A new story in celebration of my birthday. Yay!

It's just a short chapter but tell me what you think.

...vV...Vv...

Pens scratched around her as Tea bent her head over her math work. Today it was algebra and while Tea didn't find it overly difficult it was time consuming. A loud exhale drew her attention to her right. A boy sat clutching two handfuls of his blond hair and glaring at his book.

"Having trouble Joey?"

"No kidding, I think this is impossible."

"Not impossible." said Tea, as she shifted her chair over so that she could see his work. "Just very difficult." She flashed a grin up at him then turned back to his exercises.

Joey kept his eyes on the ceiling. 'It's nice of Tea to help but honestly, there's no point. Some people are smart and some aren't. It's hopeless. Mind you that's never stopped Tea before.'

"I have it" Tea cried drawing Joey's attention back to the cursed Math. "See here where you divide? It means you end up with fractions of x. That would eventually get you the right answer but it's easier if you leave dividing till the end that way you only have to deal with whole numbers."

Joey nodded. "'Kay, that makes sense."

"Great, now try that problem, see if this way works better for you." Joey picked up his abandoned pen and looked at the problem. He scribbled some working before getting to an answer of X=4.

"Is that right?" he asked.

"Well it's what I got, so if not we can be wrong together."

"Nah, you wouldn't get it wrong. Thanks Tea."

"No problem Joey. We still have half the period left so if we get going then we won't have Math homework." So saying Tea grinned and went back to her work. Joey followed suit.

...vV...Vv...

Joey slammed his book shut just as the bell went, Tea had finished with 5 minutes to spare. In the rush of students packing their bags and leaving Tea knocked her pencil case sideways. It landed spilling it's contents into the lap of the person to her left. She cringed.

"Sorry Kaiba."

At the start of the year this block of three desks in a row had been assigned to Kaiba, Joey and her. In an effort to keep the peace she had taken the middle seat. This didn't appear to do much to stem the hostilities.

The youth next to her turned expressionless blue eyes her way before surveying the mess in his lap. Without a word he picked up the strewn debri, packed it back into the case, placed it on the desk then stood up and left. Tea watched him go. 'Good thing I cleaned out the pencil shavings last night, that could of been a lot messier.'

"Hey Tea, don't mind moneybags." Joey was already standing his bag slung round his shoulders, he was holding out Tea's bag.

"Thanks" she said taking the bag from him to put her pencil case in. Once the bag was zipped she stood slinging it on to her back.

As some of the last to leave the room the two friends didn't have to push their way to the door. Just through the threshold Tea glanced at her watch.

"Oh Damn! I have English, that's the other side of the school. I've got to go." She began to hurry away.

Joey called out to her as she went. "Meet you by the gates. I'll walk you to your bus stop since Yugi's sick."

Tea waved in acknowledgment but continued to hurry away.

...vV...Vv...

Joey leant back against the school fence, staring at the sky. 'I'm going to fail Math this year. I need to pass to get the qualifications but there is just no way, it's like another language.'

Tea captured his attention then by sprinting up to him before collapsing against the fence beside him clutching her chest.

"Hey Tea, you okay?" he asked concerned.

She waved off his concern still gasping for breath. When she had sufficient oxygen to reply she smiled and said. "I'm fine, I was just in a hurry because I didn't want you waiting"

He put up his hands. "Hey if it's in the interests of you not passing out I am willing to wait a few more minutes"

She giggled "Such a gentleman"

"Yup" He bowed offering her his arm like a knight in one of those old movies. When she accepted he began to lead her down the street.

As they passed by a group of girls from their school they heard. "I didn't know Tea and Joey were an item."

The two friends exchanged a look then bust into peels of laughter. They laughed so hard that they had trouble walking and had to support each other as they staggered down the road.

After their giggles stopped they lapsed into an easy silence and Joey's thoughts returned to the evils of Math.

"Hey Joey?"

He turned to look at the smaller brunette on his arm. "Yeah."

"Is something the matter? You seem awfully quiet."

Joey smiled. 'Should of known that I couldn't keep anything from her.' "It's just this Maths thing. I need to pass but I don't know if I can."

She was silent for a moment. "Why don't you get a tutor?"

"They cost like tons."

"Not if it's one of your friends. I'm free Thursday after school."

He stopped and turned to look at her. "You would really do that for me?"

She nodded. "Sure, Was what I did today helpful?"

"Definitely" They started towards the bus stop again.

"Then it's settled" Tea pointed to Joey's watch. "Don't you have to be at work in 20 minutes."

"Oh damn. You're right. See ya Tea."

With that said he turned sprinting down the road knocking people aside in his hurry. This made Tea smile ruefully. 'Same old Joey, but we wouldn't have him any other way' She waved until he turned a corner and was lost from her sight. Then she continued down the street toward her bus stop. She halted when she saw someone gazing up at a map of the bus routes and rocking back and forward in an agitated manner. Taking pity on the person who by their size was only a child she approached tapping them on the shoulder.

"Excuse me but do you need he- Oh Mokuba."

The boy, because it was him, looked relieved. "Tea! I am so glad to see you. The driver didn't show up to collect me from school so I thought I would catch the bus but I don't know which one."

"Poor thing. Where are you trying to get to, home or Kaiba Corp?"

"Kaiba Corp. Big Brother is working late tonight."

"No problem let me just have a look here." She examined the map and schedule. "Here we are. You need to catch the number 32 which arrives in a quarter of an hour then at the top of Main Street you need to change to the number 16."

She looked down at the child at her side. He looked confused and rather worried. "Don't worry kiddo, I'll come with you, I have nowhere I urgently have to be."

"Really?"

"Yup. In the mean time I think you need cheering up." said Tea eyeing the ice-cream store across the road.

"Um ... I don't have enough money on me."

"No worries it's my treat."

"If you're sure."

"Definitely" So saying she took the young boy's hand and led him across the street. "Which flavor do you like?"

"Chocolate."

"Yay. A kindred spirit, me too."

...vV...Vv...

Seto Kaiba, C.E.O of one of the biggest gaming companies in the world, was sitting at his desk typing. He looked up when there was a disturbance at the entrance to his office.

"Knock, Knock." A familiar head peered around the door at him. He was shocked to see it was Tea Gardener.

"What the hell are you doing in my building?"

She stuck her nose in the air. "Returning something of vital importance that you lost."

"I haven't lost anything."

"I beg to differ" She stepped into the room fully then reached out into the hall way and pulled someone in after her.

"Mokuba." The shock was clear in the elder males voice.

"Hey Big Brother. The car never came to pick me up but then I found Tea so she brought me here. She brought me an ice-cream, we had lots of fun."

"Huh" Seto snorted then looked at the girl. "I assume you will want reimbursement."

Tea glared at him. "Mokuba is my friend, it was a pleasure to spend time with him." The younger boy flushed at the praise.

There was an awkward silence until Tea spoke. "You're welcome."

Seto looked at her oddly so she clarified. "I'm sorry, I just assumed you had said thank-you, it's what a decent person would have done. My mistake."

So saying she turned and flounced from the room.