Joey turned around in the backyard beside the long table underneath the sun room filled with delicious plates and dishes. It had been about an hour since he'd arrived, and it was mid afternoon with the sun dipping in the sky. Mai's violet eyes were narrowed to slits, she did not look happy.
So he did the only thing to do. Getting up from the person he was talking to, he took her hand and gallantly bowed and kissed it. "My lady, your loveliness takes my breath away." It was true, anyway; she looked like vision in a seemingly demure one piece bathing suit with gold straps with a light purple sarong wrapped around her waist.
That line is so cheesy-sounding but Mai fought against a tugging smile. "Ok, ok you're forgiven." She said generously. He sure can be charming when he wants to! He was dressed more casually, in a loose shirt with a wild print on it, and dark green swimwear. "So. Are you enjoying yourself?" she asked, leading him away by the hand to some shaded chaises.
"Definitely."
"Did you bring your sister?" She said, testing him, sitting down and folding her shapely legs underneath her neatly.
"Yeah…..she's around ……somewhere….." he said glancing about the backyard like he expected her to materialize out of nowhere.
"Yeah, she told me all about how you ditched her for food," she scolded him.
"I didn't….!" he looked sheepish.
"Liar." She said amiably. "I saw her and gave her a tour. Looks like she's not doing so great……."
"Yeah...........seems she's tired alla da time." He paused and frowned, scratching his head. "I had ta practically drag her down here! All she does lately is mope around. I'm sorta startin' to get worried." She said nothing, just raised one perfectly sculptured golden brow in response, her hands folded neatly in her lap. "Well?" he said expectantly.
"Well….what?"
"Aren't cha gonna tell me---" He half sat up, and pitched his voice up high. " ' Joseph, you shouldn't, like, drag your sister where she doesn't wanna go. You should've left her at home, if she want to go outside, she'll go outside.' " he tossed his hair with a flourish for an ending.
"That's a very poor imitation of me, Joseph." She said, keeping her tone stern, while he laughed at her indignant expression. "I do not say 'like' all the time……. like a valley girl. And I don't flip my hair like you did."
"Yes ya do! And how come you're trying not to laugh, then?" he challenged since her mouth was twitching suspiciously at the corners.
"Speaking of which," she said, changing the subject, "your hair sure is getting longer. My parents will faint if they meet you looking like that."
"Really? Are dey up in da house?"
"No, they're out of town, but…..They could come at any second! Anyway, Serenity was tired, so I left her to sleep in my room for a while." She settled back languidly in the chaise. "Speaking of sleep, I'm so tired…." She put one wrist at her forehead. "But I need to go out to get more supplies, drinks……food........sigh….."
"Ah, people c'n survive fer a minute or two," he muttered away, taking advantage that her eyes were closed and she was leaning back tiredly. "C'mon, let's go an' swim in da pool a while." He undid his shirt and set it aside. "The water'll revive ya strength."
"Are you joking?" she asked rhetorically, opening one eye. "It took me hours to look like this! If you think-"
He brushed off her complaints. "If you didn't wanna go swimmin' den why'd ya put on a bathin' suit fer?! Huh? Makes no sense!"
She sighed patiently. "Women can put on bathing suits and never go swimming. It called 'fashion.' " Her eyebrows arched as she looked him over, slightly distracted; so she didn't see the slight mischievous gleam that came to his face.
"Well, dis time it is!" The next thing, she knew, she was being carried, none too gently since he was running, across the grass. She had to hold onto his neck to keep from being bounced to the floor. Looking over her shoulder, she saw he was headed towards the pool, yelling, "Double cannonballlll!!!!"
"STOP---!! Joey, don't even think about it----" she was cut off as he leaped over the edge, off the highest diving board, with her and all.
Ker PLASH!!!!!
Tea saw the whole thing over her magazine. She sweat-dropped as the big splash even reached her way on the other side of the lake-size pool. He's really done it now, she thought, shaking her brunette head ruefully. Somebody whooped and around her the hum of conversation started again. She watched them both as they resurfaced; Joey had broke the surface first, his long blond hair hanging over his face like Simba's mane in the Lion King. A sputtering Mai came in second, and she did not sound too happy.
In the next chaise, Duke sat down and swung his legs over, his fan club surrounding him. He adjusted his sunglasses. "See, I knew Mai not interested in Wheeler," he said to Tea, as they both watched her angrily chase said blond. "See! She hates him." he snorted, shaking his head. "What a liar!"
Tea never really liked Duke; he was too stuck up for her liking. But she was friendly to everyone. "I never saw Joey swim that fast......" she murmured agreeably, watching as they disappeared around the corner of the house. "But it's true. They were all over each other in Spain---"
"Define 'all over each other' ?" Duke wrinkled his nose, still refusing to believe.
"Never mind that. What this about you have a cheerleader outfit just for Serenity?" Tea said incredulously.
Duke turned bright red as his shirt. "IT--- I was TAKING it to BE CLEANED!" he settled back down, his fan club feeding him grapes, like a king. "…Anyway, did you see this kid, dressed in a funky cat costume? Sounds just like him."
"Who?" Tea was getting bored. She got up and left; leaving him still talking. Riiiight, some cat….his girls can listen to his nonsense….. "And, there was another who sounded just like Mr. CEO, isn't that weird?" he continued, unaware she'd left.
meanwhile
"Hello? Uh, there's a spill in the dining room, and uh….. I was wondering where the mop is. We're really sorry." No answer. "Hello?"
Serenity was asleep in Mai's huge, plush bed as the stranger came in, dreaming a strange dream. She and Seto were walking along a strip of sand, and every once in a while the tide would come in, higher and higher with each pass. They both would stumble every time the waves would slap them. She tried to lead him higher on the beach, but a rocky cliff stood in the way. There was no way out.
"Serenity don't be afraid," he would say shortly in her dream. "Everything will be alright. Didn't I tell you that? Didn't I!?"
I know...... but I'm afraid….. Her uncertainties somehow made the tide rise higher as the minutes passed. Soon he had to hold his chin up to keep breathing.
"Stop it! Didn't I tell you?" he looked at her accusingly, starting to take in deep gulps of water in her dream.
Outside beside the bed, the boy came closer tentatively. And......
He fell in love for the fifth time since the party began. Wow, is she really beautiful…..he thought, staring openly and admiringly. She's looks so much like an sleeping angel….I think I'll tell her that! "Y-your so ….beautiful like an angel.." he gushed sincerely, clearing his throat loudly. Darn this cold of mine! Anyway, he took her hand.
"……Seto……." he heard her mutter. Her beautiful expression was constricted in pain.
"Er ……close enough……..I don't care what you call me; you can call me anything," he replied gruffly, . "As long as your mine, my love!" he told her, beginning to fantasize about their wedding. The bedroom door was left slightly open, and some passerby whispered and goggled at the sight.
Still asleep, Serenity groaned in pain. "….I'm sorry…please…….hold on to me!"she said. There was a pause, then she suddenly grabbed him in a steel-like grip, causing the teenaged boy to blush brightly. He felt like melting to the floor in pure love.
"I-I'm always here for you……" Serenity heard him say. She was in the brink of sleep and wakefulness. Seto? it sounds….like him! it is! She opened her eyes to a blurry image. "Is it …you.......?"
meanwhile
"You're are soooo lucky I'm too wet and cold to strangle you!" Mai grabbed some nearby folded towels and began to dry her face.
"I thought…… ya said you were tired!" he said, shaking with laughter and panting. "But you cleared that hedge pretty good back there!"
"I am tired!" Shivering, she wrapped the long towel around her shoulders, not offering him one. "now I look like a -a drowned rat! Ugh!"
Joey took one and slung it about his own neck. He watched a droplet of water make it's way down her arm and leg. "You doan look like a rat."
His words, instead of the opposite, made her more furious. "What were you thinking?!" She tried to strangle him with the towel, but was too physically exhausted. So her hands only managed to dangle on the cloth at a sad attempt of murder. "We could've ….of drowned!"
"Oh, come on. I wouldn't of letcha. Besides, it did work. Now doncha feel refreshed, huh?"
Refreshed?! -She stopped her mental tirade abruptly. So tired….. her hands were still at the towel about his neck, and he placed his own over them. And smiling so cutely , with those pleading eyes for forgiveness. They were at the north side of the house; with thick trees in the background, away from the racket of the party.
"What I do for you," she muttered, and he knew he was forgiven. "Now, I'm even more tired then when I started, from chasing you all over." I must've looked crazy….
He pulled on her hands with an effort, and she reluctantly came over, staring fixedly at the chain around his neck. "I gonna---" Just then, he heard a rustling of the bushes behind them. The sound was so soft….. Glancing back, he frowned at them, listening. Nothing. Must be my imagination…..he turned back to her.
"I should get back." She said shortly. Then in a burst of anger, "Don't you know it's bad manners to push your date into the pool?! The whole thing's ruined now……" she wrung out her hair. "How am I supposed get more food looking like this?"
"I didn't push ya into da pool, I carried ya in," he said as is that would make her feel better. " and ya c'n send someone else, cantcha?"
"Everybody's too busy serving the guests. Besides, I never give up an opportunity to shop." She staggered. "I'm so tired….." Her face was sleepy-eyed as he caught her and leaned her against the wall for support.
"Hey c'mon. don't you know isn't bad manners ta sleep durin' your date?" He joked, then had to dodge her quick swipe at his head. "Not too tired to hit me, though it seems….." he said wryly.
"Never too tired for that." she muttered under her breath. "I'm going to go and change….." a sudden dizziness blurred her sight. No, not again…..she slid down against the wall, grimacing.
"Are ya all r---" and then he heard it again. a soft snap of a twig. Rustling of clothing. Then dead silence.
"Awright who's out dere spying?!" Getting up, Joey headed straight for the clump of bushes and listened. A soft, high giggle. Then a lower pitched one. Then running feet. But he didn't see anything. It gave him the creeps so he turned back.
"See anything?" she murmured, rubbing her forehead.
"Naw." He scratched his jaw, confused and described what he'd heard.
" 'Running feet'? Probably you scared some couple getting it on away," she said with a teasing smile as he turned a little red in embarrassment.
"Anyway….." he said ducking his head as he sat down beside her, "what happened? Didja have one of yer headaches again?"
She nodded. "I have to take….my medicine." But Mai didn't move to get up. She was staring straight ahead, oddly.
"Mai? C'mon you scare me when ya get dat spooky look…..what's up?"
"Do you mind…..if you get it for me?" Again, her voice was odd and monotone.
"Get what?" He blinked in confusion.
"My medicine. It's in my room, third drawer of my left night-table. I'm too tired to move."
He glanced upwards at the sky. It was getting dark and the crickets were starting to sing, and owls hooted in the trees. "I dunno if I should jus' leave ya here……we're pretty far from da main house. Tell ya what, I'll carry ya back, since ya can't walk." He slid an arm underneath her knees and around her back and heaved her up. Why does she seem so much heavier? I must be tired, too… With a sigh, he let her down again. "Just..... give me a minute…." Joey said, panting.
"No, you're too tired to carry me. Just go, okay?...... I'll wait right here." She reached up and caressed his cheek lightly, causing him to look down at her. There was a short silence as again he thought something odd in the way she was acting. "I'll be okay. No matter what happens, I'll be fine." Her fingers traced the edge of his chin, and her gaze shifted down from his eyes.
Why is she acting….like dis is the last time we'll see each other? But he didn't have time to question her, as she pulled him in, pressing a slow heated kiss to the cheek. Pulling away slowly, he felt his cheeks warm and was grateful for the darkness to hide his face. "M---"
"And then..... after I take my medicine, we'll go into the jacuzzi," she purred huskiliy, the shadows casting over her face but her voice was smiling. "So hurry up....!"
At the mention of that, all the questions flew out of his head. "I'll be right back." Hold dat thought--!
little later
"Hey, Joey," Tea said, turning around from the video people were watching. "Glad to see you still in one piece. I was just about to check on Serenity. Or did you already do it?"
"Huh? No, I gotta get somethin' for Mai from her room," he answered. "I'll check on sis whle I'm there. She is sleepin' dere, right?"
"Yeah, come on, I'll go with." Tea showed him where Mai's bedroom was, which he was thankful, because there seemed to be a never ending hallways of doors. She'd been here on a sleepover, but sometime she still got lost.
Which was evidence of that. "Well, I thought her room was here," Tea said sheepishly, as they found another bathroom. "Guess I haven't been here for a while….."
"Dere must be a gazillon bathrooms!" he grumbled. "I wish I'd asked her where her room was….." He was cut off by an ear splitting scream. "Dat….sounded like…. Serenity!"
"It came from over here!" Tea shouted, running towards a big set of double doors.
The plush room was barely lit by the last evening rays of the sun, where two figures: one in bed, the other standing, leaning over the canopied bed. It didn't take long to figure out that Serenity was the one in the bed.
"Hey, YOU! What are ya doin' to my sista?!?!?!" Joey yanked the stranger to the floor, where he landed with a grunted "oof!" Tea went over to check on Serenity to see if she wasn't hurt.
"Please don't hurt me…" The guy sat up and bowed his head. "I..d-didn't know she was your sister…..!" he put his hands up, begging and backing up.
Tea flipped on the switch and light flooded the room. The guy was a teenager, dark with spiky short brown hair and odd, squinty eyes that seemed to be closed. a/n: that should be a BIG hint…. he was dressed in a strange green vest with an orange shirt and brown slacks. Seeing that he obviously hadn't meant harm, Joey let some tension go.
"Who're you?" he demanded. "Get up and explain yourself before I pound ya face in!"
"My name is Takeshi....sir…." The boy did as he was told.
"Joey….don't hurt him….." Serenity said, looking sheepish. "I thought he was…..someone else……. It's my fault."
"Oh, not only is she beautiful, but has such a pure, forgiving heart!" Takeshi exclaimed dramatically. "My -" he coughed, covering his mouth, and noticed Tea staring bug eyed at him. "O lords! What radiant beauty from doth yonder one!" In a flash, he took Tea's hand, kneeling at her feet. "I will be your lapdog, anything, my angel!" The words might've been sweet, except it came out a rasp, because of his cold.
Joey shivered violently suddenly as a shudder went down his spine. He glanced at Serenity, and saw she was staring down at her lap, her face pink and not paying attention. "Wait a minute…." He said to Takeshi. "Say dat again…."
" 'I will be your lapdog, m-"
"Yeah…." Joey came over, but not in a menacing way. "But say it, again, in like, a meaner, raspier voice."
Obviously uneasy, but having no choice, the boy said, "You lapdog!" They all gasped.
Tea thought, Wow, Takeshi really does sound like him! Scary….. It's uncanny….."Don't embarrass her, Joey, he was her first love, after all."
"You thought he was Kaiba!?!?!" Joey said accusingly to his sister, who turned deep red in embarrassment and sunk into the covers; confirming it. To the boy, he said, "I guess since it was an accident I c'n let you go. But only if……"
"Uh….only if….. what?" he other boy said questioningly. These people are wacko…?!?!! "Only if you say, 'I'm a loser and Joey is da best!' " he ordered triumphantly, while Tea anime fell and Serenity sweat-dropped. Joey sure is pathetic, Tea thought with a sigh.
"Uh…..you're a loser and Joey is the best?" Takeshi said timidly. But his voice came out a squeak.
"Naw! Da words, 'I'm a loser!' An' say it in a mean voice. Y'know, raspy-like." Joey actually rubbed his hands in anticipation. The boy said it as best he could, and Tea sweatdropped. .
"Okay," Tea said dryly to him. "You can go now." Happily, the boy sped out of there. "That was weird. And Joey, you scared him witless, laughing like a maniac." Tea rolled her eyes and threw up her hands as he continued to laugh hysterically.
"Hee hee….it was worth it..I oughta taped it…Hey! I know; I'll make 'im say stuff and use it as blackmail at school….people'll never know da difference…! Mwa ha ha!"
Serenity said, "Joey? I wanna go home now."
"Huh? Oh, all right, sis." He shot straight up. "Almost fergot! I gotta give Mai her medicine! Tea, wouldja mind takin' Serenity home….?"
"All right, all right. C'mon Serenity, let's leave the two lovebirds alone," she said sarcastically in an effort to make him feel guilty, but he wasn't paying attention. He absently waved goodbye to his sister as he reached over to the night-table. Lessee…..what'd she say? third drawer…..better hurry, she must be gettin' tired of waitin' so long.
He opened the drawer and saw the coffee colored bottle of prescription pills. It was stuck, so he yanked hard and a slim book fell out with a muffled thump. Curiously, he turned it over.
"My diary…."he read out loud.
He picked it up gingerly, like if it were to explode. I wonder if she wrote somethin' 'bout me …..and what? His fingers slid over the smooth cover carressingly, the prescription pills rattling in his hand. No! she'll be really mad….still, so dang irresistible!
Not able to hold it back any longer, he pushed it open.
Then shut it. No! what're you thinking! C'mon she's waiting….. After a few moments of hesistation and silence, Joey glanced over his shoulder at the open door, then got up and shut it quietly so no one could spy. Just a little peek. A little one…..Okay, the first page….!
He scanned the loopy, neat writing for his name...... and didn't find it. Disappointed, he set it down.
Looks like she didn't write anything about me after all…… Eh?A sudden wave of guilt for looking at her private thoughts washed over him and he was about to close the book, when he saw his name down at the corner of the far right page.
Just read that paragraph. That's all, he bargained with his conscience. Just to know how she really feels…..!
'August 4..'