13 Shades of Grey

Chapter 11: Ready? Set, Run!

-oOoOo-

Frost twinkled on the ground, glittering brightly. The sun shone down on the school grounds, spreading light scattering across the frozen soil. The trees were bare, glistening with ice. A small pond was frozen near the beginning of the forest to the left of the academy.

Arista came out of the doors of the building, she had just finished Brooklyn's lunch detention. Today was the last day that he owned her. Smiling giddily, she stuck out her tongue as far as it would go to catch the scarce snowflakes falling from the sky. A few landed on her tongue. She closed her mouth and savoured the salty taste.

Her head was covered in a black toque with a Nike checkmark, silver hair spilled out like silk. Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes gleaming, liquid-like. Her rainbow mitten-clad hands were stuffed deep into her pockets, serving as a shelter from the cold.

A chill breeze ran through the air, sending frost flying around, twinkling as it caught the sunlight. Arista felt like she was inside a snow globe. Snowflakes danced in the air, swirling around her, then landing back on the floor.

She took a few steps down the stairs, carefully avoiding the icy parts. When she reached the fourth last step, she stopped, jumped down. Arista, luckily, landed on her feet and grinned in triumph.

She reached in her coat pocket looking for gum. She found some and took it out. Unwrapping it, Arista popped it into her mouth and started chewing. When it was soft enough she started to blow a bubble.

While she walked, the bubble grew bigger and bigger. When she couldn't see where she was going because of the size of the blue bubble, she stopped walking. There was no air left in her lungs, so she stopped blowing to breath in and out.

Only to find the bubble still in tact. Her navy eyes went alarmingly wide, she blew air out again, agonizingly slow due to the lack of it.

It grew even bigger, and finally popped.

"Ah!" Arista cried out. But it was muffled because of the gum on her face.

Instinctively she took out her mittened-hands and tried to pull it off. The sticky substance stuck to her face, and stretched onto her gloves. Somehow in the middle of it all, she tripped.

The air whooshed out of her lungs, leaving her breathless and cold. Grumpily, Arista managed to get up. She frowned and pulled her mittens off, leaving them hanging off her face.

Struggling to get the gum off her face, she fell again. In the process she bumped her elbow on her knee and yelped in pain. A numbing feeling spread it's way to the length of her arm.

"Grr!"

A frown flirted with her lips, her eyebrows narrowed as did her eyes. Why had she done to deserve this? She smiled sheepishly remembering that she had shrunk all of Brooklyn's clothes in the dryer. He wouldn't be too happy when he found out. Served him right for making her do his laundry. She had enough trouble doing her own. She either put in too much detergent, not enough detergent, or put in the wrong thing.

Standing up she stuffed her mittens in her pockets, dusted off snow from herself and sweeped her hair out of her face. She tried to get the gum off her face, but it was no use. The sticky pink substance wasn't letting go. What got gum off?

She was interrupted from her thoughts though, because Amber and Kai rushed past her, sending her spiralling to the ground again. She grumbled, but was pleased that things had cooled off between them. The tension that had settled around them had made everyone else awkward too. Not to mention the fact that Bryan had wanted to murder Hiwatari as soon as he'd noticed Amber's increased resentment towards the two-toned blunette.

She watched as the two flung snowballs at each other, laughing like children. The thought made her smile. It was so good to have them back to normal. Or as normal as things got with Arista and her friends.

-oOoOo-

Amber whirled around so quickly that Kai bumped into her. His head banged on hers, but she recovered first. He never saw the snow coming and swore viciously when it collided with his face. He took a step back and blinked through lashes coated with snow. Amber laughed but quickly turned around and started to run as an evil smirk formed upon Kai's handsome features.

She yelped as something cold slid down the back of her neck, to nestle inside her jacket. Kai's arms slithered around her waist, casually. He sure as hell didn't want to push his luck any further than Amber talking to him again. He felt like a little kid that had a plate full of cookies and a cup full to the brim with milk. And all for him. She turned around to face him, scowling with annoyance. He smiled, real and genuine, accenting his already striking face. His lips spread, showing his pearly white teeth in two rows. His cheeks, rosy from the windy conditions, were set on high cheekbones, accenting his nose and eyes, the colour of a deep, rich mahogany. Amber blushed but it wasn't visible because her cheeks were rosy too, no doubt for the same reason.

Her lips slid from a scowl to being parted slowly, as her gaze dipped down to Kai's lips, then to his collar bone, where his pulse beat steadily. When she raised her gaze to meet his eyes, she nearly drowned in the unfathomable depths. Unconsciously, Amber ran her tongue around her dry lips, then swallowed loud enough for him to hear.

Kai's breath fanned on her skin, warm and comfortable like silk. His arms around her waist were about the only thing keeping her upright or she would have likely fallen. The snow in her back was melting, trickling down her back with little, tiny droplets. She felt heat creep to her neck as the cool, slick, water ran down her spine, tickling her mercilessly.

When she couldn't hold it in any longer, she grinned suddenly and then giggled, turning into a laugh as she tried to get the snow out from her jacket. Kai nearly swore again but caught himself just before the words that he would've regretted spilled out of his mouth.

Instead he smiled, hoping she hadn't noticed the disappointment on his face when she's turned away from him. The smile didn't reach his eyes, but he supposed it wasn't meant to. He'd lost a perfect opportunity to prove that his kissing her hadn't been a fluke as she'd somehow convinced herself.

Amber caught the gleam of regret in his eyes, but ignored it. After all, what she didn't or couldn't understand, she would rather not deal with. His arms loosened their hold on her, but miraculously she could still stand.

"Cold, cold, cold!" She managed to say before she started hopping again to get it out.

Kai rolled his eyes. Amber was and forever would be an immature little girl. But she would be his immature little girlfriend soon enough, he hoped.

"If you stop hopping like a rabbit then I'd be able to he help you."

"If you hadn't put the freaking snow in my shirt I wouldn't need your help." She exclaimed impatiently.

"So you don't want my help." He made it a statement, rather a question.

"What, are you out of your ever-loving mind? Of course I want your help. It's fucking cold!"

Kai gave a wistful expression, before he stood behind her and pulled back her jacket. It seemed impossible to get the snow out without choking her, since her jacket was zipped out to her chin.

"Take off your jacket, Ember."

"So you want me to die now too?" She asked grumpily.

"Yes, then I can bury you six feet under." Amber raised a brow at his sarcasm.

He gave a sigh and decided to explain. "No, but you probably will. Look, if you want the snow out then I have to get it out, right?" Amber nodded, so he continued. "So either you have to unzip your jacket or take it off."

"Yeah, so what?" Amber retorted. She didn't want to freeze to death in the chill air, but she didn't want to catch a cold either.

"But your jacket only unzips a little bit because it's broken and you don't want a new coat." Kai explained.

"New stuff always takes time to break in." She complained.

"Do you want the snow out or not?" Kai deadpanned.

"I do, I do!" She replied snappily.

"I do too." Kai kissed the curve of her neck, savouring the taste of the floral scent. "So where will our honey moon be...darling?"

Amber stood stock still. Kai had kissed her. Again. Shit. She stood frozen until Kai's voice wrung through her ears, sending her back to the world.

"Ember? Ember, are you okay?"

"I... you, I..." She trailed off again as her gaze wandered restlessly. Her blood rushed around her head, buzzing in her ears. What did he mean by kissing her? Did this change things between them?

She felt uncomfortable there, and even with her mind screaming to get away, she stood there like a stone statue. Frozen in time. Until Kai spun her around, making them come face to face.

"Kai..." His name just tumbled from her mouth, and she wondered what it would feel like to have his lips on hers, just one more time.

He was way ahead of her, his gaze resting on her slightly parted lips. All he wanted was her. Too bad Bryan didn't think he was good enough for his little cousin.Bryan pushed theblunette back, and before he knew it, he was on the ground. Things usually got a lot more complicated with Amber Benson around. What a joy, he thought sarcastically.

-oOoOo-

Brooklyn picked up his clothes, or rather shoved them into his closet. He was actually going to miss having Belyaev around. She was around him for most of the past weeks, and he sort of dreaded the thought of her not being there with him. It would just feel odd without her witty comments, or odd thoughts. She was so opinionated that he had actually grown used to her voice.

The way it dropped or rose in tone depending on her mood. Or the way it vaguely ran through Russia so when she spoke, her voice was accented. Some of her pronunciations were thicker than others. He frowned, how had he noticed so much about her? She used to be just a girl he could irk for entertainment. But he felt that he could talk to her like he was her friend.

Him and her, friends? As if! No way in Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory.

Chuckling, Brooklyn shook his head, clearing his thoughts. Instead he went continued to gather the clothes from the floor so he could chuck them into the closet and drawers. They felt strangely different in his hands. He picked up his favourite black shirt with a red dragon imprint on the front. It looked smaller somehow.

He pulled it on over top of his white tank top, and groaned when it stopped short at the bottom of his ribs. Damn it, he was going to give Arista a good few chunks of his mind the next time he saw her. Even if he would miss her commentary, it would be good to be rid of her. She was damn annoying when she wanted to be and she knew it too, which made it all the more annoying.

Brooklyn growled and stared down at his beloved t-shirt. This was just like her. So typically her to get back at him because he'd made the stupid bet in the first place. He knew she'd challenge him back was the reason he'd done it, and the fact that it amused him to anger her.

It was like giving a gun to 'Bin Laden, he mused. Really stupid, but he liked to get her angry. He liked to get under her skin, to get Arista all riled up. She thought that no one could get to her but she was wrong so he took whatever opportunity he got to prove her wrong. And then watched the results.

The same thing that Hitoshi did with Shahero, except for the fact that he was completely hung up on her, obsessed with the blue-haired tomboy. Speak of the devil, Hitoshi ran in and slammed the door behind him.

His blue hair was wind-swept, and his breathing was the slightest bit heavier than normal. He was fit so a quick jog wouldn't tire him out. But a little tomboy would. Shahero's yelling was heard even with the door safely locked.

"Hitoshi, I'm going to kill you and mutilate your body. Then I'm going to burn you to a crisp and ship you off to some crazy old lady so she can make cookies with your ashes, you bastard!"

Brooklyn raised his eyebrows to the older male. Hitoshi gave that gallic shrug that could've meant everything or nothing. Brooklyn decided to let it go, wondering whether he really wanted to know or not. Better that he didn't, he comforted himself. Hitoshi had a sick sense of what was fun and merriment when it concerned Shahero Kaeto.

"What's with the shirt?" Hitoshi asked.

Hitoshi sat down on his bed and fished around for a magazine. He found one and started flipping through it, more interested in the rants still audible.

"Belyaev." Brooklyn almost snarled her name like it was something poisonous.

He had gotten that shirt as a present from his grandfather before he'd passed away. It was, or had been, his only memory of him.

"You guys get to fourth base already?" Hitoshi's voice rose at the end of the question, but his eyes held pools of mirth.

Brooklyn gave Hitoshi the one fingered salute then got a better idea. He went to the door and slowly opened it making no noise. Hitoshi's eyes were wide with panic and fear. He tried to get off the bed but succeeded in falling because his eyes were still on the door.

"You wouldn't." His voice was shaky.

"Try me." Brooklyn said patiently. He wouldn't really set Kaeto on Kinomiya, he just wanted to see that cool, collected facade fall and shatter.

He snickered and closed the door with a soft thud. Hitoshi got up, narrowed his eyes.

Brooklyn turned to lock the door only to find the handle was stuck or so he thought. Shahero had heard the door creek open a half of a millimetre and seized the chance with both hands in a death grip.

She checked the door and grinned smartly when it opened. Brooklyn fell to the floor with a small yelp. Hitoshi who had been angry with Brooklyn now turned his attention to Shahero.

God, Mary, and baby Jesus, he would never make it out alive. Brooklyn looked to Shahero and almost burst out laughing. Her hair was sopping wet, water droplets formed and dripped to the floor. She was dressed in a short tight skirt and a pink tank top. Her feet were bare, save for her skin. A devilish glint highlighted her sapphire eyes, her lips were set in a grim line.

She looked so funny because she was dressed as her own gender for a change. She wasn't wearing baggy clothes or the likes, so how had Hitoshi managed this?

Brooklyn supposed he would never find out because Shahero pounced on Hitoshi sending them both flying into the wall. Hitoshi collided with the solid wall, Shahero landed softly on him, getting right to work. She punched his gut and made an uppercut to his jaw, earning her painful groans from the male underneath.

Brooklyn supposed he should help but he wanted Hitoshi to suffer for his comment about him and Belyaev.

"Take that and smoke it in your pipe!" Shahero smirked, her face and body both radiating energy.

Hitoshi made an attempt to grab her hands but she had him straddled and from his angle, it just wouldn't work out for him.

Brooklyn sighed and decided he should step in now. He grabbed Shahero by the waist and plucked her off of his dorm-mate.

Shahero kicked and punched, but Brooklyn wouldn't let her go. Hitoshi got up, swaggered a bit before regaining control of his legs.

He took the female from Brooklyn and smirked. He opened his mouth but Brooklyn shook his head.

"I don't wanna know so save it." He stepped aside and walked out the door, shutting it behind him.

"So, where were we Kaeto?"

"We weren't anywhere, but I was kicking the shit out of you!"

"I think we'll change the positions a little." Hitoshi corrected her.

"I don't think so buddy."

Shahero kicked his groin and freed herself. Having had enough of Hitoshi to last a life-time, she turned on her heel and into the washroom but not before grabbing some clothes from the piles on the floor. If she was going to have to wear a skirt for the day, well it had another thing coming. First she would burn the clothes and then punch the living daylights out of anyone who had seen her. Then she'd send threats up to Heaven or down to Hell, depending where the bodies ended up.

First she was going to change her clothes. How Hitoshi had entered the girls change rooms, she didn't know. She just knew that she would never shower in there ever again. No matter how sweaty she got after a practise, or a game. She'd rather shower in her dorms' washroom than a place where some peeping Tom could get in.

After Shahero was done changing her clothes she unlocked the door and came out of the washroom. Hitoshi was standing outside, smirking, waiting for her. Shahero narrowed her eyebrows and was about to walk past when he pinned her to the wall, making escape impossible. She struggled against him, but his patience wasn't that short. He'd make her his this year, or he'd never get over her. This was his last chance, last year, to make her like him. If he didn't accomplish this then he'd suffer from never knowing if she'd returned his feelings. Damned if he didn't get his way.

He held down her arms, and raked his gaze across her lips, settled in a pout. His smirk grew a bit bigger, before he lowered his mouth.

Shahero's eyes widened as she realised what he was about to do. She took a deep breath and braced herself. No matter how much she was attracted to him, she wouldn't get in a relationship with him. She wouldn't get hurt again. She wouldn't fall for someone who would end up leaving next year to go off to college.

-oOoOo-

Kai got up and stared at Amber. She looked to the ground the instant his eyes met hers. He frowned, fine. So she wasn't going to tell Bryan off. He could deal with that. He could leave her alone. He could run away from her. He would have to because if she kept pushing him away than he wouldn't know what he would do. It hurt to be cut off from her.

Angry, he dusted the snow off himself and walked away, brushing his arm against Amber's. She continued to look at the oh-so interesting snow covered ground. She was running away from him again. It was like a gun shot fired and she automatically started to run whenever he got close to her.

Freezing him out wasn't quite possible anymore because her feelings were changing even without her consent. She knew she'd end up falling for him, something she didn't want. He would complicate things, and he'd probably end up hurting her. That was what she was scared of. Getting hurt.

She couldn't stand it because her dad had left her scarred and mistrusting of others. If her friends weren't there for her when she'd needed them the most than she wouldn't be who she was today. If she liked Kai, she'd have to spend time with him, and she'd have less time with her friends. She didn't want to be apart from them, she loved them so dearly.

Confusion circled around in her mind like a vulture and it's prey. Bryan squeezed her hand reassuringly. He knew what was going on between Amber and Kai, and he'd do his best to stop it before Kai eventually hurt Amber.

-oOoOo-

Thanks to: Cokey, xInfernal, Wanted, Dark Nadeshiko, anonymous, Windwitch, Roni, eMily06, Obs3ssi0n, Beyblade-gal, and nise-anjel for reviewing. I appreciate all of you and your reviews/comments. I'll answer all questions and respond to all comments in the next chapter. Sorry for the long wait, it's been awhile.

Hasta, Arcada