As Joey Wheeler walked casually down the street toward his bus stop, he wondered how much he actually wanted to go home. He would have to come back in half an hour or so anyway. Plus his dad would just be drunk again, and that would mean a beating. Fun fun fun. He sighed, and turned away from his bus stop to head to his best friend, Tristan's apartment.

          "Hey, Taylor! You in there, man?" He called out at the door. He began pounding on it furiously. "I know you're there! So lemme in!" The door opened to show a tall brown-haired woman carrying a briefcase.

          "Hello, Joseph. No need to break the door down." She said in annoyance.

          "Sorry, Tammie."

          "Mrs. Taylor."

          "Whatevah. Is my man, Tristan there?"

          "Yes, he is inside doing his homework, but he can't have any visitors. He is grounded."

          "What'd he do this time?"

          "Is that really your business, Joseph?"

          "No, Mrs. T."

          "Mrs. Taylor!"

          "Sorry… Have a nice time at work, Mrs. Taylor"

          "Thank you, Joseph. Head on home now." Joey walked around the corner and peeked around until he saw her car was gone. He immediately ran to the fire escape, climbed up, and snuck into the window of Tristan's apartment.

          "Hey, Tristan!" He called, while wandering through the small kitchen.

          "What the… Oh it's you." 

          "The one and only. Ain't yah happy to see me?" He said while eating a slice of cold pizza that was sitting on Tristan's counter top.

          "Hey that is my dinner!" Tristan yelled. "How did you get in here anyway?"

          "Window." Joey said calmly between mouthfuls.

          "You can still fit through that?" Tristan said aghast. "I stopped being able to do that in sixth grade!"

          "Well I have a better figure than you do, don't I?" Joey said, sticking his tongue out.

          "Or maybe I'm just taller."

          "What was DAT?"

          "Nothing… nothing at all" Tristan said grinning. "Hey have you done your math yet?"

          "God, no. Why?"

          "I can't figure out this one problem…" Tristan said staring hopelessly down at his paper. Joey sighed,

          "Lemme see dat. Aha! It is quite obvious… You just need to… Gimme a minute…" He began counting on his fingers and muttering

          "You're so good at this, Joey…" Tristan said sarcastically.

          "Watch it, bub. Or I'll just leave and let you do this yourself…"

          "I'd get a better grade, and I know you don't want to go home, why else would you be here?"

          "I could have wanted to spread my cheer, or some junk like that." Joey said while still staring at the paper. Tristan snorted with laughter,

          "Cheer? You? Don't make me laugh."

          "How about I make you cry? Would yah like that?" Joey said in mock anger.       

          "Chill out, bro!" Tristan said, grabbing a piece of pizza for himself.

          "Got any soda?"

          "My apartment isn't a 7-11 you know…"

          'Well, DUH! At 7-11s you have to pay."

          "Oh ha, ha. We're so amused." Tristan said, and thwacked Joey on the head. Joey smacked him on the shoulder.

          "Cut it out, Tristan! But seriously, I am here to tell you that Michael wants to see us, and to get food.

          "What is it this time? Another fight?" Tristan asked looking almost excited.

          "That's the word on the streets; 11th graders too."

          "No kiddin'?" Tristan said, amazed. "Well let's go!"

"One question." Joey said. "How? You can't fit out the window anymore, big guy." He began laughing. Tristan sighed exasperatedly, "You really annoy me, you know that?"

          "I know. Ain't it great? Okay I have a plan, how about we unlock that door that goes out to the fire escape?"

          "I Don't have a key, genius." Tristan said.

          "Not a problem for 'Joey the Great'!"

          "'Joey the Great'?" Tristan said, nonplused.

          "I have a rare gift." Joey said smugly. "No mere lock is too much for my prodigious talents!"

          "So you even know what prodigious means, Joey?"

          "Very funny. Do you want me to break you out, or not?"

          "Okay, do it." Tristan said, resignedly. Joey darted over to the door and pulled a hairpin out of his pocket. He carefully jiggled it around in the lock until a faint 'click' was heard. The door swung open.

          "TADAAAA!" He shouted.

          "SHHHHH!" Tristan said, "If my neighbors see us breaking out they might tell my mom!"

          "Why are you so afraid of her?" Joey asked looking skeptical.

          "She's just scary, that's all." Tristan said, looking embarrassed. Joey raised his eyebrows, grinning.

          "What could she do to you that is worse than something a bully, or I have done to you?"

          "Good point. Okay let's get outta here." Tristan whispered, grabbing his coat. Joey vaulted over the fire escape and landed on a dumpster top. He hopped down from there and grabbed his Yankees hat that he had left on the ground, he put it one backwards, and looked up at Tristan sighing.

          "Hurry up!"

          "If you think I am going to break my neck by jumping down there…" Tristan began, but then heard a noise behind him, so he jumped down and had a messy landing on the dumpster. "What was that sound?" He cried out hysterically.

          "It was your cat!" Joey sighed, "Completely paranoid…" Tristan glared at him.

          "Let's just go." He began walking very fast, his hands stuck deep into his trench-coat pockets. As Joey ran to catch up with him they spotted Yugi walking down the street toward the Turtle Game Shop.

          "Joey! Tristan!" He called after them, "Wait for me!" They stopped walking to let his short legs catch up.

          "Hey, guys!" He said, panting.

          "What's up, Yug'?" Joey said, smiling.

          "Hi, Yugi…" Tristan began, and then looked at his watch. "Joey? Time to go…" Joey looked at his watch too.

          "Oh shoot! You're right! We'll see you in a bit k, Yug'?"

          "Of course, guys!" Yugi called after their retreating backs. Joey and Tristan walked swiftly down a dark alley, and into a small shack that had a single lamp burning in the dilapidated window. Joey knocked seven times on the door, the first three knocks were loud, and then the next three were quiet followed by a huge bang on the door. The door was opened by a tall boy wearing a plaid jacket over jeans and a black tank top. His long brown hair framed a thin face; he was smiling brightly as he let Tristan and Joey in.

          "You guys are late!" He said, cheerily, "But I'll let you off the hook this time."

          "You know how it is, Mike! Tristan's mommy said he couldn't leave, and he's so scared of her that it took a while…" Joey said, mockingly.

          "SHADDUP!" Tristan yelled at him.

          "Just a joke! Chill out!" Joey grinned.

          "C'mon in," The tall boy named Mike said to them. "We just started." Tristan and Joey walked into the small shack and sat down by some other boys. They greeted them as old friends, and after the greetings Mike called them to attention.

          "We'll hit the Silverback gang tomorrow night, they have been bullying a lot of kids from Domino High, and that needs to stop. They think they're so cool because they go to the Farmer Walker School…" Mike began.

          "I got it! We set up an ambush outside their locker area! As soon as they come out I'll jump 'em and pin the leader down, and then Bobby and Tristan can come and…" Joey had leapt up and stood behind the desk next to Mike.

          "Wheeler! How many times do I have to tell you!? I am the leader! You are the second in command! I make the plans! I tell people what to do!" Mike said, glaring at Joey.

          "Well maybe it is time for a change in leadership!" Joey yelled. "Everyone who thinks I should be the leader of the Gray Wolf Gang raise you hand!" No one moved. Tristan put his hand up half way, and then put it back down, and then back up, and then just sat there with his hand down looking torn. Joey swore very foully.

          "Wheeler, for the seventeenth time, you cannot lead the gang. I know you are very enthusiastic, but you just aren't made for it. You are a great second in command." Mike said, patronizingly. Joey clenched his teeth, and sat down next to Tristan again.

          "I can't take this! I could lead this gang! You know I could!" He muttered to Tristan.

          "Just chill, man! Don't rush things! When Mike goes to college you can take over."

          "Oh great. Two years. Like I really have the patience for that!" He whispered back at him. "I'm outta here. Hey, Mike? I got a stomachache I guess I should call it quits…"

          "Okay, Wheeler. See you tomorrow, feel better." Mike called after Joey's back. Joey nodded, and continued to walk down the alley and around the corner. The faint smile faded from his face, just as he faded from Tristan's vision.