AN: Hello, everybody! Happy New Year...my hiatus is over. Enjoy...

Chapter 8

Mai stood in front of her bathroom mirror looking at her reflection. She definitely wasn't finished. She'd dried and styled her hair to luscious, blonde, wavy perfection, but her face was in need of some help. Not that she didn't look stunning already, but for her date with Jonouchi tonight, she had to look perfect. She took a compact full of light powder and brushed it all over her face. She swiped some red blush over her cheeks and some shimmering eye shadow over her lids. Some black mascara was swiped over her long eyelashes. She leaned a few inches back to see what she looked like. She looked great, but something was missing. She stood there staring for a moment, but then she grabbed the lip gloss. She opened the pink cap and held up the gloss to her lips, but then halted. She put the cap back on and set the applicator down. She didn't want her lips to look unkissable…She shook her head and grabbed the applicator again. She hastily opened the cap and smothered her lips in sticky, shiny gloss.

She took another look at the mirror. She looked good to go. She walked out of the bathroom, grabbed her coat, slipped on her shoes, and headed out the door.

The elevator opened and she walked into the parking garage where her car was. She was planning to pick him up at his apartment. He'd told her that he'd show her his apartment later tonight. She was excited to see what his apartment looked like. It probably wasn't much, since he was paying for that and all of his other bills with minimum wage jobs. It was amazing he even had an apartment at all. She wondered what they would do inside his apartment. She was hoping they could just hang out and relax, maybe watch some television or something. Maybe she would meet his Dad…she remembered he said that his father wouldn't be home. He said he would be out at some party or something. Everything they did tonight would be innocent; she was determined to make sure of that. It was only their second date after all. Wow only the second date! It felt to Mai that she'd known him so much longer. A blush crept up onto her cheeks. She was really falling fast…

She shook her head. What was she thinking? She couldn't go inside his apartment. He was probably trying to get her inside his apartment just so he could try and get some from her. He probably thought since she was older she was easier to get in bed. On the other hand, that just didn't seem like Jonouchi. She neared her car deep in thought.

:j:m:

Jonouchi stumbled out of his apartment with his wallet and cell phone in hand. He scowled angrily. So much for inviting Mai into his apartment, tonight, he thought. He knew he reeked of B.O. and alcohol. His father said he was going to a party, not throwing a party. Dozens of men were in there drinking. The whole apartment was dirty because of them. He tried his best to make himself look good for Mai tonight, but after being in the middle of that crowd, he felt grimy and gross.

He walked into the apartment bathroom. Compared to the rest of the apartment complex, the bathroom was rather clean. He looked into the mirror. His blonde hair was clean, his face was washed, but his clothes were less than great. His father had forgotten to wash his laundry yesterday, so he was wearing clothes from over two years ago. His pants were about an inch or two too short, and his shirt was much tighter than he would've preferred it. The only thing that looked normal on him was his jacket, but that reeked. He sighed. He was going to look stupid in front of Mai tonight. He hoped that she didn't over dress. If she didn't, he'd have a better chance of getting away with his too casual outfit. He sighed. He wished he looked better.

He walked out of the bathroom and all the way out of the apartment building. He agreed to meet Mai outside the building at six so they could catch a movie at six thirty. He looked back at the building. Mai was supposed to come inside and visit his apartment tonight, but with this mess going on, he definitely didn't think that would be happening this evening. He'd been planning on cleaning the house before he left so it would look presentable to Mai when she came. He was planning on his Dad not being home so she didn't have to meet him. He sighed. He hated his apartment. It was so gross. He loved his father, but his father was gross too. He dressed like a homeless man and always smelled bad. What would Mai think of that? What would she think of his apartment? She'd probably be grossed out. He wished he had a home like Yugi's. It was so clean and everybody there was so nice. When he moved out and started his own family, he would definitely start it in a place like that.

He sat outside the apartment on a nearby bench and decided to wait for Mai there. After he'd had a minute of fresh air, his spirits lifted a little. On the bright side of all this, he was finally going to see Mai again! It felt like it'd been so long since he'd seen her, yet it was only last weekend. He didn't understand how something this wonderful was happening to him. She actually kissed him. He smiled and blushed to himself. With the signs she was giving him, they could actually be something together. He wondered to himself how many dates you go on with a woman before you're exclusive. Two? He hoped so, but she was older, she would know.

He felt weird dating a twenty four year old, but when he was with her, it felt so natural. She just had that something about her that he really liked.

He saw a white car driving towards him down the street. He felt a sharp pang in his stomach and his heart beat loudly. He suddenly felt dreadful when he should've been feeling excited. He looked wrong, he smelt wrong, and he only had twenty dollars in his pocket.

:j:m:

Mai looked at her notepaper again. This was it: she'd reached his apartment. It was a dark, mahogany, average looking building with a few pine trees in front. It looked about five stores high. As she flicked down her turn signal, preparing to pull left onto the driveway, she noticed a boy with a familiar green jacket sitting outside on a bench. She smiled. It was Jonouchi. His posture was unusually slouched, and she could see him looking at her. She flashed a smile like she usually did. He only feigned a closed smile back and waved unenthusiastically. She scoffed at him from inside the car, assuming he wouldn't notice it. Why wasn't he happy to see her? Was he tired of her after only one date? She shrugged. She knew she couldn't jump to conclusions. She sighed.

She pulled into the driveway and found a compact parking space behind the bench Jonouchi was sitting at. He got off of the bench and walked calmly towards her car. Couldn't he look at least the little bit excited to see her? She pulled the key out and opened the car door with butterflies in her stomach, although Jonouchi was making her feel uneasy.

"Hey Mai," Jonouchi said to her and smiled, but to Mai it was so obvious that it was fake. He was not happy.

"Hi…Jonouchi, what's the matter?" she asked.

"It's not important. It's just…I don't look too good tonight. My clothes are too small. My dad forgot to do my laundry so I'm wearing old ones…" he finished looking down at the ground. Was that the problem? He didn't think he looked good? He was the cutest guy she'd ever met, she thought as she hid a blush. No clothes he wore could change that. She looked him up and down. The pants looked tight and a little short. The shirt was tight and form fitting. The jacket hung on him like it did the last time.

"Nonsense. You look wonderful." She said looking him straight in the eye. She felt proud of herself. That had to make him feel better. After all, Mai was known for being hard to please. Jonouchi just looked down and muttered something that sounded like "You're just saying that." Mai scowled. She actually gave him a compliment and he just brushed it aside. Maybe he just needed some time to get over it.

:j:m:

Mai and Jonouchi took their seats near the back row of the crowded movie theater. Mai held the popcorn and Jonouchi held the drinks. They both kept their eyes glued to the screen as the movie trailers appeared, not saying a word to each other. Jonouchi wasn't cheerful and talkative at all, even after she'd told him he looked great. What was the problem? Was it her? Was he just bored? Maybe he was just waiting for later tonight. He had promised to show her his apartment. That couldn't be it. That just wasn't Jonouchi. But then again, she'd only known him for a short time. She scowled on the inside. That had to be it. He was just trying to get some from her later tonight. Sixteen years old, forty years old, they were all the same. All men were just horny.

She felt Jonouchi's eyes on her. She desperately wanted him to stop looking at her. Just look away, she thought. She didn't want him to look at her and possible be checking her out. She felt his hand on top of hers. She hastily moved her hand away. She looked at Jonouchi. Still looking at her, his eyes seemed soft and caring. Could he actually care about Mai? It couldn't be true. She wasn't the type of woman men fell in love with. She was the type of woman men wanted to have sex with. She'd dated too many men to deny it. Jonouchi moved his hand away from her and looked back on the screen saying nothing.

:j:m:

She was embarrassed to be seen with Jonouchi. He just knew it. She could smell the alcohol and the B.O. and probably was grossed out. It wasn't even his fault. It was his blasted father and his disgusting friends. It would've been better if he looked right, but he didn't. Mai looked immaculate. She looked polished and beautiful. He just looked scruffy and lousy. She didn't even want to touch him. He could feel a chunk of her blonde hair touching his shoulder. Shivers traveled throughout his body. He was really a sucker for blonde hair, he had to admit. He just wanted to run his hands through her beautiful, long, wavy hair…maybe while kissing her…Jonouchi blushed. Even though he had no problems with fantasizing now and then, he didn't feel right doing it right in front of her.

He felt a strong hand grab his and set it on the rail in between them with a thud. Mai was holding his hand tightly. Jonouchi smiled. It wasn't quite romantic, but it was cute in Mai's own little way. He looked at her and smiled, but she didn't look back at him. He looked back at the screen. Movie trailers were stupid, he thought. He couldn't wait for "I Am Legend" to come on the screen. Mai wanted to see "Enchanted", but he'd convinced her to see this movie instead.

:j:m:

Jonouchi's touch made her heart beat louder. The simple touch of his hand had her mind racing. She was elated to be holding hands with Jonouchi again. She loved holding hands. It was so sweet. She stared at he movie screen watching a "Sweeny Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" trailer. Jonouchi must've thought she was acting strange. She was just so confused on the inside. She sighed. She wanted to pull up the rail in between her and Jonouchi and wrap her arms around him, given a kiss, lean on his shoulder, and watch the movie with his arms wrapped around her. But she wanted to do that if that was what he wanted. She didn't want to do it if on the inside he was just thinking about later tonight. He would probably do it trying to get on her good side and then try to get some later tonight. Could that really be Jonouchi? How was she supposed to know what his intentions were?

:j:m:

With Mai's hand still in Jonouchi's, the pair walked along the Domino sidewalks. Their jackets shielded them from the nighttime chill. The feeling in Jonouchi's stomach changed back and forth between excited and uneasy. He was excited to be holding hands with her, but he was also worried. The only thing she'd said to him in the last hour was that she liked the movie. She probably wasn't having a good time. She just wanted this date to be over so she could get away from him. It must've been his clothes and how he smelt. How could he have let this happen? Why didn't he check to make sure his laundry had been done last night? Why did he let himself get stuck serving alcohol from the keg? Why did he leave his jacket on the couch right next to where those men were drinking? He sighed frustratedly. He had better savor every last minute of this date while it lasted. He didn't know whether they would be going on another one by the way Mai was acting. He'd been holding Mai's hand for almost an hour now. His hand was sweaty, but he dared not move it. He was afraid if he let go, she wouldn't let him grab her hand again.

:j:m:

Mai reluctantly pulled into the apartment complex Jonouchi lived in. She wished the drive was longer. They hadn't said anything to each other in over thirty minutes. What was wrong with Jonouchi? He wasn't talking to her because he was just waiting for later tonight. She didn't want to go into his apartment. She just wanted to go home. He didn't want to be with her. He didn't want to go to the movies with her. All he cared about was later tonight.

She pulled into a parking space and turned off the car. She put her hands in her lap and sighed. Was Jonouchi finally going to say something to her?

"I'm guessing I'm supposed to visit your apartment now?" Mai asked. Jonouchi had been silent, so Mai decided to speak first. She looked at Jonouchi. He was staring down at his hands with a blank expression.

"Actually…I wanted to, but my dad stayed home tonight," he said not looking at her.

"Oh! I get it! Since, your dad's home we can't go inside! You were planning something that would require us to be alone?"

"No! It's because he threw a party tonight. There's a bunch of guys in there drinking…I didn't want to get you mixed up in that," he finished, but Mai didn't even hear what he said. She was too absorbed in her thoughts.

"What's the matter with you?!" Mai said agitatedly. She was upset. So this was why Jonouchi had been acting so distant with her. He knew he wasn't getting any tonight because he couldn't invite her into his apartment. So this date was pointless to him and he's been bored all this time. Mai couldn't believe this. She was better than this. She didn't have time to waste with horny teenagers. He was trying to get sex from her. She knew it. She should have known from the beginning. Her eyes felt sour. She felt so much for him, and he was just trying to get sex from her. She closed her eyes.

"I can't believe you…you're just…" she shut her eyes harder. She couldn't bear to face the truth.

"…embarrassed." Jonouchi finished for her. Embarrassed? What did that mean? That's not what she was thinking. Mai opened her eyes and looked at Jonouchi, who was still looking at his hands in his lap. He saw her out of the corner of his eye and looked up at her. His face turned into an expression of shock. He muttered her name softly.

Mai felt a drop of water fall down onto her hand in her lap. She lifted her hand to her cheeks and found a wet streak running down her face. She could feel her vision blurring. Her eyes were sour and watery .She wiped underneath her eye along her lower lashes. When she held it out for her to see, she could see her mascara on her finger. She pursed her lips and gritting her teeth.

Jonouchi grabbed the hand she held out in front of her to look at. She looked out of her car door window. How could she cry? Especially in front of somebody else? In front of Jonouchi? Now she was the one that was embarrassed. Embarrassed? What did that mean anyway?

"Why?" she couldn't even talk. Her voice was scratchy. Jonouchi just grabbed her hand with both of his hands now.

"What's wrong, Mai?" he whispered. He leaned in closer.

"Just leave," Mai croaked. She hated to cry. Jonouchi stared at her.

"This date…if it could even be called a date…is over. I'll see you around," she said calmly, even though her voice was shaking. She didn't want him to leave. She was hoping that he wouldn't listen to her, but he did. He turned, opened the car door and stepped outside. He muttered goodbye without looking at her.


AN: Oh the humanity...Review plz!