A/N: To my fellow writers, you're right, reviews shouldn't matter nor affect my updating schedule. We write because we want to and we enjoy it. Although I didn't set that bar because I was writing for other reasons, I just really wanted to hear from my audience. But I know I can't force certain things. To those that actively comment on my story, thank you. It means a lot. You'll never know the joy it brings while I read your thoughts. Thank you to anyone who has decided to give this random idea in my head a chance and as always, happy reading.
She opened her eyes and her blue had turned much darker. Tea looked at Atem with pure adoration and sadness. He was drunk, and he had done something stupid. The attraction he held for her was something she still couldn't believe. She was sure when morning came Atem would call Kiya asking for forgiveness and they would be together once more.
That's why Tea pushed Atem lightly out of the door and closed it. Atem watched her with wide eyes as to why she was pushing him away. His eyes held pain she tried to ignore as the last shed of red escaped from her view. He didn't pound on her door again. He didn't even try to knock. Tea held a hand to her mouth stifling a sob from escaping her. She walked to Mary to make sure she was still asleep. She thankfully was and Tea quickly put her laptop on the coffee table in front of her and put a blanket over her body. She then made her way to her bed, set her alarm for the morning and went to sleep with tears escaping her eyes on her way to unconsciousness.
They say the day takes away the horrors the night brought about, but the statement could be no more wrong in the case of the blue eyed girl whose eyes stood fixated on the ceiling above.
She counted fifty-six ceiling tiles covering her bedroom. Each one seemed to be about 10 inches' wide and were solid white with some yellowing starting to show from old age.
The tiles weren't the most appealing part of the room and yet here they stood for years, unbothered and untampered with.
Tea wished she was one of the tiles. How strange of a wish to have, but she wished she could be left alone and unbothered. To wither away to a yellow square, only to be replaced by a shiny new one when her time was up. Until then she would be left at peace. She would feel no pain, only content. To be a tile.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang.
"Shit." She heard Mary say.
She instantly got up, her thoughts of tiles escaping her mind upon seeing the mess Mary had made in her small living area. Water was dripping off the ends of the coffee table and broken glass lay by Mary's feet.
"Sorry Tea." She said looking up at her. "I'll clean it up."
"It's no worries, I'll help." Tea gently smiled and put on some slippers while throwing Mary an extra pair she had. Together they threw away the big pieces of glass and brushed the rest away while drying the water that continued to drip.
When finally done Mary went into Tea's shower and Tea started brewing the mini coffee maker she barely used in her living room. It was small and it only made one cup, but Tea really did not feel like going to the student area and run the risk of meeting James there, or even Kaya. She would see them both later anyway.
Setting her coffee mug down, she walked to her room and quickly changed into some dance clothes before settling back down on her couch. Mary stepped out just as she made herself comfortable. Tea looked to see she was only wearing a white towel around her body.
"Sorry again about the glass." She warmly smiled at Tea who waved it off. "Could I borrow some clothes? I have a meeting today and I don't really want to wear what I came here in."
"Take your pick." Tea gestured to her room and Mary smiled and thanked Tea before making her way into the room once more and shutting the door.
Tea smiled and checked the time, 8:05. She had thirty minutes before she had to officially leave for her dance classes, which she was highly dreading. The thought of seeing James after everything that happened on their date was mortifying and it would lead her to think of Atem.
Atem.
It seems he was permanently fixated into her mind. Last night felt so long ago, and yet it had been mere hours since he had shown up at her doorstep. He had actually broken up with Kiya. Something she wasn't sure was a drunken mistake from the alcohol that clung to his breath, or an irrational decision. It was probably a bit of both. She could imagine him calling her now and begging for forgiveness. That it was a drunken mistake. That he was confused from being so far from her, but now knowing she was what he truly wanted.
All these thoughts brought about a different knife that slowly cut into her heart, inserting themselves deeper and deeper. It was painful thinking anything they had ever shared was the result of a drunken mistake. Everything except for that one kiss. The one that began the downward spiral of hope imbedded in her. She loathed him for that kiss, and yet thanked him for giving her the one solace she sought from him. It wasn't long enough, but the memory of his warm lips on hers made her thankful she got to share anything with him at all.
The one thing that haunted her the most was the last look he gave her before she closed the door on him. He had looked utterly broken at her decision to leave him in the dark alone. She wondered if it was because he was drunk and lonely, or could it be he actually wanted her the way she wanted him. Hope slowly swelled itself up in Tea's heart, but she quickly shot it down with reality sinking in.
It was simply impossible.
With a deep breath Tea stood from her couch just as Mary emerged from Tea's room wearing a tight black dress that reached just above her knees. The dress was certainly something Mary didn't wear often and Tea stood staring at the blonde in shock.
Mary looked hot.
The material hung close against the curves of her amazing body she often hid behind loose skirts and jeans. The neckline was a low square that greatly emphasized her breasts, but also gave off a professional tasteful look.
Tea continued staring, looking at Mary up and down. She noticed her blonde hair was loosely curled and she wore some mascara and blush. Black eyeliner lined the tops of her eyes greatly emphasizing the green that stared back at Tea.
"I look terrible don't I. I knew I should have picked the red one." Mary grumbled, turning around to presumably change.
"No wait, Mary you looking hot. Like wow." Tea got up, quickly stopping her from changing out of the gorgeous dress. Tea had never worn it herself, never finding the right occasion for it, but she knew she would probably never wear it now as it fit Mary perfectly. The dress was made for her body.
"You think? It's not too much right?" she asked nervously while chewing on her bottom lip.
"Not at all, it's perfect and you look beautiful." Tea said truthfully.
Mary instantly smiled relieved at her friend's words. She couldn't believe how well the dress looked on her. As an artist she didn't really dress up much, but since moving to New York she realized she had to network herself which meant going to parties.
She had avoided many of them until she finished her pieces she was waiting to show case. Now that her works were done she had to start meeting with people and attending other galleries to network and connect with the other artists littering the city. She really wasn't sure what to wear to these kind of things but decided looking professional might be her best bet.
Now that Tea had given her opinion she felt much better about herself. The dress was definitely out of her comfort zone but this was New York City and she was ready to try and make it big.
She gave Tea a twirl and both girls ended up laughing.
"Alright can I borrow your black heels with the lace on the heel? They would look perfect with this dress." Mary asked nervously knowing she was already borrowing so much from Tea. She didn't want Tea to feel like she was using her.
"If you don't I might have to smack you." Tea replied laughing.
Mary grinned. "Thank the heavens we're the same size."
Tea nodded and Mary left once more before returning wearing the heels. They really did complete the look and both girls exited Tea's dorm room with their jackets and bags in tow.
Mary garnered various looks from dancers roaming the halls or waiting for the elevators with them. Tea looked to see her friend was blissfully unaware of the attraction she brought about in her new attire and stifled the laugh that might have escaped her.
As the doors to the elevators started to close a hand shot through the small space left between the two walls causing them to fully open once more.
Tea's eyes widened at the man who walked in. James stood at the other end of the small space with wide eyes upon seeing her. Tea instantly noticed the white bandages wrapped around his left hand and questions started swirling around in her head.
"Tea…hey, how are you feeling?" he asked with a small smiling while running his good hand through his hair.
"I'm okay, thank you." Tea replied looking away from him. The elevator ride was certainly as awkward as it could have ever been and Tea was thankful for the doors to open to the main floor. It really was her luck to somehow end up in the same elevator as James while trying to avoid him as much as possible.
Once everyone walked out of the small space James held back and waited for Tea and her friend. He had just noticed her and instantly saw she was absolutely beautiful. Especially in that dress which showed off everything wonderfully. He couldn't help but stare at her for a moment before noticing Tea who watched him.
"Uh do you want to walk to class together?" he asked quite anxiously. More anxious than he would have liked.
Tea looked at Mary who said something quietly to her before hugging her and walking past James with a polite smile on her face. He couldn't help but look back at her, her body looked really great in that dress.
Tea walked next to him and his eyes instantly went to hers. Although her friend was clearly beautiful, his favorite face was Tea's. Even in her regular dancing clothing she looked exquisite to him. Her hair was pulled up in its regular tight bun and she didn't wear any makeup, show casing the smooth skin that resembled a marble floor, glimmering and smooth.
"Let's go." She stated quietly and he followed behind her.
They both made their way out of their dorm building and started their path to Lincoln Center. The air was just as unforgiving as Tea remembered and she wished she had brought a scarf to protect her vulnerable neck. She was quite aware of James following her in the cold. Although the air between them wasn't as awkward as it was during the elevator ride, it wasn't easy either. She could tell he was tense and she couldn't deny her nerves either. She just hoped he would break the never ending silence.
"You never texted back." James finally stated after what felt like hours.
What? Was all Tea thought.
"I texted you asking to talk, but you never did." He said again, noting the confusion on her face.
Realization hit her and she instantly felt guilt for forgetting to reply. Too much has happened for her to remember to text back James.
"I am so sorry James, I just haven't been feeling that well and I've been stressed so I completely forgot." It wasn't a complete lie.
"Oh its fine, I'm glad you are feeling better though." He stated. She could sense the hurt in his voice and more guilt flooded her.
"What happened to your hand?" she asked trying to change the subject. She looked over at him and noticed her body stiffened a bit.
"It's um nothing, I just fell and hit it. I should be fine by the time the show comes around." He plainly stated refusing to even look at her. Tea decided to ignore his demeanor, finding it better to give him space on this touchy subject.
"Glad it wasn't too bad a fall." Tea decided to say and he nodded.
Silence ensued between the two once more and their dance studio soon came into view. Courage began to encompass Tea as she knew she would not see James for a while as she had back to back classes and the curiosity of what James wanted to talk about overpowered her.
"So what did you want to talk about?" she asked as casually as possible.
James looked down at her with an incomprehensible look. Tea noted his silence and began to fill it once more.
"I am sorry about the dinner by the way. I wasn't sure why he came and how he even got there, but I'm sorry he just barged in and ruined an otherwise nice night." She looked up at him and gave him a warm smile. He continued to look at Tea, holding that same strange expression until he swooped down and kissed her.
Her eyes widened at the sudden impact of his lips on hers as he forcefully started molding their lips together. For a moment Tea stood watching him kiss her before finally giving in and kissing him back. She wasn't sure what was prompting her to do it, but she knew James wanted her and the feeling of being wanted greatly overpowered her conscious screaming at her to stop.
Atem slipped her mind for once and she let herself escape into James' lips. They weren't like his lips, his tongue didn't play with hers like his did, but he certainly wasn't unpleasant.
She forced herself to stop comparing them and deepened the kiss. James pulled away from her after what felt like hours. His breathing was a bit ragged as his mouth lingered around hers.
"That's all I wanted to know." He whispered to her before walking forward and looking back prompting Tea to follow him. She stood for a moment dumbfounded before following James to their class. If Atem would just stay away Tea knew she could be happy someday. She could be happy with someone like James, someone who actually wanted her.
Atem sat with a bottle to his lips as he took another swing. The alcohol greatly burned his throat, but it felt nothing like what he felt deep within his chest.
I love her, I love her, I love her.
The only dialogue he thought was that it was Tea. It was always Tea and now he felt it was too late to change anything between them. How could he have been so blind?
No, that was a lie. He knew, he always knew, but he always lied to himself about it. He figured she would never share the same feelings. She spoke to him only a handful of times, and most were through Yugi since his return from the afterlife.
Why didn't she call, why didn't she at least write?
He took another swing. The bottle was now almost empty and he knew he was drunk. Memories of his night with her flooded his mind. The feel of her lips on his, the softness of her skin touching his. It was like nothing he ever felt, not even with Kiya.
Kiya.
Whom he thought he loved for years, and he did but not as much as he thought he did. He remembered the sob she had emitted that same night Tea had ran from him.
"What the fuck do you mean you can't do this anymore? You had two fucking years to realize that!" she screamed in the phone, her tears evident in her voice.
"Kiya, I am so sorry, I have just realized I am not the man meant for you. You are a wonderful girl and you deserve someone who will love you better than I ever can, could."
"Bullshit Atem, it was you, it was always supposed to be you! You were fine yesterday, what the fuck changed that you're suddenly saying these things to me." She let out another sob. Atem could feel the ache in his heart. It didn't ache for Kiya, but for her pain. He never wanted to hurt her, but he knew he had to end it now before things only got worse.
"I changed baby." He said lowly suddenly wishing to take back the name he called her. It felt wrong coming off his tongue toward her.
"It's her isn't it. I fucking knew it. This is why I didn't want you going near her when you reached New York. No, I can't just sit back like a fucking piece of dirt and watch some bitch take you from me. I love you too much for this to happen. You're just confused baby, I'm coming to New York to set things straight. Just wait for me okay."
Before Atem could say anything else she hung up. He continued holding the phone to his ear shocked at her words. He wasn't sure if she would keep true to her words, but knowing Kiya he knew she would. What would he do or say to her if she came. It was hard enough forming the words over the phone, so it seemed damn near impossible to do it in person.
He angrily threw his phone at the wall watching the screen shatter.
Fuck.
This wasn't fair. He tried to be courteous to Kiya but she was coming here instead. As if she could change his mind. He loved Tea, he loved her so much and he knew Kiya would try to hurt her.
His head dipped back for another drink as the memories replayed in his mind over and over again. Maybe he should take Kiya back after the rejection Tea had given him last night. She had just left him. He was so shocked at her attitude toward him he couldn't muster the strength to fight back. To kick the door down and demand answers. Answers to why she left him all alone in Domino with barely any word from her. To why she was so cold with him in New York. She just seemed so tense all the time. And yet she was also so warm. She confused him beyond words, but he reveled in it. She challenged him. She brought back feelings he had kept buried within him for many millennia. He needed her.
And so he sat against his couch in his living room drinking his sorrows away hoping she might barge through his door at any moment waiting to kiss him and tell him everything will be alright. Of course that didn't happen, life was never that easy.
