Silvan Arrow: AAAAAHHHH! It's been so long since I updated!

Tammy: Gosh, you're so lazy.

Silvan Arrow: Shut up. I've been very busy lately. Now do the disclaimer!

Tammy: But I've already done it, and so have your other OCs.

Silvan Arrow: Darn it… Fine, I'll do it this time. I don't own Beyblade or any of its characters. I just own this story and my OCs. While I decide who to rope into doing this tedious chore next, here's chapter 10!

Chapter 10: Confused Emotions

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Bit beast mind-chatting with master

(A/N: This is another serious chapter that is needed to set up the next one. I'll try to include some humor in the next chapter. For now, please enjoy!)

Tammy woke up the next morning feeling something warm against her back. As the fog around her mind slowly lifted, she realized that it was Bryan and blushed bright red as her throat went dry. He had one arm draped lazily across her waist, and she could feel his warm breath tickle the back of her neck as he deeply inhaled and exhaled. 'Crap…what the heck is wrong with me?' Tammy thought desperately. 'Why do I feel like I can't even breathe, let alone talk? I've gotta get out of here.' She slowly lifted his arm up and slid out from under it. She slipped out of bed as quietly as possible and tip-toed for the door. However, as luck would have it, she stepped on a creaky floor board, and she grimaced as it groaned loudly in protest to her weight. 'Oh please don't let him wake up. Please please PLEASE don't let him wake up.'

Bryan moaned slightly as he stirred and slowly opened his eyes. Tammy didn't move; quite frankly, she couldn't move. Her body just wouldn't listen to her mind screaming at her to do something. Bryan noticed that Tammy wasn't beside him. He sat up and saw her with her back to him, apparently heading for the door. He yawned lazily and asked, "What are you doing up so early, Tammy?"

Tammy somehow managed to find her voice and squeaked out, "Uh…nothing! M-morning…" With that, she quickly stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her, slamming it a little harder than she had intended. 'I have got to clear my head. Maybe I just need some food.' She headed downstairs and entered the kitchen only to find Eri and Michelle in there cooking breakfast for the others. 'Great…so much for being alone for a while.'

"Oh hey, Tammy!" Eri greeted. "I didn't think you would be up for a while."

Tammy cast her gaze to the side and replied a bit uncertainly, "Uh…well, I just woke up and couldn't get back to sleep, so…"

Michelle could tell she was feeling uneasy, so she decided to change the subject. "Eri and I were just talking about all us girls going out for the day. We have a rental van in the garage that's big enough. You interested?"

"Uh…sure. Sounds great," Tammy replied, trying to sound enthused but failing miserably. "I'd better go get changed." She headed back upstairs and listened at her room's closed door. Upon hearing nothing, she opened the door slightly and peered inside. 'Good. Bryan's not here.' She walked over to her closet and rummaged around for some clothes. After picking out what she needed, she turned around and ran smack into another body. "Oof…sorry."

"Hey." She looked up and saw that it was none other than Bryan. Her eyes widened slightly in alarm, and she quickly diverted her gaze and started heading for the door. "Wait up a minute, Tammy." She stopped and felt his hand on her shoulder. "Is everything okay? You've been acting a little distant."

"I'm…fine. It's nothing," Tammy replied, still keeping her gaze diverted.

"Tammy, look at me," Bryan said gently. He cupped her face in one hand and forced her to look him in the eye. "I know something's bothering you. Is it about yesterday?" Perhaps she was still a little uncomfortable with someone knowing about her past.

"I already told you. It's nothing," Tammy replied sharply. Bryan could tell that he had pushed her too far, so he let her pull out of his grip and stalk out of the room. She didn't even notice when she shoved past Tala and continued down the hall.

"Hey, Tammy, are you okay?" Tala asked worriedly.

Tammy stopped and sighed angrily. "Why can't all you people just leave me alone?" she yelled, sending Tala a stormy glare. She stepped into the hall bathroom to change, slamming the door in the process. This time it was intentional. The sound echoed through the whole lodge and woke up anyone that was still asleep.

'Bryan,' Tala thought angrily as he stormed into Bryan and Tammy's room, where the Russian in question was still standing where Tammy had left him, looking terribly confused. Before his mind could tell him otherwise, Tala shoved Bryan roughly against the wall, keeping both hands plantedfirmly on his shoulders. Bryan seemed to wilt even more under Tala's furious death glare. "All right, you're gonna tell what's going on. Why is Tammy so upset? Did you do something to hurt her?"

"I-I don't know what's wrong with her!" the younger teen protested desperately. "She wouldn't even look me in the eye this morning, and when I asked her to tell me what's wrong, she just brushed me off and stormed away. I swear I don't know what I did!"

Tala's gaze softened somewhat. He could see no lie in Bryan's lilac eyes. He loosened his grip on his teammate's shoulders and stepped away with a grunt. "Sorry…I didn't mean to lash out like that. I know you wouldn't do anything to her intentionally."

"It's okay," Bryan said as he massaged his left shoulder. "Dang…you've got quite a grip." Tala chuckled softly. He could tell Bryan was trying to ease the tension in the room and left without another word. After all, what could he say that could possibly atone for how he had acted?

Eri was troubled. She and Pyrix could sense the tension among certain members in the group, namely Tammy, Bryan, and Tala. So far no the breakfast table was deathly quiet, like what one would expect at a funeral, not a vacation. Bryan and Tammy were sitting next to each other, but neither one would even risk a glance at the other. Eri and Tala sat across from them, but Tala kept sneaking glances at his sister, ignoring everyone else at the table. Tammy wouldn't even acknowledge her brother's presence, even though it was obvious he was worried about her. Eri hated seeing Tala so closed off. Clara and Amy were on edge, having picked up on their captain's moody behavior. Spencer and Ian gave their girlfriends sympathetic looks. The Bladebreakers were eerily quiet as well. Kai seemed indifferent to the whole situation, but the others bore expression portraying various levels of concern. Even Tyson and Max were quiet, which was unusual for them.

Michelle finally decided to break the suffocating silence. "I'm taking the girls out for the day, and we won't be back until after dinner. Okay?" The guys just nodded or grunted in response. She sighed in frustration and smacked her palm on the table, causing some of the group to give a start. "For crying out loud, we're not in a funeral home or anything, so liven up!" Still no response. Eri couldn't take this anymore. She got up abruptly and left the dining room, much to everyone's surprise. She retreated to hers and Tala's bedroom, closed the door, and flopped down face-first on the bed.

What went wrong, Pyrix? I thought Tammy was starting to open up to Bryan, but now it's like everything's backfired.

She's experiencing new, unfamiliar emotions towards Bryan, and it's scaring and confusing her, Pyrix replied calmly. That in turn is affecting Bryan, and Tala just doesn't know how to help, even though it's his own sister that's suffering. Now everyone's concerned.

Maybe a day out will help settle things down, Eri mused. Her conversation was interrupted when the door opened and Eri caught Michelle out of the corner of her eye. "What do you want?" Eri asked, her voice muffled by her pillow.

"Just making sure you don't do something stupid," Michelle replied, her voice holding a slightly teasing note.

"Like what?"

Michelle shrugged. "I dunno. This is you we're talking about." Eri laughed softly. Michelle sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed Eri's back soothingly. "What's the matter, buddy? We've got enough of an emotional basket-case with Tammy. We don't need you flipping out too."

"I dunno," Eri replied, turning her head so she could see Michelle. "I just feel somewhat responsible for this."

Michelle crossed her arms and scowled slightly. "Oh come on. It's not like you were the one that ticked Tammy off."

"But I was the one who arranged this whole trip. If I hadn't called you and arranged this vacation, then…"

"Then your team would have fallen apart," Michelle cut her off. "Face it: when you called me, your team was on the verge of splitting up. I think this trip saved you guys from that. What happened this morning is just a little bump in the road, so stop feeling sorry for yourself and get ready to leave. The girls are all waiting for you."

Eri sat up and grinned at her best friend. "What would I do without you to keep me sane?"

"You probably would have lost it a long time ago," Michelle replied with a grin. "Come on, buddy." Eri followed Michelle down the stairs and out the door, where the other girls were waiting. They all piled into the rental van, and Michelle drove them down the mountain for a girl's day out.

Back at the lodge with Tala…

Tala wandered through the lodge aimlessly. All the guys had dispersed to various sections of the house and were rather bored. Tyson, Max, and Rei were in the main room playing a board game, but the others were in their bedrooms doing nothing. For the first time in his life, Tala actually wanted to talk to someone when there was no one to talk to. He normally sought out solitude, unless he was with Eri, but now he really needed some advice. Who could possible answer his questions? It's not like anyone here could understand what he was going through.

Wolborg broke into Tala's thoughts: Kai's door is open.

Tala understood his bit beast's hint but questioned the idea. And how could Kai help me? He wouldn't understand my problem.

But he understands you, Wolborg stated, placing emphasis on the last word. I know your bond with him runs deep, even though you two rarely show it. Just give it some thought. His presence faded from Tala's mind.

Tala sighed quietly, knowing Wolborg had a good point. Kai understood how his mind ticked even better than Bryan, Spencer, or Ian. Maybe…just maybe… (A/N: This is just a little bit of friendship fluff, so don't think that it's yaoi.)

Tala stepped quietly into Kai and Michelle's room and found his old friend lying on his back on his bed, his hands behind his head. His eyes were closed, so Tala thought that he might be asleep. "What is it, Tala?" Kai suddenly asked, startling Tala.

"Oh…I thought you were asleep."

"Well, you thought wrong," Kai replied emotionlessly, still keeping his eyes closed. He paused for a moment, as if waiting for Tala to speak. When he didn't say anything, Kai added, "So are you going to tell me what's bothering you, or am I going to have to drag it out of you?" Tala smirked. Kai really did know him too well.

"It's about Tammy. She's been with us for several months now, and I still feel like I've let her down. I'm supposed to be her twin brother, but she won't ever tell me when something's wrong. It's like she trusts Bryan more than her own flesh and blood. Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a stranger. I guess what I'm trying to ask is…how can I be a better brother to her?"

Kai opened one eye lazily and carefully regarded Tala. "And you're asking me this because…? I don't have any siblings."

"Because you threatened to use force if I didn't tell you," Tala replied with a smirk. "Besides, the only other people who have siblings here are Mariah and Tyson, and I wasn't about to go to either of them for advice."

Kai smirked. "Good point," he conceded. He patted the edge of the bed. "Sit down. You look like Tyson about to receive disciplinary training from Hiro." Tala chuckled slightly and obeyed. Kai opened both eyes and gave Tala a serious look. "Look, I'm an only child, but I still think I can understand how a brother feels when he's worried about a younger sibling. Now the whole twin thing has me baffled. Twins seem to be connected on an even deeper level. Take Raul and Julia, for instance." Tala nodded in understanding. Those two got along so well that they were the perfect tag team in double battles, and that kind of teamwork got them third place in the Tag Team World Championships. "I saw a little of how Hiro and Tyson got along. Sometimes Hiro was strict, but Tyson still knew that he cared. And then…when I joined your team for the Tag Team World Championships, Eri was there the whole time. Maybe it was just because she was Michelle's best friend…or maybe I'm just getting soft, but I still found myself looking out for her." Tala gave Kai an odd look. Kai sighed and rolled his eyes. "It wasn't like that, you idiot. I just didn't want to see her get hurt. She knew that I cared. That's why I tried to stop you from fighting Tammy when she was still under Boris' control."

"So you were watching over her the whole time like a brother?" Tala asked.

"Yeah…at least I think so." Kai sat up and looked Tala straight in the eye. "What I'm trying to say is this: there's no set formula for how to be a brother. As long as your sibling knows that you care, you're doing at least something right." Kai placed a hand on Tala's shoulder and gave him a genuine smile. "You'll figure it out. I know you will."

Tala managed a half-smile. "Thanks, Kai."

Meanwhile…at a mall with the girls…

"…Tammy? Tammy!" The redhead in question jerked her head away from the shop display and saw Mariah waving at her. "We're getting ready to leave! You coming?"

"Yeah, I'll be right there," Tammy called back. As she followed behind the other girls, she thought to herself, 'I need to sort out my feelings towards Bryan. I don't really know what I'm feeling, so I don't think I can do this alone. Maybe Tala can help, but would he even bother to listen?'

He's your brother, Tammy. Of course he will listen, Umbra said reassuringly.

Yeah, maybe you're right.

End chapter 10

Author's Note: Okay, I think I'll stop here. I'm so sorry for making you guys wait so long, but time seemed to get away from me. I've had to go out of town a lot to deal with some family issues, and I've been getting ready for college. I wanted to get this chapter up before leaving again, except this time it's for fun. So…will Tammy finally open up to Tala? Will Bryan and Tammy ever confess their feelings? You'll have to keep reading to find out! In the meantime, please review and tell me what you thought of this chapter!

Read this important announcement!

Ms. Controversy asked me in her review of the last chapter about Tammy's appearance. Well, I updated her description in my profile, and it gave me an idea. I would like to propose a friendly contest to my readers. I would love to see someone draw a picture of one of my OCs as they are described in my profile. Michelle doesn't belong to me, so she's kind of off-limits, but I would love to see a drawing of Tammy, Eri, or any of my other OCs. You could even take a swing at drawing one of their bit beasts; just don't draw Dramikun, since he's not mine. If you'll submit the links to your pictures, I'll put the best ones on my profile page for everyone to look at and admire! I promise to give credit to the artists. This isn't mandatory, so don't feel like you have to draw something. I just thought it would be fun to raise the idea up the flagpole.