Especially the way he said it, with his dark brown eyes shining earnestly, the color of melting chocolate, his hand warm against hers; the moonlight seemed to capture the highlights in them and in his thick blond hair. She felt her heart melt like it never had, just by looking at him. Her throat closed up and it become hard to speak. Say something!!! she was telling herself and he was telling her mentally, also.
Helpless, she placed one cool hand on the side of his face, her own eyes sparkling with unshed tears. A sad look….. Why is she sad? Doesn't she believe what I'm saying? he wondered, his heart racing anxiously in his chest. It was important that she did. For some reason. As if she'd read his mind, she whispered softly; he watched her full glossy lips move, slowly. But clearly......
"I believe you." He felt himself breathe again in relief and began to smile swiftly.
The dark hospital room suddenly become overcome with harsh light and they both blinked. Someone had paid an unexpected visit. He released her hand and stood up quickly; the magical spell that had wove around them dissipated.
"Darling." A well-cultured voice spoke, with a lilting accent. "We've come. Are you well?"
"Mother! Daddy!" Mai exclaimed, shocked to the core to see them. She hadn't expected them to come when she was sick; they knew she was already grown and could take care of herself. "What are you doing here?"
So…..those are her parents…..Joey thought, stuffing his hands in his jeans pockets. An elderly gentlemen with a gold tipped cane and a woman in her sixties, though she looked much younger. They were dressed up like going to a ball, and the woman looked like an old version of Mai, in her fur coat set with superb diamonds.
"Of course we've come, darling." The woman went over and gave her daughter a light pat on the head, smiling a bit. "The doctor told us everything. We nearly died of fright!"
"Mother, I……" Mai said, unsure of what to say. She hadn't spoke to them in a long while, but they were acting like they just saw her hours earlier. Her gaze drifted over to Joey, and her parents' followed suit. Oh, great, how will I introduce him? What'll they think?! Especially with him in an old T-shirt and ripped jeans. Of course, he looks great, but they'll not think so! She stammered uncharacteristically. "Uh-this is---"
He stuck out a hand and introduced himself. "Joey Wheeler, at your service." Hesitantly, the woman shook it, gingerly. Mai winced, thinking of what was going through her mother's mind. This is so not the time for this….!
"I say, young man," said Mr. Valentine, tapping him with his cane, "there's a spill a nurse wanted me to tell you about down the hallway……" He indicated towards it.
"Oh, yes dear, thanks for reminding me…..someone might slip….." Mrs. Valentine, putting a gloved hand to her mouth. They both looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to go and clean it.
After a while, it dawned on Joey that they thought he was the custodian. Rich snobs."Hey wait, I'm not---" He stopped when he noticed Mai looking pleadingly at him. Go along with it! her look said, as her parents looked at him strangely.. He gritted his teeth. Yeah, I guess this is not the time for this, he thought, then nodded goodbye at each of them and shuffled out the door.
"What a strange young man," Mr. Valentine said to his wife. I hope he understands…. Mai thought, wringing her hands on the blanket. Her parents were too snobby to accept him now. But oh well, what did they know, anyway. I never did listen to them!
Next day
Serenity rushed to the bathroom and ran a hairbrush long through her long hair, humming softly to herself. It was a cloudy afternoon, but she felt happier than she had in a week. Over her mother's desperate objections, she had gotten back together with the man she loved.
"Please, sweetheart, just think about it," her mother had said earlier that morning. "You two don't belong together! You're fifteen years old girl! What could you two possibly talk about?"
I am so tired of hearing that, Serenity thought. They'll never understand; no one will! Only Mai encouraged them to be together, and she didn't even recognize her! Serenity slender shoulders drooped from the burden of having no support. She tried to be understanding, but it wasn't until recently she'd realized how much she had depended on Mai's support….
Well, at least Mom can't forbid me to see Seto again, she thought. Since KaibaCorp had just recently hired her mother's advertising firm to promote a new line of duel disks. So technically, he was Mrs. W's boss now. I sure wish I didn't have to stoop to force, that's really more his style…. But there was an undying hope that all it would take was a little getting used to and her mom would be fine with it. I'm sure that'll happen very soon….! she thought optimistically. Now if only Mai would remember me…..
Upstairs, she heard Joey hang up the phone he'd been talking to for an hour. "Hey sis," he called, "Mai'll be here in awhile…..I gotta run to da store. Tell her dat I'll be right back!"
"Sure." She cheerfully agreed, leaving the bathroom and going to the kitchen. There she fixed herself a sandwich, expertly, since she'd fixed Joey one a million times before. But soon I'm not going to be the one to fix his sandwiches anymore…..
Smiling sadly, she carried it into the cozy but small living room. Though Seto's living room was ten times the size of this one, she still preferred her home. She set her plate down on the coffee table, and rifled through the magazines, before finding an old dusty photo album. Serenity was paging through there when the door rang. "Come in," she said absently, forgetting that Mai was coming.
"Hey, hun. You know you shouldn't leave the door open……a burglar might've come."
"Oh, hi." Serenity twisted around on the couch. "Joey must've left it open accidentally……he had to go the store. He'll be back." She watched her sit opposite side of her. "So…..are you feeling better…..?" she asked awkwardly.
"Hey, there's no need to be shy around your old friend."
"You mean….." Serenity leaned forward, eyes sparkling happily with a delighted grin. "You remember me….? That reallly makes my day!"
"Of course……how could I forget you?" she said, grinning, pulling her in a quick sisterly hug. "I've recalled nearly all of my memories this morning."
"That's great!" Serenity cheered, getting up. "Do you want something to eat….?"
"Nah." Mai waved her to sit, which she obeyed. "Whatcha got there?" she asked, pointing to the album.
"Oh…." Serenity said softly, picking it up, "I was just sitting here and rifling through an old photo album. "Do you want to see, or…..?"
"Sure, move over. Might as well…." Silently, they looked through it. "Who's that?"
"My brother." Serenity smiled fondly. "When he was …..mm, three."
"Three? Then why is it in black and white; they invented color back then." Mai wanted to know.
"Well, we couldn't afford color prints." She explained, and turned the page to some more black and white photos. She stopped at one with her on it, then reached behind it and pulled out a hidden one. Still here…..
"Let me see; can I see?" Mai took it at her nod, carefully, studying it. It showed a couple in a wedding dress and suit, in some grassy pasture. The quality was poor; it was grainy and the faces were blurred slightly. "This is---" the woman looked remarkably like Serenity, even with her waist length dark blond hair. "-your parents," she finished. They were looking lovingly at each other, looking very young, maybe 20 or 19.... The man had a cowlick on his head just like Joey's. Serenity took it back and gently ran a fingertip around their faces, with a sad smile.
"This is still here," she said quietly, while Mai gave patted her arm.After the divorce, Mom ripped every picture of them together while I watched. "…..The only one….I hid it. I'll be right back…"
"Sure." While she was gone, Mai picked it up again, seeing how the photos were lovingly well kept. In her own house, they were no such thing, every school photo of her was sent to friends, or relatives, none for her to keep. Mostly were colors of Serenity, smiling brightly, some were of aunts and uncles, she assumed. All Joey's pictures were in black and white. Mai wondered why.
The siblings arrived at the same time, just as she got to the last page. They seemed to be organized by recent to past. "Hey whatcha lookin' at?" He kissed her cheek hello swiftly.
"Just some photos of you." Mai said mischievously smiling at him, her eyes aglow as he sat down. Serenity sat on the other side of her explaining,
"I was looking through them earlier." He noticed that she looked a lot more upbeat and could make a good guess at why……though a reluctant guess. He gave his sister a suspicious look.
"Hey, who's that?" Mai pointed to the last photo. A little boy was standing up with a big gap toothed grin, in a bathtub with a ducky in water.
"Gah! Where did this come from, sis?!" Joey said accusingly, snatching the book out of Mai's hand and running away with it tucked under his arm. There he proceeded to pry the picture off determinedly..
"Joey, that has always been there," Serenity said patiently going over to him. "Be careful, or you'll rip it!" she worried.
Mai got up too. "Let me see! Let's see!" she said teasingly, while the all wrestled for it. Then the front door opened, and Mrs. W came home, early. Mai quickly stepped away.
"What is going on now?" Mrs. W said wearily. "Joseph, put whatever you're holding down right this instant!" a/n: lol she always picks on him was the second thing she said. She recognized Mai as Serenity's friend and gave a brief nod. "Kids, I have to go out again soon," she said while looking at her daughter. "Serenity, I want us to have good long talk when I get home, okay?"
"Yes, mom." Even though there's nothing to talk about….
"Hey sis, what did she mean by dat?" Joey asked her, taking the embarrassing photo of him and crumpling it up in his fist.
"Joey!" Serenity chided, avoiding his question. "You shouldn't do that to your photo!" For her, photos of him were rare enough.
"Answer my question." He dropped the wad on the floor and Mai, behind him, kicked it up discreetly with her toe and caught it. a/n: I would too! So cute! "Are you back wit dat guy again?!" he asked bluntly. They all knew whom he meant.
Serenity avoided his eyes and was silent. She didn't want any arguments now. If she didn't say anything, then she didn't have to lie…
"I'm not gonna be mad; if ya jus' tell me da truth. If ya don't den, I'll be mad." He looked expectantly at her.
"I'll, um, tell you later," she compromised finally, still avoiding his gaze and clasping her hands nervously in front of her.
"All right," he agreed, though he already had a good guess what the answer was. "I'll accept dat, just doan lie to me ever again, got it?" He patted her head affectionately to soften his words and she smiled, tremulously. They were at peace again, thought Mai, shaking her head tenderly.
"Hey, I've got an idea," Mai said in a bright tone, suddenly. "How about we all go somewhere together next weekend? Like a double date. It's going to be gorgeous, the weatherman said. Blue skies. We can all have a big picnic by the Domino Lake and etceteras, it'll be fun." Serenity looked immediately enthused at the idea. They both looked over at Joey for his 'opinion'. And by 'opinion' we mean to make him to go along with whatever we say…no matter what it takes. The girls banded together.
"Exactly who's comin'?" he said, putting both hands up as if to ward the suggestion off.
"Oh please big brother," Serenity said earnestly, putting up her own as if in prayer. "I'll make all your favorite foods! And we can play games….."
"Wait a minute. Don't get your hopes up, Serenity, I doan think so, sis……" A pause. "……..What kinds foods…….?"
It was decided.