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 don't own BeyBlades

Rescue Me

By Kaz

Chapter 4

Mariah stared at the door in front of her, not knowing whether to knock or turn and walk away. Taking a deep breath, she moved forward and tapped the door very lightly. When she heard no sound of movement, she frowned and thought, 'I am sure this is his address. So where is he?'

Growling, she knocked again this time harder, 'I walked for at least half an hour to get here and I will be damned if leave without seeing him.'

Sure enough after her third knock, the door jerked open and a frame filled the doorway. As soon as Mariah recognised the figure, she felt her breath stick in her throat. "Bryan," she whispered, a cold feeling running up her spine. She looked at him with fear in her eyes and took a step back.

"Yah what is it?" he asked in that accent of his.

"Um is Tala here?" she asked meekly, not quite meeting his gaze.

"No he isn't," he stated.

"Oh well do you know when he will be back?"

"Not a clue."

"Oh well never mind. I guess I will come back later, um bye."

And with that, she turned ready to leave, when she heard him say, "You're one of those Blade Breakers friends aren't you?"

Turing around, she looked at quizzically before answering, "Yeah I am, why?"

Bryan snorted before saying, "Why are you so interested in Tala?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Narrowing his eyes, he reached out and grabbed her arm, causing her to gasp out in surprise.

"What are you doing? Get off me?" she cried out, frantically trying to free her arm from his death grip.

"Listen here, stay away from Tala. He doesn't need some pestering cheerleader trying to change him. You and him are from different worlds go back to your and leave us in ours."

As he said this he drew her nearer to him, so near that she could feel his breath on her face, completely sacred, she managed to free her arm and rundown the stairs, tears glistening in her eyes.

As soon as she had rundown one flight, she bumped into someone, not looking up she mumbled a sorry and continued.

"Mariah?" thought Tala as he caught a glimpse of her pink hair, "What was she doing her and was she crying?"

Running up the stairs two at a time, he flung the door of his apartment open, glancing around the room; he saw his lavender haired teammate sitting on the couch watching TV. "What did you say to her?" he demanded, eyes glaring dangerously.

"Nothing but the truth, it's not my fault your little bitch can't handle that."

Tala growled as he heard that, he was about to lunge at him when he remembered, "Mariah, Damn it Bryan I will deal with you later."

As the red head left the room, Bryan shook his head and said, "The stupid idiot better not fall in love that will only hurt the plans for later on, especially now that Voltaire is back."

Tala ran a hand through his hair as he searched in vain for the pink haired girl, "Shit where is she?" he thought, he racked his brain trying desperately to think, when he had a sudden thought, 'Why do I care so much? Why am I so bothered about her? Maybe because she was the only one to give me a chance I mean she really helped me that day at the arena…. The arena that it.'

Turing around a corner, he ran into the direction of the arena where he had first met her, 'I hope she is there.'

As soon as the arena came into site, he sped up the stairs and ran into the main battle stadium.

Glancing around, he looked up to where the audience sat and sure enough, huddled on one bench, was a pink haired figured, all curled up.

Breathing in relief, he walked up the stair and sat down one bench below her.

"Mariah are you okay?" he asked.

"Leave me alone Tala," was the reply.

"Listen ignore Bryan, he's a sadistic idiot."

"I know," she replied, her voice hoarse from crying.

"What did you want? I mean why come to my home?"

"I just wanted to tall to you and invite to dinner with me and the White Tigers."

"No!"

Looking up in shock, she narrowed her red-shot eyes in disbelieve, before asking, "Why? If you are worried about what happened at the party don't be, I talked to Lee he is fine with you, he just want a chance to…" But before she could say anything else, he cut her off with,

"No!"

"What? Didn't you hear me? I said he was fine with you."

"I said NO Mariah that means no."

"Why are you being like this?"

"Why are you so interested in what I do Mariah?"

"I don't know? MAYBE because I am your friend and I happen too care."

There was a silent silence among them when Tala whispered, "My friend?"

"What? Yes your friend silly, what did you think we were?"

"I never had a friend before," he said, still amazed by her outburst.

Smiling at his confused face, she uncurled herself and pulled him into a hug, "You have one now," she whispered, faces merely inches apart, breathing deeply.

Slowly the gap between them decreased little by little, overcome by emotions and due to the heat of the moment, both closed their eyes as the leaned forward and met in kiss.

TBC