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Chapter Two
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The party was in full swing when they arrived. All you needed for a party was more than three people and lots of alcohol. The party at Dunga's had large quantities of both. Dunga was a very large and very loud guy who actually should've been a senior but had been held back a couple times, which put him in tenth grade with them. He was a member of the Saint Shields, the same gang that Miriam belonged to. Dunga was chasing a frightened looking Mathilda Alster around the front yard telling her to loosen up and have some fun when they arrived.
"Mathilda," Zeo called, deciding to play the part of her rescuer. The fragile pink haired girl looked at him, here eyes wide with terror. He ran towards her. "Hey, sorry I'm late," he told her, kissing her on the cheek. "Whatcha guys up to?" he asked, putting an arm possessively around her shoulders, smiling a serene grin Dunga's way.
"What? Are you's a couple?" he asked, taken by surprise.
"If you'd quit chasing me and let me talk I would've told you," Mathilda said, clutching Zeo.
Max and Tyson exchanged looks from the street. First Zeo was with Hilary, now Mathilda?
"Whatever," he mumbled, taking another swing from his bottle and stumbling back towards the house. He'd clearly had a lot to drink.
"I think we hurt his feelings," Zeo observed.
"Oh, thank you," Mathilda told him, throwing her arms around him. "I was so scared. He's so big. I was afraid of what he'd do if he caught me."
"No problem. Let's go check out what's going on inside." He still had his arm around her.
"Show off," Tyson said as they followed behind him.
Max giggled. "I think you're just jealous."
"He's probably screwing around with Miriam, too."
"She's not my girlfriend," he said automatically.
"Yeah, she's probably Zeo's by now." Tyson walked ahead of him.
The music was loud and people were dancing. It was only six but nearly everyone who was anyone was there already.
Max spotted Miriam right away. Tall, with silky deep blue hair, she stood near the stereo system talking with Mao Wong, a frantically hyper girl who was hopelessly in love with Rei Kon, the fourth member of the Bladebreakers. Rei nowhere in sight. He probably was at Kai's already.
Tyson jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow. "Go talk to her. Ask if anyone's been messing around in her underwear lately," he laughed.
"No way. You ask her."
"I know you like her, Max. Hell, everyone knows. But nothing's ever gonna happen if ya don't ever ask her out."
"Then that's fine," he told him, resolute.
"You're going over there," he ordered, shoving the blond in her direction.
"Tyson!"
"Keep moving or I'm gonna make a scene."
"Please don't make me do this," he hissed.
"Just talk to her."
And then she was in front of him. Right in front of him! Max didn't dare open his mouth in fear of just what might come out.
"Hi," Miriam regarded them with clear jade eyes. He loved her eyes. Like liquid pools.
"Hi," Mao echoed, her gaze moving past them to quickly search the room. "Where's Rei?"
"He didn't come with us," Tyson explained. "But I actually wanted to talk to you about him. Let's talk in private." He waved at Miriam, smiling at Max, leading the small pink-haired girl over towards the kitchen.
"Okay!"
Very subtle, Tyson. And now he was left all alone with the prettiest girl he knew. "Hi," he finally choked out.
She smiled at him. He loved her smile. She had very white teeth. "Hey, Max. How's it going?"
He shrugged. "All right." He'd managed a two-word sentence! That was a something, at least.
She tilted her head to the side, still smiling at him. "Do you want to dance?" she asked nervously.
"What? I mean--yes."
"Okay." Chewing her lip thoughtfully, she took his hand.
He thought he might die if his heart didn't quit beating so fast.
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"I've just been worried about Rei," Tyson was telling the impressionable girl. "He's been under a lot of stress and I think he really needs someone like you in his life. All the time. No matter how much he might try to push you away." Rei was going to hurt him later.
"He keeps telling me he needs his space," Mao confessed.
Tyson waved his hand, as thought to dismiss her worries. "It's just an excuse. He really cares about you and he just doesn't know how to express himself. Being an orphan and all. No. Believe me, he needs you to be around him." Rei might skip hurting and go straight to killing.
"Should I go over his house now?" she asked.
"No, not tonight. We've got a meeting later. Start tomorrow. But it's the best thing for him, Mao. He really does like you."
She blushed, her cheeks deepening in color to match her hair. "Thanks, Tyson. I'll talk to him tomorrow," she promised, running off.
He cocked his head through the doorway to check on his friend. They'd moved more towards the center of the living room, where they danced awkwardly. Max was a terrible dancer. And all things he was bad at multiplied by a thousand when he was nervous. But it was a start. Miriam didn't look unhappy.
Zeo, he saw, was sitting comfortably on the couch, with Hilary on his left hanging a possessive hand on his knee, and Mathilda on his right, sitting so close to him she was nearly on his lap. He looked like he was enjoying himself.
Running his fingers through his hair, he hurried over and threw himself on Mathilda's other side. "Hey."
"Hi, Tyson," Hilary said loudly, squeezing Zeo's leg.
"Ow," he whined, pushing her hand off him. "Here, Tyson. Have a drink," he told him, giving him the rest of his. It was clear, whatever it was. And strong, he found when he took a sip.
"Thanks."
"So then," Zeo went on with his story. "I told them to go screw themselves and just left." He laughed. "Stupid tutors. I wonder what my father's next move will be," he said with a smirk, pulling out a cigarette. "So what's going on, Tyson?" he asked, changing the subject.
With a proud grin he replied, "I just made Rei's life a living hell," he told him modestly.
"How so?"
Breaking down his tough façade with laughter he shared with them what he had said to Mao.
"That's so mean, Tyson," Mathilda scolded him. "And what makes it worse is that Rei's too afraid of hurting her to ever come out and tell her he's not interested.
"You're not going to say anything, are you?" Zeo asked.
She settled back into the couch. "Of course not," she told him softly. "But I do feel bad for her."
"Well, if Rei really wants her to leave him alone he'll say something," Tyson told her. "I, for one, think he just likes the attention. He likes to make himself feel wanted."
"I'd never do something like that," Zeo whispered into Mathilda's ear.
He and Tyson both burst out laughing.
Feeling ignored, Hillary rose.
"Where are you going?" Zeo was the one to ask.
"To find something more interesting to do," she told him haughtily.
"I know someone who likes you," Tyson said.
Crossing her arms with a pout she said, "You're probably just gonna lie to me like you did to Mao."
"Of course not! Why would I lie to you?" he told her, raising his hands in an innocent plea. "You're not going to follow anyone around like a kitten like Mao. What do I have to gain?"
She tapped her foot, waiting expectantly. "Fine. Who?"
"Kenny," he told her, completely serious.
With a huff of exasperation she whirled around and stalked away.
Tyson and Zeo laughed again, squishing Mathilda between them. She joined in with them, not sure what she was laughing at.
"Let's go get something else to drink," Zeo suggested. "Mathilda, you stay here and keep the couch warm."
"Okay."
Following the aqua haired boy to the kitchen Tyson remarked, "You sure got her trained real quick. How long are you going to leave her sitting alone?"
"Till I feel like it," he replied with a shrug. "I'm sure he's got something better in here," Zeo murmured, ruffling through the cabinets. "His dad makes his own beer and sangria, you know."
"I didn't." The kitchen was empty now, which was unusual in a party of this size. Tyson kept his back to the wall, eyeing the two entryways into the kitchen, alert. It would be just his luck someone would get him while he was looking for alcohol, letting down his guard. "Zeo, let's get back to the living room," he suggested.
"Hold on, Tyson. I know this stuff's around here somewhere. Josef told me."
"Hurry up."
"Found one!" he exclaimed, pulling out a hand sealed bottle of dark liquid from under the sink.
"Now let's go!" He nearly dragged him from the room. Perhaps it was a trap? Probably not meant for him since he'd left without incident. A couple of the Demolition boys hung near the other entrance not doing anything in particular. He gave a brief thought to who it was that Tala Ivanov, their leader since Kai's departure, might be after.
"I'm going to go check on Max. Stay out of the kitchen."
"What's your problem, Tyson?" he groaned. "You're such a nag tonight!"
"Just listen to me, okay?"
"Yeah. Whatever." He brightened when his eyes caught glimpse of Mathilda again. "See ya later," he told him, jumping onto the couch beside her.
Idiot. A quick glance around the room showed Max and Miriam to be gone. It was getting late; already it was nearing seven. They had to get going.
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Max was in Dunga's parent's bedroom, with the girl of his dreams laying complacent in his arms. Their first kisses had been awkward at best, but he'd quickly caught on and had somehow managed to get on top of her. She was trying to pull off his shirt. He didn't mind.
Then the door pushed open without so much as a knock, the light pulling him from his waking dream. "Get out of here!" Miriam yelled, pushing a strand of dark hair from her face. He thought she looked lovely with the light form the hall spilling over half her body.
Tyson ignored her. "I've been looking for you for an hour! We're late! Come on."
Tyson stormed out the door leaving it open wide for prying eyes and Max regretfully stood. "I have to go," he said softly. "Do you wanna go out sometime?" he asked hopefully. Maybe that came out a little too hopefully. He didn't want her thinking he was some kind of sissy.
She smiled at him, her green eyes bright even in the dark. "I'd love to, Max."
Hoping she couldn't see his blush in the dim light he fixed his clothes with a smile. "Next Saturday?"
"Sure." Raising herself to her knees on the bed, she pulled him close for one last kiss goodnight. "Till then."
"Max!"
"I'm coming!" he yelled back. "Bye, Miriam. I really wish I could stay." He hurried out the room before he could be further distracted.
"Took you long enough."
"Leave me alone, Tyson."
"So what were you doing in there?" the dark haired boy asked with a knowing grin.
Max could feel the heat rising again in his cheeks. He looked away.
"Max--"
Tyson was cut off as he entered back into the living room, as a turquoise haired boy brushed his arm as he passed. After him came a blond giant with a knife in hand."
"Oh, no."
"Zeo, you damn punk! Get back here!" Dunga shouted. "I'll teach you to mess with my dad's stuff!"
"What did he do now?" Max whined.
"Come on. We gotta help him."
Surveying the scene they saw Miguel on the couch comforting a crying Mathilda. Dunga's fellow game member, Ozuma, stood watching the goings on with amusement beside Tala Ivanov. The other guests of the party were either cheering or watching the excitement, but no one rose to help either side.
Tyson hurried after where they'd disappeared into the kitchen and saw Dunga running out the back door. The pair ran after him.
Dunga stood in the middle of the small yard with the knife at his side, a confused look on his face, having lost site of Zeo. Max could see the smaller boy sitting in the bushes beside the house, trying not laugh.
"There he is!" Max shouted, pointing in the opposite direction. "I see him!"
Dunga turned to look and Tyson shouted, catching on, "Now he's over there!"
"Look!" Max shouted. "He went back into the house!"
Too drunk to realize they might be screwing with him, Dunga trudged full speed into the house, colliding head-on with Carlos DeGuerez, a lowly member of the Blade Sharks, a little thought of gang that often did Kai's bidding. They both fell to the floor.
Zeo peered through the bushes into the door way giggling like a child. "That was great. We should do this every night!"
"You should get out of here," Max told him. "He'll be back as soon as he gets up."
"But I'm invisible."
"How much have you had to drink since I left you?" Tyson asked.
The boys response was to laugh.
Tyson kneeled down. "Come on. You gotta get home. He's out to hurt you." He helped him out of the bush and tried to pull him to his feet, but Zeo stumbled and took Tyson to the ground with him. "Max, help!"
Together they managed to get Zeo walking and out to the street. "We are so late," Tyson moaned.
"Let's just take him to Kai's with us. He can't get home by himself and we don't have time to take him."
"Fine."
It was a long walk, made longer by Zeo's rambling and having to stop twice to allow the boy to throw up. Eventually Kai's house mercifully came into view.
"Let's go to the park and swing. I want to see how far I can jump."
"At least he's a happy drunk," Max remarked.
Kai, like Tyson, lived alone with his grandfather. The Hiwatari's had slightly more money than there neighbors, and their house was consequently larger. Kai had said his grandfather was out of town. The man often was.
"Can I ring the bell?" Zeo asked with childlike glee as they came to the door.
"Go ahead."
He rang it. Then rang it again. He went to do it a third time but Max pulled his hand away. "Stop it," he hissed.
"But it's fun."
Rei Kon, the fourth member of the Bladebreakers, answered the door. "You guys are late. Why is Zeo here?"
"We couldn't leave him," Max explained. "Dunga was trying to kill him."
"Hi," Zeo said brightly. "You have eyes like a cat, you know that, Rei. And your hair's like a tail. Let's call you Fluffy."
"Zeo, be quiet," Tyson told him.
"We've been waiting for over an hour." Rei held the door for them.
"Yeah, well blame Max. It took me that long to find him making out with Miriam."
"Tyson, shut up."
Rei smirked at the blond. "Finally."
"Oh, you leave me alone, too."
"Tyson. Max." The voice came from the doorway.
Kai stood, arms crossed, his expression blank. Kai always wore a lot of leather and spikes, which coupled with the dark blue tiger stripes he always drew on his face, made him look very threatening. Tonight was no exception.
"I think I'm getting sick again," Zeo moaned, and Max and Tyson rushed to get him to the bathroom.
They left Zeo alone to puke his guts out and returned to the other two.
"Dunga was going to kill him," Tyson explained to Kai. "We couldn't just leave him there. It wouldn't be fair. He doesn't stand a change against that ape."
"If he throws up anywhere but in that toilet, I kill you. Is that fair?"
Tyson chewed his lip thoughtfully. "I'm going to go check on him," he murmured.
Zeo was sitting lazily against the wall, a funny smile on his face. "I feel weird."
"I bet you do. I need you to stay in here, okay? I wasn't supposed to bring anyone with me."
"I feel special then," he giggled, pulling on Tyson's arm so he fell on top of him. "You could stay in here with me."
Tyson tried to pull away. "Come on, Zeo, this is serious."
"I'm being serious. Stay here. I promise it'll be fun."
"I need you to do this for me. I'll give you something. A CD. You can pick any CD from my collection."
"I'm not a child, just stoned." He pulled Tyson close enough to kiss. "Stay."
"I'll come back in a little while." He pushed Zeo's arms off him. "Stay here."
"Yeah, yeah."
He left the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
"Are you ready yet?" Kai asked, his flat voice taking on the slightest tone of anger.
"I'm always ready."