AN: I'm sorry this chapter took so long. I've been dealing with a lot on my home front and had a lack of motivation but decided I would try to get back into it. This is a much longer chapter and I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you to everyone who has favorited and are following this story and thank you to my two reviewers for this story!
Disclaimer: as always I do not own Yugioh or its characters, just my made up characters and the plot to this story.
Chapter 6: The First Two Dates
Amber checked herself in the mirror to make sure her outfit wasn't too revealing. She was wearing an orange halter top that was sleeveless but completely covered her chest, and she was wearing dark blue jeans. She chose black sandals that had rhinestones along the strap that ran across the tops of her feet. She had an orange headband on top of her head to keep her hair out of her eyes, and was wearing purple feathered earrings and a purple beaded necklace. She then rummaged through her vanity drawer for her makeup.
As she began applying light makeup to her face, she was thinking about how she ran into Damien the day before. It's just so strange how I keep seeing people of my past in such a short time and in one of Japan's largest cities. And it's very opposite now. My old best friend truly hates me and my old enemy wants me to be his friend. What's next, a Cheshire Cat and a white rabbit with a watch showing up?
Knock, knock, knock
"Come in!" The door opened and it was Linda Dawson who poked her head in Amber's room.
"Amber, honey, your date just pulled up at the curb." She fully opened the door so she could step in the room and look her stepdaughter over. She was very proud that Amber was an obedient child and not a rebel. Her outfit was cute and didn't show too much skin. But she still worried that her stepdaughter was going to be alone with a boy she didn't really know much about. She would have to talk to Arthur about doing a background check on this boy but for now, she would trust Amber's judgement.
"You look beautiful, Dear." Linda smiled, trying her best not to look worried.
"Thanks, Mom, I'll be right down." As Amber began putting up her makeup Linda decided she needed to discuss one thing weighing heavily on her mind.
Amber, if this boy tries to do anything you are not comfortable with, I want you to call me or your father immediately."
Amber finished putting her makeup back into the drawer and turned to face her stepmom. "Don't worry, Mom, I know how to handle myself. And I promise I will call if I need to."
Linda nodded but she still feared for the girl's safety. She prayed that the date went well and nothing bad happened.
"Hey." Linda looked up into her stepdaughter's bright, golden eyes. "I'll be okay, please don't worry." Amber kissed her stepmom on the cheek then headed for the stairs. As she began her descent, she could see her stepfather was already talking to Damien at their front door. She couldn't make out everything being said but she did manage to hear Arthur say, "have her back by 2:00." She inwardly rolled her eyes at the overprotectiveness that both of her parents were displaying.
Damien looked up as Amber descended the stairs and his jaw dropped slightly. The orange halter top and the girl's mascara really brought out her eyes. She truly looked like a setting sun in a beautifully painted sky. Now I understand why her friends call her 'Twilight'.
Amber also took in her date's appearance as well. He was wearing a red and black striped collared shirt with black jeans and a pair of brown leather boots. His blonde hair was combed back and his emerald eyes held a warmth Amber was still not used to seeing from him.
Finally, Damien cleared his throat and held his hand out for Amber. "You look great. Are you ready to go?"
Amber hesitated for a second but finally smiled back and gently accepted his hand. "Thank you. I'm ready if you are."
As they were about to walk out the door, Arthur Dawson tapped Amber on her shoulder. "I want you to call us when you are on your way home. I have already explained to Mr. Keichi here that he needs to have you back by 2:00." He said in a serious tone. But then, in a slightly softer tone, he added, "but until then, have fun at the movie."
XxXxXxXxXx
"Have you ever been on a date before, Amber?"
Damien and Amber had just finished their movie and were sitting down inside the theater's restaurant. They had just ordered their food, supreme nachos to share, when Damien decided he wanted to get to know Amber a little more.
Amber took a sip of her soda, pondering over Damien's question. Why was that the first question he asked her? Was she being too obvious that she's never dated before? She decided to play it cool for now.
"Why do you ask?"
Shrugging, her date responded, "it was the vibe I was getting with the way your parents were acting."
"Oh, I see…" Figures it was because they were acting overprotective.
"I admit it, this is my first date. What about you? Do you date much?"
Damien took a sip of his own drink and said, "not really, my last girlfriend broke up with me a few months back. She said it was because I wasn't making enough money for her."
"I'm so sorry. I can't imagine what that must have been like for you. It's a shame there are a lot of gold diggers out there." Amber replied sympathetically.
Just then, the waitress brought them their nachos and Damien asked for the tab before she walked away.
"Anyway, how's your new life going? Your parents seem nice."
Amber swallowed her food before answering his question. "Yes, they are very nice. I still miss my birth mom but Linda and Arthur are amazing people, and I wouldn't trade them for anything." She smiled as she remembered how excited Linda was when she met her new parents for the first time at the orphanage.
"That's good to hear. I actually didn't get adopted but when I turned sixteen and got a job they said I could leave once I earned enough to start living on my own." Damien smirked triumphantly.
"Oh wow, that's pretty cool!" Amber had to admit, she was quite impressed with his claim to being on his own. She checked her phone to see the time when her eyes went wide with shock.
"Eek, it's already 1:30! I need to be getting back or my parents will be furious." She could hear her stepfather's voice as if he was standing right next to her. Damien nodded and stood up offering his hand to Amber once again. She took his hand again and allowed him to help her stand and they walked hand in hand out of the theater and to his black Toyota Camry. As they reached the car and he opened the passenger door for the young girl, Damien asked her his last question.
"Hey, do you still talk to Seto and Mokuba?"
Amber stopped just before she slipped into his car. "Huh? What brought this on?"
Damien had already walked to the other side and was getting into the diver's seat and Amber followed suit. He started the car and replied, "I just wondered since I know you both attend Domino High."
"How did you know I…?" It was then she remembered she was wearing her school uniform when she ran into him yesterday. "Oh right, my uniform gave it away. I take it you have seen Seto in his uniform before?"
"You could say that. But you still haven't answered my question." He made a turn at a light and was driving into the direction of her home.
She thought real hard about how she was going to answer that particular question. She was still very hurt with the way Seto had been treating her but she knew Damien was just making conversation. There was no way he could know about the predicament between her and her former best friend. She didn't want to be rude so she told him a little bit of what she knew.
"Honestly, we have had a bit of a falling out. I'm not sure why but Seto doesn't want anything to do with me anymore. Mokuba seemed happy to see me though."
There was a brief silence and she looked over at her new friend to see if there was a reaction from him. But what she saw surprised her. His green eyes held a look of guilt. But why?
It's nothing, he just feels bad about what I am going through. That is all… right?
Damien got the sense her eyes were on him so he said, "that's rough, I'm very sorry about that. You guys were pretty close."
The rest of the ride was met with silence as each was lost in their own thoughts. They finally reached her home with three minutes to spare. Arthur was sitting on a bench on the front porch reading a newspaper. He put it down and stood up the moment they pulled up to the curb in front of the house.
"This was nice, thank you for the movie and lunch." Her face started to heat up so she opened the door quickly, hoping Damien hadn't seen her blush.
"It was my pleasure." He then drove off as Arthur approached his stepdaughter whom was still blushing.
"So, how did it go?"
Still blushing, Amber hastily replied, "it went good, Dad, but I'm going to my room now." And before her stepfather could say anything else, she zoomed past him, leaving him to stand perplexed on the driveway.
"That was odd." He wondered out loud.
Once in her room, Amber took slow, deep breaths to calm her beating heart. She didn't know why she was feeling this way. Sure, she liked Damien but only as a friend. So, why was she blushing and feeling like she ran a marathon? Especially since you really like you know who with deep, blue eyes.
"Argh, I am such a mess right now. Why do I keep thinking about him when I know he hates me?"
Because deep down you know it's just a misunderstanding. You have done nothing wrong. Her conscious was determined to convince her that she was actually innocent and that everything would be better soon.
I really hope that it is a misunderstanding, but what if it's not? What if I did do something wrong? The last thing Seto said to me was 'It's because of what you said to that fiend!' I wish I knew what Seto meant by that. I wish he would just talk to me. Maybe Mokuba knows?
Just then, her phone's text ringtone played. She fished it out of her small purse and saw the text was from Damien. It read: I wanted to see if you're free after school on Wednesday? I thought maybe we could go to Kaiba Land together.
The strawberry blonde girl was about respond when another text came through, this one from Téa.
Hey, Twilight, how was your date? I know you said you would tell me if I went on a date with Yugi but I can't wait til then. Please? The suspense is killing me ;)
Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in Amber's head. She texted Damien first. That sounds fun but can I bring a couple of friends for a double date? She only had to wait a couple of minutes before the little jingle played.
Sure, why not?
Amber made a light squeal and texted Téa back. Do you have plans Wednesday after school? Téa took a little longer to respond and Amber wondered if she was busy with something. She was about to call Yugi (who didn't have a cell phone yet) when Téa finally responded.
Not particularly… why? Do you want to meet up?
How would you like to hang with me at Kaiba Land? Amber thought it best to surprise Téa that it was going to be a double date, that is if Yugi was willing to go. And if he couldn't then it would still be nice to have Téa with them.
Sure, but I'll have to check with my parents. I'll get back you you shortly. So, are you going to tell me about your date now or do I have to wait until Monday?
Amber rolled her eyes at her friend's persistence but still smiled as she texted back. I'll call you in a little while and I'll tell you all about it. But, first, I need to take care of some things at home.
*sigh* fine, but please don't take too long ;)
Amber immediately called Yugi and was excited to hear he was interested in going to Kaiba Land also, that is until he learned that the other people were only Damien and Téa.
"What? Just Téa, as in a … double date?!"
"Yeah. So, what's the problem?
"Well… I… uh…" Yugi stammered on the other end.
"Look, Yugi, it's no secret that you have a crush on Téa. Everybody knows it, including Téa."
"Um…" She imagined Yugi's face being beet red at this point.
"And I know Téa likes you back. She told me she wishes you would ask her out." Great, Téa will probably kill me if she finds out I told him this.
There was nothing but silence now and Amber checked her phone to see if her and Yugi were still connected, which they were.
"Yugi? Are you there?" The only indication that he was still on the line was his breathing.
"Sorry, I'm here. She really told you this?"
"Yes, she did. So, how about it? You want to come with us?"
Another brief pause then the spiky haired teen said, "I'll call you back."
"Wait, Yugi…" But it was too late and he hung up before she could say anything else. She sighed, knowing she needed to check with her parents to see what chores needed to be done for the day, but she didn't want to miss Yugi calling her back either. Luckily she only had to wait a few minutes before the expected call came.
"Hello, Yugi?"
"I'm in."
XxXxXxXxXx
"Come on, Joey, don't be like that."
Joey Wheeler was sulking at the round table, his arms crossed and a pout plastered on his face after having just found out that Amber, Yugi, and Téa were going to Kaiba Land in a couple of days. Needless to say, he was not happy that he and Tristan had not been invited. It was lunchtime and the gang, minus Téa, were seated in the cafeteria. Amber and Yugi got there before the others so they began talking about their plans for Wednesday, not realizing Joey and Tristan were walking up behind them.
"I jus' don't understand why me and Tristan weren't invited, ya know?"
"Speak for yourself, Joey. I have to help my dad in the garage Wednesday so I wouldn't be able to go anyway."
Amber and Yugi looked at each other when Amber asked, "do you want to tell them or should I?"
Yugi's face showed a mixture of confusion and horror that Amber had to inwardly fight her laughter. "Me it is. Look, guys, this isn't what you think. It's a double date for Yugi, Téa, Damien, and me."
That last part got Joey's attention and his expression changed from stewing to mocking. "Oooh, I see. It's about time you asked Téa out, Yuge." Immediately, Yugi blushed so hard that his face nearly matched the magenta behind his blonde bangs.
"Hold on there, Joey. Téa doesn't know Yugi will be there so you two can't say anything to her, got it?"
Joey's smile got bigger as realization of what Amber meant settled in. "Awe, so you're the one setting them up. That is awesome!" He and Tristan fist bumped while Yugi moaned and tried to hide his oh so very red face.
XxXxXxXxXx
Wednesday was finally here and Amber and Téa arrived to Kaiba Land in her vehicle. Damien was already there waiting in line. He waved them over and Téa looked at Amber with an eyebrow raised. "Who is that?"
But Amber ignored Téa and walked briskly to the neatly combed blonde male. "Téa, this is Damien. Damien, this is my best friend, Téa."
"Oh it's nice to finally meet you. Amber didn't tell me you would be here."
This time Damien raised an eyebrow. "She didn't? But I thought this was supposed to be a double date."
"Wait… a double date? Then who else is …?" But Téa stopped mid sentence as the group saw a tall blonde haired boy approach them. He looked like Yugi except for being taller and his blonde bangs streaked upwards like lightning. Now Amber was confused. Who was this kid that looked just like Yugi?
Téa knew she had to come up with an explanation for the "other Yugi" and quick. She couldn't actually tell Amber that this other Yugi was actually an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. So, she had to tell a little white lie.
"Amber, this is Yami, Yugi's twin brother who was studying abroad in Egypt." She looked at Yami hoping he would understand and play along. He caught her gaze and gave a slight nod of understanding.
"Uh yes, I was in Egypt, but I just got back this morning. I am Yami. And you must be Amber. Yugi has told me about you over the phone." He held his hand for Amber to shake.
A twin brother? Yugi, nor anyone, ever mentioned he had a twin brother. Odd they never mentioned him. She reached out and shook Yami's hand.
"Pleased to meet you. Indeed, I am Amber, but you can call me 'Twilight' as all my friends do."
"Twilight it is, then."
Damien suddenly spoke for the first time since everyone arrived. "I hate to break up this meeting but the line is moving and unless we want to get in much later I suggest we get to the gate asap."
"Good point, Damien. Alright guys, we'll visit more once we're inside. Let's go!"
As they entered through the gate after paying Amber decided to finally ask something on her mind. "Hey, Yami, where is Yugi?"
"Oh, he couldn't make it as he was feeling under the weather so I told him I would come in his place. I hope it's alright."
Téa knew that was a lie too and knew it was Yugi avoiding being alone with her but this was much better for her. She loved Yugi, as he was her best friend, but she really loved Yami and was very glad he was here. But, of course, Amber bought Yami's lie.
"Oh no, I hope he gets to feeling better."
"Twilight, can I talk to you real quick?" Téa motioned for Amber to follow her and the two girls walked to an area of tables and chairs.
"What's up?"
Téa sighed heavily then asked, "you set this up didn't you? A double date for me and Yugi?"
"I admit it, yes, this was supposed to be a double date. I was just trying to help you guys out but maybe I shouldn't have pried."
"Well, normally, I would be angry but seeing how it's Yami and not Yugi, I'll let it slide. To be honest I have a bigger crush on Yami than Yugi. I mean, I really like Yugi, don't get me wrong. And I would say yes if Yugi asked me out but there's something more special about his brother. I don't know how to explain it."
"I think I understand. And I am sorry I tried to set you up with Yugi. I just wanted to help you out after our talk the other day."
Téa nodded in understanding and smiled. She couldn't be mad at her friend, especially since said friend was only looking out for her best interest. "We should probably catch up to our dates." Téa winked and Amber nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, we better hurry before they have all the fun without us." And the two girls raced towards the rides, guessing the boys were already waiting in line somewhere.
