Author Note: I don't own YGO or any of its characters.
'Love or Pretend?'
Shining Friendship: chapter eight is up! I am SO sorry for the long wait. I've been so busy with school lately that I can never write anymore. I'm just glad that I had spring break to work on my story. Anyways, hope you all enjoy!
Chapter eight: Friends at first sight?
"Can you believe how much homework Mr. Allen gave to us for tonight?" Tea was asking Yugi and Joey as the three of them walked out of Biology class Thursday afternoon.
"God! Please don't remind me! I'm already gettin' uh brain cramp from all of dis and we haven't even started workin' yet," Joey complained to her.
Yugi and Tea laughed. "Joey, you're not going to complain about homework all this weekend, are you?" Yugi eyed him. "Because you know my grandpa won't put up with it. He'll just put you to work like he does with me when I complain."
(A/N okay, raise your hand if you knew Tea and Joey were going to end up at Yugi's house for the project? Did you know? Well now you know if you didn't!)
Joey immediately hit his forehead with his hand. "Man, I'm already forgettin' 'bout dat. I keep dinkin' da I'm goin' ta my place after school tomorrow when I'm suppose ta come ta your place, Yugi. Somebody's gonna huff ta remind me tomorrow or I'll completely forget."
Tea patted Joey's shoulder lightly. Yugi began to get very uncomfortable by this. His eyes were starting to glare at Joey's while Tea spoke to him, luckily Joey never saw this. "It's okay, Joey. I'll remind you tomorrow if you forget."
Joey smiled at her. "I was hopin' you'd say dat. Danks Tea."
"No problem." Suddenly Yugi, Joey, and Tea heard a familiar voice calling Yugi's name out. "Hey Yugi!" Bakura yelled out to get his attention. The three of them quickly turned around to see what he wanted. "Yeah!" he yelled back acting calm, but still a little mad on the inside, hiding his feelings as well as he could while looking over at Bakura. "Mrs. Bell grabbed me and told me to tell you that you needed talk to her about one of your assignments."
Yugi gasped. "Oh god! I completely forgot about that," he told Joey and Tea. 'Now I wish I hadn't asked Mrs. Bell about that assignment. With everything that's been going on between Joey and Tea lately I hate leaving them alone like this...They might do something that...'
/You would hate to see, am I right?/ Yami cut him off.
/Yami, what are you doing out? I thought you were mediating./
/I stopped because I knew something was troubling you./
/Oh./
/I know that you're still worried about Joey and Tea, Yugi. Have you made your decision about what we talked about yesterday yet?/
/Actually, I have. I decided that we should both talk to Tea tomorrow while they're at my house./
Yami was surprised with his decision. /The both of us?/
/Just listen to me, Yami. I think I should talk to Tea then you should so if one of us doesn't get all the information from her the other one will./
Yami nodded his head. /That's a good idea, Yugi, but I have just one question that I need to be answered before we actually put your plan into action./
/What's that?/
/Shall we keep our minds open so the both of us can hear her tell us what's been going on?/
/I guess it wouldn't hurt. Why not?/
/All right then. I'll see you later, Yugi. Now go./
Then Yugi stopped his mind link with Yami to snap back into reality.
"Yugi! Yugi! Did you hear me?" Bakura yelled over at him.
"Yugi, are you okay?" Tea rubbed his shoulder gently to see if he was okay.
Yugi looked up at her. "Yes, I'm fine, Tea. I'm sorry that I got you worried."
Tea made a sigh of relieve. "It's okay, just don't scare me like that. You got me really worried."
Yugi felt glad that Tea was so worried about him. It was things like that that made him feel so happy to be her friend.
"Bakura, what were you saying?" he yelled back over to him.
"I said that Mrs. Bell says you better go and talk to her about it now because she's going to have lunch soon and she doesn't want to wait for you too long."
Yugi sighed. "All right. I'm coming!" he yelled back to him. Looking back at Joey and Tea he told them, "I'll see you guys in about 15 minutes. This won't take long, I hope."
"That's okay, Yugi. We'll just meet you in the cafeteria when you're done talking to her," Tea said to him kindly.
"Ok. I'll see you guys in a few!" then Yugi dashed off towards Mrs. Bell's room.
After Yugi was out of sight Joey and Tea continued down towards the cafeteria.
'I hope Yugi's really alright. I hate it when he does that. It makes me question if he really tells us the truth when he goes off and talks to Yami without talking to us about whatever's on his mind.' Suddenly something crossed Tea's mind. "Hey Joey, I wonder where Tristan is. I haven't seen him since this morning. Have you?"
"Nope. He's probably already in da lunch line, grabbin' everythin' he likes off of da counters, and stuffin' it all in his mouth as fast as he can."
Tea giggled by Joey's remark. "Yeah, that's probably true, but I also know someone else who would be doing the exact same thing if he was with Tristan."
Joey looked at her. "Ya don't actually dink it's me, do ya?"
"Please, Joey! I have seen you go through three bags of potato chips in less than five minutes. So don't say it's not you-."
Just then someone bumped into Tea and she dropped her books and binder on the floor.
"Hey!" she called out to whoever did that and then got down on the floor to start picking up her things.
"Watch where your going next time, Gardner." Joey immediately flinched. He knew that voice all too well. 'Dare's only one person on dis earth with uh snobby attitude dat's as big as da universe! It's Kaiba!'
Joey clenched his fists as his face began to get red. "Kaiba, ya better get back here right now and pick up Tea's stuff for her, ya jerk!"
Kaiba turned around and gave him a smirk. "In your dreams, Wheeler," then he started walking down the hall again, acting like he didn't hear anything.
"What did ya say, Kaiba! Why don't ya come over here and say dat ta me face for once in your life or don't ya huff guts ta be uh man!"
"Get a life loser..." Joey barely heard him say from the distance.
Joey looked like he was about ready to kick his butt. "Who are ya callin' uh loser, moneybags!" He started to walk towards him and almost made it there when Tea stopped him by standing in front of him. "Joey, don't!" putting a hand on his chest to keep him from moving forward. Looking over at Kaiba with sight anger in her eyes, she said, "he's not worth it..."
Kaiba looked down at Tea and gave her a smug look. "Smart girl." Looking more up at Joey, he added, "Maybe you should learn from her, Wheeler. God only knows how long you've been learning how to act from the monkeys at the zoo."
Then Kaiba walked away before Joey could take a hit at him. Glaring at Tea with frustration, he asked her, "Why didn't ya let me go after him?! I could huff taken dat jerk easily! I could huff finally showed dat slimy sleaze ball what bein' uh man is all 'bout!"
"Because it wouldn't have proven anything, Joey. Can't you see you're only giving Kaiba the satisfaction he deserves when you do that?"
Joey growled a bit in complaint and sighed, knowing that she was right. "Yeah, I guess your right. Let's just forget about stuck up, low life Kaiba and go huff some lunch. I'm starvin' anywayz."
Tea smiled. "Now that's the Joey I know."
One day later. It was 3:00 on Friday afternoon. School had just let out and Tea was suppose to be meeting Joey and Yugi at her car any minute now. Though, something was holding her back from leaving her desk in history class. Tea decided to bring her deck with her to duel Tristan today. She beat him, but this time it wasn't as easy. Gazing down at a card in her hand, Tea couldn't stop thinking about the Shadow Realm and how she became the Magician of Faith in that duel against Bakura's dark side- the evil spirit of the Millenium Ring.
What grabbed her attention most wasn't about Yami this time. Which surprised her in more ways than she thought. Her thoughts were stuck on how her tear activated the special ability of her favorite card in that duel. How her sadness of Joey leaving their world had actually saved his life... She'll never that moment when her tear landed on Yugi's Dark Magician card and she began to sparkle and glow. Yami bringing Joey back to them from the card graveyard was one of the happiest things she could remember. 'I'd be lost without my friends,' Tea thought to herself. 'Having even one of them gone from my life would be the worst thing ever. I couldn't imagine not having Joey in my life anymore. Joey's changed so much since the first we met. He's really grown to care about people, especially for his friends and family. I just hope he continues to do that.' Smiling down at her card, she continued to speak to herself. 'I'll never forget when we first met...'
"Hey Yugi!" I called out to my best friend from my locker one morning. Yugi had just walked into school and I couldn't have been more excited to see him. After having another fight with my mom over the weekend all I wanted to do was be in school.
"Hey Tea!" Yugi's eyes were shining as he saw me waiting for him. Yugi was pretty much the only real friend that I had at school at the time. He was the best of friend to have. Yugi was smart, kind, loyal, and always friendly. Even though Yugi was a bit timid he always looked happy to see me.
Yugi finally got up to me a few moments later. "Hey Yugi, how was your weekend?" I started a friendly conversation with him. "It was just okay. Grandpa made me unpack probably a million boxes of new stuff that came over to the shop weekend, but other than that it was good. How was yours?"
"Not that great. I didn't get to do much because I got grounded on Friday for getting into another fight with my mom."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I should have called you. Hey, maybe we can do something this weekend? Will you be busy?"
"No...I don't think so. I can check with my mom and see if I am, but I'm sure I won't be. Why don't we go see that new movie coming out this weekend? I know you've been dying to see it."
Yugi blushed. "Yeah, I guess I have."
Just then the bell for first period rung. "I guess it's time to go to class," Yugi told me.
"I'm right behind you. Lead the way."
As we both walked to class I noticed Yugi was wearing something on his neck that was fairly familiar to me. "Yugi, is that your Millenium Puzzle? You finally finished it?! Wow! I can't believe it!"
Touching it gently with his fingers, he replied, "Oh, I forget to tell you that. Yeah, I finally got the last couple of pieces in this weekend and I completed it. I couldn't believe it myself. It was so amazing when I got it all put together. Grandpa was blown away by it."
"I guess so! How long did you work on it anyway?"
"I don't know exactly but I do know it's been a while."
"Well, I'm so glad that you got it finished. I know it meant a lot to you that you finally completed it."
"Thanks, Tea. You're a true friend."
{Tea's POV ends} (A/N But not the flashbacks!)
"Hey, lookie here, Tristan. You've got ourselves uh little collector in da junk business," Joey said this as he had the Millenium Puzzle was wrapped up in his hands, easily keeping it away from Yugi.
"Yeah, I guess we do. Where did ya get it, kid? From a garage sale or your attic?" then Joey and Tristan started cracking up.
"Hey, give it back to me you guys! That was a gift from my grandfather and it's really important to me," Yugi told them as he tried to get it from Joey, but it was no use. Yugi was just too short to get it out of Joey's hands.
"Try uh little harder, Yugi, and we might give it back ta ya without brakin' it," Joey toyed with him as Tristan continued to laugh away.
Tea was just passing back her one of her classes with she saw, Joey Wheeler and Tristan Taylor, two of the school bullies toying around with Yugi for a little fun.
A rush of anger started to go through Tea as she walked up to Joey and Tristan with rage in her eyes. "Excuse me, but what do you two think you're doing?"
Joey started to laugh again as he saw Tea entering the classroom. "Oh, no! Look Tristan! It's Yugi's little girlfriend, out ta protect him when he's in trouble. Aw, how sweet..."
Yugi's face began to grow shades of crimson with embarrassment. Tea really didn't seem to notice. Her eyes and attention were locked on Joey and Tristan, but especially on Joey... "You better give back Yugi's Millenium Puzzle or else, Joey!"
Joey's eyes locked on with Tea's. He gave the Millenium Puzzle to Tristan without even looking at him. Walking up to her, Tea wasn't scared to the least. Nobody disrespected her friends, especially if they're jerks like Joey. "Or else you'll do what?" he whispered to her.
Tea whispered back to him, "If you mess with Yugi again and I find out about it you won't just have the principal to deal with. After they're done you'll have me to deal with and I'm someone you don't want to mess with. Nobody hurts my friends or family...especially someone as important to me as Yugi...and I swear you will regret ever coming near him again if you do. Now stop pushing Yugi around and leave him alone."
Joey just smiled at me when I was done threatening him. "I gotta admit it. You've got spunk, Tea, but I happen ta like dat. Now if ya don't mind, I've got somewhere ta be right now. So I'll check ya later."
Looking over at Tristan, he said to him, "Tristan, give Yugi his Millenium whatever back. We're outa here, man."
Tristan roughly handed to Yugi and they left quietly. Joey's eyes were still on Tea's as they left. Tea just looked at the door, deep in thought, until Yugi came up to her and knocked her back into reality.
"I owe you one, Tea. You probably saved my Millenium Puzzle from being destroyed by Joey and Tristan. I'll never forget what you did for me. Thank you."
Smiling down at Yugi she replied. "It's no problem, Yugi. You're my best friend and I don't ever want to see you and or your things getting abused by others. I know how hard you worked on your Millenium Puzzle and you deserve to keep it because you solved it. Let's just hope those two stop what they're doing to you. Because if they don't they'll have to answer to me."
"You're the best, Tea. I hope you know that."
Tea smiled with appreciation after Yugi said this. She felt the warmest feeling when Yugi said. He actually said that to her often, it's just this time the way he said it felt different to her. Yugi was so important to her. She couldn't help but feel so lucky to be his friend. She just wished maybe Joey and Tristan would understand that so they would stop picking on Yugi like this always did. Tea let out a sigh. 'Maybe someday they'll learn. Maybe someday.'
"Thanks, Yugi. Now let's get out of here before Joey and Tristan come back for Round 2."
"Hey, is anyone sittin' here?" Tea thought she heard Joey say to her from behind a bench at a bus stop in downtown Domino. 'Please don't let that be him!'
She turned around to find out that her luck wasn't working and it did happen to be him after all. 'God, why did it have to be him!' "What are you doing here, Joey?" she boredly asked him as she turned back forward.
Joey quickly sat next to her and looked over at her face to answer. "I'm tryin' ta get back home if ya don't mind. So what's your deal?"
Noticing that Joey was staring at her, Tea looked back at him. Annoyed and angry that he was sitting with her. "I'm going to the library," then she looked away from him again. "Do you have a problem with that?"
Joey laughed. "Oh, I get it. You're goin' ta work on dat history project we got due in uh few days, huh?"
"Yeah, so? Aren't you working on yours?"
"Heck no! I don't ever do those stupid projects. Dare just uh waste of my time. I've got better things ta do."
Tea rolled her eyes. 'He's got to be kidding me.' "Like what?"
"Like playin' video games, skateboardin', eatin' junk food and-."
"Picking on people who are smaller than you."
Joey looked over at her again. "Man, you're not stay stuck on what happened da other day, are ya?"
"You really don't care that you're hurting other peoples feelings when you picking on them, do you? I mean, if you were like one of them just once you might understand that what you're doing is actually wrong."
"Save da speeches, will ya, Tea? I've heard them all before and dare never any different."
Tea finally had enough of being around Joey. "You know what, Joey? You are such a jerk! I can't stand how you think everyone around you is just so stupid because they want to do some good in their lives. You make fun of, and hurt others people's feelings just to get some satisfaction out of your day. But the truth is that at the end of the day none of that really matters. What matters is having people who love and care about you so maybe you can wake up the next day with some happiness and meaning in your life. And I bet that you don't have that, do you? Plus, I bet that you've probably never had that. But as sad as that is I really don't care, because you never let people get close to you. So just stay in your dark, lonely room for the rest life and leave Yugi and me alone."
Then Tea left the bench she was sitting at with Joey, walking away while he just stared at her with a blank stare on his face.
FLASHBACK END
'Sometimes I've felt really bad about saying those things to Joey, but I just couldn't help it. Joey and Tristan were treating Yugi so wrong and I couldn't see that happen anymore. I needed to at least try and stop them. Thankfully, shortly after all that happened, Joey and Tristan both came to realize that I was right and they became our friends. I will admit it took me a little longer than Yugi to become friends with them, but when I finally did it turned to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. Yugi, Joey, Tristan and I make a great team and no matter what we're always going to be the best of friends.'
"Hey Tea, ya comin' ta take us ta Yugi's house, or what?" Joey asked her as he walked in the classroom to get her.
Tea looked over at him, slightly still having a dazed look on her face. "Yeah, I'm coming. I was just thinking about something and I guess I just kind of lost track of time. Where's Yugi?"
"Waitin' for us outside. We were beginnin' ta get worried about ya. Are ya okay?" he asked while standing in front of her with concern on his face.
"Yes, I'm okay. I'm sorry I got you guys worried."
"Ah, it's no problem. Forget about it. Just as long as your okay, I'm cool with whatever your doin'."
Standing up with her backpack slung over she right shoulder to look at him more she asked, "Really?"
He nodded. "Really."
"Thanks, Joey."
There was an awkward silence between the two for about a minute when finally Joey spoke up. "So let's get goin' before Yugi has uh cow or somethin'."
Tea laughed as she playfully rolled her eyes at him. "Right..."
They began to leave when Tea touched his shoulder softly, causing him to stop and look at her.
"Somethin' wrong, Tea? Did ya forget somethin' at your locker?"
"No. I just wanted to tell you something before we go out and see Yugi."
Joey raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? What's dat?"
"I just wanted to tell you that having you become one of my best friends has changed my life and that I'm going to continue being your friend for as long as I can. You've really changed since we first met, Joey and I couldn't be prouder of you. I care about you and I know you care about me. And I couldn't be any happier because of that. You're a true friend, Joey and I'm really glad to know that you're my friend."
Joey smiled as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. Tea slightly blushing by this. "Right back ya, Tea. Now let's hit da road!"
"Okay!"
Then they walked out to her car. Tea explained in short detail to Yugi why she was late so they could start leaving. Though as Tea drove Yugi, Joey, and herself to Yugi's house she couldn't help but think about Joey and how she really cared for him......
Shining Friendship: okay, well I guess that's all for chapter eight. Thanks for reading. Again, I'm sorry for not updating in such a while. I'll update soon as I can!
Please review!