CD: Umm…This author's note will be quite short…I'm listening to The Edge- Dunedin Radio.

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CHAPTER 9:

A white Nissan Primera spun into an empty spot in the school parking lot, heads turned as two gorgeous raven-haired girls stepped out of the car. The two girls advanced towards Mariah, their hair naturally flicking behind them.

"Hi, do you know where we can find someone called Tala?" asked a girl with bronze streaks through her otherwise brown-black hair, her face was gorgeously accessorized with a pair of blue lens- sunglasses which Mariah recognized was in the latest Gucci catalogue

"Tala?" asked Mariah, her mind went blank and then it hit her- Tala Ivanov! The Russian dude that was part of the Demolitian Boys.

"Yes, Tala…if you don't know him we can go ask someone else." Said the other girl.

"No, I mean yes, I know Tala…He's over there." Said Mariah snapping into reality.

"Thanks," muttered both the girls heading towards the benches Mariah had pointed to.

"Hey!" smiled Angel, she placed herself beside Tala who finished off a bottle of coke.

"Hi," muttered Tala, his gaze fell on the girl that had come with Angel. The sunglasses accented her almond shaped face so well, she was as beautiful as Angel…they were so alike, sisters maybe?

Angel noticed his eyes stray, she didn't blame him…her best friend Lori received a lot of stares (as did she- she didn't think that, it's my note).

"This is Loralie, though she prefers Lori," introduced Angel.

Lori gave a wide smile bearing a mouth full of perfect pearly white teeth and very slight fangs…another neko-jin?

"Hi, I'm…" started Tala.

"Tala, yes I've heard all about you," interrupted Lori, still smiling.

They were about to get up and leave to have a look around the school when they were stopped by Mariah.

"Ahem," coughed Mariah, "Do you have a minute?"

"Yeah sure," said Angel.

"Where are my manners? *nervous giggle* I'm Mariah," said Mariah.

"Uh, I'm…" started Angel, she was going to say Yuna but she decided to stick with what she had, "I'm Angel and this is my friend Lori."

"Umm…we were kinda going to have a tour around the scho…" started Lori, then her eyes fell upon a tall handsome guy who walked up behind Mariah.

"Hi…" mumbled Lori, her gaze met his and their eyes locked.

"Oh, this is just Rei…he's my boyfriend." Said Mariah waving her hand carelessly as if Rei was a worthless possession.

"Hi, I'm Lori," smiled Loralie reaching out a hand to shake his, he took it and gave a firm but gentle squeeze.

Mariah totally didn't realize the chemistry that was happening between them at the moment.

"Did you say a tour around the school? Well who better to take you than an all time expert?" giggled Mariah, "Come on, we can start with the school office where all our trophies are placed."

Angel forced a smile out of politeness, she really didn't want to go with this girl but at least she could drag Tala along.

"I think I might do a self tour," excused Lori her eyes darted towards Rei and then back again, "You know how much I like exploring alone,"

Angel took the hint, although it wasn't a great deed or anything for Lori to flirt with Rei but someone who took their boyfriend for granted isn't worth having him in the first place and besides she had know Lori her whole life and she had never found someone she had liked so this was surprisingly a first.

"Umm…did you say trophies Mariah? I love looking at the er…achievements of…er…the school," said Angel winking at Lori, she winked back behind her blue sunglasses.

Lori gave a small smile as Mariah left with Angel and Tala.

"So…" said Lori.

"So…" repeated Rei, "you want to come train with me and my friends?"

"Yeah sure," smiled Lori, anything to be in the presence of Rei…even if she sucked at blading.

They arrived at the school hall where several people were hard at practicing, Rei led her towards a group of people which included a loud, idiotic blue haired boy who was battling a sweet-looking blonde.

"Hi Rei," said Tyson, he rubbed his finger under his nose. He was completely unaware that Lori was also there.

Mika looked up at the girl Rei had brought with him, "Hi, I'm Mika…You are?"

"Lori," smiled Lori, Angel had told her about Mika. She looked at Kai who was in his usual pose leaning against the wall, arms folded, eyes closed.

"Hey Kai," said Lori.

Kai opened one eye and gave a small hmph.

"Don't mind him, he's always like that." Said Mika, she grinned. "That's what I like about him,"

Lori gave a short laugh.

"So, can you blade?" asked Max.

"No…and you must be?" replied Lori.

"I'm Max," smiled Max.

"Hi," said Lori bluntly, she really wanted to put off the blading as much as possible…

"Do you have a blade?" question Kenny, eager to analyze.

"Umm…yeah, but I don't…I'm not good at blading," muttered Lori, in her head a voice shrieked "NOT GOOD?! YOU BLOODY SUCK!"

She brought out a blue blade that had silver trimmings, it was a practice blade that a friend had picked out for her as her favorite color was blue.

"Oh," sighed Kenny disappointed that it was just a practice blade, he took a look at it anyway. Then he gave a small grin.

"What is it?" asked Lori confused at his smile and the fact that his eyes were…not visible.

"I thought that a practice blade would be pretty useless but you have a pretty expensive part…a platinum defense ring." Said Kenny.

"Hmm…it's was from BBAM," mumbled Lori uninterested at her blade.

"BBAM, they have the best quality beyblades in the whole world!" remarked Kenny impressed.

"Yeah, well a friend got it for me as a joke as she knew I sucked at blading," said Lori, "You can have the blade if you want."

"Really?!" exclaimed Kenny, without a second thought he took the blade and started taking it apart.

~Don't mind Kenny, He's one of those people that love the thrill of an algebra problem.~

Lori stared at the laptop, "did that laptop just talk?"

"Yeah, and what's wrong with enjoying complex algebraic problems?" asked Kenny.

~Nothing, nothing at all…that is if you're a calculator!~

**(With Angel and Tala)

"Would you like some coffee?" offered Mariah.

"Umm…no thanks, I had a tea break before I came." Said Angel.

Mariah poured herself a cup of instant and took a sip, she went to get a sugar but slipped over the newly polished floor and spilt her coffee all over Angel's suede Prada coat.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen!" cried Mariah, "Here I'll help you clean up, the closest toilets are in the hall."

"It's alright, really," said Angel trying to comfort Mariah who was almost in hysterics at ruining Angel's coat.

"No, no…let's go clean you up. At least get some of the coffee off your coat." Said Mariah.

** (In the hall, Rei's teaching Lori how to blade)

Lori was trying to get the hang of shooting, she gripped the launcher as you would expect someone to hold a golf ball.

"Here, let me help you." Said Rei, he put one hand on her hand that held the launcher and placed another one on her other hand, practically hugging her.

"You gently grip it," said Rei, he loosened her grip on the blade and helped her place the rip-cord in.

The doors of the hall burst open, Mariah and Angel rushed in…they were about to enter the toilets when Mariah spotted Rei, with his arms around Lori…

CD: XD Haha Mariah, I don't like you…as is obvious…

Mariah: I'll set Galux on you!

CD: Ohh…I'm so scared, what's a pink puss like you gonna do to me anyway. You'll probably break a nail in the process.