vXv
"He's what?"
"Dead."
"Why?" She asked, she was so mean to him but later on she started to respect him. "I mean I never got to say bye." Mathilda couldn't cry. She barely knew him but something drew her to him.
"Are you alright?"
She looked at him. "Would you be happy if somebody you felt you had a connection with die?"
"Well -" The pinkette didn't wait for him to finish because she just ran into her room.
She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"Hello?"
"I-is Mariah home?"
"No, is this Mathilda? Hey are you alright?"
"I gotta go." She hung up and dialed Ming-Ming's number but she wasn't there so last but not least she dialed Hilary's number.
"Hi-Hilary?"
"Oh my gosh! Mathilda, why are you crying?"
"You.. know that guy B-Bakuten?"
"Yeah."
"He died." She started crying even more.
"Oh, shush.. shush baby.. it's okay. But why are you crying over him? I don't mean to sound mean but we didn't even know him that well."
"That's the problem! I don't know why either! I mean, I think I do.. but it's kinda silly."
"Just tell me."
"Well you know how when you're a child right? ..And you have these great grandparents who you have fun with.. and when you have those amazing child-grandparent relationships.."
"So you felt like he was you're grandfather?"
"I dunno.. I mean I was sooo mean to him until we had to leave. He told me something to like remember the lives of those before and after you."
"Wow.. that's kinda weird.."
"Atleast it makes sense but when he said that, it felt like we made a connection.."
"Oh, I'm sorry.. but when did he die? Right when we left or something?"
Mathilda shook her head. "He died before that. Hilary.. we were talking to a ghost."
vXv
"Um, why are you walking so slow?" Brooklyn asked, turning around to look at Ming-Ming.
The bluette looked up at him. "Why are you walking me home?"
He stopped and waited for her to stop by him. "Because, it's a gentlemen's duty to help out a noble princess."
She stared at him then kept on walking. "Shut up."
"Hey, wait up!"
"And you called me slow." She mumbled.
"What's wrong?" He asked after catching up to her.
"I dunno.." Ming-Ming turned head and starting rubbing her hands, hoping to stay warm.
"Oh, here." The orange-head put his jacket over her arms. "But, you're lying to me.. I mean it's okay if you tell me, I won't tell anybody."
"Why are you acting so nice?"
"Because I'm a pretty nice guy."
"Yeah.. sure." She turned her head again and started looking at the lake that they were walking by.
'Great.. I screwed up again..' He thought as he blinked. "Um, hey Ming.."
"Brooklyn? Hey B! Is that you?"
The two turned their head to where they heard the voice and it was in the park, where three girls were waving to him.
"I'll see you later Brooklyn." She said as she started walking away while the girls started running to him.
"What? Why?"
"I don't like those girls." She replied, turning her head to look at him.
"So? You beat up others before!"
"And I'm not proud of it!" Ming-Ming then began running, Brooklyn tried to stop her but his fan-club mobbed him first.
"Heeeeey sweetie! How come you didn't say hi to us?" A red-head asked, hugging him.
"Well I was -"
"Why was she running away like that? Is she scared of us or something?" One of them laughed, clinging to his arm.
"Nah, I doubt it.. I heard about little Ms. Ming-Ming. She does drugs, had sex and beats up lots of people." One nodded.
"No she doesn't!" Brooklyn pushed that girl away and glared at her.
She looked at him with disgust. "It's not my fault people are saying that!"
"Tell me who's saying that."
"Oh c'mon, it's no biggie.." The red-head put her hand on his cheek and smiled.
"Just tell me." He gave the girl a look and she was just like 'Woah.'
"Um, it was Queen's cousin. We were just talking to them a while ago." That girl then noticed that the red-head was giving her a look.
"Psh, that girl has no place to talk. She's done that and more.. anyways I've got to go." Brooklyn then ran after Ming-Ming. Once he was far enough, he stopped running but as he did he tripped on a rock. "Sugar hunny ice tea.."
"Hey Brooklyn." She greeted as she walked up to him.
He looked up and smiled.
vXv
'I hope she's home..' Ray knocked on the gate and cringed. They should've just had a bell you could ring when you wanted to come in instead of knock on some hard piece of iron.
"I'll get it!" Mariam opened the door and looked at him. "May I help you?"
He smiled and slightly shoved her as he walked past. "Where's Hilary?"
"In her room, you can go surprise her there."
He smiled wider and ran up to her room.
"Jeez, that girl sure has a lot of guys all over her." Mariam commented as Kai simply nodded.
So anyways, Ray stormed into her room while she was on her bed.
"Ray!" She gasped. "Where's everybody else?"
"Oh, um.. Tyson is at his house and Kenny's at Max's place."
"I guess they didn't want to come here then.."
"Well, atleast I'm here." He shrugged.
"That makes it a lot better."
"So what did you do today?" He asked.
"Um, Brooklyn, Raul and the suspended girls went to the park.. then they were over my house and met Zeo, then they left..and then I had a very interesting conversation with Mathild.. butthen she had to go."
"Oh.. but that thing with Julia is really messed up.."
"I know.." She laughed. "It was weird, I don't know them that well.. except that they're rude and well.. I helped fight. I feel kinda bad."
"But man, I didn't know you could punch. I mean, when you punched Queen she just tripped and.. just woah.."
She laughed. "I only fought once in my life besides that fight.. see I heard that this girl was sleeping around with this guy I really cared about -"
"Zeo?"
The brunette nodded. "Yeah, I mean I really cared about him.. I just don't know, when I heard that I felt so confused and angry.. so at first I was just thinking and I was thinking in the kitchen at the time so I saw a knife.."
"You didn't.."
"I hid the knife in my sweater pocket and I walked around looking for her. My friend saw me and she knew I was upset so I told her what I was going to do and she wanted to see. She was real crazy.. but we finally saw her and I was like, 'so I heard that you slept with Zeo' and she's like, 'so? He came onto me'. I mean, I was real mad because I loved him so much, we had this real strong relationship. But after that my friend started laughing and that girl was like, 'what, bitch?' so I just jumped on her and started punching her, I scratched her face up.. pulled her hair, stomped on her, kicked her and I was about to get my knife on her but my friend stopped me and said she had enough so I left and told her not to mess with my man."
"Woah... you must've really cared about him to practically kill a girl like that."
She laughed. "Yeah.."
"Why don't you guys still go out?"
"Well, we've been together on and off for atleast eight years now.. because it's just been like he owns me, see when we would break up, he would go out with a girl and tell me not to go out wit a guy. Usually I would go out with someone.. but what sucked was that I'd break up with them for Zeo.. and I just can't take anymore drama anymore with me.. I mean I still care about him but I don't really know. Like, when we get together.. we do something. Kiss or something."
He smirked. "Something?"
"We didn't have sex! I would with him though.. but I'll wait until marriage. But that something is making out."
"That's the same thing though.."
"Whatever!" She laughed.
"Hilary! Someone else is here to see you!" Mariam yelled. "Your boyfriend!"
"Bring them up!"
The two heard someone running up and laterthat person ran into the room.
"Hilary!" Kenny came in, out of breath.
"What's wrong?"
"Just come!"
The three ran out of the house and down the street into Tyson's dojo.
They ran into the training area and their eyes widened.
"Tyson stop!"
Brooklyn, Raul and Mariah ran into the area as well. (Mariah was the one who helped Brooklyn when he tripped.)
"What's going on? We saw you guys run here and.." Brooklyn stared as Zeo and Tyson were barely standing and both panting.
Hilary stared at them, unable of what to say. Zeo caught her eye but he quickly looked down.
"Why did you guys fight?" Hilary finally asked after a moment of silence.
Zeo glanced at Tyson and Tyson did the same.
"Well?" Ray asked, raising an eyebrow.
"..Why did you lie to me? I've been your friend for a long time.."
"Well why didn't you tell me you went out with her!"
"I did! Those times you went to my house! I'd always try to show her to you but you'd just want to play video games or beyblade!"
"You know I don't pay attention! Why didn't you just tell me when we were doing nothing!"
"Because, I wouldn't think about her then! Why would you care!"
"You were my friend! I care what you do and what happens to you!" Tyson yelled, clenching his fist.
"You don't care how I feel though." Zeo glared, crossing his arms.
"I'm sorry but this is a sort of.."
"What, huh?"
The bluette looked at Hilary then glanced down. "I can't say here.."
'Tyson.. don't..' Kenny pleaded, once he knew what he was talking about.
"Why not?"
"I JUST CAN'T SAY!"
"Well, I'll say it! Tyson, my best friend.. told me that he wasn't going to go out with this girl, he didn't like her.. but then he gets a message on the phone saying that Tyson was going to ask that girl out."
"What?" Some of the asked.
"Tyson lied to me when he said he didn't like Hilary.. well guess what, this guy was going to ask her out!"
"It's -"
"STOP!" Hilary shouted, both her fists clenched. "This is what I mean Zeo, you won't let me have any freedom at all. I am not your property, if I wanted to go out with Tyson then I would."
"But! He lied to me at first!"
"I don't care. You guys are fighting over stupid reasons, he lied to you, so what? Didn't atleast one of your friend lie to you once? You didn't make a big deal out of that, did you?"
"Well, I really care about you Hilary and I don't want you to get your heart breaken by this guy."
She looked at him like 'what the freak' then said, "You've hurt me sooo much more Zeo. I've loved you so much but you have always faked on me. The only reason I keep going back to you is because I know you love me.. like I love you." Her voice got weak and tears started forming.
"Oh my gosh, sweetie!" Mariah ran over to her and gave her a hug. "Shh, it's okay.."
They began to walk away but Hilary stopped to look at Zeo. "Please, don't hurt Tyson."
The two girls walked away, leaving the men to themselves.
"I'm going to get my stuff." Zeo mumbled, walking into a room.
"Well.. this is awkward, um.. we have to go anyways so we'll see you guys later." Brooklyn walked out with Raul behind him.
"What's wrong Tyson? Why do you have that weird look on your face?" Max asked, watching his friend sit down.
"He's probably upset that this is his fault." Kenny said rudely.
"Chief, I don't think you should do this now.. I mean I think he's lost his friendship with Zeo."
"If you guys only knew.." The brunette mumbled after leaving.
vXv
Ming-Ming lay in her room, holding her legs close to her chest. She didn't know what it was but she was scared. Actually, she knew what it was.. but she felt to embarressed to speak about it.
She knew something was going to happen to her. And that something was going to be bad.
Very bad.
Her grandmother knocked on the door. "Sweetie, Shiga wants to speak to you."
She smiled, Shiga was an old friend who she met when she was a child. Her grandmother was also his friend. They went way back. He's nearly fifty right now and he would do anything that was exciting.
Anyways, Ming-Ming opened the door and took the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hello Ming." He would call her many different names, Mimi, Moon,young'n,Ming, and Nini.
"I had so much fun today. Don't tell anyone but we stole some papers from this forensic place and like, it was just really exciting."
"Why'd you steal the papers?"
"My friend Hilary wanted to know about some guys death."
"I see."
"Hey, what's wrong? You're usually uplifting and happy."
"I have to attend my friend's funeral next week. This is like my second best friend who's died."
"Oh gosh! I'm soooo sorry! How'd you're friends die?"
"Well my someone shot my firstfriend and my other friend died because he was sick."
"Oh.. um hey, I'll let you talk to mama know because I have to go to the retirement home and see how everyone's doing. So, I'll see you later.. maybe I'll you see tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow. It's a date."
"I'll be seeing you Shigold!" She laughed then called her grandmother into the room. Seconds later, she arrived and took the phone. "Hey mama, I'm gonna go now okay?"
The elder woman simply waved her hand and left the room.
Ming-Ming re-did her hair and grabbed her cellphone then left out her home. She ran past Tyson's house then stopped when she saw two people. She hid behind some trash cans and a tree. She looked in between the two things and wondered why they stopped walking.
"So how long?"
"When that cat.."
"AHH!" Ming-Ming jumped up and bumped into the tree which made her trip and fell into the trash can.
"That girl is so obvious sometimes." Brooklyn said, shaking his head as they walked towards her.
"Word." Raul agreed as they approached her while she was trying to get out.
"Oh, um.. hi peoples.."
"We heard you running and when you tried to hide, we saw your hair."
"Sticks out like a sore thumb." Raul shook his head, while crossing his arms.
"Yeah, whatever.. anyways help me out." Ming-Ming stuck out her arms and smiled widely at them.
"What have you done for us?"
"..I loved you guys..?"
"Good bye." They both left while her ass was stuck in the can.
"Noo! Please, help! If I end up walking I'll look like a tur -"
"SIKE!" Brooklyn jumped on her while Raul quickly ran behind her and as she fell, the red-head caught her head.
"You know, we still have to talk." The orange-haired whispered to her. She looked at him and slowly nodded.
So after a couple of minutes of getting her out, they were on their way to the retirement home.
"How are you guys and your grannys?" The girl asked as they walked up the steps.
"Mines is cool, she's funny." The orange-haired said, nodding at the receptionist at the desk.
"Mines is laid-back."
They weren't acutally their grandmothers. Shiga used to live here and Ming-Ming would visit him but now.. he lives with his cousins. But the bluette still would visit all the elders and she told the two boys about it and that's how they met Yoko and Yuni.
"Well, there are your elder ones..go and get 'em tigers!" Ming-Ming smiled then walked outside.
Brooklyn hugged an elderly woman who had a long bright yellow dress on with a pink bow on her head.
"I bet those girls in your school can't dress hip like this." She laughed as he sat next to her.
He smiled. "Oh no, they'd rather dress like Lulu." The two looked at an old woman who sat across the room. She was knitting a sweater and seemed oblivious to all the men staring at her open wrinkled clevage.
She laughed again. "Oh, I think she heard us!"
"She always does!"
The two laughed harder and Raul and Yuni grinned at them.
"You know, Yoko's been so much happier now that she's met your friend.. I guess I was just too calm for that child."
"Yeah, I hear ya.. me and Brooklyn are like great friends but sometimes we don't agree on the same things."
"Oh yes, like when you want to watch some old romantic movie and they want to watch the exciting one." Yuni nodded, waving her hand.
"Or if you want to just hang out but they want to go out and party!"
"I know!" She laughed. "Oh, I feel so at peace with you Raul. Thank you so much for coming."
"You should thank Ming-Ming for making us come here. I thought it would be boring but you.. you really understand me."
"Indeed, you're like the grandchild I never had."
"Oh, and how is your son?"
"He's doing really good. He still hasn't found the one yet but I know he'll find one soon.. my friend tells me she can feel it."
"I bet Ming-Ming's grandma could tell you if its true or not. She's all psychic like that."
"Yes, that's my friend." She nodded.
"Wow, what a small world! I would've never guessed that you guys were friends!"
"Oh, yes.. we've been for atleast the rest of our lives." Yuni nodded, brushing her hair with her hand.
"That's cool."
"But speaking of Ming-Ming.. do you think their is something going on between her and Brooklyn?" She whispered, while glancing at the loud folks next to them.
"Yeah, he seems to be less cocky when she's around now. I think that he's starting to fall for her."
"They would be so cute!"
Just then Ming-Ming walked back in and sat next to some old people who were watching their friends dance. So the two looked back and forth at them and laughed.
"Keep it down will ya!" Brooklyn yelled to them.
"Yeah whipper-snappers!" Yoko grinned then stuck her tounge at them.
Ming-Ming looked over at them then walked over to Brooklyn and whispered in his ear. A little while later, he stood up and she took him by the hand as they went outside.
"Have fun loverbirds!" Yoko waved then looked the other two. "So, how ya people doing?"
"You think we should spy on them?" Yuni asked with a mischevious grin on her face.
"Yeah, lets." So the two old woman walked up together and stood by the doorway to hear what they were saying.
"This isn't right!" Raul said to them.
The two waved their hand and stared at the couple as they were staring at the meadow, chatting amongst themselves.
"I'm sorry I ran off like that today.."
"Why did you though? Usually you would just stay and give them looks."
She sighed. "I dunno. I think I just want to change.. I don't want people in school to be scared of me or anything and I don't want to die getting beat up."
"So, you wanna stop fighting." He stated.
"Maybe.. I think, I'm scared of getting beat up." She said quietly, glancing the other way.
Brooklyn blinked at her then put his arm around her. "Don't be scared. They won't come after you, they're probably scared of you."
"Yeah right. When I'm walking alone and they're all together, they won't be scared."
"Who are we talking about? The ones who would beat you up."
"...Julia's people."
"Are you serious? You're scared of them? Girl, you can beat them up any day! I mean they always want to pick fights with someone but usually when they do they try to back away from it."
"But they know people who are so much stronger than them.. and you know they're going to get them on us."
"So? You can take them on. And Mariam knows people who can take care of you guys."
"But, they won't be there when we'll really need it."
"..I'll be here."
Ming-Ming looked up at him. "You promise?"
He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Yeah." He moved back to stare down at her.
"Why -"
He put a finger on her mouth then leaned in closer until their foreheads touched. He closed his eyes and smiled as he put his arms around her waist.
"Heh, I like you too much and I swear.. you won't get hurt."
There they were, Brooklyn and Ming-Ming.. both star-struck lovers deep in only themselves and nothing else. It was perfect, the sun was setting which made an orange-pinkish light shine among them. This moment almost seemed unreal, she had confessed something that was bothering her and he was there to comfort her, he didn't poke fun or he didn't look at it the wrong way, he was just there for her. Had time stopped for them? Was this like a true moment that would go down in history? It would be something they would tell their grandchildren..
Someonethenshrieked.
And that brought back time and killed the romance.
That bastard.
Ming-Ming and Brooklyn pulled away and looked behind them. There they saw Yoko, Yuni and Raul who had his hand over his mouth.
vXv
Hilary lay in her bed, staring at her ceiling.
Kai leaned against the wall as he was sitting down.
Mariam was sitting in her computer chair, spinning around.
"Ok, we've studied the problem long enough.. all I think we should do now is for you to confront him."
"I have.. so many times.. it's like he still won't listen."
"Leave him." Kai suggested. (-nudge nudge- Of course we know why Kai suggested that! Har, har!)
"I've tried to find someone to replace him, I mean I broke up with guys for him! It's crazy, whatever drama happens between us we will fix and will get together. It's like what doesn't kill us makes us stronger."
"Hilary, do you really love him?" Mariam asked, stopping what she was doing and looking at her young roommate.
"Yes, no matter what.. yes."
"Do you think he's your first love?"
Kai cringed then glanced at Hilary.
"I think so."
"Seriously?" She asked, tilting her head.
"But.. before me and Mariahcame here we went to Ming-Ming's house to talk to Ming-Ming but she was on the phone with somebody. So her grandma wanted to know why I was crying.. so I told her.. and she studied me for a bit then told me... Zeo isn't my first love."
"Did she tell you it was though?"
"The only thing she told me about him was that I left him alone."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know.. but I really wish she would've told me more.. she did though mention something about the color brown.."
"Weird.. but um, please try to talk to Zeo for me or I'll get Ozuma and Lee on him.. okay? Well, I gotta go, I'm gettin' tired.. so goodnight peoples."
"Night."
Mariam left and closed the door behind her. Hilary sighed and looked out the window. It was already dark but no stars were out. She thought about how the stars would shine for them,bright and very prettybut then she suddenly remembered something important.
"Hey Kai..? I'll meet you outside okay?"
He looked at her and nodded then disappeared into the night air.
Hilary ran out of her room then ran to the room next to her and pulled on the candle.
It didn't budge.
She pulled harder but it still didn't move.
"What the crap! How come this thing moved when Kai touched it?"
"Because I programmed it like that."
She screamed then looked behind her. "Oh.. uh.. hi Kai.."
"I saw you from outside."
She looked at the window to see that the curtains were pulled back.
'Darn.'
"What are you doing here?" Kai asked, crossing his arms.
"Um, well.."
"Well, what?"
"I thought I saw something on your dead body's neck and I wanted to go see what it was because it looked familiar to me." Hilary said quickly, closing her eyes.
"What was it? ..Because theirs nothing on my neck."
"Um.. a necklace.."
His expression remained the same. "Would it bother you if I did have it?"
"Uh, maybe.."
"Well go look, you won't find anything." He pulled back the candle and the two walked down the steps.
Hilary ran to the showcased body and looked for the necklace. She tilted her head in confusion. 'I could've sworn I saw it here..'
Kai silently sighed in relief. He had taken the necklace and hid it inside the cookie jar all the way at the bottom.
"Nevermind.. lets go train.." She mumbled, walking up the steps sadly.
vXv
The next morning was a very lazy one. It was atleast eleven already and nobody in the haunted house was awake. Kai was asleep somewhere, Mariam was drooling on her pillow and Hilary looked like she was about to fall off her bed.
Suddenly the phone rang and since everybody was asleep, it went straight to the messages.
'Hello? Hilary, sweetie this is your mommy! Hi Mariam! Anyways, we're having a yard sale soon dear and since you still left most of your stuff in our house, like your room.. c'mon now deary.. take all your stuff and maybe we can have somebody rent that room! Oh, anyways.. we would like to know if you want anything sold.. oh yeah, did you see Zeo yet and get your money? Yes, we were being really generous with the cash but hey, we love you! Oh.. your daddy says hi, ahem anyways I found that teddy bear from a long time ago. It's still in good shape so do you want to keep it or sell it? I know how much you love it, so that's why I decided to ask now.Well, I'll see you later dear! Oh! Come and try to visit soon so we can plan this yard sale thing out! Okay, love ya! AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY DON'T YOU CALL ME? I'VE BEEN VERY WORRIED!'
vXv
Digi: Hehe, ya likey? I kinda do.. I mean some parts seemed screwed but besides that I liked this chappy. So sorry again and hope you guys review!