Dislaimer: If I owned Yu-Gi-Oh, Joey and Mai would have already got together. So all those Joey/Tea fans can breathe a sigh of relief that I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh.

Please review, but be nice. I have a very low self confidence... Anyway this fic is dedicated to my all time best friend Otter Pratonus.

"So, Mai, you doing anything tonight?" asked Joey Wheeler, leaning nonchalantly on Mai's purple convertible. The beautiful blonde smiled.

"No."

"Well, do you want to come to the movies with me?" Joey asked. "Just as friends," he said quickly. "You know, because the rest of the gang is busy, I just thought, we could hang out."

Mai pushed him out of the way, and got into her car. She smiled and winked at him. "Seven o'clock then, at my house. It's a date." And with that she drove off.

Joey stared after her with a mixture of pleasure and nervousness. She was so lovely! With her blonde hair streaming out behind her, and her beautiful eyes…… Joey shook his head. What was the matter with him? He was constantly trying to impress her, make her laugh, make her smile at him. She made him feel like he could accomplish anything, and he knew that, if she asked, he would throw himself off the tallest building in the world. What was happening? Was he falling for Mai Valentine? No, Joey knew the answer to that. He'd already fallen for her.

That night, as Mai got ready, her heart was beating fast. She had known for a while that she loved Joey Wheeler- she was still a bit confused as to why she liked someone who could be such an idiot- and she was planning on telling him tonight. She was afraid of rejection, but it had to be better than this constant uncertainty as to whether he returned her feelings.

"That movie was great!" said Joey enthusiastically, as he walked Mai home through the moonlit park.

Mai smiled. She loved the way he took such pleasure in really simple things. He was so bouncy, like a puppy almost, but all of that never ending energy concealed a kind and brave side, the side that Mai had seen and fallen in love with.

She stopped, and Joey turned to her, puzzled.

"I can't do this anymore, Joey!" she burst out. Joey looked rather alarmed. A calm corner of her mind observed that she was being rather over dramatic, but she ignored it. "I can't pretend anymore. I've got to tell you."

She paused, steeling herself for the rejection that was bound to come.

"I love you," she said, simply.

Joey looked dumbstruck.

"Well?" asked Mai. She sounded close to tears. "If you're going to reject me then be quick about it."

Joey, who had never been good with words, decided to settle the matter by bending down and kissing her.

They stood like that for some time, arms wrapped around each other, until they broke apart to breathe.

"I didn't realize that you loved me," murmured Joey. "Otherwise I would have done that a long time ago."

Mai said nothing, but hugged him all the harder.

After a while Joey reluctantly let go of her. "I'd better get home," he said. "Serenity will be worried. But I'll see you tomorrow."

Mai smiled and winked.

"It's a date. A real one this time."