Chapter Two: Strange Friendships

Ryou played on his phone as he ate his lunch peacefully. He had his earphones on so he couldn't hear anything outside. Not like anyone would talk to him. That is until he felt someone poke his shoulder. Ryou turned and saw Bakura and Malik smiling. Ryou gulped before he took off his earphones.

'Great more bullies.' "Um how did you find me?" Ryou asked.

"We asked around for a cute white haired guy." Malik winked.

"And they just so happened to point us in your direction." Bakura smirked.

"What do you want?" Ryou asked.

"Relax, we just want to talk." Bakura said as he and Malik sat down in front of Ryou.

"Um why?" Ryou looked at them confused.

"Well aren't you defensive." Malik chuckled, "So rumors are true you don't have friends."

Ryou was taken aback by that but looked away, "So?"

"Well how about being our friend?" Bakura smiled.

"No thank you. I like being alone." Ryou said.

"No one likes being alone. Come on it will be fun." Malik said.

"No thank you. I know about you two. You're both trouble makers." Ryou said.

"Now how would you know that?" Bakura asked, "Rumors?"

"Rumors and the fact that you guys are always fighting after school. Everyone knows who you two are." Ryou said.

"Hey Kura, that means we're famous." Malik nudged Bakura who snickered.

"Yeah we are." Bakura smiled. "But then again so are you." He looked at Ryou. "You're on the popular kid's black list."

Ryou just didn't look at him, "So? I've been on it for years. That's normal."

"Now even we aren't on the black list, so you must have done something." Malik said.

"I didn't do anything. They just don't like me. I don't know why." Ryou muttered. "So either way it's better to stay away from me. If they see you talking to me they'll add you to the list too."

"Is that a promise?" Bakura smirked.

Ryou looked at him surprised. "I-I don't know."

"Well we better hang out with you then. I always wanted to be in black list." Malik snickered.

"Yeah it's going to be fun." Bakura chuckled.

"I rather not get in more trouble with them. So please leave me alone." Ryou said as he started to put his lunch away.

"Ryou!" They heard Yugi yell at the doorway. Ryou gulped as he turned around to see Yugi standing there with his arms crossed. Next to him was Anzu who was snickering.

"Yugi." Ryou looked down.

Yugi and Anzu walked to him. "What's going on here?"

"Nothing." Ryou said.

"Clearly it's not nothing. I didn't know you were friends with them two." Yugi glared.

"I'm not. They just came here." Ryou said.

"Why would anyone willingly want to talk to you?" Anzu smirked. "I mean losers do attract each other but still you're the worst of the worst."

"So stop bugging him then." Malik said.

"You say no one is willing to talk to him yet here you are talking to him. No one is pointing a gun to your head. You can just ignore him." Bakura pointed it out.

"Pft you guys don't know him. He's a little whore." Anzu smirked.

"That's right he spreads his legs for everyone." Yugi snickered.

Ryou looked down as he tried not to cry.

"Isn't that right Ryou?" Anzu asked. "You're just a little slut who spreads his legs for anyone?"

Ryou just stayed quiet.

"We asked you a question Ryou." Yugi kicked Ryou's leg. "Or maybe you want us to show everyone the pictures?"

"Stop, please." Ryou whimpered.

"Why? So you can pass by acting like you're so innocent. We know the real you." Yugi smirked.

"Come on everyone knows you two are the real whores." Malik said.

"Especially you Anzu." Bakura said, "And you're not so innocent either, we heard you're hooking up with Yami."

"What?" Anzu instantly looked at Yugi.

"As if. Me and Yami are just friends. Besides, Anzu and Yami are together. I would never go behind her back. Unlike some back stabbers." Yugi glared at Ryou.

"I didn't-" Ryou started.

"Shut up!" Yugi slapped him.

Ryou gasped as he held his cheek. "I'm sorry Yugi please just leave me alone."

"Didn't I say to shut up?" Yugi raised his hand again but it was caught by Bakura who held onto his wrist tightly.

"Enough. Get out." Bakura growled.

"Let go." Yugi tried to pull his hand back but Bakura just kept a tight hold.

"Fuck. Off." Bakura said as his eyes showed pure anger.

"Whatever let go you freak." Yugi pulled away. "Let's go Anzu, they aren't worth it."

"Right." Anzu glared at them. "Watch your back Ryou."

Yugi and Anzu left the classroom.

"Are you okay?" Malik asked as he put a hand on Ryou's shoulder causing Ryou to flinch and move away.

"Please just leave me alone. Everything's better when I'm left alone." Ryou muttered.

"Hey come on," Bakura said gently, "they're just bullies. We can help keep them away. You just saw that now. They won't bug you as long as we're around."

Ryou scoffed, "I get it now. What do you want? Heard that I have money? Or want sex? Is that why you guys are suddenly talking to me?"

"No, we don't want that." Bakura said, "Hey we aren't whatever bastards you're thinking of?"

"Everyone wants something. Please just leave me alone." Ryou got up and left the classroom, leaving his stuff there.

Malik watched, "Wow, he's really broken."

"Yeah Yugi and Anzu are really horrible." Bakura said. "I feel bad for him."

"Welp, kid doesn't want help." Malik said.

"Come on Mar, you helped Jonouchi yesterday." Bakura nudged him.

"I didn't say we weren't gonna help him." Malik nudged him back.

Ryou sniffled as he walked outside for some fresh air. He sighed as he held himself as he walked around. 'Maybe I can convince dad to do homeschool. I think he gets service on the weekend. I should send his secretary a message for him to call me this weekend.' Ryou thought before he felt someone cover his eyes and mouth. He felt another person grab his arms.

"Told you to watch your back." He heard Anzu said.

"Now don't you dare scream." He heard Yugi say as he felt his hands getting tied together behind his back. Then his eyes were uncovered as Ryou looked at the whole cheer squad who was surrounding him.

"Let's go to your favorite place." Anzu smirked as two of the cheerleaders pushed Ryou to follow Anzu.

Ryou sighed and followed knowing it was useless. They ended up at the storage room where they ended up gagging Ryou and pushing him in.

"You really are stupid." Yugi snickered as Ryou slightly glared at him. "Aww whatcha gonna do about it? Nothing!" Yugi smirked.

"Come on Yugi leave him. No one is going to find him anytime soon." Anzu snickered.

"Going!" Yugi went to Ryou and kicked him in the gut making him cough and choke on the gag. Ryou curled up into a ball as he looked at Yugi, tears falling from his eyes. "Oh don't act so hurt. You caused this Ry. If you had just been a better friend back then." He whispered as he smirked and kicked him again before they left.

Ryou sniffled as he cried softly. 'Maybe he's right. If I wasn't so stupid back then none of this would have happened. I deserve this. I deserve not having friends.' Just then the door opened. Ryou looked up and saw Yami.

"Yeah kinda thought this was happening when I saw them leave in a group." Yami sighed as he went up to Ryou. Ryou looked away as he shook. "Hey it's okay. Come on I know I'm an ass but I'm not gonna do anything to you." Yami took off the gag. "It's okay."

"Why are you helping me?" Ryou sniffled.

"I don't hate you. Simple as that." Yami said.

"Your girlfriend does. Shouldn't that be reason enough to not help me?" Ryou asked.

"Girlfriend? Me and Anzu? Nah. We hang out but we aren't together." Yami explained. "Can I help you now?"

Ryou slowly nodded as Yami untied him. Ryou sat up as he held himself. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. The least I can do." Yami said. "So why do they hate you so much?"

"You don't know?" Ryou raised an eyebrow. "I thought all you popular kids knew."

"I mean we heard stories. That you're a boyfriend stealer, that you spread your legs, that you're rich, you're a backstabber, and so much more. But I also talked to other people who went to your middle school. That those rumors only started after Yugi's ex broke up with him. And you just happened to be Yugi's only friend back then." Yami said. "So what's the real story?"

"Why do you want to know?" Ryou asked.

"Yugi's a cool guy, he's really nice when we hang. But the only time I've seen him mad is when he's around you. I wanna see if it's true what he says." Yami explained.

"Even if I tell you, you'll just side with Yugi anyways." Ryou said, "Everyone else did."

"Try me." Yami said.

Ryou looked at him and sighed. "Me and Yugi were best friends since diapers. We hung out almost everyday and went to school together. In middle school we still hung around but Yugi wanted to try for cheerleading so he did and I went to support him. He got on the team and we hung out less and less. He hung out with Anzu and her friends more. Some time after summer he got a boyfriend and all three of us would hang out sometimes. But it would mostly be them going off somewhere so I stopped hanging out with them more. One day his boyfriend was asking me what to get Yugi for Christmas and he asked me if I can help him out. So I suggested a few things and he asked me if we could go shopping. So I agreed. We went and I guess someone saw us and told Yugi we were on a date. I told him that that's not what happened but I had promised his boyfriend that I wouldn't say why we were out. He got really mad but he went to talk to his boyfriend. I don't know what happened after their talk but Yugi stopped talking to me after that. He would just ignore me and hang out with his boyfriend and the cheer squad. I tried texting and calling so many times but he just kept ignoring me. His boyfriend called me and asked me why we weren't talking anymore and I told him that Yugi stopped talking to me after that day. He said he'll fix it. I guess they got into an argument or something but the next day everyone was talking about how Yugi was dumped in the middle of a party. That's when the rumors started that I was a boyfriend stealer and I spread my legs for his boyfriend. That while Yugi wanted to wait to sleep with him, I was there willing so that's why he dumped Yugi. It was all just a mess. The friends I did have stopped talking to me, I was bullied everyday. I tried to explain what happened but everyone just called me a liar."

"What about his ex? Why didn't he say anything?" Yami asked.

"He did and a lot of people believed him. But a few weeks after the break up, he transferred out. He was moving to a different country I think. So with him gone, no one was really there to combat the rumors. It was my word against Yugi's. Everyone liked Yugi more. I've been an outcast since then." Ryou explained.

"Then why does Anzu hate you?" Yami asked as he had a look of confusion.

"She never liked me. She tried to get me to join the cheer squad cause I was "pretty" but I told her I wasn't interested. When I would hang out with them the first few times a lot of guys talked to me more than her. I guess she doesn't like others having more attention than her. I heard that a guy she wanted to date asked her if I was single, and she's been mean to me ever since. When ever Yugi wasn't around she would put me down but then act all sweet when Yugi was with us. She was by Yugi's side when all this went down. I know for sure she's the one who spread the 'I'm a slut' rumor." Ryou explained.

"Why didn't you tell your parents about all this?" Yami asked.

"My mother died when I was little. My dad is an archeologist so he travels the world. I was left with a nanny until I was old enough to be able to work the stove and the oven. She would come by in middle school to sign any papers I needed and deliver groceries and clean once a week. After 7th grade I told my dad I didn't need a nanny anymore, so she just comes by to sign any paperwork I need for school. Even though Yugi knows this, the rumor that I was rich still remains. I'm not rich. Yes we're well off but I don't see that money. I live in a normal house and go to a normal school. How is that rich?" Ryou sighed.

"To be fair Seto is rich, but he does live in a rich house though." Yami said, "But you're right it doesn't mean you're rich. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"It's fine." Ryou said as he sighed. "It doesn't matter anymore. I think I'm going to do homeschool."

"You really think that's best for you?" Yami asked.

"I don't get bullied at home." Ryou said.

"But you'll be alone. Besides, do you really want to lose Yugi?" Yami asked.

"Me and Yugi stopped being friends a long time ago. I can't forgive him. He's been too cruel to me." Ryou said as the bell rang signaling that lunch was over. "We should go."

"Right. Don't make a choice about doing homeschool yet though." Yami said as he got up.

"Why do you care?" Ryou asked as he got up as well.

"Because Yugi's going to make it right." Yami smiled as he left the storage room.

Ryou stood there in confusion before he snapped out of it and quickly went to his classroom.

Yugi smiled happily as he sat and talked with his friends during their free period. Soon Yami came into their classroom.

"Hey Yami." Anzu smiled at him.

"Hey Anzu, hey guys." Yami greeted them.

"I heard you're throwing a party on Saturday, what time?" Anzu asked.

"Yeah the football team wants to throw a party. It's gonna start in the afternoon." Atem said.

"Well the cheer squad will be there right guys?" Anzu looked at her friend who nodded.

"Great. Yugi can we talk outside?" Yami asked.

Yugi looked at him and then at Anzu who looked annoyed. "Umm about?"

"Yeah what about?" Anzu asked.

"Need help with a few homework assignments." Yami smiled.

"Oh uh sure." Yugi said as they walked outside the classroom.

"Oh just rememebered I left my stuff in my locker, come with me?" Yami asked with a smiled.

"Sure Yami." Yugi blushed a bit as they headed to the locker room.

Once there Yami sat on the bench.

"So I found out something interesting today." Yami said as he patted the bench for Yugi to sit down.

"What about Yami?" Yugi asked as he sat next to him.

"That you're a liar." Yami said.

Yugi blinked in confusion. "Excuse me?"

"You told me that you treated Ryou badly because he's a slut and a backstabber. But when I talked to people in your middle school and talked to Ryou they all tell me a more belivebale story." Yami said as he saw Yugi gulp. "Why the lie Yugi?"

"You don't know what happened. Ryou backstabbed me. He did!" Yugi got up.

"Baby-" Yami reached for him but Yugi slapped his hand away.

"Don't baby me, you don't believe me." Yugi glared.

"Because we both know it isn't true. You're bullying someone who used to be your best friend." Yami said.

"He was never my friend. He slept with my ex-boyfriend. Anzu saw them kissing!" Yugi glared.

"So Anzu was the one who told you? Anzu who didn't like Ryou from day one." Yami said. "I know how Anzu can be. She can be really mean if she thinks someone is stealing the spotlight away from her."

"Anzu has been a real friend. She was there and told me the truth." Yugi said.

"And yet here you are," Yami pinned him against the lockers, "if you guys were real friends we wouldn't be dating in secret."

"Fine so we aren't really friends. So what? She was at least there when Ryou backstabbed me!" Yugi glared at him.

"But he didn't sweetheart. He just wanted to help your ex find you a Christmas present." Yami said.

"So he's still sticking to that story. My ex said that too but Anzu saw. She saw when they kissed. I have proof." Yugi said.

"Let me see it then." Yami said.

"Let me get my phone." Yugi said as Yami let him go. Yugi grabbed his phone out and looked through it. He showed a few pictures of his ex and Ryou looking at some things. Then in one photo it seemed like they were talking and in the next it seemed like they were hugging.

"So they hugged? Weren't they friends?" Yami asked.

"You didn't see it. Anzu saw them kissing. By the time she realized it they stopped." Yugi said.

"Yugi, that doesn't sound right. It really just seems like two friends hugging." Yami said.

"Don't believe me then." Yugi grabbed his phone and put it away. "Then leave me alone."

"Baby come on, I'm doing this cause I want you to be happy. I don't want you to have anger." Yami held him.

"Get away! You believe him and not me." Yugi tried to push him away.

"Baby I promise I believe you have a version that you think it's true. Can't you talk to him about it?" Yami asked.

"And be a social outcast like him? No. He's the one who betrayed me. He should be doing everything he can to make it up to me." Yugi said.

"Yugi!" Yami said sternly, making Yugi look at him, "Ryou didn't do anything to you besides being your friend. You treated him so badly Yugi."

"Maybe so but he deserves it." Yugi looked down, "He slept with my ex boyfriend. I trusted him. He broke my trust."

"If I can get proof that that's not what happened, will you apologize?" Yami asked as he cupped Yugi's cheek gently.

"I'll think about it." Yugi muttered as Yami kissed him gently. Yugi smiled and kissed back.

"Wanna hang at my place tonight?" Yami asked.

"Yeah." Yugi smiled as they made out.

Ryou sighed as he did his work during free time. 'Why does Yami care what I do? I should just ignore him.' Ryou sighed before he heard someone come in. He ignored it before he heard his name.

"Hey Ry." Malik said as he and Bakura came in.

Ryou blinked and looked at them, "What are you doing here?"

"We came to hang. Free period is such a bore." Bakura chuckled.

"I don't want to hang out." Ryou said.

"Aww come on, don't be like that." Malik grabbed his arm and pulled him up.

"We're showing you a fun time today." Bakura grabbed his other arm.

"This is kidnapping." Ryou said.

"You can't kidnap your friends." Bakura said as they carried Ryou outside.