Hello, people! All right, votes are as follows:
Tyson/Max/Hilary - 2
Kai/Ray - 1 + 1 "maybe" and 2 "no, yaoi is wrong"
1 "don't mind" So, it looks like there is definitely going to be a triangle, but I need more opinions on Kai/ Ray! (By the way, even if they can't be together, I'm still going to write them as best friends. Just so you all know)
"I'd better go after her..." said Tyson wretchedly, moving towards the door.
"No...I'll go." Max said quietly. He took several deep breaths, tears streaming from his eyes, cheek burning red. "And I hope you're all gonna think about what she just said. 'Cause we deserved it." His breath catching in a sob, he turned and walked out of the door. Kai tried to pull himself up and failed. Automatically, Ray went over to help him up, and all four of them stared at the door, too shocked to speak.
Max walked quickly down the corridor, fuming. "Why didn't I notice she was unhappy? Why did I have to suggest that stupid idea to Kai? If he hadn't stopped in time..." He broke off abruptly as he heard crying up ahead. Breaking into a run, he dashed into the kitchen and stopped dead in the doorway, his anger melting away as he saw the pathetic bundle of misery huddled beside the cooker. Hilary slowly lifted her head and looked at Max through puffy, red eyes. Max moved forwards, and the two of them stared at each other.
"I'm s-sorry, Max..." Hilary stammered. Max smiled gratefully, glad to not be confronted with more hysterics.
"Hilary..." He knelt down and hugged her tightly, provoking a fresh onslaught of tears.
"Oh Max, I was so horrible, a-and I called everyone names and Kai's exhausted now and it's my fault, and..." Her voice trailed off and she looked up, meeting Max's eyes. She gently turned his head so that she could see his cheek. When she saw the livid red mark, her face crumpled again. "And I-I hit you...oh Max, I'm so sorry..." she sobbed. Max rubbed her back comfortingly, Hilary's tears staining his green T-shirt.
"It's alright Hil. Nobody blames you, if anything it's our fault, not yours." Hilary looked up at him, her eyelashes spiky with tears, bottom lip trembling.
"Okay..." she whispered. Max grinned wickedly, his natural cheerfulness back in full force.
"And now, you're going to take that beautifully pathetic look off your face, dry your eyes, and I'm going to suggest that we go out for dinner, as a team for once." Hilary brightened up immeadiatly, wiping the tears away with the back of her hand.
"Yeah! We haven't done that for ages!" Max laughed.
"Yeah, I think that had something to do with the fact that Kai threated to rip Tyson's tounge out last time if he ate more than seven courses!"
"Then he ate ten!"
"Uh-huh! Then, he had to barricade himself in the loos for an hour-"
"While we all tried to calm Kai down-"
"And failed! They couldn't be in the same room as each other for a week!" The two of them laughed hysterically at the memory, then suddenly realised that they were still hugging each other. Blushing, they pulled away, muttering apologies. "So, shall we go?" asked Max, trying to cover up his embarrasment.
"Let's!" giggled Hilary, linking arms with him as they walked out of the kitchen.
"Hi Ray!" they chorused, spotting him standing at the door to the pratice room, looking in.
"Hiya, you two! You okay now, Hil?" Ray asked distractedly, still looking round the door.
"Yeah, fine thanks. What's up?" Hilary asked, cheekily pulling Ray's long hair. He grunted in mild protest, wrapping his black ponytail round his waist for protection.
"Tyson and Kai are having a slanging match again." he sighed. The other two groaned.
" What, again?" Max moaned. "That's the fourth one in two days!"
"Yeah, I know...Listen to them go!" Ray marvelled. They all fell quiet, listening.
"Greedy, lazy, slob!"
"Heartless, jealous snob!"
"You only won the World Championship by pure luck!"
"What, three times? And once was against you, unless you've forgotten!"
"You were so bad I ended up falling asleep mid-match!"
"Oh, was that why it suddenly got harder? You should fall asleep more often!" There was a trace of laughter in Tyson's voice now, and outside, the eavesdroppers relaxed.
"Good. They're not serious anymore!" breathed Ray. "I hate having to hold them back. Kai always-" He stopped mid-sentence.
"Just face it, Kai!" Tyson's voice hardened. "You'll never be as good as me, no matter what you do!"
"Oh no, Tyson, that's not a good idea..." Ray muttered, then slipped round the door and stood, ready. Kai's eyes flashed.
"Oh really?" he said stiffly.
"Yeah, really!" Kai flushed and took a step forwards.
"I could beat you any day!" he snarled, voice dangerously soft.
"Yeah, right!" Tyson snorted. In two strides, Kai was on him, pinning him to the floor. He wrenched Tyson's blade from his hand and threw it to the floor. Eyes blazing with anger, he punched Tyson in the stomach. Tyson doubled up, gasping for breath. Kai raised his fist again. Ray ran in, grabbing Kai's wrist andpulling him off Tyson.
"Tyson, get out!" he yelled. "I can't hold him back if you're here!" Kai twisted around and tried to punch Ray round the face, eyes wild with fury. Ray ducked. "Tyson!" he yelled again. "Get out!" Tyson nodded, frightened by the insane look on Kai's face. He picked himself up, and ran out of the door.
Kai bucked and kicked, trying to break Ray's grasp. Ray tightened his grip, jerking Kai's hand behind his back.
"Come on Kai," he panted. "I don't like having to fight you, just calm down a bit-"
"Calm down? Not a chance!" was Kai's answer. Or words to that effect...
"Kai, Tyson isn't here anymore, don't make me do this..." Ray pleaded.
"Go to hell!" Oh damn! thought Ray. I really don't want to fight him- His thoughts were cut off as Kai twisted round again and punched him round the head. Dizzy, Ray stumbled unsteadily. Right, he thought. You asked for this! Without warning, he twisted Kai's wrist right round. While Kai was clutching his wrist, Ray dropped to the floor and brought his leg round, fast. Kai swore violently as his legs were scythed from underneath him and he fell, smashing his head against the ground.
"Kai? You alright, bud?" Kai opened his eyes to see a worried Ray looking down at him. He sat up and put a hand to his head, disorientated.
"Huh? What happened?" he muttered.
"Kai, how many fingers am I holding up?" Ray asked quickly.
"Four. What hap- oh wait, I remember now." Ray whistled in relief.
"Thank God! Kenny would've killed me if I'd given you concussion. Headache?"
"Not really." Kai looked at Ray, seeing a rapidly swelling bruise on the side of his head. He looked away again.
"Sorry about...all that." he said, guesturing vaguely towards Ray. Ray grinned, knowing how muck Kai loathed apologising.
"'S'ok. You should probably apologise to Tyson, though." Kai's eyes hardened.
"Why should I apologise to him?" he spat.
"Because you punched hin in the stomach." replied Ray calmly.
"He deserved it." Kai muttered rebelliously.
"No, he didn't. Now, are you going to apologise, or do I have to knock you over again?"
"You wouldn't!"
"True. So?"
"Alright already, I'll damn apologise!" snapped Kai. Ray stood up, ignoring the filthy look Kai was throwing him.
"Good. Coming?" he asked.
"Yes." Kai sighed, pulling himself to his feet.
"Alright! Go Ray!" Tyson cheered, watching as they both climbed to their feet.
"Hey Hil, what's up?" Max asked, seeing the thoughtful expression on Hilary's face.
"What? Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about what I overheard Mr Dickenson saying a while ago."
"Which was?" Max said impatiently.
"That there was only four people who could talk sense into Kai when he was in a mood. One was Mr Dickenson himself, one was Judy, one was Gramps and one was Ray."
"Gramps? Tyson's granpa!" Max said increduously.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Well, I've been thinking about that, and I reckon that it's because Kai only listens to people he respects-"
"He respects Gramps!" Tyson exclaimed, coming up behind them.
"Why, hello Tyson, of course you can listen in on our conversation, how silly of me!" Max said dryly. Tyson blushed slightly.
"Sorry." he muttered. Max laughed, cuffing his best friend lightly round the head.
"It's okay, Ty." They all looked towards the door as Kai and Ray came through.
Ray waved at them, then exchanged meaningful looks with Kai.
"What, now?" Kai hissed. Ray nodded. Kai scowled. Grumbling under his breath, he walked over to Tyson. Max and Hilary looked on with interest. Kai's pride wouldn't allow an outright apology, whilst Tyson's stubborness meant that unless they were careful, they would have yet another fight on their hands. Kai's face was unreadable as he stood in front of Tyson.
"Your self-denfense needs serious work, Tyson." he said curtly, spinning on his heel and striding out of the door. Everyone grinned. Typical Kai. Hilary suddenly noticed that Kenny was still typing frantically on Dizzi.
"Hey, Kenny," she said, walking over to him. "What you doing?"
"Something." said Kenny, without taking his eyes off the screen.
"Whatever it is Chief, could you please slow down the typing? My keyboard isn't designed to be pounded!" whined Dizzi. Hilary shrugged and walked back to Max and the others.
"You all right, Ray?" Kenny said from across the room, eyeing the swelling bruise on Ray's head. "Kai gave you quite a battering!" Ray shrugged.
"I've had worse. I might not be up to cooking tonight, though, if that's okay with you guys?" Max and Hilary exchanged glances.
"Yeah, that's fine with us. Um, we were thinking, what do you think about going out, like, to a takeaway or something, instead of just ordering in, for a change?" Hillary said nervously. Ray shrugged.
"Yeah, sounds good. Where?"
"Pizza Hut!" Tyson suggested.
"McDonalds!" Max countered, grinning.
"Pizza Hut!"
"McDonalds!"
"PIZZA HUT!"
"McDONALDS!" Hilary sighed, looking helplessly towards Ray.
"Pizza Hut." Ray said firmly.
"Oh come on, Ray!" Max pleaded. Ray shook his head, then stopped, wincing, as the bruise on his head throbbed violently.
"No way. McDonalds is just processed animal skin on a plate. If I'm not cooking we're at least going to get something that actually qualifies as food!"
"Oh, all right..." Max groaned.
"Ha ha! In your face!" laughed Tyson, pointing at Max. Suddenly, Tyson, Max and Hilary all stopped dead and exchanged glances, grinning. Then...
"A PIZ-ZA HUT, A PIZ-ZA HUT, KEN-TUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AN' A PIZ-ZA HUT!" Ray grinned shaking his head gingerly as he watched them dance round the room. Were they ever going to grow up? Mind you, who wants to grow up? Not me! Ray thought, then ran forwards and linked arms with Tyson, singing as lustily as the others.
"McDO-ONALDS, McDO-ONALDS, KEN-TUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AN' A PIZZA HUT..."
Okay, that's one more chapter done and dusted! I'm coming scarily close to the end of the already-written stuff - argh! I've got to start writing again! - so, as I said in Chatper One (I think) thestyle might change soon, although I'll try and keep it the same. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this!
R&R!