Hey. It's been a while, I know, but I've had some extreme troubles with this chapter. This is the sixth go at it and I ain't even exagerrating. But, yeah, I wanna make two aknowledgements:

Ti (Truble), thanks babe, for prodding me to get going with this and for everything else you've done for this fic! You're the best!

Scarlet (Rising Phoenix), dudette, get updating with your fic cos I'm really enjoying it! You rock!

Riiight, on with the show!

Disclaimer: Mirror belongs to Truble and everyone you recognise from the TV show Beyblade belongs some big ass company, okay? Everything else? Mine. All mine.

Enjoy!

Eye of the Storm

Chapter Thirty One: Bitter Dreams

"So is it just me or is your sister really suffering?"

I blinked. I took a second to blindly wonder the hell I was…then horror hit me like a stone wall.

I was dreaming again.

I slowly got up, taking in my surroundings. This time, I was down by the lake, and the sun was high up in the sky. It didn't feel like late December…it was warm, with a gentle breeze fluttering through the leaves. It had to be late spring, or early summer.

I turned around, and there he was.

Raven black hair falling messily into golden coloured eyes, a lazy trademark smirk plastered onto his flawless face. A white sleeveless top allowed him to show off the falcon tattooed onto his forearm. He was lazing about on a great oak tree, leaning against the trunk and a leg swung lazily from the branch.

"You're not Jamie." I stated.

"I mean, really, you've been so focused on yourself lately that you haven't noticed Holly getting depressed, or that Sky was extremely close to digging the knife in a little too far a few nights ago." He continued as if I hadn't said anything.

"You're not Jamie." I repeated, my voice coming out in a low, angered growl.

"Aren't I?" he asked lightly, grinning a heart melting grin at me.

"No, you're not. You're a just some fucked up thing my fucked up imagination came up with." I snapped.

He laughed, swinging down from the branch and landing lightly in front of me. He took my hand, and placed it against his chest.

"But I feel so real, don't I?" he grinned again, dragging my hand down his chest and to his side. He lifted his top slightly, and placed my hand on his waist. I could feel the rough scar I knew all to well, "You were fifteen when you did that. It was a sword fight at the Martial Arts dojo. I remember your face afterwards,"

I gasped against my will when suddenly the scar began to open, right under my hand, blood spurting noiselessly. I wanted to drag my hand away, but his hand was firm over mine.

"You couldn't stop apologising. You even took me to the hospital so that I could be stitched up." He continued, as thick crimson blood cascaded down my hand, over my fingers and dripping slowly to the grass below.

"But there wasn't this much blood!" I cried out, "Jamie! There wasn't this much blood!"

"Oh?" Jamie smiled, "Admit do you? I am Jamie then, am I?"

I bit my lip, refusing to reply.

"Oh Sandy," he laughed, golden eyes dancing, "You really do amuse me…" he finally let my hand go, and I snatched it back, staring in horror at the crimson liquid that dripped from my fingertips.

"You're not Jamie!" I yelled, "Jamie's lying in a hospital bed! Jamie doesn't start bleeding from a wound made two years ago!"

"No, but Jamie likes to tease you, doesn't he?" the Jamie replica smirked, now starting to walk circles around me, dragging his fingers around my waist as he did so, leaving trails of deep red in my figure hugging top. "Whether it was mentally or physically, he loved to tease you. And you loved it just as much, didn't you Sandy?"

His warm breath tickled my skin, before warm, soft lips connected with my shoulder.

I jolted at the contact; the way he had kissed me was exactly how Jamie kissed me so long ago, when we had been going out. I stumbled away from the thing that looked so much like Jamie, down to the lake. I fell to my knees at the bank, dipping my bloody hand into the cool water, frantically washing off the red liquid.

"Fuck you!" I suddenly screamed at him, frustration and helplessness getting the better of me. I hated the fact there were tears falling from my eyes.

"Aw, Sandy, that isn't very nice." He said from somewhere behind me. Suddenly strong arms gripped me, pulling me to my feet. "Like it or not, you're here with me. So, make the best of it huh? Because this is the only time you'll be seeing precious Jamie."

I looked up at his liquid golden eyes and flawless face, that lazy smirk and something seemed to click.

"You're not nineteen." I whispered, touching his face gently.

"Yes darling." He drawled, looking pleased.

"You're seventeen."

"Yes darling."

I whirled around again, staring down at my reflection in the calm lake. A girl with short black hair and bright green eyes stared back at me. I looked younger, more naturally cheerful. I looked…fifteen.

I turned back to Jamie, and I stared at him hard. Was this really the last time I would ever…? I hesitated, then made a choice.

I pulled him closer…

…and kissed him.

His kisses were the same as ever, rough and passionate and coarse and so damned good, it was like a drug, I just could never seem to get enough of them. I didn't want to remind myself that this wasn't Jamie, that I was dreaming, that…it had ended.

"Nice." Jamie grinned. I realised he suddenly looked older again…normal. I looked at the scar above his eyebrow, then at the rapidly appearing bruising on his jaw.

I had done that. When he told me to punch him, the day Voltaire kidnapped Kara.

Oh God.

I screamed as a bang echoed through the forest with an intense force it created ripples in the lake. I watched, knowing exactly what was happening, as blood began seeping through his white shirt, his golden eyes filled with pain. But he was still grinning at me, his lips moved but I couldn't process what he was saying.

Then he fell, slowly and gracefully, crashing into the lake with a loud splash. And he was gone, his last words echoing throughout the forest.

"Time to grow up Sandy."

"If you think for one second, Willow Cassandra Lillian Tate, that I am going to let you lie there for the rest of the afternoon, then you obviously need the shit beaten outta you!" floated a familiar voice above my head.

What the hell has she been drinking this time? It's not as if I don't have enough to deal with considering I'm having nightmares every bloody night.

"WILLOW!" came a shout, and at the same time, a pillow came flying at my head, to which I rolled over reflexively, only of course I was lying on the edge of the bed so rolling over meant toppling over the edge and falling flat on my face on the wooden floor, accidentally hitting the bedside table which teetered precariously on its spindly legs, before finally giving up and collapsing on top my head, showering me with all the bits and bobs that had been residing on its surface.

I must be the unluckiest girl in the world.

I clambered out of the mess and confusion to find one of my best buddies, Mirror Chang, laughing her head off and holding onto the doorframe for support.

I glared at her while she finally gained control of herself, getting to my feet and dodging several objects that were bound to be painful if I stepped on them with bare feet. Which would not be fun.

"You suck," I said flatly as soon as Mi had stopped laughing.

"I rock," Mirror corrected with an amused grin that quickly faded. "Right. According to Kara, you have barely left this room since you arrived two days ago so…get ready to go out."

Hey, who does she think she is, ordering me around--!

Mirror glared.

Right. Get ready. Yeah.

I stumbled over to the wardrobe, grabbing a black jumper and a pair of jeans. They were all the first things that came into sight.

"Nuh uh. I told you to get ready to go out, not get ready to stay in your black hole until Kingdom Come," Mirror said, taking the items of clothing away from me. What the hell are you doing you crazy—Oi! Don't just shove me onto a chair!

Jesus! It's like war has been declared on me!

I watched, dumbfounded, as Mirror searched around my wardrobe, grabbed a few things, then marched right over to me and started tugging my t-shirt over my head.

"Hey! What the--"

The t-shirt was gone and Mirror was frowning at me.

Okay, why am I sitting here topless in front of my best friend?

"Your bra is getting too small for your breasts." She shot at me.

"You don't seem to have a problem with invading personal space, do you?" I shot back.

"Not with my mates I don't!" she said with a lighthearted grin. "You got a bra that was too big before?"

I'm not believing this.

"Yeah." I said cautiously, wondering when I was going to wake up and realise that this whole thing was a very weird dream. Although then I'd have to question my mentality, cos dreaming about sitting in front of Mirror completely topless and talking about bras is just—wrong.

"Oh goodie." And quite suddenly she wasn't in front of my but was rooting through my underwear drawer. "Is it this one?"

I blinked.

She was holding up a black lace bra that left very little to the imagination.

Okay, cheer up Willow, might as well make fun of this otherwise you'll only end up in an embarrassing situation.

"Yep."

"Sexy." Mi commented with a wink, throwing it at me. I put it on, got up and kicked off my PJ trousers.

"Come on then, what am I wearing today huh?" I said brightly.

"Well, I'm sure a lot of guys would be pleased if you went out like that but I think it might a bit too chilly eh?" Mirror said with a wry grin, tossing me a red tank top. Then came the black long sleeved top, which was cut open at the shoulders, straps holding up the top. Then came the black jeans, and it was finished off with my black and white Converses.

"Looking good," Mirror smirked, "Now, sit down again. I'll do your hair and make up."

Half an hour later and Mirror was finally finished getting me ready, my hair pulled to the side and secured with a hair band and my eyes covered in dark blue eye shadow with liberal amounts of black eyeliner.

"Finally," Mi sighed, "Back to your normal self."

"I guess so." I replied, staring at the mirror. I looked gorgeous, simply put. It was a drastic change from lately, when I didn't have the energy to make myself look so good. "What's with the makeover, anyway?"

"You're going out." Mirror repeated.

Uhhh, she's so difficult sometimes!

"Where and why?"

"Why? Cos you need it, obviously. It's not healthy locking yourself up. Where? You'll see."

Stupid, daft, annoying, poor excuse of a best friend!

I love Mirror Chang.

Really.

Seriously.

I love her.

She's my one and only.

My amour.

The love of my life.

Ewwww.

Okay, I digress. I love Mirror, that's true, but as my best friend. Nothing more. All right, so I'm loving her more than usual right now but hey, she deserves it.

"Having fun?" hovered a whisper in my ear. Warm arms wrapped around my waist.

"Yeah," I muttered breathlessly. I tried to focus on keeping upright on my ice skates- usually, it's nothing, but with Johnny's arms wrapped around me, there seemed to be a problem.

So I fixed it.

I turned around neatly, despite my treacherous legs –GO ME!- and kissed Johnny softly.

"OUCH!"

We pulled apart only to see Mirror half covered in snow at the bank of the frozen lake, sheepishly getting to her feet. Kai was roaring with laughter, causing his girlfriend to glare. He shut up pretty quickly. Mi's glare tends to have that kind of effect.

Of course, Mirror is an ace roller blader, but she always seems to forget that ice is slippery so she tends to slide everywhere. And fall. It's quite funny.

"Don't you dare." She threw at us as she carefully got back onto the icy covered lake.

We raised our hands in surrender.

A few minutes later I stood by myself in the middle of the frozen lake, watching Tala coax Holly onto the ice, Johnny and Kai laughing as they both pulled her to her feet once more, still trying to teach her how to ice skate. I glanced over my shoulder, only to see a great oak tree identical to the one in my nightmare. Closing my eyes, I saw the stark image of Jamie, with his blood soaked white top and pain filled eyes and that smirk still plastered onto his face, burning into my mind.

My eyes snapped open, the white snow almost blinding me for a split second.

"Sis?"

I turned around, and there was Holly standing right in front of me. Tala had finally managed to get on the ice.

"Hey." I greeted.

Her dark chocolate brown eyes drilled holes straight into me. She looked utterly defeated.

I didn't understand why.

I wish I had, I wish I had known what my own twin sister was going through, but I didn't, I forgot to reach out to her, I forgot to look after her and protect her as I had once sworn to do. I failed her, my sister, and I desperately wish now that I hadn't.

"Do you-" she paused, looking uncertain, "Do you…ever wish that the pain would just stop?"

"All the time." I said instantly without much thought.

"Would you do anything for the pain to stop?" she asked quietly.

I didn't think about the consequences of my response. All I could think about was the nightmares and Jamie and Johnny and the pain…

"Anything." I confirmed.

Holly nodded, her eyes suddenly as clear as the snow. She smoothly turned around on her ice skates and began skating towards the bank, despite Tala calling after her. I watched in confusion as she took off her skates, put on her trainers and left, Tala hurrying after her.

"What was that about?" Kai asked as I skated towards them.

"Dunno." I said with a shrug, staring at Tala who was hurriedly pulling on his trainers.

I look back on that now, and I think: you're so stupid Willow Tate. You're stupid and a terrible sister.

New Year's Day came and went, and before anyone knew it school had arrived again.

"Explain to me why I'm here again," Mirror groaned.

"It's school. Kinda compulsory," Kara replied, sprawled out on the seat next to me. Mirror was in front of me, twisting around in her seat so that she could look at us.

"Hmm, damnation." Mirror sighed.

"You betcha," I smiled. Personally, I was rather glad to be back in school. It gave me something to focus on.

"KARA SKYLAR HIWATARI, IF WHAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN SAYING IS TRUE, THEN YOU ARE MOST LIKELY ABOUT TO BE KILLED!"

Kara practically fell out of her seat in shock, and Mirror jumped about a foot into the air. Me? Nah, I knew it was coming. Okay, so I squealed in surprise, but hey, same diff.

"Enrique." Kara muttered weakly.

I almost forgot. Kara and Enrique are practically best friends, but he had left for Italy about a fortnight before the holidays started and had only just returned, knowing nothing about had transpired.

Well, someone had obviously filled him in. I'm guessing Johnny.

"Eny," Kara said, getting to her feet, her eyes wide. "I'm sorry, I meant to call you but all you would've done is walk straight into trouble such as doing exactly what Jamie did and stuff! And I didn't want to drag you away from family."

"Are you INSANE! I think I'd rather know when my best friend gets herself into an arranged marriage AND prevents it by being knocked up by her boyfriend!"

The rest of the class, who had been half listening and half watching the door, waiting for tutor to get his ass over here, gasped and gaped.

"Well done Enrique, tell the rest of the world, why don't you." Kara snapped.

Then came the staring match. They glared at each other for at least thirty seconds, before Enrique broke the silence.

"I get Godfather." He said flatly.

"I'll ask Max." Kara retorted just as emotionlessly.

I smirked at Mirror and she smirked right back, cos we both knew what would happen now.

Kara burst into tears and Enrique immediately pulled her into a comforting hug, whispering soothing words as she wailed about how much she had missed him.

"How typical. I swear Kara shouldn't be Russian, she should be Italian, like Eny." Mirror said, as I looked around. The class were all whispered furiously, and I caught a few words- Kara, pregnant, Max, arranged marriage, Kai- but there was something completely wrong.

Holly. She's meant to sit on my other side, but she's not here, I can't see her anywhere.

She had left the house early. I simply assumed she would be in the library, studying as always, but she usually got to homeroom a few minutes before the bell.

The bell had gone two minutes ago and now our tutor was walking in, closing the door behind him with an ominous snap.

And Holly wasn't here.

"Mirror? You haven't seen--"

"Holly? No. I noticed too. Didn't you say she left early?" Mirror asked.

"Yeah…"

"Don't worry Sandy, she'll turn up by first period."

But she wasn't in first period, which was Biology. She wasn't in by break.

She didn't turn up to school at all.

Oooh, I wonder where Holly's gone off to! Well, I must say that this certainly isn't my best work, in fact, its a far cry from it, but leave me a review if it's not too much trouble. I don't seem to be getting as many as I would like. Also I'm a little uncertain about the dream- what d'you guys think?

Thanks to everyone who did review though!

Ciao dudes and dudettes

Chiya