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 6

Tala hissed as the cold air struck him. His mind was in turmoil, hormones and thoughts were all over the place.

"Why did I kiss her? Why do I feel so weird around her? Gah, what is happening to me?"

As these thoughts began to pound in his head, he began to walk quickly, almost as if he thought the faster, he walked the quicker the emotions he had running through his body would disappear.

Much to his dismay, all that was accomplished was having every single scenario persist in his mind, tapping him mentally, causing a major headache to build up.

Stopping in defeat, he flung himself down on a bench. Resting his head in his hands, he complemented what was plaguing his mind…

"Mariah," he whispered softly.

He just could not understand it, they had only known each other for less than two days, and already she had wounded up in his every thoughts. He just did not understand it, its not as if he was in love with her or anything, love was for other people not him and after all he barely knew her but from what he did know, he found himself wanting to know more.

"What the fuck is wrong with me?" He said aloud. After all, he was a guy who did not do friends and was hardly likely to chase after women; all he wanted was power…

'But,' he thought, 'He did at one time have power and he still lost.' Maybe Mariah was right, he did lose hope… but then it could be that he did not have any…. At the time of his battle, he was so confident that he would win; hope was nowhere to be found or thought of…

"Who knows, maybe I could do with a friend," he noted as he got up, ready to go home, now happy with the thoughts of the pink haired girl. However, he knew inside that no matter how many friends he could ever get; it would never get rid of the guilt inside of him, of what he had done in the past and whom he had hurt, and no matter what that would forever remain inside of him.

Mariah twirled in front of mirror, giggling as she observed the image in front of her. She looked good; she was pleased to admit… she looked very good. Dressed in a sleek, silk light pink dress, which was slightly darker on the edges, she noticed how it hugged all the right places. The dress had a v-neck, which wasn't too low and was held by two thick straps of material. It was floor length with a huge slit on one side, which reached just near the bottom of her thighs. Wearing the same coloured sandals, she left her make up very basic, and simply wore one single pink diamond necklace with the same stone studs in her ear. A silver bracelet adjourned her hand and to finish off she clutched a small pink bag. Her hair was loose, falling down her back in small loose waves, shining brightly. She looked dressed up but not over the top, after all this was just dinner with her teammates, 'And a certain very cute red head guy,' a voice taunted in her hair.

Blushing, she stepped away from the mirror, smiling as she remembered when Tala had phoned her asking where they were going for dinner. She remembered how astonished she was and how she had to wait for a few seconds to reply, as she one had to get over the shock that he had phoned her. She blushed even more, as she remembered how she demanded how he got her number and then nearly fainted in embarrassment when she remembered they were in a hotel and he had simply asked to be put through. And two the fact he was actually coming. With that, she abandoned her lets just go somewhere casual to lets go somewhere which is casual but dressed up.

The phone conversation between them had gone rather pleasantly after the first initial awkwardness. With a sigh, she sat herself down, she knew she was in danger of falling for him, if she had not already and that was entering dangerous grounds. She really liked him as a friend but she didn't know him very well… but she wanted to get to know him more, but she knew that he had a past, a very dangerous past. "Oh, why do I always fall for the bad guys?" she mumbled.

"Because you have a good heart," a voice behind her rang out. Jumping in shock, she nearly shouted as she saw who was at the door, "Lee?" Remembering what she had just said, she looked down to the floor, she had seen it in her brothers eyes, the concern and the lecture which was about to begin.

"Just promise me one thing Mariah," she heard him say.

"Another promise," she smiled.

"Just don't get hurt," he replied. "I know he has a past, and I will admit he isn't a guy I would like my sister to be with but I don't have a right to choose that, and all I want is for you to be happy."

Smiling, she walked over to him, only to stop at his next words. "I know I haven't been a good brother to you Mariah, my behaviour during the Asian tournaments was atrocious but I am really trying to do the right thing here, and I know that is to make sure you are happy… I just can't help but worry, you're my baby sis."

Seeing his sad smile, she blinked back the tears, which threatened to fall, and wrapped him a hug, "You're the best brother a girl could ever have. You made a mistake Lee but you realised that and did not make it again. I love you Lee, you're always there for me when I need someone, and I don't deserve a brother like you."

Ignoring his 'you are silly remark', she gently patted away some tears, which had fallen out and looked up to see Lee staring at her, a smile in play.

"You look great sis. No doubt this is all for Mister Valkov efforts?"

Dodging the hairbrush, which was flung at him, Lee sprinted out of the room laughing. Mariah shook her head as she looked at the back of her brothers retreating figure, but he was right, some it was for Tala… she jus wished she knew why.

"Mariah, it's time to go, Tala is waiting downstairs for us."

Taking in a deep breath, she walked out of the door, it was show time.

Tala cursed as he rubbed his hands together, his jacket was hardly warm but from what Lee and Mariah had told him his tracksuit would not really do. Now dressed in a pair of smart black trousers and a button down white shirt, he hugged his jacket tighter.

Sighing, he shook his head free from thoughts of a certain girl, really now, he thought it was if his mind purposely wanted to torment him as if it enjoyed seeming him squirm… especially after that dream he had of her. Coughing, he nodded his head to Gary and Kevin, who had come out, happy to see that they were dressed as uncomfortable as he was. He had however, decided that he would no longer think of her, no more would she plague his thoughts. He was so sure of his decision that when he heard her call his name, he turned around determined… only to nearly trip over his feet… she looked amazing.'Damn,' he thought, as he laughed nervously, 'This was not good.'

Mariah was having the time of her life, she was sure she hadn't had this fun much in ages. Casting her thoughts back, she smiled smugly at Tala's reaction to her, once he had gotten out of that weird state he was in, he said that she looked nice… and then he smiled at her. She nearly squealed out loud when she saw that, okay so it had been a very small, hardly there smile but it was a smile, not a smirk and to top it off she had caught him look at her from the corner of his eye.

'The night was going really well,' she noted. Everyone was at ease, well at ease as one could be, but nevertheless everyone seemed comfortable with each other and having a good time. 'I hope nothing spoils tonight,' she mentally prayed. Realising that her drink was empty, she turned to look for a waiter, when she felt her heart stop and her mouth open wide. Everyone at the table noticed her peculiar state and looked towards where she was staring, the entrance. Soon it became clear as to what had caused her to act this way, the entire BBA team had entered the restaurant.

'Oh shit,' thought Lee, 'This wasn't good.'

TBC