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Chapter 16: Out

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"Tala?" Jules bit her lip nervously. Turquoise eyes stared down at her. His expression had so many different emotions that she was unsure what he was feeling. His grip on her hand was strong, but not enough to cause her any discomfort it was more as if he thought that if he let it go then she would go too.

Tala shook his head then looked down at Jules as if seeing her for the first time since he had arrived on the beach. His eyes moved away from hers and glanced over at the rest of their group, minus Kai and Amara, who were all staring at him with confused or worried looks.

"Hi," Tala said as if nothing had happened. Jules mouth fell open for a second but she snapped it shut.

"Hi," she replied slowly suspicion evident in her emerald eyes.

"What's up?" Tala let go of her hand and ran his fingers through his red hair.

"Nothing," a brown eye brown cocked in his direction. His behavior was very odd. "You?"

"Nothing," he shrugged in reply. " Just got back from grocery shopping with Ams."

"Did you now," Jules said slowly trying to keep all emotion out of her voice. "And how was that for you?"

"Boring as hell," he answered giving her a coy smile. "But I'm always open to helping a girl in need."

"Is that so?" Jules wasn't too sure how much of what he was saying was teasing and how much it was truth. Tala's willingness towards the opposite sex was what was holding her off from wanting to get involved with him in the first place and now he was practically flaunting it in front of her. And he said she was confusing.

Jules put a hand on her hip hoping he would catch on that this topic was not amusing her as much as it was him.

"Yes," Tala reached out and put his hands on the bare skin of her waist. He pulled her closer to him. Jules found herself mesmerized by something in his eyes. He leaned in so his cheek brushed against hers and whispered into her ear. "Especially beautiful brunette ones with eyes that could be mistaken for a precious stone and a body like a goddess."

Tala could feel her cheek move as she grinned. He was about to pull back to see the expression on her face when Jules said something in his ear.

"Nice save Valkov." Tala pulled back to see her smirk. Jules loved the stunned look on his face. It made her grin even more at him.

"Yeah, I'm good at covering up my mistakes," Tala said no longer flustered. His grin matching the one on Jules' face.

"Should have stopped while you were ahead." Jules pushed back from him and turned to leave the teasing gone from her eyes.

"Jules…" Tala reached out to stop her but she dodged his hand. She grabbed her towel and beach bag and trudged up the beach towards the house.

Tala watched her retreating figure until she was completely gone from sight. It killed him to be such an unfeeling bastard but if he didn't crush the feeling soon then he knew it would be ten times harder later. He rubbed his face with his hands and let out an exasperated sigh.

"This is the part where you chase after her and kiss it all better," Kiki, who was now standing beside him, informed him as if it was the most logical thing to do. "It would be terribly romantic and you two can put this whole misunderstanding behind you." Tala turned to look at the tall dark haired girl.

"Mind your own business," Tala grumbled then headed in the opposite direction of Jules towards the lake.

"I'm just trying to help," Kiki called after the retreating teen. She crossed her arms and huffed.

It was starting to get really annoying that all her friends told her to mind her own business when all she was doing was trying to help. They didn't seem to notice that Tyson and her relationship was doing great therefore her relationship advice might be helpful. Amara and Kai had never listened when she told them that they were perfect for each other. Instead they chose to tell her off then muddle through it on their own.

Kiki's rageful thoughts were interrupted when a pair of warm arms wrapped around her bare waist and someone's chin rested on her shoulder. She knew right away that it was Tyson.

"What's the matter?" his warm breath tickled her ear.

"Nothing," she leaned against him placing her hands over his. "I'm fine." Her face was turned away from him so he couldn't see her eyes, which he knew, would give her away.

"You're lying," Tyson stated kissing her softly just under her ear.

"How do you know?" Kiki shifted in his arms to face him.

"Because I know you." He answered giving her a quick kiss.

"I was just trying to help," Kiki said with a pout. Tyson smiled knowing he had gotten the answer he was looking for. "First Amara and Kai and now Jules and Tala. They never want any help."

"I think they're all beyond any of our help." Tyson looked up to see Tala jump off the end of the dock into the refreshing lake. "Their relationships are a little different than your average one."

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"We sure know how to clear a room don't we," Amara chuckled looking around the abandoned house.

"Well there really was only one other person in here with us," Kai replied with a shrug.

"You're right," Amara twirled a lock of Kai's blue gray hair around her finger. "But you know we could if we really wanted to."

"Its not really fun watching a couple make out though is it?"

"Yeah," Amara cocked her head thoughtfully. "To be honest I hate it when couples make out in public."

"Yet you have no problem doing it to other people," Kai grinned mischievously at his girlfriend's blatant contradiction.

"Oh gosh," she groaned resting her head on Kai's shoulder with a heavy sigh. "I've become what I hate." She had always hated walking around school and the mall and seeing couples all over each other. Kai and her weren't that bad. At least she hoped they weren't that bad. As far as she could remember they had never made out in any really public places but she could understand why her friends might get a little annoyed sometimes. Amara could feel Kai holding back a laugh. "It's not funny." She swatted him in the arm her sapphire eyes casting a nasty glare.

"Hey I'm not complaining," Kai shot back defensively. He was trying his best not to smile but her expression was so cute he couldn't help himself. "And we're not really in a public place." Amara knew he was trying to make her feel better about it. "And it was only Tala."

"You just want me to kiss you again," Amara rolled her eyes and smiled.

"No," Kai replied pulling her closer to him. "But is it working?" He was answered with another eye roll and her head tilted up so he could bring his lips down on hers. Her lips were soft fitting perfectly to his. Again Amara's hand cupped the back of Kai's neck bringing him even closer to deepen the kiss.

Kai let out a small groan if displeasure when Amara pulled back. There was something in her eyes that was telling him he couldn't be mad at her for breaking off the kiss.

"Kai…" She looked almost nervous. The dead give away being that she bit her bottom lip. He gave her a nod to continue. "I…I…lo…"

BAM!

Amara jumped and Kai instinctively pulled her closer to him. It was only the screen door being thrown open. Jules stood in the doorway looking ready massacre anyone that got in her path. Kai's grip didn't loosen at all. Amara could feel the pressure of his hand on her waist increase.

Jules couldn't help but glare at the happy couple. Why did she have to pick a guy that could be such an asshole?

"Get a room." Jules spat bitterly at them breaking the silence.

"We are in a room," Amara replied cheekily hoping her friend would calm down a little. "You just so happened to walk into the room we decided to occupy."

Jules just glared harder and let out an exasperated groan. She moved from the patio door and walked towards them. Amara was a little worried about her friend's wrath figuring that Tala probably had something to do with her sudden foul mood. Jules walked right past the couple in the direction of her room.

"Jules…" Amara tried to stop her. Her poor attempt was returned with Jules giving her the finger over her shoulder. The bedroom door slammed then there was silence.

"Arrrrrugh!" Amara groaned letting her head rest on Kai's chest. "Time to go be a doting best friend."

"You're seriously going to go in there?" Kai said with a hint of worry in his voice. He was still holding on her rather tightly.

"I gotta," Amara replied simply lifting her head to look at him. "It's my duty as a girl friend." Kai nodded his understanding.

"Where's Jules?" Kiki asked standing in the doorway. Cat and Mico were right behind her. Amara simply pointed towards the bedrooms. They filed in past the bewildered couple in the direction that Jules had gone just minutes before.

"Ams, I suggest you come too," Kiki said with a pointed look. Kai automatically released his hold on her waist and Amara walked over to the door. "Oh and Kai." He looked up to meet her eye. "I suggest that you head down to the lake before Tala decides to drown himself." With a quick smile Kiki was gone leaving Kai alone. Kai took her advice and headed straight to the lake to help his friend.

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Kai raced down to the beach. He wasn't sure what was going on but the possible drowning of his best friend gave him a foggy idea. Something had happened between his red haired best friend and the very pissed off brunette who was now sharing everything with the other girls.

Once he reached the sand, Kai scanned the beach and docks for any sign of people he recognized. Of course Tala was hard to miss with his flaming red hair. Seconds later Kai spotted the tell tale head of hair bobbing up and down off the end of the dock. Kai ran through the sand as quickly as was possible considering how difficult it really is to run through sand and finally reached the dock. The rest of the guys were standing at the end trying to get Tala out of the water.

"Dude, the water is getting too choppy you need to get out," Tyson called to Tala. Most of the people on the beach were pulling their kids out of the water and packing up to leave. The sky had been darkening as black storm clouds rolled in. The wind had also picked up making the guys on the dock shiver.

"No," Tala shouted back sounding like a stubborn child. A waved crashed over him causing him to swallow a mouth full of lake water. "Leave me alone."

"Tala…" Rei started to say something but Kai interrupted.

"Red, get your stubborn ass out of that water before you kill yourself." Tala looked up into the menacing silver eyes of his friend.

"It would be better that way," he replied. There was no mistaking the sadness in his voice.

"Whatever happened you can fix it," Kai felt himself yelling over the roaring wind. The rest of the guys had backed away leaving Kai to handle the situation. Kai knew Tala the best so they figured he would be the one to get him out of the water.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I just can't!" Tala snapped. Kai looked a little taken aback by his friends answer. Tala was usually pretty open not really keeping much to himself. He did know how to keep a secret but if it was about himself then he would share, which was why Kai found it a little odd that he was suddenly being so guarded.

"Fine!" Kai shouted back knowing this was no time to argue with him. Rain was starting to fall on them in large drops. "Now get your ass out of that water!"

"Leave me alone!" With that Tala's head disappeared under the dark water.

"Damn it Tala!" Kai cursed. Without a second thought he dived into the water right beside where his friend had just been.

Rei, Tyson, Max, Nicholai and Kenny watched from the dock waiting for any sign that they needed to help. Moments later Kai broke the surface of the water pulling Tala up with him. He held Tala's head above the water and started to swim back to shore. The rest of the guys met them; wading into the water to relieve Kai. Rei and Tyson dragged Tala up the beach and laid him there while Nicholai and Max helped Kai. Tala's eyes opened slowly resting coldly on his blue haired friend.

"Should have just left me," Tala coughed casting a glare Kai's way.

"Get over it," Kai replied a little short of breath. "I'm not going to sit back and watch you kill yourself." Kai took a seat on the sand beside his friend. The rest of the guys backed away letting the two friends talk.

"And I'm not going to sit here and watch you take away the only girl I truly care for," Tala said looking out into the water. There was a far away in his turquoise eyes.

"What?" Kai asked with a quizzical look.

"You heard me," he turned to face him. " I'm not going to stay here and watch you break Amara's heart and then marry the girl I love." Tala got to his feet.

"Tala…" Kai called after his friend. He too got to his feet.

"Break it off with her," Tala turned and stood right in front of Kai. "Stop leading her on." He poked Kai in the chest. "You're giving her false hopes."

"Fuck you!" Kai growled swatting Tala's hand away.

The rest of the guys had been watching from a distance but now they slowly moved closer feeling a tension between the two boys.

"It's true and you know it," Tala sneered.

"You're really one to be giving relationship advice," Kai laughed mockingly. "You're nothing but a male slut."

"You bastard."

The rest of the Bladebreakers and Nicholai watched in horror as Tala lunged at Kai catching him off guard and knocking him down into the sand. Tala was on top of Kai hitting him with his fists. Kai tried his best to block the punches but his friend was letting out a lot of rage. Tala got one clean hit right under Kai's chin. It was only after this that the rest of the guys decided to step in.

"Come on man." Rei tried to pull Tala off Kai. Tala made a swing at Rei but he ducked missing the fist just in time. Nicholai and Rei both reached for his arms and managed to pull him off.

Kai sat up and rubbed his sore chin.

"Get off me," Tala shook free of Nicholai and Rei. Tala locked eyes with his blue haired friend. There seemed to be an understanding between them. Kai was not going to make any move to even the score. "I'm out man." Tala held up his hands as if to surrender. He turned and walked away in the opposite direction of the house.

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Thanks to all who reviewed. I'm sorry for the cliffy but I haven't done that in a really long time and I just had to. I hope this isn't a cliffy…sorry if you think so. I don't have time to thank you all individually since I'm just quickly updating this chapter for you guys before I leave for the weekend. Enjoy…please review. I'm so glad that you guys like it and don't worry Tala will be back.

Thanks for reading and reviewing ;)

Miss Wright