Chapter 11

Crash

It was freezing outside, and the sky was pitch black. Not a star could be seen in the sky, and it was a new moon. The only light available to those that walked the streets at night were the streetlamps. This night was a klutz's worst nightmare.

"Oh Fruit!" Tyra shouted, and stumbled. Her foot had caught on the cement, and now her big toe was bleeding. Why had she chosen tonight to wear sandals? She was a criminal! She should have known better than to not wear running shoes at all times.

It was only luck that had helped her escape the clutches of her best friend, or murder, based on however one chooses to look at it.

Tyra pulled back a loose piece of indigo hair with one hand while keeping the other pressed firmly against her diaphragm. It hurt to breath. It felt like her lungs had turned raw from running. How could her lungs feel as if they were on fire when it was so cold? Was this some sick twisted game to whatever deity who liked to torture souls?

The hand Tyra had used to push back a strand of hair dropped to her knee. "There has got to be an easier way to out run someone," she huffed. She tried to straighten, but her vision blurred, and she ceased her attempt.

"If you ever find out, please tell me," came an equally breathless voice.

Tyra's head snapped to attention. Across the street, leaning against a lamppost was Max. He didn't seem to be fairing any better than her. His body was red from the biting, cold, wind and running. Sweat poured from his forehead, and his chest heaved with effort. He looked like a wreck.

"You look like crap," Tyra commented, but made no move towards Max. She was too tired to move. She wanted something to lean against too. Why did Max get to have a lamppost to rest against while she got nothing?

"You look no better," Max commented. His breathing became deeper from the effort of speaking. He was going to collapse any second, but he refused to fall. "So who are you running from?"

Taking a deep breath, Tyra tried to straighten herself again. She managed a few inches before dizziness hit her. She forced a smile on her face as she answered. "Oh, you know, I was running from what everyone runs from; their murderous best friend. You?"

"Rei."

"Love," Tyra corrected. She had to keep up appearances, and pretend to be a counselor, even if she felt like she was dying from lack of oxygen. "You are running from love. You're scared of what will happen if you talk to him. I don't know if anything happened between you two, but remember, the worst he can do is say he doesn't want to be with you."

Max nodded his head. "I just don't know what to do."

Tyra rolled her eyes heavenward. "What don't you understand? If he loves you, you get your fairy tale ending, and if he doesn't, well life is going to suck for a while."

"I know! I know!" Max sighed, his breathing finally evening out. His eyes drooped with weariness. It was obvious to anyone that it was pure will that kept Max standing. "If he rejects me then I'll move on, but what if he says yes? I am not a romantic. How do you date someone?"

"It's almost the same as hanging out with friends, but better." Like Max, Tyra could feel her breathing becoming controlled, small, puffs. "If you are uncomfortable at first, try going out in groups. It doesn't have to be a double date, but have a friend or two with you, so the conversation won't lag. Once you feel comfortable alone with Rei, then go out alone."

"That's it?" Max asked disbelievingly.

"That's my advice, now take it or leave it, because I think I see him coming down the street."

Sure enough, Rei was turning the corner as Tyra spoke, and his eyes locked onto Max's slumped figure. A squeak came from the blonde, and Tyra heard Max scamper off. Rei was unfazed by the action, and began his chase again with a look of determination on his face. As he ran pass Tyra he waved briefly, but did not stop running.

When the two teens disappeared from view Tyra let out a laugh. Laughing hurt her lungs, but the situation was too hilarious for her. Max was so adorable with his worries, and the way he ran away from Rei like a scared little bunny. It made her want to hug him.

"TYRA!" Jess' voice screamed in the distance.

"Oh shit!" Tyra cried, and ran for her life. Her hand clutched her side as she cried in pain. "Oh Kami! This pain is worse than monthly cramps!"

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

"TYRA!"

Max flinched involuntarily. He pitied whoever that Tyra girl was. Whoever was after her sounded like they were going to murder her.

At that thought, Max remembered Ms. Han and what she had said about her murderous best friend. Apparently tonight was the prefect night for running away from people and for murder.

"Max!"

Upon hearing his name, Max sped up his pace. Pain shot up his legs like electricity, causing him to stumble, but he did not fall. He would not be caught, even if he died trying to, which was most likely going to happen if Rei didn't stop chasing him soon.

"Max!"

Instinctively, Max sped up his pace again, earning a horrified scream from Rei, that stopped Max right in his tracks. His halt had been so abrupt it left him dazed, but in his haze he noticed something. He had been so caught up in escaping Rei, he had kept his head down, and not been looking where he was going.

Trying to locate himself, Max looked up, and froze in place.

Two bright shining lights were coming towards him. He could hear the honking of a truck, but his body was rooted to the spot. His mind yelled at him to do something other than stand there, but the message never made it down to his feet.

Then, it was as if he were no longer in his body, but watching from the sidelines. He could see the giant truck coming towards him, as he stood motionless. His eyes had widened, and his pupils had shrunk from the blinding light. His hands dangled limply at his side, while his jaw was locked in place. He was the prefect target.

It could only happen in the movies, but somehow real life had become one of those romantic films where at the last minute the hero comes to save his love. In a shadowy blur, Rei launched himself onto Max, knocking the two of them onto the sidewalk.

They fell, and they hit the ground, Max no longer felt like a bystander. He was fully aware of the pain that started at the back of his head and went down his spine. He also felt something moist on the back of his head. He didn't have to look to know it was blood.

Rei had Max pinned to the ground. His arms held up his upper body, while effectively keeping Max's head in place. He looked furious with his golden eyes ablaze, and his fangs glinting in the light. "Max," he growled. "What were you thinking? You could have been killed. Why didn't you listen to me when I tried to warn you?"

"I was too busy running from love?" Max offered sheepishly, Ms. Han's words echoing in his head.

If he wasn't being effectively pinned at the moment, Max would have gasped and covered his mouth. Instead he had to settle for just gasping. How could he blurt out his feelings like that? Sure, he hadn't said "I love you", but it was as close as he could get without directly saying it.

"What does that mean?" Rei asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Max responded. Rei was too smart not to know what Max meant. He had to know Max's feelings were more than friendship now, right?

"No," Rei answered. "What you just said could be taken two ways. One way being, you think I love you and you are trying to avoid me because of it. The second one being, you love me, and you are running away from me because of it."

"Oh!" Max had never thought of it that way. No wonder Rei didn't know what to think.

"So?"

"So what?" Max asked, shifting uncomfortably from underneath Rei.

"Which is it?" Rei asked.

Max gulped. He knew this was coming, but he wasn't ready. There had to be something he could do to avoid answering the question. "Which do you want it to be?"

Rei looked taken aback. The fury and hint of impatience in Rei's eyes vanished to be replaced with deep thought. He studied Max, making the blonde twitch in discomfort. Then hesitantly he leaned forward and gave Max a chaste kiss.

Max stopped breathing for a moment. He must have died. The truck had hit him and he was now dead. This couldn't be real.

"I like you, Max." Rei said, getting off of Max, and helping the blonde sit up.

Max flushed. "I like you too."

Smiling, Rei took off his signature headband and tied it around Max's head. "Good."

"Your headband?" Max inquired.

"To help with the bleeding. Its temporary until we can bandage your head."

"Oh."