Chapter 7
"Well, it's about time you admitted it, Serenity."
"Yeah, I know."
Serenity Wheeler sighed, and shifted her weight from one foot to the other, leaning on the wall post near the cafeteria. She and Tea had come here this morning when she told Tea that she was ready to spill the beans.
"I just can't believe it. You, a sweet and innocent girl, would fall for someone as deadly and evilly twisted as Seto Kaiba. It hardly seems like a match made in heaven." Tea commented. She took a bite off her biscuit. "In any case, Serenity, what's your point in telling me this?"
"Well, I think I need your advice on what to do about it. I just can't forget about him overnight, right?" Serenity sighed again.
"I guess you're right. Aside from the fact that if Joey somehow hears of this he will tear out his hair, and from the fact that Kaiba is not exactly the sweetest guy on earth… I'd say you're in a fix." Tea said nonchalantly, as if Serenity's problem wasn't all that huge. "Frankly speaking, crushes like this do fade. And that's what you can hope for in this type of situation. However, if you do like him this much, I'll help you get his attention. How does that sound?"
Serenity thought about what Tea just said, and made a quick reply. "That sounds okay, but… do you think Joey will get mad at me?"
"I daresay he will, but you're following your heart, Serenity. It's our choices that make us. What can Joey do if this is what you want?"
"Um… Joey can disown me as his sister?"
"Serenity! He'd never do that. I know Joey. He's sensitive and has a high ego, but for you, he'd do anything. Trust me, I'll deal with Joey when the time comes. So now can we focus on the plan to make Seto Kaiba fall head over heels in love with you?"
This time Serenity was convinced. "Game."
Meanwhile, as Serenity and Tea were busy with their scheme, there was another discussion between Tristan and Joey. "Come on, Joey, face it. You're a bad kisser." Tristan concluded, after hearing about Joey's encounter with Mai.
"Shut up! As if you've ever kissed a girl before, huh, Tristan?" Joey argued.
"Well I certainly know more about it than you do!"
"At least I've kissed her! You've never even had a girlfriend!"
"Experience, as you will learn, Joey, is not a matter discussed about kissing. It's about precision, passion, persuasion. Get what I mean?"
"Huh. What the heck!"
"You are so clueless, dude. Face it. Mai ran away from you because you are a terrible kisser!"
Joey opened his mouth to argue, but he ran out of words to say. What if Tristan was right? He could have sworn that Mai was kissing him back that time… but he couldn't deny the possibility of Tristan's conclusion.
"Fine. Don't you think she likes me, then?" Joey said.
"Considering that she practically ran away from you, Joey… I've got doubts about that." Tristan replied. "What about your sister, though? Do you think she likes me?"
Joey responded by kicking Tristan. "No way are you going near her, dude."
"Hey! I was just asking!"
"Still. You're not helping me at all."
"I am!! I'm giving you my honest opinions! Isn't that help enough?"
Joey didn't bother to reply. Tristan shuffled his feet in an annoyed fashion and strutted away. Instead, Yugi came to join his friend.
"Hey, Joey. You look down… Is there a problem?"
With Yugi's calm tone of voice, Joey felt compelled to share to him about his current situation with Mai. He explained what happened the night before, and narrated the events of his first day in the dumpster.
"Oh, no wonder you're feeling down. Don't worry, I'll talk to Mai if that will cheer you up." Yugi offered in a sincere tone.
"Really? You'd do that for me, Yugi? Oh, thanks." Joey said gratefully.
"Sure, no problem, pal. See you later." Yugi said, leaving Joey alone to mind his thoughts.
"Is there something you want to say, Yugi?"
"Actually, yeah, there is. It's about Joey." Yugi told Mai firmly, and upon hearing Joey's name, Mai sat down on the bench.
"What's wrong with Joey?" Mai asked.
"Well… he thinks that you might not like him after what he did, and he's been obsessing about the whole situation until now. He even argued with Tristan about it." Yugi said, choosing his words carefully. "It's just that, I think Joey might have a crush on you, Mai. I saw the glimmer in his eyes when he spoke about you. I just hope that by talking to you about this, you might straighten things out with him." Yugi exhaled, waiting for Mai's response.
Mai didn't respond for a full minute, and Yugi waited, thinking that she was organizing her thoughts about the whole dilemma.
"All right, Yugi. I'll talk to him. You're a good friend, Yugi, for sticking up for Joey like that." Mai commented, finally standing up. She patted him on the shoulder and went her way.
There was a loud, deafening crash as they were dropped on the floor, practically useless and immobilized. Everyone's head turned to witness the little accident and were surprised to figure out who caused all the racket.
"Hey, it's the new girl. Are you okay?" asked Ken Shimamura, turning to Serenity. She nodded, embarrassed, and Ken turned back to his work.
"Wheeler! What was that about?" her teacher came up before her this time. Serenity knew better, and began picking up her books. "Kaiba, help her pick up her books."
"Excuse me, but who are you to order me around." Seto Kaiba said in his arrogant, egotistic voice. It brought a rich melody to Serenity's ears.
"I'm still your sensei, Kaiba! Now do what I tell you!" the teacher said sternly, and Kaiba shot a final glare before bending over to help Serenity.
"You're gonna pay for this, Wheeler," he muttered in a low voice. Serenity couldn't disguise the gulp she made. She knew that when Kaiba threatened people, he threatened them well. She couldn't help but feel a little scared, but she had to stick to the plan.
"Thanks, Kaiba." She murmured once he roughly shoved the books into her arms, returning once more to his seat.
"Good. Now I hope I won't expect any more interruptions, Ms. Wheeler?" the teacher said, and turned once again to the blackboard, finishing the equation he was writing.
Serenity turned to Tea, who gave her a thumbs up sign and went back to work. Serenity couldn't help feeling a little uneasy as she bent over her work once more.
"Now, how was that for a shock? I think it's going well, Serenity." Tea said after class, bundling up her books and storing them in her locker.
"Yeah, I guess so." Serenity shrugged. She was preoccupied with playing the scene over and over in her mind, including Kaiba's threat. She knew this wasn't going to be easy.
"Oh, look, it's Misuko." Tea said, as she watched the pretty dark haired girl make her way towards her rich boyfriend. Kaiba was nonchalantly carrying his briefcase, as his girlfriend locked him in a tight embrace. Serenity cringed with jealousy, wishing she was Misuko.
"Tea, I can't stand this scene any longer." Serenity said, starting to lead Tea away from the public display of affection. She made the wrong move, but realized it too late.
She was brushing past Kaiba in attempt to get away from the hallway. Before consciousness hit her, she was on the ground.
There were murmurings all around, at the impact when she hit the floor. She didn't even realize the pain. She looked up at Kaiba to see his reaction, but he was satisfied, with a ghastly sneer on his face.
"I told you you'd pay for it, Wheeler." He said cruelly, and strode away with Misuko, who didn't bother to know what happened.
"Serenity!! Are you okay?" two voices said in unison, gathering above her. It was Tea, and Ken Shimamura who bent down to lift her from the floor. She took their hands, still in shock at what happened.
"What happened, anyway?" Serenity asked Tea, brushing dirt off her skirt.
"Kaiba tripped you. You shouldn't have attempted to pass right beside him, Serenity. I should have warned you." Tea answered.
"Are you okay?" Ken asked in pure concern.
"Yes, I'm fine." Serenity replied. Though she wasn't, still mortified by the scene that just occurred. Kaiba intentionally embarrassed her by tripping her in the hallway. She couldn't push the thought off her mind.
Tea, as if reading her blank stare, began to drag her away from the madness in the hallway, away from Ken Shimamura, to the cafeteria.
A/N: End of Chapter 7… to be continued. Find out in Chapter 8 how Mai will confront Joey, and what happens to Serenity next. Stay tuned!