Tammi:  School. School? School?! School?! Is there a more disturbing word than that? Ok, so maybe, there are a thousand words worse than 'school' but, just let me vent off some anger, alright?

      Alright I'm through bitchin', let's get down to business. Thank you all for the reviews, and it's so cool to have people review and actually like the story. So without further interruptions, on with the chappie.

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Sometimes

Chapter 04- The Docks

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     Anzu watched in pain and in horror as the one that she had fallen for was kissing another girl. The girl who whom he had known from his childhood, and spent most of his life with… Who was Anzu kidding? There was no way she could have competed with a relationship like that. She fought back tears, and stopped herself from revealing any hurt. She walked at her normal quiet pace, and the hardest part was smiling.

     She cleared her throat, and both turned to face her. Ailee blushed, and Marik held a face of guilt? No, probably something else. Anzu smiled, though her heart was bleeding from a huge knife that had stabbed a hole through her. "If you two are done, why don't we go ahead and leave?" She suggested teasingly.

     Ailee smiled, "Ok. But, I noticed that you brought your motorcycle, Marik. So, why don't you go ahead and drive that, and Anzu can ride with me."

     Anzu smiled brightly, 'No! I don't want to ride with you or Marik!' "You know that sounds like a great idea."

     "Uh, sure." Marik agreed hesitantly.

     They all went outside, after paying the bill, of course. And, just as planned, Anzu and Ailee in her dark red convertible and Marik on his bike. "Why don't we head out to the docks?"

     Marik recommended. Ailee turned to Anzu, (Both in the car. Ailee driving, Anzu in the passenger seat.) "So, what do you think?"

     "That sounds fine." She nodded.

     "Ok. You lead the way Marik." She called out, as he started his engine. And on their way they were.

     Anzu and Ailee exchanged short smiles at one another, there was a weird vibe in the air, and Anzu for one, didn't want Ailee to feel uncomfortable around her. "You know when Marik first came here, he was all shy and quiet. And I think back in there, you mentioned that's how he was in Egypt?"

     "Yes. He was always soo shy and never joined in on the excitement. But, that could have been because of his father. He was a very strict man. Actually, most of the father's over there, were the same way. Mine included. That's why Marik and I get along so well, I think. We understand each other so well." She smiled.

     Anzu did too. "I'm sorry that you had it so hard over there."

     "Thank you, but, all that's over with. It's all in the past. Now, though he seems more outgoing. And, to hear he has so many friends, is just awesome. I can't wait to meet them."

     "Oh, I'm sure that they will love hanging around you. You have a killer personality." Ailee blushed.

     "I wouldn't go that far."

     "No, but, you do."  'In fact, you're killing me right now.'

     The rest of the drive was quiet, and no longer tense. Not long after, the car stopped and everyone stepped out.

     "So, where to first?" Marik asked, still acting funny.

     "Oh, why don't we just walk around, and stare out at the ocean?"

     Ailee placed her hand in Marik's, Marik glanced over at Anzu, who had already plastered a fake smile on her face. Marik seemed a bit uncomfortable for some reason, but slowly eased into it.

     Anzu wished she could just leave them to their business, but, she had no way of getting back, and it was like fifty minutes away from her house, so she didn't want to walk. She glanced around and saw a small candy store. Say, she could pick up a batch of her mom's favorite candy. It was almost her mom's birthday, so this would be a great present. "Hey, you guys don't mind if I step in here for a minute, do you?"

     Marik and Ailee glanced at what she pointed at, "No, go ahead." Ailee answered.

     "Ok. Do you want anything?"

     "No, but thanks." Marik answered, still not looking so well.

     "No thank you. Eating candy gets me thick around the waist." Ailee explained.

     "Alright, I won't be long." She walked in, and there was a line. Not a long line, but a line. She stood in line and waited.

     "Oh look, Marik!" Ailee shouted. "They're giving free romantic boat rides! Come on, let's take one."

     Marik stared over at the candy store, "What about Anzu?"

     "We're not leaving her, we're just going for a boat ride. Come on, before they make us wait for the next one."

     "Uh, uhm… Ok, let's go." Despite his conscience telling him to stay, he gave in to Ailee's wishes.

     "Well, that wasn't as long, as I had thought." She said coming out with three medium sized bags. What? Just because she was getting something for her mom, doesn't mean she couldn't get anything for Yugi and the others.

     She stepped outside, and to her dismay, Marik and Ailee were nowhere in sight. Glancing around she saw no sign of them, so she walked up to a man fishing. "Excuse me, sir."

     "Yes, missy?" The old man asked politely.

     "Have you seen two people about my age? One girl one guy, and both had blonde hair, and-"

     "Oh, yes those two young lads, holding hands right over there."

     "Yeah. So do you know where they went?"

     "They boarded that little boat thing, that goes around in a circle."

     "Well, do you know when it will be back?"

     "It lasts about three hours, I believe."

     "Oh, uhm, thank you very much sir. Good luck with your fishing." Anzu backed away, and her heart sank.

     "I can't believe they would leave, without so much as telling me. Three hours, what am I going to do all by myself?" She walked over to the pier and stared over the blue ocean.

     She stood there for over an hour, thinking about how life can hurt, sometimes. "You know, it's a lot better to come here with someone, then coming alone." She turned with a smile at the familiar voice.

     "Hey, Ryou. I'm sorry about what happened earlier, if it makes you feel any better, Marik and I stood up for you."

     He laughed a little. "Thanks. That does make me feel a bit better. So, are you going to tell me what happened?"

     "What do you mean?"

     "I know you, Anzu. You don't like going out alone, so why are you standing out here by yourself?"

     "I don't have a ride. Marik left me by myself, and-"

     "Wait a minute what?"

     "Well, after you left, Joey said something else, and well, it ended up with Marik and I leaving. So…"

     She told him the events, up until now.

     "…And that's what happened."

     "I can't believe he would do that to you." Ryou said, getting a bit angry.

     "No, look, it's understandable, I mean, they are friends. I shouldn't even be mad."

     "No, what he did wasn't right. Look, he was with you first, to leave you high and dry without so much as telling you, that's not like him. It's not safe to come here by yourself. Marik knows better than that."

     Anzu suddenly smiled, and laughed happily, "What's funny?"

     "Nothing. I'm just happy. And grateful, that someone is worried about me, and acknowledges me. Thanks Ryou."

     He shrugged, "How about I give you a ride home?"

     "Sure. Wait, I thought you had work?"

     "I did, but, the guy showed up. So, I came down here to think."

     "Is this where you come to smoke?"

     Ryou was caught off-guard by her question, "Sometimes. I come here a lot to think, but, I don't always smoke."

     "Well, as long as you don't smoke a pack a day…"

     "I could never have that many cigarettes a day. One pack usually lasts me two months."

     "That's it? I mean, that's great." He gave her a funny look, and both bursted out laughing.

     "Well, come on, I'll give you a ride back into the city."

     "Thanks." They both headed out together, toward his car.

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End Chapter

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Tammi:  Hope you enjoyed this latest chapter. Please Review.