Okay guys I'm back. I'm sorry this took so long, AP tests and school projects got in the way for the last couple weeks of school. This chapter is kinda short but if I had written it as I had originally intended it would have been so long it would reach half way to infinity. Alright, enough of my rambling. Here is chapter three of Overcoming the Past so please enjoy.

Ch. 3- Meeting the Gang

"When you said you found someone in the tunnel you forgot to mention it was a cute girl, Crow," Blitz said as he and the others all sat around waiting for the girl to come to.

"Shut up. I already got that from Jack and Blister." Blitz sat in the chair by the computer, Tank and Nervin on either side of him. Crow was leaning against the wall where he could see the couch and the girl's face. Jack and Blister were by the doorway.

"If she's this cute when she's out like a light imagine how cute she is when she's smiling," added Tank.

"If you guys keep talking like that I'm gonna get sick. Besides if she hears you your going to make us all seem like a bunch of creepers," remarked Rally.

"You're just saying that because you're not our age yet," replied Blitz, "You'll understand in a few years."

"Somehow I doubt that I'll ever understand how your minds work." Blitz opened his mouth to comment but then a small groan came from the direction of the couch.

"Guys, I think she's coming around," said Blister. The girl groaned again then slowly opened her grey eyes. She struggled slightly to sit up, and when she did she placed her palm on her throbbing head. The guys didn't say a word. Sensing that other people were in the general vicinity she looked around and noticed Crow leaning against the wall, Blitz, Nervin, and Tank by the computer, and Jack and Blister by the doorway. Discovering that she was surrounded by strangers, all of them male, made her little more than slightly uncomfortable, thought there was no visible change in her facial expression.

"You alright?" Crow asked. She hesitated, considering how she should answer.

Finally she nodded, "Yes, I think so."

"We found you unconscious in the tunnel so we brought you here," Crow continued, "This is where we hang out. Over by the computer we have Blitz in the bandana, Nervin in the glasses and Tank is the big one." He pointed to each of them in turn as if introducing contestants on a game show.

"Over by the door is Jack the Blond and Blister in the cowboy hat," Jack merely nodded to the girl, while simultaneously scowling at Crow for proclaiming him 'Jack the Blond'. Blister waved. "The kid is Rally," Crow continued, gesturing to Rally who was sitting by the doorway with Jack and Blister. "And I am their great and fearless leader Crow," he concluded. To top it off, he gave a bow causing the other boys to all roll their eyes.

"Sure Crow, but who was it that saved the Satellite and the city from the Dark Signers?" Rally countered.

"That's just a technicality," Crow said waving him off, "And it's beside the point. I am still your fearless leader."

"Yeah, Crow's definitely fearless," added Blitz.

"Thank you Blitz."

"Unless clowns are involved," added Tank. The boys, except for Crow, roared with laughter.

"Yeah sure, rub it in," he commented sulking against the wall. The others had been laughing so hard they hadn't noticed a runner pull up to the quaint little hideout.

"What's so funny?" asked the blue-eyed youth who had just gotten off his runner and removed his helmet.

"We're just laughing at Crow and his fear of clowns," Rally managed to respond though his fits of laughter.

"I see." A small smirk formed and his lips as he looked over at Crow, but his eyes never made it that far. His eyes widened in surprise at the girl resting on the couch.

"Vaith!" She had swung her feet over the edge of the couch and was sitting, head down due to the throbbing pain running through it. Hearing her name she slowly looked up, trying not to bring on another dizzy spell. Once her brain registered what she was seeing, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Yusei?" Everyone abruptly stopped laughing. It was as if someone had just said that a beloved family member had been found dead.

"Wait, you mean you two know each other!" Crow questioned incredulously.

"Yeah..." but before Yusei could finish, Jack interrupted him.

"She wouldn't be the same Vaith as the one who helped you out a few days ago would she?" He gave Yusei an accusing look.

"Actually she is," he replied calmly.

"And you didn't mention the fact that you met a girl? We thought we were your best friends," Crow complained.

Yusei shrugged stepping into the hideout and said, "Slipped my mind."

"That sounds awfully familiar," Blister said rubbing his chin in mock thoughtfulness.

"Well, I think I should leave now," Vaith said. She was in pretty bad shape, but she was beginning to feel extremely uncomfortable. Ignoring the pain that wracked her whole body and the throbbing of her head, she stood up. Almost as soon as she did so the entire room began to spin uncontrollably and her ankles gave out; she plummeted toward the ground. Yusei, being the closest one to her, caught her before she hit the floor. He had one hand wrapped around her waist and the other her shoulders and he held her firmly against him. Her head rested on his shoulder and her hands on his chest. The others were on their feet as well.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Yusei said, "You're hardly in any condition to stand up let alone walk. It's probably best that you stay here until you've recovered enough to look after yourself."

"He's got a point," added Crow. Vaith opened her mouth to protest. Though things were still spinning, over Yusei's shoulder she could just make out the concerned expressions on everyone's faces, Rally was pale as a ghost. She sighed, knowing that protesting was futile and she wouldn't be able to leave even if she tried. She would either collapse first or they would all bar the doorway. And she wouldn't have the strength to fight them.

"Alright," she conceded her voice barely above a whisper, "I'll stay."

"Good," Yusei responded. He removed his arm from around her waist and gently sat her back on the couch. The others sat down, now that she was out of danger of plummeting to the floor.

"You should try and get some sleep," Yusei said. Her only response was a nod. She pulled her feet back up on the couch and turned to face the other way, away from everyone. Now she was stuck in a strange place, beaten and battered, hardly able to stand, or even see straight, and to top it all off she was stuck with seven men and a child she barely knew. She was by no means fond of the situation to say the least, but what choice did she have? Not much of one really.

So what do you think? I know it's a bit on the short side. Please bear with me. I've already started chapter four and I'll post that as soon as I finish writing and revising it. (If I post it as soon as I finish writing it, it will look as if some elementry schooler took a wack at trying to continue the story. Yes my rough drafts are that bad). Anyway, as always please leave a review. Oh, and much love to all of you have reviewed my story already: NinjaSheik, Sister of the Pharaoh, Mirror's Mirage, exleader75 (who has helped me with my punctuation troubles), jory014, and those who have added this story to your favorites list. Thank you much!

~MoonlightLotus18