PART 12

School

(Your POV)

You were swapping out your books getting ready for work when you noticed someone leaning against the locker next to you. "Excuse me?" Came the voice. Not recognizing the voice, you looked up to meet the stranger's gaze.

"May I help you?" You asked looking the guy over. Blonde, green eyes, white like you. He must have been American by the look of him. Why haven't you seen him before?

"Actually you could. You see, I've been kind of rude." He began.

"Really? How so?" you questioned grabbing another book from your locker.

"You've been here for how long now, and I'm yet to ask you out for a tour and dinner?" He smugly explained.

"Now what's makes you think I would say yes to such an offer?" You asked going on the defensive.

"Well, because we're not so different. You're from America like me. I've been here a few years, so I know my way around, and I'm sure you're yet to learn all the language and customs. I was wondering if maybe.. you would like someone to show you around and teach you a few things?" he clarified.

"Well, that all sounds real nice, but I have my own rules about things like that." You countered closing your locker after closing your bag.

"What kind of rules?" he questioned trying to keep your attention.

"Like I don't go out with guys whose names I don't even know." You pointed out.

"Oh that! I apologize. It must have slipped my mind. My name is Riley. Riley Jackson." He tried to correct holding out his hand.

"Oh well then. I'm-" but he cut you off.

"Nicole. I know," he smiled, "You have a couple classes with my teammates."

"Teammates?" You questioned.

"I play soccer here. Striker to be exact." He explained.

"Oh well then. Yes. I'm Nicole." You spoke throwing your bag over your shoulder.

"Do you think I can still get that date?" Riley asked.

You looked at him again thinking about the current predicament. Yes, he was American. Maybe that would bring a little bit of home in your life. Japan had been odd since you moved here, and your mother did say get to know more people. Not to mention, you hadn't dated in over 18 months. Maybe it was time to get to know someone again.

"I guess. I've been meaning to get better acquainted with the area. It's a date." You smiled nodding your head. You could see his eyes glimmer at your response.

"Thanks doll!" he smiled quickly leaning over closing the gap between the two of you. Before you knew it, you felt the soft warm sensation of his lips over yours. The kiss caught you so off-guard that you almost dropped your bag. Before you could properly react, he pulled away slightly keeping his face right in front of your own. "Soccer fields at seven. Can you do that?" He asked looking at your eyes now touching your chin lightly with his hand.

You were brought back to reality by his question. Quickly, you thought of your schedule knowing you could possibly leave work around 6:30, but you still needed some better clothes. "I do believe I can manage." You smiled still trying to get over the spinning in your head.

"Great!" he spoke giving you another short peck, "I'll meet you there then." With that said, he left on his way to his own class.

You quickly claimed control of your breathing lightly placing your fingers over your lips. 'What the hell did I just agree to?' You looked down the hall where Riley went in hopes to at least get in a goodbye, but he was already gone. You had to admit, even though he was pretty forward, he was good looking, especially in American standards. That short blonde hair somewhat reminded you of Samuel back home, but Riley's was a little darker. What was it with you and blondes? A smile came to your face as you thought of the two boys who had entered you life like that.

"Miss Silvers?"

You were jolted back into reality once again. This time, it was the familiar voice of your boss. "Sir?" The blood raced to your cheeks.

"Are you alright?" He asked studying you with those bright blue eyes. 'Damn it! Stop looking at him like that you twit!' you mentally scolded yourself.

"I-I'm just fine sir!" you stammered adjusting your bag.

He seemed to study you again before going on, "Well, if you're alright, I'll be seeing you after class then." He instructed with a nod.

"Yes sir!" You smiled turning to leave.

(Kaiba's POV)

'What the hell is wrong with you?' the voice in your head screamed as you set yourself against a wall around the corner where you spotted Nicole talking to Riley Jackson. Just seeing him there made your blood boil after this morning in history…

History

"I wonder if anyone's shown her 'around' if you get what I mean." You heard Jackson joke to one of his buddies concerning Nicole.

For some reason, you bit your tongue grasping the edge of your desk in attempts to not lash out. Did you react like this because of the comment in general or the person specified? 'Don't be ridiculous! It's just because of the comment in general.' That logical voice in your head warned as you continued to listen in.

"Well she hangs out with Moto and his group, so I highly doubt it! I don't see any of them getting laid any time soon epically by her!" the friend snickered.

You grasped the desk slightly harder.

"Hea Kaiba!" Jackson spoke up.

"What?" You responded glaring at the hormonal teen.

"Silvers works for you right?" he asked with a small smirk on his face.

'Punch him! Wipe that smirk off his face!' Another voice in your head screamed. You quickly grasped hold of your composure so to face the problem.

"She does work for me." You explained.

"So what's she 'like'?" the friend asked curious. This started your anger brewing again.

"Tell me, what makes you believe that because she works for me that I would know what she is 'like'?" you snapped.

"So," Jackson began trying not to laugh, "You're telling me that you haven't once thought about throwing her on your desk and just letting her have it? You have got to be kidding me. What a waste! If you won't do it, I will."

"A waste!" you growled, "A waste would be you Jackson! Miss Silvers has far too much dignity to waste her time on someone as low and simple minded as you."

"Is that true? Well, I would like to take you up on that. Since you haven't staked you claim, I bet I can get her to agree to go out with me by the end of the day," He smirked leaning back in his chair, "Then, I bet I'll have her begging for me to be in her by the end of the week. I may even take some photos to show what you missed out on Kaiba."

That took you to your snapping point. 'KILL him!! How dare he even PLOT such a thing?!'

"Alright class," the teacher announced defusing your anger, "let's open our books and get started shall we?"

End

Knowing his intentions made your blood boil. 'What happened to staying away & out of her business?' the logical voice in her head popped in. Such was true. After the incident several weeks ago, you had been avoiding her knowing interaction with her often made you weaker. You couldn't handle that at all! The only thing that made it worse was the fact that she wasn't meaning to do that to you! She didn't openly seem to hit on you. It was as if she really didn't care who you were.

"I was wondering if maybe.. you would like someone to show you around and teach you a few things?" You heard Jackson ask.

There was a brief silence as she contemplated.

"Well, that all sounds real nice, but I have my own rules about things like that." She countered.

"What kind of rules?" he asked seemingly bewildered.

"Like I don't go out with guys whose names I don't even know." She pointed out. 'YES! I knew it!' you mentally celebrated. He went on apologizing trying to be polite and playing introductions. You that he had no chance until she spoke up.

"I guess. I've been meaning to get better acquainted with the area. It's a date."

You looked around the corner to make sure you heard right. Instead of seeing a furious Nicole, like you hoped really, Jackson had his sick lips on her own slipping his hands around her waist. Nicole looked quite comfortable compared to what you thought she would look like in the snake's arms. 'Damn him!' you cursed in your head as he pulled away from her slightly. He said something which she agreed to. "Thanks doll!" you heard him speak just before kissing her again. In no time at all, he left her and began walking in your direction. With every step he took, the anger from this morning began to come back with its own intensity. He looked over taking notice of you as he made it around the corner.

"The way you spoke about her, I thought it was going to be much harder. I may even get in her tonight if I work hard enough." He bragged making the motion of taking a picture with his hand.

'KILL HIM!' the voice in your head nagged. Riley took your tortured silence as his own triumph as he walked off with a smug smirk on his face. You peeked around the corner again to see Nicole with a small smile on her face with her fingertips touching her lips.

'She has no damn clue' the voice snapped. Such was true, bur how could you change anything?

'Exactly! You agreed to stay away. Why should you care? If she sleeps with the guy, she sleeps with him!' The logical voice in your head agreed. Just the thought of Jackson's intentions made you cringe.

'How can you stand here like this? He only wants her for bragging rights!' the rebellious voice in your head screamed.

'Why should I care?' the logic argued.

'She doesn't deserve such treatment that's why! Besides, what if he hurts her?' the other countered.

'Then he hurts her. It's not my problem.' The logic summarized.

'Bullshit! You care about her! Stop denying it!' the rebellion raged.

''I'm not denying it! The logic pointed out.

'Hell you are! Mokuba actually likes her. She took care of him WITH OUT being asked!'

'That's true.' logic agreed 'But why does that even matter?'

'Because he doesn't like many women. Nicole might be a good female figure for his life. Besides,' the rebellion changed course, 'If Jackson hurts her, then her work will suffer.'

Of the so many diverse thoughts, this one rationalization brought all your argument to one solution.

(Your POV)

You were finishing up the last bit of work you had for the night when a knock came to your door. "Come in!" you announced.

"Miss Silvers?" echoed the voice of your boss next to your desk.

"How may I help you sir?" you requested turning your attention to the tall brunette.

"Yes. I just wanted to ask if you felt alright being here on your own." He asked.

"Sir?" You attempted to clarify.

"I was leaving early tonight because I have dinner plans with Mokuba. I just wanted to make sure that you felt alright with my leaving you here alone. If you're not, I can have someone from security come up and watch over you." He explained.

You were caught off guard by the request, but recovered looking at your watch.

"Crap! It's already 6:40?" you gasped.

"Is there something wrong Miss Silvers?" Kaiba replied looking at you oddly.

"Well yes actually. I'm meeting Riley at 7." You spoke the last part quickly and quietly somewhat embarrassed.

"Excuse me?" Kaiba tried to clarify.

"I .. um.. well, I accepted a dinner invitation from Riley Jackson. I don't know if you know him, but I am to meet him at the school soccer fields at around 7." You explained shutting down your system.

"So you have a date?" Kaiba pointed out not changing his expression.

"Y-yes I do." You admitted grabbing your things quickly.

"Do you need a ride?" He offered taking the last bag off the floor before you could grab it.

"Sir, I couldn't request such a thing from you. It's out of your way. You must meet Mokuba." You argued.

"No not at all. The school is on my way home." He pointed out. 'What the hell is going on?' you thought.

"Sir, I couldn't intrude." You tried to argue.

"I don't mind." He stated throwing the bag over his shoulder.

You could only sigh knowing there was no point in arguing with your boss. The only thing that confused you was this sudden change from him. You looked up at the brunette in hopes of getting a clue, but he was already at the door. You walked up to catch up to him turning the lights out in your office on the way. The two of you walked in silence to the elevator then out to the awaiting car.