Hello my fellow readers, I bring you chapter #12, I sincerely hope you enjoy it. But first, reviews.

Guest1: Thanks for the correction! I'll try to correct it later c: Mine is in autum.

Guest2: I haven't read it, sorry/: Please don't think I have, but if our styles are so alike, as you say, I cannot blame you. I would be very interested in reading that fiction, however. If you can tell me were I can find it, I would be very glad(:

AnimeQueen1260: Tell me, what do you think will happen next?

RedQueenLover: Perdona, pero no hablo portugués/: De todas maneras, responderé a tus reviews(: Efectivamente, Angel se está comenzando a enamorar de Aubrey, o como tu dices, comienza a descubrir su amor por ella. Muchas gracias, me esforcé en el capítulo pasado(: Ya falta muy poco para tu cumpleaños(: El mío? 10/11.

(Pardon me, but I don't speak Portuguese/: However, I'll answer your reviews(: Effectively, Angel is starting to fall in love with Aubrey, or like you say, he has started to realize his love for her. Thank you so much, I tried my best in the last chapter(: Your birthday is really near(: Mine? 10/11.

Enjoy!

Chapter #12

"Bodie and Emilia are waiting for us." The male said.

"They can wait a little longer." The female responded.

"But… Aubrey…"

"What?"

"It could affect our reputation, you know…"

"…"

"Princesa…"

"Agh! Alright then!" With an annoyed move, the redhead put down her lipstick and rushed to get to her partner, "Happy now? I'm barely prepared for the encounter." She said in a harsh whisper.

"You look beautiful, now lets go." The Latino replied with anxiousness.

They both headed to the car and, as soon as they both got in, Angel rushed to drive to the beach. He hoped they weren't too late for this.

"Hurry up." Aubrey said in a calm voice.

"I know." Angel replied.

"We're going to be late."

"That's what I've been telling you for the last two hours."

"I know."

"And yet you did not care, did you?" He asked with a smile.

"No, I didn't." She said, applying some more makeup over her eyelids.

"You're incredible." Angel ironized.

"I knew that too." Aubrey replied with a smug smile.

Angel just laughed.

Aubrey decided to simply smile.

Flash4wrd had been their second match after Hi-Def. Results? The same as the crew before them. It was true that Taye and her little sister had been quite a challenge (all their friends were), but again, not a match for the Lu$h Crew; they were a force of the nature, perfectly balanced crew, with the adequate amount of class and sense of enjoyment. Angel taunted, Aubrey mocked. Their union worked perfectly; they were just as the sparkle is to a diamond; perfectly placed among a sea of common stones.

But just as they triumphed over the other crews, they started earning fame; here and there people started talking about them more and more. The Lu$h Crew. First in the Coast, then in the Center, then in the West. The city was starting to grow aware of the talent of this dancers. Practices were not in vane, nor were the weekly parties Aubrey had started to throw after they became a formal crew; nobody missed the chance to see the Lu$h Crew in action.

And now, there was their chance to teach Bodie and Emilia who they were.

Not long after they left Aubrey's yacht, they arrived at Riptide's Beach, not just in time for the encounter. Bodie and Emilia stood there, arms crossed; it was pretty obvious that they had been waiting for them.

"Finally you two show up!" The brunette exclaimed, un-crossing her arms to rest her hands on her hips. "We had started to worry you'd never come; perhaps you had surrendered." She said, smirking at her blonde companion, who smiled back at her.

"What are you saying, Emilia?" Started Aubrey, "Don't you see this pretty face? It needs attention, you know?" The redhead said, pointing at her face, "Perfection is not cheap, not easy to get, darling."

"Oh, okay, highness," Emilia said with a mocking bow, "but the next time you plan on arriving this late again, please make sure to tell us, so we can go to get some food or something!"

"I'll try." Aubrey said with a devilish smirk.

"Ha-ha." Emilia rolled her eyes.

*meanwhile…*

"Hey Bodie, friend." Greeted Angel, giving his mate a manly hug.

"Hey Angel." Bodie greeted back, returning the hug. "Having some trouble to make the lady part from the mirror?"

"You have no idea…" The Latino sighed.

"Perhaps not, but I feel your pain bro." The blonde said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Oh, that reminds me, I have something to tell you, Bodie."

"Well, go on then, mate."

"Not here, not now. Later." Angel said with an air of suspiciousness.

"Ok then."

"Bodie, lets get started." Emilia called.

"Come on, Angel, lets show them what we are capable of." Aubrey called too.

"Coming." Both males responded at unison.

Bodie went to meet Emilia, while Angel went to Aubrey's side, both prepared to show off their talent.

"So, are you ready, Aubs?" Asked Emilia with a taunting voice.

"I was born ready." The redhead replied.

"Turn it on pal!" Bodie yelled to a guy standing next to the boombox.

"Gotcha." Responded the male, before turning the music on.

The sunset seemed precious in the beach. Golden light caressing the peaceful surface of the awaiting ocean. Salmon clouds hugged by a yellow sky, and a golden sun as the right eye in the face of a charming lady. Full of wishes, full of promises, and yet approaching to its end, just before being replaced by dark clouds hugged by a starry sky, and a silver moon as the left eye in the face of a charming lady.

The twilight would mark the end of the day, as the sun hid beyond the horizon, and the there would come the night, marking the start of the life in this crowded city. In the sunset, there would rule the crew in the beach; in the night, there would rule the crew in the drift.

And yet, the sunset could not match the night.

The two girls were sweating, fighting to win this battle. Resisting to accept the lose as the final result of this match. No. They had to win. What a humiliation it would represent to any of them, to lose before their lifetime rival. And their crew members would have to stand the fury, or euphoria if they would win, or lose.

Angel forced himself to the limit, honestly hoping that they would win. The Lu$h Crew had to win, or else he would be saying goodbye to his contract with Aubrey. He couldn't have that happening, not now that he had progressed this much. He couldn't lose her right now. And there was only one way to avoid that from happening: they had to win.

Burning lugs, focused brains, quick feet and graceful moves. The two women and their companions were about to hit their limit, when the song touched its end, and the two crews stopped with astonishing finishing moves.

The crowd that had been gathering all this while remained silent for a couple of seconds, before excitedly calling the winner.

"Lu$h Crew! Lu$h Crew!"

The night had just arrived, as the shiny moon placed itself in the dark sky, as if celebrating the triumph of the couple.

Aubrey's lugs received fresh air as the redhead took a deep breath and relaxed her tired muscles. Relief and pride emanating from her as she relished their victory. She looked back at her companion, just to find him breathing heavily and covered in sweat. The girl couldn't hold a smile.

Hands resting in both hips and mouth open for the need of air, Angel stood there, inhaling as much salty air as his lugs were capable of containing, silently congratulating himself for not screwing it all up. The wondering how would he screw it all up, he was perfect, he couldn't possibly screw it all up. He smiled in satisfaction, joyful for this victory, then turned to look at his partner.

Happiness was shared in a silent connection as they looked into each others eyes. She quietly congratulating, he silently thanking.

"Amazing battle guys, I must admit I'm impressed." Said Bodie between pants as he approached to the pair in sailor suits.

"You two were amazing as well." Replied Aubrey.

"You have improved so much since the last time I saw you."

"You too."

"Em, come to congratulate them, they have fairly beat us." Called Bodie, looking at his pantting friend.

The girl approached in heavy, yet proud steps to her friend. She looked at her in the eyes with an acceptance for the defeat that was rarely seen in her, then, Emilia spoke, "We'll meet again." She simply said, and Aubrey knew it was her way of admitting defeat.

"Sure we will." The redhead said with a smile.

Angel felt himself filling with joy at her sight. So radiant, so beautiful… Was that not perfection? Could he ask for something more beautiful, more pleasant, more joyful, than her sight? Good heavens, I'm falling… And indeed he was, for certainly, there was a curious feeling in the pitch of his stomach every time she smiled at him.

Emilia was rightfully called her rival, for certainly a proper rival she was. Not an easy battle to win, nor easy opponents to defeat they were. Riptide crew was their challenge, but one they had been able to pass with success.

"Wanna go get something to drink, pal?"

"Sure. Mi princesa, I'm going with Bodie to get some drinks, I'll be right back."

"Whatever." The redhead simply replied, before continuing her chattering with Emilia.

"Let's go to that bar over there." Bodie suggested, pointing at a small shack not too far from there.

"Ok." Angel agreed, walking next to his friend.

"So, tell me, dude, what was that you wanted to tell me about?" Said Bodie after they were far enough for no one to hear.

"Well, it has something to do with Aubrey." Angel started.

"I see, and?"

"Well…"

"Uh, let me see… you've fallen in love with her, have you?" Bodie said all of a sudden, hitting some nerve in Angel's brain.

"No! It's not like that!" He rushed to say, "I mean, I do have feelings for her, but its not like I love her or something like that."

"It is true now? Then why do you call her 'mi princesa', uh?"

"Old habit I guess, I started to call her like that since we formed the crew."

"Well then, if you're not in love with her, then what?"

"I… let me explain how I feel around her, alright?"

"Go on…" Bodie said with boredom.

"I feel like really happy when I'm with her, and when she smiles… dear god… it's the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my hole life! She so beautiful! So perfect! So smart! So talented… and then, then there's this strange feeling I have in my stomach every time she smiles at me! It feels so odd… but it's really…- I don't know how to describe it!" The Latino said rapidly, with all the emotion he had been hiding this whole time. My, he really needed to let it out.

"You're in love with her." Was Bodie's quick conclusion, as soon as Angel finished, and they made their way in the bar.

"What?" Angel asked, disbelieving, as he sat in the bar, next to Bodie, while the blonde ordered their drinks.

"Yeah! You've fallen in love with her, man?" The blonde said with shining eyes, "Don't you see? All these feelings you're having, it is love man!"

"But, but… I… she… we…" The Latino tried to speak, but I was obvious words wouldn't come out that easily.

"C'mon Angel! Realize it! You love her!"

"Whoa whoa, slow down chico." Angel said quickly, "I do no love her, maybe I fancy her, but I do not love her, ok?"

"You love her." Bodie said with insistence.

"N, I don't." Angel replied with some anxiousness.

"Yes, you do."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"NO!"

"YES! And you know it!" The blonde said, raising from his sit.

"Fine! I do love her! Ok?!" Angel yelled, finally giving up.

"See? Then tell her!" Bodie said, sitting down.

"She will not believe me." Angel said with sadness.

"Who says? Maybe she has changed, as you have; these two months-" Bodie started.

"Three…" Angel corrected.

"Yeah, well, these three months together must have been useful, don't you think? Perhaps she has feelings for you, mate."

"I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"Because, let me see, I sleep with a different girl almost every night, I flirt with every girl and then with her, and she of course refuses me!" The Puerto Rican said with exasperation.

"That is your fault then." Bodie concluded.

"I know…"

"Put an end to it then." The blonde said with seriousness.

"Is not that easy…" Angel replied, head down.

"You fell in love with her, thing that hadn't happened into you in your whole life, now you can stop acting like a jerk around her and be a gentleman."

"I am a gentleman around her! What I cannot do is stop being a playboy when I have the chance!"

"You could if you wanted to." Bodie said, drinking some of his beverage.

"I want." Angel said, taking a drink as well.

"Then do it."

"I can't."

"Then you don't love her." The blonde sentenced, looking at him in the eyes.

Angel looked him back, "Fine, fine! I'll do my best."

"That's what I wanted to hear." Bodie said with a satisfied grin.

Angel scowled.

"Now now, don't be angry with me, you decided to tell me all this after all." Bodie said, patting his friend's shoulder.

"I guess I should listen to you…" Angel recognized, after a moment of contemplation.

"Yes, you do." Bodie smiled, "Now, we should cheer for your victory! You and Aubrey did it very well, I was honestly impressed."

"Yes, we should, but we should also get back with the girls, they'll be mad at us." Angel laughed.

"Doesn't matter, we'll cheer with them latter, now it's our moment, so… Cheers!" Bodie said, raising his glass.

And with a defeated smile, Angel raised his too, then they both cheered, the sound of the crashing glass against glass sounding as a comforting promise of a successful future.

Later they would receive their respective partners lecture; one laughing after it, the other trying to cheer his partner up with a different attitude.

This is not a honey-bleeding fiction. Some things really happen, like that kind of love, really.

Liked it? Disliked it? Please let me know! (Spelling mistakes, suggestions, whatever is happily received!)