Hey guys! We're cutting close to the climax. It will be several more chapters until the end, but in about two chapters, we'll be cutting to our climax of the story. I hope you guys are ready for it! Sorry this is so short. I'm hoping to make the next chapter longer. Review please!

I was walking on my way to my pickup, school being finished for the day. I was going to deal with another day working at 7 Eleven, like usual. I saw Tristan leaning against the crack of the door to my pickup, where the driver's seat was located. I threw my book bag into the back as I heard a knock on the top of my pickup done by Tristan. I looked at him to find out what he wanted.

Tristan seemed serious. I couldn't figure out why. There was also a hint of stress written on his face. I guess whatever he had to say had to be really serious.

"Joey, I know you have to go to work, but there's something that's been on my mind for quite a long time," Tristan said.

"Is it about the issue with Yugi picking up your wine again?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. I wasn't going to let him ask Yugi to do any more errands and that was final!

"No, it isn't. That's over and done. It's about something else."

"What is it, then?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"I'm not going to argue that Yugi being with you is the best thing for her, but... at times..." Tristan tried to word out, then sighed, putting his hand for his forehead. "I think you harass her when you get drunk and I'm worried... it might end up getting worse."

"What are you talking about? When I get drunk, I act a little coo-coo, but I don't see how that harms Yugi. I don't even see her with a black eye or something, unless I bring a bitch home."

"Does she have to show one!?" Tristan asked me to my face, almost making me flinch. He took a deep breath before continuing. "I've seen you drunk Joey when you were with your other ex's and... at first I kept thinking that maybe you wouldn't do that to Yugi, since she's not your girlfriend, but I've been seeing signs. The nights when you or we get drunk, I see Yugi come to school with bags in her eyes and is completely stressed out like a single mother. It's only during those times when I see her like that and I don't think it's just dragging you out of a Hostess Club. I think it's what you do when you're drunk and she's having to drag you out. Gloria got onto you about that and I think she has a reason to... I think she sees what you do to Yugi."

I know Tristan is trying to help me, but I think if I did anything to Yugi when I'm drunk, she'd tell me. Even if she didn't, I would know if I did anything to her! She only gets tired, because having to drag a drunk guy anywhere is very hard and that's why I don't like it when she does it. Of course, Yugi keeps saying that she 'doesn't mind' and there's nothing I can do to prevent her from trying to help.

I shouldn't be thinking over this, I need to get to work soon or I'm gonna be late.

I opened the door to my pickup as Tristan stared at me through the window, his arm against the roof. I rolled down the window.

"I'll think it through and talk to Yugi," I said as Tristan nodded, then got off my pickup.

"See ya tomorrow," Tristan replied as I rolled up my window and drove to 7 Eleven.

It doesn't matter. Even if Tristan did see how I acted with my other girlfriends when I'm drunk, Yugi is different. She's kind and sweet. I'm sure when I'm drunk, I'm more nice to her. I mean it's like how I treated Gloria compared to Yugi. Besides, I'm sure she would tell me if I was harassing her, right? Yeah, of course she would tell me... though, maybe I should talk to her just in case.

Work was the same as usual, but my thoughts during work weren't. I couldn't get my conversation I had with Tristan out of my head. I mean... maybe I do harass Yugi when I'm drunk and don't know about it. I mean it's possible that there are bruises under her shirts or something. No, I'm just thinking too much on this. I'd know if I did anything to harass Yugi when I go drinking. I think the most I would do really is vomit all over her shirt or something. Now, there's a funny sight. No, I shouldn't be laughing over that. I mean I wouldn't be laughing if that were my clothes getting puked on.

I saw Gloria at the cashier. Maybe I should ask if I ever harassed her. We're kinda cool now, right? No, even if I did mistreat her, she probably deserved it. She was a bitch afterall. That's why I'm never getting back with her! I just continued to work on my job arranging the shelves and sweeping the floors. I'll ask Yugi, that's what I'll do. I'll ask her to see if I'm like that or not and prove to Tristan that he's just over thinking things. Yeah, that's what I'll do. Yugi would tell me.

I decided to pick up Yugi from Miho's place, since she claimed to be staying with her for a while after work. I climbed inside my pickup, after work was over, and drove over to Miho's place. I was driving just when I saw Yugi and Miho riding on their bikes on their way to my place, turning a corner from Miho's neighborhood. I slowly drove up to them quietly behind the girls, then rolled down my window to call out to Yugi until I heard something that made me stop.

Miho paused and said, "Yugi, I think you need to consider my suggestion. You know you're welcome to stay with me."

"I really appreciate what you're doing for me, Miho. I really do, but I'm fine staying with Joey. He's been good to me so far," Yugi said. Wait, Miho is telling Yugi to leave me!?

"I don't count molesting you as being good."

"He doesn't molest me, Miho. He gets a little physical when he's drunk, but that's it. He's the only person that's ever been good to me. I owe alot."

"You don't owe him anything. Girl, I've seen my other friends go through what you're going through and believe me, it's only going to get worse. The only reason you're even still living with him is because you love him and it would hurt you, if you ever left him."

Wait... I guess I kinda knew Yugi had a thing for me, but... wha?

"I know, Miho..." Yugi said, alot of stress building up on her. She stared at the ground. "I have loved him for a long time and even crushed on him, before I came to live with him, since Middle School." Seriously? Uh... "And what you're telling me is the reason I'm not considering of ever being with him... he's..."

"A loser?"

Yugi burst into tears, saying, "well... maybe not that, but... he's getting there. I know I shouldn't be thinking this and I should be looking at myself as well."

"Is he planning on going to college?"

"Not really, as far as I can tell."

"He's a loser, Yugi. He's not trying to make himself better, even his grades prove that. He's abusive Yugi and unless you get yourself out of that house, it's only going to get worse."

"Miho, let's not talk about this anymore. I'll... we'll see how this ends," Yugi said, wiping her tears before her and Miho rode their bikes farther.

Hearing all of that hit me like a tone of bricks. I mean Yugi does deserve a better than me, but... she actually thinks I'm... and Miho... How could she? they? I found myself driving, trying to hold back the lump in my throat. Couldn't she tell it to me and not her other friends? I... I mean... I guess Yugi did seem to be giving me some sort of chance and she did seem to be hurt admitting to it, but still... why should it matter? I never was going to be with Yugi anyways.

I parked next to the Hostess Club, not bothering to lock up my pickup. I just didn't care at this point. I needed something to swallow up that huge lump. The last thing I want is to cry like I just broke up with someone. I mean Yugi and I were never together... at least not that serious. I mean it wasn't like I was hoping for us to go somewhere somehow. I don't know.

I ordered a pint of beer to swallow it up, so I wouldn't start crying. The moment just seemed like it was slowly passing by. I didn't want to talk to anyone and I didn't want anyone coming to me. I just was letting my thoughts pass through my head. I didn't want to go back home right now... it was too painful.

I also decide to bang one of the hostesses to focus on something other than the pain I was feeling. Almost every single person assumed a girl broke up with me or some shit like that. It didn't matter. I wasn't with anyone and I kept saying, "no, just having a bad day." I seriously was having a bad day and there seemed to be nothing to take the pain away. I didn't want to be crying like a baby, let alone at a Hostess Club. I just kept drinking sip after sip until I couldn't remember anything else. I remember vomiting a few times and slumping on the bar table. Man, my stomach felt more like ass than usual.

I guess I got drunk again. I knew I shouldn't have asked for that fourth pint.