Hello again! Thank you so much for all of your reviews! I still don't know what couple to choose, BUT it's down to 2 pairings rather than 3! I wonder if you can tell by this chapter which pairing I'm not even considering? Try and guess! It'll be fun! Anyway- Chapter 8 everybody!

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Kai kicked up water as he ran along the pavement, making the bottom of his trousers damp. He hid his hair under his hood- even though by now water was seeping through anyway. He'd been running for so long now…

Gotta find Tala…

He ran up a flight of concrete stairs- and nearly fell down them again because it was so damp. The stairs were run down and covered in moss. Rubbish and litter were everywhere. At the top was a door- which was rotting from the base to at least a quarter of the way up. Someone had scratched 'muscavite scum' onto the door, over a sign saying 'Blitzkrieg Boys'.

Kai banged on the door a few times, which was soon opened by Spencer.

"What do you want Kai?" He said coldly.

"Kai?" Came a voice from within. Spencer turned round and Kai looked past him- to find Brian standing at the end of the hallway. "It's been a while. What brings you to this shit hole?"

"Is Tala here?" Kai said, trying to sound unbothered, but failing. Brian and Spencer both snorted.

"No, he went out about one- to see you apparently, but obviously he didn't then…" Brian said.

"He did see me, at about one. So he hasn't been back since then?" Kai replied.

"I think Tala will be okay by himself Kai!" Laughed Spencer. "It's only four- it hasn't started to get dark quite yet!" Both Brian and Spencer laughed at Kai's expense.

"Hey guys, that's really not that funny- you know how Tala's been recently! He probably won't be alright on his own!" Ian shouted from the living room.

What?

"Shut up Ian!" Yelled Spencer.

"Something's wrong with Tala?" Kai asked. Both Brian and Spencer suddenly looked really guilty for joking around. Spencer ushered Kai inside, shut the door, and walked off- leaving Kai with Brian.

"Where to begin…" Brian sighed. "Did you know he tried to kill himself a few weeks ago?"

"WHAT?"

"It's true. He slit his wrists. He was in hospital for a few days."

"I never knew- I never even noticed the marks or the fact he was gone…"

Some friend I am…

But, how could I have ever known that he felt this way? He never talks to me…

Oh no wait…

I never let him talk to me…

Shit.

"Do you know why?" Kai asked softly.

"Yep- but I can't tell you."

"WHAT? I'm his best friend! Why can't you tell me?" Brian snorted again which made Kai's blood boil. "Why is that funny?"

"No reason."

Why do I get the feeling that there is a quite important reason?

"What else?"

"He self harms like there's no tomorrow. In fact- I caught him doing it this morning. I think it's really pathetic…"

"Tala is not pathetic!" Kai spat.

"Ooh, pissy! I'm sure Tala would love to see you getting so defensive over him!" He laughed again and Kai had to clench his fists to control his rage. "And just what does that mean?"

"I wonder what we have in common? You and me I mean."

"What are you on about?" Kai demanded. Brian laughed at his private joke, which was the last straw for Kai. He swung at Brian with his fist which he easily dodged. Before Kai could even draw his fist back, Brian kicked Kai in the back of the knees, and he came crashing down.

Die you little fucking piece of…

Brian grabbed Kai's shirt around his neck, and yanked it threateningly.

"Don't ever attack me Kai, or you'll be sorry!"

Kai snorted this time. He kicked his leg upwards- sending Brian tumbling beside of him. Kai jumped on top of him pinning him down.

Got you!

He raised his fist up as if he was going to hit Brian.

"Tala's in love with you!" Kai let his fist flop down and he stared at Brian.

What?

"You're lying! That makes no sense!"

"Go check out his room," Spencer said from the living room doorway.

"You'll find it quite enlightening!" Said Ian- in the doorway as well. Kai looked up the stairs, knowing that what ever was up there, was going to be bad…

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"Hello Tala!" Came Mariah's voice, and she put an arm around him as he walked in. "Eww! You're soaking wet! Why did you boys stay out in the rain?" She laughed as they both squirmed under her knowing gaze. "Say no more- just don't do it too often, or you'll both get sick!"

"Hello Tala…" Lee said nervously, not sure why he would ever want to see them.

"It's okay Lee," reassured Rei. "He's just gonna catch up for a bit!"

Catch up my arse!

I'm so happy here.

I don't need to act all cold and talk as little as possible. These people want to reach out to me.

Mariah hugged me… no ones ever just hugged me like that before. She feels warm to the touch. Her smile is real.

And there's Rei…

He's warm too…

Tala looked at Rei who smiled back at him, forcing Tala to smile as well. Tala felt warm too…

"Do you want to stay for lunch Tala?" Asked Mariah.

"I'd better not. I just need to talk to Rei for a while."

"S'cool. Catch you later okay?"

Rei and Tala practically ran up the stairs and shut themselves in Mariah's room.

"So it's official then? Me and you!" Rei asked before leaping onto the pink bed. Tala paused- and then said-

"You make me so happy. I really want to be with you- but what about Kai?"

"Fuck Kai!"

"Rei…"

"I'm sorry but I don't see why he needs to be part of the picture!"

"He loves you!"

"I love you!"

"I love him still!"

"Oh get over it!" Rei said rolling around on the covers. "He makes you feel so depressed, and you said yourself that I make you happy. I'll help you get over him quickly. Loving someone that makes you so unhappy can't be healthy! You need to learn not to care about him! Forget you ever loved him Tala!"

"I know you're right, but…"

"But what?"

"I can't just sit back and let him get heart broken."

"So we just won't tell him then! Are you coming to bed or what?"

Tala smiled, and then jumped on top of Rei.

"I'm bonding with you…" Tala kissed him and gently eased off Rei's top.

But, will you ever replace Kai?

I've know him for all my life.

That bond is unbreakable.

But I'm not happy when I'm around him anymore.

It's painful now

Has all the love…

…been replaced?

Has my love for him, been replaced with an obsession?

An obsession which is doomed to end-

-badly?

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So which pairing out of the three possibilities has been definitely written off then? Humor me and try to guess!