Shadow of Love
Chapter One: The Last Night
The sun blared in through the slightly opened blinds on the window. Joey steadily became conscious as he felt the sun's rays warmth upon his face. He lifted himself from his bed, walking towards the light. As he reached the window, he sat down and rested his arms on the window pane, yawning.
"It's too early." Joey said.
It was the end of the school year and the sun was at it's brightest. Joey rested his head on his arms and closed his eyes. He knew soon the year would end and everyone would go separate ways.
The sky's shades became lighter as the sun rose up to it. Joey pushed himself off the floor. He looked out over the city, still sleeping soudly as the wind blew through the window.
"There's time." He said quietly.
Joey quickly ran downstairs as his father had been calling him. He grabbed a piece of toast and put it in his mouth while he put his bookbag on.
"Joseph! Don't be late again!" He screamed.
Joey turned back for a moment as he reached the door.
"Yeah, yeah." He said.
Joey pushed the door and left his home. Joey stopped as the door slammed behind him; looking up at the bright blue sky. He closed his eyes and took in the sweet smell of summer, steadily becoming more consuming.
"Joey!" Yugi shouted.
Joey opened his eyes and saw the bus waiting for him. He smiled and ran towards the bus.
"Man, Joey. You're lucky." Yugi said.
Joey laughed as he sat down beside him. Joey took Yugi's drink and chugged it.
"Hey!" Yugi said.
"What? I had to do a lot of running." He said.
Joey watched outside the window as the bus pulled closer to the high school. The light left his eyes and he slouched back against the seat.
Everyone began piling out of the vehicle while Joey just peered outside. Yugi turned back and placed his hand upon Joey's shoulder.
"Joey? Time to get off." He said.
Joey slowly rose to his feet and followed Yugi. As Joey jumped off the last bus step, a gust of wind blew right at him, making his notebook fly away.
"Oh shit!" Joey exclaimed.
Joey fought against the gust of wind and chased after his notebook. He tumbled onto the ground in front of his notebook. Before he could grab it, someone set their foot on top of it. Joey looked above him to see who was ruining his notebook.
"You're pathetic, Wheeler." Seto said.
Joey picked himself up off the concrete and brushed himself off. Joey was fuming as Seto smiled, waving his notebook around.
"I can't let him see! My appointments are in there!" Joey thought.
Seto through the notebook at Joey as he walked towards school.
"Screw off, Kaiba!" Joey shouted.
Joey's arms became limp and fell to his sides. He stood there motionless as the breeze blew through him. He looked at his notebook and sadly smiled before walking back to Yugi.
"What was that about Joey?" Yugi asked.
"Nothing. Just the usual Kaiba." Joey said.
Tea and Tristan waved at the two men as they reached the front entrance. Yugi stopped by them, but Joey did not. He walked past them into school.
"What's up with him?" Tea asked.
"I think Kaiba said something." Yugi said.
Three hours had passed and it was moments away from lunch time. Joey just spaced out, staring up at the classroom clock. He waited for it to chime and the class to move on to lunch.
Yugi and the gang got up and headed out towards the hall. Yugi realized and turned back to Joey.
"Joey? You coming?" Yugi asked.
Joey snapped out of his daydream and laughed while scratching his head.
"Sorry, Yug. Today I'm going to just sit in here since I left my money at home." Joey explained.
Yugi nodded and proceeded to the hallway. Joey turned towards the classroom windows and watched the civilians outside, laughing and joking. He knew soon everything would change.
Joey suddenly heard the door close behind him. He turned around to see Seto standing there, arms crossed and eyes closed.
"What do you want Kaiba?" He asked, angrily.
Joey clenched his fist as Kaiba nonchalantly walked towards him. Kaiba stopped right in front of Joey. He leaned in close to joey's face and opened his eyes.
"I saw you." Seto said.
"What are you talking about?" Joey said.
Joey began grinding his teeth before Seto snapped and grabbed his face. Seto pushed his up against the window, scowling at him.
"I saw you, yesterday, in the alley." Seto explained.
Joey's eyes widened and a look of fear came across his face. Seto let go of him and he fell to his knees.
"Please, don't tell my friends." Joey said.
Joey's expression became hollow while Seto looked down on him and laughed. Seto kicked Joey down and walked towards the door.
"You will do whatever I say from now on, Wheeler. Come to my residence after school." Seto said.
Joey let one tear ride along his cheek before punching the ground beneath him in anger. He pushed himself off the carpet and put his hands on the desk. He slowly helped himself to his feet as Tristan returned from the cafeteria.
"You okay, man?" Tristan asked.
Joey wiped off his face, peering at Tristan.
"I'm fine." Joey explained.
The rest of the class began piling back into the room as the bell chimed. Joey and Tristan sat down in their seats.
"Bud, you don't look too hot." Tristan said.
Seto was the last to enter the room, Yugi right before him. Joey flinched as Seto walked by him towards his seat.
Joey snapped out of his daydream as the final bell rang. He looked up at the clock swiftly to see that school was over for the day. His eyes widened and he grabbed his bookbag.
"Joey!" Yugi exclaimed.
Joey ran out of the classroom and down the hallway, ducking through all the people. He peaked out the window as he ran through the school towards the stairs. Seto was outside, making his way towards his limo.
"Damn it! I need to make it!" Joey thought.
He ran down the steps into the school's garden. Seto was a ways ahead of him, getting in his limo.
"Kaiba!" Joey yelled.
Joey stood in front of his limo, panting from exhaustion. Seto's window came down and he leered up at Joey.
"What, Wheeler?" He asked.
Seto grew impatient as Joey panted. He caught his breath and cleared his throat.
"You said you wanted me to go to your place after school right?" He asked.
Seto closed his eyes and laughed.
"Your point?" Seto asked.
Joey just stood there, confused. Seto glared at him fiercly.
"No way am I going to be seen with you. You can walk." Seto explained.
Seto rolled up his window and the limo drove off towards town. Joey fell to his knees as he grinded his teeth together.
"Why did HE of all people have to see?!" Joey thought.
In a moment of pure frustration, he punched the concrete beneath him and grunted.
Joey blew through town like a hurricane. He looked like a speeding bullet as he passed by the cars in the street. He turned the corner and looked both ways, remembering the way to Seto's residence.
"This way!" Joey exclaimed.
Joey ran down the next alleyway.
"I'm only a few minutes away. Straight through here." Joey thought.
Joey looked ahead and saw two men close off the entrance out of the alley. Joeygorlwed and turned around to see another man behind him.
"What do you want? I ain't got all day." Joey shouted.
"What did you say?" The man behind him shouted.
The thug hit him upside the head and Joey fell to the ground. They allstarted in on him, kicking him while he was down.
"Unless you want the cops on your asses, I suggest you stop." Seto said.
The thugs turned around, fists clenched. Seto smiled as he opened his eyes, cell phone in hand.
"Guys, that's Seto Kaiba." A thug said.
The gang stopped and ran down the street as fast as they could. Seto smiled as the sounds of sirens waved through the streets.
He knelt down in front of Joey and scowled. He slid his hands under Joey and picked him off the cold concrete.
"You're so useless, Wheeler." Seto said, quietly.
