Book One: Someone New (Reginald Kastle)

Chapter Five: Pain

The cafe was quiet. Myself and Shark sat down and he threw his head on his arms which were lay on the table.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"I'm fine...but I can't believe I lost to Yuma." He says, throws his head back onto his arms. He groans.

"Careful; you'll ruin your reputation." I tease.

"It's already ruined. News will get around eventually. Rio will love this. I lost to a loser like Yuma who talks to himself. Greeat." He says. I giggle.

"I've lost to Yuma before, and my reputation is fine. You're Shark Kastle. The girls adore you. It'll be fine." He shakes his head.

"How did you lose to Yuma? I prefer to term them as crazy stalkers." A waitress walks over.

"Ali?! You're a waitress?" Ali is a close friend of mine and extremely pretty. Long flowing ginger hair and turquoise green eyes. Fun loving and creative, she's any guy's dream girl. She giggles.

"Yeah. Since I'm 14 now, my stepmom offered me a job here. I'm telling you, Roe* she's really not a Cinderella stepmother. She's so kind. Dad's lucky to have found her." Ali's stepmom walks out of the kitchen and waves to me.

"Rose, how are you darling?" She comes over to the table.

"I'm great. I've just been at a Duelling match. I just came here for a rest, it was a very...interesting duel." I say and she frowns.

"Forgive me, but you do look a lot paler than usual. Are you feeling okay?" She asks.

"I'm not really, Mrs. Ishida, but I'll be fine."

"Please, Rose, it's Maria. And how about a Millionaire's Shortcake? Secret family recipe?" Shark's waiting patiently.

"That should do the trick, Maria. What do you want, Shark?" He looks up and orders two strawberry milkshakes and a chocolate muffin.

"Well, aren't you Little Miss Popular?" Shark says. 'Let the Number take hold.' I shake my head and grit my teeth. Shark notices.

"That Number again?" He asks, his voice calm, but with a hint of worry.

"Yeah. I'll be fine. As long as I keep fending it off." The snacks arrive and I'm glad. I didn't have breakfast this morning, so I'm really hungry, but this should surpass my hunger for now. My stomach rumbles. I sigh and feel my cheeks heating up. Shark's gaze diverts from the world outside the cafe to me, his mouth full of muffin. He swallows and laughs. It's...actually quite nice to see a friendly smile on his face.

"Hungry then? Don't worry about it. All you gotta do is just fight the hunger. As well as that dumb Number." He chuckles and I place the card on the table, in the corner so no one can see.

"Do you think anyone else has a Number?" I ask.

"It's probable. But, how in the world did they just suddenly appear?" I was going to suggest Astral, but I don't want to look crazy, like Yuma did.

"Did you see that 'invisible friend' of Yuma's too?" Shark asks. Okay, how did he do that?!

"Of course not! Why would I be as crazy as Yuma?" He smirks and my heart palpitates.

"Okay. So, if people have got them, what do we do?" Shark asks, looking serious.

"Duel them. And win."

"I can't. I'm givin' up Duelling." Shark says. The cafe door opens and the wind whips my hair.

"No...Shark you can't! What about Rio?" He takes a slurp of his milkshake and sighs.