Chapter 10

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'Scandal at the Beyblade World Championships….'.

'Vigilant Thea goes crazy…..but was it all an act?'

'White Tigers Save fellow blader from insanity….'

'BEGA leader Boris and Co-leader Kuroyuri jailed for 5 years under cruelty act……'

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In the following week after the tournament was postponed there were tons and tons of news headline covering the story and video footage shown on BBA Live TV. Each time I watched the footage I got more and more upset. I had ruined the Manton name by a selfish act, destroying the reputation my father had spent so long building in on single minute. I was sat on the sofa for the 3rd day running when Hilary and Ray came through the door followed by Max.

"Thea you can't keep watching that," said Ray, I didn't reply but burry my head in my duvet more and more.

"Yes, I can," I replied

"You'll get fat," said Hilary "Ray, may not like that"

"No, Hilary," I heard Ray whisper angrily "Not the best thing,"

"I don't care right now," I said annoyed and peaking my face out a tiny hole so I could still see the TV screen.

"We're going to take you shopping!" yelled Max jumping over, I huffed as he sat on my stomach.

"Max you weigh a ton!" I cried as he sat on my stitches "You're on my stitches!" Max yelped as I flipped him over the edge of the sofa with a 'thump' and stood back up. Next I felt the sofa dip with the weight of another. They leaned down and pulled the duvet loosely over my head and whispered in my ears.

"Please go out," whispered Ray kissing my temple softly "You need it, it'll make you better," he begged, I huffed then stood wrapping my duvet around me and stormed over to the door.

"Fine," I said grumpily

"She's being hormonal," said Grampa G as he came in and I stormed past him to the room I was staying in. I walked to the room I was staying in and looked in the mirror. My hair was lanky and messed up, my make up smudged and my eyes were puffy from the last time I cried. I sighed and went to the bathroom and washed up then came outside. I changed into cargo shorts, blue California surf shirt and sandals and fixed my face and hair then left with my board strapped to my back. In case of emergency…..I thought as I patted Vertigo in my pocket. I walked sullenly down the hall and passed Kai who was leaning against the door with Tyson banging behind it.

"You need to stop this," said Kai as I reached the end of the hall. I stood looking down the rest of the new corridor in the silence.

"It took you 3 years to get over yours so why a hurry to get over mine," I replied

"I lost my friends then and sight of what was important," he said darkly

"Let me out Kai!" shouted Tyson banging, Kai kicked the door and he shut up, listening I presumed.

"I get over it when I do, for now don't worry about me, I'm fine," I finished turning the corner. I heard him mutter something before hand.

"You're a terrible liar," I ignored this and carried on to the living room where everyone was sitting waiting. I walked to the door and thumped my board down outside as I jumped on. Lucky Tyson finally got a bigger dish to practise in. I started circling it tempted to dish dive into it. Hilary and Ray and Max came out slowly and headed to the door.

"Coming Thea?" called Hilary waving, I nodded and headed over quietly. Ray waved everyone off as I followed Max and Hilary to the mall. The trip was un eventful most of the way then when we got there it was quiet. Nothing so far. No screaming Ray fan girls. No cameras. No insults. No accusations. I sighed and strapped my board to my back as we entered. I looked around nervously trying to check for any warning signs.

"Come on," said Hilary tugging my hand towards the clothes shops with Max.

"Shopping!" he cheered, she took me over to the women's section for new clothes while I stood looking pissed.

"Here, take this, and I think," she said loudly "This!" she said chucking things at me and Max "And this! And this! Oh you must have this!" she said finally stopping, I think I saw Max with a pair on underwear on his head before he whipped them off bright red. I laughed then took the trolley full through to the changing room silently. I stared at something in front of me. There were black skinny jeans. Fuck it….wedgie pants….. I sighed and shook my head, next was a white strappy top with strange tropical flower patterns across the front in black. I shuddered at this but put it on. I attached a big thick belt which was light brown. I looked in the mirror and did a lop sided smile then slid on the red converse.

"Are you ready?" yelled Hilary frustrated, I clicked back the door unceremoniously and stepped out. Hilary and Max were standing staring, I smiled weakly

"Happy?" I said

"Very," said Max, I sighed and Hilary laughed loudly,

"We'll buy it go back and get changed because we got you other stuff," said Hilary

"Fine," I huffed and went back in and got changed. Hen I got out I saw Max and Hilary fending off savage reporters by the cash register. I ducked behind a clothes hanger and spied.

"Is this a new thing? Does Tyson know?" shouted tons of reporters "Is Thea living with Tyson?" asked another, I started shaking angrily "Is she still having a mental break down?" I breathed deeply then unstrapped my board with a 'click' and boarded it. I pushed off skidding by Hilary and placing the clothes on the counter. I kicked a reporter away before turning.

"You want answers? Catch me first!" I cried pushing off and skating through the shop. The gaggle of reporters followed me leaving Hilary and Max alone again. I went out and the railing and looked over into the centre of the mall. There was an expedition on trampolines. I grinned and jumped over the railing towards the trampolines.

"Ahhhh!" I yelled laughing as people stared at me as I bounced from one to another and eventually as I lost altitude on my second trampoline I put the board under my feet and dived off the trampoline. The reporters were rushing down the escalators after me and I skated fast down the side of the mall missing potential victims to the reporters. I laughed as I went into a massive department store. I mingled with the hangers and as they started looking around I snuck out and to the food court and to Starbucks where the others were sitting. I waved and skated over wiping the sweat off my face.

"That trampoline stunt will be in the news tomorrow," said Max laughing

"You could have seriously gotten hurt," said Hilary, the counterpart of Max's cheer. I laughed and sat down next to the drink they had ordered.

"I know but it was fun," I said shrugging "Besides why did I have to buy hose clothes?" I asked, Max shrugged and Hilary smiled

"Secret," she said

"Aw come on," I whined angrily

"Nope,"

"But,"

"Sorry but no," she said flatly with the tone saying 'that's final' in it. I sighed and stood.

"Let's go," I said finally they nodded and we left quickly before the reporters saw us. I smiled again as we made our way home. As we passed the park there was a rustle in the bushes and out jumped someone.

"I challenge you!" cried the girl, I blinked then realised it was Maddy. My face went blank and stared at her.

"No," I said flatly

"Thea what's happening?" asked Max

"I challenge her!" said Maddy again, the younger girl standing in front of me, I blinked again and walked past her

"I said no," I said again

"Why not!" You betrayed me! You lied!" she shouted "I hate you! I hate you I hate you!" she shouted lunging forward to punch me, I was quicker though. I turned and received the punch in my stomach instead. I stood there as she punched my stomach over and over. It was burning and I could feel the stitches stretching over the strain. She stopped and started to sag as she started crying. I looked at the younger girl starting to feel guilty. She's not getting a sympathy match….I knelt in front of her and hugged her.

"Maddy I'm not giving you a sympathy match okay?" I said, she nodded "I'll wait till the day when you challenge me in the stadium, till then I'll train just as hard to get there as well," I said softly trying to calm her down. Slowly it worked and she stood nodding,

"Sorry for bugging you, I'll……..see you later," she said turning

"Maddy why don't you come round to the house," said Hilary with Max, she turned and stared

"Yeh I'll give you an express piggyback," I said smiling and pointing to my board. She nodded and came forward. I unstrapped my board and let her jump up and jumped on my board. I skated a little faster then the others and did a few tricks as we started making our way back to Tyson's Dojo.

When we arrived everyone was lounging on the deck outside connecting the two buildings. I skated inside and stopped in front of them.

"Huh? Thea?" said Tyson half asleep

"How long ago did you get up?" asked Hilary walking through

"Ah! Hilary!" he shouted falling forwards off the decking then growling, Ray just lay asleep, curled in a ball not making the 'purring' noise. I let Maddy down and got off the skateboard

"Sit and watch," I said quietly, I walked over to Ray and rubbed the top of his head and kissed his cheek, he started making the 'purr' noise and Maddy started going hysterical. It woke Ray up easily again as he grabbed forward to get the person waking him up but only grabbing me to him.

"Uhum……Ray there are children on the premises," I stated, he turned his head to look at Maddy then moved me in his lap to be facing the front and my back to him. Maddy smiled and Tyson greeted her as he woke up.

"Hey Maddy," he said before hugging Hilary. I smiled at them and Kai sat down as well next to me and Ray.

"I'm trying your advice happy," I whispered to him, he nodded and smirked.

"Guess what," said Max hyperactively

"What?" said Ray

"Thea's going to be in the news again tomorrow," he said

"No Max!" I cried trying to lunge forward

"What?" shouted Kai and Ray standing up

"What have you done this time?" asked Kai angrily

"She led them on a wild goose chase on her skate board," said Hilary coming forward

"Trying to save them," I accused pointing at the other two

"It was an awesome stunt!" cheered Max

"What stunt?" asked Tyson

"She jumped off the top railing to the trampolines," he cheered, I flinched then turned to Maddy

"Run while you can," I cried riding my skateboard off around the garden as Ray and Kai angrily chased me, Ray running around the outside and Kai taking short cuts through the dojo. I turned and stuck my tongue out at them.

"Mwahahahah I always win Ray!" I called waving madly

"Thea watch out!" shouted Daichi, I turned back and saw the pond, I crouched low as I hit a smooth rock and jumped up and just as I was over the pond there was a tree in front with Ray sitting ready to catch me. I hit him with a 'umf' and he hooked his legs as we fell backwards. He swung and was still connected as I rolled out and turned myself to my feet landing gracefully as I could with my stitched stomach.

"Ta-da!" I cheered posing happily then realised that Kai and Ray were still angry. I had to now face the music. Or the wrath of a sleeping Ray next to me. Dang that boy hugs hard…….