Hey guys, this is my first ever story on the net so be nice.

Takes place a year after the Egyptian series and sixteen months after California

Disclaimer: If I owned Yugioh, Mai would have been in Egypt with the gang and she and Joey would have actually got together in the anime

Mai groaned and shifted slightly under the thin sheet. Turning slightly she shielded her eyes from the brilliant sunlight that was streaming over her bed, squinting to adjust her eyes to the light. She blinked a couple of times, then looked across at Vivian in the bed over from her. Mai smiled slightly, Vivian was still fast asleep, snuffling slightly- reminants of last week's cold.

Easing herself out from under the covers, Mai's fingers absently went to the amethyst heart around her neck that Vivian had given her for her twenty-first birthday. Still fiddling with it, she went over to the giant glass paneled window that looked across a tall stretch of grass-the boys had been meaning to cut it yesterday, before a torrential downpour started-and out to sea.

Whatever the weather yesterday, it was beautiful now, a perfect day to spend at the beach. The only problem was, Mai knew there was no way she would be able to sit down or relax at all today. Heck, she might even volunteer to do the lawn herself just to keep busy.

And keep her mind off the tournament's opening ball tonight.

It wasn't the ball that was the problem, she'd been to plenty of those and usually thoroughly enjoyed them, apart from the by-now familiar twinge of pain that she never had anyone she deeply cared about to go with. Namely one person in particular.

Which was why she was so nervous now: because for the first time in eighteen months she would come face-to-face with Joey Wheeler tonight, and she had no idea what his reaction would be.

What would he say?

That was the one thing that had keep Mai awake for many nights over the past year and more; what would he do when he saw her again? Shout at her, shrug, turn away, greet her with a fake smile, or with his trademark goofy grin? Hug her?

Kiss her?

Mai shook her head in exasperation as she let her thoughts run away with her. It wasn't that she didn't want that to be his reaction-well, after they'd half a chance to talk, that is-she just didn't believe he could ever see her in that way-again, if she was right about his crush on her before. Though, she didn't want someone who just liked her- even if Joey had been the first guy to like her for herself and not her looks-she wanted someone who loved her, the way she had fallen head-over-heels in love with Joey. And that was just the problem, because of him there could never be any other guys for her; she didn't want other guys anymore.

Mai smiled ruefully, 'What did you do to me …Joey?' she waited so long the word sounded like it wasn't attached to the original sentence.

The question was an old one, and one she had answered and happily accepted a long time ago. A lifetime ago, that sort of acceptance would have been impossible, but four long torturous years had 

changed her for the better, though she would never admit the cost that change had come with; never admit to the broken heart she now bore.

Tonight, she would find out if she could actually fit her heart entirely back together. She had picked up and mended the pieces of her old life, now she would see if she could make the last mends: if Joey could forgive her enough to be her friend once again. And maybe, just maybe, his love would come.

Quietly, checking her friend and tag-team partner was still asleep, Mai-for the first time ever- admitted to the dawn, 'I love you Joey Wheeler. No matter what happens tonight, I always will, I just can't help it.'

Mai sighed, and didn't turn around for a long time. She had admitted it now, and now the knowledge was spoken aloud, there was no-way for Mai to take back what she had said; no-way to bottle up and shy away from this truth. Though it might have been the easier thing to do, if Joey rejected her. He had promised they would always be friends, but even his heart had it's limits. And even if they could go on being friends, could he ever love her? After what she had done?

Mai knew there was no-way she would be content just to be friends forever, she could wait for a time if need-be. But she wasn't going to see him wind up with someone else, she couldn't bear that. It would be a slow death.

'Tonight,' Mai whispered to herself quietly, 'Tonight.' She turned away from the window as Vivian began to stir, but her troubled thoughts were long from over, she knew.

At least she had duel monsters. If nothing else, she would have duel monsters and her harpies, like she always had. Even if there never was another guy for her, she had them, and her friends off the past year.

Tell me what you think, (i.e. please review!)