Okay I hope that last chapter was better than 15. Hmm… I thought of this chapter when I was at school, so ya. I hope you like it all! I own nothing at all! Oh btw, I changed my mind. This is not going to have an exact date. Just wanted to make that clear.

Ryou: Can we please get on with the story?

Yugi: Yeah, I wanna read it.

JM: Fine fine! Here it is chapter 17!

Chapter 17- Smiles

RYOU'S POV

"I'm going to go to school, okay?" I said as I headed for the door.

"Have fun." Bakura said, and I shut the door.

School was okay, I guess. We just learned the same thing over and over AND over. I was used to it. I headed for the doors, when I noticed Sam was walking up.

"Hey Ryou!" She said all happy. That was a first.

"Hi Sam." I said. We walked and talked a little and then we headed to our classrooms. We had the same class in every subject, and we always sat by each other. I swear, I think the teachers are trying to do something. Which was fine by me.

I sat down in my usual spot for lunch. On the end with Yugi on my left, and Tristen across from me. They were talking about duel monster, which was no surprise to me at all. Yugi and his Yami were OBSESSED with the card games. Ugh. I mean I was into it, but then my deck got changed, and I really don't want to talk about it.

"Um, hi there." Said a voice. We all looked up and there was Sam smiling a little awkwardly.

"Hi Sam!" Yugi (Aka Mr. Cheery Face) said.

"Uh, I was wondering if I could sit by you guys. If that's okay. If not I could totally sit somewhere else." She said, biting her lip, and looking downwards.

We all looked at each other until Joey (out of all people) said, "Sure Sam!"

"She looked up, and nodded. The whole time we ate, I swear, she was looking at me. It was until Yugi, was talking about Yami when her eyes lit up.

"Um if I may ask Yugi, why do you guys look so much like your Yamis?" She asked us looking at me and Yugi with curiosity.

"Hmm…. I really don't know Sam." Yugi said.

"Well, they are really a part of us. Sure they had lives, and we have our lives too. I mean Bakura, my Yami, looks like me because we used shadow magic. Yes, it hurt A LOT to do, but now he is happy." I said. Everyone stared at me. Sam who looked at me (who was across from Yugi, so she was die angle from me) was grinning at me, and not in a good way.

"But we do have different personalities!" Yugi said

"Well, that's kinda obvious Yugi, I mean come on! Look at Ryou and Bakura. They are 100% DIFFERENT." Tristen said. They always thought he was bad, and he was cruel. He wasn't ALL the time. He protected me from Marik in the Battle City Finals, and kept me well. I mean, yes he was cruel, when I first met him. He hurt me, and abused me, BUT HE'S NOT LIKE THAT!

I sighed, and kept on eating.

Don't worry about, Ryou. I know how you feel.

I looked up. Who's there?

That's when Sam winked at me. I blushed and smiled back.

School was okay after lunch. I was still upset how they were talking about Bakura, but I shrugged and moved on. I was on my way walking home , when I noticed Sam was at the local park, on a swing, and…. Laughing. Her hair was down, so it was going in different directions, and she had her eyes closed. She was laughing, and it looked like she was having a good time.

"Hey there Sam!" I shouted, and waved. Her eyes opened, and she saw me.

"O my! Ryou! Hold on one second." She slowed down, and she jumped off her swing. There was a long pause.

"Wanna swing with me?" She said pointing to the other swing next to the one that she was on.

"Sure!" I said. Maybe I could get some bonding time with her. That would be nice.

"Okay one second." She said and got on her phone. It took her like 2 seconds, and she put the phone in her right pocket.

BAKURA'S POV

Where the hell is he? I thought to myself. That's when I noticed my phone buzzed. I looked, and it said I had a new text message.

Hey there! Listen Ryou's gonna be late. He's hanging out with me. Don't worry nothing bad or serious. Don't try to get TOO jealous! XD Just wanted to let you know, okay? Oh crap he's coming this way! See ya! Don't text back!

Samalia! :D

I shut my phone, and threw it on the couch.

RYOU'S POV

Sam and I were laughing, and enjoying ourselves. It was quite fun. She finally jumped off her swing, and so did I. Surprisingly, I didn't fall or hurt myself. I was quite proud of myself. That's when her stomach growled.

"Oh my." I said a little shocked. She looked embarrassed.

"Oh gosh, I..I" She stuttered.

"Wanna get something to eat?" I just blurted out. What the hell was that? I thought.

"That would be… nice." She said.

"Let's go." I said. We grabbed our bags, and we were on our way.

We sat outside at a local café. We just smiled at each other. I was getting bored so I piped up.

"So Sam, tell me more about yourself." I said. She looked up, and blinked.

"Um, okay." She said. "What do you want to know?"

"Hmm…. So you're adopted?" I asked. She looked sad.

"Yeah, my mom died on my first birthday. My dad died when I was 5, because of an illness. They never found a cure." She said looking down.

"Oh my. I am so sorry." I said. "If it's any constellation, my mother died when I was young. So did my sister in the same car crash."

"It's okay. I'm sorry to hear that. Me and my brother got separated after my father died. I haven't seen him since."

Oh my God! Way to go Ryou! You are such a Baka! (1) I thought to myself. There was an awkward silence.

"Have you ever felt like asking yourself why even live?" She said quietly.

"Yes I do. I tried to kill myself, by drowning in the bathtub."(2) I said. Her eyes were full of fright.

"Why would you do that? You have a great life, Ryou." She said putting her hand on top of mine and squeezing it.

"Well, one I have Bakura to do deal with. And also, my father is… and alcoholic. He lives far away, but every once and a while, he'll show up. And when he does, he comes full rage at me. The good news is that I haven't seen him in over 2 years." I said. She gasped. Pity was in her eyes.

"What do you mean, you have to put up with Bakura?" She asked.

"Well I mean-" Suddenly I heard a buzz noise.

"Oh crap! It's 5:45! I gotta go, I'm sorry. I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks, I had a great time!" She smiled. She gave me some money, but I refused it.

"Don't worry, I pay for it." She put the money back in her pocket, and smiled once again.

"Thanks. Bye!" She said, and she ran off.

Well that was fun! Poor Sam. God I feel so bad for her. I thought. I paid for everything, and left off.

~ Okay for the record, here are the things I marked.

(1)- Baka means Idiot just wanted to make that clear.

(2) While writing (typing) this, I was watching Bakura240's "Fixed At Zero" video. I wanted to mention something in there about Ryou going depressed, and that's where I got the idea.

Hoped you guys liked.

Ryou: Well I sure didn't!

Samalia: Aww why not Ryou?

Ryou: Cuz she *points to JM* made me SUICIDIAL!

JM: You needed some edge!

Ryou: I'm gonna give YOU SOME FREAKING EDGE!

Yugi: Oh God, is Ryou going suicidal AGAIN?

Yami: (laughs) Please Rate and Review! Jules will give you some more cookies, and creampuffs!