okay, so here's ch. 3, it's kinda short, so I'll possibly stick up the next, too.

In math Kaiba decided to sit at the opposite side of the room as Lily, and in chem he couldn't avoid her because they were lab partners and it was lab day. She had tied back her hair into a bun and stuck on some glasses, making her look like a proper secretary. With the hair out of her face, Kaiba could really notice her beautiful facial features. In fact, he totally forgot about everything around him. Sure he suppressed his emotions, but like any other teenage boy, he had no control over his hormones. She was just too pretty and although he would never admit it, he never stood so close to a girl before. He could actually smell her, and for a fraction of a second he was actually nervous. But then he pushed that aside and returned to his old, confident self.

"You know, gawking is not the way to a girl's heart, Seto."

O.o She actually called me by my first name. No girl has ever done that before...

"You're right, it isn't. What do you say to a date? We'll give these losers something real to talk about."

"My, my, and I thought I'd have to wait a few weeks until I could hear those words."

"What can I say? I'm unpredictable."

"Well, the answer is yes. I would love to."

"What do you say to Saturday?"

"Aww, that long?"

"Learn a little patience, I've got work to do."

"Oh, do you have your laptop with you?"

"Er, yeah, why?"

"Nothing...Now, let's get to work on this lab already. I have no intention of failing."

"All right."

They worked up to the bell and then the teacher announced, "Don't worry if you haven't finished. It's due on Friday."

"Come on already."

"And you're calling me the impatient one."

"Well—"

"Hurry, hurry! ::dragging him out the door by the arm:: Mr. Kaiba must go to his locker and rush home to work! Oh NO! He's going to be late by five seconds! Whatever shall we do?" Lily pretended to break down and go hysterical, and cracking up afterwards. She wasn't that loud, but definitely standing out enough to cause a few stares to go her way.

"I have a reputation to keep up you know," Kaiba said sternly, eyeing the other students in the hallway.

"Oh, lighten up. Who cares about what people think? ::opening locker:: I mean, you're the president of Kaiba Corp. You have a great brother, who's got a huge heart. Who knows what other great things exist about you? I'd have to say, you're better off than most."

He just responded with a grunt.

"Okay, if it means that much to you, I'll act like I don't know you. I won't talk to you or joke around or laugh, if that's what you want," Lily said as she started to walk off.

"Wait," Kaiba grumbled, clearly frustrated, and touched her shoulder.

"Why must you be like this? It doesn't matter what people think, Seto, it matters how you actually are. Do you know that Tea tried to warn me? She said you were a cold, cruel, selfish person. Those were her exact words, and I didn't believe it for a second. Why do you want people to think of you that way? Is it because that's how you really are? Mokuba doesn't believe that. I don't, but my confidence in that fact is slipping, so you better convince me otherwise."

"But I have responsibilities, work, and things to do."

"I bet it's always work this work that. Your brother wants to spend time with you, and so do I; I want to know so much more about you, but that's impossible if all you care about is work. Don't you ever stop to smell the roses? You're just a kid. There's going to be so much time later for you to work."

"I am the president of Kaiba Corp. I have a reputation to keep up and respect to be demanded, or I'll be overrun and lose everything. I've worked so hard to reach the top, and you want me to just dismiss that? In order to fit everything in, I have a strict schedule to keep. I'm already going to take time out for Saturday."

"Yeah, so is that how it's going to be? I have to make an appointment to see you or talk to you? What if I'm feeling down or bored and I just maybe want to go to the park with you or something? You're just going to say, oh sorry, I've got work?"

"Well, responsibilities are responsibilities, and in order for me to keep things running smoothly, that's the way it's going to be. I can't just suddenly alter my plans because you're randomly suffering from ennui. I believe your time is up; I have to start reviewing financial reports when I—"

"Don't treat me like one of your damn employees! I'm not, okay? Your time is up? What the hell is that? I don't need to spend time with you, but I want to. I want to know you, to have fun, to just enjoy my time here, to have a reason to stay at this silly school. I'm guessing you've never had a girlfriend before? Having one and keeping one takes responsibilities too, you know."

"My position as CEO is my life, not you, not school, not anyone else. If I'm not as dedicated as I am, I'm going to be career-less soon. Is that what you want? You think I have all the time in the world so that I can drop everything for you, because you are just so damn special? That you're the highlight of my life and I'm going to stop everything I need and just do what you want me to? Is that it? Newsflash, you aren't."

"No, I—"

"Well that's what it sounds like. See you tomorrow," Kaiba spat and walked away.

Lily walked in the other direction, towards the front of the school. She stared at her feet, remembering all the arguments she had in the past that ruined good relationships, except this time she might not even get a chance at a relationship, not even a friendly one. She just had a knack for bringing the worst out of people. She was slowly walking towards her apartment. Suddenly Kaiba's car whizzed past her and the wind messed up her hair. As she tried to smooth it out she forced her tears to stay in. I don't need to cry. I don't need this. I've been through worse arguments and made it out. This doesn't even matter. It's not like I just broke up with my boyfriend or got in a fight with my best friend...I can handle this. This is...nothing.

She slept early that night, bored and alone, and fell into a deep slumber before Kaiba called.

Hey, you've reached Lily. Obviously I haven't answered the phone, meaning I'm either in the shower, sleeping, or it's not turned on. Hah, so leave a message. BEEP

::silence:: I... ::silence:: I'm... ::silence::

And then he hung up.