TEN REASONS

Chapter 6 - Why I owe Ray big time

Tyson's POV

Right imagine this, you are alone on a beach with your crush, standing backs facing each other, stripping down to your underwear and are about to go for a star lit swim. That is exactly what I; Tyson Granger is doing right now. And as great as it sounds I have this feeling I think of nervousness, kind of like that feeling you have when you're about to do a dare your friends dared you to do.

Mariah's POV

I couldn't believe it. I was stripping down to my pink bra and undies, five metres away from my crush. I smirked as I thought of what Kevin would think if he saw us. Probably not much, he'd most likely faint. I abandoned my clothes and made my way into the ocean without glancing in Tyson's direction. I feel anxious, like some unknown force is testing me. I shiver, from what I cannot be exact. Is it the cool water or the state of my nerves? I can't tell.

Tyson's POV

I paddle in the water and heard her gasp and mutter it's cold. And my inner child took over and ordered me to splash her. Like I said my inner child took over. She shrieked and splashed me back.

"Aw, doesn't the lil kitty like the water," I tease, smirking at the steam radiating from her. And with that comment we unofficially declared war against each other with our weapons being the water.

Mariah's POV

We continued splashing each other for ages, than it went really dark. A cloud had blanketed the moon, forbidding its glow to beam out. I splashed for a little but quickly realised that I was splashing the water itself.

"Ty where are you?" I call, but my call was left unanswered. "Tyson!?! Ahhh!" I scream as I am pulled by my ankles and sink into the ocean. I kick my feet and hit something and air bubbles float up from underneath me and my legs are freed. I smirk knowing sub-consciously I had gotten my revenge on Ty.

I swim up to the surface and wait for him… DUNK!

"That'll teach you for scaring the life out of me!"

Tyson resurfaces for the second time that evening and coughs out the water which he swallowed.

"Did I scare you?" he says innocently, "Oops."

He figures out my answer from my angry silence.

"Oops?" I repeat, cocking one of my eyebrows.

"Is that all you can say for whacking my head?" He says in a mocking tone. Cunning prick he turned the blame on me! Oh well at least I kicked him in the head.

"Oops," I reply, exactly like he did before. He chuckles a bit and I smile. The cloud from the moon blows away and I notice he still has the fluro pink band-aid on his chest. "Why haven't you taken that band-aid off yet? I thought you didn't like pink?" I query as I swim closer and poke his chest.

"Cause it'll hurt," he defends.

"No it won't," I challenge.

"Yes it will,"

"No it won't. I used to wax my legs and the strips are like ten times bigger than a band-aid." I reason.

"Key word, used to," he fights back.

"That's because the hair on my legs doesn't grow back anymore," I tease.

"Oh," is all he manages to say. Then we both went silent and I found myself peering into his ruby eyes. My heart raced faster than the speed of light. If I were on a heart beat monitor my heart would be beating so fast it sound like one long beep.

Tyson's POV

My eyes connected with Mariah's. That's when I realised how close our bodies were, but it didn't feel close enough. Our breaths mingled together, dancing in the small gap between us. My eyes flickered momentarily to her luscious strawberry pink lips and than back to those amber eyes. I have to taste those lips, I want to taste them, and I need to taste them. The space were our breaths danced shortened. Each inward breath of hers magnetically pulling me in closer, I closed my eyes as I leaned in and softly pressed my lips against hers. A warm, fuzzy feeling flowed inside of me. Her lips were like candy they tasted sweet.

Mariah's POV

Ty glanced down to my lips then back to my eyes and he started to lean in. He is going to kiss me and then I went all foggy, I couldn't think. My heart skipped a beat as he pressed his lips upon mine. Those view moments were how lips locked were pure bliss. Then he breaks it off all of a sudden. "Mariah, are you sure you want this? I don't want things to be weird between us."

"Yeah," I answer automatically, surprising myself at how much I like Tyson that not a trace of doubt crossed my mind. His lips withered into a small smile and all his previous concerns vanished, evaporated by the air itself. I think I've got my answer. "Besides… I would be blocking if I didn't let you kiss me," I state seductively.

"Then make sure you don't block this," he advises in a husky voice. Once again he leans in and presses his lips against mine, though this time with more passion and much more firmly. His tongue flickered against my lips asking for entry inside. I granted him access and welcomed him with my tongue. His arms snaked around my waist causing all the space between our two bodies to disappear. I wrapped my arms around his neck as I deepened our kiss. Our tongues wrestling each other in a friendly competition fighting for dominance. Unfortunately being humans our lungs scream for air, breaking our kiss.

Tyson's POV

Panting softly she rested her head upon my shoulder and I kissed her crown. She shivered a little form the cool ocean and tightened her grip around me.

"Come on, let's go home before you catch a cold." I suggest and she nods in agreement. I loosen my grip of her and we walk back in silence to the shore. Out of respect I fight my desire to stare at her as her body rose from the water. I turn to my clothes and we dress facing opposite directions.

"You dressed?" I ask once fully clothed.

"Yeah," We both turn to face each other and begin our walk back, hand in hand in utter silence. Both of us reflecting on the events that had occurred in the previous hour. It was pretty much like that on the way home too. Neither of us having any words to speak. I guess we said it best when we said nothing at all. I pulled up in my drive and glanced over to her, she's fast asleep. No wonder why she had nothing to say. I hop out and pick her up gently and tuck her into bed again, like the previous night. Though this time she has a smile plastered on her face.

"I'm not that boring am I? This is the second time I've sent you asleep," I joke to no one in particular. I kiss her forehead and say my goodnights.

Too sleepy to shower, I change into my blue and white-stripped cotton drawstring pyjama pants and lay down on my bed. Suddenly I don't feel tired any more let alone comfortable. I toss and turn and only halt when the sheet restrains me in a straight jacket like manner. I sigh as I untangle myself and plod my way to the deck. I gaze out to the stars they shine like her eyes.

"Can't sleep," I swivel to the familiar voice belonging to a certain pink haired girl who is now dressed in a sleeveless azure blue nightdress that sits just above her knees.

"Yeah," I reply.

"Me too," and she stands next to me and gazes out at the stars.

"Hey Mariah are we girlfriend/boyfriend," I ask. She directs her eyes to meet mine.

"Well that depends," she voices.

"On what?" I query.

"On you."

"I'll take that as a yes," I reply grinning.

She stands on her tippy toes and kisses me on the lips and rips off my band-aid, causing me to flinch from the pain.

"See, it didn't hurt," she teases as she holds up the band-aid and tosses it away, "…much."

Grabbing her wrists and locking them so she can't move my arms; I taunt "That'll stop you from doing anything nasty when we kiss." Once again have a bit of a pash bash. My hands forget about her wrists and rest at the back of her hips drawing her close to my body whilst hers travel up and lie against my chest.

Then the phone rang…

We both heavily sigh.

"Just let it go to the answering machine," I speak huskily, losing myself in her eyes before commencing from where we were interrupted.

"Hi you've called Tyson and I'm not home right now so leave a message and I'll get back to you ASAP. BEEP "Hey it's me, Emily just calling to remind you to pick Max and me at the Tokyo International Airport tomorrow at 10am at terminal 52. Later!" The familiar clunk of the phone receiver is heard.

"Come on its 11:30 so we better get to bed if we want to get up in the morning." I suggest reluctantly.

"Um Ty my bed is kind of soaked from my clothes," she hints.

"Just as long as you don't think we are taking our relationship to fast or I'm pushing you into anything you don't feel comfortable with," I state making it clear I'll go as slow as she wants. She smiles in acknowledgment but she soon withers her mouth into a smirk.

"What makes you think I want your bed, the couch would be fine." She questions defiantly.

"Oh, like you can resist." I tease, winking at her.

"Sure buddy," she challenges and walks in, settling herself on my couch.

"Night," I drawl mockingly.

"Night," She yawns a melodramatic yawn. I flick off the lights and lie down in my bed, even though I would love to lie and sleep on the couch with Mariah. There was only one thing stopping me and that is not wanting her to feel uncomfortable. Beside this king size bed is way comfier and she'll give in eventually. I think…

I stick my hands behind my head and shut my eyes. Boy am I lucky to get with a girl like her. She's so beautiful, stubborn, fiery, confident and competitive. Plus she loves beyblading and the martial arts. How come I didn't notice her earlier? I always am attracted girls with those traits. I feel a peck on my cheek. I lazily open one eye and smirk at the beauty beside me.

"I told you, you couldn't resist me." I compliment myself.

"I'll have to make a note to listen to you more often then," she whispers as she snuggles next to me. I move my hands from my head and curl my arms around her.

"Night Ty," she speaks barely audibly.

"See ya in the morning Mariah," I whisper and with that we fell sound asleep.

10 Reasons why I owe Ray big time…

1. He has saved my but so many times.

2. He has cooked more food for me than most people and kept his complaints to a minimum.

3. He stops me from making a real dick of myself.

4. He gave me Tac, though he might actually owe me for that.

5. For letting me beybattle against Kai in the regional tournament all those years ago.

6. For helping me get over Hilary.

7. For that time I had a huge hang over, no thanks to Hilary and he helped me till I was feeling better.

8. For introducing me to Mariah… actually I think she had to introduce herself but still if she didn't know him we never would have met.

9. For suggest to her to live with me.

10. And most importantly allowing me to get to know the prettiest, nicest girl I've ever met and make her my girl!