Krystal
I turned one way and another, looking at myself in the mirror in my room. It had been made originally to go behind a headboard, so it was as close to a full-length mirror as I would probably get. I could hardly believe it. I was going to a dace...on a date. Me, having a date, going somewhere with him and no one else around. Arlen had said that after the dance, which ended at six, he would go take me to dinner and a movie if it wasn't too late. I just wished I had something better to wear than black pants with a white stripe down the outside of each leg and a plain, short-sleeved black shirt. The shirt was slightly faded, making it lighter than the black of the pants, but it was the only one I had. It wasn't too noticeable, though, but just noticeable enough. 'Ra,' I thought, 'even my dog tag's black. Well, I guess that can't be helped.'
I went over to my desk, crammed in one corner of my literal closet of a room below my bed, which was like the upper bunk of a bunk bed without the lower half. Saved a lot more room than having a normal one. I sat at my computer, an action that always made me feel guilty. My dad spent money on me and my education first, and himself and his work second, despite all my protesting. The computer was in fairly good condition, for being slightly used, and even had internet access. The main one that dad used for his work was a laptop, so this one was full and truly mine. The only time dad used it was when he needed to print something at home, sine we only had one printer. My legs were really cramped, and I wished that my room hadn't ended up being the walk-in closet to the one real bedroom. It was a one-person apartment room, in a complex that was practically falling apart at the seams. The main building used to be a boarding house, and the other buildings were jumbled around it, like they hadn't been planned. The pool was drained, the neighbors were rude and mean, and if I turned up my music loud enough to actually hear, they complained to my father and threatened to complain to the manager, like he would actually do something about it. That happened to be bad news for them, because there were a lot of kids besides me living here. In all reality, the unplanned alleys, walls, niches, and the entire complex's maze-like design made a wonderful place for kids to have a grand time.
One corner of the establishment, the so-called 'garden,' had a huge old tree in the very farthest corner of it, where some kids had built a huge, nicely furnished treehouse. It was so tall and sturdy, and placed just so, that someone could climb over the branches and jump over the wall on the outside of the complex. That was where things got well taken-care of, or at least taken care of better. You jumped into a long field where people sometimes rode their horses, but you had to go around the edge of it to get to the rest of it because of the tumbleweeds that mangled your legs no matter how tough your jeans were. Then you walked back, stepping over and through weeds as high as your knees toward another old tree that had a tire swing that creaked when you pushed it hanging from the branches. Walk a little farther, through some more weeds, and turn left and you came to what must have originally been a flood canal, but a little way down, it turned into a real river except that it never had water in it except when it rained.
There were mud/sand bars that you could walk on and just sit, listening to the water and throwing the occasional stone into the running brown water. Only you had to tie something around your waist if you didn't want to look like you went in your jeans. The canal had a little bridge across it, only we weren't allowed to cross it because it led to someone else's property and she always had a kind word for us, though she was very protective. She let us sit on the bridge, though, and if you walked past it far enough the ground turned to rocky that it looked like it had snowed grey snow on something dark brown. The cement sides were steep enough that if you weren't careful, you could fall in and have to be caught farther downstream and fished out, most likely with something broken or hurting. Then you walked back the way you came and climbed a ladder back into he garden of the apartment complex and reality. Our little river was a nice place to just get away from it all.
Someone knocked on my bedroom door, startling me back out of my daydreams. It was dad. "Krys?" he said. "Arlen just called, he says he's sorry, but he's going to be a little late picking you up, though he's on his way. You'd better get ready."
I nodded, standing. "Thanks dad." I said, going up and hugging him. "And thanks for letting me do this, too."
Dad hugged me back. "I told you, it's no problem. Arlen seems like the type that won't do anything stupid, and if he does, you can handle him physically."
"I'm just no match for him in a pool." I said, smiling.
Dad smiled also. "Get a jacket." he said, letting me go. "He'll be here in a moment."
I climbed up the ladder to my bed, grabbing my jacket off of it. Black, of course, but it went with the rest of my 'color scheme.' "Hey dad?" I asked. "I know which direction he's coming from, can I start walking out to meet him?"
"Why?" dad asked. "You're not..."
My look answered his question, or seemed to. "Think about it, dad." I said quietly. "Nice person that he is, he's Kaiba's son. He's used to the fine things in life, the good and not the worn-down. This...I like it, but..."
"I understand." dad said. "If you can get ready before I see him, you can. But...does he even know you live here?"
I sighed. "I haven't told him exactly..."
Dad gave me a look. "Just get ready, okay?" he said, smiling tiredly. "Before I change my mind about letting my only daughter go out on a date."
I laughed a bit, putting on my jacket as dad left. Though I zipped it up, I only did it partway. As a second thought, I picked up a small, green pouch with yellow trim and a snap on it, opening it. Inside was a pearl necklace that used to be my mother's. A perfect pearl in a silver stud on a silver chain. 'Made for a night like tonight.' I thought, fastening the fine chain around my neck. 'I always wear it when I need some luck, and Ra, do I need luck tonight!' The pearl was small, but I didn't mind that, and white. But if you looked at it closely, and it wasn't just me, there were hints of pink and grey in it as well. I picked up my purse and slung it over my shoulder, checking my wallet for money and throwing it and the ten dollars that were in it in my purse. "I'm going!" I called out.
Dad met me at the door, giving me a hug. "Alright, you. Be back no later than...what movie are you seeing?"
I shrugged. "I dunno, he said we'd only see one if dinner didn't take too long. Can I have until about...ten-thirty?" I'd wanted to ask for eleven, but I had more common sense than to do that.
"Ten." dad said. He cocked his head, looking at the ceiling and got a confused look on his face. "Did you have a conversation with Bakura that you wanna tell me about?" he asked.
"What's he saying?"
"For you to remember the other book he told you about that he wrote...Bakura, what have you been telling my daughter?" he asked his Yami angrily.
Jacks POV
"Mom, could this skirt be any shorter!" I cried as my mom took up the hem on the skirt I was trying on. I had on an outfit similar to the one my mom wore in Battle City; a white corset-like shirt, with a purple jacket and a very short purple skirt, coupled with black boots, a black leather belt, and a black garter, which I planned to ditch as soon as possible. I told my mom it made me look like a slut, but she insisted I wear it.
"It's goes with the outfit, Jackidy." She said, hemming up the skirt farther.
"Mom, I want to be able to bend over without anyone seeing my underwear." I tried to make the skirt longer. Mom sighed and hemmed it lower.
"Better?"
"Yea." I turned around in front of the mirror. "Dad actually letting me out of the house like this?" Dad was over-protective of me. I was lucky enough that Mom knew how to keep him in check. If I even so much as mentioned liking a guy in front of me, doesn't matter whom it is, he'll flip out and demand to meet him. It was kind of a good thing I'm going with Davan, instead of Daniel. Dad would freak. I smiled to myself. I had managed to keep our dads from meeting for a month now. Now all I had to do is dump Davan and make sure Dad and Kaiba never met. 'Easy.' I thought, sighing.
"He doesn't actually know that you're dressed like this. Does the jacket fit?" I put on the purple jacket and modeled it for her.
"Mom, he's gunna have a fit." I laughed. I brushed out my hair, trying to get it to lay a certain way.
"Want me to curl your hair?"
"Yea, can you cut it shorter too? About to my shoulders?" Mom nodded and I ran into the bathroom.
Twenty Minutes later
"Ah!" I screamed after seeing what my mom had done to my hair. "I look like you!"
"And that's a bad thing?" My mom laughed. She had cut my hair and curled it so it fell in waves over my shoulders and into my face. "You look pretty." I shrugged. She was right. I did look good; too good.
"Davan's going to die once he sees me." I laughed, putting on the jacket and twirling around in front of the mirror. "Thank you, mom." I chimed, hugging her. I heard the doorbell from downstairs, and I quickly turned around. "Davan said he was going to meet me there?" I asked, looking at my mom. She shrugged and I ran down the stairs. My dad beat me to the door. "Dad!" I cried, from halfway down the stairs. Too late. He opened the door, and standing there; was Daniel.
"Hi, I'm here to take Jacks to the dance." He said, calmly and coolly. I sighed and leaned my head against the railing. He was too perfect. 'No, no, no!' My brain yelled at me. 'Tomboy plus boyfriend is not a good thing!' "But he's so cute." I mumbled. My dad heard me and shot me a look. "What?" Daniel did his best not to laugh at my Dad's expression.
"Are you Davan?" He asked, glaring daggers at him.
"No, but I promised Davan I would take her to the dance." He smiled. I tried not to drool in front of my dad. He was just too…
"How are you taking her there?" My dad continued his interrogation.
"Just let her go, Joey." Mom said, coming down the stairs, and putting an arm around his waist. She leaned up for a kiss, but he just smiled down at her. I sighed. Mom and Dad aren't really lovey-dovey anymore; at least Dad isn't. Mom sighed, as I walked down the stairs and over to the door. She handed me a purple beaded purse, before shoving me out the door.
"Well, bye then." I said at the closed door.
"No kissing boys!" My dad called through the door. I laughed, trying to hide my blush from Daniel.
"You're parents always this…"
"Weird? Usually." I answered. I knew my parents were weird. That's why I'm weird. I just chose not to be openly weird, like Allysa or Anzu. "So, how are you taking me to the dance?" Daniel took my arm and led me to a sleek black limo. I gasped when I saw it. "No way." A smile crept onto my face and I jumped up and hugged him, not realizing what I was doing.
"Well hello." Allysa said, rolling down her window. I quickly jumped away, my face turning red. Daniel ran a hand through his hair, and opening the door for me. I stepped in and slid onto the seat next to Arlen.
"Hey Jacks." He said, smiling at me. I smiled back, my face growing slightly redder.
'No wonder Krys likes him.' I thought, looking away as Daniel slid in. "So we going to pick up Krys next?"
"Yup, and Anzu, Honda and Yukio." Daniel nodded.
"Honda and Anzu don't need a ride, but Yukio does." I told him. I knew my friends than I did myself. "Honda's taking Anzu to the dance on his bike and Yukio doesn't like to ride in the side car." Allysa laughed as the car started to move. As the car turned a corner, I got shoved into Daniel. "Sorry." I mumbled, as I got flung onto his lap. I felt something push into me and I quickly got up.
"No problem." He mumbled, looking away from me and blushing.
Krystal
I slipped out the door, not liking it when dad talked to a yami I couldn't see. "Bye dad, Bakura. I'll be back by ten." I said on my way out the door. A quick jog down the stairs took me to the outside of the complex, and another five minutes had me coming out the gate. Our building was near the rear of the complex. Another five minutes and I was walking down the street, seeing headlights flash my way. I smiled as the car came closer, realizing who it was.
"Hey Keys." Arlen said, opening the door for me. "Why didn't you wait at your house for me?"
I got into the warm, heated vehicle gratefully. "I forgot to tell you where I lived." I said. "And since I knew what direction you'd be coming from, I just decided to walk out and meet you."
Arlen shook his head, smiling. "You never were the normal girl." he said. "Well, let's get going. What time do you have to be home by?"
"Ten." I said, and Arlen checked his watch.
"Well, what movie you wanna see, if we even still wanna do that, depends on when we leave." he said. "Longer the movie, the earlier we gotta leave if you still want dinner."
I thought about this. The theater wasn't too far away, I could probably talk him into letting me walk the two blocks from the theater to my home. I really didn't want him to see where I lived. To most people, it looked like a dump.
"Hey Krys! Wow, you look good." Jacks said, grinning. I smiled back.
"Thanks. Why are you here? Aren't you going with Davan?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yea, but Daniel was nice enough to offer me a ride. I don't exactly want my dad flipping out when he sees Merik." Jacks laughed, pushing some of her silver blond hair behind her ear. I laughed, leaning back in my seat.
"Still haven't told your dad my dad is Kaiba, huh?" Daniel asked, giving her an amused look.
"Nope. And I don't plan on telling him anytime soon." She said, laughing harder.
"He hasn't figured it out yet?" Allysa said, a confused look on her face.
"He's not that smart." Jacks said, shaking her head. "And I mean that in the best possible way."
"Sure you do." Arlen mumbled. Jacks lightly hit him on the arm with the side of her hand and started laughing again. She didn't stop until we got to our school and the dance.
around 5:30, at the dance
All in all, the dance so far was a bust.
The music was crappy, the food was barely edible, and the only good thing was the soda, since there wasn't much they could do to that. Arlen and I slow danced a couple of times, though, which made coming worth it. Slow dancing is so...different. Its not really all that much like dancing, just moving slightly around to the beat of the music.
Arlen went somewhere when we were both outside and alone to get a couple more sodas, and I leaned the front of my head against a wall, closing my eyes. 'What's happening to me?' I wondered. 'Why...why am I wondering what it would be like to do...things, with...with him? Why am I feeling this weird energy and excitement whenever we touch? For that matter, why are we touching so much? I know we're friends, but...friends don't come into contact with each other as much as we have.'
Arlen walked up to me, holding a Diet Dr. Pepper for me and a Sprite for him. "Chisai?" he asked, coming up to me and setting the drinks down. "Are you okay?" He put his arm around my shoulders.
I shivered under his touch. "I...I'm scared, dammit." I admitted in a whisper, not taking my head form its position. "I'm scared...and I don't know why. I really wanna be...around you...but at the same time I'm terrified to be. I honestly just don't know what's wrong with me."
Arlen turned me, holding me close against his chest. I buried my face in it, loving him touching me though not knowing why I loved it, and wrapping my arms around his waist. A gentle, comforting hand slid up my neck and cupped the base of my head, making me look up at him. He seemed just as nervous as I did, and his breathing was heavier than normal. I realized that mine was as well, and shivered again. 'What's going on?'
He leaned his head close to my own. "Chisai..." he breathed in a voice that made me more scared than a spooked horse, but at the same time I melted at it's sound, resonating, it seemed, within my very body and soul. He hesitated a moment longer, than slowly leaned closer and pressed his lips against mine.
I jumped back, startled at his actions. I shakily put trembling fingers to my lips, unaccustomed to this new and unfamiliar sensation. Unfamiliar, though, didn't necessarily mean unwelcome. Opening my mouth, I tried to say something, but no words would come. Arlen lowered his head, looking ashamed at what he had just done, and I came closer to him almost against my will. "Wha...what were you doing?" I asked, voice barely audible even to myself.
Arlen wrapped his arms around me again. "I...I was trying to help you..."
"Help me do what?"
"Help you understand...I think I know...you and me both...we're afraid of the same thing."
"And this would be?" I asked, wrapping my own arms around him without noticing.
"We're afraid...both of us...Chisai, we're afraid of love."
3rd person
"I...don't like to be scared..."
Arlen leaned down to her head again, shaking. "I...I love you...I meant it when I said it, Krystal...and I mean to act on it." Again, he brought his lips to her own, pouring everything he'd ever felt at her into that kiss.
She didn't jump away that time. She gave everything she'd ever felt about anything in that kiss, and gently requested to enter his mouth, hardly believing what she was doing.
Arlen didn't seem surprised at her action, he just accepted it, curling his tongue around hers as he brought her closer to his body. She pressed herself into him, tightening her grip and allowing a soft moan to escape her throat. He tightened his grip on her, cupping her head and keeping her waist in particular to him with one strong, gentle arm.
'It's a good thing he's holding me up.' Krystal thought. 'I couldn't stand right now if I tried.' She shivered, not knowing what to do. She just came as close as she could to him, letting him grip her as his tongue went farther in her mouth and slightly down her throat. She loved him being there, being like that with her. It made her feel like she was his...like there was nothing and no one but the two of them. She loved it...but it frightened her to no end. She didn't want to be hurt like her parents had been hurt, she never wanted to know that kind of pain. Perhaps that is really why she had sworn off love...she had been afraid of it. And she still was.
Meanwhile
Jacks's POV
I stepped out of the limo and looked around for Davan. A slight wind blew, blowing my hair into my face. I frowned, pushing the silver mass away from my face.
"Ah! Go away!" I cried, as my hair tried to choke me. I ran around in a small circle, trying to make my hair leave me alone. I ran into someone, and felt myself lose my balance. 'Smooth.' I thought as I felt myself falling towards the ground. Before my bottom collided with the ground, two strong hands caught my waist, and pulled me upwards. I smiled to myself, thinking it might have been Davan.
"Always playing the damsel in distress aren't you, Jacky." A smooth voice crooned in my ear.
'Shows what you know you lecherous perv.' I thought as I turned to face my 'date.' "Hey Davan." I put on a happy face, and a sickeningly sweet voice. "How are you?" Davan donned a cocky air, as he led me into the dace, his hands still on my waist. I heard Honda ride up on his motor cycle, and shot him a look that said, 'Get this f-ing bastard off me!' He nodded, and helped Anzu off his bike, before coming to 'rescue' me.
I walked behind Davan into the gym, but I wasn't able to look at anything but Daniel and his own date, a girl whom I didn't know. For reasons I couldn't guess, I was insanely jealous. Who was this girl?
I had no right to be thinking this way: Daniel wasn't my boyfriend, he was under no obligation to remain faithful to me and not see other girls.
"Davan, I'm gunna go talk to Daniel. Would you please get me something to drink?" I asked, sweetly. He smiled.
"Anything for you, babe." He said, acting in a way I'm sure he thought was sexy. Unfortunately for him, I didn't think so. He tried to lean in her a kiss, but I moved my head so he got my cheek instead.
'Not on you life, Buddy." I thought bitterly, walking away from him. Daniel was chatting amiably with his 'date.' She was a dark haired beauty. (A/n: I'm thinking of Kagome in the second Inuyasha manga, but slightly more girly) 'The complete opposite of me.' I thought, smiling inwardly. 'Daniel really has good taste.'
"Hey Jacks, you okay?" Daniel called as I got within range. A goofy smile was plastered on my face as I tried very hard not to laugh.
"Yea, just remembering something stupid Honda did. Come to think of it anything Honda does is stupid." Daniel's date laughed, a sickeningly sweet sound, and a little too high pitched for my taste. I gave her an odd glance, but ignored her laughter.
"This is Lapis. She's in my geometry class." Daniel said, gesturing to the giggle machine attached to his arm. She giggled again, covering her mouth in almost mock innocence.
'Oh, please.' I thought, inwardly groaning and rolling my eyes.
"I'm Jacks. Nice to meet you." I said, extending a hand.
"Oh, Jaclyn Wheeler, the school slut?" She asked, looking up at me. The hand was immediately gone as was I.
"Damn cheerleaders." I grumbled, stalking away from them. "They always put labels on people." I almost ran into Davan as he walked toward me with sodas.
"Hey Jacky. You okay?" He asked, handing me a soda, and encircling my waist with his arm. Usually, I would have let this slide, but seeing as I was already mad, calling me a nickname I didn't ask someone to call me was a death sentence.
"Insensitive jerk!" I cried, pushing him away, so his drink spilled all over him. I turned away, and caught sight of Arlen and Krystal. "Awe, how cute." I cooed, forgetting my anger.
"Did I do something wrong?" Davan asked, sounding put out.
"No, I'm…just kinda…upset about Daniel being here with some other girl." I confessed, looking down at the floor.
"I can make you forget him." Davan whispered seductively, tipping my chin up to his level. I knew what was coming, and I didn't stop it from happening. I let him get closer and kiss me. To add insult to injury, I let Daniel see us kissing. I saw him come outside out of the corner of my eye and took that opportunity to drop my drink and wrap my arms around his neck. I smiled as I saw his face grow red. I pulled away as soon as he was inside a few moments later. I like Davan, just not enough to let that go any further. "You want to ditch the dance and come over to my place?"
'Actually I want to pound your face in for touching me you arrogant ass.' I thought, pushing away form him. "Actually, I should be getting home." I said, starting to blush. He nodded, and took out his cell phone to call his ride.
Daniel's POV
I felt sick to my stomach. 'Why would Jacks…" I thought, getting slightly queasy at the thought about what she and Davan were doing outside. 'She even told me she didn't like him like that. Why…" My thoughts were stopped my Lapis putting her hand on my arm.
"You okay? You look like you're going to throw up." She asked, looking concerned. I smiled warmly at her, and put my hand over hers.
"I'm fine. Would you like to dance?" She giggled, and I flinched on the inside. That noise was starting to bug me. Hopefully, the soft music would help me think. However, it didn't do too much; if anything, it caused my thoughts to wander even more. The lyrics seemed only to remind me harshly of my situation. I only half listened to the running stream of conversation that Lapis kept going, making vague, unthought-out answers.
"I have never felt like this
For once I'm lost for words
Your smile has really thrown me
This is not like me at all
I never thought I'd know
The kind of love you've shown me
Now, no matter where I am
No matter what I do
I see your face appearing
like an unexpected song
an unexpected song
that only we are hearing"
I groaned inwardly as that was one of the songs Jacks loved to sing. We'd been spending a lot of time at each other's houses lately, and she'd taught me to accompany her on the piano for this song. 'God must like to play with my mind.' I thought bitterly.
"Daniel, are you listening to me?" Lapis asked, her deep black eyes shining up at me.
"I'm sorry. I was listening to the song." I said, smiling apologetically. She sighed, and leaned her head against my chest. 'Wow, I didn't realize how much shorter she was.' I thought, tensing up.
"It's a good song." She whispered, tightening her grip on me.
'I'm lucky if I make it out alive.' I thought, trying not to laugh. "Sure, it's a pretty good song." I said, not liking where her actions were going. "I have a friend who likes to sing it, and she's really good at it."
"She?" Lapis said, looking up at me. "Should I know about this girl?"
I snorted. "Please, Lapis, you've only known me for a couple weeks. I'm not your boyfriend, therefore, you do not have to be protective of me." I thought I had carried that out rather well: until I heard her rebuttal.
"Oh, and I suppose that just because you don't consider my feelings about you seeing someone else"
"Whoever said I was seeing her?" I demanded. "You're paranoid, Lapis."
Lapis crossed her arms. "If you like her so much, why isn't she you date?"
Her comment stung though I wouldn't let her see it. "Her boyfriend asked her first." I said tartly. "And she is just a friend, Lapis. A really good friend, sure, but"
"You just as good as admitted it!" She cried, throwing her arms into the air. I removed my hands from her waist and took a step back. I knew from experience that angry girls were dangerous when angry.
"She just a friend. It's just Jacks. You met her." I said, getting slightly nervous. I had no idea what this girl was capable of and considering my sister…I have reasons to worry.
"The slut? No wonder you like her." Lapis grumbled, looking away.
"She's not a slut. I don't know why people always say she is." I grumbled, not really knowing why I cared so much. 'She's just a friend. And it's upsetting to hear someone put your friend's down.' I told myself. 'Then why do I have the feeling there's more to it than that?' Lapis huffed, took hold of my arm and lead me out of the dance. 'Probably towards my doom.' I thought, amusing myself again. 'Oh no, Llyssa's starting to rub off on me!' I cried inside my head, snorting laughter.
"And just what is so funny?" Lapis snapped, letting go of my arm.
'Oh god, she sounds like my mom.' "Just remembering something my sister said-"
"Seems like you're spending a lot of time around girls." She said, sounding like she knew something I didn't.
"And just what are you implying?"
"I think you're gay."
"You do?" I said, raising an eyebrow, and giving her a "You-must-be-kidding" look.
"It makes sense doesn't it?" She said. I shook my head. "You can take me home now." She concluded, turning around.
'Why do I always pick the crazy ones?' I thought, sighing. I walked away from my crazy 'girlfriend' and went to look for Arlen and Allysa. 'Dad should be here soon.' I thought.
Krystal's POV
I pulled away from Arlen, afraid, but stayed in his arms. He wrapped them protectively around me, and I leaned my head deeper into his chest, giving a small sigh s I contentedly closed my eyes. "I…I'm scared…" I whispered.
His tightened his grip slightly. "There's no reason for you to be." He said just as quietly. "I'll always be here."
When you cried, I'd
Wipe away all of your tears,
When you'd scream, I'd
Fight away all of your fears
I held your
Hand through all of these years…
I shivered, coming even closer to him. "It's getting cold." I said. "Can we go now?"
"Sure." Arlen said, leading me back inside. "My dad should be here soon."
"Arlen, have you seen Llysa? Dad should be here soon to pick us up." Daniel said, walking over to us. I thought Arlen would let go of me when his half-brother walked up, but he didn't.
"Yeah, she was laughing her ass off a few minutes ago."
"And I missed it?" I chuckled softly as they exchanged jokes. It was funny how they played with each other. Daniel walked back into the dance, and came out a few minutes later with Allysa and Yukio. "Let's go."
"Where's Jacks?" I asked, following them out to the parent drop-off place.
"Davan's taking her home." Daniel muttered, loathing in every syllable. I smirked.
'Figures.' I thought. I caught sight of Daniel's 'date,' obviously upset about something. She stood in a impatient posture, with her arms crossed in front of her chest, her foot tapping the ground.
"Your date bomb?" Arlen asked him, quietly.
"It tanked, big time. She got all jealous over Jacks." Daniel whispered back, as we got into the limo.
"Why Jacks?" I asked. Daniel shrugged.
"You guess is as good as mine." He said, sitting as far away from Lapis as he could. She didn't seem to mind, though she did shoot him a look when he started up a conversation with Yukio.
'And I think I have a pretty good guess.' I smirked, leaning up against Arlen as we rode in silence.
Jacks's POV
"Come on Jackidy." My mom pleaded. "Don't you want to tell me about your time at the dance?" As soon as I had come home, I'd changed into my over sized shirt that had once belonged to my dad and some baggy pj pants, and buried myself in blankets on my recliner (really my dad's but I took control of it when he wasn't in it).
"I met people, saw people, danced with people and kissed people. What else is there to know?" I grumbled, my face completely covered in blankets.
"Kissing?" My dad said, coming into the room. "Who were you kissing?"
"My date."
"Who was your date?"
"Some guy."
"Do I know this guy."
"No." I said simply. I know I had just singed my own death warrant, but I was too tired to care. Without even looking, I knew that my dad's face was growing red, and my mom was probably trying to calm him down. I looked out form under the blankets. It was too quiet. I caught sight of my parents making out. "My eyes! I'm scarred for life!" I cried, running to my room.
"That girl has too much sugar in her system." Dad mused.
"You obviously haven't met Allysa." My mom replied.
Krystal
"So how'd it go?" dad asked when I walked into the kitchen where he was up getting a snack. I shrugged, tired yet exhilarated at the same time.
"It was okay." I sighed tiredly. "The music stank, the drinks were the only things that could be ingested there, and Daniel's date tanked because Davan asked Jacks first and his date got all jealous over her."
Dad poured himself a glass of milk to go with his sandwich. "You want anything to eat, then?" I nodded, grabbing his materials and making a sandwich of my own, only I added a few things to it. "And how did your date go?" he asked, smirking and looking as tired as I felt.
Again, I shrugged. "Okay."
Dad raised an eyebrow. "Just okay? Nothing special happened between you and Arlen?"
"Would you hate me if something did?"
"You're my daughter, Krystal, I could never hate you." My dad said kindly. "So does that mean something did happen?"
I curled up on the old, worn couch. "We…we kissed." I admitted, feeling a little ashamed.
"Ah." Was all my dad said. I could tell he was shocked. "I told you." This time his voice was deeper and I looked up to see my father's yami had taken over.
"Bakura, can I please talk to my dad?" I sighed, not really up to talking with my dad's other self.
"He's in his soul room, trying to figure out what to say to you, child." Bakura explained, sitting down next to me. "Seems like you surprised him." He chuckled.
I sighed dejectedly. "Why does it seem like I'm doing that more and more lately?" I asked myself, though it was hardly subtle. Sighing again, I pulled a blanket that lay on the back of the couch over my body, covering my head and trying not to think about all that had happened tonight.
"Krystal?" Though it was my dad speaking again, I did not acknowledge him. Tears began leaking from my eyes, and I wiped them away with the corner of the blanket. But the tears kept coming.
My dad lifted the blanket to reveal me, lying there and crying. "Come here Krys." He said gently, pulling me onto his lap like he did when I was little. He just sat there with me for a while, letting me cry into him, and stroking my hair with one hand. "Oh, Krys." He sighed. "It's not that I'm mad at you for kissing him or letting yourself be kissed by him, whichever way it worked, it's just that…"
"I'm sorry." I whispered, leaning my head against his chest. "I'm growing up too fast huh?"
He chuckled softly. "Seems like yesterday you were only as high as my knee. I blink and you come home telling me you've gotten your first kiss." He sighed, and held onto my tighter. "Don't grow up anymore, okay?"
I laughed, and hugged him back. "I'll try, but I'm not promising anything." I said, snuggling closer to him. "I just don't know what to do."
Dad took a deep breath. "You're like your mom, this way." He said, almost as much to himself as to me. "She never let anyone come too close."
"But then, how did you?"
"She found that I was different." He said softly. "She found that she loved me, and that her love was returned." Once again, he ran a hand over my hair. "I've noticed something about you, Krystal. You never had many friends back in the states. You never wanted anyone but me and your mother to be close to you."
"You guys were all I needed to be happy." I said.
"But we were worried that you weren't." dad said. "And now, you and I move back here, and it seems that you're surrounded by friends whom you truly seem to care about, and who care about you." He held me tighter. "You let people into your life, and I was so relieved. It finally seemed that you were really happy with life, and I was happy for you." He sighed again"I'm glad you found someone other than us to love." He said, putting his face close to mine.
I smiled, sighing. He was right. I really was happy with all my friends. Maybe having friends was a good thing. Not even realizing that I was approaching sleep, I plunged into it, passing through a dreamless night.
Must resist urge to pound Weirdo's brother (shakes) not resisting well
