Chapter 11 : Where We All Stand
Author's note: Hi readers! Thank for your patience and long dedication in keeping up with my fanfic! I know it's been forever, but it's been a very busy summer for me.
Anyway, this chapter will be longer than usual to make up for the long delay. It will be a 3 part chapter all in one, which will cover a lot of details and background information.
Again, sorry for the long delay and enjoy!
P.S. Some background info: This chapter takes place a little later on, on the SAME day of the Yami/Tea scene (which occurred in the morning) of last chapter's. It's just about 2 hour or so difference ahead. Just to keep you on track!
Also, if there are any weird errors floating around in this chapter like the last, I have NOTHING to do with it! You will have to take up that complaint with
Okay, read away!
Scene One: Growing Friendship
"I think I'm going to visit Grandpa..."
"Right now?"
Yugi, sitting in the passenger seat of Tygris's....er Hedio's sparkling Lambhorghini, pondered out loud his thoughts. He had been thinking about whether or not to visit Grandpa ever since they left Ty's house.
Yugi sighed. "Ty, I'm sorry for throwing you for a loop, but I need to see how he's doing. I need to talk to him."
Ty who was donning dark shades, dark blue jeans and a red designer T-shirt, eyed Yugi with a skeptical brow. "You sure you aren't just running for cover again? You know you're going to have to face him eventually, Yugi."
Obviously Yugi didn't have to ask who "him" was....
"I know, I know...but I just have this overwhelming feeling to see Grandpa."
He shook his head. "It's been pulling at me since last evening. I haven't seen him in a while and....I...I need to see him." Yugi twitched defiantly in his seat.
"Alright, alright, you need to see him! You don't need to explain yourself any further, my friend." Ty made a left turn on the next green light.
He glanced at Yugi once again, only to see a down-turned mouth and tense eyebrows. He's looks tooore up, Ty thought. More tore up than he was last night, actually.
Well, speaking of last night, it was quite a pleasant experience talking about his love for the arts, his past experiences, particularly his rough childhood growing up. He rarely ever talks to anyone about his life, but somehow it just felt right talking to Yugi about it.
He didn't think he'd open up to Yugi that way. Actually he never thought to display that sort of trust and vulnerabilities to anyone. He was a very private, guarded guy, and he kept all of that on lock and key for no one to tamper with. Funny how all of that has changed in a mere few weeks....
In a way, he felt it was the right time to tell Yugi his real name, not that he planned to, but it just came out (He did tell Yugi to continue calling him "Ty" just for familiarity's sake, knowing how awkward it would have been otherwise.)
Yugi did bring such ease about a person that you can talk to him about anything. He's just about the most honest, most decent person he's met in a long, long time, and that's saying a lot. Yes, his life has been THAT fucked up...until recently of course.
The one thing he admires about Yugi is that he doesn't judge people and accepts them for
both their faults and their qualities. He learned more in depth about Yugi's love for Duel
Monsters, his pride and joy. His love for the cards came from none only
but his beloved Grandpa, so he understood a lot more about their relationship, which was
more than the typical grandfather/grandson relationship. From what he has heard, their
relationship seems pretty special.
In regards to THEIR friendship: deep down, he knows he doesn't deserve Yugi, but that doesn't mean he won't accept Yugi's friendship, which was totally unexpected... thinking that Yugi in the beginning was a young, too naïve kid that needed someone to guide him (or so he THOUGHT), while in reality HE was the one who needed the guiding. Even a guy of his background can tell when he's out of his league, and Yugi was definitely not one of his usual "they-come-and-they-go" acquaintances.
In others words, he really stands out among the rest in his exciting, and to disturbingly admit, oft times....shallow life.
He really does appreciate the time, however long or short, he's spent with Yugi, and he's just now realizing that. He also realizes now that he can't take Yugi for granted, because if he does, he might be losing out on a lot more than he bargained for.
It's only been a little while, but he feels as if he has known Yugi for a long time.
Yugi did say he would teach him how to play Duel Monsters sometime and in some weird way he was looking forward to it, whenever that may be.
Yugi, feeling Ty's intense green gaze upon him, looked up at him in wonder. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Ty's face scrunched up into an expression of disgust, as if it clearly read "Eeew! What the hell is that?"
"There's a huuuge piece of booger in your nose that just can't be ignored. It's so big, I might just have to call you 'Boogi' from now on."
Gasp.
"Really?!" Yugi's face turned horrified with embarrassment, quickly looking for a piece of tissue or something to wipe his nose.
Ty laughed.
He could add "gullible" on the list, but it was a cute gullibility that he so liked about Yugi. He knew he shouldn't tease him, but he is sooo adorable when his cheeks turn red with embarrassment or blushing wonder. He did so enjoy getting a reaction out him. Well, any reaction was better than seeing him in this near "craptacular" mood he's in now.
"Gotcha!..." Ty was still chuckling even when Yugi was glaring at him for playing such a trick on him.
"That's not funny, Ty! Stop playing with me like that." But slowly and surely, a smile crept on his still pink face. He knew he was played for a fool there. He normally isn't THAT gullible.
"Now that's more like it." Ty said while smiling broadly at him, pushing him on the shoulder in a teasing gesture as in to say "There you go, cheer up!"
They were at the hospital now, and Yugi hopped out of the car and closed the door.
"You want me to wait up for you here or will you catch a ride home.?" Ty asked.
"Oh, no I'll find my way home." Yugi was about to walk away, but then turned around and said, "Thanks for everything. You've been a good friend to me."
Tygris, clearly touched, said in return, "Well, you've been a great friend to me, Yugi. It was my pleasure, really. Say hi to your Grandpa for me, okay sweetie?"
"I will. Bye Ty." Yugi then turned towards the hospital entrance area.
You've been one of my best friends, Yugi, and I hope we can remain friends after all of the drama has died down, Ty thought to himself.
He knew with the circumstances as it was, he was asking a lot. But he will be keeping his fingers crossed anyway.
Once he saw Yugi completely out of sight, he revved his engine and drove off into the busy streets.
Scene Two: Grandpa's Encouragement
Yugi had no recollection of his riding on the escalator but there he was, on the 5th floor, heading towards the nurse's desk for assistance. The nurse had told him that he was a bit early for visiting hours, but he waited nonetheless.
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Chisholm, Grandpa's assigned doctor, came into sight, welcoming him, and then leading the way towards Grandpa's room. Grandpa's diagnosis was a positive one, thank goodness, and on the doctor's orders he could be let out of the hospital in the next few weeks or even earlier, depending on how things progressed till then.
With Grandpa's health uppermost in his mind, Yugi let out a relieved sigh at the good news. Things are going to be okay, he thought. Whatever happens here on out shouldn't matter, as long as Grandpa is on the right path to recovery.
"Yugi...."
Grandpa....
Yugi was nearing Grandpa's bed. He sighed. He hated seeing Grandpa like this. For an elderly man, he was always vivacious, active..... It tore at him to see Grandpa in this state.
"Yugi, come..."
Grandpa's voice was a little worn and withered. Yugi was by his bedside now, holding his hand.
"Hello, Grandpa. How...how are you feeling?" Yugi stared at him intently.
"Oh, I am feeling better, much better than how I had felt weeks ago. Not to my old self quite yet, but getting there." Those same lavender-purple eyes stared right back at him, almost boring into his soul. He smiled...
Yugi smiled back. "I'm really glad to hear that Grandpa. I've missed you....I've missed you so much." Yugi began to look away, the tears beginning to well up in his eyes.
"Yugi? What is wrong?" He squeezed Yugi's hand for reassurance. The warmth was comforting, and Yugi needed it so much.
Yugi tried to disguise his tear with a cough and wipe of the eye as if dust got into it. "Nothing Grandpa, it's...nothing. I'm just concerned about you..."
His eyes bore into him again. "Yugi, don't you play dumb with me. What is the matter? Is everything alright?"
Yugi sighed. "It's just...It's just..."
"It's just what, Yugi? Come now, if you need to say what is bothering you, don't hold it in any longer. Just tell me...." His voice was calm and soothing. Grandpa could always read into his emotions, no matter how hard he tried to hide them. Even in his sickly state, he could read into his soul. He usually had a sixth sense for this sort of thing.
"I don't want to upset you...You're just getting better and..."
"Yugi...You know I'm a tougher cookie than I look. Now tell me what is the matter? Speak your mind."
"It's everything." Yugi blurted out. Damn this wasn't how his visit with Grandpa was supposed to go. He was beginning to feel guilty for bringing all his problems to him. The visit was supposed to be all about Grandpa, not about himself and the newfound drama in his life.
Yugi sighed. "..While you were gone, some things have happened."
"Some things like what?" Grandpa waited for Yugi to elaborate.
Yugi swallowed.
"Yami's been running the shop to make enough money to cover all the bills, including the medical bill...I figured that he couldn't possibly do that alone, so I decided to help him with the costs. I got a job, with the help of a friend..."
Yugi sighed, trying to keep his composure while he told the story. "This friend helped me to find a job, and I did so without Yami's acknowledgement....He wasn't very happy when he found out about it."
Yugi knew he wasn't giving much detail about the specifics of his "job", and about how not very "happy" Yami was about finding out, but he decided to keep this bit of information to himself. There was no need for him to reveal details unless asked about it. Besides, he didn't want to alarm Grandpa any further than he already has.
From the look in Grandpa's questioning gaze, he could tell the wheels were turning in his head.
"Medical bill? You mean MY medical bill? What made you think that I did not have enough money to cover my medical bill?"
Yugi eyes shot up in confusion. "But I thought....but I overheard one of the doctors saying that you may not have enough health coverage for your operation!"
Grandpa's eyes widened in surprise with that statement.
"Oh, nooo..... That was all a big misunderstanding, my boy! A BIG misunderstanding....."
He chuckled, his bright lavender eyes shining with mirth.
Yugi remained unsettled with the situation. "I don't...understand. I swore I had heard..."
"You need not to worry about my bill coverage any longer, Yugi. I should have more than enough money to cover me for my stay here. I did not wish to alarm the two of you so! If I had known that the two of you were working so hard...." He trailed off, as if to catch his breath.
"Health coverage these days can get very messy when people aren't keeping their information straight on all ends. Rest assured; everything should be taken care of now."
He saw Yugi's shoulder sag with relief.
Yugi was shaking his head in frustration soon after though. "So we went through all that trouble for nothing? All that...."
"Oh, not for nothing, Yugi....You and Yami thought you were doing the right thing at the time. Bless your souls for that....."
Grandpa sighed.
"But I mean to ask you something: why would you hide your job from Yami to begin with?" Grandpa asked curiously.
Yugi looked at Grandpa intently.
"Well...because Yami was so fixated on doing things on his own. I don't know why he was so stubborn, but there was no way I could let him take on that kind of responsibility with me just standing on the sidelines. I had to help in some way. And knowing he was so dead against my helping out, he was furious when I disregarded him and got a job anyway. This was the one time I couldn't let Yami have the final say, Grandpa. This was a team effort and he didn't want it to be one and I don't know why." Yugi's eyes flashed with bitterness.
And Grandpa was more than surprised to see the anger that laid there.
"Do not be so hard on Yami, my grandson. He only did it in the interest of what he thought was best for you and the circumstances involved. Your heart was in the right place and he will realize that once he sees through it further."
"But I hate it when he treats me like a child! The few times he does, it gets under my skin so much! When we are dueling together we are equals, but now something like this arises and I'm the useless child again!"
Grandpa eyed Yugi compassionately.
"Nooo you are not a child, Yugi. You are a growing young man and you should be treated as such. I do not commend Yami's attitude in treating you otherwise, albeit even you admitted he does not make a real habit of it until recently, but you must understand Yami's point of view. You do remember he was once a Pharaoh and with that comes with great pride and responsibility. He feels a sense of responsibility to you, Yugi, especially considering the card battles and adventures you have had together, he feels you need him. It is a natural feeling for him and after all this time, do not expect him to change the one thing within him that you knew was there all along."
"I know Grandpa....but I just want to be counted on too. I don't want to have to depend on him for everything. I want him to believe in me the way I believe in him, whether it be Duel Monsters or whatever. I just don't feel like that all the time around him...."
"This is not like the two of you at all. Are you sure this is all that is bothering you?"
Yugi hesitated. He didn't want to tell Grandpa the part where Yami and his "friend" were at each others throat. Obviously, from there he would then have to reveal in detail his job as a stripper and the terrible episode that occurred just the night before. Or even the fact that Yami had to drop school in the first place just to put in enough hours to run the shop.
But he didn't like hiding things from Grandpa, particularly when he asked for his concern. He decided it was best just to focus on the "friend" part, which was at the heart of what was really bothering him, anyway. So he proceeded....
"The 'friend' I had mentioned earlier...His name is Ty, and he was the one who found me the job. Yami is upset that Ty got involved and because of that, they do not get along with each other. Let's just say he doesn't have as much trust in Ty as I do." Well, at least that was as close enough to the whole truth, Yugi thought.
Grandpa eyed Yugi inquisitively. "Does he have good reason not to, Yugi?"
Yugi was caught off guard with that question, though he surmised it was a fair one considering he wasn't exactly filling all the gaps within his story.
"Well...no! Ty has been very good to me from the very beginning and it angers me that Yami cannot trust my faith in people, at least when it comes to Ty. I wouldn't get involved with him if I thought for a hint he was shady. Maybe Yami has a right to question, but I think he should trust me when I say Ty is a good friend to me and not a threat to my well being." Yugi shifted uncomfortably near the bed.
Yugi eyed Grandpa, who was clearly contemplating whether to push the subject further about this "friend". He could tell Grandpa's curiosity was definitely peaked.
Grandpa cleared his throat before he voiced his opinion.
"Well, I guess there is a big misunderstanding between your Ty and Yami then, Yugi. I find you to be an excellent judger of character, so I believe you when you say that your friend is not the bad guy in all of this. It is clear by just the tone of your voice that you think highly of him."
Yugi blushed. "Yes, Grandpa. He has been a great supporter ever since I've met him."
Grandpa smiled. "Well, then....You must remember that you and Yami have been great friends for this long and that you shouldn't let something like this separate the both of you."
His tone grew more serious now.
"He is not the bad guy in this either, Yugi. Grant it, you will have your differences at times, but it is times like this where you must reconcile and find a common ground, for the friendship is much more important than the argument that threatens it."
"Both of you are the two people in the world that I cherish the most.... and I do not want to hear that the you and Yami are still at odds with each other by the time I get out of this hospital bed. You are a team and just like I taught you to believe in the heart of the cards, I want you to continue believing in each others hearts. That is the way it should be."
Yugi eyes began to water as he quickly took a hand and wipe it with a swift backhand. "Yes, Grandpa. I will."
"Good. Are you feeling a mite better about the situation now or is there more you have to tell me? Do not think me dense, my boy. I may be old, but I see a lot of things you youngsters do not care to pay attention to. Now... this 'job' of yours...."
Yugi flinched in worry. He was praying he wouldn't have to delve into THAT part of his story. Well... so much for hoping....
"Y..yes, Grandpa?"
"Oooh, don't look at me like that. You didn't kill anyone, did you?"
Yugi answered Grandpa in quick assurance. "No of course not, Grandpa!"
"It's not illegal, this job, is it?"
Yugi stared at Grandpa in blushing surprise at that question. "No, no it's not...illegal." Yugi blushed in further embarrassment.
"Hmmm. This job must be ser-i-ous then......................You're not selling yourself, are you?" One of Grandpa's silver eyebrows shot up in speculation.
"GRAAAANDPAAA! I'm NOT selling myself!" At least not EXACTLY in that kind of way, he thought defensively. God, he should've known better to think Grandpa would let something like this slide.....
"You knew I would want to know the details sooner or later, Yugi."
"I know, but it's not... something I'd like to discuss at the moment. I'm not very proud of what I have done..."
"Why so, because Yami disapproved of it? Or that you think I would disapprove of it?"
Yugi didn't answer with words but shook his head in a nod that hinted towards the affirmative.
Grandpa eyed Yugi carefully and chose his words with just as much regard. "Yugi....Let me put your mind to rest. You will always be my dear grandson to me, no matter what you do. I have come to realize that you are growing up, and there will be times when I will like and dislike the decisions you make throughout your life."
"You've made a decision, whatever it may be, to help Yami and that was that. As long as you knew where your heart was when you made that decision, and you can be truthful to yourself as for the intentions and reasons behind it, I see no reason why you should continue to be shameful of your actions. Let Yami deal with whatever issues he has about your making that decision, but like I, he will have to soon realize that you and ONLY you will have to learn to make and live by your own decisions, for he cannot control everything you say or do...nor will he necessarily like everything you say or do."
"I have taught you well so far and I will continue to guide you throughout your life till there is no more breath left in me, but I want you to be happy with the way you're living it, is that clear?"
Yugi nodded his reply.
"Good. Now I don't want to see you sulking about the place anymore. Remember your unhappiness is my unhappiness, and I want to see you smiling."
"Yes, Grandpa." And Yugi finally did smile after that.
For the next hour, they switched the conversation to their passion, Duel Monster Cards, and discussed the various strategies entailed in certain match-ups with different cards.
Once Yugi said his good byes to his Grandpa, he left with a much lighter heart and a much clearer mind. Some way, some how, he had to make amends with Yami.
Grandpa was right. They had to find a way to look beyond their differences and focus on what was really at stake: their friendship. "Thank you, Grandpa...I'm glad we had that talk." Yugi said out loud to himself.
Yugi waited for the escalator on the far left to him, and with that in mind, he got on.
Five minutes later...Yami came off on the 5th floor, heading towards the nurse's desk for assistance.....
(Meanwhile, when the above events were going on, this scene was happening around the same time.)
Scene Three: Breaking Up
It was still early afternoon, around 1:00 p.m., and Mai was experiencing the famous "just-one-of-them-days-that-girl-goes-through" phases. She didn't sleep well last night and woke up with a big huff, black rings around her eyes as evidence of her restless misery. Now half of the day has gone by and she was still feeling like shiiiiiiiit.
She was spending her afternoon surfing through the channels, flicking away as if she didn't know what else to do with herself at the moment. Finally the remote control can yell "mercy" once she settled on some game channel. Anything to get the events of last night's "disaster", as she'd like to call it, off her mind.
She was sipping gingerly on her cool drink of iced tea, trying to concentrate on the game show, but finding that her mind turned into complete mush in the process.
"This Suuuucks! Why am I DOING this to myself?" She yelled out loud.
Talk about getting caught with your pants down when you least expect it! All she wanted was an innocent night of girls' night out but lo and behold the devil intervened, ruining a splendid night of female companionship by turning it into a night she would definitely like to put behind her.
Now she and Joey aren't talking, and for some odd reason she couldn't help feeling more guilty about the situation than she felt she should have, not to mention feeling a bit responsible for the whole debacle in the first place.
In mounting frustration, she turned off the television and marched into her room, passing by herself in the mirror, in which she did a double-take. She looked, and she saw someone that definitely wasn't a reflection of her normal self, and she sighed. God, I need to get a grip! Do anything but sit here and sulk like some mindless ninny!, she thought.
And with that, slowly but surely she got herself dressed, fixed her hair, put on some make up, got her purse with all her credit cards in them and was about to make a mad dash for the door until she halted, thinking to check herself in the hallway mirror.
"Shit, beats sitting here wondering what 'could' have been", she said once she did a quick final assessment of her appearance by propping her hair, then left the apartment with her mind on more positive thoughts.
Three hours later, she brought home 4 bags full of shoes and clothing.
She sighed. Well, she went shopping and now she's back home, feeling that same ache of guilt she felt when she left here.
She decided to try on her clothes and shoes so she could "shashay" her way out of depression, but it wasn't working. This was no fun when you did not have an audience watching you to appreciate it, she thought. So she slumped away, almost dejectedly, into her bedroom.
After taking off her new red blouse and matching mini-skirt, she was now sitting on her bedside, staring at her answering machine. She pressed the message recorded button and was lying on her side, bracing herself for a message from Joey.
The first six messages passed in a blur and she was becoming impatient, skipping the messages at random until she stopped at one particular message that sounded a lot like....-Beep-
"Hey Mai, it's me Joey.... I think we need to talk about what happened last night... There's been a misunderstanding about the situation and I think it would be best just to clear the air between us. Um...I don't want to waste anymore tape, so just give me a call as soon as you can. Bye."
-Beep-
"Hi Mai... Joey again. Just called to see if you're home. Please consider what I said earlier. We can talk about this. Anyway, get back at me ASAP. Bye."
-Beep-
"Mai, Joey again. Where the hell are you! I've been trying to reach your cell phone, but you haven't been answering. I'd really like to talk to ya. Pleeease return my call. Bye..."
-Beep-
"Mai.......I KNOW YOU'RE THEEEEEREE. I know you're sitting on the bed RIGHT NOW; rolling your eyes like you got major PMS thinking "Why the fuck this wigga won't leave my ass alone??? He know his ass is guilty as charged! Fuck hiiiim! Fuck that no good, cheatin' ass wigga!..."
-Beep-
"Fuuuck that wigga! I can't staaand his countrified, petrified, horrified, classified, stank-o-fied self anyhow. I'm a grown ass independent woman who can handle hur bizness, for shizzle. Fizzle that wizzle!"
-Beep-
"Baaaby-hooow-am-I-suppooosed-to-liiive-WITHOOOUT-YOUU..."
-Beep-
"End of messages"
Mai did come away chuckling at that last few ridiculous messages, for they hit almost close to home. And from that very moment, she declared that Joey was definitely more on the INSANE side.
She KNEW she had forgotten something when she had left the house. Her cell phone was probably on her living room table somewhere recharging and she had forgotten to bring it with her in her hastiness to leave the house. All because she couldn't stand being in the house any longer at the time, thinking about last night's events, thinking about what she could have done differently, thinking about...Joey.
And she was seriously thinking about their relationship and their roles in it, and for some reason, she didn't like how she was feeling and where it was going. Yes, she was having her doubts and she just didn't know what to do about them.
Now she was staring at the phone, wondering whether or not to call.
She sighed.
She knew sooner or later they would have to come face-to-face about it, and since Joey made the first contact, she might as well return even for courtesy's sake. So she dialed his house number, and held the phone to her ear waiting until the third ring...then someone picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi...It's Mai."
"Oh..."
There was a bit of an awkward silence between them, then Joey finally spoke.
"I was beginning to get the impression that you wouldn't return any of my calls."
"Oh, I'm sorry about that. I wasn't in the house for a while...and I forgot to bring my cell with me when I had left. I just came in just a while ago." It was the truth after all, but she didn't feel all that confident when she was saying it.
"Okay...well, as long as you're here, safe and sound. That's all that matters."
Mai let out an "mmm-hmm", since she didn't think of anything else appropriate to say to that reply.
"Mai...About last night."
She braced herself. Leave it to Joey to get straight to the point, she thought.
"Look, I'm sorry. Alright? I wasn't thinking when I went to that club. You know I wouldn't lie to you about anything because you hate liars, and I'm telling you I went there because of some dumb idea Tristan and I came up with to keep a close eye on Yugi.
He'd been acting really funny lately and we just wanted to know what was going on, so we disguised ourselves to keep our identities concealed. I swear that was the whole bit. I didn't go there for any other reason than the one I just told you. Please believe me!"
"I do."
"What?" He sounded like he was taken a little by surprise.
"I believe you."
"Oh..."
The same awkward silence came again, and this time Mai took the reigns.
"I should apologize for my actions as well. I shouldn't have gone to club behind your back. It was uncharacteristic of me, I know. And I didn't mean to drag Serenity in this, for she wanted to come along when I asked and...Look, I figured it would have been harmless fun, but I was wrong in how I went about it."
Joey voice seemed to take on a more serious, almost displeased tone.
"So, in other words, you're not exactly 'sorry' about your actions...just sorry about your approach about the whole thing..."
Mai detected a hint of an attitude in his tone that she didn't see coming. She didn't realize that's how her explanation would sound to his ears....
"Joey, I'm sorry. Okay? What else do you want me to say? I shouldn't have done it behind your back and I regret doing it...."
"Then why do you make it sound as if I'm almost draggin' an apology outa you, like you feel you shouldn't be apologizing for it?"
"What!? ....Who are you to claim what I feel from what I DON'T feel, Joey? I told you I'm sorry about the club incident and I don't' see why I have to elaborate on it any further than that! You wanted something more dramatic, more over-the-top? You wanted a teary eyed declaration of guilt or something? Is that it? Well that's not me...."
"You know damn well what I mean and you know it!" Joey almost sneered.
"No Joey, I DON'T know what you mean! I can't read minds!"
Joey ran a frustrated hand through his hair, his anger mounting more than he thought he wanted to be feeling at the moment. "You know what? Just forget it. It was a bad idea to talk about this so soon. Just..."
"So, you call me six times today, and I call back to talk to you to get a vibe out of the whole situation and you're ending this is with a 'forget it'? No...no, we're here to talk NOW, so let's talk Joey! What DO you mean?"
"What do I mean? Mai, I don't know what it is lately, but I get the feeling that you don't want me around, like you'd prefer to spend your time doing what you want. And this started even before all this bullshit happened. This is not so much about the club incident anymore, it's about the way you've been going about doing stuff lately and this is just a small part of it...like you're avoiding me or something!"
"I'm avoiding you? We spend enough time together as it is, Joey, so I truly don't understand what you're talking about!"
"No, what I'm talking about is that whenever you're with me, you're not WITH me, like your mind is somewhere else. I get the vibes that you'd rather be doing something better with your free time than spending it as a couple."
"So what do you want me to do, Joey?" Her voice sounded frustrated.
"I don't want you do anything but tell me what's up with that! Is there something on your mind that's bugging you? I hate getting the feeling that I'm cramping your style when all I want to do is know what you're thinking, and because of that..... I don't know where I stand sometimes!"
"I ...I don't mean to shut you out like that, Joey. It's just that things have changed so drastically between us and I think our relationship has gone on a little too fast for my tastes. I just feel..." she trailed off.
Joey waited for her to continue, but when she didn't, he prodded on. "Feel what? Please tell me what you feel because honestly I won't know unless you put it in words. Believe me, I care about you a lot and I'd really like to know."
He heard her sigh.
"I don't think we can do this anymore."
He waited. "What...what are you saying Mai, I don't understand..." But deep down in his gut he knew exactly what she was saying.....He didn't even realize he was holding his breath.
"What I'm saying is that we should just cool it for a while...You know, go our separate ways."
Dead silence.
"Why?"
Her voice caught up with more emotion. "Why? Because I think we just need to! We are two different people with different needs and because of that, I think we both don't know what we want from each other. I don't think we're ready to give each other exactly what we want!"
"I ..Are you saying that I'm not giving you what you want? Mai, tell me, what DO you want right now...what do you need?"
"Right now I...I need my space...I'm...I'm sorry but I'm just not ready for this, for US...yet. There's so much I need to do, want to do, before I can give you all of me..... but now I just need to focus on myself. It may sound selfish, but I think this is what is best for me at the moment. I'm sooo sorry."
Joey was stunned, but he swallowed, his throat raw with emotion. "So, you're sure this is what you want? To end our relationship?" He wanted to so badly to tell her that they could still work this out, but his pride held him back.
"Our relationship, Joey, but not our friendship! We could still have that."
Joey shook his head. "So...you're saying you just want to be friends then. Just friends?" His voice was low.
"Yes...just friends."
Joey's emotion was coming full force, more so than he had anticipated.
"You know, with the circumstances as it is, you may be asking a little bit too much."
Mai's heart jumped at his hard tone. "Joey..."
"Can you honestly say we can go back to being buddies again after this? Act as if nothing happened? Because it won't be easy, okay?! You may be able to, but not me...!" Joey's bitterness was felt through her very soul.
He calmed down, trying to sound reasonable, even though he was feeling far from that.
"I'll respect your wishes and I understand that you're an independent-minded woman who needs her time and space. If that's what you want...there's nothing I can do about that."
Mai flinched because he was sounding way too calm when he said that.
"I'm sorry Joey, I didn't mean to hurt you! ..."
"Please stop saying you're sorry, Mai, please! Because your 'sorries' won't gloss over how I feel right now, and that won't change for a little while. Maybe...you're right; this might work out for the best. Look, since that's all that we have to say to each other at this point, I see no reason why we should continue this conversation. Have a nice day...."
"Joey, please..."
"Goodbye." And that's when he hung up the phone, ran and got his jacket and left the house, hoping to get away from that aching void in his chest that was once a place for his beating heart.
Well? How was it? Tee-heee. How about a review? Come on, I love you!
