Disclaimer: I... do... not... own...
A/N: And here's movement 4! A quick look at what Joey has to say about the relationship...
Movement 4: Confusion in a Different Key
"Thank you," Téa said softly as the waiter took her menu. He nodded discreetly and glided away back into dark depths he came from. Joey was still looking at her like a kicked puppy, mouth gaping over wasted words and unasked questions. She sighed. "Ok Joey. We can talk about it now."
With wide eyes and a heart full of disbelief he voiced one word. "Why?"
Téa laughed quietly, and smiled to herself in fond remembrance behind a hand. "Somehow... I knew that would be the first thing out of your mouth. Before you say anything else though, please give me a chance to explain. You can ask any questions you like afterwards. Ok?"
He didn't even acknowledge she said anything, just kept that look of puzzlement and confusion- a befuddling combination- on his face.
She sighed. "How about I just tell the story? It's really thanks to you that we ever found each other. If you had shown up to school that day and been my lab partner, then Seto and I probably would have continued to despise each other. You might think that it's a bad thing, but I'm grateful! I like him, Joey; I like him a lot."
She laughed. "Kind of ironic that the class was chemistry, wasn't it? They always say that two people have to have 'chemistry' for a relationship to work, you know. It makes sense, too- balancing equations is just like the different qualities balancing each other out in a relationship. Seto's ridiculously practical, and I tend to let my emotions run away with my common sense. His sense of humor is severely lacking, and I'm always up for a joke and I constantly tease him. We... We really work well together."
Joey still didn't speak.
Almost forgetting he was still there with her, Téa went on, losing herself in her story and the memories- things becoming clearer as she analyzed them out-loud.
"There was very little attraction to begin with; I thought that he was a nearly perfect physical specimen, but his attitude was so nasty and he was so arrogant and mean that I couldn't possibly see him as anything other than a jerk. At that point, his looks didn't even matter. But... Well, I didn't actually get to know him that much better over the course of the project. I suppose that I might have started to understand him a bit more, but he was still being a royal ass."
She blushed a little and said, "I don't want you to think badly of me or anything, but honestly what initially brought us together was... He's just incredibly hot, alright? I had spent three days with him working on that chemistry with him in close quarters, and he just got harder and harder to ignore. It just... happened, you know?
"We snapped, and suddenly we had to face the consequences. I was so afraid that all of you would hate me; I know that it might be a little paranoid and silly, but think about how much you've always said you hated him! That's one of the reasons that we kept the relationship a secret for so long- I was terrified that you wouldn't accept it. And I was at least partially right, wasn't I? Well, Yugi obviously handled it well. He's so kind and easy-going, it takes a lot to really get him riled up."
Their food arrived then, and she took a quick pause to have a bite or two. Joey seemed to regain his higher functions as well, finally moving enough to lift his fork and bring it to his mouth. They ate in silence, the atmosphere still uncomfortable but slowly fading into familiarity and ease.
Picking at the remnants of her delicious dinner, Téa continued with her tale.
"Well, to continue: things started off roughly- we both chose to deny everything and try and go on normally. Except things weren't really normal between us anymore. And he's so damn stubborn that if I hadn't left my binder over there he probably would have gone on ignoring me." She paused a moment to smile.
"Luckily, things worked out. They worked out beautifully- I could hardly have written a better love story. I mean... Ok, so maybe falling for the bad boy isn't exactly original, and maybe the rich-tall-icy-gorgeous-neutral guy that Seto happens to be isn't exactly the most original personality type ever. But that doesn't matter. He makes me feel like I'm special, we have the most interesting conversations, and... regardless of what you may believe, I know that he cares about me. Even if it is in his own way, he shows me just how much time and time again. He... er..."
Her face reddened, and she looked down at her plate. There were some things that friends just didn't need to know.
"Um, and he's actually really interesting when you get to know him. And he's brilliant- it isn't just rumor or advertising or anything; he honestly amazes me sometimes. Of course, he makes up for brain-power with his unsurpassable stupidity when it comes to emotions, mine or his own. He has no idea how to handle any type of feelings, and all he can do is glare and insult things as a poor defense mechanism." She laughed. "It's actually kind of cute."
They had finished eating, and the check had arrived. Deciding to be nice- and knowing without doubt Joey wouldn't have any money- Téa just paid the bill. She had dragged him out there, after all.
They both stood, and were preparing to leave. "But I guess, the most important thing of all," she said in closing as they walked towards the door, "is how I feel about him. He makes my heart want to burst, Joey." She didn't meet his eyes and blustered through her next words. "Wh-when he speaks I can hear his smile, when he holds me I can feel the strength of his own feelings. And I... I love him. That's all there is to it."
She had planned on going to Yugi's afterwards, to give Joey some time for her talk to sink in. The restaurant wasn't far from the game shop, and the weather was perfect for a walk. "That's why I want to be with him; can you understand?"
Joey stopped walking, and turned to face her. He blinked slowly and took a deep breath to prepare for what he had to say.
"But Téa... WHY?"
End A/N: Alright! I really liked that! It didn't turn out quite as... er, humorous as I had hoped it would, but the effect's basically the same either way. Please review and tell me what you thought- I appreciate it! Thanks,
ILB