Domino high, Library

Bakura groaned annoyed. Ryou was focused as she wrote down notes for what their presentation would need, ignoring the senior while she worked diligently.

Bakura ran his hand through his short white hair while looking over the different side-effects from using novocaine. He was annoyed they got stuck with some shitty drug used at the dentist, he had a genuine interest in learning about these things, as he had a morbid curiosity in anything that could test the body and it's limited abilities.

"Akefia?" he looked up at the girl sitting across from him, a scowl on his face.

"Why do you keep doing that? Stop being formal, just call me Bakura"

"I prefer calling people I don't know well by their surnames,.." she said calmly as she jotted down a few notes on her notepad. Bakura raised an eyebrow.

"No one is saying you can't get to know me, you sure don't act like other Juniors"

This made her raise her eyes and look at him.

"Maybe I am not supposed to act like everyone else" her voice was calm and her eyes serious as she looked at him.

He leaned back in his chair, catching a few looks from the other students that were sitting at surrounding tables.

"Fair point, you sure are more boring" he pouted as he looked off to a sophomore sitting across the room staring him down intensely.

"I am not here to entertain anyone, I am here to get an education" her voice was sounding a bit strained and Bakura smirked in triumph, seeing this as a sign of nervousness.

So she is a bit insecure. "I see that, but why do we have to do all the work at the library? We could just work at my place, my parents are never home anyway, also we should go to the beach party together"

Green eyes connected with purple ones. "I am sure your next lab partner will be interested"

The buff teen leaned over the table closer to her.

"Ryou-" he began talking.

"Bakura" she responded right away

"Yes?"

"No, I mean call me Bakura, you and I are not on informal terms" she looked down again.

Bakura was becoming annoyed. "Fuck, live a little" he raised his voice slightly and rolled his eyes.

"When we finish the project, you can do whatever you want. I am not going" she bookmarked around the middle of the book she had found on medicinal drugs.

They finished most of the presentation with a lot of opposition from the senior, but he had to admit she was good at mediating knowledge. She would be a good teacher. Bakura was intelligent but he would never be able to make the knowledge as easily accessible as Ryou did.

They got up from the table and left the building together, Ryou was carrying six books in front of her eyes and Bakura lifted an eyebrow as he walked beside her, he towered quite a bit over the Junior.

"You need me to carry those twiggy?" he chuckled, and she looked at him with a scowling look.

"No, I am fine" she then bumped right into someone who had been coming in the other direction and she feel back on the ground. Bakura looked over and saw one of his fellow Seniors. Anzu Masaki.

Ryou looked up to see a tall brunette, looking down at her with cold blue eyes.

"Watch it" she scowled as se straightened her shirt that was meant to enhance her bosom.

Ryou apologized profusely. "I am sorry, I did not pay attention to where I was going" she bowed her head as she began picking up her books. Anzu then noticed Bakura Akefia and suddenly her smile came back ten-fold. She completely ignored Ryou's attempts to apologize, and instead focused on the tall bright haired senior.

"Oh...Bakura… it has been a while, are you going to the beach party?" she walked up to him, her chest pressed out and her eyelids half-closed. Bakura looked uninterested as he looked at Ryou who was picking up her books.

"You know Anzu, you could at least recognize the fact that she just apologized to you" Ryou froze as she looked up at him.

The brunette scowled "Excuse you, She bumped into me" she scoffed as she looked down at the other girl. Bakura rolled his eyes, Anzu was really famous for being dramatic, and enjoyed victimizing herself. Bakura regretted ever making out with her.

"You are not hurt" He said in a calm voice. She looked at him with a defensive attitude.

"Oh well whatever, are you going to go the beach thing or not on the weekend? I think Saturday" she tossed her hair behind her shoulder and looked at him hopefully. He looked over at Ryou who finally had the book in her arms again and a bruise covering her elbow. She was awkwardly waiting for their conversation to end.

"Yeah I am going with Ryou" he motioned to the other girl and Anzu's eyes seemed to darken.

"Oh.. I see"

Ryou stood there shocked as Anzu looked over at her. "Is that so Bakura?"

She stuttered as she looked from the brunette to the white haired senior.

"We... I mean, just an hour" she managed to stutter. Bakura looked in triumph as the Junior realized she finally accepted his invitation.

"Oh that will be great… see you there then" She smiled in a very fake smile, and lifted her eyebrows at Bakura as she walked past him. "See you there" she whispered before walked away from them.

The senior smirked. "So you are going?"

"No, I don't know what came over me there but I am not going" she walked on and he followed in long strides. "It could be fun, there will be booze and volleyball" - he taunted her as they reached the bus stop where Ryou was getting on.

"I don't like parties" she stated cooly.

"Well that is boring" he chuckled, as he stood by her.

"I am getting on the bus" her green eyes looked up at him. "Are you not going by car usually?"

"Nah, my parents got it locked up because I drove drunk" he stretched his arms behind his neck and smiled down at her.

"Ok tell you what, if you come to that beach party, I promise to be more effective as your lab partner, I need to recharge to do school work and social events are how I do that" his purple eyes connected with hers and she lowered her gaze.

"One hour, and then we work focused ok?" she said the words in a stern voice.

"Awesome" he said in a voice that sounded almost relieved, maybe this Junior would not be such a bore after all.

A few hours later, Ryou entered the apartment she lived in. it was small but perfect for one person. She had a small hallway, kitchen, shower and a living room/bedroom. She had a neat and organized living arrangement and did not own much but had the necessary things for any teen. She took a quick shower and walked into the kitchen to chop up some veggies for her wok dish. After eating she made some tea, and sat on her small balcony, looking over the city. She did not mind living 30 stories up if the view was so pretty. The stars were out and she smiled a little bit as she remembered her birthday was in a month, this also meant she would be able to start taking her driver's license. It concerned her that Akefia could even think of driving and drinking. And he had just laughed it off like it was nothing. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and took it into her hand, it was Yugi, asking again if she would be going to the party.

She sighed and wrote her a short message.

- I am coming, but not for that long, are you going with Yami?

- Oh, that is great! I won't be the only Junior then :) Yes he is driving us, do you need a lift?

- Yes, that would be perfect, thank you.

- No worries, What made you change your mind?

- Well, I kind of made an arrangement with Akefia

- ;) that sounds interesting

- Mind out of the gutter.

- I did not say anything, what are YOU thinking about?

- ….

- I am happy you are showing up. Will see you tomorrow.

- Goodnight Yugi

- Goodnight. :)

She prepared to go to bed, and put on her striped Pajamas, her eyes slipped closed as she lay onto her couch, her eyes focused on her tv.

Her phone vibrated again and she saw it was a message from Akefia.

Are you awake?

She bit her lip, should she respond? She was not naive, he did not just want to write her to actually get to know her. He probably had a lot of back thought behind this. But what harm could it do to respond? He was actually defending her a bit earlier.

- Yeah.

- Don't mind Anzu, she just feels entitles a lot.

- I don't mind her, she was right, I bumped into her.

- You are not used to standing up for yourself, are you?

- You don't know me Akefia.

- I would like to...

- Don't do this

- What?

- This… don't pretend like you care.

- Not pretending, I am curious. :)

- Stay curious because we have nothing in common but the project.

- We could have a lot in common if you would share.

- Don't pressure me.

Ryou was getting agitated. This was not ok. Who did he think he was?

- I am not pressuring you, are you not used to making friends?

- Not like this, no.

- Okay granted texting might not be the best way to do this but you are not very talkative when we are actually around each other

- Goodnight Akefia.

She could not do this, she was too tired. She closed her phone and went to her room to sleep.

Bakura growled pissed as he threw his phone into his mattress. That stubborn brat, she was more difficult to read than he thought. Maybe Malika was right, she just was not interested. He looked frustrated as he tried to remember what else she had said. She was not interested in dating so him getting her to the beach party might be the chance he would get if any.