"Hannah, be honest with me. Are you okay with all this?"

Hannah glanced up at me from her frappe before averting her eyes again.

We were sitting in the cafe across from KaibaCorp, waiting for Duke to arrive with whatever papers he wanted me to sign. He had suggested Hannah and I should try to bond before they left the next day.

"Honestly," Hannah began while playing with her cup. "I don't know how I feel. I know it's stupid, I mean, I don't know." She was struggling to find words. "I know you two are best friends, but I'm a little bit worried something more will come of it."

I stared at her. She was worried? I would have been too, but there was no way there would be anything more than friendship between me and Duke.

"You really have nothing to worry about," I reassured her, earning me a quick glance.

"The fact he does so much for you is scary."

Bowing my head, I had to agree with her. Giving me co-ownership was a pretty big deal. I wondered if Duke had a proper talk with Hannah before offering it to me, or he just mentioned it in passing conversation. It made me feel horrible. Not to mention the fact the whole idea of being co-owner to Duke's shop was scaring the living daylights out of me.

"Look, I know I shouldn't complain. You were in his life well before I was, but I'm scared... he may have feelings for you... hidden somewhere deep down."

I choked on the bit of coke I had attempted to swallow. "Seriously?" I struggled to say. "Duke doesn't have feelings for me, Hannah. You have to believe that. I've watched the way he looks at you. There's not a thing he wouldn't do for you. You think he does a lot for me? That fight we had last night? He told me he wasn't going to put his life on hold for me. And, after a little bit, I realised I wouldn't want him to," I explained softly. I wasn't trying to make her feel bad. I wanted her to see Duke truly loved her and no romantic feelings for me existed anywhere in that head and heart of his.

Hannah held my gaze for a few moments, then closed her eyes and nodded.

"Besides," I added with a laugh. "Duke would be over in America with you. I don't think I could do the whole long distance thing. And there's no way I'd actively play a part in cheating."

Hannah gave me a lopsided smile. "I guess you're right. Duke did say something about you being on a date earlier. Was it with Joey?"

Duke knew about Joey and I hanging out earlier that day? He called it a date? I never thought of it as a date.

I could feel my cheeks burning up, thinking about my and Joey's 'date'. "Yeah, but it wasn't a date. We were just hanging out, he had to leave before we did anything anyway," I said, casually.

"Uhuh, so nothing happened between you two?"

Something did happen. But I wasn't sure I wanted to talk about it, I didn't know how I felt about it.

*Flashback*

Joey grinned at me as we stood out the front of his choice for our hang out place. I took it in and let out a deep sigh.

"What? You don't like bowling?"

It wasn't that. I loved bowling. I was rather good. I was just worried I was going to kick his ass.

I shook my head and held my hand out, prompting him to lead the way. He startled me by grabbing said hand and dragging me through the entrance.

It was rather busy inside. Numerous teams were already well into their games, while a few groups wers still waiting to be served.

"Damn," Joey muttered. "I didn't think it would be this busy. We better get a lane."

"It doesn't matter if we don't, Joey," I said reassuringly, after realising he still had a firm grip on my hand. His hand was quite soft, but it still felt weird for him to be holding mine. I wasn't sure how to handle the situation. Did I pull my hand away, or squeeze his to make him realise he still had a hold, if he had forgotten. But, maybe he hadn't forgotten at all.

In the end, I just left my hand in his. My mind wandered back to Seto and the way he had pretty much fired me. On the outside, I was quite calm about it, but internally, I was freaking out. I realised I didn't want to leave my job with Seto. I could have made owning Duke's shop and working for Seto work somehow. I'd slip school and socialising in there somewhere as well.

I supposed it was a good thing, maybe the news papers would let up about Seto and I 'being together'. He didn't need that kind of stuff going around if it wasn't true and I just wanted to fade into the background. I'd had enough attention to last me a life time, and I'd only been in Domino for a few weeks.

"Next please," a voice said in front of us. It was the cashier. Joey walked up first but before he could do anything, his phone rang. He apologised to the attendant and walked outside. I followed him. He stood near the footpath, out of the way of people making their way in and out of the alley. I stood nearby, but kept a good few feet away so I wasn't eavesdropping.

Joey said a few words before rolling his eyes and shoving his phone back in his pocket.

"I'm sorry, Callie. I gotta go. My dad wants me to do some things for him," Joey said with a hint of annoyance in his voice and he walked up to me.

I shook my head. "It's okay. You go do what you gotta do, and we can catch up later," I said as I rubbed his arm. Joey looked at my hand, then at me for a moment.

What he did next, sent shockwaves through me. Before I knew it, I felt a pair of soft lips brush against mine in a swift kiss. I blinked a few times as Joey quickly pulled away from me.

"I'll catch you later!" Joey called as he began jogging down the street, leaving me to melt in a puddle of confusion.

~End flashback~

I kept my eyes on my Coke to avoid Hannah's wide eyes.

"He kissed you?!"

"It was more of a peck, really. I don't know what to make of it. I might just ignore it; I have enough to deal with. With Duke leaving with you and taking over his shop, I can't have two boys kissing me floating around my head as well."

"Two? Who else has kissed you?"

Oh, shit. I glanced up at Hannah quickly, only to see her leaning in rather close, desperate to hear more.

"I'd rather not say..."

"Rather not say what?" I heard from behind me.

I spun around on the seat to see Duke walk past me and take a seat next to Hannah. He placed a manila folder in front of him.

"Callie was just telling me how two guys have kissed her since she's been here," Hannah commented with a slight smile.

I shrunk back into the booth, desperate to hide. I knew I was about to be interrogated. I watched Duke's face contort into a frown.

"Who the hell kissed you, Callie?" he demanded.

"Wow, way to make it sound like it's a crime against nature to kiss me, Devlin," I retorted snidely. "Don't worry about it. Anyway, do you have what I need to sign?"

Duke narrowed his eyes at me but didn't move. I knew what he was thinking. Joey and Seto were floating around in his head. He wasn't stupid. I just hoped he wouldn't voice his thoughts. I really didn't want to confirm it, and I didn't want to lie to him, either. Maybe he wouldn't see the paper and the picture of Seto shoving his tongue down my throat.

After a moment, he sighed and pushed the manila folder towards me. "Everything's there. I do want you to read through it though, Cal."

I looked at Duke through my eye lashes as I opened the folder. "Seriously?" He loved making me suffer. I placed the pile of papers in front of me and rested my head on my hand in a bored manner.

"Don't get pissy. I was told I should make you read it so you know what's to happen if we have a falling out or you sell it from under me. I doubt that would happen though," Duke explained.

I glanced at Hannah; she was being rather quiet. Her eyes were on the contract in front of me. She seemed zoned out. Was the situation still getting to her? The thought of her paranoia was getting to me. What if it got too much and Duke's relationship with her fell apart? It would be because of me essentially.

The sound of a phone going off dragged me out of my thoughts. I looked towards Hannah who was hastily rummaging through her handbag. She pulled out her phone and examined it before turning to Duke.

"Sorry, can I get out?"

Duke nodded as Hannah answered the phone and he slid out of the booth. Hannah slipped out of the booth and jogged outside before Duke sat back down. It was my time to strike.

"What did Hannah-"

"Really, Callie? Kaiba? Of all people?"

Duke struck before I did. I sat there with wide eyes. I knew what he was talking about. Damn it.

"Uhhh-"

"Are you seeing him?"

"No-"

"Didn't you go on a date with Joey?"

"It wasn't a -"

"You can do so much better-"

"Duke!"

Duke stopped and looked at me. He sighed and flicked his bangs away from his face with his fingers.

"I'm not seeing Seto and it wasn't a date," I stated flatly. "I know the papers seem to have taken that photo and ran with it, but, it was only a kiss. Nothing more."

"But why did you even-"

"Devlin," I warned. "Drop it."

Duke sighed in defeat as he slumped back into the seat. "I'm sorry, Cal. Truth be told I'm worried about leaving you here. You barely know anyone and Kaden will hunt me down if anything happens to you."

I looked down at the papers in front of me before beginning to initial and sign. I wasn't going to bother reading through it. I trusted Duke. "You know, I'm a big girl Duke; I can look after myself," I sighed without looking up at him.

"That's funny," Duke muttered, causing me to look up at him. "You ripped into me last night for leaving you because he's here. Sounded like you were scared. Not to mention you've been living with Kaden for the past 3 months because you couldn't be left alone."

What the hell? I bit my lip, nodding as I flipped to the end of the contract and signed my name. I roughly shoved the papers in front of Duke and stood up.

"Cal-"

"I'll see you later," I whispered without looking at him as I placed some money on the table to pay for my half eaten food and drink.

"Callie, please-"

"Leave me alone, Devlin."

I quickly walked out of the cafe before I ended up hitting him. That was the second time he had used 'him' against me. I knew I had thrown the situation at Duke as well, but I was already upset by that point. I bumped into Hannah as I walked out but didn't stop. I apologised and made my way down the street. I had no idea where I was going and at that point I didn't really care.

I was being dramatic. I owned that. And Duke was right; I was terrified of being in Domino without him. I just didn't want to admit it to him. I just hoped I wasn't going to regret it.

While wandering in around, lost in my own thoughts, I seemed to have gotten lost. There weren't many people around and it was getting dark. I looked around wildly in the hopes of finding something I recognised.

Well, I found something. I knew where I was. And I wished I didn't. The sign hanging above a door ten feet ahead glared at me. I spun around but came face to face with the dark mouth of an alley. The alley. My breath quickened. My whole body shook. I could feel his hands on me. Groping. Rubbing. The stench of alcohol on his breath. The feel of it on my neck. I gripped my head roughly. I ran. It became really dark. I looked up and found myself in the alley. I backed up against the wall. His phantom hands pinning me there. Hot tears ran down my face. I cried out weakly and roughly shook my head. I needed them to stop. I needed to get away. But I couldn't run. My feet were glued to the spot. I held my head in my hands and sunk to the floor. As I pulled my knees up to my chin, his voice echoed in my head. "You're mine." He still had a hold of me.

"Callie?"

Someone knelt down in front of me. They gently touched my arm and I flipped. I cried out and tried to push myself further against the wall. My eyes were clamped shut as I hugged my knees tighter.

Hands grabbed my upper arms and I was pulled against something firm and warm. "What happened to you, Cal?"

I knew that voice. I knew the person it belonged to wouldn't hurt me, but I needed to get away. I thrust my hands into their chest and pushed them away with all the strength I could muster, which wasn't much. They grunted slightly and let go of me. Before I could move, they were close to me again.

"Callie, look at me," they ordered sternly.

My eyes shot open. As I looked in to worried chocolate brown eyes, the scent of the cologne Joey had been wearing a few days beforehand wafted around me. Feeling myself become less tense, I closed my eyes again and breathed deeply. It was only Joey.

Joey moved and I looked towards him to find him on his feet, his hand extented out to me. I stared for a few seconds before gingerly placing my hand in his. Joey's fingers closed around my hand and he pulled me to my feet.

"Let's go."

As Joey lead me out of the ally and into the sunlight, I realised something. He had just witnessed one of my breakdowns. A guy I barely knew had seen me at one of my weakest moments. I wasn't sure how to handle it. I also wasn't quite sure how he had found me.

Joey stopped at a bench near the cafe I had ditched Duke and Hannah at, which also happened to be across the road from KaibaCorp. Joey sat down on the bench, pulling me down beside him. I avoided making eye contact.

"Callie? You don't have to talk to me about it if you don't want to, but-"

My arms wrapped themselves around Joey's middle tightly while my face buried deep into his chest. I didn't really know why I had latched onto him. Maybe for some form of comfort? Joey tensed up and I realised what I was doing. I began to pull myself away from him, preparing to apologise for being weird, but Joey pulled me against him; one hand on the back of my head and the other pressed firmly against my back. I breathed in his scent.

"Joey?" I murmured.

"Hmm?"

"Please don't tell anyone what you saw, especially Duke. He doesn't need to know."

Joey didn't respond for a moment. "Okay, Callie."

I slowly released Joey from my hold and ran my hand through my hair as Joey's hands fell away from me. "I'm sorry you had to endure that.." I muttered, slightly ashamed. He was judging me.

"Endure what? I'm glad I found you. I don't wanna think about how long you could have been there by yourself if Duke hadn't rung me-"

"Duke called you?"

So Joey being there wasn't a coincidence. I had a fair idea why Duke didn't search for me himself, but I wondered why he picked Joey. Tea would have been a more...logical choice.

"Well, yeah. I think he called everyone so we could cover more ground. Was a good thing," Joey smiled as he reachede in to his pocket. "Hang on, I'll let Duke know."

I had half a mind to tell Joey to not worry about it, but then he'd question why, and I didn't want to go in to detail about why I was kind of pissed at Duke.

"Hey, I found her. Meet you there." Joey put his phone back in his pocket and stood up. "C'mon. We're meeting Duke back at the cafe."

I sighed and stood up before heading back towards the cafe, slowly trailing behind Joey.