Well, dudes, I'm back with another chapter. School starts again tomorrow and I've still got two more paintings and a essay on Osmosis (Biology) to do so I'll make this short.
Disclaimer: I don't own beyblade or any of its characters so you'll just have to deal with a broke fifteen year old.
Enjoy and Review!
Eye of the Storm
Chapter Twenty Six: Love Me Not
"Ray, stop it!"
"No! This is your fault too Holly! If you hadn't acted like a fucking whore, this never would've happened!"
"You bastard! Don't call her a whore!"
I groaned as Tala lunged forward, fist raised. The next thing I know both were having it out there and then, as I stared in shock as Ray kneed Tala right where it hurts most before leaping on him and sending continuous punches to Tala's face.
"I don't bloody believe this," Johnny muttered, before rounding on me, "You knew about this?"
"Er…yeah…" I replied uncertainly, before wincing as Tala's fist connected with Ray's jaw.
"And you never stopped it?" he demanded in disbelief.
"Well, I told them several times to tell Ray, but, y'know, they always said when the time was right," I replied, biting my lip.
"You should've tried harder!" Johnny exclaimed, "Especially after what happened between you and me! Don't you ever learn Willow?"
I stared at the floor, then at the scene before me. Tala and Ray were still fighting, cursing and yelling at each other. Holly was sobbing and telling them to stop and on-lookers seemed too much in shock to even help out. Maybe Johnny is right. I should've tried harder.
I looked back at those intense violet eyes, before suddenly moving. I ducked a wayward punch and grabbed Tala, pulling him back. Luck was with me as Tala was so surprised he lost balance and toppled onto the snow. I stepped in front of him, stopping Ray from taking advantage of a momentarily confused redhead.
"Get out of the way," he snarled.
"No," I said calmly.
"Get out of the way before I make you!" he yelled, and for a second I was seriously panicked. I mean, Ray's strong, bigger, takes martial arts and REALLY angry. Not a good combination.
"No," the word was repeated but this time not by me. I blinked; realising Kai was next to me. "I know you're angry and I totally sympathise with you, but you touch Willow and I won't be held responsible for my actions,"
I smiled gratefully at him.
Ray looked at him disbelief. "You're defending that piece of shit?"
For one split second I actually thought he was talking about me but then I realised he was pointing at Tala, who was slowly getting to his feet.
"Yes, that piece of shit happens to be my best friend," Kai said coolly.
"I don't fucking believe this," Ray muttered, shaking his head. Giving us one last cold glare, he turned on his heel and walked off. Or, would've, if Holly didn't stop him.
"Don't touch me," Ray snapped, "Who knows where else you've been,"
Holly let out another sob but drew back, letting Ray finally make his escape. I let out a sigh.
Finally! It's over!
"Of all the people…"
My head snapped up, staring at Destiny who was looking at us in disgust.
Dest…?
"I didn't think you were like that Holly. Tala, fine. But you? I thought you had a little more pride than that,"
Spoke too soon.
"I agree," said Mariah. Mariam nodded.
And they walked off too.
They…my friends…they're…not even supporting us…
Can't they tell Holly's hurt?
My eyes closed in frustration, but they shot open when I heard more movement. Nobody said anything, but I knew the meaning as Ozuma, Michael and Enrique followed.
Eny? You too?
Bugger.
Tala groaned, out of pain or disbelief I don't know, but then looked at Kara and Mirror pleadingly. Mirror smiled reassuringly and walked over to Holly, pulling her into a comforting hug. Kara, however, bit her lip and looked unsure.
Oh God no, Kara, please, don't do this to me…
"I don't want to be dragged into this. I don't want to be forced to take sides," she finally said.
I looked at Fred and Nick.
"Same as Kara," Fred said instantly. But when I looked at Nick my heart suddenly froze at the look on his face.
"I'm sorry," he sighed, "But they're right I've always been opposed to cheating. It would be against my morals to even accept this,"
Instantly my eyes were full of tears. Was he really doing this?
Nick…?
"Nick, don't do this," Sky pleaded, she was obviously on our side cos she knew me and Holly best, and besides, she always stuck up for me.
"Sorry," he repeated, his blue eyes filled with regret and determination. Fred, for once, seemed shocked at his twin's actions.
Nick? Nick?
He began walking away, away from me, from Sky, from his friends.
"Nick!" I cried out. "You can't…Nick…please…"
He shook his head, not trusting himself to speak. And then he too walked away.
Why?
"Willow, it doesn't matter. We're still here, aren't we?" Kai reassured. But I shook my head, staring at Nick's retreating back. I blinked, and a tear escaped, falling slowly to the snow covered ground.
Nick…he's one of my best friends…he's stood by my side for so long…why is he leaving? Why…is he…deserting us…?
Suddenly I was pulled into a warm embrace, one so familiar. I welcomed it; in fact I clung onto it. Something solid, something that was always there, even though our feelings were unclear at the moment.
"It'll be okay," Johnny murmured. "Everything will be fine. This'll all blow over and they'll all come back. You'll see,"
Despite Johnny's words, despite his warm, safe embrace, I wasn't shielded from reality. Because reality meant that it wasn't going to be okay. Because it never was okay in the first place.
Hmm…sleep is good right now…in fact, sleep is good all the time…
"BEEP BEEP BEEP!"
Huh?
"BEEP BEEP!"
What the HELL?
"BEEP BEEP BEEP!"
Whatever happened to sleep?
"BEEP BEEP!"
That's when something very strange happened. My arm, out of its own accord, lifted itself off the bed and slammed into an object on the bedside table. Immediately, the beeping stopped.
Wow, SMART ARM!
Wait a sec…OH YEAH! I HAVE TRAINING!
Bloody hell, I hate mornings with a passion.
Slowly rolling out of bed, I walked blearily towards the bathroom, only to find Kara retching into the toilet.
"Kara! Are you okay?"
The blue haired teen groaned, and retched a bit more.
"I don't know what happened--" she retched again, "Voltaire just called me, saying he needs to talk to me, and then I became all nauseous and ran here…"
"Voltaire called you at five in the morning?" I asked sceptically, as Kara stood up shakily.
"Its when he gets up. It when he thinks everyone should get up. We mostly ignore that when we can," Kara said, stumbling slightly and grabbing hold of the sink.
"Are you sure your okay?" I frowned.
"Yeah, sure, its probably just something I ate. No worries Will," Kara said reassuringly before walking shakily out of the bathroom.
I frowned, but decided to drop it anyway. After all, Kara can look after herself.
An hour later, I was walking into the training camp with still sleepy eyes and yawning every other minute while munching on an apple.
"Hey Sandy," Jamie called, although I couldn't actually see where he was.
"Where are you?" I groaned.
"Up here!"
I looked up. And there was Jamie in a tree, looking down and grinning at me. He had obviously been doing a little climbing.
"Master Takashi said that the swimming thing is off since you've built up your strength again. He wants you to focus on archery today,"
Are you kidding me? I can't even think straight, let alone aim right.
"What's up with you?" Jamie asked curiously.
"Nothing. Erm, where's Master Takashi and Sky?"
"Oh, Takashi's still sleeping, he had a late night," Ain't the only one either, "And Sky called in sick, and asked me to tell you. And there's something up Will, I can tell,"
I gave him an annoyed look.
"C'mon Sandy, spill," he said, climbing down onto a lower branch and then dropping gracefully onto the floor.
I looked at him, and in that second a whole lot of words came rushing back to me…
"He destroyed your relationship with Johnny, he played with your emotions to get closer to you. He changed you back to what he knew and wanted, and never accepted you for who you are!"
"Willow?" Jamie frowned, walking towards me.
I stared at him. My grip on the half eaten apple slackened and it fell with a dull thump.
"A best friend is someone who will always be there no matter what."
No matter what?
"Sandy?"
"Why do you insist on me being Sandy? Why do you insist that I revert back to my American self?" I suddenly asked, looking up at the considerably taller Jamie.
He seemed taken back, his golden eyes clouded with confusion.
"Its…Willow, I knew you better when we were in America. I—don't know…I just…when we were in America, everyone knew you belonged to me, even before we started going out…"
"I don't belong to anyone Jamie!"
"I know! God, I'm sorry, it wasn't meant to sound like that! You're a totally independent girl and that's really great, and your popular, and very gorgeous, but even so I just…you were always there, y'know? Back in America…Jesus Will…even before we went out…I barely ever had to try because it seemed like where ever I turned you were always there, and I got used to it,"
Did he just call me independent, popular and very gorgeous? But Jamie never does compliments.
"But here? You're never around. You've got Johnny, and Mirror, Kara, Kai, Tala…where do I fit in Willow? Kara, one of your closest best friends, hates me. D'you even know how much I missed you after you left? Do you?" Jamie demanded, seemingly agitated.
I stared at him in disbelief.
Maybe Kara had got him all wrong? Maybe…maybe…he just…misses me…?
Oh, I don't know.
"Willow, I want you to know something," Jamie suddenly said, grabbing my hands and clutching them in his larger ones. I stared at our joint hands, before looking into golden eyes. "And you probably won't like it and I'm sorry but I can't help how I feel,"
That's not exactly comforting, is it? Oh God, I hope I don't lose him as a friend or it gets awkward between us because of whatever he's about to tell me, cos I love him. Really. Not anything like I love Johnny, but, y'know, mate-wise.
Jamie took a deep breath, looked me straight in the eye and said five words. Only five. But five words can say a lot.
"I'm in love with you."
Oh.
Oh.
I closed my eyes, hoping against hope that I was dreaming.
"Oh God," I whimpered.
"I'm in love with you!" Jamie ploughed on, ignoring what I had just said, ignoring my facial expression as well, "I'm in love with fifteen year old Sandy Lily Tate and I'm in love with seventeen year old Willow Cass Tate. I'm in love with a girl who looks beautiful all dressed up and looks just as beautiful when she's just gotten out of bed with messy hair, sleepy eyes and a hangover. I'm in love with a girl who's constantly surrounded by people and she'd make every single one of them feel special. I'm in love with a girl…" he looked at me, his golden eyes sad as tears fell silently down my cheeks, "…who's in love with someone else,"
Oh shit.
My ex-boyfriend is in love with me. My ex, who's been my friend for ages, who was there to pick up the pieces when Ryan disappeared, my ex-boyfriend Jamie…he taught me to live…
"I want you to do me favour Willow,"
I looked up at him, eyes widening. It was one of the few times Jamie seemed serious, and not cocky, or arrogant, or smirking as he teased me physically and mentally.
And he said the most surprising thing. More surprising than him telling me he loved me.
"I want you to go to Johnny," he started. Johnny? He isn't gonna say him or Johnny is he? Cos…I really don't wanna lose Jamie. "I want you to go to him, tell him you love him, and that you don't want to lose him. Cos I know you Willow. And you'll be miserable for a very long time if you don't sort yourselves out."
Okay, NOW I'm hearing things.
"Promise me,"
"I promise," I choked out.
"Because, Sandy, I just want you to be happy."
Oh. My. God.
Jamie…
And then he leaned down and placed the sweetest little butterfly kiss on my lips, lingering only a second to whisper, "I just want you to be happy," before straightening, smiling oh so softly and then walking away.
Walked away.
Just like that.
Although, it's certainly dramatic enough.
Oh Jesus fucking Christ. I have nineteen year old who's about as hot as a Sex God, who's actually known to the police, and isn't scared to speak his mind, and has that whole rebel thing going on, and he's smart, funny, and a great friend…who's in love with me.
And I can't even love him back!
Ooooh, how I hate myself.
"Mornin' Will," Kara grumbled as she walked into homeroom. It was only seven a.m, on the account I had skipped training (can you blame me?) and who even knows WHY Kara Hiwatari is here at seven a.m. Shouldn't she have gone back to bed or something?
"Hey," I said shortly as the blue haired teen dropped heavily into the seat next to me. She looked just as depressed as I did.
"So what's got you all down?"
"Jamie's in love with me and I'm in love with Johnny who I don't even know where I stand with," I sighed.
"Oh. That sucks,"
"What 'bout you?"
"Voltaire's thrown me into an arranged marriage that's taking place on Christmas Day and I've only just found out its with James Hearn," Kara said in a depressed voice.
"Oh. Okay, you win," I answered automatically.
I blinked.
REWIND!
"WHAT?"
Kara sat up suddenly and let out a squeal. "SHIT! I wasn't meant to tell anyone!"
"You're…you're ENGAGED to Jamie?" I spluttered as Kara released a stream of swear words in a mixture of Japanese, English and Russian, and I only understood half of them.
What's slightly alarming is that that's not even all of the curses, swear words and whatnot that she knows. In fact, she remains the only person I know that can swear for five minutes straight without repeating herself.
Yeah, I know.
Wow.
"Look, Willow," Kara started once she had finally paused to take a breath, "I've been bound to this arranged marriage thing since I was three years old. My parents and James' were best buddies of sorts, and they signed a contract that I would get married to James some time between when I turn sixteen and before I turn eighteen. Of course, only a year later my Dad died in a car crash and James' parents moved away to Japan before ending up in America when you met him, so no one was sure if the marriage was to go ahead,"
I blinked.
"Wow, you knew Jamie before I did," I said in amazement.
"Yeah, only I had no idea that cute little five year old was James. Those days he sported his fathers name, not his mother's maiden name. And I used to call him Jay," Kara said slowly, her eyes clouding over with childhood memories.
I stared at her in disbelief.
Is this "Surprise Willow Day"?
"Anyway," Kara said, shaking her head, "I totally didn't recognise Jay—" Oh my God, she's calling him Jay now! "—because, I'm telling you, he was a lot sweeter as a kid. And his eyes were hazel then, not golden. Now Voltaire's gone and dug up the contract, and contacted James' parents about it, and they said yes, go ahead with it, and now they're gonna fly over soon for the wedding which is at Christmas, and Willow, I don't wanna marry James because I don't want to get married for another decade or so and even then it'll be to Max, because I love him,"
Whoa!
Oh my God, poor Kara!
Wait, maybe that's why Jamie had to tell me he loved me. Cos, he has to get married and everything soon. OH MY GOD, JAMIE AND KARA ARE GETTING MARRIED! IN NINE DAYS!
AAAAARRRRGHHHHH!
"We have to stop this wedding!" I exclaimed, jumping to my feet. "Kara, if you get married to Jamie, you'll both be depressed for the rest of your lives, and you so totally don't get on now, which will make it even worse!"
"Willow, shut up,"
I shut up.
"There is only one way that the contract can be broken," Kara sighed.
There's a way? WELL, THEN, DO IT!
Jesus, I thought that was obvious!
"Then why don't you--"
"Willow,"
I fell silent again.
"The only way the contract can be broken is if I got myself pregnant by another man," she sighed.
Well, bugger that.
"Er, well, I suppose your not planning on getting pregnant in the next week, are you?"
What was really alarming was that Kara just shifted in her seat.
"Kara?" I said in disbelief.
"No," she said firmly, "No, I'm not pregnant, and I'm not going get to pregnant for the next decade either. I'm not even seventeen yet for God's sake!"
I sighed in relief.
I mean, I'd totally appreciate a niece or nephew, and if it gets them outta this wedding, that's great, but Kara's right. She's way too young. Plus she's got her whole life ahead of her. She'll do great career wise, I just know it.
"We'll get you outta this, Kara. You'll see," I stated with conviction.
She smiled weakly at me.
Oh God, we so have to get her out of this. I mean, look at her! She's totally losing the will to do anything.
Jeez, and I thought the whole thing with Tala, Ray and Holly was bad enough.
"Hey ladies,"
We both looked up from our gloomy conversation, which involved glaring at the desks and bickering lightly about whether suicide was a good choice right now (Kara was so leaning towards the yes).
"Hey," we greeted Johnny dully.
"Jesus, what happened to you two?"
We both shrugged.
Yeah, I know, right pair of lively clowns we are.
"What are you doing here anyway? Its only eight," I asked, yawning and stretching in my seat.
"Oh, I needed to look up a few things in the library for my exam today," Johnny shrugged. "Besides, I need to talk to you Willow,"
"Right," I said, getting up, "You'll be okay, won't you Kara?"
"Yeah," she said flippantly, "Mirror said she was coming in early anyway,"
I gave my best friend a concerned look as I walked out with Johnny, before sighing and shoving my hands into my pockets.
This is not turning out to be a great morning.
I'm not looking forward to this talk. I mean, we'll probably start arguing again, and then not talking for ages, and yadda yadda yadda…
"Willow, I want to know where exactly me and you are going,"
…and EXCUSE ME, you were the one who broke up with me!
"And you're asking me? From what I'm aware of, you've been calling the shots since we broke up. Remember?"
Oh, Jesus, Willow, way to not provoke him…
But Johnny just ran a hand through his fiery red hair and sighed.
"I'm sorry Lils,"
If I had been holding something, I totally would've dropped it.
"What?" I cried out in disbelief, "You're saying sorry…NOW? What the hell's wrong with you Johnny? Sorry is just a word! Sorry doesn't forgive the fact that you didn't even want to hear me out, or that you completely broke my heart by telling me that you LIED. Sorry doesn't change the fact you almost strangled Fred to death, or that you have the goddamned nerve to kiss me whenever you want!"
I paused for a breath, seeing as, y'know, I am human and do need to breathe. Then I returned to my lecture/yelling thing.
"God, Johnny, you are such a JERK! And I'm bloody surprised I still love you!"
"I know! Okay? I know I'm a liar, I know I'm a jerk, and I'm goddamned SORRY. Willow, I love you. I've love you so much that when I saw you with James, it broke MY heart. And I lashed out. I'm sorry Willow, I'm so so sorry," he grabbed my hands, violet eyes pleading with me. And actually fell to his knees. Which is really, like, wow.
Well…
…now what?
Do I just forgive him?
Does he even deserve it?
Not really. But I love him anyway.
And the next thing I know, I had fallen to the ground, wrapping my arms around the redhead in a tight embrace.
And I really didn't want to let go.
Well, they're FINALLY back together...and a little twist to make things more interesting. I'll be writing more on the Tala/Holly/Ray situation in the next chapter if you wanted more on that...but, otherwise, thanks to everyone that reviewed. Which a lot did. Appreciated, guys.
And, er, continue reviewing!
Ciao dudes and dudettes
Chiya