Hey! Sorry it took so long to update. I want to thank ARCtheElite and Kakion n' Xubose for their reviews. You were my inspiration for the chapter so to you I dedicate it. Hope you like guys.
Battlefronts: 2
Dinner had been a very strained affair. Matt's father had given up trying to question his youngest son T.K. in disgust. The blonde's answers had been short to the point of rudeness. I tried to fill the conversational gaps by talking to the irritable boy's friend Takao. I secretly studied the withdrawn blonde while I ate between bouts of conversation. I had never met such a jaded person before.
I managed to catch Matt's attention and mouthed 'Beach' at him. I got a slight nod of acknowledgement. Takao took that moment to make an innocuous comment which made the younger blonde choke on his food and turn a murderous glance at his best friend. The bridge of his nose had turned slightly red with embarrassment.
Well. That was interesting we finally got a reaction from the angry teen that didn't involve filthy looks and rude comments. I just wished I had paid attention and knew what the black haired boy had said to elicit that reaction.
"I've got some work to catch up on. I will live you youngsters to your own devices." Mr. Ishida said tiredly. He pushed away from the table and walked out of the room, a resigned expression on his face. Both Matt and I know how much he had been looking forward to try and get to know his youngest son and it didn't help that T.K. was going to make his life a living misery.
T.K. picked at his food. Shrugging I motioned to Matt. I made my excuses and turned on of my best charming smiles on the younger guys. "I'm going to the beach. Wanna come with?"
T.K. just gave me a surly look. Takao glanced at his friend giving us both a regretful smile. "Thanks for the offer but not tonight. I'm a bit wiped from the ride here so I think I will retire early tonight."
"Retire early?" Matt asked with a slightly shocked/amused glance at me.
"Lay off." T.K. snapped instantly coming to his friends defence. He glared angrily at Matt. The older boy just raised his hands defensively.
"Chillax man. He didn't mean anything by it." I told the feisty youth. He turned and glared daggers at me. Takao grabbed his arm and gave it a hard squeeze by the pained grimace that briefly crossed T.K.'s face.
Takao smiled at Matt and me. "Have fun guys! We'll see you bright and early tomorrow."
We watched with veiled amusement as he dragged his friend away which was an amazing feat considering his size.
"Dammit T.K.!"Takao had snapped at me once we had gotten safely into the room we shared. "You could have a least tried to be nice."
I just stared at Takao as if he'd grown an extra head. Takao rarely ever lost his temper but I had managed somehow to achieve that.
"Look I know you resent your father and I understand but throw the man a bone! He was trying to get to know you a little better and all you did was smack him down. He wasn't asking you any prying questions! Hell, you answer Grandpa when he asks questions like that!" he snapped at me. "What's gotten into you? You're not even this rude to Coach Ikikowa!"
I looked at him mute. He was right. I wasn't even this rude to the coach at our school – the one person who hated me as much as I hated him. The only reason I was passing gym at all was because the principal had stepped in; which of course made the situation even worse. Sighing I looked down embarrassed at my churlish behavior.
"…he just irritates me."I grumbled scowling at my shoes.
"Everything irritates you!" Taka snarled at me.
I glanced up through my fringe. He was really pissed at me. I decided not to answer that statement.
"T.K. we are going to be here for a month. 4 weeks. Forget the fact that you have to spend it with your father and a brother that you don't know and resent. Try and think of it as you are sharing a house with people you don't know anything about and think of it as a learning experience in how to meet new people and learn things about them. Just try it!" he snapped at me as I tried to interrupt.
Sighing I nodded my compliance. There was no point in arguing with Taka when he was in this type of mood. Sulking, I got ready for bed. 'This was going to suck.'
I sat lazily next to Matt and idly watched the waves crashing down. 'Good surf.' I thought wistfully.
"What?" I asked curiously. My best friend just gave me an amused glance.
"It's going to be an interesting couple of weeks at least." He sighed.
"Yeah." I shrugged. "I just hope the kid loosens up a bit. Do you know why he is so uptight?"
"No." he replied. "From what I understand from the little bits and pieces that Mum has talked about he really resents Dad. Probably because dad hasn't been too involved in his life but that was Mum's choice not dad."
"Man I thought you were bad but you're an angel compared to him." I teased Matt gently. Matt just gave me an amused look.
"I thought you were a complete tool so we are even." He joked back. I laughed. It was a standing joke between us. He had been the cool, calm and mysterious 'cool' kid while I had been the explosive, charming, and resident troublemaker. We had clashed often but ended up becoming firm friends after a horrible school camping trip.
Both of us were now in our first year of university. I was studying to be a P.E. teacher and Matt was studying an arts degree with a major in music. Summer break was here and his dad had let us tag along to the summer house.
Matt's dad was a photographer and one of the world's best. This was his escape when things needed clarity. Or so Matt told me. To me it was a just a place that Matt and I often kicked back and relaxed at.
A comfortable silence fell. I watched the waves dreamily hoping that tomorrows surf was as good as it was now. "Do you know Takao said that embarrassed T.K.?" I asked as the memory surfaced suddenly.
"Oh. Not much. Apparently my kid brother is good at martial arts and Takao's grandfather is thinking of entering him next year with Takao into competitions. I don't think he likes people knowing much about him." Matt shrugged.
"Like his big brother then huh?" I smirked. All I got was a snort in reply.
'I think it's time I had a little talk with Takao about how to handle T.K. He might be a useful ally in trying to get his prickly friend into being more receptive. If this keeps up Matt's going to say something he'll regret and completely blow any hope of either himself or his dad having any sort of relationship with T.K.' With that mental note I settled back into my dreamlike state. 'Tomorrow's going to be a good day...'
The End
Btw - I am aware that T.K. and Matt's dad works in television and that the careers that I have given Tai and Matt are not actually their careers. Matt = astronaut and Tai = Diplomat. Just so you know that I know. :) Please review. It helps with the creative process; which in turn helps me update sooner. That and the fact summer holidays are coming up! Yay! Have a good week.
xox Storm
