Atem glared at the board in front of him, the rhythmic tapping and scratching of the chalk against the board with each motion of the teacher's arm filling the air. It only added to the scratching of lead to paper as everyone took notes. He was even taking notes! It was a habit he had regrown in Terry's absence, taking detailed notes in order to give to her. Help her keep up with the class, but he never gave them. They sat in his backpack, better set as fodder for fire instead of notes.

Why did I even bother? All of her friends were writing her notes for her. Jonouchi is even doing it. He grumbled to himself as he flipped through the filled pages. Why was he still doing it? She was back, she could take her own notes. Gaddammit, the fuck am I doing?! He sighed heavily as he dropped his pencil and slouched in his seat as he agitatedly ran his fingers through his hair. This was not him. Sitting in class, note taking, socializing, and caring for people was not him. However, he was not what he used to be either. He was not with Anzu, Kyouhei and her were no longer his friends, and he was no longer ditching class. What is me? He stared at his desk with a hard frown. I don't even fucking know anymore.

Thinking on his past, he only found himself grimacing now. Why was he ever proud of those antics? It was just so immature. He never wanted Yugi to know any of it. He never wanted any of his family to know of it. Hell, I want to forget it. He thinks as he winced at some memories that surface as he slouched even more. The sour churn of his gut and reflexive clenching of his jaw had him played continuously at each reminder. Balling his hands in to fists he took a deep breath and sat up once again. Get a fucking grip of yourself. That shit happened. Not like you can do anything about it.

In need of a distraction he looked at the time. Lunch was still so far away and the class never seemed longer than ever before. Is this how time usually passes? When did it get to be so long? I'm going insane. He groaned inwardly as he picked up his pencil again. At least note taking helped passed the time.

Terry glanced over at Atem, watching him shift and squirm in his seat. It was quite the curious sight, but it was entertaining all the same. She really wondered what he was thinking, his perspective was always refreshing and new to her. Resting her chin on her hand, she watched his body slip and slide about in the seat, his knees spreading wide in the slouch and closing when sitting up. His lips were in a constant frown though and his brows were furrowed, a shadowed look in his eyes. Her heart thumped in her chest at the sight, lurching in her throat a bit. She did not like him looking like that.

What could I do though? She sighed, looking at the board once more before looking down at her notebook. Slipping out her phone she quickly glanced at her texts.

What would you do if you saw someone you care about upset and want to help out, but don't know how to do it without them denying and fighting? She sent to her new found text friend.

Straight up ask. Idling isn't gonna do anything, the response came quickly.

I guess, but what if you haven't talked in a long time?

Rip it off like tape stuck on your arm. It's gonna hurt but done sooner.

I guess…I'll try it. Thanks. She sighed once more as she looked back to the board, resuming her notetaking like the rest of the class. The rhythmic sound broken by the sudden snore from her right. Jonouchi had fallen asleep once more. Giving a sharp nudge to his delicately balanced elbow, he jumped awake with a shout of some answer about history. The math teacher turned to look at him with a raised brow.

"I-I, uh, I was just…yeah." He slowly sat back down in his seat and picked up his pencil and hid behind his book while the class broke out in to fits of giggles and laughter. With a slight headshake the teacher turned back to board and class resumed as usual.

"Finally," Jonouchi shouted at the start for lunch. The teacher glared at him on the way out which led to a childish sneer from the troublesome blonde. "Not my fault you make class so boring!"

"You could've waited until class ended you know." Terry snickered, cleaning up her desk and grabbing her lunch. "I'll see you later ok? I'm headed to the roof." She pointed up.

"Oh, I'll join you!" Minako chimed in from behind.

"Oh, uh, no. Uhm, I have to talk to someone. My dad, sorry, not someone. My dad." She quickly corrected herself and showed her phone. "He's worried about me so I wanna just let him know I'm ok." She explained, not sure why she had not told them she would be eating lunch with Atem. The sudden question had her panicked and she said the first thing that came to mind. I do need to call my dad though. "I'll see you guys later ok?" She smiled and waved on her way out. She quickly fled down the hall, Atem still in the classroom.

Talk to her father huh? I guess I'm an embarrassment to her after all. He thought, his lips turned down in to a frown as he stood frozen in place. He had gotten up to actually walk her to lunch on the roof when he heard her excuse. Serves me right I guess. He sighed and sauntered out of the classroom and slowly made his way up to the roof with a slight drag in his step. He took a small detour to some vending machines, grabbing a drink to elongate the time it took to get there. He found himself standing at the door sooner than expected still, hesitant to open.

She lied to her friends, she's clearly just like every other lying bitch. He scowled. But you're the reason why she lied though…always bitchin' about people seeing you two together. He sighed. That's no excuse to say a lie like calling her dad though…the fuck does she think I am?! He ruffled his hair in frustration and turned to leave back down the steps. Serves her right for lying. He made his way through, only to be greeted with sunlight. He had gone three steps down before running out on to the roof to see her on the phone talking to her father. So she wasn't lying? But wait, she said she wanted to meet up for lunch…then…what the fuck?! I'm overthinking this all over again! He slumped down to his feet, his head between his knees as he took a few deep breaths. This girl is driving him crazy and she had no clue.

Terry had heard the door open just as she hung up on the phone, turning to see Atem crouched down on the floor. She stared at him a little confused as she stepped closer and crouched down beside him.

"Uhm…Atem, are you ok?" She asked, hesitantly placing a hand on his shoulder. His body was so warm, just like when he carried held her hand. His body flinched at her touch, tensing for a moment before relaxing once more. There was a muffled response from him that had her confused and even more concerned. "Is your stomach hurting? Maybe I should go call someone or the nurse?" She started to stand when his hand suddenly grabbed at her arm above her elbow to keep her there.

"No, I'm fine I said." He repeated a little louder though he refused to raise his head. He knew there was a blush there that was far beyond any attempt to hide. He just needed a moment and having more people here would just cause a commotion. "Why'd you ask to have lunch if you needed to call your dad?"

"Huh? Oh, I wanted to have lunch with you." She answered simply as she sat cross-legged on the floor, careful of her skirt. "I promised I'd call my dad though, to let him know I'm fine."

"You told your friend you were just going to talk to him."

"Oh, well…they wanted to have lunch and you don't like company just yet. Well last time we had lunch you didn't like company." She frowned a little. "Do you want them to join us? I don't mind but…I wanted to have lunch with you like we usually do since it's been awhile. We can invite them next time. Is that ok?" Her voice had dropped to an almost whisper, loud enough for him to hear though avoiding any hidden ears if there were any. She was afraid to offend him if he did prefer company now, his lack of any real concern since that day at her house had her a little worried.

Yeah, that's definitely ok with me. He thought, yanking her forward. The sudden motion had caught her off guard, her body reflexively tensed to try and cushion the impact of their bodies colliding as she shut her eyes. The impact never came though. The only sensation that came was the sudden pressure and warmth of something smooth firmly pressed against her lips. The slight lingering taste and smell of fruit hit her senses along with his scent. A faded touch of tobacco to his usual sandalwood. Her eyes fly open the instant it all hits her, watching him pull away. It was certainly her time to blush as she mouth falls open slightly before as her eyes grow wide with realization. A smug smirk curls on his lips as he pressed their foreheads together.

"Being along with you is perfectly fine with me." He whispered and she squeaked in response. With a chuckle he pulled away, watching as she tried to gather herself and her voice. Her brain was not working to her advantage at all as I replayed what just happened on an infinite loop.

"W-what was that?"

"A kiss," he snickered.

"I know that! I just, what-why?" She tried to formulate a proper sentence and her lack of ability at the moment was pure amusement to Atem. In her frustration she pushed at his shoulders a bit. "That was-you should warn people! Y-you can't just up and kiss just anyone one you know that!" She argued when he caught her by the elbows once again.

"I didn't just kiss anyone…I kissed you." He said, a sudden stern expression on his face which easily silenced her for the moment. "I don't just kiss anyone either…not anymore anyways…I don't do that. I'm not like that anymore and it's because of you. I kissed you."

"Why though? You call me annoying and meddlesome! You've made a set point to say I'm childish and weird too you know!"

"I do, I still stand by all that and I still think you're a lost cause when it comes to avoiding trouble. You're a born magnet for shit." He sighed, but a slight smile soon followed. His expression was serene, charming as he kept her hair from falling her face at the sudden breeze. "You're overly considerate and you make people worry. You spent time with an ass like me and even saved my brother who was a total stranger. You have a unique sense of not caring about insults to you but you're overly righteous when it comes to others. You're unpredictable yet predictable all the same. You're genuine and kind…spending time with me and even making lunch for me. I…I like you." He whispered, his gaze dropping to her lips once more before he pulled her in to another kiss. His warm hand cupped her cheek as the other gripped at her elbow, keeping her in place. Her lips were slightly chapped and she was definitely not used to this. He had a hunch this was a possible new thing for her but dismissed it.

She had been silently staring at him in awe until his face came closer. Quickly shutting her eyes at the second kiss, a little more prepared but still very much under skilled as well as overwhelmed. Her cheeks burned with a blush that would make the sun shy away from its heat, her heart thumped at her chest as time seemed to slow to an almost halt yet it was over in an instant as he pulled away once more. Licking her dry lips nervously she gripped at his sleeves.

This is all way too sudden! Since when? She wracked her brain for some sort of clue but she found herself unable to look passed his many expressions and smiles over the months they had spent time together. Her gaze dropped to the floor before looking back at him. "I-I didn't know…I don't know what to say or do. I never thought of this sorta thing before."

"So you actually never kissed someone before?" He asked and she shook her head. "Can't say I'm surprised…I had a feeling that'd be the case. You've been all around absorbed in history." He flicked her nose, grinning a little. "Can't say I'm not glad to be your first though…I'll teach you lots more. Don't worry." He purred a little and leaned closer, the sudden shift in his tone had her fumbling back on to her butt as she tried to stay away.

"I know what more entails thank you very much! Even if I've never been with someone, doesn't mean I'm dumb enough to just go blindly! Don't make me bite you again."

"Maybe I like biting," he smirked at her and watched as her face went from confusion to realization and then red all over again.

"Ew, no! Not what I meant! You're a closet pervert aren't you?"

"Closet pervert? Hardly in the closet since I am saying it to you out here on the roof you know."

"Then a rooftop pervert! I don't know, just pervertedness!" She scowled at him, the sudden outburst earning a hearty laugh from him in response. Standing up, he pulled her up with him and dusted her off. "E-either way, I don't…I can't say I like you like that just yet. I know I like you, but this is more." She said seriously, being upfront with him about this.

"I know…things are going to be a lot more fun now." He grinned, pulling her in to a hug.

"You're just lining me up for a series of heart attacks." She mumbled against his shoulder, her heart pounding against her chest. She had no idea he liked her and she had never given thought to liking him like this. However, she was not against this though and even the kisses.

"Yeah well, now you know how I feel when you do stupid shit like collapsing in gym or suddenly biting me." He snorted back as he let her go. "So lunch?" He yawned a stretched as he plopped down next to the fence. Quickly she followed and set the lunch out, a sandwich for him and one for herself. Everything was back to normal, but a better normal as he sat there relieved he was able to get that all off of his chest.