Here's the next chapter! Sorry I took so long but I was busy with school. Now that it's summer vacation I'll have lots more time to update! R&R.
Summary: Joey and Serenity are madly in love with each other and everything is going great for them, til Joey's former love returns and makes him rethink what he's doing. And while Joey is wrestling with his feelings, a certain someone is trying to sweep Serenity off her feet. Will their love triumph or will they be torn apart by those they think are their friends?
Also: italics-Joey's thoughts
Bold-Serenity's thoughts
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh or its characters.
Chapter 8Joey sighed. The phone had just rang for the thousandth time that day. It was Duke, of course, trying to talk to Serenity like always. Joey kept hanging up the phone, not answering, or unplugging it. But since he was expecting a call from Yugi he couldn't leave it unplugged for very long. So he was forced to listen to the endless ringing til Duke finally got tired of calling. But since this had been going on for the past two hours, Joey doubted it would happen any time soon.
Is he ever gonna give up? I'm gonna blow up the phone if he doesn't stop!
He looked out the window to make sure Serenity was still out there. He saw her sitting in a chair on their porch reading a book.
She looks so beautiful just sitting there. It's almost like looking at a painting or something. It sucks to know that I have to choose between her and Mai. The two women I love most, and quite possibly the only two women I can't choose between. Why did Mai have to give me such a hard decision to make? She knew I still loved her but she also knew I'm with Serenity. I wish this wasn't so difficult.
He leaned back against the couch and closed his eyes. The phone stopped ringing. He sat there in peace for a few minutes, til he heard a car approaching the driveway. He looked out the window and saw Tristan and Tea walking up to Serenity. He didn't know if he should be panicked, pissed, or relieved.
"Hey Serenity," Tea said. "Is your brother home?"
"Yeah he's inside. Do you want me to get him for you?" Serenity asked.
"Would you? That would be so nice," Tea replied with a smile.
Serenity put her book down and walked into the house. Joey wasn't on the couch anymore.
Where did he go now? I thought he said he was gonna sit there and watch tv. I wonder if he's taking a nap or something.
She walked to his bedroom but the door was wide open and he wasn't in there. She glanced in her room and both bathrooms, but they were all empty. She then decided to check the kitchen and saw Joey leaned against the refrigerator, his eyes closed and a glass of coke in his hands.
"Joey, wake up. You've got company," she said.
"I know," he replied, not opening his eyes. "I saw them come up to the house. Why do you think I'm in here?"
"Don't you wanna see them?" she asked.
Why in the hell would you think I would want to?
"I don't know."
"Well they would like to talk to you. I think it would be nice of you to go out there and talk to your friends."
They haven't spoken to me in weeks. How the hell can you call them my friends? What kind of friends refuse to speak to someone just because that person is with someone they love? Tristan and Tea are no friends of mine.
"Did they say what they wanted to talk to me about?"
"No. But does it matter?"
"Yes it does. I don't want to talk to people if they want to talk about something that will piss me off."
He's so stupid sometimes. I know he has no reason to be friends with them but he can't be mean to them. Tristan was a total jackass to us but that doesn't mean he shouldn't talk to him when Tristan obviously has something important to say. As long as it's not about our relationship I have no problem with them talking.
"Just go see what it's about. Please." She sighed. "I know that you have no reason to talk to them after what they did to us, but they've been your friends for years. They don't deserve to be kicked aside, no matter how horrible they've been to us. Just go talk to them. It won't take too long."
"Fine whatever."
If they say anything that will piss me off I will hurt them.
She stood on her toes and kissed him on the forehead. Then, hand in hand, they walked out of the house and onto the porch. Tristan and Tea looked rather impatient.
"So what did you wanna talk to me about?" Joey asked.
"Well, we wanted to tell you something," Tea said.
"We figured you should be the first to know," Tristan added.
"First to know what?" Joey asked, confused.
"We're engaged!" Tea exclaimed, raising her hand to show off the huge diamond engagement ring on her finger.
Serenity's eyes widened. "It's…huge!" She turned to Tristan. "But how could you afford such a thing?"
"I've been working two jobs the past few weeks," Tristan replied. "And even if it was really expensive and I'll be spending the next few years paying it off, nothing is too good for my girl." He kissed her on the cheek.
"Well congratulations!" Serenity exclaimed.
"Yeah congrats," Joey muttered.
I can't believe he decided to talk to me just to tell me that. What made him think I would care? He doesn't give a damn about my relationship so why should I care about his?
"Thanks," Tea said. "I'm so happy I never got together with Yami. He never spent this much on Yugi before. Tristan makes me feel so special!"
I'm happy for her. I really am. But does she have to show off like that? I don't mind her being really excited about it but waving that ring in our faces like that isn't very nice. I know she's not doing it on purpose but I'm actually envying her. Joey doesn't really buy me anything nice. The most he's bought me lately was that Dominos pizza we shared.
"Well Yami's not really the type to spend lots of money on someone, not even Yugi," Serenity said. "He's like 5000 years old and he doesn't have lots of money. But I'm happy you've found someone that makes you happy." She paused for a minute. "When is the wedding going to be?"
"We haven't decided yet," Tristan replied. "I mean, we just got engaged last night. We would've told you then but we decided to celebrate instead. We're going to decide on a date and everything like that after we've told everyone and we've had the time to enjoy just being engaged."
Ok you told us. Now GO AWAY!
"Would you guys like to come inside?" Serenity asked.
No! Please say no!
"No sorry we can't," Tea said apologetically. "We have to go to Yugi's place next and tell him. We passed his house on the way to yours but no one was home. Any idea where they might be?"
"Nope sorry," Serenity said. "We haven't seen them in a few days. Joey's been waiting for a call from Yugi but nothing yet."
"Ok well if Yugi calls, tell him we're looking for him," Tristan said. Joey grunted in reply. "Well, we better go. See you guys later!"
"I'm going back inside," Joey said after they left.
"Ok. I'll go in too," Serenity replied.
They walked back in and sat on the couch. A few minutes later, Joey and Serenity were rolling around on the couch, kissing fiercely. Serenity was trying to gain dominance but Joey, being a stubborn male, wouldn't give it to her. She tried to get out from under him, but the result caused them both to slam onto the floor.
"Ouch! Maybe that wasn't such a good idea," Joey said, rubbing his head painfully.
"Yeah I agree," Serenity replied, holding her back in pain.
"Next time we decide to do something like that, let's make sure it's on the floor or a bed or something very big so we can't fall so easily," Joey suggested.
Before Serenity could say anything, the phone rang again. Joey jumped up to see who it was and scowled. Duke was calling again. Before he could do anything about it though, Serenity had grabbed the phone and answered.
Damn it! She got to the phone before I could hang up on his dumb ass. I wish she wasn't so oblivious to his flirting. She could put an end to all his crap. I would ask her to get off the phone with him but then I might come off as jealous. I don't want her to think I'm jealous or anything. But I also don't want her talking to that jackass.
A few minutes later, Serenity hung up the phone. Joey hadn't heard a single thing she said to him so he had no idea what was coming next.
"That was Duke," Serenity said quietly. "He said he had been calling all day, trying to talk to me."
"Really?" Joey said, trying to sound confused.
"Yeah. He said that someone would hang up the phone or disconnect it every time," Serenity replied. She turned to him. "Why didn't you let me talk to him?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Joey lied.
Wow. He must think I'm the dumbest person ever.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Serenity replied angrily. "Why won't you let me talk to him? Why don't you want us to be friends?"
I can't believe she hasn't figured it out yet. And I thought I was slow. I should just tell her to get it over with already.
"Because he likes you!" Joey exclaimed. "Every time he's around, he's always asking you questions. You see them as just questions but I see them for what they really are. He's trying to find out how you would react if he made a move on you while you're with me! He's trying to take you away from me!"
"That's ridiculous! Duke is my friend! Why would he do such a thing?"
"Because he doesn't care that you love me. He only cares about getting you for himself."
What the hell is he trying to do? Does he really think I'm going to believe him? Duke would never do something like that! And Joey is really dumb sometimes. I doubt that he could figure something like that out, whether Duke was being obvious or not. Since I'm smart, I would figure it out. And since I haven't, it must not be true. Joey is just being overprotective.
"That's crazy! Duke's not a selfish person!"
"Yes he is! You just can't tell! Look, someone once told me that people can be very blind when it comes to love. Sometimes you can't tell when someone likes or loves you, even when they're totally obvious about it."
I know that's right. I wonder sometimes, if things would be different had I found out that Mai loved me. Would I be with Serenity right now, or with Mai? Serenity needs to realize that Duke is trying to get in the way of our relationship. Serenity might have a choice to make too. I have to choose between her and Mai, and she'll have to choose between Duke and me. I don't know why but our relationship seems to filled with a series of obstacles. It's almost like God is testing us. I wish it would stop though. I hate making choices, especially ones that involve love.
"Look, let's not talk about this anymore. I need to go lay down or something. We can talk later. Ok?" she asked.
"Alright fine," he replied. He kissed her on the top of her head. "Go get some rest. We can go out tonight for dinner."
"That sounds nice," she said. "I'll see you later."
She walked into her room and flopped onto her bed. She heard Joey make his way down the hall. A few minutes later, the shower had started up. She fixed her pillows and covered herself up.
I don't know what to do. A part of me hopes that Joey is lying, but a part of me thinks he isn't. When I first met Duke I thought he liked me but he never said anything about it so I assumed he didn't. But the things Joey was saying are starting to make some sense. I wonder…if I had found out that Duke liked me, would things be different? Would I be with Joey right now, or with Duke? I don't wanna admit it, but I might have a decision to make. I didn't realize til recently that I might have some sort of feelings for Duke. But I can't tell Joey that. It would devastate him. He doesn't seem to have feelings for Mai anymore, even though its clear to me that she still loves him. I have to choose between Duke and Joey. And even though I hate to think about it, Joey might have to choose between me and Mai. I don't know why everything has to be so complicated but it does. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we're, legally at least, not supposed to be together. I don't know which would be harder, keeping this relationship going or breaking it off. I want to talk to him about it but I don't want him to think that I don't love him. We do need to talk about it at some point though. I just don't know when.
She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. She enjoyed a dreamless sleep, escaping the difficult world of love. Joey, having finished his shower, laid on the bed next to her and entered into his own dreamless sleep, not knowing what had been going through her head moments before.
End Chapter 8
Review please! Ok I know that was a terrible ending but that's what I came up with. I liked it. Sorry about the huge walls of text. I had lots of explaining to do this chapter. The next chapter will be even more complicated. Well hope you enjoyed the update! Don't forget to review! Chapter 9 coming soon!
