*+*+*+*+**++**+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+Seto's POV *+*+*+*+*+*+**++**+*+*+
"Why have you called me here; this better be important."
"Oh, it is, it is!" The school guidance counselor bobbed his balding grey head up and down repeatedly. "You see, you're up for senior graduation this year---"
"I know that." I replied testily. "Get to the point. I have things to do."
"Um. Well, you see," he said, adjusting his glasses nervously and forking over a piece of paper, "As you can see from that report, you are short two classes from graduation."
I snatched the paper and scanned it. there was a big circle with "Incomplete." " 'Incomplete?' " I said, thrusting the paper down. "For which class?"
"Uhm, uhm….psychology… you were absent so many times, you see, that Professor Sats had to---" I stopped listening to his drivel and thought back. Yes, I remembered that I had been busy opening up a branch of the company in the States. "But I-" I blew out an impatient sigh. "Never mind. What is the other class I need?"
He rechecked his files. "Home economics."
"What is that."
"I….. don't know what you mean."
"Never mind. Sign me up for it. And the other class too. I have to graduate this term." Finally, to be out of high school! It seemed to be never ending.
"Well, the class is already midsemester. You'll have a lot of catching up." He explained.
I waved my hand dismissively. "I will. As well as for the other class?"
"Yes, I've signed you up. But I don't think you'll be able to catch up-" he stopped as I turned to the wood door.
"Just give me the room number." He handed it over and I left.
*+*+*+**++*+*+**+*+later +*+***+*+**
What a bother. Like I could never 'catch up'…… What is 'home economics' anyway? 'Economics' meant something to do with finance, obviously. Well, there was no problem then; I knew everything there was to know about money.
I almost felt sorry for myself when I reached the door and opened it. Almost; the place was filled with girls, only two or three boys. I had a sinking feeling; this class reminded me of when I took a look inside the cosmetology class. The stupid counselor had mistaken it for astronomy....!
People didn't look up as I entered and made my way to my usual place in the back. Their eyes swiveled to sneak glances, and the conversation hushed to fervent whispers. A group of girls giggled in their nitwitted way as I passed, trying to get my attention. those who did openly stare, I glared them to looking away again. I hate to be gawked at so disrespectfully.
There was one who wasn't gawking, though, was hunched up over something. Her back was to me; I knew it was a 'her' from the pink school uniform. I knew from the shoulder length brown hair who it was.
Ugh. Gardener.
I wouldn't have spared her a glance, after the disaster at KaibaLand Arcade last week, but I happened to see what she was looking at. A slightly wrinkled white piece of paper that looked vaguely familiar. It was a photocopy of a photo……
Without hesistation, I reached over and grabbed it. "Give me that! Why do you have pictures of me!" I hissed to her.
She turned around and tried to snatch it right back. "What are you doing here......?! I wasn't---!" she said, all flustered. But we both knew I was right. Still, she was stubborn as an ox as everyone in the school knew. "It's not a picture of you!" she yelled.
"Settle down!" The teacher called, coming in. But neither of us paid any attention. She stole it from my desk. I knew that something was missing! She has no right to steal from ME! The paper tore ferociously in two halves with a loud rrrip! "What is going on here?" The teacher said.
There was hushed giggles as I didn't say a word and sat down. "Mr. Kaiba? Ms. Gardener? Would you please explain?" Gardener didn't say anything, either. Silent for once.
"They always fight," chirped a high pitched voice from the back, and the girls burst into giggles. I cursed my luck to end up in the same class with 'Smudge-face.'
"Oh, they do, do they?" The teacher said with a little smile that set my teeth on edge. "Well, that will be perfect for our next project. " She went up to the front of the room again. "For the rest of the term, we will learn about family living and life."
This was 'home economics?! Cooking class?!
"You will be paired up with a partner," she went on. "this will count as your final grade, since the semester is nearly over. For some this is very important, especially for those who are graduating" she said ,eyeing me. I stared back suspiciously. "And since you two always fight, then this will be a good way for you two to stop, huh?" I saw Gardener's face flush red as everybody around her started tittering. "Oh, shut up," she hissed at them. "Mrs. Wai? Can't I be paired with someone else?" she pleaded, casting a disdainful glance at me.
"No, Ms. Gardener. You will have Mr. Kaiba as your partner. Frankly, I'm surprised at you. Aren't you supposed to be the friendliest one in the class?"
More like the 'friendliest' in the school, I thought sourly. She fell silent and took another look at me. Her staring was starting to get on my nerves. I gave her an I'd-rather-die-than-to-be-your-partner-in -anything-look, just to let her know the feeling was mutual. If she hated me, then I hated her too. Not that I need a reason……or anything....!
"This is all your fault." I said to her when class was over.
"My fault?"
"You stole that picture from me. Be grateful that I don't press charges." I threw the wadded half into the garbage can as she watched me, and frowned.
"I don't want to argue. Let's just get this stupid project over with, okay?" I said nothing, and she stopped. "Let's see, I've got practice on Mondays and Wednesdays, so on Friday I'm free……"
"Great," I said sarcastically, turning towards my locker and putting my books away neatly. I slammed it shut hard with a loud bang!. "You're lucky that I need this grade. I'll meet you at the library at 6 on Friday, Smudge."
" ' Smudge'?! Oh, you think that's real funny, don't you? Making fun of me is funny?"
"No. actually it's rather amusing." I watched as her face turned a soft pink as I smiled slightly. "You are so easy to aggravate. Do you know what 'ag gruh vate' means?" I mocked.
"……Yes, I know what it means," she snapped. She was about to say something else but I interrupted her.
"Good." I scowled, brushing by her. "Then I'm sure you know that's what you do to me."
*+*+**++**+*+*++**+*+Friday +*+**+*+*+*++*
I wasn't looking forward to Friday. In fact, Friday is my least favorite day of the week. For many reasons. One, my employees get their paychecks on Friday. That mean a whole day of figuring how much was left after tax cuts.
Sitting at my work desk Friday afternoon, I folded my hands and stared out the windows of my blinds. People would be surprised to know how often I do that. Across the street was my company's arcade. New additions were being constructed, including a whole new wing. I would've much rather been over there, supervising the work. But if I left the number crunching to my secretary, she was sure to pocket some my money herself.
No, I had to do it myself. My soft sigh echoed around the empty, silent office. While I worked, I grumbled about yesterday's events. Stupid idiot. If she hadn't stolen my photo, we wouldn't have been paired up together. What is she going to do with it? …..Voodoo probably. Well, she wouldn't be the first. That was for sure. And if she hadn't choked that night---
My pen wrote angrily across the tax form. I still wasn't sure why I'd bothered to help her. Ishizu had been my date that night but she wasn't the reason. Not the whole of it.
Great, I thought cynically. Seventeen years old and having a mid life crisis. Something about that doesn't surprise me; I do feel middle aged. The intercom's buzzer rang. "What?!" I barked sharply.
"A few minutes ago, someone by the name of 'Ms. Gardener' called……"
"What time is it?!" I looked outside, surprised at how dark it was. "7? Already?"
"Yes sir."
"Bring the limo around. Hobbes'll cover for me." She cut the connection quickly, which was no surprise because my voice was in a snarl. Everyone knew to keep out of my way when I am in a bad mood. Sometimes I even pretend I'm in a bad mood, just because of that; to be left alone. I snapped orders for maintenance of the office while I was gone.
"Big brother, where you going?"
"To the library." I walked briskly outside, putting on my coat. "It's for a school project," I explained. "Driver, to Domino High Library!"
"C'n I come with?"
"Yeah, sure." I smiled down at him as he hopped into the car beside me. To the driver, I snapped, "And hurry, will you!" To Mokuba in a softer tone, I said, "Did you bring your library card?"
"Yeah. Think I c'n check out some duel monsters books?" He brought the wallet I'd bought him for his twelfth birthday out and handled it with care. It was genuine cowhide leather, imported from Venice.
Speaking of Venice, I thought, reminding myself of a trip I had to take there soon. "I doubt they have those in there."
"Why are you such in hurry, big brother?" he asked as we swiveled through downtown traffic, trees and telephone poles whizzing by.
"Um….I have a project to do with someone." I wasn't going to say who, but he was to find out anyway. Suddenly I regretted taking him along. He's been pestering me about the incident at the arcade with Gardner ever since. "I really need this grade to graduate from school, so you just keep quiet, okay? Promise?"
"Yeah, I want you to hurry and graduate." We interlocked our little fingers together, our way of swearing.
*+*+*+*++**+*+*+*+*+
When we got there, it was a little over 7:30. As we saw her, I could tell she was about to burst a blood vessel.
"You said 'six o' clock'---" She saw Mokuba and abruptly stopped her tirade. "Oh."At least he helped with something. I reminded myself to be nice to her, no matter what it took; since she was to 'evaluate' me at the end of the project with our final papers.
"Hi, Tea." My brother cast a why-didn't-you-tell-me? look at me which I pretended not to notice. "I'll just be 'round way over here." he said, going over to a bookshelf.
I looked at her. "Let's get started." I ordered brusquely. Not even waiting for her to reply, I headed to a worktable station.
heh. Sorry, gotta end it dere. My I's r closin' X_x so whatdja think? I tried to keep seot in character as much as possible. I don't like it when he's too ooc. It's tough. Anyhoo R&R