A/N: Hi! Sorry it took me a while to update but if you read my previous A/N you'll know why...hope you like this chapter!

Chapter 7

The Letter

Yami

"You're working with Téa," she finished.(A/N: I bet most of you thought that he should work with Sam but there's a reason why I did that...you'll get it later on) I felt slightly dissapointed as I moved around the classroom to sit next to Téa. I just hope she doesn't get anyone that can hurt her emotionally.

"Yugi, you're working with miss Tyler," the teacher said. I was relieved and saw Yugi sit down next to Sam. She seemed happy to be working with someone she knew. They talked a little from what I could see. I glanced at Téa and she seemed fine about the arrangement. She moved her chair closer to me, rubbing her thigh against mine and looking at me with a wierd smile. I moved away and glanced at Sam and Yugi hoping that she was opening up more.

"Why are you constantly checking on that Tyler kid?" Téa asked me.

"I have my reasons Téa," I said. She seemed a bit dissapointed with my answer but I'm not telling her about Sam's past and what she's going thru right now. She pulled her chair closer to mine once more and I moved away. She's Yugi's girlfriend, why would she do that? The class passed by quickly and we were headed for a meeting that the homeroom teachers had set up.

"We're planning a small activity for you kids the day you leave for Christmas break and we've decided to do a little gift exchange. I've placed all of your names in this fishbowl and you will pick a piece of paper and whoever you get you must get them something that you know they'd like," the teacher said. He called us each in alphabetical order.

"Yami Muto," the teacher called out. I got up wondering who I'd get. I closed my eyes and picked a piece of paper from the bowl. I opened it right then and there, so nobody could see who I got.

Tyler, it read. I got Sam! Perfect! Now one worry is down and another one brewed. What am I going to get her? I sat down, still thinking about her present. When someone touched my shoulder, passing me a note.

We know you got Tyler. To save yourself some money...we already got her something. We'll give it to you after school.

I'm not to sure about this, I have a bad feeling about it. But how did they know I got Sam? I must've done something that gave it away. I wonder if Yugi or Sam noticed. After everyone went the bell rang and school ended for the day. I walked outside waiting for Yugi when some guys approached me.

"Here Muto, give this to Tyler. We think she'll like it," one of the boys said while handing me a small package. I took it and placed it in my backpack and waited for Yugi. I wonder what's taking him so long.

"Yami!" Yugi called out as he approached me. "I asked grandpa if Sam could spend the rest of the week at our place just to throw those thugs off for a bit. I already talked to Sam's parents and they agreed too, but Sam says that she won't stay unless you say that you want her to stay too," he said in a rush.

"Calm down Yugi, I'd really appreciate it if she'd stay for the rest of the week too," I replied. I glanced over Yugi's shoulder and saw Sam approaching. She came to where I was and gave me something. I tried to look into her eyes at her but she had run off. I opened it...it was a letter. A reply to what I wrote.

Dear Yami and Yugi:

Thank you so much. You don't know how much those words mean to me. It's always been hard for me to find friends throughout my life and you guys saying that you'll always be there for me, made me realize that there's people that are willing to look past what I've been through and be there for me.

I thank you Yami for helping me that day you found me in the alley. Other people would've just left me there to die and those that cared enough to take me there would leave me alone at the hospital because they did their good deed of the day and that's all they were supposed to do. I remember very little about the whole thing. All I remember being stepped on a couple of times that day but only one of the few people that did helped me. I remember waking up briefly and seeing crimson eyes looking down at with worry. I felt warm, the hope I had of surviving had bubbled up inside me once more. I passed out one last time and remember waking up in the hospital and see the both of you. Then my parents walked in and I felt the best I had in ages.

I hope that even with the things I'm going thru, which will probably get worse now that I've escaped them for the first time in a while, I hope that I will still be able to count on the both of you.

Your friend...I hope,

Samantha Tyler

"You told her that we'd always be there for her?" Yugi asked surprised.

"Yes. Is that a bad thing?" I asked.

"No! I was telling her that about twenty min. ago. We're really alike sometimes," he replied with a smile.

"Yami and Hikari."

"Exactly."

"What did those guys give you?"

"They want me to give whatever's in that box to Sam. I'm not going too. I have a bad feeling about it."

"You got Sam for the gift exchange?"

"Yes. I still don't know what to get her."

"When you see it...you'll know," Yugi said as we entered the game shop.

"Since when are you so philosophical?" I asked.

"I don't know...grandpa said that once actually," he replied.

"Oh. Well, I'm going to dispose of this 'present' and go around town to see if I find anything for Sam. Would you like to join me?"

"No thanks. I already have the present for the one I'm exchanging with."

"I'll be back in a while then..." I said as I left the games shop. I looked around downtown and found a music store. I walked inside and asked for a song book for her guitar. When I left the store I smiled knowing that she would appreciate it. She is very talented and deserves the best. I walked around a bit before heading home and found another excellent present for Sam. A necklace with a guitar pendant. It looked delicate and perfect. It cost me a bit more than I thought but...she deserves it. Better than whatever those stupid classmates wanted me to give her.

I walked home and found Sam and Yugi inside, watching a movie in the living room. Sam was sitting on the armchair while Yugi sat on the couch. I quietly went to my room and hid the gifts. I walked back to the living room and greeted them.

"Want us to start it over? It began about twenty min.ago," Yugi said.

"It's allright. You don't have too," I answered. I sat down on the couch next to Yugi and watched the movie.

Some time afterwards the movie was over. Sam got up to leave and Yugi asked her the same thing I was wondering.

"Aren't you going to stay?" he asked.

'Not until everybody agrees...' she signed.

"I did agree Sam. You can stay," I said trying to look into her eyes. Her blue eyes sparkled with a small feeling of joy that must've overcome her insides because she didn't show any particular behavior. She made a thank you sign and went upstairs to guest room and locked herself in.

"I wonder what that was about Yami," he said sounding worried.

"So do I Yugi. So do I," I replied quietly. I was worried as well. I went to my room and wrote something on a small piece of paper for Sam.

I read the letter you gave me earlier. Your welcome Sam.

Your friend, Yami

I carefully slipped the piece of paper under the guest room door and left. I knocked on Yugi's door and he seemed busy talking to someone. I decided to leave him alone and helped Yugi's grandfather cook dinner. After that was done, I went to get Yugi and Sam. Yugi seemed a little off at the moment.

"What happned?" I asked worried.

"Well..."