Hey reviewers! I know that some of you might not have been satisfied with what I wrote last time, but this chapter will be better! I promise! There will be tons more action and stuff in this chapter, so bear with me!!!

P.S. thanks for everyone who sent me their profile. I think I have well more than enough, so please stop sending. I'm going to be a nice person and try and fit everybody in at least once. But remember, I don't want to stray away from the main storyline (aka Kai and Amira) enjoy the story!

7. The Barbeque

Amira, having squeaked, got up and turned around, only to see a smirking Tala.

"God, Tala. You scared me." Amira said, picking up the book that she dropped.

"Why should you be afraid? It's only little old me?" He smirked again, pulling up a chair, plopping down beside the girl. She peaked over from the pages of her book, and saw that he was in a little bit of a daze.

"Um, Tala?" He finally shook out of it, and faced her.

"Can I help you?"

"You just seemed dazed is all." She remarked, returning to her book shortly afterwards. He gave her a quizzical look, and rested down on the chair. Next thing, Amira couldn't stop staring. He was a bit on the pale side, but his muscles made up for everything. His red hair was slicked back, and he was wearing red surfer shorts, to match his hair. I mean, Amira had to move on, why not now?

"TALA!" He shot up like a dog when he heard his name being called from out front. He excused himself quietly and slowly jogged through the swinging door and out to the front lawn.

Amira slowly got up, and peaked around the side of the building, just to see what was going on. She was amazed by what she saw.

Tala seemed to be talking to a girl. She was equipped in all of her beach attire, which she found quite funny. This girl was wearing a blue tankini bathing suit, with a fun Hawaiian themed wrap-around skirt. She has shoulder length hair. It was dark chocolate brown hair, with the most amazing red streaks, which seemed to suit her really well. They seemed to be in a deep discussion, but Amira saw that the mood was lightened because this girl punched Tala in the arm playfully. When the two were approaching the pool, Amira scurried back quickly to her chair and was pretending to read.

"AMIRA!" Tala yelled, as the girl slowly looked up from her very interesting book. She smiled a huge grin, and got up to greet this new girl. "Amira, this is my friend Lisha." Both of the girls smiled and shook hands.

"So, you're staying in the apartment for some time right? Well, I hope you enjoy your stay here." Lisha smiled again, setting her stuff down on another beach chair.

"Thanks." Amira smiled sheepishly.

"Anyways, I would like to invite you to my house tomorrow. My family is hosting a barbeque, and I would like you to come. Since you are new to the neighbourhood, this will be a good chance to make friends." Lisha smiled, taking off her wrap-around skirt and slowly making her way into the pool.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Amira sighed, making her way down to her beach chair and settling down once more.

"So, do you think he is doing the right thing?" Amira woke up to the sound of these words. She had her back turned, but she could tell that Tala and Lisha were talking on the beach chair next to her.

"I don't know. I mean, I know you don't approve of it."

"Damn straight I don't." she huffed, getting off the chair and started to pace, up and down the patio.

"Well, what else could he do? That girl left him two years ago. He's gotta move on." Tala piped up, sitting back in the chair. Amira gasped, but no one could hear her. Were they talking about her and Kai? Her guess was right.

"Yeah, but I did hear that she was back in town. There might still be hope. I remember when she first left, she left Kai so depressed. I always wondered how he got out of it."

"Kate?"

"No, not her. I don't trust that woman. There is something wrong with her, I just can't put my finger on it." She grunted, settling on the edge of the pool.

"Well, we can talk to him about it at the barbeque tonight, can't we?" Kai was going to be there? Well, it's a small world.

"Yeah, but considering that Kate will be there, it will be pretty uncomfortable for him. It's best to do it in private."

'Just when I thought I could get away, he lives in the freakin' neighbourhood! Shit….' Amira thought, sighing quietly, listening intently for what was said next.

"It would be weird, if they saw each other again." Lisha sighed loudly, putting on her shade and lying down. Amira finally had the courage to turn over and get up. She wanted to get all the info she could, without those two finding out that she was the one that left Kai long ago.

"Hey guys, what are you talking about?" she asked quizzically.

"Oh, you're awake. Rise and shine." Tala smiled, embracing the sunshine. All Amira did was groan loudly.

"We were talking about how our very good friend has made a stupid decision." Lisha sighed.

"What would that be?"

"Marrying the wrong girl for the wrong reasons." This story has only been half told before.

"I see. What reasons were those?"

"Out of depression. A certain girl left him two years ago. Fearing to never see him again, he started dating that fleabag, Kate. Now they're engaged!" she groaned, taking off her flip-flops and diving into the pool.

"Well that's terrible. Don't you think that you're friend and the girl would meet again?"

"Knowing Kai, its highly unlikely." Tala smirked, staring up at the sky.

"Well, its always possible." Amira smirked, trying to hide her smile.

"Well, you're quite the romantic aren't you?" Lisha smirked, resting her elbows on the pool's edge.

"I guess you could say that." She smiled, and tilted her head back, to praise the wonderful sun.

"Come on guys, we have to get ready for the barbeque. Amira, what are you going to wear? Don't forget your swim suit!"

-------------------------------- --------------- --------------- ----------------- -------------

About a half an hour later, the three teens arrived at Lisha's house. Like all of the other houses, this one looked like a grand estate. Beautiful vines of ivy hung around the doorframe, and almost covered the windows, but not quite. Being eager, Tala was the one to ring the doorbell.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" a woman about Lisha's height answered the door. She had the same chocolate colour hair, and a very warm smile.

"Mom, this is Amira. This is my mother, Erin Makenovska." Both women smiled as they shook hands with a firm grip. "Well guys, the party is just getting started." She smiled as she beckoned them all in.

--------------------------------- ------------------------------- --------------------

As the three teens entered the backyard, they could already hear the sound of festivities. There were a lot of teens here, obviously mostly Lisha's friends. There were a lot of them splashing in the pool, and more just chatting or sitting on the patio. Tala put a protective hand around Amira, as they approached the pool. As they passed, Amira could see a group of about three girls, shooting glares like daggers in her direction.

As Amira sat herself down with a coke, the group of three girls made their away over to her, none of them smiling. The first girl was tall, brown hair with red highlights, almost like Lisha's. She was wearing black hip huggers, with a dark blue spaghetti strap tank top with "Angel" written on it with diamonds, and dark blue sandals.

The second girl seemed to be the same age and height. She had light brown hair and a terrible scowl on her face. She was wearing a dark red skirt, a black short sleeved skirt, and black knee high boots. Amira was sure not to mess with this girl.

The third girl, looking at her face, seemed to be the leader of the little group. She was a little bit shorter than the other girls, but she was sure to make up for it in other qualities. She had long black hair that stretched down to the middle of her back. She wore a black mini skirt and a white t-shirt that was a v-neck, and showed a bit of cleavage. To go with her outfit, she had a pair of high heel shoes. All three of them scowled at her.

"What do you think you're doing?" the leader snarked, taking the coke out of Amira's hand, and dangled it in front of her head.

"What are you talking about?" Amira squeaked, getting up to face her. The funny thing was, Amira was at least a head taller than this girl.

"She means, what are you doing with Tala?" the girl in the red skirt remarked. Amira turned and stared at them dumbstruck.

"What? What are you people talking about? I'm not.."

"Just keep your hands off of him, he's ours." The red-streaked girl said, in a very snobby tone.

Was this really happening? Amira started to choke on her own breath and started laughing, REALLY HARD.

"What's so funny?" The leader questioned. No answer from the girl, who hadn't stopped laughing yet.

"Hey, no one talks to Louisa like that." The girl with the red skirt remarked. Now, Louisa looked like she was about to explode.

"Come on, let's go. Yumi, get me a coke. Jennifer, you're coming with me." The girl with the red streaks headed for the kitchen as Louisa left with the girl in the red skirt.

Had this really happened? Those girls actually thought that she was with Tala? It was funny how she had offended them with her laughing.

----------- ----------------------------- ------------------------------------

About an hour later, Amira had been taken by the arm of Tala and had been introduced to all of his high school buddies. They had all been very nice and very welcoming to her, unlike some people she knew.

After a while, the party scene started to die out, because people had gone into the house to make out and stuff. Amira decided that she would make her way upstairs, and see what was going on.

As she approached the top of the stairs, she heard the doorbell and Lisha running to answer it. As she opened the door, Amira could see a flash of blue: it was Kai. She quickly ran and hid behind the wall that was at the top of the stairs. As much as she wanted to, her curiosity got the best of her.

"You have a lot of nerve showing up her, with her." Lisha remarked, letting him in. As Amira peeked from around the corner, she could see that Kate was hanging off of his arm like a limp noodle.

"Well, she's my fiancée, what am I supposed to do?" Kai fought back, smirking as he did so. Kate just smiled innocently. As Kai scanned the room, he almost saw Amira, but she ducked behind the wall just in time.

"Fine, just take her out back. Some of her snotty friends have waited for her." Lisha whispered to him, walking them to the back door. "Oh, Kai! We have a new neighbour. When I find her, I'll introduce you guys." Kai just huffed, and continued to walk to the backyard.

Amira's heart jumped. Was she really going to introduce them? She better not. I mean, they would never be friends again, considering the squabble that they had. Amira could feel her cheeks flush. She slowly made her way down the stairs, trying to keep out of Kai's glance, and not to raise suspicion to her weird behaviour.

As she approached the kitchen, she felt someone's hand on her shoulder. She instantly froze, afraid to know, whom that hand belonged to. She slow turned around and saw that it was Lisha, a huge grin on her face.

"Amira, there's somebody I want you to meet. I…" her mouth was covered with Amira's hand in one swift motion. She squirmed around a bit, but finally gave up, as her friend led her to the stairs.

"Don't tell Kai that I'm here." She whispered. Lisha wore the most shocked expression known to mankind.

"What?!?! You know him?" she asked, very quizzically.

"Yes, but I can't tell you how or why. Not until later when the coast is clear." She whispered again. Lisha nodded and they both got up. Both of them made their way to the backyard, but Amira was sure to keep out of Kai's sight. As she reached for the handle, another hand reached and grabbed her shoulder. Knowing who it was, she froze instantly on the spot. The voice was cold and harsh, and full of no mercy.

"Well, well, look who it is."

Hope you guys liked that chapter! It was considerably longer than those. I'm hoping to pop in some of your profiles that you sent in one chapter, or maybe two. Anyways, review and you will get cookies!