Chapter 4

Rei's Confession

Talk damn it! The girl yelled in her head at Kai, but the boy remained as silent as ever. Did someone rip out his voice box or something? So far she had spent the last fifteen minutes doodling. She had two sheets filled with stars and a third one with a bird on it, and in the corner was miniature milkshake. Oh what she would give for some food right now!

"I think my time is up," Kai said in a monotone voice.

The girl looked up at the clock and glared. Kai was right. Meaning she didn't get to get her revenge, AND she was hungry! Damn it Kai could be a real bastard, and without even trying too.

Concealing her anger behind a smile she stood up from her seat and held the door open for Kai. "Thank you Mr. Hiwatari. I hope to see you again." Not! What's the point of meeting Kai if he doesn't even talk to you!

As soon as Kai was out the door she slammed it. "Now, time to take care of my hunger problem."

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

"Rei you're next."

The mentioned teen looked up from staring worriedly at Max to see Kai giving him his usual glare. "So she's the real deal?" Rei asked.

Wordlessly Kai took a seat beside Tyson. "Hard to say. I couldn't prove she wasn't, but I still don't completely trust her."

Rei nodded his head in understanding. "I'll keep my eye on her and let you know if she does something suspicious."

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X

"Ah huh, yeah, sure," The teenage counselor said into her cell phone carelessly. "Whatever you say mom." Will she just shut up already! Damn it I'm hungry! I want to order pizza! Will she get her fat ass off the phone and let me get some food!

Staring longingly at the real counselor's desk the girl smirked at what she saw lying on it. A nice big wad of candy wrappers laid in a neat pile on the desk. She only hoped that trick she saw in a movie worked. Picking up one of the wrappers she held it up to the speaker and started to crinkle it. "Mom! Mom! Can't hear you! I think we're breaking up! Mom!" With one final shout she hit the end button on her cell phone.

Stupid bitch, calling me the second I turn on my phone.

"Um excuse but would you happen to be the counselor?"

The girl looked up from her cell phone and smiled at Rei, who had just entered the room. "Why yes that would be me. Sorry about having my cell phone out, but my baby brother is sick with the flu so I wanted to check on him," she lied through her teeth. I don't even have a brother.

Rei nodded his head in understanding, and took a seat on the couch. "So where do I start?"

"Anywhere," The girl said cheerfully. The sooner we talk the sooner I get my pizza.

Rei frowned. He really had no idea what to say. Maybe he could question her on Max? "Do you know why Max is acting strangely?"

The girl perked up at this question. "Now Mr. Kon you know I can't reveal anything that goes on between my patients and me. But I can assure you whatever Max is doing is for his own benefit."

Rei shook his head at this. "I don't think you understand. You see, when we first got here he was happy, and now he's avoiding me. I think I may have done something to offend him."

The counselor shook her head in shame at Rei. "I still can't tell you what we discussed, but I will tell you this, Max is studying his feelings right now. He might come off as distant for a while but he should be back to his old self soon. He's a wonderful boy who loves life, and I don't think he'd be able to stand being away from his friends too long."

This comforted Rei, but he was still worried about Max. What if Max didn't get better? What if he remained this way forever? What would he do? Rei couldn't even think about it.

"You seem awfully concerned about Mr. Tate. How deep is your relationship with him?" the girl asked curiously.

Rei paused to think about it for a bit. "I'd say we're best friends. We talk to each other about things and we have a lot of common interests, though I'll never understand his obsession with mustard."

Obsession with mustard? The girl tried her hardest not to scrunch up her face in distaste. Rei had to be joking. No one could have an obsession with mustard. Could they?

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

"Hey Max!" Tyson shouted at the blonde. "Why are you so sad looking?"

Max was snapped out of his daze when he felt Tyson leaning over him. The bluenette was still in his seat, but barely. Just a simple push and Tyson would fall into Max's lap. "I'm not sad Tyson, I'm just thinking."

"Just because your thinking doesn't mean your not depressed," Tyson countered.

Max smiled at this. Tyson was so caring of others, no wonder he had so many friends. "Trust me Tyson I'll be fine. I just need to sort some things out."

Tyson frowned at Max but didn't push it. He knew it was best to leave Max alone even if he desperately wanted to help. "Okay."

"Tyson will you sit down in your seat already," Kai shouted and tugged on the boy's shirt. What Kai had been planning to do was pull the bluenette back into his proper seat, but as fate would have it he pulled a little extra hard and Tyson fell into his lap.

The three teens sat in stunned silence at the new predicament. After about a minute of silence Tyson sat up in Kai's lap and wrapped his arms around the dual haired teen's neck. "You know what, your lap is actually quite comfy Kai. I think I'll sit in it more often."

"Hn." Normally Kai would tell Tyson to get off, but at the moment he was busy fighting off a blush.

X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.

"So Rei since were on the topic of Max, what do you think of him?"

The mention teen rubbed the back of his head as he thought about the many answers he could give. Like he had said, Max was his friend, but he had the feeling the counselor wanted something more out of him. "Max is kind, happy, energetic, and sincere. He's basically the boy next door."

I always did hate that phrase, the teenage counselor thought to herself. "Is there anything else? Is he like your brother? Would you trust him with Mariah? Do you feel protective of him at times? Do you two ever argue?"

Rei's face contorted to that of disdain. Those questions were a little personal. He knew he didn't have to answer them but then the counselor would probably question him on why, and he didn't really feel like answering that question either. "If you must know I see him as my closest friend, but I can't see him as a brother. As for trusting him with Mariah, I would but I don't see what that has to do with anything. And yes, I do feel protective of him at times. I know there isn't much of an age difference between us but he can be naïve at times and I don't want to see him getting hurt. Also we do argue but we always make up. There isn't a pair people who don't fight."

"The reason I asked about Mariah is because she is the your closest female friend, correct?" when Rei nodded his head the counselor went to explain. "Most boy's your age become protective over girls they are close to. They don't have to be dating each other or have any relationship between them other than friendship for this to occur. There is no logical explanation behind this that has yet been found, so for the time being people believe this trait comes from instincts."

Rei nodded his head. That did make some sense. He'd seen guys act like that before, and even some girls too. "So why did you ask if I was protective of Max?"

"As you have stated Max is a very important person in your life," said the girl. "So I was wondering how important is he. Would you protect him from danger or would you just leave him hanging, but now it's clear to me that your feelings for Max are deep and pure."

"Of course they are," Rei said in a proud voice. "Max is my best friend and I'm always going to be there to help him. He's one of the closet people to me and I love him. I love how he laughs, and how he smiles. I love that he cares about others. I love that he never seems to run out of energy and is always ready for more. I also love his childish behavior."

"Strange Mr. Kon," The teenage counselor said in a calm voice, but inside she was jumping for joy. "If I didn't know any better I would say you love Max, and not in just a friendly way either."