Chapter Fifteen

I could feel Hilary staring at me and I could tell what she was going to ask before she even opened her mouth. It seemed as though she, Mariah, Julia, and Mathilda were waiting for someone to crack and ask me the question of the day.

"You're dating Max?" Hilary asked, poking me in the side.

Finally. I let out a little growl but didn't open my eyes. The girls and I were watching Max and Tyson as they battled each other with their new blades, still trying to get the hang of it. Max was mastering it so far and Tyson was still having a little trouble. Most likely because he was still so stressed about everything he couldn't focus on what he was doing.

"No," I finally replied, looking her in the eye to make sure she got what I was saying. "I'm going on a date with him, I'm not dating him. There's a huge difference." I think. Note to self: ask Hilary about this stuff when we're alone.

"Why?" Mathilda asked, picking at blades of grass. "I mean, what if it messes up the team?"

"It's one date!" I cried out, sitting up and brushing grass off of my shirt. "It's not like I'm getting married to the guy and I couldn't just say no, not that I wanted to. Max is sweet. I'm looking forward to it," I admitted. And then it hit me. I really was looking forward to it. Just thinking about it made me smile. And this was normal for people my age.

"You do know he's a really big flirt, right?" Hilary asked, looking at her nails.

"So?" I asked. I really didn't see the point in her telling me that.

"Every girl he comes across that he thinks is cute he has to comment on or talk to."

"Guys," I sighed, rolling my eyes. "You're making too big a deal out of this. It's just one date, it's not like I'm going to be his girlfriend." Oh gosh, I don't even want to think about that.

"You never know. Max can get anyone to do anything for him with that certain smile of his," Mariah said as she finger combed her hot pink hair. "Besides, having a boyfriend will be good for you. Maybe now you can actually act like a girl."

"Flouncing around and batting my eyelashes?" I scoffed, even though her comment stung. "No thank you."

"There's nothing wrong with male attention."

"No but there's something wrong with acting like a complete airhead over a boy," I replied.

"Don't say we didn't warn you when your beyblading goes downhill because you're paying more attention to him," Julia said as she looked over her blade. "And what if the date goes badly? I mean, you are on the same team and it could be really awkward."

"You're having too much fun with this," I grumbled. She merely smirked and continued messing with her blade. "You don't have to worry. Nothing's going to happen that will change our focus."

"Maybe not yours but his. I mean, he's obviously crushing on your big time. Don't break his heart. I couldn't bear seeing someone as sweet as him get hurt," Mathilda said.

"So why don't you go out with him?" I asked, lifting my eyebrows. Then I pretended to get a thought and put a finger to my chin. "Oh, that's right. You only have eyes for Miguel!" I said loudly. Mathilda blushed and lunged at me, covering my mouth with her hand. I laughed behind her hand as she glanced over at the guys to make sure no one had heard me. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood," I told her once she moved her hand away from my mouth.

"You're an evil girl," Mathilda sighed.

"So you do like Miguel!" Julia said and started laughing.

"Why is that so funny?" Mathilda demanded, rounding on Julia.

"Relax, Thilda. I'm laughing because you, Mousy Mathilda, likes Miguel, the most oblivious person in the world excluding Tyson."

"I don't like Miguel," she denied.

"No sense in denying it now, sweetie, you practically confirmed it by jumping down our throats," Julia said as she looked at her nails.

Mathilda grumbled under her breath as Mariah and Julia continued to poke fun at her. I turned my attention back to the beybattle as Hilary shifted her position and sighed again. I knew it was simply because she was bored, hell I was too. The guys still wouldn't let me blade until my arm was fully healed. I could blade if they'd give me the chance but no, they were too thick headed as usual. Now I had to sit around and watch them blade as they try and figure out who the fifth member was going to be. I know Tyson was still holding onto the hope that Kai would come back and blade on the team but the competition was two days away and they needed someone.

Of course I was hoping it would be me, I was much better than the other girls, although Mariah did have the upper hand on me sometimes I'll admit. But otherwise I was better. Why didn't they just ask me to be on the team all ready? The wait was killing me! And then I mentally slapped my forehead. Of course. How many times have I said I don't blade on teams? I sighed. I'm just...not used to them, that's all. I hope they give me a chance at least.

"You guys should take a break, you've been at it all morning," Lee finally spoke up. "Ray, you always said it's not good to push yourself too much."

"Lee's right," Mariah agreed almost instantly. Of course. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. The girl was too much sometimes. "And we made lunch for you guys too. Come and enjoy it."

"All you had to say was that you had food," Tyson said, catching his blade. Then his stomach growled and he rubbed his neck as he laughed a little. "Can't blade on an empty stomach, right?"

"What about an empty head?" Hilary asked innocently. A smile pulled at the corner of my lips as Tyson glared at her but didn't say anything and continued eating. Hilary deflated slightly but turned her attention to Kenny who was trying to tell her something about their stats. I don't know why he was trying, she wouldn't get it. Especially since she was fuming at Tyson.

"Those two should get together all ready," Max commented sitting next to me.

I nodded in agreement. "There are so many arguments that I can handle in a day. They're making it so freakin' obvious though. But it is Tyson, he doesn't understand anything even if it's written in big letters in front of his face."

Max laughed. "Or if it isn't about beyblading," he added. "He really needs to relax though. If he keeps this up it's going to affect his performance."

"Eh, sometimes stress is good. Keeps people on their toes," I said, leaning back on my elbows. I let out a little sigh and looked around at everyone talking, laughing, and eating. The day was so…perfect. And it scared me knowing that the battles in a few days could easily change the one thing that gives my life meaning. "Hey Max, I was thinking…maybe this…date thing could be low key? I mean, considering what's coming up I'm not really in the mood to do anything big."

"I was thinking the same thing," he said with a soft smile. "Take-out and a movie back at the dojo?"

"Sounds good. Pizza?"

He wrinkled his nose. "You don't like anchovies, do you?"

I lightly punched him on the arm. "I may be from White Tiger Hills but I don't carry their stereotypes. I hate fish, ironically."

He let out a breath of relief. "Oh good."

"But if you put a drop of mustard anywhere near my pizza," I started in fake warning.

"Ugh, even I'm not dumb enough to put mustard on pizza," he said, sticking out his tongue. I sighed. "I prefer ranch dressing," he added.

"Ugh, you're so weird!" I groaned as he laughed. We fell into a comfortable silence. Soon everyone else was quiet as well. It was kinda creepy but I knew we were all thinking the same thing. What the outcome of the battles would be. Would this be the last time we were able to blade for fun and not for a sport?

I was wondering if this would be taken away from me like everything else I loved.