SailorofTears: Thank-You reviewers. And I am extremely sorry for the wait! I should be hurt very badly, but nah! I am out of school, I passed all of my classes and today was the first day out! (May 25, 2005)! Now, I have 3 months out all by myself! Again, I am sorry.

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade.

-Chapter Two:-

"Damn..." They both said in unison.

"5 extra minutes both of you!"

-Picnic Tables during Lunch-

The sun had came out and kids were shedding off their clothing from all around the school campus, bare arms and bare legs that were freshly tanned could be seen from the girls, but the guys could only roll their sleeves up or take a jacket off here and there.

Mariah could swear it was about 98 degrees out there. She wiped a sweat bead from her forehead and walked over to her usual picnic table where Max, Tyson, Hilary, Kenny, and Dizzi were seated around.

"Hi, guys!" Mariah exclaimed as she sat her plate of mushy and lumpy cafeteria food on the wooden bench picnic table.

"Yo. Wassup, Mariah?" Rei said as he sat down beside her on the bench with his bagged lunch from home. "How is your day so far? Heard you've been getting in some trouble." Rei smirked a little as he stole a glance at Hilary. But, this did not go unnoticed by Mariah.

Mariah glared at the loud-mouth Hilary who was now scolding Tyson for talking while his mouth was full with food. Sometimes, Mariah, could believe those two were married.

"Mariah and trouble is not unusual though, Rei." Max commented from across the wooden table added to Rei's comment.

"Well, I was just late. And she gave me a 35-minute detention afterschool. That's all." Mariah answered as she looked at the green lump of supposed-to-be-food.

"Oh...You sure that's it?" Rei asked a little skeptical of her answer.

"Yep." Mariah said sure of herself as she ate a little of the glump of green. As she ate the first bite, she ate another and did not eat anymore. She was already through with cafeteria food, and it was only the first day!

'Except for the fact I met the new Russian kid that I really think that I met before, but can't place him.' Mariah thought.

"Ok." Rei said as he opened his bag and started eating.

The whole picnic table was filled in their own conversations: Hilary with Tyson, Max and Emily, Kenny and Dizzi that may be researching something for their history project. (A/N: Dizzi is still the computer bitbeast talking person.). Mariah decided it was time for her to throw away her plate of mush and lumps, she could almost throw up if she looked at it anymore.

"I'll get it for you." Rei offered as he picked up her plate and backed up off of the picnic table, but he had bumped into an unfamiliar body and face.

"Watch where the fuck your going!" Tala eyed his victim, it was a boy no younger than himself with long, black hair and fang-like teeth. He looked similiar to his new friend Lee, and that pink-haired girl he seen earlier in class. "Cat-boy."

"Me! You should have watched where you were going!" Rei shot back to the flaming red-head. "Carrot-top."

"Tala, he did not mean it, just calm down..."Mariah tried to explain as she stood up with Hilary and Emily at her either sides glaring at the red-haired.

"He seemed so nice before, Riah." Hilary whispered to her friend as she watched the two boys continue to fuss. At this point Tyson, Enrique, and Max had all ran up behind Rei to show their support. But, the same happened for Tala; Johnny, Kai, Lee, Bryan, and Robert were all behind Tala trying to see what had happened between the two. However, Lee, Robert, and Kai stood on the side to show they were neutral in the fight, for the fact they did not know know the new boy too well.

"Pinky, you just stay out of this, it's between me and him." Tala said outloud as he kept his glare on Rei. "Besides, I'm not going to fight him. Firstly, it would be unfair for him. Secondly, we don't want him to break a nail now do we?"

"Are you trying to call me a punk?" Rei said as he stepped up to Tala.

"Your skills at stating the obvious are excellent." Tala retaliated as he stepped up to Rei, so they could just feel each others breath.

"AHHHHHH!" Rei threw a punch at the stunned Tala, which hit him directy in the cheek. The pain was just like a knife being stabbed through him. Tala knew Rei wanted a fight now. So, if he wanted a fight, then he'll give him a fight.

The outside area was now being surrounded by a bunch of highschool kids who were all interested in who was fighting. The little circle in the middle of the students was a ring for the fighting Rei and Tala. Mariah, Hilary, and Emily had all turned their heads in disgust. Fighting was never a way to solve a problem and Mariah knew Rei knew this concept, but he still threw the first punch. Well, who blames him?

'He sure did hit him pretty good,' Mariah let a very small smile form on her lips as she thought about it.

Tala dodged every attack that Rei threw at him. The kid was good at martial arts, no, he was excellent. But, he still was not as fast him. Tala dodged a high kick and bent just low enough so that he had an open spot for Rei's stomach and took the chance. Rei's eyes bugged out and a drop of blood mixed with saliva escaped his lips, shocking all the fangirls and some of Rei's friends. But, he kept up the fight, dodging and attacking everytime he would get a chance.

"Go! Break the idiots up, Johnny, Tyson!" Kai ordered from his spot beside Lee.

"But-" They both said.

"Now!" Kai said with a serious face, he watched them both walk up and take their respected partners to a spot where they could cool down.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!" An old, short, bald man yelled outloud. Thus, causing most of the crowd to run away from the scene except for a select few. He did not really want to know what had happened, but just wanted the students to disperse as quickly as possible before the bell ranged for the next period.

"Nothing, Mr.Dickenson." Lee responded to the rhetorical question the principal had asked. Lee and his gang of friends left to go to their classes on one side and the other gang of kids left to go to their respected classes or lockers.

-Middle of Hall-

"Hey Rei, its alright." Hilary spoke up so everyone could hear her comment. "Tala was just...well, I don't know what he was doing. Probably its just his way of saying..."Hello." to another male."

"What the hell? Your sounding just as stupid as Tyson on days he doesn't have food! And here I thought you were a smartass!" Rei yelled back as he stopped in the middle of the hallway, making a few heads turn in their direction.

Mariah, Enrique, Max, and Kenny all turned just in time to see an angry Tyson blow-off in Rei's face with his arm over Hilary's shoulders who was standing up proud with her nose in the air.

"Listen BUDDY, you can talk to me anyway you want too, but don't take your anger out on Hilary just because you got your ass kicked by Tala!" Tyson yelled at one of his closest friends. Tyson had not thought of what he had said until it had left his mouth. He cursed silently inside just as the words escaped him.

"Tyson...I'm sorry guys." Rei ran off down the crowded hallway and around a corner. He could hear the muffled screams of his friends as he sprinted, but couldn't let them see the bruised and hurt look on his face. They could never and will never see Rei Kon cry.

"Guys, I'm going to go after him!" Mariah declared. As she was about to take off after him down the hall an orange-haired Emily stepped in her path. "Emily, what's up?"

"I...we...can't let you go after him, Riah. Sometimes, guys just want some time for themselves to think about their actions or to sort out their feelings. And as long as we...you've...known Rei, you should understand that he is a very deep person and thats exactly what he is doing." Emily said thoughtfully as she hugged Mariah. Mariah nodded for understandance.

Tyson removed his arm from around Hilary's neck and stepped up in front of the group to address everyone. Max, Kenny, Mariah, Hilary and Emily all turned their heads in his direction. An oncoming Oliver and Enrique looked at their friends completely lost and confused. They had been in the library during lunch and had not heard about any of the conflicts yet, but they had quickened their pace to hear the navy blue-haired boy's announcement.

"Listen up, I'm extremely sorry for what happened just now... It was all totally my fault. I think this might be a time that Rei will need us all, so lets do something special for him and ourselves next week, okay? Because, I don't know, I have a distinct feeling that this year is going to be hectic and crazy. It's alot different from last year, you guys. The other gang has changed. They are becoming more competitive and our only ties to them is Mariah's brother. And our outing with them tonight is probably going to be most memorable and our last. So, just expect it. And as for this Tala character...We'll deal with him some other time. Ha! I think the bell ranged during my speech...Umm..you all know where to meet up tonight, right? The Midnight Matinee on 4th and Misery Street.

As me being your gang leader. I think we need to give ranks again since we started this new semeseter. And also, a gang name since we never had one before." Tyson announced to the group.

He was the leader. They decided that when he first made it up a few years back in middle school, but the funny thing is that they never had a name for the gang. It was just a group of kids. It was quite ridicoulous at first, their was no iniatiation or guidelines or rules to be followed to be in the group, you just had to be yourself and everyone must like your attitude.

Tyson walked up the staircase in his class direction along with Max and Emily who were in his U.S. History class along with him. Next was Oliver and Kenny who trodded off to their PE class, which they would probably not participate in with all their abilities, because they were not athletic people.

"So, Hil, what is your third period class?" Enrique asked as he folded his arms and walked in the middle of the last two girls, Hilary and Mariah. Hilary had a confident face as Mariah looked out in space. Enrique knew she was thinking of Rei and probably where he went too when he ran off.

"I have Clothing and Design with Mrs.Hatcher." Hilary told the blonde-headed flirt who snapped his head back to see Hilary looking at him.

"Where are you two off too?" Hilary asked as she continued walking.

"Culinary Arts." They both said in unison not too pleased. Enrique started fake crying as Mariah gave puppy dog eyes to her best friend.

"Sorry for you guys! Everyone knows that you two are horrible cooks!" Hilary laughed at their reactions. Those two were a funny pair to look at when they did not want to do something.

Hilary gave a little wave before she jogged off, she saw her teacher instructing her to get to the class before she shut the door.

Mariah and Enrique walked as slowly as they could and as silent as they could to their last class of the day and most dreaded. As they reached the bright light tan wooden door Enrique sneaked a peek inside through the glass window in the door and saw the teacher not paying attention so he slowly opened the door and motioned Mariah to creep in first. She nodded. She creeped in, and crouched unnoticed to the class. But, she couldn't say the same for poor Enrique. When he came in, he hit the door which made it hit the wall and made a pretty loud noise and made the teacher look up at him.

"Enrique, I assume?" The teacher called out to the blonde.

"Yes sir...MA'AM! I mean Ma'am! Ma'am! Yes sir! Ma'am! Jeez!" Enrique called back straight as a nail and turning very cherry red from embarassment. The 20-25 odd some kids in the class laughed at his mistakes and waited anxiously to see what the teacher would do.

"Please take your seat. And please try not to be late again." The teacher spoke back as calmly as she could. The teacher was very pretty and young she looked 25 years old at the most and had long silky raven-colored hair. Her eyes were violet with a hint of dark blue. Her pale skin might need a little tan to color her up, but for the most part she was gorgeous!

Enrique sat down behind Mariah in the side of the class closest to the door. The door was decorated with all types of cheeses from France, Germany, and all over Europe mostly. The back of the room had about 10 table tops each consisting of different pots and pans, a stove, an oven, a sink, and kitchen gear. The windows on the side of the wall let in a bright and beautiful sunshine which lighted the class up and made it feel very cozy.

"Nice going, Enrique." Mariah said just below a whisper so the boy behind her could hear the comment.

"Put a cap on it, Pinky!" Enrique said pretty angrily, but had no harm behind the words said.

The rest of the class went by smoothly. It was a basic first day class lesson. Learning names, a name game, a rubric of what they were to do that semester, and a mini-homework assignment: to copy down the food chart for their notes.

-The Hallway-

"Jeez, Tyson! We have been friends for how long! Hmmmm...let's see, since you were eight and now your what? Sixteen! Eight years, TYSON! Eight friggin' years and you still do not know my name?" A very hysterical Emily scolded to a scared Tyson. He was looking at the floor and jumping everytime she would yell. "And you know what else MR.I-Know-EVERYTHING, You don't even know Max's name! Figures!"

"I'm sorry Em. I won't do it again. I just wasn't paying attention. I really wasn't. Maybe if you help me study then I can pay more attention and get answers correct in class." Tyson said very low so no more attention could be on them again for the third time today, but it was hopeless many kids were crowded around to see what was happening.

"C'mon now, nothing to see here! Nothing at all, but a bunch of geeks who can't remember shit!" Johnny yelled over the crowd swinging his arms in a SWOOSH manner.

"That's not necessary, Johnathan McGregor." A calm, and angelic voice spoke up so all heads turned to the direction of the voice. It was the teacher from Enrique's and Mariah's Culinary Arts class. Her long, silky raven hair hung carelessly around her shoulders as she stood with her hands on her hips looking at the spiky red-head.

Johnny stood in the middle of the hallway wide-eyed with his mouth opening and closing like a fish. He looked like a complete fool. The kids he was just yelling at were now laughing at him with joy filled in their eyes.

"Now, Mr.McGregor, are you going to leave for home quietly? Or do I need to take immediate action with the principal?" The stunningly beatiful teacher spoke quietly as her violet eyes flashed dangerously at Johnny.

"N-Noo..It's okay! I was just going.." Johnny stuttered before he walked out of the hallway with his nose up high.

'Those eyes were freaky, they didn't seem normal and what teacher is THAT hot? Something is up with her, but whatever, I gotta get home!' Johnny thought to himself as he walked out to Kai's car. But, by time Johnny got outside Kai was just pulling off! Johnny had to run Kai's black Mercedes down as fast as could. If he was another second late then he wouldn't have a ride.

-Seven in the Evening: Mariah's House-

"MARIAH! You have a phone call, I believe it's Rei!" Mariah's mom called out to her from the kitchen. "It'll be just a second, dear. I think she is coming down." Mrs.Wong spoke into the white phone.

Her mom looked very young for her age, she didn't have any wrinkles and she barely frowned. She had long, flowing pink hair that was tied back into a high ponytail and nothing could get her really mad at her two children. She thought that had been through enough when their father had died when Lee wastwelve and when Mariah was nine. It hit Mariah the hardest because her father had promised her a pony for Christmas and when he didn't come home that night, she lyed in her bed crying for the pony, in actuality, there would be no pony, but a dead corpse lying in a ditch, flung from the car he was driving whilein the snow. She said she hated her daddy until she found out the news and never forgave herself. Sometimes she even thought of suicide, but it was her brother, Lee, Rei, and Kai that helped her through it. And she was eternally grateful for the three of them.

"Mooom! I'm coming! Just hold on, ok?" Mariah yelled back through the house. She was upstairs on her computer talking with Hilary. Mariah stood up and clicked on an away message. It said:

"Ignorance killed the cat! Curousity was framed."

Mariah walked slowly down her stairs careful she didn't slip. She could hear Kai and Lee with a few other guys downstairs playing on the PlayStation. She approached her mom, took the phone off of the counter and ran upstairs back to her room and fell on her bed.

"Hey, buddy. What's up?" Mariah said with a little energy.

"Nothing much..Just sittin' at my house...bored." Rei answered a little broken-up. He sighed really low and asked Mariah another question trying to start a new conversation. "How was your detention?"

"Horrible, not only did Tala NOT show up, but she gave me his detention time to prove that no one skips her detention. She acted like I was Tala! That lady really needs to get her priorities straight or get a husband!" Mariah saidthrough the telephone frustrated.

"Yea..I'm sorry. And I'm also sorry for running out on you guys earlier." Rei added a little hurt. Mariah caught this and her face turned.

"Rei Kon! You should NOT be sorry for anything! People make mistakes and people can fix them! You just needed some time to yourself to think things out, I mean people need time for themselves all the time! And if you need someone to talk to, I'm just around the corner. Literally." Mariah explained with emphasis. She felt proud of herself, she felt as if her debt was being repayed back slowly already.

"Thank you, Mari. I knew if I called you, you would have some inspiring words to say. And these actually made sense!" Rei said as he chuckled lowly.

Mariah laughed also, she couldn't wait to see everyone tonight. It would be their first night out since the school year started and she was so ready!

"But, Mari. I'm not going to go tonight, I have way too many things to think about and I don't think I could mentally and physically take it, if I seen THAT guy too soon. No telling what I would I do." Rei spoke quietly into the phone. "Well, I gotta go. I think my mom wants me to help her set the table. Have a nice night. Love ya. Goodnight, Mari."

"Yea, it's ok, Rei. Have a nice night too, and don't let that guy get to your head. Love ya too. Goodnight, Rei." Mariah spoke quietly as she clicked the phone off, she lyed on her bed a little longer until she felt little tired and she couldn't afford to go to sleep

Mariah rocked herself up as she sat on the side of pink, queen-size bed. She rested her head on her hand that was placed on her knee.

'I can't do this night by myself, Rei. But, I guess, I still have Hilary and the rest. I think I can make it the best!' Mariah thought as she slowly looked up to lock her golden eyes with auburn eyes...

SailorofTears: I know. I know! It took me forever and for this sucky chapter? I know, trust me, I am NOT going to slack with this story.. I am going to finish this summer! I promise! I revised the first chapter and if you see any mistakes in this one, please tell me! I am starting on my next chapter NOW! So yea! Thank you guys!

Shout-outs: m, Kaz, Bluestray, Moonchild123, White Valkyrie, evilive, SasukeMOS, Xiao-Mao, Galux Cat, Nina, I can fly, Mizuyah, Thank you all!