Author's note: Okay, here's the thing. I found the chappie too short for my taste and since the next chappie'll also be short, I decided to combine both into one! I don't do this often and I'm sorry for any inconvience. Here's therewrite of chappie 8!!!
Special thanks to all my reviewers: Xx Shadow Wolf xX2, Hikari, FrozenBlossom, puppalupp2008, Beyblade-gal, Armith-Greenleaf, xCrystalx89, Blackdranzergurl, lexc-angel, Storms-winter, 0.o, Emi-Chan and her 3 Spirits, Untoachable, ANGEL-OF-DEATH6, chibiwolfgurl, kidishcaresh, Rouge, kyuubi no taiand Moonlight Kitten.
Chapter 8
The Annual Career Fair.
The day that made students wonder what their future had for them. Whether you'll be working in one of the top companies in world or be stuck here in Cawil working in Dunking Burger, flipping burger pieces for a living. Stalls were set up and people from certain work fields were asked to give students a briefing on their job. All students were required to fill in a form take might give them a direction in life.
Tala saw it as an opportunity to get out of class. He strolled into the students lounge, taking a form from a teacher and headed over to the bluenette leaning against a wall, with his eyes closed.
"Ah, the Annual Career Fair." Tala said. "Gotta love it. Gets you out of class without fuss."
"I think it's waste of time." Kai muttered as he opened his crimson eyes.
"Yeah, right." Tala snorted. He glanced at his form and read the question aloud. "Do you like socializing?" When Kai didn't answer, the red-head smirked. "Yes for me. No for you."
"Oh, good. You can fill it in for me since you know me so well." Kai said sarcastically. He straightened and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
Tala watched him with a frown then with a casual shrug, went back to the paper.
"Do you like shrubs?"
"THIS IS SO AWESOME!" Hilary's squeal could be heard through the hall as she ran up to Jade. Jade was chatting with Tyson when Hilary ran in.
"Hi, Hil." Jade said. "What's up?"
"Hilary, can't you see we're talking?" Tyson asked in annoyance.
"No. It can wait. You can wait." she said glaring at him.
Jade decided to intervene before it becomes a full-blown argument. "So what's up? You look like you're ready to pass out."
"You wouldn't believe!" Hilary said enthusiastically. "I just went for this interview with that guy from the newspaper business and you know what?"
Tyson for his part sounded skeptical. "No, we don't know what. But I suspect you're going to tell us anyway."
Hilary choose to ignore him, refusing to let his sarcasm get to her. Grinning with self-pride, she said in an excited voice. "You're looking at the future junior intern reporter of the New York Daily Times!"
"That's great, Hil!" Jade said, genuinely happy for her friend. "When do you start?"
"Next summer." Hilary was practically beaming from ear to ear. "Is this like cool or what?"
"Hilary in the newspaper business. Yup." Tyson nodded his head in confirmation. "It's definitely the end of the world."
"You're just jealous because I have a future and you don't." Hilary said smugly to him.
"Ouch, insert the knife and twist." Tyson grinned. "You broke my heart, Hil."
She glared at him. "I didn't know you had a heart."
"Whoa, hey now. That's going dangerously below the belt." he said. "I just think it's ridiculous to let a piece of paper decide your future."
"I think a piece of paper has a brighter future than you!"
Jade sighed. Obviously these two were determine to keep at it so there was nothing she could do about it. "I think I'll leave you two to let you get along with your bonding." quickly she slipped away, ducking into the crowd before her comment could sink in.
Kai was drifting in and out of the crowd when he spotted Jade walking alone ahead of him. He watched as she paused at a stand that read 'Missionaries' is big bold letters. It was clear to him what she had in mind for her future.
What about him then? What did his future hold for him?
It was without doubt his grandfather expected him to take over the family business when he completed his education. But deep in his heart, Kai knew that wasn't what he wanted to do.
Then what did he want to do?
His eyes narrowed as a group of girls drew close to Jade, cornering her like a pack of predators on its prey. He of all people was familiar with that particular group. They were known as the Fashion Mafia gang by the whole school for their 'keen' sense of fashion. Their leader was a blonde named Kristy and her loyal followers were probably two of the dumbest girls in the school, Harmony and Bonnie. Kristy had tried and failed to gain his attentions for as long as he could remember. While most guys found them desirable, he found them annoying.
They had a streak of envy that could kill. Right now, he suspected all that jealousy was directed at the new girl for supposedly stealing the Juliet role in the play from Kristy.
"Hey, Summers." Kristy sneered, pausing thoughtfully to regard the dark-haired girl whom she had marked from the moment she stole her rightful role as Juliet as a reject. "If there's a greater power, why can't he get you a new sweater?"
Any other girl would have been embarrassed and too afraid to even speak back. But Jade was different. Without missing a heartbeat, she said coolly in a seemly innocent voice. "Because he's too busy looking for your brain."
Kristy and her minions gasped aloud, shocked by the unexpected insult while their prey walked away. Kristy would have gone after her if the principal hadn't stepped in that moment.
"Problems, ladies?" Principal Snyder asked with a raised eyebrow.
Kai couldn't hide the grin that appeared at his lips as he walked away. It was about time someone put Kristy in her place. How interesting it was Jade to do so. Without bothering to see how things turned out for the Fashion Mafia, he left the hall, remembering once more he didn't belong there. At the exit, Kai dropped his form into a wastebasket. Hands in his pockets, he headed to the roof to think.
To his surprise when he got there, Jade stood leaning against the railings of the roof, staring out at the town. She looked over her shoulder when she heard him.
"Small world." he said, noticing the small black book in her hand.
"Too small." she agreed. She closed the book and titled her head. "You know if this keeps up, people would start to think you're stalking me."
He smirked. "Who would want to stalk you after the way you shot Kristy and her lackeys down in front of the whole school?"
"You saw?"
"It was kinda hard not to." he said. Silence filled the air around them both before he said with a hint of amusement. "Though I thought it was pretty impressive."
"Glad you enjoyed the show." she said dryly.
He came over to lean on the railings next to her. "So decided what your future holds for you yet?"
She smiled. "I was thinking of doing missionary work. You know, travel around spreading the word of God."
"Sounds like fun." he said with bitter sarcasm. He indicated the Bible in her hand.
"What about you?" she looked at him, waiting for his answer.
Kai stared straight ahead. "I don't have a future."
"Yeah, right." she smirked. "I don't believe you."
"And why should you, Jade?" now only did his eyes meet hers. "You don't know me."
"Are you sure?"
"Then enlighten me." he said challengingly.
She tapped her chin with a finger, pondering thoughtfully. "Okay. You don't care about school or graduating because you figured you have your whole future planned ahead of you by your grandfather. You don't trust anyone so you push them away with your Ice Prince attitude."
"That's thoroughly predictable." he snickered.
"Your act only works on an audience." she told him plainly.
He cocked his head at her. "Are you saying it doesn't work on you?"
She shook her head. "No. From the way I see it; I think you're just afraid."
Kai snorted. "I'm not afraid of anything."
"Somehow, I don't think that's the case with you, Kai." she said. "I think you're afraid of actually getting close to people and getting to know them as a friend in fear they would leave you and hurt you."
"I don't need anybody." he said coldly. "I'm fine on my own."
"If you insist." she shrugged, running a free hand through her hair as she turned and headed to the door. She paused, looking back and added in a gentle voice. "Just remember, Kai, you're not alone."
Am I?, he wanted to retort but the door had already closed behind her. His hand sub-consciously went to the necklace she had given him. His mind thought back to what she had said and what he had replied.
What about you, Jade? What're you afraid of?
That evening, Kai sat across his grandfather at the dining table, toying mindlessly with his food. Lord Voltaire took a sip of his wine and glanced at his quiet grandson.
"So I heard today your school had a career fair." he said coolly.
Kai's grip on his fork tightened. "Yes, grandfather."
"Did it do you any good in deciding your future?" Voltaire enquired.
"No."
"Why not? Surely after the performance you put up on Saturday, surely there would be scholarships offered to you." the old man eyed his grandson suspiciously.
Kai hesitated. There were offers handed to him by certain colleges but he had turned them down with a reason even he did not know. "I...I told them I would consider."
"I hope you do." Voltaire relaxed a little, leaning back in his chair and sipping his drink. "A good education is important in running a successful business."
Abruptly Kai stood, his hands clenched tightly by his sides. "If you would excuse me, grandfather."
Voltaire looked up at him in surprise. "But Kai, you barely eaten your food."
"I'm not hungry." Kai muttered as he walked to the door.
Hr could feel his grandfather's eyes watching him, studying him.
"Kai, you can't walk away forever." Voltaire called after him.
He stopped at the door with one hand gripping the knob tightly. Voltaire smiled smugly, certain his words had affected the teen. Kai glanced back over his shoulder, his eyes reflecting his anger at the one person he called kin.
"You taught me how to, grandfather." Kai said softly before he left the room and closed the door behind him.
Voltaire stared after him, a frown appearing on his face as he nursed his wine thoughtfully.
By some strange reason, Kai found himself wandering onto the school garden the two days later during a free period. Usually during the free periods, he would head to the roof to be alone but something within him today drew him to the greenery compound. He just couldn't place what it is. As he strolled into the open, he found who he was looking for.
It all clicked then as he started for the dark-haired girl sitting on the grass under a shady tree with her back to him. She was the reason he was here and he wanted to prove his point to her. That he wasn't afraid of contact. He wasn't afraid of anything.
As he drew nearer to her, he saw she was reading a thick book. Next to her were a couple more books with similar thickness.
"Hey."
Jade paused from her book and spared him a glance. "Hey." she said before she returned to her book.
Without being ask to, he slidded down next to hers. "What're you reading?"
She showed him the title of the book "Theories on the Big Bang. It's physics homework."
"Mr. Dawson?" he asked knowingly.
She shook her head. "Nope. His freshly university-graduated daughter. She's taking over while he's sick."
"Like father like daughter." he muttered. She flinched slightly at the comment. He noticed. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." she shrugged. "Nothing's wrong except this picture."
"Excuse me?"
"You're talking to me." she pointed out simply. "People might see."
"And that would ruin your reputation how?" he replied off-handedly.
"Not mine. Yours." she teased. "You might ruin your Ice Prince reputation."
"Technically, Summers, I don't care."
She looked back at her book, flipping it to the page she was reading. "Sounds like you. Are you sick?" she asked suddenly. "Are you possessed? Would you like me to expel that friendly demon inside you?"
"Haha. Very funny, Summers." he deadpanned.
"So what's it?" she looked at him with wide curious eyes. "What brings you here?"
Now it was his turn to shrug. "I don't know." Kai frowned. "You."
"Me?" she looked surprised and scoffed. "Sounds like bullshit. That's by far one of the lamest excuse I ever heard."
"Would you just listen to me first, Summers?" he insisted.
She nodded and closed her book again, giving him her undivided attention.
"I don't know what it is. It's just that when I'm around you....I feel peaceful...I haven't felt like that in a long time. Until you came along. You're different from other girls." he said softly gazing ahead.
"Is that suppose to be a compliment?" she asked warily.
He nodded. "It's hard to explain. Jade-"
Abruptly she stood up, gathering her books. Her eyes were wide with alarm and something else he never seen in her before. Fear. "Are you trying to seduce me, Kai Hiwatari?" she asked playfully.
"Why?" he retorted, standing up too. Somehow he sensed her playful battering was to hide the fear he saw in her eyes. "Are you seducible?"
She smiled weakly and shook her head. "That depends on you, I guess. I've got to go."
He grabbed her hand, stopping her before she could leave. "Jade, what are you afraid of?"
She hesitated, biting her lip before she blunted out. "Things." she said quickly, pulling her hand from his and left quickly.
Kai stayed where he was, staring after her until she disappeared into the building. Her reaction startled him. Of all people, he had not expected that kind of reaction from her. He was supposed to be the one with secrets, not her. That fascinated him more of her. Jade Summers was afraid of something and he wondered what.
"Do my eyes deceive me?"
He glanced aside and groaned inwardly. Tala held a disbelieving look on his face as he stared at his friend.
"I must be seeing things. Man, I just saw you talking to Jade and what's even more shocking, she walked away from you!" Tala said.
"I think I scared her a little." Kai admitted quietly.
"What did you do?" Tala asked.
"That's just it. I did nothing." the bluenette said. "All I did was talk to her."
Tala smirked. "That's scary enough for me."
"And I asked her what was she afraid of and she couldn't give me a straight answer." Kai said as if his friend hasn't spoken.
"She must have learnt from a master. Namely, you." Tala jested.
"What do you see in her?" Kai asked.
The red-head cocked his head. "Well. I don't know about you but all I see is an angel. She's...um...how should I put it...Jade's different from other girls."
"You got that right." Kai snorted.
"She's the kind of girl that thinks about other people first before herself. Must be a religion thing." Tala shrugged. "She's sweet and smart. Perfect combination."
"What else?" Kai found himself thinking about her reaction when he mentioned Mr. Dawson and his daughter.
"That's about it." Tala said. "Now that you mentioned it, we don't really know anything about her."
"We know her mother is a dance teacher." he muttered. But what about her father?
Tala eyed his friend warily. "What's on your mind, Kai?"
"None of your business." Kai said but his snappishness seemed to lack the iciness that usually came with it. Deep in thought, he left Tala staring after him in confusion as Jade had done to him moments ago.
On the following Sunday, Nicky managed to escape Sunday school class without anyone noticing. He was dead bored and Jade hadn't been there. One of the other volunteers had told him she was busy and tried to get him to join the games and he had instead made a mess.
Having done it many times, Nicky had managed to sneak out of class undetected. Though some of the senior teachers had tried to be friends with him, he found them too boring. They expected him to be quiet and attentive during class. It was boring!
Then Jade had come and showed him ways of learning that caught his interest. She was patient with him and fun. Sometimes, she would bring treats just for him and play basketball with him.
Her boyfriend sure is lucky. I bet he gets treats everyday..., he thought as he walked into freedom with a basketball in hand. A movement caught his eye. A familiar figure approached him. And speaking of boyfriend....
"Hey, Nicky." the bluenette said.
"Hi, Kai." he said. "You came back."
"I promised you, didn't I?" Kai smiled.
Nicky bobbed his head. "Yeah. Hey, you wanna play ball?"
"Why not?" Kai said and allowed the kid to lead him to the basketball court. Nicky tossed him the ball. Experimentally, he bounced it a couple of times and send it flying towards the hoop. It went through without touching the sides.
"Cool." Nicky exclaimed. "Can you teach me how to do that?"
Kai nodded and caught the ball again. He tossed it again and once more, it went through. Nicky scoped the ball up and threw it at the hoop. To his disappointment, it bounced off the edges.
"Nicky, where's Jade?" Kai asked as he caught the ball on its rebound.
The boy shrugged. "No idea. She didn't come today. I thought you might know."
Kai shook his head, taking in the information. It was unlike Jade to miss church. "No clue, kid."
"Oh." Nicky looked disappointed. "I just thought you might know. Being her boyfriend and all..."
"Boyfriend?" Kai's mouth fell open at Nicky's innocent assumption. "Nicky, Jade's not my girlfriend."
"You guys sure look like it." the little boy said. "I mean, Jade does need someone to take care of her and all."
Kai stopped, "Nicky, what do you mean?"
Nicky tossed the ball again and groaned when it bounded off the sides again. "I think she's got some problems at home."
"Did she tell you this, Nicky?" the teen asked.
Nicky nodded. "Something like that. I saw her crying and she said it was just family problems."
He was surprised to hear this. How could a young kid have seen this? How could I have not seen it?
How could he have not seen that beneath her cheery sweet face was a troubled girl? Someone with her own problems yet took care of others before hers. Someone...alone...like him...
"Why didn't she tell me?" the question was meant for himself but Nicky heard it too.
The brown-haired kid titled his head. "Maybe she didn't want people to find out."
Maybe she's afraid that people would find out..., Kai thought back to Jade's reaction when he had asked her what she was afraid of.
"Kai?"
He looked down at innocent coffee eyes. Nicky gazed at him with open curiosity that only reminded him of Jade's.
"Can you teach me how to do that throw?" he asked.
Kai nodded and took the ball from the kid. His mind however was digesting what he just found out about Jade.
So this must be what she's hiding....
"It's all in wrist, kid. Just aim and concentrated." he said. He took a step back, stepping out of the 'D' zone and executed a perfect three-pointer.
We are going to have a long talk, Summers.
Author's note: Well, what do you think? R&R!!!