Chapter 7

My life was hard. No matter how you looked at it. It was hard. For the last week I was training. With the Axel git. I was beat if I lost which due to my lack of practise which I received a lot. More then a lot every time, sometimes even as I trained. Tonight I go to that shitty party to sing for them. I already have the list of songs they want played. I might kill myself singing them, they were a quite dodgy. I had questioned him about why Ming wasn't doing but I only received a slap. I was dressed quite nicely trying my best with make up to cover up the bruises. Seeing as there were no other women in BEGA at the moment I had to do everything myself. I had curled my hair in loose curls. Because the dinner wasn't a very fancy but casual party I decided simply what to wear. I wore a grey thigh length dress or if you want length shirt but it was more a dress over plain black jeans. My shoes were high heeled black ones and I had a large red beaded necklace on. I also had a loose thick black belt hugging my hips over the dress. In total I felt like a prick but knew it was supposed to be nice looking. To me it was idiotic.

"Are you ready?" asked a Hench man of Kuroyuri's

"Yeh, I'm ready, I hate this," I muttered to the man

"You go on in 5 minutes," he replied, I nodded my head and walked out of the room. I was followed as I walked down the hall of 'doom' which I called it out of the room I was locked in. My heels clicking along the way and the soft padding of their shoes. I arrived in the foyer of the building and saw many people arriving. I saw the White Tigers walking in and Mariah smiling and waving.

"Hey Thea!" shouted Kevin just as I was going to return one of the henchmen grabbed me and dragged me through the foyer to the other side away from them, my heels clicking furiously across the marble floors. They followed and once I passed the barrier of guards they were stopped.

"Sorry but we cannot allow you to pass," said a guard

"But you were dragging her off? What's going on?" hissed Lee, I smiled sadly at them then walked away. Boris grabbed my arm and prepared me to go on stage.

"Do as I say and maybe I won't beat you tonight," he cackled evilly, I stiffened and nodded, he walked on stage to talk to the audience.

"Welcome everyone to the World Championship's Opening Dinner and Party, I would like to introduce your entertainer for tonight, Vertigo," He called and Axel shoved me, I walked forward smiling and waved at the crowd. I got a cheer and some people from other teams pointing. Probably remember my face since last year. I nodded then waved to them.

"I'm going to start with a favourite of someone's," I said fake cheerily. Inside I wanted to scream, I wanted to escape. They cheered again and I stepped back and turned on the mic attached to my ear and its mouthpiece.

I could feel it from the start,
Couldn't stand to be apart.
Something 'bout you caught my eye,
Something moved me deep inside!
Don't know what you did boy but
You had it and i've been hooked ever since.
told my mother, my brother, my sister and my friends
told the others, my lovers, both past and present tense.
That everytime i see you everything starts making sense.

Just do your thing honey!

Ain't no other man, can stand up next to you
Ain't no other man on the planet does what you do
(what you do).
You're the kinda guy, a girl finds in a blue moon.
You got soul, you got class.
You got style, with your badass - oh yeah!
Ain't no other man its true
Ain't no other man but you.

I looked into the audience from my position on the stage and saw the Bladebreakers looking nervous in the corner. I blinked and looked away.

And now i telling you say ain't no other man but you

Never thought I'd be alright. No, no, no! Till you came and changed my life. Yeah, yeah, yeah! What was cloudy now is clear! Yeah, yeah! You're the light that I needed. You got what I want boy, and I want it! So keep on givin' it up!

Tell your mother, your brother, your sister, and your friends. Tell the others, your lovers, better not be present tense. Cause I want everyone to know that you are mine and no one else's!

Ray was looking so bad. I wanted to cry. I must have looked idiotic as the teens in front of me danced to the song I was singing trying to be happy. The White Tigers looked confused same with Mr. D, Grampa G and Barthez Battalion. The Blitzkreig boys looked like they couldn't care less. I smiled and carried on.

Ooooh,oh oh!

Ain't no other man, can stand up next to you
Ain't no other man on the planet does what you do
(do).
You're the kinda guy, a girl finds in a blue moon.
You got soul, you got class.
You got style, with your badass - yeah yeah yeah!
Ain't no other man it's true
Ain't no other man but you.

Break it down now!

Ain't no other, ain't, ain't no other! (other)
Ain't no other, ain't, ain't no other LOVER!
Ain't no other, I, I, I need no other!
Ain't no other man but you!

Shit. Ray and the Bladebreakers had cornered Mr. D and were trying to convince him to do something. I tried ignoring them but my sad face was coming through.

Ohhhh!
you are there when I'm a mess
talked me down from every ledge
give me strength boy you're the best
you're the only one who's ever passed every test

Ain't no other man, can stand up next to you (next to you)
Ain't no other man on the planet does what you do.
You're the kinda guy, a girl finds in a blue moon.
You got soul, you got class.
You got style, with your badass - oh yeah!
Ain't no other man it's true
Ain't no other man but you.

And now I telling you - ain't no other man but you

Ain't no other man, can stand up next to you
Ain't no other man on the planet does what you do
(what you do).
You're the kinda guy, a girl finds in a blue moon.
You got soul, you got class.
You got style, with your badass - oh yeah!
Ain't no other man it's true - ooohh -
Ain't no other man but you.

When the song finished I got a massive wave of cheering coming at me. I bowed and nodded my head. I carried on singing that evening. I went off for a few breaks but managed to slip out into the crowd. I was tapped on the shoulder and turned to see it was Ray. Immediately he grabbed me around the waist and kissed me forcefully. I stood still then kissed back wrapping my arms around his neck. He held me tightly and I remembered this from so many times we had been together. This is why I loved him so much. I pulled away and looked at him in the eyes.

"I have to go, I'm not supposed to be here," I whispered gently to him.

"You aren't even on their team, you're being forced against your will, it's unfair on all of us but them," he whimpered

"I know Ray but I'd do anything to keep all of you safe, they………..killed Jackson, Ray, I couldn't live with myself if that happened to all of you," I cried silently, he pulled me into a tight hug "Please don't tell the others, I beg you, I'll get out and come back, it'll be the end of him."

"Just promise that you will stay alive and healthy," said Ray

"I promise, I love you, I'll see you at the Championships," I said

"I love you too," he replied as I slid away and backstage again. As I appeared backstage Axel was fuming.

"You saw them," he hissed

"What's it to you shit face," I hissed in reply

"All of it," he answered just as darkly, I snorted and turned

"I have to go on stage now; you don't want to hurt me do you?" I said in a sickly sweet voice then laughed as he looked like he was blowing steam out his ears. I stalked onto the stage to carry on the façade I was trying to pull off. As the evening came to an end I walked off the front of the stage and to the foyer where Garland caught me.

"Where the hell are you going?" he asked

"To say good bye to the guests like a good host," I hissed to him he grunted and dragged me forward, apparently staying with me. We waved at the donators and some strangers congratulated and complimented me. I smiled and waved as well then I was approached by the Blitzkrieg boys while Garland had his back turned.

"What are you doing here?" asked Tala coldly

"I wanted to be here," I replied smiling fakely

"We can see through it Thea, this isn't you," said Bryan

"I know guys but I have to stay, I'll be fine," I replied looking down sadly

"Great performance anyway, best wishes," said Ian smirking a bit. It didn't look like much but I knew inside a smirk is as big as a smile. They wandered off and the White Tigers came up.

"What has gotten into you Thea," ranted Mariah angrily, I chuckled lightly as I saw Garland turn back.

"Just go guys, I'll see you at the championships," I said coldly to them.

"Why are you here?" shouted Lee

"Because I want to-to-to be," I said my voice quivering a lot betraying my real feelings on this. A flash of realisation hit Mariah and she dragged the White Tigers away with her and nodding to me.

"What did you tell them?" hissed Garland gripping my arm tightly

"Nothing Garland," I replied smiling then taking his hand tightly and smiling again and hugging as two older donators to Mr D's beyblade fund came past.

"Ah young love," said one, I shuddered as Garland stiffly hugged me back. As soon as they left I jumped back as if being shocked and dusted myself off.

"I hate you so much, you know that don't you Garland?" I said darkly to him. The Bladebreakers soon came up as well, glaring at Garland and Ray looking worse for wear. I waved and smiled to them reassuringly "I only hugged you for Mr D's sake not my own," I hissed

"Great performance Thea," said Kenny sadly

"Its great to see you all came, I'll see you at the championships," I smiled at them. They nodded and I tried smiling to Ray but he was completely out of it. I turned after they left and walked away back to my prison. I heard padding behind me and I turned and saw Brooklyn and Garland glaring at me. They seemed to enjoy stalking me, but I suppose if it's to your taste then yeh. I stalked into my room and slammed the door in their faces and jumped onto my bed. I'm so sorry Ray…….I don't want to be here but it's for your own good……..