a/n: i know, i know. i haven't updated this for so long. i'm SO sorry, for those of you who reviewed, thank you so very much!! o um, i'm still not sure when the next chapter is gonna be up i know, shoot me. the truth is i am very busy with university, and hardly have any spare time for things such as writing fanfic. but i will try my best! as fo you guys, please continue to comment, god knows i need all the encouragement i can get. )

Disclaimer: don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, so don't sue. Thx and enjoy!

Chapter Warning: none

Pairing: SxJ

Chapter Summary: school, homework...assignment with seto.

Modeling Business – Back to School

School has gone a bit more insane than usual. The old saga of neatly combed hair is over. A new trend kicks in with the messy, 'just rolled out of bed' look that's got every teen in Domino racing to the saloons for a hair makeover.

Kaiba came to school and almost had a heart attack. Blondes, blondes and more blondes with untidy, sloppy and unfastidious hair. His straight brown locks look so out of place in comparison to those who are around him. As he walks through the school foyer, no body made way for him like they usually does, or even noticed him.

Apparently, there is a much greater attraction. Kaiba muses to himself as he advances through the crowd and discovers that 'greater attraction'.

In the middle of the foyer, amongst hundreds of students is the blonde of all blondes. Unlike all the others whose hair are all artificially dyed and styled, his locks are naturally maintained. Kaiba could tell from the way the sunlight dances across the strands that covered most of his forehead.

At first he thought the boy is the young model he saw in that advertisement. But without the make-ups and the expensive outfit, the CEO instantly recognizes the teen as his rival, Joey Wheeler.

The blonde spreads a toothy smile from ear to ear as he signs autographs and answers random questions from his fans. The ones who are closer to him are practically throwing themselves at the blonde, trying to hug him in any way they can. The ones further back chattered excitedly about Japan's new rising star.

Joey's gang is right with him as always. Tristan and Yugi and has apparently became the blonde's bodyguards. Kaiba watches in amusement as the tallest member of the group tries to prevent a pair of fat chicks from sandwiching Joey by throwing one of them off. The remainder is as giddy as a goose when she squeezes the life out of the blonde with her big arms and massive cleavages.

Finally, Joey could take no more. Coincidentally, the bell rings signaling the beginning of first period Joey takes the God-given opportunity and bolts for the classroom with his die-hard fans on the tail screaming like wild bandits.

The foyer is emptied in a blink of an eye, leaving Kaiba feeling alone and behind. But he quickly shook off the emotion and heads down to class, accompanied only by the clicking sound of his leather shoes.

000

Modeling is great. He couldn't believe just how much money he is paid for just one photo shoot. His father was updated with this breaking news. The middle-aged man is surprised but he ain't complaining, not when Joey flashed couple grand of salary before his eyes. Aside from the money, there is also the fame, the popularity, and the royal fans who are trying so hard to imitate him. All of a sudden, life isn't that bad after all.

But all things possess a downside, and modeling is no exception.

Joey gapes at the accumulated homework piled into a hill on his desk during the week of his absence. If there's anything that would stun the talkative blonde speechless, it's homework.

"Well, Joey." The calculus teacher, who stood right beside the wordless blonde, spoke without much condolence. "You have a week to finish them."

Just when Joey is proceeding to stuff his bag pack up like a thanksgiving turkey, the teacher made another proposal. Joey didn't really heed the "Being famous doesn't mean you can skip work in my class blah blah blah..." bit. What really got his attention is...

"...A calculus group assignment?" Group assignments are the worst in Joey's book. Whichever unlucky person pairs up with him would always end up with the lowest mark in class. Geez, who's the sore loser this time? He wonders.

"SETO KAIBA?!" His exclamation echoes through the entire school. Students jumped and sparrows fled from the trees branches.

"Yep, and hopefully you two would start to get along by working together." Came the stern reply that left no room for negotiation. The teacher then pats him on the back as if to encourage him. But instead Joey almost had a stroke right then and there.

000

"Find the...de-derivative of dy by dx when x equals to in-infinity..." Yugi struggles through his reading like a beginner. "I'm sorry Joey. But I have no idea what this means. I don't even take calculus."

Lunch in the cafeteria with the gang is nothing new. But, lunch in the cafeteria dwelling on an assignment, to Joey, that's just incomprehensible.

Reaching for the thick pile of paper that's handed back him, Joey carelessly tosses it into his backpack and buries his face into his hands. "This is hopeless; I am so going to fail this course." He groans in frustration while grabs his hair and ruffles it up some more.

Seeing his good buddy in such down state, Tristan steps in and suggests: "Why don't you go ask the nerds in your class to help you catch up?"

"Like who?" Good question. As previously mentioned, no matter how hard Joey tries, he's always considered the official slacker of the class. Thus he is loathed by a bunch of go-getters who just wouldn't take second best for an answer. Poor Joey, he would've dropped the course if he didn't just found out that the college he applied for requires a credit in calculus.

The gang all put their thinking caps on. Taylor is the first to come up with a solution. "Then you have no other choice than to pair up with Kaiba."

Joey fakes a choking sound in response and a sequence of coughing soon followed. Damn, he shouldn't have juice in his mouth. "Tristan, for the last frigin' time, there is no way in hell am I working with that jackass! Like he'll welcome me with open arms." he mumbles the last sentence sarcastically to no one in particular. But seeing the confused look on Tristan's face, the blonde sighed and summarizes his entire response into one simple "no."

"C'mon, put your modeling-charm on and he wouldn't be able to resist you." The tallest teen lets out an almost girlish giggle which has the whole gang freaked out.

Joey is just about to reply "not in a million years" when Ryou cuts in. "Joey, I think you should listen to Tristan...just this once." He quickly adds after seeing Joey spells out "are you shitting me?!" with his facial expression.

"Think about it, Joey." The British boy explains, "If you are able to complete the assignments with Kaiba's help, your average would surely rise. However..." The white-haired teen continues with a solemn look in his brown eyes. "If you choose to not seek help, your mark would drop. Then not only do you endanger your graduation, you are also jeopardizing your chance of going to college. Besides..." Ryou adds with smug, "Kaiba better help you for he needs those marks as well."

Joey gapes at Ryou with his mouth hanging open like a dead fish. When did the timid boy turned out to be so out-spoken? Probably has something to do with that look-alike boyfriend of his. However, what's important at the moment is Ryou's logic has him persuaded. For the sake of his graduation and the bright future, he will work with Kaiba. And the brunette better help him, otherwise, he too shall face the sad tragedy of getting a zero. Just when the blonde is about to thank his new best buddy, Tea's hand found his shoulder.

"Remember, Joey. Whatever happens we are always behind you. That is what frie-"

"Oh, look at the time! I gotta go find Kaiba now!" Joey laughed nervously while shoving his every possession into his backpack. He then flees out of the cafeteria like there is no tomorrow.

Tea sat there like a zombie with her hand still in mid-air. "What's with the haste, there is still..." she looks at her watch, "30 minutes until end of lunch."

Everyone else just shrugs while sipping silently on their drinks. Obviously, no one wants to admit to the brunette that her friendship speech could even annoy the hell out of the dead.