Spend the Summer With a Friend

Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Chapter 2: Max's Decision

Ages:

Kai- 16

Max-15

Tyson-15

Rei-16 (just about)

(If they're in the story)

Kenny-14

Hilary-15

With a sigh, Max quietly crept out the door. He heard his dad leap to his feet in the living room and the poor blonde slammed the door shut and ran as fast as he could. His dad didn't like him going out much these days- and Max now had to sneak out even to go to school.

He jogged down the sidewalk, whistling to try and cheer himself up. Usually Max would look at a day like this and laugh, spreading his arms wide. But not anymore. Ever since his dad had started drinking, he saw the world in a whole other manner. It was like he had 'woken up' to the scenes around him. Life was not all happy as it once was to him.

As he neared the river, he heard familiar voices.

"Go Dragoon Galaxy Turbo!"

The sound of a 'blade spinning through the dirt followed.

"No, Tyson! Left and then right! You're not executing youyr attack at the right angle or velocity!"

"Aw, chill, Chief. I'll be fine. Bet'cha no one can perform that move," Tyson said confidently.

"Kai, Rei and Max could do that move, Kai even in his sleep."

Kenny had said his name as if it were an exaduration- was Max the weakest member on the team? Max's brow furrowed and his face fell into a frown, he shoved his hands into his pockets and started to continue his walk.

"Hey! It's Max! Max, hey, down here!" Tyson called.

-(Just keep walking and ignore him. Maybe he'll go away.)-

A hand claped onto his shoulder.

-(Or maybe not.)-

Max forced a smile onto his face and let out a false laugh, "Hey, Tyson! Chief, what're you doing here?"

"We were calling you- didn't you hear us?" Tyson asked, completely ignoring Max's 'question'.

"Oh, sorry. I've just been thinking…" Max trailed off quickly, not wanting to talk about his dad.

"Yeah! Same here, man, Max. have I told you about this girl- Christie? I met her on MSN, and, man! I think she's the one!" Tyson trailed off dreamily.

Kenny laughed, "I think that's the longest he's gone without talking about her."

Tyson's eyes widened, "Oh! Come on! She should be getting online about now, let's go meet her!" he took off running.

Max sighed and followed after Kenny as the smaller boy thought about his own, dream girl. Max, on the other hand, hadn't really even fantisised about boys. At first he had shrugged it off, but now…

-(Man, I can't be gay! Or am I? … I- I'm not sure. But I doubt my dad would take that well, never mind me getting into a relationship with a girl or guy.)-

He shook his blonde hair around wearily and sped up to catch up to his… friends.

-(Why is it that I feel so different from them? I feel like I'm wasting my time hanging out around them nowadays. Why, why, why? Why is everything happening to me? I feel like I can't take all this confusion anymore!)-

Max stumbled over a lose rock and fell, hitting the ground and slightly grazing his elbows. SWurprisingly, he didn't cry out. It didn't hurt as much as his dad's kicks or slaps. Or the edge of lonliness that had been gnawing at him. He got up, brushed himself off, and ran after Tyson and Kenny again.

Tyson was at the computer by the time Max had gotten his shoes off and found the room.

It had been forever since he had hung out with Tyson and Kenny.

Tyson cheered as a little icon popped up.

Tyson's Girl Christie has just signed in.

Max sighed annoyedly, knowing this could go on forever- but ti was still nice to hang out in a peaceful, familiar setting without being worried that your father was going to barge in and beat you to the ground for 'making too much noise'.

Sexy Champ: Christy! Nice to see you again, babe.

Tyson's Girl Christie: Oh Ty-kun! I was worried you wouldn't be here.

Sexy Champ: I'll always be here for you, as long as you're here for me.

Tyson's Girl Christie: Oh Ty-kun. You always know what to say- unlike that bastard Kai. I can't believe he ditched me!

"What?" Max looked to Tyson, "you're online-dating Kai's ex?"

Tyson laughed, "Yeah! Who would've thought Kai could even go on a date?"

Max snorted and shook his head. But this mentioning of Kai cause Max to think back to the offer Kai had made to him earlier.

-(How would I even get out there? Dad wouldn't pay for it- nor would he allow me to even leave, unless it was mom and then there'd be only a slight chance I'd be able to go… And why on earth would Kai let me come out to his place? Kai doesn't exactly hate me, but doesn't respect me like he does Rei. In a way… we're sort of neutral. I know he hates it when I'd get all crazy and loud- and he was pretty annoyed when I was fretting over my mom all those years ago and Kai is the type who doesn't give up on a grudge for a LONG time…Man, why does my life have to be so confusing?)-

"Max? Are you alright- you spaced out on us…" Kenny said quietly, tapping Max on the shoulder.

Max forced another smile, "Oh, no, I'm fine. Sorry."

Kenny only raised a suspicious eyebrow but shrugged it off.

Tyson's Girl Christie: Ty-Ty, I'm so glad I met you. No one has a handsomer face than you. Even Kai is jealous!

Sexy Champ: Well, he should be. I can't believe he dumped a sweet thing like you anyways. You deserve sooooooooo much more!

Tyson's Girl Christie: Well, I'm so sorry, love, but I have to go now. Hugs and kisses to you!

Sexy Champ: See you l8er!

Tyson's Girl Christie: Don't do that hun, spelling with numbers and letters. Kai used to do that to me a lot, I don't like it.

Sexy Champ: Sorry, babe. Won't do it again!

Max watched in confusion, remembering what Kai had said to him earlier on MSN.

/ … don't do that, spelling with numbers and letters. It annoys me… /

-( Could Kai and 'Christie' have more in common than they thought? Or why would Kai even do –that- type of spelling if it annoyed him? Could it be that this 'Christie' really was Kai's ex? Or was it that she was just a big fraud?)- Max furrowed his brow as he contemplated. He really wanted to talk to Kai now.

"Ahhh," Tyson leaned back in the chair, "is she great or what? She's sooooo nice and kind to me. It's easy to see that Kai was too much of a bum for them to work out their problems." Tyson then laughed at his crack and Max suddenly had to fight the urge to defend Kai. Which was odd, cause usually he didn't care as much since he knew Tyson was only joking most of the time.

With a sigh, Max turned and left the dojo. He jogged back to the river and sat on the waters edge.

"Alright," he muttered quietly to himself, "I've made up my mind. I'm going to spend the summer with Kai."

Max stood up and loitered around the city for a while longer, before slowly slinking back to his house and trying to slip in undetected. But to no avail.

His father slapped him across the face and 'banished' him to his room. Max waited a few minutes before eagerly jumping onto the computer. He logged on and it was only a short time before Kai logged in as well.

Max-the-Water-Master: Hey, Kai! I only have a short time to chat, I don't think I'm supposed to be online at all right now (-laughs-)

Kai Hiwatari: Well, then, spit out whatever it is you need to tell me.

Max-the-Water-Master: I'm coming out to visit as soon as I have enough money.

Kai Hiwatari: Pay? You don't have the money?

Max-the-Water-Master: well… no

Kai Hiwatari: I could pay for you.

Max-the-Water-Master: WHAT? THIS CANNOT BE KAI! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE EMOTIONLESS B----------- WE ALL KNEW AND LOVED?

Max paused, loved? Where had that come from?

Kai Hiwatari: Loved? What, do you hate me know? Took you long enough…

Max-the-Water-Master: Sorry, came out oddly, didn't it? Well, thanks Kai (-blushes-)

Kai Hiwatari: You are as straight as a crooked arrow, Tate.

Max-the-Water-Master: Why thank you.

Kai Hiwatari: When do you plan on coming out?

Max-the-Water-Master: What's the longest time I can stay?

Kai Hiwatari: Until you annoy me enough to throw you out.

Max-the-Water-Master: Uhh… I guess I could come… sometime this week?

Kai Hiwatari: Sure, whatever.

Max-the-Water-Master: Kai? Could I ask you a question?

Kai Hiwatari: shoot away.

Max-the-Water-Master: Why are you inviting me out to your place?

Kai Hiwatari: Thought I should give you a chance, seeing as I didn't really get to know you over the past few years.

Max-the-Water-Master: Thank you Kai, thank you (-hug-)

Kai Hiwatari: You are plain gay, Max Tate, gay…

Well, how's that for you people? An extra long chapter for my absence in updating! R&R NOW BEFORE I SHOOT OU WITH THE CROOKED ARROW!

Demenior