I'm really, really sorry about the long wait. School comes first in my house though. I actually really like this story. I think it's because it's not really a love/hate story, there are a lot of those involving Kai. But they are funny, except when there's a mary sue. I just hope Cleo isn't a mary sue. So feel free to bother me after a while, just don't be mean please, or threaten me, or try and kill me... If I was dead how would I update?

In The End

Dishes and Costumes

I yawned and stretched my stiff limbs across the worn couch I was currently lying on. It was late Saturday morning and I was watching some cartoons in the upstairs office. Mom was really mad when she saw me dragging my bike up the driveway, but she forgave me when I told her it was either the bike or me.

I groaned as I peeled myself of the couch and flicked off the TV. I placed my hand on the wall so I wouldn't fall over as a wave of dizziness washed over me. I hate it when that happens, it makes you want to sit back down and watch some more TV. When the dots disappeared from my vision I shuffled downstairs and proceeded to put my dishes in the dirty dish pile. Why would I put them in the dishwasher if mom will do it for me?

"Shouldn't you put those in the dishwasher?"

I felt myself jump about five feet into the air. Snapping around I noticed Max standing by the doorway.

"Maybe later" I answered, trying to act like I hadn't jumped like a kangaroo a few seconds ago.

"Procrastination isn't a good trait"

"Well neither is running away" I shot back.

He sighed, "listen Cleo, I never meant to leave you. Heck, I didn't even no you existed until a few months ago"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He sighed heavily and sat down at the kitchen table, motioning me to sit too. I wearily sat down opposite him; I still don't trust him.

"Cleo, when you were born I was in the middle of an excavation in South America. Your mother and I weren't together anymore because we were so busy traveling to different parts of the globe and it would be a huge hassle. I lost contact with her soon after but only last year I tried to get back in touch with her, just to say hello. When I learnt that I had a daughter, I was a little more than shocked"

"What? Wanted a boy?" I held back a smirk at the look he gave me.

"Ha ha very funny" he said in a rather dead panned voice

"I thought so too" I said with a smile.

"Anyways," he said with a shake of his head, "I decided to meet you, after all you are still my daughter. I just wanted to see you and try to talk to you. You make it rather difficult though"

"Well can you blame me? After being fatherless for sixteen years and suddenly having you walk into my life.... It's kind of freaky you know" I snapped.

"I know and I apologise for my absence from your life. I never knew my father so I felt it would be better for you to meet yours instead of never knowing" he said.

"I guess you're right..."

He smiled at me, "how about we call a truce?" a hand shot out towards me.

After a slight hesitation, I reached out and grasped his hand. "Agreed"

"Why didn't you tell me your dad is back?!"

I sighed and took a quick glance around the café, thankfully there was hardly anybody in the small room. The café was run by a local man and his wife who were tired of teenagers loitering along the sidewalks and built it to give the teens somewhere else to hang out. I knew the couple well because I often worked here during the summer for some extra cash.

"I tried to five million times but you were too busy with King and Queen"

Fiona just shrugged and took a sip of her soda. "Whatever, but you should see their house! It's smaller than mine but they have twice as many original artworks than I have. They don't have an indoor pool but-"

"They have an outdoor pool, yeah you've said that five times already," I mumbled.

An angry expression crossed her face as she opened her mouth but I was spared a lecture because Kai, Tala, and Steel had just walked through the door. They gave us a quick glance and Steel gave me a small wave before heading to the counter to order. I noticed Fiona was checking Steel out and sighed, some people never change. I gave her a pitiful look that she didn't see because she was still admiring him. When the three boys turned around Fiona quickly looked down not wanting to be caught staring.

"Hey" Tala said as he pulled a chair up to our table. Kai and Steel mimicking his actions.

"What's up?" I asked while trying to pull a piece of hair off my straw.

"The ceiling" Kai answered.

I rolled my eyes and shot a bemused expression at Fiona who giving the smallest jerk of her head towards Steel. Lucky for her, Steel didn't notice the subtle movement, or is that unlucky...?

"Um, Fiona this is Steel. He's a friend of Kai's"

"Hi" she greeted, flashing him a smile.

"Yo" Well that was a nice welcome. Guess he doesn't like girls like Fiona. Too bad Fiona, maybe next time. An awkward silence fell across the table. Tala fidgeted with his hands, Kai was staring into space and Steel was fiddling with his straw. The silence was broken by a chirpy voice.

"Hi guys!"

I looked up and saw a cheerful Maya skipping towards the table. I wonder what she's so happy about, then again she's always happy. I noticed Tala's eyes shine slightly, as he eyed her up and down. Perverted men. Maya did have a good choice in clothes though, that purple vest looked really good on her. She grabbed a chair from another table and pulled it up between Tala and I then quick as a wink, she snatched my drink and took a few sips from it.

"Hey!" I protested. Maya flashed me a smile then shoved the empty glass back towards me. I scowled, why can't people buy their own drinks?

"So what's new people?" Maya asked. A series of shrugs went around the table until Fiona decided to speak up.

"I'm having a Halloween party next week so I expect all of you to be there. Oh, it will be a masquerade so remember to wear your costumes. Anyways, I should be going, dad just came back from his trip to Paris" Fiona stood up and walked out the door without a backwards glance.

"Bye" Steel said after she had disappeared out the door. The other boys smirked, although Tala's was a bit more interesting.

"Tala" Maya hissed beside me, "you better watch where you put your hands!"

"I'm watching, I'm watching" Tala smirked. Maya gave an exasperated sigh and put his hands on the table where she could see them. She then turned to me, while keeping a sharp eye on where the redheaded Russian's hands went.

"So you got a costume yet?"

"Not yet" I sighed, "all my old costumes have been attacked by moths"

"Hmm" She mumbled while threading her fingers through Tala's. I looked away from them and chose to stare at the wall instead. I hate watching couples. They make me feel so lonely and left out. It's probably just teenage hormones, I always tell myself.

"Is Skye coming up soon? I haven't talked to her in a while" Skye? I whipped my head away from where I was staring. Ouch! That really hurt my neck.

"She'll be here by Wednesday or Thursday" Steel answered.

"Skye? As in your cousin Skye" I asked Kai.

"Yup" Steel responded, "Skye's my girlfriend, meet her through Kai a few years ago. How long have I known you?"

"Eleven years"

"That's a long time" I said.

Kai played around with his straw before speaking, "Meet in Russia, nothing more to say" I frowned at his short answer and was just about to ask Steel for more info on their friendship when....

"I've got a great idea!"

I wasn't the only one who gave Maya a weird look. She ignored the stares though and jumped up from her chair. She dragged me out the door, giving me enough time to wave good-bye.

"Mind explaining what this is all about?" I asked. We were currently standing in her living room; me standing in the middle of the room looking like an idiot while she searched for something in the many drawers. She simply ignored me and turned to another cabinet and started shuffling through papers. I huffed and folded my arms over my chest. First she embarrasses me in front of Kai and the other guys, and then she won't even answer my questions. Getting impatient, I began tapping my foot and whistling random songs while staring at the paintings on the wall.

"I found it!"

I glanced at the paper she held up in front of me. It looked like a picture of a dress from ancient Egypt. "What about it?"

"This," Maya said "is going to be your Halloween costume"

"You're not serious right?"

Maya gave an exasperated sigh, "Your name is Cleopatra right?"

"Yeah..."

"So this costume would be perfect! You can go as Queen Cleopatra"

"Fine" I mumbled, "so do we have to go and buy it or what?"

"Buy it? No way, I can make it for you!"

"What?!" I exclaimed; she can sew? "You are good at sewing right? Otherwise I'm buying a ghost outfit from the store"

Maya laughed, "Of course I can sew, most of my clothes I made myself"

"Really?"

"Yup!" She laughed again, "I'm so small most store sweaters would look like a blanket on me"

"Too true" I agreed, "alright Maya, I put my faith in you"

A devious grin appeared on her face, "I have to make this one good for Kai"

"What about him?" I wondered.

"You like him don't you? So I have to make you all pretty so he'll notice you"

I blushed, "It's a masquerade party Maya, how will he know it's me. Wait... how will I know it's him?"

"Oh I'm sure you'll figure it out, but you have to promise me you guys won't get all smoochy smoochy"

"Maya!"

Again I apologize for the long wait. I'm not sure when I'll update next but check out my profile for some great Kai/OC stories if those are your favorite kind. Also, feel free to bother me after a while, just don't be mean please, or threaten me, or try and kill me... If I was dead how would I update?

R&R please and thank you!