Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblades or any song lyrics that may appear in my fic.

Warning: drug usage

Chapter 8.

Jess's POV

We all sat in the kitchen. Kai, Tala and me. No one said a word, not a single word. I thought my head would explode from the quietness that surrounded the three of us. Tala was glaring at Kai and Kai just stared straight back with this blank look on his face.

/FlashBack

I glanced at Tala sitting across the table from me.

"Would you like a coffee." I asked trying to think of anything that would delay what I was about to do.

"No, quit stalling and tell me what the HELL is going on!" he was yelling and I felt my blood turn cold as it flowed through my veins.

"Tala," I spoke quietly to counteract his loudness. "Kai and I are………………………………" he cut me off.

"I know you two have a thing going on I'm not stupid." He bellowed across the table at me. The whole time this had been going on Kai had not said a word, just stood there being the cool customer he always was.

"How?" My voice was barely above a whisper but I know that everyone had heard me.

"Exhibited A- I saw you two kiss the day you made the bet. You thought I was in the car, but I saw. Exhibited B- The grocery shopping trip you and Kai went, since when does he ever help you with the shipping. Exhibited C- The ice skating trip and the way you acted when you saw Hillary. Exhibited D- The kiss in the kitchen that afternoon. Exhibited E- You slitting your wrist, I wasn't sure at the time but now I'm sure it had something to do with Kai. Exhibited F- You running away to Italy. And finally exhibited G- The letter and CD you left Kai when you ran away. We both read the letters and we both listened to the CD."

Tala crossed his arms over his chest and a smug look came across his hansom features. I'd never seen Tala be like this, he was so cold. I could literally feel cold air radiating from him and it made me uneasy. Sure at school there were people who he would torment or play the odd prank on but this, this was a whole new Tala.

/End of FlashBack

End Jess's POV

Talas POV

I couldn't stand it anymore, just sitting there with their eyes on me. I got up and left the kitchen without even saying a word. I headed up to my room to try and do some of the mountain of homework I had. I hadn't touched a book since Jess ran away, but I couldn't settle. I kept thinking about Jess and Kai. In the back of my mind I knew they were together but when Jess told me everything changed. Knowing something and really knowing it are two different things. I sat there feeling like a caged bird and all I wanted to do was to get away. My mind wondered to the small block of coke that was sitting under my bed. I hadn't touched the stuff since we left my aunts and uncles place but I could feel it calling to me, begging me to let all my worries go away. I pulled it out from its hiding place and looked at it. The small square block all wrapped up in alfoil looked so innocent. I gathered the small mirror, razor blade and the thin glass tube together and sat at my desk. With dull precise movements I began to cut the coke into two even lines. As I was busy chopping I wondered if Jess had ever found it, probably but she wouldn't have a clue what it was. I put down the razor blade and then picked up the small glass tube. I had already snorted the first line and was halfway through the second when my door opened. Jess stood in the door looking at me. I dropped the glass tube and it rolled onto the floor, I didn't bother to retrieve it and I didn't bother to see where it went. All my attention was on Jess and the look of pure horror on her face.

"What are you doing?" she asked me with a dull look on her face.

"This? Its just coke." I gave a shrug of my shoulders. I was high already and I really badly wanted to laugh but even through the high I knew it was not the right thing to do right now.

"Coke, as in Cocaine?"

"That's the one, it's very relaxing. You should try……….." I caught myself; I was just about to offer Jess Coke. My stomach tightened and I felt the bile rise up my throat. My attention was drawn back to Jess. I watched a single tear roll down her cheek before she turned and left my room.

End Talas POV

Jess's POV

I left Talas room with an odd feeling in my stomach, I don't know how to explain the feeling but all I know is I need to get away from him for a while. I went into the Kitchen to find Kai, sure there was nothing he could do but having company right now would be nice.

He was sitting at the table drinking coffee when I walked in. he smiled at me and I managed a weak smile in return. He put his coffee cup down and looked at me.

"Are you alright?"

I shock my head as more tears threatened to spill over my eyelashes. He got up from his seat and came over to me, wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to him.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

I shock my head again.

"Well I have to go to the air port to get someone soon, do you want to come along for the ride?"

"Sure, anything is better than staying here!"

"Ok then I'll finish my coffee and then we will go."

We had to take the SUV because Kais car only had two seats. I was off in my own little world for most of the drive. I jumped when something touched my knee. It was Kai.

"Jess please tell me what's wrong." I could see concern in his eyes and it made my heart break. He really cared, he really cared!

"Tala……….. when I went up to Talas room before, I caught him doing a line of coke."

"WHAT?" he yelled.

"Coke as in Cocaine!" and yes I did feel the irony of that sentence.

"Do you want me to talk to him about it?" he asked, taking his eyes off the road for a second to look at me.

"I'll see how it goes, I would like to handle this myself but if I need your help I'll ask." The rest of the ride to the Airport was silent apart from the hum of the tyres running across the road and the radio that was playing quietly between us.

When we got to the airport the flight we were waiting for hadn't come to we went to sit in the arrivals lounge. It never occurred to me to ask whom we were waiting for until a very pretty blond came running up to us and flung her arms around Kai. She let go of him and gave him a Kiss on the cheek.

"I've missed you so much Kai!" she said hugging him again

"Ditto!" Kai said giving her another hug.

I cleared my throat, Kai and the girl looked over at me. Then Kai got the hint.

"Jess, this is my cousin Mai. Mai this is my girlfriend Jess." We shock hands. Cousin, COUSIN god did I feel like a twit. I should have known. Then it hit me.

"Mai and Kai?" I questioned.

"Yeah the folks thought it would be funny to give us similar names." She explained. I smiled and turned to Kai.

"Look I don't want to sound rude but I think I should get home and see how Tala is." I told Kai.

He nodded and grabbed Mais bags.

"Ohhhhhhhhhh, you know Tala. Lucky bugger! How do you know him?" I smirked to myself, so she likes Tala ha?

"He's my big brother." I told her and her eyed bulged.

"I never knew he had a sister." She exclaimed.

"Well now you do!" I smiled sweetly at her before turning and walking away.

As I walked away I could hear Kai talking to Mai.

"Don't be worried about Jess, she's had a rough morning. She just needs a little time." He explained.

I felt really bad, I knew I had been rude but right now I didn't care. I'd apologise later but right now I wanted to get home and make sure Tala hadn't OD'ed or something. I heard Mai reply and it made me feel even worse.

"It's ok, I understand."

I walked back and stood in between Kai and Mai and slipped my arms around their waists.

"I'm sorry guys, it's just I'm really worried about Tala. He's been acting weird lately. I didn't mean to sound rude."

Mai smiled at me and put her arm around my waist as well.

"It's ok, I would do the same thing for someone I cared about. Friends?" she offered her hand to me.

"Friends!" I said taking her proffered hand in mine.

"Good! Come on lets go."

We all headed out of the airport and got into the car. I was a much nicer trip that the one to the airport. The music was up and there was laughing and talking. Some times I would feel myself draw away from the other two but I would try to bring myself back. A couple of times I found myself staring out the window at the passing cars without a thought in my mind. I felt Kai put his hand on my knee again. This time he didn't say anything but gave it a reassuring squeeze. I came out of my zone and gave him a brief smile before turning back to the window.

finaly someone for Tala. i kind-a- forgot about him but now i have found someone for him. ME SO HAPPY! please review.