NOTE: Okay, here we finish the rest of the dance. And, if I'm correct in assuming this…we're now about past the halfway mark of the fic! WAH! I love writing this fic! And we're halfway through it? I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! People, if you want more in this fic, I'll need ideas…or you can pray that I am bestowed with more ideas!
Disclaimer: Sigh We're half done with the story…and I STILL have to write this crap? Geez, "Louise." How many times does a person need to know that I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh?
Chapter 11: Breaking the News and Melting the Ice
"You mean to tell me, you came with Kaiba?" Duke looked at her, very quizzically.
"Um…um…u-um…" not only was Tea stuttering…she was stuttering within her stuttering!
"You're joking, right?" Duke looked at her seriously. Tea wanted to say, yes! I am joking! Haha! It was all a big joke! However, with all of her inconvincible stuttering, and dislike of lying…and the growing amount of density caving in her chest, Tea finally had to let the truth out to someone…well…most of the truth.
"Yes, Duke. I did come with Kaiba! Alright! There! I said it! And you know what? I'll say it again! I came with Kaiba!" Tea overdid the speaking.
"Tea! Calm down! It's alright! I was just wondering, that's all. Sure, it sounds…weird, nonetheless…okay, crazy, but it's fine. Actually, it's kind of funny when you think about it."
"Funny?" That got Tea going. She had already heard enough funny stuff for one day, unexpectedly from Kaiba. She began twitching slightly, "What's…funny?"
"Well, think about it. If you were to tell me three years ago that one of my friends was going out to this thing with Kaiba, I would've sued them for false prophesizing. But now! Ha!" Duke found it all a big joke.
Tea, however, didn't. Two words…unimportant words to Duke, though…stuck in Tea's mind. Duke hadn't meant to use them in that way, but it still made Tea hope, think and wish. Going out. If only she could…if only Kaiba would love her.
Suddenly, Duke stopped. He stared at Tea long and hard for a moment. Then, he asked the question.
"Why did Kaiba ask you? I mean, I swear, I would never have thought he would have wanted to ever see or have anything to do with us ever again. Where'd you two meet up?" Duke inquired.
Tea, as said before, needed to reveal some of the truth, finally, to one of her close friends, "I…well…you see, remember my new j--"
She didn't have to finish the word, because Duke thought he had it already figured out…which, he did, "Wait a minute…that new job of yours…a cook? Don't tell me…you've reduced yourself to becoming his cook?"
"Well, um…in a matter of speaking…yes," Tea squeaked out. Duke looked at her, with a confused expression on his face. An expression mixed in with amazement.
"Why ever in God's name did you accept that job? Joey would have a cow! And believe me…there are two reasons which make that a bad mental picture," Duke threw in a bit of humor to cheer Tea up. He could tell this had been bothering her for quite a while, and he really wasn't helping.
"Joey! You won't tell him, will you? I know most of you guys don't go to the same college…but you go with Tristan, don't you? Don't tell ANYONE, please! Not through email, the phone, AIM, anything! Please! They'd…they'd…I don't know why they'd do if they found out (of course, by they she was referring to the gang). Well, Joey would kill me, but otherwise…."
"Shh, shh, okay, calm down. I understand. Not a word to anyone," Duke tried comforting her. He wanted to do something nice for her. After all, she was a poor creature indeed. She had lost her parents…she had been on her own…she had been trying to deal with things on her own that she thought her friends would hate her for. She had been keeping huge secrets from them. Little did Duke know that that was only the smallest of secrets she had kept form them.
Her other secrets included living with the Kaibas, practically making out with Kaiba, her crush on Kaiba, and even getting close (I mean, within personal space) to Kaiba. Yes…those were her major secrets. Working for him was the least of them.
Duke still wanted to console her. She needed someone. He almost felt like a brother to her, helping her through these rough times when no on else could be there. Actually, it was a nice feeling. No, he didn't love her, of course. He was still onto Serenity with that, but he cared for her, just as all her other friends did. They just couldn't be there at that moment with her, like he was.
They walked over to a private corner, where they talked some about Tea's life. She revealed as much as she could to Duke, without giving too much away. Really, she only revealed one major secret…to an extent. She told Duke that she spent a major amount of time at the Kaiba Mansion. She never told him she now lived there, on account of, he would have found that she had lied to him about her house being remodeled. He didn't have to know a ton of the things on her mind. Tea had shed a few tears, but not many. It had felt so good to get some of those things off her chest.
"Tell you what, Tea. When I'm back at that retarded University, you can always IM me personally, or call if you need to discuss something, okay? No one else has to know about this stuff, if you don't want them to, okay? It can just stay between you and me," Duke consoled. He had also offered this suggestion, because he felt that she was keeping something from him and the gang. If she needed to talk about it, he'd be there.
Tea wiped her left eye, "Thanks Duke. You've been a real help tonight. I really appreciate it," and she quickly pecked him on the cheek. Duke reddened a little bit, but not too much.
Tea had only done that out of thankfulness. She still had that major crush on Kaiba, but she felt that she had to warm up and open her heart to other people. And Duke had been so nice to her.
"Come on now. Let's go do something else! Let's try to have some fun here!" Tea cheered up immediately and led Duke away.
Seto, still being a nosy perk, watched the two. He saw them talk for a few minutes in the center of the room, where Tea started spitting things out quickly. Then, he saw them walk away. Curious, he moved to a different position, as to see what they were up to, but not look as if he was spying on them.
Now, in his new place, Seto continued to watch. He watched them talk back and forth he watched Tea cry some; he watched Duke console her, by rubbing her shoulders lightly, and smiling warmly to cheer her up. This made Kaiba a little angry. Oh no…he shouldn't have felt that way…now he was in for it….
You're jealous again.
No I'm not…stupid…retarded…Devlin…, Kaiba mentally mumbled. His second self wasn't quite sure if "stupid…retarded…Devlin" was supposed to be a complete thought, or if certain words from other thoughts came out in that mumbling way.
Come on. You know you want to be the one right there with her: consoling her about whatever it is that's bothering her. You want her.
No.
Yes.
No.
YES!
FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD, NO!
Seto, Seto, when will you learn that you can't just bottle up emotions. Sooner or later, they'll get to you. Look what happened to Tea! She's crying because of all the things bottled up inside.
And you know this, how?
No idea. I just know.
Uh huh.
So…are you going to admit it?
Ha! Nice try. No.
Tisk, tisk, I guess I'll just have to try harder.
What do you mean by that?
No answer.
Hello?
Still no answer.
Come back here you stupid thought! GET BACK HERE! WHAT THE HECK DO YOU MEAN BY TRYING HARDER!
He wasn't going to get answer. So, naturally, Seto gave up trying to communicate with himself…not the ordinary thing the CEO would do.
Then, something really hard hit Seto as he watched the two. Tea kissed Duke on the cheek. As small as the deed had been, and as impassionate as it had been, it still ticked Seto off…a lot. He was just about on the verge of marching over there and breaking the two apart, when he noticed a girl running over to the corner near where he was standing.
She was crying. He could hear the sobs from where he stood. Like he cared…but there was something curious about it. As Seto took a closer look, he noticed that it was the girl that Tea had been talking to earlier. He stared at her out of the corner of his eye. After a few minutes, he could hear words:
"Stupid girl…why'd I even talk to her…told me I had a chance with him…goes and kisses him…that idiot!"
Seto cleared his throat a little, just to get her attention. Obviously, she didn't hear him, as she still kept muttering things.
Finally Seto blurted, "It was just a peck, get over it." Erika looked up at Seto. Her eyes widen when she saw who it was.
"Seto…Kaiba?"
"Yeah?"
"W-What did you say?"
Seto sighed, for her hated repeating himself, "If you would listen, you would've heard me say that it was just a peck, and to get over it!"
"G-Get over it? How can I? Why am I even talking to you? You don't know anything about me--"
"I know you have feelings for Devlin over there," Kaiba returned.
"Ooooh…bravo! We're smart today, aren't we?" she threw back at him and glared. Seto gritted his teeth. He hated sarcasm directed at him, especially when it had to do with his intelligence.
"You'd better w--" Seto started.
"Wait…how'd you know Tea kissed Duke…that's her name--"
"I know that!"
"Oh…well…were you…spying on them or something?"
Seto looked at her, "What's it to you?"
"Well, I don't know…it's just that you…I guess…saw her peck him…and, well…" here, Erika noticed, Kaiba's head turned away. She stopped and leaned over a little to try and catch the look on his face. He was flushed. Erika almost gasped. No way….
"You're jealous, aren't you?" she inquired. Seto spun around, still a tad red.
"I AM NOT! WHY DOES EVERYBODY KEEP SAYING THAT!" and by everybody, he meant that stupid thought in his head.
"Everybody? Oooh…you like her, don't you?"
"Oh, shut the crap up," Seto turned away and walked towards a group of his associates.
Erika watched him walk off, and muttered to herself, "Wow…he really is head over heels for her…he just won't admit it. I wonder…" she looked back at Tea and Duke, who were now walking about the place, "I wonder if she's head over heels for him."
Tea and Duke walked around the hall. They chatted with certain people, they hung around some refreshment tables, and other stuff of the sort.
Tea suddenly brought up, "Oh, Duke, I met your friend…Erika…you came here, with her, right? She's a really nice girl."
Duke's eyes widened, "Oh my gosh, Erika! I totally forgot about her…, which is really sad. Sorry, Tea, I'll come back and find you later. I ought to go talk to her or something," and with that, Duke ran off.
Not two minutes later, the overhead intercoms came on, "We thank you all for coming to my annual party this year (it was Steve, of course). Now, as usual, we'll have the dance. Unless you and your partner are going to dance, please clear off the floor, and make your way wherever around here. Couples, to the floor, please!"
Tea watched as the whole congregation walked out onto the special dance floor. She even spotted Duke with Erika. She leaned against the wall and sighed. Seto Kaiba didn't dance. Now, she'd look like an idiot just standing here…by herself…all alone…while other couples danced…like she wanted to…with…Seto. But that wouldn't happen…not in a million years.
Seto stood in a shadowy corner. Great, he thought, that annoying message had come on, once again. In previous years, he had always skipped the dance, as he had never brought anyone to accompany him. He noticed Tea, leaning against the wall, in a seemingly bored, and irritated fashion.
He didn't want her to be bored…but he didn't want to dance, with her. Wait…why did he even care if she was bored? Stop right there, he told himself. These battling conflicts would just lead to that annoying second self coming back. He had definitely had enough of him tonight.
But, as if by instinct, he felt himself walking over, towards her. She didn't even acknowledge his presence. She didn't even know he was there. To get her attention, Seto cleared his throat softly. Tea looked up at him, and widened her eyes a little.
"Gardner, w-"
"Come to throw more insults and me and my friends?" she retorted, not in the best of moods.
"Gardner, would you just let me finish?" Tea stopped. Last time he had said that, he had asked her to this party. What did he want to say now? "Are we going over there or not?" Seto gestured to the other people.
"Oh," Tea was utterly surprised. He was asking her to dance? The Apocalypse really was coming, "Yeah…sure." She walked over there, beside him. Maybe he had asked because he, too, was feeling foolish, standing alone in the corners of the room.
Fat chance. This was Seto Kaiba she was talking about. He had sat there the previous years, hadn't he? He had told her that specifically…and that's when she had begun laughing…even though it wasn't funny….
The music started. Couples began dancing. Others were placing their hands in the right position, as were Seto and Tea. Seto took up her right hand, and placed his right hand on the side of her waist.
Actually, after thinking this would feel strangely uncomfortable…it felt completely natural. They too, then began to dance. Seto felt at ease, holding her hand and waist, while her hand was placed on his shoulder. Why he felt this way…he'd realize soon enough.
Tea felt perfect, dancing with him. She felt that this was where she was meant to be: with him.
"Can you dance? Or am I going to have to teach you how?" Tea inquired, starting out being sarcastic.
Seto smirked, "You'd like to know, wouldn't you?" And so started their magnificent dance. Along with other couples, they danced the same moves: holding the girl out, and spinning her back in; twirling the girl; walking around in a circle, each with one hand held up, and pressed against the other's; even leaning the girl back, and pulling her up again. Tea was even given a challenge of keeping up with Seto's moves. Let's just say…in a matter of speaking…he was laying them down.
They continued to dance, as did the other couples. Some of the older ones had already gone off the floor and were sitting down in seats. By now, it was only the younger couples dancing.
Most of the women (and some men…like Kaiba's associates) were staring at Seto and Tea, wondering slightly, what was going on. Was there something between them? Of course, these weren't large thoughts…they were just small, unnoticeable thoughts…for now. The thoughts really didn't turn until…
The couples went into another dive (leaning the girl down and bringing them back up). Of course, in leaning the women down, the men had to bend over some as well.
Tea and Seto were beginning to feel tired, with their challenging dancing. Seto was getting lazier. In being so, when they approached the dip, he didn't lower Tea as far as he had intended. As he was leaning over, a tad, too, they were inches from each other's faces.
Seto stopped, just staring into her clear, cool, blue eyes. The two were breathing slightly heavier, from all of their dancing.
The other couples had come up, but stopped. They stood and stared at the two, still bent down. Thoughts began swirling into their minds. Seto's associates were pressing Kaiba on…mentally. They thought it was about time he had someone…a girl…on his mind. They were urging him on (mentally) to kiss her. Right then and there. Some of the single women were feeling slightly depressed inside. They wished it could be them in his arms.
The funny thing was…Seto wanted to kiss her…for real. No more pretending…no more jokes. He really, truly wanted to feel her lips on his. He lowered his head slightly. She seemed to raise hers. They were an inch away from each other….
"Kaiba…are you going to pull us up? Everyone's…staring," Tea whispered. This broke Kaiba's train of thought, and he immediately pulled her up. She backed away from him, a couple steps, and breathed calmly.
"Um, well, okay," Steve started, "Seeing as how many of us are quite exhausted from the dancing, I'll say that's enough for tonight…you may leave as you please. Thanks again for coming!"
After that announcement, people's buzzing was filled throughout the room. Everyone was talking, as if nothing had happened. Everyone was moving, as they had before the dance.
Tea walked off to find go to the restroom, and left Seto standing there. He had been so close…so close to touching her lips…and she was pulled away at the last second. And it was then, Seto Kaiba realized, that what the others said was true: his second self; Erika…they were all right.
He was in love with Tea Gardner.
His second self rejoiced: at two prospects. One: he had finally admitted his feelings for the girl. Two: he (the second self) had been right: Seto had seen it his was tonight; by the end of the night.
Coolio! Kaiba admitted his feelings, finally! Yeah! The wait is over! Review please!
