Chapter 16: Leap of Faith
Golden sparks danced across the two beyblades bashing each other in the dish. Dawn sat perched on the wall lining the front row seats, watching Sasha and Andi practice against each other with their improved skills.Dawn had dragged them all to a huge training arena plopped right in the centre of the city and they had been training and improving all day. The dish was double the normal size and was oddly deprived of anyone using it. Sasha had thought it was alien abduction. Rika was hoping they'd take Sasha back to her home planet."I'm telling you guys, tonight's a full moon! When all the looney tunes come out! If that door's not locked we'll be trapped in here with some psycho!" Sasha continued to rave, barely paying attention to her battle with Andi."We all ready are..." Rika retorted under her breath, earning a loud snort from Rayne."That's enough out of you children." Dawn reproached like a mother, grinning at the two girls sitting high up in the seats, in the very back row."It's not like they're paying attention anyway..." Rayne muttered under her breath, grinning at Rika."Sasha? Stay focused? Ha!" Rika snickered."Rika? Stop saying sarcastic comments? I'm gonna faint." Andi mocked, yelling up to them."Andi? Get a life? Highly doubtful." Rayne called back."Ok! I see we're finished here. You guys are much stronger and better equipped now so we can go, since no one is concentrating anymore anyway..." Dawn said, staring pointedly at the two blades in the dish which had stopped spinning a while ago.Sasha laughed. "I knew that!" she cried, leaning in to grab her beyblade."Riiiiiiiiiiiiight, and Kai loves to lip lock with you." Rayne said sarcastically, rising from her seat.Sasha paused for a split second, a suspicious grin flitting across her face and disappearing just as fast."Ok, what was that?" Andi asked, gazing accusingly at the girl across from her."NOTHING!" Sasha screamed way too loudly, the sound echoing around the large space."Yeesh, and I thought Rika screamed loud..." Dawn sighed, rubbing her buzzing ears."I do scream loud, but only for not-so-suspicious reasons." Rika said, rushing in to stare Sasha in the eye.Sasha stood there, jaw hanging open wordlessly. Rika's eyes narrowed even further as she dissected the strange expression on her friends face. Against the stereotype, Rika was actually pretty bright and it didn't take long for her to figure out what was being kept secret from her.Pulling back in complete and total shock, she nearly tripped backwards. "No no no! That's not right! Holy cow, I'm living in The Twilight Zone!" she yelled, rambling on like a lunatic."Shhhhh, it's a secret!" Sasha whispered, raising her index finger to her lips.A muscle under Rika's eye twitched. "Gotcha. It's long forgotten..." She muttered, trying to rid herself of the horrifying mental images in her head."Um...moving on...we have to reorganize this team!" Dawn said quickly, seriously not wanting to know Sasha's big secret.
"Reorganize?" Rayne asked, turning to stare."Yeah! I'll be joining your team, thank you very much." Dawn said proudly."Uh-huh...I guess that means I'm off the team...?" Andi asked, eyes widening."Rika, Rayne and I will be the three official team members with Sasha as the sub so...yeah." Dawn said slowly.Andi scowled and crossed her arms. "And why are you using a homicidal manic for the substitute?""Because we feel like it." Rika said blankly.Andi sighed and put her hands on her hips. "Fine! But you had better win this stupid tournament!""I have a better idea! We can switch it all up in between battles so everyone gets to compete!" Sasha said, smashing her fist into her open palm."Uh...that works." Andi grinned."Ok ok, so that's all settled..." Dawn said, spreading her arms, "But I have MORE news to blab about!""Oh no, please spare me what little sanity I have left..." Rika joked, smirking.
"Laugh it up! Or have you forgotten it's my BIRTHDAY?" Dawn accused, crossing her arms.Rika blinked and slowly grinned."WHAT? I TOLD YOU THAT HOURS AGO! AND I SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TOO!" Dawn shrieked."Yeah well...that'll teach you." Rika muttered, perturbed."Anyway, today's my party! So after we get back, we can take all your little friends and chill at my birthday bash!" Dawn cheered."Uh...us? Why us? Don't you have other 16-year-olds to hang out with or are you deprived of a life?" Sasha asked."Ugh, there's this huge mansion house thing way out in the middle of nowhere, you follow? And all the beybladers I could find are attending, so that means most of the opponents you'll be facing...but anyway, I think I'm supposed to know the people that own the place, even though I don't have a clue how...but they offered to let us stay there for the duration of the tournament so we don't have to pay for a hotel. And I'm sure your little friends can come and stay too...So basically that's where my B-day party is going to be held!" Dawn rambled, oblivious to the blank stares and raised eyebrows."Riiiiiiiiiiiight...and the translation would be...?" Rayne asked, turning to the two other relatives.Andi and Rika glanced at each other."I'm guessing we go to her birthday party, mingle with our would-be enemies and crash there for the night." Rika summarized."Isn't that what I just said?" Dawn demanded."I distinctly heard, bla bla bla, yadda yadda yadda, somethin' somethin' somethin'..." Andi trailed off, smiling."Ok! I even got the point, so lets GO!" Sasha cried."Yeah y'all, we've been cooped up in here for ages!" Rika complained, lazily rubbing the back of her neck."Ok fine, let us go and prepare for the ball!" Dawn said, using a British accent.She walked off leaving the other four still standing there. Realizing she was alone, she turned and cocked her head."What? Do I not speak English?" Dawn asked, tapping her platform shoe on the floor."Evidently not..." Rika mumbled, rolling her eyes.
"Tyson, shut up! There will be food at the party! Now. Let. It. Go!" Rayne cried, rubbing her forehead.Both teams were on their way to the 'ball' in a limo Dawn had ordered. No surprise there. Tyson had been asking about how good the food was going to be at this 'Boring Bash', which had forced Rayne to stick her foot in his face. Sasha had made herself Kai's shadow and was sitting with him at the very back while Andi kept asking the driver if they were there yet every 10 seconds up at the front. Max, Tyson, Kenny and Rayne were in the middle, talking to Dizzi about things and bickering amongst themselves. Rika had claimed the whole row across from them as her own, but cramming over as Derek sat next to her, Ray left to sit alone by the other window. Dawn had left way earlier to set things up with the owners of the 'Mansion House' so that the Breakers could get a free stay too."ARE WE THERE YET?" Andi yelled again from the front."Look kid, there's a whole bunch of little doughnuts in the back. Why don't you go stuff yourself while we wait the next 45 MINUTES until we get there!" the driver cried exasperatedly."I get dibs!" Rika snapped, flinging herself down on the floor as Tyson dove down as well. The two started to scrap until Rika's hand brushed the box of sugarcoated doughnuts, finishing the hunt for the food."Hey no fair! You'll share right?" Tyson whined, as Rika got up and plopped down next to her window."No way, I'm playing a game!" she answered, tearing the box open."What kind of game involves doughnuts?" Derek inquired."Bomb The Pedestrians!" Rika replied, grinning."I WANNA PLAY!" Sasha screamed from the back."No! You usually wind up eating our ammo when we let you play!" Rika said, glaring."Or else throwing that powder stuff down our shirts." Rayne put in.There was a pause in the back, and then a loud burst of giggles as Sasha's memory kicked in."So how do you play?" Ray asked curiously, turning to look at them."It's simple Wonder-boy, Bomb. The. Pedestrians!" Rika answered, acting like she was talking to a little kid."What? I don't get it." Max said, gazing quizzically at Rika.Rika sighed, shaking her head sadly. "You poor deprived people.""Ok dudes, first you pick a target..." Derek said, leaning over to roll down the window.Sticking his head out, he scanned the empty roads they were driving along. "I don't think they'll be many people to bomb, unless we find a hobo on the side of the road." Derek said, pulling his head back inside.Rika grumbled and popped her own head out. "Aha! Bingo!" she cried, spotting a hitchhiker walking down the road.Reaching into the box, she pulled out a huge, jelly-filled doughnut. Rayne quickly ordered everyone to look out the window as Rika prepared for launch. They heard Sasha start to laugh her head off in the back with Kai telling her to shut up as he rolled down his own window."LET IT RIP!" Andi yelled from the front.Rika grinned deviously and let the sugar sweet food item fly. Howls of laughter exploded from the limo, as the doughnut seemed to self detonate on contact, red jelly splattering all over the victim's face. They all struggled to lean out the windows and wave as they drove by.
Needless to say they didn't get a happy reaction back."Score! We rock the whole world!" Derek gasped, clutching his stomach as he laughed his head off. Ray smirked. "Oh yeah, hucking doughnuts at innocent bystanders is gonna get you a Noble Prize.""It could happen in his little world." Dizzi commented, indicating the near hysterical boy."What? Are you jealous that he actually has a sense of humour and you don't?" Rika taunted, cocking her head."Sorry to disappoint you but no." Ray answered bluntly, seemingly back to his calm, cool self."Sure sure..." Andi said slyly, slipping into the back with a knowing wink at Ray."Yeah Raymond, you're such a bad liar when it comes to that..." Rayne said, grinning wickedly."When it comes to what?" Rika asked, looking back and forth between the two girls."Nothing!" Ray growled, glaring dangerously at both of them."Tell tell!" Tyson cried, leaning forward."I don't think any of us want to know." Kenny commented, not looking up from his laptop."Yeah...you don't." Derek smiled, stretching his arms behind his head."What? What do you know?" Andi demanded."What you know." Derek answered, smiling wider."You don't know..." Rayne accused."Oh but I do..." Derek grinned mysteriously and leaned forward to look at Ray.Max just stared. "Uh...come again?" he asked."KNOW WHAT?" Rika screamed, starting to glare suspiciously at Ray."Shut it!" Kai snapped, breezing past them as he made his way to the front.Sasha stopped after him and stared at them all. "Know what?" she whispered."EVERYONE SHUT UP!" Ray yelled, running a hand through his hair."OK, WE'RE HERE!" the driver cried, rubbing his temples in irritation.
"Thank goodness, I thought I was going to start foaming at the modem from all of that!" Dizzi said."Are you guys gonna eat those doughnuts?" Tyson asked.
"Wow, there's A LOT of people here!" Sasha said, staring wide eyed at the mass of guests."Who did she invite? The whole planet?" Kai grumbled, crossing his arms."Why couldn't you have stayed sick, we all liked you better that way!" Rika snarled, waving a fist.Ray ignored the death threats and surveyed the party.A huge mansion-like house stood on a hill, surrounded by dark looking trees that flanked them in three directions. It was way back from the actual party, guests having to walk up the rise to get to the actual house. The party was spread out before them, long tables laid out on the sprawling lawn with strings of small, bright lights hung above them. It was actually very nice; the dark, starry sky was clear with a full moon poised above the tree line. Lowering his eyes back to the ground, Ray noticed a high stage that was settled off to the side, with people tying balloons and setting up a microphone at the front of it."Hey look, there's Dawn!" Rayne said, pointing to the birthday-girl making her way onto the wooden stage.
The girl rocked back and forth on her feet as she tried to get the microphone to work. Guests watched and started to snicker under their breaths as the seemingly retarded girl fumbled with the mic, unknowingly wrapping the cord around her ankle as she struggled. She yelped as she rocked one way and the cord pulled the other, forced to bounce unsteadily on one foot as she wobbled precariously, about to fall off the side of the stage."We don't know her..." Andi sighed, the people on the stage helping the blonde teen out.Dawn was beet red by the time she had discovered how to turn the microphone on and learned to stay away from the cord."Uh...excuse that will you please. Um, well I just wanted to say that since this is my birthday party and all, I've hired a DJ and stuff for everyone. Since I don't invite adults to my parties because that would just...suck. Well everyone have fun and please don't kill one another since I also know most of you are opponents in the Asian Tournament tomorrow!" Dawn finished, flashing a peace sign as she hopped off the front."Uh-oh, that means creepy Keith will probably be here, and not to mention the White Tigers!" Sasha said, placing a hand on her hip."Yeah well, bring on the sideshow freaks." Rika answered, frowning as she spotted the White Tiger's only female team member far across the party."I don't wanna burst your bubble guys, but you're boring me to death. I'm gonna go mingle." Andi grinned, beginning to leave."Me too!" Rayne cried, following her."The food table is calling my name!" Tyson called back as he ran for one of the tables."I think it'd be smart to scope out the competition for tomorrow, so I'm going to scout around as well." Kenny said, closing his laptop and placing it under his arm."I'm gone too." Derek smiled, waving as he disappeared."Remind me to slap them all..." Rika muttered as she left as well."Where are they all going?" Sasha squeaked, not liking being left alone."Away from you." Kai said, walking away from the party."If he murders me, remember to tell everyone that I wasn't doing anything annoying!" Sasha told Ray as she skipped after Kai.Ray shook his head sadly as he was left all by his lonesome.'So the White Tigers are here too...better hope we don't have a run-in in tonight.' Ray thought nostalgically.
Hours later, Ray was in a lighter mood as he wandered around the party. It wasn't a total bust if you excluded the fact your friends seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth. Ray walked the long way around the huge outdoor dance floor; teenage couples needing serious dancing lessons."Psssst, Ray!" a voice hissed off to the side.He turned and waited as Sasha squeezed her way through the crowd. She stopped in front of him and bent over, panting."What're you doing? I thought you were following Kai around." Ray inquired, watching as the girl straightened and grinned."Well I was but it seems he's a lot smarter than I thought. He sorta lost me." Sasha laughed, pulling a loose strand of hair behind her ear.Ray nodded slowly. "Well sorry, but I haven't seen him anywhere. In fact you're the first person I've seen that I actually know." He commented."Yeah I know! Everyone's like GONE! But I can't stay, I must find Kai before he completely gets away from me!" Sasha grinned, reminding Ray of what evil looked like."Well have fun." Ray told her as she took off again.He sighed. Where was everyone? It was turning into a real drag wandering around looking for them.Deciding to take a break from his wild goose chase, the Chinese teen walked away from the sounds of the music and laughter, opting to sit down under one of the large trees bordering the party. Leaning his head back against the bark, he gazed at the stars through the branches, enjoying the sound of the wind softly rustling through the leaves
Bright golden eyes peered through what little light the moon and stars provided, pinning a sad gaze on the boy sitting at the foot of a tree.'Oh Ray...' Mariah thought, watching her child-hood friend gaze at the sky.In her position crouched at the base of a tree, she was staring fondly at the ex-White Tiger from far behind him, not daring to go any closer.'I don't know what's going to happen at the tournament...I only wish I could tell you how I feel before something bad happens.' Mariah thought, picturing how angry Lee always became at the thought of Ray. 'But...you've made new friends now, you have a new team and a whole new life away from our village...'She sighed, remembering all the happy times they had had as little kids, Ray teaching her all the constellations when he brought her stargazing. He had always been there for her, for all of them.Except when he left.'That's when I realized that I care so much for you, Ray. I miss you so much.' Mariah thought to herself, placing a hand over her heart.She bit her lip hard, torn between staying here and reminiscing, or going over and telling him how she felt. She knew if Lee ever found out what she was about to do, he'd be furious.'Maybe I should ask him to dance...' Mariah thought, rising silently and noiselessly making her way towards her best friend.She froze as something shifted in the tree Ray was sitting against. Her heart dropped into her stomach as a girl moved out of the shadows and quietly stalked along a branch above him, unaware of the horrified White Tiger retreating back into the trees.'Oh-no! She's ruining everything!' Mariah thought in her head, ignoring the hinting suspicion growing in her mind.That girl couldn't be Ray's...she couldn't be.
Ray smiled as a shooting star shot through the sky, rushing by in a bright display of white light. Rika grinned evilly, her eyes shining mischievously as she sat above him. She silently swung upside down above him, high enough away that she could barely slap his head if she extended her arm. Sucking in a breath, she was oblivious to Mariah's gaze on her back."WHAT'RE YOU DOING?" Rika screamed, breaking the peaceful silence.Ray started at the sudden noise, snapping his head to face the upside-down attacker. He shook his head at the ringing in his ears as he watched her smile and snicker."Apparently you haven't heard of privacy." Ray said."Privacy? It's not like you're back here mooning people!" Rika replied, arms crossed across her chest as she swung back and forth."What're you doing here then?" Ray questioned, rubbing his ears gently."Hey, I was here first. I was sitting up here long before you sat your big butt down there." Rika said, stopping the swinging and staring down at him."So then you were spying on me." Ray commented, smirking Rika's carefully laid defences were screaming at her to run as her stomach did that weird fluttering thing again. Mariah's stomach was fluttering as well, but in nervousness. Ray was oblivious to the blonde girl's inner turmoil and even more oblivious to the White Tiger's presence. Finding a more comfortable position on the soft grass, he patted the spot beside him."Come here, I'll show you something." Ray said, tilting his head to look at Rika.'No...' Mariah thought in her mind, her hand digging into the cold earth."No! I don't want to see how you moon people." Rika refused, beginning to swing back and forth again.Ray laughed, his mood lightening even more listening to the girl's sarcastic comments."C'mon, I'll show you some constellations." Ray said, patting the ground again."No. Stars are stupid and you're stupid too." Rika answered, stopping her swinging again.Mariah frowned, not understanding how she could say that. She new Ray loved to look at the stars; he always used to say they were magic when they were smaller. Mariah had always thought the look he got in his eyes whenever he gazed at the stars was magick too. How could this girl just say they were stupid like that?She didn't understand.Mariah knew the girl didn't understand how special it was to have Ray show her. As stupid as it sounded, Mariah always valued those memories of her and Ray doing something so small but so special to them."Oh c'mon, do you even know how to find the North Star?" Ray questioned, ignoring the sharp refusal."No." came the muttered reply from above him."Then I'll show you." Ray insisted, not one to give up on someone.There wasn't a reply as Rika was lost in her thoughts. The weird fluttery feeling was back full force and was making her jittery and confused. Part of her felt a little guilty for being so cranky to him, but the other part was justifying the fact that he kept that patience with her.That was just scary to Rika.'Since when do people keep their cool when other people insult them? What is the world coming too? My insults are becoming obsolete!' Rika said in her mind, fingers digging into the skin of her arms. Absent-mindedly dropping her arms, she continued to mull over Ray, stupid fluttery feelings and how to find the North Star.
Ray stretched one leg out in front of him. It sure took a long time for Rika to make decisions about simple things. He went to lean his head back against the trunk again when something brushed the back of his head. He blinked and leaned back into Rika's open palm, staring up at her. He could feel her tense and freeze as her fingers became buried in his hair when he continued to lean back on her hand."Do you like my hair or something?" Ray teased, as her fingers tangled and fisted in his jet-black spikes."I had a doll once, and loved to do its hair all the time." Rika answered nonchalantly, a bit freaked that she had instinctively ran her hand through his hair.And it was still there.'Jeez kid, let GO of his head.' Rika said to herself, half of her refusing to let go of the soft mass. Her heart was thumping harder now, it not helping when Ray turned to lock eyes with his golden ones. He closed his eyes as she flexed her hand, fingers curling around and caressing the soft spikes of hair. Her face burned as she tickled the back of his neck, goose bumps rising on his skin. It was like lifting her hand away was way harder then acting like a freak. Rationalizing the fact this was not a normal thing to be doing, she went to pull away but not before Ray pulled her hand around and kissed her open palm, golden eyes probing the barriers drawn up in her lavender ones. He closed his eyes again, still holding her hand in his.Her eyes had shown deep defensives, as clear as day.Rika was closed off when it came to anything that made her uneasy and he guessed he was one of those things. Her hand roughly pulled out of his but he refused to open his eyes and face her angry temper. He heard her clamber around in the tree before her feet hit the ground beside him with a thump. Ray was sorry she acted the way she did; it was like an invisible thread was always drawing him towards her.He felt warm whenever she was around him.Ray opened his eyes when her knees hit the ground beside him, staring up into her confused expression."Why?" Rika asked simply, hands pressed in her lap."Why what?" Ray asked, sitting up and facing her."Why do you make me like you?" she demanded, right before her hands returned to tangle in his hair and her warm lips pressed against his.A surprised sound escaped him as she fell forward against his chest, momentarily breaking the contact. Scrambling back up, she attacked his lips again, permanently situating herself in his lap. Ray's arms automatically wrapped around her, pressing her close against him. She wriggled wildly in his grasp, not used to any of this. Tingles ran up and down his scalp as she tugged gently on his hair as she shifted nervously. Pulling back, their foreheads pressed together, Rika sat staring in his smoky, golden eyes."This is weird, I'm not sure I...I'm ready for that...this, whatever." Rika said, fixing the 'I don't want' she was going to say.Ray nodded, running a thumb over her lips."Let's go dance then." He said, showing his fangs in another teasing smile."Now that's something I DON'T WANT to do." Rika said, struggling to stand and tripping over his legs as she tried to escape."Then let's at least go back to the party." Ray pressed, lacing their fingers as he caught up to her.Rika squeezed his hand hard, turning to look him in the eye. "You should know that...that was just a...a...""A what?" Ray asked, hoping she wasn't going to flip on him or something."A...leap of faith." Rika said slowly, pointedly staring at him with those huge eyes of hers.Ray smiled. "Have a little trust in people." Was all he said as he led her back to the party.Mariah was still crouched by her tree, hand over her mouth. Tears pricked her eyes as she stood, abruptly jogging away."Ray, no..." she whispered softly as tears began to fall as she ran.
"C'mon, just one dance?" Ray pushed, trying to tug Rika onto the dance floor."No! Let go of me, it is attached!" Rika cried, pulling back on her arm.Music flooded the grounds as the DJ's constantly kept turning it up. Mostly everyone was dancing, excluding the two fighting on the side. Sasha wasn't dancing either as she was STILL looking for Kai. Actually he wasn't that far away, sitting alone at one table next to a bordering of trees. But Sasha was tired of looking for him. Bouncing up to the stage she waited until one of the DJ's bent down to see what she wanted."Hi! You do announcements, right?" Sasha asked, smiling hopefully."Yeah sure, you got one?"Sasha giggled and whispered what she wanted to say in his ear. The DJ nodded slowly and straightened, promising to play it after the next song was finished. Tapping her foot as the song finally started to fade, she watched the DJ pick up a microphone and finally stop the music all together."Excuse me but I have an announcement!" the DJ yelled.Kai rolled his eyes. Hopefully the party was going to be cancelled or something."Kai you're wanted at the front, your stalker is paging you!" the DJ yelled, the crowd parting as they all looked at him."HI HI KAI!" Sasha screamed, yanking the mic out of the DJ's hand.Kai jumped out of his seat, speed walking straight into the woods. A horrible squeak from the microphone followed as Sasha dropped it and took off after him."Riiiiiight, well I'm blowing this funhouse." Rika said, freeing herself from Ray's grasp and succeeding in escaping from him."She owes me a battle, and a dance now." Ray reminded himself, "Now I'm going to the house, it's way to cold out here."
"Kai wait for me!"Kai growled and kept walking, moving deeper and deeper into the woods as it got later in the night. Sasha was stumbling around behind him, informing him of her position every time she'd whine or call his name to wait."Have a heart!" Sasha wailed, tired of tripping over nothing.Kai paused, momentarily bothered by his conscience. "Go back to the party then." He said, continuing to move."C'mon Kai! It's cold and dark and I'm gonna get lost!" Sasha called, eyes starting to mist up.He paused again, crossing his arms stonily as he waited for his shadow to catch up. She squealed happily and hugged him around the middle, managing to trip over Kai's legs and take them both down."Sooooorry..." Sasha said, sitting up."Look, I'm not doing anything that would interest you so why don't you go back." Kai said, standing up and brushing his chilled arms off."Because! How can I get you to dance with me if you're here and I'm there?" Sasha giggled, running up ahead of him."I don't dance." Kai said, his stalker disappearing in the gloom of the trees."Oh c'mon! Anyone can dance!" Sasha's voice echoed back to him."Who said I couldn't? I just don't." Kai muttered, sidestepping a fallen tree.
"Hey look! I found a huge tree! I AM SO SMART, S-M-A-R-T!" Sasha sang, way up ahead of him.He shook his head, amusement flickering in his eyes for a second. Following the sound of her singing, he finally pushed through into a small clearing. A giant tree stood in the centre; it's ancient roots rising from the ground around it. Its large, green foliage was thick and hung over the trunk like a bowl. Sasha was nestled in a groove in the bottom of the trunk, knees drawn up and a smile aimed at him."Isn't it cool?" she asked."Sure why not?" Kai grumbled, sliding down to sit next to her.Sasha gasped as tiny, bright lights flickered in the trees foliage and the surrounding forest. Small fireflies filled the air around them, golden lights lighting up the darkness. Kai watched them for a moment before deciding to speak."Why are you always following me?" he asked, turning to stare emotionlessly at Sasha.She laughed, blushing. "Since we probably won't see much of the Breakers during the tournament...and then having to go home after...well, I'd rather spend my time with you." She answered, green eyes twinkling like the fireflies.Sasha giggled and kissed his cheek. "Oh I know you'll miss me!" she laughed.
Ray watched as another shooting star shot through the sky above him."I guess that means I get to make a wish..." He said quietly."Ray wishes I would magically appear and make his night so much more exciting!" Rika cried, stepping onto his room's balcony.She grinned, watching him turn and hold out a hand to her. Rika had followed him back to the house and snuck into his room because everyone else was still outside. Ray had changed and was just wearing a pair of shorts and his navy blue t-shirt. Rika grinned and cocked her head at him. He looked cuter without his headband too."Ok bud, show me how to find the North Star." Rika said, taking his hand and allowing him to pull her into a warm embrace.Ray smiled and curled his fingers around her hand, lifting it and using her finger to point out constellations. Rika smiled slowly, resting her head on his chest as he murmured in her ear.Mariah had been right when she had said it was special.Rika cheered in delight as the lesson was suddenly interrupted by a splash of orange decorating the sky. Violet and blue followed as fireworks started exploding across the sky. Ray felt completely happy as Rika bounced in his arms and laughed without needing to be defensive. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he rested his chin on top of her head, the scent of lilacs meeting him."Hey Wonder-boy are you paying attention? Look at that!" Rika cried, pointing.
"Wow, that was a lot of fun!" Max said, yawning."I have to agree with you there, Max." Kenny agreed, closing the door of the house they were staying at."Of course it was fun, it was my party after all." Dawn laughed."Yo dudes, what is Sasha raving about? Something about fireflies...?" Andi asked, lowering her voice."No clue, but Kai actually looks like he knows what she's talking about." Rayne commented, watching Sasha gush about the fireflies while Kai kicked his shoes off."I think she's insane." Tyson said thoughtfully."Look who's talking!" Derek grinned."Whatever dudes, I'm gonna go start a fire in the living room!" Tyson volunteered, pointing."Yeah!" Sasha cheered, following Tyson.The group of teens waited while Tyson opened the large, oak door that led to the living room. Sasha peered in as Tyson pulled it open the whole way and gasped."What's up?" Derek asked, rushing over to get the latest scoop on something.Sasha stood with her jaw hanging open and pointed. Everyone slowly crept up around the door and looked inside. Tyson looked like he was about to have a heart attack as he got a look as well.A warm fire was burning in the fireplace at the other end of the spacious living room, stairs on one side that led to the upstairs bedrooms they were all staying in. Comfy chairs and couches littered the place but that wasn't what they were all gaping at. Sitting in a large chair in front of the fire were Ray and Rika, squished in next to each other. They both looked asleep, Rika's head resting on his shoulder with Ray's arm wrapped around her waist."Isn't that cute!" Sasha cried, clapping her hands together."Shhh!" Rayne hissed, but not before Ray stirred and slowly opened an eye.Turning his head he greeted them sleepily, Rika still curled in next to him, sound asleep."You should put her to bed." Dawn said softly.Ray nodded and slipped out of the chair, lifting Rika in his arms as he quickly made his way up the stairs. A soft yawn was buried in his chest as she continued to sleep peacefully. Making his way into Rika's room, he gently set her on the bed, pulling the thick covers over her. She shifted and made a small noise of exhaustion. Ray watched her for a moment before leaning forward and kissing her forehead."You'd better be dreaming about me, brat." Ray smiled, brushing bangs out of her face.An unnoticed smile slipped across her face as Ray closed the door.
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