13 Shades of Grey

Chapter 07: State of Shock

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Next chapter is soon to be posted. Sorry for the long wait. If you review you get marsh mellows!! Who likes marsh mellows? I know I do!! Review please!

ChibiKai02: Sorry to hear that, I thought it was a really cool place. No relationship to Brooklyn, huh? I saw a fan listing for the borough. But can't you just re-install the program? Or was it the format he deleted?. He loses his memory later on. In a few buncha more chapters. Don't worry. I'll post more soon.

Alexis: Digital Survivor: Yup, a pumpkin. Screw the cookies, two more weeks until Halloween!! I'm Canadian too. My thanksgiving was spent sleeping, and watching Thanksgiving specials. Hehehe, more pumpkin pies. I like those, except I only ever really had one. Lots of Brooklyn/Arista is good? I guess so! Yeah, Amber and Kai are going to have a few more problems. Enjoy!

Twerp: Here's Amber's reaction all written out. Except she's a bit more confused than she's letting on.

unknown: Your welcome. I like pumpkins. Brooklyn is hot, yes, I agree. He's so cute. Happy reading.

anonymous: I'm glad you liked it. Your welcome for the pumpkins. Thanks for reviewing!

la-de-da: I love Linkin Park!! They so rock! Glad you liked it. Please review.

umi n secylia: Ehk, I think that it was missing parts in the last paragraph. It was rushed?

Emily - ): I updated. Thanks for the review, and happy reading.

Ayuka-chan: Kai was OOC...?

-O-

Amber pushed away from Kai and took a few deep, cleansing breaths. Her brain still hadn't processed what had happened, and she refused to even think about it. One minute she was collecting lint from Arista's sweater and the next Kai's soft lips had been crushed to hers.

Her knees felt weak, she collapsed to the floor. Her legs spilled like jelly underneath her. She buried her face in her hands, resting her elbows on her knees. This was all so confusing.

Kai watched her and sunk to the floor, sitting opposite her. He folded his legs underneath him and reached out a hand. He stroked Amber's cheek before pushing stray bangs out from her face. He couldn't see her eyes and therefore didn't know what she was thinking. Her bronze skin seemed to glow, he noticed.

A wave of silence had washed over them causing much discomfort. Kai's hand rested on Amber's face, cupping it. He made to pry her hands apart. But her voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Don't."

She was scared or frightened. He knew that the way her voice shook. He always loved her voice, the way it held a Celtic ring to it. When she was angry or frustrated it took on a jagged edge. When she was saying certain words her tongue would roll or hold them longer. It wasn't like that. He couldn't hear the Celtic ring; all he heard was the rejection in her tone.

He sucked in breath through his teeth and waited. He waited for her to do something, say something, even snap at him. But nothing. Kai dropped his hand; it landed on his thigh. Hitoshi and Arista had long since abandoned them, giving them space and privacy. After all, it was their problem they should work it out.

Kai's stomach twisted and his gut churned. Why was she just sitting there? He was becoming desperate. Kai could picture himself prying away her hands, but since she'd told him to stop, he had. And so he clenched his fists tightly together instead. His knuckled were turning white.

Amber was quiet, she didn't utter a single word. A state of shock had completely taken over her mind. It wasn't everyday Kai Hiwatari, her mortal enemy, kissed her. If he'd liked her then he would have acted in his feelings before, not now. Or maybe he didn't like her and only wanted to hurt her. Yeah, that was the only explanation. Ether that or brain sucking aliens had switched his brain for someone else's. She sighed, although her hands, which still covered her face, muffled it, it was audible.

She was upset, because she had convinced herself that even for one second that Kai found her remotely pretty. Because she had convinced herself that for one second that maybe a male specie was physically attracted to her. Well hell, the shit hit the fan and she was left to face reality. No matter how much she didn't want to.

Oh well, better get it over with, she suggested to herself. No time like the present.

Suffocated. That was what Kai felt. Suffocated by Amber Marie Benson. She was everywhere, and her scent was always with him. Though how he didn't know. The floral scent always took his senses. And he couldn't get it out of him, couldn't get away from her. Two years was a hell of a lot when he thought about it, and not long enough to rid his brain of the Imp. Or long enough for his heart to forget her. No, things could never be the way they were. Not as long as she was here at Vaughn.

When Amber lowered her hands, she was staring into depths of mahogany. Kai's eyes locked on her ochre ones, he held her gaze. He watched the battle of emotions in her glassy eyes.

Amber found herself losing control. His eyes were just so damn gorgeous that she couldn't bear to look away. She couldn't, for the life of her, figure out how Hiwatari's mind worked. It was so confusing.

Kai's gaze lowered to her lips. Full and cherry red. Amber lowered her gaze to the floor, what was she supposed to do now?

She didn't have to answer, seeing as her brain went foggy and shut off again as her senses dulled when Kai's lips claimed hers for a second time. She melted in his arms, sighing drunkenly when he lifted his mouth. She smelled in the scent of him, dark vanilla and musk.

Kai smirked when she fell back into his arms, limp but still conscious. It gave him some satisfaction to know that he affected her too.

-O-

Arista growled and flicked another paper ball at Brooklyn. He was trying to do his work but he might as well have been doing nothing because he was making no progress at all. All thanks to the Queen of Misunderstanding who didn't understand anything at all.

In this case it was perfect but seriously he wished she would give him a break. He was going to hurt her, not physically, but emotionally or mentally he would get to her. He would lead her on and then break her.

Brooklyn swatted away a paper ball, it fell to the floor. "Stop." He deadpanned.

"I would, but I have just so much paper. Might as well do something useful with it." Arista replied curtly.

Brooklyn snorted and then got up. He stretched and yawned. Schoolwork always did that to him, it was relatively easy, but it was just so pointless and boring. He plucked a cd randomly from a stack near the stereo. He slipped it in and then pushed play.

Shut the fuck up she said

I'm going fucking deaf

Your always too loud

Everything's too loud

Everything's too loud

Arista jumped up, knocking paper over from the paper stack along the way, she ran and put the volume higher. Brooklyn rolled his eyes and sat back down. She sang along, though it was barely audible due to the volume. At least now he wouldn't have to listen to her ranting about he how was the reincarnate of the devil, he thought. Often times he wanted to glue her lips shut, then tie up her arms and legs so she couldn't go anywhere, or do anything. That he'd pay to see. Arista was always so energetic and eager to do stuff, maybe that was why she always got her foot in her mouth. She just did stuff impulsively without thinking about the responsibilities or the consequences. She got into a lot of trouble for it later on though. Something he liked about her, because he didn't have to do anything to embarrass her.

Now that all my friends left

This place is fucking dead

I wanna move out

When can we move out
This shit has got to stop
I'll run away

Kane came stepped in the dorm, Aspin's arms encircled around his neck. He grinned and then sat down on his bed, Aspin sat down on his lap. Arista rolled her eyes, Kane liked to show off his property. She frowned at the term, it was degrading and besides that, Aspin was human, not a thing. But who was she to say? She didn't have Kane hanging all over her. Good thing too because she found him annoying even though he was a master prankster. But compared to Ian he was an amateur.

Get the fuck up she said
Your life is meaningless
It's going nowhere
You're going nowhere

"Get a room." She called over the noise of the music.

Kane turned to her. "Funny, Robert said the same thing in the hallway. And then we came here. This is a room, right?" He looked to Brooklyn for help.

You're just a fuck up she said
I'll live alone instead
She said "You don't care."
I know I don't care

Brooklyn nodded, he wasn't going yell pointlessly over the music. Arista scowled and then continued to throw paper balls at Brooklyn. Aspin stared at the female.

"Are you going to be here all day?" She asked somewhat politely. She hadn't spent much time with her boyfriend and she missed him.

I'll never ask permission from you
Fuck off I'm not listening to you
I'm not coming home
I'm never going come back home

"No, I've seen enough horror to last a life time."

I got too fucked up again
And passed out on the plane
Tried to forget you
I can't forget you

Kane gave her the finger, which she gladly returned. Arista stuck out her tongue after throwing a stack of paper at the couple, and then left the dorm followed by Brooklyn.

No sleep on this flight
I'll think about the nights
We had to get through
How did we get through?

"What's wrong now?" Brooklyn eyed her. She was sitting on the floor boredly, poking the floor with her index finger.

"I just saw your face."

I'll never ask permission from you
Fuck off I'm not listening to you
I'm not coming home
I'm never going to come back home
I think it's time that I should leave

"Gee, that's too bad." He replied sarcastically, with a roll of his light eyes. The music was still audible through the closed door.

"Yeah, I'm scarred for life." She sighed. He didn't respond and instead left. His book bag was slung on his shoulder casually, but she could still smell the stink. Arista grinned, he still hadn't taken out the food. Or maybe he hadn't found out it was there.

I'll never ask permission from you
Fuck off I'm not listening to you
I'm not coming home
I'm never going to come back home
I'll run away

I think it's time for me to leave

-O-

Thursday October the twelfth was sunny skies with a chilly wind. Arista had taken the bandage off her wrist, the stitches were still there, but she had peeled some of them away leaving a stinging sensation on her skin. The imprint of them was still there, a reminder of what she'd done. She remembered it like it was all yesterday. Shahero had gotten rid of her bandage the minute she'd gotten off the ice. It was be just too distracting during a match to have a bandage on her hand. And besides, she couldn't exactly handle her stick correctly as Coach had pointed out.

Arista was physced about the exhibition match Saturday. She couldn't wait, even if she wasn't going to play, she would stay and watch. And point out to Mariah where she needed to better he defence or blocking abilities.

Miyami skated back to her cousin. She was on her skateboard, outside near the back doors of the school. There was a rail where she was grinding. Arista always preferred roller blades because she could keep her balance better. They were waiting for the bell to ring, signalling that they would be allowed inside again.

They were suspended for the day because they'd gotten jell-o and poured it on Ian, thus starting a food fight. Half the day they'd spent at the cinéma watching a movie called 'Hero'. The rest of the day was spent at the arcade playing video games, then they'd come to the back of the school and just hung out. 6:02, they still had an hour to go, Miyami noticed looking at her black and silver watch.

Arista played with her hair, picking apart the strands. She sighed boredly and then turned to Miyami. "I wanna get a hair cut."

"Alec is the expert, not me."

"I know, but he's not here. Let's go to the mall and find a salon. I want to get black and red streaks."

"Sounds like a plan."

After about twenty minutes, they were in Bakuten district, outside the school district. Arista bladed up to the stairs of the mall and climbed up, her roller blades clunking loudly. Miyami skated up the ramp smoothly, and made a jump to land on the gravel of the walkway.

They made it in with the odd stares from the people that were smoking or loitering outside. Arista sped up when she spotted a salon, she motioned for Miyami to follow.

The door lady looked at them disapprovingly. "What do you want?" She sneered.

Arista surveyed the living, breathing, plastic barbie doll. Bleach-blonde hair, too-skinny waist, puffed chest, small skinny legs, and baby blue eyes. She grinned. "I wanna get a hair cut, Nancy." She read the name from the tag on the fancy red suit.

Nancy looked over Arista's clothes. Scrawny, and small. Her jeans were ripped at the knees, getting baggier and looser as they hung down, and her sweater had two holes on each side where her thumbs poked through, covered in wrist guards. She gave a look of censure. Arista's hair was open, going to her elbows. Her left ear had three piercings, well her right had two. Four or five silver chain-like necklaces hung around her neck.

The lady rubbed her nails against her suit jacket and then waved her hand towards her left. Arista bladed away, while Nancy wore a look of anger and disbelief.

"And you?" She sneered at Miyami. Miyami's silver hair was left open. The streaks of pink, black, and light green were visible as light shone upon her hair. She was wearing a black skirt with many chains hanging off, her ears were covered with earrings and studs. A spiked pierce was in her eyebrow, and a lip ring on her bottom lip. She was wearing her Rancid t-shirt, her arms were covered in jelly bracelets. She smirked, showing off her pointed canine like teeth.

"I'm fine." She held her skateboard in her arm and sat down on a chair making herself comfortable. Nancy gave a sigh of frustration and walked away shaking her head.

-O-

Sonia gasped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Ozuma stood behind her, he had shocked her, and not to mention how good he looked with his bare chest.

Ozuma had taken off his shirt because it was too hot. He found the Australian female tying her shoelace. Lately she hadn't been herself and he hadn't seen her for a while. He missed her.

"Hey, how are you?" He asked her. He would start the conversation off casually and then ask her why she was avoiding him.

"I'm fine, you just startled me, that's all." Her gaze rose to is teal eyes. She could sense a flicker of emotions run through them and then she wondered what her eyes looked like. Could he tell? Feeling uncomfortable she rose off the bench and stood. She shrugged off his hand and started into an easy gait.

"I'm going for a run." She declared. Ozuma jogged up to her.

"I'll join you." He flashed her a smile sending her heart spiralling. A flutter of something she barely recognized rose in her stomach.

"Yeah, uh sure." She started to break into a run, leaving him behind her a few paces.

Ozuma shrugged and stayed behind her. If she wanted time to realize her feelings, she would get it. But if she took too long then he'd just give have to interfere. For now, he enjoyed the view of her backside.

Ahead of him, Sonia sighed. What was she supposed to do about Ozuma? She'd been avoiding him for pretty long now, almost two weeks. She still had mixed feelings about him, she was his friend, but a part of her wanted to be more than that. And sooner rather than later. What was wrong with her? Sure she'd always been physically attracted to him, he did occupy her brain a lot. But what if he didn't want to be more than just friends, then he would reject. She didn't want to ruin they're friendship, it would be really awkward.

She frowned, her insecurities nibbled away at her, chewing up her insides. She'd go ask Ruin or Mikey for some advise. They both knew how to handle things. This also gave her an excuse to get away from Ozuma who was trailing behind her. She could almost feel his gaze burning into her. His eyes were so exquisite. She could stare at them all day and lose herself in them.

No, we're just friends, her brain corrected her.

But we could be so much more. Her insides battled for dominance while she finished running around the track. She sat down on the bench and checked her time, 2:37.

Ozuma came 20 seconds later. He sat down beside her and took a few deep breaths. "Hey. Man, I'm tired."

Sonia rose a brow. "After three laps around the track? Coach makes you do at least 10 around the rink."

"Yeah, I just had practice. And now I have a whole shit load of homework to do."

Sonia made and o of acknowledgement. Ozuma continued. "We haven't spent a lot of time together since the head boy and girl meetings, and I need some help with and English essay I have to do." He looked into her eyes, so many emotions played through them like a film. He watched them go a little hazy.

"I have to go. I need to talk to Ruin about something."

Sonia got up, taking her duffel bag with her and then left him staring at her retreating figure. Wait a second, since when had Ruin come back?

-O-

Ignoring Kai used to be easy for Amber, now it was different. Before her feelings resembled hatred but now she was so confused she didn't know what to think. So she was sitting in Bryan's lap listening to her Lost Prophets cd while she thought about what to do. She was watching the video Tala and Johnny had filmed. She couldn't hear the sounds, she just knew she liked what she saw. Her face reappeared on the screen, she grinned and made a V with her fingers just before the screen flashed black.

She clapped gleefully and smiled. "I loved it."

Tala grinned, Ruin sitting beside him, his arm around her shoulders bringing her close to him. Amber snuggled further into Bryan's arms. Tala had always liked Ruin, in more than a platonic friendship sort of way. He'd confessed to Amber, but Ruin had left and he wasn't able to act on them. When Ruin had left, she'd left Amber sad and lonely, and Tala heartbroken. not that she didn't affect her other friends, when she'd left everyone had forged a bond that could never be broken. Now that she was back, Tala wasn't letting her go.

Whether Ruin wanted him to or not Tala loved her. More than she thought possible. Tala let go of her to retrieve his video from the VCR. He slipped it into his bag and slung his bag on his shoulder. He waited for Ruin to collect her things and then poked Amber until she got up.

"I don't wanna, and you can't make me." She stuck out her tongue and folded her arms against her chest. "Bryany!" She complained to her cousin. "Can I have a piggy-back ride?"

When he refused she persisted until he agreed. She jumped up and down on the spot. "Yay!"

Bryan gave a ghost of a smile and then leaned down. Amber jumped onto his back and clasped her hands around his neck. She grinned and sang in tune to her cd.

"And I can be on the last train home, watch it pass the day, as it fades away, no more to kill, no more time today..." Her voice trailed off yet again.

Bryan walked out of the red room and into the hallway. Tala was talking casually to Ruin about something, Shahero jogged up to them and fell in step, joining their conversation. Ahead of them Miyami, Johnny, and Kai stood handing out purple papers.

"What're these for?" He asked taking one from Kai, who happened to stand closest to him.

"Do you actually Hiwatari was going to read what it read? I doubt his tiny brain can handle it." Bryan smirked at Amber's comment.

Kai rolled his eyes, so she was going to pretend it never happened. Fine with him. He would just corner her about it later when she was alone. After all, them being in the same school, and being on the same team, and having some classes together wasn't going to help her any.

If he was going down, he would bring her down with him. After all, there was saying or something that went 'Love is a disease, and it's contagious. Spread it and everyone else will be sick too!' He smirked, it would be like torturing Amber, that was always good for a laugh and a half.

Amber turned her gaze to Miyami and looked at the female. Something had changed what was it? She lowered the volume on her Discman and pulled her hood over her head.

"Miya? Did you do something?" She looked questionably at the silver haired female.

Miyami grinned from ear to ear. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and posed. "D'ya like it?"

Amber ran a hand through silver tresses and nodded. "It's so pretty. I wanna get streaks too."

She surveyed the newly streaked hair and grinned. The silver hair was streaked was cut into choppy bangs that slipped into her eyes. She had pink and purple streaks that blended in, looking natural. It was layered at the back and left open.

"I love it. Did Ari get hers done too?" Miyami nodded.

Johnny stepped in between Miyami and Amber. "I would like to take my girlfriend to heaven and back. Would you please excuse us?"

Amber smirked and gave a soft punch to Johnny's arm. "Whatever." She stepped inside, still riding on Bryan's back. They made a bee-line to the back of the gym and sat down in the far corner. Sonia sat beside Michael talking in hushed whispers. The noise around them escalated as more students piled into the gym.

Amber spotted Kane and Rei sitting on either side of Arista. They were too far away to hear her, so she settled instead for looking around for someone else. Her view was cut short as Kai came and sat in the once empty seat directly in front of her. She narrowed her eyes and kicked his chair. He didn't even turn around, and instead pushed his chair back causing a cry of surprise from Amber.

The legs of Kai's chair snagged on the bottoms of Amber's pants causing her discomfort. She leaned forward to avoid them slipping off. Putting her hands on her narrow waist she pulled at them, but it was no use.

In front of her Kai made no move to acknowledge her presence. Amber frowned and rapped her knuckles on her chair. Kai didn't even phase. Losing her temper slightly, Amber punched him hard on the arm. Finally catching his attention, he turned his head slightly, catching her eye.

Her ochre eyes glittered with anger and annoyance. She pointed with her free hand to the floor, the bottoms of her pants were caught underneath the bottoms of Kai's chair.

She growled into his face and practically had her nose to his. Kai didn't even blink, and instead was waiting to hear what she had to say.

"Your on my pants. Move!"

Kai raised a slate eyebrow. "And why would I do that? What if I like the position we're in?"

Amber leaned back slightly, caught off guard. "I... Just get off my pants!"

She shoved him with her hand, or that was her intention but Kai easily caught her wrist. Her pulse hitched, and her skin throbbed from his touch. She cleared her head shaking it, making her hair spill out from her hood.

He frowned at her surprised face. "I was kidding, Benson. I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole."

He let go of her wrist and turned around abruptly. Amber, confused and sad at the bitter edge to his words, turned the volume up so that she could block out any noise of anything save for the music.

Kai's words stung, she narrowed her eyes baffled with the blunette, then shook her head and settled into an easy almost sleep. She was still conscious and still aware of how Kai's broad shoulders were tensed and muscled. Something she hadn't really noticed. She knew he had muscles, just that they weren't of any interest before. She tore her gaze away almost hesitantly and leaned her head onto Bryan's shoulder. Spencer sat beside the lilac haired male, they were talking about something or other, she didn't pay any more attention and just listened to her Lost Prophets cd.

-O-

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