Author note: I don't own YGO or any of its characters.

'Love or Pretend?'

Here's chapter three. Hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading!

Chapter three: Not part of the plan

"Okay, its official. I'll never be able ta figure out dis math," Joey complained Monday afternoon after school had ended.

Tea rolled her eyes. "Joey, you're not even trying!"

They were sitting in the library doing some homework together.

"Dat's not true! Ive been workin' on it for da last thirty minutes."

"Joey, the only time I ever see you work hard is when you play Duel Monsters. If you were that passionate about school, then you'd be one of the top students here."

"Well, see dat's different. I don't huff ta use my brain as much when I play Duel Monsters."

'That's for sure,' Tea said in the back of her mind. "You know what? Why don't we go over to Yugi's and see how he's doing? I'm sure Tristan's already over here."

"Good idea, Tea. My brain could use uh rest anyway."

'From what? It's not like you use for anything else besides playing Duel Monsters. You practically said so yourself,' Tea said to herself again. "Okay, let's get going then."

"Alright."

Joey got up and grabbed his stuff. Tea got up also when she suddenly realized something.

"Oh, Joey, can I meet you at my car? I still have a few more things to get at my locker. I'll just be a few more minutes."

(A/N In this fic Yugi and the others are all sixteen so obviously Tea can drive.)

"Sure. Ill see ya out dare in uh few. Just don't take forever, okay?"

"All right. I'll be out soon." She knew Joey hated to wait on people, especially when he was in a hurry.

Then Joey walked off and left her.

Tea walked out of the library and went to her locker. She put back her Biology book and took out her English and Geometry books. She had just shut her locker and was about to leave for her car when three guys she knew from a few of her classes walked up to her.

"Hey Tea," the guys said.

Tea raised an eyebrow. "Hey...Ben, Kyle, Austin. What's up?"

"We were just wondering about something," Kyle said.

"Okay, what?"

"Are the rumors true or what?" Austin asked.

Tea was completely out of the loop on this one. "What rumors? I haven't heard any rumors."

"The rumors about you and Wheeler. So is it true that you're dating him?" Ben asked with extreme curiosity.

"What?! We're not--."

Suddenly Tea stopped herself. 'What a second. If I tell them that I'm not dating Joey, then everyone will think we're not. And as much as I would love for that to be true to everyone else, if I said we weren't, then Joey would be totally crushed. So I gotta stick to my promise and say that we are.' "Oh...I'm sorry. You kind of caught me off balance. Yeah, Joey and I are dating." 'Man, I really, REALLY hate saying this to them.' "We started dating last week."

"But I thought you and Joey were like best friends. I didn't actually think you two would ever like hook up and start dating. No offense, but Joey doesn't seem like your type to be dating, " Austin said.

Tea was a little taken back by that. "Excuse me, but who are you to tell me who I should and shouldn't date? For your information, I actually like dating Joey. He's really sweet and I like him a lot."

Meanwhile...

"Man, Tea's sure takin' uh long time. How long does it take uh girl ta grab uh few book and be on her way?" Joey was leaning against Tea's car, growing very impatient. "Tea knows I hate ta wait for her and I told her not ta be too long. I better go see what's goin' on with her."

Joey had just entered the front door of the school when he heard Tea saying something.

"Excuse me. But who are you to tell me who I should and shouldn't date? For your information, I actually like dating Joey. He's really sweet and I like him a lot."

Joey stood in amazement to see that Tea was actually going along with his plan. 'Dis is amazin'. Pretty soon everybody in da school is goin' ta know dat Tea and I are datin...Just as long as we can keep Yugi out of dis. I better go see what I can do ta help out.' "Hey, Tea!" he called out to her.

Tea and the guys looked up to see Joey and saw that he was smiling while walking over to them.

"Hey, what are ya guys talkin' ta my girl for?" Joey asked Ben, Kyle, and Austin.

Tea looked at him sharply. 'HIS girl! Since when does Joey think he can saythat?!'

"Hey, Wheeler. Long time or no see. You haven't been talkin' to us much lately. What's up with you?" Kyle asked him.

"Well, haven't ya heard? Tea and I are datin'. I need ta huff time for her now too, ya know," Joey said while slowly wrapping an arm around Tea's waist.

Tea started to shake a little after he did that. 'Okay, this wasn't part of the plan, Joey. You didn't have to go and do that. I can protect myself from this guys...even though I know you're only acting.' Though, the longer his arm stayed around her waist the more she began to like it. A smiled started to form on her face while she said to herself, 'But I must admit it is kind of fun playing along with Joey at his game at times...'

"Joey, we should probably get going now. We need to go see how Yugi's doing. We're already late."

Joey looked over at her. 'Oh, now she wants ta leave! Man, I was just startin' ta make things look good between us.' "Oh, right. We should probably get goin'. Smell ya guys later."

"Bye, guys!" Tea waved to them.

Then Joey and Tea walked out of the school together. (A/N Joeys arm is still around Tea's waist.)

"You know, you didn't have to come and rescue me from those guys, Joey. I could have done it all by myself."

"Oh yeah, and ya would have done dat by when?... By da time we graduated from high school!"

Tea giggled. "Okay, I get your point. I'm sorry I made you wait so long. But those guys wouldn't get off me. They kept asking questions about us, so what was I suppose to do? Just say 'no, we're not dating' and ruin your chances with Melody. I knew I couldn't do that to you."

Joey let go of Tea's waist and they walked their separate ways to Tea's car. (A/N It's about time. You think he actually liked holding on to Tea like that...or does he?)

"Tea?" Joey spoke up before she started the car.

"Yeah, Joey."

"I wanna dank ya for what ya did back dare. Ya know ya could have just as easily said no ta dose guys dat ya weren't datin' me, but ya surprised me when ya said dat ya were."

Tea looked over at Joey. "Joey, listen. I don't fully like the idea that were pretending to date each other so Melody will start noticing you, but you are my friend. You're one of my best friends, and there's nothing I wouldn't do for my friends, especially one as great as you. Alright?"

"Danks. Dat's means a lot comin' from ya."

"You're welcome."

Then Joey leaned over and gave Tea a kiss on the cheek just before she started the car. Tea blushed slightly and smiled as her car started. She pulled it out of the student parking lot and they headed off to Yugi's house.

"Tristan, Yugi, we're here!" Tea called to them as she and Joey entered the game shop.

They both footsteps coming down the stairs a few seconds later. Not to their surprise, Joey and Tea were greeted by none other then Tristan. "Hey guys. I'm glad that you both finally made it over here. How was studying?"

"Good. How's Yugi doing?" Tea got straight to the point.

"He's in bed watching a movie right now. You can both go up and see him if you want to."

"Actually, why don't you go and see how Yug's doin' first, Tea? I need ta talk ta Tristan for uh few minutes. We'll be right up," Joey suggested.

Tea looked at both of them to see what was up with them, but found nothing in their faces and decided to go along with what Joey said. "Okay, I'll see ya up. Just don't be too long."

"We won't."

"Oh, and Tea, could you be quiet while being up there? Yugi's grandpa is sleeping," Tristan reminded her.

"Gottcha." Then Tea walked up to Yugi's room in silence.

Once she was gone Tristan had to know why. "Why do you need Tea to be out of the room? Did something go wrong today?"

"No. And dat's da best part about it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Tea's goin' right along with da whole thing. She even told these three guys at school dat we knew dat we were datin'. Tea's turnin' out ta do even better den I expected. I still can't believe she's goin' through with it."

"Well don't go and give your hopes up yet, Joey. It's only been one day and Yugi's going to be back in school before ya know it. Speaking of which, how are you going to keep this whole thing away from Yugi until Melody starts noticing you?"

"I dunno. I'm hopin' Melody will start ta notice me before Yugi gets back to school."

"Yeah, Joey, like that's ever going to happen. The girl barely even knows you, plus you haven't even said more than two words to her."

"I know, but ya don't huff ta go draggin' it on me like dat! It's hard enough, ya know."

"So what are ya going to do?"

"I'll huff ta dink of somthin' before Yugi gets back in school. Ya know I hate keepin' dis from him, but I can't let Yugi get involved with dis. If he does it'll totally blow my chances with her."

"Dude, don't think about the bad stuff yet. At least not until he gets back. Just concentrate on what's going to happen tomorrow."

"I should, but I can't help feelin' like I'm betrayin' my best friend. Maybe I'll talk it over with Tea on da phone tonight and see if she has any ideas."

"I guess I don't blame you for feeling that way, but all I can say to you now is you better think of something before he finds out because if and when he does you're going to be the first thing he hunts down."

Joey sighed while running a hand through his hair. "I don't even want ta think about dat right now. Let's just go see how he's doin' right now, k?"

"Alright. I hear ya, man. I hear ya."

Tea casually walked into Yugi's room. He was laying down on his bed, watching a movie. Pirates of the Caribbean she was pretty sure it was. (A/N Orlando Bloom is SO HOT!)

Yugi was laughing at the part where Will got his foot caught in one of the crates while walking under the water with Jack and he dragged with the crate off because he couldn't get it off. Though, as soon as Yugi saw Tea standing in the doorway looking at him he quickly put the movie on pause and smiled at her.

"Knock, knock," Tea said as she knocked on his door and walked over to him.

"H-hey Tea. I didn't see you there. How long have you been here?"

Tea quietly sat down next to her best friend, not wanting or knowing what to say to him, especially since she was hiding something from him.

"Why are you so quiet, Tea? Did something happen at school while I was gone?"

"No...no. Nothing happened. It was just any other ol' day at school. What's new? But I did miss having you there."

"Yeah, I know. I wish I could have been there too. I hate being stuck here."

"Well, from the way Tristan put it you sounded pretty sick, but you look alright to me."

"Oh, well, you know Grandpa. I had a little bit of a bad cough this morning and he jumped to conclusion that I had the flu. I'm sorry that he made all of you guys worry."

"No, it's okay. I'm actually glad to see that you're alright."

"Thanks."

"So are you coming to school tomorrow?"

"I don't know. Grandpa said I should probably stay home just in case I don't get any worse."

"Well, I think Grandpa has a point, Yugi. You should probably stay home tomorrow. I don't want you to get any worse from your cold or whatever it is that you got."

"Maybe your right, Tea. Yeah, I guess I should stay home."

"Good. That way when you come back on Wednesday you'll be all ready to make up your missing homework."

"Ugh, don't remind me! I hate it when I have to do make-up work. It feels like it takes forever."

Tea giggled. "Hey, why don't I drop off your homework to you tomorrow afternoon while I'm driving home? I wouldn't mind to at all. In fact, I'd be glad to do it."

Yugi smiled at her. "Oh would you, Tea? That would be great! Thanks. You're the best friend a guy could ever have."

Tea blushed. "Thanks, Yugi. That's so sweet."

"It's true though."

"Hey guys," Joey said while he and Tristan walked in Yugi's bedroom.

"Hey, Joey. I'm glad that you finally made it. It seemed like you and Tea had been studying forever. Did you guys have a lot of homework?"

"Actually, we didn't even finish are homework, Yugi. We had realized that are work was taking so long that we decided to stop and come see you," Tea spoke up again.

"But before we left dare was uh few guys dat just HAD ta talk ta Tea," Joey added.

"What?!" Yugi yelled out.

Tea gave Joey a 'cut-it-out' look like he had done something terribly wrong. Joey suddenly realized the mistake he had just made when he had said that. 'Oh man, I am such uh idiot! Why did I huff ta say dat?! I gotta do somethin' before Yugi finds out da truth.' "I mean, it's nothin', Yug. It was just some guys dat needed help on da English homework we got today," Joey quickly made up a lie.

Yugi turned to Tea to see if this was true. "Is that true, Tea?"

Tea looked over to Joey quickly and saw that he was getting nervous about what he had just said. Lately, Joey wasn't the best one to fulfill a lie and make it seem believable, especially when he had to lie to one of his friends. She quickly jolted her attention back to Yugi and put on a straight face. "Yeah, it's true, Yugi. It was those three guys, Ben, Kyle, and Austin that stopped me for some help. You know, the one's we always see fooling around in Geometry and World History class."

"Oh, okay. Just as long as that was all they wanted."

"It was Yugi. I promise." Suddenly Tea felt horrible and furious for saying that. 'I can't believe I'm lying to Yugi for Joey. Oh Joey's going to pay once this is all over! I swear once this is over, I'm going to give Joey a piece of my mind. No doubt about it.'

"Hey kids," everyone heard Yugi's grandpa say from behind them.

Joey, Tea, Tristan turned around to face him in a flash, all a little shaking with nerves. Grandpa, still looking a little sleepy, was surprised to see how they were acting. "Something wrong, you three?" he asked Joey, Tea, and Tristan.

"No!" they all said nervously and at the same time.

Grandpa stared at them. Lies weren't kept that way for long with Grandpa around. He usually always got them to confession whatever they were hiding. "Okay, what's going on?"

"Nothing's going on, Grandpa. You probably just scared them, that's all," Yugi told him.

"Yeah, ya scared us, Gramps. Can ya blame us for bein' uh little scared from your walkin' in?"

"No. I guess not."

"How was your nap, Grandpa?" Tea asked him calmly.

"It was good, Tea. Thank you for asking."

"Can we do anything for you before we leave?" Tristan wondered.

"No, I don't believe so, Tristan, but I would appreciate it if you all could go now. Yugi needs his rest so he can go back to school on Wednesday."

"We understand, Mr. Moto."

"You can say your good-byes, but then you all need to go. You can come back and visit Yugi again tomorrow. I promise."

"All right," Tea said then Grandpa left the room.

"We'll see ya tomorrow, Yugi. I hope ya feel better," Tristan told him then left for downstairs.

"Thanks, Tristan."

"Yeah, Yug. Don't get any sicker. I need my best friend in school with me and da sooner da better," Joey added and followed behind Tristan.

(A/N Knowing Tristan and Joey they're probably going downstairs to pig out on the food in the kitchen.)

Tea watched Joey leave the room and looked back at Yugi. "Are you going to be alright?" Tea sat back down on his bed.

"I think the question is are you going to be alright, Tea?"

"What?"

"You seem a little stressed out? Are you sure there's nothing bothering you?"

"I'm sure, Yugi. I'm just a little tired out from school."

"Positive?"

Tea put on a smile. "I'm positive. Now, give me a hug so I don't have to keep the others waiting long and get in trouble by your grandpa."

Yugi leaned over to Tea and gave her a heartfelt hug. "You get some rest, Yugi. You need to go back in school. And remember I'll drop off your homework after school tomorrow."

"I will and thanks for coming to see me. That was very nice of you to do that. And I'll see you tomorrow."

She let go of Yugi and smiled at him again. "Get some sleep." Tea got up from the bed and was almost out the door and gone when she suddenly came back in the room again. She walked over to Yugi's bed and leaned down towards him. And the next thing Yugi knew was Tea had given him a kiss on the cheek. Yugi was so shocked that Tea did that he couldn't say anything else to her before she left.

Unknowing to either Yugi or Tea someone had been watching what Tea had done.

Only one thing had escaped from the person's lips once he saw what happened. "How could this happen..."

Who do you think it was?

To be continued...