"Hiya Tyson." She greeted smiling, but still very tired from last night.
"Hiya Hilary." I pounced off my bed and sat by her, I stretched my arms up, and yawned heavily.
"Wow, look who's sleepy." She teased, I chuckled along side her.
"Well, you can't blame me."
"I don't even wanna try anymore. I'm gonna get changed. BRB." She pushed herself off the bed and went into the bathroom, to get dressed for the day. I flattened myself on the bed taking in the tension in the room.
I heard a sound from the bathroom, probably the knob turning, I watched the door, Hilary came out in her usual clothing, she winked at me, which was a sign that it was about time I got changed too, which I did quickly. I came out the bathroom and walked to the coat rack. I was surprised to find to my disliking that the cap I had worn for years; was not there. I panicked and looked around the room. I looked in the drawer hoping that it was in it, safe and sound, but again, nothing was found, except for my socks. I heard a giggle behind me. I turned around to see Hilary, giggling with amusement. I looked at her hands, and saw that she was gripping my red cap. I looked at her with one eyebrow up and my mouth making a curl, well basically, I was smiling.
"Hey!" I shouted at her.
She winked again, I got a bit annoyed and started running for her, she tried to get away from me. We spent a few minutes trying to catch each other in the small room. I managed to grab her and tickled her, making her drop the cap to the ground. I stopped the amusement of the tickling, which then made Hilary collapse. I reached down to grab it before she did. She was still giggling.
"Ah, you think this is funny?" I reached for her again, tickling her even more.
"TYSON, STOP IT! I GAVE IT BACK!" she said through her laughing fits
"Only if you say..."
"NEVER!"
" I haven't even said what you should say yet."
"Well, it's obvious!" she said.
"Am I that predictable?" I asked and stopped tickling her.
"Yes!" she shouted.
I ignored her and grabbed her arm and yanked her up to her feet. She put her hands on her hips and sighed. I went up to the small dresser in the corner of the room. I put my cap on and admired myself. I never really thought about my hair that much, and the accessories. I'd usually just put it on and run off, but lately I've been doing this. I guess when Hilary said, that when you make yourself look good, you feel good. I thought it was nonsense at first, but it actually worked.
"Well, are you done ogling at yourself yet?" Hilary grouched, stationing her hands on her hips. I turned around to see her standing close to me.
"I'm done now." I replied
"Good, because I'm sure the boys are hungry, especially you."
"You know me so well, you know." I chuckled; she grabbed my arm, and pulled me out the door. Once we reached the cafeteria, the gang was already there. Max was pouring a whop of mustard on the udon noodles making Ray's cooking less valuable. Daichi was scarfing down food at a rapid pace. Kenny was squirming as the waitress touched his hand. Kai preferred his own space with his food. Me and Hilary sat down next to one another. I couldn't help but stare at her as she blew her noodles. Truthfully, I don't blame myself, Hilary has become very pretty. I'm not afraid to admit that because it is true. She's caring, kind, gentle, sweet and beautiful, a recipe for a good friend. However, I don't feel like she's my best friend... she feels like something more than that, not like the bond I have with my team. Suddenly I felt something, I picked up the spoon and looked at the reflection. Was I blushing? It felt strange to blush. Hilary looked up suddenly to see my face, seeing that I wasn't really paying attention.
"Hey, Tyson?" she asked with a comforting tone, "Granger?" she snapped fingers in front of me, "Yo T-Dawg!"
I suddenly jolted up when she said that. That name always gave me the creeps. The calling of that name only meant that a Kendo was coming my way.
She giggled again at my reaction, "That will never get old."
I reached across the table and pushed her slightly. She giggled again, and pushed me back.
And then we heard a commotion…
"Hey it's Chief!" Hilary shouted, I turned to see him looking knackered, I could kinda see why. Ray was dragging a bonked headed Daichi back to the table. A scoff of an angry waitress told us the whole picture.
"What's wrong with you?" Hilary seethed, as Daichi took a seat back on the table.
"Zip it, old hag," Daichi barked, obviously that he was now embarrassed. Hilary balled a fist and I could see it reddening, however, I was instinctively quick enough to restrain her. She just got off her seat.
"You know what, I'm not that hungry..." she pushed her chair out and walk off. I watched her leave without word. I gave Daichi the dirtiest look I could, vowing to deal with him later. I turned back to watch Hilary close the cafeteria door behind her. Something got me thinking, was she a friend to me... or something else... like I think I'm... I'm... falling for her... yes that's it, I think, I'm falling in love. No it couldn't be, was she that attractive, well she must be if I'm falling for her. I think the thing I'm falling for is her eyes, her red shimmering eyes, and her smile, god, that smile brightens up any bad day, she took my breath away. I have to be, I gotta be...
"TYSON!" Kenny roared I my ears, I turned to see him, smiling at me cheekily, did he see my reaction when she walked off?
"Yeah?" I pretended that I hadn't done anything.
"Tyson no need to hid the feelings, let it out." It was true, I shouldn't be hiding my feelings, but I felt embarrassed.
"Yeah, I know, I know, I should tell her."
"Yeah, you should!" He shouted.
"What should I do?" I asked.
"That's what I am here for!" Max beamed, "I'll help you with your problem with Hilary!"
"How'd, how'd," I heard a snicker behind me, Ray was looking evilly at me, "Your enjoying this aren't you?"
"Yep." Ray nodded. "Let's just say there's a point where we can't take your bickering anymore."
"Yeah! It's high time Daddy should propose Mommy!" Daichi spoke flatly tearing a price of chicken leg.
"Shut up Daichi! You don't know whatcha talkin about!" I thundered loudly on his face.
"Stole the words right outta my mouth, Daich!" Dizzi teased.
"Come on Tyson, I know you have questions for which I have the answers." Max coaxed.
"Hit the breaks, Maxxie. I don't even know if she feels the same way for me." I huffed and walked in the straight direction to the garden area. But all I wanted now was to be with Hilary for a little while.
"Come on Tyson, I really wanna help, you need a girl." He commented
"I don't."
"You've missed your chances with the other girls..."
"I didn't want the other girls." I raged.
"Okay okay.. how about this, if I tell you my secret and if it doesn't work with you, I'll promise never to pester you with this again."
"And I'll get your blade upgrades whenever you ask for it!" Kenny raised the offer.
"I can bribe you with some food, you know." Rai raised a silent eyebrow, which got me thinking…
I stopped walking. Everything was tempting. However, what happens if it doesn't work, what happens if it ruins my friendship with Hilary, but, I do want her awful lot, I want her, I need her...
"Well?" Max quirked an eyebrow.
"Okay FINE!"
"GOOD, OKAY COME HERE," He dragged me behind a tree, "You wanna hear the secret?"
"Yes, why else would I say yes?" I scoffed furiously.
"Well, I use a simple step…" What the hell was he talking about?
"The Step?" I repeated in disbelief, I had to admit, I was pretty amused.
"Yes, guaranteed to get you any girl!" his eyes starred.
"You're crazy!"
"No, I am not, I just use tactics, unlike some people."
My brows creased and eyes narrowed. I couldn't believe how intrigued I was. It's just sad... but I should give it a go...
"Yea, just tell me, what are 'The Step' of yours?"
"Glad you asked my friend, glad you asked." He snickered.
I got up in the middle of the night, about midnight I'd say. Something kept ringing in my head. The things Max talked about, the Steps. Could those steps really get me any girl? Seriously, is that possible? I wonder if he fell off a cliff and bumped his head while I was gone. If that did happen, I would have laughed my head off. I chuckled at the thought of him falling. I know, I'm mean, but it's just me. However I would be concerned of his condition, just as I am now. I sat up on the bed and combed my hair back with my hair, then I started to shiver, it was cold, very cold. The window was open, who knows who opened it, and I looked to Hilary, who was shivering also. I got out of bed and felt her skin. Yep, she was definitely cold, freezing in fact. I thought about her catching a cold, if she caught a cold, she wouldn't be able to enter the contest. I rushed to the bed and took my bed sheet off. I put it on top of Hilary, and tucked her in.
"Hopefully she'll get warmer." I whispered and smiled.
I walked on over to the open window, a sudden gust of cold air ran through the room. I shut it tightly and locked it. I couldn't help but stare out the window, watching the lustrous moon glowing and giving light to the town. Suddenly, a cloud got in the way. This disappointed me. There was nothing to look at now... I shut the curtains and went to my bed again. I thought about using a trick to make me fall asleep, I think it was, counting from one hundred and backwards. I
I took a breath, "One Hundred, ninety –nine, ninety – eight, ninety – seven," I yawned but kept going. "Ninety six, ninety ..." I fell asleep instantly without finishing off the last number...
The next morning, I woke up like I usually would, I stretched my arms out and looked to the beds. Kenny was still sleeping, he mumbling about some girl in his sleep. I chuckled at the words, comprehending he was on a date in his dream.
"Hey Kenny." I cooed in a sweet voice, impersonating Ming Ming, "How are you today?"
He mumbled, and hugged the pillow, pretending it was that rotten singer , "Oh Ming Ming…you called me by my first name. Oh the sweetness, I am good now that you are here with me."
I covered my mouth, trying to keep in the laugh, "Ohhh, Kenny you are so adorable. I am having the best time with you."
"Really?"
"Yes honey bun." I still did my impersonation, holding it in, "Now..." I saw a half cut orange on the side table and took it. I laughed a bit, "Give me a kiss.." I made kissing sounds to make it seem more realistic.
"Oh, Ming Ming, I have been waiting for this moment all my life." he puckered his lips, I got ready for it, he got closer and closer, before he came forward, I suddenly held up the piece of orange against his lips. When his lips touched the material, he opened his eyes and found himself kissing an orange. He fell back. I laughed so hard, I couldn't hold it in...
"Hahahahahaha!" I shouted aloud, I looked at Kenny's face, it was priceless, the envy in his eyes said it all!
"TYSON!" I heard a voice, it sounded like..
"MAX?" I gawked surprised, he was leaning against the door frame, covering his mouth, something told me he saw everything.
"Who knew you were so evil Tyson" He smirked.
"Well, I DO have a dark side," I joked with him, playing along, "What's up with you?"
"Well, I thought you'd like to hear the first step." He yawned.
Oh not this again, who knew why he wanted me to try it out, I bet he was kidding around with me, but no harm in trying...
"Yeah I do... so what is it?" I asked
"Well, come here..." he dragged me off; again... he dragged me out the room, leaving Kenny who was lamenting about my little prank. I felt bad for him; would he EVER get a girl? Maybe if these steps work, I'll assign Max to Kenny. Only if they work though, no use giving him the steps if they are no use. We came round a corner of the building and went downstairs
"Where you taking me?" I whined, with a bit of impatience.
"I'm gonna try find Hilary first." I didn't like where this was going, but I went along with it anyway, Max wasn't an idiot.. well actually, I take that back, but I have to trust him. We were outside, it was a warm and breezy, perfect weather for a day out. I looked around, and then we came to the corner off the building. Max stopped me, he looked around the corner. I tilted my head to the side.
"Look here." He said, I looked around the corner with him. I could see... Hilary, looking as beautiful... on a bench reading a book.
"Okay she's here, now I'll tell you the first step..."
"Shoot."
"First step," he stopped, and looked around to see if anyone was watching, "Well firstly, you need to get to know her more..."
"I do know her though." I had a bit of frustration in my voice.
"I know that but like, ask her, like, the things she is into... like hobbies." I was surprised truthfully; I looked her once again. I never thought about it, but even though I travelled with Hilary for years, I never asked her about the stuff she's into. I knew there was astrology, and history, and books and all the boring stuff. But maybe there could be something more. On a personal level. I wanted to know what her life was like before she joined us. It was strange; I never tried to make a conversation with a girl before. Well I might as well give it a shot.
"Okay, I get it, but how do I start it off?" I asked confused
Max looked at me in disbelief, "Well, say hi, like any other idiot would do." He chuckled.
Envy stirred up, "HAHA, very funny." I drawled sarcastically
He chuckled a bit, I just shook my head in disturbance.
"Just start a convo with her. See where it goes."
"But I NEVER start the conversation!" I argued, "What would I say?"
"Your such an idiot, it's so simple...Just talk about anything that comes to your mind. Just not beyblading or the BBA."
"Well, you've never talked to the prettiest girl ever." I protested.
"True, but I can make a conversation easily with Hilary."
"How?"
"Saying hi, saying how she is, what she is up to, saying what life is like... same old, same old."
I looked at him, I wanted to trust him, really, I did, but something told me not to, well, my trust was bigger than my doubt...That was true. He did gel well with Hilary. Of all the guys in our squad, Kenny, Hiro, Rai and Max are the guys Hilary cheeses down easily with. Me and Hil had our problems but we put that behind us. And then there's Kai and Daichi…I don't even need to speak about that…
"Okay," I paused and took a deep breath, getting ready, "Here I go.." before a walked off, Max grabbed my arm again, I looked back to see what was up.
"Try not to mess it up, will ya." Max chuckled; I gritted my teeth and pulled away from him. "We all have very high expectations from this!"
"Jeez, I'll try not to let you guys down..." I sarcastically rolled my eyes.
He stuck his tongue and pushed me off into the coach, I stumbled but managed to balance myself, I looked up, seeing Hilary, looking at me, with her hands on her book. She looked very plainly at me and tilted her head.
"Hey, Hil." I sweat dropped, embarrassed from almost stumbling in front of her.
"Hi..." One of her eyebrows rose, suspiciously.
"What's up?" I stuttered a bit, I was nervous, I never talked to a girl, especially alone, I barely even made a conversation with any other girl, unless I was very excited.
"I'm good, you?" she mumbled, returning to her book.
"I'm good too, um, what are you doing?"
"Something which you didn't do in a decade. Read a book." She quipped, without even looking at me.
"I see that…" I puffed a cheek.
"Then why'd you ask?" she continued the torment of pointless interrogation.
"What I meant was…what are you reading?"
"Zorba, the Greek. Novel by Nikos Kazantzakis." She answered.
"Cool." I had no idea how to proceed next. "What's it about?"
"Okay," she shut the book, "What's cooking? You never ask me about such stuff?"
"Hey," I etched a brow, "Why so snippy? I just wanted to know what stuff you're into!"
"Yep, that's weird for you." She replied. "I can't read the book around you anymore."
"Hmm," I wondered a bit, what should I say next?
Hilary stood up, exasperating at me one last time, before walking off.
"See you later, Tyson..." she was leaving, I could see Max behind a tree, making faces at me and doing hand expressions like there was no tomorrow. It seemed like; he wanted me to stop her leaving.
"STOP!" I yelled out, not thinking what I was doing. She looked around, her eyes widened
"What are you doing Tyson?" she grit her teeth.
"Umm," dang it I was such an idiot. This is harder than expected, I looked to Max again. He was making some more actions.
"Umm…nice weather, isn't it?" I blushed. I looked to Max, who was slapping his forehead, must be thinking that I was an idiot, I had to agree with him. I tried to make something up to cover the mistake up.
"Um, Hilary as long as I have known you, I have never been able to talk to you... like, more like, about what it was like before you became our friend and and all that stuff," good! Keep it real Tyson, keep it going, "You know what I mean... right?" I nervously said.
"Actually I do, how about we go to the dining room and talk about it?" she replied.
Wait a sec, if I went inside, Max wouldn't be able to guide me, "OR!" I shouted
She turned around, seeing what I would say next, "Or we could talk out here, it is a beautiful day. On this bench. Over some bagel or corndog something." Score!
"Yeah it actually is, um, sure..." I watched her walk to the garden table and chairs, she pulled the chair, and sat down, I looked to Max and looked back to Hilary, she was playing around a bit. What was I gonna say next, I quickly ran up to Max, making sure Hilary wasn't looking. He was telling me to go away, probably worried about Hilary.
"What do I do next!" he yelled and questioned
Max slapped his head again, "IT'S A CHAIR, GO SIT DOWN!" I blushed, embarrassed again
"Right." I nodded hastily. I ran back up to the table where Hilary was.
"Hi again." She squinted.
"Yeah, hi!" I replied
She giggled, I could feel my face turning red, I pushed my cap down a bit, to cover it up. I sat down on the solid material. I looked a bit more up, trying to see Hilary's reaction. She was looking away, I turned to see what she was looking at. There were a bunch of people on the court, hanging out with each other or practicing. Most of them looked like geeks, Hilary looked dazed, she must be into all this..
"Hey, earth to Hilary?" I reached out and clicked my fingers in front of her, she was stunned and turned to me.
"Oh sorry Tyson." She apologized shyly
"No problem, so um.."
"Well... you wanted to talk to me?"
Suddenly I completely forgot why I asked her to come, I must be really nervous..
"Um, what was your life like before. You know before you become one of us?" I stuttered a little.
Hilary rested her head in her hands and leaned her elbows on the table. "Nothing special really. My life was all school and books. Same old, same old."
"So no, interests? Like TV, or some soap or sitcom, perhaps?"
"The TV didn't interest me, really. But ever since I found out about documentaries, I was hooked. There were so many DVDs I bought!" she beamed.
"I meant something that wasn't really related to academic and stuff. Like something entertaining."
"Well, you would never guess.." she blushed, I tilted my head to the side, trying to think, was it really that embarrassing?
"Come on Hilary, you can tell me." I said innocently.
"Okay promise you won't laugh?"
"Promise." I held my hand across my chest, sealing the promise.
"Okay, I... used to play the cello..." I was shocked, Hilary looked nothing like a musical person.
"Wow, I never thought..." I looked at her face, from seeing the look, I could tell she didn't want to talk about it, but I needed to ask her something.
"Do you still play it, like would you still play it?"
"Yep, I love it, you play any instruments?" she asked
"Nah, I'm not very dedicated."
"I think you would do fantastic." She said, I blushed.
"Really?"
"Definitely, just like your dedicated to beyblade."
I blushed more, she made a smile, gosh, I loved it when she smiled. It made me feel, more like I have a reason to do all these things I do, it lifts up my spirits.
"Thank, do you sing too?"
"Yep." She nodded, she was obviously embarrassed
"Don't be embarrassed, it's cool, I could never sing; I sound like a new born baby!" I joked.
She giggled, trying to hold it in, "Come on, you can't sound THAT bad."
"TRUST ME!" I laughed with her, I started thinking, that well, I was getting the hang of this, just going with the flow. Easy as cutting pie.
"Well I also had this obsession with designing clothes." She laughed. "Since we had those events in school…"
"Ha, yeah, that was really fun and you looked really good in that dress..."
"AWW thanks Tyson!" she blushed.
"So, still do that stuff?" I continued.
"Nah, not anymore. My hands are busy with tending to you guys and looking after you. But no complains really, I enjoy managing and coaching you guys. Even Daichi. So, what were you like when you were little, like how did you grow up?"
"Well, you know I have been raised by my Grandpa. My Dad and my brother are archaeologists so they were never really much around. Hiro was there for a while but then once his studies were over, he took off. But my Dad…I never really knew much about him."
"Same here. My Dad was overseas all the time. He does visit annually though but I wish it was more often." Her chivalrous look softened.
"Yeah same." I agreed sorrowfully.
"It's too bad we never knew about them that much isn't it?" She replied.
"Yeah, true."
"It must have been hard for you, growing up, isn't it, Tyson? Without a mother?" She sulked, placing her hand over mine.
For some reason, a huge deal of pain flooded in my heart. But I concealed it. I didn't wanna talk about that subject in front of anyone. Hilary was a contender but now wasn't the moment.
"Nah!" I waved off, obviously lying, "Gramps never let me miss her really. He would tell me all about her when I was a child. I didn't miss her presence at all with Hiro and Gramps around me, ya know."
"So what's your mum like." Hilary asked, after staring in my eyes for a while. She knew I was lying. She could read me like a book.
"If she were alive, she would be really kind, ya know, kinda like you. She was very pretty, I hear. And her cooking, man, Hiro said it was the best!" I trailed on with a proud face, but inside, I was just breaking. I didn't know much about my mom, but if she were here with me, she would tease me to no end about Hilary being my girlfriend.
"I could say the same about my mum." Hilary interrupted my thoughts.
A breeze came by, making Hilary's hair fly across her face, blinding her view. I reached over, and put her loose strands of hair around her ear.
"Thanks."
"No prob." I blushed again.
"You know what?" She suddenly spoke up after a moment of silence. "I really liked opening to you about this. We should really do it more often, though."
"Same here Hilary, same here." I smiled back. Max was right. This was some relieving stuff.
She got up from her seat, "I'm gonna go now, bye." She waved lightly and skipped off. I took in some air.
"Phew, I did it!" I smiled with victory.
During my glorious amusement, I heard clapping sounds behind me, I turned to see Max clapping his hands.
"Congratulations Tyson, you have completed stage of the 'Max's Step' program!" he chuckled
I was too happy "Ha!" I laughed along. I looked up to the sky watching the clouds go by, I leaned back, feeling the breeze on my face.
"So, keep that up for a few days and then I shall tell you the next step." He said
"Well, okay."
"How'd ya feel?" Max asked with amusement in his face
"I felt great!" I said,
"SEE, I TOLD YOU!" He shouted, this gave me a heart attack!
"YOU TOLD ME NOTHING!" I protested.
"So, you wanna go have a battle?"
I looked up, shocked, I had just confronted my fear of talking to Hilary and he wants a battle.
"OKAY!" I shouted.
"Good, let's get going." He got ready at the other end of the battle field, everyone came to watch, I took my position, and looked around again, I suddenly saw the girl that stood out the most. Hilary... She looked kinda, motherly. I stared and stared, looking at her beautiful figure and her lovely ruby eyes, with her hair swaying in the wind.. I imagined what life would be like if she was with me, if we were something more. Once I got out of my dream world, I looked to Max, who looked pumped up, I was too, it had been ages since I battled him. I held out my equipment, and clipped the blade into the launcher. I swung my arm out. Releasing the blade as my hand drew out the cord.
"LET IT RIP!"