Friends are for Life
chapter 3
Just wanted to say thx to RikkuShirin for my first review on this story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade, or its characters.
"I'll go get the pizza" He said.
At last people began milling around and talking to eachother. Mariah headed to get a drink and received a surprise when someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"Oh, hey Ray" she said quietly when she turned to him.
"Hi, it's been a long time. How are you?" She shrugged
"Fine I guess, nothing to report." Ray shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.
"Uumm... where are the others? Lee, Kevin, Gary?" Mariah sighed heavily.
"Ray... Lee died in a car accident a year after everyone split up... the White Tigers haven't spoken since." Ray was shocked. Mariah kept a steady gave on the floor as he fumbled for words.
"Oh, I'm so, so sorry... I don't know what to say... why wasn't I invited to the funeral?" She shook her head and looked into his eyes,
"Why do you think? We couldn't find you, you completely disappeared five years ago Ray. It was like you didn't care about us anymore." He gulped loudly.
"Well, I-"
"Forget it ok. There's nothing you can do now." With that she left and went to go talk to Hillary. Ray was speechless. He couldn't believe Lee was dead, one of his best friends was dead, and he hadn't been around to find out about it.
Over on another side of the room Max built up his courage and walked over to where Marium sat alone.
"Hi Max" she said before he sat down.
"Hey.." He mumbled. Great... I've barely said anything and already she has me off guard.
"How've you been Max?" she asked, smiling.
"Alright I guess, and you?"
"Just fine, I haven't spoken to the rest of the team in awhile though."
"Oh, I see."
"You know, you've really changed" she said as she looked at him.
"Have I? Why do you say that?"
"I don't know, you just don't have that same cheery way about you. Have the past few years been tough?"
"Yes, very. My mom passed away a little while ago, from cancer."
"Oh... Max, how awful. I'm really sorry to hear that."
" Don't worry, she told me that she lived a good, full life. So anyways, what have you been up to lately?"
"Me? Just traveling mostly. Looking at how much Beyblading has spread throughout the world. It's really amazing."
"Wow, sounds like fun. I always imagined you'd do something like that." Marium laughed,
"Something like what?"
"Like traveling. Going away and leaving everyone else behind." She frowned, thinking, so he added hastily "Not, that that's a bad thing."
"Ofcourse Max." Across the room laughter could be heard. Salima rocked back and fourth, holding her sides.
"Why is that so funny?" Tyson demanded when she stopped.
"Ummm..., because you've spent the past five years doing absolutely nothing at all! You're the world champion, what do you think your fans would say?" Tyson shrugged,
"I dunno, and I don't really care either." Salima shook her head at him,
"You'll never change Tyson."
"Does that bother you?"
"No, not at all." They smiled at eachother for a few moments until Salima blushed and looked away.
"Uumm... can I ask you something?" Tyson said shakily.
"Sure, why not?"
"Do, you, remember... when you said, five years ago... you told me you had a, a crush on me?" Tyson was blushing like mad, and Salima couldn't help but smile at his nervousness,
"Yes, I remember..."
"Well... has that, I mean... has that changed at all?" Salima laughed
"No, Tyson, it hasn't"
"Oh, wow... uuummm, I have to go do something" He said quickly and left the room. Salima smiled to herself. Was he always this cute? she wondered.
Kenny returned with the pizza and everyone went into the dining room and sat around the large table to eat. Kenny noted that there were a lot more smiles than there had been when everyone first came. people were talking, laughing, and re-connecting.
Kai seemed to be the only person who hadn't said much. Kenny frowned,
"So Kai, how have you been?" He asked across the table. Kai shrugged,
"Fine" Kenny wasn't surprised,
"Atleast you haven't changed at all Mr. Sourpuss" Tyson said and everyone laughed.
"So has anyone heard anything about the world championships?" Salima asked.
"I haven't spoken to Mr. Dickenson in years" Kane said, and others nodded.
"Well actually I checked the BBA website last night and the world championships are running as usual. The first round starts tomorrow." Marium told them all.
"Tomorrow!" Mariah gasped.
"Mhmm, this year teams are really big." Marium added
"Like how big?" Ray asked.
" The smallest team registered so far is eight people. Only four people blade per round, but this way it's less teams, and more rounds." Kenny said to them all.
"Wow, that's a lot of people for one team." Mariah breathed, "Where is it being held?"
"Each round is in a different part of the world. They're only announced that the first starting round will be held in Hong Kong, and from there, who knows." Marium explained to all her attentive listeners.
" That's awesome, I haven't bladed seriously in so long" Kane told them.
"Yeah me too" Max added.
" I've been building blades, but I don't have anyone to test them out on" Kenny said.
"Hey look out there!' Hillary said, pointing out the window. Everyone looked to see fireworks lighting up the sky.
"What are they for?" Ray asked,
"I think it's just the crazy neighbors" Kenny said.
"Let's go take a look" Salima exclaimed and left the table to go outside. Soon after everyone followed her into the night. Their breath danced in the dark as they watched the spectacle.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" Salima asked Tyson.
"Yeah, it really is" He replied, but he wasn't looking at the fireworks. Salima smiled and took his cold hand in hers.
Marium shivered in the fall air. She wished she'd remembered her jacket. Then suddenly she felt someone's warm arms around her shoulders.
"Max?"
"I'm sorry I seem different Marium. I know you think I've changed, but my feelings for you have always been the same." She gasped at him and returned his hug.
Kenny could barely contain his joy. Everyone was getting along so well. Kai Hillary and Kane stood together talking and watching the lights. Kane kept blushing everytime Hillary looked at him, and Kai kept rolling his eyes at them.
At last Ray built up his courage and walked over to where Mariah was standing. She pretended not to notice him standing there.
"Listen Mari, I know you're mad at me, but atleast accept this." He handed her a small wooded pendant that looked just like a white tiger.
"What's this?" she frowned.
"It belonged to Lee... he gave it to me when we were young, and I think you should have it." He said. She looked at him, sadness in her eyes.
"Oh Ray" she sighed. "Don't you see... when you left, we felt so abandoned, and then Lee died... we had nobody... I had nobody... I thought you didn't care about me anymore... If only you knew what I've been through just to pay the bills..." Tears welled up in her eyes, and she wiped at them hastily. "I'm sorry... I feel so ridiculous."
"Don't be" he said calmly. He wiped a tear from her cheek and gazed steadily at her lovely face. " I know I don't deserve it, but I'm going to ask you to forgive me, I'm so sorry" She sighed and looked away. But he put his hand under her chin and made her face him. Two pairs of golden eyes met, and everything else melted away.
"I do forgive you Ray" she whispered. He smiled and slowly moved closer to her. Their faces were barely centimeters apart, and then, he kissed her mouth gently.
Kenny pulled his jacket tighter around him, when he heard his cell phone ringing.
"Hello?... Oh Hi Mr. Dickinson... yes it has been a long time... really?... mhmm... interesting... hold on a second." He turned to the rest of them smiling. "Mr. Dickenson says that there's room for another team in the world championships, and he was wondering if I could think of anyone. Do you guys have a group in mind?" Their faces slowly broke into smiles. " Yes Mr. Dickenson, we'll do it. See you tomorrow."
the end