Thirty-Two

This Beyblade Ball thing sucks and we haven't even had it yet. For the past few days I've been interrogated by the girls wondering who I'd attend the ball with. It didn't help that, now since I was officially a Bladebreaker, that I had to have a date. I didn't even think about that when I agreed to join the team and now I was feeling the pressure. It didn't help that Mariah had been walking around with a jack-o-lantern grin ever since Ray asked her. Lee wasn't too happy about it at first but he got over it when he saw how happy Mariah was.

That coupled with the fact that I woke up with the biggest zit in the middle of my forehead made me want to stay hidden in Tyson's guest room for as long as possible. Or until the end of the Ball, whichever came first.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad," Max commented while leaning forward to look at my forehead.

I scoffed and adjusted my bangs so they hid my forehead and partially covered the line of sight in my right eye. Note to self: find a way to hide Mt. Vesuvius without going blind. "Easy for you to say," I grumbled. "You don't have anything on your face aside from your freckles."

"Crys, I wouldn't have noticed it if you didn't point it out to me," Max laughed. "Relax, you're making it a bigger deal than it needs to be."

"Coming from the guy with perfect skin," I grumbled. He grasped the couch pillow and playfully bopped me over the head with it. "I just wish this whole thing were over with. The idea of having to go with someone is so daunting. Now I wish you had asked me instead of leaving me to worry about this."

Max gave a half smile in response. "I would have but after the way everyone blew me asking you out out of proportion I didn't want to risk them messing the Ball up for us too. I was only looking out for you."

"Such a gentleman," I said with a roll of my eyes. "So who're you going with? I'm sure you've found someone to ask by now."

"Maybe," he replied in a mysterious tone while rocking back and forth a little.

"Ah, so must really like this girl if you're not being up front about it, even with me," I noted. "She must be special."

"That's none of your business," Max replied with a little laugh. "We're talking about you, remember? It can't be too hard to find someone you want to go with."

"Considering I can't stand most of the people here, it's hard," I replied. "Besides the fact that I don't know that many people to begin with."

"You could ask Tyson."

"Nah, I know he's going to ask Hilary if she doesn't beat him to it because she'd be annoyed of waiting for him to do it," I replied.

"Maybe someone from the other teams? Raul?"

I gave a little laugh and then covered my mouth. "I don't mean to laugh at him, he's a sweet guy and all but he's so quiet when he's not with Julia that I don't think we'd be able to hold a conversation." I paused and pointed at him, jumping in to add, "Don't even think about suggesting Lee," before he could say anything.

"I wasn't going to," he replied, pushing my finger out of his face. "It's not like asking someone is asking to go on a date with them. It's just a night of fun for all of the bladers."

"Easy for you to say, you're a boy. This isn't like your Prom or whatever." I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. "I just…want to go on a vacation or something. To an island so we can actually relax and not do anything and then I can give myself some more time before I decide what to do."

"That's not a bad idea," Max said as he rubbed his chin. "I'd love to go on vacation to Hawaii or the Bahamas or something. I want to go snorkeling." Then his eyes lit up. "Ray's birthday is coming up. We can go somewhere to celebrate his birthday. I'm sure he'd love it, he hasn't been to many places if he wasn't on a tournament circuit." He grinned and sat up straighter. "We have to do this for him! It'll be so great! We can arrange to go swimming with dolphins and to scuba dive and snorkel and take a boat out onto the ocean and go parasailing and—"

"Do you want to kill off all of Ray's nine lives?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face but I couldn't hold it for long. Tyson was convinced that everyone of the White Tiger village was part cat somehow. While there were a lot of coincidences with us and the felines, I'll admit, it was completely crazy but very fun to joke about.

"You have to admit, he'd like to be able to relax and not worry about what's going on in the 'blading world and his team and his village back home," Max urged.

"That's right up his alley," I agreed, while rubbing his chin. Then something dawned on me. I sighed and pointed out, "We don't have the funds for it."

"We could…ask Kai," Max said really slowly.

Simultaneously we pulled a face at the idea. Kai was slowly coming around and opening himself up to the rest of us, and by slowly I mean as slow as molasses in a blizzard in Antarctica. He even seemed a little cheerful whenever we visited them at the hospital but I didn't know if that was because we were there in general or if it was because we'd distract Tyson from him. Either way it'd be hard to ask him to fund a trip for Ray without knowing how he'd react.

"I'll give it a shot," I said slowly. "Maybe I can get Hilary to come with me. There's no way he can be too harsh to us. Especially with my adorable face." I gave a big grin and shook my head a little, letting him know without so many words not to take me too seriously. "I'll ask after the big party. Speaking of which, is everything almost done? I got the girls to go and get decorations."

"Lee, Kevin, and Gary are making a cake," Max said and then gave me a sheepish smile. I rolled my eyes. You burn a few cakes and people won't let me live it down. They freak out even when I ask for the sugar to eat with my rice. "Grandpa is out getting paper lanterns for us to light later and Ray, Kenny, and Daichi are distracting them at the hospital."

"Well, we should get to cleaning then," I said as I looked around the messy living room. It's what happens whenever Daichi wakes up, he moves from room to room, whining and complaining that he was bored since Tyson was in the hospital. He was like the Tasmanian devil, no room was Daichi proof.

For the next couple of hours Max and I went from room to room making sure everything was spotless. Kevin, Gary, and Lee showed up with a cake and then went around the from yard helping Grandpa Granger hang different colored paper lanterns. The girls came back to the dojo and put up the rest of the decorations before congregating outside with the rest of us, helping us set up plates and utensils on the tables that were brought out.

"This looks great, guys!" I said as I stepped back to look at everything. The warm orange glow from the paper lanterns stretched across the tables which held a centerpiece of brightly colored flowers. Mathilda's idea, no doubt. By themselves they looked feminine but on the table it seemed to tie everything together. "Tyson, Kai, and Tala are going to love it. Now all we need are the guests of honor."

"I just called Ray at the hospital, they're on their way back," Hilary announced.

"Oh, speaking of Ray, Crystal and I came up with an idea," Max suddenly spoke up, lifting a finger I the air. "We were thinking of celebrating Ray's birthday in the Bahamas or something. Now that we finally have a break to relax."

"Oh, Max, that's a great idea!" Mariah gushed, clasping her hands together. "Ray would love it! He's always wanted to go to the beach!"

"Well, don't get too excited about it. Without money we can't go and—I don't know about you all—but I, for one, am broke," I replied with an arched eyebrow. The rest of the group made sounds of agreement.

"Maybe Mr. Dickenson would help," Hilary suggested.

"He already pays for our travel expenses and hotel accommodations, I'd feel horrible for asking him for money," Mathilda said as she twisted her hands together.

"But he likes Ray."

"Still, we don't want to drag him into it," Max jumped in. "So we were thinking of asking Kai for the money." That was met with a lot of blank stares mixed in with incredulous ones. "I know, it sounds far-fetched but we think he'd do it. He at least tolerates Ray if not likes him a little bit. Besides it won't hurt to ask."

"It just might," Lee quipped.

"We're just thinking about it, it's not finalized," I eased their minds. "But either way it's going to be a surprise so it should be kept a secret, Kevin."

He looked up from where he was about to drag his finger in the cake, his violet eyes wide. "Why'd you say my name?"

"Because you can't keep a secret to save your life," I replied with a roll of my eyes. "I'm letting you know now if you say anything you'll suffer the consequences." Keeping the "consequences" vague was the only way to get a threat through to Kevin. It let his imagination run wild so his thoughts were usually worse than the consequence itself.

Kevin pressed his lips together and kept his mouth shut while we had our finishing touches on the decorations. Tyson and Kai returned to the dojo with Ray, Kenny, and Daichi a few minutes after we had brought the food out onto the tables in the backyard. Tyson practically dove onto the table to get to his food but was stopped by Hilary grabbing onto his collar.

"This dance will be very interesting if they go together," I commented quietly before taking my seat at the table. "Either Hilary will kill Tyson before the night is over or he'll surprise us all and be a gentleman."

"I'm betting you he's going to mess something up one way or another," Max said as he reached for a rice ball.

"And I'm betting you he won't," I replied with a lift of my eyebrows. "Ten bucks."

"You're broke. You won't be able to pay me when I win," Max said with a smirk. I gave a little laugh. Who knew sweet little Maxie could be so cocky.

"Don't you worry about me. You're going to be the one handing over the money when I win," I replied before holding out my hand. He grasped it and gave it a firm shake with a challenging spark in his eyes.

"Man, I can't wait to see everyone," Tyson suddenly gushed, dropping his utensils on his plate with a clatter that made everyone jump. Figures, the guy can't go a second without talking about beyblading or eating. I reached for my drink and took a sip as he continued voicing his enthusiasm about the rapidly approaching night. "And I'll bet the food will be amazing, catered by those fancy people. Awww, I can already taste it."

"Tyson, I think we'd all appreciate it if you didn't drool all over our food," Ray commented from where he was sitting,

"Speaking of the dance, Tyson…do you even know how to?" Max asked in curiosity. I cut my eyes at him but he gave an innocent smile in return so I kicked at his leg. He made a grunting sound but pressed his lips together.

Tyson wrinkled his nose. "What's there to know? Besides, I plan on blading the entire night."

"I'm sure your date would love to be ignored the entire night," Julia commented dryly before taking a sip of her drink. "Who would attend a Ball and not dance? It's a crazy idea, really."

"Ignore them, Tyson," I told him. "I can teach you."

"You know how to dance?" Lee asked with a scoff. "Isn't that a bit too…feminine for you?"

"I'm sorry; I couldn't understand a word you just said. I don't speak caveman," I replied with enough bite in my tone for him to figure out that I didn't take his comment lightly. "Anyway, as I was saying, to save yourself from inevitable embarrassment I'll teach you the basics of dancing. It's not that hard, really."

"Ooh! Can you teach me?" Mariah asked enthusiastically. I looked at her to see that her eyes were practically shining as bright as diamonds at the very idea. She clasped her hands together and the smile on her face got wider, if possible. "I don't know how to either." Then she turned to Ray. "I'm sure it'd be fun," she told him while giving him a look that made me want to puke right then and there.

"I don't know how to dance either," Mathilda said quietly. "I'm sure it'll benefit us at such a formal setting." I glanced at her to see that she had a faraway look on her face and her cheeks were dusted a light rosy color. Oi vey, this whole Ball thing was going to kill me.

The next thing I knew Tyson was protesting loudly as Hilary tried to yank him out of his chair and back into the dojo for the impromptu dancing lessons that I was suddenly supposed to give. It's what I get for opening my big mouth. Teaching Tyson alone would've been fine but having to teach the others as well, especially Mariah, made me want to go and hide under a rock.

"Is that a look of defeat?" Max teased while elbowing me in the side as I stood to go into the dojo while the others milled about. The girls had rushed inside, obviously excited, but the guys were taking their time, talking quietly to each other. Kai and Tala sat at the furthest end of the table, not saying a word but taking sips of their tea here and there.

"No, it's a look of nausea," I corrected, putting a hand to my stomach for emphasis. "Teaching Tyson to dance, I would've been fine with that. But now that I have to teach Mathilda and Miguel and Emily and Michael and Mariah and Ray and—ugh. Makes me sick just even thinking about all the love."

"One dance hardly qualifies that they're all in love," Max pointed out.

"No but it'll inevitably lead up to it. Case 1: Hilary and Tyson. They love each other despite their act," I said as I held up my finger. "I can tell. They're just too stubborn to see it. Case 2:"—I lifted another finger—"Mathilda and Miguel. It's this...protective thing that he does that she likes about him or whatever." I lifted another finger. "Case 3: Mariah and Ray. Now, Mariah's been head over heels in love with the guy since she was four. You can see hearts in her eyes every time she talks to or about him. Ray, being the annoyingly sweet gentleman that he is, is either ignoring it or not giving her false hope. Either way, I have to watch those three be….intimate all because you are trying to sabotage!"

"Hey, I'll take my ten bucks any way that I can," Max said with a wave of his hand.

"You are a diabolical person, Tate," I tried to as sternly but a smile was fighting to come to my lips. I gave a little sigh. Max and I would've easily worked out; I kinda wish the others hadn't gotten in the way. I love spending time with him and he always puts me in a good mood. But this was the way things had to be, I guess. "I'm coming, I'm coming!" I called over my shoulder at the giggling bunch of girls that were basically falling over themselves, yelling from outside the dojo. "Geeze," I sighed. "Oh, wait, Kai, I have to ask you something,"

"And that's our cue to leave," Kevin muttered, getting up from the table and walking off. The other boys gave him a sort of knowing look and followed suit, heading straight into the dojo.

I wrinkled my nose at the smiles that formed on some of their faces. Especially Tala's. It made him look almost sinister. I took Tala's seat and almost flinched under the look that Kai was giving me as I sat down. "So…how're you feeling?" I asked while pushing my bangs out of my face.

His eyebrow lifted ever so slightly, so little that I thought I had imagined it. His eyes moved around the yard for a couple of seconds before he let out a little sigh. "Cut the chit chat. What do you want?" He asked.

"Well then," I mumbled. "Okay, so…I don't really know how to ask out hi so…I'll just come right out and ask." I paused and looked down at my hands in my lap, mentally constructing the best way to ask Kai to fund our trip. When I looked up I noticed that he seemed a little tense. Might as well get it over with. "I was wondering if you…could…put forward some money for a trip we want to take." His expression didn't change so I continued on quickly. "Y'see, Ray's birthday is coming up and we—Max and I—thought it'd be a good idea to take him—and everyone—on vacation to Hawaii or something. Only we don't have enough money for it so…"

I trailed off and waited for his reaction. For the longest time he didn't say anything, he just stared at me. Finally he spoke, "…Yeah, whatever," he muttered.

I let out a sigh of relief and grinned. "Oh, thanks Kai! You won't regret it, I promise." My grin fell off my face when I noticed the way he was looking at me. "What?" I asked.

"Was that all you were going to ask me?"

I nodded rapidly. "Yes. Why?" He didn't respond, he just kept his mouth shut. I squinted my eyes slightly as I tried to read his face but it was a blank mask, as usual. I back tracked on what I said and it suddenly dawned on me what it sounded like I was planning on asking. I quickly weighed the options in my mind, coming to the quick conclusion that going with him would be a lot better than going with Lee or Gary. "Kai, do you want to go to the Ball with me?"

His finger began to tap rapidly. After a few seconds it stopped and he said, "I could think of someone worse to go with."

"That better be a 'yes'," I grumbled and then stuck my tongue out at the smirk that formed on his lips. "Wait, do you know how to dance?" I asked.

Kai's smirk got bigger. "I'm not Tyson."