Bridging the Void

Note: Chapter 3 is finally here! Aren't you so proud of me? Yeah, I know… anyhow… R&R peoples!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN YU-GI-OH! (or the Sevenwaters trilogy, which I seem to have a problem with making constant references to and should therefore include in this disclaimer)

Chapter Three: The Fated Night

I watched as Steph called Chris, her voice a hushed whisper. It made me very edgy to see a trace of what looked like fear in her eyes. She had been so strong all the time I had known her, and if she was in trouble, I was doomed. After all, wasn't I the weak one, the one who cried? Then again… I had forced myself to harden over the past few years, so maybe Steph had softened and become the one thing I never thought she would be; weak.

"They'll come," she said quietly. "But Chris wants to drive."

I almost refused; I did not trust her idiot cheater of a boyfriend, but then I saw the look in her eyes. It was as if the simple word no could cause her a terrible amount of pain. I nodded and then turned my eyes on the boys, daring them to protest. Seto just stood there, indifferent as usual, and Marik shook his head softly and looked away. He could tell that something was not right, that was clear.

"Steph… Is there something you need to talk to me about?"

"No!" she snapped, eyes wide. "Why on earth would you think that? I'm the happiest person alive."

I sighed and shook my head. "With you saying that, it's hard to know that there even is a world anymore. You're supposed to be the depressing one."

"So I'm different. You are too… you've never been the same since-"

"Can both of you shut up? I'm tired of hearing this bickering from you two. Just get back in the cars and drive!"

We obliged, though likely just out of the lack of will to argue. Besides, I had a problem at hand to be solved, and it involved a person that I would soon have to face.

"Hello, Steph. Lily, it's great to see you around again. We've missed you."

Grunting mildly, I nodded to him in discontent. He looked even more muscular and untrustworthy than the last time I'd seen him. If only he was skinny and pathetic; I would beat him up for being such a two-timing jerk. He had flirted with me when he was dating Steph, who was to say he didn't get farther with other girls? What a slimy little… I can't even think of a decent word.

"So… Who are you two?" He asked, as if to suggest that they were not nearly as cool as he was.

"This is Seto erm… Ficher. Steph's cousin. And-"

"Marik I-"

"Also Steph's cousin. They're um… brothers. Yeah, take after different sides of the family. Anyhow, where's your sister?"

Courtni, as I seem to have forgotten to mention, is Chris's cow loving step-sister, who is nothing like him whatsoever. Where he is tall, she is short, where he is evil; she is the most docile person I've ever met.

"Courts! Get down here; you're keeping our guests waiting!"

The small girl came flying down the stairs and blushed sweetly at Marik. "Hiya! I'm Courtni!"

"Hello. I'm Marik. Are we going now?"

Courtni, who lacked any shyness, grabbed him by the arm and led him to Chris's very large truck. They climbed into the back and Steph settled herself in the passenger seat, where Chris promptly placed a possessive hand on her knee. His grip looked just a little but too firm to me, but I lacked the courage to say much of anything.

"Gee… I don't think there's enough room for Seto and I." I laughed nervously as Chris pointed to the remaining space, indicating that I should sit on Seto's lap.

"I'm sorry, but I think we should listen. I don't want to leave him and Steph alone with only Courts and Marik as protection."

Seto grinned slyly. "I don't mind."

I climbed into the truck and perched warily on Seto's lap, not at all comfortable despite the way I felt about him. He put his hand lightly on my knee, and instead of jerking away like I generally would to be reminded of Chris's behavior, I smiled. This was a sign that Seto still cared about me in the way that he had said he did, and I wasn't about to shake it off.

"This is the most uncomfortable position I think I've been, but its worth to see you smile, Seto. Besides," I dropped my voice so as to not be overheard. "I don't trust Mr. High and Mighty up there. I think he's hurting Steph."

"It isn't really my problem, but I think you're right. She seems… scared. Definitely not the yelling little girl I knew."

I nodded mutely and cringed. In the mirror, a pair of deep blue eyes that were as cold as the ice burg that sank the titanic were watching me, and the lips on the same face were curved into a menacing smile, putting me in mind of a cat playing with his dinner. I swallowed and tried to look away, but that cold, merciless gaze held me fast.

"What's wrong?"

I swallowed again and shook my head. As much as I liked Seto, some things are private, and your best, okay formerly best, friend's boyfriend making faces at you was on of them. If Steph needed my help, she first would need my silence.

"Nothing. It's just a little drafty in here, don't you think?"

He put his arms around me and I tried to smile, but I was eaten up by fear. Something was not right in those eyes, and I couldn't put a finger on it. Maybe that was because I didn't want to.

"Here we are," the gruff voice from the front said. "Go on and head inside. Steph and I'll park the truck."

"No, that's alright," I quipped. "We'll wait. Not sense in you staying out here longer than us, right, Seto?" I nudged him with my elbow and he shrugged.

Chris narrowed his eyes at me in the mirror, but this time, Seto noticed it. "Do you have a problem with Lily?"

"Of course not, she's my girl's BFF. I'd never think of disliking her."

I grasped tightly onto Seto's hand and closed my eyes, willing all the strangeness away.

The bowling alley was too dark for my tastes, but it may have been because he was there.

"One game, one lane," Chris told the man at the counter. He never said please; it was one of the traits that made me want to slap him in the face.

"Alright, sir. What shoe sizes can I get for you?"

We all named our sizes and he retrieved the right shoes. Then Chris set up a team game between the three couples, and we started the game.

For the most part, the game was just that; a game, but sometimes I found myself looking over my shoulder and there he was, Steph's traitor of a boyfriend. He was at it again, curse him.

"Hey, buddy, I don't appreciate my space being violated!" I yelled at him on one occasion when Steph was in the restroom.

"Not even by a hottie like me?" He asked, reaching out a hand to touch me who knows where.

I slapped his hand and threw a glance over my shoulder at Seto, who was rolling up his sleeves.

"I don't think you want to try that move again," he spat.

"I think I do."

But before Seto could punch him, I had kicked him hard where it would hurt the very most. "If you think that I'm gonna sit by and take like when we were in sixth grade, you must be stupider than I thought you were! How many times do I have to tell you that I only like decent men, not slime like you?"

"Lily. What are you saying about my boyfriend?"

I took a deep breath and turned to face Steph, who had a mixed expression, like she was afraid to admit the truth in my words. "Look, Steph, you know it's true. I don't know what he's done or said to make you this way… but I don't think I can stand by and watch you weather away any longer."

"You've always been jealous of our relationship, Lily. You really shouldn't say things like that about me; it upsets Steph."

I was shaking in rage, but I was also afraid. "You… you are… I cannot even find a good enough adjective for you. I can't believe you would insinuate that I'm jealous of you. I happen to have the best guy in the world standing beside me, and some day, Chris, all you're going to have is your beer or whatever it is you drink. And I think you should-"

"That's enough, Lily," Marik whispered into my ear. I shivered and took an involuntary step away.

"Chill out, I'm just trying to help. He's fuming, and he could take both you and Kaiba down; he's too strong. But his mind, on the other hand, if you'd allow the interference-"

"Give Stephie some more time," I said coolly. "She'll find a way out, and if not, I will. We don't need your mind tricks here."

"Okay, but I was hoping to enlist help in getting rid of the cow girl over there. She is… unique."

I laughed, sensing that he liked Steph. Maybe he was the kind of guy she needed, the kind who knew her pain.

End note: Mwahahahahahah! Cliffhanger! Review ASAP! Oh. And I'd like to see what you think the bruises are about, I think it's pretty obvious, but that might be because I wrote it. Until next time,

Writergirl118!