IT'S RENOVATION TIME PEOPLE! In other words, I'm re-vamping this fic! though the whole plot will remain, you'll only find some… uh… quirks amuck the chapters!

Disclaimer on everything that I don't own!

An Unexpected Situation,

By Winterwing3000

"Téa where were you?" her furious mother shrieked as she saw her daughter outside of the door. "You're going to be late for school!"

Looking at her from head to toe, she saw dirty smudges on Téa's clothing and face. She also noticed that her left foot was swollen. "You are so irresponsible! What happened to you? Why are you so dirty? What is wrong with your ankle?" Then when she saw Seto at the corner of her eyes, she raged on even louder, scaring away the birds at the garden.

"What have you done to my daughter? How dare you hurt her! Don't you even get near my family! Get out, right now!" Shakily pointing at the gate, her face was red with anger. Téa's cheeks were tinted with red from embarrassment. Unable to hold her anger any longer, she exploded. "MOM! Shut up! You don't know what happened and now you just judge him for something he didn't even do! He didn't even do anything to me! He actually saved my life! So just leave him alone!"

Shocked from anger, her mother's mouth hung open. Then with a serious face, she pulled her daughter into the house.

Seto was actually amused from the bickering and was embarrassed at the same time that this cheerleader of friendship actually stood up for him. Then again, he could've just left, but decided to see what was going to happen.

Mrs. Gardner's eyes were on the floor, and murmured a simple but cold thank you. Slamming the door shut, Seto was left standing outside.

He walked to the gate, and halted immediately when he heard something. A slap echoed from the window and out to the front door. He had an urge to break in and see what's wrong, but he resisted from doing so.

At school, Téa walked stiffly to her locker. Her hair hid her left cheek, where a red handprint was still audible from the force of her mother. Trying to push away what had happened earlier in the morning, she jumped as someone placed his or her hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she found her blond hair friend right behind her with a large grin. "Um…. uh hi Joey."

"What's up Téa?" his grin faded as he saw a red mark on her face. Tilting his head to the side, he asked, "What's wrong? What happened to your face?"

Téa rubbed her cheek and looked away from her friend's eye. The warning bell rang, as Téa opened her mouth to speak. But kept it shut and scurried to the classroom.

"Huh? What's up wit Téa? Awww I talk to her later." Walking to find Tristan, he didn't know that someone was watching his female friend.

When the lunch bell rang, Joey and Tristan sped down the hall to get to the front of the line. Yugi stood there shaking his head. He turned his head looking at Téa. She was sitting there, her hair hiding her eyes and face. He noticed that her head was hung low for the whole class period and wasn't as active as before, even if his Yami left him sometime ago.

His eyes wandered a few seats behind his friend and saw him looking, no staring at her. Seto Kaiba, his long time rival, was staring at his best friend with intense eyes. I have a feeling that this is going to be a long day. But does Kaiba know what's wrong with Tea? He's been staring at her for probably the class. If only I know what's wrong with her, then maybe I can help.

Joey and Tristan raced to the classroom to eat lunch with Yugi and Téa, "Hey guys, what's up? You want some? It's burgers for today. I think that they served leftovers… What's wrong? Aren't you hungry?" The guys sat in front of Téa, surrounding her and looking at her with concerned eyes.

Like a ghost don't need a key
your best friend I've come to be
please don't think of getting up for me
you don't even need to speak

when I've been here just for one day
you'll already miss me when I go away
so close the blinds and shut the door
you won't need other friends anymore
oh don't leave home, oh don't leave home

"Téa? What's wrong? Are you okay, because if you aren't you can tell us. We're your friends." Téa looked up with motionless eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't get the words out. So she just stood up and walked away, leaving her leather briefcase hanging on her seat.

Téa's POV

After leaving the guys in the classroom, I ran, pushing and dodging the students along the way.

Even though the people shouted, "Hey, watch it!" or "What the hell are you doing?" I didn't stop. I couldn't breath. I couldn't forget. It kept playing over and over in my mind. I ran all the way to the bathroom. I yanked the lever and locked myself in a stall. I felt nauseous and I started vomiting. The sick feeling from my stomach finally came up.

Mother was yelling at me, for many reasons. I didn't listen. I was immobilized, rooted to the floor. When she found out that I wasn't listening to her lecture, she raised her hand. Like lightning, her hand flashed past my eyes. The sound wavered in the house, then it left a long tense silence. I felt a sharp sting on my cheek, where she had hit me.

And if you're cold, I'll keep you warm
if you're low, just hold on
cos I will be your safety
oh don't leave home

and I arrived when you were weak
I'll make you weaker, like a child
now all your love you give to me
when your heart is all I need
oh don't leave home, oh don't leave home

She kept screaming on and on. But I didn't care.

My thoughts were clouded from the slap. I asked myself if I deserved that. Over and over, I said no. But was that truly my answer? She finally said something that pulled me from my world to the present.

"You disrespected my family. You are just like your father. I don't know why I even bothered to raise you. Even though we divorced for two years, you still remind me of him. Since you couldn't change, I would have to do it for you. You wouldn't listen to me; you acted independent and wanted to dance. And I, I wanted you to be a lawyer. But do you listen? No, you don't and you never would. So from now on, after you come home from school, you are not my daughter! You are to pack your things and leave this house immediately! Don't you dare come home asking me to take you back! I've made my decision and I intend to keep it! Now get out of my face and go to school!"

And if you're cold, I'll keep you warm
if you're low, just hold on
cos I will be your safety
oh don't leave home

oh how quiet, quiet the world can be
when it's just you and little me
everything is clear, everything is new
so you won't be leaving will you

I actually left the house, stunned and depressed. I didn't look back, or ran home to cry. I just walked away. Unlike always, I walked away from my problem. I didn't bother to fix whatever I did wrong.

And if you're cold, I'll keep you warm
if you're low, just hold on
cos I will be your safety
oh don't leave home

Now, I think the guys are onto me. They'll know something is wrong with me, but I don't think it is the right time to tell them. I need to keep it to myself for now. When the right time comes, they'll know. For now, I've gotta lie to them. Another thing that I'm worried about is where I would be living.

My mother probably told her family not to accept me into their household. And I don't wanna bother the guys. Joey has to take care of Serenity with his drunken father around, I wouldn't want to…. Never mind.

I can't go to Yugi's, he has to help with the shop and his grandpa's old for the both of us to be around. Tristan, well I don't really know…. He lives with his dad, and I don't even know who he is…. I guess I could use some of my allowance to rent a small place and work to pay for it….

Oh great! The bell just rung. I'm in so much trouble.

Normal POV

Téa ran back to her classroom quickly. Sliding the door open, her teacher looked up from the textbook surprised. "Well, someone finally shows up. So Ms. Gardner, what is your excuse for being tardy for the first time?"

"I'm sorry sir, I felt sick so I went to the restrooms. I promise that this won't happen again." She kept her head down, and stood in front of the teacher's desk. Rubbing his chin, the teacher said, "Okay, you would be off the hook this time. But the next time, you would have to spend detention after school. For now, just take your seat and flip to page 284 in your history book."

Taking her seat slowly, she opened the book and just stared at the words. She ignored every thing else around her. Her attention was on the picture in the book. A little girl with dirty blond hair was on a swing with her mother pushing her higher and higher into the sky. They both were laughing and enjoying themselves. I never had so much fun ever since dad left mom. Of course, she always worry about her dresses and going to parties with her friends. Tea thought bitterly.

A large tear plopped onto the picture. Then there was a large screeching sound from the intercom. The teacher stopped his explanation on the battle of WWI and listened to the speaker. "Excuse me, Mr. Tokushi, could you please send Ms. Téa Gardner to the counselor office please? The counselor would like to see her. Thank you."

"Ms. Gardner, you heard what it said. I'll write you a hall pass." She walked up to the front of the classroom and took the piece of paper. Closing the door, she was the only one in the empty corridor. She made her way to the front office, next to the headmaster's. Knocking on the door, she heard a "come in".

"Take a seat, Téa." A lady in her mid-thirties with waist length teal color hair folded her hands and put her chin on top. Gingerly, Téa sat down at a wooden chair, with her eyes on the counselor.

Noticing her tension, the lady smiled, "Don't worry, you're not in trouble. I'm Mrs. Suzita. I only asked you to come here because your classmate, Yugi Motou, reported that you looked ill and had not been answering their concerns. So would you like to tell me what's going on, Téa?"

Staring at her hands, Téa wanted to snap at the counselor and tell her that it was none of her business. But she bit her lower lip instead, until it started to bleed. Shaking her head, the brunette sat there, not daring to flinch.

Mrs. Suzita got off her chair and walked over to Téa. Placing her hand on the girl's shoulder, she bend down and looked directly at her. "Please Téa, tell me what's bothering you. I would like to help. If you wish for me not to tell, then it is a promise that I am going to keep. So please, let me help you."

Sniffing, Téa looked at Mrs. Suzita.

She slowly explained what happened, but not really telling that her savior was actually the young CEO, Seto Kaiba. She also told her that her mother kicked her out of the house and was to never go back. Mrs. Suzita nodded and patted her on the back with sympathy. Poor girl. She's too young to be on her own. She can't be working according to Domino High's rules; I wonder where she's going to stay when she can't even work?

"Téa, do you have anywhere to stay? Or some sort of part time job? Because you can't be living in the streets nor can you get work from the regulations of this school. You don't have enough money to support yourself. If only I could talk this over with your mother, then maybe you can go back."

Seto Kaiba was going back up to class after discussing some issues with the headmaster. He heard a sobbing noise from the closed door of Mrs. Suzita, and stayed to listen. Even though he's not really a type of guy that cares for other's people business, he still stood quietly outside.

"Téa, do you have anywhere to stay? Or some sort of part time job? Because you can't be living in the streets nor can you get work from the regulations of this school. You don't have enough money to support yourself. If only I could talk this over with your mother, then maybe you can go back." There was a long pause before he heard an answer.

"No, it's okay. I'll manage somehow. Thank you for listening. And please, don't tell anyone about this."

A squeak was heard and then he met face to face with none other than Téa Gardner. Stunned and scared, Téa backed away and asked shakily, "Did you… Did you listen? Kaiba?"

The counselor pulled them both back into the room. She locked the door and pulled down all the screens. "Seto Kaiba! I thought better of you than to eavesdrop into someone's private conversation."

With her hands on her hips, Mrs. Suzita pierced her tan-brown eyes at Seto.

Rolling his eyes, he mumbled, "Whatever."

From her place, Téa took a step forward and said, "Look Kaiba, I don't know what your playing at. But please, don't tell the guys. I beg you. Please keep this a secret between the three of us."

Her earnest blue eyes were pleading, making an irresistible face for Seto not to say no to. Finally giving in, he said yes and offered something more than Téa could imagine.

"You could live with Mokuba and I. I think that his grades are going down after the tournament. You can tutor and watch over him when I'm outside of Domino city. This could be your repayment for earlier." He said this looking directly at her.

Nodding her head, "You've got a deal." Extending her hand at Kaiba, Seto took it and they shook hands, sealing the deal.

After School

As everyone was dismissing after the bell, Seto leaned onto his locker. Arms folded in front of him, his brown bangs covering his eyes. He was waiting for someone, but did not know that his fans were giggling and gossiping about him around the corner.

"Oh My God! He just looks so cute!"

"Yeah, can't you believe it? He looks like a baby when he sleeps!"

"He even looks cute when he gives his cold exterior like glares!"

"Hey? Who do you think he's gonna take to the school prom in the next few weeks?"

"Me, of course! I'm the sweetest girl alive! And I know that he can't resisted me!"

"Get real, sister! He's coming with me!"

Seto had a dark frown when he heard about the school prom. He didn't think of attending, ever since the 40th anniversary of Kaiba Corp. It sends shivers down his back when he recollected that night at a fancy restaurant, where tons of girls and reporters were stalking him and Mokuba.

"Kaiba? What are you doing here?" Opening one of his eyes, he saw Tea closing her locker and putting on her leather boots.

"That's obvious. Waiting for my EMPLOYEE to go home with me."

Clueless about what he was actually talking about, she pointed at herself and said, "Eh? Employee? I know I'm working for you, but I thought I'm supposed to look after Mokuba and nothing else."

Looking a little irritated, he said in a strained voice, "Whatever, now are you coming or not?"

Nodding, she walked out with Kaiba, but kept a distance away from him. Just in case someone would get suspicious and start spreading rumors. Opening the door, he let her in first and then got in himself.

"Umm…. Kaiba? Can we go to my house first? I need to get my luggage and stuff…. You know…." She shifted around in her seat and hastily fastened her seatbelt. Giving a gruff, hedrove toTea's house.

AN: First song is by Dido, "Don't Leave Home". Well practically, it's the only song for this chapter. I'm so stuck just to find ONE song. I don't think that it actually worked with what I really typed. But, who cares? So how do ya'll like this chapter? I hope these ain't too short for ya'll cuz my frienz complain when they read it… I'm very sorry for the way that Joey speaks. I don't really know his "street-gangster like" accent. If you can, review me and give me a few tips on it. 'Kay? And please, I would luv much more review from ya'll readers! Thanks for all who that did. And shame on the others for not!

Here's my thanks for the first chapter!

I LUV YAMI AND YUGI: lol. Don't worry! There's gonna be much much more sad stuff going on! So count on it!… I'm not exactly the kind of person that likes happiness or anything that is close enough to be merrier.

Mamono : thanks! The title was really random, but I guess it works after ten minutes of thinking.

kagome: I think all my chapters might satisfied your eagerness!

Sweet Cherry Kisses: thanks for the ten out of ten. I didn't think it would actually be that good! I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

White Ninja Spy: I'm writing more! So just count on it! and about her mom, well just wait and see!