he doesn't? Oh I hope I did the right thing, hey what am I thinking? Of course, I did… I hope.'

"Hey Mariah, will you snap out of it! Honestly we are here."

"Sorry Lee," mumbled Mariah, before taking a breath and entering the hall.

As soon as she entered, she could only simple stand there and gasp, the way they had decorated the place was wonderful. The wall's were painted with all pictures of the bit beast's, with the lighting soft to give each bit beast a glow making them almost seem alive on the wall. Towards the left of the hall was a monstrous buffet table, no doubt just for Tyson. Smiling, she heard her teammates leave her, but instead of following them, she walked towards the wall of bit beast greeting people along the way.

Stopping at the picture of Galux, she glanced at the picture in wonder before running a hand along the wall.

"It beautiful, just like its owner," said a voice from behind her.

Jumping in surprise, she turned around and smiled once she saw who it was. "Oh H-hi Ray," she whispered, while nervously placing a strand of lose hair behind her ear.

"Hey Mariah, wow, you look really nice."

Smiling she ran a hand through her hair, while her other teams mates had worn their usual attire; she had decided to wear something slightly more dressed up. She was now clothed in a metallic purple dress with a straight neck just ending below her knee, and her hair was out if its usual ribbon and loose.

"T-thanks Ray, you look nice too." She replied, a slight blush gracing her cheeks.

"Huh? I wear this everyday? Well, I suppose I do look good everyday."

Laughing at the joke, she punched him lightly on the arm, when Ray caught her arm and asked "Hey you wanna dance?"

Surprised, she nodded in delight, and walked out to the dance floor with Ray.

As they began to fall into the melody of the music, Mariah thoughts began to wonder, 'Where is he? Is he not coming? Gah, why do I even care? I mean it's not like I feel anything for him… so why am I so desperate to see him?'

"Hey Mariah you okay?"

Mariah jolted out of her thoughts and was about to answer Ray, when they both heard.

"What are you doing here?"

Turing to face the door Mariah's eyes widened in joy….he had come.

True, there at the door stood the Russian red head with an expressionless look on his face.

"I am asking you again," said Robert head held high, "What are you doing here?"

Tala didn't reply he just scanned the room until his eyes rested on one person, frowning slightly at the Chinese boy who had his arm around her waist, he was about to reply when,

"I invited him."

Everyone in the silent room turned to face the pink haired girl.

"You what?" exclaimed Kai, while Ray looked at her baffled.

"I invited him," she declared again. However, this time her voice was slightly wavering, the looks her brother and other teams were giving her was beginning to scare her.

"Well it doesn't matter," exclaimed Michael, "You are not welcome here."

"Michael!" exclaimed Judy.

"What it's true, they stole our bit beast and not to mention they could have seriously hurt us."

Hearing the other team's mummer in agreement, Tala's heart somewhat sank, he knew coming here was a mistake,

"Fine then," he stated before turning and leaving.

"No Tala! Wait!" Exclaimed Mariah, before turning to run after him, when some one grabbed her hand.

"Ray let go!"

"No Mariah! What the hell is going on? How can you talk to... well that."

"What is wrong with you people? He made a mistake! We have all done that sometime in our lives, he came here to make peace, yet you lot just didn't even give him a chance."

"People just can't change over night Mariah." said a female voice.

Turing to face the orange haired girl, Mariah answered back with anger building up in her eyes,

"True, but you have to give them a chance to try."

Seeing that no one was listening to her, she freed her hand and began to chase the lone boy.

"Tala wait," she screamed. Seeing that he had stopped, she ran up to him and said, "Tala please don't leave, stay."

"And why should I Mariah? You heard what they all said back there."

"You have to give them a chance to accept you."

"Did they give me a chance?"

Mariah felt silent at this.

"Yeah exactly." And with that, Tala turned and left the girl.

"No will you..." she started.

"Let him go Mariah." Turing around, she saw her teammates and Ray looking down at her disapprovingly.

"But…"

"No let him go and while your at it listen to this stay away from him got that?"

"But Lee."

"No Mariah, you will stay away from him!" Stated Lee, before grabbing her hand and hauling her away, leaving the pink girl to think, 'But I can't.'

TBC