Chapter 15: Pre-Competition Battles and Slow Dances

Same day, my room, 6: 30 pm

I hate my sister.

Not Sakura, of course. Sakura is too nice to do anything like this ever, even if she was drunk or something. No, I'm talking about the other sister. Sora. The meanest, most evilest girl around. What kind of sister does this to her younger sibling? Especially when that younger sibling is in such a drama currently?

Let me explain. I was putting on my sparkly new pink dress when Sora burst in my room, holding a black, small cocktail dress. It looked so tight, I thought it was a handkerchief.

"Hey!" I shouted, "get out!" But, Sora just came in, closing the door behind her. She saw what I was wearing and looked me up and down. After a few seconds, she sighed, rubbed her temples, and sat down on my bed.

"Take that off." she demanded, giving me her 'do it or else' look.

I placed my hands on my hips and glared at her. "Why should I?" I asked defiantly, watching her expression from angry to devilish.

"Because," she said, waving her hand exasperately, "that dress is hideous." she got up from the bed and stood behind me, unzipping the zipper, leaving me in my bra and underwear.

"Hey!" I yelled for the second time, grabbing onto my dress. "Hand that over!"

Sora threw the dress out the door and closed the door once again. "Listen, Hilary. I know fashion, ok? Why the heck did you look so good when you were in that Kitty phase thing? Because you were wearing my clothes, got it? Now shut up and let me dress you, the pun unintended."

I bit my lip. "But, Sora, I gave up being Kitty ages ago."

Sora sighed. "You don't have to look good and be called Kitty. You can look good while being Hilary, like you do every day." I smiled at that comment, for once glad I had a fashion diva for a sister.

So now, here I am, wearing Sora's little black dress, with light eyeliner and huge amounts of lip gloss, waiting for Ben to pick me up. And yes, even though Tyson had admitted that he wanted to go with me, it didn't change the fact that:

a) he asked me WAY too late

b) Kimiko was already going with him

c) and I'm going with Ben.

I mean, really? Did he really want me to ditch Ben just go to with Tyson? Its not that I don't want to go with him; its just that I already told Ben I'd go with him.

Anyway, back to the reason why I'm so mad at Sora. I bet you forgot about that, huh? I mean, not forget exactly, but dressing me up to look like Kitty again is enough to make me mad, right? But that's not the reason why I'm mad. I' mad because Sora made this bet with me. She said that if I don't kiss (yes, I said KISS) Tyson by the end of the week, I have to scrub her feet. And that's one thing I will not do.

The scrubbing thing, I mean. Not kissing Tyson.

But that doesn't mean I want to kiss him. And, it'd be hard to anyway, since I'm kind of bad at this kind of thing. At the love thing. I know I've had a boyfriend before, but we didn't had our first kiss until after the fifth month. Pretty darn slow, right?

And besides, Tyson probably doesn't want me in that way. Just because he wanted to take me to the dance doesn't mean anything right? He probably just doesn't want to go with Kimiko or Aimee, right? And, maybe it's because he finally understands the significance of our engagement. Right!

Right??

Same day, the school dance, washroom stall, 9 pm

It's official. Almost every guy in the school has given me the whistle.

And it just isn't any normal whistle. Oh no, this whistle is the wolf whistle. The long, deep whistle that indicates someone looks so good that they could be jumped and attacked in a matter of seconds.

Heck, even Mr. Benson, our chaperone, said I looked 'hot'. Hot!!! I decided last week that I was over the looking like Kitty! Why did I let Sora talk me into this!!!!!

So anyhow, I walk in with Ben holding on to my arm, and I got a few compliments. Not about my looks though; how I was able to keep my relationship going with Ben while he was in Kyoto. Which is so false, because we hardly called each other. But I guess we looked good together, since I also got envious looks from people I hardly even know.

But, to top it all off, Tyson didn't even look my way! Well, we did lock eyes for a second, and I honestly thought he'd come up to me and scream at the top of his lungs that he loved me and he couldn't live without me, but just like that, he looked away.

Obviously, I can't even blame him, since he was pretty mad today when I told him that I was still going with Ben. We were walking home from school after the scavenger hunt, you see:

"So..." I said, trying to break the silence between us. His face was all flustered, like his brain was going to explode any minute.

"So..." he replied, and I think he was about to say more, until Kimiko bounced up randomly in front of us, a fake, totally plastic smile plastered on her face.

"Hey, Tyson! Hilary." she sort of mumbled my name, like I was some kind of intruder on a private meeting.

"Um..hey.." Tyson said puzzled. He looked at me in a way that said, 'where did she come from?' I shook my head in response, 'I have no idea.'

"So..." Kimiko said, putting us where Tyson and I had left off before she came along, "are we still going to the dance together?" she asked, sticking herself in between him and me. She slid her arm through Tyson's and snuggled close to him.

Now, on the outside, I was staring into space, like I couldn't be bothered by any of this, but inside, my mind was screaming. Tyson was going with her!!!! I sort of knew they were, but then why would Tyson want to go with me? Why that stupid, big headed, idiotic, two timer!

When I snapped out of it, Tyson was staring at me sympathetically. I huffed. I don't need his sympathy; I have the incredibly sweet and adorable Ben at my beck and call! I don't need his pity!

So, for my pride's sake, I smiled at them. "You guys are going together?" I asked politely and utterly sweet, I thought I'd barf. Tyson looked at me puzzled, and I smiled sweetly. But I think my eyes were shooting glares; I hardly remember.

Kimiko smiled equally nicely. "Yeah. What about you? Are you going stag?" she asked nicely, as if she was saying, would you like me to give you a million dollars?

I shook my head. "Of course not. I'm going with my boyfriend, Ben." I emphasized on the boyfriend part. I looked over at Tyson and saw his eyes flare and narrow. I narrowed back.

I guess I went a bit too far, because he won't even look at me now. Which is why I'm on the washroom, not even bothering to go out there, while Beyonce is singing her heart out about Jay-Z loudly. And I actually like this song too...

Same day, Ben's car, midnight

Ladies and gentleman, I have another official confession. I am utterly humiliated and equally as ashamed. Ben isn't even talking to me now, and I know I shouldn't have done that to Tyson, but it was moment, I tell you! The moment!.

I shouldn't have come out of that washroom.

After I left the washroom, there was a slow song on, I think it was Celine Dion, I don't know right now, but anyway, I come out, and there Ben is,.looking so sweet and innocent in his black suit. I stared at him for a minute, watching him look in space, and I find myself wondering what he's thinking. Wondering how such a nice guy can suddenly appear sick. Dying, even.

He suddenly snapped out of his trance and saw me, confusion etching his face, before he remembered who I was. "Hey, Hilary, where were you?" he asked, walking over to me.

I smiled lightly. "I just needed to freshen up." I looked over his shoulder to the dance floor and saw Tyson and Kimiko, slow dancing to the new song that came on, I think it was Goo Goo Dolls. Tyson looked confused, and I knew he wasn't involved in that dance, but I still got mad anyway. He had no backbone when it came to girls, except me!

I turned back to Ben and grinned my best grin. "Wanna dance?" I asked, hooking my hand through his. Before he could answer though, I dragged him to the center of the gym, and placed my head on his shoulder, while his arms snaked around my waist.

I sighed, trying to sound blissful, but to my ears, I heard regret. You have nothing to regret, I thought, Tyson brought it on himself. He should stand up for himself and not let Kimiko run his life! What Ben and I have is completely different! At least he doesn't dictate me and annoy me and grab me like he's going to rape me! I swear, that Tyson is such a...

Now, I bet you can guess what is about to happen now. Let me give you a minute...Nah! I'll tell you! So, I was dancing with Ben, all the while trying to sort out my feelings, when all of a sudden, I feel a pair of hands go around my waist and pull me back, right out of Ben's arms.

"You, Ben! Beybattle, right now!" Tyson declared, pushing me behind him, away from Ben. I heard myself yell out Tyson's name, telling him that this isn't a place to beybattle.

"Besides, Ben doesn't even know how to beyblade!" I said, putting myself in front of him and Ben, my arms out horizontally at my sides. By now, the whole school was watching this soap opera.

But, what surprised me the most was when Ben suddenly pulled out a beyblade from his pocket, and a launcher and rip cord from the other pocket. The crowd ooohed and aaahed as he attached everything on everything and got into a launching position.

Tyson smirked and looked at me. "I guess you don't know much about your boyfriend." he said, stepping in front of me and the battle was about to begin...

...until Kimiko stepped in. "Hey!" she yelled, getting everyone's attention, including Ben and Tyson's, "this isn't a place for a battle, okay? Us girls didn't get all primped up to watch two guys battle over her!" she pointed at me and I blushed.

"Now, both of you! Stop acting like babies, and start dancing!" she concluded, her loud voice adding alarm. The music started up again with The Red Hot Chili Peppers and everyone started fanning out.

All except Ben and Tyson.

I went over to Ben and grabbed his hand. "Come on, let's get some fresh air." I encouraged. He looked down at me and I saw it; his usually beautiful, and happily lit eyes were dull. He looked so tired, and I thought he was going to collapse right here, but instead he took his hand out of my hold and left.

"So much for fresh air." Tyson said from behind me. I jerked around and walked over to him, my heels making clicking noises.

"Why did you go and do that?" I tried to yell over the music, my hands to my sides.

"What?"

"I said, WHY DID YOU DO THAT?"

"WHAT?!!"

I sighed and grabbed his hand, leading him outside. The cool air felt good against my bare arms and toes. I walked over to the railway and looked to the horizon. Which was basically car lights, but whatever.

I turned to Tyson. "Why did you do that?" I asked him, referring to the part where he interrupted my dance with Ben. Not that I didn't want him to; but if he has feelings for me, he should tell me now.

Tyson scratched his head playfully. "Do what?"

I rolled my eyes. "When you challenged Ben to a beybattle." I explained. I think Tyson doesn't even know why he interrupted my dance with Ben.

Tyson looked at me, his eyes suddenly doing the fiery thing again. "It's because he was dancing with you, and making me look bad." he explained, his hands in his pockets.

I stared at him, not even beliving what he was telling me. "So, what? Is this all some sort of pride issue?"

"Yeah," he said, his eyebrows furrowed, "what else is it?"

I felt tears prickling my eyes, but I refuse to let them out over him. "This has nothing to do with, I don't know, our engagement?" I asked, an idea popping into my head.

Tyson shook his head. "Nope. Not at all. Not even close, dude." he replied, his voice going squeaky. I smiled inwardly. He was lying. He's always been so...transparent.

"Fine then," I said, walking by him, "then I don't have to tell Ben about us then, if there basically is no us." I continued to walk by him, about to enter the gym again, but he called out to me, "Hilary! Hold on a second, that's not what I meant!"

I turned around forcefully. I think I've been doing that so much I was going to get whiplash. "Then what do you mean, Tyson? You want me to dump Ben, the guy who's always there for me, for someone who can't even tell me I'm somewhat worth fighting for?" I demanded, hot tears hitting me like a wave in my eyes again.

Tyson walked over to me, his hair shining in the moonlight. My cheeks hinted a light pink just thinking about him like I suddenly was. He stood over me and stared into my eyes. "You know you're worth fighting for. Why do you think I hate him so much?" he asked rhetorically, his face suddenly bright pink for saying that.

I smiled softly, almost sadly. "Then why can't you just say it?" I questioned quietly, as if we suddenly had an audience. It seemed like I have always had an audience, for some odd reason.

Tyson stepped back a bit, his hands instantly running through his hair frustratedly. "I'm not that kind of a guy. I've never done this before, never felt like this before, Hil. I...I think I just need you to be patient with me." he finished, his face now glowing with color and slight sweat of nervousness.

I looked at him, his cute little anxious face and his eyes were shining with the moment, and I knew I could just do my bet right now, and get it over with. Almost everyone knows how much I want to do this. But would he want to, too?

Slowly, but surely, I walked over to Tyson, and gave him a slight hug. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I buried my face into the crook of his shoulder. I felt so small, like a little, breathless belle, against him. I felt him tense a bit, but slowly relax as he realized I was actually hugging him. In fact, I could hardly believe that I was hugging him too. But let me tell you something: I don't hate it.

Slowly, but surely, he wrapped his hands around my waist and we started to sway to the music. My eyes fluttered closed and I sighed. Blissfully this time. I knew what was happening, but at the same time, my brain had shut down on me.All I knew was that I was dancing with Tyson; my fiancé, one of my best friends, and I think I have the slightest crush on him.

We pulled apart, and his face was furiously red. So was mine, actually, but who cares? I hugged him! I felt my heart skip with the news and the new memory of finally hugging him.

"Hey," he said, as I let him go, "what was that for?" he asked, his eyebrows raised teasingly.

I shrugged. "No clue." I replied, lacing my hands with his, "but who cares?"

He smiled, squeezing my hand lightly. "Yeah, who?" We smiled at each other once more, before heading back into the gym, where all the chaos started.

As we walked in, we realized two things:

a) no music was playing

b) everyone was looking at us, and to my horror

c) Ben was staring straight at me

My eyes widened at what I knew. Ben had seen us hugging outside. Dancing outside. My heart started to beat as I realized he would put two and two together and get four. He would finally realize that Tyson and I were engaged. Or at least together, more or less.

Instead, Ben looked away and said behind me, "Hilary, let's go. Your dad wants you by midnight, remember?

So here we are, in his car, and Ben is looking out the window, while I'm writing here. I'm so depressed, I can't even write anymore.