Cross

Chapter 6

A/N: I won't even try to justify this wait, just read and hopefully enjoy!

"Jeez it's cold out there!" Salima said as she hurried into Kai's house.

"What? Cold, in October, in Moscow, what a shock!" Tyson said sarcastically. Salima rolled her eyes at him as Hillary smacked him over the head. They were all soaked and laughing. Ray was rubbing his red cheek.

"Tyson I think that last snowball had some ice in it or something." he said.

"Awww, poor you, I promise to check next time." Tyson replied, earning another smack, this time from Mariah.

They piled quickly into the foyer, dusting the snow off their snow-covered coats. Frederick quickly came and took their wet jackets from them as they removed their shoes. They made their way up the stairs to put away the things they'd bought that day.

Salima watched Tyson as he walked up the stairs behind her, it had certainly been an interesting day…..

She smiled as the sharp wind blew in her face. The air smelt clean and fresh, it was a crisp sunny day. Salima looked out over the Moscow River as the ferry floated calmly down it. They tour guide buzzed something across the loud speaker in a thick Russian accent about the building they were passing. It was lovely, surrounded by a red brick wall. It looked like a castle with spindly towers, topped in shining golden spires.

"Wow…" she breathed.

"That's the Moscow Kremlin." Tyson said, coming up to the railing next to her. "And the brick wall is part of the Red Square." She smiled

"How on earth do you know that?" he smirked with that hot-headed look on his face,

"Didn't you know that I speak fluent Russian?"

"What? My, my, aren't you full of surprises." she said blandly. He laughed,
"Alright, I read it in the brochure. I even had to ask Kai how to pronounce it." Salima laughed loudly, a full-bodied laugh, something he could listen to over and over again. "I'm trying ok." he said.

"I know I know. That's sweet. This place is absolutely beautiful, the architecture, the history, everything."

"Yeah, definitely. I dunno, my parents always used to take me to, other kinds of places for vacation."

"What do you mean?" He shrugged, turning to lean his back on the rail.

"Like, places where, "history and architecture" wasn't really the main attraction."

"Oh, you mean like party places."

"Heh,heh, yeah."

"My family loves going to places like this. Last year we visited the Vatican city." Tyson whistled,

"Well then. Am I even worthy to be in your presence."

"Oh Tyson, don't be ridiculous." she said, putting her hand on his arm.

"Honestly Salima, reading, art, history. That's just not me."

"So, what does it matter?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I sort've like you, and you're interested in those things, so… where do I fit in?" Salima smiled,

"Tyson… Did it ever occur to you that I like you too, and not because you impress me with your reading skills, or your knowledge of Moscow Architecture. As cliché as it sounds, I like you, for you." He frowned,

"Are you sure? I think you can do better." she smacked him lightly,

"Stoppit!" He grinned,

"Well, I like you for you too." Tyson said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Salima smiled as he gently kissed her cold lips. It was short and sweet, but certainly wonderful.

Suddenly they heard whistling from nearby. The pair looked up to see Mariah, Ray and Max standing on the upper deck watching them. Salima turned red as a tomato, burying her face in the front of Tyson's jacket….

She blushed a little even then thinking back on it as she put some bags on her bed. Outside the snow continued it's steady decent.

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"So, did you buy anything for your parents?" Marium asked Mariah as they left their room.

"Umm, yeah a few things, remember that cute boutique we went to in the Red Square? I bought a ton of stuff there." That wasn't all….

Mariah looked in all the shop windows as they walked by.

"I'm trying to find something to buy for my parents." she said. Ray shook his head as she stopped once again. "Oh! Look at this one" she exclaimed, pressing her face against the glass. The others stopped, looking back at them.

"You guys go on!" Ray called, "We'll meet you at the café." He walked up next to her,

"You didn't have to wait." she said. He smiled,

"But I wanted to."

"Alright, well help me choose something then." Mariah replied, pulling him into the shop with her. The classic ring of a bell accompanied them as they stepped inside. It smelt like potpourri. The wooden shelves were crammed with all sorts of knick knacks, figurines, jewellery, and more.

There was an older couple standing behind the counter. They nodded as Ray and Mariah entered, then began talking quickly in Russian.

"So what are you going to get her?" Ray asked.

"Not a clue. She likes pretty little things." Mariah walked down one of the thin aisles examining things as she passed.

"Is this the first time you've been gone for the break?" she glanced at him, a smile in her eyes,

"Why do you ask?" He shrugged, his hands in his pockets.

"You just, keep talking about them." she laughed,

"Guilty."

"Do you miss them? It's only been a couple days."

"Naw… It's just, odd. I already hardly see them being at a boarding school, so when I do get the chance, I have to make the most of it." she paused briefly, "which reminds me!" she said, turning to face him, "my parents want to meet you at Christmas time." Ray frowned,

"Cool."

"Cool? That's all you have to say?"

"Mari, I've met your parents before, lots of times…ohhhh….they want to meet me because I'm your-"

"Yes exactly… why are you grinning like an idiot?"

"I dunno, because your parents want to meet me. I guess I never pictured it to be this formal, this whole… relationship thing. But it feels nice." She laughed, taking his arm in hers,

"Yeah yeah."

"They're probably pretty grateful, your parents that is."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that finally someone has decided to date you, I'll bet they weren't holding their breaths for that, you poor thing." he said oh-so-innocently while patting her head.

"Eugh, I wouldn't be talking mister. Who'd want to go out with an egotistical, self-centered goon like you?"

"Apparently only stubborn spoiled brats like you."

They stared long and hard at each other, then burst out laughing.

"I guess we're a perfect match." she said.

"Yeah." he replied, cupping her cheek and kissing her deeply. She pulled back suddenly, laughing,

"Stop distracting me!"

"Fine fine." he grumbled, "Let's find that little pretty thing." but he was looking at her the whole time.

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Max followed Tyson down the stairs and into the living room.

"Yo Kai, what is there to do around here?" Tyson asked, flopping into a chair.

Kai materialized by the doorway,

"Well, there's the shops nearby, and a nice park down the street, and-"

"Boring!" Kai's eyes narrowed.

"Or, for your simple mind, we do have a hot tub." Tyson grinned,

"Awesome. I'll tell the others." Tyson said and ran out of the room and up the stairs.

"Honestly, sometimes I wonder why we tolerate him." Kai said dryly, though there was a smile in his eyes. Max shrugged and laughed lightly. He had to admit, he liked the idea of a hot tub too. It was freezing in the front hallway, which reminded him…

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Max walked briskly up the pathway towards Kai's house with the others. The cold wind had picked up and was turning his cheeks, nose and ears red. Him and Marium were having an argument.

"You were flirting." he said, smiling.

"How would you know? All I did was thank him."

"Oh right," he cleared his throat, "Thank you ever so much for your lovely commentary on the tour," He said in a high-pitched voice, imitating Marium horribly, while the others laughed, "You're voice was like music to my ears, I could listen to it allllllll day." he finished by batting his eyelashes, which in turn launched everyone into another fit of laughter.

Marium smacked his forearm,

"Well, even if I was, which I wasn't, what does it matter to you?" He shrugged,

"It doesn't." he stated calmly, then turned and began to walk away. Suddenly he was hit on his but with a snowball.

"Ow!" he groaned, turning to face a grinning Marium. "Oh, you'll pay for that!" he grabbed a was of snow and hurled it at her. Marium yelped and ducked, causing the snow to hit Salima in the chest.

"Hey!" she yelled, throwing one back and getting Max in the face,

"Snow ball fight!!!" Tyson cried, launching one at Ray. Then all hell broke loose. Before long Max wasn't sure who was hitting him or from where.

Half and hour later they stumbled into the house, soaking wet. Everyone kicked their shoes off hurrying up the stairs. Max grabbed Marium's hand before she reached them, pulling her back towards him. Both their cheeks were flushed, their hair was wet and drops of melted snow were glistening on their eyelashes.

He pulled her against him, encircling her waist in his arms. She smiled up at him. Max leaned down and softly pressed his mouth to hers. She put her arms around his neck, trying to deepen the kiss, but he remained light and gentle, sweet, like a real first kiss. She opened her mouth and he breathed her in, like a delicacy. It was so unlike any kiss she'd ever gotten before, her knees grew weak. When they broke apart her mouth was tingling. He leaned down to whisper in her ear,

"I can' feel my feet." She laughed,

"Let me warm you up then." His eyes darkened slightly, but he pulled away.

"Maybe later, it's almost lunch time." She pouted slightly, but nodded.

"Alright, I suppose your right." she said looking down. She felt his hand under her chin, gently making her look at him.

"I did say later." He said, kissing her briefly one more time.

A/N: Ok, there it is, maybe a bit short, but I'm just trying to get the creative juices flowing here. Anyways, I am currently working on the next chapter, and yes there will be some Max/Marium stuff, and perhaps some others too. Let me know what you want to see. Till next time!