Still trapped and surrounded in that dark alley, Joey tried to prepare himself for whatever these girls had in mind. He wasn't afraid of Sam, Amber and Lynn much now, but he knew he was still outnumbered.

"Honestly, did you really think you were gonna get away from us that easily Joey? Did you really think we would just move on and forget about it?" Sam was telling him. "Of course not! Me and my two girlfriends always get the last laugh!"

"Right. Can we speed this up and get this over with?" Joey said "I've got better things to be doing right now."

"Hehehehe" Sam laughed. "You got a lot of nerve kid."

"Look, I didn't mean to have to ditch you three back at that old underground dungeon and leave you hanging," Joey spoke up humorously "but ya'll made me do it."

"We know the story bud: you were desperate to get out and try to save your 'one true love' Tea, and you managed to do it. So then tell me, why isn't Tea here with you right now?" Sam taunted him.

Amber and Lynn behind Joey laughed at him. This defiantly struck a nerve for Joey, but at the same time a tear almost came down as he still felt guilty about not being able to save Tea. But there was still a bit of hope. "You've got nothing left Joey. Why bother? Why bother trying to get her back? Why bother trying to get away from us?" Sam told him.

That's when Amber and Lynn began to move toward him, ready to take him down and get some revenge!

"Ladies, don't make me….." Joey saw them coming but didn't know what to do.

They took out a couple of sticks. With his back turned, Sam came after him as if to kick him. Joey quickly turned and caught her foot. But at that same moment, Amber and Lynn hit him in the spine, knocking him to his knees. They both tried to tackle him down and restrain him, but Joey wrestled away from them, only to have Sam kick him in the gut back down.

Joey got up with his back to the wall as they surrounded him. All at once they tried to beat him down at the time, but Joey fought through the punches and shoved his way out, and made a run for it!

Now running again, Joey dashed out as the girls furiously dashed after him. Joey came back out onto the main road. Sam, Amber and Lynn were about to come out, but then stopped as they noticed how many people and witnesses were on the street. Too shy to want to come out of the alley, they stood there and looked at Joey, who looked back angrily. Joey with a mad yet scared face looked back at them, but with no choice, turned around and walked away. Hopefully that would be the end of that, Joey thought, as he moved on.

Then when morning came…..

The sun shined brightly through the windows in Mai's bedroom as she began to wake up. She rolled over and threw her arm out to wrap around Tea next to her…

… but her arm only touched the bed.

Shocked, Mai suddenly opened her eyes at the empty spot on the bed. Tea wasn't there anymore!

It was later that day. Joey was out walking in the park. It was still a week before the final rounds of Kaiba's tournament when a winner for his island trip would be declared, though at this point, Joey looked to be the odds on favorite of winning, though if Mai and/or Tea still wanted to win, they still had a chance.

He was looking down into a water fountain. All he could think about at that moment was the thought of going on that trip without Tea. Joey wondered if he would ever get a chance to regain Tea's love, if she would come to her senses.

"Well what if she really doesn't wanna?" Joey was beginning to talk to himself. "I mean, after all we'd been through, surly she'd still love me and wanna come back. Or what if she really is happy with Mai." He sighed. "Well, I know Mai's happy without me. But who am I to say Tea really would come back to me?"

"You know" a voice suddenly interrupted him "I don't ever recall you talking to yourself so desperately before!"

The voice surprised Joey, but he knew who it was. He turned around and saw Mai right there behind him!

Surprised to see her, Joey just looked at her in silence for a moment. He wasn't too excited.

"I guess you finally got what you wanted" Mai said.

"What are you doing here?" Joey said. "Just what are you talking about?"

"Tea left." Mai said.

"What!" Joey suddenly said in shock.

"I woke up this morning and Tea wasn't there" Mai said. "She's gone."

"What is this some kind of a joke?" Joey asked.

"No!" Mai shouted. "I'm serious. She's really gone!"

At first he didn't believe her, but now Joey realized Mai really was being serious. Joey gave Mai a curious look.

"So then what happened?" Joey said. "What did you do to her to make you leave?"

"I didn't." Mai said. "I didn't do anything to her. She just vanished out of thin air. She didn't leave any kind of message explaining why; she didn't give me any hint she wanted to leave; nothing. I don't what happened. I don't know where she is anymore!"

"Wow." Joey said.

Mai frowned at him. She was both angry and depressed. "Congratulations. I don't know what it was you did last night that convinced Tea to leave me, but I guess it worked!" she told Joey.

"What? Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?" Joey asked.

"Why don't you tell me" Mai turned her head and walked to the fountain. She looked at the water coming out from the top, at the blurry fuzzy reflections of her and Joey in the water.

"What ever happened to us Joey?" Mai began talking. "You and I had everything, and we threw it all away?"

Joey looked to her strangely.

"For so long, it was like you and I were perfect for each other, like soulmates. We did everything together." Mai was feeling confused. "We were the perfect couple. And then everything just came crashing down."

"Where are you going with this?" Joey suspiciously asked.

"Come on Joey. You and I have been together for a long time. We know each other better than anyone else. Don't you at all feel bad about what happened between us?"

Joey thought about it for a moment and just shook his head. "I wish I could feel bad about it Mai, but you just pushed me to the breaking point!"

"I didn't mean to Joey" Mai said. "and you know that."

"Then why did you?" Joey said angrily. "It's always been about you, not me. It's always been about doing what you wanted, when you wanted, and how you wanted. It was never about what I wanted! I loved everything we did and the sexual relationship we had, but you were just too controlling of my life and my freedom. You were just too selfish."

"I'm sorry" Mai spoke up. "I thought you understood."

"Well you never did understand things my way" Joey said. "That's why we're here right now! And that's why Tea is gone."

Joey began to walk away. Mai ran up and out in front of him and stopped him.

"So that's all you have to say?" Mai asked. "Just look at me. I'm sorry about everything that happened. I've forgiven you already."

"I'd forgive you to Mai" Joey said. "but you have to face the facts. You and I have nothing left for each other."

Joey proceeded to continue walking on, when Mai pulled him toward her and kissed him.

"I wouldn't try to say that just yet." Mai said. Then she let him go and she walked on and left herself.

Joey stunned and surprised was about to try and follow her, but then stopped. He turned the other way and left himself.

Wow, this just keeps getting better and better Joey thought to himself sarcastically. He was shaking his head in confusion with mixed feeling of anger and curiosity. First he finds out Tea left Mai and just mysteriously vanished, then had that encounter with Mai. I guess I finally settled the score with her Joey thought, but now Mai is saying she's sorry and wants Joey back.

Joey tried to call Tea on her cell phone. But he got no response. Joey could only wonder what she was feeling right now. Poor Tea, she thought. She's been through so much trying to figure out who she really loves and what she wants. Joey felt ashamed; like he was the one responsible for putting Tea through all of this. And now God only knew where she was located right now. Joey hoped she was okay. He tried Tea's cell phone once again, but still no answer.

He wasn't sure what to think of Mai. He knew something was up with her, but he couldn't figure it out. Is this just another one of Mai's tricks Joey thought. It would seem rather akward to go from physically abusing your ex from cheating on you, to suddenly thinking about it and showing you want him back. He didn't feel like he could trust Mai anymore, but he couldn't help but reflect on all the times they had, all those strangly fun nights of passionate sex, dueling each other, Battle City with Marik and then Dartz.

No, Joey thought. She's deceitful. There's no way he'll go back to Mai, he tried to tell himself. He finally punched the tree in confusion and anger.

Finally, later that night…..

Everyone was out walking the streets, ready to finish up the last few nights of the tournament. Joey was out walking by himself. He had spent the whole rest of the day trying to find Tea. He looked everywhere. He drove all around the city. He kept going by her house. He kept calling Tea to see if she would answer. He had been asking Yugi and Tristan about it and if anyone else knew anything. Still he came up with nothing. He walked on, hoping he could find some answers. He tried to stay cautious, knowing those three goth girls might still be after him, or that Mai might be after him as well with whatever she had up her sleeve.

Joey eventually walked oout onto the city square in Domino city. He was hoping to find some more people to duel for the tournament, but to his surprise, the place was practically empty.

"You gotta be kidding me" Joey said out loud to himself. "Is anybody I know around here anymore?"

Joey was looking around. He noticed one of two people out in the distance, but they were too far for him to recognize who they were, or if they were duelists.

"He-llo!" Joey called out. "I know there's more duelists out here than me. I know there's at least one of you who'd…."

All the sudden Joey froze.

He stopped and starred for a moment. It caught his eye. Out in the distance in front of him he could see a shadowy figure that almost looked just like Tea!.

Joey began walking in that direction. All the sudden the shadowy figure, whoever it was seemed to turn her head a bit, as if to face Joey. But then it turned back around and began walking away.

"Uh, hey there excuse me" Joey tried to call out.

But the figure just ignored him and kept walking. Joey tried to follow her, but suddenly the figure just started moving faster. Suddenly it seemed like she was running.

"Wait" Joey called out. "I…. I just need to ask…"

But she kept running. Joey surprised went after her. She turned around a corner and ran down another street. He followed and tried to catch up to her. He could tell whatever it was, it was running scared; scared of Joey.

"No wait. I just want to talk to you!" Joey called out louder, hoping it might calm her down.

And right when she heard his voice she stopped. Joey froze for a second and saw the shadowy girl turn around and finally look at him. The figure starred at him for a short second, then suddenly walked down a nearby alley.

"Hold on" Joey followed her.

Out in the distance behind Joey, a set of headlights suddenly came on.

He walked into the alley himself and there was that shadow he thought was Tea a moment ago out across from him.

"Is it really you?" a voice from the shadow said.

But Joey immediately recognized it.

And finally the shadow walked forward towards Joey, and into the dim light so he could see her.

It is Tea!

"It's really me" Joey finally said.

He looked and saw Tea had a pale look on her face. She breathed a huge sigh of relief thinking that it was someone out to get her that was chasing her. But is was just him.

Joey shined a huge smile of relief. He finally found her. He tried to run to to give her a hug.

"Wait" Tea stopped him.

"Huh?" Joey responded.

"I can't right now" she said. "I'm sorry."

"What? What's going on?" Joey spoke up. "I've been worried sick about you. What's wrong."

"Can we talk about it somewhere else?" Tea asked. She had a very worried sad expression on her face.

Minutes later, Joey and Tea were in a nearby late night fast-food joint. The two sat by each other at a table by the windows.

"What happened?" Joey asked.

"I ran away." Tea began talking "I couldn't take it anymore."

She sipped on her soda a little more as they both tried to relax.

"After I saw you again last night" Tea continued. "I couldn't stop thinking about it. I stopped and suddenly sat down to take a good look at what was happening." She put her hands in her head. "And then it finally dawned on me: I had originally thought I left you for Mai because I wanted to try something new. Something more exciting that I had never seen before. And as fun and interesting it might have been, it finally hit me why was really with Mai."

Joey put his hand on Tea's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I was scared. Mai scared me into it." Tea said. With her hands in her head she suddenly began to cry a little.

"Tea, it's okay" Joey said.

"I mean back at that underground house" Tea kept crying "when she had just found out about you and me, and had those girls beat us up. Mai never tried to hurt me. However she said she had fallen in love with me and tried to rape me. For a while I was crying and just scared, and she kept asking me how much I really loved you, and if I'm really enjoying it. And she also said if I didn't like it, she could send be back out to be beaten by those three goth girls again."

"She forced you to go out with her." Joey finally said

"Well" Tea said still watery-eyed. "It seemed like she was forcing me for a while, but a part of me really did enjoy and wanted to stay with her."

"But that's just it" Joey said. "she forced you to convince yourself into believing that didn't she?"

"No, I don't know" Tea said. With that she took Joey's arm and moved it off of her. "That's why I ran away: because I didn't know what to think; if I really did love her or if I still loved you. I had to getaway from both of you."

Joey looked at Tea in shock and surprise. It all made sense now to him.

"Tea I'm sorry" Joey spoke up. "I had no idea."

"It's not your fault Joey" Tea finally looked at him.

"No actually, I think it is my fault." Joey explained. "It's my fault I dragged you into my relationship with Mai in the first place, and that I couldn't get to you in time back at that underground dungeon."

Frustrated, Joey put his head in his hand. But ten Tea put her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

"No, it's not your fault what happened had t happen. It's nobody's fault" Tea explained. "Mai pushed you to the limit, I was getting lonely, this was just meant to happen. It was meant for us to find each other and fall in love."

Then suddenly a man walked behind Joey and Tea.

"Hey if you guys don't mind, I'm fixin to have to close the place down for the night."

Moments later, Joey and Tea were walking down the streets a couple blocks away from the restaurant after having to leave. It was 1:00 AM in the morning.

"I wish I had the answers for us right now" Joey said, "but if you really feel that way I'm not gonna make things any harder for you."

"It's okay" Tea said.

"Believe me, after what I've been through, I understand completely why it'd be hard to choose between me and Mai." Joey said.

Tea couldn't help but laugh.

"I mean, that's like trying to choose if you'd rather meet the Flame Swordsman or Harpy Lady face to face"

"Hehe" Tea laughed "or if you'd rather lose to Kaiba in a duel or have your sister play pranks on you."

"Hahaha…….. hey! Wait a minute! That's not funny." Joey said with an annoyed expression.

But Tea just giggled. "It is to me!"

They walked on.

"But really I'll be okay Joey" Tea said. "I mean, you're one of the best friends a girl could ever ask for!"

"You really think that?" Joey said.

"I just need some time to think about it for a while. To think about us." Tea said.

They were standing out in the dark. They starred at each other for a short second.

"I hope you'll okay" Joey said. Tea looked Joey in his eyes for a moment. They thought about each other and everything they've been through together. "I will." Tea said.

Joey began to turn around and walk back home. Tea looked at him, and just as Joey was about to start walking, she grabbed his hand. Joey turned back and faced Tea. They looked at each for a short moment, looked in each other eyes, and at the same time, their heads began leaning forward towards one another, about to kiss each other……

….and out of nowhere, a bright light shot on in their faces!

Shocked, both Joey and Tea looked to see what happened. Suddenly loud roars of screeching tires came from where the light was!

"No!" Joey gasped.

"Joey? What's…." Tea panicked.

Without hesitating the car began speeding toward them.

"Just run!" Joey shouted.

Joey and Tea were both running for their lives as fast as they could. Tea held on to Joey's hand as they tried to outrun the car. But it was to no effort. Within seconds, the car pulled up beside Joey. He looked in shock anger as the passenger window rolled down and Sam's head peered out.

"Where ya going hotstuff?" she laughed. "Night's still young!"

"Get away from us you freaks!" Joey yelled back as they kept running. The car kept riding along side them.

"Joey" Tea cried as she looked at the three goth girls in the car. "What's going on? What are they doing…."

"Keep moving!" Joey told Tea.

But then they car started moving towards them closer. Tea and Joey tried backing off, but the car kept coming, looking to box them in by the wall of a nearby building. The car got up onto the sidewalk as they kept running about to be crushed. But then Joey grabbed Tea and stopped. The car speeded on ahead of them, as the girls suddenly looked back in suprise. They looked forward again in complete shock, as their car speeded and crashed into a light post! The light immediately went out and the post tilted over a little.

Tea and Joey looked on at the accident, as Sam, Amber and Lynn all got out of the car and began walking sadistically towards them.

"Tea, get out of here!" Joey said. "I'll take care of these guys!"

"No wait" Tea yelled.

"Just go!" Joey shouted.

"No, I can help you!" Tea said.

"You're in over your head this time Joey" Sam said. "You guys are both outnumbered. You can't fight us!"

"Wanna bet?" Joey shouted.

But before anything could happen, another car came speeding and pulled up behind them. The lights went out and a girl in a convertible jumped out…… Mai.

"Going somewhere?" Mai taunted.

Now Joey and Tea were surrounded.

"Mai, don't it!" Joey yelled.

"Leave us alone Mai" Tea shouted. "We don't want any trouble."

The three goth girls were about to attack Joey and Tea.

"Girls, stay back!" Mai shouted. They stopped. Mai looked back at Joey and Tea. "Relax you guys."

"What are you doing Mai? What do ya'll want?" Joey said. Mai and the three other girls stood firmly to make sure they weren't going anywhere.

"I want a decision Joey" Mai said "and I came here to get it."

"Joey, Tea; listen closely" Mai said frowning. "I know you've all been through a lot lately today, but trust me so have I. You two have both hurt me equally as bad, but I'm ready to forgive at least one of you."

"What do you mean?" Tea panicked.

"Joey, have you had time to think about us yet today?" Mai asked.

"Where are you going with this?" Joey asked.

"Tea, have you thought really hard yet about who you still love?" Mai asked her.

"I…..I….." Tea stuttered.

"I'm sorry you guys" Mai went on "but it's time to end this madness. I don't want any trouble just yet, but I need to know now, Tea, Joey. Do you still love me?"

Ignoring all the chaos with the three goths, Joey thought for a moment about when he and Mai talked at the fountain earlier that day. Then he took a really hard look at Tea. Tea feeling confused and shaken as well, tried to focus on all the times she had with Joey compared to all the amazing nights she and Mai had together.

"Tea" Mai smiled. "if you really still love me, come hope in the car with me and I'll drive us back home. And I'll have Sam, Amber and Lynn will take care of Joey for us for hurting us both!"

"Huh?" Joey said.

"But Joey" Mai smiled looking back at him "you and I have been through so much more than Tea. If you really still love me, then you'll get in the car, and Sam, Amber and Lynn will take care of Tea, and make sure she never interferes with our love ever again!"

Realizing now the situation they're in, Tea and Joey looked at each other frantically. They were backed into a corner now. Could they ever see each other again?

"Look at me you two" Mai said.

"Mai stop!" Tea said.

"Yea Mai! Don't do it. It doesn't have to go down like this!" Joey shouted.

"I need to know now!" Mai said. "One of you has to pay for what yall've done, so the rest of us and get on back to living the life of our dreams. So tell me now! Who do you love?"

Joey, Mai and Tea all looked at each other frantically. Something had to give now, or else things were going to get very, very ugly.

TO BE CONCLUDED- (next time I will reveal a number of different surprise endings to my story; you will get to choose the ending you like best)

Disclaimer: I am not associated with YuGiOh at all.