DISCALIMER: I do NOT own Beyblades, only my ocs and the plot

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Chapter 7: Happy New Year

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Party? Mother, I'm so not in the mood," Amara groaned turning in her bed so her back was facing her mother. She snuggled deeper into her blankets trying to bury her face from the intruding light. Amara's room was dark other than the light that was now shining through the doorway.

"I know honey, but it's New Years Eve," Nancy informed her daughter. "I thought it would be nice if we did something fun."

"Yes, but why with the Hiwatari's?" she mumbled her reply. "Didn't we have enough 'fun' with them at Christmas?"

"Of course and now we're going to have more fun with them and a bunch of other people at their party tomorrow night," Nancy said her tone final. "Vicki said you could invite some of your friends if you wanted to."

"How nice," Amara grumbled hoping her mother didn't hear her.

"Amara Edwina, get up. You can't stay in bed all day," Nancy pulled back her daughter's duvet. Amara just curled into a ball and hugged her pillow. "Do I have to call your brother to come tickle you?"

"Fine, I'm up!" Amara sat up quickly causing a slight head rush.

"Good, Jules called earlier by the way," Nancy called over her shoulder as she exited her daughter's bedroom.

"Thanks," Amara replied before flopping back onto her pillow. She picked up the cordless phone that was sitting on her nightstand and dialed her best friend's number.

"Hello?" Jules's cheerful voice broke in on the second ring.

"You are way too happy in the morning," Amara said in a groggy voice still thick with sleep.

"Ams, it's almost noon. I've been up for the past four hours," Jules said. "What's up?"

"You called me. I'm just returning it," Amara replied dragging herself from her bed to find some clothes.

"Oh, right," Jules chuckled. "I was wondering what you were doing for New Years?"

"I get to go to a party," Amara told her.

"It's rather annoying that you sound so uninterested in getting to do something fun. I get to stay home now that you're not free," Jules huffed.

"Oh, but you didn't hear the best part," Amara said with mock excitement. "It's at the Hiwatari's house which means I get to spend even more quality time with my newest best friend Kai."

"Okay now you're really annoying me."

"My mom said I could bring some friends so that means you're coming with me so stop complaining," Amara snapped but there was no mistaking the sarcasm in her voice. Even though she couldn't see her friend's expression, Amara knew Jules would be beaming.

"Seriously?" Jules asked her voice going up a few octaves. " I get to go to a real New Year's party?"

"Yes, I'm going to call Johnny too," Amara, said with a small laugh. "I need all the support I can get."

"Is it formal?"

"What?"

"Is it a formal party?"

"Oh crap I hope not," Amara groaned.

"We don't want to show up in the wrong thing. Ask your mom and then call me," Jules said eagerly. Jules loved to dress up any chance she got. Amara on the other hand could care less.

"Sure, whatever. I'll call you later then."

"Okay, oh this is going to be so much fun!" Jules squealed. "Bye."

"Bye," Amara mumbled then clicked the off button on her phone. "Mom?" Amara gathered up things to go have a shower while she waited for her mother to reply. "Mom?"

"What is it Amara?" Nancy called from the foot of the stairs.

"Is this party formal?" Amara asked walking out of her room and crossing the hall to the bathroom.

"Well semi-formal," Nancy replied with a shrug. "You'll just have to wear small cocktail dress or skirt." Amara's head peaked around the corner from out of the bathroom door. She looked rather disgusted at the thought. "Oh, honey its not that bad."

"Mother, I don't own a dress, well not one that fits me anymore," Amara whimpered moving to stand at the top of the stairs. "I'm gonna have to shave my legs. You know I don't do that until summer. My legs are hibernating. If I shave them now they will be prickly for weeks again. They just started to get soft."

"Well that is a problem," Nancy said obviously pretending to be serious and not caring if her daughter picked up on it. "You'll just have to wear a really long skirt."

"Right, that would be real attractive."

"Did I miss something?" Nancy asked with raised brows. "Are you trying to attract someone that's going to be at this party?"

"No mother!" Amara said quickly. "I just don't want all the Hiwatari's friends to think that I'm a prude or anything."

"No of course not honey," Nancy agreed with a small smile. "We wouldn't want Kai to think that."

"Whatever mom, I'm having a shower now." Amara stormed into the bathroom.

0 0 0

"You're usually a little happier when you're shopping with someone else's money," Jules commented as she walked through the mall with Amara. She had called Jules begging her to help find a dress for the party.

"Yes, but usually I get to spend it on something fun," Amara said with a frown. "Dresses aren't really my idea of fun."

"Well then we'll just have to find you a fun dress," Jules beamed pulling Amara into a funky shop.

"How much time do you have?" Amara mumbled with a small smile.

"We're getting you a dress even if you have to try on every dress in the store."

"Is that a threat because that's just mean?" Amara stared in disbelief at her friend. The store was wall-to-wall party dresses ranging from super fancy to summer party. They really would have been there forever if Amara were to try on every dress.

"I still like the first one I tried on the best,' Amara huffed two hours after they had started.

Jules and the sales clerks had been handing Amara random dresses in her size since Amara refused to say she liked anything. She was currently standing in front of the mirror wearing a short black off the shoulder dress with an angled hemline.

"Which one was that again?" Jules asked heaving a sigh of exhaustion. "They all seem a blur."

"Hold on." Amara disappeared back into the dressing room.

"I'm surprised you even remember which one it was," Jules said slumping down in one of the padded chairs. "They all seem the same now that I think about it. So many little black dresses. They're going to haunt me in my sleep I tell you."

"Wow, you're really starting to sound like me," Amara said from behind the closed door. "That's just plain scary."

"You're right," Jules agreed a little stunned. "Maybe we need some time apart."

"Yes, but then who would you drag with you to those poetry readings at the library?"

"I could always drag Johnny with me," Jules shrugged.

"This is true but he's probably be even more annoying then I am," Amara chuckled.

"You two have no appreciation for art."

"Hey, music is art and I have a great, deep appreciation for that," Amara said stepping out of the dressing room with her hands on her hips.

The dress Amara had chosen was a short blue strapless number. It was the perfect shade to set off her deep sapphire eyes. The dress was simple with a thin silver band just under her bust. The material hugged her waist in a flattering fashion then flared out slightly at her hips.

"Well what do you think?" Amara gave a little twirl letting the soft fabric swish around her.

"It's beautiful," Jules answered honestly. "Why couldn't we have figured that out two hours ago?"

"I think you just wanted to torture me," Amara said with a cheeky smile.

"It seems I tortured myself in the process."

"Oh the cruel irony," Amara chuckled then disappeared back into the dressing room.

0 0 0

"I don't wanna go in," Amara whimpered pulling Jules and Johnny to a halt just in front of the Hiwatari's front door.

Nancy was helping Vicki with some of the set up and had left Amara and her friends to arrive on their own. The three of them had met up at Amara's house and walked down the road to the party.

"We're here and we're going in," Jules stated firmly. She tried to push Amara closer to the door but she struggled. Amara even made a sad attempt to run for it but Johnny grabbed her.

"Amara, what is the big deal?" he asked holding her upper arms so she couldn't run.

"I can't be around Kai for more than five minutes without him saying something to rile me up," Amara huffed. "And being in a dress just adds more fuel to the fire."

"What does being in a dress have to do with it?" Jules asked her eyebrows raised.

"I never wear them."

"Okay, Ams, listen to me," Johnny said regaining his friend's attention. "We will help keep Kai away from you and don't rise to the occasion. You know he just wants to get a rise out of you so don't let him." Amara frowned. "Can you do that Ams?"

"I'll try," she agreed still frowning. "But I can't promise that I won't lash back."

"Fair enough. Jules, ring the doorbell. It's freezing out here," Johnny said turning Amara around so she was facing the door again, a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Amara!" Holly greeted them with a shriek. She wrapped her small arms around Sam's waist knocking her backwards slightly into Johnny.

"Hey Holls," Amara smiled and patted the younger girl's blonde head. "How's it going?"

"Good," the little girl shrugged. "I got stuck with coat duty. Kai won the coin toss."

"I won fair and square, Squirt," Kai said coming up behind his sister. "Now do your job and get these people's coats."

Amara, Jules and Johnny all took off their coats and handed them to the small blonde.

"Thanks Holls," Amara giving Holly a pat on the back.

"Well, well, well, can't remember the time I saw you in a dress, Smurf," Kai said with a teasing smile. Amara rolled her eyes trying her best to let the comment slide.

"Smurf?" Jules asked, eyebrows raised. Her eyes moved back and forth from Amara to Kai waiting for an explanation.

"Childhood nickname," Amara finally mumbled.

"Amara was always rather small for her age," Nancy came in the room to greet them champagne glass in her hand. She put an arm around her daughter's shoulders. "Therefore she was called our little smurf."

"Thank you mother for that little bit of history," Amara said casting a glare Kai's direction.

"Anytime, sweetheart," Nancy placed a kiss on her daughter's head. "Come on in kids, there's plenty of food and stuff."

Jules and Johnny followed Nancy as she pulled them out of the large front entry way and into the living room, which was to their left. Amara followed behind slowly.

"Are you going to be mad at me for the rest of the night now?" Kai asked coming up to walk beside her.

"I'm strongly considering it," Amara said not looking at him. Instead she smiled at a few of the people she knew from other parties that she had attended at the Hiwatari's.

"You think you hate me but you really don't," Kai whispered in her ear when she stopped at the buffet table. His warm breath tickled her ear sending unwanted shivers down Amara's back "You're a bad liar, Smurf."

Amara turned to lash back but Kai was already disappearing into the kitchen. A low growl escaped Amara's lips. Kai Hiwatari was put on this earth to annoy the hell out of her, this she was sure of.

Still seething, Amara made a quick scan of the living room where most of the adult guests had gathered. She recognized most of the people from other parties she had attended at the Hiwatari's over the years. Amara's eyes caught on her mother. Nancy was talking with a man Amara wasn't familiar with. Her mother was laughing and kept putting her hand on the man's arm as she talked. All Amara's annoyance was now focused on the unknown man.

"Your glare doesn't quite go with that nice dress." Amara whipped her head around excepting to see Kai again, but instead it was her brother. Some of her anger died down.

"Who is that?" Amara asked trying to sound non-chalant but she knew her brother would see right through her calm act.

"I don't know," Brian replied, trying not to laugh at his sister's expression. "Maybe we should go find out." Before Amara could say anything to stop him, Brian pulled her with him over to their mom and the man.

"Oh, let me introduce you to my children," Nancy beamed. "This is Brian." Brian reached to shake the man's hand. "He's engaged to marry Leanne, Neil and Vicki's daughter." The man nodded his understanding. "And this is my daughter Amara."

"It's very nice to meet you both," he smiled.

Amara took a moment to look the man over. He was dressed in black pants and a dark red striped dress shirt. His hair was black with some distinguished gray around his temple. He reminded Amara of someone but she couldn't place her finger on who.

"I'm gonna go find Jules and Johnny," Amara said and quickly took off in the direction of the kitchen before her mom could stop her.

The Hiwatari's large kitchen was connected to their sunken family room. There seemed to be people everywhere. A few younger kids were running around sneaking snacks off the table then running out into the front entry. Amara scanned the room for her friends. She tried to make out the back of their head from the group sitting on the couches in the family room. Vicki noticed Amara as soon as she entered the room.

"Amara, honey, you look amazing," she gushed. "I love that color on you, brings out your eyes." Amara offered a weak smile of thanks. "The kids are in the family room. You should go join them." With that Vicki left and went back to playing hostess.

Amara crossed the kitchen and stepped down three steps into the family room. When Vicki said kids she meant teens. Kai and his friends to be exact. Sitting on the couches facing the Hiwatari's big screen TV were what Amara would have referred to as the popular kids at school.

Tala, Kai's best friend, sat on one of the couch ends, a black haired beauty whose name Amara didn't know, draped across him. Rei, another one of Kai's close friends, lay across the other couch his feet resting on the lap of a cute pink haired girl. A few other couples that Amara didn't recognize filled the other chairs and the floor. Kai sat on the floor leaning against one of the couches. Mya Greene behind him giving his a shoulder massage.

Amara rolled her eyes as she crossed the room to sit by Jules and Johnny. No one in the room talked. There was a bit of quiet mumbling between couples but everyone seemed pretty intent on watching the teen slasher movie that Amara didn't recognize.

"Come out, come out wherever you are," the killer on the movie called out into the eerie darkness.

Amara hid her face behind a pillow and hummed gently to herself. Suddenly the ring of a cell phone broke through Amara's humming. Amara peaked over her pillow to see one of Kai's guy friends flip open his cell. Amara hoped he was unable to see her staring at him in the dark. The guy leaned down and said something to Kai but Amara couldn't hear them.

"Alright guys the party is moving downstairs," the guy with the phone whooped. The movie was quickly shut off and they all headed towards the stairs leading to the basement.

Amara looked to Jules and Johnny, unsure what to do. They both shrugged and got to their feet.

"May as well see what they're doing," Jules said following the rest of the crowd, Johnny close behind her. Amara stayed on the floor mouth gaping at her friends.

"We're gonna go downstairs and listen to some music and stuff, mom," Amara heard Kai tell Vicki.

"Okay sweetie, we'll call you up when it's time for the countdown," Vicki answered.

"That's okay we'll catch it on the TV downstairs," Kai said.

"Okay, suit yourself," Vicki smiled then left the kitchen with another tray of food.

"Coming Smurf?" Kai asked, startling Amara who hadn't realized he had moved to the railing that overlooked the sunken family room. He was leaning against the railing and looking down at her.

"I guess," Amara frowned and stood to follow him.

"Let the real party begin!" Tala cheered throwing his hands up in the air. Amara couldn't miss the beer bottles in his hands. Everyone else joined in on the cheering, including Kai who was standing in the doorway to the basement family room in front of Amara. Tala began to pass beers out to the other guests.

"I don't believe this," Amara growled as quietly as she could to Jules and Johnny. "The parents are upstairs and they're getting drunk. How stupid can you get?"

"Calm down Ams," Johnny said putting a hand on her shoulder.

"They obviously know what they're doing," Jules added.

"You're condoning this?" Amara's jaw dropped in a very unladylike fashion.

Jules shrugged at her friend's accusation. "Come on Ams, it's not the end of the world. You don't have to have anything if you don't want to."

"I don't want to," Amara stated. "And I don't think you guys should either."

"Stop being such a mother, Smurf," Kai said coming up beside her and draping an arm across her shoulders. "Go ahead and help yourselves." Kai told Jules and Johnny.

"Get off of me," Amara growled, ducking out from under Kai's arm. "This is a pretty good idea you've come up with here but what's stopping me from going upstairs and ratting you out?" Amara crossed her arms against her chest waiting for his reply. A flicker of worry crossed Kai's features.

"You wouldn't do it," he shrugged confidently. He took a leisurely sip from the beer in his hand

"Oh wouldn't I?" Amara snapped making a move for the stairwell.

"Amara, wait," Kai rushed to get in front of her. "You can't…please."

"Why shouldn't I? I owe you nothing."

"I thought we were going to be friends," Kai pleaded with her. "You know how dead I'll be…"

"Cool your jets," Amara rolled her eyes. "I hate to see a big boy like you cry. I'm not going to tell."

"Thank you,"Kai moved forward and hugged a very surprised Amara. "You're a great friend, Ams."

"Don't think I won't tell next time," Amara added poking him in the chest with her finger. "This is a one time deal, Hiwatari." Kai nodded his understanding, a huge grin still across his face. "Now will you please move so I can go upstairs."

"Sure," Kai willingly moved to the one side so Amara could pass. "I owe you big time."

"You bet you do." Amara added without turning around. She headed back into the living room where all the adults were gathering.

"10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Amara called out the count down along with everyone else. She had spent the last hour chatting with Leanne and Brian's friends and a few of the other adults that she was introduced to by either her mom or Vicki. Jules and Johnny had not followed Amara upstairs and because of this she was a little worried and a little angry. For now that was all forgotten as they counted down and watched the ball drop in New York on the Hiwatari's big screen TV. Couples around Amara hugged and kissed to bring in the New Year.

Amara turned to leave the crowded room and found herself bumping into someone who she didn't know was standing behind her.

"Sorry," Amara mumbled an apology and looked up to face whoever she had run into. Before Amara could see who it was, they brought their lips down to Amara's.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

THANKS TO THE REVIEWERS!

Rampant Chaos: Thanks for the review…yeah this plot has a lot to do with real life. Kai is very thoughtful…maybe almost too much but he's got his own problems dun dun dun.

Moonlight Kitten: Thanks for the review. I will keep going…finish the story and all. Kai and Amara are sweet aren't they.

Blackdranzergurl: Thanks for the review.

xInfernal: Thanks for the review…yes they are friends…for now.

lexc-angel: Thanks for the review…glad you like the story.

Truble: Wow I'm glad you like my stuff so much…thanks. I love your stuff too I hope you find some more time to update.

Scarlet Witch 41: Thanks for the review…you're so faithful for reviewing all my fics which is nice. Thanks again.

konfizkate91: Yes, there will be kisses…I'm a bit of a romantic and like that kinda stuff so it will come lol and there was a bit of a kiss at the end of this chapter too. Wait and see. Thanks for the review.

Nami Kahaku Kai's GF: Thanks for the review. Yeah the Sam and Jake thing may come up cuz I'm working on another story and sometimes get my characters mixed up when I'm on a roll…excuse the typos lol.

Star: Thanks for the review

Shelly: Thanks for the review

YOU ALL ROCK PLEASE REVIEW AGAIN!