DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Beyblade. Only the plot and the OCs are mine.

ENJOY!

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Chapter 14: Family Dinner

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"Morning, morning, Red," Jules greeted her best friend.
"Aren't we chipper this morning," Amara mumbled from behind her open locker door. She was rummaging through her crowded locker for her Biology textbook. She was not going to forget it and be forced share with Mya Greene again. That was enough to make her promise herself never to forget it for the rest of the year.
"I have no reason not to be," she smiled at her melancholy friend. "What's your reason?"
"It's Thursday," Amara said as she closed her locker. She had given up on looking for her book. She wasn't really in the mood to keep hunting. Hopefully there would be someone else to share with this week. "Thursday is never as good as a Friday."
"Right, so it has nothing to do with the fact that tomorrow is Friday and you always have to spend Friday nights with Kai and the fact that you're beginning to really like it.
"Close," was Amara's only comment. Jules looked slightly disappointed.
"What is it then?"
"I would so much rather be hanging out with just Kai tomorrow night as usual but my dear sweet mother has decided to change that," Amara explained, looking none too happy about it. "I'm now having dinner with Kai, the Hiwataris, my mom, and her…boyfriend. Awkward!"
"Hmm, a slightly awkward experience I must say," Jules agreed.
"A little more than slightly. This will be the first time I'll really be around Mel. My mom has basically kept us apart since she introduced me to him at the New Years party."
"I'm sure for good reason," Jules said.
"Yeah, I guess I can't blame my mom for that," Amara nodded. "I wasn't exactly friendly when I met him."
"You're mom is a smart lady."
"She knows me too well."

"So you admit you like hanging out with Kai?" Jules asked. She tried her best to conceal a knowing smile. Amara had walked right into that one.

"Yeah, I guess we have fun together," Amara conceded, staring thoughtfully down the hallway. "But…"

"Ooo, this sounds like an interesting conversation," Johnny beamed as he came up behind them. His arm snaked around his girlfriend's shoulders as they continued to walk. They were making their usual loop of the quad. "I'll rightfully assume we're talking about Kai since her sentence ended in a butt." Amara glared up at the tall redhead. "So you like Kai's butt. Your taste isn't great but you could do worse."

"Not that butt," Amara shrieked letting her fist connect with Johnny's upper arm.

"My bad." He chuckled rubbing his arm. "But…you should have finished that sentence then."

"Oh, the dreaded but." Jules smiled up at Johnny. "Here's where she starts giving all her excuses as to why she has no future with Kai."

"Although deep down she's hoping for the exact opposite," Johnny added.

"You two are pretty darn sure of yourselves," Amara huffed.

"After being friends with you for so long it has become a rather normal process," Jules said.

"Geez, am I that easy to read?" Amara asked looking a little more worried than annoyed.

"Most of the time yes," Johnny said with woeful sarcasm. "This worries you, does it?"

"A little," Amara admitted. "But I am not making excuses. You both know perfectly well that it could never work out with Kai and me. We would probably end up killing each other if left alone for too long."

"You two haven't killed each other yet and you've been hanging out every weekend for the last month," Jules said putting the first wrench in Amara's mental sabotage with a gloating smile.

"That doesn't mean that we don't fight," Amara continued ignoring Jules's comment. "He's constantly annoying me about something and it usually ends in me hitting him. We don't seem to bring out the best in each other."

"Flirty fighting doesn't count as a reason," Johnny said. "Do you actually have any real reasons? Since the bell is going to ring soon and then we'll just say that we won this battle and you have no reason not to like Kai."

"It's not a matter of not liking him," Jules was quick to add before Amara could say anything. "We know she likes him." She gave Amara a knowing smile. "This is a matter of being in love with the guy."

"Your words not mine," was Amara's quick disclaimer before she said anymore. "There's also the issue of his drinking. I may be the reason he's stopped for now but he could easily fall back into that habit and…"

"Enough of that one," Johnny said with a yawn. "You've worn it out."

"Well there's also the fact that I'm going away in September," Amara sighed. It was almost impossible for her to win this battle. Her friends were far too determined and she was far too tired.

"Finally a somewhat valid point," Johnny said almost applauding her. "And I say somewhat valid because it's still just another lame excuse."

Amara made a move to swat Johnny but he saw it coming and ducked behind Jules.

"I think I'm gonna give this one to you Ams," Jules said stopping Amara short. She stared slightly dumbstruck at her best friend.

"Really?" Amara and Jonny asked in unison.

"Not getting involved with him before you leave is a wise decision. It will just make it more difficult when you have to leave." Amara was stunned silent. "And long distance might just make things harder on your relationship. If it's meant to happen then it can happen when you come back."

"Or they can enjoy each other's company now and still get back together when she comes home," Johnny butted in breaking the serious tone Jules had set. "Decisions, decisions."

"Thanks guys you've been a real help once again." Amara rolled her eyes.

"Of course we have been," Johnny said in all seriousness. "If it wasn't for us you wouldn't have realized your true feelings for Kai."

"My true feelings eh?" Amara couldn't help but smile. Her friends were so good at talking her into things but they had not talked her into anything that had to do with Kai. "And what exactly are they, Jon?"

"Love of course," he smiled broadly at her.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRING!

"Saved by the bell," Amara breathed happily and turned to leave her friends. Johnny and Jules continued on the way that they had been going.

"You can't deny it!" Johnny turned and yelled after Amara

Amara just shook her head. Oh yes she could.

Thursday and Friday flew by in a flurry of work and school. To Amara's great horror the dinner with her mom and her new boyfriend was suddenly only two hours away. She found herself longing for her brother to be there. At least he would be on her side a little. Everyone else seemed to think Mel was Mr. Perfect.

Amara found some vindictive satisfaction in the fact that her mom seemed nervous about them meeting. Nancy had even picked out her daughter's outfit for the evening. Amara had come home from school to find her black Dickies and a new very girly blue top lying on her bed. The top was not something Amara would have picked out herself. The little capped sleeves puffed up a little on her shoulders and it went down in a bit of a V-neck. Amara knew better than to argue so she put it on.

After giving her long red hair a quick run through with her brush, Amara headed downstairs to find her mom. Nancy was sitting on one of the bar stools in the kitchen reading the newspaper with curlers in her red brown hair.

"I'm ready," AMara said announcing her entrance into the room.

"You look very nice," Nancy gushed appropriately. "Blue is the perfect color for you. Brings…"

"Out my eyes," Amara finished. Nancy smiled "You say that every time I wear the color, Mom."

"Well, it's the truth." Nancy closed the newspaper and moved to get up. "I still have to finish getting ready. Are you going to wait for me?"

"Actually I think I'll walk down now," Amara answered. "I have some Spanish homework to talk over with Kai before dinner."

"Okay, I'll see you there then." Amara nodded and followed her mother out of the kitchen.

Nancy turned to go up the stairs while Amara stopped at the front door to put on her shoes. Her feet slipped comfortably into her trusty skater shoes.

"Oh honey, you're not seriously going to wear those?" Nancy stopped at the top of the stairs and looked down at her daughter.

"Mom, you got me in the shirt lets not push the shoes," Amara said crossing her arms in displeasure.

"Alright," Nancy sighed in defeat. "But those are terrible looking."

"I really don't think he'll be judging me by my choice of footwear, Mom," Amara snipped as she opened the door to leave.

"Nobody is judging you Amara Edwina," Nancy was quick to reply. Amara knew her mom was serious when she used her full name. Her mother had a tendency to use pet names with people. "Mel has already met you. And he thinks you are a very sweet girl. This is just a way to get to know you a little better."

"Right." Was all Amara said before slipping out the door.

The walk down to the Hiwatari's house was short. Amara was too deep in thought to really notice her surroundings anyway. She had some stuff to get off her chest before dinner that was her whole reason for going early. If anything it would be Kai asking her for help in Spanish not her asking him.

Amara knocked on the Hiwatari's front door. Vicki answered it moments later.

"Amara, honey, come on in," she beamed at the younger girl. "You look lovely that color is perfect on you."

"Thanks," Amara replied for some reason she was feeling nervous now. "Is Kai around?"

"Of course, he's upstairs," Vicki said. "Go on up."

Amara nodded in thanks and made her way up the spiral staircase towards Kai's room. His door was closed but there was the pounding of music coming through. Without knocking Amara opened the door. She was hoping to find Kai dancing around in his boxer shorts but no such luck. He was sitting in front of his computer completely clothed. His head bobbed slightly with the music. Amara just stood there watching him.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Kai spoke suddenly his eyes never leaving the computer screen. "I don't usually dance around in my underwear with the door unlocked."

"That's something I don't need to see thanks," Amara replied taking a step towards him.

"Right," he drawled turning to look at her. "Your disappointment followed you in the door."

"You are so full of yourself," Amara rolled her eyes. She sat down on the edge of his bed closest to him. His instant messenger was open on the screen.

"You still love me," he said matter of factly.

"Yeah, but there's a lot of things I have to over look," Amara shot back with a cheeky grin.

Kai smiled then turned his attention back to the screen as one of his conversations lit up. Amara couldn't help but glance at who he was talking to.

"I thought you said there was nothing going on between you and Mya Greene," Amara said hoping she didn't sound as bitter as she felt.

The sudden anger she felt towards Mya surprised her. Why should she care if he talked to her? It was his life after all. If he wanted to waste his time talking to fake slutty girls like Mya then so be it.

"There's isn't anything going on between us. We're friends," he stated firmly. Kai looked up at her, a curious look in his eyes. "Are you jealous Squirt?" A smirk began to form on his lips.

"No, I just don't like that girl at all," Amara was quick to answer. "She irks me so much. How can you stand her?"

"She's not so bad once you get to know her," Kai said in her defense.

"No thanks, I'd rather be buried alive then have to be in the same room as that girl."

"So, what can I do for you Ams?" Kai asked. He typed his good bye to Mya and closed down his instant messenger. He turned so his full attention was on Amara.

"What makes you think I need something?"

"Do I really need to state all the reasons?" Amara frowned. He knew her way too well.

"I just wanted to be here early," she said. Kai gave her a look of disbelief. "We don't spend nearly enough time together you know."

"You know I'm not going to believe that one," Kai said.

"Fine," Amara sighed. "I figured waiting here with you was better then driving myself crazy at home."

"I'm listening," Kai said patiently. "Everyone will be here in half an hour, start talking it all out."

"I don't want to do this," Amara said plainly. She had gotten much more comfortable talking Kai over the last month. It was like nothing had changed between them. "I don't want to have dinner with my mom and her boyfriend. Having your family there just makes their relationship even more official." Amara paused to let out a sigh. "I want mom to be happy but I can't do it." She looked Kai straight in the eye. "I just can't."

"Ams, that's the same thing you said about us being friends again," Kai said flat out but not in a way that Amara would feel like he was rubbing it in her face. "And we're probably better friends then we ever were."

"Yes, but that's different," Amara added. " You came back into my life. You more or less replaced yourself. This guy will be taking the place of my father. Big difference."

"Mel wouldn't be that type of guy," Kai said in his defense. "He wouldn't try to be your dad. He has his own kids to play dad to."

"What?" Amara gasped.

"You didn't know that?" Kai asked looking slightly guilty. Amara shook her head numbly. "I just assumed that you knew."

"My mom neglected to mention that," Amara managed to choke out.

"Well, at least I told you now since he's coming to dinner tonight too." Kai said still looking guilty about telling her.

"Yeah, it's nice to be a little forewarned." Amara assured him. "I can't believe she hasn't told me."

"Don't worry about it," Kai said joining her on the bed. "Your mom is probably more concerned that you like Mel."

"Isn't it important that I like his son too?" Amara questioned him. "What if Mel and her get married that would make me and this son of his stepsiblings."

"I guess that does make it important," Kai agreed. "I'm sure you two will get along."

"What makes you say that?" Amara eyed him curiously. "Do you know him?"

"Yup, in fact we're friends," Kai confessed.

"And you couldn't tell me sooner," Amara whacked Kai in the arm. Something he was becoming use to again.

"Well, it never really came up," he said in his own defense. "You usually avoid talking about your mom and Mel. I figured it would just make you mad if I brought it up."

"I really hate how right you are," Amara said with a halfhearted chuckle. "I'm beginning to think you know me better than I know myself."

"That's because I do," Kai replied.

There was as very serious look in those silver eyes of his. Amara was expecting him to laugh but he just stared at her intently. It was beginning to make Amara uncomfortable. Lucky for Amara a knock on the door broke their eye contact.

Kai jumped up to answer to door. "Hey, you guys made it." He greeted whoever it was at the door. Amara couldn't see past his tall frame. "Come on in." He moved to let the people pass.

Kai's friend Rei, who Amara always thought looked like a stoner kid, and the girl Jules tutored, Mariah were standing just outside the door.

"I'm not sure you guys have met," Kai said getting ready to do the introductions. "This is Amara Jones."

"Hey, you're Nancy's daughter aren't you?" Rei said with a smile. He looked good when he smiled. It lit up his dark features.

Rei was shorter than Kai, but then again who wasn't. Amara guessed he was about 5'11. His black hair was long. It was held back in a pony tail that reached down his back. He also possessed the most amazing amber eyes Amara had ever noticed on a guy before. Amara was definitely going to have to rethink her first impression of him.

"Yes," Amara replied tentatively not sure why her mother was being brought into the conversation.

" I'm Rei. I'm Mel's son," Rei said picking up on her confusion. He extended a hand for her to shake. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"Yeah, you too," Amara answered.

"I'm Mariah," the pretty pink haired girl who was standing beside Rei introduced herself. "I'm his girlfriend." Her statement about being Rei's girlfriend wasn't said in a way that would make Amara think Mariah was wary of her. It was basically a true statement that would have been said eventually. Mariah flashed a perfect smile and extended a hand for Amara to shake.

"Yeah, my friend tutored you right?"

"You know Jules," Mariah said still smiling. "She's great. She helped me pass my class."

"She's a brain that one," Amara smiled. She was finding Mariah's smile contagious.

"For sure," Mariah continued. "Sadly I fit that dumb blond profile pretty well."

"You do not," Rei was quick to say. His arm wrapped around his girlfriend's waist and he pulled her against him. "You're smart you just choose not to show it all the time."

"Aw, you're so sweet," Mariah said. "You're a really good liar, baby." She patted his chest and shot Amara a knowing smile.

Mariah was treating Amara as if they were good friends. This was a weird concept for Amara since she had only met Mariah once and they were probably both too inebriated to really remember each other.

"Kids, dinner," Vicki called from the bottom of the stairs.

"I love how they still call us kids," Rei chuckled. He walked down the stairs with his arm around Mariah's shoulders. "We're almost legal."

"The key word is almost," Kai replied sharing a laugh with his friend. Amara and Kai followed the couple into the living room where they adults were waiting.

Nancy was sitting on the loveseat next to Mel who was chatting with Neil who was sitting on the other couch. She looked radiant. Amara watched as her mother's whole face lit up as she listened to Mel telling an obviously funny story. She looked up mid laugh and caught her daughter's eye. Nancy smiled. Just like with Mariah, Amara found herself smiling back. What was with people's contagious smiles?

"Well, now that the teens have decided to join us we can sit down to dinner," Neil said noticing their entrance.

They all go up and walked towards the lavishly set dinning room table. Vicki had definitely out done herself. Everything was perfect down to the matching name cards sitting at each place setting. The seating was arranged in what Amara would consider a couples format with the men on one side facing their respectable female partner. Except for Neil and Vicki who sat at the head and foot of the table. Amara was of course across from Kai between her mom and Mariah.

"Well, this is nice," Vicki said breaking the silence as they all took their seats. "Dig in everyone."

On cue everyone reached for the food around them and ceremoniously passed it around the table. Sam let a lot of things pass her by. She wasn't really that hungry.

"So Vicki how are the wedding preparations going with Leanne?" Mel asked.

"Good so far," Vicki replied with a glowing smile. "We've only got three months to go."

"Of course the groom has been little help," Nancy chuckled. "Men don't usually want to deal with colors and flowers."

"I'm with Brian," Neil added. " It's a little boring."

"And it is the brides day after all," Mel said. "As long as Brian shows up he's done his part." The males around the table shared a laugh.

"Kai is in the wedding party right?" Mel asked. A few heads around the table bobbed. "Are you Amara?"

Amara was in mid chew when Mel asked. All she managed to do was nod.

"She's the maid of honor," Nancy said beaming. She seemed to be smiling a lot lately Amara noticed.

"Isn't Kai the best man?" Rei piped up. He had an almost gloating smile on his face.

"Yes, I am," Kai said, returning his friends smile with a curious look.

"Aww, that's so cute," Mariah said. " You guys will look so good."

Amara noticed the two mothers sharing a look. A look that Amara knew meant they were plotting her future with Kai. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. They just didn't seem to quit.

"You two are terrible," Neil said shaking his head at his wife and her best friend. "Leave them alone."

"Oh, Neil," Vicki chided. "It's all in good fun."

"We can dream can't we," Nancy added.

"Are we missing something here?" Mel asked looking to his host and hostess from some clarification. "I'm beginning to think you three are having a completely different conversation."

"It's just a little family dream," Nancy explained. Amara felt an embarrassing speech coming on. "We just like to tease Amara and Kai."

"We just hope that one day they'll walk down the aisle," Vicki added.

Amara now felt her face turning red. She kept her eyes on her plate. If she looked up she would have to look at Kai. He obviously had other ideas since he chose that moment to play footsies with her. Amara's head snapped up in surprise. Her eyes fell immediately on Kai.

"I think Amara would rather kill me than marry me," Kai said, his eyes not leaving Amara's as he spoke.

"No, I couldn't kill you," Amara replied. She couldn't help but smile. "Just maim you severely." Kai smiled back.

Amara and Kai were too focused on each other to notice the looks that they were getting from everyone else at the table.

"Well, that's a good sign," Neil said. Amara tore her eyes away from Kai to look at him. " Nice to know my goddaughter doesn't want to be a murderer."

"Glad I'm not raising an axe murderer," Nancy added.

"Maybe just an assault charge or two." Kai smirked. He received a kick in the shins from Amara under the table.

"One guess as to who will be the recipient," Mel said flashing a perfect smile at Amara. And to her surprise she found herself smiling back.

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There's chapter 14 for you all. Hope you enjoyed it. Sorry not much happened. I'm also sad to say that I make no promises for another chapter for a long time since I will be leaving the country for awhile and may not have time to write. I will be back though because I have all the intentions in the world to finish this story. I love writing it. Please Review. Thanks for reading.

Miss Wright