Chapter 17

Lindsey POV

There wasn't a sound to be heard except for the beeping of the machine, and the soft voices calling her name. She didn't know where she was, all she did know was that she was in pain. Her eyes were closed as she tried to make sense of things. She could feel her face was swollen, and her entire body was sore. Slowly, everything was coming back to her.

The pep rally.

She had fallen. At least 7 feet, trying to protect the one she loved.

I hope it worked… you would think me falling to my near death would distract a crowd.

She focused on the voices, trying to recognize one of them. One was definitely Mai. The other was Joey, and Serenity? Much to her disappointment, she never heard Yami's voice. She forced her eyes open.

"Oh thank god you're awake!" Mai had grabbed hold of her for a tight embrace.

"We we're worried about ya Linds!"

"Yea! But I'm glad you woke up!"

Lindsey spoke in a weak voice. "Thanks guys. Serenity, I'm glad you're here, but don't you have school?" She giggled.

"I guess you wouldn't know being unconscious in the hospital and all. My mom agreed to let me transfer to Domino High so I could be closer to Joey. I start tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? But today's only Friday." Mai grabbed her hand.

"Lindsey, it's Sunday."

"I've been out for two days?" She said surprisingly. Mai's face grew apologetic.

"More like two weeks." Lindsey gasped. "On the bright side, you woke up just in time for homecoming, and even though you haven't been there, you and Yugi won junior class prince and princess. You get to ride in the parade!"

"Mai! No! I've been out for two weeks! Who knows what Lucian could have done, or worse Seto! What happened after I hit the ground, did Seto keep talking?"

"No. For once in his life, he was speechless. In fact, he's the one who brought you those." Mai pointed to the bedside table. There was an array of roses in every color imaginable. It was a breathtaking sight.

The bastard feels bad. Good. He deserves to live with the guilt.

"Has Yami came to visit?" She said the question, as if she didn't want to get her hopes up.

"Yea. He was here all day yesterday with Tristan, and he comes at least once a day." She looked at Joey.

"Is he pissed at all?" Joey looked confused

"Why would he be pissed?"

"Didn't Seto…?" Lindsey tried to remember exactly what Seto had said before she fell, but was having no luck. Lindsey just had to assume her little secret was kept quiet. Mai, Serenity, and Joey looked at her questioningly.

"Didn't Seto what?" Mai asked. Lindsey shook her head.

"Nothing. Not important. Can someone give me my phone? I'd like to talk to him. I prefer to see him face to face, but I'll take what I can get."

"He should be here within the hour. I'll call him now ta tell him dat your awake."

"Thanks Joey!" Joey nodded and left the room to make the call. Serenity placed her hand on Lindsey's.

"How are you feeling?"

"Sore. And, I'd like to see a mirror. To see the damage to my face." Serenity grabbed a mirror off the bedside table.

"It was worse." She said as she handed Lindsey the mirror. She looked at herself. Her left eye was red, and there was faint bruising around her right. Her face wasn't swollen like she thought, but her lip had definitely been busted open. It was nearly healed now. She scowled at herself.

"It's nothing a little makeup can't fix." Mai encouraged.

"Yea lets hope. Did I sprain anything? Any fractures?"

"Nope. Doctors said you were pretty lucky to just have a couple bruises and a busted lip."

"Am I allowed to get up? As much as I would love to sit here and watch TV all day, I'm feeling a little stiff."

"I'll get the nurse." Serenity left the room. Mai and Lindsey stared at each other.

"A normal life. All I want is to have a normal life, Mai!"

"Falling off a pyramid in front of 5000 students is normal. It could happen to any cheerleader!" Lindsey gave her a deadpan look. "Okay sorry. But hey. Look on the Brightside. This Saturday is the homecoming dance. We get to go shopping for a dress, and you and Yugi get to spend the entire night together, not to mention this entire week is going to be fun. Homecoming is the best. It's every normal high school student's highlight of their year. You'll see." Lindsey gave a small smile. Maybe this week would be the time of her life.

"Does the dance at least have a theme?" Mai gave a nervous smile.

"Uh… Duel monsters… Everyone on the court is going to duel each other. Including the princes and princesses…"

"WHAT!?" Lindsey bolted to an upright position. She immediately regretted it as a searing pain radiated through her. She clutched her head and she slowly lay back down.

"Easy there. You don't duel Yugi, you tag team against others. It's a competition to see which class is best. The students are gambling on it though. A lot of people are betting a lot of money the junior class is going to annihilate the others, and you'd be a fool to doubt it."

Lindsey gave a weak smile, feeling stupid for her outburst. Just then, a petite blonde in a white nursing outfit walked in. "Lindsey?" Her voice was high pitched and annoying. "Glad you're awake. I'm your nurse, Sara. How are you feeling?" Lindsey looked at her.

"Shitty." She smirked.

Sara was a little taken aback. "Okay. Can you tell me why."

Lindsey rolled her eyes. "I fell about seven feet, I've been knocked out for two weeks, and now, I'm hungry. You do the math."

Sara looked hurt. "I'll go get you something to eat." She left the room. Mai shot a scowl towards Lindsey.

"You should really be nicer to the women who is handling your medication!"

"She asked stupid questions."

Mai sighed. "Where is Yugi..?"

"Good question." Then, almost as if on cue, Yami walked in. Immediately Lindsey's eyes brightened.

"Lindsey, the nurse says you're being difficult. Stop being a shit head." He smirked at her. A wide smile broke out onto Lindsey's face. Mai slipped out of the room as Yami rushed up to embrace Lindsey. Immediately, she started to cry.

He stroked her hair. "Don't cry. Please. Everything's okay now." She was still sobbing.

"I'm so sorry. For everything. I'm such a bitch, and you deserve so much better."

"There is no one better. Forget everything. Lets push it in the past, and focus on the future."

How am I so lucky? I honestly did nothing to deserve something so great.

"So, were the junior class prince and princess?" He gave her a triumphant smile. She gave a small laugh.

"Yea. I heard. I also heard we're favored to win this class dueling tournament thing."

"Yup! Should be fun" Yami looked like he was genuinely excited about this tournament. Lindsey wasn't to stoked, but with the way Yami treats her, the least she could do was make him just as happy.

"So, when can I get out of here and enjoy my "normal" life?"

"Should be okay to leave tonight Ms. Walsh." A tall, attractive man in a white coat walked in. He extended a hand to Lindsey. She took it. "Dr. Pern. I've been watching over you. How do you feel?"

"Uh… tired. I just really want to go home. I want to see my friends."

"And family right?" Lindsey grew quiet.

"I don't live with my family."

"Why is that?"

"One half is crazy, the other half I'm pretty sure wants me dead." Her voice was like ice but the doctor wasn't fazed.

"Oh. Come on now. I'm sure Lance means well." He gave a wicked smile.

Lindsey's face drained when the realization set in. "You work with him. You work for Lucian!" She launched herself out of bed. She was wearing a hospital gown with nothing but a neon pink thong underneath. She didn't care. She charged the doctor but he ducked out of the way before she could impact with him. He was laughing, thoroughly enjoying himself. "Fight back you coward!"

"Lindsey!" Yami grabbed her by the waist to hold her back.

"Lindsey dear, do you know what Lance would do to me if I hurt you? He wouldn't be very happy to say the least."

"I don't give two fucks. Why are you here?" Her eyes widened. "Yami? My deck! Where is it?"

"I don't know. I thought it was locked up?"

"Get Joey, Mai, and Serenity. They should be down the hall."

"I'm not leaving you!"

"DO IT!" She shoved him off of her.

"What is going on here?" Mai walked in along with Joey and Serenity. They froze when they saw Lindsey crouched to fight.

"He's not a doctor. He works for Lucian." Joey wasted no time charging the man. This time he couldn't duck out of the way and he was taken down to the ground. Joey delivered a nice punch to the face and he was out cold.

"I don't know how long he'll be out for, but we betta go before he wakes up."

"Lindsey can't just leave the hospital." Mai exclaimed.

"Watch me." Lindsey walked to her bedside dresser to grab the flowers Seto had left, and started to walk out the door.

"Uh, Linds? Ya know your gown is backless, right?"

"I give no fucks!" She exclaimed as she stormed out the door.

I'd call him if I had that option, but considering the circumstances, I can't ask for that protection. I need him most, but this is a situation that needs to run its course, and Seto can hold on to something forever. Good luck to me.

Lindsey was home, changed into sweats and a tank top. She was sitting cross-legged on her couch drinking tea. Her deck had been safely locked away in her safe like she had left it, giving Lindsey a new form of peace.

Yami and Mai were keeping her company, though Mai had fallen asleep and Yami was sorting through his deck planning new strategies.

I wonder if Yami knows that the people we'll be dueling have little to no dueling experience. We don't need to plan out a strategy or anything… but I need to get a bunch of dresses. After all, I'm a princess.

"Yami?" He looked up at her.

"Something wrong?" She shook her head.

"I don't have anything to wear for the upcoming week." He looked confused. Lindsey sighed. "Switch to Yugi." Yami obeyed and Yugi was in charge.

"What's up Linds?"

"You do know that all this week we're required to dress formal right? We don't wear our school uniforms."

"I'm pretty sure that's optional. I prefer my uniform anyway."

"It's not optional. I'm going to look cute and I want Yami to match. I'm never going to get this chance again." She sounded like a brat but Yugi went along with it.

"Until next year when we're nominated for King and Queen?" Lindsey contemplated this and thought they probably would be nominated. They're pretty famous, but then again, so is Seto. Speaking of Seto, Lindsey knew she shouldn't instigate him, but she had to talk to him. She had to get away.

"You're probably right, but I want to look cute this year so I need to go shopping right now!" She set her tea on the coffee table, and jumped off the couch. She grabbed her purse, keys and phone and was out the door.

"Umm….." Yugi was confused as the spirit of the puzzle told him to follow her.

It had felt like forever since she stepped foot in the lobby of Kaiba Corp. Missy no longer worked there, that was probably Lindsey's fault. Now it was a petite brunette with long curly hair and green eyes.

Gee. Wonder who that's supposed to look like…

"You?"

Good job…

The new receptionist didn't even bother to stop Lindsey. She walked right to the elevator and made her way up to Seto's office. His back was turned to the door. He was looking out the window and obviously on his phone. Lindsey let herself in anyway.

"See to it that it gets done." He clicked the off button on his phone and heavily sighed. He was obviously frustrated.

Lindsey leaned against the doorframe and crossed her arms. "Stressed out much?" Seto turned at the sound of Lindsey's voice.

"Just tired of dealing with idiots." His tone was icy. "Why are you here?"

"Lucian." Seto's body stiffened. "My doctor at the hospital wasn't really a doctor. He worked for Lucian. Had my friends not been there, I don't know what would have happened." Lindsey locked eyes with Seto. She slowly started to walk towards him. "I need your help. Whether you give it to me or not is entirely your choice." She stopped when she stood in front of him. Her eyes stayed locked with his. "But I would appreciate it. I know I need to face him, but I need time. I'm no where near prepared."

Seto took a deep breath. "I'm only agreeing because I'm the reason you were hurt. I'll hire the best security I can find. You better start preparing. Time is just about the only thing I can't buy." A small smile formed on Lindsey's face.

"Thank you. And I loved the flowers."

"Mokuba's idea." The smile vanished, but quickly returned when she let out a giggle.

"Tell your brother I love him." Seto nodded. "Oh! Is Paula here today?"

"Yes? Why?" Seto looked confused.

"Well, she's the reason why you always look great, I figured maybe she could help with homecoming week?" Seto walked to his desk and pressed a button.

"Paula, Lindsey Walsh will be down in 5. Make sure to accommodate to her every need." Lindsey heard squealing on the other line. Seto hung up. "She's always wanted to work with you." Lindsey raised a brow.

OKAY?...

Lindsey stood in her room looking at the five beautiful dresses in front of her.

"That Paula girl is amazing. These are stunning!"

Yea they are.

"You don't seem happy."

I am. That just felt like such a business deal. Our friendship is damaged and I don't know how to get it back to normal.

"On the bright side, he hasn't brought up you defeating Yami in a duel, and I don't think he will again."

Yea. But at what cost.

Lindsey and Lyris' conversation was cut off by a knocking at the door.

That's weird. I'm not expecting company.

She opened the door and Yugi and Joey stood there.

"We know dat ya went ta go see Kaiba." Lindsey's eyes slightly widened. "Don't worry, we don't care why, but we do care about helpin' out you and Lyris." Joey and Yugi lifted their arms to reveal their duel disks. "And we're startin' now."

Lindsey took a deep breath in, and exhaled loudly. Her voice became small. "I'm never going to have a normal life am I?"

"Not as long as you're friends with us!" Yugi said cheerily. Lindsey laughed.

"Alright. Let's do this." She opened the door wider and let them in. While she closed it, Joey spoke.

"Heya Lindsey?" Lindsey turned. "This is going ta be da most memorable week of ya high school career." Lindsey looked confused. "Happy Hoco!"

"And may the odds be ever in your favor." Yugi chimed in. Lindsey widely grinned.

"In favor of ya liver." Joey added. Lindsey laughed out loud.

"I have a feeling homecoming is going to be more memorable than we're expecting Linds."

Me too Lyris. Me too.