-7-
Confused, Guilty, and Pissed
By Shardy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Every inch of me wanted to scream. I felt really tense as I sat across from Joey in the limo. Thankfully, he did not object to not sitting beside me. "Melody, you're shaking all over," he finally spoke up after a long ten minutes of pure silence save the rumble of the limo's engine. "Are you all right?"

I shot him a glare that would probably have killed a lesser being. Then I realized that I was supposed to be acting like I had wanted to go to the dance with him, according to Mokuba, so I lowered my gaze. "I'm just nervous, that's all," I admitted softly. Damn, my legs were long. The dress extended to my knees, wasn't too tight, but just enough to curve along my body, hinting at what lay underneath without actually revealing anything. Shit. It was bad enough Mokuba had to give me a dress, but a dress that would send any guy at that dance lusting after me...

I was living every straight guy's worst nightmare.

I jerked my head up, when Joey reached over and placed his hand over mine. "There's no need for you to be nervous. I'm here."

That's exactly WHY I'm nervous, I thought. Lusty jocks and jealous preps I can handle. But Joey was way out of my league. I gnawed on my lower lip, suddenly feeling anxious. Why is he looking at me like that? I thought, blushing once again, my heart beating heavier than usual. Was it because I was in a girl's body that Joey suddenly seemed so...attractive?

He was staring deeply into my eyes with those bright brown orbs and I felt myself trapped within them. Suddenly, I wished that Joey would act like his usual, stupid self so I could hit him. But when he was serious, he was...he was...he was sexy, okay!!! Damn this girl's body!!

"We're here," Andrew announced, pulling up in front of the school. I couldn't get out fast enough when he opened the door for us. I straightened out my dress and politely waited for Joey to take my arm in his and escort me to the door. It seemed as if every single guy was gawking at me in awe. I glanced up to see that was just the case. Embarrassed, I lowered my gaze again, and even felt myself scooting just a little closer to Joey.

"Isn't that Kaiba's cousin, Melody?"

"Hot damn! She's a cutie!"

"Cute?? No way, she's HOT!"

"How did Wheeler get a sexy babe like her?"

"Wheeler and Kaiba's cousin?? Who would've thought???"

"Kaiba will blow a gasket if he sees Wheeler with his cousin."

This was how guys talked about girls? I have heard some pretty nasty comments about the opposite sex during the years in my high school career (back when I was a guy myself), but being on the recieving end of those comments, I felt extremely embarrassed, even a little frightened. Some may say it was because I lacked confidence, but confidence ain't got nothing to do with it if someone is talking about the many things they would do to you behind closed doors. And girls actually liked that kind of attention?

The gym was vibrated with the bass sound as couples danced on the floor. We won't even go into details on HOW they were dancing. It wasn't slow, that's for sure, and I felt my face flare just watching them.

"I don't understand how anyone can dance like that in public," Joey spoke up from beside me, as if we were sharing the same thoughts. "It's not dancing, it's RUBBING."

"Have you ever done it before?" I asked.

"Have you?"

I snorted. "No."

"Same here. Want something to drink?"

"Sure." I thought about staying at our table while Joey fetched the punch, but I caught several guys grinning leeringly at me. Paling slightly, I walked over to Joey and slid my hand in his. Better emphasize to these oversexed jocks that I was "taken".

"Something wrong?" Joey asked.

"Better safe than sorry," I muttered, glancing over at the jocks. Joey followed my gaze.

"Don't worry. You're related to Kaiba. No way will they hurt you. Besides, I'm here."

Which wasn't very reassuring, but for some reason I did feel rather safer with Joey around. I mentally smacked myself in the head. Damn it all!!! I did NOT need any protection! I am an independent person; I needed no protection nor did I need to rely on anybody else!

However, I never did let go of Wheeler's arm.

"So, what would you like?" Joey asked. "Sprite, Root Beer, or Vanilla Coke?"

"Vanilla Coke!" I replied, brightening up instantly. Vanilla Coke is my favorite soft drink. Joey handed me a plastic cup and immediately, I took a sip, savoring the sweet taste as it flowed down my throat. We walked back to our table at the same instant a slow song began to play. "Wanna really dance?" I asked suddenly feeling rambunctious. The effects of the Vanilla Coke.

"Sure," Joey replied, and I led him out to the floor. We began to sway gently to the music, his hands on my hips, my hands on his shoulders. As the song continued, we became closer...much closer. His arms were now wrapped around my waist, and mine were around his neck. He was staring at me intently now, his face barely inches from mine.

"Melody," he whispered.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Suddenly, I fell against Joey as someone shoved me from behind. Unable to catch his balance from the sudden impact, Joey and I both crashed to the floor. The bottom of my dress bunched up around my thighs as I straddled Joey's hips, the top of my dress revealing more than a generous amount of clevage. Naturally, Wheeler's eyes widened at what looked like gifts from God.

Pervert.

I leaped off of Joey and whirled around to see what the hell had happened.

"Well, well, well," a voice sneered, "looks like Ms. Slut-ba couldn't keep herself contained . And poor Wheeler was the only one she could find to satisfy her...if he could."

"What!?" Joey yelled, rising quickly to his feet, fists clenched at his sides.

I held out my arm to keep him back. "What do you want, Sofia?" I demanded coldly, keeping deathly calm though I wanted nothing more than to rip her throat.

Sofia laughed as if I had told a hilarious joke and her little entourage laughed with her. "From you? What the hell would I want from you?" She laughed some more, a loud, long laugh that sounded like a hyena mating call. No, seriously, I expected wild hyenas to come running in reply.

She finally stopped laughing and stepped closer to me. "I am showing dirty scum like you your place: on the floor with the rest of the vile bacteria."

I rolled my eyes. "I haven't done anything to you, and you are calling me vile bacteria? Who is the one who is throwing a tantrum just because of petty jealousy?"

Sofia's eyes flared with rage and everyone around her was shocked into silence. The whole dance itself was on hold for this moment. I guess nobody had ever talked back to Sofia before.

"Why the fuck would I be jealous of you?"

"Big words for a little girl," I sneered. "Let's see. Why are you jealous of me? Hmm...maybe because I don't need to flaunt my body to get self- confidence, I'm rich, I don't act like a child when I see someone a hell of a lot prettier than me, there are a number of reasons I'm sure."

Jaw dropped, Sofia could only stare at me. I could hear a few people snickering behind her. "Let's go, Joey," I said softly. I took his hand and led him out of the gym. Before I left, I couldn't resist leaving with a parting shot. It's moments like these that come only once in a lifetime:

"By the way, Sofia, dear," I called over my shoulder. "My mega-hot cousin wouldn't have you if you were the last girl on earth. In fact, it's girls like you that make Seto wish he were gay!"

I smirked in satisfaction when the entire gym exploded into peals of laughter, except for Sofia, was still standing there gawking.

*****

For some reason, I was still pissed when I sat in the limo on the way home. I sat across from Joey again, staring at my high-heel shoes. My face felt hot from anger and embarrassment at the scene in the gym. Normally, I never blew up like that in front of people. Whenever they told me what they thought of me, I just gave them a smirk and moved on without an argument. But it seemed like there was another part of me that wouldn't let this particular confrontation go by without a fight.

Damn it! No wonder girls were always so freakin' miserable! Either they were fighting or striving to be better than others.

"Melody?"

I snapped out of my thoughts, realizing that Joey was still in the limo with me. For some other reason, I felt bad that I was not keeping him better company.

Well, what the hell was I supposed to do? Give him a lapdance?

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Must you always ask me that?" I shot back.

Hurt flashed in those brown puppy-eyes and he glanced away. "Sorry. I wasn't trying to get personal on ya or anything."

Once again, I felt bad. Damn it all!! I felt confused, guilty, and pissed all at once. Not a good combination. Growling in my throat, I jerked the cooler open, hoping to find some soda or maybe even a few wine coolers.

Then I remembered that this wasn't my limo. My limo had broken down earlier that week and I had to use the company's limo. Okay, technically if you will, it was mine, but it wasn't MINE mine, it wasn't my personal limo. And seeing since mostly the other company executives, those a half a step below me used the company limos, of course they were not going to have soda. They didn't even settled for wine coolers.

Nope, I pulled out a bottle of pure vodka.

Now, let me take a moment to say that this was not just vodka. This was the hard-core, tied-and-true, die-hard vodka, the stuff you're supposed to mix in with other various forms of liquid to make cocktails, or margaritas, or...oh, hell, I don't know, I'm the CEO of Kaiba Corp. not a bartender!

All I know was that I was confused, I was guilty, I was pissed off, and I had alcohol in my hands.

Despite the bitter taste and incredible burning sensation in my throat that felt like I was drinking acid, I chugged down my first glass in three seconds. Another soon followed that. And another. And another. I was quickly getting used to the burning.

"Melody, you shouldn't be drinking so much!" Wheeler exclaimed from the other side of the limo.

"Just leave me alone, mutt!" I shouted, chugging another glass. I hiccupped. Maybe I was drinking too much. Already I was feeling slightly dizzy and light-headed. I could even feel my body sway a little bit.

Next thing I knew, Wheeler was right beside me. He took the glass from my hands. "That's enough," he said firmly. "I'm not gonna have ya pass out on me, understand? Your cousin will kill me."

"I'm gonna kill you anyway if you don't *hic!* give me back my glass! *hic!*" I made a poor attempt of trying to snatch my glass back. "Give it *hic!* back, *hic! hic!* I'm warning you, puppy-dog! *hic! hic! hic!* If you don't *hic!* give it back to me, right now..."

I was cut off completely when Joey pressed his lips firmly against mine.

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