All in all, Mariah didn't have the best first day at high school. The only subject that was giving her a hard time was social studies, but it didn't bother her too much. She shared her classes with Tyson and his teammates, and they were very friendly with her, but Mariah could not sit and chat long with them without seeing the question in their eyes. "What was wrong between you and Ray?"

 And Mariah wouldn't sit with them for lunch either, because Ray would skip sitting with his teammates then and she didn't want that to happen. Ray wouldn't even look at her, even though they shared the same sports club. Her only bright side of the day was finding a wonderful friend in Aubery. She was a highly spirited girl who had the power to brighten up anyone's day.

Aubrey was very perspective. "You seem really down Mariah, especially for someone who's starting highschool. Is everything all right?" She asked. Mariah mustered a brave smile, but still couldn't convince her. "Are you free now?" Aubrey asked instead as she locked her locker, which was located opposite to Mariah's. Mariah thought for a moment. It was Ray's turn to be helping Aunt Rosa today, they didn't have much homework either. "Yep", she replied. "Then let's go shopping to the plazas that opened a week ago, I heard the accessories there are very unique."she gushed. Mariah liked the idea very much, "Absolutely!" She confirmed immediately, happy for a get away.

******

Rather than buying things, Mariah was more interested in window shopping, trying out different accessories and dresses. She only bought herself a sweater. It was a lot colder in Japan than she had thought it would be. Aubery gave her a treat at a fast food restaurant, commemorating their new friendship. Mariah learnt that she was a professional swimmer. They exchanged stories, perspectives,  and what not. They parted ways at seven, and Mariah was in way better spirits than she had been the whole day. 

Until she felt his gaze on her. But Ray wasn't looking at her when she was turned towards him. He had somehow frustratingly mastered the art within moments after their fight. Even she couldn't catch him looking at her now, even though she knew that he was always looking at her when her wasn't.

He was cleaning up for the night, throwing away the wilted flowers and stem cuttings. Mariah quietly made for the stairs. "Aunt Rosa is out. I've prepared dinner. Heat it up and serve yourself." Mariah was frankly full, but she didn't want to upset Ray further. Mariah hmmm in response, looking meekly down. "Have you had your dinner?" She questioned instead, but Ray still wouldn't look at her. "Hmm" he replied, his jaw set sternly.

Realising this wasn't the day when they would reconcile, Mariah sulkily went up. After forcing down some dinner, which wasn't hard as Ray was a wonderful chef, she went to her room and got some homework done. After she was sure that both ray and aunt Rosa had turned into their rooms, she offed the lights and went to sleep. 

******

Ray remembered everything that happened that day like a movie. He had not been ready for the extra hotness he had received that day.

"Come on Mariah, it's getting late." he impatiently called out, glancing at his watch. It was already eight thirty in the morning. The taxi that was supposed to take them to the airport stood in front of their house.

And then, she made her appearance, and all the words died out in his mouth itself. She was dressed in a plain maroon dress, which hugged her curves and ended halfway down her thighs. She has a silver clutch in her hand and red feather hangings adorned her small ears. Her hair was tied in a high bun over which she wore a cream coloured hat.

It took a moment more before he gained control over his speech "Wow, Mer, you look absolutely gorgeous today. And your brother is absolutely not gonna approve of this... " he informed her, frowning.

"All the more reason to do so Ray, all the more..." she dismissed his worry casually. She gently came ahead inter-vined her fingers in his. "Come on, let's get going, shall we?"

Lee was never the one for practical jokes. He was never the one who liked jokes to begin with, but that prank had just crossed all the limits.

The day had started just as any normal day would. They were supposed to be leaving to China at around midday and he had wanted to spend some time with Ray and Mariah, two most important people in his life, before he left. But a practical joke had ruined it all.

He had been searching for the couple when the other members of the team wanted to meet up with American team, All Starz. The two teams had been seeing a lot of one another since the shoot-out, boasting the morale of the Blade Breakers.

When he had spotted Ray, he just couldn't believe what he was seeing. He was kissing someone! He couldn't make out who the girl was, due to a huge hat she was wearing. As though there was a lot of sun to hide from inside an airport. The girl was dressed up in a short red dress, but Lee wasn't registering any of this.

That girl wasn't Mariah was all he could think of. His blood boiled. His vision turned red. Here he was, ready to leave his only family in a distant land so that she could be happy with her boyfriend, who also happened to be his best friend, and he was cheating on her before he even left!

The girl left just before he reached them. All the good, he was not in a state of mind to explain himself. For all he knew, the girl may not have even known of Mariah. Seeing the way Ray smiled as she left, Lee couldn't help but wonder if Ray had had another girlfriend all the time he had been away. But that didn't matter as images of how his poor, innocent sister would react to this news flashed through his mind. The love of her life, her childhood crush cheating on her...

Ray noticed him just before he reached him. His casual smile lost its charm when he met his eyes. "What's wro..?" he had started asking, but Lee was hearing none of it. "What the hell do you think you're doing!!" he shouted, grabbing Ray's collar and shaking him violently.

Ray raised his hand in surrender and gently tried making him leave his collar. But he wasn't going to bulge today. "You bloody cheater!! You manipulator!! How could you do that to her!" he screamed at him. His eyebrows were all crunched up together. The tap on his hands were firmer this time. Ray momentarily broke their eye contact, his eyes darting around the room. "Leave the collar Lee. You're creating a scene." he hissed.

And sure enough, he had. Many pairs of eyes were trained in their direction eyes and silent murmurings had broken out all around the cafeteria. And before he could think, to hell with the people, Ray continued. "And the security would cancel your visa for misbehaving if you don't lower your voice. " he quickly warned.

Damn Ray for his observing and reasoning. He let go of Ray's collar as Ray decided to steer the two of them out of  public's eye.

"She loves you so much. How did you even think of cheating on her!! " he angrily demanded. This made Ray stop in his tracks. They had reached a deserted corridor. Ray sounded confused now.  "Assuming it's Mariah you're talking of, why the hell would I cheat on her of all people Lee?" He hissed, his tone betraying his emotions.

"But then, who was..." Lee angrily started, a slight confusion in his tone, but then, he had lost Ray's attention to someone behind him. On following his line of sight, Lee just couldn't believe his eyes anymore. The girl he had earlier seen with Ray, was none other than Mariah herself, but she didn't look like herself at all, if that makes any sense. He could identity her only because she removed her hat, letting her neon pink hair fall freely down her shoulders. Her hair were shorter and a lot tamer now. With the block heels, she looked taller and her dress...

He walked towards her, "Holy Spirit, what have you done to yourself. I can barely recognise you! Those slippers, how are you even able to walk in them... And the dress..."

"I told you your brother would not approve of the dress, Mer." Ray helpfully added in between.

"If grandma Takyiya would see you like this..." "Oh hush Lee, grandma Takyiya isn't here, is she? And seriously, I've had enough of her controlling me. There is nothing wrong in dressing this way, everyone here does that." she cut him in between.

Lee realised that he hardly cared of any of these things, his worst fears hadn't been confirmed, that his sister was very much happy in her new life.

He let's out a relieved laugh." You won't believe what just happened... '' he started, but Ray spoke before him. "Of course she will, she was the one who orchestrated this in the first place." he angrily said. His face was a pure mask of irritation. Lee didn't understand. Confused, he turned to Mariah for an explanation but she just had a guilty face as she tried placating Ray, "Now Ray, it was just a harmless, practical joke... I didn't think it Lee would take it that seriously and cause a scene there..." she timidly tried explaining. Ray shook his head, sighing in disbelief. An inkling of a realisation dawned on Lee at last. "So, this was  set up to trick me?" he asked the two of them in disbelief. "Don't ask me Lee, I realised her prank just a few minutes before. Sure, she had hinted at something, but this... I had no stake in it. All your anger should be directed at the girl in front of you." He said.

"Hey, don't desert me like this Ray!!" Mariah exclaimed laughing, hardly realising the seriousness of the atmosphere. Lee, who had been having a lot of doubts and insecurities about leaving his sister at the city, burst it all out on her.

Did you even think for a moment about how I would feel? Here you are, my only family, and I'm free ready to leave you here for your happiness, all alone in a completely new city thousands of miles away from home and this is how you repay me? By scaring me to death?"

"You're simply making this a huge issue Lee", she tried dismissing his burst out, but that only got him angrier, " I thought Ray was cheating on you, stupid!" He yelled, trying to get his sister see the seriousness of her fooling around. 

"Then you ought to have a bit more faith in me, Lee." Interrupted a quite voice. Lee turned towards Ray, who looked very much hurt, already hiding behind his stoic mask. Lee had been so focused on Mariah, his sister, that he hadn't thought of Ray at all. "Especially someone whom you still call as your best friend." He continued.

 "It isn't like that Ray," Lee started, but Ray held up his hand. "And she wouldn't be alone. She will always have me, Aunt Rosa, the blade breakers, Mr Dickenson to help her through any difficulties." 

"Of course I know that," Lee cut in, but Ray wasn't done yet, " Sure, I had been away for two-three years, but your doubting my upbringing Lee. I could never tarnish the morals my parents taught me, brought me up with, even if they themselves aren't here to impose and supervise me. I would never cheat on a girl I am dating. I would never touch Mariah intimately unless she approves of it. I'll make sure no one would even look at her the wrong way as long as she's here, with me. Happy now? Enough promises for a bit more trust?" He demanded, his lips firmly pressed into a line, as he rapidly blinked to keep his tears at bay.

Both Lee and Mariah were rendered speechless. Mariah tried approaching him quietly, but ray harshly shook her hand away from hers. "We should get going. We don't want you to miss the flights do we?" He said before turning around and leaving, leaving Mariah and Lee no choice but to follow him.

He had been angry at Lee at the very beginning, but after thinking with a clear mind, he realised Lee had reacted just the was any protective, caring elder brother would. It was Mariah who had to learn a lesson about not playing with others' emotions. She had unnecessaryly caused bad blood between two best friends. She would have to deal with his silent treatment for a few more days. Until she repended enough for her mistakes.

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Words: 2179

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A/N: sorry for taking the story a bit backwards. Hope you liked the chap. In a hurry! See you soon!! Do vote and comment (+/-)