Chapter 18
It was early Monday morning, and Alex had just finished getting ready to go out. She looked at herself and said,
"Uniform, check. Lunch, check. Homework and work clothes packed, check."
As it looked like Alex had everything she needed, she was about to leave her apartment when she heard a knock at the door. She thought,
Now who could be here at this time?
Alex quickly got the door and was surprised to see Kaiba standing outside. She looked at him and asked,
"Umm, what are you doing here?"
Kaiba replied, "Ready to go? We don't want to be late."
Alex looked confused and replied, "What?"
Kaiba sighed and replied, "I'm giving you a ride to school. Now, do you have everything?"
Alex nodded and replied, "Yeah, I'll just get my bags."
She quickly got her things and then left the apartment with Kaiba, making sure to lock her door. Then she followed him outside to where his limo was waiting. After the driver opened the door and Alex and Kaiba were inside, the driver then turned on the engine and began to drive away.
As they were on the road, Alex noticed Mokuba sitting next to her and smiling, she said,
"Good morning, Mokuba."
Mokuba grinned and replied, "Morning, Alex."
Kaiba sat on the opposite side in a corner, looking at his phone. Figuring that it would be safe enough to have a private conversation, Alex leaned in and whispered,
"Mokuba, I don't wish to be rude, but what's up with the special treatment?"
Mokuba replied, "Brother felt bad. Said something about wanting to make it up to you."
Alex blushed a bit and replied, "I see. That's sweet, but there's no need for this trouble. I would've been more than ok taking the bus."
Mokuba replied, "I know, but Seto insisted. He said he'll pick you up every morning and even treat you to-"
Kaiba suddenly coughed and said, "Mokuba, that's enough. I can hear you two."
Mokuba laughed in embarrassment, "Sorry, Seto. I forgot that you want to keep that a surprise."
Alex looked curiously at Kaiba although Kaiba only blushed and avoided her gaze. Mokuba then turned back to Alex and said,
"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask for a favor. Does your tutoring help still stand?"
Alex nodded and replied, "Yeah, of course. Do you need help with a certain class?"
Mokuba replied, "More like a school project. I know you're interning at Kaiba Corp now, so can we meet tomorrow afternoon?"
Alex replied, "Sure. My place ok?"
As Mokuba and Alex talked, Kaiba looked at the two of them. He was reminded of what happened after he left Alex's apartment yesterday.
It was late last night, and Kaiba was at his computer in his home office. He was looking up information but groaned when he couldn't decide on something. Roland happened to pass by and entering the room, he asked,
"Sir, is everything alright?"
Kaiba groaned and replied, "I can't figure this out."
Roland replied, "Perhaps I can be of assistance."
He looked at Kaiba's computer screen and was surprised by what was on it. He looked at Kaiba and asked,
"Perfect first date spots?"
Just then, Mokuba was passing by and heard Roland's question. He couldn't help but enter the room as well and asked,
"What's going on?"
Kaiba replied, "Nothing. Shouldn't you be asleep, Mokuba?"
Mokuba replied, "I will, soon."
Mokuba peeked at Kaiba's computer screen as well and once he understood what the fuss was over, he looked excited and asked,
"Did you ask Alex on a date? And she said yes?"
Kaiba replied, "Not exactly."
Kaiba knew that an explanation was required, so he told Mokuba about what happened at the end of Alex and Joey's date. However, he didn't tell him about talking to Alex the next day and understanding why she was so upset.
After Kaiba was done talking, Mokuba said,
"If I'm getting this, you feel bad because you ruined Alex's date with Joey, so now you want to make things up with her by giving her the perfect first date?"
Kaiba replied, "That's right."
Mokuba replied, "So are you setting her up on another date with Joey?"
Kaiba looked horrified and replied, "Of course not. She deserves better than that mutt."
Mokuba replied, "Oh, so you want to go out with her. But you didn't ask her?"
Kaiba replied, "She'd say no."
Mokuba replied, "You don't know that for sure, but I can kind of see your point."
Roland added, "I don't wish to intrude, but if this date is with Ms. Alex, might I suggest something?"
Kaiba nodded and Roland said, "Seeing that Ms. Alex prefers simplicity, maybe…"
"Seto? You ok there?"
Mokuba looked at him teasingly, and Alex looked at him with curiosity in her eyes. Kaiba snapped out of his thoughts and replied,
"Yeah, fine."
Mokuba replied, "As I was saying, who's your favorite writer?"
Kaiba replied, "What?"
Alex replied, "Mokuba and I were talking about writers. He has to do a book report on an original English novel, so that's why we're bringing it up."
Kaiba replied, "Let me guess. You like the Bronte sisters?"
Alex raised an eyebrow and replied, "I am a woman, but that doesn't mean I gravitate towards female writers. I do admire their accomplishments, though. If you had been paying any attention, my favorite writer happens to be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."
Mokuba added, "Alex likes Sherlock Holmes and mysteries."
Alex turned to Mokuba and replied, "That's right, and I suppose it doesn't hurt that I find detectives a bit hot."
She laughed a bit, and Mokuba laughed as well. Kaiba just stared at them although he inwardly liked how well the two of them got along.
The driver soon arrived right outside Domino High, and he opened the door for Alex and Kaiba. Kaiba looked at Alex and said,
"I need to talk to Mokuba for a couple of minutes."
Alex nodded and replied, "Ok. I guess I'll see you inside then."
Alex then got out of the limo with her bags, thanking the driver before heading inside the school building. As she walked in the hallway, heading towards her classroom, Joey confronted her. He looked at her sadly and said,
"Hey, Alex."
Alex smiled a bit and replied, "Hey, Joey. Um, I'm sorry for not calling you. I just wasn't ready."
Joey nodded and replied, "I get it. But you're ready now, right? I wanna clear things up."
Alex sighed and replied, "I don't know. It's been a bit too crazy, and I need some calm for now."
Joey was about to reply when Kaiba approached them and said,
"You heard Ms. Lawrence, Wheeler. Stop hounding her."
Joey scowled at Kaiba and replied, "You! This is all your fault."
Kaiba was about to reply when Alex sighed loudly and said, "We're going to be late."
She then entered the classroom and after briefly waving hi to Yugi and the others, she took her seat. Shortly after, Kaiba and Joey entered as well. Yugi briefly looked at Alex and asked,
"You ok?"
Alex nodded and replied, "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for yesterday by the way."
Yugi smiled and replied, "No problem."
The homeroom teacher then entered and morning classes started.
The bell rang, signaling the end of morning classes and the start of lunch period. Usually, Alex would have lunch with Joey and the others, but she didn't feel like hanging out with them. Yugi and most of the others already left the classroom, as well as the majority of the class. Joey approached Alex and said,
"Hey, Alex? Can we talk alone? We have time now."
Kaiba approached Joey and said, "Sorry, Wheeler, but Ms. Lawrence is much too busy. I have to brief her on the new project at Kaiba Corp."
Joey looked angrily at Kaiba and replied, "Can't that wait?"
Kaiba looked at Alex and said, "Isn't that right?"
Kaiba gave Alex this look, as though he was helping her with a way out of being alone with Joey. Alex quickly caught on and replied,
"Yes, that's right, and it's best that I'm told about it right away."
She looked at Joey and added, "Sorry, Joey. I hope you understand."
Joey sighed and replied, "Yeah, sure. Maybe later."
After Joey left the classroom, Alex looked at Kaiba and quietly said, "Thanks."
Kaiba replied, "For what? I really do need to brief you on that problem."
Alex couldn't help smiling a bit although she didn't say anything. Kaiba then said, "I'll be right back. Wait here."
After Kaiba left, Alex rummaged through her bag and took out her lunchbox. She sighed as she took out an extra lunchbox. By now, Alex was used to making lunches for Joey that she didn't realize she had too much food. She didn't know what to do when Kaiba returned carrying two tall cups of coffee. He handed one to her and said,
"I know you like black."
Alex took the coffee from him and replied, "I do. Thanks."
Kaiba looked at the lunchboxes on Alex's table and asked, "Do you really eat that much?"
Alex couldn't help scowling and replied, "Of course not. I forgot that I made one too many. It's a shame to waste food, but I guess I'll have to throw this away."
Kaiba took his seat and replied, "I'll take it."
Alex looked surprised and replied, "What?"
Kaiba sighed and replied, "I'll take one of them. I don't usually eat lunch, but I'll make an exception."
Alex smiled and replied, "I am grateful, sir."
She handed him the extra lunchbox and added, "They're just chicken sandwiches. Nothing too out of the ordinary."
Kaiba nodded and he took out his tablet, turning it on. He then pointed to something on the screen and began to explain the problem he mentioned to her last Friday. The two of them were engrossed in their work while they ate and drank coffee.
As they worked, Kaiba asked, "So can you solve this?"
Alex nodded and replied, "Yeah, although I'll need to be at a computer to work out an algorithm."
What Alex didn't tell Kaiba, though, was that she found the problem to be a common one back in her time. There's no way it should have popped up here.
Kaiba looked mildly amused and replied, "Really? Even my top programmers are stumped. You think you can do better?"
Alex smiled and replied, "I know I can. I'm not saying I'll be able to solve it immediately, but I can think of a workaround for now."
As the two of them talked, Kaiba felt intrigued with Alex. He found her fascinating and liked getting to talk to her like this although he would never admit it to her.
As the lunch hour wound down, other students began to enter the classroom. Kaiba put away his tablet and said,
"We can talk about it more later."
Alex nodded, and as Yugi, Joey, and the others entered, Kaiba handed Alex an empty lunchbox and said,
"It was good. I wouldn't mind if you accidentally made more extra lunches."
Alex laughed a bit and shook her head, and Kaiba offered to take her empty coffee cup, which she happily accepted. As Kaiba quickly headed out of the room to throw away the cups, he looked at Joey and smirked at him. Joey gritted his teeth in frustration, and all this went unnoticed by Alex as she put away the empty lunchboxes and cleaned up her desk to get ready for afternoon classes.
After classes were over for the day, Alex quickly packed up her things, as she needed to change clothes and then wait for her ride to Kaiba Corp. But just as she was about to leave, Kaiba said,
"I'll take you to Kaiba Corp, and you can change clothes there."
Alex replied, "But-"
Kaiba got out of his seat and said, "I want to get there quickly."
Alex sighed and got out of her seat, too, following Kaiba out of the classroom. She waved goodbye to Yugi and the others although she noticed the sad look that Joey gave her.
Once Alex and Kaiba were outside, waiting for the limo, Alex said,
"I appreciate your offer, but isn't this weird? I mean, it's one thing to give me a ride to school, but to work?"
Kaiba replied, "It's just easier this way. Look, if anyone gives you a hard time, you can talk to me."
He gave Alex this soft look although it only lasted for a moment. Alex nodded and replied,
"Ok."
Alex smiled a bit before turning her gaze away from Kaiba. As the two of them waited for the limo, Alex's thoughts wandered. Although she wasn't completely sure about her feelings, at that moment, she knew she no longer hated him. Anyone who would do the things that Kaiba had done for her couldn't be totally bad. However, she couldn't ignore the fact that his future actions still caused problems, the foremost one with Andy's disappearance.
A few minutes later, the limo arrived, and Alex and Kaiba got inside. As the driver drove off heading to Kaiba Corp, Alex thought,
Should I get to know Kaiba better? Would that help put things in perspective?