After the cheering died down, spectators and duelists alike began to leave the arena. Alex, Joey and Mai head over to Yugi's suite ready to cheer him up, but when they arrived, it didn't appear that he needed any cheering up. He was simple and humble in his response and said,

"Seto won because he is an expertly skilled player and since I tried my best I have nothing to be ashamed of."

Alex admired his maturity and showmanship. Everyone jumps into conversation about the duels this weekend, but her mind becomes groggy and she feels incredibly sleepy. Alex probably hadn't had more than 5 hours of collective sleep over the course of the weekend. She decides to grab a seat in the corner of the suite. As she relaxed in the lounger that faces the once crowded dueling arena, Yugi and the gang pack their bags and begin to head out the door. Mai looks at her sleeping friend from across the room and decides to let her sleep for a little while; maybe she could spend some alone time with a special someone.

"Alex? Wake up. They're starting to clear everyone out of the stadium…Alex…Alex?"

She felt someone softly shaking her shoulder and she jerked up cramping her neck in the process. Foggy eyed, she look around the room to realize that she had fallen asleep in Yugi's suite. Sleepy and irritable she look towards the voice that woke she from her peaceful slumber and sees Seto's sparkling blue eyes staring back at her. He looked so content and in high spirits that her face automatically changed from a look of irritability to a look of delight. She looked down bashfully, a little embarrassed that he found her asleep and asked,

"what time is it?"

He replies, "It's time for us to clear out, security is asking any stragglers to vacate the stadium now." He pauses and then continues, "Sorry I had to wake you. I didn't want to disturb your slumber but we need to go."

Alex begins to get up, but falls back in the chair when a the cramp in her neck quickly shoots a sharp pain up to her head. She rubs her neck instinctively to sooth it but the cramp fought back with more shooting pain. Seto noticed her rubbing her neck and called one of his staff members to bring a heat patch over. A few minutes later he was placing the heat patch on Alex's neck. The warmth brought soothing comfort to her neck and soon she was able to move more normally. Then Seto began to help Alex out of the lounger. She felt his strong hands pull her up out of the seat and closer to his body. As she stood in front of Seto she caught a glimpse of his scent and felt his natural body heat reverberate. It all made her a little light headed and she momentarily lost her footing. At that moment, Seto grabbed Alex and pulled her into an embrace to keep her from falling. She couldn't believe he was holding her and so tightly. Looking up into his face, she used her eyes to ask him for a kiss. He returned her gaze, but an instant later his eyes became cold and he pulled away saying,

"We need to go before we get locked in."

Alex replied," Oh right…sure. I should catch up with Mai."

Just as they were about to exit the suite, Mokuba runs into the room.

"Hey, let's go guys. They're gonna lock us in if we stay any later."

Seto's body guards approach him and ask that he take a different exit out of the arena for safety reasons. "The limo is waiting outside at a designated exit Mr. Kaiba," says one of the body guards.

Mokuba runs over to Alex to give her a hug while Seto casually says, "see ya later," and walks away.

'I can't read him at all' Alex thought to herself. She was sure he wanted to kiss her as much as she wanted to kiss him, but his eyes became guarded so quickly. As she walked back towards Mai's suite, she thought about possible reasons why Seto pulled away. When she walked back through the door, she sees Joey and Mai embracing in a passionate kiss. She quickly tried to sneak back out the door, but they had already detected her presence and Mai jumps to the opposite side of the couch. Joey looks around a little confused and then looks to Mai hopeful for a reciprocated romantic emotion, but instead she is completely embarrassed and excuses herself for a visit to the lady's room. Alex is left standing by the doorway feeling incredibly akward. She leans against the doorframe and looks down at the floor, not really sure what to say. To break the silence she says,

"Uhm, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt anything, maybe I should take a hike."

Joey responds in an angry, hurt voice, "You don't need to be sorry, besides I'll be the one leaving now."

Alex felt sorry for Joey and says, "Joey, I know it's not necessarily any of my business, but maybe you should stay and talk to Mai. I mean I can make myself home or somewhere else. Besides I think she's confused about what she really wants right now."

Joey's pride has been hurt and as he turns to walk out the door, he runs his hand through his hair and says, "I don't need a girl in my life who doesn't think I'm good enough. I'm tired of this game, if she doesn't know what she wants, then let me make it easy for her. I'm outta here."

'Poor Joey', Alex thought. For once, she was truly disappointed at Mai for playing her flirtatious mind games with the men in her life. She hadn't known Joey that long but she could tell he was a genuine fellow not the kind of guy who was just looking for some action, the kind of guy who would give up his whole being for the ones he loved. It's only fair that he expect the same in return.

When Mai returns from the restroom she doesn't even bother talking to Alex about what just happened. Even though Alex was Mai's best friend she was so mad at her for acting so heartlessly. She just picked up her things and started walking towards the car. Mai runs after her down the corridor with all of her belongings. Her voice echoes when she yells,

"wait Alex, wait up will ya!"

Alex waited for Mai, but she didn't really speak to her the whole ride home. Mai could tell that Alex was disappointed with her and considering she didn't want a lecture from Alex now she remains quiet as well. Alex was too busy remembering the brief moment she shared with Seto earlier. She wondered if she would get a chance to speak to him at the awards ceremony this evening.