DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Beyblades…only my OCs.

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Chapter 10: Embrace It

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"Honey, Leanne is going to be here any minute," Nancy called up the stairs at her daughter's closed bedroom door. There was some rummaging and a thump before the door opened. Amara was dressed in her typical jeans and hoody. Her red hair was still damp and looking a little tangled. Nancy just stared at her daughter as she walked down the stairs.

"What? I couldn't find my brush, okay," Amara huffed dropping her wallet and keys on the stairs on her way to the kitchen. She quickly ran her fingers through her wet hair.

"You're going to be in a nice dress shop, you couldn't find anything nicer to wear?"

"Is there a different pair of jeans or hoody you'd rather me wear because that's basically all I got." Amara took a cup from the cupboard and filled it with water. She guzzled it down before she spoke again. "I don't really feel the need to wear a dress to a dress shop or anything."

"Whatever you say, sweetheart." Nancy shrugged taking a seat at the island and looking at her daughter. "It wouldn't hurt you to try a little."

"Try?" Amara quirked a brow at her mother. "What am I trying for exactly, mother dearest?"

"Maybe trying to attract a member of the opposite sex." Nancy's hands immediately went up in mock surrender. "Just a suggestion." Amara remained freakishly calm placing her cup in the sink. Taking this as a good sign, Nancy ventured on with the conversation. "I just thought you might be looking now that your best friend has a boyfriend…"

"I'm not going to go out and get one just because my friend has one, mom," Amara glowered. She grabbed an apple from the bowl on the counter and left the room.

"It was just a thought," Nancy called after her.

"A thought that you should have kept to yourself."

"Ams, you need to be a little more open minded about dating," Nancy continued to talk from the kitchen.

Amara rolled her eyes even though her mom couldn't see her. She sat down on the steps and slipped into her sneakers.

"There must be some guy at your school that you're even a little bit interested in. A cute boy isn't just going to fall into your lap Amara."

"That's really too bad, mother," Amara cut in desperately wanting the conversation to end. She looked through the glass oval in the door praying for Leanne to get there soon. "I might just miss him if I don't trip over him."

"Very funny."

"What can I say I'm a born comedian…oh there's Leanne. See you later mom." Amara was out the door before her mom had a chance to say anything. She was sure her mom yelled something about the how the conversation wasn't over but she couldn't say for sure.

"Morning, Ams," Leanne greeted with a perfect smile. "You look as comfy as always."

"Not you too," Amara groaned sliding into the passenger seat of Leanne's car.

"Your mom bugging you about your wardrobe again," Leanne chuckled.

"Yes and then going on about how I should try harder so I can attract someone of the opposite sex," Amara conveyed the conversation back to Leanne. "And there was something about how Jules has a boyfriend so I should want one too…yadda yadda yadda."

"Well, do you want one too?" Leanne asked glancing over at Amara then back to the road.

"No, I'm good," Amara, replied quickly. "Right now my main goal is to finish high school and pick a college."

"Your mom should be proud of those goals."

"I should say so. How many kids my age actually truly care about those things? I'm sure Kai could care less," Amara huffed.

"I think he shares the finishing part but going to college seems like the last thing on his mind," Leanne smiled. "He's a bit more social oriented."

"Yeah, just a little."

"I heard about your little partying experience." Leanne stopped at a red light and turned to face Amara. "Your knight in shining armor eh?"

"Leanne," Amara growled warningly. "Don't even go there."

"Hey, one can hope right?" She turned her attention back to the road as the light turned green.

"You people hope too much." Amara crossed her arms and stared out the window. "But yes he did help me out of my first and let me just add, last, partying experience."

"Done with that lifestyle already?" Leanne chuckled.

"Not really my thing. And to be honest I'm surprised it's Kai's thing," Amara said turning the conversation serious. "He seems so different."

"People change, Ams," Leanne replied. "And I think the drinking thing might be partially my fault."

"Really?"

"I said maybe, but yeah, when I was your guy's age I hung out with a bit of a party crowd and one weekend when my parents were gone I threw a party," Leanne confessed while keeping her eyes straight ahead this kept her from seeing Amara's stunned expression. "Kai and I were the only ones home and I figured I could just buy him off with something. He kept his mouth shut as promised, while also experiencing his first hangover." Leanne admitted the last part rather sheepishly.

"He got drunk?" Amara gasped.

"My stupid friends kept giving it to him wanting to see how much he could handle before getting totally wasted. Leaving me with a puking 15 year old for the next day." Leanne pulled into the parking lot of the dress shop and found a parking spot. She put the car in park and killed the engine. "I'm not proud of it, Ams. I was young and a little stupid. I'm not much of a drinker anymore. I hope my brother gets through this phase of his soon. It can really mess a person up."

"Yeah," Amara agreed. She slowly unbuckled her seatbelt and followed Leanne out of the car.

"I know how you feel about drinking, Amara," Leanne said stopping outside the car. "Which is why I was surprised to hear about the party. What happened?" Amara's attention immediately dropped to her feet.

"Jules and Johnny really wanted to go and being the supportive friend that I am I went along with them," Amara replayed the story quickly. She knew she was talking fast but Leanne was a fast talker who would be able to keep up. "I wasn't planning on drinking anything. I wanted out. I lost Jules and Johnny. I ended up being escorted around by one of Kai's friends and drinking some mystery punch that had alcohol in it which made me drunk and I'm sure Kai told you the rest."

"Honest mistake I guess." Leanne smiled at Amara. "I know you hate to hear this Ams, but I think Kai needs you right now." Amara's eyes flickered up searching Leanne's face for any hint of sarcasm. She came up empty. "You can help him with is problem. You're strong." Leanne embraced the younger girl. Amara willingly hugged her back. "Enough of this, let's get some shopping done."

0 0 0

"I know it's your wedding, Leelee," Amara said sternly from behind the dressing room curtain. She stepped out before continuing. "But I refuse to wear high heels."

Amara tripped forward wearing a pair of strappy silver heels with a pale pink strapless gown. Leanne just smiled. They had been trying on dresses for the last hour and a half and she could tell Amara was getting tired. It also wasn't helping that she didn't like any of the dresses either.

"Ams, you have to wear heels," Leanne protested. "If you don't Kai is going to look like even more of a giant."

"I don't care," Amara pouted back. "I embrace my vertically challenged ness."

"That's great but you need a little height so the pictures don't look funny."

"Put me with a different groomsmen then."

"You're the maid of honor and Kai is the best man, you have to go together."

"I'll stand on a stool."

"Not happening Ams," Leanne retorted with a cheeky grin.

"Fine," Amara sniffed. "But I'm not wearing pink. It clashes with my red hair." Amara did a dramatic twirl and stumbled back into the dressing room.

"I agree with you there. I'm thinking a dark blue. That will go great with your eyes." Leanne fingered through some of the dresses on the rack beside her. "How about this one?" Amara peaked her head around the curtain to look at the dress in Leanne's hand.

The dress was pale blue with a corset style top and a long puffy princess style skirt. Amara eyed it curiously. The color was definitely more her style.

"Lee, that looks like a prom dress," Amara said. "Last time I check, you were the bride."

"It is a prom dress, Ams," Leanne replied in a 'duh' tone. "You will need a prom dress."

"No, I won't," Amara, stated firmly, her head disappearing behind the curtain once more.

"You're seriously not going to your own prom?" Leanne gasped. "Are you drunk now, Ams?"

"Not funny." Amara snapped stepping back out in her normal street clothes. "I've never really wanted to go to it. It's just a chance for the popular girls to prance around in fancy dresses and pretend they're princesses for a night. Not really my thing."

"Amara, it's a once in a life time chance," the older girl continued to push the issue. "You will enjoy it if you're with the right people. Are Jules and Johnny going?"

"See that's part of the problem," Amara sighed. "They are going. Before it was fine because the three of us would go as a group like we always did but now they're a couple. I really don't feel like being the third wheel for a night."

"Simple solution," Leanne smiled putting her arm around Amara's shoulders. "Get a date."

"Humph," Amara snorted. "Are you serious?" Leanne nodded. "The likely hood of that happening is slim…very slim. And like I want to be tied down to someone the entire night."

"You're looking hard for excuses aren't you?"

"Not excuses, just reality," Amara replied with a pressed smile.

"What about Kai?" Amara snickered assuming that Leanne was joking. The look on her face was thoughtful. She wasn't kidding.

"What is this some kind of conspiracy?" Amara groaned throwing her hands up in the air. "For two years you people have left me alone and now it's non stop. Why? Why are you doing this to me?"

"I'm sorry Amara, I didn't know it would upset you so much," Leanne said with a sympathetic look. "Why don't we call it quits for today. Hungry?"

"Famished." Amara replied relieved that the topic was dropped. "Trying on dresses is rather taxing."

"So is trying to talk to you about Kai," Leanne mumbled as they walked out of the store. Amara, who was walking in front, spun around and glared at the older girl. "Sorry it slipped."

"I'll let that one slide."

"How nice of you." Leanne unlocked the car and they both slid in.

"I'm just that kind of person," Amara quipped.

0 0 0

"Amara, is that you?" Nancy called from the kitchen.

"Yes," Amara mumbled. She kicked off her shoes and dropped her backpack with a loud thud.

"Bad day?" Nancy asked while taking the clean dishes out of the dishwasher. Amara wandered into the kitchen.

"No, I'm just tired." She flopped down on one of the bar stools. "Working late and getting up early is not a good combination.

"I hear ya there." Nancy gave her daughter an understanding smile. Amara picked up and apple from the bowl on the table at bit into it. "Would you mind doing your mother a major favor despite being tired?"

"Depends," Amara replied skeptically. "What is it?"

"Would you baby-sit Holly tonight so the Hiwatari's and I can go out for dinner?"

"Why can't Kai baby-sit her?" Amara asked between bites of her apple.

"He has some previous engagement," Nancy explained. "And this is kind of last minute anyway."

"You guys can't go out another night, maybe one when Kai is home to take care of his own sister." Amara was too tired to deal with anyone even a sweet kid like Holly.

"It doesn't work for Mel any other night this week and since you don't have to go to work I thought it was perfect," Nancy replied speeding through the explanation. If she was hoping Amara wouldn't pick up on her mention of Mel she would be wrong.

"Mel?" Amara spat out the name clearly disgusted. "That guy that you were talking with at the Hiwatari's New Years party?" Nancy nodded almost sheepishly. "So this is a date then?"

"I guess you could call it that if you want."

"I can't believe you're going on a date with that guy," Amara glared at her mother. Amara got up from her seat to throw out her apple core. "I can't believe you're going on a date period. Do you have any respect for the dead?"

"Amara Edwina Jones." Nancy snapped letting Amara know that she had crossed a line. "I am always interested in your opinions you know that but this is not a topic up for discussion. I am no longer asking you, I am telling. You will baby-sit for the Hiwatari's tonight so the four of us can go out."

"Fine," Amara mumbled through pursed lips. She turned to leave the kitchen for the safety of her bedroom.

"Amara, I'm sorry," Nancy's words stopped Amara in her tracks. "I know this is a big change but your father has been gone for four years. I loved your father I just I don't want to be alone forever." Amara just stared at her mother, her face like stone. "Please understand that." Amara nodded. " We'll be leaving at six-thirty then." Again Amara nodded knowing that if she spoke the tears that were welling in her eyes would fall.

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"Night Holls," Amara said before closing the door to the younger girl's bedroom.

The night had gone well, which wasn't hard to believe since Holly was a good kid but Amara couldn't stop thinking about her mom and Mel Cummings. It killed her to think of anyone replacing her father but another part of her knew her mom deserved nothing but happiness. Amara sat down in front of the Hiwatari's big screen TV hoping to forget about it all by watching some mindless program.

Amara flicked through the channels stopping on an old western. It was right in the middle of a big shoot out, which Amara quickly lost interest in after about five minutes. Again she idly flipped through the channels.

"Oh, go back, go back." Amara whipped her head around to see Kai standing in the doorway behind her. "Back to the Future that's a classic." He came and sat down on the couch right beside Amara. The couch was a half circle with plenty of room for about six or more people. "How could you go past that? Looks like it's just starting too." Amara just stared at him.

"What are you doing here?" she finally managed to spit out.

"Well, Squirt this is my house," Kai said slowly as if he were talking to a very young child. "I live here."

"Oh shut it. I know that. I mean what are you doing home right now?" Amara shifted so she could see him and so she wasn't sitting as close. "You were supposed to be gone all night that's why I'm here."

"Had some change of plans," he replied coolly turning his attention back to the movie. "And besides this gives us some time to hang out together."

"That's what you think," Amara said getting up to leave. "I'm going home."

"Wait on sec." Kai caught her wrist. "You mean to say you'd rather go to your empty house and be all alone then stay here and watch a movie with me?"

"Looks that way."

"Aw, come on Ams, stay." Kai said almost pleading with her. Amara gave him a quizzical look. "You get more money if you stay longer."

"Now that's a good reason for me to stay." Amara returned to her seat on the couch but this time she sat on the other end far away from Kai.

The two teens watched the movie in silence. The silence wasn't helping Amara though. Her thoughts were back to her mother and her date.

"See something you like." Kai's voice broke through Amara's jumbled thoughts.

"What?" Amara didn't realize that she had been staring at Kai while she had been thinking. "No!"

"Thinking about kissing me again eh?" he smirked looking rather proud of himself.

"Ick! No!" Amara shot back. "And might I remind you that you kissed me not the other way around."

"You liked it." Amara chose not to retaliate instead she turned her attention back to the movie. Kai didn't say anything else so she assumed he was also watching the movie.

It didn't take long for Amara's thoughts to drift to her mom.

"You are thinking hard about something," Kai said sounding serious.

"It's nothing," Amara replied quickly.

"Don't like you're mom dating do you?" Kai asked his eyes intent on her. Amara looked away not liking the look in his eyes.

"Whatever."

"I wouldn't like it if I were you but Mr. Cummings is a really cool guy. I think you'll like him if you give him a chance."

"I don't want to give him a chance," Amara snapped. Amara could feel the tears returning to her eyes but she wouldn't let them fall. She would not cry in front of Kai. "I don't want to talk about it." She managed a weak glare. "Especially not with you."

"You have to tell someone about it, Ams," Kai retorted an edge in his voice. Obviously something she said bugged him. "If you keep it all in you're going to self destruct."

"I can handle myself," Amara replied her temper decreasing. "I've been through worse."

"I know you have, which is why I don't think you should be trying to deal with this on your own." Finding it hard to look Kai in the eye as he spoke, Amara kept her eyes on her hands. He was being way too nice. "We agreed back at Christmas that we would be friends and so far it seems to be a little one sided." Amara felt his eyes on her but she refused to look at him. "Could use a little help keeping this friendship alive, Ams."

"I know…it's just…well you know…I…" Amara's voice trailed off as she lifted her eyes to look at Kai. He was nodding with his mouth open and quietly stuttering. He was clearly mocking her. "Shut it!" Amara snapped. She picked up one of the throw pillows sitting beside her and whacked him hard in the head with it.

"Hey!" Kai managed to exclaim before Amara hit him again. He reached out and grabbed her arms, forcing her to release her grip on the pillow.

"Hey fight fair!" Amara said struggling for freedom from his grip.

"Fight fair? You want me to fight fair? What about yourself?" Kai asked clearly enjoying the power he currently had over her.

"Female's never fight fair," Amara replied with a cheeky smile. "Now let me go."

Amara started to struggle once again. Kai just stared at her. Clearly he was enjoying her feeble attempts for freedom. Amara stopped to glare at him and heard the distinct sound of a garage door opener.

"Let me go!" Amara hissed anxiously. "Our parents are home." Kai gave her a look of "so what". "Let's not give them the wrong idea."

At this time Amara was practically sitting on Kai's lap. Her wrists held strong in his hands. He smirked at her.

"Kai!" Amara pleaded. "Please."

"Kai, honey, you're home early," Vicki commented as the three adults entered the family room.

Kai had let Amara go and was now reclining comfortably on the couch beside a still disgruntled Amara. "Yeah, well, my plans for the night kinda fell through you know," he replied his eyes glued to the movie on the TV.

"Well, that was nice that you were able to keep Amara company." Vicky and Nancy shared a smile.

"What are you two watching?" Neil asked taking a seat on the couch beside his son.

"Back to the Future." Amara kept her eyes on the screen trying to ignore her mom and Vicki's beaming faces.

"Looks like it just started," Nancy said. Kai nodded. "Amara, why don't you stay and finish the movie. You don't have to be up early tomorrow." Amara opened her mouth to protest but Vicki cut her off.

"Kai can walk you up to your house when it's over." Then both women left before Amara could say anything more. Amara let out an agitated sigh before squishing down in the couch to finish watching the movie.

"You know there's only one real way to get them off your backs," Neil, who hadn't left the room, said gaining both teens' attention. Amara bit her lip nervously. She wasn't sure if Neil was serious or not. He stood up to leave the room. His warm blue eyes moving slowly from Amara to Kai and then back to Amara. "Go out with each other." And with that Neil exited the family room in the direction the women had just gone.

Amara knew her eyes bugged out when she heard this so she tried her best to school her features before turning to look at Kai. To her surprise he was back watching the movie as if nothing had been said.

"You're not shocked by this at all?" Amara quizzed Kai who just shrugged.

"Come on Squirt, you know why they do it." Kai paused and when Amara didn't answer he continued. "They've been teasing us for years and they're going to keep doing it as long as you give them a reaction." Amara frowned. "It's their dream for us to get married to each other. Not that you didn't already know that." Kai turned away from Amara again.

"Well…" Amara stuttered trying to make sense of all the jumbled thoughts in her head. "Well…it's stupid for them to think that will ever happen." Kai didn't look at her he just continued to watch the TV. Feeling rather defeated and not really in the mood to argue with him, Amara followed suit.

They sat in silence for the next twenty minutes of the movie. Amara was quite into it since it had been years since she last watched it. Kai had moved his position about five times. Amara tried her best to ignore his fidgeting and focus but it was getting harder and harder. Finally she turned to tell him to stop but was a little taken aback when she found him staring at her.

"Go to prom with me."

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Sorry for taking so long to update, I have been really busy these days few weeks. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. It's a bit of a cliffy…sorry. Thanks for reviewing and reading my stuff. Miss Wright

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