With an awful grinding noise the elevator started slowly inching downwards. Neither Kaiba or Serenity knew how much time had passed since they had gotten stuck in the elevator but they knew that they didn't want to leave. The elevator was the place they connected and the outside world was different. It was public not private, not personal. It was probably the only place they would ever be able to talk like that and be alone like that ever.

"You two alright in there?" a firefighter called

"Its about time." Kaiba said coldly.

They both exited the elevator.

"Bye Kaiba! See you later!" Serenity said smiling. She got no response because Kaiba, after briefly death glaring at the worn out firefighters, just turned and walked off. He didn't even acknowledge her presecse. She, of course noticed, and her heart immediately dropped. She resisted the urge to cry because she was stronger than that. She was so upset because she thought they connected and had bonded. She just sighed and thanked the firemen for saving her from the elevator and walked out to go home.

As he walked away and riding to work in his sleek black limo Kaiba busied himself with thoughts on work and all the things he had to do. He tried to keep her off his mind but he couldn't. Everything led back to her in some weird way. Shredding paper led to thinking about trash and that led to thinking about the teacher asking him to help her take the trash out and getting stuck in that stupid elevator or something like that. He would have to tell the school to fix that elevator for good or he'll sue. "Or you could just appreciate its benefits" a voice said in his head. He quickly silenced that voice and immersed himself in his work or at least until he took the elevator at the end of his day.

The next day in school Serenity was dreading going to class. "What's going to happen? Is he going to continue bulling me? Is he going to be nicer? I hate all this uncertainty!" she thought to herself. As she entered the Biology classroom with a sigh of relief because he wasn't there yet. Usually he was there already sitting at their lab table with a huge smirk on his face and a certain glint in his blue eyes. It seemed he enjoyed making her life miserable. Today she had arrived first and was glad because she could enjoy a few minutes alone. The bell rang and he still wasn't here. Serenity got a whole Biology class to herself and he never once showed up. "Maybe he's sick "she guessed. She didn't wish illness on anyone but it was nice to actually get some peace. He didn't show up for class or even school for the rest of the week. Serenity noticed but didn't think too much of it.

"The weekend sure went by fast huh Serenity" Tea said as they walked to school on Monday morning.

"Yeah it did" Serenity said with a smile. Her, Tea, and Mai spent the weekend shopping and having sleepovers, basically having a girl's weekend. She wasn't exactly excited to back to school but she had to go and she might as well make the best of it.

"Hey Serenity! How was the girl's weekend?" Joey asked. He hadn't seen her since she left with Tea and Mai on Friday. Joey liked his sister to have fun and he knew she was safe with Tea and Mai. "Especially Mai" Joey thought and almost blushed at the thought of the beautiful blonde.

"It was really fun Joey! We went shopping and watched chick-flicks and we all got make overs!" Serenity said excitedly and giggled at Joey's expression of mock horror at the idea that someone could think those things were actually fun. Serenity did look a little different. He looked closer and saw she had her hair highlighted and was wearing full make up. He wanted to say something but before any words came out he saw Mai stepping out of her pink convertible in the school parking lot. She was all dolled up too. She is always pretty but right now Joey was practically drooling. She had her makeup done too and her hair looked maybe a little shorter and it was done really pretty or more pretty than usual.

"Joey stop staring" Tea whispered to Joey. He seemed to wake up from his trance. "Hey Mai!" he greeted her trying not to sound too excited but was failing miserably. "Oh hey Joseph" Mai said casually with a little smile. She liked to play hard-to-get sometimes.

"Only my mom calls me Joseph! It's Joey to you!" Joey said jokingly

"Well Joey" Mai emphasized his name "If your coming into school with us you'd better catch up"

Joey realized they had all started walking towards the school and he would be late if he didn't hurry.

"Hey wait up!" he called as he ran to try and catch up. They all playfully laughed at his typical Joey like behavior.

Serenity had a good day at school, so far. She'd aced all her tests from last Friday and she manage to get a slice of pizza at lunch. They usually ran out of pizza or the good stuff before she got there and she usually had to eat chef's surprise. She was a little nervous for Bio. She entered the class room and noticed he was there today but instead of feeling nervous she felt curious. He wasn't smirking at her and she didn't even think he knew she was there. He was slouching in his chair, which he never did, and had huge bags under his eyes. "It looks like he hasn't slept in days!" she thought almost worried for his health.

She sat down and got out her notebook and her huge Bio book. "Hmmm this is unusual" she thought "usually he's started something by now." She took a quick glance over in his direction. He was still there. She noticed his eyelids were drooping and he didn't seem to be paying any attention to the teacher at all.

The classroom telephone began to ring and the teacher stopped teaching to answer it. Taking a humongous risk she decided to try and see if everything was okay.

She didn't know how to start so she cleared her throat to try and get his attention. He didn't move but she was sure he had heard her. How couldn't he have?

"Ummm… Kaiba? Is everything alright with you? You don't look like or act like yourself today." She said trying to sound as polite and sincere as possible. The blue-eyed CEO sat up straighter closed his eyes and stretched his arms but gave no response. "Kaiba? Did you hear me? I aksed you…"

"Obviously I heard you Wheeler! " he growled

"Well then why didn't you answer me?" she asked getting annoyed at his temper.

"And why do I have to answer you?" he asked giving her a glare

"Because…" she said thinking "Because, its polite to answer other to others when they try and talk to you" she said putting on her best smile to try and maybe, if it was possible cheer him up.

"Well its rude to ask people you don't know personal question" he simple stated, obviously trying to end the short conversation/argument.

"Since when is asking someone if there okay a personal question?" she asked not hiding her agitation "It's not like I asked your weight!"

"Psh" he grunted "We are not friends so don't try and pretend we are."

"Oh yeah I forgot, your Mister Im-so-rich-i-can-buy-friends-so-i-don't-need-you" she said trying to insult him but kind of overdoing it a little bit.

He just shook his head at her response and muttered something that sounded like "hopeless"

Just then the teacher's phone conversation ended and he quickly resumed class. Kaiba went back to dozing off and Serenity just sighed and continued taking notes like a good student.